Improvements in Tram- and Railway Points and Switches and in Means for Working the same

26,798. Leighton, J., and Hacking, R. Dec. 4. Points and switches. - Instead of moving the switch rails sideways together, they move in vertical planes, and one is dropped out of the way white the other remains stationary and guides the wheel, the inner switch rail being depressed for running on the branch line, for which the switch is normally set, and the outer switch rail being dropped for running on the main line. As shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the switch rails c, d are on the outer and inner sides of the branch line b respectively, a being the main line rails. The outer switch rail c swings about the knife edge e, and is supported by the tripping-plate g, which is fitted with a pin g . To lower the rail c, the shaft j is rotated by the lever j , thus at first raising the rail as shown in Fig. 1 x, and at the same time with drawing the arm h of the lever h from the pin g' consequently the plate g and the rail c fall into the positions shown in Fig. 3x. The rail is replaced by the lever k, which turns the disc k , the pin k on the disc raising the rail, while the pin g' is raised by the slot in the disc, and the weighted end h of the lever h bringing back the support h. The inner switch rail d is grooved and is supported by the spring n, the groove in front of the nose of the rail being normally filled up by the block o, carried by the pivoted lever o . This lever is held in position by the pivoted pawl p, and is released by the arm q on the shaft j, being brought back to the position shown, by the arm r. The rods j , k are operated by magnets carried on the vehicle and acting upon armatures connected to the rods. The outer switch rail is normally set to guide the vehicle on the branch lines ; in running on the branch lines the block o and thereby the inner rail d are pressed down by the inner wheel, being brought back by the spring n. When travelling on the main lines, the magnet on the vehicle is lowered and operates the rod j , causing the rail c, Fig. 1, and the block o, Fig. 4, to drop, the rail and block being afterwards replaced by again lowering the magnet and operating the rod k . In the Provisional Specification a method of automatically operating the levers, catches, and tripping plates electrically, by closing circuits through solenoids by contact makers on the line, is described.