EP1709248B1 - Device for displacing a tongue blade in addition to a height-adjustable roller device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) which is used to lift and displace the tongue blade (2) of a rail (6), comprising at least two rollers (12, 14) whereby the axes thereof are arranged in an essentially parallel manner in relation to a running rail (4), in order to displace the tongue blade (2) in a transversal manner in relation to the running rail (4), at least two support carrier pins (22, 24) which respectively support a roller (12, 14), and a base body (8) which supports the carrier pins (22, 24). The rollers (12, 14) have a projection which projects in at least one first direction in relation to the base body (8). The inventive device is characterised in that a covering (10) is arranged between at least two adjacent rollers and is oriented towards the first direction and at least partially covers a passage between the at least two adjacent rollers (12, 14).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device for lifting and moving the tongue rail of a switch according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

Devices of the type mentioned at the outset, which are also referred to as tongue lifts, are widely used in the prior art and are used to facilitate the changeover of a switch by displacing a tongue rail in track applications.

For example, the EP 0 692 570 B1 a tongue lifting device with two rollers, which are rotatably mounted on an adjustable and spring-biased Zügelheberbügel. Such components have proven useful in practice. However, they have a comparatively complex construction. In addition, it has been found that the known tongue lifting devices are susceptible to the ingress of soiling, gravel and other environmental influences occurring in the area of railway tracks. This can lead to interference or damage to the tongue lifting devices, which significantly impairs their reliability. Therefore, the tongue lifts must be checked and maintained frequently. In addition, protective measures must be taken, for example, during penetration in the area of the tongue lifting devices in order to prevent the penetration of ballast into the tongue To prevent tongue lifting device, which is cumbersome and time consuming.

From the DE 101 16 041 A a tongue lifting device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known.

Presentation of the invention

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a tongue lifting device of the type mentioned, which has a simple construction and increased reliability. This object is achieved by a tongue lifting device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the finding that the reliability of tongue lifting devices is jeopardized in particular by the penetration of foreign bodies in the region between adjacent rollers. Based on this finding, the invention provides that in a generic tongue lifting device between at least two adjacent rollers, a cover is provided, which faces the first direction and at least partially covers a passage between the at least two adjacent rollers.

This structurally simple measure ensures that the tongue lifting device according to the invention is effectively protected against undesired foreign bodies in the particularly safety-relevant area between the rollers. As a result, the reliability of the tongue lifting device can be considerably increased, while at the same time the maintenance and repair costs can be drastically reduced. Furthermore, no protective measures are required, for example, when enclosing.

The invention is characterized by a two-part design of the base body, in which an upper part is slidably mounted on a lower part and the displacement by the special design of the contact edges of both parts in the form of corresponding bevels angled to the displacement plane of the tongue rail on the running rail out, resulting in additionally offers a possibility to adjust the height of the rolling device. This may be necessary in particular whenever a lowering of one or more sleepers, on which the base plate is screwed, is to be compensated in order to allow the tongue rail to be always, and preferably to the same extent, carried by all rolling devices, even during prolonged operation of the switch becomes.

In order to enable such a height adjustment of the roller bearing, as mentioned, the main body is divided into an upper and a lower part, wherein the rollers are mounted on the upper part of the base body and the upper and lower parts are arranged displaceable against each other. The height adjustment of the roller bearing is carried out by continuously or stepwise formed bevels in the superimposed contact edges of the upper and lower part. This ensures that in each shift state, the upper side of the upper part is parallel to the direction of displacement of the tongue rail.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the displacement of lower part and upper part can be carried out continuously due to the configuration of the contact edges with corresponding bevels, wherein a fixation of the Upper part can be done on the lower part in any intermediate position and thus any desired height adjustment between a minimum and a maximum value can be done.

In an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more steps may be formed in the substantially beveled contacting edges of the top and bottom portions, whereby displacement and height adjustment may occur in increments between minimum and maximum values. In this case, the design of the steps provides a particularly secure and easily fixable support for the upper part on the lower part.

The height adjustment of the rolling device is usually carried out by hand and preferably in that the means for fixing the upper part are solved on the lower part in its arbitrary displacement and height position, an adjustment or readjustment of the height by moving the upper part on the lower part and finally the Means for fixing, preferably screws, are tightened again.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the displacement of the upper part on the lower part takes place at a continuously displaceable upper part via a device for moving the same. In a very particularly preferred embodiment, this means for moving a threaded rod which connects the upper part with the lower part. In a highly preferred embodiment of the invention, this threaded rod also has an element for engaging a conventional tool, for example a hexagonal head, on its free end protruding from the main body.

