Adjustable Patents (Class 246/450)
  • Patent number: 11414108
    Abstract: A railroad switch circuit controller assembly includes a switch frame configured to be mounted to a stock rail, and a switch controller held by the switch frame. The switch controller includes at least one switching mechanism. The switch controller includes a point detection rod operatively connected to the at least one switching mechanism. The point detection rod extends a length from a proximate end portion to a distal end portion. The proximate end portion of the point detection rod is located closer to the stock rail as compared to the distal end portion when the switch frame is mounted to the stock rail. The railroad switch circuit controller assembly also includes a switch foot configured to be mounted to a switch rail, and an external rod operatively connected between the switch foot and the point detection rod of the switch controller such that the external rod is configured to translate linear movement of the switch foot toward and away from the stock rail to the point detection rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: L&W Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Frank S. Carter, Jr., Stacey E. Ogden
  • Patent number: 8684318
    Abstract: A mechanical lock for railway points comprising an outer tube and a linear arrangement of interlinked components arranged in a core of the outer tube, the interlinked components comprising five coaxially arranged, separately manufactured, elements, including a central tie and two link-rods, the two link rods being respectively interlinked at first ends thereof to opposing ends of the central tie by expandable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SPX International Limited
    Inventors: Iqbal Chadda, Hari Reddi
  • Patent number: 7674065
    Abstract: A device for locking end positions of switch parts, having two parts, relatively axially displaceable and positively coupled in at least one direction, including a tube and a rod guided within the tube, at least partially arranged in an outer tube. Locking members cooperate with the parts and outer tube and are displaceable into a locking position in the outer tube's recess. Locking members include ring segments chamfered on insides forming first abutment surfaces converging obliquely toward rod axis. First abutment surfaces cooperate with oblique counter abutment surfaces in a rod recess for holding the rod and the tube coupled during the rod's first displacement path and for urging segments outwardly to emerge from rod recess, and to slide onto the rod's outer surface adjacent rod recess and to immerse into locking position in the outer tube's recess upon rod movement relative to the tube over a second displacement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignees: VAE Eisenbahnsysteme GmbH, VAE GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Schnedl, Herbert Achleitner, Josef Hörtler
  • Patent number: 7341226
    Abstract: A lost motion apparatus for adapting a typical in-tie switch machine, designed for use with interconnected switch points, to be used as an in-tie machine for moving the movable V-point of a movable point frog assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Maurizio Biagiotti, Wallace M. Catanach, III, Charles D. Crawford, Miles Metschke
  • Patent number: 7300023
    Abstract: An in-tie machine for moving the movable elements of a switching device, such as the switch points of a switch point assembly or the moving V-point of a movable point frog, with a sliding device which selectively engages a control rod with either a fixed seat or a moving seat, to shift the movable elements and lock them in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Maurizio Biagiotti
  • Patent number: 7178764
    Abstract: In a device for operating rail switches, in which a plurality of mutually coupled hydraulic operating devices are arranged in an offset manner in the longitudinal direction of the rails, the cylinder-piston units of the hydraulic operating devices are connected to be driven in the same direction. The working volumes (13) of the hydraulic cylinder piston units (7) each comprise two regions (18, 19) with defined cylinder cross sections, wherein the respective regions (18) containing end-position securing means (20, 21), safety locking means and/or sensors, of the cylinder-piston units (7) arranged in an offset manner in the longitudinal direction of the rails have equal cross sections and the respective other regions (19) of the cylinder-piston units (7) arranged in an offset manner in the longitudinal direction of the rails have cross sections differing from one another. (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignees: VAE Eisenbahnsysteme GmbH, VAE GmbH
    Inventor: Herbert Klein
  • Patent number: 7168662
    Abstract: A switching assembly includes a pair of hollow ties, a pair of supports, and a linkage. The linkage extends generally through the hollow ties, whereby the cribs are generally free of linkage components, and the ballast in the cribs can be compacted with known automated machinery. The linkage includes a number of lugs and a number of rods, with the rods each being formed from standard bar stock and threaded, and with the linkage configuration avoiding the need to custom bend any of the rods. The hollow ties are formed from generally available standard box section steel, as are the supports. The spacing between the hollow ties can be varied in accordance with the pitch of the other rail ties of the railroad switch. Each hollow tie can include a heater. The switching assembly is highly adjustable, which makes it suitable for use in numerous different track configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Union Switch & Signal, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin McQuistian, Edward E. Edwards, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7168663
