Hand throw mechanism for in-tie switch machine

A hand throw mechanism for an in-tie switch machine having a drive element for moving switch points from a first end point to a second end point, comprising:

• an elongated hand throw arm having a first coupling element which includes a first lower mating surface and a first upper mating surface;
• a gear set having an output shaft for moving the drive element, the gear set also including a second coupling element which includes a second lower mating surface that engages the first upper mating surface and a second upper mating surface that engages the first lower mating surface to couple the first and second coupling element wherein an approximate 180 degree rotation of the hand throw arm causes rotation of the first and second couplings, the gear set and the output shaft to thus move the drive element and the switch points;
• and
• a rotatable thrust element having a raised portion wherein rotation of the thrust element urges the raised portion against the first coupling element to separate the first and second coupling elements and disengage the throw arm.

A hand throw mechanism for an in-tie switch machine having a drive element for moving switch point tracks from a first end point to a second end point, comprising:

• an elongated hand throw arm having a first coupling element which includes a first lower mating surface and a first upper mating surface;
• a gear set having an output shaft for moving the drive element, the gear set also including a second coupling element which includes a second lower mating surface that engages the first upper mating surface and a second upper mating surface that engages the first lower mating surface to couple the first and second coupling element wherein an approximate 180 degree rotation of the hand throw arm causes rotation of the first and second couplings, the gear set and the output shaft to thus move the drive element and the switch points;
• a rotatable thrust element having a raised portion wherein rotation of the thrust element urges the raised portion against the first coupling element to separate the first and second coupling elements and disengage the throw arm;
• and
• a selector lever having a cam device for rotating the thrust element to separate the first and second coupling elements for enabling motorized operation of the in-tie switch machine.