Rod adapter for a railroad switch assembly

Abstract

An adapter mechanically links a switch machine with a derail when a crowder is present. The adapter permits installation of the switch machine, having throw, locking, and point detector rods, and derail / crowder mechanisms in a variety of configurations. The adapter eliminates the need to weld a lug onto the point detector connecting rod for purposes of driving the crowder. Further, the adapter permits installation of all the components of the switch machine and derail / crowder mechanisms in the crowded space between tie rails.

Description

ROD ADAPTER FOR A RAILROAD SWITCH ASSEMBLYCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 569,057, filed March 22, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not applicable.BACKGROUND

[0003] Railroads employ switch machines to guide a locomotive from one rail to another at a junction. This junction often occurs where a spur or siding connects to a mainline. The switch machine pivots a movable section of rail, known as points, to allow the train to seamlessly transfer from one track to another. The switch machines often include components to indicate the complete movement of the points and to prevent movement of the points as a train is traversing the junction, increasing the safety of the machine by preventing derailments. This safety performance is often accomplished through the use of an internal point detector bar (signaling point position) and an internal lockrod (preventing movement). These components connect to the switch machine on the side of the track and also connect to components on the track, traversing beneath the rail between the rail ties. An example of this type of machine can be found in the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 9,156,479 B2.

[0004] Additionally, switch machines can be used in railyards, where there are multiple junctions connecting railcars arriving and departing in different directions. When used in a railyard, the greatest risks are not related to derailment as the rolling stock is often traveling at a reduced speed compared to the speeds on mainline tracks. Rather, safety risks are related to the unintentional collision of rolling stock due to an inadvertent operation of a switch, which transfers a railcar to the wrong track, or by a runaway railcar that has travelled beyond its desired location. These collisions and runaway events could also involve human operators as well as other equipment. Thus, safety is increased within the railyard by using derailers, which are devices attached or coupled to the track to intentionally derail a railcar to prevent travel on an unintended track.

[0005] In some situations, the derailer is a simple steel wedge attached to the rail. These permanent derail ers can be used to prevent a railcar from traveling down a permanently closed siding, for example. In other situations, the derailer is powered to provide switchable derailing conditions. For example, the derailer can be used at the junction entering a railyard. In this example, the derailer could be integrated with a switch assembly.

[0006] While providing increased utility by combining the switch assembly and derailer, compatibility issues exist, particularly when a power switch assembly with internal locking and point detection can only connect to one physical location on the derailer. The space constraint is even greater when a switch machine with separate point detecting and locking rods are connected to a derailer and a crowder, which is a component on the opposite rail that assists the derailer. For example, common derailers have three connection points and the switch machine has three rods, including the throw rod, point detection rod, and the locking rod. This configuration does not leave a connection point for the crowder. The compatibility issue is compounded given the lack of space available between ties, as many of the components of the switch machine and point detector must pass underneath the rail, between ties. For example, with some switch machines, the derailer can only be mounted on the power switch machine side of the track. It would therefore be advantageous to develop an adapter to permit coupling of the derailer to a power switch machine, allowing adoption of integrated derailers in an increased number of configurations.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0007] According to one example embodiment is an adapter comprising a plate that is adapted to integrate a derail mechanism with a power switch machine. The adapter can simultaneously drive an internal point detector bar and an internal lockrod of the switch machine using a single connecting rod extending from the track apparatus. The adapter permits various configurations of the track apparatus, including a derail mechanism located on the opposite site of the track than the switch machine.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Fig. 1 A shows the adapter according to one embodiment, with the switch machine on the left side of the rail and a derailer and crowder connected to the switch machine.

[0009] Fig. IB. is a profile view of the adapter shown in Fig. 1 A.

[0010] Figs. 1C-1D show a close-up view of the adapter depicted in Figs. 1A and IB.

[0011] Figs. 2A-2B show an alternative configuration of the adapter, with the switch machine on the left side of the rail.

[0012] Figs. 3A-3B show yet another alternative configuration of the adapter, with the switch machine on the right side of the rail.

