Track short-circuiting device

Abstract

To provide a track short-circuit device capable of surely short-circuiting between right and left rails of a track and coping with automation.SOLUTION: This track short-circuiting device 20 short-circuits right and left rails 10 of a track. The track short-circuit device 20 includes a traveling vehicle, a fixing part 30, and a track short-circuit unit 31. The traveling vehicle travels on a rail 10. The fixing parts 30 are arranged on both right and left sides of the traveling vehicle, and detachably fixed to the rail 10. The track short-circuiting devices 31 are arranged on both right and left sides of the traveling vehicle, and can bring a contact part 50 into contact with a head top surface 14 of the rail 10 to which the fixing part 30 is fixed, and short-circuit the right and left rails 10 by the contact.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a track short-circuiting device that short-circuits the left and right rails of a track. [Background technology]

[0002] Railway tracks are divided into certain sections and track circuits are installed to detect the presence of a train in each section. Track circuits are electrical circuits that use the left and right rails of the track as signal paths, and when a train enters a section of the track circuit, the left and right rails are short-circuited via the wheels, detecting the presence of a train in that section. This detection result is transmitted to the signal safety equipment, which then switches the corresponding signals and crossings for safety control.

[0003] To conduct a short-circuit test to check whether such track circuits function properly, a track short-circuiter is used. The track short-circuiter has a pair of contacts connected to each other by a conductive cord, and each contact is manually installed on each rail to short-circuit the left and right rails. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5459708 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As described above, when performing a short-circuit test on a track circuit, the track shunts must be manually installed on the left and right rails, which requires manpower for installation and takes a long time for the test.

[0006] Furthermore, in order to reduce personnel and shorten testing time, it would be desirable to be able to automatically install the track short circuit on the rails, but there is a possibility that the contact part may not make proper contact with the rails, making it impossible to reliably short circuit the left and right rails.

[0007] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a track short-circuiting device that can reliably short-circuit the left and right rails of a track and that can also be automated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The track short-circuiting device of the present invention is a track short-circuiting device that short-circuits between left and right rails of a track, and includes a running vehicle that runs on the rail, fixing parts that are arranged on both left and right sides of the running vehicle and are detachably fixed to the rail, and left and right track short-circuiters that are arranged on both left and right sides of the running vehicle and are capable of approaching and detaching from the top surfaces of the rails to which the fixing parts are fixed, and short-circuit the left and right rails by contact. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the track short-circuiting device of the present invention, the left and right rails of the track can be reliably short-circuited and can also be automated. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B show a track shunt device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view and FIG. 1B is a schematic front view. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the track shunt device in a running state. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the track shunt device with the left and right outrigger portions moved to the extended position. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the track short-circuiting device in a state where the track is short-circuited. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the track short-circuiting device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] Figure 1(a) shows a schematic plan view of the track shunt device, and Figure 1(b) shows a schematic front view of the track shunt device.

[0013] A railway track comprises two rails 10, one on the left and one on the right, sleepers, a track bed, etc. The rail 10 is made of a conductive metal and is formed into a cross-sectional shape having a head 11, a web 12, and a bottom 13. The head 11 is wider than the web 12, and the underside of the head 11 is located between the head 11 and the web 12. The underside of the head 11 is provided on an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the web 12. The top surface of the head 11 is provided with a head surface 14, with which the treads of the train wheels come into contact when running. The head surface 14 is less prone to rust due to the passage of trains, and can be used for short-circuit testing.

[0014] Railway tracks are divided into certain sections and track circuits are installed to detect the presence of a train in each section. The track circuit is an electrical circuit whose signal path is the left and right rails 10 of the track, and when a train enters the track circuit in one section, the left and right rails 10 are short-circuited via the train's wheels, thereby detecting the presence of a train in that section. This detection result is transmitted to the signal safety equipment, which then switches the corresponding signals and crossings for safety control.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a track short-circuiting device 20 that automatically performs a short-circuit test to determine whether the track circuit functions normally.

