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US 10,850,752 B2Granted
Point machine and switch with snap-action and method of operating said point machine
AssigneeSiemens Mobility Pty Ltd.
InventorsStephen Baker, Dion Marriott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch for a point machine, point machine having said switch, and a method for operating said point machine. The switch opening and closing a circuit providing current to the motor of the point machine. The switch having an elastic element, such as a spring, to create “snap-action” to open and close the circuit. Operation of the motor compressing the spring to open the circuit and cut-off power to the motor when the point machine has completed movement of a point.
Claims17
An electrical switch for a point machine, the switch comprising:
- a housing;
- a first motor contact and a second motor contact disposed within the housing, the motor contacts in electrical communication with a motor circuit providing power to an electrical motor of the point machine;
- a cylinder disposed within the housing such that the cylinder can move within the housing between a first position and a second position;
- a first contact frame attached to the cylinder, the contact frame moving with the cylinder;
- a first moving contact and a second moving contact disposed on the first contact frame and moving with the cylinder, the first contact frame and first and second moving contacts providing electrical communication between the first and second motor contacts when the cylinder is in the first position;
- a piston partially disposed outside the housing, the piston in communication with the cylinder, the piston capable of moving within the housing relative to the cylinder;
- an elastic element in communication with the cylinder and the piston, wherein movement of the piston relative to the cylinder deforms the elastic element;
- a magnetic element attached to the housing exerting a magnetic force on the cylinder keeping the cylinder stationary in the first position from moving relative to the housing;
- wherein movement of the piston relative to the cylinder exerts a first force on the elastic element deforming the elastic element, the deformation of the elastic element causing the elastic element to exert a second force on the cylinder, the cylinder being able to move from the first position to the second position when the second force exceeds the magnetic force.
6 more elements
A point machine comprising:
- a motor in mechanical communication with a point;
- a motor circuit providing current to the motor from a power supply, wherein when the circuit is closed the motor receives current from the power supply and when circuit is open current cannot flow from the power supply to the motor,
- a switch in electrical communication with the motor circuit, the switch capable of being toggled between an open and closed position, wherein when the switch is toggled in the open position the motor circuit is open and when the switch is toggled in the closed position the motor circuit is closed, the switch having an elastic element, deformation of the elastic element toggling the switch between open and closed positions;
- a toggle assembly, wherein operation of the motor induces movement of the toggle assembly, wherein movement of the toggle assembly deforms the elastic element to toggle the switch to open and close the motor circuit.
1 more element
A method for operating a point machine, the method comprising:
- activating a motor of the point machine to move a point from a first position to a second position;
- translating a movement of the point to movement of a toggle assembly of the point machine;
- exerting a force by the movement of the toggle assembly on an element of a switch to deform an elastic element within the switch;
- toggling the switch open to shut off power to the motor when the elastic element is deformed a predetermined amount;
- and
- keeping the switch closed using a magnetic element within the switch.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.