DEVICE FOR FIXING A SWITCH SETTING DEVICE ON STOCK RAILS OF A RAIL SWITCH

Abstract

In a device for fixing a switch setting device (13) on stock rails (5) of a rail switch that features a Mounting for the switch setting device that can be fixed on the stock rails (5), the mounting is formed by a rigid frame (7) that connects the two stock rails (5) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails and is respectively fixed on the web of the stock rails (5).

Description

The invention relates to a device for fixing a switch setting device on stock rails of a rail switch, comprising a mounting for the switch setting device fixable on the stock rails.

A device of this type is disclosed, for example, in DE 200 10 922 U1.

The drive unit of a switch setting device usually consists of a hydraulic or electromagnetic drive that is rigidly arranged in a housing between the stock rails or, if applicable, outside the stock rails of a switch and connected to the tongue rails by means of switching rods. In conventional switch setting devices, the housing of the drive unit is mounted on a sleeper or in a trough sleeper with the aid of a correspondingly formed holder.

In order to develop a switch setting device that makes it possible to adjust the tongue rails between their abuted and set off position in a more precise fashion, it was already proposed in DE 200 10 922 01 to fix the mounting for the attachment of the switch setting device directly on the stock rails of the switch. This is based on the notion that the rails are not fixed on the sleepers in an absolutely rigid fashion, but rather allow certain movements of the rails due to thermal expansion or due to the inertial forces caused by the rail vehicle. This also applies to the stock rails of a switch, particularly if a layer of a soft, sound-absorbing material is inserted between the stock rails and the sleepers. If the drive unit is conventionally mounted on a sleeper or in a trough sleeper, certain relative movements therefore can occur between the stock rails and the drive unit, wherein these relative movements can result in certain deviations of the end positions of the tongue rails that are connected to the drive unit by means of the switching rods. This can lead to damages or even accidents, particularly if the rail vehicle runs over the facing point of the switch. Due to the fact that the drive unit of the switch setting device is directly fixed on the stock rails with the aid of the mounting, the position of the drive unit and therefore also the position of both tongue rails is directly related to the stock rails such that deviations of position of the tongue rails due to movements of the stock rails are reduced. This makes it possible, in particular, to reduce the variation of the gap between the abuted tongue rail and the corresponding stock rail such that a steadier and less jerky tracking of the wheel flange of the wheel is achieved during the crossing of the switch.

The mounting for the attachment of the switch setting device known from DE 200 10 922 U1 already reduces the relative movements between the stock rails and the switch setting device. However, the mounting is merely attached to the flange of the stock rails in this case such that certain movements of the stock rails can be transmitted to the switch setting device in this embodiment and relative movements between the stock rails and the switch setting device may still occur. If the stock rails are elastically supported on a solid trackway or on sleepers, in particular, the movements of the stock rail include tilting movements that not only lead to deviations of position of the stock rail, but also make it impossible to ensure a sufficient stability for fixing a switch setting device on the sleeper or trough sleeper.

The present invention is based on the objective of developing a mounting for a switch setting device that essentially rules out a relative movement between the switch setting device, in particular the drive unit of the switch setting device, and the stock rail, wherein this should be ensured regardless of the respective installation position of the switch setting device, and wherein it should be possible, in particular, to easily realize the desired attachment in a trough sleeper, as well as in a sleeper bay, i.e. the space between two sleepers.

To solve this object, the device of the initially defined kind is devised in a way that the mounting is formed by a rigid frame that connects the two stock rails transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails and is respectively fixed on the web of the stock rails. Due to the fact that the mounting is formed by a rigid frame that connects the two stock rails transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails, a correspondingly stable construction is provided that already results in a stabilization of the stock rails. Since the frame-shaped mounting is respectively fixed on the web of the stock rails, it is furthermore ensured that any movement of the stock rails and, in particular, tilting movements of the stock rails are transmitted to the rigid frame such that relative movements between the switch setting device and the stock rails are effectively prevented because the switch setting device is rigidly fixed on the frame.

