Abstract:
Switch points for a railroad turnout have an adjustable connecting rod member which moves the switch points to the desired direction. The adjustable connecting rod member is easily adjustable to provide proper alignment of the switch points with the stock rails with minimal effort and without the need for specialized crews. There is also no need to disconnect the adjustable connecting rod member from the switch points during adjustment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to adjustable bar for switch points for railroad turnouts. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In railroad tracks, turnouts or switches are used to change the direction of rail traffic from one set of rails to another. Switch stands are provided to change the position of switch points in the turnout or switch. The switch points change position and cause rail traffic to either continue on its present set of rails (often called the stock rails) or to be transferred to a new set of rails. The switch stand has an operator mechanism to change the position of the switch points as desired. 
     A connecting rod is the part of the turnout that connects the switch stand to the switch points. The turnout includes at least one connecting rod, but more may be included in a switch. 
     The connecting rods of a turnout work as connecting elements and adjustment parts in order to keep the switch points in engagement with the stock rail. When the stock points are not correctly supported at the stock rail, the possibility of a derailment becomes a serious risk. Any misalignment or misadjustment of the switch points is thus a potentially serious problem. Misalignment or misadjustment can occur from several causes, such as extreme temperatures, lateral movement of the stock rail or the like. Due to the importance of having the switch points properly aligned and adjusted over their service life, railroads have used specialized personnel and crews for such purposes. This in turn has resulted in increased operating costs. 
     So far as is known, the present techniques for accurately adjusting the connecting rods to the switch points are difficult, takes considerable time and requires specialized personnel. Further, so far as is known, the adjustment mechanisms permitted adjustment of only one at a time of the two rails in a rail pair for a turnout or switch. Further, in order to perform such an adjustment, it was necessary to disconnect the adjusting mechanism from the other parts of the switch. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention provides a new and improved aligning system in a railroad track turnout or switch. According to the present invention, alignment and proper engagement of the switch points with the rails in the railroad switch may be performed quickly and without disconnecting the adjustment mechanism from the other parts of the switch. 
     With the present invention, the adjusting system the switch includes a first switch point connector and a second switch point connector, each of which is brought into contact with an associated one of the rails in the switch. An adjustment member which is operable in response to a switch mechanism in the switch is connected at opposite end portions to the first and second switch point connectors. First and second rotatable couplings are connected at opposite end portions oft he adjustment member between the adjustment member and the rotatable couplings. The first and second rotatable couplings are each independently movable while the first and second switch point connectors are attached to their respective switch points. 
     With the rotatable couplings being independently movable, the relative position of the switch points with their respective rails in the switch may be adjusted to achieve desired engagement for safety purposes and for increased service life of the switch. This alignment and adjustment is achievable without disconnecting the adjustment mechanism from the other parts of the switch. Further, the rotatable couplings may be adjusted independently of each other, and only one need be adjusted, if required. 
     A lock mechanism is provided to secure the rotatable couplings against inadvertent movement of the parts of the adjustment mechanism. The lock mechanism also is releasable to allow movement of the rotatable couplings with respect to the switch point connector for alignment and adjustment purposes. Also, if the switch requires, more than one adjustment mechanism may be provided. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a railroad switch having an adjusting system according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of an adjusting bar of the adjusting system of FIG. 1 in an unlocked position. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the adjusting bar of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of an adjusting bar of the adjusting system of FIG. 1 in a locked position. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the adjusting bar of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the drawings, the letter S (FIG. 1) designates generally a railroad switch or turnout having first rails  10  and second rails  12  which are engageable, that is capable of being selectively contacted by movement into engagement, respectively, with a first adjustable switch point  14  and second adjustable switch point  16 . Each of the rails  10  and  12  forms an associated rail pair with an appropriately spaced rail  10   a  and  12   a , respectively. 
     A switch mechanism of the conventional type shown schematically at  20  causes the switch point  14  and  16  to move from a first position shown in the drawings where the switch points  14  is out of engagement with rail  10  and switch point  16  is in contact with rail  12  to an alternate or thrown position where the switch points  14  is in engagement with the rail  10  and switch point  16  is out of contact with rail  12 . Depending upon the position of the switch points  14  and  16 , rail traffic thus may then be diverted between the original rail pair  10  and  10   a  onto the other set or pair of rails  12  and  12   a.    
     According to the present invention, the switch S includes an adjusting switching A (FIGS. 1-5) which insures that the switch points  14  and  16  are properly aligned for engagement with rails  10  and  12 , as the case may be, when the switch S is in its alternate positions. As will be set forth below, the adjusting system A allows periodic adjustment of the relative position for spacing of the switch points  14  and  16  so that proper alignment and engagement with the rails  10  and  12  is maintained. Further, during such adjustment, it is not necessary to disconnect or otherwise the adjusting system A from either the switch S or the switch points  14  and  16 . 
