Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb.. 1359
Complete Specification Leit, 2nd Apr., 1389
Complete pecification Accepted. 4th May, 389
I, TIMOTHY GIDEON PALMER of Schultzville, in the State of New York, United
States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Switch rails have heretofore been made with a bevelled or wedge shaped end, to
come in contact with the side of the main rail in railway tracts, for changing the
direction of the wheels passing along the track and causing the same to pass upon the
switch. In switches of this character the point or end of the switch rail is subject to
considerable wear and concussion from the passing wheels and the point rapidly
becomes injured, and the entire switch rail has to be replaced.
The object of my invention is to provide a removable point for the end of the switch
rail, so that such point may be made of steel or other durable metal and the point can
be taken off and replaced with facility whenever the same becomes worn.
The main rail is of ordinary character and forms one side of the track and the
switch rail is applied between the rails of the track and is to be moved towards or from
the main rail in any convenient manner and the entire switch, except my improved
removable point, is similar to those that have heretofore been made use of."
The end of the switch rail is hevelled at the desired angle so that the bevelled
portion will lie against one side of the main rail, and my improved switch point is
made with a vertical flange and a horizontal flange that rests upon the flange of the
switch rail, and it is to be understood that this flange is allowed to continue to the
extreme end of the movable switch point but the lead and stem of the switch rail
terminate where the extreme end of the switch rail meets the main rail and the
vertical portion of the movable switch point continues beyond said place and it is
bevelled at one side to set closely against the main rail and the wheels as they run
upon the main track pass upon the top edge of the vertical flange of the switch point
and continue along upon the same until they finally rest upon the top of the switch
rail.
It is usual to allow the flange of the switch rail to rest upon the flange or base of
the main rail so as to form a firm support for the switch rails at this end of the switch,

page_text: and in order to connect the removable point with the switch rail, I make use of the
vertical bolts passing through the horizontal flange of the switch point into the flange
of the switch rail and also bolts that pass through the vertical flange of the switch
point into the body of the switch rail and it is usual to connect the moving ends of
the switch rails together by cross bars. I make use of such cross bars and upon the
ends thereof are the T heads or flanges through which the same bolts pass that connect
the switch point with the switch rail and it is also preferable to make use of the bolts
that pass through one of the flanges or T heads into the vertical flanges of the movable
switch point near the end thereof.
It is now to bo understood that this removable switch point receives the concussion
of the wheels as they pass from the main track upon the switch rails and that the
removable points can be unbolted from the switch rail and a new point substituted
whenever it becomes necessary to change such switch point, but in so doing it is
unnecessary to make any change in the switch rail itself, and these switch rails
usually are adapted to wearing as long as the rails of the main track, except at the
points where they become battered and injured as before expressed, my removable
point allowing for the removal of the injured portion and the introduction of the now
point, thus effecting a saving, and lessoning the time occupied in repairing the
switches.
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.

page_text: Improvements in Points for Switch Rails.
I, TIMOTHY GIDEON PALMER, of Schultzville, in the State of New York, United
States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invon-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Switch rails have heretofore been made with a bevilled or wedge shaped end, to
come in contact with the side of the main rail in railway tracks, for changing the
direction of the wheels passing along the track and causing the same to pass upon the
switch. In switches of this character the point or end of the switch rail is subject
to considerable wear and concussion from the passing wheels and the point rapidly
becomes injured, and the entire switch rail has to be replaced.
The object of my invention is to provide a removable point for the end of the
switch rail, so that such point may be made of steel or other durable metal and
the point can be taken off and replaced with facility whenever the same becomes
worn.
In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view representing one rail of the main track
and one of the switch rails or bars adjacent thereto with my improved point upon the
same, and Figure 2 is a section in larger size at the line x, x.
The main rail A is of ordinary character and forms one side of the track and the
switch rail B is applied between the rails of the track and is to be moved towards or
from the main rail A in any convenient manner and the entire switch, except my
improved removable point, is similar to those that have heretofore been made use of.
The end of the rail B is bevilled at the desired angle so that the bevilled portion
will lie against one side of the main rail A, and my improved switch point C is made
with the vertical flange 2 and a horizontal flange 3 that rests upon the flange 4 of the
switch rail B, and it is to be understood that this flange 4 is allowed to continue to
the extreme end of the movable switch point C, but the head and stem of the switch
rail B terminate at or near the line, Figure 1 and the vertical portion 2 of the
movable switch point continues beyond the line x, x, and it is bevilled at one side to
set closely against the rail A, and the wheels as they run upon the track A pass upon
the top edge of the flange 2 and continue along upon the same until they finally rest
upon the top of the switch rail B.
It is usual to allow the flange 4 of the switch rail B to rest upon the flange or
base 6 of the rail A as indicated in Fig. 2 so as to form a firm support for the switch
rails at this end of the switch, and in order to connect the removable point (with the
switch rail B, 1 make use of the vertical bolt 7 passing through the flange 3 into the
flange 4 and also bolts 8 that pass through the flange 2 into the body of the switch
rail B and it is usual to connect the moving ends of the switch rails B together by
cross bars E. I make use of such cross bars E, and upon the ends thereof are the T
heads or flanges 10 through which the bolts 8 pass, and it is also preferable to make
use of the bolts 9 that pass through one of the flanges or T heads 10 into the vertical
flanges 2 of the movable switch point C near the end thereof.

page_text: It is now to be understood that this removable switch point receives the concussion
of the wheels as they pass from the main track upon the switch rails and that the
removable points can be unbolted from the switch rail and a now point substituted
whenever it becomes necessary to change such switch point, but in so doing it is
unnecessary to make any change in the switch rail itself, and those switch rails usually
are adapted to wearing as long as the rails of the main track, except at the points
where they become battered and injured as before expressed, my removable point
allowing for the removal of the injured portion and the introduction of the new point,
thus effecting a saving, and lessening the time occupied in repairing the switches.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is :-
First The combination wit. the switch rail B of a removable point having an
inclined side adjacent to the main rail of the track, and bolts for connecting the
removable point to the switch rail substantially as set forth.
Second: The combination with the switch mil B of a removable point ('having a
vertical flange 2 one side of which is bevilled and adapted to set against the main rail
of the track, and a flange 3 resting upon the flange 4 of the switch rail and bolts for
securing the removable switch point to the flange nud body of the switch rail sub-
stantially as set forth.
Third: The combination with the switch rail B and the tie rods E having T heads,
of the removable switch point (adapted to rest upon the flange 4 of the rail B and
the bolts 7, 8 and 9 for connecting the removable point to the switch rail & for
connecting the hars E to the removable point and switch rail substantially as set
forth.