EP0715580B1 - Device for changing points - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/AT95/00125 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 23, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 23, 1996 PCT Filed Jun. 21, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96/00160 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 4, 1996A device for operating switches includes a plurality of interlinked hydraulic switching devices (7) offset in the longitudinal direction of the rails. The first mechanical switching device is connected with a hydraulic cylinder/piston unit acting as a pumping element, the working volumes (13) of this first hydraulic cylinder/piston unit (7) acting as a pumping element being connected with the working volumes (13) of consecutive hydraulic cylinder/piston units (7) so as to be driven in same direction.

Description

The invention relates to a device for switching of switches, in which a plurality of coupled together hydraulic actuators in the longitudinal direction of the rails is staggered. In such facilities for Moving switches it is known to connect the individual Perform closures with a mechanical linkage. Such a mechanical connection of a plurality of actuators or closures, however, requires a lot Space as well as a large number of different ones Individual parts. In addition to the increased space requirements, such a mechanical connection the stuffability of Tongue device impaired and there is also a unfavorable one-sided mass distribution on a switch.

A hydraulic actuating device is already known from EP-A2 480 303 known in which a hydraulic station A plurality of individual adjustment cylinders is controlled. Out DE-B2 1952823 are different circuit arrangements for series connection or parallel connection of a plurality such hydraulic actuators known.

DE 21 44 564 shows and describes a point setting system several actuating cylinders, at least the actuating cylinders for the same switch tongue are connected in series and all actuating cylinders the switch via an electromechanically operated Control valve to a hydraulic belonging to the drive unit Pressure accumulator are connected by a pump powered by a pressure switch controllable drive motor becomes.

FR-PS 2 196 619 shows and describes a device for hydraulic changeover of a switch.

The known hydraulic actuators each require a separate hydraulic drive unit, making overall a relatively complex construction is given.

The invention now aims to set up a device to create the type mentioned, which in a simple manner retrospectively built into existing switchover devices can be and at which the effort for an additional The drive unit and a correspondingly complex control system are eliminated can. In particular, the invention aims at despite a simple one requiring only minor different components Construction a high degree of reliability and failure immunity to ensure. Finally, the invention Easily set up as an exchange for mechanical devices of known construction are used can to improve the packability of the tongue device and to avoid the one-sided mass distribution at the switch.

To solve this problem, a device for converting Switch proposed with the features of claim 1. With a first mechanical actuator is at least one hydraulic cylinder piston unit connected, whose cylinder rooms as pump work rooms with the work spaces of neighboring, hydraulic Actuators formed cylinder piston units are connected to drive in the same direction. The fact that a the first cylinder-piston unit is used as a pump element, there is no need for complex drive units. The Pump unit displaces fluid from the during a changeover process respective work space in work spaces of identical design Cylinder-piston units, which means the coupling with neighboring cylinder piston units can be achieved. All in all can build such a device with identical Cylinder-piston units of a particularly simple construction be, whereby for the connection between adjacent cylinder piston units only provide appropriate hydraulic lines are. The interconnection takes place so that a adjustment of neighboring cylinder piston units in the same direction is caused when medium from the first passive and through the mechanical actuator driven cylinder piston unit is squeezed out.

The training according to the invention is particularly simple trained so that the pump element and the hydraulic Actuators each have a floating piston or plunger contained in a cylinder between two work spaces, where each in the opposite work rooms immersed end or ring surfaces of the piston or Plungers have identical cross-sectional area. Such one Floating piston or plunger makes a special design simple, reliable and compact unit, which with little space required at the desired Place can be arranged. There can be a plurality of identical ones Such cylinder piston units can be provided, wherein the main advantage is that they are identical Cross-sectional areas are pressurized, whereby there is a synchronous movement.

If a non-linear adjustment is required, you can use such a design in a simple manner by sealing elements the corresponding cross-sectional correction made to each with the same, displaced volume ensure the adjustment path required in each case. A such hydraulic actuator with floating pistons or plunging thus forms in addition to its compact design in a simple way the adaptation to the desired Requirements.

For coupling the hydraulic actuators or the pump cylinder with the mechanical actuators, the training be advantageously taken so that the piston or plunger of the pump element, a bearing, in particular a sliding block with an annular groove or a bearing eye between its free Has ends and that the bearing from an opening of the Cylinders projecting or between two fixed Cylinders is arranged. Again, one is special simple and reliable compact training possible, which is also suitable for retrofitting in a simple manner.

Instead of the plungers or floating pistons mentioned at the beginning can, as already mentioned above, the ring surface of each Pistons the required identical cross section in both Ensure shifting directions. A particularly simple construction is achieved in this case by the piston with a continuous one and sealingly penetrating the cylinders Piston rod is rigidly connected and that the piston rod or the cylinder is fixed.

