Pinless anti-loose device for a switch

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of railway turnout, and particularly relates to a pinless anti-loose device for turnout, which comprises a hexagon nut, a stop ring, a disc arranged on the hexagon nut, the disc being provided with a ratchet wheel, a roller, at least one bearing rod arranged on the roller, an annular block sleeved on the outer wall of the hexagon nut, a sliding groove arranged on the annular block, a sliding block arranged on the bearing rod and matched with the sliding groove, a one-way assembly arranged on the inner wall of the roller and used for rotating the roller in one direction, and a limiting assembly arranged on the stop ring and used for limiting the ratchet wheel. The roller can absorb part of the impact force and reduce the impact force directly transmitted to the nut. This helps to reduce the risk of loosening or damage of the nut and protect the stability and reliability of the nut.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of railway turnouts, and more specifically to a pinless anti-loosening device for turnouts. Background Technology

[0002] In railway turnouts, the connecting nuts of each part are tightened with a 450mm wrench and then a cotter pin is inserted. An anti-loosening wire is also added to prevent turnout failure caused by changes in turnout pressure and gap due to loosening of the rods.

[0003] Chinese patent CN2906176Y, by employing a ratchet-type locking principle, eliminates the play caused by the gap between the stop ring and the anti-loosening nut in the original cotter pin lock connection, ensuring a tight fit between the turnout switch point rail and the stock rail. However, an unlocking key is required to unlock the switch and separate the stop ring from the anti-loosening nut. This means that operators must carry the unlocking key at all times and ensure its security. If the unlocking key is lost or forgotten, the locking device cannot be opened, potentially leading to operational delays or other problems.

[0004] In addition, during train operation, there may be stones, gravel, or other debris on the ground. When the train passes, the wheels may kick up these stones, which may then impact nuts or other switch components at high speeds, generating impact forces. These impact forces may also cause the nuts to shift, loosen, or be damaged. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a pinless anti-loosening device for turnouts to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0007] A pinless anti-loosening device for a turnout includes a hexagonal nut, a stop ring, and a disc mounted on the hexagonal nut. The disc has a ratchet. The device also includes a roller with at least one support rod. An annular block is fitted on the outer wall of the hexagonal nut, and a groove is formed on the annular block. A slider that mates with the groove is provided on the support rod. A one-way component is provided on the inner wall of the roller to allow the roller to rotate in one direction. A limiting component is provided on the stop ring to engage with the ratchet for limiting movement.

[0008] Furthermore, the one-way assembly includes a plurality of interconnected ratchet teeth arranged along the inner wall of the roller, and a cavity is provided in the stop ring. A fixed frame with open ends is provided on the stop ring, and a through hole is provided on the stop ring. Any open end of the fixed frame communicates with the cavity through the through hole. A compression spring is provided on the inner wall of the cavity, and a first moving post is connected to the end of the compression spring. A portion of the first moving post is placed on the inner wall of the fixed frame. A first pawl that cooperates with the ratchet teeth is provided at the end of the first moving post. A moving component that drives the first moving post to move is provided in the cavity.

[0009] Furthermore, the moving component includes an expansion hole and a pin hole on the outer wall of the stop ring, a pin that mates with the pin hole on the first moving column, and a connecting rod on the first moving column. The connecting rod extends outward through the expansion hole, and the first moving column is moved by the movement of the connecting rod within the expansion hole.

[0010] Furthermore, the limiting component includes a support shell communicating with the cavity, a support column is provided inside the support shell, a second pawl is hinged on the support column, a spring piece is connected to the top wall of the support shell, the spring piece contacts the outer wall of the second pawl, a through hole is also provided on the inner wall of the cavity, the second pawl partially extends outward through the through hole to cooperate with the ratchet, and an unlocking component is also provided on the support shell.

[0011] Furthermore, the unlocking component includes an arc-shaped hole in the support housing, a guide hole in the second pawl, and a guide post on the roller, which passes through the arc-shaped hole and engages with the guide hole.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0013] 1. This application utilizes a roller fitted onto the outer wall of the hexagonal nut to provide a degree of protection against impact from stones. The roller offers an extra layer of protection; when stones or other objects kicked up by a train strike the nut, the roller absorbs some of the impact force, reducing the direct impact force transmitted to the nut. This helps reduce the risk of the nut loosening or being damaged, protecting the stability and reliability of the nut.

[0014] 2. The one-way component of this application allows the roller to rotate in one direction, such as clockwise. When the roller rotates clockwise, the impact force of the stone is dispersed around the roller, which reduces the concentration of the impact force of the stone on the roller at a certain point, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the roller.

[0015] 3. By rotating the roller in the opposite direction, the guide post can be moved from one side of the arc-shaped hole to the other side. The guide post and the guide hole are engaged. The pointed part of the second pawl faces downward and engages with the groove between the ratchet and the ratchet. When the guide post moves to the other side of the arc-shaped hole, an upward force is generated, which causes the second pawl to lift up and disengage from the ratchet. This causes the stop ring to separate from the hexagonal nut, so that it can be unlocked without the need for an unlocking key. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention and form part of this application, do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hexagonal nut and the disc mating according to the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a top view of the roller and hexagonal nut mating according to the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the stop ring and the hexagonal nut of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the fixing frame of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the support shell of the present invention.

[0022] The attached diagram shows the markings and corresponding component names:

[0023] 1-Hexagonal nut; 2-Stop ring; 3-Disc; 4-Ratchet; 5-Roller; 6-Bearing rod; 7-Annular block; 8-Through hole; 9-Ratchet; 10-Cavity; 11-Fixing frame; 12-Compression spring; 13-First moving post; 14-First pawl; 15-Expansion hole; 16-Pin hole; 17-Pin; 18-Connecting rod; 19-Support shell; 20-Bearing post; 21-Second pawl; 22-Spring piece; 23-Arc-shaped hole; 24-Guide hole; 25-Guide post. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the present invention are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0025] Example 1:

[0026] The device includes a hexagonal nut 1, a stop ring 2, and a disc 3 mounted on the hexagonal nut 1. The disc 3 is equipped with a ratchet 4. The device also includes a roller 5, which is equipped with at least one support rod 6. An annular block 7 is fitted on the outer wall of the hexagonal nut 1, and a groove is formed on the annular block 7. A slider that cooperates with the groove is provided on the support rod 6. A one-way component is provided on the inner wall of the roller 5 to allow the roller 5 to rotate in one direction. A limiting component is provided on the stop ring 2 to cooperate with the ratchet 4 to limit the movement of the nut, so that the nut and the stop ring 2 become one unit through the cooperation of the ratchet 4 and the limiting component.

[0027] This application utilizes a roller 5 fitted onto the outer wall of the hexagonal nut 1 to provide a degree of protection against impact from stones. The roller 5 offers an extra layer of protection; when stones or other objects kicked up by a train strike the nut, the roller 5 absorbs some of the impact force, reducing the direct impact force transmitted to the nut. This helps reduce the risk of the nut loosening or being damaged, protecting the stability and reliability of the nut.

[0028] The vibrations and impacts generated by the train's movement are transmitted to the turnout and its components. The roller 5 is typically located on the outer wall of the nut, with a certain gap between it and the nut. When a train passes through the turnout, the train's vibrations and impacts are transmitted to the turnout via the wheel-rail system, and then to the roller 5. These vibrations and impacts cause the roller 5 to shift or rotate within the groove via the bearing rod 6. Furthermore, the unidirectional component allows the roller 5 to rotate in one direction, specifically clockwise. When the roller 5 rotates clockwise, the impact force of the stones is dispersed around the roller 5, reducing the concentration of impact force on a single point and thus lowering the risk of damage to the roller 5.

[0029] It should be noted that the one-way assembly includes several interconnected ratchet teeth 9 arranged along the inner wall of the roller 5, and a cavity 10 is provided in the stop ring 2. A fixed frame 11 with open ends is provided on the stop ring 2, and a through hole 8 is provided on the stop ring 2. Any open end of the fixed frame 11 is connected to the cavity 10 through the through hole 8. A compression spring 12 is provided on the inner wall of the cavity 10, and a first moving post 13 is connected to the end of the compression spring 12. A portion of the first moving post 13 is placed on the inner wall of the fixed frame 11. A first pawl 14 that cooperates with the ratchet teeth 9 is provided at the end of the first moving post 13. The first pawl 14 and the end of the first moving post 13 can be hinged. A moving component that drives the first moving post 13 to move is provided in the cavity 10.

