Point Patents (Class 246/435R)
  • 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: 5419490
    Abstract: A point rail for switching gear comprises a head (10) with a running surface (.SIGMA.), a web (20) with a mid plane (.pi.) and a base (30). The running surface (.SIGMA.) is inclined relative to this mid plane (.pi.). The base (30) has two unequal wings (300), the larger of which is situated on the side towards which the running surface (.SIGMA.) is inclined. The center of gravity (G) is situated out of the mid plane (.pi.) and placed on the side with the larger wing (300). The point rail has application to switching gears for long welded rail tracks on which very-high-speed trains run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Cogifer - Compagnie Generale d'Installations Ferroviaires
    Inventors: Gerard Testart, Claude Viou
  • Patent number: 5375797
    Abstract: An improved geometry for a split switch rail turnout a compound point rail leading to a curved closure rail that is linear and tangent through the switch frog. The switch point rail includes a proximal portion curved in the same radius as the closure rail, and a distal end portion that is linear and tangent to the proximal portion. The linear distal end portion of the point rail provides an entry angle of the switch point that is the same as the angle of attack of a wheel truck encountering the turnout, and also provides the shortest possible switch point length and the greatest possible radius of curvature of the closure rail. The angle of attack and the curvature of the closure rail can be optimized to produce a split switch turnout that permits high speed through the turnout while minimizing wear and maintenance costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Inventor: Robert E. Willow
  • Patent number: 5303884
    Abstract: The invention relates to a manganese steel insert to a railroad track switch point of the type designed to have a planar coupling system within both the web of the rail and the switch point of the insert, instead of the conventional curved coupling surface in use at the present. This is achieved by means of an attachment of the same material as the insert (or other steel) on the insert contact surfaces, thus achieving precision plane surfaces during the machining phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: Arturo A. O. Rivas
  • Patent number: 5224672
    Abstract: An apparatus includes running surfaces made from metallic I-beams one of the flanges of which is adapted to support tires, whereas the web is adapted to receive flat strips which are substantially perpendicular to the web. At least one of the flanges is adapted to receive stiffening flat strips which are substantially parallel to the web. Troughs made from a metallic U-section channel are adapted to be fixed at least partly to one of the flat strips and flanges and open toward the flange adapted to support the tires. Such flanges, web, flat strips and channel are united to constitute a formwork into which is poured concrete whose level is flush with the level of the flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Cogifer - Compagnie Generale d'Installations Ferroviaires
    Inventor: Gerard Testart
  • Patent number: 5207401
    Abstract: A switch includes a frame constituted, inter alia, by a single point end plate, preferably mechanically welded, for supporting stock rails at ends thereof adjacent a principle route, and by a double heel end plate, preferably mechanically welded, for supporting heel ends of each of two stock rail/switchblade pairs adjacent a direct route and a deviated route. Spacers maintain distance between the stock rails adjacent the principal route and the stock rail/switchblade heel pairs adjacent the direct and deviated route. Sole plates support the stock rails and/or switchblades. Inner stops are placed between the switchblades in the vicinity of their heel ends and are carried by the sole plates. Outer stops are placed between the stock rails and the switchblades in the vicinity of their point ends and are carried by the stock rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Cogifer-Compagnie Generale d'Installations Ferroviaires
    Inventor: Gerard F. Testart
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 4634087
    Abstract: A grooved rail switch with a tongue rail device includes a tongue rail displaceably supported on a torsion-stiff support box for movement between a stock rail and a switch rail. The support box is made up of an upper slide plate, a lower bottom plate and flat bars extending between and welded to the slide plate and bottom plate. High strength bolts secure the stock rail to one side of the support box and the switch rail to the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Elektro-Thermit GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd-Joachim Kempa
  • Patent number: 4469299
    Abstract: According to the invention a railway turnout comprises two wing rails and a point, carried on a frog, which includes a nose, the running surface of which is substantially co-planar with the running surfaces of the rail of the turnout, the wing rails being provided with tread surface inserts inclined upwardly above the plane of the running surfaces, the incline of the wing rails extending longitudinally along the wing rails towards the heels thereof and commencing at a point corresponding to the point of deviation from the gauge line, of the wing rail, the tread surface of the wing rails being shaped, in cross section, from the edge adjacent the gauge line, at an angle corresponding to the shape of the average worn car wheel and the angles of the incline and the slope being dependent on the taper on the wheels and on the angle of deflection of the turnout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Inventor: Imre Csontos
  • Patent number: 4283030
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing the proper spread between the switch rail and stock rail in a railway switch which includes a heel block of unique design which assures accurate alignment of the parts of the switch heel block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corporation
    Inventor: Frank P. Bobb
  • Patent number: 4093163
    Abstract: In a switch for rail points arranged to move two rails interconnected at one of their free ends, between two end positions in engagement with the inner face of one of two rails of e.g. a railroad track, a box girder having the configuration and dimensions of a conventional sleeper supporting the rail track, the box girder housing an electrically driven mechanism arranged to effect the movement of the two rails to the end positions thereof, and also a mechanism arranged to indicate when the two rails assume their intended end positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Assignee: Elektromekano i Bredaryd AB
    Inventor: Bertil Ivar Larsson
  • Patent number: 4032095
    Abstract: This invention is relative to a vehicle-guiding system provided with support means and a steering means such as a roller running along a flange way, characterized in that it comprises a points system connecting a track to two tracks and formed by a point and a matching point each secured at their heel end facing the two tracks, the other ends of point and matching point bearing against one another and pivoting between a position in which tracks are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1977
    Assignees: Engins Matra, DE Dietrich & CIA
    Inventors: Daniel Ferbeck, Rene Groznykh, Patrick DE LA Ville de Rigne
  • Patent number: 4022409
    Abstract: Electrically driven railway point operating apparatus having a biasing device whereby, without damage to the operating mechanism the point can be forced open against its closing bias by the wheels of a vehicle. The point operating slide is moved by a lever which in turn is moved by a driving member which is driven in either of opposed directions by a reversible electric motor. The driving member carries a roller which is located in an aperture in the lever, so that relative movement of the lever and the roller is permitted. The roller is returned by the motor to an intermediate position, when a switching operation is complete, so that the lever can move relative to the roller if the point is forced open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1977
    Assignee: Hoogovens Ijmuiden BV
    Inventors: Tom Ensink, Rieks Zonderman
  • Patent number: 4005839
    Abstract: A railroad turnout including a switch having runoff plates with stop lugs spaced farther apart than the width of the switch point base so that flexure of the switch points downstream of the heel spread is permitted. Floating heel blocks are affixed to the stock rails at the heel point to maintain the conventional heel spread. A smooth ride through the turnout is further assured by additional switch rods, uniform risers in the switch and guard rails associated with the frog of the turnout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1977
    Assignee: Abex Corporation
    Inventor: Earl E. Frank