FR2658145A1 - Forcible and irreversible locking device for switching gears, comprising a single bolt - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for locking switching gears, comprising a single bolt mounted on the normally applied points (AD), this bolt being forcible. The frame of the bolt comprises a channel whose slope is continuous at its end pointing towards the inside of the track, the other end necessarily including the locking chamber (12) in which the head of the moving part of the bolt engages during locking. The device also comprises a spacer rod (4), a control rod (3), a shock-absorber assembly (5, 6), and may or may not be integrated with multiple attack. Application: manufacture and installation of track equipment.

Description

 The invention relates to a locking device of a new type.

For a long time, a locking device for the switchgear has been used, the operation of which is integral with that of the switch; this device is known as the "Carter Lock
Cushion "or CC or VCC lock

The "CC" lock is installed in place of the needle tip cushion and must perform the two functions of
- locking of the needle when it is applied to its counter-needle,
- setting the needle when it is in the open needle position ".

 The equipment of a simple connection requires a "C.C." lock on each of the needles.

 Since 1967, new "CC" locks, with a large permissive expansion, have been developed to allow, without repercussions on their operation, a longitudinal displacement, for example of more or less about 35 mm, of the needle relative to its counter-needle (path, dilation ...).

These locks can thus ensure the locking of connections s
- incorporated in long welded rails,
- with needles of length equal to or greater than 12 m.

 Since 1980, "C.C." locks have evolved in order to facilitate or even eliminate periodic maintenance operations. In addition, these locks are equipped with an individual stabilization device which allows the mobile locking assembly to keep its locked position in the event of an incident at the level of the operating rod.

 Up to now, the switches fitted with locks "C, C," for the point grip cannot be taken in the heel for the direction which is not given.

The purpose of this improvement is to make the heel lock in normal operation without incident, which is contrary to the principles used until then. The new problem to solve is the following
- the locking device must operate efficiently and safely with a single lock mounted on one of the two needles
- in addition, it must be hookable and not reversible, allowing permanent and without external maneuver
1) a point-to-point switch at speeds greater than 40 km / h in one direction,
2) heel hold of the switch at speed greater than 40 km / h in both directions.

 These functions were achievable, prior to the invention, but the lock was then an independent lock, with external control separate from that of the switch.

The locking device according to the invention comprises inter alia a lock consisting of a frame replacing a tip pad and forming the fixed part of the lock, of a "C-hand" assembly forming the movable part, the hand of which is bolted to the normally closed needle, the head of the "C" of which slides during the maneuver on the ramp of a frame corridor, and can engage in a chamber provided at one of the ends of said ramp; it is characterized in that
- said lock is unique, and placed on the side of the needle normally applied,
the ramp of the frame corridor is continuous at its end directed towards the inside of the track, the other end necessarily having the locking chamber,
- the switchway is associated with a shock absorber assembly composed of an elastic rod and a return retarder,
- the operating arm of the "C" of the lock is linked by at least one rod to the needle normally open by a sliding link,
- a spacer rod is fixed on the one hand to the normally open needle and, on the other hand, linked to the needle normally applied by a sliding system with predetermined clearance, the spacer rod being located, relative to the rods for controlling the lock, in the adjoining chamber on the heel side of the switch.

The invention will be better understood using the description below made with reference to the following appended figures
Figures la to ld: diagrams showing the principle and operation of a "CC" lock of the prior art.

 Figure 2: drawing of the hookable locking device (D.V.T.) according to the invention, first variant presented in the locked position.

 Figure 3: schematic diagram of a second variant of the entire device (D.V.T.) according to the invention in the situation before tailgating.

 Figure 4: schematic diagram of the first variant of Figure 2, in the position before tailgating.

Figure 5: situation of the device in Figure 3 when the tailgating begins
Figure 6: situation of the same device of Figure 3 at the end of tailgating.

 Figure 7: detail view of the shoulder of a shoulder rod.

 Figures 8a to 8c: detailed views of a support pad fitted to the head of the lock.

 Figure 9: mounting variant with retarder connected to a connecting rod.

 The invention will be better understood by describing beforehand the operation of a device of the prior art or C.C. lock.

shown in Figures la to ld.

 A "V.C.C." device of the prior art always comprises two locks, a left lock (VG) and a right lock (VD) equipping each of the two needles (AG, AD) respectively.

 Each lock (VG, VD) consists of a frame (B) replacing the tip bearing, a "C" of cast steel locking, an operating hand (M), and an electric controller application and locking (which will not be detailed later in the text).

