An Improved Switch or Shunting Plate for Railways.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Switch or Shunting Plate for Railways.
I, FRIEDRICH NELLEN, of Section III, Feldstrasse, Aldenrade, Miner, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved switch or shunting plate with tongue
rails, securely fixed and not having switch levers. The improved shunting plates
can be applied to single or double tracks and are adapted to replace the turn-
tables hitherto employed for directing or diverting wagons in any desired direc-
tion. Whereas turn-tables only allow of the diversion and passage of a limited
number of wagons or trollies at a time, the improved shunting plates permit
both of the diversion and passage of separate wagons as well as of a series of
wagons, that is to say a complete train.
The shunting plate is preferably cast, the rails and guard rails being cast with
the plate.
The switches work by steel tongue rails each capable of oscillating around a
pivot fixed to the plate. The plate is formed with holes to receive bolts for
securing it to the permanent way, and, after its installation thereon, it is planked
in an appropriate manner between the different rails in order to level its surface
so as to prevent the stumbling of draught animals drawing the wagons. The plate
is moreover, provided with suitable projecting parts adapted to facilitate its
junction with the main track and with the branch lines.
The shunting plate serving for a double track is constructed on the same prin-
ciple and is likewise secured to the permanent way by bolts, and has side or guard
rails and pivoted tongue rails as above described. The double tracks, where meet-
ing the crossing plate, comprise but three rails, the two middle rails joining one
another by a crossing-frog before arriving at the plate and again separating,
beyond the plate, by another like crossing: the same arrangement is carried out
for the middle rails of double-way branchings. This improved arrangement of
shunting plate permits of a considerable reduction of space required to be occupied
by the crossing plate, as well as economy in the cost.
Dated this 21st day of June 1899.
I. FRIEDRICH NELLEN, of, Section III. Feldstrasse, Aldenrade, near Ruhrort,
Prussia, Miner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
[Price 8.]

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to railways and has more particular reference to a switch
plate therefor, the object being to provide a plate which may be applied to the
crossing of a single or multiple track and very advantageously serve as a sub-
stitute for the usual turn-plates employed for shunting the cars in any direction;
but such turn-plates are very objectionable and adapted to allow the passage of
but a limited number of cars at once, white my improved switch-plate allows the
passage of any number of cars coupled together i.c. the passage of a complete
train.
One characteristic feature of my improved switch-plate is to provide means for
switching the cars without its being necessary to turn said cars, which is very
objectionable and difficult when the cars are loaded furthermore my improved
switch plate is cheap, in comparison with the switches hitherto in use."
Other main advantages of my improved switch plate become evident by simply
glancing at the accompanying drawings and make the same highly useful and
even indispensable for mining, open-working, digging, yards, dockyards, blast-
furnaces, lime-kilns and other works where a local railway is used.
In order that my invention may be the more readily and properly understood
and carried into practical effect, I have illustrated two embodiments of same in
the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts throughout
the figures.
In the drawings:-
-
Fig. 1, is a plan view of a switch plate for a single main track having two side
tracks.
Fig. 2. is a similar view of a switch-plate for a double main track having double
side-tracks.
Fig. 3, is a cross-section of the track on line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, is a cross-section on line y-y of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5, is a cross-section of the double track switch plate on line of Fig. 2.
The switch-plate A is preferably made of cast iron with the track-rails and
cheek-rails cast thereon and provided with suitable parts a, a, for the junction
of the track-rails.
Referring first to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, showing a single track switch, S designates
the main track leading for instance from the shaft of a coal-mine or the like;
S and S2 are the side-tracks. The switching is effected, as clearly shown in the
drawings, by suitably setting the steel switch points C. C and C², pivoting on the
plate A. The latter is provided with holes 0, 0, 0, receiving holts for securing
said plate to the foundation of the track. Furthermore, said plate is provided
with a suitable wooden flooring between the various projecting parts and rails,
in order to have an even surface and prevent the horses, drawing the cars along
the rails from stumbling.
B. B B indicate the check-rails made integral with the switch-plate A and
appertaining to the main-tracks S, the left hand side-track S¹ and the right-hand
side-track S2 respectively."
The switch-plate for a double track having double-side-tracks as in Figs. 2 and
5 of the accompanying drawings, is constructed in a similar manner. Assuming
SS to indicate the main-track rails leading, for instance, from the shaft of a
coal-mine: S¹ S1 is the left-hand double side-track, and S2 S2 is the right-hand
double side-track. This switch-plate is also secured to the foundation of the
track by means of bolts passing through holes 0, 0, 0... provided in the plate.
B B B are the check-rails of the main-track and the side-tracks respectively.
CCC indicate the pivoting steel switch points: K is a nose made integral with
the switch plate A and against which the central switch points Care laid when
the switch is set. The switch plate is provided with a flooring between the
various projecting parts and rails, for the purpose already stated, and has suitable

page_text: parts a, a, a for the junction of the main track S, the left-hand side-track S¹
and the right-hand side-track S2 respectively.
As shown in the drawings the double track on the switch plate is formed by
three rails only, ie, the two central rails are joined by means of a suitable cross-
frog H. just before said switch-plate; and said rails are again separated by
means of a similar cross-frog H located beyond said switch-plate. It is obvious
that the central rails of the two side-tracks are similarly joined by means of suit-
able cross-frogs H, whereby the size of the switch-plate will be reduced to a
minimum and the cost of manufacture thereof considerably lowered.
The modus operandi of my improved switch becomes evident by looking upon
the accompanying drawings and needs no further explanation.
The switch-plate being completely finished and provided with the necessary
parts for the junction to the various track-rails, may be easily and readily laid
down in place even by a person not skilled in the art.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. An improved switch plate made of cast-iron and provided with check-rails
cast thereon, suitable parts for the junction to the track rails, and pivoted switch-
points, substantially as described and shown.
2. An improved switch-plate for the junction of two side-tracks with the main
track, comprising means for securing the same to the foundation of the track,
cheek-rails made integral with the plate, pivoted switch points and means for
joining the track-rails with said cheek-rails, substantially as described and shown.
3. An improved switeli-plate for the junction of two double side-tracks with
the double main track, comprising means for securing the same to the foundation
of the track, cheek-rails made integral with the plate, pivoted switch-points and
means for joining the track rails to said cheek-rails, substantially as described
and shown.
4. In a switch plate substantially as described. the combination with the main
and side track rails. of suitable cross-frogs for joining the central rails of said
main and side tracks on the switch plate, substantially as shown and for the
purpose set forth.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.