Track
Pre-assembled, pre-adjusted turnouts can be supplied with a variety of components already installed.
availability, maintainability and safety (Rams), which are required from modern signalling products. Ecostar is now in its fourth generation. Ecostar 1 was the prototype and underwent its first trials in 2006. Ecostar 2 was introduced in small numbers by various railways between 2007 and 2009 in order to gain in-track experience. Generation 3 was launched in 2009 and met the expectations of its various specifications. Now type 4 goes a step further and offers for example
optional IP 67 protection or visual end position indicators. Voestalpine Hytronics has developed several products for its new concept of a completely pre-assembled and pre- adjusted turnout which is available just-in-time (pictured above). It can be supplied with point machines, lockings, power transmission systems, end position detectors and even diagnostics systems already installed. However, this requires the predominant interface for the integration of the turnout to be
Figure 1: main components of Ecostar 4 plastic lid
electric control and detection unit
electric motor hydraulics unit
mechanical unit with detector bars
hand crank gearbox cast metal housing 42 tube
moved into the signalbox. The new gateway to the turnout is at the end of the supply line, right outside the point machine’s electric box. Figure 1 shows the main components of Ecostar 4. Ecostar 4 has many benefits:
lightweight design of <100kg for the
core unit rapid exchange from right hand use to left hand side installation and vice
versa optional IP 67 protection class optional visual end position
indicators installation on an external support (Figure 2) or in a hollow steel bearer
(Figure 3) - see p44 integration into new or existing
infrastructure refit possibility, and independent interlocking integration
which is compatible with four-wire and seven-wire technology using diverse detection modules with “break before make” or “make before break” contacts for different switching philosophies and interlocking requirements. Ecostar 4 enables the existing maintenance and inspection intervals to be prolonged while improving reliability and safety due to the use of encapsulated systems, which have long-term lubrication, and the use of hydraulic systems instead of purely mechanical components that usually require intensive maintenance. Life-cycle cost discussions very often
IRJ August 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60