Structural types and technological upgrades of railway turnouts
- What are the common structural types of railway turnouts?
Common structural types include single - open turnouts, which consist of switch points, frogs and guard rails, and connecting parts, and are the most commonly used type. Symmetrical turnouts have the same curve radius on both branches, which can shorten the length of the railway yard. Three - way turnouts allow trains to switch from one track to two other tracks, often used in the throat area of railway yards. Double slip switches enable multi - direction train operation, occupying less space but with a complex structure, and are often used in busy stations.
- Where do the technical differences between high - speed turnouts and ordinary - speed turnouts lie?
High - speed turnouts adopt movable - point frogs to eliminate harmful spaces, allowing trains to pass at speeds of 250 - 350 km/h. The switch machines use multi - machine traction, with large conversion force and high reliability, reducing the conversion time to 5 - 7 seconds. The turnout sleepers are made of high - strength pre - stressed concrete with higher precision, and the dimensional error is controlled within ±1mm. Ordinary - speed turnouts have a relatively simple structure, and the train passing speed is generally below 160 km/h.
- What are the key points of daily maintenance for turnouts?
Daily maintenance requires checking the close fit between the switch rail and the stock rail, ensuring that the gap does not exceed 0.5mm. Detect parameters such as the conversion force and indication gap of the switch machine to ensure the flexible conversion of the turnout. Check the fastening status of the fasteners to prevent loosening, which may cause changes in the rail gauge. Lubricate the switch slide plates to reduce frictional resistance. Regularly measure the geometric dimensions of the turnout and adjust the deviations in a timely manner.
- What are the main directions of turnout technology upgrading?
The upgrading directions of turnout technology include using new materials to improve the wear resistance and strength of turnouts, such as high - strength alloy steel and composite materials. Developing intelligent turnout monitoring systems, using sensors to monitor the status of key turnout components in real - time and realizing fault early warning. Optimizing the structural design to reduce turnout resistance and improve the smoothness of train passing. Researching turnout technologies suitable for extreme environments to meet the usage requirements under special climatic conditions such as severe cold and high temperature.
- What is the development level of China's railway turnout technology?
China's railway turnout technology has reached the international advanced level. Independently developed high - speed turnouts are widely used in domestic high - speed railway lines, such as No. 18 and No. 42 high - speed turnouts, with performance indicators comparable to similar foreign products. In the field of heavy - haul turnouts, breakthroughs have also been achieved, which can meet the operation requirements of heavy - haul trains with an axle load of more than 30 tons. At the same time, Chinese turnout enterprises actively participate in international competition, and their products are exported to many countries and regions.