Rolling device for a tongue rail

Abstract

Roller device for a switch tongue rail, comprising a roller cassette (2) for attachment to a slide chair plate (20), a roller carrier (7) pivotably attached to the roller cassette (2) about a pivot axis (8) with a roller (4) rotatably mounted on the roller carrier (7) about a rotation axis (4), wherein a spring element (13) engages the roller carrier (7) between the pivot axis (8) and the rotation axis (4), the spring element being supported on the roller cassette (2) or a substrate, characterized in that the spring element (13) presses the roller carrier (7) in a pivoted position in the pivoting direction against a stop (14) of the roller cassette (2) and adjusting means for adjusting a preload of the spring element (13) in the pivoted position are provided.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a roller device for a switch rail, in particular a spring-loaded roller device to support the switching movement and stabilize the end position of the switch rail.

[0002] The invention further relates to a tongue device for a switch comprising a movable tongue rail, a jaw rail, at least one sliding chair arranged on a sliding chair plate for supporting the tongue rail and at least one roller device.

[0003] The travel of the tongue rail decreases continuously along the tongue device from the free end to the rigidly clamped tongue root. If there is a large distance between the switching device and the tongue root, the tongue rail can become stressed at the support points due to frictional forces, which can lead to locally excessive loads and deviations from the ideal position.

[0004] Spring-loaded roller devices are used to relieve stress on the friction surfaces and assist the switching movement. Additionally, the roller device stabilizes the position of the tongue rail in its end position. This is achieved by the extended roller projecting beyond the sliding plane. In this position, a horizontal contact force is exerted on the tongue rail in its end position, pressing it against the jaw rail or jaw rail support. If the tongue rail is deflected during the switching process, this resistance must be overcome by the roller compressing against the force of a spring element. This creates a lifting force against the tongue rail above, thus relieving stress on the friction surface.

[0005] From EP 2126215 A1, roller devices are known in which the springs can only be replaced by completely removing and reinstalling the roller device. The commercially available springs exhibit only very coarse increments in spring force despite having the same spring geometry.

[0006] From EP 1055778 A2, a device for facilitating the switching movement and elastically locking tongue rails is known. In this design, a pivoting lever with two rollers is mounted on a carriage that is slidable on a support transverse to the rail axis. The pivoting lever is actuated by a spring acting between the two rollers. The support is attached to the base of the stock rail by means of a claw-like connection. Since the roller device is arranged between two switch sleepers in the sleeper bay, it protrudes into the tamping area used for ballast compaction, which on the one hand impairs the tamping process and on the other hand can lead to damage to the roller device. Furthermore, adjustment of the vertical lifting force and the horizontal contact force is not provided.

[0007] From EP 2402506 A2, a roller device for a switch rail is known. In this design, the roller carrier is mounted on a retaining plate connected to the rail base plate and is spring-mounted so that it can pivot about an axis of the retaining plate. The preset spring preload can be subsequently changed via a threaded nut, which fixes the switch rail horizontally in its end position, as the spring is not fully released. The roller carrier is located directly next to the rail base plate, and in the installed state, between two switch sleepers or rail fastening points, so that it protrudes into the tamping area for compacting the ballast. As with EP 1055778 A2, this can impair the tamping process and lead to damage to the roller device.

[0008] The invention is based on the objective of developing a compact roller device that manages with a single roller, whereby both forces - the lifting force and the pressing force - can be individually adjusted for each installation position along the tongue device in order to ensure low-effort changeover operation.

[0009] In addition, the horizontal contact force should be able to be continuously increased and adjusted in case of special operating requirements such as superelevation of the switch or high frictional forces on the tongue rail.

[0010] Furthermore, the overall height of the roller device should be reduced as much as possible and protrusion of the roller device into the threshold compartment should be avoided.

[0011] To solve these problems, the invention, according to a first aspect, provides a roller device for a switch tongue rail of a turnout, comprising a roller cassette for attachment to a slide chair plate, a roller carrier pivotably attached to the roller cassette about a pivot axis with a roller rotatably mounted on the roller carrier about a rotation axis, wherein a spring element engages the roller carrier between the pivot axis and the rotation axis, which is supported on the roller cassette or on the substrate, characterized in that the spring element presses the roller carrier in a pivoted position against a stop, preferably a stop of the roller cassette, and adjusting means are provided for adjusting a preload of the spring element in the pivoted position.

[0012] This design allows for the optimization of forces acting on the tongue rail by adjusting the spring preload. The stop defines a specific end position of the roller carrier or roller in the extended position. In this position, the set spring preload determines both the vertical lifting force and the horizontal contact force on the tongue rail. The spring force can be continuously adjusted even when installed, allowing for optimal adaptation to specific operating conditions.

[0013] A further advantage of the solution according to the invention arises from the point of application of the spring between the axis of rotation of the roller and the pivot axis of the roller carrier. This design significantly reduces the spring travel compared to the prior art. While known solutions use a long and soft spring which, in the relaxed state – when the tongue rail rests against the jaw rail – exhibits only a small residual tension, the spring of the roller device according to the invention maintains a high preload even in this position. This prevents the preload from decreasing significantly due to the spring travel, as is the case with the prior art.

[0014] A further advantage of the invention is that the roller device can be fully integrated into the sliding chair plate and does not interfere with the threshold compartment. This leaves the tamping area freely accessible and eliminates the need to remove the roller device during tamping work. The compact design also allows for a reduction in the required sliding chair width, thus saving material.

[0015] Furthermore, the roller device according to the invention allows for an installation position in which the axis of rotation lies below the tongue rail and the roller device is installed in a vertically mirrored position compared to the prior art embodiment. This partial arrangement of the roller device below the tongue rail allows the width of the sliding chair to be significantly reduced compared to the two known designs. The design according to the invention makes it possible for the sliding chair to be no longer than is necessary to support the reclining tongue rail.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring element is tensioned between the roller cassette or the substrate on the one hand and the roller carrier on the other. The adjusting means comprise an adjustable spring stop on the roller carrier against which the spring element is supported. This design enables particularly simple and reliable adjustment of the spring force. By adjusting the spring stop, the preload of the spring element can be continuously adjusted without having to disassemble the roller assembly. Since the adjustable spring stop is formed directly on the roller carrier, the set spring force is transmitted directly to the roller carrier without any transmission losses.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the roller device according to the invention features a spring stop formed on an adjusting screw that is screwed into a threaded bore in the roller carrier. This structurally simple solution allows for particularly sensitive and precise adjustment of the spring force. The threaded axis of the adjusting screw preferably runs essentially in the direction of the spring force of the spring element. By turning the adjusting screw, the position of the spring stop can be continuously changed, and thus the preload of the spring element can be precisely adjusted to the desired value. The threaded connection ensures a self-locking effect, so that the set position does not change unintentionally even under dynamic loads.The adjusting screw is accessible from the side with a standard open-end wrench, which makes it easy to adjust the spring force even with the tongue and jaw rail fully assembled.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment, this can be achieved by providing the adjusting screw with an external polygon for the lateral engagement of a wrench. This design allows particularly easy and secure access to the adjusting screw from the side, even when the roller device is already fully assembled. The external polygon can be designed as a hexagon. Alternatively, a square or twelve-point design is also possible.

[0019] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the roller cassette has a frame that at least partially surrounds the roller, with the opposite legs of the frame, extending transversely to the roller's axis of rotation, forming bearing surfaces for supporting the roller cassette on a sliding chair plate. The bearing pin for the pivoting mounting of the roller carrier is mounted in a section of the roller cassette that is offset downwards relative to the bearing surface. This design allows for a particularly low overall height of the roller assembly, since the pivot axis of the roller carrier can be positioned as close as possible to the bearing surface or even below it. At the same time, the frame surrounding the roller ensures reliable protection of the moving parts from contamination and mechanical damage.The contact surfaces on the opposite legs of the frame ensure a stable and large-area connection with the gliding chair base and allow for a particularly advantageous mounting of the caster mechanism on the top of the gliding chair base. This allows the caster mechanism to be fully integrated into the gliding chair base and does not need to be positioned to the side of or underneath it, as is the case with other solutions.

