Unitary body hollow tie for a switch machine

Abstract

A tie system having at least one tie with a generally hollow, unitary body. The tie body is preferably made from a metal such as, but not limited to, steel. The tie is created as a unitary body and may be cast in its final form, however, in a preferred embodiment, the body is created as a tube which is then deformed into the final shape. Once the tube has the desired shape, a plurality of openings are cut therein. Components of the switch machine are then disposed within the tie body.

1 . A tie system for a railroad and switch machine, said railroad having a pair of spaced, fixed rails, said switch machine having an actuator, a pair of movable rails, a first plurality of substantially straight, elongated rods, a second plurality of substantially straight, elongated rods, said actuator coupled to both said first and second pluralities of rods and structured to move said first and second pluralities of rods between a first position and a second position, said first plurality of rods coupled to said movable rails by a first plurality of lugs, said second plurality of rods coupled to said movable rails by a second plurality of lugs, both said first and second pluralities of lugs having a vertical extension, wherein the movement of said first and second pluralities of rods between a first position and a second position move said movable rails between a first position and a second position, said tie system comprising:
 a first tie assembly having a unitary body and a tie plate assembly, said first tie assembly body structured to extend under said fixed rails and defining a partially enclosed space having an upper surface and at least one opening through said upper surface, said first tie assembly tie plate assembly having at least one generally flat body defining an elongated slot, said first tie assembly tie plate assembly disposed on said first tie assembly body upper surface over said first tie assembly body upper surface opening;   a second tie assembly having a unitary body and a tie plate assembly, said second tie assembly body structured to extend under said fixed rails and defining a partially enclosed space having an upper surface and at least one opening through said upper surface, said second tie assembly tie plate assembly having at least one generally flat body defining an elongated slot, said second tie assembly tie plate assembly disposed on said second tie assembly body upper surface over said second tie assembly body upper surface opening; and   wherein said fixed rails extend over said first tie assembly body and said second tie assembly body, said movable rails extend over said first tie assembly body and said second tie assembly body, said first plurality of rods extend within said first tie assembly body, said second plurality of rods extend within said second tie assembly body, said first plurality of lugs extending through said first tie assembly tie plate assembly slot and said second plurality of lugs extending through said second tie assembly tie plate assembly slot.   
     
     
         2 . The tie system of  claim 1  wherein:
 said first tie assembly body has a generally rectangular, hollow cross-section including a generally planar bottom plate having a first side and a second side, a first vertical, generally planar side plate, a second vertical, generally planar side plate, and a generally planar top plate, said upper surface being on said top plate, said first tie assembly body first side plate extending from said first tie assembly body bottom plate first side, said first tie assembly body second side plate extending from said first tie assembly body bottom plate second side, said first tie assembly body top plate extending between said first tie assembly body first side plate and said first tie assembly body second side plate; and   said second tie assembly body has a generally rectangular, hollow cross-section including a generally planar bottom plate having a first side and a second side, a first vertical, generally planar side plate, a second vertical, generally planar side plate, and a generally planar top plate, said upper surface being on said top plate, said second tie assembly first side plate extending from said second tie assembly bottom plate first side, said second tie assembly second side plate extending from said second tie assembly bottom plate second side, said second tie assembly top plate extending between said second tie assembly first side plate and said second tie assembly second side plate.   
     
     
         3 . The tie system of  claim 2  wherein:
 said first tie assembly has heater mounting within said first tie assembly body; and   said second tie assembly has heater mounting within said first tie assembly body.   
     
     
         4 . The tie system of  claim 2  wherein:
 said first tie assembly body has a length between about 136 inches and 165 inches; and   said second tie assembly body has a length between about 136 inches and 165 inches.   
     
     
         5 . The tie system of  claim 2  wherein:
 said first tie assembly body has a length of about 160 inches; and   said second tie assembly body has a length of about 160 inches.   
     
