IMPROVEMENTS IN SWITCHES AND CROSSINGS FOR TRAMWAYS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Urie at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1880.
GEORGE URIE, junior, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SWITCHES AND CROSSINGS FOR TRAMWAYS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of switch
points or switches and crossings for tramways which will enable these to be made
at much less cost than hitherto, and also reduce the expense of their maintenance
and repair.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention or improvements consist essentially
in making such switch points and crossings to the required shape from wrought
iron or steel rails, the same as or similar to those which form the permanent way,
instead of as hitherto casting them in chilling moulds, which have to be specially
made for every different angle of switch or crossing, and thus render such castings
very expensive.
In constructing the improved switch points when grooved headed rails with a
vertical web and bottom flange are used for the permanent way, two short lengths
of these rails are taken for each line, and the sides or edges of the rails are cut
away longitudinally and planed with a true flat surface, the one rail being cut and
tapered away on the edge next to the solid part of the head at the desired angle
or inclination to form a partial lap joint with the other rail, which is cut away on
the edge next the groove, or vice versa. The ends of these rails thus jointed curve
or incline outwards as usual to form the separate lines, and the angled or tapered
fin remaining of the solid rail head which has been cut forms the dumb point,
situated as usual at the junction between the two guiding grooves (in which the
flange of the car or locomotive wheel runs) when the rails are bolted together,
which is effected by screw bolts passing transversely through their vertical webs,
and held with or without fish plates.
For the movable point or switch this fin is also cut away to the depth of the
groove, and back to near the part where the rail joint commences at this end, and
a movable tapered tongue or switch of the usual form is fitted in the space
corresponding to the rail fin at the junction of the two grooves, this switch being
ointed to the rails at its back or wide end by a vertical piu passing through an
eye formed in the switch and down into or through the rail.
In applying these improvements to crossings for tramways short lengths of the
ordinary iron or steel rails of the permanent way are used as for the points, and

page_text: whilst the continuation of one line of rails is formed without cutting or dividing
the rail, the crossing line is continued by sawing a rail in two at the desired angle,
or by cutting and planing opposite bevilled or angled surfaces on two short lengths
of rail and fitting them with their bevilled faces against opposite sides of the uncut
rail in such a position as to be in line. The groove for the flange of the car wheels
is cut across the solid head of the uncut rail of the crossing either before or after
the whole is fitted together, so that the line of the groove is unbroken, and the
short lengths or cut rails are bolted to the uncut cross rail by suitably bent or
angled bolts with or without the use of fish plates, the requisite angle of the
crossing being obtained by giving a corresponding bevil to the joint surfaces.
Both for the switch points and for the crossings the lengths of rails used may be
the same as would be employed in the ordinary chilled castings which are at
present fitted in the permanent way, so that in renewing tramway switches and
crossings the improved constructions may conveniently replace those worn out.
The improved construction of switches and crossings may be made with flanged
rails or any form of grooved rails in common use for tramways, as well as with
the form of rail described having a central vertical web.