Switch device

Abstract

A switch device including a switch rail (12), the switch device having at least one stock rail (14), a junction rail (32) and a switch rail support (16), and the switch rail and the connecting rail being interconnected by a weld joint (34). The switch rail support (16) includes a through-opening (36) or a recess beneath the weld joint, the width of the through-opening or the recess being wider than the width of the switch rail (12). Furthermore, the length of the through-opening or the recess allows the junction rail (32) to connect to switch rails of the same or different lengths.

Claims

1. A switch device comprising: a tongue blade, a stock rail, a connecting rail, and a tongue blade support, wherein the tongue blade and the connecting rail are connected to each other via a weld joint, wherein a lower side of the tongue blade support borders on a hollow space, and below the weld joint comprises a through opening passing into the hollow space, or wherein the switch device possesses a cut-out below the weld joint in the tongue blade support, wherein the width of the through opening or cut-out is greater than the width of the tongue blade, and the through opening or the cut-out possesses a length that facilitates joining the connecting rail with tongue blades of equal or different lengths.

2. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the switch device is embodied in monobloc design and is arranged on a base plate, at some distance from which extends the lower side of the tongue blade support, or wherein the switch device comprises a lower part embodied in monobloc design, on which is arranged an upper part that comprises the tongue blade support.

3. The switch device of claim 2, wherein the base plate comprises a drain opening, which, if projected along the vertical axis of the switch device, at least sectionally overlaps with the through opening, or wherein a drain opening, a drain channel, or a drain hole originates from the cut-out.

4. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the length of the through opening or cut-out is 50 mm to 150 mm, and/or the through opening or the cut-out extends on each side of the tongue blade or connecting rail over a width of between 10 mm and 50 mm.

5. A method for replacing a tongue blade in a switch device having at least one stock rail, a connecting rail, and a tongue blade support, wherein the tongue blade and the connecting rail are connected to each other by forming a weld joint by means of welding, the method comprising: providing a switch device wherein a lower side of the tongue blade support is bordered by a hollow space, and in the area of the weld joint comprises a through opening that passes into the hollow space, or wherein a cut-out is embodied below the weld joint in the tongue blade support, wherein the width of the through opening or cut-out is greater than the width of the tongue blade and the through opening or cut-out possesses a length that allows separating cuts between the connecting rail and tongue blades of equal or different lengths, making a separating cut through the weld joint, or making a separating cut adjacent to the weld joint in the connecting rail, removing the tongue blade, and then welding the connecting rail to a new tongue blade, wherein, when the separating cut extends at a distance from the previous weld joint, the new tongue blade to be connected to the connecting rail will be longer than the replaced tongue blade by the distance between the previous joint weld and the separating cut.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the switch device is arranged on a base plate, which possesses a height that is adapted to an overall height of a standard rail, or as grooved rail sections to be connected to the switch device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the switch device is embodied in monobloc design with a lower part and an upper part, the lower part having a block construction, and the upper part comprising the tongue blade support, whereby the cut-out extending below the weld joint possesses a depth that is sufficient to allow an insertion of a weld backing.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein, for welding purposes, a weld backing is introduced into the through opening or the cut-out.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the stock rail, a side rail, the connecting rail, and the tongue blade support of the switch device are embodied as a monobloc.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the switch device consists of an upper part and a lower part of equal or different materials.

11. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the length of the through opening or cut-out is 80 mm to 120 mm, and/or the through opening or the cut-out extends on each side of the tongue blade or connecting rail over a width of between 20 mm and 30 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The Figures Show:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a top view onto a switch device with tongue blade,

(3) FIG. 2 shows an enlarged portion of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sectional view according to FIG. 3, through an alternative switch device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIGS. 1-3 show a switch device 10 embodied in monobloc construction, without this affecting the scope of the invention's teachings. Rather, the switch device 10, which accepts a tongue blade 12, can also consist of several individual parts. However, a monobloc design is preferred.

(7) The switch device 10, which is explained using a grooved rail switch device as well, comprises in the known manner a stock rail 14, a side rail 30, as well as a sliding plate 16, which also may be referred to as tongue blade support. The tongue blade 12 is arranged adjustable in the known manner on the sliding plate 16. The stock rail 14 with the sliding plate 16 are sections of the switch device 10, which as was shown before in the drawings is embodied as a monobloc.

