Electric Control Patents (Class 246/258)
  • Patent number: 12098778
    Abstract: A solenoid valve includes: a valve body; a housing which includes a valve seat and a valve chamber; a movable iron core which moves the valve body; a solenoid coil; a fixed iron core configured for moving the movable iron core by causing a current to flow to the solenoid coil; and a sleeve which is disposed inside the movable iron core, in which the sleeve is attached to the housing in such a manner that an open portion of the sleeve is inserted into an open recess portion of the housing communicating with the valve chamber and a gap between the sleeve and the housing is sealed by a seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Noguchi, Yoshinari Kasagi, Hiroyuki Iwanaga
  • Publication number: 20140252175
    Abstract: The invention provides a hydraulic railroad switch machine. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Donald Coy Beaman, Dilson Santos Rodrigues, Rick Presley
  • Patent number: 8646730
    Abstract: A hydraulic oil control unit for supplying hydraulic oil actuators in switch machines of railway points or the like is described. The control unit comprises a closed circulation circuit of a hydraulic oil fluid with delivery and return lines. These lines are connected to a hydraulic oil actuator translating point blades of the railway point for moving the point blades from a normal end position to a reverse end position or vice versa. The control unit also includes: electrical means for monitoring the movement of the point blades and/or reaching of the end position, timing means for stopping an actuating stroke of actuators moving the point blades, and means for switching the direction of the actuating stroke. The electrical means comprise switches reversing the power supply signal of an electric motor driving the pump for reversing the rotational direction of the motor and the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventors: Davide Guglielmo, Giuliano Luzzi, Stefano Bittoni
  • Publication number: 20120018592
    Abstract: A hydraulic oil control unit for supplying hydraulic oil actuators in switch machines of railway points or the like is described. The control unit comprises a closed circulation circuit of a hydraulic oil fluid with delivery and return lines. These lines are connected to a hydraulic oil actuator translating point blades of the railway point for moving the point blades from a normal end position to a reverse end position or vice versa. The control unit also includes: electrical means for monitoring the movement of the point blades and/or reaching of the end position, timing means for stopping an actuating stroke of actuators moving the point blades, and means for switching the direction of the actuating stroke. The electrical means comprise switches reversing the power supply signal of an electric motor driving the pump for reversing the rotational direction of the motor and the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Davide GUGLIELMO, Giuliano LUZZI, Stefano BITTONI
  • Publication number: 20110049308
    Abstract: The invention provides a hydraulic railroad switch machine. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Donald Coy Beaman, Dilson Santos Rodrigues, Rick Presley
  • Publication number: 20090308986
    Abstract: A control mechanism for a railroad switch machine, the mechanism including a hydraulic circuit operable to move a rail end point of a switch point assembly of the railroad switch machine, a pump to hydraulically operate the hydraulic circuit, and a motor to operate the pump, wherein the only electromechanical parts of the control mechanism are within the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: Maurizio Biagiotti
  • Patent number: 6422519
    Abstract: An improved cylinder head for a railroad track switch operator includes totally self-contained electronics and pneumatics for easy and direct replacement of a cylinder head on a prior art switch operator. The improved cylinder head has enhanced porting to improve air flow and speed of operation, a voltage control module permitting the unit to operate with either 24 volt or 12 volt line power, and recessed portions for covering or enclosing delicate and/or sensitive components for maximized protection in harsh outdoor installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Braatz
  • Patent number: 6164601
    Abstract: A railway switch stand includes a housing with a vertical shaft having a lower end connected to the switch throw rod, the shaft being rotatable to reciprocate the throw rod. A plate is mounted orthogonally on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, and has a plurality of bearings projecting upwardly therefrom around the shaft. A cam follower is mounted to move along a circle with the same radius as the bearings, with a spring mounted above the cam follower to apply a downward biasing force on the cam follower to retain the cam follower between a pair of bearings. A motor has a drive shaft oriented orthogonal to the vertical shaft and includes a drive crank affixed orthogonally to the drive shaft with radially projecting ends. One end of the crank is connected to a U-shaped yoke which in turn is pivotally connected to the cam follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Inventors: Jerry L. Scheer, David W. McCord
  • 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: 5775647
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for moving railroad switch points from side-to-side using a hydraulic power source operated using a DC electrical power source preferably in combination with a solar energy charging system. The apparatus has a hydraulic cylinder with a piston operatively connected to the switch points to move the switch points from side-to-side. The hydraulic power source is in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder. A valve for controlling the direction of the movement of the switch points by altering the direction of flow of hydraulic fluid is positioned in fluid communication between the hydraulic power source and the hydraulic cylinder. Preferably, the hydraulic power source is a hydraulic pump operated by a DC electric motor drawing power from a battery. The electrical charge of the battery is preferably replenished or supplemented by use of the solar energy charging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Michael L. Wyatt
