EP0984882B1 - Method for locking moveable point sections - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for mechanically locking the end positions of movable point sections, with two adjusting rods (12, 14 ), each of which is connected with one of the point sections and which are coupled mechanically with one another, with at least one locking tappet (28) for locking the adjusting rods in each case in one of their end positions and a force limiting device, which cancels the locking, when the force, exerted by the point sections on the adjusting rods, exceeds a certain value, and the force limiting device is formed by a coupling device (30, 32), which yields when stressed and is located between the adjusting rods (12, 14), and by a transfer mechanism (16, 38), which converts the movement of one of the adjusting rods into a movement for unlocking the locking tappet (28).

Description

The invention relates to a device for mechanically locking the End positions of movable switch parts, with two adjusting rods, each connected to one of the switch parts and mechanically coupled are, at least one locking piece for locking the actuating rods in one of their end positions and a force limiting device, which releases the lock when the switch parts on the control rods exerted force exceeds a certain value. In particular deals the invention with a device for locking the switch tongues of tram tracks.

In the case of switch setting devices, it is important that the movable switch parts are held securely in their respective end positions. If a switch driving is pointed, that is, when the wheels of the rail vehicle come first on the free ends of the switch tongues, one tongue, the so-called tongue, close to the continuous rail, while the other tongue, the so-called remote tongue, is a sufficient one Must be at a distance from the associated continuous rail, so that the wheels can safely pass the switch and not damage it or the rail vehicle derails. on the other hand However, the switch tongues must be exceeded when a certain one is exceeded Give way to force, so that they avoid the wheels of the rail vehicle can, if the switch is driven bluntly and the switch itself is not in the correct position. Remain with a retractable switch in such a case the switch blades in the newly set position, that is, the switch is made by the wheels of the rail vehicle changed.

Switch setting devices are known in which the for adjusting mechanically decoupled from the two switch tongues are and operated directly by the drive of the actuator and can be locked with respective locking clips (e.g. clip tip lock). The adjacent tongue is locked rigidly, e.g. against one Stock rail, while the remote tongue from the self-holding or lockable drive is held. This arrangement has the advantage that the adjacent tongue with a much higher force in its end position can be held as the remote tongue. However, the disadvantage is the relative high design effort. In addition, the drive is not with one Adjusting iron can be changed by hand, and when the switch is opened, the Control rods separated from the drive, so that the drive is actively in the new switch position must be tracked so that the switch is operational again is.

An actuating device of the type mentioned at the outset is known in practice (Actuating device HW 60 AVV from Hanning & Kahl), in which the two Control rods are mechanically coupled. The actuator housing is preferably arranged in the middle between the two switch tongues, and the mutually coaxial adjusting rods come from opposite sides forth in the housing. The control rods are through inside the housing a connector rigidly connected. The closure piece is arranged pivotably on the connecting piece and on the one hand cooperates a locking plate coupled to the actuator drive and on the other hand with the force limiting device arranged in the housing together. Due to the force limiting device, both tongues are attached the same holding force held in the respective end position. If this force when the switch is opened, the force limiting device gives after, the lock is unlocked and the switch is inserted into the adjusted new position in which the lock with the help of the closure piece is restored.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned create one of the two movable switch parts in each end position (the adjacent tongue) can be held with greater force.

This object is achieved in that the force limiting device by at least one coupling device that yields under stress, which couples the control rods to each other, and through a transmission mechanism, which is the movement of one of the control rods in one movement implemented to unlock the locking piece locking the other actuating rod, is formed.

The holding force for one of the movable switch parts is determined by the Force limiting device limited. In practice, this is The soft part usually around the tongue. The control rod for the adjacent tongue, however, is theoretically with the help of the closure piece unlimited power locked on the case. When opening the switch this lock is only released when the remote tongue something has been deflected and this leads to a movement of the associated Control rod has come. The holding force can also be higher than that positioning force required to change the switch. The actuator can be therefore, without reducing the holding force, lay it out so that it easily Hand or with the help of a drive that does not have to be self-holding, can be changed.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the subclaims.

