Method and apparatus for switching device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10697128-B2
Application number	US-201515566519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2015
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A method and apparatus for switching device, wherein the apparatus includes a clamp block ( 44 ) configured for attachment to a rail end point ( 12,14 ), the clamp block ( 44 ) including a housing ( 64 ) having a slot ( 66 ) formed therein, and a clip ( 42 ) configured to be received in the slot ( 66 ). The clip ( 42 ) disengageable from the slot ( 66 ) upon application of a generally lateral trailing force to the rail end point ( 12,14 ) in excess of a threshold value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a clamp block configured for attachment to a rail end point, the clamp block including a housing having a slot formed therein; and
a clip configured to be received in the slot;
wherein the clip is disengageable from the slot upon application of a generally lateral trailing force to the rail end point in excess of a threshold value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the clip is generally U-shaped and includes a pair of opposed depending legs each having an aperture formed therein adjacent to respective distal ends thereof for receiving a pivot pin, and an upwardly extending third leg;
wherein the third leg is configured to be received in the slot in the housing of the clamp block.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first clip retaining mechanism configured to retain the clip within the slot, the first clip retaining mechanism including at least one first detent ball and a first biasing mechanism configured to bias the at least one first detent ball into engagement with a corresponding first detent recess in the clip.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:
the biasing mechanism comprises at least one disc spring.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:
the first clip retaining mechanism is positioned within the housing of the clamp block.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:
a second clip retaining mechanism configured to retain the clip within the slot, the second clip retaining mechanism being positioned within the housing on an opposing side of the clip from the first clip retaining mechanism and including at least one second detent ball and a second biasing mechanism configured to bias the at least one second detent ball into engagement with a corresponding second detent recess in the clip.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connecting block engageable with the clamp block, the connecting block being configured to facilitate the attachment of a connecting rod between the clamp block and an opposing clamp block.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus is configured to couple the rail end point to a switch machine.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
the clip is configured to maintain a rigid connection with the clamp block sufficient to transfer a pushing force from the switch machine to the rail end point;
wherein the pushing force of the switch machine is below the threshold value.

10. An assembly, comprising:
a first rail end point;
a second rail end point;
a switch machine configured to selectively move the first rail end point and the second rail end point between first and second alternative positions; and
a first clip assembly connecting a first end of the switch machine to the first rail end point, the first clip assembly being configured to transmit a first pushing force from the switch machine to the first rail end point to move the first and second rail end points between the first and second alternative positions, and to automatically decouple the switch machine from the first rail end point during a trailing-point movement of a vehicle.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a second clip assembly connecting a second end of the switch machine to the second rail end point, the second clip assembly being configured to transmit a second pushing force from the switch machine to the second rail end point to move the first and second rail end points between the first and second alternative positions, and to automatically decouple the switch machine from the second rail end point during the trailing-point movement of the vehicle.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
the first clip assembly and second clip assembly each include a respective clamp block configured for attachment to a respective one of the first and second rail end points, each clamp block including a housing having a slot formed therein, and a clip configured to be received in the slot;
wherein the clip is disengageable from the slot upon application of a generally lateral trailing force to one of the first and second rail end points during the trailing-point movement.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein:
each clip is generally U-shaped and includes a pair of opposed depending legs each having an aperture formed therein adjacent to respective distal ends thereof for receiving a pivot pin, and an upwardly extending third leg;
wherein the third leg is configured to be received in the slot in the housing of the clamp block.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein:
the first and second clip assemblies each include a clip retaining mechanism configured to retain the clip within the slot, the clip retaining mechanism including at least one detent ball and a biasing mechanism configured to bias the at least one detent ball into engagement with a corresponding detent recess in the clip.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein:
the biasing mechanism comprises at least one disc spring.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the first and second clip assemblies each include a connecting block engageable with each clamp block, the connecting blocks being configured to facilitate the attachment of a connecting rod between the first clip assembly and the second clip assembly.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
each clip is configured to maintain a rigid connection with the respective clamp block sufficient to transfer the pushing force from the switch machine to the first or second rail end point.

18. A method, comprising:
connecting a first rail end point to a switch machine via a first clip assembly, the first clip assembly being configured to transmit a first pushing force from the switch machine to the first rail end point to selectively move the first rail end point between first and second alternative positions; and
during a trailing-point movement of a vehicle, automatically decoupling the switch machine from the first rail end point.

19. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
connecting a second rail end point to the switch machine via a second clip assembly, the second clip assembly being configured to transmit a second pushing force from the switch machine to the second rail end point to selectively move the second rail end point; and
during the trailing-point movement of the vehicle, automatically decoupling the switch machine from the second rail end point.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein:
the first clip assembly and second clip assembly each include a clamp block configured for attachment to a respective one of the first and second rail end points, each clamp block including a housing having a slot formed therein, and a clip configured to be received in the slot;
wherein the clip is disengageable from the slot, for the switch machine to automatically decouple from the first rail end point or the second rail end point, upon application of a generally lateral trailing force to at least one of the first or second rail end points during the trailing-point movement.

21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein:
each clip is generally U-shaped and includes a pair of opposed depending legs each having an aperture formed therein adjacent to respective distal ends thereof for receiving a pivot pin, and an upwardly extending third leg;
wherein the third leg is configured to be received in the slot in the housing of the clamp block.

22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein:
the firs

Assignees

• Alstom Transp Tech
• Li Bosheng

Inventors

• Li Bosheng

Classifications

• B61L5/10 Primary

  Locking mechanisms for points; Means for indicating the setting of points · CPC title

• B61L5/02

  Mechanical devices for operating points or scotch-blocks {, e.g. local manual control} · CPC title

• E01B2202/025

  Pure translation · CPC title

• E01B7/02 Primary

  Tongues; Associated constructions · CPC title