ADAPTER FOR RELAY

Abstract

 The invention relates to railway safety. On the one hand, the proposal is to combine a vital relay (so called B-relay), inside a relay box or relay house which is associated with a railway, with an external, wireless remote from outside the relay box or relay house controlled switch inside the relay box or relay house, which switch is arranged to switch the B relay (1) between "on" and "off". On the other hand the proposal is to mount, in an existing assembly of vital relay (1) and associated contact block (4) an adapter (3), which adapter is provided with a means to extend the functionality of the relay.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to the simulation of a section occupancy of a railway with safety relays (so-called B-relay), in particular relays which are applied at security level in the control and monitoring of switches or crossings, or are used for track occupancy detection, such as a so-called track repeat relay (TPR relay). A safety relay is an essential relay (in English: vital relay).

[0002] A safety relay (also called "B-relay") is a relay with a security function in a railway security system (including NX safety). B relays have a very high degree of reliability, and operate for decades, provided they are regularly revised. Important features of B relays are that they for sure loose contact when the coil is not energized, and the normally closed break contacts ("back contact") open before make contacts ("front contact") are closed. There exist several types of B-relay, with specific properties. The most common type is the 56001-783Gr1. This relay has two coils that operate on 12V DC, four switch contacts ("full contacts"), two make contacts and one break contact. Furthermore, there are B-relays which engage with a delay, disengage with a delay, are suitable for large currents etc. Another type of B-relay is the track relay (TR). This relay is a part of a track circuit, and is "on" when a track section is unoccupied, and falls off as the track section is occupied by a train. In the case of B-relays, in particular the B2 of relays (the "track relay"), a movable element is often used (at the B2 relay the "vane", or the "vane") which is sensitive to magnetism and a resetting force, for example gravity, so that, when the magnetic field generated by the one or more coil and the B relay fails, this element is no longer held in a deviated position by the magnetic field and moves by the restoring force, such as the force of gravity, causing the B relay to switch. A so-called B1 relay is usually equipped with a return spring.

[0003] A safety relay is supplied factory-delivered in a sealed casing. The rear wall of the housing is equipped with contact ports that correspond to contact plugs (so-called terminals) that protrude from a contact block (so-called plug board) in the relay box. A B - relay is placed by pressing its rear wall against the contact block so that the terminals are inserted into the contact ports so that the B -relays, via the terminals connected to lead wires, is galvanically (also called:

electrically) connected to the corresponding circuit in which the B-relay must be included. If the housing is modified or damaged after it has been delivered by the factory or if the seal is broken, the product concerned will be rejected.

[0004] In order to be able to work safely on a railway section (for example repairing a damaged rail), it must be ensured that train traffic is blocked in the relevant section. For this purpose it is known to use a so-called short-circuit lance (see e.g. EP0847339 and EP2067650) in the relevant section, with which the presence of a train in this section is simulated. This generates a track occupancy message with the result that a following train is not allowed in this section by train security. Placing a short-circuit lance, however, is cumbersome and time-consuming and dangerous.

[0005] In a first aspect, the object of the invention is to improve the controlled blocking of a track section, preferably avoiding the use of a short-circuit lance.

[0006] In connection with this first aspect it is proposed that the B relay which is associated with the track occupancy message of a section (i.e., the B-relay that falls off as soon as a train runs within the section, or a short circuit lance is placed which simulates a train in the section)is provided with or associated with a switch that is preferably associated with or provided with a transmitter and/or receiver for wireless communication and is arranged such that upon receipt of a suitable wireless signal (or by suitable operation, for example manually) the switch is switched in a first or second switch position in which the switch causes the B relay to fall off or has no influence on the functioning of the B relay. Optionally, the switch can occupy one or more further switch positions. In order to let the B relays to fall off, the switch interrupts, for example, the supply of the B-relay, for example, interrupts a to the B-relay connected supply wire, eg. 12V DC or 110V AC.

[0007] The switch is preferably located in or in close proximity to the frame on which the B-relay is mounted. More preferably, the switch is located on, in or on a so-called adapter or intermediate piece against which the rear of the B-relay is placed. The use of an adapter offers the possibility to quickly convert an existing situation in eg. a relay box or relay house. Preferably, an intervention within the housing of the B-relay is avoided, more preferably the housing of the B-relay remains unaffected.

[0008] The adapter or the intermediate piece is a separate component and is located behind the B-relay, for example, preferably enclosed, between the housing of the B-relay and the contact block and preferably has a width and height substantially equal to that of the housing of the B-relay and/or the contact block.

[0009] In a second aspect, the object of the invention is to quickly convert an existing application of a B relay into, for example, a relay box or relay house. This second aspect forms an independent invention that can be combined with the first aspect.

