Turnout Structure

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Turnout is an indispensable line equipment when
a train transfers from one track to another, and it
is an important part of railway track.

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 Classification by function and use ：
1 、 simple turnout

left hand turnout

right hand turnout

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The method of distinguishing left hand turnout from right

hand turnout is as follows: Standing at the front of the

switch rail of the turnout, facing the switch rail, the left

branch of the side line is called the left turnout, and the

right branch of the side line is called the right turnout.

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2 、 equilateral turnout

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Equilateral turnout

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3 、 three-way turnout

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three-way turnout

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4 、 slip switch

 When two lines intersect, the train can only turn from one
side, which is called simple slip switches.

simple slip switches

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4 、 slip switch
 When two lines intersect, the train can turn from one line
to another along any side. This kind of turnout is called
double slip switches.

Double slip switches 土木工程系

Double slip switches
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5 、 scissors crossing
 scissors crossing are generally composed of four groups of
simple turnouts, a group of diamond crossing and
connecting rails, which are used to connect parallel lines.

scissors crossing 土木工程系

5 、 scissors crossing

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The diamond crossing consists of two
groups of acute frogs and two groups of
obtuse frogs, but there is no switch, so
there is no turning line.

菱形交叉

scissors crossing
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 Classification by rail type ：

43kg/m 、 50kg/m 、 60kg/m 、 75kg/m turnout 。

43kg/m rail 50kg/m rail 60kg/m

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We can also divide rails into common rails and special rails
according to their cross sections.

ordinary 50AT 60AT

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 Classification according to number of turnouts ：

Turnouts are classified into 6, 7,

8, 9, 12, 18 and large numbers
(such as 30, 38, 42) according to
the number of turnouts. The
commonly used simple turnout is
No. 9 and No. 12. The main
turnout of passenger dedicated
line is No. 18. Turnouts No. 6, No.
7 and No. 8 are mainly used in
industrial enterprises. 土木工程系
• and the formula used for calculating the value of α is

1
• 
The corresponding arctan
values of N and αare shown in
Table. N

N 6 7 9 12 18 24
α 9°27′44″ 8°07′48″ 6°20′25″ 4°45′49″ 3°10′47″ 2°23′09″

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Obviously, the smaller the frog angle α, the larger the N value and
the radius of the lead curve, the smoother the lateral line of the
train passes through the turnout, and the higher the allowable
speed of the turnout. Therefore, the use of large turnout is
beneficial to train operation. However, things always have two
sides. The larger the number of turnouts, the longer the turnouts,
the higher the cost of construction, and the more land it occupies.
Therefore, the number of turnouts should be adapted to local
conditions and different lines.

α N length speed
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 Classification by gauge ：

Turnout for standard gauge （ gauge 1435mm ）

Turnout for narrow gauge （ gauge 1000mm ）

Turnout for wide gauge （ gauge 1520mm ）

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 Other classifications of turnouts

According to the types of sleepers, there are wooden

turnout, reinforced concrete turnout and solid bed

turnout.

According to the design age, it can be classified as

"55", "57", "62", "75", "92", "speed-up", "turnout for

passenger dedicated line" and so on.

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The structure of simple turnout is divided
into three parts:
switch, closure, frog and guardrail.

structure

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The switch includes two switch rails, two stock rails and switch
machine.

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switch rail
The function of switch rail: to guide the train into the straight or
lateral direction.
Each group of turnouts has two switch rails, the left switch rails
and the right switch rails. The length of the switch rails is
determined by the size of the turnout.

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The heel structure of the switch rail must ensure that the
switch rail can swing from side to side on the plane
according to different switching requirements, and that it is
firm and stable, simple to manufacture and convenient to
maintain. There are two main forms, spacer block type and
elastic bendable type.

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 closure rail
stock rail

rail brace

rail brace
switch
rail

track blolt

tie plate spacer block

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spacer block type

The structure of spacer block type is mainly composed of spacer

block, joint bar and track blolt.

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joint bar

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1 ． switch plate

In the whole length range of the switch rail, there are switch plate
supporting the switch rail and the stock rail. The switch rail is placed on the
switch plate and is connected with the switch plate without rail fastenings.

switch plate
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2 ． rail brace

The rail brace can prevent the overturning, torsion and lateral
movement of the stock rail, and is installed on the outside of the
stock rail.

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3 ． Spacer
The front of the switch rail is close to
the stock rail, and no spacer is needed.
(Inside the red circle)
The remaining part of the switch rail is
easy to bend when it is subjected to
force, so the spacer is needed to
transfer the lateral horizontal force
borne by the switch rail to the stock rail
to maintain the correct position of the
switch rail and the stock rail. (Inside
the yellow circle)

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3 ． Spacer
The spacer is installed on the rail web.

spacer switch
rail

stock
rail

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 connecting
bar
4 ． switch rod and connecting bar

Turnout switch rod connect two

switch rails and switch equipment
to realize swing of switch rails.
The connecting bar is a member
connecting two switch rails. Its
function is to strengthen the
connection between switch rails switch rod
and improve the stability of switch
rails.

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5.switch machine
The most commonly used switch machine are manual and electric.

electric

manual 土木工程系
closure
The closure is made up of rails of different lengths, connecting the
switch with the frog and guard rail parts, and forming a whole group
of turnouts.

structure

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Closure rails include the straight and curved rails, with the latter termed as
the lead curve.
Owing to the restrictions of the length of the lead curve, super elevation and
rail cant are generally not used.

lead curve

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frog and guard rail
Frog is a device that allows a wheel to cross one rail over another.

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Frog
Frog is composed of the frog center and wing rails.

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Types of Frogs

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Most of the common frogs are rigid frogs.
1 、 solid manganese steel frog
Solid manganese steel frog is a frog composed of wing rail and frog center
cast by high manganese steel. High manganese steel is an alloy steel with
high manganese and carbon content, which contains about 13%
manganese and 1.2% carbon.

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2 、 assembled frog
Assembled frog is a frog made of special rails, ordinary rails and other
parts. It consists of frog center, wing rail, spacer block and other parts.

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unprotected length
of the frog

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Guard rails are placed along both sides opposite the rigid frog to guide the wheel flanges
into their appropriate flange ways and prevent the bumping of the frog point.

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Guard rails

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The protected length of the guard rail should include the distance between
the throat and the point where the width of the frog center is equal to 50mm
plus a certain reserve.

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Thank you!

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