AU593388B2 - Railway track switching apparatus - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority S Related Art: 593388 +hi 2 1 T ri &Tc i t I US^ -*tlo Name(s) of Applicant(s): Address(es) of Applicant(s): APPLICANT'S REF.: CAP of PH 8202 SAE-TRANSPGO RTW-AUTHOR-P 10th Floor, 589 Collins Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000.

A L Ln4 I Actual Inventor(s): Mr. Robert E. Bradford V Address for Service is: PHILLIPS, ORMONDE AND FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: RAILWAY TRACK SWITCHING APPARATUS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): P19/3/84 i i i II~ This invention relates generally to railway track switching apparatus, and in particular to such apparatus of the kind having an ascapement clamp lock mechanism. The apparatus is applicable to switching track point and crossing layouts, both simple and compound, and it will be convenient to hereinafter disclose the invention in relation to that exemplary application. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to that application.

At conventional track point and crossing layouts, stock rails from two or more lines are fixed on sleepers so as to converge together in a crossing arrangement. Switch blades are pivotably mounted between those lines and are movable so as to selectively interconnect pairs of lines together for rail vehicle travel through the layout between those lines.

Movement of the switch blades is controlled by switching cite apparatus which typically may be of the above kind whereby an ra actuating member applies a driving force to the clamp lock mechanism which moves the switch blades and locks them in position. The actuating member may be arranged either outside the rail line or between the rails of the line with which the apparatus is associated. In either arrangement, the actuating member is requried to develop the necessary driving force through a reaction bracket attaching the member to a sleeper or some other item of track work. The actuating member may be a linear actuator, such as a pneumatically or hydraulically energised piston-and-cylinder motor.

Movement of the actuating member may also be employed to S activate mechanical, electrical or hydraulic devices to signal that the switch blades are in an "open" position or "closed" position.

Whilst this apparatus can operate satisfactorily in some conditions and move certain switch blades, it has a number of disadvantages which affect usefulness and operational reliability.

In partLcular, the apparatus incorporates a large number of parts, fasteners, and insulators, making it costly to manufacture. Moreover, installation of the apparatus usually requires assembly of the clamp lock mechanism and actuating a: i:' i i 'r 2

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member in situ, which necessitates extensive on-site adjustment and ancilliaries which compound apparatus costs.

The drive forces of the actuating member are usually applied through a numberad connections which require regular maintenance to counteract the affects of weather, vibration, shock-loading, and material degradation over a period of time. Moreover, the exposed actuating member has been found to be vulnerable to damage by maintenance personnel, vehicles, equipment, and also by vandalism. Consequential maintenance can be expensive and may require unacceptable "down time" of the associated point or crossing layout. Lack of timely maintenance may lead to premature and inconvenient apparatus failure.

A further disadvantage is that the prior apparatus is Soften difficult or impossible to install at compound point or crossing layouts because the apparatus cannot satisfy conflicting requirements of space and geometry.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate these disadvantages through the provision of a relatively Ssimple yet improved railway track switching apparatus.

With this object in mind, the present invention provides a track switching apparatus including: a base frame; means S for mounting the frame to a stock rail of a rail line; positioning means connectableto a switch blade associated with 11cr the stock rail and operable in response to an applied driving force to move the switch blade between switch positions; and, an actuating member for applying the driving force to operate S 4 the positioning means, the actuating member interconnecting Sthe positioning means and base frame and reacting against the frame to apply the driving force to the positioning means.

This invention is described herein with reference to the apparatus in a normal use orientation in a horizontally extending point or crossing layout, and terms such .as "upstanding" and "beneath" should be construed in the light of this orientation. Howeve., it should be appreciated that other orientations may be equally possible and consequential changes in terms such as those above may be required in the light of other orientations for a proper and complete 3 /4 understanding of the invention.

The mounting means preferably spension mounts the base frame beneath the stock rail and between a pair of spaced apart sleepers. Preferably the base frame is elongate and extends transversely beneath the stock rail when mounted thereto. The frame preferably has a mounting end at which the actuating member is connected to the base frame. The actuating member is preferably mounted at least substantially beneath the base frame.

