Patent ID: 6382567
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: B61L

Abstract:
A method of point detection for a railway switch machine having a housing, a point detector bar positionable in a normal point position and a reverse point position, and a slide lock bar positionable in a normal locked position and a reverse locked position, the method comprising the steps of:providing point detecting means in the housing adjacent the point detector bar; detecting with said point detecting means the position of the point detector bar; generating by said point detecting means a normal point detection signal having a first predetermined range of values when said point detector bar is in said normal point position and having a second predetermined range of values, which is different from said first predetermined range of values, when said point detector bar is not in said normal point position; generating by said point detecting means a reverse point detection signal having a third predetermined range of values when said point detector bar is in said reverse point position and having a fourth predetermined range of values, which is different from said third predetermined range of values, when said point detector bar is not in said reverse point position; and delivering said normal and reverse point detection signals to processing means for determining if said point detector bar is in the normal point position, the reverse point position, or in neither the normal point position nor the reverse point position.