     Considering the adjusting system A more in detail (FIGS.  2 - 5 ), a first switch point connector or connector bar  22  is attached in the manner of a conventional switch and to the first switch point  14  at a first end  24  with a conventional bolt, pin or other standard fastener mechanism  23  (FIG. 1) which is inserted through the threaded connector socket  26  (FIGS.  2 - 5 ). The first switch point connector  22  and other components of the adjusting system S are preferably formed of a suitable strength and durability steel material. 
     A threaded connector pin  28  is formed extending outwardly at a second or opposite end  30  of the switch point connector  22  spaced from the connector socket  26 . The connector pin  28  is mounted in a threaded inner sleeve  32  formed in an end plate  34  of a box-shaped first rotatable coupling  36 . The end plate  34  is a component of a first housing  38  having side walls  40  and  42  extending from opposite ends oft he end plate  34  to an end connector plate  44 . The end connector plate  44  of rotatable coupling  36  is rotatably mounted by a connector bolt  46  to a connector box,  48  of an adjustment member or bar  50  at an outer end  52 . 
     The connector bolt  46  has a shaft  54  passing for free rotational movement through a passage  56  in the end connector plate  44  of the first nut housing  38 . The connector bolt  46  has a threaded surface  58  formed on an outer end  60  of its shaft  54 . The threaded surface  58  of the connector bolt  46  is connected in a threaded socket  62  of the connector box  48  on adjustment member  50 . 
     The mounting of connector bolt  46  with nut housing  38  allows the rotatable coupling  36  to be freely rotatable with respect to the adjustment member  50 . Typically, one or more washers  66  are mounted on the shaft  54  of the connector bolt  46  between the nut housing  38  and the adjustment member  50 . 
     A lock mechanism  70  is provided with an outer end of the adjusting system A to retain, once properly adjusted, the desired spacing between the switch point connector  22  and the adjustment member  50 . The lock mechanism  70  includes a lock cover plate  72  rotatably mounted on the connector box  48  of the adjustment member  50 . The lock cover plate  72  is formed of a similar material to other components of the adjusting system A and is connected by a connector pin or bolt  74  to the connector box  48 . 
     The connector plate  72  is rotatably mounted to the connector box  48  by a connector pin,  74  passing through a mounting passage  76  formed in the connector box  48 . The lock cover plate  72  is movable from an open position (FIGS. 2 and 3) to a locked position (FIGS.  4  and  5 ). A connecting pin slot or passage  78  is formed in the lock cover plate  72  opposite the mounting passage  76 . The connecting pin  74  is inserted through the passage  78  and extends through such passage between head portions  74   a  and  74   b . The connector pin  74  also passes through an internal opening  82  in the connector box  48  and the shaft  54  in the connector bolt  46 . 
     The locking plate  72  has a connector pin socket  80  at an opposite end from the passage  78  to allow insertion of a lock connector pin  84  (FIGS.  4  &amp;  5 ). The lock connector pin  84  has a, threaded surface  84   a  matching the threaded surface  86  (FIGS. 2 &amp; 3) formed in a counter bored passage  88  formed extending into the end plate  34  of the nut housing  38 . The lock connector pin  84  when connected (FIGS. 4 &amp; 5) into the counter bored passage  88  locks the lock plate  72  against relative movement and retains the lock plate in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     In this position, the lock connector pin  84  engages connector pin  28  to prevent relative rotational movement of the rotatable coupling  36  with respect to the switch plate connector  26 . The connector pin  84  also through the locking plate  72  interconnects the rotatable coupling  36  and connector box  48  to lock these two structural elements together against relative rotational movement. The lock mechanism  70  when connected thus restricts relative movement of the switch point connector  22  and the adjustment member  50 . 
     A receptor socket  55  is formed at a suitable central portion oft he adjustment member  50  for engagement by a bar, rod or lever so that the adjustment member  50  may be rotated. The locking mechanism  70  must be in an unlocked position for this to occur. Because of the threaded connection of the end plate  34  with the connector pin  28 , rotation of coupling  36  with respect to connecting pin  28  causes the relative spacing of the switch point connector  22  with respect to the adjustment member  50  to be selectively adjustable. Depending on the direction of rotation of the coupling  36 , the relative spacing oft he switch point connector  22  and the adjustment member  50  may be increased or decreased to insure that the switch point  14  is maintained firmly in contact with the rail  10  at required times during the service life of the switch S. 
