Switch adjusting device with improved running properties

Abstract

Switch adjustment device, in particular a latch lock (KV), with a movable component (6) for adjusting a switch tongue (7), wherein the movable component (6) is guided on and / or in a stationary component (2) and a roller device (16) for the movable component (6) is provided for bearing the movable component (6).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch adjustment device, in particular a latching device, with a movable component for adjusting a switch tongue, wherein the movable component is guided on and / or in a stationary component.

[0002] A variety of different adjusting devices are known for switching points. Clamp-type or latch-type locking mechanisms are frequently used. The latter latch-type locking mechanism is known, for example, from European patent application EP 0 624 508 A1.

[0003] In all these switch locking mechanisms, wear occurs on the friction contact surfaces of the movable and stationary components that bring about the adjustment of a switch or are moved during the adjustment process, after a longer period of operation, depending on the number of switching cycles completed by the switch.

[0004] A special feature of these latching mechanisms is that the latching carrier is made of aluminum bronze, and the slide or cam rod, usually made of unalloyed structural steel, forms a friction pair with the aluminum bronze. While the good sliding and emergency running properties of the aluminum bronze are highly desirable in this friction pair, relatively high wear can still occur. In advanced stages of wear, this can even impede the movement of the switch blades.

[0005] In addition to the movement of the sliding rod in a direction perpendicular to the track, a temperature-related tongue migration also occurs in the direction of the track. If the cam rod is already significantly embedded in the support due to translational movement perpendicular to the track, the latching mechanism can jam due to this tongue migration.

[0006] During the switching process of the switch, the slide bar glides on these sliding plates. Due to friction between the slide bar and the sliding plates (locking carriers), wear results. Depending on environmental conditions, the service life of this configuration is further reduced, and the sliding plate and possibly other locking components must be replaced.

[0007] Conventional locking mechanisms with sliding plates therefore have the following disadvantages: The service life of the sliding plates is limited.

[0008] The more unfavorable the environmental conditions, the greater the wear and tear.

[0009] Under certain environmental conditions (dust, sand, etc.) the sliding plate cannot be lubricated because this would result in additional wear.

[0010] The bearing is very rigid and can hardly absorb vibrations, which in turn increases wear.

[0011] The present invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a switch adjustment device, in particular a latching mechanism, with at least one movable component for adjusting a switch tongue, in which wear due to friction can be kept low and the switch does not require lubrication and maintenance too frequently.

[0012] This problem is solved according to the invention by a switch adjustment device, in particular a latch lock, with a movable component for adjusting a switch tongue, wherein the movable component is guided on and / or in a stationary component and a roller device for the movable component is provided for bearing the movable component.

[0013] In this way, a bearing can be created for the moving component that allows for virtually frictionless adjustment of the moving component during the movement caused by a switch cycle. This practically eliminates the previously known wear of a plain bearing. Maintenance requirements for the roller mechanism, especially its lubrication, can also be kept very low compared to the plain bearing used in the prior art.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the roller device can be integrated into the stationary component and preferably be designed as a roller plate. This roller plate can then, for example, be screwed or welded to the stationary component or otherwise appropriately fastened.

[0015] In a particularly advantageous application of the present invention, the movable component can be the sliding rod of a latch closure.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the switch adjustment device can be configured such that the stationary component is a locking carrier of a latch lock, which is preferably designed to be attached to a track rail. Thus, the sliding rod of the latch lock can be adjusted virtually frictionlessly on the roller device arranged in a through-hole of the locking carrier, i.e., it can perform a movement that is essentially perpendicular to the orientation of the actual track (track rails).

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the roller device can comprise at least one roller, which is preferably designed as a steel roller and is further preferably provided with a rubber layer on the rolling surface of the roller.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the at least one roller can be height-adjustable, and when using at least two rollers, each roller can preferably be individually height-adjustable. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that, when two rollers are arranged, one of the two rollers is inherently mounted higher than the other.

[0019] It is also possible to use different rubber hardnesses as roller surfaces. This allows for different force / travel ranges, ensuring precise and effective locking functionality (secure closure in the end position). When the switch blade is closed, the locking pawl is pushed upwards by the locking rod. With the conventional (rigid) metal sliding plate, no force is exerted on the head of the locking pawl (in the end position) in the vertical direction. The rubber rollers, and in particular their hardness, can be adjusted to generate a force in the vertical direction, effectively clamping or pushing the locking pawl upwards. The angled contact surface of the locking pawl / locking carrier creates a clamping force on the switch blade, ensuring optimal closure.

[0020] The roller(s) can also be mounted at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the slide bar, thus accommodating the longitudinal movement of the switch blade (blade migration). This angled arrangement of the rollers effectively controls the blade migration (longitudinal movement of the switch blades due to thermal expansion), which must be taken into account. Furthermore, the rollers can be designed to align themselves at right angles to the slide bar. This prevents the slide bar from sliding laterally on the rollers. In essence, the rollers are rotatably mounted in the horizontal plane and are also movable perpendicular to the slide bar within their axis of rotation, ensuring smooth operation of the slide bar.Such an arrangement then supports both the switching of the switch and the tongue movement.

[0021] Overall, this solution offers the following advantages: The assembly is maintenance-free and requires no lubrication (resulting in low operating costs (lifecycle cost, LCC)) combined with minimal environmental impact due to the absence of abrasion of the aluminum bronze, which occurs in conventional locking mechanisms. The assembly can also be used under harsh environmental conditions (dust, sand, etc.). The rubber coating on the rollers dampens vibrations within the locking mechanism, which is particularly beneficial in long, high-speed turnouts.

[0022] Further advantageous embodiments are described in the remaining dependent claims.

[0023] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a side view of a latch lock according to the prior art; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a side view of a lock carrier with an aluminium bronze insert plate as a sliding bearing for the slide rod of the latch lock; and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a side view of a lock carrier with a roller device for practically frictionless adjustment of the slide rod of the latch lock.

[0024] The Figures 1 and 2Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a locking carrier 2 of a latching device KV according to the prior art. Regarding the design of a latching device, reference is made to European patent application EP 0 624 508 A1, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. The locking carrier 2 is clamped to a rail foot 4 of a railway rail 5. A sliding rod 6 – also known as a cam rod – is guided in the locking carrier 2, resting slidably on the base 12 of the locking carrier. The sliding rod 6 is used in both directions 8 to adjust a switch blade 7 and an associated locking latch 9.

[0025] In the prior art, the locking carrier 2 and the sliding rod 6 form a friction pair, in which the locking carrier 2, or an insert plate 14 integrated into the locking carrier 2, is made of aluminum bronze, and the sliding rod 6 is made of unalloyed structural steel. In this friction pair, the aluminum bronze provides the necessary sliding and emergency running properties. As the softer partner in this friction pair, the sliding rod 6 therefore wears into the base 12 of the locking carrier 2, or into the insert plate 14, over the service life of the latching mechanism, which, depending on the stress, can be 30 years or more. Due to the thermally induced expansion of a switch blade 7 (so-called blade migration) in the direction of the track rail 5, which can be within a range of + / - 20 mm, a parallel displacement of the sliding rod 6 also occurs in the direction of arrow 10.Thus, in the case of heavily used turnouts, wear occurs which, after a relatively short time (relative to the otherwise usual service life of the railway infrastructure), necessitates the replacement of the locking carrier 2 or its insert plate 14.

[0026] This wear is now counteracted by the in Figure 3 The embodiment of the invention shown effectively counteracts this. In the embodiment with Figure 1 The identical environment shows the Figure 3 now in schematic representation a view of a opposite the Figures 1 and 2 modified locking bearing 12 with a roller device 16. In the exemplary embodiment presented here, the roller device 16 comprises two steel rollers 18a, 18b, each with a rubber layer 20 on the surface of the rollers 18a, 18b.

[0027] In the present embodiment, roller 18b is positioned slightly higher than the second roller 18a. In this case, both rollers 18a and 18b are individually height-adjustable. It is also possible to use different rubber hardnesses for the rubber layer 20. This allows for different force / travel ranges for the movement of the slide rod 6, ensuring the basic locking functionality (secure closing in the respective end position).

[0028] The rollers 18a and 18b are not mounted perfectly perpendicular to the slide bar 6, but are positioned slightly at an angle to the slide bar's axis. This arrangement is primarily intended to better accommodate the longitudinal movement of the switch blade 7 (blade movement). Furthermore, the rollers can be oriented at right angles to the slide bar by being movable. This prevents the slide bar from sliding laterally on the rollers. In essence, the rollers are rotatably mounted in the horizontal plane and are also movable perpendicular to the slide bar within their axis of rotation, ensuring smooth operation of the slide bar. This arrangement supports both the switching of the switch and the movement of the switch blade.Furthermore, the profile of the rubber rollers can be chosen in such a way that it creates a kind of channel with a preferred running surface for the slide bar, so that when the slide bar moves in conjunction with this channel, it automatically aligns the rollers relative to the current position of the slide bar to compensate for tongue movement.

[0029] In this way, a switch adjustment device can be provided which is essentially maintenance-free with regard to the movement of the slide rod 6 in the locking carrier 2 and therefore also requires no lubrication (resulting in favorable life cycle costs combined with minimal environmental impact). This arrangement can also be used under harsh environmental conditions (dust, sand, etc.), with the rubber layer 20 of the rollers 18a, 18b also acting as a vibration damper for the entire locking assembly, which is particularly advantageous for high-speed switches at higher train speeds (e.g., greater than 80 km / h).

Claims

1. Switch adjustment device, in particular latch lock (KV), with a movable component (6) for adjusting a switch tongue (7), wherein the movable component (6) is guided on and / or in a stationary component (2), characterized by the fact that A roller device (16) is provided for the storage of the movable component (6).

2. Switch adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the roller device (16) is integrated into the stationary component (2) and is preferably designed as a roller plate.

3. Switch adjustment device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the movable component is the sliding rod (6) of a latch lock (KV).

4. Switch adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the stationary component is a locking carrier (2) of a latch lock (KV), which is preferably designed to be attached to a stock rail.

5. Switch adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the roller device (16) comprises at least one roller (18a, 18b) which is preferably designed as a steel roller and is further preferably provided with a rubber layer (20) on the rolling surface of the roller.

6. Switch adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that which has at least one roller that is height-adjustable, whereby when using at least two rollers each roller is individually height-adjustable.

7. Switch adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that The roller(s) are installed at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the slide bar.

8. Switch adjustment device according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the roller is mounted so that it can be rotated about its axis of rotation and / or moved along the axis of rotation.

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