Patent ID: 6588710
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B61L,G01R

Abstract:
A railroad trackwork switch assembly comprising:a stock rail that in a relatively fixed position; a switch point that is relatively movable into and out of closed switch engagement with said stock rail; a target sub-assembly having an array of permanent magnets carried by said switch point and generating a total magnetic flux field of unique shape and density; and a controller sub-assembly which is secured to said stock rail, which generates railroad operating control signals when said switch point is sufficiently engaged in closure with said stock rail and when said point rail is insufficiently engaged in closure with said stock rail, which has a sensor array of Hall-effect devices aligned opposite said target array of permanent magnets, and which has control signal electric/electronic circuitry controlled by said Hall-effect devices, said control signal electric/electronic circuitry generating a â€œtrueâ€  control signal when said Hall-effect devices sense the unique shape and strength of the total magnetic flux field of said target permanent magnets when said switch point is sufficiently engaged in closure with said stock rail and generating a â€œfalseâ€  control signal when not sensing the unique shape and strength of the total magnetic flux field of said target array of permanent magnets because said switch point is not sufficiently engaged in closure with said stock rail.