Point switching device

Abstract

The invention relates to a point switching device (1), comprising a slider (7) which is mounted so as to be moveable in the actuation direction (10) and which can be driven in the actuation direction (10) by a drive assembly (3), an actuating rod (9) which is mounted so as to be moveable in the actuation direction (10) between a first and a second actuation position and to which the slider (7) is drivingly coupled in the actuation direction (10) by means of a run-through coupling (8), and a blocking device (14, 15) for blocking the slider (7) in an end position region, wherein the run-through coupling (8) allows a shifting of the actuation rod (9) relative to the slider (7) in the event of a run-through, and a local maximum run-through force can be applied to the actuation rod (9) in the event of a run-though. The point switching device (1) has a position sensor which generates a switching signal in the event of a run-though before the maximum run-through force is reached.

Description

[0001] Switch setting device

[0002] The invention relates to a switch setting device comprising a carriage displaceable in the setting direction and driven in the setting direction by a drive unit, a set rod displaceable in the setting direction between a first and a second setting position, with which the carriage is coupled in the setting direction by means of a drive coupling, and a locking device for locking the carriage in an end position area, wherein the drive coupling

[0003] During a driving event, a displacement of the actuating rod relative to the carriage is permitted, and during a driving event, a local driving force maximum can be transferred to the actuating rod.

[0004] Such a device is known from WO 2024 / 003660 Al .

[0005] Switch operating devices serve to mechanically change the position of movable switch components using an electromechanical or hydraulic drive unit that drives a connecting rod. The switch drive includes a locking device for locking the connecting rod's end positions and an end-position testing device. This end-position testing device mechanically scans the switch's current state and generates a test signal. This signal reliably determines whether the switch has been correctly moved and whether the adjacent and adjacent switch rails are in their respective correct end positions. A first locking slide is provided for locking the connecting rod in one end position, and a second locking slide is provided for locking it in the other end position.The locking slides are designed so that, in the locked position, they simultaneously engage a corresponding locking recess in the respective test slides, thus locking these in their respective end positions. The locking slides are spring-loaded in the direction of the actuating rod or the test slides, so that they engage the respective locking recess under spring pressure. Therefore, to unlock the respective end position, it is necessary to retract the respective locking slide from the locking recess.

[0006] In the design according to WO 2024 / 003660 Al, it is provided that the locking slides can assume not only a first locking position in which the actuating rod is locked, but also a second locking position in which the respective locking slide remains engaged with the recess of a carriage coupled to the actuating rod, but the check slides are released. This second locking position of the locking slide, which lies between the first locking position and the release position, has the advantage that the carriage remains locked when the switch is being raised.

[0007] To allow the otherwise undesirable opening of the switch, the carriage can be coupled to the connecting rod via an opening coupling. During normal operation, the opening coupling ensures that the movement provided by the carriage is transmitted to the connecting rod. However, when the switch is opened, such high forces act on the connecting rod in the locked position of the switching mechanism that the opening coupling gives way and the connecting rod is moved relative to the carriage into the other end position. The opening coupling has a force-displacement characteristic curve that describes the relationship between the opening distance and the force acting on the connecting rod. This force-displacement characteristic is usually designed so that the force increases with increasing opening distance. For this purpose, the opening coupling is typically equipped with a force-actuated coupling element that is tensioned depending on the opening distance.At the point where the coupling reaches its maximum energy storage capacity, no force, or only a significantly reduced force, is exerted against further acceleration until a stop is reached. At or even before this point, the force-displacement characteristic curve exhibits a local maximum, which indicates the maximum transmissible acceleration force.

[0008] The movement of the tie rod relative to the carriage can have causes other than the point being raised. This includes cases where, due to wear or other malfunctions outside of a switching operation or incorrect adjustment of the linkage, e.g., between multiple drive levels of a point, the tie rod is subjected to excessively high forces, leading to actuation or adjustment of the tie rod while the carriage is locked. Such events can also occur with point setting devices that are not movable.

[0009] Within the scope of the present inventions, any events that lead to an adjustment of the actuating rod when the carriage is locked are referred to as "run-on events", regardless of whether it is a switch or switch-setting device that is movable or not movable in the classical sense.

