Railway switches and signals – Fluid-motor actuation
Patent
1998-02-09
2000-05-02
Morano, S. Joseph
Railway switches and signals
Fluid-motor actuation
246258, 246262, 246415R, 246430, B61L 500
Patent
active
060562447
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for setting railway switches, comprising a plurality of interlinked hydraulic cylinder piston aggregates connected in parallel or in series, which are arranged to be offset in the longitudinal direction of the rail and are connected with a hydraulic drive unit. In such railway switch setting devices it is known to realize the connection of the individual locks by means of a mechanical rod assembly. Yet, such a mechanical connection of a plurality of setting devices or locks, respectively, requires relatively much space as well as a great number of individual parts differing from one another. In addition to the elevated demand of space, such a mechanical connection affects the packability of the tongue means, an unfavorable unilateral distribution of mass being, moreover, caused on a railway switch.
2. Prior Art
From EP-A2 480 303 a hydraulic switching device in which a plurality of individual actuating cylinders is controlled by a hydraulic station has already been known. From DE-B2 1952823 different circuit arrangements for the series connection or parallel connection of a plurality of such hydraulic switching devices are known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention aims at providing a device of the initially defined kind, which may subsequently be installed in existing railway switch setting devices in a simple manner and with which expenditures for an accordingly complex control may be obviated. The invention, in particular, aims at safeguarding a high degree of reliability and unsusceptibility to failures despite its simple mode of construction requiring but few different structural components. Above all, it is to be feasible according to the invention that the respectively desired displacement position be safely obtained even at slight fluid losses and without complex volumetric control of the hydraulic drive. Finally, the device according to the invention is to be readily applicable as a substitute for mechanical means of known construction in order to enhance the packability of the tongue means and avoid unilateral mass distribution on the railway switch.
To solve this object, the invention essentially consists in that the hydraulic cylinder piston aggregates each contain a floating piston or plunger guided between two working volumes and that the floating pistons or plungers cooperate with push-open valves within their displacement path. The selection of different adjustment positions along the rail path is obtained by means of this connection capable of being locked or through-connected by the push-open valves. Said connection is opened or interrupted as a function of the position of the piston or plunger. At an interruption of the connection the set position of the switching device is exactly reached. Besides its compact construction, such a hydraulic switching device comprising a floating piston or plunger, thus, in a simple manner also provides for adaptation to the respectively desired requirements. By means of a separate, advantageously reversible, hydraulic drive unit fluid is displaced into the working volumes of identically constructed cylinder piston aggregates during each setting procedure so as to immediately ensure coupling with neighboring cylinder piston aggregates. On the whole, such a device comprising cylinder piston aggregates of identical design may be realized by a particularly simple construction, wherein suitable hydraulic conduits are to be provided for connection between neighboring cylinder piston aggregates. Interconnection is each effected in a manner to cause the displacement of neighboring cylinder piston aggregates in same direction as medium is pressed out of the hydraulic drive unit. In a particularly simple manner, the configuration according to the invention is further developed in a manner that the push-open valves are arranged in a bore of the piston or plunger, that connects the two working volumes, wherein the end or ring surfaces of the pistons or plungers respectivel
REFERENCES:
patent: 5292091 (1994-03-01), Callegari et al.
patent: 5417392 (1995-05-01), Wyatt
patent: 5687935 (1997-11-01), Durchschlag et al.
Achleitner Herbert
Durchschlag, deceased Gerald
McCarry, Jr. Robert J.
Morano S. Joseph
VAE Aktiengesellschaft
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