[0010] In connection with this second aspect, an adapter or intermediate piece, being a separate component, is provided and is located behind the B-relay, for example, preferably, is enclosed between the housing of the B-relay and the contact block and has preferably a width and height substantially equal to that of the housing of the B-relay. The adapter may be equipped with the aforementioned switch and/or another device related to the function of the B-relay, such as a galvanic coil.

[0011] For the internal space of the housing of the B-relay, preferably one or more of the following applies: is a single internal space; contains one or more of a single or double galvanic magnet coil with preferably soft iron core, an anchor, a return spring of the anchor, or the anchor executed as or equipped with a so-called "vane" where the force of gravity, instead of a return spring, provides the resetting force to move the anchor in the other position when the magnetic field is switched off by switching off the magnetic coil,a changeover contact, a make contact, a break contact; contains all components of the B relay; is hermetically sealed with respect to the environment; is sealed against unauthorized access; has a boundary wall that is transparent to visible light; at least one or two, preferably mutually parallel and/or straight, mounting sleeves extend there through, sealed there from and terminate in the environment through the two opposite end walls, so that in a mounting sleeve a at both sides projecting mounting pin can be inserted (in a relay box for each B-relay a pair of mutually parallel, fixed mounting pins is available onto which a B-relay housing is simply plugged so that its rear wall is placed against the contact block, and then nuts are screwed on out of the front wall of the B-relay housing projecting threaded ends of these mounting pins so that the B-relay housing stays on the mounting pins without slipping); From this space one or more galvanic conductors are inserted through a boundary wall into the environment; only one or more galvanic conductors extend from the space in the environment; the galvanic conductors are galvanically connected to one or more components in this space, such as a magnet coil or a switching contact contains a direction-sensitive relay.

[0012] The switch and/or other device is preferably located between the rear wall of the B-relay and the contact block, for example inside the adapter.

[0013] Preferably, the rear wall of the B-relay comprises rear contact members, for example pins in a pattern which corresponds to the pattern of forward-facing, preferably complementary, contact members, such as holes on the front wall of the contact block, so that these members can be mutually galvanically connected, for example the contact pins can be inserted in the contact holes by pressing the B-relay backwards against the contact block in the horizontal direction. The adapter preferably has contact holes similar to the B relay facing the contact block and contact pins similar to the B relay on its side facing the contact block. Alternatives to the contact pins and holes are also conceivable, or the opposite situation.

[0014] Preferably, the switch is equipped with a plurality of contacts in which by mechanical means it is ensured that the positions that these contacts can assume always are in a fixed, predictable relationship to each other. This allows safe operation of the switch to be monitored. For this purpose the switch is for instance equipped with a primary and a secondary contact. The primary contact is arranged for cancelling or adjusting the power supply, for example interrupting or making the circuit, of the B relay, the secondary contact monitoring the position of the primary contact. The primary and secondary contact are combined with each other by mechanical means such that when the primary contact is open, the secondary contact is closed, and vice versa. To realize an occupancy, the switch is operated so that the primary contact goes from closed to open (or vice versa), so that the power supply of the B-relay is cancelled or set, for example the circuit of the B-relay is interrupted or closed. At the same time, the secondary contact is closed so that a control circuit is closed through which a control current flows which is an indication that the circuit of the B relay is interrupted and thus the associated section is inhibited.

[0015] The adapter is preferably equipped with front and/or rear protruding mounting pins on which the B-relay and/or the contact block can be plugged. Alternatively, the adapter includes mounting sleeves for inserting the adapter onto mounting pins protruding from the contact block. The adapter is preferably substantially plate-shaped.

[0016] Starting from the existing situation, the contact block, or front surface thereof, is preferably moved backwards, for instance by exchanging the existing contact block for another contact block. This displacement to the rear is preferably substantially equal to the distance over which the front of the B-relay would come forward through the interposition of the adapter and is therefore usually substantially equal to or determined by the thickness of the adapter. This displacement is preferably at least 10 or 25 or 40 or 60 millimetres. This prevents the B relay from coming to the front (too far) by interposing the adapter. Should the B-relay come to the fore (too far), for example, a closing door for the B-relay could no longer be closed.

[0017] Preferably, the backward displacement is carried out without replacing the existing contact block and/or the contact block is mounted to the suspension frame via the adapter.

[0018] The rearward displacement is preferably carried out as follows: The attachment of the existing contact block to the suspension frame located behind it is cancelled, after which the now separate contact block is placed behind the suspension frame. The adapter can be placed completely in front of or completely behind the suspension frame, preferably the front section and the rear part behind the suspension frame.

