Patents by Inventor Gerald Durchschlag

Gerald Durchschlag 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: 6056244
    Abstract: A device for setting railway switches includes a plurality of interlinked hydraulic switching devices (6) connected to a separate reversible hydraulic drive unit in a manner offset in the longitudinal direction of the rails, wherein the working volumes of the hydraulic cylinder piston aggregates (6) are connected to driving movement in same direction. The pistons (20) or plungers (11) include push-open valves (18) for travel limitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Vae Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerald Durchschlag, deceased, Herbert Achleitner
  • Patent number: 5687935
    Abstract: A device for operating switches includes a plurality of interlinked hydraulic switching devices (7) offset in the longitudinal direction of the rails. The first mechanical switching device is connected with a hydraulic cylinder/piston unit acting as a pumping element, the working volumes (13) of this first hydraulic cylinder/piston unit (7) acting as a pumping element being connected with the working volumes (13) of consecutive hydraulic cylinder/piston units (7) so as to be driven in same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: VAE Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerald Durchschlag, Herbert Achleitner
  • Patent number: 5650576
    Abstract: The device that is used to measure the switching force in railway points incorporates a measuring bolt (5) that can be inserted into a joint in the point drive. At the unattached end of the measuring bolt there is a head (7) in which an electro-mechanical sensor (8) is arranged. The precise adjustment of the measuring bolt (5) within the joint is effected by using a spacer (10), which simplifies the removal of the measuring bolt once the measurements have been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: VAE Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerald Durchschlag
  • Patent number: 5566912
    Abstract: In a device for locking end positions of movable switch parts, in particular, a switch lock, two relatively movable parts are displaceable into a position non-positive in respect of at least one direction of movement. The relatively movable parts are formed by a tube and a pin axially guided within the tube. In addition, separate locking elements formed by heads of flexible tongues are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: VAE Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerald Durchschlag
  • Patent number: 5499786
    Abstract: In a device for facilitating the re-positioning of moveable rails or rail components, in particular of tongue rails (7), in which the rails (7, 7'), during the re-positioning operation are supported on rollers (10, 10') forced against the underside of the rail base by spring action, the rollers (10, 10') in at least one end position (7, 7') of the re-positioning operation are pressed by the force of the spring against one edge (14, 15) of the rail base. In this way it is possible to combine the advantages of reduction of the sliding friction during the re-positioning operation with a flexible securing of the end position of the currently involved adjusted position of the moveable rail or rail component (7, 7').
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Eisenbahnsysteme Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerald Durchschlag, Herbert Klein
  • Patent number: 5462245
    Abstract: In an apparatus that is used to lock the end positions of moveable switch-point parts, in particular a switch-point lock, in which two parts (2, 3) that are moveable relative to each other can be moved in at least one direction of movement in a position in which they are positively locked, the parts that can be moved relative to each other are formed by a tube (2) and a bolt (3) that is axially guided within the tube (2), additional separate lock elements (4) such as, for example, balls or rollers that can be displaced in a radial direction, being used (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: VAE Eisenbahnststeme Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerald Durchschlag
  • Patent number: 5374016
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device for determining lateral and/or vertical deviations in the path taken by a wheel at railway points or crossings. One of the aims of this invention is to provide data on the condition of such points or crossings, particularly as to the degree of their wear. Further, it is another aim of the invention to create a device which is easier to relate the signals from the sensors to the direction of the loads giving rise to these signals, and which at the same time is simpler and more economical to assembly while at the same time ensuring reproduceable results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Eisenbahnsystems Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerald Durchschlag
  • Patent number: 5356224
