Railway Switch Rod Support Assembly

Abstract

A solution for a railway switch rod support assembly is disclosed. The railway switch rod support assembly comprises a plurality of hangers which may include a first hanger and a second hanger. The railway switch rod support assembly may further include a plurality of insulating layers. The plurality of insulating layers is configured to insulate the rail from electrical interference. Furthermore, the railway switch rod support assembly includes a roller assembly comprising an axle and a roller. The roller assembly is disposed between the first hanger and the second hanger. The railway switch rod support assembly also comprises a tension assembly configured to apply tension to the roller assembly. The tension assembly is disposed between the first hanger and the second hanger. As such, the disclosed solution improves safety and reduces maintenance costs.

1 . A switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) configured to interface with a switch rod and a rail, the switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) comprising:
 a first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) configured to interface with a base of the rail;   a tension assembly ( 131 A) comprising a second plurality of hangers ( 120 AZ), the tension assembly ( 131 A) being configured to fasten the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) and the second plurality of hangers ( 120 AZ) to the base of the rail; and   a roller assembly ( 129 A) configured to provide rolling of the switch rod along an axis ( 103 X) perpendicular to the rail.   
     
     
         2 . The switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) is in contact with a plurality of insulating layers ( 110 AZ) configured to electrically insulate the rail from the switch rod. 
     
     
         3 . The switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of insulating layers ( 110 AZ) is made from material comprising polymer, polyester, urethane, fiberglass, industrial paper, ceramic, polytetrafluorethylene, graphene-based materials, polyimides, silicone elastomers, aramid paper, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) of  claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) comprises a first plurality of holes ( 122 AZ) and further wherein the plurality of insulating layers ( 110 AZ) comprises a second plurality of holes ( 124 AZ). 
     
     
         5 . The switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) of  claim 4 , wherein the pluralities of holes ( 122 AZ,  124 AZ) enable the positioning of the roller assembly ( 129 A) at a plurality of positions within the switch rod support assembly ( 100 A). 
     
     
         6 . The switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) of  claim 1 , wherein the tension assembly ( 131 A) further comprises:
 a bolt ( 112 A);   a nut ( 113 A);   a first cross brace ( 119 A) configured to interface with the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ); and   a second cross brace ( 117 A) configured to interface with the second plurality of hangers ( 120 AZ).   
     
     
         7 . The switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) of  claim 6 , wherein the first cross brace ( 119 A) is welded to the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ), wherein the second cross brace ( 117 A) is welded to the second plurality of hangers ( 120 AZ). 
     
     
         8 . The switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) of  claim 1 , wherein the roller assembly ( 129 A) comprises:
 a roller ( 107 A);   a bushing ( 109 A);   an axle ( 115 A); and   a cotter pin ( 126 A).   
     
     
         9 . The switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) of  claim 8 , wherein the roller ( 107 A) is made from material comprising polyester, urethane, hardened steel, nylon, rolled glass, fiberglass, polyoxymethylene, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A kit configured to interface with a switch rod and a rail, the kit comprising:
 a switch machine; and   a switch rod support assembly ( 100 A), comprising:
 a first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) configured to interface with a base of the rail; 
 a tension assembly ( 131 A) comprising a second plurality of hangers ( 120 AZ), the tension assembly ( 131 A) being configured to fasten the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) and the second plurality of hangers ( 120 AZ) to the base of the rail; and 
 a roller assembly ( 129 A) configured to provide rolling of the switch rod along an axis ( 103 X) perpendicular to the rail. 
   
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) is in contact with a plurality of insulating layers ( 110 AZ) configured to electrically insulate the rail from the switch rod. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of insulating layers ( 110 AZ) is made from material comprising polymer, polyester, urethane, fiberglass, industrial paper, ceramic, polytetrafluorethylene, graphene-based materials, polyimides, silicone elastomers, aramid paper, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) comprises a first plurality of holes ( 122 AZ) and further wherein the plurality of insulating layers ( 110 AZ) comprises a second plurality of holes ( 124 AZ). 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the pluralities of holes ( 122 AZ,  124 AZ) enable the positioning of the roller assembly ( 129 A) at a plurality of positions within the switch rod support assembly ( 100 A). 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the tension assembly ( 131 A) further comprises:
 a bolt ( 112 A);   a nut ( 113 A);   a first cross brace ( 119 A) configured to interface with the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ); and   a second cross brace ( 117 A) configured to interface with the second plurality of hangers ( 120 AZ).   
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the first cross brace ( 119 A) is welded to the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ), wherein the second cross brace ( 117 A) is welded to the second plurality of hangers ( 120 AZ). 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the roller assembly ( 129 A) comprises:
 a roller ( 107 A);   a bushing ( 109 A);   an axle ( 115 A); and   a cotter pin ( 126 A).   
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the roller ( 107 A) is made from material comprising polyester, urethane, hardened steel, nylon, rolled glass, fiberglass, polyoxymethylene, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) configured to interface with a switch rod and a rail, the switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) comprising:
 a first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) configured to interface with a base of the rail, the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) being in contact with a plurality of insulating layers ( 110 AZ) configured to electrically insulate the rail from the switch rod;   a tension assembly ( 131 A) comprising a second plurality of hangers ( 120 AZ), the tension assembly ( 131 A) being configured to fasten the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) and the second plurality of hangers ( 120 AZ) to the base of the rail, the tension assembly ( 131 A) comprising a bolt ( 112 A), a nut ( 113 A), a first cross brace ( 119 A) configured to interface with the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ), and a second cross brace ( 117 A) configured to interface with the second plurality of hangers ( 120 AZ); and   a roller assembly ( 129 A) configured to provide rolling of the switch rod along an axis ( 103 X) perpendicular to the rail.   
     
     
         20 . The switch rod support assembly ( 100 A) of  claim 19 , wherein the first plurality of hangers ( 105 AZ) comprises a first plurality of holes ( 122 AZ) and further wherein the plurality of insulating layers ( 110 AZ) comprises a second plurality of holes ( 124 AZ), the pluralities of holes ( 122 AZ,  124 AZ) enabling the positioning of the roller assembly ( 129 A) at a plurality of positions within the switch rod support assembly ( 100 A).