In a special embodiment, the closure piece is movable on held a connector, and the coupling device acts between the connector and each of the control rods and there are only when the control rod is loaded in one direction.

In the case of an adjusting device arranged between the switch tongues preferably the two adjusting rods are arranged coaxially to one another, and that Connector is located within the housing of the actuator the free ends of the control rods so that it rigidly supports the control rods. Coupling members are then arranged so that they give way when the associated control rod with sufficient force from the housing is pulled out.

The coupling members can, for example, by springs, force-limiting Couplings, clamping members and the like are formed.

The transmission mechanism is preferably through a locking plate formed, the driver attached to the free ends of the control rods engages and a locking contour for that held on the connector Has closure piece.

In another embodiment, there are preferably two closure pieces immovable in the direction of movement of the adjusting rods on a housing-fixed Part of the device held and in a direction perpendicular thereto between a locking position in which the positioning stages are form-fitting lock, and an unlocking position releasing the control rods movable.

This solution has the advantage that the locking of the control rods is not indirectly via a connector, but directly on the housing of the Device is done and not on self-locking effects, but on one Form fit is based. This ensures a high level of functional reliability reached, and the position in which the control rods are locked leaves define yourself precisely and adjust if necessary. When using two Locking pieces can also be set independently for the two adjusting rods from each other.

The closure pieces are preferably designed as strips which extend transversely to extend the control rods and slide over inclined surfaces or by means Rolling elements on and parallel to the control rods Support movable unlocking strips in the longitudinal direction. The locking pieces then perform a pure during the locking and unlocking processes Translation movement. This arrangement is particularly advantageous if the locking device is used in combination with a test facility which is the tongue position with the help of parallel to the control rods arranged test rods scans. The locking device locking pieces can then extend into the test facility and there also serve to lock the test rods, so that an additional Security is achieved. The locking pieces then only fall into the locking position when both the control rods and the test rods are in the correct position. By scanning the position of the locking pieces can thus be obtained a signal that the locked state the actuator by a logical AND with the status signal linked to the testing facility.

The release bars interacting with the locking pieces are preferably attached to a slide that is parallel to the control rods is guided in the housing and on which the actuator engages. The function this carriage is thus the function of the closure plate in the comparable embodiment described first.

The closure plate or the carriage can in the housing by a Clamping mechanism be held in the middle position of the closure plate has a dead center and the closure plate on both sides of the dead center preloaded elastically in the respective end position. Because the closure plate is mechanically coupled to the control rods by the drivers the clamping mechanism for the fact that the actuating rods after overcoming the Dead center are automatically transferred to the respective end position. The soft can therefore be very easily with the help of a on the closure plate change the attacking adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism can, for example, manually, magnetically, motorically, hydraulically or pneumatically be operated.

The clamping mechanism is used to hold the tightly fitting one Tongue additionally pressed elastically against the associated rail. The The holding force for the tongue is additively composed of the Force of the coupling member and the force of the tensioning mechanism.

The following are preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing explained in more detail.

Fig. 1

eine teilweise aufgeschnittene Ansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2 bis 4

Ansichten der Vorrichtung nach Figur 1 in einer Mittelstellung, einer Endlage und in der Anfangsphase beim Auffahren der Weiche;

Fig. 5 bis 8

Prinzipskizzen zur Erläuterung der Funktionsweise der Vorrichtung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform; und

Fig. 9

einen schematischen Grundriß der Vorrichtung nach Fig. 5 bis 8.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a partially cut-away view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;

2 to 4

Views of the device of Figure 1 in a central position, an end position and in the initial phase when opening the switch;

5 to 8

Schematic diagrams for explaining the functioning of the device according to a second embodiment; and

Fig. 9

a schematic plan view of the device of FIGS. 5 to 8.

