CA1055783A - Track switching device for two-rail type tracks - Google Patents

Track switching device for two-rail type tracks

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Publication number
CA1055783A
CA1055783A CA268,182A CA268182A CA1055783A CA 1055783 A CA1055783 A CA 1055783A CA 268182 A CA268182 A CA 268182A CA 1055783 A CA1055783 A CA 1055783A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
track
tracks
rails
movable means
movable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA268,182A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kiyoshi Mihirogi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Japan Airlines Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Japan Airlines Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Japan Airlines Co Ltd filed Critical Japan Airlines Co Ltd
Priority to CA268,182A priority Critical patent/CA1055783A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1055783A publication Critical patent/CA1055783A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A track switching device selectively couples a first track to one of second and third tracks through first and second movable means.
The first movable means has two rails which operate such that when it is moved, the two rails are moved in a space between outer rails of the second and third tracks so that a selected one of the rails on the movable means is coupled to a selected one of the inner rails of the second and third tracks. The device is useful for two rails tracks for guiding magnetic floating type rolling stock including drive means with a protruding portion positioned between the two rails. The second movable member is positioned between the first track and the first movable means and has tracks aligning the first track with one of said second and third tracks through the first movable means.

Description

~L~557~3 Thls :invention relates to t~ack switching devices provided for two-rail tyloe tracks adapted to support an~ guide magnet;c floating type rolling stock employed in ultra.~hig~ speed railway transportation.
In an ordinary railway, rolling stock is supported, guided, and driven by the combination of wheels and ra:ils. However, in an ultra~high speed railway, the function of supporting tmd guiding the rolling stock and the function of driving the same are provided separately from each other.
A magnetic floating syst0m of magnetically floating rolling stock in which a magnetic force is employed to support and guide the rolling stock in a non-contact manner is known in the art. More specifically, in this magnetic floating system, the rolling stock is supported and guided in a non-contact manner by a magnetic attractive force or magnetic repulsive force applied to two parallel rails.
The magnetic floating type rolling stock which is allowed to run by being supported and guided by a two-rail track having two parallel rails is provided with a magnetic attractive or repulsive device protruding between the rails from the bottom thereof. Therefore, in the case of a track switching device for the above-described two-rail track, unlike in the casa of ~.
a conventional track, it is not permitted to provide rails crossing the tracks because of the above-described protruding device. ~.
Therefore, a conventional track switching device for two-rail .:
tracks for the magnetic floating type rolling stock is so designed as illus-trated in Figures l(a)and ~), or ~ and ~
In the prior art shown in Figure 1, a movable m0mber 12 is pro-vided at the joint of a track 10 and a branch track 11 in such a manner that it can be moved perp0nd:icularly to thc direction of the track lO. Mor0 sp0cifically, the ~ovable member 12 is provided with a first track 12a which aligns with the track lO, and a second track 12b which aligns with the track 11. The track switching operation is achieved by moving the movable track 12 as shown in Pigures ~a)and : ~ However, this conventional track switching device is disadvan-tageous in the following point. In general, the length of a track switching r~

.: ~ .............. .

~55713~
part in the ultra-high speed railway is five to eight times as long as that in the ordinary railway. Therefore, if such a lengthy track switching part is made into a movable track switching device, it will become a large-scale device. In this case, the driving device for moving the track switching device will require a large drive capacity.
Shown in Figure 2 is also a conventional method which is an improvement of the prior art illustrated in Figure 1. In this method) the movable member shown in Figures l(a) and l(b? is divided into several movable Inember 12a, 12b, 12c - - - - - - arranged along the track, whereby, the power of a device for driving a movakle member is reduced.
However, this conventional method is also disadvantageous in that a mechanism for driving a number of movable members is necessarlly intricate, and that since the moving distances of the several movable members are different from one ano~her in switching the tracks, the con~rol device thereof becomes undoubtedly intricate also.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to overcome all of the above-described difficulties accompanying conventional track switching devices provided for two-rail type tracks.
More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a track switching device in which a track switching operation can be achieved by a small amount of movement of its movable member, and the number of tracks provided on the movable part is minimized to reduce the weigh* of the track switching dev;ce as a whole, whereby the track switching operation can be completed quickly.
According to the present invention, there is provided a track switching device for two-rail type tracks for guiding magnetic floating type rolling stock including drive means with a protruding portion positioned between the two rails of said track, said track comprising first, second and : .
third tracks, said device having first and second movable means, said first movable means having two rails and being positioned at a joint formed by the second and third tracks to which said first track is selectively coupled, each of said flrst, second and third tracks having two parallel :

