Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SWITCHING RAILCARS USING A STATIC
RAIL4RACK CONFIGURATION
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[00M] The claims disclosed: herein benefit from the priority associated with
'VS
Provisional. Patent Application No. 62588,124 filed on November 17, 2017 with
the title
"SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SWITCHING RAILCARS USING A STATIC RAIL-
TRACK CONFIGURATION", the contents of which are incorporated herein by the way
of reference.
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
10021 The embodiments herein disclose a mechanism for switching tracks of.a
railroad vehicle. The embodiments herein are particularly related to a system
and method
for enabling a railroad vehicle to switch tracks using static rail switch
mechanism.
Description of the Related Art
WWI Railroad carriages have been a -popular means of transportation for more
than a century. Most countries in the world posses a network of railway lines
crisscrossing
their lands. The mechanism of switching tracks of a railroad vehicle, is one
of the most
important aspects of railroad travel, as this is the core for enabling the
travel of a railroad
vehicle in a desired. direction.
[0004] Conventional rail switching systems use moving rails to switch
direction of
a. railroad vehicle. These mechanisms, known as rail switches, are slow to
reconfigure
from one position to the other. .fo accommodate for the low switching speed, a
large
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distance is maintained between a. plurality of railroad vehicles travelling to
different
destinations. To compensate for the loss of throughput due to this separation,
railcars are
organized into long trains. The railcars have to be tough and heavy to have
the strength to
pull lengthy trains. Due to their massive weight, railroads cause an
extraordinary wear on
the tracks, resulting in expensive construction and maintenance costs,
Moreover,. most of
the wear and resulting maintenance cost is spent on the moving switches. A
lack of proper
maintenance often results in accidents.
[00051 To alleviate the above problems, there's a need for railcars to have
onboard
apparatus and mechanism to switch on otherwise passive rail tracks, currently
available
onboard switching mechanisms employ very complex design with complex
choreography
of the apparatus requiring expensive control systems. This makes the overall
system slow
and accident prone.
[0006] Hence, there is a need for an uncomplicated onboard mechanism for
enabling a railroad vehicle to switch tracks
(0007] The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are
addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the
following
specification.
OBJECTIVES OF THE EMBODIMENTS
190081 The primary objective of the embodiments herein is to provide a
mechanism for switching tracks of a railroad vehicle.
100091 Another- object of the embodiments herein is to provide a system -and
method for enabling a railroad vehicle to switch tracks using no moving
component on the
rails or tracks.
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[0010] Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a system and
method for enabling a railroad vehicle to switch tracks using no active
component on the
rails or tracks.
[00111 Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a track-
switching mechanism for a railroad vehicle, where. the switching of tracks is
enabled
through specially designed. switching tracks.
[0012] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a track-
switching mechanism fir a railroad vehicle, where the switching mechanism is
controlled
by onboard systems in the railroad vehicle,
[00131 Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a track-
switching mechanism for a railroad vehicle, where the switching mechanism
comprises a
one or more switching Wheels to enable the switching of tracks.
[00141 These and other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will
become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
10015] The various embodiments herein provide a mechanism for switching tracks
of a railroad vehicle. The various embodiments also provide a system and
method for
enabling a railroad vehicle to switch tracks using only static components in
the rails.
[00161 According to one embodiment described herein, a track switching
mechanism for a transportation system is disclosed. The track switching-
mechanism
comprises a running track that. supports an automotive, a.switching track
comprising a. set
of static components and a switching. mechanism installed in at least one
carriage of the
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automotive, the on-board. switching configured for controlling the movement of
a. one or
more switching wheels such that when activated the switching mechanism is
configured to
facilitate engagement of the switching. wheels with the switching track for
carrying out a
track changing operation for the automotive.
[0017] According to another embodiment herein, a. system for enabling a
railroad
vehicle to switch tracks is disclosed. The system comprises a switching track
comprising a
set of static components and a switching mechanism installed in at least one
rail coach, the
switching mechanism configured for controlling the movement of one or more
switching:
wheels such that when activated the switching mechanism is configured to
facilitate
engagement of the one or more switching wheel's with the switching track for
carrying out a
track changing operation tbr the railroad vehicle.
[NISI According to another embodiment herein, a method for enabling a railroad
vehicle to switch tracks is disclosed. The method comprises steps of providing
a switching
track. comprising a set of static- components, coupling a one or more
switching wheels to at
least one rail coach, the set of switching wheels arranged to run along the
switching track,
installing a switching mechanism in each rail coach of the railroad vehicle,
the switching
mechanism configured for controlling the movement of the switching wheels and
optionally
activating the switchingmechanism so as facilitate engagement of the switching
wheels with
the switching track for carrying out a track changing operation for the
railroad vehicle by
disengaging the railroad vehicle from a fimt running track and engaging the
railroad vehicle
with a second running track.
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[0019] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better
appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following
description
and the accompanying drawings. It should be undeNtood however, that the
following
descriptions, while indicating the preferred embodiments and numerous specific
details
thereof, are given by way of illustration and not. of limitation. Many changes
and
modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without
departing
from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such
modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled
in the
art from the following description of the preferred embodiment: and the
accompanying
drawings in which:
[0021) FIG. I illustrates an arrangement of running track and switching track
with
different, gauges- for enabling. track switching thr a railroad vehicle,
according to an
embodiment herein.