[0010] The EP 1 219 521 Bl open bart a switch-setting device with a coupling between a carriage driven by a drive unit and the connecting rod. However, no locking device for locking the carriage in an end position area is provided.

[0011] It is desirable to monitor a switch setting device in such a way that the beginning of such collision events can be detected early, i.e. before the occurrence of more serious collision events, without requiring an inspection of the switch setting device by railway personnel for harmless collision events.

[0012] The invention therefore aims to enable such remote monitoring.

[0013] To solve this problem, the invention provides that, in a device of the type mentioned above, the switch setting device has a position sensor which generates a switching signal in the event of a collision before the maximum collision force is reached.

[0014] The invention is thus based on the idea of ​​detecting the occurrence of a collision event not only when the maximum collision force has been reached, but also at a lower target force. For this purpose, a switchable position sensor, such as an electrical switch, is provided. The approach can be such that the collision coupling has a force-displacement characteristic curve for the dependence of a collision path on the collision force acting on the actuating rod, wherein the force-displacement characteristic curve has a local maximum at the maximum transmissible collision force; that the switch operating device has a position sensor which generates the switching signal depending on the collision path when a switching point is reached; and that the force-displacement characteristic curve is flattened in the region of the switching point when the target force is below the maximum collision force, in particular being horizontally and / or sloping.

[0015] When a specific travel distance is detected by the electrical switch, the force exerted can be deduced from the force-displacement characteristic of the drive coupling. However, since the actual force-displacement relationship during a drive event does not always correspond to the target force-displacement relationship due to component tolerances and adjustment inaccuracies, a precise determination of a specific force cannot be made when a particular travel distance is detected by the electrical switch. This is because early detection in a still safe state is only possible within a slight adjustment of the actuating rod, usually made more difficult by a simultaneous steep increase in force. To reduce this inaccuracy, the force-displacement characteristic can be flattened in the region of the position sensor's switching point when the target force is below the maximum drive force, in particular by running horizontally or downwards.This creates a region within the area of ​​the target force to be detected where the force varies less with the detected travel distance than in the preceding region of the force-displacement characteristic curve, so that a deviation in the detection of a specific travel distance leads only to a small deviation in the detected travel force. Travel distance is defined here as the displacement of the actuating rod relative to the stationary housing of the switch operating device.

[0016] The target force is preferably 70-90% of the maximum driving force.

[0017] Preferably, the drive coupling includes an energy storage device acting between the actuating rod and the carriage. The energy storage device defines the force with which the actuating rod must be subjected in the axial direction to cause a specific displacement of the actuating rod relative to the carriage against the effect of the energy storage device. The energy storage device can be any device that can absorb and release kinetic energy from the actuating rod.

[0018] Preferably, an existing electrical switch, originally intended for detecting a locked or unlocked state of the actuating device, can also be used as a position sensor for detecting the described impact events. In this context, a preferred embodiment of the switch actuating device provides that the locking device has at least one locking slide that can be displaced transversely to the direction of movement. This slide engages a recess in the slide under force to lock it in an end-position range. As a result of an impact event, when the maximum impact force is reached within the recess, the slide is moved from a first locking position to a second locking position and interacts with an electrical switch as a position sensor, depending on its displacement.

[0019] Preferably, the same electrical switch can be used which also generates a switching signal for the interlocking system controlling the point drive as part of end position monitoring.

[0020] The travel path of the actuating rod is translated into a displacement path of the locking slide, so that, with the carriage held stationary, a direct dependency arises between the travel path and the actuation path of the locking slide for actuating the electrical switch.

[0021] The flattening of the force-displacement characteristic can preferably be achieved by designing the locking slide to initiate a lateral offset of the carriage in the direction of the approach path before reaching the second locking position. This lateral offset of the carriage relieves the load on the approach clutch, thus reducing the increase in the force exerted by the approach clutch in the opposite direction to the approach during the offset.

[0022] This can be achieved in a particularly advantageous way by having the locking slide have a contact surface extending transversely to the direction of movement, which interacts with a counter surface of the slide. The contact surface and / or the counter surface has a transition section extending obliquely to the direction of movement, the sliding of which on the counter surface or contact surface generates the lateral offset. The contact surface is the stop surface via which the holding forces for locking a movement of the slide in the direction of movement are transferred to the slide. For this purpose, the contact surface is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement.The inclined transition section allows the locking slide to move laterally as it extends. The inclination of this transition section defines the ratio between the extent of the lateral displacement and the displacement of the locking slide, thus determining the degree of flattening of the force-displacement curve. The displacement of the locking slide, due to the travel of the actuating rod, increases the impact force, while the lateral displacement of the slide reduces it. The difference between these two contributions defines the slope of the force-displacement curve.

[0023] Preferably, the inclined transition section is arranged at the transition from a main section of the locking slide to a tapered end section. Likewise, the inclined transition section of the opposing surface can be arranged at the transition from a basic section of the recess to a widened end section.

[0024] Regarding the design of the drive coupling, a preferred embodiment provides that the drive coupling has a movable coupling element actuated by a power storage device, which is pressed by the power storage device into a coupling recess of the actuating rod.

[0025] It may be provided that the drive coupling is designed to transmit a maximum drive force locally when the coupling element exits the coupling recess.

[0026] Preferably, the actuating rod has a support area or a detent area for the coupling element that is parallel to the direction of actuation, on which the coupling element rests or into which the coupling element forcefully engages or positively engages after the maximum driving force in the area of ​​the coupling recess has been overcome. After a relative displacement of the actuating rod relative to the slide by a certain distance, this prevents the force reservoir from pushing the coupling element back into the coupling recess, thus maintaining this state and ensuring that the triggered switching signal is permanently displayed.

[0027] Before reaching the local maximum driving force, automatic resetting is still possible, whereby a preferred further development in this context provides that in the end position area of ​​the slide the coupling element can be returned to the coupling recess by the force storage device before the local maximum driving force or before the target force is reached.

[0028] A particularly advantageous embodiment provides that the drive coupling is attached to the carriage and the energy storage device has no connection to the actuating rod. This allows the drive coupling to be designed in a more accessible, space-saving, and lighter manner for a desired force-displacement profile. According to a further preferred embodiment, the device comprises a drive unit with a gripping element that interacts with the carriage to move the carriage in the actuating direction.

[0029] Preferably, it is further provided that two motion transmission elements, preferably rocker arms, are arranged on the slide, which can be actuated by the handle and convert at least part of the movement of the handle into a movement of an actuating element that can be displaced in the recess of the slide, which is arranged in a locking position between the locking slide and the actuating rod and engages in a recess of the actuating rod in the first locking position of the locking slide, which preferably has a ramp for displacing the locking slide into the second locking position by means of the actuating element.

[0030] To implement the same locking mechanism for a second position of the actuating rod, it is provided that a first locking slide is displaceable under force in the first position into a first locking position, in which the first locking slide engages in a first recess of the slide, and a second locking slide is displaceable under force in the second position into a first locking position, in which the second locking slide engages in a second recess of the slide, wherein two motion transmission elements, preferably rocker arms, are arranged on the slide, which can be actuated by the actuating element and convert at least part of the movement of the actuating element into a movement of an actuating element that can be displaced in the first or second recess of the slide, which is in a locking position between the first or second recess of the slide.is arranged between the second locking slide and the actuating rod and engages in a first or second recess of the actuating rod in the first locking position of the first or second locking slide.

[0031] This design is based on the idea of ​​not allowing the respective locking slide to interact directly with the actuating rod in the locked position, but rather via an actuating element that can be operated by a motion transmission element. This actuating element is preferably designed as a rotatably mounted roller or cylinder, at least in the contact area with the actuating rod or locking slide. The locking effect of the locking slide is achieved by its engagement in a recess of the slide. The actuating element is designed to move the respective locking slide from its locked position to a release position at the beginning of the switching process, i.e., to disengage it from the recess of the slide. This is achieved by the motion transmission element being driven by the drive unit via the engagement element at the beginning of the switching process, and the actuating element pushing the locking slide away.This allows for the unlocking of each position, i.e., the end position, using simple means. Because a separate motion transmission element, in particular a rocker arm, is provided for unlocking each of the two end positions, the corresponding unlocking mechanisms can be implemented separately, with a mirror-symmetrical arrangement of the motion transmission elements being particularly advantageous. This also makes it possible to position the drive coupling in the area between the motion transmission elements and therefore at a central position of the slide, thus avoiding asymmetrical force application.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the motion transmission elements are each designed as rocker arms which are pivotably mounted and whose first lever arm can be actuated by the gripping piece and whose second lever arm has the respective actuating element.

[0033] Further advantages of unlocking by means of motion transmission elements, in particular rocker arms, and actuating elements that can be operated by these, are that the unlocking mechanism can be arranged in a space-saving manner between the drive unit and the housing base, that material savings are possible, the manufacturing effort is reduced and guide rods of the switching ruler can be dispensed with, since small bushings are sufficient to guide the rocker arms.

[0034] This design further ensures that the unlocking process is insensitive to back stresses. Back stresses can arise, for example, from jammed foreign objects or bent switch blades and cause stress on the components involved in locking the respective end position. However, since the locking slide in the first locked position is not directly engaged with the connecting rod, but rather with the carriage, the back stress acting on the locking slide is limited to the amount that can be transmitted by the approach coupling or the actuating force of the switch drive. To unlock the locking slide, the spring force acting on it and the frictional force resulting from any tension with the carriage must first be overcome.The locking slide can be reliably unlocked by means of a motion transmission element, for example a rocker arm, which transmits the actuating force of the drive to the locking slide via the actuating element in principle without any reduction.

[0035] The locking of the slide with the aid of locking slides engaging in corresponding recesses in the slide further advantageously ensures that the position of the slide in a locked position is uniquely determined by the position of the recesses in the slide when the locking slide abuts in the respective recess in both directions of travel, i.e., is essentially free of play. Preferably, an at least partially conical geometry of the locking slides engaging with the recesses can ensure free-play locking of the slide, wherein the conical geometry includes a change in the cross-section of the locking slide, in which the width of the cross-section, measured in the direction of travel, preferably decreases continuously towards the free end of the locking slide. This results in two significant advantages: 1. Impacts on the tongue rail are absorbed directly by the locking unit to protect the spindle, including the...1. To protect the drive unit from damage caused by impacts. 2. A fixed reference position of the slide and adjusting rod enables the earliest possible and most accurate detection of operationally relevant deviations in the measurement results of a test air measurement. Determining the actual test air depends to some extent on a consistently identical, clearly defined position of the slide connected to the adjusting rod. The unambiguous position of the slide with adjusting rod thus makes a safety-relevant contribution.

[0036] The locking mechanism of the slide, using locking slides that engage in corresponding recesses in the slide, advantageously ensures that the stroke of the adjusting rod is clearly defined and easily identifiable by the distance between the two recesses in the slide. The stroke can be changed by replacing the slide with one that has appropriately spaced recesses and is, for example, 150 mm, 180 mm, or 220 mm. Instead of replacing the entire slide, only a part of it can be replaced to change the distance between the recesses. The two recesses can thus be incorporated into the slide as an insert that can be interchangeably assembled with the slide.

[0037] To provide a second locking level as a fallback level in addition to locking the actuating rod, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the first locking slide engages in a first recess of the checker slides in the first locking position, and the second locking slide engages in a second recess of the checker slides in the first locking position. This also secures the checker slides in their end positions.

[0038] When the switch is being opened, care must be taken to ensure that the locking slides are unlocked. This unlocking cannot be achieved by actively actuating the motion transmission elements, in particular rocker arms, but rather by pushing the actuating element out of the recess in the connecting rod as a result of a relative displacement of the connecting rod relative to the carriage. A preferred embodiment provides that the actuating element and / or the recess in the connecting rod is dimensioned such that, as a result of an opening operation in which the actuating element is pushed out of the first or second recess in the connecting rod by relative displacement of the connecting rod relative to the locked carriage, it moves the first or second locking slide into a second locking position, in which the first locking slide remains engaged with the first recess of the carriage.The second locking slide remains engaged with the second recess of the carriage, but the test slides are released. This second locking position of the locking slides, which lies between the first locking position and the release position, has the advantage that the carriage remains locked when the switch is traversed and the traversing process can be detected as such in the second locking position.

[0039] To ensure that the unlocking of the respective end position occurs during a changeover process before the actuating rod is set in motion, it is preferably provided that the gripping element for moving the slide in the respective positioning direction interacts with a respective stop of the slide after a free stroke, wherein the respective motion transmission element, in particular the first lever arm of the respective rocker arm, can be actuated by the gripping element along the free stroke.

[0040] In particular, it is provided that the actuating element of the second lever arm, at the end of the free travel of the driver, moves the first or second locking slide to assume a release position out of engagement with the first or second recess of the slide.

[0041] In this context, the first and second locking slides are designed to be out of interference with the first and second recesses of the test slides in the second locking position.

[0042] According to a preferred embodiment, the first and second locking slides are each provided with a first locking lug and a second locking lug, wherein the first locking lug is arranged to engage in the first and second recesses of the slide in the first and second locking positions of the locking slide, respectively, and the second locking lug is arranged to engage in the first and second recesses of the test slides in the first locking position.

[0043] To achieve a compact design, a preferred embodiment provides that the first and second locking slides are guided to slide against each other transversely to the direction of movement. This sliding arrangement also allows for better absorption of the locking forces acting on the locking slides transversely to their direction of movement, i.e., in the direction of movement.

[0044] Particularly advantageous is the sliding guide of the locking slides in a locking block, which positively engages the sliding locking slides on both outer sides.

[0045] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated in the drawing. In this drawing, Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a switch-setting device with an open cover, Fig. 2 a simplified partial view of the switch-setting device according to Fig. 1 in a right-hand end position, Fig. 3 a view according to Fig. 2 at the beginning of a setting operation, Fig. 4 a view according to Fig. 2 during a setting operation, Fig. 5 a view according to Fig. 2 upon reaching the left-hand end position, Fig. 6 a view according to Fig. 2 with the left-hand end position locked, Fig. 7 a vertical section of the carriage of Fig. 1 including the approach coupling, Fig. 8 a horizontal section of the device according to Fig. 1 in the area of ​​the carriage in a locked left-hand end position, Fig. 9 a view according to Fig. 7 during an approach operation, Fig. 10 a view according to Fig. 8 in a position of the actuating rod according to Fig. 9, Fig.Figures 11a and 11b show a detailed view of the locking slide in the recess of the slide according to the invention in a first locking position in a sectional view and a perspective view. Figure 12 shows a representation according to Figure 11 in an intermediate position of the locking slide. Figure 13 shows a representation according to Figure 11 in a second locking position of the locking slide. Figure 14 shows a representation according to Figure 13 with the locking slide in a holding position. Figure 15 shows a representation of the coupling recess of the drive-on device. Figure 16 shows a force-displacement characteristic curve of the drive-on coupling, and Figure 17 shows a modified embodiment of the force-displacement characteristic curve of the drive-on coupling.

[0046] Figure 1 shows a switch operating device 1, in whose housing 2 all components required for the drive and transmission of the operating movement, for locking the end positions, for end position testing, and for enabling the switch to be traversed are arranged. A drive unit is provided, comprising an electric motor 3 and a spindle drive driven by the electric motor 3 via a gearbox 4, which provides a linear operating movement in the direction of the axis of the spindle 5. For this purpose, a drive element 6 equipped with a spindle nut interacts with a slide 7 in the manner described in more detail below to transmit the operating movement to the slide 7. The slide 7, in turn, is coupled to the operating rod 9 via an operating coupling 8, through which the operating movement is transmitted to the switch rails (not shown) in accordance with the double arrow 10.The slide 7 and the gripping piece 6 are preferably guided by rolling motion in grooves in the housing base.

[0047] The hand crank 11 is part of a hand drive, with which the drive unit can be operated manually if required.

[0048] To verify the correct engagement of the end positions, check slides 12 and 13 are connected to the tongue rails, which are also slidably mounted in the housing 2 as indicated by the double arrow. Furthermore, a first locking slide 14 and a second locking slide 15 are provided, which are guided separately and slidably between a release position and at least one locking position, transversely, and in particular perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent of the actuating rod 9 and the check slides 12, 13. In the locking position, the corresponding locking slide 14, 15 causes the actuating rod 9 and the check slides 12, 13 to lock in the corresponding end position, as will be explained in more detail in the following figures. In Fig. 2, the switching device is shown in the right end position.To lock this end position, the first locking slide 14, acted upon by the force of a spring 17, engages with a locking lug in a left-hand, first recess or cam 16a of the slide 7. The locking lug is spring-loaded against a roller 19a, which engages in a first recess 18a of the actuating rod 9 (see Figs. 7 and 8). The roller 19a is arranged on a second lever arm 21a of a rocker arm 20a, which is pivotably mounted on the slide 7 about the axis 22a. The first lever arm 23a is positioned to be actuated by the engagement piece 6. For locking the left-hand end position, a mirror-image configuration of the described components is provided on the right side of the slide 7.Accordingly, a rocker arm 20b is pivotably attached to the slide 7 about the axis 22b, wherein the first lever arm 23b is arranged to be actuated by the attack piece 6, and the second lever arm 21b carries a roller 19b which is displaceably held in the second recess 18b of the actuating rod 9.

[0049] In the end position shown in Fig. 2, a locking lug of the first locking slide 14 engages in first recesses 25 and 26 of the first and second test slides 12, 13, respectively, in order to also test or lock the test slides 12, 13 in their end position.

[0050] Figures 2 and 3 further show that the engagement piece 6 engages the slide 7 between two stops 24a and 24b, the engagement piece 6 being dimensioned such that, starting from an end position, it only engages with the opposite stop 24a or 24b after traversing a free travel distance x, so that the slide 7 is only moved in the direction of change after this free travel distance x. For the unlocking of the mechanism shown in Figure 3, In the end position shown in Fig. 2, the drive unit moves the gripping piece 6 to the left, whereby, as the gripping piece 6 passes through the free travel x, it actuates the first lever arm 23a of the rocker arm 20a, causing the rocker arm 20a to pivot about the axis 22a and the roller 19a, arranged on the second lever arm 21a, to emerge from the first recess 18a of the actuating rod 9 and push the first locking slide 14 out of the first recess 16a of the slide 7. Simultaneously, the tester slides 12 and 13 are also unlocked. In this way, the [position] shown in Fig.The unlocked state shown in Figure 3 is reached. The free travel x consists of a first and a second partial travel. During the first partial travel, the rocker arm 20a is not yet engaged. This distance until the rocker arm is actuated is greater in versions with an electromechanical drive than in a hydraulic drive. The second partial travel then serves to actuate the rocker arm 20a.

[0051] The further displacement of the gripping piece 6 to the left, due to its contact with the stop 24a of the slide 7, causes the slide 7, along with the actuating rod 9 coupled to it, to move, as shown in Fig. 4. The tester slides 12 and 13 are also carried along in the direction of change by the tongue rails. After completing the entire changeover path, the left end position shown in Fig. 5 is reached, in which the second locking slide 15, spring-loaded, can now enter the second recess or cam 16b of the slide 7. Here, the second locking slide 15 presses the roller 19b, arranged on the second lever arm 21b of the rocker arm 20b, into the second recess 18b of the actuating rod 7, in order to lock the actuating rod 9 in the left end position, as shown in Fig. 5. Figure 6 is shown. Simultaneously, a locking lug of the second locking slide 15 engages in the second recesses 27 and 28 of the test slides 12 and 15, respectively.13, so that these too are checked or locked in their final position.

[0052] Figures 2 to 6 further show that the first and second locking slides 14, 15 are positively received in a locking block 29 and guided there in the direction of displacement.

[0053] The left end position is shown again in the sectional views according to Figures 7 and 8, with Figure 7 additionally showing the construction details of the approach coupling 8. The approach coupling 8 comprises a pressure element 30, which is pressed against the actuating rod 9 by a spring 31 via an interposed ball or roller 32. The ball or roller 32 engages in a recess 33 of the actuating rod 9, thereby ensuring a force-fit and positive coupling of the actuating rod 9 with the carriage 7. When the switch is raised, the switch rails exert a force on the actuating rod 9, and from there on the locked carriage 7, such that the ball or roller 32, together with the pressure element 30, is pressed upwards against the force of the spring 31, resulting in a relative displacement of the actuating rod 9 to the carriage 7. This is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. From a comparison of the figures.Figures 8 and 10 show that when the carriage is moved upwards, the roller 19b is simultaneously pushed out of the second recess 18b of the actuating rod 9, whereby the roller 19b in turn pushes back the second locking slide 15 in the second recess 16b of the carriage 7. The second locking slide 15, however, remains in an intermediate position (second locking position) in which the carriage 7 remains locked. The displacement of the second locking slide 15 is sufficient, however, for the locking lug associated with the test slides 12, 13 to emerge from the second recesses 27 and 28 of the test slides 12, 13, respectively, in order to release them and detect the moving upwards.

[0054] Since the unlocking of the tester slides 12 and 13 described above only occurs after a certain changeover distance, the second recess 27 formed in the first tester slide 12 is larger in the longitudinal direction than the second recess 28 formed in the second tester slide 12. This takes into account the fact that the first tester slide 12, in the right-hand end position shown here, from which the switch is operated, is assigned to the outgoing switch rail, which is displaced ahead of the adjacent switch rail during the operation. The same applies to the first recesses 25 and 26 effective in the other end position, although conversely, the first recess 26 formed in the second tester slide 13 is longer than the first recess 25 formed in the first tester slide 12, since the second tester slide 13 is assigned to the outgoing switch rail.

[0055] Figures 11 to 14 show the geometry of the recess 18b of the actuating rod 9, the locking slide 15, and the recess 16b of the carriage 7, adapted according to the invention, to create a flattened region of a force-displacement characteristic curve of the drive coupling. The locking slide 15 comprises a main section 34 and an end section 35 tapered in the actuating direction. The transition from the main section 34 to the tapered end section 35 is effected by an inclined contact surface 36 formed on the stop surface of the locking slide 15 on the left side of the drawing. Similarly, the recess 16b has a base section 37 and an extended end section 38, between which an inclined contact surface 39 is arranged, with both contact surfaces 36, 39 bearing against each other in the first locking position of the locking slide 15 shown in Figure 11.

[0056] Fig. 11a shows a sectional view and Fig. 11b a perspective view, in which, analogous to the design according to Fig. 6, two locking slides are provided.

[0057] When the actuating rod 9 is displaced relative to the slide 7, the actuating element 19b is displaced from the recess 18b due to its shape, which in turn pushes the locking slide 15 out slightly, so that the intermediate position of the locking slide 15 shown in Fig. 12 is reached. This intermediate position is reversible, i.e., the actuating rod 15 can be pushed back to its original position (Fig. 11) by the action of the spring 31.

[0058] With a further relative displacement of the actuating rod 9, the locking position shown in Fig. 13 is reached, and it can be seen that the tapered end section 35 of the locking slide 15 has entered the area of ​​the widened end section 38 of the recess 16b. This allows a lateral displacement of the slide 7 in the direction of arrow 40, thereby reaching the position shown in Fig. 14.

[0059] During the described displacement, a switching signal from the electrical switch is to be generated because this represents a range in which the maximum impact force has not yet been reached. This only occurs when the actuating element 19b fully extends from the recess 18b and causes a further displacement of the locking slide 15. Upon reaching the maximum impact force, the ball or rolling element 32 comes to rest on a flat surface 41 adjoining the recess 33 of the actuating rod 9, as shown in Fig. 15. The spring 31 can no longer generate a restoring force that would allow the actuating rod to return to its original position before the impact event occurred.

[0060] At the end of the flat surface 41, the ball or rolling element 32 abuts a stop surface in a form-fitting manner, which prevents further displacement. The coupling shown in Fig. 15 is thus intended for a non-operable turnout, in which non-destructive operation is not possible.

[0061] Fig. 16 shows an exemplary force-displacement characteristic curve for the dependence of the travel distance on the travel force acting on the actuating rod 6. The travel distance is plotted on the x-axis and the travel force on the y-axis. The force-displacement characteristic curve rises in a first region 42, starting with a travel distance of zero, and flattens out in a subsequent region 43. In the flattened region 43, a target force Z, at the point of which a switching signal is to be generated, lies on the y-axis, and the switching point SP of the switch lies on the x-axis. It can be seen that a shift in the switching point SP due to component tolerances or setting inaccuracies leads only to a small deviation in the target force Z to be signaled.The characteristic curve exhibits a steeper slope again in the area 44 following the flattened area 43, where the maximum of the characteristic curve is also located, corresponding to the maximum driving force. As described above, the maximum driving force corresponds to the local force maximum that is reached when the ball or rolling element 32 moves from the recess 33 onto the flat surface 41 adjoining the recess 33 of the actuating rod 9.

