Improvements in or relating to Switch Devices for Railroads.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Switch Devices for Railroads.
I, MAX GAUL, Merchant, of Kranachstrasse 14, Sachsenhausen, Frankfurt o/M.,
in the Kingdom of Prussia, 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:-
"
The present invention relates to a device for automatically switching the
various points" on a certain length of rail-road by means of the vehicle, for
instance, the locomotive itself. In its main features it consists of a device as
simple as it is effective and comprises a ratchet wheel and an irregular toothed
wheel or cam both keyed on the same axis and actuated by a spring, and two
co-operating levers by means of one of which the switching of the points is
effected, while the other lever is actuated by an oblique guide secured in con-
venient proximity to the point operated.
It is evident that by such an automatic switching device not only the cost of
construction and maintenance of a railway line so provided, is greatly reduced,
but also the working of the line can be made absolutely independent of a points-
man whereby greater security is obtained.
In the accompanying drawing such an approved construction of switching
device is shown.
Figure 1 being a front sectional view of the road-way and part of the vehicle
with the device applied, while
Figure 2 is a plan view.
In a casing a which is preferably fixed to the bottom of the vehicle, or loco-
motive, is secured in bearings a shaft b on which are keyed two wheels c and d,
the wheel c being an ordinary ratchet wheel or locking wheel, while the wheel d
is an irregular toothed or cam wheel. The shaft b together with its two
wheels c d is actuated by a spiral spring contained within the casing e.
The ratchet wheel e engages with a lever g pressed by a spring f, and pivotted
on the casing a. At its lower free end the lever is provided with a roller h for
the purpose of diminishing the friction when it comes in contact with the guide i
to be described. The cam wheel d engages with a lever pivotted on the casing a
and pressed upon by a spring k, the free lower end of which lever is also provided
with a roller m for the purpose of reducing the effect of friction.
Conveniently arranged on the track is an oblique guide fastened to a sleeper n,
and a lever p pivotted on a pin o, the free forward end of which is pointed as
at q, while the other end, by means of a slot r actuates the points united by a
cross tie s.
The operation of the automatic switch device is as follows:-
When a train is moving in the direction indicated by the arrow (Figure 2)
the friction roller m of the cam lever presses against and aside the point g of
the switching lever p thereby moving the points in the known manner and
opening the branch line. As soon as the roller m has passed the switch lever,
the friction roller h of the ratchet lever g is acted upon by the guide i as the

page_text: train continues on its way, and its upper end moves outwards, in such a manner
that the ratchet wheel c is released which then together with the cam wheel d
keyed on the same shaft, is turned by its spring in the direction as indicated by
the arrow, Figure 1, but it should be understood that it can only be thus turned
to the extent of one tooth of the ratchet wheel c, the end of the lever g acting
as an anchor escapement, as in clocks. The cam wheel d is therefore also turned
in the same direction, viz. towards the left to the extent of a tooth of the
ratchet wheel c. The lever which has been returned by its spring k to its
normal position would therefore again actuate the next switch provided it is
arranged like the one represented in Figure 2, in other words provided that the
next points would also have to be switched, as in the case described, from left
to right.
It is evident that on further turning the cam wheel d by means of the lever
arrangement, the lever would be caused to mount on the top of the next cam
or tooth, thereby moving the lower end of the lever inwards so that it would
come in contact with the other side of the next switch and actuate it in the
contrary direction to the one represented in Figure 2, i.e. the point would be
moved from right to left.
The number and the arrangement of the teeth or cams on the wheel d depends
on the number and arrangement of the various switches or points that are to be
passed by the vehicle passing over the line. In lines therefore containing
switches acting in one direction only the arrangement of teeth or cams or of
projections and recesses in the circumference of the wheel d would not be
necessary, and a simple disc would answer the purpose. In cases where left and
right switches alternate regularly in the line, the projections and recesses of
the wheel & would be regular and symmetrical. In the drawing the case is
represented as is usual in practice, viz. in which the changes as regards the direc-
tion in which the switching has to be carried out is irregular.
Having now particularly described and ascertained in 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 automatic switch device for railroads comprising a casing or support
on the locomotive or vehicle provided with two discs keyed on the same shaft
provided with a motor spring one disc being in the form of a ratchet wheel and
engaging with an anchor lever, such as g, adapted to be operated by guides
arranged on the track the other engaging with the end of a pivotted lever for
actuating switch levers of the points on the line, substantially as described.
66
"
2. In connection with a switch device of the kind described a guide, such
as i, on the rail track for effecting the movement of the lever engaging the ratchet
wheel of the switch device, substantially as described.
3. In a switch device of the kind described a cam or disc provided with pro-
jections and recesses corresponding to the number and the arrangement of the
various points within a certain length of the track to be traversed, substantially
as described.
4. In a switch device of the kind described a pivotted switch lever p, for actuating
the points provided with an end q having inclined sides, substantially as described.
5. The complete switch device substantially as described or illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
D