U.S. patent application number 12/737967 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-30 for device for fixing a switch setting device on stock rails of a rail switch.
This patent application is currently assigned to VAE EISENBAHNSYSTEME GMBH. Invention is credited to Herbert Achleitner, Rene Quantschnigg, Markus Wolf.
Application Number | 20110155864 12/737967 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41110392 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110155864 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wolf; Markus ; et
al. |
June 30, 2011 |
DEVICE FOR FIXING A SWITCH SETTING DEVICE ON STOCK RAILS OF A RAIL
SWITCH
Abstract
In a device for fixing a switch setting device (13) on stock
rails (5) of a rail switch that features a Mounting for the switch
setting device that can be fixed on the stock rails (5), the
mounting is formed by a rigid frame (7) that connects the two stock
rails (5) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails and
is respectively fixed on the web of the stock rails (5).
Inventors: |
Wolf; Markus; (Spielberg,
AT) ; Achleitner; Herbert; (Eppenstein, AT) ;
Quantschnigg; Rene; (Zeltweg, AT) |
Assignee: |
VAE EISENBAHNSYSTEME GMBH
Zeltweg
AT
VAE GMBH
Wien
AT
|
Family ID: |
41110392 |
Appl. No.: |
12/737967 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
August 19, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AT2009/000315 |
371 Date: |
March 4, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
246/393 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61L 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
246/393 |
International
Class: |
B61L 5/02 20060101
B61L005/02; B61L 5/04 20060101 B61L005/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 11, 2008 |
AT |
A 1418/2008 |
Claims
1. A device for fixing a switch setting device on stock rails of a
rail switch, comprising a mounting for the switch setting device
fixable on the stock rails, wherein: the mounting is formed by a
rigid frame (7) that connects the stock rails (5) transversely to a
longitudinal direction of the stock rails and is respectively fixed
on rail webs of the stock rails (5), the frame (7) is arranged in a
sleeper bay (3) or freely suspended in a trough sleeper (27), and
movements of the stock rails are transmitted to the frame (7)
within the sleeper bay or within the trough sleeper.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (7) is
arranged underneath at least one rail flange of at least one of the
stock rails (5) and is connected to a holding element (10) that
encompasses an outside of the rail flange and ore is fixed on the
rail web of the stock fails rail (5).
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the frame (7) is
connected to the holding element (10) with a ribbed tie-plate or
bed plate (18) for the stock rail (5) being interposed between the
frame (7) and the holding element (10).
4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the frame (7) comprises
a filler piece (20) connecting the holding element (10) to the
stock rail (5), wherein said filler piece (20) is screwed to the
rail web and supported on the rail flange.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the filler piece (20)
fills out free space between a rail head of the stock rail and the
rail flange.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (7) is
comprised of two support plates (8) that are connected to one
another by at least two braces that extend transversely to the
longitudinal direction of the stock rails.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the support plates (8)
are formed in a U-shape with parallel limbs (25) that extend
transversely to the longitudinal direction of the stock rails.
8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising electrical
insulation (24) is inserted between the frame (7) and the stock
rails (5).
9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (7) is
respectively fixed on an outside of and on an inside of at least
one of the stock rails (5).
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the frame (7) is fixed
on the inside of the stock rail with a clamping element (22) that
is arranged underneath a switch rail (6) and engages on a rail
flange of the stock rail.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (7)
comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting
device (13).
12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (7)
comprises a mounting (12) for a switch rail end-of-travel
monitoring device (14).
13. The device according to claim 6, wherein the braces are web
plates (9).
14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the drive unit of the
switch setting device (13) is a hydraulic piston-cylinder
module.
15. The device according to claim 3, wherein the frame (7)
comprises a filler piece (20) connecting the holding element (10)
to the stock rail (5), wherein said filler piece (20) is screwed to
the rail web and supported on the rail flange.
16. The device according to claim 2, wherein the frame (7)
comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting
device (13).
17. The device according to claim 3, wherein the frame (7)
comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting
device (13).
18. The device according to claim 4, wherein the frame (7)
comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting
device (13).
19. The device according to claim 5, wherein the frame (7)
comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting
device (13).
