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Spring Setting Device

IMPROVED DESIGN OF SPRING SETTING DEVlCE

Railways are increasingly using curved switches in turnouts, since they enable smoother passage and also permit higher speeds. In curved switches, the distance from Actual Toe (AT) up to Junction of Rail Heads (JOH), where the machining of tongue rail head ends, is much longer as compared to the corresponding distance in straight switches which were used earlier. As a consequence, the tongue rail in curved switches is comparatively much slender in the stretch from AT to JOH.

When a throw of 115 mm (approx) is given to the tongue rail of curved switches at AT, the flange way clearance between the open tongue rail and the corresponding stock rail near JOH is of the order of 35 to 50 mm only. This is much lesser than the minimum clearance of 60 mm (approx) needed for smooth passage of the wheel-flange through open switches. As such, back-face of wheels graze the back-face of tongue rails when vehicles negotiate open switches, thus causing rattling of tongue rail as also wear on its back-face. While wear on the gauge-face of tongue rail is quite usual, the wear caused on the back-face of tongue rails distorts the geometry of switch when such a worn tongue rail is closed against its stock rail.

Another consequence of the slenderness of tongue rails of curved switches is non-butting of the closed tongue rail against its corresponding stock rail at JOH, where a gap of 10 to 25 is observed between the two rails. This gap causes gauge variation in switch portion and vibration of tongue rail when wheel-flange presses against the gauge-face of tongue rail.

Curved switches are used in preference to straight switches basically for enabling smoother and faster travel. Therefore, there is a greater need to ensure proper alignment, gauge, fitment etc in curved switches. The problems noticed in curved switches as discussed above, defeat the very purpose of their introduction.

M/S. Bina Matal Way Limited (BMW) have evolved a new design of Spring Setting Device to address this particular problem. When this device is located near and connected to the Last following Stretcher Bar of the switches, it ensures the following:

• A minimum flange way clearance of 60 mm (approx) at JOH between the open tongue rail and its stock rail.
• The butting of closed tongue rail against its stock rail from AT to JOH.

The new design of SSD was evaluated by the Indian Railways' Research Organization (RDSO). Finding the design satisfactory, over 350 Nos. of SSDs of BMW make were purchased by Eastern, Konkan & Western Rlys. Out of these, over 250 Nos. have been laid in track as per information available with BMW. They are reportedly performing to the satisfaction of P. Way and Signal officials.

On Indian Railways, the stretcher bars are rigidly connected to both the tongue rails. As such, when one tongue rail is pulled or pushed at the location of Leading Stretcher Bar, both the tongue rails move together equally. The SSD made and supplied to Indian Railways has been designed to suit this feature. However, on some foreign railway systems, the two tongue rails are not rigidly connected together. In such cases, the stretcher bar connection permits the two tongue rails to move independently of each other. Thus there is an articulated movement in the two tongue rails.

BMW have made their SSD also to suit this type of articulated movement of tongue rails. As such, whatever may be the system of tongue rail/ stretcher bar connection and whatever the pattern of movement of the two tongue rails, BMW is in a position to supply SSDs to suit that specific requirement, while ensuring adequate flange-way clearance in the open switch and proper butting in the closed switch.