1 shows an open half-shell of a housing 10 of a point setting device, the middle between two switch tongues, not shown is arranged. There are two mutually coaxial adjusting rods 12 and 14 associated with one of the switch tongues and occur from opposite Pages ago in the housing 10. At the free end of each control rod a driver 16 is attached.

A connecting piece 18 is inserted between the two drivers 16, which has an end plate 20 at both ends, which is located on the associated Carrier supports. The two end plates 20 are through upper and lower Crosspieces 22, 24 connected by one cut in the drawing shown axis 26 are penetrated. A closure piece 28 that approximately The shape of a double ax is between the top and bottom Web 22, 24 rotatably held on the axis 26.

The actuating rods 12 and 14 and the connector 18 are through coupling devices 30 attached to the outside of the drivers 16, 32 held together. The control rods, the connector 18 with the Closure piece 28 and the coupling devices 30, 32 are thus as one unit can be moved along the common axis of the adjusting rods 12, 14, as indicated by double arrows in Figure 1. The closure piece 28 is on one side (top in Figure 1) by a housing-fixed Guide bar 34 out.

On the opposite side (below in Figure 1) is the closure piece 28 engages with a locking contour 36 of a closure plate 38, which in turn is guided on a guide rod 40 fixed to the housing. The closure plate 38 forms a stop 42 for the outer surface on each side of the driver 16. In Figure 1, only the stop 42 is on the right side to recognize.

The coupling devices 30 and 32 are each by four springs 44, 46 formed symmetrically about the common axis of the actuating rods 12, 14 are arranged. The two springs 44 on the left in FIG. 1 lie in the viewing direction above the closure plate 38, while on the right side in Figure 1, the two lying below the closure plate Springs 46 can be seen, one of which is shown in section. The Springs 44, 46 each have one end supported on the driver 16 and with the other end on a spring plate 48, which is by a bolt 50 is rigidly connected to the end plate 20 of the connector 18. The guide bar 34 is from the end plates 20 and the adjoining them Parts of the driver 16 encompassed in a forked manner.

The closure plate 38 is resilient to the housing 10 through a tensioning mechanism 52 connected. The tensioning mechanism is activated by two or - in the example shown - four springs 54 (compression springs) are formed, of which in Figure 1 shows only two. The springs 54 are each with one end hinged to a wall of the housing 10 and at the other end hinged to the closure plate 38. In the in Figures 1 and 2 shown middle position of the symmetrically set switch device the springs 54 are elastically compressed in their dead center position.

In an opening 56 of the closure plate is a rigid with the closure plate connected shaft 58 arranged on which an actuator, not shown can attack with which the closure plate 38 and thus the Adjust rod 12, 14 to move the switch tongues into one of them Bring end positions.

For example, when the closure plate 38 is made using the actuator the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 moved slightly to the left the compressed springs 54 are pivoted out of the dead center position, and they slide the locking plate 38 along the guide rod 40 further to the left, as can be seen in FIG. 3. In the early stages this movement (Figure 2) is the locking contour 36 of the closure plate engages with the closure piece 28 so that the closure piece and the connector 18 also move to the left until the closure piece 28 engages in a recess 60 of the guide bar 34 (Figure 3). The closure plate 38 then continues to move and lock alone with its locking contour 36, the closure piece 28 in the recess 60th

The adjusting rod 12 is shifted to the left by the connecting piece 18, so that the associated switch tongue is brought into contact with the rail becomes. This switch tongue is then the adjacent tongue. Because the verb Extension piece 18 in the position shown in Figure 3 by the closure piece 28 and the locking contour 36 on the guide rail 34 fixed to the housing is locked, the adjacent tongue is also locked rigidly in its position.

When the locking plate 38 is alone under the action of the springs 54 Moved further to the left, the stop 42 strikes on the right side the driver 16 there. The force of the springs 54 then acts the driver and the connector 18 on the left control rod 12, so that the adjacent tongue is additionally elastically biased into the contact position becomes. This will eliminate any play between the adjacent tongue and the rail eliminated, and by the rigid mechanical lock the tongue with a theoretically unlimited holding force secured their position.