[0030] When a train passes a turnout, the forces between the wheel and rail generate impacts and vibrations. These forces are transmitted through the wheel and rail to the turnout and its components, including the nuts. This impact and vibration are more pronounced, especially under heavy loads such as high-speed trains or freight trains. Over time, these impacts and vibrations may cause the nuts to loosen. The prolonged locking between ratchet 4 and the pawl will also cause wear. This wear will cause the meshing surfaces between ratchet 4 and the pawl to become mismatched, resulting in a weakened transmission effect and potentially leading to ratchet 4 locking failure.

[0031] This application moves the first moving column 13 into the roller 5 via a moving component. The first moving column 13 slides in contact with the inner wall of the fixed frame 11, and the first pawl 14 on the first moving column 13 engages with the ratchet 9 inside the roller 5. If they do not engage immediately, the roller 5 can be manually rotated to engage them. When the first pawl 14 engages with the ratchet 9, the limiting component also integrates the nut with the stop ring 2 through the engagement of the ratchet 4 and the limiting component. The roller 5 does not obstruct the forward rotation. When the impact force of the train or other external factors, such as the oblique stones splashed up during the train's operation, hit the roller 5, the roller 5 tends to rotate in the opposite direction. The reverse rotation of the roller 5 also drives the stop ring 2 to reverse through the first moving column 13, thus making the meshing surfaces between the ratchet 4 and the pawl match as closely as possible, thereby reducing the probability of transmission failure.

[0032] It should be noted that the moving parts include an expansion hole 15 and a pin hole 16 opened on the outer wall of the stop ring 2. A pin 17 that cooperates with the pin hole 16 is opened on the first moving column 13. The outer wall of the pin 17 is connected to the first moving column 13 through a sleeved telescopic spring. A connecting rod 18 is also provided on the first moving column 13. The connecting rod 18 extends outward through the expansion hole 15. The movement of the connecting rod 18 in the expansion hole 15 drives the first moving column 13 to move.

[0033] This application allows the first moving column 13 to move by moving the connecting rod 18 through the expansion hole 15. The expansion hole 15 can be a rectangular hole, until the pin 17 on the first moving column 13 engages with the pin hole 16 on the outer wall of the stop ring 2, thus limiting the first moving column 13. At this time, the first pawl 14 on the first moving column 13 also contacts the ratchet 9 on the inner wall of the roller 5. When it is necessary to return the first moving column 13 to its initial position, the operator presses the pin 17 and pulls the connecting rod 18 back to its initial position, and the first moving column 13 also returns to its initial position. At this time, the first pawl 14 also disengages from the ratchet 9 on the inner wall of the roller 5.

[0034] It should be noted that the limiting component includes a support shell 19 communicating with the cavity 10. A bearing post 20 is provided inside the support shell 19. A second pawl 21 is hinged to the bearing post 20. A spring piece 22 is connected to the top wall of the support shell 19. The spring piece 22 contacts the outer wall of the second pawl 21. A through hole is also provided in the inner wall of the cavity 10. The second pawl 21 extends outward through the through hole and cooperates with the ratchet 4. An unlocking component is also provided on the support shell 19.

[0035] This application utilizes a second pawl 21. As the ratchet 4 approaches the blocking ring, it first contacts the second pawl 21, which is then pressed against it. The second pawl 21 moves towards the spring 22 until it engages with the groove between the second pawl 21 and the ratchet 4. The spring 22 reinforces the engagement between the ratchet 4 and the second pawl 21. Furthermore, the unlocking mechanism of the support housing 19 eliminates the need for an unlocking key.

[0036] It should be noted that the unlocking component includes an arc-shaped hole 23 on the outer wall of the support shell 19, a guide hole 24 on the second pawl 21, and a guide post 25 on the roller 5. The guide post 25 passes through the arc-shaped hole 23 and engages with the guide hole 24.