  • Patent number: 5772157
    Abstract: The railroad power switch operates from the energy stored in a hydraulic accumulator. A pump charges the accumulator and keeps it charged. A power cylinder acts on the moveable rail of a railroad switch through this hydraulic energy. The energy opens the switch, closes it, and stabilizes it during train trailing through the switch. A spring pack supplements this hydraulic energy in stabilizing the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Fluid Energy Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Lauck, Joachim G. Bush
  • Patent number: 5292091
    Abstract: An operating device for railroad switches, particularly for high-speed lines. To permit more stable positioning of the blades (A1,A2) and of the frog (C) of the switch, which in high-speed lines are of considerable length, in addition to the switching actuator (1) at the toes of the blades (A1,A2) and to that (3) of the frog (C), there are distributed along the blades (A1,A2) and along the frog (C) one or more further switching actuators (2,3'). The switching actuators (1,2) of the blades (A1,A2) and the switching actuators (3,3') of the frog (C) are of the hydraulic type and are controlled respectively by a hydraulic control unit (4,4').
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: SASIB S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ugo Callegari, Giovanni Gritti, Maurizio Biagiotti, Claudio Siliani
  • Patent number: 5020442
    Abstract: A switching station for a people mover rotary guideway switch. The switching station routes a transit car from an entry guideway path to either of two exit guideway paths. The station includes a guideway section structured at each of its entry and exit points to provide a predetermined guideway configuration including a pair of spaced tire running surfaces for transit cars. The guideway section has an elongated switch pit located under a reference plane through the tire running services that extends longitudinally along and between the tire running services. An elongated rotary switch frame is disposed in the switch pit and assembled with the guideway section for alignment with the guideway paths. The frame is provided with guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure on opposite sides of the frame which are compatible with the guideway configuration to route a car from the entry path to the first and second exit paths, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: AEG Westinghouse Transportation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Burg, Ronald H. Ziegler, Robert J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5020441
    Abstract: A rotary switch for a people mover guideway having a predetermined path, guidebeam and electric rail configuration, routes a transit car having electric power signal collectors from one entry guideway path to either of two exit guideway paths or vice versa. The switch has an elongated structural frame provided with guidelines, electric rail and tire path structure on one side compatible with the guideway configuration to provide car routing to one of the two exit paths. The frame further has guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure on another side compatible with the guideway configuration to provide car routing to the other of the two exit paths. The electric rail structure on each side of the frame includes power rails and signal rails disposed along the respective switch paths of travel for respectively contacting the electric collectors of the transit car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: AEG Westinghouse Transportation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Burg
  • Patent number: 5012747
    Abstract: A rotary switch for a people mover guideway which as a pair of spaced tire paths with a predetermined tire path, guidebeam and electric rail configuration. The rotary switch routes a transit car from one entry guideway path to either two exit guideway paths. The switch inlcudes a switch frame having guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure on opposite sides of the switch frame, each being compatible with the guideway configuration to provide car routing to the respective paths. Each side of the switch frame member includes at least one tire path in alignment with the corresponding guideway tire path for car routing to one of the exit paths. The guidebeam and electric rail structure on each side of the switch frame member are located above the tire path on the corresponding side of the switch frame member and the other tire path for the guideway when the switch frame member is in respective rotational positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: AEG Westinghouse Transportation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Burg, Ronald H. Ziegler, William K. Cooper, John W. Kapala, Robert J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4970966
    Abstract: A rotary switch operates in a people mover guideway having a predetermined tire path, guidebeam and electric rail configuration to route a transit car from one entry guideway path to at least either of two exit guideway paths or vice versa. The switch has an elongated structural frame having guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure on one side compatibly with the guideway configuration to provide car routing to one of the two exit paths. The switch frame member is further provided with guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure on another side compatibly with the guideway configuration to provide car routing to the other of the two exit paths. The switch is supported by first and second shafts at its two ends. One of the two shafts is driven to rotate the switch frame between first and second rotational positions corresponding to alignment of the respective switch sides with the guideway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: AEG Westinghouse Transportation Systems, Inc
    Inventor: Thomas J. Burg
  • Patent number: 4970965