[0016] The track short-circuiting device 20 is equipped with a traveling vehicle 21, which is a cart that travels on left and right rails 10. The traveling vehicle 21 is equipped with a main body 22 and wheels 23 that are rotatably arranged on both the left and right sides of the main body 22 that intersect with the traveling direction and at four locations before and after the traveling direction. The left and right wheels 23 are arranged on the left and right rails 10 and move in rotation. One of the two pairs of wheels 23 facing each other on the left and right is a drive wheel, and the traveling vehicle 21 travels on the rails 10 when this drive wheel 23 is rotated and driven. The wheels 23 are made of an insulating material such as resin, and do not short-circuit the left and right rails 10.

[0017] 2 to 4 show the track short-circuiting structure of the track short-circuiting device 20. Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the track short-circuiting device 20 in a state where it is ready to run, Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of the track short-circuiting device 20 with the left and right outrigger sections moved to the extended position, and Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of the track short-circuiting device 20 when it has short-circuited the tracks.

[0018] The track short-circuit device 20 includes a lifting section 26 that can be raised and lowered relative to the traveling vehicle 21, a lifting mechanism 27 that raises and lowers the lifting section 26 relative to the traveling vehicle 21, outrigger sections 28 provided on both the left and right sides of the lifting section 26, an outrigger moving mechanism 29 that moves the left and right outrigger sections 28 in an expanded and contracted direction in the left and right directions, fixing sections 30 provided on the left and right outrigger sections 28 for fixing the rails, track short-circuiters 31 provided on the left and right outrigger sections 28, and a pressing mechanism 32 that is a track short-circuiter moving mechanism that moves the track short-circuiters 31 downward and backward from the outrigger sections 28.

[0019] The lifting section 26 is elongated in the left-right direction, and its central part in the left-right direction is supported by a lifting mechanism 27, allowing it to move up and down within the main body 22 of the running vehicle 21 and to move back and forth downward from the underside of the main body 22 as it moves up and down.

[0020] The lifting mechanism 27 includes a fixed member 34 fixed to the main body 22 of the traveling vehicle 21, a winding unit 35 rotatably arranged on the lifting unit 26 by a bracket (not shown), left and right fixed side pulleys 36 rotatably arranged on the upper side of the fixed member 34, left and right lifting side pulleys 37 rotatably arranged on the lifting unit 26, a wire 38 whose both ends are connected to the winding unit 35 via the left and right lifting side pulleys 37 and the left and right fixed side pulleys 36, and a lifting motor 40 installed on the lifting unit 26 and which rotates and drives the winding unit 35 via a transmission mechanism 39. Rotating the lift motor 40 in one direction rotates the winding unit 35 in the winding direction to wind up the wire 38, thereby raising the lifting unit 26 while maintaining the horizontal position, and rotating the lift motor 40 in the other direction opposite to the one direction rotates the winding unit 35 in the unwinding direction to unwind the wire 38, thereby lowering the lifting unit 26 by its own weight while maintaining the horizontal position. The lifting mechanism 27 sets the position where the lifting unit 26 is stored inside the main body 22 of the traveling vehicle 21 as the raised position of the lifting unit 26 (the position shown in Figures 2 and 3), and can lower the lifting unit 26 from this raised position so as to advance below the underside of the main body 22 of the traveling vehicle 21.

[0021] The lifting mechanism 27 is not limited to a configuration using such a wire 38, and any configuration that can raise and lower the lifting section 26 may be used, such as a sliding mechanism that slides in the vertical direction or a configuration that combines a pantograph mechanism that can expand and contract in the vertical direction with a drive mechanism.

[0022] The left and right outrigger sections 28 are arranged relative to the lifting section 26 so as to be movable in the left-right direction between an extended position (position shown in Figure 3) in which they extend outward from the main body 22 of the traveling vehicle 21 in the left-right direction, and a stored position (position shown in Figure 2) in which they are stored inside the main body 22.

