Reversing device for swivelable rails or movable frogs within the crossing area of a railway switch

A reversing device for a rail crossing site, comprising:

• two wing rails which converge at an acute angle towards a crossing site;
• two connecting rails which diverge at an acute angle away from the crossing site;
• one of the connecting rails being arranged to provide part of a first longitudinal continuation of one of the wing rails, and the other of the connecting rails being arranged to provide part of a second longitudinal continuation of the other of the wing rails;
• a rail element disposed at said crossing site and arranged to alternatively provide a further part of said first longitudinal continuation which includes said one wing rail and one connecting rail or a further part of said second longitudinal continuation which includes said other wing rail and said other connecting rail;
• means for shifting a structure comprising one of:
• (a) said rail element;
• and
• (b) said two wing rails and said two connecting rails,
• between a first position and a second position, for alternatively establishing said first longitudinal continuation while disrupting said second longitudinal continuation, and establishing said second longitudinal continuation while disrupting said first longitudinal continuation;
• said means for shifting said structure between said first position and said second position, comprising:
• at least one supporting rod extending generally longitudinally of said wing rails and connecting rails beside said rail element;
• guide means supporting each said supporting rod for reversible longitudinal movement;
• drive means for reversibly longitudinally moving each said supporting rod in the respective said guide means between a first position and a second position;
• each said structure having secured thereon and projecting generally transversally therefrom for interaction with a respective said supporting rod at least one structure-based thrust support having support surface means;
• each support rod having secured thereon and projecting generally transversally therefrom for interaction with said structure at least one support rod-based thrust support having a wedge surface leading to a support surface, each said support surface being disposed in a substantially vertical plane as seen in plan view, which plane is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective said support rod;
• each support rod-based thrust support being so located on a respective said support rod, in relation to a respective said structure-based thrust support, that, in sequence as said structure is being shifted by longitudinally moving each said support rod, to provide as a new position either said longitudinal continuation from providing as an existing position the respective other said longitudinal continuation:
• (a) a said support surface of a said support rod-based thrust support which is in engagement with a said support surface means of a said structure-based thrust support is moved out of engagement therewith so as to free said structure from being fixed in said existing position and able to be shifted towards said new position;
• and
• (b) a said wedge surface of a said support rod-based thrust support is progressively moved along a said support surface means of a said structure-based thrust support so as to cam said structure away from said existing position and into said new position, until the said support surface into which such wedge surface leads becomes engaged with said support surface means of the last-mentioned structure based thrust support thereby fixing said structure in said new position.