Arrangement, test rig and method for testing a switch mechanism for changing over the path traveled by a rail vehicle on a track

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10082448-B2
Application number	US-201515121089-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2015
Priority date	Apr 8, 2014
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

A switch mechanism serves for changing over the path traveled by a rail vehicle on a track. The switch mechanism has an electric motor, the rotational movement of which is converted into a linear movement by way of a spindle rod or toothed rack. Part of the mechanical system is usually also a coupling, which prevents excessive force from being exerted on the track. A flexible adaptation for the test slider of a switch drive enables complete testing of the switch drive on a test bench. The switch drive can be tested in the final state because the test slider does not need to first be removed and then reinstalled only after testing. Separate testing of the test slider in terms of its function and its high voltage strength is therefore no longer necessary. After the testing, no additional steps need to be carried out on the switch drive.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An arrangement, with a horizontal component, which is mounted movably on at least one horizontal linear guide, with a vertical component, which is mounted perpendicularly on the horizontal component, is aligned transversely in relation to the horizontal linear guide and has a clearance which allows an object to be led through parallel to the horizontal linear guide, in which the vertical component is set up to enter into a connection with a fastening foot at a plurality of coupling positions,
in which the fastening foot is connected to a test slider of a switch mechanism, and in which an actuating slider of the switch mechanism or a component coupled to the actuating slider of the switch mechanism is led through the clearance in the vertical component.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 ,
in which the vertical component is made of magnetizable material, and
in which the fastening foot is a magnetic foot.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , in which the vertical component is configured as a perforated plate, which allows screwing of the fastening foot.

4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 ,
in which the vertical component is configured as a frame, which is movable transversely in relation to the horizontal linear guide on the horizontal component.

5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 4 ,
in which at least one side of the frame has a vertical guide, on which the fastening foot is movable.

6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 5 ,
in which the fastening foot is movable on the vertical guide by manual displacement,
in which for this purpose the fastening foot is equipped with an operator control element, in particular a button,
which is at least one of mechanically and electrically set up for releasing a clamping of the fastening foot to the frame and releasing a clamping of the frame to the horizontal component when the operator control element is actuated, and
which is at least one of mechanically and electrically set up for clamping the fastening foot to the frame and for clamping the frame to the horizontal component when the operator control element is actuated once more or the operator control element is let go.

7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 5 ,
in which the horizontal component has a linear drive, which is set up for the horizontal moving of the frame,
in which the frame has at least one vertical linear drive, which is set up for the vertical moving of the fastening foot on the vertical guide, and also
in particular with a programmable controller, by means of which the fastening foot can be moved in an automated manner into pre-programmed coupling positions, dependent on types of switch mechanisms, by activation of the linear drives.

8. The arrangement as claimed in claim 4 ,
with a number of extension frames, which can be mounted on a left side, a right side or on top of the frame, and in particular with the extension frames being pre-mounted and able to fold away to a rear side.

9. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 ,
with an electronic display, which visually indicates one of the plurality of coupling positions.

10. The arrangement as claimed in claim 9 ,
in which the electronic display is formed by LEDs which are inset in the vertical component at each of the coupling positions, or
in which the electronic display is formed by LEDs which are arranged at at least two edges of the vertical component in such a way that they visually indicate coordinates of the coupling positions, or
in which the electronic display is a projection system, in particular a line laser or projector, which is set up for the projection of the coupling positions onto the vertical component.

11. The arrangement as claimed in claim 9 ,
with a circuit, in particular an electronic memory, from which the coupling positions,
dependent on types of switch mechanisms, can be retrieved, and
with a circuit or a computing unit, which is set up to activate the electronic display after input of a switch mechanism type in such a way that it displays the coupling position that is assigned to the switch mechanism type.

12. The use of the arrangement as claimed in claim 1 for adaptation of a test slider of a switch mechanism to a test rig.

13. A test rig for testing of a switch mechanism,
on which an arrangement is mounted,
the test rig having a force generator, which is set up to apply opposing forces to the switch mechanism while the switch mechanism is performing actuating operations on the test rig,
whereby the test rig is set up for at least one of setting and testing forces that the switch mechanism generates, and
in which the force generator and the arrangement are mechanically and electrically independent of one another, so that a fastening foot can be positioned by the arrangement without influencing the test rig or the force generator, whereby a prescribed coupling position for a test slider of the switch mechanism can be set on the test rig.

14. A method for testing a switch mechanism,
providing an arrangement mounted on a test rig, the arrangement having a vertical component with a clearance and a fastening foot,
in which a prescribed coupling position for a test slider of the switch mechanism is determined based on the switch mechanism's type,
in which the fastening foot, which is pre-mounted on the arrangement, is moved to the prescribed coupling position, or in which the fastening foot is mounted at the prescribed coupling position on the arrangement,
in which the fastening foot is connected to the test slider of the switch mechanism,
in which an actuating slider of the switch mechanism or a component coupled to the actuating slider of the switch mechanism is led through the clearance in the vertical component of the arrangement,
in which the test rig applies opposing forces to the switch mechanism by way of a force generator while the switch mechanism is performing actuating operations on the test rig, and testing the forces that the switch mechanism generates.

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Dudeck Sven Gerhard

Classifications

• B61L5/00 Primary

  Local operating mechanisms for points or track-mounted scotch-blocks; Visible or audible signals; Local operating mechanisms for visible or audible signals (B61L11/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01M17/08

  Railway vehicles · CPC title

• G01M15/02 Primary

  Details or accessories of testing apparatus · CPC title

• E01B7/00

  Switches; Crossings (operating mechanisms B61L) · CPC title

• G01M99/007 Primary

  by applying a load, e.g. for resistance or wear testing (G01M99/001 takes precedence; testing the elasticity of structures G01M5/00) · CPC title