Apparatus for Locking a Switch Machine

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/641,110, titled APPARATUS FOR LOCKING A SWITCH MACHINE, filed May 1, 2024, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The subject matter described herein relates to an apparatus for locking a switch machine.

In various applications, vehicles (e.g., automobiles, rail vehicles, buses, trucks, mining vehicles, manned or unmanned aircraft, agricultural vehicles, marine vessels, etc.) rely on a path, or a system of paths, to move between various locations. In some applications, such vehicles rely, specifically, on a guided path, or a system of guided paths, to move between various locations. A guided path, or a system of guided paths, typically includes a combination of main paths and branch paths, which allow such vehicles to move between the various locations. In order to move between the various locations using the guided path, or system of guided paths, such vehicles may transfer from one path to another (e.g., a main path to a branch path, a branch path to a main path, a main path to a main path, a branch path to a branch path, etc.) using a switch machine.

A switch machine is an apparatus that ensures such vehicles are directed along the correct guided path by moving a set of switch points from an unthrown position to a fully thrown position, and vice versa, as necessary. In one example, if a vehicle on a main path needs to diverge to a branch path, a fully thrown switch machine at a junction between the main path and the branch path guides the vehicle from the main path to the branch path. Alternatively, if the vehicle on the main path needs to remain on the main path, an unthrown switch machine allows the vehicle to move through the junction without diverging to the branch path. In another example, if a vehicle on a branch path needs to converge to a main path, a fully thrown switch machine at a junction between the main path and the branch path guides the vehicle from the branch path to the main path. Alternatively, if the vehicle on the branch path needs to remain on the branch path, an unthrown switch machine allows the vehicle to move through the junction without converging to the main path.

A switch machine may switch from an unthrown position to a fully thrown position, and vice versa, a number of ways. In one example, a switch machine may utilize manual switching in which a user may manually throw, or switch, the switch machine and thus the set of switch points. In another example, a switch machine may utilize automatic switching in which electro-mechanical systems may automatically throw, or switch, the switch machine and thus the set of switch points. In yet another example, a switch machine may utilize remote controlled switching in which a user may remotely throw, or switch, the switch machine and thus the set of switch points.

Currently, switch machines designed for manual switching do not include a mechanism for locking in the fully thrown position. Additionally, switch machines designed for manual switching currently do not provide an indication to a user to inform the user as to whether or not a set of switch points has been successfully moved from an unthrown position to a fully thrown position. Accordingly, it may be desirable to have an apparatus for locking a switch machine that differs from those that are currently available.

In one example, an apparatus (e.g., a switch machine) may include a housing, a lever, and a switch throw mechanism. The switch throw mechanism may be at least partially housed in the housing. The switch throw mechanism may include a rod having a distal portion and a bracket attached to the distal portion. The lever may be pivotally coupled to the switch throw mechanism to laterally move the rod and the bracket from a first member position to a second member position based on the lever pivoting from a first lever position to a second lever position. The bracket located in the second member position and the lever located in the second lever position may lock the rod in the second member position. According to one aspect, the apparatus may be configured to provide a visual indication to a user to inform the user as to whether or not a set of switch points has been successfully moved from an unthrown position to a fully thrown position.

Embodiments of the subject matter described herein relate to an apparatus for locking a switch machine. As previously discussed, switch machines designed for manual switching currently do not include a mechanism for locking in a fully thrown position. As a result, a switch machine and, specifically, a set of switch points that is in the fully thrown position is susceptible to becoming dislodged such that the switch machine is no longer in the fully thrown position. A switch machine that becomes dislodged and is no longer in the fully thrown position poses a substantial risk for derailment for any vehicle traveling along a guided path for which the switch machine is located.

Additionally, as previously discussed, switch machines designed for manual switching currently do not provide a visual indication to a user to inform the user as to whether or not a set of switch points has been successfully moved from an unthrown position to a fully thrown position. In other words, unless the user manually checks the set of switch points to be moved by the switch machine after manual switching, the user is unable to verify if the switch machine has successfully moved the set of switch points from the unthrown position to the fully thrown position. Such a verification is important as malfunctions, or failures, associated with the switch machine and/or the set of switch points may cause the set of switch points to remain in the unthrown position despite the switch machine being thrown, or switched. As such, in the event of a malfunction, or failure, associated with a switch machine and/or a set of switch points, a user may throw, or switch, a switch machine, but a vehicle traveling along the guided path may not be directed correctly due to the malfunction, or failure.

