HAND-OPERATED STOP SIGNAL FOR RAILWAY LINE

Abstract

Manual Stop Signal for Railway Track The present invention relates to a manual stop signal (1) arranged to secure work zones on a railway track, notable in that it comprises at least: - a base (3) arranged to be fixed to a rail of the railway track, - a hollow tubular post (4) fixed to the base (3) comprising a transparent portion, - a ring (6) having an opening (7) and being fixed around the post (4) so ​​that its opening (7) is aligned with the transparent portion, - electronic means (8) enabling the emission of a continuous light signal through the opening (7) of the ring (6) or the indication of the level of electrical energy remaining in the electrical energy source, - a control ring (10) pivotally mounted around the post (4) bearing on the ring (6), and - a plate (12) providing a substrate and fixed along the post (4). Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: HAND-OPERATED STOP SIGNAL FOR RAILWAY TRACK Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of railway signalling. More specifically, it relates to a hand-operated stop signal for railway track. State of the art

[0002] To secure, for example, a work zone on railway tracks and the associated personnel, it is known to install one or more hand-operated stop signals, also designated by the abbreviation SAM, near or on the tracks of said railways, on either side of said work zone, in order to delimit its boundaries and prohibit access to any unauthorized train or maintenance vehicle. Thus, when a driver encounters one of the hand-operated stop signals, they cannot pass it and must wait until it is removed.

[0003] Each hand-operated stop signal, also called a movable stop marker, conventionally comprises at least: - a foot arranged to rest on one of the railway rails or on the ground near said rail, and supporting a tube extending vertically when the foot rests on a horizontal surface (a rail or the ground), - a plate, generally square in shape, fixed along said tube and providing a substrate receiving on its front face a decoration such as a symbol or pictogram showing railway signalling such as, for example, a red and white checkerboard with four squares, and - a light indicator mounted on top of said metal plate and powered by a rechargeable electrical power source such as an external battery of the type, for example, a motor vehicle battery, said rechargeable electrical power source sometimes also acting as ballast to keep said hand stop signal in position.

[0004] This type of hand stop signal is further associated with an electronic board and position sensors controlling the activation of the indicator light only when the tube is in a vertical position, i.e. in its normal operating position.

[0005] This type of hand-operated stop signal is certainly effective, but it has a number of drawbacks. First, it is rather heavy and bulky due to the presence of the rechargeable power source, making its use and installation difficult. Furthermore, the use of a rechargeable power source of the This type of external battery does not allow for easy verification of the remaining usage time before the battery is completely discharged.

[0006] Finally, in the presence of vibrations at the level of the railway track, the vertical position of the tube may fluctuate and the indicator may then start to flash, which may have adverse consequences on the securing of the intervention area and require a further intervention by agents to check the condition of the hand stop signal and, if necessary, resolve the problem. Summary of the invention

[0007] The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a lightweight, easy-to-use and permanently installed hand-operated railway stop signal on a railway track, on either side, for example, of an intervention zone, while ensuring the long-term security of the intervention zone, without any special intervention by agents after its installation on said rail.

[0008] In accordance with the invention, a hand-operated stop signal is therefore proposed, arranged to secure intervention zones on a railway track, notable in that it comprises at least: - a foot designed to be secured, in a non-permanent manner, to a railway track rail, - a hollow tubular post fixed to the base and extending substantially vertically when the latter rests at least on the upper face of said rail, said post comprising, near its upper end, a transparent portion, - a hollow tubular ring having an opening connecting the inside of said ring and the outside, and being fixed around the post so that its opening is aligned with the transparent portion of said post, - electronic means powered by an electrical energy source and enabling the emission of a continuous light signal through the opening of the ring or the indication of the level of electrical energy remaining in the electrical energy source, - a hollow tubular control ring mounted around the post, supported by the ring and pivoting around the longitudinal axis of said post between an "OFF" position and an "ON" or "TEST" position, and vice versa, and - a plate providing a substrate receiving a decoration on its front face and secured along the post under the ring on the side of its opening.