[0019] The usual mounting pins on the contact block are preferably removed, or possibly replaced by longer ones. In case of longer ones, they protrude through the adapter and through the B-relay and a bit ahead of the B-relay, as is customary with a B-relay which is directly mounted on the contact block, ie without the adapter being in between. Preferably the adapter is equipped with mounting pins which preferably protrude only from the front and/or on which only the B-relay is inserted. Preferably, the contact block is attached to the adapter with screws or bolts.

[0020] Preferably, the front of the adapter, that is, the side facing the B relay, has an embodiment in shape and contact plugs that allow the B relay to be electrically and/or mechanically coupled to the adapter; and/or the back of the adapter has an embodiment in shape and contact ports which allow the contact block to be electrically and/or mechanically coupled to the adapter as in the known manner that the B-relay with the contact block is electrically and mechanically coupled. Preferably the front of the adapter is identical to the front of the contact block and the back of the adapter is identical to the back of the B-relay.

[0021] Preferably the B relay and the contact block and/or the adapter are equipped with a provision, also called coding, preferably mechanically, to ensure that the correct B-relay is mounted, for example, executed as a unique fit between two of these elements (also called male and female coding), For example, a unique pattern of protrusions, such as pins, on one element and a corresponding pattern of closely fitting holes on the other element so that merged according to regulations only possible with corresponding coding. Preferably one or more of the following applies: the B-relay equipped with a female device; the contact block with a male facility; the adapter to the(facing the B relay) front with a male and/or to the (facing the contact block) back with a female facility, or vice versa.

[0022] Preferably one or more of the following applies: the relay, the adapter and the contact block to be arranged for mutual electrical plug connection, for example by means of mutually matching contact ports and contact plugs; the plug connection is made or broken by move to each other or away from each other of the relay and the adapter or the adapter and the contact block; the relay has contact ports; the contact block has contact plugs; the adapter has contact plugs on the front side (facing the relay) and contact plugs at the back side (facing the contact block), or vice versa; a contact port is provided by a respective pair from the wall protruding contact lips (so-called. prongs); a contact plug is provided by an electrically insulated, wedge-shaped pen projecting from the wall; the pen has an upper contact (top terminal) and a bottom contact (bottom terminal) to each of which a private electricity lead is connected; of a pair is each contact lip electrically connected to its private inside the relay located relay contact; the contact lips are elastically spring-loaded towards each other and are pushed away from each other by the pin so that they clamp the pin elastic springy between them; of a pair makes one contact lip electrical contact with the upper contact (top terminal), the other contact lip makes electrical contact with the lower contact (bottom terminal) of the contact plug; the electric currents of the relay contacts via the pair of contact lips to the electricity lines are electrically insulated from each other; the plug connections are arranged in at least two or three horizontal rows and/or at least two or three vertical columns at one or more of relay, adapter and contact block; the plug connections have fixed locations at one or more of relay, adapter and contact block; the pattern of the plug connections at relay, adapter and contact block is mutually matching and/or identical.

[0023] The adapter is preferably mounted permanently, ie at least one week or month or year remains between the B relay and the contact block.

[0024] The adapter offers the advantage that wiring in the vicinity of the B-relay does not have to be changed and/or removed.

[0025] The invention will be further described with reference to the drawing. This shows in:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view in perspective of the relay housing, associated with an adapter and a contact block in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a B relay;

Fig. 3-4 an exploded view according to two different viewing directions;

Fig. 5 an exploded view;

Fig. 6-7 a schematic side view;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a B relay;

Fig. 9 is a side view of the electrical terminals of a B relay;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a contact block;

Fig. 11 is a front view of a B1 type contact block;

Fig. 12 is a front view of a B2 type contact block;

Fig. 13-15 views in perspective of the adapter.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows the block-shaped relay housing 1 which hermetically seals a single internal space from the environment. At high level, two parallel, straight mounting sleeves 2 run through the internal space and cross both end walls. These mounting sleeves are sealed with respect to the internal space. A mounting pin longer than the sleeve can protrude from both sides of the tube at both sleeve ends.

[0027] The internal space contains all the components of the B relay, of which only the magnetic coil is shown. This is at a low level. This magnet coil switches the relay and is located at the bottom of the B-relay.

