教材2 Microsoft Word 文档.doc

108 Lesson 1 Railroad Switch(铁道道岔) Introduction A railroad switch is a mechanical installation enabling trains to be guided from one track to another. In Figure 1, rail track A divides into two: track B (the straight track) and track C (the diverging track) . The switch consists of the pair of linked tapering rails, known as points (switch rails or point blades) lying between the diverging outer rails (the stock rails). These points can be moved laterally into one of two positions so as to determine whether a train coming from A will be led towards B or towards C.2 A train moving from the A direction towards either B or C is said to be executing a facing-point movement. Unless the switch is locked, a train coming from B or C will be led to A regardless of the position of the points, as the vehicles wheels will force the points to move. Passage through a switch in this direction is known as a trailing-point movement. A switch can be described by the direction in which the diverging track leaves the straight track. A right-hand switch has track C to the right of a straight track formed by A and B. A left-hand switch has track C to the left. A straight track is not always present, however both tracks may curve, one to the left and one to the right or both tracks may curve, with differing radii, in the same direction. The operation of a railroad switch In Figure 2, the red track is the one travelled during a facing-point movement. The switch mechanism, shown in black, may be operated remotely using an electric motor or lever from a nearby ground frame. A railroad cars wheels are guided along the tracks by coning of the wheels. Only in extreme cases does it rely on the flanges located on the insides of the wheels. When the wheels reach the switch, the wheels are guided along the route determined by which of the two points is connected to the track facing the switch. In the illustration, if the left point is c