The base frame may be of an integral, one piece construction. The frame may have an elongate base wall beneath which the actuating member is located. A pair of side walls may extend along and upstand from the base wall, tue mounting means mounting the base frame to the stock rail S through the side walls. An end wall may exten between the side walls and depend below a level of the base wall for connection of the actuating member thereto.

The mounting means preferably includes a mounting S assembly connectable to a side of the stock rail remote from the switch blade so as to project outwardly from that side of the rail to the base frame. The assembly may include at least one flange member that extends downwardly from the side of the stock rail, when the assembly is connected thereto, the flange member being rigidly connectable to the or one of the side walls of the base frame.

The positioning means may comprise an escapement clamp lock mechanism. The mechanism may include a clamp arm S connectable to the switch blade and selectively lockable S against the stock rail to lock the blade in one of the switch Spositions. A locking slide may be connected to the actuating member and cooperable with the clamp arm so that driving forces of the actuating member and cooperable with the clamp arkso that driving forces of the actuating member are applied thereto and transmitted to the clamp arm for selective locking of the switch blade and movement of the blade between the switch posit-'ons. The locking slide may be carried by the base frame for linear sliding movement under action of e applied driving forces. The locking slide may beat onkaz

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RAZ -4vT r slide along a slide bed extending along the base frame.

The actuating member is preferably a linear actuator and may comprise a piston and cylinder actuator extending parallel beneath the base frame. The piston and cylinder may be connected to a respective one of the base frame and the positioning means.

The following description refers to a preferred embodiment of the track switching apparatus of the present invention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawings where the apparatus is illustrated. It is to be understood that the iivention is not limited to the embodiment as hereinafter described and as illustrated.

In the drawings: Sr Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in cross-section, of a switching apparatus according to a preferred embodiment installed within a point or crossing layout; Fig. 2 is a side view of the base frame of the apparatus S of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view of the base frame of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the base frame through S section IV-IV of Fig. 3; and 4 Fig. 5 is an end view of the base frame Fig. 2.

Referring initially to Fig. 1 there is generally illustrated track switching apparatus 1 installed at point or crossing layout L. Only one line of layout L is illustrated and includes stock rail R and switch blade B movable toward S and away from rail R between switch positions. Rail R is of conventional construction and comprises rail head H, and bottom flange F interconnected by rail web W. Movement of SblLe B is controlled by apparatus i.

Apparatus 1 includes base frame 2, illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 to 5. Frame 2 is arranged for positioning generally beneath rail R so as to extend transversely thereof between a pair of spaced sleepers (not illustrated).

Frame 2 includes elongate base well 3 which is generally planar, and strip-like, and has upper and lower face&4,5, and longitudinally extending edge regions. Frame 2 also includes W1, ~NT 9 a pair of side walls 6 extending along respective longitudinal edge regions and upstanding from upper face 4 of base wall 3.

Thus, base and side walls 3,6, will be generally Square U-shaped in end view and define longitudinal channel 7, therebetween. Side walls 6 generally extend longitudinally beyond ends of base wall 3.

End wall 7 extends between side walls 6 at least substantially perpendicular thereto, and has mounting portion 9 that depends below a level of base wall 3.

Base frame 2 is of an integral, one piece construction.

Frame 2 may be constructed of metal such as steel, and may be manufactured by casting, although other materials are manufacturing methods are envisaged.

Base frame 2 is mounted on rail R with mounting assembly S 10 using conventional rail mounting techniques. In that regard, assembly 10 is connectable to that side of rail R remote from switch blade B so as to project outwardly from that rail side and downwardly to underlying base frame 2.

Assembly 10 includes at least one flange member 11 depending beneath rail R so as to extend in parallel, face-to-face abutment with one or more respective side wall 6, and a series of fastening elements, such as bolts, (not illustrated) for securing flange member(s) 11 and side wall(s) 6 together. A pair of spaced flange aib&11ell may be provided for fastening ,to respective side walls 6, and those flange members may be rigidly secured together through interconnecting web member 12.

Flange members 11 are in turn rigidly connected to stock rail R, and that may be achieved by fastening, directly or indirectly, members 11 to rail web W. Assembly 10 includes buttress plate 13 extending between rail head H and bottom flange F against which flange members 11 are fastened.