20. A device for fixing a switch setting device on stock rails of a
rail switch, comprising a mounting for the switch setting device
fixable on the stock rails, wherein: the mounting is formed by a
rigid frame (7) that connects the stock rails (5) transversely to a
longitudinal direction of the stock rails and is respectively fixed
on rail webs of the stock rails (5); the frame (7) is arranged in a
sleeper bay (3) or freely suspended in a trough sleeper (27), and
movements of the stock rails are transmitted to the frame (7)
within the sleeper bay or within the trough sleeper; the frame (7)
is arranged underneath at least one rail flange of at least one of
the stock rails (5) and is connected to a holding element (10) that
encompasses an outside of the rail flange and is fixed on the rail
web of the stock rail (5), the frame (7) is connected to the
holding element (10) with a ribbed tie-plate or bed plate (18) for
the stock rail (5) being interposed between the frame (7) and the
holding element (10), the frame (7) comprises a filler piece (20)
connecting the holding element (10) to the stock rail (5), the
filler piece (20) is screwed to the rail web and supported on the
rail flange, the filler piece (20) fills out free space between a
rail head of the stock rail and the rail flange, and the frame (7)
is fixed on an inside of at least one of the stock rails with a
clamping element (22) that is arranged underneath a switch rail (6)
and engages on the rail flange of the stock rail; the frame (7) is
comprised of two support plates (8) that are connected to one
another by at least two braces that extend in the longitudinal
direction of the stock rails, and the support plates (8) are formed
in a U-shape with parallel limbs (25) that extend transversely to
the longitudinal direction of the stock rails; electrical
insulation (24) is inserted between the frame (7) and the stock
rails (5); the frame (7) comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit
of the switch setting device (13); and the frame (7) comprises a
mounting (12) for a switch rail end-of-travel monitoring device
(14).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a device for fixing a switch
setting device on stock rails of a rail switch, comprising a
mounting for the switch setting device fixable on the stock
rails.
[0002] A device of this type is disclosed, for example, in DE 200
10 922 U1.
[0003] The drive unit of a switch setting device usually consists
of a hydraulic or electromagnetic drive that is rigidly arranged in
a housing between the stock rails or, if applicable, outside the
stock rails of a switch and connected to the tongue rails by means
of switching rods. In conventional switch setting devices, the
housing of the drive unit is mounted on a sleeper or in a trough
sleeper with the aid of a correspondingly formed holder.
[0004] In order to develop a switch setting device that makes it
possible to adjust the tongue rails between their abuted and set
off position in a more precise fashion, it was already proposed in
DE 200 10 922 01 to fix the mounting for the attachment of the
switch setting device directly on the stock rails of the switch.
This is based on the notion that the rails are not fixed on the
sleepers in an absolutely rigid fashion, but rather allow certain
movements of the rails due to thermal expansion or due to the
inertial forces caused by the rail vehicle. This also applies to
the stock rails of a switch, particularly if a layer of a soft,
sound-absorbing material is inserted between the stock rails and
the sleepers. If the drive unit is conventionally mounted on a
sleeper or in a trough sleeper, certain relative movements
therefore can occur between the stock rails and the drive unit,
wherein these relative movements can result in certain deviations
of the end positions of the tongue rails that are connected to the
drive unit by means of the switching rods. This can lead to damages
or even accidents, particularly if the rail vehicle runs over the
facing point of the switch. Due to the fact that the drive unit of
the switch setting device is directly fixed on the stock rails with
the aid of the mounting, the position of the drive unit and
therefore also the position of both tongue rails is directly
related to the stock rails such that deviations of position of the
tongue rails due to movements of the stock rails are reduced. This
makes it possible, in particular, to reduce the variation of the
gap between the abuted tongue rail and the corresponding stock rail
such that a steadier and less jerky tracking of the wheel flange of
the wheel is achieved during the crossing of the switch.
[0005] The mounting for the attachment of the switch setting device
known from DE 200 10 922 U1 already reduces the relative movements
between the stock rails and the switch setting device. However, the
mounting is merely attached to the flange of the stock rails in
this case such that certain movements of the stock rails can be
transmitted to the switch setting device in this embodiment and
relative movements between the stock rails and the switch setting
device may still occur. If the stock rails are elastically
supported on a solid trackway or on sleepers, in particular, the
movements of the stock rail include tilting movements that not only
lead to deviations of position of the stock rail, but also make it
impossible to ensure a sufficient stability for fixing a switch
setting device on the sleeper or trough sleeper.
[0006] The present invention is based on the objective of
developing a mounting for a switch setting device that essentially
rules out a relative movement between the switch setting device, in
particular the drive unit of the switch setting device, and the
stock rail, wherein this should be ensured regardless of the
respective installation position of the switch setting device, and
wherein it should be possible, in particular, to easily realize the
desired attachment in a trough sleeper, as well as in a sleeper
bay, i.e. the space between two sleepers.
[0007] To solve this object, the device of the initially defined
kind is devised in a way that the mounting is formed by a rigid
frame that connects the two stock rails transverse to the
longitudinal direction of the rails and is respectively fixed on
the web of the stock rails. Due to the fact that the mounting is
formed by a rigid frame that connects the two stock rails
transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails, a
correspondingly stable construction is provided that already
results in a stabilization of the stock rails. Since the
frame-shaped mounting is respectively fixed on the web of the stock
rails, it is furthermore ensured that any movement of the stock
rails and, in particular, tilting movements of the stock rails are
transmitted to the rigid frame such that relative movements between
the switch setting device and the stock rails are effectively
prevented because the switch setting device is rigidly fixed on the
frame.
