Improvements in Switches for Single Rail Railways with Suspended Vehicles..
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by EUGEN LANGEN, of Werthstrasse 14, Cologne,
in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Switches for Single Rail Railways with Suspended
Vehicles..
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer, and Chartered Patent
Agent, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved construction of switches for single rail
railways with suspended vehicles in which two lines of railway branching from a
single one have each a separate switch pivotted thereto, which switches are con-
nected by a transverse connecting rod so as to be moved together, and are so
arranged that if a carriage approaches the junction while the switches are in the
wrong position it will automatically shift the switches so as to bring them into
correct position.
I will describe the construction for this purpose with reference to the accom-
panying drawings in which
Figs. 1 and 2 shew plans of the switches in the two positions and
Fig. 3 shews a cross section on line o p Fig. 1.
The single main line rail a, b, as also the two rails g, e, and h, f, of the branch
lines are carried by fixed supports. The rail y, e, has a switch e, c, pivotted to it
ate and the rail h, f, has a switch f, d pivotted to it at f, both switches being
adapted to connect their respective branch lines to the main line, according as
they are brought into the position shown at Fig. 1 or into that shewn at Fig. 2.
The free ends of the switches are connected together by a looped bar l, m so as
to be moved together by means of the rod In; the loop I'm must be of such a size
that the wheel trucks can pass along underneath it, when the switches are in the
position shewn at Figs. 1, and 3.
Thus when the switches are in the position at Fig. 2 vehicles can pass from the
main line along the left hand branch line f, h or vice versa, the vehicle being
supported by the line of rail without break; at the same time, the bar ik acts as
a safety guide for the vehicle with a suitable construction of the wheel frame
supporting the vehicle g. In like manner, when the switches are in the position
at Fig. 1, the connection between the main line and the right hand branch e, g, is
established, and the base of the switch d, serves as a safety guide for the wheel
frame. The switches are shewn consisting of a short length of rail fixed on a
netal plate; they may however be constructed in any other suitable manner.
The switches can of course be locked in either position by any suitable locking
device, which may be arranged in connection with a signal or with electric indicators
in such manner as effectually to guard against a vehicle passing along one of the
branch lines with the switches in incorrect positions. The switches can however be
Forced over into the correct position by the vehicle itself if wrongly placed. Thus
assuming that with the switches in the position at Fig. 1 a vehicle were to travel
n the direction h, f, or in the position at Fig. 2, in the direction the
Is
witch is made to assume such an angle with its rail that if the wheel frame r be
suitably formed with a projecting part in advance of the wheels such part would
e
open

page_text: come in contact with the open switch and would force it over into the closed
position by the time the wheel had arrived at for e The size and weight of the
switches being comparatively small, the above described automatic adjustment
could be readily accomplished. Should the switches have a locking device as
above mentioned this would of course have to be first acted upon by the said
projecting part of the wheel frame so as to release the switch before it is moved.
Although I have shewn all the lines of rail and switches curved yet it will be
obvious that the main line and one of branch lines and its switch might be
straight.
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. In single rail railways for suspended vehicles, a switch device for connecting
a main line with two branch lines consisting of two switches pivotted respectively
to the two branch line rails and adapted to make connection with the main line
rail, said switches being connected together by a bar at their free ends so as to
be only capable of simultaneous motion, the open switch being made to form a
considerable angle with its rail so as to be adapted to be forced over by a
projection on the wheel frame of a vehicle advancing along such rail, substantially
as described.
2. In single rail railways for suspended vehicles a switch device for connecting
a main line with two branch lines, consisting of two switches ce, and d f pivotted
respectively to the branch line rails e g and fh, and adapted to connect these with
the main line rail a b, said switches being connected at the free ends by an
upwardly looped bar ml, so that the switches are only capable of simultaneous
motion, the open switch being made to form a considerable angle with its line of
rail so as to be forced over into the closed position by the wheel frame of a vehicle
advancing along such line substantially as described.
3. In single rail railways for suspended vehicles, a switch device for connecting
a main line with two branch lines consisting of two switches ce and d f pivotted
respectively to the branch line rails e g and fh and adapted to connect these with
the main rail a b, said switches being connected at the free ends by an upwardly
looped bar ml so that the switches are only capable of simultaneous motion, and
safety guides for guiding the wheel trucks while passing along the switches,
substantially as described."
Dated this 20th day of September 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.