[0037] In this application, while the first pawl 14 engages with the ratchet 9 and the second pawl 21 engages with the ratchet 4, the guide post 25 on the roller 5 also engages with the guide hole 24 through the arc-shaped hole 23. In the initial position, the guide post 25 is located on one side of the arc-shaped hole 23. When unlocking is required, the operator presses the pin 17 to pull the connecting rod 18 back to the initial position, thus returning the first moving post 13 to its initial position. The first pawl 14 also disengages from the ratchet 9 on the inner wall of the roller 5. Therefore, the roller 5 can rotate in the opposite direction at this time. The reverse rotation of cylinder 5 allows guide post 25 to move from one side of arc-shaped hole 23 to the other side, and guide post 25 engages with guide hole 24. Second pawl 21, as shown in the figure, is teardrop-shaped. The pointed part of second pawl 21 faces downward and engages with the groove between ratchet 4. When guide post 25 moves to the other side of arc-shaped hole 23, it generates an upward force, which lifts second pawl 21 upward, disengaging second pawl 21 from ratchet 4, thereby separating stop ring 2 from hexagonal nut 1, thus eliminating the need for unlocking key.

[0038] Example 2:

[0039] Based on Example 1, another implementation method is also provided:

[0040] At least one wind-following plate is provided on the drum 5, and the wind-following plate is solidly mounted on the drum 5 to ensure that the impact force can be effectively transmitted to the drum 5. When the train passes through the turnout, the impact force acts on the connecting plate, which transfers the impact force to the drum 5 through its connection with the rotating ring, thereby accelerating the rotation of the drum 5.

[0041] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pinless anti-loosening device for a turnout, comprising a hexagonal nut (1), a stop ring (2), and a disc (3) disposed on the hexagonal nut (1), the disc (3) being provided with a ratchet (4), characterized in that: It also includes a roller (5), on which at least one bearing rod (6) is provided. An annular block (7) is fitted on the outer wall of the hexagonal nut (1). A groove is provided on the annular block (7). A slider that cooperates with the groove is provided on the bearing rod (6). A one-way component is provided on the inner wall of the roller (5). The one-way component is used to make the roller (5) rotate in one direction. A limiting component is provided on the stop ring (2). The limiting component is used to cooperate with the ratchet (4) for limiting. The one-way component includes several connected ratchet teeth (9) provided along the inner wall of the roller (5). A cavity (10) is provided in the stop ring (2). The stop ring (2) is provided with a fixed frame (11) with open ends. The stop ring (2) is provided with a through hole (8). Any open end of the fixed frame (11) is connected to the cavity (10) through the through hole (8). The inner wall of the cavity (10) is provided with a compression spring (12). The end of the compression spring (12) is connected to a first moving column (13). Part of the first moving column (13) is placed on the inner wall of the fixed frame (11). The end of the first moving column (13) is provided with a first pawl (14) that cooperates with the ratchet (9). A moving component is provided in the cavity (10) to drive the first moving column (13) to move.

2. A pinless anti-loosening device for a turnout according to claim 1, characterized in that: the moving part includes an expansion hole (15) and a pin hole (16) opened on the outer wall of the stop ring (2), a pin (17) that cooperates with the pin hole (16) is opened on the first moving column (13), and a connecting rod (18) is also provided on the first moving column (13). The connecting rod (18) extends outward through the expansion hole (15), and the first moving column (13) is moved by the movement of the connecting rod (18) in the expansion hole (15).

3. A pinless anti-loosening device for a turnout according to claim 1, characterized in that: the limiting component includes a support shell (19) communicating with the cavity (10), a bearing column (20) is provided inside the support shell (19), a second pawl (21) is hinged on the bearing column (20), a spring piece (22) is connected to the top wall of the support shell (19), the spring piece (22) contacts the outer wall of the second pawl (21), a through hole is also provided on the inner wall of the cavity (10), the second pawl (21) extends outward through the through hole and cooperates with the ratchet (4), and an unlocking component is also provided on the support shell (19).

4. A pinless anti-loosening device for turnouts according to claim 1, characterized in that: the unlocking component includes an arc-shaped hole (23) provided in the support shell (19), a guide hole (24) provided on the second pawl (21), and a guide post (25) provided on the roller (5), the guide post (25) passing through the arc-shaped hole (23) and cooperating with the guide hole (24).

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