Fastening may be achieved by one or more bolts 14 extending through rail web W and buttress plate 13 to flange members 11 (or web member 12).

As previously indicated, the present invention is applicable to apparatus of the kind having an escapement clamp lock mechanism. In that application, apparatus includes po~itioning means, comprising escapement clamp lock mechanism 1 6 i-ilY connectable. to switch blade B and operable in response to an applied dziuikorce to move switch blade B between switch positions, Mechanism 15, and its operation, will be readily understood by those skilled in this art and therefore will be only briefly described hereinafter. It will be appreciated that other mechanisms or positioning means may be equally suitable.

Clamp lock mechanism 15 generally includes rigid clamp arm 16 connectable to switch blade B and selectively lockable against stock rail R to lock blade B in a switch position.

That switch position (as illustrated in Fig. 1) will generally be characterised by switch blade B abutting against stock rail head H in a "switch closed" condition. Mechanism 15 also includes locking slide 17 to which Eupm forces are applied S" and which, in turn, are transmitted to clamp arm 16 for tT selective locking of switch blade B and movement of blade B between switch positions.

Clamp art 16 has spaced apart connecting and clamping end regions 18, 19. Moreover, clamp ka:t 16 is shaped and sized so that, in use, it extends generally beneath stock rail R and switch blade B with connecting end region 18 being connected to switch blade B and clamping end region 19 being I selectively lockable directly or indirectly against rail R in order to lock blade B thereto. In particular, connecting end region 18 is pivotably connected to blade B, through pivot mounting unit 20, for pivotal movement about axis 21 extending parallel to switch blade B so as to move arm 16 between a locking position (as illustrated in Fig. 1) and an unlocking a: 6 position (not illustrated).

Locking of clamping end region 19 involves abutting end region 19 directly or indirectly against rail R.

Conveniently, abutment may be indirect through fixed abutment block 22. Block 22 is carried by mounting assembly Mounting block 22 and clamping end region 19 have cooperative clamped abutment faces 23, 24 that move into face-to-face abutting engagement for locking of clamping end region 19.

That is, upon pivotal movement of clamp arm 16, abutment face 24 moves into and out of engagement with abutment face 23, n r depending on the direction of pivotal movement.

Locking slide 17 is mounted on base frame 2 for linear sliding movement beneath clamp axt 16 under action of driving forces, the direction of movement determining the direction of movement of switch blade B between switch positions. In particular, movement of the slide 17 causes clamp ka 16 to move which in turn moves blade B. This movement of the clamp arm 16 is generally linear during which blade B will pivot through a shallow angle between switch positions, and is in addition to clamp arm pivotal movement for locking and unlocking of blade B.

To mount locking slide 17, base frame 2 has bed 25 in channel 7 on which slide 17 can move Saced bearing surfaces 26 are provided along base wall 3 onkF 4i slide 17 bears for sliding therealong. Spaced guide surfaces 27 may also be provided along side walls 6 against which slide 17 engages for guiding during sliding movement. Single bearing and guide surfaces 26, 27 may be located adjacent each base and side 0 00 wall junction in an L-shaped mirror image arrangement so that slide 17 extends between and is guided by those surfaces.

Locking slide 17 has apertures 28 therein providing a pair of oppositely facing drive faces 29, 30, whilst clamp arm 16 has open slot 31 also providing a pair of oppositely facing

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drive faces 32, 33, each being cooperable with a respective slide drive face 29, 30 to transmit driving forces to clamp arm 16 for moving blade B. Respective cooperative drive faces 29, 30, and 32, 33, may abut ke~m another in face-to-face engagement during that slide movement. Drive faces 29, 30 are arranged so that movement of locking slide 17 along frame bed toward end wall 7 moves blade B to the switch closed condition, whilst slide movement away from end wall 8 moves blade B from that closed condition to an open position spaced from stock rail R.

Pivotal movement of clamp arm 16 at least into the locking position may be provided by a camming action developed between at least one drive region 34 of clamp arm 16 and base frame 2. In that regard, drive region 34 and base frame 2 may each have respective cam surface 35, 36, those surfaces facing KW 8 KW -8s ;YI Cr*II~I- one another and interengaging during linear movement of clamp arm 16 to pivot that arm 16 to cause abutment face 24 to move into engagement with abutment block 22. Cam surface 36 may be provided on base wall 3 adjacent an end thereof remote from end wall 8.

