Electric point machine lock status detection device

Abstract

To provide a lock state detection device of an electric switching machine capable of performing readjustment at appropriate timing even before becoming incapable of switching regardless of normality / abnormality, performing visual confirmation without variation, and performing accurate detection without erroneous detection due to clogging of a slit.SOLUTION: A lock state detection device includes: measurement means 25 provided on a locking piece to measure a load pushed from a notched side surface of a locking rod; data processing means 31 comparing a measured value of the measurement means with a preset reference value to output a quality situation of the locking; and display monitoring means 38, 39 capable of displaying and always monitoring output data from the data processing means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lock state detection device for an electric point machine. [Background technology]

[0002] A known example of this type of conventional device is a lock deviation detector. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, this lock deviation detector detects a lock deviation state when a moving slit attached to the locking pin of a point machine blocks light between a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element in a fixed slit attached inside the outer casing. When the detector receives light without being blocked by the slit, the built-in relay contacts operate, and the light-emitting diode in the display unit lights up, indicating a normal state. On the other hand, if the light is blocked by the slit, the built-in relay drops after a certain period of time, outputting an alarm and indicating an abnormality, and the light-emitting diode in the display unit goes out.

[0003] However, conventional lock shift detectors have the following problems. (1) Only normal and abnormal results are known, and an alarm is not issued until the deviation amount becomes large enough to make switching impossible, making it impossible to readjust at the appropriate time before switching becomes impossible. (If the lock deviation amount exceeds ±1.5 mm, the point machine will become unable to switch and trains will not be able to run.) (2) Because the detection method is optical, the slits may become clogged with lubricating oil or dust inside the point machine, resulting in false detection. (3) The locking status was confirmed by visually inspecting the gap between the lock piece and the notch inside the point machine, so there was variation in detection depending on the worker.

[0004] Therefore, the inventors considered that the lock deviation detector monitors the lateral position (gap) between the lock piece (head) and the notch in the locking rod when the head is inserted into the notch, and detects whether the two are in the correct position. They thought that if they could measure the positions (gap between the left and right) of the locking rod notch and the lock piece more precisely, it would be possible for workers to perform maintenance and adjustment before they come into contact with each other, which would be effective for preventive maintenance, and they conducted extensive research and completed this invention. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] That is, the object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional devices as described above, and to provide a lock state detection device for an electric point machine which can be readjusted at an appropriate timing not only when it is normal or abnormal, but also before it becomes impossible to switch, which can be visually checked without any variation, and which can perform accurate detection without causing erroneous detection due to clogging of the slits. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a locked state detection device for an electric point machine having a locking rod and a lock piece that is inserted into a notch formed in the locking rod to lock it, characterized in that it comprises: measuring means that is provided on the lock piece and measures the load that is pressed from the side of the notch in the locking rod; data processing means that compares the measurement value of the measuring means with a preset reference value and outputs the pass / fail status of the locking state; and display monitoring means that displays the output data from the data processing means so that it can be monitored at all times.

[0007] The invention described in claim 2 is the same as claim 1, in which the measuring means includes a pin positioned opposite the cutout side of the locking lever and movable relative to the side, a spring material that receives the compressive load when the tip of the pin is pushed from the cutout side and moves, and a sensor that measures the compressive load received by the spring material.

[0008] The invention described in claim 3 is in claim 2, wherein the measuring means is built into the lock piece as a measuring unit in which a sensor is arranged inside the box-shaped unit body with a spring material interposed between it and the pin, and the tip of the pin protrudes outside the unit body, faces the side of the cutout, and is arranged so that it can be contacted.

[0009] The invention described in claim 4 is in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data processing means comprises a detection unit that detects the measurement value from the measurement means, a memory unit that stores a preset reference value as a threshold, and an output unit that compares the measurement value of the detection unit with the reference value of the memory unit and outputs when the measurement value reaches the threshold.