The switch tongue connected to the right adjusting rod 14 is used in the Process described above first by the force of the coupling device 32 and is then added in the final phase (Figure 3) held in the remote position by the force of the springs 54. The holding power corresponds to the sum of the forces of the coupling device 32 and the springs 54. Since the coupling device 32 by a total of four springs 44, 46 is formed, even if one of these springs breaks still has a high holding force.

If, for example, the turnout is to be changed over by hand, it does only the force of the springs 54 to be overcome until these springs have passed their dead center. By the appropriate movement of the Locking plate 38 unlocks the locking piece 28, the locking piece 18 is then taken to the right in the drawing, and finally, the springs 54 cause the actuating rods to move further and the locking in the opposite end position. The thickened right The end of the closure piece 28 falls into a not recognizable in the drawing, recess of the guide bar corresponding to the recess 60 34 a.

Figure 4 illustrates the sequence of movements in the event that the switch through the Rail vehicle is raised. The connected to the control rod 12 the adjacent tongue initially remains locked in the adjacent position. The the tongue is deflected by the wheels of the rail vehicle and pulls the actuating rod 14 against the force of the coupling device 32 to the right so that the driver connected to this actuating rod 14 16 releases from the associated end plate of the connecting part 18, as in Figure 4 can be seen. Since this driver 16 bears against the stop 42, the closure plate 38 is taken to the right, so that the closure piece 28 is released. The springs of the clutch device 32 can then relax again, so that the connector 18 after is dragged to the right. By the power of the left clutch device 30, the actuating rod 12 is taken along during this movement. As soon as the Springs 54 have passed their dead center, the switch is already in the described described and locked again. The one with the locking plate 38 coupled actuator is taken into the new position and is therefore immediately ready for use again.

The holding force for the tongue can be adjusted by using With the help of the bolts 50 screwed into the spring plate 48, the pretension the springs 44 and 46 is varied.

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate the principle of operation of a device according to one second embodiment.

In Figure 5 you can see an adjacent tongue 62, which at the free end of the Control rod 12 is held and abuts a rail 64, and a remote Tongue 66, which is held at the free end of the actuating rod 14 and in Distance to the associated rail 68 is.

The adjusting rods 12, 14 are yielding due to a tensile stress Coupling device 70 connected to each other. The coupling device 70 has a spring assembly or a spring 72, which ends at one end Bottom of a cage 74 attached to the control rod 12 and with the other End supported on a spring plate 76 attached to the actuating rod 14.

Each of the adjusting rods 12, 14 is axially fixed with an associated connecting fork 78 or 80 connected. The two connecting forks 78, 80 are with certain Game encompassed by a carriage 82 which in the longitudinal direction of the Adjusting rods 12, 14 is movable and via a coupling 84 with a Actuator, not shown, is connected. The carriage 82 carries release bars 86, the inclined surfaces 88 with corresponding inclined surfaces 90 two locking pieces 92 lying transversely to the locking strips, 94 cooperate. The closure pieces 92, 94 are not shown with the aid of Guides vertically movable in a housing or frame, not shown guided the device and with the help of springs 96 elastically in a Preloaded locking position, in which they the associated connecting fork 78 or 80 and thus the associated control rod with a positive fit secure against inward axial movement.

In Figure 5 is the locking member belonging to the actuating rod 12 92 in the locking position, so that the adjacent tongue 62 is positive locked in position. The closure piece 94 is on the other hand in the unlocked position, on a flat portion of the Unlocking bar 86 rests. The remote tongue 66 can therefore move against the force of the spring 72 in the direction of the rail 68 and is thus held in position only by the holding force of this spring.