[0008] In this case, the mounting that, according to the invention,
is devised in the form of a rigid frame can be simply arranged in a
sleeper bay, i.e., in a free space between two adjacent sleepers,
or even within a trough sleeper. If the frame is arranged in a
trough sleeper, it merely needs to be ensured that the frame is
held on the stock rails in a freely suspended fashion and not
supported within the trough sleeper so as to prevent the
transmission of undesirable forces from the stock rails or the
frame connected to the stock rails to the stationary trough
sleeper.
[0009] The frame is preferably fixed on the stock rails in such a
way that the frame is arranged underneath the flange of the stock
rails and realized with or connected to holding elements that
respectively encompass the outside of the rail flange and are
rigidly fixed on the web of the stock rails. The holding elements
that respectively encompass the outside of the rail flange make it
possible to realize a connection between the frame and the stock
rails that has a particularly high angular stability, wherein a
bracing can be easily realized due to the fact that the holding
elements respectively engage on the outside of the stock rails such
that relative movements between the stock rails and the frame
actually can be largely ruled out.
[0010] The attachment on the stock rail is preferably realized in
such a way that a filler piece is respectively provided on the
stock rail, wherein said filler piece is screwed to the rail web
and supported on the rail flange, and wherein it is preferred that
the filler piece essentially fills out the free space between the
rail head and the rail flange. Such a filler piece essentially
serves for producing a positive connection with the rail web and
for the support on the rail flange such that the connection between
the frame and the stock rails is additionally stabilized. In this
case, the holding forces are distributed over the largest possible
contact surface that essentially comprises at least the entire rail
web and the rail flange, wherein an additional support on the
underside of the rail head may also be realized in order to prevent
a point transmission of forces and corresponding stress peaks.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, an additional
improvement can be realized if the frame is both fixed on the
outside and on the inside of the stock rail. A clamping element
that is arranged underneath a switch rail and engages on the stock
rail flange is preferably provided for the attachment on the inside
of the rail. In a thusly devised embodiment, the rail flange is
clamped between the clamping element on the inside of the rail and
the holding element that engages on the outside of the rail.
[0012] The frame according to the invention naturally needs to have
a correspondingly high rigidity for offering the rigid connection
between the two stock rails. To this end, the embodiment preferably
is additionally developed in such a way that the frame is formed by
two support plates that are connected to one another by at least
two, preferably three braces, particularly web plates, that extend
transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails, wherein the
support plates are preferably realized in a U-shape with parallel
limbs that extend transverse to the longitudinal direction of the
rails. In this case, the two support plates are arranged on the
underside of the two stock rails, wherein the U-shaped design
creates free space for the installation of other components between
the two parallel U-limbs. Bed plates or ribbed tie-plates for the
stock rails can be fixed on both limbs, wherein it is preferred in
this context to insert a ribbed tie-plate or bed plate for the
stock rail into the connection between the frame and the holding
element.
[0013] The braces and, in particular, webs for connecting the two
support plates of the frame need to consist of a sufficiently rigid
material, wherein it is preferred to use web plates for this
purpose. The web plates are preferably arranged in vertical planes
in this case so as to ensure a construction with a particularly
high torsional rigidity and to simultaneously reduce the
weight.
[0014] In railroad engineering, rails are frequently used for the
transmission of electric currents, for example, in order to
transmit signals for track indicator systems, monitoring devices
and the like. In this context, however, it must be ensured that the
two stock rails are electrically insulated. For this purpose it is
envisaged that according to the invention an electric insulation is
preferably inserted into the connection between the frame and the
stock rails.
[0015] The inventive frame according to the invention may serve as
a mounting for switch setting devices, as well as for switch rail
end-of-travel monitoring devices and closure devices for switch
rails. In this case, the frame preferably features a mounting for
the drive unit, particularly the hydraulic piston-cylinder module
of the switch setting device.
[0016] The invention is described in greater detail below with
reference to embodiments that are schematically illustrated in the
drawings. In these,
[0017] FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a first embodiment of the
inventive device,
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a representation according to FIG. 1 with
adjusting elements fixed on the frame,
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a side view according to the arrow III in FIG.
2,
[0020] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged representation in the region of the
right stock rail in FIG. 3,
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the device according to FIG.
1,
[0022] FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the inventive device in
the form of a top view,
[0023] FIG. 7 shows a side view according to the arrow VII in FIG.
6,
[0024] FIG. 8 shows a section along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6
and
[0025] FIG. 9 shows an oblique view of the embodiment according to
FIGS. 6 to 8 with installed setting device.
