Switch rod connecting structure

Abstract

To provide a switch rod connecting structure capable of easily pulling out a connecting pin from an insertion hole.SOLUTION: A switch rod connecting structure 3 according to an embodiment includes a connecting plate 4 fixed to a tongue rail, and a connecting fitting 5 fixed to a switch rod 2. The connecting plate 4 is provided with an engaging hole 41, and the connecting fitting 5 includes an upper holding piece 51 and a lower holding piece 52 that hold the connecting plate 4 therebetween. The upper holding piece 51 and the lower holding piece 52 are each provided with holding holes 54 and 55 that constitute an insertion hole 8 together with the engaging hole 41. The switch rod connecting structure 3 further includes a connecting pin 6 inserted into the insertion hole 8 and supported on a bottom 81 of the insertion hole 8. An annular groove 61 continuous in the circumferential direction is formed in the connecting pin 6 above the connecting fitting 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to a connection structure of a point bar to a tongue rail. [Background technology]

[0002] A railway turnout includes a point where a pair of tongue rails are connected by a point bar. The point is switched between a main track and a branch track by sliding the point bar in the direction of the track gauge.

[0003] Generally, a connecting plate is fixed to the tongue rail, and a U-shaped connecting metal fitting fixed to a point bar is rotatably connected to the connecting plate with a bolt and nut. In recent years, a point bar connecting structure using a connecting pin instead of a bolt and nut has also been proposed.

[0004] For example, in the point bar connection structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, an engagement hole is provided in a connecting plate fixed to a tongue rail, and a retaining hole is provided in the upper and lower clamping pieces of the connecting fitting that clamp the connecting plate. When the connecting plate is inserted between the upper and lower clamping pieces of the connecting fitting, the retaining hole in the connecting fitting, together with the engagement hole in the connecting plate, forms an insertion hole into which a connecting pin is inserted.

[0005] In the point bar connecting structure of Patent Document 1, the holding hole of the lower clamping piece is a through hole that penetrates the lower clamping piece, and the bottom of the insertion hole described above is formed by the point bar. The connecting pin is supported by the bottom of the insertion hole. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-31569 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the point rod connection structure of Patent Document 1, it is difficult to pull out the connection pin from the insertion hole.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present application is to provide a point rod connecting structure that allows the connecting pin to be easily pulled out of the insertion hole. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present application provides a point bar connecting structure comprising: a connecting plate fixed to a tongue rail and provided with an engagement hole; a connecting fitting fixed to a point bar, the connecting fitting including upper and lower clamping pieces that clamp the connecting plate, the connecting fitting having retaining holes formed in the upper and lower clamping pieces which form insertion holes together with the engagement holes; and a connecting pin that is inserted into the insertion hole and supported on the bottom of the insertion hole, the connecting pin having a circumferentially continuous annular groove formed in it above the connecting fitting. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present application, a point rod connection structure is provided in which the connecting pin can be easily pulled out of the insertion hole. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1( a ) is a cross-sectional view of a turnout point in which two point bar connection structures according to one embodiment are employed, and FIG. 1( b ) is a plan view of the point bar and the two point bar connection structures. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a side view of one point rod connection structure. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view of one point rod connection structure. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a rear view of one point bar connection structure. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a connecting plate, a connecting fitting, and a connecting pin. [Figure 6] (a) is a cross-sectional view of a turnout point that employs two tie rod connection structures, and (b) is a plan view of the tie rod and the two tie rod connection structures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] 2 to 4 show a point bar coupling structure 3 according to one embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1(a) and (b), at a turnout point of a railway track, a pair of tongue rails 12 are arranged between base rails 11 of a main track and a branch track, and a point bar coupling structure 3 is adopted for each tongue rail 12.

[0013] The pair of tongue rails 12 are connected by a point bar 2. The point bar 2 is divided into a pair of halves 21, and the halves 21 are connected to each other by gauge insulation (not shown).

[0014] Specifically, each point bar connecting structure 3 includes a connecting plate 4 fixed to the tongue rail 12, and a connecting fitting 5 fixed to the point bar 2 and rotatably connected to the connecting plate 4. More specifically, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the connecting fitting 5 is U-shaped and includes upper and lower clamping pieces 51 and 52 that sandwich the connecting plate 4, and a folded-back portion 53 that is bent 180 degrees between the upper and lower clamping pieces 51 and 52.

[0015] The connecting plate 4 is provided with a circular engagement hole 41 in the portion that is inserted between the upper clamping piece 51 and the lower clamping piece 52 of the connecting fitting 5. In addition, the connecting plate 4 is provided with a block 42 that abuts against the tip surface of the upper clamping piece 51.

[0016] The upper clamping piece 51 and the lower clamping piece 52 of the connecting fitting 5 are provided with circular retaining holes 54, 55, respectively, which, when the connecting plate 4 is inserted between them, form the insertion hole 8 together with the engagement hole 41 of the connecting plate 4. In this embodiment, the diameter of the engagement hole 41 is slightly larger than the diameters of the retaining holes 54, 55, but the diameter of the engagement hole 41 may also be equal to the diameters of the retaining holes 54, 55.

[0017] In this embodiment, the retaining hole 55 of the lower clamping piece 52 is a through-hole that penetrates the lower clamping piece 52. Furthermore, the point bar 2 is provided with a circular recess 22 having the same diameter as the retaining hole 55, and the recess 22, together with the retaining holes 54, 55 and the engagement hole 41, also constitutes the insertion hole 8. In other words, the bottom of the recess 22 is also the bottom 81 of the insertion hole 8.

[0018] The point rod 2 is provided with a drain hole 23 having a smaller diameter than the recess 22, which passes through the point rod 2 from the bottom of the recess 22. In this embodiment, the center of the drain hole 23 coincides with the center of the recess 22, but the center of the drain hole 23 may be offset from the center of the recess 22.

[0019] Furthermore, the point rod connection structure 3 includes a connecting pin 6 that is inserted into the insertion hole 8, and a washer 7 that is attached to the connecting fitting 5 and urges the connecting pin 6 downward. The diameter of the connecting pin 6 is approximately equal to the diameters of the above-mentioned retaining holes 54, 55.

[0020] When inserted into the insertion hole 8, the connecting pin 6 is supported by the bottom 81 of the insertion hole 8. A continuous annular groove 61 is formed in the connecting pin 6 above the connecting fitting 5 in the circumferential direction.

[0021] 5, in this embodiment, the length L from the lower end of the connecting pin 6 to the lower side surface of the annular groove 61 is equal to the distance D from the bottom 81 of the insertion hole 8 to the upper surface of the upper clamping piece 51. However, the length L may be greater than the distance D.

[0022] 2 to 4, the washer 7 has a T-shape in plan view. Specifically, the washer 7 includes a base portion 71 extending in the width direction of the point bar 2, a pair of gripping portions 73 hanging down from both ends of the base portion 71, and a biasing portion 72 extending from the center of the base portion 71 in the extension direction of the point bar 2.

[0023] Each gripping portion 73 is bent multiple times in a wavy pattern and engages with the corner between the side and bottom surfaces of the upper clamping piece 51. The biasing portion 72 has a length longer than the diameter of the connecting pin 6, and has a hook portion at its tip that is bent so as to cover the connecting pin 6 from above.

[0024] To attach the washer 7 to the connecting fitting 5, first, with the hook portion of the biasing portion 72 engaged with the connecting pin 6, the pair of gripping portions 73 are engaged with the upper clamping piece 51 so that the base portion 71 is in surface contact with the upper clamping piece 51. This causes the hook portion of the biasing portion 72 to press the connecting pin 6 downward.

[0025] As described above, in the point rod connection structure 3 of this embodiment, the annular groove 61 is formed in the connecting pin 6 above the connecting fitting 5, so that the connecting pin 6 can be easily pulled out of the insertion hole 8 by hooking a tool on the annular groove 61 and lifting it up.

[0026] Furthermore, since the connecting pin 6 is biased downward by the washer 7, after the washer 7 is attached, by hooking a tool onto the annular groove 61 of the connecting pin 6 and lifting it up, it is possible to check whether the washer 7 is attached correctly, for example, whether there is any rattle in the washer 7.

