US 6,296,208 B1Granted

Railway switch machine point detection system

AssigneeUnion Switch & Signal Inc.

InventorRaymond C. Franke

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Abstract

A point detection system for a railway switch machine having a housing includes a point detector bar positionable in a normal point position and a reverse point position, and point detecting sensors positioned within the housing for detecting when the point detector bar is in the normal point position and when the point detector bar is in the reverse point position. The point detecting sensors may include a first proximity sensor for detecting when the point detector bar is in the normal point position and a second proximity sensor for detecting when the point detector bar is in the reverse point position. Preferably, the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are inductive proximity sensors. A method of point detection for a railway switch machine is also provided.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A point detection system for a railway switch machine having a housing, said point detection system comprising:

a point detector bar positionable in a normal point position and a reverse point position;
a point detector target affixed to said point detector bar;
point detecting means positioned within the housing for detecting when said point detector bar is in said normal point position and when said point detector bar is in said reverse point position, said point detecting means including a first proximity sensor for detecting said point detector target when said point detector bar is in said normal point position and a second proximity sensor for detecting said point detector target when said point detector bar is in said reverse point position, said first proximity sensor generating a normal point detection signal and said second proximity sensor generating a reverse point detection signal, said normal point detection signal having a first predetermined range of values to indicate that said point detector bar is in said normal point position and having a second predetermined range of values, which is different from said first predetermined range of values, to indicate that said point detector bar is not in said normal point position, said reverse point detection signal having a third predetermined range of values to indicate that said point detector bar is in said reverse point position and having a fourth predetermined range of values, which is different from said third predetermined range of values, to indicate that said point detector bar is not in said reverse point position;
and
means for processing point detection information from said normal point detection signal and said reverse point detection signal.

2 more elements

A point detection system for a railway switch machine having a housing defining a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, a point detector bar with a first and a second end positionable in a normal point position and a reverse point position, a slide bar positionable in a normal locked position and a reverse locked position, and means for indicating switching and locking data, wherein said point detection system comprises:

a support sleeve, affixed within the housing to the first side wall and the opposing second side wall, for receiving and slidably supporting the first end of the point detector bar therewithin;
means defined in the first side wall of the housing, through which the point detector bar is slidably retained by the first side wall, such that the first end of the point detector bar is slidably captivated within said support sleeve within the housing and the second end of the point detector bar is positioned outside of the housing;
a point detector target integrally engaged with the first end of the point detector bar within the housing;
and
point detecting means positioned within the housing and coupled to the means for indicating switching and locking data for detecting said point detector target when the point detector bar is positioned in the normal point position and the reverse point position,
wherein said point detecting means generates a normal point detection signal that is transmitted to the means for indicating switching and locking data when said point detecting means detects said point detector target with the point detector bar in the normal point position and said point detector means generates a reverse point detection signal that is transmitted to the means for indicating switching and locking data when said point detecting means detects said point detector target with the point detector bar in the reverse point position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.