100221 FIG. 2- illustrates an embodiment of track switching for a railroad
vehicle
using tracks of different gauges, according to an. embodiment herein.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a junction point for switching of a
railroad
vehicle from one track to another, according to an embodiment herein.
[00241 FIG. 4a illustrates a bottom view of a railroad vehicle enabled with
running
wheels and switching wheels, according to an embodiment herein.
100251 FIG. 4b and FIG. 4c illustrate a side view of a. railroad vehicle
enabled with
running wheels and switching wheels, according to an embodiment herein.
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[0026] 171.G. 5 illustrates an arrangement of running track and switching
track for
enabling track switching for a railroad vehicle, according to an embodiment
herein.
[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates a track switching for a railroad vehicle, enabled by
an
embodiment herein.
[0028] Although specific features of the embodiments herein are shown in some
drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature
may be
combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the
embodiments herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
0029] in the following detailed description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and in which the specific
embodiments
that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are
described in
sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the
embodiments and it is to
be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made
without
departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed
description is
therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0030] The various embodiments herein provide a mechanism for sWitching tracks
of a railroad vehicle. The various embodiments also provide a system and
method for
enabling a railroad vehicle to switch tracks using only static components in
the rails.
[0031] According to one embodiment herein, a system and method. for enabling a
railroad vehicle to switch tracks is provided. The system comprises a dual
guide way
system. Both guide-ways are 'fixed and passive physically, mechanically, and
electromagnetically. A first guide system, a running track, comprises a
traditional parallel-
rail system. The railroad vehicle generally travels on the network of running
tracks. .A
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second guide system, a switching track, is an arrangement that is placed only
near the
switching points on the track network., that is, at end points in the track.
network or at
points where two tracks intersect. The switching track comprises a separate
mono-rail or a
parallel-rail system. Apparatus onboard. the railroad vehicle can be
activated, to engage
with the switching track. or not depending on the intended destination of the
vehicle. Once
engaged, the switching track enacts the track changing mechanism for the
railroad vehicle
by smoothly separating the railroad vehicle from one running track and placing
it onto
another running track..
[0032] According to one embodiment herein, a mechanism for enabling a railroad
vehicle to switch tracks is provided. According to the present ynechanism, the
switching
track is elevated above the running tracks and above the railroad vehicle
running on it.
When the railroad vehicle approaches a switching point and intends to switch
tracks, a one
or more switching wheels in the railroad vehicle are activated to engage with
the
switching track. When the switching track and switching wheels are engaged,
the railroad
vehicle becomes suspended vertically down from the switching track. The
switching track
is designed to guide the railroad vehicle onto a second running track and
place the railroad
vehicle on the second running track. When the railroad -vehicle approaches a
switching
point and intends to not switch tracks, the switching wheels are not activated
and the
railroad vehicle continues to travel on the same running track.
[0033] According to one embodiment herein, yet another mechanism for enabling
a railroad vehicle to switch tracks is provided. According to the present
mechanism. the
switching track is at the same- level as. the running track. The gauge of the
switching track
and the running track are different. The switching track can be. narrower or
broader than
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the. running track. At the bifurcation switching point; the switching track
and the running
track. run in parallel for some distance before the switching point and
diverge beyond the
switching point. At the merging switching point, the switching track and
running track, run
parallel to each other for some distance beyond. the switching point. When the
railroad
vehicle approaches a switching point and intends to switch tracks, onboard
apparatus
including a one or more switching wheels is activated in the railroad vehicle.
The
switching wheels, when activated, are designed to get engaged to the switching
track.
When the switching track and switching wheels are engaged, the railroad
vehicle, is
designed to disengage the primary running wheels .from the running track. The
switching
track is designed to guide the railroad vehicle to a second running track and
place the
railroad vehicle on the second running track. When the railroad vehicle
approaches a
switching point and intends to not switch tracks, the switching wheels are not
activated
and the railroad vehicle continues to travel on the same running track,
100341 According to.one embodiment herein, yet another mechanism for enabling
a railroad vehicle to switch tracks is provided. According to the present
medhanism, the
switching track starts at the same level as.-the running track and slowly
rises to a height
where vehicles running on the running track can pass under the switching
track. The gauge
of-the-switching track-is broader than the running track. At the bifurcation
switching .point,
the switching track and The running track run in parallel for some distance
before the
switching point and diverge beyond the switching point. At the merging
switching point,
the switching track and running track run parallel to each other for some
distance beyond
the switching point. When the railroad vehicle approaches a switching point
and intends to
switch tracks, onboard apparatus including a one or more switching wheels is
activated in
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the. railroad vehicle. The switching wheels, when activated, are designed to
get engaged to
the switching track. When the switching track and switching wheels are
enizaged, the
railroad vehicle is designed to disengage the primary running wheels from the
running
track. The switching track is designed to guide the railroad vehicle to a
second running
track and place the railroad vehicle on the second running track. When the
railroad vehicle
approaches a switching point and intends to not switch tracks, the switching
wheels are
not activated and the railroad vehicle continues to travel on the same running
track.