[0027] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the length L from the lower end of the connecting pin 6 to the lower side surface of the annular groove 61 is equal to the distance D from the bottom 81 of the insertion hole 8 to the upper surface of the upper clamping piece 51, so when the connecting pin 6 is properly inserted into the insertion hole 8, the upper surface of the upper clamping piece 51, which is the upper surface of the connecting fitting 5, and the lower side surface of the annular groove 61 are flush with each other. Therefore, during connecting work or maintenance, it is possible to check at a glance whether the connecting pin 6 is properly inserted.

[0028] <Modification> The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0029] For example, as shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), the configuration of the point bar connection structure 3 can also be applied to a tie bar connection structure 3A. The point bar 2 is plate-shaped, but the tie bar 13 is rod-shaped.

[0030] Specifically, the tie rod connection structure 3A employs a connecting fitting 5A that is fixed to the half 14 of the tie rod 13 with a double nut. More specifically, the connecting fitting 5A includes a vertical portion 53A that is parallel to the vertical direction instead of the folded portion 53, and this vertical portion 53A is formed with a female thread that screws into a male thread formed at the tip of the half 14.

[0031] In addition, in the tie bar connection structure 3A, the retaining hole 55 of the lower clamping piece 52 of the connecting fitting 5A is configured as a recess, and the bottom of the recess forms the bottom 81 of the insertion hole 8. Note that the configuration in which the retaining hole 55 of the lower clamping piece 52 is a recess can also be applied to the point bar connection structure 3.

[0032] <Summary> In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a point bar connecting structure comprising: a connecting plate fixed to a tongue rail and provided with an engagement hole; a connecting fitting fixed to a point bar, the connecting fitting including upper and lower clamping pieces that clamp the connecting plate, the upper and lower clamping pieces having retaining holes that form insertion holes together with the engagement holes; and a connecting pin that is inserted into the insertion hole and supported on the bottom of the insertion hole, the connecting pin having a circumferentially continuous annular groove formed in it above the connecting fitting.

[0033] According to the above configuration, an annular groove is formed in the connecting pin above the connecting fitting, so that the connecting pin can be easily pulled out of the insertion hole by hooking a tool on the annular groove and lifting it up.

[0034] In a second aspect, in the first aspect, the length from the lower end of the connecting pin to the lower side surface of the annular groove may be equal to the distance from the bottom of the insertion hole to the upper surface of the upper clamping piece. With this configuration, when the connecting pin is properly inserted into the insertion hole, the upper surface of the connecting fitting and the lower side surface of the annular groove are flush with each other, making it possible to check at a glance whether the connecting pin is properly inserted during connecting work or maintenance.

[0035] As a third aspect, the point rod connection structure according to the first or second aspect may further include a washer attached to the connecting fitting and biasing the connecting pin downward. With this configuration, after the washer is attached, it is possible to check whether the washer is correctly attached by hooking a tool on the annular groove of the connecting pin and lifting it up. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 12 Tongue Rail 2 Point pole 3 Point bar connection structure 4 Connecting plate 41 Engagement hole 5 Connecting fittings 51 Upper clamping piece 52 Lower clamping piece 54,55 Retaining hole 6 connecting pin 61 Annular groove 7 Washers 8 Insertion hole 81 bottom

Claims

1. a connecting plate fixed to the tongue rail and provided with an engagement hole; a connecting fitting fixed to a point bar, the connecting fitting including upper and lower clamping pieces that sandwich the connecting plate, the upper and lower clamping pieces being provided with holding holes that together with the engagement holes form insertion holes; a connecting pin that is inserted into the insertion hole and supported on a bottom of the insertion hole, a circumferentially continuous annular groove is formed in the connecting pin above the connecting fitting.

2. 2. The point rod connection structure according to claim 1, wherein a length from a lower end of the connecting pin to a lower side surface of the annular groove is equal to a distance from a bottom of the insertion hole to an upper surface of the upper clamping piece.

3. The point rod connection structure according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a washer attached to the connecting fitting and biasing the connecting pin downward.

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