    Abstract: A rotary switch is provided for a people mover guideway having a predetermined tire path, guidebeam and electric rail configuration. The rotary switch routes a transit car from one entry guideway path to at least either of the two exit guideway paths or vice versa. A movable elongated structural switch frame member has guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure on one side compatibly with the guideway configuration to provide car routing to one of the two exit paths in one of two switch positions; the movable switch frame further has guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure on another side compatibly with the guideway configuration to provide car routing to the other of the two exit paths in the second switch position. Switching is achieved by rotating a movable part of the switch 180.degree. degrees about its longitudinal axis. A first fixed frame supports a drive shaft which in turn supports a first end of the movable switch frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: AEG Westinghouse Transportation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Burg, Robert J. Anderson, William K. Cooper
  • Patent number: 4970967
    Abstract: A rotary switch for a people mover guideway having a predetermined tire path, guidebeam and electric rail configuration routes a transit car from one entry guideway path to at least either of two exit guideway paths or vice versa. The switch has an elongated structural frame that has guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure compatible with the guideway configuration to provide car routing to one of the two exit paths on one switch side and to provide car routing to the other of the two exit paths on another switch side. Switching is achieved by rotating a movable part of the switch 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis. First and second shafts support the two ends of the switch frame and one of the shafts is driven to rotate the switch frame between first and second rotational positions in which the switch is locked and the switch sides respectively line up with the guideway configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: AEG Westinghouse Transportation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Burg, William K. Cooper, John W. Kapala, Robert J. Anderson, Ronald H. Ziegler
  • Patent number: 4970964
    Abstract: A single turnout rotary guideway switch is provided with an elongated structural frame member having guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure on each of two sides of the switch compatible with the guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure of the guideway. Switching is achieved by rotating a movable part of the switch 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis. One elongated beam acts as a principal structural member of the frame and provides a tire path on one of the switch sides for main line car routing by the switch. Another curved beam is secured between the one beam and another elongated beam that extends generally parallel to the one beam. The curved beam cross-supports the frame and provides a tire path on the other switch side for car turnout routing by the switch. In a crossover switching station in a dual lane guideway, a pair of the single turnout rotary switches are combined with an interface guideway section to provide for lane-crossover car routing by the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: AEG Westinghouse Transportation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Burg, Ronald H. Ziegler, William K. Cooper, John W. Kapala, Robert J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4970962
    Abstract: A double turnout rotary guideway switch is provided with an elongated structural frame member having guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure on each of two sides of the switch compatible with the guidebeam, electric rail and tire path structure of the guideway. Two elongated beams form the sides of the frame and, with cross connected end beams, operating as the principal structural members for the frame. A curved beam extends from one of the elongated side beams inwardly and to one of the end beams. Opposite sides of the curved beam provide respective surfaces for a left turnout tire path on one of the two sides of the switch and a right turnout tire path the other side of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: AEG Westinghouse Transportation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Burg, Ronald H. Ziegler, William K. Cooper, John W. Kapala, Robert J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4428552
    Abstract: A high-speed switch machine for actuating railroad switch points. The machine has an electric motor which drives a hydraulic pump. The pump supplies pressure fluid to a hydraulic cylinder adapted to move the switch points from an initial to a second limit position. A four-way, two-position hydraulic control valve directs fluid to the cylinder such that the cylinder automatically operates in an extension and retraction cycle. The uni-directional motor and two-position control valve minimize response times of the actuating components so that the switch points are thrown in a short time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Abex Corporation
    Inventors: Earl E. Frank, Bing S. Yee
  • Patent number: 4213588
    Abstract: A railway switch machine including a first fluid operated actuator for switching the movable points of the rails between two extreme positions for establishing respective routes of travel for railway vehicles, valve device coupled to the first fluid operated actuator to selectively open or to close a passageway coupled to opposite sides of a pressure differential responsive movable member of the first fluid operated actuator whereby when the valve device closes passageways wherein a fluid pressure differential may be established across the movable member to operate said first fluid operated actuator to thereby switch the movable points of the rails and when the first valve device opens the passageway, fluid may be directly exchanged between either side of the movable member such as to permit the movable points of the rails to be moved from one extreme position to the other extreme position by the passage of a railway vehicle trailing the movable points of the rails, a locking device and a second fluid operate
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Brake and Signal Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Colin M. Bowles