[0013] Figs. 4A-4B show yet another alternative configuration of the adapter, with the switch machine on the right side of the rail.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] According to embodiments of this disclosure is an adapter 101 capable of connecting a derail mechanism 130 to a power switch machine 110. In one embodiment, one connection lug of the derail mechanism 130 can remain ‘open / available’ so that it can be connected to a crowder mechanism 131 if desired. Fig. 1 A depicts a switch machine 110 positioned on a left side of the rail 150, with the derailer or derail mechanism 130 positioned on a right side of the rail 150. That is, the derail mechanism 130 is mounted on the opposite side of the rail 150 than the switch machine 110. The crowder 131, which assists the derail mechanism 130 in removing the railcar’s wheels from the track 150, is mounted on the opposite rail from the derail mechanism 130, or the same side as the switch machine 110. Fig. IB is a profile view of the configuration shown in Fig. 1A. As shown in Fig. 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A, the switch machine 110 is connected to the throw rod or operating rod 111 with a pin.

[0015] The throw rod 111 functions to move the derail mechanism 130 on or off the track via a driving force originating in the switch machine 110. In the example shown in Figs. 1 A-1B, the switch machine 110 is in its extended state and the derail mechanism 130 is ‘on’. During operation from this position, the switch machine 110 will cause the throw rod 111 to move towards the switch machine 110. In one example, the switch machine 110 moves through a 6” stroke between the extended and retracted states. The throw rod I l l is connected to a switch rod with an optional basket 113 at its distal end. Alternatively, the throw rod 111 can connect directly to the compensator 121. The purpose of the switch rod with basket 113 is to couple the movement of the throw rod 111 to a secondary connecting rod, or short connecting rod 120 that extends past the right side of the rail 150. The switch rod with basket 113 is supported by switch rod hangers 112 on each of the stock rails 150.

[0016] The short connecting rod 120 is connected to a compensator 121 with a pin. In an alternative embodiment, the throw rod 111 could be connected directly to the compensator 121. The compensator 121 is a rotating component that translates the linear movement of the short connecting rod 120 to a rotational movement. Compensators 121 can rotate on a horizontalaxis like shown or on a vertical axis, similar to a bellcrank mechanism, for example. On the opposite end of the compensator 121 is a derail throw rod 122. The compensator 121 creates a linear movement in the derail throw rod 122, which in turn is connected at a distal end to a center connecting lug of a derail mechanism 130. The derail mechanism 130 includes connecting lugs that can be used to connect to a derail / crowder connecting rod 135 or the point detector and lockrod connecting rod 140, depending on the layout of the equipment. As shown in Fig. 1A, the compensator 121 is positioned outside of the rails 150 opposite the switch machine 110 and links the throw rod 111 to the derail mechanism 130, which are typically separated by a rail tie.

[0017] The point detector 142 and lockrod connecting rod 141 is connected to the adapter 101. The adapter 101 allows a single connecting rod 140 coming from the derail mechanism 130 to simultaneously drive the internal point detector bar 142 and the internal lockrod 141 of the power switch machine 110. In some examples, like the one shown in Figs. 1C-1D, an intermediate connector 102 may be required to connect between the dual function rod adapter 101 and the detector bar 103 of the switch machine 110. In alternative embodiments, the adapter 101 may have a different shape to account for variations in the configuration of the point detector bar and lock rods, which would require a different intermediate connector.

[0018] As shown in Figs. 1C-1D, the adapter 101 in this embodiment comprises a plate with a plurality of holes for connecting to the other components of the switch machine 110 and the derail mechanism 130. In alternative embodiments, the adapter 101 comprises a connecting mechanism which may include a piece of flat stock having rectangular, square, circular, ellipsoidal, or similar shape. The flat stock has holes or connecting lugs 160 to functionally couple the adapter 101 to various connecting rods of the switch machine 110 or track apparatus. The adapter 101 may also be adapted to accommodate various connections, such as clevis, threaded rod, and other fasteners.

