Railway switches and signals – Switches – Connecting rods
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-21
2001-12-04
Le, Mark T. (Department: 3617)
Railway switches and signals
Switches
Connecting rods
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325334
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a connecting device for a switch actuator and/or a lock for movable parts of a railway switch or crossing, including a rod assembly, in particular a sliding rod or a locking rod articulately connected with the movable part.
2. Prior Art
Switch actuators of the initially defined kind are described, for instance, in AT-B 388 198 and EP-B1 603 156. In the configuration according to AT-B 388 198 a long-hole connection is provided, via which a locking clamp that is displaceable by means of a sliding rod is articulately connected with the switch tongue. In EP-B1 603 156, which introduced a switch actuator with an integrated lock or a locking device, respectively, the connection with the movable rail tongue is realized via a joint piece which is articulately connected with the lock, or with the foot of the switch tongue, via pins. In those configurations, both tension and pressure are transmitted via the pin connection, wherein an additional connecting rod is required in configurations in which coupling is effected merely by means of a thrust member, said additional connecting rod transmitting the tensile connection during actuation and displacement in the counterdirection. The known couplings or connection devices, as a rule, serve to transmit vibrations from the tongue into the continuing rod assembly or into the locks and actuators. The admissible tongue play under applicable norms is limited to about 3 mm. If, in addition, articulations tolerate an additional play, this may result in the undesired non-release of the switch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention aims to provide a connecting device by which vibrations of the tongues or the movable parts of switches and crossings can be completely kept off the actuating and locking system and forces can be taken up without play, thereby enhancing the operating safety and service life. To solve this object, the connecting device according to the invention of the initially defined kind essentially consists in that the movable part or the rod assembly, in particular the switch tongue, is rigidly connected with a strap engaging from behind a pin connected with the rod assembly or the movable part for transmitting tensile forces and that at least one elastic compression element is arranged between the rod assembly and the strap or the movable part, which compression element is compressible by the rod assembly in the abutment position of the movable part on a rigid rail part, said strap being displaceable out of abutment on the pin. Due to the fact that a strap rigidly connected with the movable part engages a pin connected with the rod assembly from behind for transmitting tensile forces only, the safe absorption of the tensile forces is ensured, wherein the transmission of pressure forces for pressing on switch tongues or movable parts of a switch or rail crossing is effected via a separate elastic compression element arranged between the rod assembly and the strap or the movable part. Said elastic compression element merely transmits the pressure forces, whereby, in the event of pressing caused in a manner in which the strap engages the pin from behind, not only elastic pressing is allowed, but the strap is displaced out of abutment on the pin, too. In the abutment position a defined play is, thus, present between the strap and the pin such that vibrations exclusively act on the rod assembly with the elastic compression element being interposed, wherein, at the same time, the tongue play is reduced accordingly without joints or parts of the switch actuating means or of the lock being exposed to elevated mechanical stress.
According to a preferred further development of the connecting device according to the invention, the configuration is devised such that the pin is fixed in a fork-like lug laterally encompassing the strap and connected with the rod assembly and is arranged transverse to the direction of displacement of the rod assembly. Such a fork-like lug renders feasible an arrangement in which the pin is located below the rail foot, thus, in the main, allowing for compact dimensions without any impediments caused by the tongue foot. The pin, however, may as well be located approximately in the axis of the sliding rod or locking rod, wherein in that case the elastic compression element advantageously is arranged between the pin and the rail foot and there acts on the strap or on the rail foot itself.
In a particularly simple manner the configuration is devised such that the elastic element is comprised of a compression spring which cooperates with the strap or the movable part via a contact part. Such a compression spring can absorb high forces by a short way so as to ensure the safe decoupling of the rod assembly from vibrations.
In order to further reduce the risk of premature wear, the configuration advantageously is devised such that the contact part has a cambered outer surface, wherein preferably the pin, in addition, has an outer surface that is curved in a barrel-shaped manner. The cambered outer surface of the contact part serves to safely take up eccentric pressure forces, whereas the barrel-shaped outer contour of the pin also allows for the transmission of eccentric tensile forces without mechanically overstressing the strap. The risk of a premature wear may even be further reduced in that the compression spring is arranged in a conically tapering recess of the rod assembly, or a rod assembly head, and is connected with the rod assembly or rod assembly head, respectively, so as to be pivotable out of the axis of the rod assembly, wherein, in that case, the compression spring is pivotable out of the axis within the conical region which is provided with a suitable counterstop for the compression spring. That pivotability, in principle, may be ensured by an elastic core by which the fixation of the compression spring within a recess of the rod assembly or rod assembly head, respectively, is realized, such that simple mounting is feasible. Advantageously, the configuration in that case, however, is devised such that the compression spring, in a positive and force-transmitting as well as frictionally engaged manner, is connected with a tension spring formed by a helical spring, whose inner end facing away from the contact part is fixed with play in an axial bore of the rod assembly or rod assembly head, respectively, and whose outer end, which is encompassed by the compression spring, is connected with the contact part. The compression spring fixed in the axial bore of the rod assembly or rod assembly head, respectively, and formed by a helical spring thereby allows for the pivoting of the compression spring within the conically tapering recess.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1960377 (1934-05-01), Goodaire et al.
patent: 2205114 (1940-06-01), Bone
patent: 2208449 (1940-07-01), Bone
patent: 2687859 (1954-08-01), Arnold et al.
patent: 2712914 (1955-07-01), Lavarack et al.
patent: 2730319 (1956-01-01), Arnold et al.
patent: 388 198 B (1989-05-01), None
patent: 20 24 121 A (1971-12-01), None
Patent abstracts of Japan, vol. 095, No. 006, Jul. 31 1995 & JP 07 076275 A ( Kyosan Electric Mfg Co Ltd; Others: 01), Mar. 20, 1995.
Achleitner Herbert
Hörtler Josef
Joyce Kevin E.
Le Mark T.
VAE Aktiengesellschaft
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