    Abstract: In the case of a device for fastening of at least one exchangeable elongate slide insert (5), in particular synthetic plastics material slide inserts, in recesses of a slide base or ribbed plate (4), in which the side surfaces of the slide insert (5) are at least partly gripped by inwardly-sloping or undercut walls of the recesses, the slide inserts (5), on their underside and transversely to their longitudinal axis, have a straight-line groove, in which case the slide base or ribbed plate (4) on its upper side has a groove open towards the top in alignment with the groove in the insert, and the groove in the slide base or ribbed plate (4) and the groove in the slide insert (5), in the locking-in position, define a clear opening for the insertion of a rod-shaped locking-in member (7), the free ends of which project, in a plastically deformable mariner, beyond the edges of the slide base or ribbed plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Eisenbahnsysteme Aktiesengesselschaft
    Inventor: Gerald Durchschlag
  • Patent number: 5253830
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring the condition of rail switch points and for detection of premature abrasive wear-and-tear in the region of the tongue switching rail (3) of the points, the signals from at least one proximity sensor (2) in the region of the tongue switching rail (3) of the points are evaluated when the tongue switching rail is travelled upon, and the smallest measured value of the separation distance (l) during the travel is stored in memory. The smallest measured value stored in memory and at least a first limiting value for the smallest separation distance are compared with one another and, when the smallest measured value in memory exceeds this first limiting value, a warning signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Eisenbahnsysteme Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Nayer, Gerald Durchschlag
  • Patent number: 4982919
    Abstract: In a reversing device for the movable parts of a railway switch, in which movable wing rails are, in their end positions, alternately engaging the frog and are supported in their engaging positions by supporting rods extending in the longitudinal direction of the wing rails and which are slideably guided on the sleepers or, respectively, base plates, the supporting rods include at least one thrust support cooperating, for the purpose of shifting the wing rails relative to the frog, with thrust supports of the wing rails. In this case, at least one of the mutually cooperating surfaces of the thrust supports of a wing rail and/or supporting rod is formed of a wedge surface passing over into a supporting surface extending in essentially parallel relation to the longitudinal direction of the supporting rod. The supporting surface cooperates, in the position in which the wing rail contacts the frog, with the thrust support of the wing rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Maschinenbau Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Gerald Durchschlag, Alfred Lang
  • Patent number: 4927102
    Abstract: In a reversing device for movable parts of a railway switch within the deflection area of a railway switch, in particular tongue rails, monorail deflection device or movable stock rails, in which device the movable rails can be caused to contact rigid switch parts, the movable rails are supported in their contacting position by supporting rods extending in the longitudinal direction of the rail the supporting rods are slideably guided on the sleepers or, respectively, base plates in the longitudinal direction of the rails. In this case, the supporting rods are designed as adjusting members for the reversing operation and comprise thrust supports cooperating with thrust supports of the movable rails for shifting the rails. At least one of the mutually cooperating surfaces of the thrust supports of rail and/or of supporting rod is formed of a wedge surface passing over into a supporting surface extending in an essentially parallel relation to the longitudinal direction of the supporting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Maschinenbau Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Gerald Durchschlag, Alfred Lang, Franz Rotter, Dieter Fritz, Heinz Kopilovitsch
  • Patent number: 4917339
    Abstract: In a reversing device for rails which are swivelable around a swivelling axis, or for movable frogs within the crossing area of a railway switch, the swivelable rails or, respectively, the movable frogs are supported in their position being in alignment with wing rails or, respectively, connecting rails or, respectively, being in contact with such rails by supporting ro)$
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Maschinenbau Gesellschaft m.b.h.
    Inventors: Gerald Durchschlag, Alfred Lang, Franz Rotter, Dieter Fritz, Heinz Kopilovitsch
  • Patent number: 4860978
    Abstract: A rail switch control mechanism including a locking clamp which is shiftable using a path rod. The locking clamp has, on an end facing the switch tonque, a swivel head. The swivel head is swivelably connected with a switch tongue. In use, the locking clamp cooperates with a locking piece. In the locked position of the clamp, a shoulder of the locking clamp contacts a shoulder of the locking piece. The switch tongue rail is linked to the swivel head with the interposition of a pin arranged with an elongated slot extending longitudinally of the tongue rail. The elongated slot is arranged within a connecting member which is rigidly connected to the switch tongue rail, e.g. by being threadedly connected, to the web of the switch tongue rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerald Durchschlag, Alfred Lang