IS17. 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



329 



ity of such moveable tongue rail, as to enable the end of the same to 

 pass under, and be housed beneath, the upper table of the side rail of 

 the main line of rails, when the switch is closed. The wheels of the 

 curriages in passing along the switch will not press vertically upon the 

 moveable tongue rail in consequence of the end of the tongue being 

 below and beneath the upper table of the side rail ; but the Hange of 

 the wheel will press laterally against the side of the tongue rail; the 

 wheel will pass a considerable distance along from the end of the 

 tongue rail before it commences pressing upoa it vertically, the upper 

 table of the tongue mil being gradually developed as it recedes Irom 

 the side rail, till, at a considerable distance from its point, it is of 

 sufficient bulk and strength to receive the vertical pressure of the 

 wheel without injury. The tongue rail still continues to develope 

 itself for a further distance, where it is of the usual and proper 

 form. 



By these improvements, the patentee obviates the necessity of 

 having a notch cut in the upper table of the side rail for the reception 

 of the point or end of the moveable tongue rail, or the alternative of 

 having the point or end of the tongue rail cut so thin, and thus so 

 reduced in strength, as to be unable to support the pressure of the 

 wheels and load when passing over it. Fig. 1 is a plan of a railway 

 switch, made according to the most approved construction usuallv 

 used, but with the points of the moveable tongue rails, D and D', made 

 according to the patentee's method ; A, A', the rails forming the main 

 or through line of rails; B, B', the rails forming the branch line or 

 siding; C, C, the chairs supporting the same; D and D', the two 

 moveable tongue rails jointed to the jaw chairs, E, and sliding or 

 moving laterally upon the table chairs, F, as usual ; Gf, a rod or bar 

 connecting together tbe two moveable tongue rails, and connected 

 with any apparatus for the purpose of opening or closing the switch 



in the usual manner. The ends or points of the moveable tongue 

 rails, D and D', being made and constructed, as represented by the 

 dotted lines, in addition to the full lines in the plan, fig. 1, and also by 

 figs. 2 and 3; fig. 2 being an elevation of the tongue rail D, showing 

 the inclination of the top surface of the upper table of the tongue 

 rail, D; fig. 3, a diagram upon an enlarged scale, representing, as will 

 be hereafter explained, the contour or form of the tongue rail, by the 

 sections represented, as taken at the points shown by the numbers 

 1, 2, 3, &c. By reference to the above, and the following description 

 thereof, the form or contour of the moveable tongue rail will be at 

 once apparent. 1, 2, 3, &c. (fig. 3), represent the point or end; and 

 the sections of the tongue rail, D, figs. 1 and 2, taken respectively at 

 the corresponding numbers thereon ; thus describing and showing the 

 form or contour of the said tongue rail, D, from the point or end of 

 the same to No. 10, where it is the full size of the general body of 

 the rail. The right-hand tongue rail, D', is precisely of the same 

 shape or form as the rail D, but reversed, to suit the opposite side 

 rsi , A', of the line; should, however, the thickness of the upper 

 table, or the breadth of the lower table, of the side rail. A, or A , 

 exceed, or fall short of, or otherwise vary from the dimensions or 

 proportions shown in the patentee's drawings, the patentee directs 

 the moveable tongue rail to be made to conform to the form or contour 

 of such side rail by cutting away more or less from the upper or lower 

 table of the said tongue rail, so as to allow the point or end of the 

 »aid tongue rail to pass under, and be housed beneath, the upper table 

 of the said side rail; or a portion may be cut away from the under 

 »ide of the upper table of the side rail, if sufficiently thick to allow 

 this reduction, for the same object, without unnecessarily reducing 

 the strength of the tongue rail. 



The second improvement of the patentee relates to supporting and 

 balancing the upper or moveable portion of turn-tables, and thereby 

 lessening the bearing weight, and consequently the friction upon the 

 moving parts; and it also relates to the position of the friction rollers 

 or wheels placed beneath the outer edge of the revolving table or 

 plate, by arranging them in such a position that the upper edge of 

 the rollers shall be in one horizontal plane, or plane at the right angles 

 to the centre line of the axles of the turn-table. Fig. 4, a sectional 

 elevation of the turn-table; A, the lower or outer curb firmly bolted to 

 the foundation, B, and fastened by the radial bars, C, to the centre 

 plate, D; also firmly secured to the foun lation B' ; E, a block of 

 metal moving freely within the centre plate, D, and acted upon on the 

 under side by the inner ends of the levers, F, F, of which there are 

 two; the other end of the levers, F, F, carrying the counter-b dance 

 weights, G, G, adjustable upon the levers, F, F ; upon the block, E, 

 within the centre-piece E, rests the brass step, H, in which works the 

 centre axes, I, of the turn-table ; upon the exterior of the centre- 

 piece, E, revolves loosely the disc, K, to which are bolted the radial 

 arms or axes, L, L, carrying at their extremities the friction rollers or 

 wheels, M; N, N, washers placed upon the axes, L, L, for adjusting 

 the position of the friction wheels or rollers, M, thereon ; these fric- 

 tion wheels or rollers revolve upon the raised portion of the curb. A, 

 and carry the outer edge of the revolving table or plate, P; O is an 

 iron ring bolted to and connecting the radial arms or axes L, together ; 

 the couEiter-balance weights, G, G, acting through the levers, F, F, 

 upon the toe of the axes, I, of the revolving turn-table, P, relieve the 

 friction rollers or wheels, M, from a very considerable portion of the 

 weight of the revolving turn-table : thereby the friction is consider- 

 ably lessened, and the turntable moved with greater facility than by 



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