     A second switch point or connector bar  92  is attached in the manner of a conventional switch rod to the second switch point  16  at an inner end  94  with a conventional bolt or pin  95  (FIG. 1) or other suitable fastener mechanism through a threaded connector  96 . A threaded connector pin  98  is formed extending outwardly at a second or opposite end  100  of the adjustment member  50  for the second switch point  16  spaced from the outer end  52 . The connector pin  98  is mounted in a threaded inner sleeve  102  formed in an end plate  104  of a second rotatable coupling  106 . The end plate  104  is a component of a box-shaped second housing  108  have side walls  110  and  112  extending from opposite ends of the end plate  104  to an end connector plate  114 . The end connector plate  114  of rotatable coupling  106  is rotatably mounted by a connector bolt  46  to a connector box  118  mounted on an outer end  120  of switch point bar  122  from inner end  94 . 
     The connector bolt  116  has a shaft  124  passing for free rotational movement through a passage  126  in the end connector plate  114  of the second nut housing  108 . The connector bolt  116  has a threaded surface  128  formed on an outer end  130  of its shaft  124 . The threaded surface  128  of the connector bolt  116  is connected in a threaded socket  132  of the connector box  118  on second switch point bar  92 . 
     The mounting of connector bolt  116  with nut housing  108  allows the rotatable coupling  106  to be freely rotatable with respect to the second switch point bar  92 . Typically, one or more washers  136  are mounted on the shaft  124  oft he connector bolt  116  between the nut housing  108  and the second switch point bar  92 . 
     A lock mechanism  140  is provided with an inner end of the adjusting system A to retain, once properly adjusted, the desired spacing between the switch point connector  92  and the adjustment member  50 . The lock mechanism  140  is operable independently of the other lock mechanism  70  of the adjusting system A. The lock mechanism  140  includes a lock cover plate  142  rotatably mounted on the connector box  118  of the second switch point bar  92 . The lock cover plate  142  is formed of a similar material to other components of the adjusting system A and is connected by a connector pin or bolt  144  to the connector box  118 . 
     The connector plate  142  is rotatably mounted to the connector box  118  by a connector pin  144  passing through a mounting passage  146  formed in the connector box  118 . The lock cover plate  144  is movable from an open position (FIGS. 2 and 3) to a locked position (FIGS.  4  and  5 ). A connecting pin slot or passage  150  is formed in the lock cover plate  142  opposite the mounting passage  146 . The connecting pin  144  is inserted through the passage  150  and extends through such passage between head portions  144   a  and  144   b . The connector pin  144  also passes through an internal opening  152  in the connector box  118  and the shaft  124  in the connector bolt  116 . 
     The locking plate  142  has a connector pin socket  153  at an opposite end from the passage  150  to allow insertion of a lock connector pin  154  (FIGS.  4  &amp;  5 ). The lock connector pin  154  has a threaded surface matching the threaded surface  156  (FIGS. 2 &amp; 3) formed in a counter bore passage  158  formed extending into the end plate  104  of the nut housing  108 . The lock connector pin  154  when inserted into the counter bored passage  158  locks the lock plate  140  against relative movement and retains the lock plate  140  in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this position, the connector pin  154  engages connecting pin  98  to prevent relative rotational movement of the rotatable coupling  106  with respect to the adjustment member  50 . The connector pin  154  also through the locking plate  142  interconnects the rotatable coupling  106  and connector box  118  to lock these two structural elements together against relative rotational movement. The lock mechanism  140  when connected thus restricts relative movement of the switch point connector  92  and the adjustment member  50 . 
     When it is desired to adjust the position of the second rotatable coupling  106 , the lock mechanism  140  is unlocked. As has been noted, this can be done independently of the lock mechanism  70 . Thus, with the present invention, adjustment of the position of the first rotatable coupling  36  and the second rotatable coupling  106  maybe performed independently of each other. Further, the adjusting system A remains connected in the switch S during adjustment of either or both of such rotatable couplings. Because of the threaded connection of the end plate  104  with the connector pin  98 , rotation of coupling  106  with respect to connecting pin  98  causes the relative spacing of the switch point connector  92  with respect to the adjustment member  50  to be selectively adjustable. Depending on the direction of rotation of the coupling  106 , the relative spacing of the switch point connector  92  and the adjustment member  50  may be increased or decreased to insure that the switch point  16  is maintained firmly in contact with the rail  12  at required times during the service life of the switch S. 
     As has been noted, the adjusting system A of the switch S may be used to move the switch points  14  and  16  independently of each other and without disconnection of the adjusting system A from the switch. Further, the adjustment may be performed with common available implements, such as a wrench to unlock and lock the locking mechanisms  70  and  140 , and a rod, bar or lever to engage the adjustment member  50  through opening  55 . 
     The foregoing disclosure and description oft he invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, materials, and components, as well as in the details oft he illustrated structure and construction and method of operation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.