     
         6 . The tie system of  claim 2  wherein:
 said first tie assembly tie plate assembly includes at least one tie plate and at least one insulator, said at least one tie plate having a generally flat body defining a slot, said at least one tie plate coupled to said first tie assembly body upper surface over said first tie assembly body upper surface at least one opening, said at least one insulator disposed between said at least one tie plate and said first tie assembly body upper surface; and   said second tie assembly tie plate assembly includes at least one tie plate and at least one insulator, said at least one tie plate having a generally flat body defining a slot, said at least one tie plate coupled to said second tie assembly body upper surface over said second tie assembly body upper surface at least one opening, said at least one insulator disposed between said at least one tie plate and said second tie assembly body upper surface.   
     
     
         7 . The tie system of  claim 6  wherein:
 said first tie assembly body top plate includes a first lug opening and a second lug opening;   said first tie assembly tie plate assembly includes a first tie plate, a second tie plate, a first insulator and a second insulator, said first tie assembly first tie plate having a generally flat body defining a slot, said first tie assembly second tie plate having a generally flat body defining a slot, said first tie assembly first tie plate coupled to said first tie assembly body upper surface over said first tie assembly first lug opening, said first tie assembly first insulator disposed between said first tie assembly first tie plate and said first tie assembly body upper surface, said first tie assembly second tie plate coupled to said first tie assembly body upper surface over said first tie assembly second lug opening, said first tie assembly second insulator disposed between said first tie assembly second tie plate and said first tie assembly body upper surface;   said second tie assembly body top plate includes a first lug opening and a second lug opening; and   said second tie assembly tie plate assembly includes a first tie plate, a second tie plate, a first insulator and a second insulator, said second tie assembly first tie plate having a generally flat body defining a slot, said second tie assembly second tie plate having a generally flat body defining a slot, said second tie assembly first tie plate coupled to said second tie assembly body upper surface over said second tie assembly first lug opening, said second tie assembly first insulator disposed between said second tie assembly first tie plate and said second tie assembly body upper surface, said second tie assembly second tie plate coupled to said second tie assembly body upper surface over said second tie assembly second lug opening, said second tie assembly second insulator disposed between said second tie assembly second tie plate and said second tie assembly body upper surface.   
     
     
         8 . The tie system of  claim 7  wherein:
 said first tie assembly body includes a switch machine actuator opening on said first tie assembly body top plate;   said second tie assembly body includes a switch machine actuator opening on said second tie assembly body top plate;   said first tie assembly includes a cover assembly; said first tie assembly cover assembly having a machine actuator opening cover, a first lug opening cover and a second lug opening cover;   said first tie assembly machine actuator opening cover structured to cover said first tie assembly machine actuator opening, said first tie assembly machine first lug opening cover structured to cover said first tie assembly machine first lug opening, said first tie assembly machine second lug opening cover structured to cover said first tie assembly machine second lug opening;   said second tie assembly includes a cover assembly; said second tie assembly cover assembly having a machine actuator opening cover, a first lug opening cover and a second lug opening cover; and   said second tie assembly machine actuator opening cover structured to cover said second tie assembly machine actuator opening, said second tie assembly machine first lug opening cover structured to cover said second tie assembly machine first lug opening, said second tie assembly machine second lug opening cover structured to cover said second tie assembly machine second lug opening.   
     
     
         9 . The tie system of  claim 1  wherein:
 said first tie assembly includes a support tie, said first tie assembly support tie structured to support said switch machine actuator; and   said second tie assembly includes a support tie, said second tie assembly support tie structured to support said switch machine actuator.   
     
     
         10 . The tie system of  claim 9  wherein:
 said first tie assembly support tie has an upper surface;   said first tie assembly support tie includes a saddle block support having a first block and a second block, said first block and said second block extending upwardly from said first tie assembly support tie upper surface;   said second tie assembly support tie has an upper surface; and   said second tie assembly support tie includes a saddle block support having a first block and a second block, said first block and said second block extending upwardly from said second tie assembly support tie upper surface.