Rail mount point detector for railroad switches

Abstract

A point detector device for use in detecting the position of a switch point in a railway system includes a frame and a point detector bar slidably coupled to the frame. The point detector bar is structured to be selectively coupled to the switch point of the railway system. The point detector device further includes a number of sensors coupled to the frame, the number of sensors being adapted to detect the position of the point detector bar with respect to the frame. The frame includes a coupling mechanism structured to rigidly couple the frame to a fixed rail of the railway system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A point detector device for use in detecting the position of a switch point in a railway system, the point detector device comprising:
 a frame;   a point detector bar slidably coupled to the frame, the point detector bar structured to be selectively coupled to the switch point; and   a number of sensors coupled to the frame, the number of sensors being adapted to detect the position of the point detector bar with respect to the frame,   wherein the frame includes a coupling mechanism structured to rigidly couple the frame to a fixed rail of the railway system.   
     
     
         2 . The point detector device of  claim 1  wherein the coupling mechanism is structured to coupled a portion of the frame below the fixed rail of the railway system. 
     
     
         3 . The point detector device of  claim 1  wherein the frame comprises an enclosed portion having the number of sensors and a portion of the point detector bar disposed therein. 
     
     
         4 . The point detector device of  claim 3  wherein the frame is structured to position the enclosed portion in close proximity to the fixed rail. 
     
     
         5 . The point detector device of  claim 2  wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a first flange member and a second flange member, the first flange member being structured to couple the frame to a first portion of a base of the fixed rail and the second flange member being structured to couple the frame to a second portion of the base of the fixed rail member. 
     
     
         6 . The point detector device of  claim 5  wherein the first portion of the base is disposed on one side of a vertical web of the rail and the second portion of the base is disposed on the opposite side of the vertical web. 
     
     
         7 . The point detector device of  claim 5  wherein the first flange member is selectively coupled to the frame and the second flange member is selectively coupled to the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The point detector device of  claim 7  wherein the first flange member is selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame and wherein the second flange member is selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . A railway switching system comprising:
 a fixed rail member;   a switch point moveable with respect to the fixed rail member; and   a point detector device comprising:
 a frame; 
 a point detector bar slidably coupled to the frame, the point detector bar selectively coupled to the switch point; and 
 a number of sensors coupled to the frame, the number of sensors being adapted to detect the position of the point detector bar with respect to the frame, 
   wherein the frame is rigidly coupled to the fixed rail member via a coupling mechanism.   
     
     
         10 . The railway switching system of  claim 9  wherein the coupling mechanism couples a portion of the frame below the fixed rail member. 
     
     
         11 . The railway switching system of  claim 9  wherein the frame comprises an enclosed portion having the number of sensors and a portion of the point detector bar disposed therein. 
     
     
         12 . The railway switching system of  claim 11  wherein the enclosed portion is disposed in close proximity to the fixed rail member. 
     
     
         13 . The railway switching system of  claim 10  wherein the fixed rail comprises a base having a first portion and a second portion; wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a first flange member and a second flange member; and wherein the first flange member is coupled to the first portion of the base rail and the second flange member is coupled to the second portion of the base. 
     
     
         14 . The railway switching system of  claim 13  wherein the first portion of the base is disposed on one side of a vertical web of the rail and the second portion of the base is disposed on the opposite side of the vertical web. 
     
     
         15 . The railway switching system of  claim 13  wherein the first flange member is selectively coupled to the frame and the second flange member is selectively coupled to the frame. 
     
     
         16 . The railway switching system of  claim 15  wherein the first flange member is selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame and wherein the second flange member is selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame.