EP1606452B1 - Rail switch, in particular for subway, tramway or railway tracks - Google Patents

Abstract

A rail switch, comprising a box support (2) for fixing the rail pieces forming the two stock rails (12) and for hinging the rail piece forming the point (14), characterised in that at least in correspondence with the toe of the point, the horizontal surface of the box support is provided with a hole (20) for access to the lower cavity (22) formed by the box support, said cavity housing a plurality of columns (24) spaced from the edge of the hole and supporting the point (14) for any position thereof during its travel.

Description

• The present invention relates to a rail switch, in particular for subway, tramway or railway tracks.
• As shown in WO 90/09484 A, rail switches are known consisting of a movable element known as a point which is interposed between two fixed elements known as stock rails, each consisting of a rail piece suitably machined in the region below the head.
• The two stock rails are fixed to a support plate to which the point is also hinged, their ends being welded to prolongations of the track rails.
• The point, also consisting of a profiled rail element, is tapered at one end to enable it to fit perfectly below the adjacent stock rail.
• In the case of tramway or railway tracks inserted into the road surface, these known switches present the drawback of the continuous deposition of foreign bodies such as stones or dirt between the point and stock rail, such bodies impeding movement of the point from its open position to its closed position, so obstructing proper mating with the stock rails, and resulting in switch malfunction.
• This means that continuous switch checking and maintenance are required, with all the costs involved.
• According to the invention, these drawbacks are eliminated by a rail switch, comprising a box support for fixing the rail pieces forming the two stock rails and for hinging the rail piece forming the point as described in claim 1.
• The present invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1

is an exploded perspective view of a switch portion according to the invention,

Figure 2

is an assembled perspective view thereof,

Figure 3

is an exploded plan view thereof,

Figure 4

is an assembled plan view thereof,

Figure 5

is a section therethrough on the line V-V of Figure 3,

Figure 6

is a section therethrough on the line VI-VI of Figure 3,

Figure 7

is a section therethrough on the line VII-VII of Figure 3, and

Figure 8

is an enlarged section therethrough.

• As can be seen from the figures, the rail switch according to the invention comprises substantially a box structure 2 of inverted U-shape and substantially rectangular plan, welded at the ends of the uprights 4 to a plate 6 for its fixing to the ground 8.
• By means of bolts or other locking systems (not shown in the drawings), the two stock rails 12 of a track portion are fixed to the horizontal surface 10 of the structure 2, between them there being interposed the point 14, which is free at its toe 16 and is hinged to the structure at its heel 18.
• In correspondence with the toe region 16 of the point 14 the surface 10 of the box structure is provided with a substantially rectangular hole 20 for access to the lower cavity 22 of the box structure 10, and which houses a plurality of columns 24 with their upper surface substantially co-planar with the plane of the structure surface and longitudinally aligned with each other to enable the toe. 16 of the point 14 to rest thereon for any position of this latter during its travel.
• In particular each column presents its upper end faced with a removable plate 26 of antifriction material.
• Two conduits 28 are inserted into the cavity on both sides of the row of columns 24, and are connected to a pipe 30 for feeding water for cleaning the cavity.
• The fixing plate 6 is also provided with a water discharge hole 30 connected to a collection sump 32.
• From the aforegoing it is apparent that because of the empty space existing around the columns, the rail switch according to the invention enables any foreign bodies becoming interposed between the rail point and the stock rails to fall into the underlying cavity, so eliminating the aforestated drawbacks.

Claims (4)

1. A rail switch, comprising a box support (2) for fixing the rail pieces forming the two stock rails (12) and for hinging the rail piece forming the point (14), characterised in that at least in correspondence with the toe of the point, the horizontal surface of the box support is provided with a hole (20) for access to the lower cavity (22) formed by the box support, said cavity housing a plurality of columns (24) spaced from the edge of the hole and supporting the point (14) for any position thereof during its travel.
2. A switch as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the hole (20) is a slotted hole.
3. A switch as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the hole (20) is of rectangular shape.
4. A switch as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the columns (24) are provided upperly with a removable antiwear plate (26).

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