[0062] According to the invention, the force-displacement characteristic curve, which is flattened in the region of the switching point when the target force is below the maximum driving force, can stagnate or even decrease in the subsequent rear part of the flattening after the target force is reached, so that the switching point can also be located at a point on the force-displacement characteristic curve with a negative slope, in any case below and before reaching the maximum driving force, in the sense of a flattening according to the invention. This is illustrated in Fig. 17 using a modified force-displacement characteristic curve.

Claims

26 Patent claims:

1. Switch setting device comprising a carriage (7) slidably mounted in the setting direction (10) and which can be driven in the setting direction (10) by a drive unit (3, 4, 5), a connecting rod (9) slidably mounted in the setting direction (10) between a first and a second setting position, with which the carriage (7) is coupled to a drive in the setting direction (10) by means of a coupling (8), and a locking device (14, 15) for locking the carriage (7) in an end position area, wherein the The coupling (8) allows a displacement of the actuating rod (9) relative to the carriage (7) during an impact event and allows a local impact force maximum to be transferred to the actuating rod (9) during an impact event, characterized in that the switch setting device (1) has a position sensor which generates a switching signal during an impact event before the maximum impact force is reached.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the approach coupling (8) has a force-displacement characteristic curve for the dependence of an approach path on the approach force acting on the actuating rod, wherein the force-displacement characteristic curve has a local maximum at the maximum transmissible approach force, that the switch setting device (1) has a position sensor which generates the switching signal depending on the approach path when a switching point (SP) is reached, and that the force-displacement characteristic curve is flattened in the area of ​​the switching point (SP) when the target force is below the maximum approach force, in particular it is horizontal and / or sloping.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking device has at least one locking slide (14, 15) which can be displaced transversely to the direction of positioning (10) and which is actuated into a recess to lock the carriage (7) in an end position area. (16a, 16b) of the sled (7) engages and, as a result of a collision event, upon reaching the maximum collision force within the recess (16a, 16b), is moved from a first locking position to a second locking position and interacts with an electrical switch as a position sensor depending on the displacement.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking slide (15) is designed to trigger a lateral offset of the carriage (7) in the direction of the approach path before reaching the second locking position.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking slide (15) has a contact surface (36) extending transversely to the direction of actuation (10), which interacts with a counter surface (39) of the slide (7), wherein the contact surface (36) and / or the counter surface (39) has a transition section extending obliquely to the direction of actuation, the sliding of which on the counter surface (39) or contact surface (36) produces the lateral offset.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the inclined transition section is arranged at the transition of a main section (34) of the locking slide (15) into a tapered end section (38).

7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the inclined transition section of the The opposite surface (39) is arranged at the transition of a basic section (37) of the recess (16b) into an extended end section (38).

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the drive coupling (8) has a displaceable coupling element (32) acted upon by a power storage device (31), which is pressed by the power storage device (31) into a coupling recess (33) of the actuating rod (9).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the drive-on coupling (8) is designed to transmit the maximum drive-on force when the coupling member (32) exits the coupling recess (33).

10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the actuating rod (9) has a support area (41) parallel to the actuating direction (10) or a locking area for the coupling member (32) on which the coupling member (32) rests or into which the coupling member (32) forcefully locks or positively engages after the maximum impact force has been overcome.

11. Device according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that in the end position region of the slide (7) the coupling member (32) can be retracted through the force storage (31) into the coupling recess (33) before the maximum impact force or before the target force is reached. 29 12. Device according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the drive coupling (8) is attached to the slide (7) and the energy storage device (31) has no connection with the actuating rod (9).

13. Device according to one of claims 3 to 12, characterized in that a displaceable actuating element (19a, 19b) is arranged in the recess (16a, 16b) of the slide (7) between the locking slide (14, 15) and the actuating rod (9), which engages in a locking recess (18a, 18b) of the actuating rod (9) in the first locking position of the locking slide (14, 15), which preferably has a ramp for displacing the locking slide (14, 15) into the second locking position by means of the actuating element (19a, 19b).

14. Device according to one of claims 3 to 13, characterized in that further comprising two tester slides (12, 13) extending parallel to the actuating rod (9) and displaceable in the actuating direction between a first and a second actuating position, wherein the locking slide (14, 15) engages in a recess (25, 26, 27, 28) of the tester slides (12, 13) in the first locking position and releases the tester slides (12, 13) in the second locking position.

Images