Moveable track connection

Abstract

A moveable track connection between the ends of travel paths for wrap-around track-guided vehicles, especially magnetic levitation railway vehicles is provided. The moveable track connection has a set of S-shaped deformable bending points (1) for changing track. A bearing (4, 6) along half the length of deformable bending points has a vertical axis of rotation, which cannot move in the longitudinal direction of the bending points (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a moveable track connection pursuant to patent claim 1.

[0002] Such track connections serve both for changing the travel path of a vehicle to the neighbouring track route and as track connection between the two ends of one and the same travel path.

[0003] Described in DE 44 16 819 C2 is a track connection, wherein a bending girder is elastically bendable from each end of travel path in the direction of the end of the neighbouring travel path, with it being possible to align the bendable ends of said track connection flush to each other in order to form the track connection and whose girders which border the elastically bendable end of the bending girder can be elastically bent away from the neighbouring travel path to the outside. To allow for a change of track on a neighbouring travel path, it is necessary to bend both the two outer travel path ends outwardly and to bend the two travel path ends inwardly. A multitude of bending facilities is required to this effect which have to execute differently great movements at different spots.

[0004] Known from DE 196 31 324 C1 is a transition connection between travel paths for wrap-around track-guided vehicles, wherein bending points with several homologous moveable travel path elements do exist which run in parallel to each other and which are mechanically hinged by several connecting elements or logically, functionally connected to each other. In this transition connection, too, at least four travel path ends are designed and operated as bending points.

[0005] Moreover described in DE 198 00 908 C1 and DE 198 00 909 C1 are change of track facilities for travel paths of a magnetic levitation railway, wherein for the build-up of the change of track facility the ends of the involved travel paths are executed as bending girders and wherein the support of connection girders is effected in a deformation-free manner. To this effect, pivot bearings are provided between the normal travel path and the transition elements which can be arrested for bending.

[0006] According to these embodiments belonging to the state of the art in technology, the ends of two bending points each are connected to each other, with the connection of the two oppositely loaded bending points being problematic and with it being required to bridge a relatively large expansion gap. Special flap bridges are used for bridging this expansion gap.

[0007] Now it is the object of this invention to propose a moveable track connection that overcomes the a.m. problems and especially avoids unsteadiness at transition spots.

[0008] The solution to this task is indicated in patent claim 1. Sub-claims 2 to 6 describe purposive forms of embodiments to this effect.

[0009] According to the invention, the use of only one S-shaped deformable bending points including change of curve is proposed for changing track, said bending points being comprised of a bearing with a vertical pivot axis at half its length, said bearing being non-moveable in the longitudinal direction of the bending points. The special advantage of the proposal being the object of this invention is that it is not necessary to lock two ends of the bending points (moveable bearing) against each other as required according to the state of the art in technology, but that only one end of a bending points is locked against the fixed end (fixed bearing) of the travel path. By allocating the moveable bearings to the two ends of the bending points, the expansion gap is substantially reduced so that the flap bridges for bridging the expansion gap can be of a much simpler and smaller configuration or can even be dispensed with entirely. Moreover, unsteadiness in the bending curve at the transition due to temperature and vehicle impacts is largely avoided and/or substantially reduced as compared with hitherto existing solutions. By the use of only one bending points it is moreover achieved that one fixed bearing can be deleted as compared with hitherto existing configurations.

[0010] The present invention is explained in greater details, for example by way of the attached FIGS. 1 to 4, where

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a change of track with a diamond crossing in

[0012] a) the first change of track function

[0013] b) the second change of track function

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a track connection and change of track with a shunting points in

[0015] a) the first track connection function

[0016] b) the second track connection function

[0017] c) the intermediate position for the functional change of the track connection function in track change function and vice-versa

[0018] d) the first track change function

[0019] e) the second track change function

[0020] FIG. 3 shows the transition point with shunting points and sliding girder in

[0021] a) a double track connection function

[0022] b) intermediate position for functional change

[0023] c) the first track change function

[0024] d) the second track change function

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a shunting connection with shunting points in

[0026] a) a track connection function for a middle travel track of three parallel ones

[0027] b) intermediate position for functional change

[0028] c) the first track change function from the intermediate position b)

[0029] d) the second track change function from the intermediate position b).

[0030] In these figures, the bending points 1 is represented on the one hand as a straight track connection and on the other hand as an S-shaped connection with different curve direction. The bending points 1 is connected each via an abutment 2 to the ends of the travel paths 3. In FIG. 1, the bending points 1 at half its length has a fixed bearing 4 that lies on the centreline between the two travel paths 3 which are arranged in parallel to each other. The fixed points 7 to 10 according to FIG. 1a) serve to generate the S-shaped bending curve. This function is fulfilled by fixed points 7′ to 10′ for the opposite curvature as per FIG. 1b).

[0031] In FIGS. 2 to 4, instead of the fixed bearing 4 as per FIG. 1, a so-called bivalent bearing 6 is provided in which the bending points 1 can be slid transversely to the longitudinal direction of the travel path. For the track connection as per FIGS. 2a), 2b), 3a), and 4a) as well as to produce the S-shaped bending points as per FIGS. 2d), 2e), 3c) 3d), 4c), and 4d), this bivalent bearing 6 is of course arrested accordingly.

[0032] Shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 each are principle representations for the double track travel path and FIG. 4 shows principle representations by example of three parallel travel tracks, the number of which can be extended at will. FIG. 3 additionally shows a sliding girder 5, which according to FIG. 3a) possesses a track connection function and which is shifted in parallel outwardly as per FIGS. 3b) to 3d) in order to create space for the transversely slidable bending points 1 that has to be brought into the center position.

List of Reference Numbers
1      Bending points
2      Abutment
3      Travel path
4      Fixed bearing
5      Sliding girder
6      Bivalent bearing
7-10   Fixed points to generate the S-shaped bending curve of 1 with
       change of curvature
7′-10′ Fixed points to generate the S-shaped bending curve of 1 with
       change of curvature

Claims

1. Moveable track connection between the ends of travel paths for wrap-around track-guided vehicles, especially magnetic levitation railway vehicles, comprising an S-shaped deformable bending points (1) for changing track, which has a bearing (4, 6) along half the length thereof with a vertical axis of rotation, which cannot move in the longitudinal direction of the bending points (1).

2. Moveable track connection pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that said bending points (1) serves both as a straight track connection and as an S-shaped bent track change facility (cf. FIGS. 2 to 4).

3. Moveable track connection pursuant to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said bending points (1) can be bent in S-shape to serve as diamond crossing in both directions (cf. FIG. 1).

4. Moveable track connection pursuant to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said bearing with the vertical axis of rotation is configured as a fixed bearing (4) and thus configured to be rotationally moveable only around the vertical axis of rotation (cf. FIG. 1).

5. Moveable track connection pursuant to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said bearing can be slid as bivalent bearing (6) transversely to the longitudinal direction of the travel paths (3) and be locked in the track connection and change function (cf. FIGS. 2 to 4).

6. Moveable track connection pursuant to claim 5, characterized in that apart from said bending points (1) there is at least one neighbouring straight sliding girder (5) which like said bending points (1) can be slid transversely to the longitudinal direction of the travel path (3) (cf. FIG. 3).