    Abstract: In a switch actuator for movable frogs (1), comprising at least one cylinder piston unit (5) having a defined preset piston stroke, the cylinder piston unit (5) is connected with bearings (6) capable of being displaced in the axial direction of the piston stroke, which bearings are connected with a stationary substructure for the adjustment of a defined center position of the piston stroke and the driver for the movable frog (1). The driver for the movable frog (1) is coupled with the cylinder piston unit (5) with first stops (9) displaceable in the axial direction being interposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignees: VAE Eisenbahnsysteme GmbH, VAE GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Schnedl
  • Patent number: 6789770
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for locking the end positions of movable switch parts and, in particular, the movable point (1) of a frog, in which two relatively axially displaceable parts are capable of being displaced into a position coupled with each other in a positive manner in at least one direction of movement, wherein the relatively displaceable parts are comprised of a tube (5) and a rod (6) guided within the tube (5) and are at least partially arranged in a stationary outer tube (4), whereby locking members (8) cooperate with the relatively axially displaceable parts (5, 6) as well as the outer tube (4) and are capable of being displaced in the radial direction into a locking position in a recess or inner annular groove (15, 16) of the outer tube (4). Said device is designed such that the outer tube (4) is comprised of two tube parts (17, 18) capable of being axially displaced within each other, and that each tube part carries at least one recess or inner annular groove (15, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignees: VAE GmbH, VAE Eisenbahnsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Schnedl
  • Patent number: 6682024
    Abstract: Railway switches are subjected to a high degree of stress due to the influences of weather and as a result of trains traveling over them. This may result in changes in adjustments and settings made at the time of mounting. In order to permit, in particular in the case of hollow sleepers, simple re-adjustment of a drive rod relative to the cam rods, an attachment element can be connected to an attachment flange by a positive lock, formed by various adjustment keys and a main key, and using locking screws in such a way that fine adjustment by appropriately selecting the arrangement of the adjustment keys is possible. Coarse adjustment is made by an asymmetric arrangement of the bore holes for connecting to a drive rod as well as by selecting one of the two bore holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Switzerland Ltd.
    Inventors: Markus Steinmann, Otto Egli
  • Patent number: 6666412
    Abstract: A device for switching and elastically locking the end positions of movable switch parts, in particular switch tongues of grooved rail switches, including an axially displaceable rod (15) and a tube (17) surrounding the rod, in which a spring (29) encompassing the rod is braced against stops and locking members (26, 26′) capable of being displaced radially outwards are arranged, wherein the rod (15) has axially spaced-apart control stops (24, 25) for a radially inward position of the locking members (26, 26′) and the tube (17) has stops (32, 33) for the outward position of the locking members (26, 26′), wherein at least one (25) of the control stops (24, 25) of the rod (15) is displaceable relative to at least another one (24) of the control stops (24, 25) in the axial direction of the rod (15) and is capable of being fixed in the respective displaced position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: VAE Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Achleitner, Josef Hörtler, Armin Lassacher
  • Patent number: 6454221
    Abstract: Switch box for railway, tramway, or similar comprising a drive unit (M, 3, 4, 5, 5′, 5″, 5′″, 6) for the shifting motion of the blades (A1, A1′, A2, A2′) and at least one group of linear transmission (12, 20, 21, 24) of the drive motion to the blades, movable device (24, 124) to lock the blades in their respective closed positions. The groups are housed in a box (1) which has substantially the dimensions and the shape of a sleeper and which is fitted in the track in place of and with the function of a sleeper. The switch box has movable device (23, 24, 124) to lock the blades (A1, A1′, A2, A2′) in their corresponding closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom Transport S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Bonfigli
  • Patent number: 6427951
    Abstract: Switch points for a railroad turnout have an adjustable connecting rod member which moves the switch points to the desired direction. The adjustable connecting rod member is easily adjustable to provide proper alignment of the switch points with the stock rails with minimal effort and without the need for specialized crews. There is also no need to disconnect the adjustable connecting rod member from the switch points during adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Arturo A. Ortiz Rivas
  • Patent number: 6270041
    Abstract: An apparatus for mechanically locking the end positions of movable point sections, with two adjusting rods (12, 14 ), each of which is connected with one of the point sections and which are coupled mechanically with one another, with at least one locking tappet (28) for locking the adjusting rods in each case in one of their end positions and a force limiting device, which cancels the locking, when the force, exerted by the point sections on the adjusting rods, exceeds a certain value, and the force limiting device is formed by a coupling device (30, 32), which yields when stressed and is located between the adjusting rods (12, 14), and by a transfer mechanism (16, 38), which converts the movement of one of the adjusting rods into a movement for unlocking the locking tappet (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Hanning & Kahl GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Helas, Jens Meinecke, Günter Worm