Assist rod and basket assembly
View Patent ↗A railroad switch assembly comprises a basket that directly actuates a torsional assist rod. The basket is located at a lower elevation than the assist rod, preferably in a hollow tie and preferably between the switch machine and the running rail.
1. A railroad switch comprising:
a lost motion basket housing having an opening in said housing, said opening travelling laterally through said housing, along a longitudinal axis, for allowing unimpeded lateral displacement of a rod or bar therethrough;
at least one abutment in said opening for limiting lateral displacement through said opening of a surface associated with said rod or bar;
an arm associated with said housing; and
means for rotatably retaining said arm, said means having an axis of rotation;
wherein said axis of rotation does not intersect said longitudinal axis.
2. The railroad switch of claim 1 , said housing further comprising a head portion and a lower portion, said means for rotatably retaining an arm being located on said head portion.
3. The railroad switch of claim 2 wherein said means for rotatably retaining an arm comprises a bore in said head portion, said bore being transverse in relation to said opening and being adapted to receive a pin for rotation in said bore and for connection to said arm.
4. The railroad switch of claim 3 wherein said lower portion comprises means for securing a rod to said housing.
5. A railroad switch comprising:
a lost motion basket housing having an opening travelling laterally therethrough for allowing unimpeded lateral displacement of a rod or bar therethrough along an opening axis, at least one abutment in said opening for limiting lateral displacement through said opening of a surface associated with said rod or bar member and a head portion, and a bore in said head portion, said bore having an axis that is transverse to and does not intersect said opening axis, said bore receiving a pin for rotation therein, and an arm mounted by said pin for rotation relative to said housing.
6. The railroad switch of claim 5 further comprising at least one torsion arm retained on said pin.
7. The railroad switch of claim 6 wherein said torsion arm comprises an elongated slot and one end of said pin extends through said elongated slot.
8. The railroad switch of claims 5 , 6 , or 7 further comprising attachment points on said housing for securing a switch rod assembly thereto.
9. The railroad switch of claim 6 or 7 wherein one end of said torsion arm is rigidly secured to an assist rod.