'. '~ , ," .' ' ', '. ' ,' . ' ' ' ' ~ ' ' '' : . ` . ' ~57~33 rails, said second, and third tracks each having an inner and an outar rail, the i.nner rails being located between the outer rails, said two rails of said first movable means being positioned such that when said first movable means is moved to switch the tracks, said two rails of the first movable means are movable in the space between the two outer rails of said second and third tracks for coupling a selected one of said two rails of the first movable means to a selected one of the inner rails of sai.d second and third tracks and for providing sufficient space between the coupled rail of said first movable means and the parallel outer rail for said protruding portion of said drive means; said second mova~le means being positioned between said fi.rst track and said first movable means and having track means aligning said first track with one of said second and third tracks through said first movable means.
The nature and utility of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments .
when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated ~y like reference numerals.
In the accompany~g drawings:
Figures l(a) and l~b) are explanatory diagrams for a description of one example of a conventional track switching device provided for two-rail type tracks;
~ Figures 2(a~ and 2~b) are also explanatory diagrams for a description of anothex example of the conventional track switching device for two-rail type tracks;
Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a first example of a track switching device provided for two-rail type tracks according to this invention;
Figure ~ is an explanatory diagram ~or a descript,ion of the operation of the track switching deuice shown in Figure 3;
~ ~ Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second example ~:
of the track switching device according to the invention;
~Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Figure 5; ..

_3 ~ ' 1 1)5~7~3 and Figure 7 is an explanat~ry diagram illustrating a third example ~f the track switching device acc~ding to the inventi~n.

' '.

.
j,...,,., - ' ~OS57133 A ~irst example of this invention will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
As is show~ in Figures 3 and 4, a two-rail type track 20 branches into two two-rail type tracks 21 and 22, and a track switching device 23 according to this invention is provided at the joint of these tracks.
The tracks 20, 21 and 22 comprise pairs of parallel rails 20a and 20b, 21a and 21b, and 22a and 22b~ respectively.
In this example, the tracks 20 and 21 run in the same direction, while the tracks 20 and 22 run in different direction as is shown in Figure 4.
The track switching device 23, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, is made up of two movable members 24 and 25 which are arranged in the direction of the track and move in parallel and independently.
The movable member 24 comprises: a base 26 which is adjacent to the track 20 and can move perpendicularly to the direction of the track 20, a track consisting of two parallel rails 27a and 27b provided on the base 26 for coupling the tracks 20 and 21, and a track consisting of two parallel rails 28a and 28b on th~ base 26 for coupling the tracks 20 and 22.
The base 26 is slidably n~ounted on guide rails 29, and is coupled 2Q ~ to a hydraulic cylinder 30 so that it can be moved along the guide rails.
The aforementioned movable member 25 comprises: a base 31 which is ~disposed in the space between the outer rail 21a of the track 21 and the ~outer rail 22b of the track 22 and is moved pe~pendicularly to the direction of the track 21; a rail 31b provided on the base 31 for coupling to the rail 21b of the track 21 to complete this track 21; and a rail 32a provided on the base 31, for coupling to the rail 22a of the ~rack 22 to complete this trak 22.
The base 31 is slidably mounted on guide rails 33a and is connected to a hydraulic cylinder 33 so that it can be moved on the guide rails 33a.
30 ~ The operation of the first example of the track switching device according to this invention will be described.
The tracks 20 and 21 can be coupled to each other by operating ~,: :

: ~ :

~C3S57~3 -the hydraulic cylinders 30 and 33 in the same direction. More specifically, as is illustrated in Figure 4, the bases 26 and 31 are moved lef~ so tha~ the rails 27a and 27b on the base 26 are in alignment with the rails 20a and 20b, respectively, and the rail 27a is in alignment with the rail 21a of the track 21, and that the rail 31b on the base 31 is in alignment with the rail 27b and the rail 21b of the track 21. Thus, these rails are disposed as indicated by the solid lines in Figure 4.
The operation of the track switching device will be described during move~ent from the posi~ion wherein the track 20 is coupled to the track 21 as described above to the position wherein track 20 is coupled to track 22.
The hydraulic cylinders 30 and 33 are energized to shift the bases 26 and 31 to be right. As a result, as is shown by the dot-dash lines in Figure 4, the rails 28a and 28b of the movable member 24 are aligned with the rails 20a and 20b of the track 20, and the rail 28b is aligned with ~he rail 22b of the track-22. At the same time, by the movement of the base 31, the rail 32a of the movabie ~rack 31 is aligned with ~he rail 28a thus moved and the rail 22a of the track 22. Thus, coupling of the tracks 20 and 22 has been completed.
Figures 5 and 6 show a second example of the track switching device according to the invention, in which the movable member 24 is modified.
The movable member 24 in Figures 3 and 4 is moved horizontally, but the ~; modified movable member in Figures 5 and 6 is a rotary type movable track 40 which is designed to rotate for switching the tracks.
The rotary type movable track 40 comprises: a rotary struc~ure 41 which is rotated perpendicularly to the direction of the tracks 20 or 21.
Slmilarly as in the example in Figures 3 and 4, a pair of rails 27a and 27b are provided on one surface of the rotary structure for coupling the track 20 to the track 21, and a pair of rails 28a and 28b are provided on another . .
surface of ~he rotary structure for coupling the track 20 to the track 22.
Switching the tracks can be achieved by turning the rotary structure 41 through an angle 0 as shown in Figure 6~ In this case, the stroke of the -5~
.
'.

