Patent Application
20080290223
The present invention relates to railroad switching stands and particularly to railroad switch stands having a flood protection structure.
Railroad yards generally have manually and/or automatically operated switching devices for switching railroad cars from one track to another. These switching devices are well-known in the art and have been described for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,652,849 and 4,337,914, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Generally, a pair of stationary rails and a pair of switching rails are arranged so that the switching rails can be moved to keep a train on a main track or to divert the train to a branch track. The switching rails are moved by a switching device which includes a connecting rod that extends beneath the tracks to connections with the switching rails.
The switching devices typically include a switch stand to one side of the rails that can be operated either manually or automatically. When operated by hand, the switch is moved to a switch point by throwing a lever arm 180 degrees. For example, a weighted lever arm lying horizontally on the ground or at the base of the switch stand is lifted and thrown 180 degrees to the opposite side of the switch stand where it rests again horizontally on the ground or switch stand base. The weight and horizontal position of the lever arm prevents bouncing and accidental repositioning of the switch which could cause derailment.
The switching devices typically are installed at one side of the railroad, so that the bottom of the unit housing rests near ground level. This configuration, however, exposes the switching devices to standing water in low-elevation environments or where there is flooding. Exposure to the standing water in turn may cause corrosion or other damage to the switching devices, reducing the life span of the same.
It is therefore one object of the present invention to significantly reduce the risk of damage caused by flooding near or around railroad switch stands.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a flood protection structure for supporting a switch stand comprises a flood protection base, and at least one flood protection prop upstanding from the flood protection base. The flood protection prop is sufficient to extend above a level of expected standing water. The flood protection structure further comprises an interface mounted over the at least one flood protection prop for attachment to a base of the switch stand.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a switch stand having a flood protection structure comprises a switch stand base, a housing resting on the switch stand base, and a shaft mounted for rotational movement within the housing. The switch stand further comprises a flood protection structure. The flood protection structure comprises a flood protection base, and at least one flood protection prop upstanding from the flood protection base. The flood protection prop is sufficient to extend above a level of expected standing water. The flood protection structure further comprises an interface mounted over the at least one flood protection prop for attachment to the switch stand base.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a switch stand comprises a switch stand base, and a switch means for switching rails of a railroad track. The switch means rests on the switch stand base. The switch stand further comprises a handle means for actuating the switch means. The handle means is movable from a first position to a second position. The switch stand also comprises an actuator means coupled to the handle means, and a flood protection means. The flood protection means comprises a flood protection base, and at least one flood protection prop upstanding from the flood protection base. The flood protection prop is sufficient to extend above a level of expected standing water. The flood protection means further comprises an interface mounted over the at least one flood protection prop for attachment to the switch stand base.
A conventional railway switch stand 2 is shown in
The switch stand 2 may be operated by a switchman releasing the locking devices 12a and 12b by pressure on the foot rest portions 12c and 12d whereby the handle 6 is moved from a first position at the cradle 10a to a second position at the cradle 10b. The locking devices 12a and 12b then lock the handle into its second position.
The handle 6 is mounted to a switch operating mechanism such as a drive shaft 22 by conventional means such as a toggle 24 and a toggle washer 24a. The switch operating mechanism shown comprises the drive shaft 22 which extends to an opposite end of the housing 4 by a conventional linkage such as a link 26 connected to a fork 28 which is connected to a spindle assembly 30. The spindle assembly 30 moves the connecting rod 16 via a crank 32.
As shown in
The movement of the lever arm or handle in the conventional switch stand can be a completely manual operation. As shown in
In the conventional railroad switch stand, the handles can be conventional handles for railroad switch devices. The switch stand comprises the angled and elongate handle 6 or 44 which requires movement of less than 180 degrees from the handle's first position to its second position. In general, it is contemplated that the movement required to move the handle from a first position to a second position is about 120 degrees or less. Preferably, the handle is held in its resting, locked first or second position at an angle of from about 40 to 45 degrees from the ground on which the switchman is standing during operation of the switch. This angled handle position enables the switchman to avoid bending, stooping, and shoulder lifting in throwing the switch from one position to another, thus avoiding leg and back injuries.
Further, the arm is elongated to a length of about 36 inches or more from the fulcrum of the handle, for example, at the connection of the handle 6 to the drive shaft 22 in
Now referring to
Preferably, the railroad switch stand 80 is elevated by and rests on a flood protection structure 100. The flood protection structure 100 comprises a flood protection base 130, and at least one flood protection prop 120. The flood protection prop 120 rests on the flood protection base 130 and supports the switch stand base 92. The flood protection prop 120 is sufficient to extend above a level of expected standing water. The flood protection prop 120 may be secured to the flood protection base 130 in the middle thereof by conventional means, such as a welding connection, fasteners or a flat plate bolted to the flood protection base 130. The flood protection base 130 rests on a plurality of flood protection anchoring supports 150a and 150b.
The flood protection prop 120 comprises a tubular shaft cover 170 upstanding from the middle of the flood protection base 130. The tubular shaft cover 170 has an upper end that supports the switch stand base 92 and a lower end that is secured in the middle of the flood protection base 130. The flood protection prop 120 further comprises a plurality of flood protection rods 110a and 110b. The plurality of flood protection rods 110a and 110b upstands from the flood protection base 130. Each of the plurality of flood protection rods 110a and 110b has a lower end and an upper end. The lower ends of the plurality of flood protection rods 110a and 110b are disposed at a periphery of the flood protection base 130, and the upper ends of the plurality of flood protection rods 110a and 110b support the switch stand base 92.
Preferably, the flood protection base 130 has a hole 180 in the middle thereof and the flood protection prop 120 is secured to the flood protection base 130 in the hole 180. The flood protection prop 120 is preferably secured to the flood protection base 130 through a welded connection. Alternatively, the flood protection prop 120 may have a flat lower surface that is bolted to the flood protection base 130.
The switch stand having the flood protection base 130 further comprises an extension link 190 connected to the shaft 97 and a connecting rod 140. The extension link 190 is disposed within the tubular shaft cover 170. A spindle is connected to the extension link 190 and projects beneath the housing 82. The connecting rod 140 is attached to the spindle and configured for axial movement relative to the shaft 97.
The components of the flood protection structure 100, such as the flood protection base 130 and the at least one flood protection prop 120, can be made of wood, steel, concrete or other suitable types of material known in the art.
It is important to note that the flood protection structure 100 as described herein can be utilized with various switch stand configurations and types known in the art, including these described herein. For example, electrical railroad switch stands, solar-powered electrical railroad switch stands, or any other railroad switch stands known to one skilled in the art can be installed on the flood protection structure 100 as described in the above embodiments. Representative electrical railroad switch stands and solar-powered electrical railroad switch stands are described herein and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,470,035 and 6,042,060 to Sargis, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, other features may be included without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention.
