Patent Application
20130264431
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to railway monitoring apparatus and, more particularly to a rail mounted point detector device. The present invention also relates to detection and railway switching systems employing such rail mounted point detector device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous different types of railroad switching equipment are known and understood in the railroad arts. It is generally understood that a railroad switch apparatus is employed to switch a train from a first set of fixed railroad tracks onto a fixed second set of railroad tracks. Such a railroad switch apparatus typically includes a pair of movable rails, a switch machine for moving the rails, a detection device for detecting the position of the rails, and assorted connective hardware that extends between the movable rails, the switch machine, and the detection device for various purposes. The switch machine provides the forces necessary to move the movable rails between a first position and a second position and to lock the movable rails in the first and second positions. The detection device monitors the position of the movable rails relative to at least one of the first and second sets of fixed railroad tracks.
It is also known that railroad equipment including railroad switch apparatuses are typically subjected to extreme punishment and distortions due to the substantial forces and vibrations transmitted from passing railroad trains, as well as severe environmental conditions including heat, snow, and ice which can greatly distort and wear components. Railroad equipment thus is preferably designed and configured generally to resist the effects of such harsh conditions, and to perform reliably under such conditions.
It is further known that railroad tracks and other related equipment extend across many remote regions, commonly referred to as “dark territory”, and that trains commonly travel on such remote tracks at all hours of the day and night. As such, railroad personnel must be available to inspect and, if necessary, repair railroad equipment at numerous remote locations at any hour. As the skill level of railroad maintenance personnel varies greatly, railroad equipment is preferably of a relatively simple configuration that can be repaired with a minimal number of tools in order to limit the number of potential points of failure of such railroad equipment and to facilitate repair by virtually any railroad personnel no matter the skill level or the quantity of tools available to such personnel.
In order to ensure the proper functioning of railroad switch apparatuses in all types of weather conditions and to resist breakage and maladjustment of such switch apparatuses, the connective hardware that extends between a switch machine and a pair of movable rails has typically included connecting rods that have been substantially rigidly connected with function rods that are part of the switch machine and that are movable with respect to other parts of the switch machine. While such rigid connections generally enhance the reliability of railroad switch apparatuses, such rigid connections nevertheless increase the difficulty and expense of installing and maintaining railroad equipment due to the degree of alignment that must be attained between the switch machine and the movable tracks.
During installation and replacement of conventional railroad switch apparatuses, special care is required to align the switch machine with the movable tracks in order to ensure that the connective hardware that is rigidly connected between the switch machine and the movable tracks is properly connected, and that such connective hardware operates properly without the components thereof or the movable tracks binding during operation. Commonly, such conventional switch machines and detection devices are mounted a distance from the rails of the railroad, typically on the wooden ties to which the rails were mounted or on cement pads near the wooden ties, with the base of the switch machine needing to be aligned either flush with the lower surfaces of the tracks or at a given vertical distance from such lower surfaces. Installation and alignment of such devices typically is burdensome and costly to achieve during initial construction, and is particularly difficult and time consuming after repair or replacement of existing devices due to the gradual deterioration of railroad ties and the difficulty of reliably employing such ties to align and accurately position detection with railroad tracks.
Accordingly, there is room for improvement in switch machines and in structures that facilitate installation of switch machines and connections thereof with the movable tracks of a railroad switch apparatus while providing the necessary reliability and resistance to the effects of environmental conditions in which the switch apparatus is employed.
The present invention improves upon known designs by providing a point detector device and a railway switching system.
As one aspect of the invention, a point detector device for use in detecting the position of a switch point in a railway system is provided. The point detector device comprises: a frame; a point detector bar slidably coupled to the frame, the point detector bar structured to be selectively coupled to the switch point; and a number of sensors coupled to the frame, the number of sensors being adapted to detect the position of the point detector bar with respect to the frame. The frame includes a coupling mechanism structured to rigidly couple the frame to a fixed rail of the railway system.
The coupling mechanism may be structured to coupled a portion of the frame below the fixed rail of the railway system.
The frame may comprise an enclosed portion having the number of sensors and a portion of the point detector bar disposed therein.
The frame may be structured to position the enclosed portion in close proximity to the fixed rail.
The coupling mechanism may comprise a first flange member and a second flange member, the first flange member being structured to couple the frame to a first portion of a base of the fixed rail and the second flange member being structured to couple the frame to a second portion of the base of the fixed rail member.
The first portion of the base may be disposed on one side of a vertical web of the rail and the second portion of the base may be disposed on the opposite side of the vertical web.
The first flange member may be selectively coupled to the frame and the second flange member may be selectively coupled to the frame.
The first flange member may be selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame and the second flange member may be selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame.
As another aspect of the invention, a railway switching system is provided. The railway switching system comprises: a fixed rail member; a switch point moveable with respect to the fixed rail member; and a point detector device. The point detector device comprises: a frame; a point detector bar slidably coupled to the frame, the point detector bar selectively coupled to the switch point; and a number of sensors coupled to the frame, the number of sensors being adapted to detect the position of the point detector bar with respect to the frame. The frame is rigidly coupled to the fixed rail member via a coupling mechanism.
The coupling mechanism may couple a portion of the frame below the fixed rail member.
The frame may comprise an enclosed portion having the number of sensors and a portion of the point detector bar disposed therein.
The enclosed portion may be disposed in close proximity to the fixed rail member.
The fixed rail may comprise a base having a first portion and a second portion, the coupling mechanism may comprise a first flange member and a second flange member, and the first flange member may be coupled to the first portion of the base rail and the second flange member may be coupled to the second portion of the base.
The first portion of the base may be disposed on one side of a vertical web of the rail and the second portion of the base may be disposed on the opposite side of the vertical web.
The first flange member may be selectively coupled to the frame and the second flange member may be selectively coupled to the frame.
The first flange member may be selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame and the second flange member may be selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame.
A full understanding of the disclosed concept can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts are “connected” or “coupled” together shall mean that the parts are joined together either directly or joined through one or more intermediate parts. Further, as employed herein, the statement that two or more parts are “attached” shall mean that the parts are joined together directly. Identical parts are provided with the same reference number in all figures.
As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality).
A railroad switch detection system 4 in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally in the plan view of
As shown in
The railroad switch detection system 4 includes a pair of movable rails 22 and 24 which are movable between a first position (
Point detector device 30 may comprise one or more sensors or sensing devices 32 (shown schematically in hidden line in
As shown in
It is to be appreciated that a point detector device as described herein may be readily retrofit to existing railways typically by simply removing some gravel or other fill from between adjacent ties and then coupling the frame to the fixed rail and coupling the point detector rod to the switch point. By securing the point detector device directly to the rail, a more reliable monitoring situation is provided as compared to situations where the detector is secured to ties or remote pads that may deteriorate or shift relative to the fixed rail, thus rendering the readings from the detector worthless.
While specific embodiments of the disclosed concept have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
