An Improvement in Railway Points.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Railway Points.
I, JOHANNES GRIMME, of 3, Baarestrasse, Bochum, Westphalia, Germany,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
t
In railway points as at present usually constructed, the rear ends of the tongues
are pivottally connected to a chair or other supporting device, on which they turn
when their position is reversed.
This pivotal connection always constitutes an objectionable feature, whatever
may otherwise be the construction of the points as this is the only point in the
whole length of the tongue at which the longitudinal shifting thereof can be pre-
vented. Furthermore, there exist at such pivotal connections more or less
dangerous gaps between the rear end of the tongue and the end of the adjoining
fixed rail, and also, on the forcing over of the points by a passing train, fractures
sometimes occur.
'
According to the present invention these disadvantages are obviated by entirely
doing away with the pivot chair or support, and in place thereof, connecting th
rear end of the tongue rigidly with its seat and the adjoining fixed rail, while for
affording it the requisite degree of mobility an intermediate part thereof is so
formed, as to be capable of bending laterally between its elastic limits to a
sufficient extent to be made, to assume the two opposite extreme positions require.l.
On the accompanying drawing is shewn a set of railway points, constructed accord-
ing to this invention.
Fig. 1 shews a plan, Fig. 2 a cross section to an enlarged scale on line c
Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shews a section on line y-y.
The points aa are rigidly secured by their rear ends to the fixed rails b b, and,
as shewn at Fig. 3; they are there also securely fixed to the sleepers by clamping
plates c and bolts d, such fixing being preferably distributed over two, three, or
more cross sleepers, as with ordinary rails.
The tongues lie upon ordinary slide supports e, and are connected together in
the usual manner by a rod f.
These tongues are made of such a modified cross section at an intermediate part
of their length g, Figs. 1 and 2 that they will bend laterally with spring action
at that part to a sufficient extent for bringing them into position for either the
right hand or the left hand line of rails. For this purpose the section
of the spring part of the tongue is preferably made of the same width at top and at
bottom as shewn, in order that no twisting action may be produced on their bend-
ing laterally.
If the points constructed in the above described manner are to be moved over
into the one position, a force requires to be exerted equal to a weight of about 20
to 40 lbs., (varying according to the length and thickness of the points) for
placing the points close against the rails.
Consequently the ordinary weighted points lever will be sufficient for moving
them over.

page_text: The reversal will in fact be effected more easily than with ordinary points
during the first part of the motion, as the points will have a tendency to move
with a certain spring force into the middle position.
If the points are to be connected to a central points and signal station and it
is not desired to apply the necessary force for putting over the points at that
station, a very simple arrangement can be adopted as shewn at the cross section
of a line at Fig. 4, whereby the spring points are balanced in every position by
means of a weighted lever, so that the points levers at the central station will
only require a small expenditure of power for working them.
Although have shewn the improved construction of points as applied to a
line with flanged rails, it is of course equally applicable to all other forms of rails.
Having now particularly described and ascertained. the. nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1.1..
A construction of points for railways wherein the tongues have their rear,
ends fixed rigidly to the line rails and also to the sleepers, while at an intermediate,
part of their length they are formed with such a transverse section that the
free part of the tongue can bend laterally with spring action upon the fixed part.
for bringing them into the two opposite positions required, substantially as
described.
.T
1
1
D
1000