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a sleeper bay 3 between two schematically
indicated sleepers 1 and 2. Bed plates or ribbed tie-plates 4 for
the rails 5 are also schematically illustrated on the sleepers 1
and 2, wherein the stock rails are merely illustrated in the region
of the sleeper bay 3 in order to provide a better overview. This
figure also shows tongue rails 6, wherein the tongue rail 6 on the
right side is illustrated in the abuting position towards the stock
rail 5 and the tongue rail 6 on the left side is illustrated in the
set off position from the stock rail 5.
[0027] Furthermore, a frame 7 is provided that is composed of
support plates 8 and three web plates 9 connecting the support
plates. A holding element 10 that encompasses the outside of the
rail flange is screwed to the support plates 8 respectively and
serves for fixing the frame 7 on the web of the stock rails 5. FIG.
1 also shows that the web plates 9 feature a mounting 11 for the
drive module of a switch setting device and a mounting 12 for an
end-of-travel monitoring device.
[0028] The sleepers and the sleeper bay are not illustrated in FIG.
2 in order to provide a better overview. In other respects, the
illustration according to FIG. 2 essentially corresponds to the
illustration according to FIG. 1, wherein a switch setting device
13 and an end-of-travel monitoring device 14 are additionally shown
in this figure. The switch setting device 14 features a drive
module 15 that is fixed on the frame 7 and, in particular, on a web
plate 9. Switching rods illustrated to both sides of the drive
module 15 respectively engage on the tongue rails 6 by means of a
coupling piece 16. Analogously, the tongue rail end-of-travel
monitoring device 14 engages on the tongue rails 6 by means of
coupling, pieces 17.
[0029] FIG. 3 also shows that the frame connecting the stock rails
5 is composed of two support plates 8 and the web plates 9, wherein
the web plates 9 are welded to the support plates 8. A bed plate or
ribbed tie-plate 18 is respectively fixed on the support plates 8
with the aid of a screw connection 19. The holding element 10 that
engages on the web of the stock rail 5 by means of a filler piece
20 is also fixed on the ribbed tie-plate 18 that serves as a
support for the stock rail 5 with the aid of a screw connection.
The corresponding attachment is realized with the aid of a screw 21
that extends through the rail web as illustrated, in particular, in
the enlarged representation according to FIG. 4. This figure shows
that the filler piece 20 is supported on the flange as well as on
the underside of the stock rail head of the stock rail 5. The
attachment on the inside of the stock rail is realized with the aid
of a clamping element 22 that engages on the stock rail flange and
is fixed on the bed plate or ribbed tie-plate 18 with the aid of a
screw connection 23. In this case, the clamping element 22 needs to
be so flat that it can be arranged underneath the tongue rail 6. An
electric insulation is ensured with an insulating layer 24 that is
arranged between the support plate 8 and the bed plate or ribbed
tie-plate 18.
[0030] The frame 7 is illustrated particularly well in the bottom
view according to FIG. 5, wherein this figure shows that the
support plates 8 are essentially realized in a U-shaped fashion,
and wherein the two limbs 25 of the support plate serve for fixing
the bed plates or ribbed tie-plates 18. This figure furthermore
shows the three web plates 9 that connect the two support plates 8
and are arranged parallel to one another in vertical planes. A
transverse web 26 is respectively arranged on both support plates 8
in order to increase the stability.
[0031] FIG. 6 shows a modified embodiment, in which the frame is
installed into a trough sleeper 27 as shown, in particular, in FIG.
9. Identical components are identified by the same reference
numerals as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5. The top
view according to FIG. 6 as well as the side view according to FIG.
7 and the section according to FIG. 8 show that the frame cannot be
fixed on the inside of the stock rail in the trough sleeper for
space reasons such that the support plates 8 are extended outward
for stability reasons in comparison with the embodiment according
to FIGS. 1 to 5. Furthermore, insulating elements are respectively
arranged on the outer edge of the rail flange and on the end of the
connecting plate 8 that supports the rail flange.
[0032] In the overall view according to FIG. 9, the trough sleeper
27 features outwardly bent support surfaces 28, on which the bed
plates 18 for the stock rails 15 are fixed. However, the frame 7
formed by the support plates 8 and the web plates 9 does not engage
on the trough sleeper 27, but merely on the stock rails 5 and, in
particular, on the stock rail web and on the stock rail flange and
is arranged in the trough sleeper 27 in a freely suspended
fashion.
[0033] All in all, the invention provides a frame that participates
in possible movements of the stock rail 5 relative to the sleepers.
The switch setting device and, if applicable, the tongue rail
end-of-travel monitoring device therefore is coupled to and
vibrates together with a flexible system (stock rail-tongue) such
that no relative movements are transmitted that could
disadvantageously affect the fatigue strength of individual system
components such as, for example, the seals and guides of the
hydraulic adjusting cylinder of the switch setting device.
* * * * *