Chair plate switch rail actuator (point machine)

A method for accurately positioning moving rail elements of a turnout using a railway system, the method comprising:

• providing at least two railway turnouts including a railway turnout comprising a respective one of moving or switch rail of at least two moving or switch rails to provide a route control of the railway system, wherein the railway turnout having a respective one of fixed or stock rail of at least two fixed or stock rails on the outside and the respective one of moving or switch rail on the inside of the railway turnout;
• providing at least two chair plates that sit atop sleepers;
• providing at least two mechanical actuators wherein a respective one of mechanical actuator of the at least two mechanical actuators configured to position the respective one of moving or switch rail of the railway turnout;
• and
• providing an electronic controller connected to the at least two mechanical actuators, wherein the electronic controller communicates one or more commands to the at least two mechanical actuators for positioning the at least two moving or switch rails of the railway turnout, wherein the electronic controller is located away from the at least two moving or switch rails to provide access without encroaching into a rail corridor and the at least two mechanical actuators are located on the railway turnout, wherein connections of the respective one of mechanical actuator to the railway turnout are direct connections and distributed across the railway turnout so rather than having a single mechanical actuator in the railway system there are the at least two mechanical actuators directly connected to railway turnouts, and they work together in concert, wherein the at least two mechanical actuators allow for hot-swapping of mechanical actuators and are completely decentralised, distributed and direct acting, thereby not having any elaborate connecting rods, pivots, supports and adjustments between a central actuator and rails, wherein the railway system is scalable from a single actuator for a single switch rail catch-point to multiple mechanical actuators on long and large radius switches, dual gauge switches, or K crossings, and wherein the at least two mechanical actuators are integrated in a respective one of chair plate of the at least two chair plates and attached to the respective one of fixed or stock rail and are integral to a railway turnout’s structure.

A railway system to accurately position moving rail elements of a turnout, the railway system comprising:

• a railway turnout comprising at least one moving or switch rail to provide a route control of the railway system, wherein the railway turnout having at least two fixed or stock rails on the outside and the at least one moving or switch rail on the inside of the railway turnout;
• at least one chair plate that sits atop a sleeper or a concrete slab and is attached to at least one fixed or stock rail of at least two fixed or stock rails;
• and
• at least one servo-actuator to control a position of the at least one moving or switch rail of the railway turnout, wherein the at least one servo-actuator is integrated in the at least one chair plate and attached to the at least one fixed or stock rail and is integral to a railway turnout’s structure, wherein the at least one servo-actuator is directly connected to the at least one moving or switch rail of the railway turnout thereby not having any distributed connecting rods, pivots, supports and adjustments between the at least one servo-actuator and rails, and wherein the railway system is scalable from a single servo-actuator for a single switch rail catch turnout to multiple servo-actuators on long and large radius turnout, dual gauge turnouts, or K crossing turnouts.