 The cast steel frame (B) has a wedging chamber (S) and a locking chamber (R), joined by a passage (Q).

 The "C" and the hand (M) linked by a hinge pin constitute the movable part of the lock.

 Hand (n) is bolted elastically on its needle and the assembly "C - hand" ensures the operation of this needle. The length of the passage (Q) depends on the opening (6) at the tip of the needle.

 Each lock (VG, VD) is completed on the one hand by a cast iron sliding tab (P), fitted with a fur and supporting the needle by means of the eain (N) during its stroke, on the other hand by a protective cover fixed to the frame by appropriate means.

 A set of rods (T1, T2, T3) respectively ensures the spacing between the needles, the operation of the latches, the coupling of the latches.

The operation in the frame (B) of the assembly ("C" and hand (M)) takes place in several stages; it is visible in Figures la to id which represent the tip of the switch for a simple connection. The figure shows that the left needle (AG) is locked. It is maintained on application on its counter-needle by:
- the head of the "C" engaged on the locking part of the locking chamber (R) of the frame of the left lock (VG), opposing the half-opening of the needle,
- the heel of the "C" opposing the spilling of the needle,
- The head of the "C" of the right lock (VD) being in the wedging chamber (S) of the right lock (VD), and opposing a possible return of the open needle to the application.

The locks are then operated in three stages
1) Figure lb: unlocking of the applied needle and elimination of the setting of the open needle.

Simultaneous rotation of the two locking "C" causes
- the release of the locking part by the head of the "C" of the applied needle,
- the exit of the "C" head from the wedging chamber of the open needle.

 The head of each of the two "C" then appears in the corridor (Q) formed for its passage in the frame.

 2) Figure lc: translation of the needles.

 The two needles are moved simultaneously using rods (sorting, T2, T3).

 At the end of translation of the needles, the head of the "C" of the needle lock (AD) is in front of the locking chamber (R).

The head of the "C" of the needle (AG) is in front of the wedging chamber (S) (situation symmetrical to that of FIG. 1b).

 3) Figure id: locking of the needle brought to the application. Setting the needle brought to the opening.

 To resolve the new problem stated in the introduction, the device has been modified: it has a single lock so that locking is possible in one direction, it is equipped with a set of specially adapted rods allowing hooking without overturning, and the return of the switch.

 The hookable locking device (DVT) according to the invention is shown in detail in FIG. 2, it is adaptable to a switch with conventional or semi-independent mounting, deflected to the right, to the left or symmetrical, and comprises a single lock (1) placed on the side of the applied needle (AD) giving the direction for which the switch must be peaked at a speed greater than 40 km / h.

 The lock (1) is composed of a frame (11) and of an assembly "C" and operating hand (M) as in the prior art.

 For the achievements in small series, one plans to modify the frame of the lock by welding a rolled steel profile (13) intended to close the wedging chamber and to ensure the continuity of the ramp (15), the other constituent elements, chamber locking (12), corridor (14), ramp (15), being unchanged.

 For mass production, provision is made to specially mold a frame, without a wedging chamber, with a continuous ramp coming from the foundry with the frame, inside the track, and ending on the outside by the locking chamber.

 Insofar as, in this type of device, the displacement of the head (16) of the mounted "C" is not limited by a locking assembly on the other needle, it is necessary to provide for impacts and wear important between the lateral face of the "C" and the ramp of the frame corridor.

 To absorb and limit these forces, it becomes necessary to equip the head (16) with a support pad (17) of any known plastic material, suitable for sliding and shock absorption.

 The support pad (17) is shown in detail in Figures 8a to 8c; it has a generally parallelepiped shape and takes place in a machined housing provided on the end of the head (16) of the "C", more precisely on the side of the head which has to slide on the ramp (15).

 The support pad (17) is fixed in its housing by any suitable means, for example two screws (21); its thickness is greater than the depth of the housing, for example and not limited to 2 mm, so that the side of the head (16) is not in contact with the ramp (15).

The hookable locking device (DVT) according to the invention is shown in Figures 2 to 6, Figure 2 showing only the point operation of the switch, Figures 3 to 6 showing the device combined with a set of rods for multiple attack specially made for the present invention
- 2 special rods (2 and 3) connecting the operating arm of the "C - hand" assembly of the needle lock (AG) normally open on the one hand, to an operating device (10) on the other part, and finally to a first referral (9) of the multiple attack.

 Two functionally equivalent variants are presented, one in Figures 2 and 4, and the other in Figures 3, 5, 6.