To ensure a high level of operational safety, is with Advantage of the entire system under a predetermined excess pressure set against atmospheric pressure. In this way temperature fluctuations, which can lead to a change in pressure could lead to buffering, for which the training is advantageous is taken so that the working spaces of the cylinder piston units connected to a pressure accumulator via pressure relief valves are. The pressure relief valves are particularly simple designed as controllable check valves, such controllable check valves to a high degree Operational safety result. At high operating temperatures Medium by opening the check valves in the pressure accumulator pressed out, whereas if the Pressure the pressure through the check valves in the system in turn can be made available. To at such a Training ensure that when in the management system a leak occurs, the operational safety through timely Warning is still guaranteed, training in be made in a particularly simple manner so that to the pump work rooms One pressure-controlled directional valve each connected which, when the pressure falls below a predetermined value, in Comes into the closed position, which ensures that in In this case, all control devices are blocked. A Blocking of the actuators would be done by the mechanical actuator and the corresponding control devices for the mechanical actuator signaled at the corresponding point be remedied so that the repair of the damage is immediately initiated can be.

An alternative control method to change the cross-section a different adjustment position along the rail path represents an education that is preferably taken this way is that in one of the two working spaces of a cylinder piston unit connecting line, e.g. in the form of a hole, Blow-open valves are arranged. Depending on the piston or Plungenstellung this connection is interrupted or it there is a flow, the target position being reached exactly can.

The invention is described schematically below with reference to the drawing illustrated embodiments explained in more detail. In 1 shows a plan view of a partial area of a Rail switch, Fig.2 shows a detail of the connection of a cylinder-piston unit with a mechanical pushrod, Fig.3 is a schematic partial view of the illustration of Fig.2, Fig.4 an enlarged view of the hydraulic cylinder piston unit partly in section, Figure 5 is a plan view of the Representation according to Fig.4, Fig.6 is a schematic representation of the hydraulic connection of the individual cylinder piston units, 7 shows a modified design of the hydraulic connection, 8 shows an alternative arrangement of hydraulic cylinder piston units in the course of the track and Fig. 9, Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 further alternative designs of cylinder piston units for the device according to the invention.

In Fig.1 rails 1 are schematically indicated, which with Thresholds 2 are connected. In the area of a turnout are additional to the control rails 1 tongue rails 3 provided, which via an actuator, which is denoted schematically by 4 is, can be brought into their respective position. Of the Actuator 4 acts here via slide rods 5 on the tongue rails 3. The slide rods 5 are over a central Tap 6 coupled to a hydraulic cylinder-piston unit 7. There are also additional hydraulic cylinder piston units 7 can be seen in the course of the rails, each of which with slide rods and locking devices, which in turn are denoted schematically by 5, are coupled. In the Representation in Figure 2 is the type of mechanical connection of the hydraulic cylinder piston assemblies 7 with the slide rods 5 more clearly visible. The cylinder piston units 7 have one Slide block 8, in which a bolt 9 of the slide rod 5 engages. When the slide rod 5 is actuated Sliding block and thus the piston of the hydraulic cylinder piston units shifted, leaving the respective work space Medium is squeezed out. In Figure 3 is the type of definition the hydraulic cylinder piston units 7 on the threshold 2 clarifies. The determination is made via a stop plate 10, which is set at threshold 2. The hydraulic cylinder piston units 7 require relatively little space, so that the plugging of the substructure is not affected.

The operation of the hydraulic cylinder piston units and their preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 explained. 4 and 5 is a hydraulic plunger 11 Cylinder-piston unit 7 can be seen. The plungers 11 plunge into the respective working spaces 13 of the seals 12 hydraulic cylinder piston units, and with a shift of the plunger 11 in one of the directions of the double arrow 14 becomes medium from the corresponding work space 13 squeezed out. The hydraulic connections open to the outside Openings 15 in the respective work area 13. The sliding block is again designated 8, by which the mechanical Coupling is done. To protect the facility is further a rubber sleeve 16 is provided.

5 shows the top view of the device according to FIG. As can also be seen from the illustration in FIG. 4 results are in such a design of the hydraulic Cylinder-piston unit have the same cross-sections on both sides effective. Determining the hydraulic cylinders Cylinder-piston unit takes place via bolts 17 on the angle plate 10th

As can be seen from Figure 6, the working spaces 13 of the first hydraulic cylinder-piston unit effective as a pump element 7 via hydraulic lines 18 with corresponding work spaces 13 adjacent hydraulic cylinder piston units 7 connected, wherein the connection takes place in such a way that with a shift of the first hydraulic cylinder piston unit as a pump element all other hydraulic cylinder piston units 7 in the same direction Shift are coupled. If parallel or in Series-connected hydraulic cylinder piston units one way of the hydraulic cylinder-piston unit used as a pump element The cross section must cover a different route be influenced accordingly, for what inside the Cylinder a corresponding sealing element to reduce of the cross section can be arranged. The hydraulic lines 18 now contain a series of valves to reduce the pressure Keeping operating conditions constant and avoiding impermissible situations to be able to record safely. In particular, is a spring-loaded Valve 19 is provided, which from the hydraulic pressure in the Lines 18 is applied. If the pressure in the hydraulic lines 18 falls below a limit, the force of the Spring of the spring-loaded valve 19, the spring-loaded valve 19 move to the closed position, so that another shift of the hydraulic cylinder-piston unit acting as a pump element 7 is prevented. In this case, the point machine blocked and submitted a corresponding fault message.

