Abstract: A switching apparatus comprising a point detector connecting rod connected at one end to a switch machine and to at least one point at the opposite end. The point detector connecting rod is attached to the point via an angled block that permits a sliding motion relative to the point.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cableway installation for transporting persons by disengageable vehicles and carrying cable comprising: a first station (1a) equipped with a first end pulley, a second station (1b) equipped with a second end pulley, a relay structure equipped with a first idler pulley and a second idler pulley, a first cable loop engaged with the first end pulley and the first idler pulley, and a second cable loop engaged with the second end pulley and the second idler pulley. The relay structure comprises a transfer system for transferring vehicles between the first cable loop and the second cable loop and a fixed guiding track supporting a structure translationally moveable with respect to the fixed guiding track, the moveable structure bearing the first idler pulley, the second idler pulley and embarking the vehicle transfer system.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an automatic locking system for railgear. In an embodiment, the automatic locking system for railgear is an automatic mechanical locking system that can be incorporated into a front guide railgear assembly for use with conventional roadway vehicles. The automatic locking system can secure the railgear in a fixed orientation, either deployed for rail travel using the guide wheels of the railgear on rail tracks or stowed for highway travel such that the vehicle can operate using the conventional tires on a road, highway, and the like.

Abstract: A stop for stopping a trolley on a rail is described. The trolley comprises a set of wheels, including a first wheel and the rail provides, at least in part, a running surface, including a first portion and a second portion thereof, for the first wheel. The stop comprises an actuator providing a third portion of the running surface between the first portion and the second portion and an arm, coupled to the actuator. The stop is arrangeable in a first configuration, wherein the arm is arranged to block the trolley therepast. The stop is arrangeable in a second configuration, wherein the arm is arranged to allow the trolley therepast. The stop is arranged to move from the first configuration to the second configuration by actuation of the actuator, preferably by a movement of the actuator in a direction transverse to the third portion of the running surface.

Abstract: A roadway powered electric vehicle system includes a power supply (101) which makes power available inductively to one or more modules (111) provided in or under a roadway. Modules (111) make a magnetic field selectively available to one or more vehicles travelling over the roadway corresponding to the location of the vehicle. The presence or strength of the magnetic field provided on the roadway may be dependent upon the vehicle type or category.

Abstract: The present invention provides a buffer stop used for an end of crane rails, including: a rail fastener fixedly connected to the crane rails, where a sliding rail is provided on each side of the rail fastener, a sliding shaft passes through the sliding rails and connecting brackets are mounted at two ends of the sliding shaft, an other end of the connecting bracket is connected to an arc-shaped plate above the rail fastener, each outer side of the connecting brackets is connected to a drive rod B by the sliding shaft, each drive rod B is connected to a drive rod A by a rotating shaft, an impact shaft is connected between top portions of two drive rods A, an impact rubber is mounted on one side of the impact shaft facing crane wheels, and each drive rod A is connected to the rail fastener by a pin shaft. The present invention is used for braking the crane at the end of the rails, to ensure safety of the crane.

Abstract: Provided is a computer-implemented method for verifying electronic work zone instructions with an on-board system of a vehicle system. The method includes receiving at least one electronic work zone instruction message from an employee-in-charge device, generating at least one visual instruction diagram based at least partially on the electronic work zone instruction message, communicating the at least one visual instruction diagram from the on-board system of the vehicle system to the employee-in-charge device, receiving a verification of the at least one visual instruction diagram from the employee-in-charge device, and enforcing at least one work zone instruction parameter of the electronic work zone instruction message by the on-board system of the vehicle system in response to receiving the verification. A system and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a rail transport system. The rail transport system includes: a rail, the rail includes a steering portion and a travelling portion, the travelling portion is connected to the steering portion, and a first recess is constructed on the travelling portion to form an escape passage; and a rail vehicle, where the rail vehicle includes bogies and a vehicle body, the bogie movably straddles the rail, the bogie fits in with an inner bottom surface of the escape passage of the travelling portion and the steering portion, and the bogie travels by using the travelling portion and is steered by using the steering portion, and the vehicle body is connected to the bogie and pulled by the bogie to travel along the rail. The rail transport system according to this embodiment of the present disclosure has advantages such as facilitation of evacuation of passengers in an emergency, low costs, small occupied space, small rail weight bearing, and high stability.

Abstract: A fluid-jet emitting machine, particularly a firefighting machine, comprises a fluid-jet emitting device, a transport vehicle, lifting members and a control device. Each lifting member comprises an actuator constrained to the transport vehicle and at least one idler wheel adapted to engage a rail of a track. The actuators are configured to move the respective wheels between a non-operative position, in which the wheels are distanced from the respective rail, and an operative position, in which the wheels are arranged in contact with the respective rail. The control device is operatively associated with the actuators to activate the passage of the wheels from the non-operative position to the operative position so that during movement along a track and in said operative position, the wheels prove to be pressed against the respective rail, exerting a force such as to reduce only part of the pressure exerted by the movement means of the vehicle on the track.

Abstract: A system and method for automating railroad maintenance by a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables collision avoidance between members of the tie gang performing maintenance on railway assets (e.g., Rails, Ties, Ballasts, Turnouts, Crossings, etc.). The system can generate production numbers for the railway assets and evaluate an asset queue for the tie gang to perform maintenance. The system can utilize real-time updates from the tie gang to optimize work output. The system can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset. The system also provides for a heads-up-display (HUD) to notify an operator of relevant information, such as maintenance information, travel indicators, and updated asset queue. The system can identify a next location and calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics.

