EP0603156A1 - Locking device for moveable railway-switch parts - Google Patents

Abstract

In a device for locking limit positions of movable railway-switch parts, in particular railway-switch closure, in which two parts (2, 3) which can be moved in relation to one another can be displaced into a position in which they engage frictionally in at least one direction of movement, the parts which can be displaced in relation to one another are formed by a pipe (2) and a bolt (3) which is guided axially in the pipe (2), separate locking elements (4), such as e.g. balls or rollers which can be displaced in the radial direction, being additionally provided (Fig. 1). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for locking end positions of movable switch parts, in particular switch lock, in which two parts movable relative to one another can be displaced in a position that is non-positive in at least one direction of movement.

For the locking of movable switch parts, in particular in the form of a switch lock, the so-called clamp tip lock has become known, for example. With such a design of the closure, two parts which are movable relative to one another are provided, one part being guided in a recess in the other and having to be pivoted relative to the other part in the displacement plane in order to take up the two respective operating positions. With other designs, pivoting from the plane of displacement is required. Overall, all known switch locks are designed so that a more or less complex off-axis movement is required and that the parts causing the lock are exposed and thus exposed to contamination. In particular, the risk of contamination can hinder a secure locking.

The invention now aims to provide a device of the type mentioned, with which a completely closed and thus protected against the ingress of dirt construction is possible and which also avoids the eccentric stresses on the locking members which impair the service life. To achieve this object, the design according to the invention essentially consists in that the parts which are displaceable relative to one another are formed by a tube and a bolt guided in the tube and that separate locking members, such as balls or rollers which can be displaced in the radial direction, are provided. The fact that the parts which are displaceable relative to one another can only be displaced relative to one another in the axial direction, since one of the two parts is guided by a component which is guided axially in the other part, the danger of eccentric and eccentric forces avoided, whereby the fact that one of the components is a tube and encompasses the other component enables a completely closed and protected against the ingress of dirt. The locking itself takes place in such a design by separate locking members, which can be formed by balls or rollers. In the case of rolls, these must of course have a relatively small axial length and be rotatably supported about axes which cross the longitudinal axis of the bolt or the pipe, in order not to hinder a displacement of the two components into one another. The locking members can be dimensioned so that they roll during the shift between the inner contour of the outer component and the outer contour of the inner component, the locking can be achieved by radial displacement of the balls or rollers.

In a particularly simple manner, the design is such that the parts which are displaceable relative to one another are guided in a stationary outer tube which has at least one axial region on the inner jacket with an enlarged internal width. Such an outer tube encompasses, in particular, a locking member which can be displaced outward in the radial direction and can therefore also reliably prevent dust or dirt from penetrating at this point. Furthermore, such an outer tube as a self-contained further protected component offers the possibility, if desired, as in a preferred embodiment, to arrange a displacement drive, which can be arranged in the stationary outer tube.

The locking is effected in a particularly simple manner by the locking members which can be displaced in the radial direction in such a way that the part formed by a tube and displaceable along its axis has radial openings for receiving the locking members.

A limitation of the relative displacement of the internal, bolt-shaped, axially guided component in the tube to the external, tubular, axially displaceable component can be achieved in a simple manner in that the tubular, displaceable part along its axis has at least one inwardly projecting rim, which with interacts with a stop on the bolt-shaped part which is displaceable along its axis. Such an inwardly projecting board also has the advantage that a spring can be arranged between the inwardly projecting board and a stop of the bolt-shaped component cooperating with this board. Such a spring is advantageously designed as a helical spring and such a design can serve as a changeover aid, since during the adjustment process, when a device according to the invention is assigned to each movable rail, both springs are first compressed, resulting in a dead center position and a spring in the respective end position is expanded again. With a corresponding design of the spring characteristic, the changeover movement is supported from the respective dead center position, with the further advantage that a switch operated in this way or equipped with such a closure member can be cut open against the force of a spring.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the design is such that the bolt-shaped displaceable part is offset to a smaller diameter over part of its length. Over such a part of the length of the bolt-shaped component, the locking members can roll in their radially inwardly displaced position in the longitudinal direction of the bolt, so that a lead or a lag of the adjustment movement is made possible, in which a locking position has not yet been reached. Only after the run-up over a conical surface on the larger diameter of the bolt, can the locking members evade when they can pass through the openings in the tubular, external component which is displaceable in the axial direction and can, for example, be immersed in a corresponding annular groove or recess in the outer tube. Locking is only possible in this second position.

The training can hiebei to allow a contact-free rolling of locking members on the respective outer surfaces, so that the diameter difference between the smaller diameter of the bolt-shaped part and the inner circumference of the stationary outer tube as well as the diameter difference between the larger diameter of the bolt-shaped part and the area of the stationary tube which is recessed to a larger clear width is larger than the diameter of the locking members.

