US 2016/0024721 A1 · RAIL JUNCTION ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A rail junction assembly (10) for directing first and second rail vehicle wheels (42, 44) of a wheel arrangement (40) is disclosed. The rail junction assembly comprises first and second main rails (12, 14) and first and second switch rails (16, 18). A first flange receiving passage (17) is defined between the first switch rail and the first main rail. A second flange receiving passage (19) is defined between the second switch rail and the second main rail. The first flange receiving passage is configured to receive a flange (48) of the first wheel, and the second flange receiving passage is configured to receive a flange (48) of the second wheel. A wheel control arrangement (30) controls the first wheel on the first main rail when the second flange is received in the second flange receiving passage, and controls the second wheel on with the second main rail when the first flange is received in the first flange receiving passage.

Claims103

Dependent claims

A rail junction assembly for directing first and second rail vehicle wheels of a wheel arrangement, the first and second wheels having respective first and second flanges, the rail junction assembly comprising:

first and second main rails;
first and second switch rails;
a first flange receiving passage being defined between the first switch rail and the first main rail, and a second flange receiving passage being defined between the second switch rail and the second main rail;
wherein the first flange receiving passage is configured to receive the first flange of the first wheel, and the second wheel can transfer between the second main rail and the second switch rail when the first flange is received in the first flange receiving passage, and wherein the second flange receiving passage is configured to receive the second flange of the second wheel, and the first wheel can transfer between the first main rail and the first switch rail when the second flange is received in the second flange receiving passage;
and wheel directing arrangement for controlling the first wheel on the first main rail and on the first switch rail when the second flange is received in the second flange receiving passage, and for controlling the second wheel on with the second main rail and on the second switch rail when the first flange is received in the first flange receiving passage.

2 more elements

A method of directing a first and second rail vehicle wheels of a wheel arrangement, the first and second wheels having respective first and second flanges, the method comprising:

providing first and second main rails, and first and second switch rails, the first switch rail being spaced from the first main rails to define a first flange receiving passage therebetween, and the second switch rail being spaced from the second main rail to define a second flange receiving passage therebetween;
wherein the first flange receiving passage is configured to receive the first flange of the first wheel, and the second wheel can transfer between the second main rail and the second switch rail when the first flange is received in the first flange receiving passage, and wherein the second flange receiving passage is configured to receive the second flange of the second wheel, and the first wheel can transfer between the first main rail and the first switch rail when the second flange is received in the second flange receiving passage;
providing a wheel directing arrangement, and, with the wheel directing arrangement, controlling the first wheel on the first main rail when the second flange is received in the second flange receiving passage, and controlling the second wheel on the second main rail when the first flange is received in the first flange receiving passage.

A rail switching arrangement for switching rail vehicle wheels at a rail junction assembly, the rail switching arrangement comprising:

first and second wheel directing means;
the first wheel directing means comprising a first guide member and a first control member, and the first wheel directing means being movable between a first guiding position and a first control position, wherein in the first guiding position, the first guide member can engage a first wheel of a wheel arrangement, and in the first control position, the first control member can engage the first wheel;
the second wheel directing means comprising a second guide member and a second control member, and the second wheel directing means being movable between a second guiding position and a second control position, wherein in the second guiding position, the second guide member can engage a second wheel of the wheel arrangement, and in the second control position, the second control member can engage the second wheel;
and operating means to operable on the first and second wheel directing means to move the first and second wheel directing means between the respective first and second guiding positions and the first and second control positions;
wherein the first and second wheel directing means are configured so that, when the first wheel directing means is in the first guiding position, the second wheel directing means is in the second control position, and when the second wheel directing means is in the second guiding position, the first wheel directing means is in the first control position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rail junction assembly

Life of this patent

Rail junction assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims103