FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to the field of gate control systems at railroad/highway crossings and, more particularly, to a gate crossing mechanism having a replaceable main shaft bearings.

BACKGROUND

Main shaft bearings of conventional highway crossing gates are near impossible to remove without total disassembly of gate mechanisms of the crossing gates. Changes to a main shaft bearing require many external parts of the gate mechanism need to be removed from the main shaft. In addition, replacement of a main shaft bearing requires removal of a corresponding main shaft and complete disturbance of internal components as well as field adjustments for the location. Electrical components and mechanical assemblies are disconnected and removed in order to gain access other parts of the gate mechanism. Sometimes, the use of a torch or hammer is needed to shift or otherwise move mechanical parts in order to allow removal of the main shaft bearing. Hand clearance may also be necessary in order to reach inside the housing of the gate mechanism for various reasons, such as manually pushing the bearing out of the housing. Once the main shaft bearing is replaced, the whole disassembly process is reversed with special care to reassemble the internal and external parts of the crossing gate. Further, functional testing and adjusting are required before placing the crossing gate back in service.

Accordingly, main shaft bearings of conventional highway crossing gates are difficult to replace in the field. Much disassembly is required, and a substantial amount of time is necessary to reassemble and make internal adjustments to vital operation parts.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided an approach for replacement of a main shaft bearing of a crossing mechanism without the need to remove the main shaft from the mechanism, thus leaving most or all internal components and settings in place. The housing is specially designed, particularly a bearing support and a bearing plate, such that a specific bearing removal tool may be used for bearing replacement. The housing and bearing tool save a great deal of time, particularly where a main shaft bearing needs to be serviced in the field. Shaft bearings may wear over time but also see shock damage from vehicles hitting the gate arm. Advantages of the approach include time savings, risk reduction, minimal adjustment of cams, minimal movement of vital components on the shaft, and serviceability even if the segment gear is frozen on the shaft.

One aspect is a method of a bearing tool for removal of a shaft bearing from a bearing support of a gate crossing mechanism. The bearing tool includes multiple keys, and the bearing support is positioned about the shaft bearing. The keys insert through ring apertures of a bearing ring and support apertures of the bearing support. Each key shifts inward toward the shaft bearing. The bearing ring rotates in a circular direction relative to the keys. The shaft bearing is withdrawn from the bearing support.

Another aspect is an apparatus for removal of a shaft bearing from a gate crossing mechanism. The apparatus comprises a bearing support of the gate crossing mechanism, a bearing ring of the gate crossing mechanism, and a bearing tool. The bearing support is positioned about the shaft bearing, and the bearing support includes multiple support apertures. The bearing ring includes multiple ring apertures. The bearing tool includes multiple keys, and each key has a shape allowing insertion through a ring aperture of the ring apertures and a support aperture of the support apertures. The bearing tool shifts each key inward toward the shaft bearing. The bearing ring is rotated in a circular direction relative to the keys. The bearing tool withdraws the shaft bearing from the bearing support.

Yet another aspect is a bearing tool for removal of a shaft bearing from a bearing support of a gate crossing mechanism. The bearing tool comprises a base and a bearing jaw. The base includes a hub portion and a jaw support. The hub portion is configured to connect to a shaft associated with the shaft bearing. A bearing jaw connects to the jaw support and includes threaded rods, devises attached to the threaded rods, and keys attached to the devises. The threaded rods provide a first degree of movement in which each key of the plurality of keys pivots relative to the jaw support. The devises provide a second degree of movement different from the first degree of movement in which the keys shift inward relative to the jaw support.

The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. While it would be desirable to provide one or more of these or other advantageous features, the teachings disclosed herein extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the above-mentioned advantages.