[0028] Fig. 1 further shows an adapter plate 3 and a contact block 4. From the contact block 4 (as usual) the two mounting pins (not visible in Fig. 1) are inserted on which the adapter plate 3 and the B-relay 1 are inserted (the mounting pins protrude the mounting sleeves 2). This, compared to the state of the art extended mounting pins are rigidly fixed to the contact block 4 and protrude perpendicularly from the contact block, substantially extending horizontally. The adapter plate 3 carries the switch with accompanying wireless receiver for the remote wireless switching of the B-relay between "on" and "off" for simulating a train assignment. Furthermore, the adapter plate carries contact points in the pattern matching the contact block and the B relay, so that the contact block and B relay "experience" the side of the adapter plate facing to itself as the relevant side of the B relay (ie rear wall of the B relay) respectively contact block.

[0029] B-relays are available, for example, from Alstom Signaling Inc., West Henrietta, NY, USA (www.alstomsignalingsolutions.com).

[0030] Fig. Fig. 2 shows the block-shaped, hermetically sealed relay housing (of transparent plastic, with the exception of the rear wall 16) and now also the most components of the B-relay (type B1) inside this relay housing, including: a galvanic magnet coil with a soft iron core, an anchor, a return spring of the anchor, a change-over contact, a make contact, a break contact. The mounting sleeves are also visible. The B relay is mounted on a contact block 4. FIG. 8 shows a B-relay of B2 type.

[0031] Fig. 3-5 show a possible embodiment of the invention and give a better representation of the adapter 3 or the intermediate piece which is located between the relay housing 1 and the contact block 4 and which is equipped with the wireless remote-controlled switch according to the invention. Adjustments to relays and/or contact block are therefore unnecessary.

[0032] The front side of the adapter 3, that is to say the side facing the B-relay 1, has an embodiment in shape and contact plugs which allows the B-relay 1 to be electrically and mechanically coupled to the adapter 3, respectively the back of the adapter 3 has an embodiment in form and contact ports which allows the contact block 4 to be electrically and mechanically coupled to the adapter 3 as in the known manner that the B-relay 1 with the contact block 4 is electrically and mechanically coupled. Preferably the front of the adapter 3 is identical to the front of the contact block 4 and the back of the adapter 3 is identical to the back of the B-relay.

[0033] The adapter 3 shown in Fig. 3-5 is provided with mounting pins 5 which replace the usual mounting pins on the contact block 4. The mounting pins 5 are permanently fixed to the adapter 3 and project from the adapter 3 to its side facing the relay 1. For the purpose of mutual assembly, these pins 5 project into the mounting sleeves 2 of the relay 1. Mounting pins 6 stabbing from the adapter 3 on its side facing the contact block 4 facing side and are for the purpose of the mutual fitting inserted into mounting sleeves 7 of the contact block 4. In an alternative, the pins 6 and the sleeves 7 are missing.

[0034] The adapter is equipped with lips 8 for mounting by fixing means (not shown) to the contact block 4.

[0035] Fig. 3 shows the coding pins 21 at the front of the adapter 3 and the contact block 4. FIG. 4 shows the matching coding holes 20 at the back of the relay 1 and the adapter 3.

[0036] Fig. 5 shows the adapter 3 equipped with two galvanic coils and the switch. Also visible are the coding holes 20 on the relay 1.

[0037] Fig. 6 shows the assembly of the contact block 4 known per se on the supporting frame 11 via the lips 19. The B relay is plugged onto the pins protruding from the contact block and is held pressed against the contact block 4 by nuts 9 or like retaining means placed on the free end of the pins.

[0038] Fig. 7 shows the situation when, starting from fig. 6, the contact block 4 is moved backwards in order to provide space for the adapter 3 without the B-relay coming forward further. The adapter 3 is now coupled to the support frame 11 with a lip 10 and carries the contact block 4 at its rear side and the B relay 1 at its front. The contact block 4 is stripped of the pins 5, the adapter 3 is now equipped with pins 5 on which the B-relay is plugged. The lips 19 are not used.

[0039] Fig. 9 shows the conventional electrical plug connection between the B-unit and the contact block 4. The arrow A indicates the direction in which the connector terminal is made broken, respectively, by moving in the arrow direction with respect to each other of the housing 1 and the contact block 4. On the rear of the rear wall 16 of the relay are contact ports each of which is formed by a respective pair of contact lips 15 (prongs) protruding from the back wall 16. Each gate contact 15 until t on an associated contact plug, which is provided by an electrically insulated, wedge-shaped pin 12 which projects from the front side of the contact block 4. The pin 12 has an upper contact (top terminal) 13 and a lower contact (bottom terminal) 14 to each of which its own electricity wire 17 is connected. The electrical wires 17 protrude from the back of the contact block 4. Each contact lug 15 is electrically connected to its own relay contact 18 located inside the housing 1 and mounted at the front of the rear wall 16. The contact lips 15 are biased elastically towards each other and are pushed away from each other by the pin 12 so that they elastically spring the pin 12 between them. The one contact lip 15 makes electrical contact with the upper contact 13, the other contact lip 15 makes electrical contact with the lower contact 14. The electric currents of the relay contacts 18 to the wires 17 are thus electrically isolated from each other.