[0010] The invention described in claim 5 is in claim 4, wherein the output unit outputs data to the display monitoring means indicating good when the left and right gaps formed between the lock piece and the notch are equal when the lock piece is inserted into the notch in a locked state, and indicating normal, caution, or alarm as a deviation occurs in the left and right gaps and the deviation increases. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the invention described above, the locked state detection device for an electric point machine according to claim 1 comprises a measuring means provided on the lock piece for measuring the load applied from the side of the notch in the locking lever, a data processing means for comparing the measurement value of this measuring means with a preset reference value and outputting the locking state status, and a display monitoring means for displaying the output data from this data processing means for constant monitoring. Therefore, not only can it be determined whether the state is normal or abnormal, but it can also be readjusted at an appropriate time even before it becomes impossible to switch, which was not possible in the past. Therefore, visual confirmation can be performed without variance. Moreover, accurate detection is possible without the risk of false detection due to clogging of the slit.

[0012] According to the invention described in claim 2, the measuring means includes a pin that is arranged at a position opposite the cutout side of the locking lever and is movable relative to said side, a spring material that receives the pressing load when the tip of the pin is pushed from the cutout side and moves, and a sensor that measures the pressing load received by the spring material, thereby making it possible to make the measuring means compact in configuration.

[0013] According to the invention described in claim 3, the measuring means is built into the lock piece as a measuring unit in which a sensor is arranged within the box-shaped unit body with a spring material interposed between it and the pin, and the tip of the pin protrudes outside the unit body, facing the side of the cutout and arranged so that it can be contacted.Therefore, almost no external load is applied to the measuring means, and malfunctions, etc. can be suppressed.

[0014] According to the invention described in claim 4, the data processing means comprises a detection unit that detects the measurement value from the measurement means, a memory unit that stores a preset reference value as a threshold, and an output unit that compares the measurement value of the detection unit with the reference value of the memory unit and outputs when the measurement value reaches the threshold, so that the quality of the locking condition can be output according to the threshold, making it possible to grasp the situation in detail.

[0015] According to the invention of claim 5, when the lock piece is inserted into the notch and the left and right gaps formed between the lock piece and the notch are equal in the locked state, the output unit outputs data to the display monitoring means indicating good, and as a deviation occurs in the left and right gaps and this deviation increases, the data changes from good to normal, caution, or alarm. Therefore, the degree of change in the locked state can be easily confirmed visually at all times by the workers who install, inspect, and adjust the lock, and the operations manager, improving workability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing an overview of a locked state detection device for an electric point machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a front view of the point machine in the reverse locked state. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a front view of the point machine in a locked position. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a lock state monitor used in the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a lock load processing unit and the like. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the relationship between the amount of depression of a measuring pin, the load, and the output voltage. [Figure 9] 10 is a table showing the relationship between the amount of pushing of the measuring pin, the load, and the output voltage in numerical form. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional lock deviation detector for a point machine. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the vicinity of the locking rod of the lock deviation detector of the same point machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, a locked state detection device for an electric point machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] In Figures 1 to 5, reference numeral 1 denotes an electric point machine. This point machine 1 is composed of an operating rod 2, a drive motor 3, a locking rod 5, etc., and the operating rod 2 is operated by the drive motor 3 via a drive transmission mechanism such as a clutch. The locking rod 5 is composed of locking rods 5a and 5b arranged above and below at a predetermined distance. The point machine 1 mainly has a switching function and a locking function, which will be explained below.

[0019] The point machine 1 is equipped with a switching mechanism that branches the tracks and switches the train's route by bringing a pair of tongue rails 12 into or out of contact with the base rail 11. Figure 1 shows the point machine 1 in a reverse position (R side) with the tongue rails 12a and 12b in close contact with the base rails 11a and 11b. When the tongue rails 12a and 12b are moved away from the base rails 11a and 11b from the state shown in Figure 1, the point machine 1 enters a normal position (N side) (see Figure 4). That is, the point machine 1 converts the rotational motion of the drive motor 3 into the linear motion of the operating rod 2, and pushes and pulls the point bar 13 connected to the tongue rail 12 from the operating rod 2 via a connecting rod 15 or the like, thereby switching the tongue rail 12. This is called a switching function.