In this way, a device is provided which is particularly simple and preferably continuously using arbitrary tools continuously adjustable within wide limits. The design and arrangement of the cover provided between adjacent rollers can be determined depending on the nature and extent of the expected environmental influences. According to one embodiment of the present invention, however, it is preferred that the cover is spaced from the outer periphery of the at least two adjacent rollers by at most 5.0 mm, particularly preferably at most 3.0 mm. As a result, a satisfactory reliability can be achieved for most applications, without a costly production or increased manufacturing tolerances are required.

According to a development of the present invention it is further provided that the base body is formed as a casting, which is preferably integrally formed with the cover. This results in a simple and at the same time stable and low-deformation construction, which, in conjunction with the high reliability results in a long life and high maintenance freedom of the tongue lifting device according to the invention.

Also with regard to a gentle actuating operation of the tongue lifting device today high demands are made. In order to meet these requirements, it is provided according to a development of the invention that at least one roller in the first direction has a projection with respect to a reference point of the base body which is larger than that of the other rollers. By such graded roller projections, the lifting of the tongue rail be done gradually, which not only gives a smooth operation, but also reduces the required for raising the tongue rail actuating forces. It is particularly preferred that a first and a second roller are provided, the first roller having a projection of 2.0 to 3.0 mm and the second roller having a projection of 3.0 to 4.0 mm in the first Direction opposite the body possesses.

One of the aspects of operational safety is that correct installation of the tongue lifting device must be ensured from the outset, and that incorrect replacement of the tongue lifting device must also be precluded during conversion measures. Against this background, it is provided according to a development of the invention that the main body is provided with a label indicating the supernatant of the respective roles. As a result, handling errors when installing and removing the tongue lifting device are effectively excluded.

The design of the support bolts can be done in many ways in the context of the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention, however, it is preferred that the support bolts each have at least one stop element, in particular a collar, wherein the stop element limits an insertion depth of the support pin into the base body. By this measure, a simple and at the same time reliable securing of the support bolts is ensured in the body in particular in conjunction with a rib plate arranged in the region of the stop elements.

The operational safety and durability of tongue lifts is against the background of high Strains that act on the tongue lifting device, significantly determined by the nature of the storage of roles on the support bolts. According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is therefore provided that the rollers are mounted on the support bolts by plain bearings, which are preferably formed by a provided between an inner peripheral surface of the rollers and an outer peripheral surface of the support pin plastic polymer layer. Such sliding bearings have proven to be extremely durable, while ensuring a smooth and smooth operation when lifting and moving the tongue rail. It is particularly preferred that the plastic polymer layer has self-lubricating properties in order to ensure the advantageous properties of the sliding bearing permanently.

Depending on the geometry and the space available in the area of the tongue rail to be lifted, there are often different setting ranges for lifting and moving the tongue rail. In order to increase the bandwidth when using the tongue lifting device according to the invention against this background, it is provided according to a development of the invention that the base body has an axis of symmetry which extends parallel to the rollers. In this way it is possible within a certain rail system to install the tongue lifting device in different positions with respect to the symmetry axis, depending on the respective boundary conditions, without changing the basic function of the tongue lifting device.

Furthermore, the principles of the present invention are applicable to both adjustable and non-adjustable tongue lifts. With regard to the desired operational safety and simple construction However, according to the invention it is preferred that the at least two support bolts are provided substantially immovably on the base body.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

shows a schematic perspective view of an unclaimed tongue lifting device, which serves to understand the invention;

Fig. 2

shows a schematic perspective view of the tongue lifting device Fig. 1 when installed, but without tongue rail;

Fig. 3

shows a schematic perspective view of the tongue lift device from Fig. 1 when installed with a tongue rail in the lowered state;

Fig. 4

shows a schematic sectional view of the tongue lifting device Fig. 1 with a tongue rail in the lowered state;

Fig. 5

shows a schematic sectional view of the tongue lifting device Fig. 1 when installed with a raised tongue rail;

Fig. 6

shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the tongue lifting device according to the invention;

Fig. 7

shows a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the tongue lifting device according to the invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a tongue lifting device 1 as not claimed. Embodiment for the understanding of the present invention. The tongue lifting device 1 has a main body 8, in which two support pins 22, 24 are mounted. The support pins 22, 24 are used for rotatably supporting a respective roller 12, 14 in the tongue lifting device 1. Further, the base body 8 has two mounting holes 8 ', 8 "to fix the tongue lifting device 1 in its installed position

In the Fig. 1 However, it should be noted that, depending on the respective requirements, for example the required adjustment range, three or more rollers may also be provided.