FIG. 6 illustrates the initial phase of a point setting process in which the Slide 82 using the drive mentioned to the right, in the direction of the rail 68 is moved. Since between the carriage 82 and the connecting forks 78, 80 there is some play and the connecting fork 78 is locked by the locking piece 92, take the connecting forks first not participate in the movement of the carriage 82. The release bars 86 therefore slide with their inclined surfaces onto the corresponding ones Inclined surfaces 90 of the closure piece 92 and move it towards it the force of the spring 96 to the unlocked position. As soon as the carriage 82 on the connecting fork 78 strikes, both actuating rods 12, 14 move together with the carriage 82 further to the right, as shown in FIG. 7.

If at the end of the adjustment process the tongue 66 to the adjacent tongue and the tongue 62 has become the remote tongue, the closure piece falls 94 in the locking position so that the tongue 66 is locked. The then reached state is a mirror image of the state in Figure 5. On analog The switch can then be moved back into the position shown in FIG. 5 Reset.

Figure 8 illustrates the initial phase of a drive-up process, in which the switch is hit by a rail vehicle. Through the wheels of the In the rail vehicle, the remote tongue 66 is pressed against the rail 68. Because of the play between the carriage 82 and the connecting fork 80, the control rod 14 can move to the right. The feather 72 compressed because the cage 74 and the connecting fork 78 on the closure piece 92 are locked. Due to the relative movement between the Carriage 82 and the closure piece 92, however, this locking is released, so that both control rods 12, 14 together with the slide 82 can move to the new position. At the end of the opening process the turnout is made using the Locking piece 94 locked.

FIG. 9 illustrates a possible structure of the device, which according to the in Figures 5 to 8 principle works. The state shown in Figure 9 corresponds to the state of Figure 5, in which the connected to the actuating rod 12 Tongue is the adjacent tongue.

The entire device is mounted between two frame plates 98 which with respect to the rails 64, 68 rigidly arranged in a housing, not shown are. The carriage 82 runs on guide rods 100 which are between extend the frame plates 98. The carriage 82 has two here to each other mirror-image parts 102 by the transport plates, not shown are interconnected, which are also parts of the clutch for form the actuator. The connecting forks 78 and 80 are also on the Guide rods 100 out. It can also be seen in FIG. 9 that the Game of the connecting forks 78 and 80 relative to the carriage 82 in both Directions is limited by stop surfaces 104 and 106.

Each of the two parts 102 of the carriage 82 carries an unlocking bar 86, which has two opposite inclined surfaces 88 on the top. The two locking pieces 92 and 94 lie across the unlocking strips 86 and are tilt-proof on two vertical guide pins 108 led. The two guide bolts 108 for each locking piece are attached to a closure receptacle 110 which is adjustable to parallel to the Guide rods 100 extending rods 112 is held. The poles 112 are each attached to one of the frame plates 98.

In Figure 9, the locking piece 92 is in the lowered locking position, in which it locks on cam 114 of the connecting fork 78. The inclined surfaces 90 of the closure piece 92 are invisible in FIG. 9 on the underside of the closure piece and are on the inclined surfaces 88th the release bars in the system.

The closure piece 94 lies on the lower ends of the unlocking strips in FIG. 9 86 and is thereby in a raised unlocking position held so that the cams 114 of the connecting fork 80 under the locking piece 94 can pass through.

The carriage 82 and the terminal strips move during an adjustment process 86 in Figure 9 down so that the closure piece 92 through the Inclined surfaces 88 is raised to the unlocking position. If the Lock is released, the connecting fork 78 through the stop surfaces 104 and the connecting fork 80 through the pads 106 of the Carried sled. If the lower inclined surfaces 88 of the two Locking strips 86 reach the inclined surfaces 90 of the closure piece 94, the locking piece 94 falls behind in the locking position (in FIG 9 over) the cam 114 of the connecting fork 80.

Leave on the rods 112 by adjusting the lock receptacles 110 the locked positions of the connecting forks and the actuating rods 12, 14 set independently.