[0020] The point machine 1 is also equipped with a locking mechanism that connects the locking rod 5 to the tongue rail 12 via a connecting rod 14 or the like, moves the locking rod 5 left and right in FIG. 1 in conjunction with the movement of the tongue rail 12, and maintains the tongue rail 12 in a locked state when the switching operation is completed. The action of this locking mechanism is called a locking function. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the point machine 1 has a pair of lock pieces 17 built into the point body so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the movement direction of the operating rod 2. The lock pieces 17 are locked by inserting them into notches 18 formed in the locking rod 5, and unlocked by removing them, allowing movement. The tips of the locking rods 5a and 5b are connected to the tongue rails 12a and 12b via connecting rods 14 or the like, and an adjustment screw and an adjustment nut are provided at the middle of the connecting rod 14 to finely adjust the positions of the locking rods 5a and 5b.

[0021] Lock piece 17 is made up of lock piece 17a and lock piece 17b arranged at a predetermined distance from each other in a plan view as shown in Fig. 1. As described above, when lock pieces 17a and 17b are inserted into notches 18a and 18b formed on the base end sides of locking pins 5a and 5b, the locking state (locked state) is achieved.

[0022] To explain the relationship between lock pieces 17a, 17b and lock pins 5a, 5b, (1) when neither lock piece 17a, 17b is inserted into notch 18a, 18b, lock pins 5a, 5b can move left and right. (2) when lock piece 17a is inserted into notch 18a of lock pin 5a, lock pins 5a, 5b are locked. (3) when lock piece 17b is inserted into notch 18b of lock pin 5b, lock pins 5a, 5b are locked. In other words, (1) is the unlocked state of the lock pins and lock pieces, and (2) and (3) are the locked states.

[0023] In Figure 6, reference numeral 20 denotes a lock status monitor equipped with a measurement unit 21. The measurement unit 21 has a unit body 22 with a box-shaped space, within which a measurement pin 23, a coil spring 24, a cover 26, and a load sensor 25 are arranged in this order. L indicates the amount of protrusion of the measurement pin 23 outside the unit body 22, and this protrusion L is set to 3.5 mm when the pin 23 is not inserted into the notch 18 (i.e., when the coil spring 24 is in its natural state without any load). Meanwhile, the width between both sides of the notch 18 is set to 3.0 mm. Therefore, when the lock piece 17 is inserted into the notch 18, it is guided by a guide member (not shown) attached to the lock pin 5 to ensure smooth insertion. That is, because the protrusion amount L of pin 23 is greater than the sum of the left and right gaps a (3.5 mm > 3.0 mm), it is recessed when inserted, but the guide material causes pin 23 to be pushed in while being recessed from the tip so as to compress coil spring 24. When pin 23 is pushed in 2 mm, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the left and right gaps a in notch 18 are 1.5 mm each, for a total of 3.0 mm, and this state of gap a is the appropriate locking state. Note that the upper limit of protrusion amount L (3.5 mm) of pin 23 is preferably about 4 mm, taking into consideration the compressive force of coil spring 24 and the compactness of the unit.

[0024] As the temperature changes, the positions of the lock piece 17 and the notch 18 in the locking pin 5 may become misaligned, which changes the value of the gap a between the left and right sides and accordingly changes the amount of depression of the pin 23. For this reason, in this embodiment, the value of the gap a is measured by the locking state monitor 20, and the locking state of the lock piece 17 is displayed so that it can be constantly monitored. The configuration will be explained below.

