Structural Types Patents (Class 246/407)
  • Publication number: 20100270436
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for shifting switch rails (6) associated adjustably with stock rails (7) or mobile frog tongues in railroad switches, configured as a latch or vertical clasp closure, comprising locking catches (4) which are activated by means of a cam or slide rod (5a, 5b), and closure pieces (3) and tongue attachments (2), wherein each locking catch (4) is pivotably supported in a tongue attachment (2) and the switch rail (6) is connected detachably to the tongue attachment (2). An improved and simpler adjustment option is to be created for such a device. For this, the cam or slide rod (5a, 5b) is vertically height-adjustable via a multi-edge body (9) mounted detachably in both closure pieces (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Bernd Wientges, Frank Meyer
  • Patent number: 7267304
    Abstract: A railroad switch machine which is normally operated by an electric motor but which may be manually operated without causing rotation of the power shaft of the electric motor to enable the switch machine to move the switch points without having to overcome the brake resistance applied to the power shaft by the brake and gearbox thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Inventor: Jerry L. Scheer
  • Patent number: 7152830
    Abstract: A control mechanism for moving switch points on a railroad track, having a drive screw driven by a motor, a traveling block moving along the drive screw to position the switch points, an end stop on the drive screw for limiting movement of the traveling block, a hand crank for manually turning the drive screw, and a torque limiting clutch on the hand crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Companyy
    Inventors: John Patrick Dowell, Charles David Crawford, Maurizio Biagiotti, Michael Lee Ashton, Edward Armand Croteau, Wallace Martindell Catanach, III
  • Patent number: 6648276
    Abstract: An improved railroad switch apparatus includes a switch machine, a locking system lug, a detection system lug, a lock rod connecting rod, a point detector connecting rod, and a pair of movable rails. The locking system lug is mounted on a pair of lock rods of a switch machine, and the detection system lug is mounted on a point detector rod of the switch machine. The locking system lug includes a groove that receives the lock rod connecting rod and that permits a slight degree of pivoting therebetween while remaining securely mounted thereto. Similarly, the detection system lug includes a groove that receives the point detector connecting rod and that permits a slight degree of pivoting therebetween while remaining securely mounted thereto. The locking system lug and the detection system lug each include a pair of opposed convex retention surfaces formed on the groove thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Union Switch & Signal, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. McQuistian
  • Patent number: 6568641
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Meridian Rail Information Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Ray Hoyer, Stephen R. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 5494242
    Abstract: A switch machine for railroad tracks is provided having a low vertical profile without increasing the axial length of existing switch machines. Also, the capability of being operated by an electric motor, hand crank or hand throw operation has been retained within these new dimensional constraints. A particular electric motor and gearbox combination permits a low overall profile due to its compact size. A worm gear shaft serves the dual purpose of driving a worm wheel and coupling to a hand crank, thus maintaining the low profile while increasing the functionality of the shaft. In addition, a hand throw drive shaft is provided adjacent to a crank drive shaft in order to provide a hand throw operation while further maintaining the low profile of the switch machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: General Railway Signal Corporation
    Inventors: George E. Ludwick, Keith J. Gordon, Charles M. Eggebrecht