(8) The switch device 10 of the embodiment example is arranged on a base plate 18, which in dependence on the overall height of the standard rails or grooved rail profiles, such as R59/60, possesses suitably adjusted thicknesses, so that no height adjustment of the switch device 10 itself is required.

(9) The slide plate 16 extends at some distance from the surface of the base plate 18, as is indicated in the sectional view of FIG. 3. The hollow space 20 formed thusly may for example contain a heater. The hollow space 20 also serves as a drain, which via an opening 22 in the base plate merges into a drain plug 24. Furthermore, provided in the groove 26 of the stock rail 14 are drain openings 28, which are connected to the hollow space 20.

(10) The slide plate 16 extends between the stock rail and the side rail 30, which extends along the longitudinal direction of the switch device 10 and which is part of the monobloc.

(11) The switch device 32 further comprises a connecting rail 32, which is connected to the tongue blade 12 by welding. The corresponding weld joint is identified by the reference label 34. In the embodiment example of FIG. 3, this weld joint is situated above a through opening 36, which preferably is situated directly above the drain plug 24, which means that the projection of the through opening 36 along the vertical axis of the switch device overlaps the drain plug 24, which is clarified in particular in FIG. 2.

(12) If the tongue blade 12 is for example worn or has been damaged, it must be replaced. For this, one performs a separating cut directly in the joint plane or at some distance to the latter, as is indicated by the lines 1, 2, 3, 4. These are separating cuts 38, which can be performed easily, in particular because of the provided through opening 36. Both the separating cutting and welding-in a new tongue blade is easily performed. For this, it is in particular intended that a plate-shaped weld pool backing, such as sheet metal, is positioned below the connecting rail 32 and the tongue blade in the joint region, in order to be able to easily weld a root pass and subsequently to form for example I-seams or V-grooves. Compared to the tongue blade to be replaced, the newly to be inserted tongue blade is longer by an amount that corresponds to the distance between the weld joint 34 of the to-be-replaced tongue blade and the separating cut. If this separating cut is performed directly in the weld joint 34, then the new tongue blade has the same length as the replaced one.

(13) Consequently, the free space created by the through opening 36 facilitates a problem-free e.g. autogenous cutting and welding on account of the clearance available for the cutting jet. Other methods for are also feasible for performing the separating cut.

(14) To weld in a new tongue blade, the weld backing 40 is introduced into the through opening below the rail foot. The weld backing may consist of sheet metal and possesses a width that should correspond to at least the width of the tongue width.

(15) The through opening described with the help of FIG. 3 represents a preferred embodiment of the invention's teachings. As an alternative, which is illustrated in FIG. 4, which uses the same reference labels as in FIG. 3 for identical elements, it is possible to create a cut-out 116 in the tongue blade support, i.e. in the sliding plate 16, namely in the area of the to be created weld connection, into which can be introduced a weld backing 40 in accordance with FIG. 3.

(16) The sectional view of FIG. 4 shows a switch device 100 that has been manufactured in monobloc construction, however not as a single level, but consists of an upper part 102 and a lower part 104. The upper part 102 consists of high-strength steel, whereas the lower part may for example consist of structural steel. In accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 3, a drainage hole 28, which may merge with the connecting sleeve 24, may originate from the lowest point of the groove 26 of the stock rail 14, without this being an obligatory feature. It is also possible for the switch device 100 to be arranged on a base plate 18 of a desired thickness, as has been explained in connection with FIG. 3.

(17) The invention relates to a switch device with tongue blade 12, whereby the switch device comprises at least one stock rail 14, one connecting rail 32, and one tongue blade support 16, and the tongue blade and the connecting rail are connected to each other via a weld joint 34. Below the weld joint, the tongue blade support 16 comprises a through opening 36 or cut-out 116, whereby the width of the through opening 36 or the cut-out 116 is greater than the width of the tongue blade 12. Further, the through opening 36 or the cut-out 116 possess a length that facilitates connecting the connecting rail 32 to tongue blades of equal or different lengths.