In this case, the mounting that, according to the invention, is devised in the form of a rigid frame can be simply arranged in a sleeper bay, i.e., in a free space between two adjacent sleepers, or even within a trough sleeper. If the frame is arranged in a trough sleeper, it merely needs to be ensured that the frame is held on the stock rails in a freely suspended fashion and not supported within the trough sleeper so as to prevent the transmission of undesirable forces from the stock rails or the frame connected to the stock rails to the stationary trough sleeper.

The frame is preferably fixed on the stock rails in such a way that the frame is arranged underneath the flange of the stock rails and realized with or connected to holding elements that respectively encompass the outside of the rail flange and are rigidly fixed on the web of the stock rails. The holding elements that respectively encompass the outside of the rail flange make it possible to realize a connection between the frame and the stock rails that has a particularly high angular stability, wherein a bracing can be easily realized due to the fact that the holding elements respectively engage on the outside of the stock rails such that relative movements between the stock rails and the frame actually can be largely ruled out.

The attachment on the stock rail is preferably realized in such a way that a filler piece is respectively provided on the stock rail, wherein said filler piece is screwed to the rail web and supported on the rail flange, and wherein it is preferred that the filler piece essentially fills out the free space between the rail head and the rail flange. Such a filler piece essentially serves for producing a positive connection with the rail web and for the support on the rail flange such that the connection between the frame and the stock rails is additionally stabilized. In this case, the holding forces are distributed over the largest possible contact surface that essentially comprises at least the entire rail web and the rail flange, wherein an additional support on the underside of the rail head may also be realized in order to prevent a point transmission of forces and corresponding stress peaks.

According to a preferred embodiment, an additional improvement can be realized if the frame is both fixed on the outside and on the inside of the stock rail. A clamping element that is arranged underneath a switch rail and engages on the stock rail flange is preferably provided for the attachment on the inside of the rail. In a thusly devised embodiment, the rail flange is clamped between the clamping element on the inside of the rail and the holding element that engages on the outside of the rail.

The frame according to the invention naturally needs to have a correspondingly high rigidity for offering the rigid connection between the two stock rails. To this end, the embodiment preferably is additionally developed in such a way that the frame is formed by two support plates that are connected to one another by at least two, preferably three braces, particularly web plates, that extend transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails, wherein the support plates are preferably realized in a U-shape with parallel limbs that extend transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails. In this case, the two support plates are arranged on the underside of the two stock rails, wherein the U-shaped design creates free space for the installation of other components between the two parallel U-limbs. Bed plates or ribbed tie-plates for the stock rails can be fixed on both limbs, wherein it is preferred in this context to insert a ribbed tie-plate or bed plate for the stock rail into the connection between the frame and the holding element.

The braces and, in particular, webs for connecting the two support plates of the frame need to consist of a sufficiently rigid material, wherein it is preferred to use web plates for this purpose. The web plates are preferably arranged in vertical planes in this case so as to ensure a construction with a particularly high torsional rigidity and to simultaneously reduce the weight.

In railroad engineering, rails are frequently used for the transmission of electric currents, for example, in order to transmit signals for track indicator systems, monitoring devices and the like. In this context, however, it must be ensured that the two stock rails are electrically insulated. For this purpose it is envisaged that according to the invention an electric insulation is preferably inserted into the connection between the frame and the stock rails.

The inventive frame according to the invention may serve as a mounting for switch setting devices, as well as for switch rail end-of-travel monitoring devices and closure devices for switch rails. In this case, the frame preferably features a mounting for the drive unit, particularly the hydraulic piston-cylinder module of the switch setting device.

The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to embodiments that are schematically illustrated in the drawings. In these,

FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a first embodiment of the inventive device,

FIG. 2 shows a representation according to FIG. 1 with adjusting elements fixed on the frame,

FIG. 3 shows a side view according to the arrow III in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged representation in the region of the right stock rail in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the device according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the inventive device in the form of a top view,

FIG. 7 shows a side view according to the arrow VII in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 shows a section along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6 and

FIG. 9 shows an oblique view of the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 to 8 with installed setting device.

FIG. 1 shows a sleeper bay 3 between two schematically indicated sleepers 1 and 2. Bed plates or ribbed tie-plates 4 for the rails 5 are also schematically illustrated on the sleepers 1 and 2, wherein the stock rails are merely illustrated in the region of the sleeper bay 3 in order to provide a better overview. This figure also shows tongue rails 6, wherein the tongue rail 6 on the right side is illustrated in the abuting position towards the stock rail 5 and the tongue rail 6 on the left side is illustrated in the set off position from the stock rail 5.

