Abstract: A switch machine for moving railroad switch points. The switch machine includes a switch stand adapted to be connected to the railroad switch points. The switch stand includes a rotatable hub which is selectively rotatable to throw the switch points. A rotary actuator includes a rotatable pinion that is coupled to the hub of the switch stand. A hydraulic pump and a valve are in fluid communication with the rotary actuator and selectively control the direction of rotation of the pinion. A first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor are provided to sense the position of the pinion and hub. When the pinion and hub are rotated to a first position to move the switch points to a first switch point position, the first sensor will deactivate the hydraulic pump. When the pinion and hub rotate the switch points to a second switch point position, the second proximity sensor will deactivate the hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A switch machine for moving railroad switch points. The switch machine includes a switch stand adapted to be connected to the railroad switch points. The switch stand includes a rotatable hub which is selectively rotatable to throw the switch points. A rotary actuator includes a rotatable pinion that is coupled to the hub of the switch stand. A hydraulic pump and a valve are in fluid communication with the rotary actuator and selectively control the direction of rotation of the pinion. A first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor are provided to sense the position of the pinion and hub. When the pinion and hub are rotated to a first position to move the switch points to a first switch point position, the first sensor will deactivate the hydraulic pump. When the pinion and hub rotate the switch points to a second switch point position, the second proximity sensor will deactivate the hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A switch machine for moving railroad switch points. The switch machine includes a switch stand adapted to be connected to the railroad switch points. The switch stand includes a rotatable hub which is selectively rotatable to throw the switch points. A rotary actuator includes a rotatable pinion that is coupled to the hub of the switch stand. A hydraulic pump and a valve are in fluid communication with the rotary actuator and selectively control the direction of rotation of the pinion. A first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor are provided to sense the position of the pinion and hub. When the pinion and hub are rotated to a first position to move the switch points to a first switch point position, the first sensor will deactivate the hydraulic pump. When the pinion and hub rotate the switch points to a second switch point position, the second proximity sensor will deactivate the hydraulic pump.

Abstract: An improved railroad trackwork spring wing frog assembly having a selectively releasable hold-open subassembly for the spring wing rail is provided with a combined compressible shock absorber and compression spring that are functionally connected to the assembly spring wing rail and to the assembly base plate, and that function to generate an opposing force in connection with opening movement of the spring wing rail and an augmented force in connection with closing movement of the spring wing rail.

Abstract: A railroad trackwork frog assembly is provided with a base plate, a spring wing rail supported by and movable laterally relative to the base plate, and a hold-down subassembly attached to the spring wing rail and to the base plate, the hold-down subassembly comprising, in combination with a horn housing, a horn element having a cross-section area moment of inertia about a transverse horizontal axis intersecting the cross-section area center of gravity that is smaller than the cross-section area moment of inertia about a transverse vertical axis intersecting the cross-section area center of gravity.

Abstract: An improved railroad trackwork spring wing frog is provided with a rail-closer having a single compression spring whose reaction forces are applied to the frog spring wing rail through movable linkages that are each connected to the spring wing rail at different spaced-apart position and that each abut the single compression spring.

Abstract: A railroad frog assembly is provided with a spring wing rail multi-position holdback subassembly that continuously retains the spring wing rail in each spring wing rail open position when activated by the wheels of a railcar traversing the frog assembly, and that automatically deactivates the multi-position holdback subassembly and releases the spring wing rail from retention in an open condition and for complete closing after the last railcar wheel has passed through the frog assembly.

Abstract: A railroad frog assembly is provided with a spring wing rail latch holdback subassembly that continuously retains the spring wing rail in a spring wing rail fully open position when activated by the wheels of a railcar traversing the frog assembly, and that automatically deactivates the latch holdback subassembly and releases the spring wing rail from retention in an open condition and for complete closing after the last railcar wheel has passed through the frog assembly.

Abstract: A railroad trackwork intersection assembly such as a crossing intersection or a turnout intersection is provided with at least one flange-bearing frog subassembly which has railcar wheel flangeways of uniform depth throughout the frog planform that co-operate with trackwork traffic rails, with easer subassemblies that are positioned exterior to but abut the frog subassembly, that have sloping flange support surfaces, and that may be removed from or adjusted in the assembly without moving or adjusting either the frog subassembly or the co-operating trackwork traffic rails.

Abstract: An improved railroad trackwork spring wing frog assembly is provided with multiple rail-closer subassemblies, preferably of the nested and counter-wound compression spring-type, that co-operate with the assembly spring wing rail, and that are laterally spaced-apart with respect to each other along the angled rail portion of the frog assembly spring wing rail.

Abstract: A railroad frog assembly is provided with a switched magnet that immediately retains a frog flexible wing rail in its open position in response to a railcar wheel passing through the frog assembly, and that delayably releases the frog flexible wing rail from its open position for subsequent closure by an included frog compression spring.

Abstract: A direct support type of rigid railbound railroad trackwork frog assembly is provided with a core frog casting, a pair of compliant, non-metallic spacer elements contacting laterally opposed sides of the core frog casting, a pair of wing rails respectively contacting the compliant, non-metallic spacer elements, and a threaded bolt and nut fastener joining the casting, spacer elements, and wing rails into a rigid unitary structure.

Abstract: A railroad trackwork frog assembly is provided with a pair of wing rail components, with a centrally positioned body component comprising an integrally formed V-shaped point element having a pair of gauge lines, an integrally formed pair of wing elements having a pair of guard lines, and integrally formed flangeways separating said point element from said pair of wing elements, and with fasteners joining the body component wing elements to the wing rail components in a manner whereby the point element gauge lines are truly parallel to the wing element guard lines and are uniformly separated from said wing element guard lines uniformly by a distance of approximately 13/4-inches.

Abstract: A railroad trackwork spring frog installation having a conventional wing rail with attached wing rail horn fitting is provided with an improved co-operating hold-down comprising a weld block element component, a separate, readily replaceable, riser component supported by the weld block component, a housing component positioned over the wing rail horn fitting and supported by the weld block component, and bolt-type fastener devices joining the hold-down components into a unitary structure.

Abstract: An improved railroad trackwork frog is provided with a relatively fixed rigid wing rail, a relatively movable spring wing rail, a base plate, and at least one roller outrigger and ramp plate assembly which is attached to the spring wing rail and to the base plate, and which functions to cause limited upwards vertical movement of the spring wing rail relative to the base plate when the spring wing rail is moved laterally relative to the rigid wing rail by the engaged wheel flange of a passing rail car.

Abstract: A direct support railbound frog having a frog casting clamped between a pair of wing rails and freestanding such that all wheel loads imposed on the frog casting primarily pass directly to the bottom surface of the casting without passing through the wing rails.

Abstract: A railroad switch stand for switching railroad track switch points is provided with a manually-operated crank assembly that is coupled to the switch stand switching input shaft without included lost motion and that has an included yoke with latch bars that function to stop and secure the crank assembly in operating positions that reduce operator risk to excessive back stress and lower spine injury.

Abstract: A railbound manganese frog assembly having ramps and grooves adapted to receive the false flange formed on the rim of a worn railroad car wheel to prevent the flange from impacting components of the frog assembly.