For a corresponding storage and guidance of the locking members and a reduction in the wear of the locking members, the design is preferably such that the wall thickness of the displaceable tubular part is greater than half the diameter of the locking members formed by balls or rollers.

As already mentioned, the locking in the embodiment according to the invention takes place in that the locking members can pass through the openings in the tubular component which is movable in the axial direction, a locking position being achieved when the balls displaced outward in the radial direction in this way into a Immerse the ring groove or recess on the inner circumference of the stationary outer tube. Advantageously, the design is such that the stationary outer tube has at least two annular grooves arranged at an axial distance from one another on the inner circumference.

Depending on the admissibility and railway law provisions, the closure according to the invention can also be used directly as a drive for the adjustment of a switch, the design advantageously being such that one of the axially displaceable parts, in particular the bolt-shaped part, is connected to a displacement drive , whereby for the arrangement of such a shift drive, as already mentioned above, that the stationary outer tube is particularly suitable.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments schematically illustrated in the drawing. 1 shows a section through a first embodiment of a device according to the invention for locking end positions of movable switch parts, balls being used as locking members; 2 shows a section along the line II-II of Figure 1, Figure 1 shows a section along the line II of Figure 2; 3 shows a section analogous to FIG. 1 through a modified embodiment of a device according to the invention for locking end positions of movable switch parts, rollers being used as locking members; 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV of Figure 3, Figure 3 shows a section along the line III-III of Figure 4; 5 shows a schematic plan view of a switch, devices according to the invention for locking end positions of movable switch parts being used; 6 shows a section along the line VI-VI of Figure 5; 7 shows a section along the line VII-VII of Figure 5, wherein in the embodiment according to Figures 6 and 7, a pressing closure for switches with connecting rods between the movable tongue rails is shown. FIGS. 8a to 8d different positions of a pulling lock using devices according to the invention for locking end positions of movable switch parts, the representations being partly in section; the Fig.9a and 9b sections through a likewise pulling closure using inventive Devices for grooved rails; 10 shows, in a representation similar to FIG. 6, the use of a connecting rod in a changeover aid for movable tongue rails using the device according to the invention for locking end positions of movable switch parts; 11a to 11d in a representation similar to FIGS. 8a to 8d, a pressing changeover aid using a device according to the invention for locking end positions of movable switch parts; and FIGS. 12a to 12d, in a representation similar to FIGS. 11a to 11d, show a pushing and pulling changeover aid using devices according to the invention for locking end positions of movable switch parts.

1 and 2 show sections through a device for locking end positions of movable switch parts, parts in the form of a tube 2 and a bolt 3 axially guided in the tube 2 being arranged in an outer tube 1 relative to one another. The outer tube 1 forming a housing is arranged stationary and the parts which are displaceable relative to one another, i.e. the tube 2 and the bolt 3 are connected to a movable rail part and / or to a drive, as will become clear from the following figures. The tube 2 and the bolt 3 interact via locking members 4, which are designed as balls in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The outer tube or housing 1 is closed by a cover 5, seals between the tubular displaceable part 2 and the outer tube 1 or the cover 5 being indicated by 6. Furthermore, seals 7 between the bolt 3 and the tube 2 are indicated.

The bolt 3 has a partial area 8, the outer diameter of which corresponds to the inner diameter of the tube 2. The bolt 3 then has a stop 9 defining a stepped region on the partial region 8, which stops with a flange 10 of the tube 2 when the bolt is displaced 3 cooperates according to a predetermined displacement. After the bolt 3 has been displaced in the direction of the arrow 11, when the stop 9 interacts with the rim 10, the locking members 4 enter a region 12 of the bolt, which is in turn detached, and permit a further displacement movement of the bolt 3 and of the tube 2 in the direction of the arrow 11. The locking members 4 in the form of balls extend through radial openings 13 in the tube 2 and are guided in the outer tube 1 in remote areas 14, which can be designed, for example, as longitudinal grooves. The interaction of the stop 9 with the rim 10 and a subsequent possible displacement of both the bolt 3 and the tube 2 results in the possibility of a lead or a follow-up during a changeover movement of a movable switch part, as can be seen more clearly from the following figures becomes. The wall thickness of the tube 2 is greater than half the diameter of the balls 4.

3 and 4, the device for locking end positions of movable switch parts is in a position shifted in the direction of arrow 11 according to FIG. 1, and it is clearly evident that the bolt 3 is caused by interaction of the stop 9 with the board 10 of the tube 2 has also caused a displacement movement of the tube 2 in the direction of arrow 11. Due to the fact that after a first sliding movement of the bolt 3, the locking members 4 reach the stepped region 12 of the bolt, the tube 2 can be displaced over the position shown in FIG. In the embodiment according to Figures 3 and 4, the locking members of rollers 4 are formed.

