Railroad switch point position sensing system and method
OwnerDon D. Dannerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch point position detecting system and method uses a plurality of proximity detectors positioned proximate the switch point or points of a railroad switch. Additional proximity detectors are placed within a switch machine housing to detect the position of components therein, such as lock rods and lock bars. One or more Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC's) have inputs connected to the proximity detectors and outputs connected to relays or switches which control the switch machine and signals. The PLC's are programmed to operate the relays to give signals to proceed only when correct indications are received from all effected proximity detectors.
Claims33
A switch point position sensing system for a railroad switch, the switch including a normal and a reverse switch point positioned between normal and reverse stationary stock rails with the switch points being linked together and being movable between a normal position and a reverse position by a switch machine, said switch including a remote indicator of switch condition including normal and/or reverse switch condition indicators, said switch point position detection system comprising:
- a. a first point proximity detector attached to a respective one of said switch points or a corresponding one of said stock rails, said first point proximity detector giving a positive proximity indication when the respective switch point is moved to a position proximate the corresponding stock rail and giving a negative proximity indication when the respective switch point is moved away from the corresponding stock rail as said switch is changed between said normal and reverse switch positions;
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- b. a programmable controller connected to and programmed to be responsive to said first point proximity detector to control said remote indicator to give an indication of normal switch position when the switch is in the normal position and/or a reverse indication of reverse switch position when the switch is in the reverse position.
A switch point position sensing system for a railroad switch, the switch including a normal and a reverse switch point positioned between normal and reverse stationary stock rails with the switch points being linked together and being movable between a normal position and a reverse position by a switch machine, said switch including a remote indicator of switch condition including normal and/or reverse switch condition indicators, said switch machine including a lock rod which is movable with the normal and reverse switch points between a normal lock position and a reverse lock position, said switch point position detection system comprising:
- a. a first point proximity detector attached to a respective one of said switch points or a corresponding one of said stock rails, said first point proximity detector giving a positive proximity indication when the respective switch point is moved to a position proximate the corresponding stock rail and giving a negative proximity indication when the respective switch point is moved away from the corresponding stock rail as said switch is changed between said normal and reverse switch positions;
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- b. a programmable controller connected to and programmed to be responsive to said first point proximity detector to control said remote indicator to give an indication of normal switch position when the switch is in the normal position and/or a reverse indication of reverse switch position when the switch is in the reverse position;
- c. a first lock rod proximity sensor positioned to detect said lock rod in one of said normal lock position or said reverse lock position;
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- d. said programmable controller is also connected to and programmed to be responsive to said first lock rod proximity detector to control said remote indicator.
A switch point position sensing system for a railroad switch, the switch including a normal and a reverse switch point positioned between normal and reverse stationary stock rails with the switch points being linked together and being movable between a normal position and a reverse position by a switch machine, wherein said switch machine includes a lock rod which is movable with the normal and reverse switch points between a normal lock position and a reverse lock position, said switch including a remote indicator of switch condition including normal and reverse switch condition indicators, said switch point position detection system comprising:
- a. a normal point proximity detector attached to said normal switch point or said normal stock rail, said normal point proximity detector giving a positive proximity indication when the respective switch point is moved to a position proximate the normal stock rail and giving a negative proximity indication when the normal switch point is moved away from the normal stock rail as said switch is changed between said normal and reverse switch positions;
- b. a reverse point proximity detector attached to either the reverse switch point or the reverse stock rail, said reverse point proximity detector giving a positive proximity indication when the reverse switch point is moved to a position proximate the reverse stock rail and giving a negative proximity indication when the reverse switch point is moved away from the reverse stock rail as said switch is changed between said normal and reverse switch positions;
- c. a normal lock rod proximity sensor positioned to detect said lock rod in said normal lock position;
- d. a reverse lock rod proximity sensor positioned to detect said lock rod in said reverse lock position;
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- e. a programmable controller connected to and programmed to be responsive to said normal and reverse point proximity detectors and to said normal and reverse lock rod detectors to control said remote indicator.
A method of monitoring switch point position for a railroad switch, the switch including a normal and a reverse switch point positioned between normal and reverse stationary stock rails with the switch points being linked together and being movable between a normal position and a reverse position by a switch machine, said switch including a remote indicator of switch condition including normal and reverse switch condition indicators, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. attaching a first point proximity detector to a respective one of said switch points or a corresponding stock rail, said first point proximity detector giving a positive proximity indication when the respective switch point is moved to a position proximate the corresponding stock rail and giving a negative proximity indication when the respective switch point is moved away from the corresponding stock rail as said switch is changed between said normal and reverse switch positions;
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- b. connecting a first PLC to and programming the first PLC to be responsive to said first point proximity detector to control said remote indicator to give an indication of normal switch position when the switch is in the normal position and a reverse indication of reverse switch position when the switch is in the reverse position.
A method of monitoring switch point position for a railroad switch, the switch including a normal and a reverse switch point positioned between normal and reverse stationary stock rails with the switch points being linked together and being movable between a normal position and a reverse position by a switch machine, said switch including a remote indicator of switch condition including normal and reverse switch condition indicators, said switch including a lock rod which is movable with the normal and reverse switch points between a normal lock position and a reverse lock position, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. attaching a first point proximity detector to a respective one of said switch points or a corresponding one of said stock rails, said first point proximity detector giving a positive proximity indication when the respective switch point is moved to a position proximate the corresponding stock rail and giving a negative proximity indication when the respective switch point is moved away from the corresponding stock rail as said switch is changed between said normal and reverse switch positions;
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- b. connecting a first PLC to and programming the first PLC to be responsive to said first point proximity detector to control said remote indicator;
- c. positioning a first lock rod proximity sensor to detect said lock rod in one of said normal lock position or said reverse lock position;
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- d. connecting said first PLC to and programming it to be responsive to said first lock rod proximity detector to control said remote indicator.
A method of converting a railroad switch machine from a electromechanical sensing of switch point position to solid state sensing of switch point position, the switch machine controlling a switch with a normal and a reverse switch point positioned between normal and reverse stationary stock rails with the switch points being linked together and being movable between a normal position and a reverse position by a switch machine, said switch including a remote indicator of switch condition including normal and reverse switch condition indicators, said switch machine including a point detector rod connected to at least one of said switch points so as to move between a normal and a reverse point detection position as the switch points are moved between the normal and reverse switch position, respectively, and a plurality of point detector contacts controlled by the movement of the point detector rod, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. removing said point detector rod and said plurality of point detector contacts;
- b. attaching a first point proximity detector to a respective one of said switch points or a corresponding one of said stock rails, said first point proximity detector giving a positive proximity indication when the respective switch point is moved to a position proximate the corresponding stock rail and giving a negative proximity indication when the respective switch point is moved away from the corresponding stock rail as said switch is changed between said normal and reverse switch positions;
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- c. connecting a first PLC to and programming the first PLC to be responsive to said first point proximity detector to control said remote indicator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.