Patent ID: 6164601
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: B61L

Abstract:
A railway switch stand having a reciprocating throw rod extending therefrom for operating the points of a railway track switch, comprising:a housing with a base plate for supporting the switch stand;a vertical shaft extending through a hole in the base plate, with a lower end operably connected to the throw rod, said vertical shaft rotatable on its longitudinal axis to reciprocate the throw rod;a plate mounted orthogonally on the vertical shaft for rotation with the vertical shaft;a plurality of grooves spaced radially equidistant from the vertical shaft on an upper surface of the orthogonally mounted plate;a cam follower assembly slidably and rotatably mounted on the vertical shaft above the orthogonally mounted plate;said cam follower assembly including at least one cam follower mounted at a lower end of the assembly and aligned with the grooves of the orthogonally mounted plate; wherein the radius of the cam follower is equal to the radius of the orthogonally mounted plate;biasing means connected to the vertical shaft above the cam follower assembly for applying a biasing force downwardly on the cam follower assembly and thereby retaining the cam follower within one of said groves whereby rotating the vertical shaft;a motor having a drive shaft oriented generally orthogonal to the vertical shaft, selectively operable to rotate the drive shaft, mounted on said housing base proximal the vertical shaft; andoperable means interconnecting the drive shaft and the vertical shaft for rotating the vertical shaft from a first position approximately one-quarter turn in a first direction upon rotation of the drive shaft one-half turn in either direction, and for rotating the vertical shaft one-quarter turn in the opposite direction returning to said first position upon continued rotation of the drive shaft another one-half turn.