[0040] Fig. 10 shows a contact block 4 known per se with the pins 5 to which the relay is inserted, and the contact plugs 12. The contact plugs 12 are arranged in three (at least two) horizontal rows and three (at least two) vertical columns.

[0041] Fig. 13-15 show an embodiment of the adapter 3. FIG. 13 shows the coding pins 21 which prevent a relay 1 without coding holes 20 or with coding holes 20 from being mounted in a different pattern to the contact block 4 or the adapter 3. The adapter 3 comprises a plate 22 which mimics a contact block 4. This plate 22 is mounted on a box-shaped body 23. In Fig. 15, the plate 22 is removed so that the inside of the body 23 is visible.

[0042] The measures disclosed herein can be taken together individually in any other conceivable combination and permutation to provide an alternative to the invention. Included are also technical equivalents and genuses or generalizations of the revealed measures. A measure of an example is also generally applicable within the scope of the invention. A measure disclosed herein, for example of an example, can be readily generalized for inclusion in a general definition of the invention, for example to be found in a patent claim.

Claims

1. Relay, like B-relay, inside a relay box or relay house which is associated with a railway, with an external, wireless remote from outside the relay box or relay house controlled switch inside the relay box or relay house, which switch is arranged to switch the B relay between "on" and "off".

2. Relay according to claim 1, mounted on a contact block (4) with the help of an adapter (3) which adapter is equipped with the wireless remote controlled switch.

3. Relay according to claim 1 or 2, the switch is associated with means for wireless remote control such as a receiver for a wireless signal, preferably of radio type.

4. Relay box or relay house which is associated with a railway and which contains a large number of relays of which at least one, or all, relays (1) is designed according to claim 1, 2 or 3.

5. Relay, such as B relay, inside a with a railway associated relay box or relay house, mounted on a contact block (4) with the help of an adapter (3), preferably wherein the adapter has a with the relay associated element, that for example detects or controls the operation of it.

6. Relay according to claim 5, the contact block (4) or to the relay (1) facing front face of it is from the original situation temporarily disassembled and then moved backwards with respect to the support frame (11) and again mounted to the new location and the adapter (3) is placed between the relay and the contact block (4), so that the front face of the relay by inserting the adapter (3) does not come to the front or is less far forward than without moving the contact block or front face backwards.

7. Method for adapting an existing one relay, such as B relay, implementation in for example a with a railway associated relay house or relay box, wherein between the contact block (4) and the relay (1) an adapter (3) is placed, preferably wherein the contact block or front face thereof is moved to the rear and then remounted to ensure that the insertion of the adapter does not result in, or lessens, forward displacement of the front of the relay compared to the increase in distance between the relay and the contact block.

8. Device or method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the relay box or the relay house is associated with a railway, in particular comprises relays which are applied at security level in the control and checking of switches or crossings or are used for track occupancy reporting, such as a so-called repeat relay.

9. Device or method according to one of the preceding claims, the adapter (3) is a separate part, is included between the relay (3) and the contact block (4) and has a width and height substantially equal to that of the relay and/or the contact block.

10. Device or method according to one of the preceding claims, the adapter simulates at its to the relay facing front the to the relay facing front of the contact block (4) and simulates at its to the contact block (4) facing back the to the contact block facing back (16) of the relay (1) so that the relay on the one hand and the contact block on the other hand can be associated with the adapter in the same manner as the relay can be directly associated with the contact block.

11. Device or method according to one of the preceding claims, the adapter is equipped with mounting pins (5) on which the relay (1) is plugged in the manner in which the relay (1) is normally plugged on mounting pins (5) at the contact block (4).

12. Device or method according to one of the preceding claims, the adapter (3) is mounted to the support frame (11) and the relay (1) and the contact block (4) are via the adapter (3), mounted to the support frame (11).

13. Device or method according to one of the preceding claims, the relay (1), the adapter (3) and the contact block (4) are equipped with electrical plug connections (12, 15) which provide the electrical interconnection by moving relay and adapter or adapter and contact block together.

14. Device or method according to claim 13, the plug connections (12, 15) are provided in a fixed pattern.

15. Device or method according to one of the preceding claims, the relay (1), the adapter (3) and possibly the contact block (4) is equipped with a unique device for the type of relay, such as a pattern of pins (21) and holes (20), to prevent combining a wrong type of relay (1) with the adapter (3).

Drawing