Abstract: The invention concerns a vehicle guided on a railway track comprising a chassis and at least one wheel assembly interconnected to the chassis and a method for steering said vehicle. The wheel assembly comprises a cross-member having a first end to which a first hub is interconnected by a first steering joint and a second end to which a second hub is interconnected by a second steering joint. A first wheel is attached to the first hub rotatable around a first rotation axis and a second wheel is attached to the second hub rotatable around a second rotation axis. A first sensor determines the lateral position of the first sensor with respect to the rail. The first sensor is attached to the first hub and is, with respect to a direction of travel arranged in front of the supporting area of the first wheel in a horizontal direction spaced a distance A1 apart.

Abstract: A railroad tie formed of a polymeric or polymeric composite material and configured for enhanced mechanical interaction with an underlying ballast. The tie includes at least a top longitudinal surface, a pair of side longitudinal surfaces, a bottom longitudinal surface, and two end faces. At least the bottom longitudinal surface includes a plurality of indentations formed along a length thereof. Additionally, the tie includes at least one serrated edge portion having a plurality of serrations, the at least one serrated edge portion formed along at least part of the longitudinal length of the tie at an edge between at least one of the side longitudinal surfaces and the bottom longitudinal surface to provide for enhanced mechanical interaction with the ballast.

Abstract: An articulated rail coupler comprises a base member, a female connecting member, a male connecting member, a bearing race, a first bearing seated within the bearing race and defining a vertical axis of rotation, and a second or a coupler bearing configured and sized to be received within a truck bogie bearing bowl. The male connecting member is allowed to rotate relative to the female connecting member about the vertical axis of rotation in a range of about ninety degrees, when the male connecting member and the female connecting member are coupled therebetween by the first bearing.

Abstract: A ride system for an amusement park includes a ride vehicle configured to carry one or more passengers. The ride system further includes a first evacuation platform comprising a first section configured to be moved and disposed underneath the ride vehicle, wherein in use, the one or more passengers evacuate the ride vehicle by exiting onto the first section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tamping assembly for tamping sleepers of a track, comprising a tamping unit having oppositely positioned tamping tools which are mounted on a lowerable tool carrier and connected in each case to a squeezing drive for generating a squeezing motion, wherein an eccentric drive having an eccentric shaft is provided for generating a vibratory motion. In this, it is provided that each squeezing drive is supported on a console having a ring-shaped housing section which is mounted on an eccentric section, associated with the squeezing drive, of the eccentric shaft.

Abstract: A method of assembling a railcar bogie includes: a positioning step of locking a wheelbase fixing jig to a pair of axle box devices to position the pair of axle box devices such that a wheelbase between a pair of wheelsets supported by the respective axle box devices becomes a predetermined designed value, the pair of axle box devices being arranged away from each other in a car longitudinal direction, the wheelbase fixing jig extending in the car longitudinal direction; a plate spring arranging step of making the pair of axle box devices support a plate spring extending in the car longitudinal direction; and a bogie frame arranging step of making a longitudinal direction middle portion of the plate spring support a bogie frame and coupling the bogie frame to the pair of axle box devices.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a monorail system configured and arranged for displacing at least one maintenance device configured and arranged for machining substantially vertically extending surfaces. Another aspect is directed to a maintenance system consisting of at least one maintenance device which is displaceable on the monorail system.

Abstract: A deployable measurement system for analyzing a rail of a railroad track includes a housing, a reflecting assembly coupled to the housing, a movement assembly coupled to the housing, and an optical measurement system disposed within the housing. Both the housing and the reflecting assembly are moveable between a stored position and a deployed position. The movement assembly includes a deployment assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the stored position to the deployed position, and a retraction assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the deployed position to the stored position. The optical measurement system emits and receives light. The reflecting assembly reflects the emitted light toward the rail. The reflecting assembly reflects light reflected off of the rail toward the optical measurement system. The light received by the optical measurement system is used to measure parameters related to the rail.

Abstract: A system for use with an analog DC model train, the system includes a base unit to electronically communicate with a track of the analog DC model train, the base unit having a receiver; one or more microcontrollers; a potentiometer; a digital stepper motor connected to the digital stepper motor and to provide torque to turn the potentiometer; a controller to communicate wirelessly with the receiver, the controller having a control to send a command the base unit to set a first numerical value associated with a position of the digital stepper motor; the first numerical value can be retrieved by the base unit based on commands from the controller to set the position of the digital stepper motor.

Abstract: Provided is a computer-implemented method for determining a communication status in a train consist operating in a distributed power system, the train consist including a lead locomotive and a plurality of remote locomotives. The method includes, for each remote locomotive of the plurality of remote locomotives that receives the command message directly from the lead locomotive, setting the message source indicator of the remote locomotive to a first state representative of a direct receipt of the command message, incrementing the message source counter for each response message received by the remote locomotive from other remote locomotives in which the respective message source indicator is set to the first state, generating a response message including a value of the message source indicator and a value of the message source counter, and transmitting the response message. A system and computer program product are also disclosed.