The depth of the stepped areas 12 and 14 corresponds essentially to the diameter of the locking members 4 reduced by the wall thickness of the inner tube 2.

A switch is shown schematically in FIG. 5, the switchover of the tongue rails 15, 16 to a position in each case resting against the stock rails 17, 18 via a plurality of closures, generally designated 20, each of which is shown in FIGS Have closer shown device, as shown in more detail in the following figures. In addition, connecting rods 21 are also provided between the tongue rails 15, 16. The stock rails 17 and 18 and the tongue rails 15, 16 rest in a generally known manner on sleepers 22 and are supported by sliding plates or underlay plates. For the change-over movement of the tongue rails 15 and 16, drives 23 provided between them are used, which cooperate with the devices shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. Control lines 24 for the changeover drives are indicated schematically in FIG. Furthermore, evaluation lines 25 are indicated, which cooperate, for example, with limit switches 26 and represent a display for an adjacent tongue rail. A common evaluation and regulation or control unit is indicated schematically at 27.

6 and 7 clearly show the fixing of the stock rails 17 and 18 to ribbed plates or base plates 28 and 29. 6 shows the arrangement of the connecting rod 21 between the tongue rails 15 and 16, which ensures the desired distance between the tongue rails 15 and 16. The tongue rails are arranged displaceably on a sliding chair 30 in a known manner.

7 clearly shows that each tongue rail 15 or 16 is assigned a device for locking end positions of movable switch parts, the displaceable pipe 2 guided in the stationary outer tube 1 of such a device to the inside of the rail foot of the respectively assigned tongue rail 15 and 16 presses, while in the tube 2 slidably guided bolt 3 with a schematic indicated and interacts between the tongue rails 20 drive. The tongue rail is changed over by appropriate action on the bolt-shaped displaceable parts 3 in the devices for locking the end positions of the movable switch parts.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of a pressing closure with a connecting rod 21 can be used in particular for turnouts for high speeds, wherein no cutting of the turnout is desired, but fluttering of the tongue rails is avoided by a mutual locking. Overall, there is only a pushing system of the device for locking end positions on the tongue rails 15 and 16, so that no length-compensating connectors are required. Furthermore, there is a mutual locking with one-sided locking by additional use of the connecting rod coupled to the tongue rails 15 to 16 via joints 31.

In FIGS. 8a to 8d, a pulling lock using devices for locking end positions of movable switch parts is shown schematically, partly in section, in different positions of the rails. The tongue rails 15 and 16 are connected in this embodiment via connection 32 directly to the tubular displaceable parts 2 of the associated device for locking the end position of the tongue rails. The movable bolt-shaped parts 3 are in turn connected to a drive 20 arranged between the tongue rails. Furthermore, it is provided in this embodiment that compression springs 33 are arranged between the stop 9 of the bolt-shaped part 3 and the associated flange 10 of the tubular part, which are either compressed or expanded in accordance with the position taken in each case.

The sequence of a changeover movement of the tongue rails 15 and 16 is shown in FIGS. 8a to 8d. When the interconnected bolt-shaped displaceable parts 3 are acted upon by the displacement drive 20, starting from the position shown in FIG. 8a, the compression spring 33 shown in the drawing on the left is compressed and the displacement movement of the tongue rail 15 shown on the right begins at the same time , while the tongue rail 16 still remains in its original position. Only in the position shown in FIG. 8b is there a release of the sliding movement of the tubular part 2 by lowering the locking members 4 into the lowered region 12 of the bolt-shaped part 3, so that starting from this position, along with a displacement of the tongue rail 15, it is now also entrained the tongue rail 16 takes place, as shown in Fig.8c.

8d shows the second end position, in which the tongue rail 16 lies at a distance from the stock rail 18, while the tongue rail 15 is in its position closest to the stock rail 17. A stop 34 is also indicated for limiting the displacement movement of the bolt-shaped parts 3. All in all, it can be seen that the coupling of two devices for locking end positions of movable switch parts in each case achieves a lead or a lag in the changeover movement, the springs 33 having a supporting effect.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 8a to 8d is intended for switches which can be cut open, since the open tongue is first cut open and the closure is not locked on this side.

The end positions of a similar pressing closure for a grooved rail are shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b. The rigid elements of the grooved rail are designated 35 and 36, while the movable rail and the movable Switch part is designated 37. The inner rigid rail part 36 is penetrated by the tubular part 2, which is connected to the movable rail 37. The stationary outer tube 1 is also arranged on the inner part 36 of the grooved rail. In this embodiment, the drive is designed similarly to the embodiment according to FIGS.