Between the two adjacent rollers 12, 14 a cover 10 is provided, which faces a first direction, wherein the first direction extends vertically upwards. The cover is designed such that it at least partially covers the passage between the two adjacent rollers 12, 14. For this purpose, the cover 10 is at a distance of about 4 mm at the outer Scope of the two adjacent rollers 12, 14 introduced. In this way, the penetration of unwanted foreign matter such as gravel or the like can be effectively prevented.

The shape of the cover is arcuate, so that no permanent deposits form on the cover. Further, the cover 10 is formed integrally with the main body as a one-piece casting. However, it goes without saying that base body 8 and cover 10 can also be made in several parts and optionally also from other materials.

As in 4 and 5 As best seen later, the rollers 12 and 14 in the first direction, ie in the vertical direction, have a projection from the top edge (the highest point in the first direction) of the cover 10, to be trouble-free Move a tongue rail along the tongue lifting device 1 to allow. These supernatants can basically be the same for all roles. However, in the presently claimed embodiment, the roller 14 has a larger protrusion than the roller 12 to allow a smooth and continuous lifting of a tongue rail. The supernatant of the roller 12 is 2.5 mm and the roller 14 3.5 mm. As a reference point for the supernatant, the highest point of the main body 8 (in the first direction) is usefully set.

To ensure proper installation of the tongue lifting device 1 and to accelerate, in addition to the rollers 12, 14 each have a mark provided which indicates the projection of the respective roles.

The support pins 22, 24 are, as in Fig. 1 can be seen, inserted through ösenartige bearing openings of the body 8 in this. In order to ensure a correct insertion depth of the support bolts 22, 24 in the base body 8, the support pins 22, 24 at one end in each case a stop element 26, 28 in the form of a disk-like head or the like. Further securing or fastening measures of the support bolts 22, 24 are not required if the stop elements 26, 28 in the installed state, which will be described later, rest against a ribbed plate or the like.

The rollers 12, 14 are rotatably mounted on the support pins 22, 24, wherein in principle any storage can be used. For the present application, however, it has proved to be advantageous to use slide bearings, which are preferably formed by a between a inner peripheral surface of the rollers 12, 14 and an outer peripheral surface of the support pins 22, 24 provided for the plastic polymer layer. Particularly in the case of self-lubricating properties of the plastic polymer layer, reliable operation and a long service life of the tongue lifting device 1 result.

FIGS. 2 and 3 each show a schematic perspective view of the tongue lifting device 1 Fig. 1 when installed with or without a tongue rail 4. As in Fig. 2 can be seen, the tongue lifting device 1 is mounted on a ribbed plate 30 in the installed state. In this case, the tongue lifting device 1 is fastened by means of screws which extend through the fastening openings 8 ', 8 "and are anchored in threaded bores of the ribbed plate 30. Furthermore, the stop elements 26, 28 lie with their outer surface against the ribbed plate 30 in the installed state, so that a Displacement of the support pins 22, 24 is excluded in one or the other direction.

As in Fig. 3 can be seen, lies a tongue rail 2 in the lowered state on the sliding or support surface 30 'of the ribbed plate and is located next to the tongue lifting device 1. This state also shows Fig. 4 in a schematic sectional view. The tongue rail 2 sets in Fig. 4 on the left side on the stock rail 4 and touched on the right side in Fig. 4 the roll 12 of the tongue lifter.

To raise the tongue rail 2, this is by means of a suitable actuator in Fig. 4 moved to the right to the in Fig. 5 to reach the state shown. In the course of this displacement, the tongue rail is first lifted by the roller 12, so that it stands out from the support surface 30 'of the ribbed plate 30. In a further shift, the tongue rail 2 reaches the roller 14 of the tongue lifting device and is further raised according to the additional projection of the roller 14. Practically during the entire displacement of the tongue rail 2, this is released from the support surface 30 ', resulting in a gentle operation.

In Fig. 6 an embodiment of a tongue lifting device 1 according to the present invention is shown. The tongue lifting device 1 has a main body 8, which consists in this embodiment of a lower part 8A and a top 8B. In the upper part 8B, as in the first embodiment, the support pins 22, 24 are mounted, which serve for the rotatable mounting of the rollers 12, 14. The upper part 8B facing side of the lower part 8A is like a staircase preferably provided the same height and same level step paragraphs on which corresponding surfaces on the bottom 8A opposite bottom of the upper part 8B rest. By a displacement of the upper part 8B in the direction of the arrow A from Fig. 6 can be carried out a height adjustment of the upper part 8B, wherein the plane spanned by the central axes 30, 31 of the support pins 22, 24 plane is displaced substantially parallel and without bevel in the height direction. In the upper part 8B are also elongated holes 8 ', 8 "formed by the (not shown) fasteners, such as screws through the upper part 8B can penetrate through the lower part 8A to a fixation of the upper part 8B on the lower part 8A in any arrangement on the To ensure steps.

