Railway switches and signals – Fluid-motor actuation
Patent
1996-02-23
1997-11-18
Le, Mark T.
Railway switches and signals
Fluid-motor actuation
246262, B61L 500
Patent
active
056879350
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application claims benefit of International application PCT/AT95/00125, filed Jun. 21, 1995.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for operating switches, in which a plurality of interlinked hydraulic switching devices are arranged to be offset in the longitudinal direction of the rails. In such devices for operating switches it is known to realize the connection of the individual locks by means of a mechanical rod assembly. However, such a mechanical connection of a plurality of switching devices or locks requires relatively much space as well as a great number of different individual components. In addition to requiring more space, such a mechanical connection impedes the ability of the tongue means to be packed and, moreover, causes an unfavorable unilateral mass distribution on a switch.
2. Prior Art
From EP-A2 480 303 a hydraulic switching device has already been known, in which a plurality of individual actuating cylinders are controlled from a hydraulic station. From DE-B2 19 52 823 different circuit arrangements for the series or parallel connection of a plurality of such hydraulic switching devices have been known.
The known hydraulic switching devices each require a separate hydraulic drive unit, thus calling for a relatively expensive overall structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention aims at providing a device of the initially defined kind, which can be installed in existing switch operating arrangements in a simple manner by way of addition and which does not involve any expenditures for an additional drive unit and an accordingly expensive control unit. In particular, the invention aims at safeguarding a high degree of reliability and non-susceptibility to failures despite a simple mode of construction requiring only few different structural components. Finally, the device according to the invention is to be applicable in a simple manner as a substitute for mechanical devices of known construction to enhance the packability of the tongue means and to avoid unilateral mass distribution on a switch.
To solve this object, the object according to the invention essentially consists in that at least one hydraulic cylinder/piston unit is connected with a first mechanical switching device, the cylinder volumes of which cylinder/piston unit(s), as pump working volumes, are connected with the working volumes of neighboring switching devices comprised of hydraulic cylinder/piston units so as to be driven in same direction. By the fact that a first cylinder/piston unit is employed as a pumping element, expensive drive units may be obviated. In a switching procedure, the pump unit displaces fluid from the respective working volume into working volumes of identically configured cylinder/piston units, thus being able to immediately realize coupling with neighboring cylinder/piston units. On the whole, such a device may be assembled of identically designed cylinder/piston units of particularly simple modes of construction with nothing but appropriate hydraulic ducts having to be provided for the interconnection of neighboring cylinder/piston units. Interconnection each is effected in a manner that the equidirectional displacement of neighboring cylinder/piston units will be caused if medium is pressed out of the first passive cylinder/piston unit actuated by the mechanical switching device.
In a particularly simple manner, the configuration according to the invention is further developed in a manner that the pumping element and the hydraulic switching devices each contain in a cylinder a floating piston or a plunger, respectively, that is guided between two working volumes, the end or annular surfaces of the piston or plunger each plunging into the respective opposite working volumes having identical cross sectional areas. Such a floating piston or plunger constitutes a structurally particularly simple, operationally safe and compact structural unit to be arranged on the respectively desired site while requiring little space. There may be pr
REFERENCES:
patent: 2367716 (1945-01-01), Cobourn
patent: 3745336 (1973-07-01), Dohse et al.
patent: 4213588 (1980-07-01), Bowles
patent: 5292091 (1994-03-01), Callegari et al.
Achleitner Herbert
Durchschlag Gerald
Le Mark T.
VAE Aktiengesellschaft
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