A connecting rod 21 between the tongue rails 15 and 16 is shown in FIG. 10 analogously to the illustration in FIG.

Correspondingly, a pressing changeover aid is shown in FIGS. 11a to 11d, wherein in this embodiment the bolt-shaped, displaceable parts 3 each abut the inner surface of the rail foot of the tongue rails 15 and 16. The tubular part 2 is in turn displaceably mounted in the stationary outer tube or housing 1 and a compression spring 33 is in each case provided between the stop 9 of the bolt-shaped movable part and the flange 10 of the tube 2. In this embodiment, the bolt 3 has a circumferential groove 38 corresponding to the offset region 12 for the closures of the previous embodiments, into which the locking members 4 can be immersed in the corresponding position of the bolt-shaped parts 3 connected to one another, so that a displacement of the tubular part 2 also in the outer tube 1 is possible. Corresponding to the circumferential groove 38, the outer tube 1 has a circumferential groove 39 on its inner circumference, which corresponds to the stepped region 14 in the preceding embodiments. When the tongue rails are switched from the starting position shown in FIG. 11a to the second end position shown in FIG. 11d, the stored spring force, as shown in FIGS. 11b and 11c, is shifted to the closing tongue rail, ie to the 11a to 11d shown tongue rail 15 shown on the right.

In the illustration of FIGS. 12a to 12d, a changeover aid is again shown using the devices for locking end positions of movable switch parts, whereby, in contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 11a to 11d, a connection between the bolt-shaped elements 3 and the rail foot of the Tongue rails 15 and 16 take place via articulated pieces 40, which at 41 and 42 articulate to the rail foot or the respective bolt-shaped displaceable element 3. This results in a pulling and pushing changeover aid, so that there is no need for a connecting rod. The changeover movement takes place as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11a to 11d, with a connection element 43 of the joint part 40 being additionally screwable into a recess 44 of the end of the bolt-shaped element 3 for an exact adaptation to the position of the respective tongue rail. In this embodiment, too, the stored spring force of the springs 33 is released to the closing tongue rail during the displacement.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a separate drive is used for the changeover, which is known per se and is not shown in detail.

Overall, for the device for locking end positions of movable switch parts, it follows that all parts, etc. the outer tube 1, the tubular movable part 2 and the bolt-shaped movable part 3, consist of turned parts and can thus be displaced coaxially with respect to one another and with respect to one another. Furthermore, the stationary outer tube can be easily sealed.

It also follows that all of the closure elements or elements of the changeover aid can only be displaced in the longitudinal direction relative to one another, so that overall a simple overall structure is provided and assembly can take place relative to the rail on a threshold between the movable tongue rails.

For example, eight closures are used for a switch, in particular a high-speed switch with a large radius of curvature.

Claims (11)

Device for locking end positions of movable switch parts, in particular switch lock, in which two parts (2, 3) which are movable relative to one another can be displaced in a position which is non-positive in at least one direction of movement, characterized in that the parts which are displaceable relative to one another are supported by a tube (2) and a bolt (3) guided in the tube (2) are formed and that separate locking members (4), such as Balls or rollers displaceable in the radial direction are provided. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the parts (2, 3) which are displaceable relative to one another are guided in a stationary outer tube (1) which has at least one axial region (14) on the inner jacket with an enlarged inside diameter. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the part formed by a tube (2) and displaceable along its axis has radial openings (13) for receiving the locking members (4). Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the tubular part (2) displaceable along its axis has at least one inwardly projecting rim (10) which has a stop (9) on the bolt-shaped part (3) displaceable along its axis. cooperates. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bolt-shaped displaceable part (3) is offset over a part (12) of its length to a smaller diameter. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the diameter difference between the smaller diameter of the bolt-shaped part (3) and the The inner circumference of the stationary outer tube (1) as well as the diameter difference between the larger diameter of the bolt-shaped part (3) and the area (14) of the stationary tube (1) that is recessed to a larger internal diameter is larger than the diameter of the locking members (4). Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the wall thickness of the displaceable part (2) is greater than half the diameter of the locking members (4) formed by balls or rollers. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a spring (33), in particular a helical spring, is arranged between the inwardly projecting rim (10) of the tubular displaceable part (2) and a stop shoulder (9) of the bolt-shaped displaceable component (3) is. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the stationary outer tube (1) has at least two annular grooves arranged on the inner circumference at an axial distance from one another. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that one of the axially displaceable parts, in particular the bolt-shaped part (3), is connected to a displacement drive (23). Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the displacement drive (23) is arranged in the stationary outer tube (1).

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