Railroad switch position indicator
OwnerDavid A. Schalkinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A railroad switch position indicator configured for direct attachment to switch points which guide a train from one track to another. The indicator has first and second rotating reflector signals spring biased into a neutral position signaling caution. The first rotating reflector signal rotates in response to movement of the switch points against the spring bias while the second rotating reflector signal remains in neutral position when the switch points are lined for a first direction. The second rotating reflector signal rotates in response to movement of the switch points against the spring bias while the first set of reflectors remain in neutral position when the switch points are lined for a second direction.
Claims15
A railroad switch position indicator configured for direct attachment to switch points, said indicator having first and second rotating reflector signals spring biased into a neutral position signaling caution, said first rotating reflector signal rotated in response to movement of the switch points against the spring bias while the second rotating reflector signal remains in neutral position when the switch points are lined for a first direction, said second rotating reflector signal rotated in response to movement of the switch points against the spring bias while the first set of reflectors remain in neutral position when the switch points are lined for a second direction.
A railroad switch position indicator comprising first and second rotating signals spring biased into a neutral position signaling caution, said first and second signals mounted on first and second driven shafts, respectively, said first and second driven shafts connected to first and second driven sprockets, respectively, said first and second driven sprockets connected by first and second drive trains to first and second drive sprockets respectively, said first and second drive sprockets rotating on a drive shaft configured for connection to switch points, said first and second drive sprockets having first and second arcuate slots with aligned opposing ends in a neutral position respectively, a first and second vertically aligned finger received in the first and second arcuate slots respectively and rotating with the drive shaft, said first and second drive sprockets and said first and second driven sprockets having a gear ratio such that movement of the first finger with the drive shaft carrying the second finger to the end of the second arcuate slot results in a ninety degree rotation of the first signal signaling alignment in a first direction and movement of the second finger with the drive shaft in an opposite direction carrying the first finger to the end of the first arcuate slot results in a ninety degree rotation of the second signal signaling alignment in a second direction.
A railroad switch position indicator comprising an upper and lower support between which is sandwiched a drive mechanism responsive to movement of switch points, a first and second drive shaft rotate on the lower support and pass through the upper support, first and second rotating orthogonal shaped signals are mounted above the upper support on the first and second drive shafts respectively, said drive mechanism comprising a first and second driven sprocket mounted on the first and second driven shafts respectively, said first and second driven sprockets connected by a first and second drive train to a first and second drive sprocket respectively, said first and second drive sprockets rotating on a drive shaft, said first and second drive sprockets having a first and second arcuate slot with aligned opposing ends in a neutral position, a first and second vertically aligned finger received in the first and second arcuate slots respectively and rotating with the drive shaft, said first and second drive sprockets and said first and second driven sprockets having a gear ratio such that movement of the first finger with the drive shaft carrying the second finger to the end of the second arcuate slot results in a ninety degree rotation of the first signal signaling alignment in a first direction and movement of the second finger with the drive shaft in an opposite direction carrying the first finger to the end of the first arcuate slot results in a ninety degree rotation of the second signal signaling alignment in a second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.