[0025] The lock state monitor 20 configured as described above is built into the lock pieces 17a, 17b by attachment as shown in Figures 3 and 5. When the tip of the pin 23 protruding outward comes into contact with the side surface of the notch 18 of the locking pin 5 and is pressed, the pin 23 moves in the direction pressing the coil spring 24, and the load of the coil spring 24 that is pressed as it moves is detected by the sensor 25, which outputs a detection signal to the lock load processing unit 31 shown in Figure 7.

[0026] The lock load processing unit 31 is made up of a lock load detection unit 33, a lock load memory unit 34, a temperature data processing unit 36, and a data output unit 37. An N-side load sensor 25a and an R-side load sensor 25b are connected to the lock load detection unit 33. A setting unit 32 is connected to the lock load memory unit 34. A temperature sensor 35 is connected to the temperature data processing unit 36. A monitor display unit 38 and a centralized monitoring device 39 are also connected to the data output unit 37.

[0027] The setting unit 32 sets the load at the time of initial installation as a reference value, and also sets an arbitrary threshold value for the difference between the measured value and the reference value. The threshold value is used to output, for example, an alarm in response to the measurement value of the load sensor 25, and an arbitrary value related to the measured numerical value is set for the positional relationship between the lock piece 17 and the center position of the notch 18.

[0028] The lock load detection unit 33 receives the output voltage as output data from the measurement unit 21, detects the load on the coil spring 24, and outputs the detected information (output voltage) to the memory unit 34. The memory unit 34 compares the stored information (output voltage) with the detected information (output voltage), and sends the result to the output unit 37. The output unit 37 inputs information from the memory unit 34 and information from the temperature data processing unit 36 ​​sent from the temperature sensor 35, and outputs the information to the monitor display unit 38 and the centralized monitoring device 39, and also outputs a warning, an alarm, or the like when a threshold is exceeded.

[0029] The monitor display unit 38 displays information from the output unit 37, such as data indicating switching, alarm, caution, good condition, etc. The centralized monitoring device 39 can check information from the output unit 37, information from the data processing unit 36, alarms, etc. In addition to the data on the monitor display unit 38, it can also check the amount of depression of the pin 23, the load on the coil spring 24, the output voltage, and the ambient temperature. The monitor display unit 38 is installed on-site as it is the equipment of the worker who installs, inspects, and adjusts the unit. The centralized monitoring device 39 is installed in the equipment room as it is the equipment of the worker who manages the operation.

[0030] The load sensor 25 is affected by the ambient temperature, and the value changes when the gap a, which is 1.5 mm on each side, changes due to temperature changes, etc. Therefore, the lock load processing unit 31 corrects the value based on the measurement results, so that the correct load can be output even in harsh environments.

[0031] As described above, according to this embodiment, the lock pieces 17a, 17b are inserted into the notches 18a, 18b of the locking rods 5a, 5b to lock the tongue rail 12, and when the insertion is released the tongue rail 12 is unlocked, which is the normal locking state detection function. In addition, it also has the function of monitoring the locking state of the locking rods 5a, 5b due to misalignment, etc., from good to abnormal such as an alarm.

[0032] Figures 8 and 9 show the relationship between the amount of pin 23 depression, load, and output voltage. For example, if pin 23 is depressed 2 mm, the left and right gaps a become equal, the reference load value becomes 40 N (output voltage 6.0 V), and the locking state becomes good at the correct switching position. If pin 23 is depressed 2.5 mm, the load becomes 50 N (output voltage 7.5 V), which is normal. If pin 23 is depressed 3.0 mm, the load becomes 60 N (output voltage 9.0 V), which is a warning. If pin 23 is depressed 3.3 mm, the load becomes 66 N (output voltage 9.9 V), which is an alarm. On the other hand, if pin 23 is depressed 1.5 mm, the load becomes 30 N (output voltage 4.5 V), which is normal. If pin 23 is depressed 1.0 mm, the load becomes 20 N, which is the output voltage (3.0 V), which is a warning. If the pin 23 is pressed in 0.7 mm, the load becomes 14 N (output voltage 2.1 V), and an alarm is issued. In this way, by measuring the load with the load sensor 25 from the numerical value of the pin 23 pressing in, it is possible to output information in a timely manner as to whether the locking status is good, normal, caution, alarm, etc.