[0019] Fig. 1C is an adapter 101 for a left-hand machine 110 and Fig. ID is an adapter for a right-hand machine 110. The adapter 101 shown in Figs. 1C-1D is an embodiment connecting the internal point rod and the lock rod to the rod connecting to the derail 130.

[0020] The adapter 101 can rely upon the rigidity and support of the internal lockrod 141 to hold a relative position to the internal point detector bar 142, when fastened together, as shown in Figs. 1C-1D. For example, as shown in Fig. 1C, 140 and 141 being fastened to the adapter 101 stabilizes the adapter 101 and its connection to 142. Without this consistent relative position, the point detector would not function properly and could falsely indicate a fully engaged or disengaged switch. While others have attempted to connect a derail mechanism130 to a switch machine 110, where the switch machine 110 has a separate internal point detector bar 142 and internal lockrod 141, they have not been successfully implemented with the derail mechanism 130 on the opposite side of the rails 150 than the switch machine 110. Thus, the adapter 101 eliminates the prior practice of welding an attachment point onto the point detector connecting rod 140 to drive the crowder 131, thus driving the derailer 130 and crowder 131 independently. This prior practice is not feasible when the derailer 130 is opposite the switch machine 110 and the crowder 131 is near the switch machine 110.

[0021] Figs. 2A-2B show an alternative configuration where the switch machine 110 is on the left side of the rails 150 and the derail mechanism 130 is on the right side of the rails 150. The compensator 120 is on the opposite side of the rails 150 from the switch machine 110.

[0022] Figs. 3 A-3B depict an embodiment similar to the configuration shown in Figs. 2A-2B, except the switch machine 110 is on the right side of the rails 150. The remaining components have the same configuration relative to the switch machine as the one depicted in Figs. 2A-2B.

[0023] Figs. 4A-4B show yet another alternative embodiment with the switch machine 110 on the right side of the rails 150 and the derail mechanism 130 on the left side of the rails 150. This configuration is a mirror image of the configuration shown in Figs. 1 A-1B.

[0024] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilized for realizing the invention in diverse forms thereof. In particular, one or more features in any of the embodiments described herein may be combined with one or more features from any other embodiments described herein.

[0025] Protection may also be sought for any features disclosed in any one or more published documents referred to and / or incorporated by reference in combination with the present disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An assembly for use on a rail track comprising: a switch machine; a throw rod connected to the switch machine; a compensator connected to the throw rod, wherein the compensator converts a linear motion of the short connecting rod to a rotational movement; a derail throw rod connected to the compensator; a derail mechanism connected to the derail throw rod; an adapter functionally coupling a movement of the derail mechanism to an internal point detector bar and an internal lockrod of the switch machine.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a crowder mechanism connected to the derail mechanism.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the switch machine is mounted on a first side of the rail track and the derail mechanism is positioned on side of the rail track opposite the first side.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the derail mechanism comprises a plurality of connecting lugs.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein a connecting lug of the plurality of connecting lugs is connected to a point detector and lockrod connecting rod.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the point detector and lockrod connecting rod comprises a single connection between the adapter and the switch machine.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an intermediate connector connecting the adapter to a detector bar of the switch machine.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises:a flat plate having a plurality of holes for receiving a connector to the switch machine and / or the derail mechanism.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter uses the internal lockrod to support the internal point detector bar in a stable relative position.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a rail tie separates the throw rod from the derail throw rod.

11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a short connecting rod connected to the throw rod at a first end and the compensator at a second end.

12. An adapter for use with a powered switch machine mounted adjacent to a rail track and a derail mechanism, the adapter comprising: a connecting mechanism having a plurality of holes through which passes an internal point detector bar and an internal lockrod of the switch machine, wherein the derail mechanism is connected to the connecting mechanism and positioned on a first side of the rail track, and wherein the connecting mechanism is further connected to the switch machine to couple a movement of the switch machine to the derail mechanism.

13. The adapter of claim 12, further comprising: wherein a crowder mechanism is connected to the derail mechanism, wherein the crowder mechanism is connected on a side of the rail opposite the first side.

14. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the switch machine is mounted adjacent to a side of the rail track opposite the first side.

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