Accordingly, embodiments of an apparatus as set forth herein may be configured for locking a switch machine in the fully thrown position and/or for providing a visual indication to a user to inform the user as to whether or not a set of switch points (e.g., of a railroad switch for changing the path of a rail vehicle from one set of rail tracks to another) has been successfully moved from an unthrown position to a fully thrown position.

Referring now to the figures,illustrates an example switch machinein an unthrown position. The example switch machine may include a housing, which may partially house a switch throw mechanism. The example switch machine may further include a lever, which may be pivotally coupled to the switch throw mechanism. In one example, the switch throw mechanism may be responsible for moving a set of switch points from an unthrown position to a fully thrown position, and vice versa, based on the lever pivoting from a first lever position () to a second lever position (), and vice versa. The example switch machine and, specifically, the switch throw mechanism may further include a locking rod, also referred to herein as a rod or a first rod, which may include a distal portion and a bracketattached thereto. The example switch machine and, specifically, the switch throw mechanism may even further include a point detector rod, also referred to herein as a second rod.

Since the lever may be pivotally coupled to the switch throw mechanism, the locking rod, the bracket, and the point detector rod may move laterally from a first member position () to a second member position () based on the lever pivoting from the first lever position to the second lever position, and further based on the set of switch points successfully moving from the unthrown position to the fully thrown position. Similarly, the locking rod, the bracket, and the point detector rod may move laterally from the second member position to the first member position based on the lever pivoting from the second lever position to the first lever position, and further based on the set of switch points successfully moving from the fully thrown position to the unthrown position. For example, the lever may be operably coupled to the set of switch points via a first elongate connector, and the set of switch points may be operably coupled to the locking rod via a second elongate connector, such that normal operation of the lever causes the set of switch points to move which in turn causes the locking rod to move. Additionally, the set of switch points may be operably coupled to the point detector rod via the second elongate connector, or, alternatively, a third elongate connector, such that normal operation of the lever causes the set of switch points to move which in turn causes the point detector rod to move.

With continued reference to the switch machine and the switch throw mechanism shown in,illustrates an example switch machinein a fully thrown, locked position. Similar to, the example switch machine may include a housing, which may partially house the switch throw mechanism. The example switch machine may further include a lever, which may be pivotally coupled to the switch throw mechanism. The example switch machine and, specifically, the switch throw mechanism may further include a locking rod, also referred to herein as a rod or a first rod, which may include a distal portion and a bracketattached thereto. The example switch machine and, specifically, the switch throw mechanism may even further include a point detector rod, also referred to herein as a second rod.

As shown in, the lever has pivoted from the first lever position () to the second lever position (), and, as a result, the locking rod, the bracket, and the point detector rod have moved laterally from the first member position () to the second member position (). As further shown in, the locking rod and the bracket located in the second member position and the lever located in the second lever position provide a locking mechanism to lock the locking rod in the second member position. In other words, an interaction between the bracket located in the second member position and the lever located in the second lever position prevents the locking rod and the bracket from moving laterally from the second member position to the first member position without a user pivoting the lever from the second lever position to the first lever position.

In addition to providing a locking mechanism to lock the locking rod in the second member position, the locking rod and the bracket located in the second member position and the lever located in the second lever position further provides a visual indication that the switch throw mechanism has successfully moved a set of switch points from an unthrown position to a fully thrown position.

With continued reference to the switch machines and the switch throw mechanisms shown in,illustrates an example switch machinein a malfunction position. Similar to, the example switch machine may include a housing, which may partially house the switch throw mechanism. The example switch machine may further include a lever, which may be pivotally coupled to the switch throw mechanism. The example switch machine and, specifically, the switch throw mechanism may further include a locking rod, also referred to herein as a rod or a first rod, which may include a distal portion and a bracketattached thereto. The example switch machine and, specifically, the switch throw mechanism may even further include a point detector rod, also referred to herein as a second rod.

As shown in, a user has attempted to pivot the lever from the first lever position () to the second lever position (). However, as a result of a malfunction, or failure, of the switch machine and/or the set of switch points, the set of switch points have not moved from an unthrown position to a fully thrown position, and thus the locking rod and the bracket have not moved from the first member position () to the second member position (). As a result, the bracket interferes with the lever and blocks, or prevents, the lever from pivoting to the second lever position and simultaneously provides a visual indication to the user that the switch machine and/or the set of switch points has malfunctioned, or failed, and that the set of switch points have not moved from the unthrown position to the fully thrown position despite an attempt to pivot the lever from the first lever position to the second lever position.