There is a pressure accumulator 20 which is provided Overflow valves or check valves 21 with the respective Hydraulic lines 18 is connected. The overflow valves or Check valves are switched so that when the Pressure due to thermal expansion fluid in the memory 20 is pressed and vice versa with a slight Decrease in pressure fluid from the hydraulic accumulator 20 in the Lines 18 is pressed back. Only with a leak and with one corresponding pressure drop also in the memory 20 spring-loaded safety valves 19 effective.

7 shows a simplified design of the hydraulic linkage evident. The reference numerals from Fig. 6 were in Fig. 7 maintained. As with the simplified training according to Fig. 7 can be seen here with a smaller number of valves sufficiency can be found, with the same effect achievable is. Here, too, to compensate for leakage oil losses pressure accumulator 20 connected throughout the hydraulic circuit, so that hydraulic fluid when a pressure relief valve responds 21 is returned to the memory 20. The preload valves or safety valves 19 are from the accumulator pressure of the piston accumulator acted upon. An overpressure can be especially with strong warming due to solar radiation. In the Representation according to Figure 7, the piston spaces are again in series switched connected together, the pump element in turn provided with the bias valves or safety valves 19 is. Both connecting lines are in turn separate with pressure relief valves secured.

8 are modified hydraulic cylinder piston units 7 provided, each at the ends of the Attack slide rods 5. In principle, the modified ones Cylinder-piston units 7 have the same purpose as training 1, but with the functions for shifts are separated from each other to the left or to the right and none Common plunger or piston for both work rooms finds.

In Figure 9 is again a modified design of the hydraulic Cylinder-piston units evident. Here too again for the purpose of applying fluid to the same work surfaces, the training so made that in the two Workrooms 13 each have the same cross sections of a piston Take effect. The piston 22 is with a piston rod 23 connected and in the present case it is the ring surface effective or applied. Otherwise find this Training the same components as in the training Fig. 6 or 7 use, and here again the same Reference numerals used. Deviating from training after Fig. 6 or 7 here is a blockage in any pressure drop of any cylinder piston unit causes directly and there are all work rooms 13 with corresponding safety valves fitted.

10 and 11 are the working spaces 13 of a cylinder piston unit 7 through a line 24 in the form of a bore connected to each other, with poppet valves 25 installed. With the appropriate setting, these valves ensure the exact required path-dependent adjustment, which leads to the alternative possible cross-sectional changes can be dispensed with.

The individual adjustment paths of these closures can be roughly Definition of the diameter ratios are given, whereby the poppet valves are used to fine-tune the details can in which the path of the plunger by adjusting the cylinder bottom to the poppet valve. After every The changeover takes place through the reference circuit of the pusher valves a realignment. A displacement of the piston Leakage is thus after the changeover process by readjustment fixed again.

By using these adjustable poppet valves is a given hydraulic synchronization, i.e. that no adjustment cylinder can lead and thus no tongue tension occurs. The end positions of the tongue rail are thus targeted reached.

Claims (8)

1. A device for operating railway switches, in which a plurality of interlinked switching means comprised of hydraulic cylinder piston aggregates (7) are arranged in a manner offset in the longitudinal direction of the rail, characterized in that a mechanical switching means (4, 5) is provided, which is mechanically coupled with the tongue rails (3) and mechanically connected with at least one of the hydraulic cylinder piston aggregates (7), whose cylinder spaces as pump working volumes (13) are connected with the working volumes (13) of neighbouring switching means comprised of hydraulic cylinder piston aggregates (7) to actuation in same direction, the mechanically connected cylinder piston aggregate being active as a pump element.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pump element and the neighbouring hydraulic switching means each contain a floating piston (22) or plunger (11), respectively, which is guided in a cylinder between two working volumes (13), the end or ring surfaces of the piston (22) or plunger (11) each plunging into the oppositely arranged working volumes (13) having identical cross sectional areas.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the piston (22) or plunger (11), respectively, of the pump element comprises a bearing and, in particular, a link block having an annular groove or a bearing eye between its free ends and that the bearing is arranged so as to project from an opening of the cylinder or between two stationarily mounted cylinders.
4. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the piston (22) is rigidly connected with a continuous piston rod (23) sealingly passing through the cylinders and that the piston rod (23) or the cylinder is stationarily mounted.
5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the working volumes of the cylinder piston aggregates (7) are connected with a pressure reservoir (20) via pressure control valves (21).
6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the pressure control valves (21) are designed as non-return valves capable of being controlledly opened.
7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that one pressure-controlled directional control valve (19) is each connected to the pump working volumes (13), which gets into the closed position as a pregiven pressure is fallen short of.
8. A device according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that push-open valves (25) are arranged in a duct connecting the two working volumes (13) of a cylinder piston aggregate (7).

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