[0023] The left and right outrigger sections 28 are supported by the lifting section 26 via a slide mechanism 43 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. The slide mechanism 43 has a slide guide 44 provided on the lifting section 26 along the left-right direction, and a slide member 45 provided on the outrigger sections 28 along the left-right direction, and the slide member 45 is combined with the slide guide 44 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction.

[0024] The left and right outrigger sections 28 are provided on their undersides with abutment sections 46 that descend integrally with the lifting section 26 in the extended position to abut against the top surface 14 of the rail 10 (see Figure 4). The abutment sections 46 also serve as positioning surfaces that determine the height positions of the outrigger sections 28 and the top surface 14 of the rail 10.

[0025] An outrigger moving mechanism 29 is provided for each of the left and right outrigger sections 28. The outrigger moving mechanism 29 includes an outrigger motor 49 installed on the lifting section 26, a screw shaft 50 connected to the rotation shaft of the outrigger motor 49, and a screw receiving section 51 fixed to the outrigger section 28 and through which the screw shaft 50 threads. When the left and right outrigger motors 49 are driven and the outrigger motors 49 rotate in one direction or the other, the left and right outrigger sections 28 expand and contract in the left-right direction relative to the lifting section 26 via the screw engagement between the screw shaft 50 and the screw receiving section 51.

[0026] The fixing portions 30 are provided at the lower outer ends of the left and right outrigger portions 28 in the lateral direction. The fixing portions 30 include a protruding portion 54 protruding downward from the lower portion of the outrigger portion 28, a claw portion 55 protruding from the inside of the lower portion of the protruding portion 54 to a region below the abutting portion 46, and a roller 56 rotatably provided on the claw portion 55. The fixing portions 30 also include the abutting portion 46 that abuts against the top surface 14 of the head portion 11. The protruding portion 54 faces or contacts the outer surface of the head portion 11 when fixed to the rail 10. The claw portion 55 is provided between the abutting portion 46 and the protruding portion 54 at a predetermined distance corresponding to the height width of the head portion 11 of the rail 10, and is positioned to enter the underside of the head portion 11 when fixed to the rail 10. The roller 56 is rotatable in the movement direction of the outrigger portion 28 and engages with the underside of the head portion 11 when fixed to the rail 10. When the fixing portion 30 is fixed to the rail 10, the abutment portion 46 abuts against the top surface 14 of the head 11 and the roller 56 engages with the underside of the head 11, thereby fixing the fixing portion 30 to the rail 10.

[0027] The track short circuit 31 has contact portions 59 that come into contact with and separate from the top surface 14 of the rail 10. The contact portions 59 are made of a conductive metal, and the left and right contact portions 59 are electrically connected to each other via a cable or the like.

[0028] The pressing mechanism 32 advances and retreats the contact portion 59 downward from the outrigger portion 28, pressing the contact portion 59 into contact with the top surface 14 of the rail 10. The pressing mechanism 32 includes a support member 61 installed on the outrigger portion 28, a pressing motor 62 attached to the support member 61, a drive gear 63 connected to the rotation shaft of the pressing motor 62, a driven gear 64 rotatably disposed on the support member 61 and threadedly engaged with the drive gear 63, a shaft 65 whose upper end side threads into a screw hole provided in the center of the driven gear 64 and whose lower end side is arranged on the contact portion 59 so as to be movable up and down, and a spring 67 arranged between a presser portion 66 fixed to the shaft 65 and the contact portion 59. Then, driven gear 64 is rotated via drive gear 63 by driving motor 62, and contact portion 59 moves downward or upward together with shaft 65 that screws into driven gear 64. When contact portion 59 is moved downward, if there is no rail 10, the lower portion of contact portion 59 is in a positional relationship where it protrudes downward further than abutment portion 46 of outrigger portion 28, but if there is a rail 10, contact portion 59 comes into contact with top surface 14 of rail 10, restricting its downward movement and compressing spring 67, and the spring force of spring 67 brings contact portion 59 into contact with top surface 14 of rail 10 with a predetermined pressing force that ensures electrical connection.

[0029] The pressing mechanism 32 is not limited to such a mechanism, and may have any configuration as long as it can move the contact portion 59 in the vertical direction and can bring the contact portion 59 into contact with the top surface 14 of the rail 10 with a predetermined pressing force using a spring force.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the track shunt device 20.

[0031] The track short-circuit device 20 is connected to a control unit 70 that controls the track short-circuit device 20, a position information acquisition unit 71 that acquires information about the position of the track short-circuit device 20, a communication unit 72 that wirelessly communicates with an external device such as a server that manages the short-circuit test, a power supply unit 73 that is composed of a rechargeable secondary battery or the like that supplies power to the track short-circuit device 20, a travel motor 74 that drives the wheels 23 that serve as drive wheels to move the traveling vehicle 21 on the rails 10, and the lifting motor 40, outrigger motor 49, and pressing motor 62 described above.

[0032] The position information acquisition unit 71 acquires the position information of the traveling vehicle 21 using a satellite positioning system such as a global positioning system (GPS) or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) or an encoder that detects the rotation of the wheels 23 .

[0033] Then, based on the short circuit test plan, the control unit 70 controls the traveling vehicle 21 arranged on the rail 10 to automatically travel to a section where a short circuit test of the track circuit is to be performed, and controls the traveling vehicle 21 to automatically perform the short circuit test. Alternatively, the control unit 70 controls the traveling movement of the traveling vehicle 21 and the short circuit test based on a remote command via communication with a higher-level control device or remote operation by a remote control device such as a remote controller operated by an operator.

[0034] Next, the operation of the short circuit test by the track short circuit device 20 will be described.

[0035] The track short-circuit device 20 automatically drives the traveling vehicle 21 placed on the rail 10 toward the short-circuit test location while checking the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 71 based on information about the short-circuit test location for the section where the track circuit short-circuit test is to be performed. After confirming that the traveling vehicle 21 has moved to the short-circuit test location for the section where the track circuit short-circuit test is to be performed, the traveling vehicle 21 is stopped. Alternatively, the traveling vehicle 21 is moved to the short-circuit test location for the section where the track circuit short-circuit test is to be performed by remote command via communication with a higher-level control device or by remote control using a remote control device such as a remote controller operated by an operator.

[0036] As shown in Figure 2, when the traveling vehicle 21 is traveling, the lifting section 26 is raised to the raised position, and the left and right outrigger sections 28 are positioned at a height that does not contact the rail 10. In addition, the left and right outrigger sections 28 are moved to a stored position where they are stored on the main body 22 side of the traveling vehicle 21, so that they do not exceed the construction gauge on both the left and right sides of the track.

[0037] After the traveling vehicle 21 stops in the section where the short-circuit test of the track circuit is to be performed, the short-circuit test is started automatically or by remote command or remote operation.

[0038] 3, first, the left and right outrigger sections 28 move from the stored position to the extended position on the outside in the left-right direction by operation of the left and right outrigger moving mechanisms 29. When the left and right outrigger sections 28 move to the extended position, the claw sections 55 and rollers 56 of the fixing section 30 move outward in the left-right direction from the head section 11 of the rail 10, and the abutment sections 46 of the outrigger sections 28 face the head surface 14 of the rail 10.

[0039] As the lifting mechanism 27 operates, the lifting section 26 descends from the raised position under its own weight and moves downward from the underside of the main body 22 of the running vehicle 21, and the abutment sections 46 of the left and right outrigger sections 28 abut against the top surfaces 14 of the left and right rails 10, stopping the descent of the lifting section 26 (see the height position of the lifting section 26 shown in Figure 4).

[0040] Thereafter, as shown in Figure 4, due to the operation of the left and right outrigger moving mechanisms 29, the abutting portions 46 of the outrigger portions 28 slide on the top surface 14 of the rail 10, and the left and right outrigger portions 28 move toward the storage position toward the center in the left-right direction, and the claw portions 55 and rollers 56 of the fixing portions 30 enter the underside of the head portion 11 of the rail 10. Because the rollers 56 are rotatable in the movement direction of the outrigger portions 28, they come into contact with the underside of the head portion 11 of the rail 10 and rotate along the underside of the head portion 11. Because the underside of the head portion 11 is an inclined surface, as the rollers 56 enter the underside of the head portion 11 of the rail 10, the head portion 11 is sandwiched and fixed between the abutting portions 46 and the rollers 56 from above and below.

[0041] Thereafter, the pressing mechanisms 32 of the left and right track short-circuit switches 31 operate to lower the contact portions 59, and the lower surfaces of the contact portions 59 come into contact with the top surfaces 14 of the rails 10. When the contact portions 59 come into contact with the top surfaces 14 of the rails 10, the lowering of the contact portions 59 is restricted and the springs 67 are compressed, and the spring force of the springs 67 brings the contact portions 59 into contact with the top surfaces 14 of the rails 10 with a predetermined pressing force that ensures electrical connection.

[0042] Then, by short-circuiting the left and right rails 10 through the left and right track short-circuiting switches 31, a short circuit is confirmed in the section where a short-circuit test of the track circuit is performed by the signal safety equipment.

[0043] Furthermore, once the short-circuit test is complete, the pressing mechanisms 32 of the left and right track short-circuiters 31 are operated to raise the contact portions 59 and move them away from above the rail 10, and the outrigger movement mechanisms 29 are operated to move the left and right outrigger portions 28 outward in the left-right direction, thereby disengaging the claw portions 55 and rollers 56 of the fixing portions 30 from the underside of the head portion 11 of the rail 10. Thereafter, the lifting mechanism is operated to raise the lifting portion 26, and the outrigger movement mechanisms 29 are operated to move the left and right outrigger portions 28 to their stored positions. This causes the track short-circuit device 20 to return to its initial state when running, and, if there is a next short-circuit test location, it moves to the next short-circuit test location.

[0044] As described above, the track short-circuit device 20 is provided with the fixing part 30 that is detachably fixed to the rail 10, so that when the contact part 59 of the track short-circuiter 31 is brought into contact with the top surface 14 of the rail 10, the outrigger part 28 and the like do not lift up, and the contact part 59 of the track short-circuiter 31 can be reliably electrically connected to the top surface 14 of the rail 10, thereby short-circuiting the left and right rails 10 of the track. Therefore, it is also possible to accommodate automation in which the traveling vehicle 21 moves to any short-circuit test location and performs a short-circuit test.

[0045] Furthermore, left and right outrigger sections 28 that expand and contract are provided on both the left and right sides of the lifting section 26 that rises and falls relative to the traveling vehicle 21, and fixing sections 30 and track shunts 31 are provided on the left and right outrigger sections 28, thereby preventing the outrigger sections 28 from coming into contact with the rails 10 or exceeding the construction limit from the track when the traveling vehicle 21 is traveling.

[0046] Since the outrigger portion 28 is provided with a pressing mechanism 32, the contact portion 59 of the track short-circuit switch 31 is raised when the outrigger portion 28 is expanded or contracted, thereby preventing interference with the rail 10, and during a short-circuit test, the contact portion 59 of the track short-circuit switch 31 can be pressed against the top surface 14 of the rail 10.

[0047] Because the outrigger portion 28 is provided with the abutment portion 46, when the lifting portion 26 descends, the abutment portion 46 abuts against the top surface 14 of the rail 10, thereby positioning the outrigger portion 28 and the top surface 14 of the rail 10 in the height direction. Therefore, the claw portion 55 and roller 56 of the fixing portion 30 can enter the underside of the head portion 11 of the rail 10, and the fixing portion 30 can be reliably fixed to the rail 10.

[0048] Since the roller 56 of the fixing part 30 can rotate in the direction of movement of the outrigger part 28, it rotates and moves by coming into contact with the underside of the head 11 of the rail 10 when fixing or releasing the rail 10, allowing for smooth fixing or releasing of the rail 10.

[0049] Furthermore, the track short-circuit device 20 can be automated, which saves labor and shortens the time required for short-circuit testing, allowing short-circuit testing to be carried out efficiently.

[0050] The fixing part 30 may be fixed by engaging with the underside of the head part 11 from the inside of the rail 10. The fixing part 30 may have any configuration that can fix the rail 10, such as a gripping structure that clamps the head part 11 of the rail 10 from both the left and right sides.

[0051] In addition to performing track shunting, the track shunting device 20 can also be used to check the track conditions in the event of a disaster or to take measures against pests on local railway lines by being equipped with a camera that takes pictures of the direction of travel.

[0052] Although the embodiment of the present invention and its modified examples have been described above, various combinations of configurations, partial omissions, substitutions and modifications are also possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10 Rail 11 Head 12 Abdomen 13 Bottom 14 Parietal surface 20 Track shunting device 21 Traveling Vehicle 26 Lifting section 28 Outrigger section 30 Fixed part 31 Track shunt 32 Pressing mechanism 46 Contact part 55 Claw 56 Laura 70 Control Unit

Claims

1. A track short-circuiting device that short-circuits the left and right rails of a track, a traveling vehicle that travels on the rail; a fixing portion disposed on each of the left and right sides of the traveling vehicle and removably fixed to the rail; left and right track short-circuiters that are disposed on both the left and right sides of the traveling vehicle and are capable of approaching and removably contacting the top surfaces of the rails to which the fixing parts are fixed, thereby short-circuiting the left and right rails; A track short-circuiting device comprising:

2. A track short-circuiting device that short-circuits the left and right rails of a track, a traveling vehicle that travels on the rail; a lifting unit that moves up and down relative to the traveling vehicle; outrigger units provided on both the left and right sides of the lifting unit, the outrigger units being expandable and contractible between an extended position where they extend outward from the traveling vehicle in the left-right direction and a stored position where they are stored on the traveling vehicle side; a fixing portion provided on each of the left and right outrigger portions, the fixing portion being fixed to the rail when the outrigger portions move to the extended position and the lifting portion moves from a lowered state toward the stored position; a track short-circuit provided on each of the left and right outrigger portions, capable of contacting the top surface of the rail to which the fixing portion is fixed, and short-circuiting the left and right rails by contact; A track short-circuiting device comprising:

3. a pressing mechanism that is provided on the left and right outrigger sections and moves the track short-circuiting device downward from the outrigger sections and presses the track short-circuiting device against and into contact with the top surface of the rail; 3. The track short-circuiting device according to claim 2.

4. The outrigger portion has an abutment portion that faces the top surface of the rail when moved to the extended position and abuts against the top surface of the rail when the lifting portion is lowered.

3. The track short-circuiting device according to claim 2.

5. The rail has a cross-sectional shape having a head, a web, and a bottom, The fixing portion has a claw portion that is disposed on the underside of the head portion of the rail when the outrigger portion moves to the extended position and the lifting portion moves from a lowered state toward the stored position.

3. The track short-circuiting device according to claim 2.

6. The fixing portion is provided on the claw portion so as to be rotatable in the direction of movement of the outrigger portion, and has a roller that engages with the underside of the head portion of the rail.

6. The track short-circuiting device according to claim 5.

7. and a control unit that, when short-circuiting the track, operates the outrigger unit to move it from the stored position to the extended position, operates the lifting unit to lower it from the raised position, operates the outrigger unit to move it from the extended position toward the stored position, thereby fixing the fixing unit to the rail, and operates the pressing mechanism to press the track short-circuiter against and contact with the top surface of the rail.

4. The track short-circuiting device according to claim 3.

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