Tongue switch
AssigneeVAE Nortrak North America, Inc.
InventorsCory O'Brien, Gary Click
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular tongue switch assembly comprises a tongue pivotally connected to a slide surface, held down by a pivot retainer. The slide surface consists of slide plate sections removably attached to corresponding bed plate sections, which are in turn welded onto a base plate. Floating brace blocks hold a non-integral stock rail in place on the base plate. When the tongue moves, a horizontal lever arm actuates an inner box assembly housed within an outer box and containing the conductor rail, allowing the passing train to maintain contact with the conductor rail, if necessary. A novel rodding and lever arrangement is used.
Claims49
A railroad tongue switch assembly comprising:
- a substrate;
- a tongue releasably engageable into said assembly for pivoting motion thereon about a pivot point;
- and,
- a stock rail removably seatable in said assembly.
A railroad tongue switch assembly comprising:
- a substrate;
- one or more slide plate sections releasably attachable to said substrate;
- a tongue releasably engageable into one of said slide plate sections for pivoting motion thereon about a pivot point;
- a stock rail removably seatable on said substrate;
- and,
- a first seat for the stock rail is machined into said substrate.
A railroad tongue switch assembly comprising:
- one or more first plate sections at least partially overlaying a second plate and being welded thereto;
- one or more slide plate sections being releasably attached on the top surface of said first plate sections;
- a tongue releasably engageable in one of said slide plate sections for pivoting motion thereon about a pivot point;
- a stock rail being seated on a portion of said second plate not overlain by said first plate;
- said portion of said second plate having first seat machined therein for receiving said stock rail;
- and,
- a brace assembly for bracing said stock rail against a side wall of said assembly.
A box assembly for use in association with a railroad tongue switch assembly, said tongue switch assembly comprising a movable tongue, comprising:
- a first enclosure;
- a rod assembly connecting said tongue to a lever arm mounted in said first enclosure;
- a slave rod connecting said lever arm to a second enclosure mounted for movement within said first enclosure;
- and
- at least one conductor rail mounted within said second enclosure.
A pivot retainer assembly for use in a railroad tongue switch assembly, comprising:
- a tongue pivotable on a plate and having a portion at rail level and a shoulder, at least a portion of said shoulder being lower than flange depth;
- a retainer releasably attachable to said plate so as to overlay said portion of said shoulder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.