A model of a repoint track switch for control
conference contribution
posted on 07.05.2015, 14:13 by Nick Wright, Sam Bemment, Christopher Ward, Roger DixonTrack switching provides necessary flexibility to a rail network, allowing vehicles to change routes when necessary. Track switches, however, have historically been prone to failure. To increase asset reliability, a concept for a novel design of switch has been developed which allows multi-channel actuation through a novel actuation and locking mechanism, under a project titled 'Repoint'. This paper describes a mathematical model of the operation a novel Repoint track switch. The model was derived from a first principles physical analysis of the Repoint concept design. The structure of the model mimics the physical structure of the design. Each physical component has an individual sub-model. The model has been used to estimate the actuator drive requirements for a case study mainline switch installation. It has been found that a Repoint track switch could be run from an existing UK signalling power supply. It is anticipated that this model will be used as the basis for a control system design activity for a technology demonstrator installation currently under construction.
Funding
The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support provided by the United Kingdom EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) and the UK Railway Safety and Standards Board RSSB in grant number EP/I010823/1, for the project titled ‘REPOINT: Redundantly engineered points for enhanced reliability and capacity of railway track switching’. The authors also wish to acknowledge the support of the UK’s EIT (Enabling Innovation Team), for providing followon research funding towards concept demonstrator construction (http://www.futurerailway.org/). The authors also wish to thank Tracsis PLC for ongoing industrial support and guidance.
History
School
- Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0