[0033] If any information other than "good" or "normal" is output, such as a warning or alarm, it is considered to be abnormal, and it is possible to set a threshold for the output voltage value that causes this. That is, in this example, the thresholds are set as follows: 0 to 1.5V: conversion in progress, etc.; 1.5 to 2.1V: alarm (right); 2.1 to 3.0V: warning (right); 3.0 to 5.25V, 6.75 to 9V: normal; 5.25 to 6.75V: good; 9 to 9.9V: warning (left); 9.9V or higher: alarm (left). Here, "right" indicates the lock piece 17a side, and "left" indicates the lock piece 17b side.

[0034] The operation of the lock state detection device will be explained below. As described above, the lock state detection device has the normal lock state detection function of locking the tongue rail 12 by inserting the lock pieces 17a, 17b into the notches 18a, 18b of the locking pins 5a, 5b, and unlocking the tongue rail 12 by releasing the insertion. In addition, the lock state detection device also has the function of displaying and monitoring the lock state of the locking pins 5a, 5b due to misalignment, etc., which will be explained below.

[0035] 3 and 5, when lock pieces 17a, 17b are inserted into notches 18a, 18b of locking pins 5a, 5b, if the gap is equal, 1.5 mm on the left and 1.5 mm on the right, pins 23 of lock pieces 17a, 17b will be pushed in 2.0 mm from their tips. This pushing causes sensor 25 to input output data (output voltage 6.0 V) from a load of 40 N to lock load detection unit 33, which then inputs the output data to lock load memory unit 34 and data output unit 37. Since the output voltage of 6.0 V is within the threshold range of 5.25 to 6.75 V, monitor display unit 38 displays "Good," and the centralized monitoring device 39 can also monitor the state. In this case, it can be seen that the locking state is good, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0036] When lock pieces 17a, 17b are inserted into notches 18a, 18b of lock pins 5a, 5b, if the gap is misaligned 0 mm or 3 mm to the left, pins 23 of lock pieces 17a, 17b will be pushed in 0.5 mm from their tips. This pushing causes sensor 25 to input an output voltage of 10.5 V from a load of 70 N to lock load detection unit 33, which then inputs the output voltage to lock load memory unit 34 and data output unit 37. Since the output voltage of 10.5 V is in the range above the threshold of 9.9 V, "Alarm (Left)" is displayed on monitor display unit 38, and monitoring is also possible with centralized monitoring device 39. In this case, it is clear that the lock state is at an alarm level. An alarm will also be issued if necessary.

[0037] Furthermore, when lock pieces 17a, 17b are inserted into notches 18a, 18b of lock pins 5a, 5b, if the gap is misaligned 3mm to the left and 0mm to the right, pins 23 of lock pieces 17a, 17b will be pushed in 0.5mm from their tips. This pushing causes sensor 25 to input an output voltage of 1.5V from a load of 10N to lock load detection unit 33, which in turn inputs the output voltage to lock load memory unit 34 and data output unit 37. Since the output voltage of 1.5V is within the threshold range of 1.5 to 2.1V, "Alarm (Right)" is displayed on monitor display unit 38, and monitoring is also possible with centralized monitoring device 39. In this case, it is clear that the lock state is at an alarm level. An alarm will also be issued if necessary.

[0038] In this way, sensor 25 detects the pressure load of pin 23 on coil spring 24 when lock pieces 17a, 17b are inserted into notches 18a, 18b of locking pins 5a, 5b, and the output data can precisely capture the amount of misalignment in the locked state. This eliminates the previous problem of only being able to determine whether the lock was normal or abnormal based on the presence or absence of light blocking, and allows the user to capture changes in the locked state. Furthermore, by being able to capture changes in the locked state, it is possible to output information corresponding to the change in state, such as normal, caution, caution required, or warning, in addition to an alarm indicating an imminent switch failure. This change in state can also be output externally as a guide for position adjustment (e.g., by LED color indication), and the ability to gradually determine the amount of misalignment can prevent switch malfunctions.