',',"',''.':,""'' '',' ,~','''." '', '''' ;' ' " '''"' '' ."` ~'' ' ''".',' "," .'"

~6~557~3 hydraulic cylinder can be made shorter than that of the hydraulic cylinder in the case of horizontally moving the movable member. A third example of the tracX switching device is shown in Figure 7, which is employed where the tracks 21 and 22 are arranged symmetrical with respect to the track 20.
This track switching device comprises a disk-shaped movable member 43 with a track having a pair of curved rails 42a and 42b. This track on the movable member 43 is designed such that when its one end is in alignment with the track 20, the other end is in alignment with one of the tracks 21 and 22. With this track switching device, switching the tracks can be achieved by turning the disk 43 through the angle of 180 degrees. The advantage of this example resides in that the track switching is achieved merely by the rotation of the disk-shaped movable member and no parts protrude around the track switching section. This feature increases the safety in running rolling stock and simplifies the track supporting structure.
As lS apparent from the above description, according to this invention, the movable members for switching the tracks can be made smaller in size, and therefore the power of the driving device for operating the track switching device can be reduced.
In addition, the movable members of the track switching device are smaller in size and lighter in weight, the number of movable members is re-duced, and the whole construction of the track switching device can be simpllfied.

..
:: : :

Claims (4)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A track switching device for two-rail type tracks for guiding magne-tic floating type rolling stock including drive means with a protruding portion positioned between the two rails of said track, said track comprising first, second and third tracks, said device having first and second movable means, said first movable means having two rails and being positioned at a joint formed by the second and third tracks to which said first track is selectively coupled, each of said first, second and third tracks leaving two parallel rails, said second and third tracks each having an inner and an outer rail, the inner rails being located between the outer rails, said two rails of said first movable means being positioned such that when said first movable means is moved to switch the tracks, said two rails of the first movable means are movable in the space between the two outer rails of said second and third tracks for coupling a selected one of said two rails of the first movable means to a selected one of the inner rails of said second and third tracks and for providing sufficient space between the coupled rail of said first movable means and the parallel outer rail for said protruding portion of said drive means; said second movable means being positioned between said first track and said first movable means and having track means aligning said first track with one of said second and third tracks through said first movable means.
2. A track switching device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first, second and third tracks are positioned such that said first and second tracks run in the same direction, and said first and third tracks run in different directions.
3. A track switching device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said track means of second movable means comprises fourth and fifth tracks, the surface defined by the rails of the fourth track being disposed at an angle to the surface defined by the rails of the fifth track, and wherein said second movable means is turned through said angle in a plane perpendicular to the direction of running said first and second tracks for aligning a selected one of said fourth and fifth tracks to a selected one of said second and third tracks, through said first movable means.
4. A track switching device as claimed in claim l wherein said second and third tracks are arranged symmetrically with respect to said first track, said track means of said second movable means further comprising a disk-shaped movable member having a -fourth track positioned thereon such that when one end of said fourth track is in alignment with said first track, the other end thereof is in alignment with one of said second and third tracks through said first movable means, said disk-shaped movable means being turned through 180 degrees for switching said tracks.
CA268,182A 1976-12-17 1976-12-17 Track switching device for two-rail type tracks Expired CA1055783A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA268,182A CA1055783A (en) 1976-12-17 1976-12-17 Track switching device for two-rail type tracks

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA268,182A CA1055783A (en) 1976-12-17 1976-12-17 Track switching device for two-rail type tracks

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1055783A true CA1055783A (en) 1979-06-05

Family

ID=4107531

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA268,182A Expired CA1055783A (en) 1976-12-17 1976-12-17 Track switching device for two-rail type tracks

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1055783A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11155967B2 (en) 2016-04-13 2021-10-26 Pandrol Limited Swing turnout for railroad tracks and method for providing a turnout

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11155967B2 (en) 2016-04-13 2021-10-26 Pandrol Limited Swing turnout for railroad tracks and method for providing a turnout

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