[0020] The downwardly offset section for the bearing bolt also allows for a greater swivel range of the roller carrier without increasing the overall height of the roller assembly. The downward offset of the roller cassette section relative to the support surface allows this section to be inserted into a corresponding opening in the sliding chair plate.

[0021] The insertion of the downwardly offset section into the opening can be implemented constructively in a simple way such that the roller carrier has a fork-shaped upper section for rotatable mounting of the roller, a lower section having the pivot axis and an intermediate inclined transition section.

[0022] In the context of the present invention, the directional terms "top" and "bottom" refer to the intended installation position of the roller device, in which the sliding chair plate rests on a sleeper. "Top" denotes the direction away from the sleeper, i.e., the direction towards the rail running surface, while "bottom" denotes the direction towards the sleeper.

[0023] By mounting the bearing pin for the pivoting roller carrier in a section of the roller cassette that is offset downwards relative to the bearing surface, the arrangement allows the axis of rotation to be positioned below the tongue rail. This results in an inclined orientation of the roller carrier such that the roller engages the tongue rail not only from below but also from the side. Consequently, when the roller is extended, it can exert a horizontal contact force on the tongue rail in addition to the lifting force, provided there is a sufficient overhang from the sliding plane. The inclined orientation of the roller carrier and the overhang are preferably designed such that the ratio of the vertical lifting force to the horizontal contact force is in the range of 5:1 to 2:1. This ratio remains within this range even when the preload of the spring element is adjusted.

[0024] In a second aspect, the invention relates to a switch blade assembly comprising a movable switch blade, a stock rail, at least one slide seat mounted on a slide seat plate for supporting the switch blade, and at least one roller assembly according to the invention for assisting the switching movement of the switch blade. The switch blade assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the roller assembly is mounted on the slide seat plate, particularly on its upper surface, such that the pivot axis of the roller carrier is located below the switch blade in a position of the switch blade adjacent to the stock rail. This arrangement enables a particularly compact design of the switch blade assembly, since the roller assembly can be partially positioned below the switch blade. In particular, the roller assembly is arranged directly next to the slide seat.

[0025] As already mentioned, it is preferably provided that the sliding chair plate has an opening into which the downwardly offset section of the roller cassette dips.

[0026] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the tongue device according to the invention is characterized in that the adjusting screw of the roller device is accessible from the side even when the tongue rail is fully assembled. This design allows for easy adjustment of the spring force in the installed state, without having to disassemble the tongue rail or other components of the switch.

[0027] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated in the drawing. In this drawing, Fig. 1 a side view of the roller device Fig. 2 a perspective view of the rolling device according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a cross-sectional view of the roller device according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 4 a side view of the roller device in its installed state and Fig. 5 A perspective view of the roller device in its installed state.

[0028] The Fig. 1, 2 and 3Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the roller device according to the invention for a switch rail. The roller device 1 has a roller cassette 2 for attachment to a slide chair plate, the roller cassette 2 forming a frame that at least partially surrounds the roller 3. The opposite legs 5 of this frame, extending transversely to the axis of rotation 4 of the roller 3, form bearing surfaces 6 for supporting the roller cassette 2 on the slide chair plate. A roller carrier 7 is pivotably mounted on the roller cassette 2 about a pivot axis 8. The bearing pin 18 for the pivotable mounting of the roller carrier 7 is arranged in a section 9 of the roller cassette 2 that is offset downwards relative to the bearing surface 6. The roller carrier 7 has a fork-shaped upper section 10 in which the roller 3 is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation 4.A lower section 11 of the roller carrier 7 accommodates the pivot axis 8, while an inclined transition section 12 connects the upper and lower sections 10, 11. A spring element 13 engages between the pivot axis 8 and the rotation axis 4. Fig. 3 ) on the roller carrier 7, which is supported on the roller cassette 2. The spring element 13 presses the roller carrier 7 in its pivoted position against a stop 14 of the roller cassette 2. The stop 14 is formed on a transverse leg that connects the two lateral legs of the fork-shaped upper section 10 of the roller carrier 7 and is offset downwards relative to the lateral legs.

