Assist rod and basket assembly
AssigneeVAE Nortrak North America, Inc.
InventorsGary Click, Cory O'Brien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A railroad switch assembly comprises a basket that directly actuates a torsional assist rod. The basket is located at a lower elevation than the assist rod, preferably in a hollow tie and preferably between the switch machine and the running rail.
Claims12
A railroad switch assembly for switching a pair of movable rails in relation to at least one running rail, said running rail having a field side, each of said movable rails having a point end and a heel end, comprising:
- a switch machine located on the field side of said running rail;
- a point end switch rod connected to the point ends of said pair of movable rails, said point end switch rod being housed in a first hollow tie;
- a heel end switch rod assembly connected to the heel ends of said pair of movable rails and comprising a heel end switch rod housed in a second hollow tie;
- a front lost motion basket associated with said point end switch rod for controlling the throw applied to said point end switch rod said front lost motion basket being at least partially housed in a portion of said first hollow tie;
- an assist rod assembly extending between said portion of said first hollow tie and said heel end switch rod assembly, said front lost motion basket being operatively connected to said assist rod assembly to actuate movement of said assist rod assembly upon displacement of said front lost motion basket.
A railroad switch assembly comprising a switch machine, a throw rod actuated by said switch machine, a front lost motion basket for adjusting the throw applied by said throw rod to a point end switch rod assembly, wherein said front lost motion basket is operatively connected to a torsional assist rod to actuate rotation of said torsional assist rod about a longitudinal axis of said torsional assist rod.
A railroad switch assembly comprising a switch machine, a throw rod actuated by said switch machine, a front lost motion basket for adjusting the throw applied by said throw rod to a point end switch rod assembly, wherein said front lost motion basket is located between said switch machine and a running rail proximal to said switch machine.
A railroad switch assembly for switching a pair of movable rails in relation to at least one running rail, said running rail having a field side and a gauge side, each of said movable rails having a point end and a heel end, comprising:
- a switch machine located on the field side of said running rail;
- a point end switch rod assembly connected to the point ends of said pair of movable rails, and comprising a point end switch rod housed in a first hollow tie;
- a heel end switch rod connected to the heel ends of said pair of movable rails, said heel end switch rod being housed in a second hollow tie;
- a rear lost motion basket associated with said heel end switch rod for controlling the throw applied to said heel end switch rod wherein said rear lost motion basket is at least partially housed in a portion of said second hollow tie;
- an assist rod assembly extending between said portion of said second hollow tie and said front end switch rod assembly, said rear lost motion basket being operatively connected to said assist rod assembly such that said assist rod actuates movement of said rear lost motion basket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.