Switch machine with improved switch point connectors

Abstract

A switch machine for a railroad switch provided with two switch points, including two operating rods extending from the housing to the switch points; a shifting body within the housing, capable of sliding relative to the housing to simultaneously displace the operating rods; an engagement device within the housing for selectively engaging the operating rods to the housing at the two end stroke points; and a pivoting connector between each operating rod and its associated switch point.

1 . In a railroad switch for use with intersecting railroad rails and having two switch points interconnected by a switch machine between the two switch points and connected thereto by an operating rod at each end of the switch machine, a pivoting connector assembly connecting each operating rod to its associated switch point, the connector assembly comprising: 
 a generally horizontal pivot pin mounted on the associated switch point, with its longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to said switch point;    a socket on said operating rod at the outer end thereof, said socket having an open bore with a vertical axis;    a vertical shaft in said operating rod socket bore; and    a collar on said vertical shaft, said collar having an open bore adapted to receive said pivot pin therethrough in longitudinally sliding engagement, said collar bore being rotatable about said vertical axis of said socket bore;    whereby the switch machine is adapted to move the switch point by extending and retracting said operating rod by the application of force acting substantially along the longitudinal axis of said operating rod, and without binding of said collar on said pivot pin.    
   
   
       2 . The connector assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein said vertical shaft is adapted to pivot about its axis, relative to said operating rod socket.  
   
   
       3 . The connector assembly recited in  claim 2 , wherein said collar is fixedly mounted to said vertical shaft.  
   
   
       4 . The connector assembly recited in  claim 3 , wherein said collar bore is fixed relative to said collar.  
   
   
       5 . The connector assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said vertical shaft is fixedly mounted in said socket bore; and    said collar bore is adapted to pivot relative to said vertical shaft.    
   
   
       6 . The connector assembly recited in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said collar is fixedly mounted to said top end of said vertical shaft; and    said collar bore is adapted to pivot relative to said collar.    
   
   
       7 . The connector assembly recited in  claim 6 , wherein said collar comprises: 
 an outer collar member fixedly mounted to said vertical shaft; and    an inner collar member within said outer collar member, said collar bore being formed in said inner collar member, said inner collar member being rotatable about said vertical axis relative to said outer collar member.    
   
   
       8 . The connector assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein said collar comprises: 
 an outer collar member fixedly mounted to said vertical shaft; and    an inner collar member within said outer collar member, said collar bore being formed in said inner collar member, said inner collar member being rotatable about said vertical axis relative to said outer collar member.    
   
   
       9 . A switch machine for operating a railroad switch with two switch points at intersecting railroad rails, said switch machine comprising: 
 a housing mounted between said two switch points;    two operating rods, each one of said operating rods having an inner end within said housing and an outer end extending from said housing for repositioning one of said switch points, each one of said operating rods and its associated switch point establishing an angle therebetween for the application of lateral force to the switch point to move the switch point;    a shifting mechanism within said housing, said shifting mechanism being engageable to said inner end of each one of said operating rods, said shifting mechanism being adapted to simultaneously shift said operating rods between two positions relative to said housing, resulting in simultaneous repositioning of said two switch points; and    a connector assembly connecting each one of said extending operating rod ends to its associated switch point, said connector assembly having freedom of movement in the horizontal direction extending substantially parallel to the switch point and being pivotable about a vertical axis to allow said angle between said operating rod and said associated switch point to change as said associated switch point is repositioned;    whereby said switch machine is adapted to move said switch points by extending and retracting said operating rods by the application of said force acting substantially along the longitudinal axes of said operating rods.    
   
   
       10 . The switch machine recited in  claim 9 , wherein each said connector assembly comprises: 
 a horizontal pivot pin mounted on the associated switch point, with its longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to said switch point;    a socket on said operating rod at the outer end thereof, said socket having an open bore with a vertical axis;    a vertical shaft in said operating rod socket bore; and    a collar on said vertical shaft, said collar having an open bore adapted to receive said pivot pin therethrough in longitudinally sliding engagement, said collar bore being rotatable about said vertical axis of said socket bore.    
   
   
       11 . The switch machine recited in  claim 10 , wherein each said vertical shaft is adapted to pivot about its axis, relative to its associated said operating rod socket.  
   
   
       12 . The switch machine recited in  claim 11 , wherein each said collar is fixedly mounted to its associated said vertical shaft.  
   
   
       13 . The switch machine recited in  claim 12 , wherein each said collar bore is fixed relative to its associated said collar.  
   
   
       14 . The switch machine recited in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 each said vertical shaft is fixedly mounted in its associated said socket bore; and    each said collar bore is adapted to pivot relative to its associated said vertical shaft.    
   
   
       15 . The switch machine recited in  claim 14 , wherein: 
 each said collar is fixedly mounted to the top end of its associated said vertical shaft; and    each said collar bore is adapted to pivot relative to its associated said collar.    
   
   
       16 . The switch machine recited in  claim 15 , wherein each said collar comprises: 
 an outer collar member fixedly mounted to the associated said vertical shaft; and    an inner collar member within said outer collar member, said collar bore being formed in said inner collar member, said inner collar member being rotatable about said vertical axis relative to said outer collar member.    
   
   
       17 . The switch machine recited in  claim 10 , wherein each said collar comprises: 
 an outer collar member fixedly mounted to the associated said vertical shaft; and    an inner collar member within said outer collar member, said collar bore being formed in said inner collar member, said inner collar member being rotatable about said vertical axis relative to said outer collar member.    
   
   
       18 . The switch machine recited in  claim 9 , wherein each said connector assembly comprises: 
 a horizontal pivot pin mounted on the associated switch point, with its longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to said switch point; and    a collar on a respective said operating rod, said collar having an open bore adapted to receive said pivot pin therethrough in longitudinally sliding engagement, said collar bore being pivotable about a vertical axis.