During pivotal movement of clamp arm 16, locking slide 17 may also move into engagement with clamp arm 16 at clamping end region 19 so as to effectively clamp end region 19 between abutment block 22 and slide 17. This achieves positive locking of clamp -stsl16 and switch blade B.

TIh eL on f Sliding movement of locking slide 17 may be controlled to some extent by one or more limit stops 37 against which slide 17 abuts to prevent further movement.

Single limit stop 37 (as illustrated) may be provided on base frame 2 to limit movement of slide 17 in a direction that causes movement of switch blade B to the switch closed condition, i.e. locking of clamp arm 16. That limit stop 37 may be provided on end wall 8 and project into channel 7 for t ci t abutment with an end of approaching locking slide 17.

Limit stop 37 may be adjustable to vary the extent flocking slide movement andk i s position at which it is stopped. Limit stop 37 may be provided by screw threaded bolt r, 39 extending through end wall 8 with terminal end face 39 providing an abutment face against which an end face of locking slide 17 can abut. Lock nut 40 may also be provided t r for setting bolt 38 in a desired position.

Apparatus 1 also includes actuating member 41 for applying the driving forces that move locking slide 17.

6 Actuating member 41 may be of any suitable construction and typically may be of a type used in conventional switching apparatus. In that regard, actuating member 41 may be a pneumatically or hydraulically energised piston-and-cylinder actuator 42 extending beneath base wall 3 at least substantially parallel to base frame 2. Actuator 42 has cylinder 43 connected to mounting portion 9 of end wall 8 and piston 44 connected to locking slide 17. Connection of cylinder 43 may be through a suitable mounting arrangement such as screw-threaded stud 45 projecting from cylinder 43 cL,:j i ist

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9 n through end wall 8, and locking nuts 46 fixing stud thereto. That arrangement may provide limited adjustment of actuator position relative to base frame 2 to facilitate variation in locking slide positioning. Connection between piston 44 and locking slide 17 may be achieved through coupling 47 comprising connecting shaft 48 extending through aligned holes provided at adjacent ends of piston 44 and locking slide 17 and locking nuts 49 for securing shaft 48 thereto.

Actuator 42 may be double acting or single acting so providing a driving force in both or only one movement direction of locking slide 17, respectively. Where switching apparatus 1 is to be independently operated then actuator 42 will generally be double acting. Actuator 42 may also be double acting where apparatus 1 is to operate in conjunction with another apparatus (not illustrated) associated with another stock rail (not illustrated) of the same rail line so that both switch blades of the line are moved together. In those circumstances the actuator of the other apparatus may be omitted and connecting rod 50 mounted between the two locking slides 17 so that actuator 42 simultaneously applies driving forces to the locking slides of both apparatuses.

Alternatively, this one double acting actuator may be t substituted for a single acting actuator in each apparatus, S with the actuators being arranged so that they apply driving forces in opposite directions. In this way, the actuators may be individually operated to simultaneously move both slides in S one respective direction.

The switching apparatus of the present invention has an advantage in that the driving forces are generated from the actuating member reacting on the base frame which in turn is mounted on the stock rail. In particular those driving forces are not generated by the actuating member reacting directly against railway line sleepers as with conventional apparatus arrangements. Since sleepers are generally made of wood they often cannot handle the reaction forces causing a deterioration in actuating member mounting. This can lead to operational failures in conventional arrangements, but is KW minimised through the more rigid actuating member mounting provided in the present apparatus.

The apparatus of the present invention may be installed through a simple single point mounting on the stock rail and a connection to the switch blade. This contrasts with conventional arrangements that often require additional multiple mountings to sleepers or other track work items.

Thus, installation of the present apparatus may be relatively simple, rapid, and inexpensive.

The present apparatus generally eliminates the need for expensive self-aligning bearings between various components, and in particular between the actuating member, lock slide and a reaction bracket as in conventional arrangements.