With continued reference to each of, the point detector rod may include a sensor to determine a location, a movement, etc. of the point detector rod to determine if the point detector rod has moved from the first member position to the second member position, and thus if the set of switch points has moved from the unthrown position to the fully thrown position. The sensor may include a global positioning system (GPS) sensor to detect when the point detector rod has moved to the second member position or an odometer sensor to detect when the point detector rod has moved the distance necessary to reach the second member position, among others. The example switch machines, or the switch throw mechanisms, ofmay further include a visual indicator configured to communicate with the sensor. In one example, the example switch machines, or the switch throw mechanisms, ofmay further include a light that is configured to illuminate based on the sensor determining that the point detector rod has moved from the first member position to the second member position, and thus that the set of switch points have successfully moved from the unthrown position to the fully thrown position. As a result, the switch machines, or the switch throw mechanisms, ofmay provide an additional visual indicator to inform the user as to whether or not the set of switch points have been successfully moved from an unthrown position to a fully thrown position.

illustrate an example locking rod, an example bracket, and an example assemblyincluding the locking rod and the bracket for use with a switch machine, respectively.illustrates the example locking rod, which may include a distal portion. The example locking rod may further include at least one through holeand first serrations.illustrates the example bracket, which may include at least one through slotand second serrations.illustrates the example assembly, which may include the locking rod and the bracket, where the bracket is attached to the distal portion of the locking rod. The example assembly may further include an attachment plateand at least one fastenerconfigured to attach the bracket to the distal portion of the locking rod via the at least one through hole, the at least one through slot, and the attachment plate.

With continued reference to, the first serrations of the distal portion of the locking rod and the second serrations of the bracket positionally stabilize the bracket attached to the distal portion of the locking road. Furthermore, the at least one through slot of the bracket provides positional adjustability such that the bracket may be attached at different positions on the distal portion of the locking rod. This may be desirable as different switch machines often require different throw distances, which is the distance that the set of switch points must travel from the unthrown position to the fully thrown position. In other words, the at least one through slot provides positional adjustability such that the same locking rod and bracket may be used for different switch machines requiring different throw distances.

illustrate example locking mechanismsA-C including an example L-shaped bracket, an example U-shaped bracket, and an example rectangular-shaped bracket, respectively. In one example,illustrates an example locking mechanism, which may include the L-shaped bracket attached to the locking rodto lock the locking rod in the second member position () based on the leverhaving pivoted to the second lever position (). In another example,illustrates an example locking mechanism which may include the U-shaped bracket attached to the locking rod to lock the locking rod in the second member position based on the lever having pivoted to the second lever position. In yet another example,illustrates an example locking mechanism which may include the rectangular-shaped bracket attached to the locking rod to lock the locking rod in the second member position based on the lever having pivoted to the second lever position. In any example, the L-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket, and the rectangular-shaped bracket may prevent the locking rod from moving laterally in the +x direction from the second member position to the first member position. Accordingly, the L-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket, and the rectangular-shaped bracket as described herein provide a mechanism for locking a switch machine, or a switch throw mechanism, and thus a set of switch points in the fully thrown position.

Although the L-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket, and the rectangular-shaped bracket have been described with reference to, these brackets may be implemented into the switch machines, or the switch throw mechanisms, of. Additionally, although not shown, the L-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket, and the rectangular-shaped bracket as described herein may be attached to the locking rod as described with reference to. In other words, although not shown, the L-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket, and the rectangular-shaped bracket as described herein may include at least one through slot configured to align with at least one through hole of the distal portion of the locking rod. Additionally, as described with reference to, an attachment plate and at least one fastener may attach the L-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket, and the rectangular-shaped bracket to the distal portion of the locking rod.

Although the present disclosure describes an L-shaped bracket, a U-shaped bracket, and a rectangular-shaped bracket, the disclosure encompasses any shaped bracket that may provide the locking mechanism described herein. Additionally, any shaped bracket may include at least one through slot configured to align with at least one through hole of the distal portion of the locking rod and may be attached to the distal portion of the locking rod via an attachment plate and at least one fastener.

This written description uses examples to disclose and to enable a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art to make and practice the subject matter disclosed herein, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. Aspects from the various embodiments described, as well as other known equivalents for each such aspects, can be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in the art to construct additional embodiments and techniques in accordance with principles of this application.