Furthermore, a frame 7 is provided that is composed of support plates 8 and three web plates 9 connecting the support plates. A holding element 10 that encompasses the outside of the rail flange is screwed to the support plates 8 respectively and serves for fixing the frame 7 on the web of the stock rails 5. FIG. 1 also shows that the web plates 9 feature a mounting 11 for the drive module of a switch setting device and a mounting 12 for an end-of-travel monitoring device.

The sleepers and the sleeper bay are not illustrated in FIG. 2 in order to provide a better overview. In other respects, the illustration according to FIG. 2 essentially corresponds to the illustration according to FIG. 1, wherein a switch setting device 13 and an end-of-travel monitoring device 14 are additionally shown in this figure. The switch setting device 14 features a drive module 15 that is fixed on the frame 7 and, in particular, on a web plate 9. Switching rods illustrated to both sides of the drive module 15 respectively engage on the tongue rails 6 by means of a coupling piece 16. Analogously, the tongue rail end-of-travel monitoring device 14 engages on the tongue rails 6 by means of coupling, pieces 17.

FIG. 3 also shows that the frame connecting the stock rails 5 is composed of two support plates 8 and the web plates 9, wherein the web plates 9 are welded to the support plates 8. A bed plate or ribbed tie-plate 18 is respectively fixed on the support plates 8 with the aid of a screw connection 19. The holding element 10 that engages on the web of the stock rail 5 by means of a filler piece 20 is also fixed on the ribbed tie-plate 18 that serves as a support for the stock rail 5 with the aid of a screw connection. The corresponding attachment is realized with the aid of a screw 21 that extends through the rail web as illustrated, in particular, in the enlarged representation according to FIG. 4. This figure shows that the filler piece 20 is supported on the flange as well as on the underside of the stock rail head of the stock rail 5. The attachment on the inside of the stock rail is realized with the aid of a clamping element 22 that engages on the stock rail flange and is fixed on the bed plate or ribbed tie-plate 18 with the aid of a screw connection 23. In this case, the clamping element 22 needs to be so flat that it can be arranged underneath the tongue rail 6. An electric insulation is ensured with an insulating layer 24 that is arranged between the support plate 8 and the bed plate or ribbed tie-plate 18.

The frame 7 is illustrated particularly well in the bottom view according to FIG. 5, wherein this figure shows that the support plates 8 are essentially realized in a U-shaped fashion, and wherein the two limbs 25 of the support plate serve for fixing the bed plates or ribbed tie-plates 18. This figure furthermore shows the three web plates 9 that connect the two support plates 8 and are arranged parallel to one another in vertical planes. A transverse web 26 is respectively arranged on both support plates 8 in order to increase the stability.

FIG. 6 shows a modified embodiment, in which the frame is installed into a trough sleeper 27 as shown, in particular, in FIG. 9. Identical components are identified by the same reference numerals as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5. The top view according to FIG. 6 as well as the side view according to FIG. 7 and the section according to FIG. 8 show that the frame cannot be fixed on the inside of the stock rail in the trough sleeper for space reasons such that the support plates 8 are extended outward for stability reasons in comparison with the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5. Furthermore, insulating elements are respectively arranged on the outer edge of the rail flange and on the end of the connecting plate 8 that supports the rail flange.

In the overall view according to FIG. 9, the trough sleeper 27 features outwardly bent support surfaces 28, on which the bed plates 18 for the stock rails 15 are fixed. However, the frame 7 formed by the support plates 8 and the web plates 9 does not engage on the trough sleeper 27, but merely on the stock rails 5 and, in particular, on the stock rail web and on the stock rail flange and is arranged in the trough sleeper 27 in a freely suspended fashion.

All in all, the invention provides a frame that participates in possible movements of the stock rail 5 relative to the sleepers. The switch setting device and, if applicable, the tongue rail end-of-travel monitoring device therefore is coupled to and vibrates together with a flexible system (stock rail-tongue) such that no relative movements are transmitted that could disadvantageously affect the fatigue strength of individual system components such as, for example, the seals and guides of the hydraulic adjusting cylinder of the switch setting device.