[0029] To adjust the preload of the spring element 13 in the pivoted position, an adjusting screw 15 is provided as an adjustment means, which is accessible from the side. The adjusting screw 15 has an external hexagon for the lateral engagement of a wrench and is screwed into a threaded bore of the roller carrier 7, the thread axis running essentially in the direction of the spring force of the spring element 13 in order to adjust the adjusting screw 15 in the direction of the double arrow 23.

[0030] The sliding chair surface on which the tongue rail foot rests is designated 21. Furthermore, screw bolts 22 are provided for screwing the roller cassette 2 onto the sliding chair plate.

[0031] In the Fig. 4 and 5It is evident that the roller device 1 is attached to the sliding chair plate 20 in such a way that the pivot axis 8 of the roller carrier 7 is arranged in a position adjacent to the roller 3, below the tongue rail 17 resting on the sliding chair 24. This arrangement allows for a particularly compact design, as the roller device 1 can be partially positioned below the tongue rail 17. Further details are shown in Fig. 5 It is evident that a downwardly offset area 9 of the roller cassette 2 dips into an opening 19 of the sliding chair plate 20.

Claims

1. Roller device for a tongue rail (17) of a switch, comprising a roller cassette (2) for attachment to a slide chair plate (20), a roller carrier (7) pivotably attached to the roller cassette (2) about a pivot axis (8) with a roller (3) rotatably mounted on the roller carrier (7) about a pivot axis (4), wherein a spring element (13) engages the roller carrier (7) between the pivot axis (8) and the pivot axis (4), the spring element being supported on the roller cassette (2) or a substrate, characterized by the fact that the spring element (13) presses the roller carrier (7) in a pivoted position in the pivoting direction against a stop (14), preferably a stop of the roller cassette, (2) and adjusting means are provided for setting a preload of the spring element (13) in the pivoted position.

2. Rolling device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatthe spring element (13) is tensioned between the roller cassette (2) or the substrate on the one hand and the roller support (7) on the other hand, and the adjusting means comprise an adjustable spring stop of the roller support (7) against which the spring element (13) is supported.

3. Rolling device according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the spring stop is formed on an adjusting screw (15) which is screwed into a threaded bore of the roller carrier (7).

4. Rolling device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the adjusting screw (15) has an external polygon for the lateral engagement of a wrench.

5. Rolling device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact thatthe roller cassette (2) has a frame that at least partially surrounds the roller (3), the opposite legs (5) of which run transversely to the axis of rotation of the roller form bearing surfaces (6) for supporting the roller cassette (2) on a sliding chair plate (20) and a bearing bolt (18) for the pivotable bearing of the roller carrier (7) is mounted in a section of the roller cassette (2) that is offset downwards relative to the bearing surface (6).

6. Rolling device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that the roller carrier (7) has a fork-shaped upper section (10) rotatably supporting the roller (3), a lower section (11) having the pivot axis (8) and an intermediate inclined transition section (12).

7. Switch blade device comprising a movable switch blade rail (17), a stock rail, at least one slide chair (19) arranged on a slide chair plate (20) for supporting the switch blade rail (17) and at least one roller device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6 for supporting the switching movement of the switch blade rail (17), wherein the at least one roller device (1) is attached to the slide chair plate (20), in particular to its upper side, such that the pivot axis (8) of the roller carrier (7) is arranged below the switch blade rail (17) in a position of the switch blade rail (17) adjacent to the stock rail.

8. Tongue device according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the sliding chair plate (20) has an opening (19) into which the downwardly offset section of the roller cassette (2) dips.

9. Tongue device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by the fact thatthe adjusting screw (15) is accessible from the side when the tongue rail (17) is fully assembled.

10. Tongue device according to claim 7, 8 or 9, characterized by the fact that The ratio of a vertical lifting force to a horizontal pressing force on the tongue rail is in the range of 5:1 to 2:1.

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