 According to the first variant, the rod (2) is a connecting rod, one end of which is linked by a sliding yoke to the operating arm of the "C" and the other end of which is linked by a hinge tab to the needle normally open (AG). The connecting rod (2) is controlled by the control rod (3) coupled to a point (19).

 According to the second variant, one end of the rod (2) is integral with the operating arm of the "C" and the other end is controlled with sliding connection by the control rod (3).

This is linked by yoke to an elastic rod (5) on the one hand and to the return of a multiple attack device on the other hand. The rod (3) also carries two shoulders for the operation of the normally applied needle (AD).

The device (DVT) still has
- A spacer rod (4) with shoulders (23) provided in the chamber adjoining that of the preceding rods and ensuring the spacing of the needles. The rod (4) is secured, by hinge tab, to the needle (AG) normally open. On the applied needle side (AD), the rod (4) is equipped with a shoulder system (23). The shoulder system (23) functions as a sliding system with predetermined clearance (J); it is provided on the side of the needle normally applied; its detail is visible in Figure 7.

The end of the rod moves in the yoke (26) of a tab (25) integral with the needle (AD), an internal shoulder (23a) and an external shoulder (23b) fixed on the rod delimit the play (J) from the backstage. The clearance (J) is calculated as a function of the unlocking stroke of the bolt, the usefulness of which will be presented below, and varies according to the location of the rod.

 - an elastic rod (5) interposed between the control rod (3) and an operating device (10) generally manual for this type of installation; rod (5) and rod (3) being integral and in the extension of one another. The elastic rod (5) allows, when the operating device (10) is in the normal position, hooking without overturning and the return of the switch, this elastic rod is a conventional unmodified component of non-reversible heelable switches. The operating device (10) (lever or mechanism for example), has not been shown in detail. At rest, the operating device (10) is "engaged" if it is a lever, or locked if it is a mechanism.

 - a return retarder (6) to brake the return of the switch (therefore of the "C - hand" assembly) and thus avoid the initiation of the locking action during tailgating, between two axles. This retarder is also a conventional industrial component. In the figures, the return retarder (6) is mounted in parallel with the elastic rod (5), but these two elements can be integrated so as to form only one device. This retarder can also act by one of its ends directly on the normally open needle (Figure 9), at any point binding it to the open needle, or indirectly depending on the variant implemented (Figure 2 or 3), or by one of the linkage elements (rod, multiple attack return, etc.), the other end being fixed to the travelage of the switch.

 - A set of rods (7, 8) and references (9) to races adapted to obtain the free passage rut and the protection rating of the needle open at any point of the device.

 The rods (8) secure the movement of the attack rods (7) located between the needles and distributing the force over the length of said needles. The rods (7) are secured by hinge tab of the normally open needle and connected to the references (9) of the multiple attack.

 As for the rod (4), there is provided on the rods (7) only one sliding system by shoulders (23) with predetermined clearance (J); of course the clearance (J) is calculated as a function of the location of the rod and the opening (6) of the needle.

 At rest, in the normal position before tailgating for a point-to-point switch at speed greater than 40 km / h for the left direction (when facing the point of the aircraft) for the example considered, the device is in the situation shown in FIG. 3. An axle (24) presents itself in tailgating from the right, according to the arrow (F).

 The needle (AG) is normally open, the needle (AD) normally applied, and the lock head is engaged in the locking chamber (12).

 By way of example, the device represented in FIGS. 3, 5, 6 relates to a track device tg 0.085 with right deviation, designed for the split tracks of the single tracks; the return retarder (6) is set to 10 s; the elastic rod (5) has a thrust of 240 kg; the maximum aperture in point (6) is approximately 130 mm; the respective sets (J) of the shoulder rods (3) (4) (7) range from approximately 55 mm for the rod (3), to approximately 2 mm for the rod (7) of heel.

The movement of the device (DVT) then takes place as follows
- The first axle (24) of the vehicle which presents itself in the heel of the device for the direction not established will act by the flange of the corresponding wheel on the open needle (AG) to cause its displacement towards the application.

 This closing movement initiated in the heel will on the one hand, be reflected all along the needle opened by the needle itself, and on the other hand, activate the multiple attack which accompanies the needle over its entire length.