Claims

1. A device for fixing a switch setting device on stock rails of a rail switch, comprising a mounting for the switch setting device fixable on the stock rails, wherein:

the mounting is formed by a rigid frame (7) that connects the stock rails (5) transversely to a longitudinal direction of the stock rails and is respectively fixed on rail webs of the stock rails (5),

the frame (7) is arranged in a sleeper bay (3) or freely suspended in a trough sleeper (27), and

movements of the stock rails are transmitted to the frame (7) within the sleeper bay or within the trough sleeper.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (7) is arranged underneath at least one rail flange of at least one of the stock rails (5) and is connected to a holding element (10) that encompasses an outside of the rail flange and ore is fixed on the rail web of the stock fails rail (5).

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the frame (7) is connected to the holding element (10) with a ribbed tie-plate or bed plate (18) for the stock rail (5) being interposed between the frame (7) and the holding element (10).

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the frame (7) comprises a filler piece (20) connecting the holding element (10) to the stock rail (5), wherein said filler piece (20) is screwed to the rail web and supported on the rail flange.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the filler piece (20) fills out free space between a rail head of the stock rail and the rail flange.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (7) is comprised of two support plates (8) that are connected to one another by at least two braces that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the stock rails.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the support plates (8) are formed in a U-shape with parallel limbs (25) that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the stock rails.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising electrical insulation (24) is inserted between the frame (7) and the stock rails (5).

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (7) is respectively fixed on an outside of and on an inside of at least one of the stock rails (5).

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the frame (7) is fixed on the inside of the stock rail with a clamping element (22) that is arranged underneath a switch rail (6) and engages on a rail flange of the stock rail.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (7) comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting device (13).

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (7) comprises a mounting (12) for a switch rail end-of-travel monitoring device (14).

13. The device according to claim 6, wherein the braces are web plates (9).

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the drive unit of the switch setting device (13) is a hydraulic piston-cylinder module.

15. The device according to claim 3, wherein the frame (7) comprises a filler piece (20) connecting the holding element (10) to the stock rail (5), wherein said filler piece (20) is screwed to the rail web and supported on the rail flange.

16. The device according to claim 2, wherein the frame (7) comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting device (13).

17. The device according to claim 3, wherein the frame (7) comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting device (13).

18. The device according to claim 4, wherein the frame (7) comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting device (13).

19. The device according to claim 5, wherein the frame (7) comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting device (13).

20. A device for fixing a switch setting device on stock rails of a rail switch, comprising a mounting for the switch setting device fixable on the stock rails, wherein:

the mounting is formed by a rigid frame (7) that connects the stock rails (5) transversely to a longitudinal direction of the stock rails and is respectively fixed on rail webs of the stock rails (5);

the frame (7) is arranged in a sleeper bay (3) or freely suspended in a trough sleeper (27), and movements of the stock rails are transmitted to the frame (7) within the sleeper bay or within the trough sleeper;

the frame (7) is arranged underneath at least one rail flange of at least one of the stock rails (5) and is connected to a holding element (10) that encompasses an outside of the rail flange and is fixed on the rail web of the stock rail (5), the frame (7) is connected to the holding element (10) with a ribbed tie-plate or bed plate (18) for the stock rail (5) being interposed between the frame (7) and the holding element (10), the frame (7) comprises a filler piece (20) connecting the holding element (10) to the stock rail (5), the filler piece (20) is screwed to the rail web and supported on the rail flange, the filler piece (20) fills out free space between a rail head of the stock rail and the rail flange, and the frame (7) is fixed on an inside of at least one of the stock rails with a clamping element (22) that is arranged underneath a switch rail (6) and engages on the rail flange of the stock rail;

the frame (7) is comprised of two support plates (8) that are connected to one another by at least two braces that extend in the longitudinal direction of the stock rails, and the support plates (8) are formed in a U-shape with parallel limbs (25) that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the stock rails;

electrical insulation (24) is inserted between the frame (7) and the stock rails (5);

the frame (7) comprises a mounting (11) for a drive unit of the switch setting device (13); and

the frame (7) comprises a mounting (12) for a switch rail end-of-travel monitoring device (14).