Universal Pawl Lock for Railway Switch Blades
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional switch locking mechanisms require multiple designs for different track gauges and profiles, leading to increased development and production costs, complexity, and inefficiencies due to the need for separate closures for each variant, which are not adaptable to varying environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a universal locking unit with base plates that can be attached to pole rails, incorporating a cam rod and pivotable locking pawls, allowing for adjustable switch tongue positioning and locking, enabling adaptation to various gauges and profiles with reduced parts and simplified assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional external closures are used for each rail profile and track gauge, then secure locking functionality is achieved, but the number of different designs increases and economies of scale cannot be realized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal locking unit that can be used across different track gauges and rail profiles through base plates with adjustable positioning. The locking unit itself remains standardized while the base plates adapt to various configurations, allowing one locking mechanism design to serve multiple functions across different applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system is divided into two independent parts: a standardized locking unit and adaptable base plates. This segmentation allows the locking mechanism to remain unchanged while the base plates are modified or repositioned to accommodate different track gauges and profiles, reducing the need for multiple complete locking mechanism designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple closure designs are maintained for different variants, then adaptability to various track gauges and profiles is achieved, but production costs and development effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single locking unit design serves multiple track gauges and profiles when combined with differently positioned base plates. This universal approach allows production of a standardized locking mechanism in large quantities, achieving economies of scale while maintaining adaptability through the base plate configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plates incorporate adjustable positioning capabilities, allowing the locking unit to be dynamically adapted to different track gauges and profiles without requiring different locking mechanism designs. This adjustability is achieved through movable or repositionable base plate configurations.
3Reliability
If conventional external closures are used, then locking functionality is achieved, but climatic or environmental influences can make their use impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The base plates serve as intermediary elements between the standardized locking unit and the rail structure. These base plates can be designed with environmental protection features such as sealing or insulation properties, protecting the locking mechanism from climatic influences while maintaining its locking functionality.
4Adaptability or versatility
If individual adjustment of each switch is performed by stocking different locking bearings and locking latches, then adaptability to specific requirements is achieved, but assembly effort and component management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized locking unit can be individually adjusted to meet specific requirements through repositioning of the base plates rather than by using different locking mechanism designs. This reduces component variety while maintaining individual adjustability capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plates are pre-positioned or pre-configured for different track gauge requirements, allowing the locking unit to be adapted to specific applications through simple base plate selection or positioning rather than requiring complex assembly adjustments or multiple locking mechanism variants.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces development and entry costs, simplifies assembly, and allows for a single concept to be used across different switches, enhancing adaptability and reducing product variety while maintaining secure locking functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a cam rod (18) guided in the locking unit (16), with which the switch blades (6a, 6b) can be moved between two end positions
Implementation Method 2
The pawl of a pawl lock is pivotably held on a lock bearing. The switch tongue is also fastened to the locking bearing directly or via an intermediate component, and the pawl lock is used to adjust and lock it.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The aim of the invention is to provide a simply constructed and functionally reliable pawl lock, in which the design can be more easily adapted to the different track gauges and profiles of the points blades, without needing to give up the advantageous lock effects of known point adjusting mechanisms. According to the invention, this is achieved by a device (2) for adjusting two movable point blades (6a, 6b) which are arranged between two stock rails (4a, 4b) that lie opposite each other, comprising: a) a base (8a, 8b) for each stock rail (4a, 4b), said bases being secured to the stock rail (4a, 4b) and expanding in an area (12) located between the two stock rails (4a, 4b) in a substantially horizontal manner; b) a closure unit (16) which can be secured to the two bases (8a, 8b) and can be arranged in the area (12) located between the two stock rails (4a, 4b), and c) a cam bar (18) which is guided in the closure unit (16) and by means of which the point blades (6a, 6b) can be moved between two end positions by means of blade adjusting rods (22a, 22b) that connect the cam bar (18) to the point blades (6a, 6b), wherein d) a lock can be achieved by means of the interaction between the cam bar (18) guided in the closure unit (16) and at least one pawl lock (24a, 24b) pivotally mounted in the closure unit (16), and e) the cam bar (18) can be moved between the two end positions of the point blades (6a, 6b) by a point drive. In this manner, a closure unit which is arranged centrally between the stock rails is provided for the point mechanism. The established functionality of the pawl lock is maintained in principle but is relocated into the closure unit. The concept of the universal closure unit paired with bases which can be fixed to the stock rails, preferably by means of clamping pieces, substantially reduces the development complexity, in particular with respect to new product/market combinations.