A test device 116 is indicated schematically in FIG the locking device is arranged between the switch tongues and serves in a known manner to the positions of the switch tongues check. The check is carried out with the help of test rods, not shown, which in the same way as the control rods 12, 14 with the switch tongues are connected. The closure pieces 92 and 94 are after one Side extended such that they extend into the test device 116. This results in the advantageous possibility of having the test rods in a corresponding manner Way as the adjusting rods 12, 14 with the aid of the locking pieces 92 and lock 94. The vertical positions of the locking pieces 92 and 94 can be scanned using sensors 118. If at one Switch setting process, for example as a result of a breakage of an adjusting rod the control rods have been moved to the new position, but not the associated switch tongue, the corresponding test rod remains in the original Position and prevents the locking pieces 92 and 94 in engage the locking position. The signals from the sensors 118 thus give not only on whether the control rods locked in the intended position were, but also whether the adjustment of the switch tongue by an appropriate Movement of the test rods is confirmed.

The coupling device acting between the connecting forks 78 and 80 70 is not shown in FIG. 9 for reasons of clarity.

The drive for the carriage 82 can be analogous to the embodiment of FIG Figures 1 to 4 can be equipped with a tensioning mechanism 52. Optional however, another suitable drive can also be used.

Claims (10)

1. Device for mechanically locking the end positions of movable points components, comprising two setting rods (12, 14) which are each connected to one of the points components and which are mechanically coupled to each other, at least one locking piece (28; 92, 94) for locking the setting rods in one of their end positions in each case, and a force-limiting device (30, 32; 70) which cancels the locking when the forced exerted on the setting rods by the points components exceeds a certain value, characterised in that the force-limiting device is formed by at least one coupling device (30, 32; 70) that couples the setting rods (12, 14) to each other and yields when loaded and by a transmission mechanism (16, 38; 82, 86, 88, 90) that converts the movement of one of the setting rods into a movement for unlocking the locking piece (28; 92, 94) locking the other setting rod.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking piece (28) is held movably on a connecting piece (18), the coupling devices (30, 32) act between the connecting piece (18) and each of the setting rods (12, 14) and yield in one direction in each case only when loaded, and the transmission mechanism (16, 38) converts the relative movement between setting rod and connecting piece into the unlocking movement.
3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the setting rods (12, 14) are arranged coaxially with each other and are supported on the connecting piece (18) by their mutually opposing ends, and the coupling devices (30, 32) hold the end of the respective setting rod (12) in yielding contact with the connecting piece (18).
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that the transmission device is formed by driving elements (16) which are rigidly attached to the mutually opposing ends of the setting rods (12, 14) and by a locking plate (38) which embraces the driving elements (16) with stops (42) and has a locking contour (36) for the locking piece (28).
5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the locking piece (28) is held pivotally on the connecting part (18) and, when moved together with the connecting part (18) and the setting rods (12, 14), is guided on a fixed guide bar (34) and, in the end position, falls into a recess (60) of the guide bar (34) and is locked in that recess by the locking contour (36) of the locking plate (38).
6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterised by a resilient tensioning mechanism (52) which resiliently biases the locking plate (38) into the particular end position on both sides of a dead centre.
7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that two locking pieces (92, 94) are held immovably in the direction of movement of the setting rods (12, 14), on a part (108) of the device fixed to the housing, and are movable in a direction perpendicular thereto between a locking position, in which they lock the setting rods in a positive manner, and an unlocking position, in which they release the setting rods.
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that the transmission mechanism has one or more unlocking bars (86) which extend parallel to the setting rods (12, 14) and are movable in the longitudinal direction thereof and which co-operate by way of inclined faces (88, 90) with the locking pieces (92, 94) extending transversely to the locking bars.
9. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the locking pieces (92, 94) extend to a testing device (116) which senses the position of the movable points components (62, 66) and are held in the unlocking position by the testing device (116) if the testing device detects that the points components (62, 66) have not been shifted in accordance with the setting rods (12, 14).
10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the setting rods (12, 14) have, at the mutually opposing ends, connecting parts (78, 80) between which the coupling device (70) that yields when loaded is arranged and which are in engagement, with clearance, with a drivable carriage (82) on which the unlocking bars (86) are held.

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