Elimination of self-aligning bearings, separate reaction brackets, fastenings, insulators and complicated adjustable actuator links results in substantial cost savings in t I manufacture and installation of the present apparatus.

r Because the actuating member is located beneath the base frame that frame acts to protect that actuating member from accidental or deliberate damage. That oCan minimise maintenance problems and costs. The apparatuskf the present invention can be fully assembled, adjusted and bench tested C: prior to installation. Installation requires only minimal mounting (as outlined above) so that only nominal on-site attention need be given to the apparatus during installation before it becomes fully operational. It follows, that fully tested and adjusted apparatuses can be held in storage for immediate change over in the event of failure of an inservice apparatus thereby minimising "down time" of point or crossing Slayouts. In addition, repair or refurbishment of the replaced 1 apparatus may be carried out in work shops under optimum conditions.

Reduction in the number of apparatus components, and elimination of actuating members and associated parts from traditional mounting points, alleviates problems arising from lack of space in point and crossing layouts, particularly in complex layouts.

The apparatus of the present invention caters for normal -11 k 47 i point and crossing layouts. With slight modifications to the apparatus components, the apparatus may also be used to operate "catch-point" installations used for de-railing runaway rolling stock or rail vehicles. Prior to the present invention, it has not been possible to use apparatus of this kind for that purpose.

Finally, it is to be appreciated that various modifications and/or alterations may be made to the apparatus without departing from the ambit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

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Claims (5)

1. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein kef mounting means suspension mounts the base frame beneath the stock rail between a pair of spaced apart sleepers. S* 3, Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein -The base
2. 9. frame is elongate and extends transversely of the stock rail when mounted thereto and has a mounting end at which the S actuating member is connected thereto, the actuating member extending from the mounting end to the positioning means. 4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuating member is located at least substantially beneath the base frame. S< 5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base frame is of an integral, one piece construction and has LS an elongate base wall beneath which the actuating member is located, a pair of side walls extending along respective longitudinal edge regions of the base wall and upstanding from the base wall, the mounting means mounting the base frame to S the stock rail through the side walls, and an end wall extending between the side walls and depending below a level of the base wall for connection of the actuating member thereto. 6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ,L' mounting means includes a mounting assembly connectable to a 1 side of the stock rail remote from the switch blade so as to project outwardly from that side of the rail to the base frame. S7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 when appended to claim wherein the mounting assembly includes at least one flange St -13-i 1 t i -y member that extends downwardly from the side of the stock rail, when the assembly is connected thereto, the flange member being rigidly connectable to the or one of the side walls of the base frame so as to mount the base frame beneath the stock rail. 8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the positioning means comprises an escapement clamp lock mechanism including a clamp arm connectable to the switch blade and selectively lockable against the stock rail to lock the blade in one of the switch positions, and a locking slide connected to the actuating member and cooperable with the clamp arm so that driving forces of the actuating member are applied thereto and transmitted to the clamp arm for selective locking of the switch blade and movement of the blade between the switch positions. il- 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locking slide is carried by the base frame for linear sliding movement S under action of applied driving forces. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 when appended to claim through claim 6 or 7 or 8, wherein a slide bed extends along the base frame between the base and side walls thereof and the locking slide bears on the bed and is slidable therealong under action of applied driving forces. S 11. 1.Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, and further including at least one limit stop provided on the base frame and against which the locking slide abuts when moving in one direction to prevent further movement of the locking slide in that direction.
3. 12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuating member comprises a piston and cylinder actuator, the piston and cylinder of the actuator being connected to a respective one of the base frame and the positioning means.
4. 13. Apparatus as climed in claim 12 when appended to claim wherein the actuator extends longitudinally of the basei frame immediately beneath the base wall, and the cylinder is connected to'.the end wall of the base frame whilst the piston is coupled to the locking slide.
5. 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the KW 14 o r II-, t Z" CQ Cnl C Cs' C C C' C C actuator is -djustably connected to the base member to permit shifting of the position of the actuator relative to -the base member and thus variation of the operation of the positioning means. Track switching apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 21 September, 1987 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: STA-TE-T-RANSPORT-AU .HOR-I.Ty- Y 1 3046E ~:d i~ r i .r 'r, i;j 15