[0009] Advantageously, the hand stop signal includes a cap mounted on and around the upper end of the post to hold the control ring in position against the ring and seal the upper end of said post and thus protect the electronic means.

[0010] According to a particular embodiment, the foot comprises an angle-shaped base including a first horizontal wing arranged to rest on the top of a railway track rail, and a second vertical wing arranged to rest against one of the sides of said rail, the inner face of the first and second wings advantageously receiving a plurality of magnets.

[0011] Advantageously, the foot has two jaws extending vertically from the outer face of the first wing and allowing the lower end of the post to be gripped in order to fix the latter on said foot.

[0012] The outer face of the first wing advantageously receives a support for a firecracker on the side of the ring opening.

[0013] Advantageously, the post has a circular cross-section and is obtained by assembling, in a watertight manner, three portions of tubes together, namely two opaque and one transparent.

[0014] According to a particular embodiment, the electronic means comprise a control card receiving indicator lights and warning lights, said electronic means being inserted into the post so that the indicator lights and warning lights are aligned with the opening of the ring.

[0015] Preferably, the indicator lights are three superimposed red light-emitting diodes and the warning lights are three superimposed red, orange and green light-emitting diodes.

[0016] The electronic means include at least two switches associated with the control board, the triggering of one of the switches activating the emission of a continuous light signal, the triggering of the other switch then activating the indication of the level of electrical energy remaining in the electrical energy source.

[0017] Preferably, the switches of the electronic means are of the magnetically controlled type and associated with a magnet fixed on the control ring. Brief description of the figures

[0018] Other advantages and features will become clearer from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying schematic figures in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a hand stop signal according to the invention,

[0020] [Fig. 2] is a front view of the hand stop signal of the [Fig. 1] installed on a rail,

[0021] [Fig.3] is a left view of the device of [Fig.2],

[0022] [Fig.4] is a partially exploded perspective view of the hand stop signal of the [Fig.l]. Description of the implementation methods

[0023] With reference to figures 1 to 4, a hand stop signal 1, also called a movable stop marker, arranged to be installed on a rail 2 of a railway track, not shown, for example on either side of an intervention zone, has been shown in accordance with the invention.

[0024] The figures show the hand stop signal 1 installed on a horizontal rail 2, but it is understood that the rail 2 may be more or less inclined, and terms such as vertical, horizontal, lower or even upper will then have to be adapted.

[0025] According to the embodiment shown, said hand stop signal 1 comprises, at least: - a foot 3 arranged to be secured, in a non-permanent manner, to a rail 2 of a railway track (See [Fig.2]), - a hollow tubular post 4 fixed to the base 3 and extending substantially vertically when the latter rests at least on the upper face of said rail 2, said post 4 comprising, near its upper end, a transparent portion 5, - a hollow tubular ring 6 having an opening 7 connecting the inside of said ring 6 and the outside, and being fixed around the post 4 so that the opening 7 is directly opposite, i.e., facing, the transparent portion 5 of said post 4, - electronic means 8 powered by an electrical energy source 9 and enabling the emission of a continuous light signal through the opening 7 of the ring 6 or the indication of the level of electrical energy remaining in the electrical energy source 9, - a hollow tubular control ring 10 mounted around the post 4, supported by the ring 6 and pivoting around the longitudinal axis of said post 4 between an "OFF" position in which the electronic means 8 do not operate, and an "ON" position in which the continuous light signal is emitted, or a "TEST" position in which the electronic means 8 indicate the remaining electrical energy level, and vice versa, - a cap 11 mounted on and around the upper end of the post 4 to hold the control ring 10 in position against the ring 6 and seal the upper end of said post 4 and thus protect the electronic means 8, and - a plate 12 providing a substrate receiving on its front face 13 a decoration, not shown, and secured along the post 4 under the ring 6 on the side of its opening 7.

[0026] Here, "substantially horizontal" or "substantially vertical" means any element or part of an element of the hand stop signal 1 making an angle between -10° and +10° with the horizontal or vertical.

[0027] It goes without saying that the stopper 11 can be integrated into said electronic means 8 without going out of the scope of the present invention.

[0028] The foot 3 comprises an angle-shaped base 14 including a first horizontal wing 15 arranged to rest on the top of a railway track rail 2, and a second vertical wing 16 arranged to bear against one of the sides of said rail 2. To enable the foot 3 to be secured, in a non-permanent manner, to said rail 2, the inner face of the first and second wings 15, 16 advantageously receives a plurality of magnets 17 (see [Fig. 3]). It will be understood that this configuration with magnets in two directions allows for easy and permanent placement of the hand-operated stop signal 1 according to the invention on the rail 2.

[0029] Here, "internal" refers to the faces of the first and second wings 15,16 located on the side of rail 2, and "external" refers to the faces located on the opposite side.

[0030] The foot 3 further comprises two jaws 18 extending vertically from the external face of the first wing 15 and enabling the lower end of the post 4 to be gripped in order to fix the latter on said foot 3.

[0031] According to an advantageous embodiment, the external face of the first wing 15 also receives a support for a detonator 19 on the side of the opening 7 of the ring 6, a detonator being a preventive sound signal allowing in particular to signal the presence of an intervention zone.

[0032] It is understood that, to allow the control ring 10 to pivot, the post 4 advantageously has a circular cross-section. However, the post 4 may have a non-circular cross-section; in this case, the control ring 10 will be associated with an internal ring enabling it to pivot, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0033] To obtain the transparent portion 5, three portions of tubes can be assembled together in a watertight manner, namely two opaque and one transparent, to constitute the post 4, advantageously made of plastic or synthetic material.

[0034] However, according to an embodiment not shown, the post 4 may be provided with an opening and the ring 6 may be transparent, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The post 4 may also be entirely transparent and partially covered, if necessary, with an opaque adhesive.

[0035] Furthermore, the ring 6 not only serves as a support for the control ring 10, but it also helps to stiffen the post 4.

[0036] The decoration of plate 12 is a symbol or pictogram showing railway signalling such as a red and white checkerboard with four squares.

[0037] According to the embodiment shown, the electronic means 8, which are powered by an electrical energy source 12, advantageously of the battery type, as indicated above, comprise a control card 20 receiving indicator lights 21 and indicator lights 22, said electronic means 8 being inserted into the post 4 so that the indicator lights 21 and indicator lights 22 are aligned with the opening 7 of the ring 6.

[0038] For reasons of low energy consumption, the indicator lights 21 are advantageously three superimposed red LEDs, and the warning lights 22 are advantageously three superimposed red, orange, and green LEDs. With this configuration, when all three indicator lights 22 are lit, it indicates that the electrical power source 9 is fully charged; when only the red and orange indicator lights 22 are lit, it indicates that the electrical power source 9 is still usable and does not need to be replaced; and when only the red indicator light 22 is lit, it indicates that the electrical power source 9 needs to be replaced.

[0039] It goes without saying that the number and colors of the indicator lights 21 and indicator lights 22 may vary, without departing from the scope of the present invention

[0040] Thus, the OFF position of the control ring 10 corresponds to a position in which none of the indicator lights 21 and indicator lights 22 are working, the ON position corresponds to a position in which only the indicator lights 21 are working, and the TEST position corresponds to a position in which at least one of the indicator lights 22 is working.

[0041] For their operation depending on the position of the control ring 10, the electronic means 8 comprise at least two switches, not shown, associated with the control board 20, the triggering of one of the switches activating the emission of a continuous light signal, advantageously via the indicator lights 21, the triggering of the other switch then activating the indication of the level of electrical energy remaining in the electrical energy source 9, advantageously through the indicator lights 22.

[0042] To avoid any drilling of the post 4 and consequently any sealing problem, the switches of the electronic means 8 are advantageously of the magnetically operated type and associated with a magnet 23 fixed on the control ring 10. Thus, when the control ring 10 pivots to its ON position, the magnetic field of said magnet 23 triggers the associated switch to activate the emission of a continuous light signal, and, when the control ring 10 pivots to its TEST position, the magnetic field of said magnet 23 triggers the associated switch to activate the indication of the level of electrical energy remaining in the electrical energy source 9.