 - By the multiple attack, this movement (initiated in the heel of the open needle) will also be reflected in a point on the maneuvering arm of the "C - hand" and gradually cause, after a few millimeters of stroke of the rod 3 the unlocking of the needle applied, without the tip of the latter moving during the entire unlocking stroke. The head (16) of the "C" moves in the locking chamber (12) until it reaches the ramp (15) of the corridor (14). Each attack rod (7) has moved so as to detach its inner shoulder (23a) from the tab (25), until its outer shoulder (23b) abuts against the tab (25>. head unlocking stroke (16), and thanks to the play (J) of the slides, the applied needle (AD) has only moved in the heel.

 - At the end of unlocking the external shoulders (23b) of the rods will open the normally applied needle, over its entire length, under the action of the progress of the axle, which will allow the passage of the flange of the opposite wheel without acting on the normally applied needle (AD).

 - During these movements of needles and returns, the rod (3) does not drive the operating device (10) but comes to apply in compression (or in traction depending on the assembly), the elastic rod (5) for the value movement of the normally open needle (Figure 6).

 - After the point of the needle has been released by the first axle (24), the spring of the elastic rod tends to bring all the mobile assemblies back to their initial position in FIG. 3.

 The retarder device (6) opposes the return force of the elastic rod by braking it, in order to avoid repeated and too rapid returns after each axle passage of the same convoy which would be detrimental to the mechanical strength of the lock (1) and its controller, not shown. The principle of the elastic rod (5) was known per se and already applied to hookable connections. In the device according to the invention, the maneuvering device (10) operates with a locking track device which can be taken in a point for one direction or in a heel for both directions, at more than 40 km / h, and which required prior to the invention a separate control locking device.

The device (DVT) according to the invention can be used:
- possibly for a peak crossing for the direction not locked, but this under the restrictive conditions defined by the regulations in force, and after reversing the operating device,
- without multiple attack: that is to say without the rod and link system (7, 8, 9), when the device is not equipped with it,
- with single or multiple attack: that is to say that the number of sets (7, 8, 9) presented on the drawings is not limiting, it can be increased or decreased according to the length of the needles on which the circulation speed.

 In addition, the return retarder system (6) can have the previously mentioned variant embodiments of the member on which its action is directly exerted.

 In general, the scope of the appended claims extends to variants which are functionally equivalent to the embodiment described above by way of nonlimiting example.

Claims (9)

 1. Locking device for switches and crossings, the operation of which is integral with that of the switch (AG, AD), device comprising, inter alia, a lock consisting of a frame (11) replacing a point bearing and forming the fixed part of the bolt, of a "C - hand" assembly forming the mobile part whose hand is bolted to the normally applied needle, and whose "C" head slides during the maneuver on the ramp (15) d 'a corridor of the frame (14), and can come into engagement in a chamber provided at one of the ends of said ramp, characterized in that:  - said lock (1) is unique, and placed on the side of the needle normally applied,  the ramp (15) of the frame corridor is continuous at its end directed towards the inside of the track, the other end necessarily having the locking chamber (12),  the switchgear is associated with a shock absorber assembly composed of an elastic rod (5) and a return retarder (6),  - the operating arm of the "C" of the lock is linked by at least one rod to the needle normally open by a sliding link,  - a spacer rod (4) is fixed on the one hand to the normally open needle and on the other hand linked to the needle normally applied by a sliding system with predetermined clearance (J), the spacer rod being located in relation to the lock control rods, in the adjoining chamber, heel side of the switch.  2. Locking device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the head (16) of the "C" is equipped with a support pad (17).  3. Locking device according to claim 1 characterized in that the continuous end of the ramp is obtained by fixing a profile closing a wedging chamber.  4. Locking device according to claim 1 characterized in that the continuous end of the ramp comes from foundry with the frame.  5. Locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the track device is further equipped with a multiple attack formed by a set of rods and references (7, 8, 9) including the rods attack (7) peddle a sliding system with predetermined play (J), needle side normally applied.  6. Locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding system used for the shoulder rods consists of a clevis tab (25, 26) integral with the applied needle and a rod with shoulders, an inner shoulder (23a) and an outer shoulder (23b), fixed on the rod and defining the clearance (J) of the slide.  7. Locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the damper assembly (5, 6) is interposed between the operating device (10), the elastic rod (5) being secured to the rod control (3) and in its extension, the return retarder (6) being mounted in parallel with the elastic rod (5).  8. Locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the return retarder (6) can be fixed on the one hand to the travelage of the device and on the other hand to the normally open needle .  9. Locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the return retarder (6) can be fixed on the one hand to the travelage of the device and on the other hand to any of the elements of the multiple attack.