Apparatus for locking a switch machine

Abstract

An apparatus is provided to lock a switch machine in a fully thrown position. The apparatus may include a housing, a lever, and a switch throw mechanism. The switch throw mechanism may be at least partially housed in the housing. The switch throw mechanism may include a rod having a distal portion and a bracket attached to the distal portion. The lever may be pivotally coupled to the switch throw mechanism to laterally move the rod and the bracket from a first member position to a second member position based on the lever pivoting from a first lever position to a second lever position. The bracket located in the second member position and the lever located in the second lever position may lock the rod in the second member position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A switch machine, comprising:
 a housing;   a lever; and   a switch throw mechanism at least partially housed in the housing, wherein the switch throw mechanism comprises a rod having a distal portion and a bracket attached to the distal portion,   wherein the lever is pivotally coupled to the switch throw mechanism to laterally move the rod and the bracket from a first member position to a second member position based on the lever pivoting from a first lever position to a second lever position, and wherein the bracket located in the second member position and the lever located in the second lever position locks the rod in the second member position.   
     
     
         2 . The switch machine of  claim 1 , wherein an interference between the lever and the bracket while the lever pivots from the first lever position to the second lever position indicates a malfunction of the switch throw mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The switch machine of  claim 2 , wherein the interference prevents the lever from pivoting to the second lever position. 
     
     
         4 . The switch machine of  claim 1 , wherein the rod is a first rod, wherein the switch throw mechanism further comprises a second rod having a distal portion and a sensor attached to the distal portion, wherein the switch throw mechanism is further configured to laterally move the second rod and the sensor from the first member position to the second member position based on the lever pivoting from the first lever position to the second lever position, and wherein the sensor is configured to determine that the first rod is locked in the second member position based on the second rod being in the second member position. 
     
     
         5 . The switch machine of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the rod comprises first serrations, wherein the bracket comprises second serrations, and wherein an interaction between the first and second serrations positionally stabilizes the bracket attached to the distal portion of the rod. 
     
     
         6 . The switch machine of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the rod comprises at least one through hole, wherein the bracket comprises at least one through slot, and wherein the at least one through slot positionally adjusts the bracket with respect to the at least one through hole. 
     
     
         7 . The switch machine of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is a rectangular bracket, an L-shaped bracket, or a U-shaped bracket. 
     
     
         8 . A vehicle system, comprising:
 a first path;   a second path;   a switch movable between a first position and a second position, wherein, in the first position, the switch guides a vehicle along the first path, and wherein, in the second position, the switch guides a vehicle along the second path; and   a switch machine operable to move the switch between the first position and the second position, the switch machine comprising:
 a housing; 
 a lever; and 
 a switch throw mechanism at least partially housed in the housing, wherein the switch throw mechanism comprises a rod having a distal portion and a bracket attached to the distal portion, 
 wherein the lever is pivotally coupled to the switch throw mechanism to laterally move the rod and the bracket from a first member position to a second member position based on the lever pivoting from a first lever position to a second lever position, and wherein the bracket located in the second member position and the lever located in the second lever position locks the rod in the second member position, and 
 wherein the bracket located in the second member position and the lever located in the second lever position corresponds to the switch in the second position. 
   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein an interference between the lever and the bracket while the lever pivots from the first lever position to the second lever position indicates a malfunction of the switch throw mechanism, and wherein the interference indicates the switch has not completely moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle system of  claim 9 , wherein the interference prevents the lever from pivoting to the second lever position, and wherein the interference prevents the switch from completely moving from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the rod is a first rod, wherein the switch throw mechanism further comprises a second rod having a distal portion and a sensor attached to the distal portion, wherein the switch throw mechanism is further configured to laterally move the second rod and the sensor from the first member position to the second member position based on the lever pivoting from the first lever position to the second lever position, wherein the sensor is configured to determine that the first rod is locked in the second member position based on the second rod being in the second member position, and wherein the sensor is configured to determine that the switch is in the second position based on the second rod being in the second member position. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the distal portion of the rod comprises first serrations, wherein the bracket comprises second serrations, and wherein an interaction between the first and second serrations positionally stabilizes the bracket attached to the distal portion of the rod. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the distal portion of the rod comprises at least one through hole, wherein the bracket comprises at least one through slot, and wherein the at least one through slot positionally adjusts the bracket with respect to the at least one through hole. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the bracket is a rectangular bracket, an L-shaped bracket, or a U-shaped bracket. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using a switch machine operable to move a switch between a first position and a second position, the method comprising:
 pivoting a lever of the switch machine about an axis from a first lever position to a second lever position, wherein the first lever position corresponds to the switch in the first position, and wherein the second lever position corresponds to the switch in the second position; and   translating a rod of the switch machine along a direction parallel to the axis from a first member position to a second member position based on pivoting the lever from the first lever position to the second lever position, wherein the first member position corresponds to the switch in the first position, and wherein the second member position corresponds to the switch in the second position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising locking the switch in the second position based on a locking engagement between the lever in the second lever position and the rod in the second member position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising determining a malfunction of the switch machine based on an interference between the lever and the rod while pivoting the lever from the first lever position to the second lever position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising determining whether the switch has completely moved from the first position to the second position based on a sensed parameter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing an indicator to indicate whether the switch has completely moved from the first position to the second position based on the determination. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 pivoting the lever of the switch machine about the axis from the second lever position to the first lever position; and   translating the rod of the switch machine along the direction parallel to the axis from the second member position to the first member position based on pivoting the lever from the second lever position to the first lever position.