Provided is a hydraulic railroad switch machine that incorporates a lock-spring assembly, a point-detection and display system, a connector rod assembly, and a hydraulic system to overcome disadvantages associated with throw-out linkages.

The present invention relates to an operating and locking mechanism for diamond crossings of central rail-guided vehicles, comprising: a sliding plate (2A) fixed to a fixed part (2) of the diamond crossing forming a channel in its central area in the direction of the X axis, a guide block (10) fixed to the sliding plate (2A) comprising four guide grooves (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D) in the form of circular sectors located on the main plane of the guide block (10), the geometric center of which coincides with a theoretical pivoting point (17) of a moving panel (6) of the diamond crossing, where the sliding plate (2A) and the guide block (10) form a rectangular section groove (2F) the axis of which is parallel to the direction of the X axis, four shafts (12A, 12B, 13A, 13B) fixed to the moving panel (6) symmetrically with respect to a guide rail (7) of said moving panel (6) and perpendicular to the main plane of the moving panel (6), comprising respective rollers (12E, 12F, 13E, 13F) that can be moved and rolled respectively within the guide grooves (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D), and a cam plate (14) sliding in the longitudinal direction within the groove (2F) formed by the sliding plate (2A) and the guide block (10).

The present invention relates to an operating and locking mechanism for diamond crossings of central rail-guided vehicles, comprising: a sliding plate (2A) fixed to a fixed part (2) of the diamond crossing forming a channel in its central area in the direction of the X axis, a guide block (10) fixed to the sliding plate (2A) comprising four guide grooves (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D) in the form of circular sectors located on the main plane of the guide block (10), the geometric center of which coincides with a theoretical pivoting point (17) of a moving panel (6) of the diamond crossing, where the sliding plate (2A) and the guide block (10) form a rectangular section groove (2F) the axis of which is parallel to the direction of the X axis, four shafts (12A, 12B, 13A, 13B) fixed to the moving panel (6) symmetrically with respect to a guide rail (7) of said moving panel (6) and perpendicular to the main plane of the moving panel (6), comprising respective rollers (12E, 12F, 13E, 13F) that can be moved and rolled respectively within the guide grooves (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D), and a cam plate (14) sliding in the longitudinal direction within the groove (2F) formed by the sliding plate (2A) and the guide block (10).

A railroad equipment state determination apparatus includes: a storage that stores a plurality of operation data associated with a prescribed operation performed by railroad equipment that is driven by a motor from a stopped state to perform the prescribed operation and then comes into the stopped state again; an evaluation criteria setting section that sets evaluation criteria based on the plurality of operation data stored in the storage; and a determination section that determines whether new operation data resulting from the prescribed operation newly performed by the railroad equipment is abnormal based on the evaluation criteria.

A vehicle management system communicates with monitor devices coupled with a path control device at an intersection between route segments. The path control device switches positions to connect different combinations of the route segments. The system receives signals from the monitor devices to determine which of the route segments are coupled with each other and receives an authority signal from a travel authority system that indicates which of the route segments that the vehicle is authorized to travel. The system directs the vehicle through the path control device responsive to a combination of: (a) receipt of the authority signal and (b) receipt of at least one of the monitor signals or failure to receive one or more of the monitor signals.

A vehicle management system communicates with monitor devices coupled with a path control device at an intersection between route segments. The path control device switches positions to connect different combinations of the route segments. The system receives signals from the monitor devices to determine which of the route segments are coupled with each other and receives an authority signal from a travel authority system that indicates which of the route segments that the vehicle is authorized to travel. The system directs the vehicle through the path control device responsive to a combination of: (a) receipt of the authority signal and (b) receipt of at least one of the monitor signals or failure to receive one or more of the monitor signals.

A mechanism for use in a railway switch machine includes an elongate contact body having a housing formed from a non-conductive material, a plurality of electrical contact rails disposed in or on the contact body, and a contact block slidably coupled to the contact body such that the contact block can generally freely slide along the contact body. The contact block has a plurality of moveable contacts positioned thereon facing the contact body and is structured to engage a point detector bar of the railway switch machine. The contact block is moveable along the contact body from among: a first position in which a first and second rail of the plurality of contact rails are electrically connected and a third and fourth rail of the plurality of contact rails are electrically connected, and a second position in which only the second and third rails are electrically connected.

A mechanism for use in a railway switch machine includes an elongate contact body having a housing formed from a non-conductive material, a plurality of electrical contact rails disposed in or on the contact body, and a contact block slidably coupled to the contact body such that the contact block can generally freely slide along the contact body. The contact block has a plurality of moveable contacts positioned thereon facing the contact body and is structured to engage a point detector bar of the railway switch machine. The contact block is moveable along the contact body from among: a first position in which a first and second rail of the plurality of contact rails are electrically connected and a third and fourth rail of the plurality of contact rails are electrically connected, and a second position in which only the second and third rails are electrically connected.

A switching apparatus comprising a point detector connecting rod connected at one end to a switch machine and to at least one point at the opposite end. The point detector connecting rod is attached to the point via an angled block that permits a sliding motion relative to the point.

A turnout includes a fixed beam, and a first and a second movable beams respectively on two opposite sides of the fixed beam. The fixed beam is arranged on a turnout platform. The first movable beam is movably arranged on the turnout platform between a first and a second positions. The second movable beam is movably arranged on the turnout platform between a third and a fourth positions. When the first movable beam is at the first position, the second movable beam is at the third position, the first movable beam is separated from the fixed beam, and the second movable beam and the fixed beam form a first passage; when the first movable beam is at the second position, the second movable beam is at the fourth position, the second movable beam is separated from the fixed beam, and the first movable beam and the fixed beam form a second passage.