Patents by Inventor Francis Carmes

Francis Carmes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7900879
    Abstract: A device is provided for manually maneuvering a set of switch points, the device includes a housing which is intended to apply a force at a location of a set of rail switch points in order to move the set of switch points relative to the housing from a first switch points position to a second switch points position. The device also includes a guided member for controlling the set of switch points, which can be moved relative to the housing, a guiding member, which can also be moved relative to the housing, a transmission mechanism for driving the guided member in one direction when the guiding member moves in a first direction. The guiding member is capable of being moved in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, while the guided member remains fixed relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventor: Francis Carmes
  • Publication number: 20080048070
    Abstract: A device is provided for manually maneuvering a set of switch points, the device includes a housing which is intended to apply a force at a location of a set of rail switch points in order to move the set of switch points relative to the housing from a first switch points position to a second switch points position. The device also includes a guided member for controlling the set of switch points, which can be moved relative to the housing, a guiding member, which can also be moved relative to the housing, a transmission mechanism for driving the guided member in one direction when the guiding member moves in a first direction. The guiding member is capable of being moved in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, while the guided member remains fixed relative to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: ALSTOM TRANSPORT SA
    Inventor: Francis Carmes
  • Patent number: 5730395
    Abstract: In a locking apparatus for locking a point of a rail switch, a control bar and locking bars are disposed side-by-side, touching, and parallel to one another; first and second notches are provided in the same side of the control bar and of each of the locking bars; and the inside of the slideway and the outside of the assembly comprising the control bar and the locking bars are disposed side-by-side and touching, and are of complementary overall shapes so as to enable the control bar and the locking bars to slide relative to the slideway. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for operating and locking a point, to a method of installing this apparatus, and to an apparatus for operating and locking a rail switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Transport SA
    Inventor: Francis Carmes
  • Patent number: 4896850
    Abstract: The system includes a motor and stepdown gear unit (17) which drives a central body (22) of a moving equipment longitudinally by means of a ball screw (20) and a nut. The moving equipment includes two slides (24, 25) sandwiching the central body (22). The two slides mesh with a common gear wheel mounted to rotate freely in the central body (22). Each of the slides drives a corresponding control bar (9, 10) connected to an operating rod (7, 8) in turn connected to one of the blades of a railroad switch, with said drive taking place via a vertical cylindrical floating peg (34, 35, 38, 39). The control bars (9, 10) are locked at the ends of the stroke of the central body (22) by respective ones of the floating pegs being positioned in a corresponding locking groove (40 to 43) of a fixed locking plate (30, 31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme dite: ALSTHOM
    Inventor: Francis Carmes
  • Patent number: 4842225
    Abstract: An operating device for a railroad switch, the device comprising a right drive rod (5) connected to a right point blade (1), a left drive rod (6) connected to a left point blade (2), and a moving carriage (7) driven by a motor between a right locking plate (12) and a left locking plate (13). The plate is held in position by a frame (36). The right drive rod (5) is situated between the right locking plate (12) and the carriage (7) and being received in a right groove (14) of the carriage. The left drive rod (6) is situated between the left locking plate (13) and the carriage (7) by being received in a left groove (15) of the carriage. Each drive rod (5, 6) is provided with two floating pegs (8 to 11) extending perpendicularly to the grooves and each is received in a corresponding notch (16 to 19) in the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Alsthom
    Inventor: Francis Carmes