In Fig. 7 shows a second embodiment of the tongue lifting device 1 according to the invention, in which the main body 8 also consists of an upper part 8B and a lower part 8A. The connecting surfaces of both parts 8A, 8B is provided with a continuous oblique plane which is chamfered with respect to the plane defined by the underside of the lower part 8A. A height adjustment of the upper part 8B relative to the lower part 8A is also carried out here by moving the upper part 8B in the direction or opposite direction of the arrow B. Fig. 7 , A threaded rod 32, which ends outside of the main body 8 in a hexagonal head 33, is also connected to the upper part 8B and the lower part 8A. At this hexagonal head 33, a (not shown) tool can apply a torque to the threaded rod 32 and thus cause a stepless displacement of the upper part 8 B on the lower part 8 A.

Claims (18)

1. Apparatus (1) for lifting and sliding the switch rail (2) of a railway switch (6), having at least two rollers (12, 14) of which the axes are arranged substantially parallel to a running rail (4) in order to slide the switch rail (2) transversely to the running rail (4), at least two supporting bolts (22, 24) which each mount one roller (12, 14), and a base element (8) which mounts the supporting bolts (22, 24), wherein the rollers (12, 14) project beyond the base element (8) in at least a first direction,
   wherein between at least two adjacent rollers is provided a cover (10) which faces towards the first direction and at least partially covers a passage between the at least two adjacent rollers (12, 14),
   characterised in that
   the base element (8) has at least one lower portion (8A) and one upper portion (8B) which is arranged slidably on the lower portion (8A), wherein the direction of sliding between the lower portion (8A) and the upper portion (8B) is arranged at an angle to the plane of sliding of the switch rail (2), and the lower portion (8A) and the upper portion (8B) have corresponding chamfers at their contact edges.
2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the corresponding chamfers are shaped like a step.
3. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it has a device for sliding the upper portion (8B) on the lower portion (8A).
4. Apparatus (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the sliding device is a threaded rod (32) which is connected to the upper portion (8B) and the lower portion (8A).
5. Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper portion (8B) and the lower portion (8A) preferably can be fixed together in any sliding position.
6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover (10) is at a distance of not more than 5.0 mm, preferably not more than 3.0 mm, from the outer circumference of the at least two adjacent rollers (12, 14).
7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the base element (8) is formed as a casting, preferably integrally with the cover (10).
8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one roller (14) in the first direction projects beyond a reference point of the base element (8) by an amount which is greater than the amount by which the other rollers (12) project.
9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a first and a second roller (12, 14) are provided, wherein the first roller (12) projects beyond the base element (8) in the first direction by an amount of 2.0 to 3.0 mm and the second roller (14) projects by an amount of 3.0 to 4.0 mm.
10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base element (8) is provided with a marking which indicates the amount by which the respective rollers (12, 14) project.
11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the supporting bolts (22, 24) each have at least one stop element (26, 28), in particular a collar, which limits a depth of insertion of the supporting bolts (22, 24) in the base element (8).
12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rollers (12, 14) are mounted on the supporting bolts (22, 24) by plain bearings which are preferably formed by a plastic polymer layer provided between an inner circumferential surface of the rollers (12, 14) and an outer circumferential surface of the supporting bolts (22, 24), which layer particularly preferably has self-lubricating properties.
13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base element (8) has an axis of symmetry which extends parallel to the rollers (12, 14).
14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least two supporting bolts (22, 24) are provided non-slidably on the base element (8).
15. Method for adjusting the height of an apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 14, in which the upper portion (8B) compared with the lower portion (8A) is slid transversely to the running rail (4) of a railway switch (6).
16. Method according to claim 15, characterised in that sliding of the upper portion (8B) on the lower portion (8A) is effected manually.
17. Method according to claim 15, characterised in that sliding of the upper portion (8B) on the lower portion (8A) is effected by means of a device provided for this purpose, preferably a threaded rod (32).
18. Method according to any of claims 15 to 17, characterised in that the means for fixing the upper portion (8B) and the lower portion (8A) are released before sliding and fastened again, preferably tightened, after sliding.

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