[0043] Furthermore, it is clear that the control ring 10 pivots advantageously either from its OFF position to its ON position, and vice versa, or from its OFF position to its TEST position, and vice versa.

[0044] With this configuration with the pivoting control ring 10, it is clear that the presence of vibrations will have no impact on the quality and continuity of the light signal emitted by the hand stop signal 1 according to the invention.

[0045] In addition, the indication of the level of electrical energy remaining in the electrical energy source 9 makes it easy to anticipate its replacement, thus ensuring perfect security of the intervention area.

[0046] The hand stop signal 1 according to the invention finds a particular application for securing an intervention zone on a railway track, but it can nevertheless be adapted to ensure the protection of obstacles or the rear protection of stopped trains.

[0047] Finally, it goes without saying that the examples of hand stop signal 1 according to the invention which have just been described are only particular illustrations, in no way limiting of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Hand-operated stop signal (1) arranged to secure work zones on a railway track, characterized in that it comprises at least: - a base (3) arranged to be fixed, in a non-permanent manner, to a rail (2) of the railway track, - a hollow tubular post (4) fixed to the base (3) and extending substantially vertically when the latter rests at least on the upper face of said rail (2), said post (4) comprising, near its upper end, a transparent portion (5), - a hollow tubular ring (6) having an opening (7) connecting the inside of said ring (6) and the outside, and being fixed around the post (4) so ​​that its opening (7) is aligned with the transparent portion (5) of said post (4),- electronic means (8) powered by an electrical energy source (9) and enabling the emission of a continuous light signal through the opening (7) of the ring (6) or the indication of the level of electrical energy remaining in the electrical energy source (9), - a hollow tubular control ring (10) mounted around the post (4) bearing on the ring (6) and pivoting around the longitudinal axis of said post (4) between an "OFF" position, and an "ON" position or a "TEST" position, and vice versa, and - a plate (12) providing a substrate receiving on its front face (13) a decoration and secured along the post (4) under the ring (6) on the side of its opening (7).

2. Hand stop signal (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a cap (11) mounted on and around the upper end of the post (4) to hold the control ring (10) in position against the ring (6) and seal the upper end of said post (4) and thus protect the electronic means (8).

3. Hand stop signal (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the foot (3) comprises an angle-shaped base (14) including a first horizontal wing (15) arranged to rest on the top of a rail (2) of the railway track, and a second vertical wing (16) arranged to rest against one of the sides of said rail (2), the inner face of the first and second wings (15,16) advantageously receiving a plurality of magnets (17).

4. Hand stop signal (1) according to claim 3 characterized in that the base (3) has two jaws (18) extending vertically from the external face of the first wing (15) and allowing the lower end of the post (4) to be gripped in order to fix the latter on said base (3).

5. Hand stop signal (1) according to any one of claims 3 or 4 characterized in that the outer face of the first wing (15) receives a support for a detonator (19) on the side of the opening (7) of the ring (6).

6. Hand stop signal (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the post (4) is of circular section and obtained by the assembly, in a sealed manner, of three portions of tubes together, namely two opaque and one transparent.

7. Hand stop signal (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the electronic means (8) comprise a control card (20) receiving indicator lights (21) and warning lights (12), said electronic means (8) being inserted into the post (4) so ​​that the indicator lights (21) and warning lights (22) are aligned with the opening (7) of the ring (6).

8. Hand stop signal (1) according to claim 7 characterized in that the indicator lights (21) are three superimposed red LEDs and the indicator lights (22) are three superimposed red, orange and green LEDs.

9. Hand stop signal (1) according to any one of claims 7 or 8 characterized in that the electronic means (8) comprise at least two switches associated with the control board (20), the triggering of one of the switches activating the emission of a continuous light signal, the triggering of the other switch then activating the indication of the level of electrical energy remaining in the electrical energy source (9).

10. Hand stop signal (1) according to claim 9 characterized in that the switches of the electronic means (8) are of the magnetically controlled type and associated with a magnet (23) fixed on the control ring (10).

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