[0039] Since it is now possible to output information according to the degree of change, the adjustment of the gap a between the notch 18 of the locking pin 5 and the lock piece 17, which was previously done by eye, can now be adjusted based on the output information, eliminating variations among workers.

[0040] Since the gap a is converted (amplified) into a force (load) and then detected, it is not affected by soft foreign matter such as grease or dust, as was the case with previous detectors, and there is no risk of false detection due to lubricating oil or dust clogging the slit.

[0041] The detection width (resolution) can be freely changed by adjusting the strength of the coil spring 24. Although the amount of change in the gap a is minute, it can be amplified by using an appropriate coil spring.

[0042] Since the force of the locking pin 5 can be measured directly, it is more reliable than indirect measurement. By attaching it to the lock piece 17, the force (load) can be measured directly, which makes it more reliable than indirect measurement.

[0043] It should be noted that the above embodiment is merely a preferred example, and the detailed design of the present invention can be changed or modified as desired within the scope of the claims. For example, a spring material such as a disc spring or a leaf spring may be used instead of the coil spring 24. Furthermore, the configuration of the lock state monitor 20 is merely an example, and configurations with other shapes and structures may also be used. Furthermore, although an example has been given in which the load is converted into voltage as output data, it may also be converted into current instead of voltage. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Electric point machine 2 Operation 3 Drive motor 5, 5a, 5b Locking rod 11, 11a, 11b basic rails 12,12a,12b Tongue Rail 13 Point pole 14,15 Connecting rod 17 Rock Piece 18, 18a, 18b Notch 20 Lock Status Monitor 21 Measuring Unit 22 Unit body 23 Measuring pin 24 Coil spring (spring material) 25 Load sensor (measuring means) 26 Cover 31 Lock load processing unit (data processing means) 32 Setting section 33 Lock load detection unit 34 Lock load memory unit 35 Temperature Sensor 36 Temperature data processing section 37 Data output section 38 Monitor display 39 Central monitoring device a gap L Protrusion of the measuring pin

Claims

1. A lock state detection device for an electric point machine having a locking rod and a lock piece that is inserted into a notch formed in the locking rod to establish a locked state, a measuring means for measuring the load applied to the lock piece from the side of the notch in the locking lever; a data processing means for comparing the measurement value of the measuring means with a preset reference value and outputting the state of the locking condition; and a display monitoring means for displaying the output data from the data processing means so that the data can be monitored at all times.

2. 2. The lock state detection device for an electric point machine according to claim 1, wherein the measuring means comprises: a pin provided at a position opposite the cutout side surface of the locking pin so as to be movable relative to the side surface; a spring material that receives a pressing load when the tip of the pin is pushed from the cutout side surface and moves; and a sensor that measures the pressing load received by the spring material.

3. 3. The lock state detection device for an electric point machine according to claim 2, wherein the measuring means is built into the lock piece as a measuring unit in which a sensor is disposed within the box-type unit body with a spring material interposed between the sensor and the pin, and the tip of the pin protrudes outside the unit body, faces the side of the notch, and is arranged so as to be contactable.

4. 4. The locked state detection device for an electric point machine according to claim 1, wherein the data processing means comprises: a detection unit that detects the measurement value from the measurement means; a memory unit that stores a preset reference value as a threshold; and an output unit that compares the measurement value of the detection unit with the reference value in the memory unit and outputs an output when the measurement value reaches the threshold.

5. The lock state detection device for an electric point machine according to claim 4, wherein the output unit outputs data to the display monitoring means indicating good when left and right gaps formed between the lock piece and the notch are equal in the locked state with the lock piece inserted into the notch, and indicating normal, caution, or alarm as a deviation occurs in the left and right gaps and the deviation increases.

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