US 4,059,054 AGranted

Railroad type switch

AssigneeMihai Alimanestianu

InventorsMihai Alimanestianu, Nicholas M. Alimanestianu

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Abstract

A tracked vehicle switch assembly is operatively connected between a single main track and a pair of diverging tracks for selectively diverting a vehicle moving along the main track to one of the diverging tracks. The switch assembly includes first and second track sections having first abutting ends, and second ends respectively connected to the main track and the pair of diverging tracks. The first track section is thus a continuation of the main track, while the second track section is a continuation of the pair of diverging tracks. The abutting ends of the first and second track sections are operatively connected to a moving device which simultaneously moves these ends in opposite directions between two extreme positions, in substantially the same plane, thereby to selectively align the first track section with the tracks of the second track section in order to selectively direct a vehicle on the main track to either of the diverging tracks.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A tracked vehicle switch assembly operatively connected between a single main track and a pair of diverging tracks for directing a vehicle from said main track to one of said diverging tracks, said switch including, means on said vehicle for storing and displaying a destination representing one of said diverging tracks;

means for detecting said destination on the vehicle as it approaches said switch assembly, at least one track section between said main track and said pair of diverging tracks;
means for mounting said one track section for movement between two positions for selectively directing a vehicle on said main track to one of said diverging tracks;
means responsive to said detecting means for moving said one track section into position corresponding to the detected destination, and means for locking said one track section in the position towards which it is moved while the vehicle is on said switch assembly;
said detecting means including means for storing the detected destination of a vehicle while the rear wheels of a prior vehicle are still on said one track section to prevent operation of said moving means until said prior vehicle is off said at least one track section;
and second means for moving said at least one track section independently of the first mentioned moving means and means on the vehicle for operating said second moving means to properly position said tracks before the front wheels of the vehicle pass from said track section.

2 more elements

The method of controlling the movement of a vehicle with a switch assembly between a single main track section and a second track section consisting of a pair of diverging tracks, said method comprising the steps of displaying a predetermined destination on the vehicle representing one of said pair of diverging tracks, detecting said destination as the vehicle approaches the switch assembly, moving the switch assembly located between said track sections in response to said detected destination to divert said vehicle to the pair of diverging tracks represented by said destination, and locking said switch assembly while the vehicle is thereon;

storing the detected destination of a vehicle to prevent movement of said switch assembly while a prior vehicle is on the assembly;
said storing step including the step of detecting a vehicle on the switch assembly;
and said switch assembly including a first movable track segment consisting of a pair of tracks aligned at one end with said main track and a second movable track segment consisting of two pairs of tracks respectively aligned at one end to said diverging tracks, the opposite ends of said tracks being located in adjacent abutting relation and said moving step comprising the step of moving said adjacent ends of the track segments in opposite directions to selectively align the pair of tracks in the first segment with the pairs of tracks in the second segment in accordance with the detected destination of the vehicle;
said locking step comprising locking said track segments in a fixed aligned position to prevent movement thereof when a vehicle spans the adjacent ends thereof with its front and rear wheels;
said locking step further including the step of engaging a portion of a vehicle as it approaches the abutting ends of the track segments with a cam-locking device and actuating said device by such engagement to insure that said track segments are properly aligned and locked before the front wheels of the vehicle cross from the first track segment to the second track segment.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.