[00351 FIG. I illustrates an arrangement of running track and switching track
with
different gauges for enabling track switching for a railroad vehicle. The
system comprises
a static switch with a dual guide system. Both guides are 'fixed mechanically
and passive
electromagnetically. A first guide system, a running track 101, comprises a
traditional
parallel-rail system. The railroad vehicle generally travels on the running
track. A second
guide system, a switching track 102, is an arrangement that is placed only
near the
switching points on the track network. The switching track 102 comprises a
parallel-rail
system at a gauge different than the running track.
100361 FIG, 2: illustrates. embodiment of track switching for a railroad
vehicle
using tracks of different gauges. The switching track 102 acts as the track
changing
mechanism for the railroad vehicle by smoothly moving the railroad vehicle
from one
running track 101 to another running track 103.
[.0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a junction point for switching of a
railroad
vehicle from one track to another. The present embodiment acts as a building
block for a
network of rails.
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[0038] FIG. 4a. illustrates a bottom view of a railroad vehicle enabled with
running
wheels and switching wheels, according to an embodiment herein. Each wagon of
railroad
vehicle is fitted with sets of running wheels 401 and switching wheels 402.
[0039] FIG, 4b and FIG. 44: illustrate -a side view of a railroad vehicle
enabled with
running wheels and switching wheels, according to an embodiment herein.. The
running
wheels have a fixed height relative to the rail car. The switching wheels are
protracted or
retracted depending on whether the railcar intends to switch tracks or not
switch tracks.
100401 FIG, 5 illustrates an arrangement of running track and switching track
for
enabling track. switching tbr a railroad vehicle, according to an embodiment
herein. The
system comprises a static switch with a dual guide system. Both guides are
fixed through
mechanical, physical or passive electromagnetic coupling. A first guide-
system.a running
track 501, comprises a traditional parallel-rail system. The railroad vehicle
travels on the
running track A second guide system, a switching track 502, is an arrangement
that is
placed only near the switching points on the running track.. The switching
track 502
comprises a mono-rail or a parallel-rail system, where the switching track is
elevated as
compared to the running track 501. The switching track 502 acts as the track
changing
mechanism for the railroad vehicle by smoothly moving the railroad vehicle
from one
running track 501 to another running track. The switching mechanism is
activated by user
in the railroad vehicle when a switching is necessary.
[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates a. track switching for a railroad vehicle,. enabled.
by an
embodiment herein. The system comprises a running track 501, a switching track
502 and
a. railroad vehicle 601.- The -railroad vehicle 201 is equipped with running,
wheels 603a,
6031 and switching wheels 604a, 604b. According to the present mechanism, the
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switching track 502 is elevated above the running tracks 501 and the railroad
vehicle 601
running on it. When the railroad vehicle 601 approaches a switching point and
intends to
switch tracks, a user in the railroad vehicle is enabled to activate a one or
more switching
wheels 604a, 604b in the railroad vehicle 601. The switching wheels 604a, 604b
are
designed to.get engaged to the switching track 502 when the switching wheels
604a, 604b
are. activated. When the switching track 502 and switching wheels 604, 604b
are
engaged, the railroad vehicle 601 is suspended vertically from the switching
track 502.
The.-switchingtrack 502 is designed to guide the railroad vehicle 601 to a
second running
track and place the railroad vehicle on the second running track. When the
railroad vehicle
601 approaches a switching point and intends to not switch tracks, the
switching wheels
604a, 6041 are not activated and the railroad vehicle 601 continues to travel
on the same
running track.
[00421 According to another embodiment herein, a method for enabling a
railroad
vehicle to switch tracks is disclosed. The method comprises steps of
.providing a switching
track comprising a set of static components, coupling a one or more switching
wheels to at
least one rail coach, the set of switching wheels arranged to run along the
switching. track,
installing a switching mechanism in each rail coach of the railroad vehicle,
the switching
mechanism configured for controlling the movement of the switching wheels and
optionally
activating the switching mechanism so as facilitate engagement of the
switching wheels with
the switching track for carrying out a track Changing operation for the
railroad vehicle by
disengaging the railroad vehicle from a first running track and engaging the
railroad vehicle
with a second running track.
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[00431 The foregoing description of the specific:embodiments will so fully
reveal the
general nature Of the embodiments herein that ,{.4hers i=,=, by applying
current knowledge,
tadiiy tnaify OW/Or adapt for various applications' .such :as specifie
embodiMent$ 'without
departing: from the generic concept, and, therefore., such adaptations and
modifications
should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range Of
equivalents or
the diSdosed embodiments It is to be understood: that the phraseology or
terminology
employed herein is for the purpose Of description and not =of limitation..
Therefore, *Idle thei
embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments,
those skilled in
the art will recognize that the embodiments herein On be practiced with
modifications.
However, all such moditicatiOns are deemed to he: within the scopeottbe
[0044] Although the embodiments hereih ate described with atiottS specific
embodiments, it will be obvious fbr a person skilled in the art to practice
the embodiments
herein with modifieation&
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