FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
CONTROL DEVICE FOR RAILWAY VEHICLE
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED AND
EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
2
DESCRIPTION
5 Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device for a railway vehicle.
Background Art
[0002] Control devices for railway vehicles include housings having
waterproofness and dust resistance. Each of the housings accommodates a control unit
10 for controlling a railway vehicle. The control unit includes a power converter, a circuit
breaker, a transformer, a reactor, and other components. The housing is provided with
an opening that allows for inspection and maintenance of the control unit inside the
housing. The housing is also provided with a cover that covers the opening. In order
to ensure the safety, the housing has an interlock mechanism that permits locking of the
15 cover only in the closed state of the cover.
[0003] A high-voltage device box for an electric railway vehicle disclosed in Patent
Literature 1 is provided with an inspection cover that can be opened or closed. This
high-voltage device box for an electric railway vehicle has interlock mechanisms
composed of a first lock mechanism, a second lock mechanism, and a third lock
20 mechanism. In the first lock mechanism, a locking bar swings and causes a claw
swinging with the locking bar to engage with a hole of a receiving fitting attached to the
inspection cover, thereby locking the inspection cover. The second lock mechanism
permits swinging of the locking bar of the first lock mechanism only in the closed state of
the inspection cover. The third lock mechanism includes a lock and an operating lever
25 that cooperates with the locking bar of the first lock mechanism. The operating lever of
the third lock mechanism has a lock hole. The lock of the third lock mechanism has a
lock pin. A key is inserted in a keyhole of the lock while the inspection cover is locked
3
by simultaneous swinging of the locking bar and the operating lever. When this key is
turned, the lock pin is inserted in the lock hole of the operating lever. The lock pin
inserted in the lock hole of the operating lever restricts swinging of the operating lever
and thereby also restricts swinging of the locking bar. While swinging of the locking
bar is restricted, the key can be extracted from the keyhole of 5 the lock. In the
high-voltage device box for an electric railway vehicle disclosed in Patent Literature 1
having the above-described structure, locking of the inspection cover is achieved by
swinging of the locking bar in the closed state of the inspection cover. In addition,
simultaneous swinging of the locking bar and the operating lever causes locking of the
10 lock and allows for extraction of the key from the lock.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0004] Patent Literature 1: Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Application
Publication No. S62-157672
15 Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0005] The high-voltage device box for an electric railway vehicle disclosed in
Patent Literature 1 requires a complicated mechanism, such as a mechanism of permitting
locking of the inspection cover in response to engagement of the swinging claw with the
20 opening of the receiving fitting, or a mechanism of restricting swinging of the operating
lever using the lock pin inserted in the lock hole of the operating lever.
[0006] In consideration of such circumstances, an objective of the present
disclosure is to provide a simplified interlock mechanism.
Solution to Problem
25 [0007] In order to achieve the above objective, a control device for a railway
vehicle according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a housing, a cover, and
an interlock mechanism. The housing is provided with an opening. The cover closes
4
or opens the opening. The interlock mechanism permits locking of the cover while the
cover is closed, and restricts locking of the cover while the cover is open. The interlock
mechanism includes a lock, a restricting member, a pushing member, and an urging
member. The lock locks the cover while the cover is closed. The restricting member
is attached to one of an inner surface of the housing and an inner surface 5 of the cover, and
is located in one of a lock permitting position for permitting locking of the cover and a
lock restricting position for restricting locking of the cover. The pushing member is
attached to the other of the inner surface of the housing and the inner surface of the cover.
The urging member urges the restricting member to the lock restricting position. In
10 response to a closing operation of the cover, the pushing member pushes the restricting
member to the lock permitting position.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0008] According to the present disclosure, in response to a closing operation of the
cover, the pushing member pushes the restricting member to the lock permitting position,
15 resulting in permission of locking by the lock. The structure of this interlock
mechanism is simplified.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a control device for a railway vehicle
according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;
20 FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of an interlock system according to Embodiment
1;
FIG. 3 illustrates a restricting member and a pushing member according to
Embodiment 1;
FIG. 4 illustrates the restricting member and the pushing member according to
25 Embodiment 1;
FIG. 5 illustrates the restricting member and the pushing member according to
Embodiment 1;
5
FIG. 6 illustrates the restricting member and the pushing member according to
Embodiment 1;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a control device for a railway vehicle according to
Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8 illustrates a restricting member according 5 to Embodiment 2;
FIG. 9 illustrates the restricting member according to Embodiment 2;
FIG. 10 illustrates the restricting member and a pushing member according to
Embodiment 2; and
FIG. 11 illustrates the restricting member and the pushing member according to
10 Embodiment 2.
Description of Embodiments
[0010] Control devices for a railway vehicle according to embodiments of the
present disclosure are described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
Components that are the same or equivalent are assigned the same reference signs
15 throughout the drawings.
[0011] Embodiment 1
With reference to FIG. 1, a control device 1 for a railway vehicle (hereinafter
referred to as “control device”) includes a housing 11 and covers 12. Each of the covers
12 includes a lock 13. The cover 12 rotates about a rotational axis AX1, thereby
20 opening or closing an opening 14 provided to the housing 11. In FIG. 1, the Z axis
indicates the vertical direction. In FIG. 1, the X axis indicates the longitudinal direction
of the housing 11. The housing 11 is provided with three openings 14 aligned in the
X-axis direction. The Y axis is orthogonal to the X and Z axes. The covers 12 are
provided for the respective openings 14. The covers 12 include the respective locks 13.
25 These three locks 13 are manipulated independently from each other. The locks 13 lock
the respective covers 12. Specifically, each of the locks 13 has a cylinder lock
mechanism, in which a key, which is described later, is inserted. The cylinder lock
6
mechanism receiving the inserted key is rotated to be in a locked position or an unlocked
position. The lock 13 in the unlocked position does not allow for extraction of the key
from the lock 13. While the cover 12 is closed, in response to turning of the key
inserted in the cylinder lock mechanism, the cylinder lock mechanism is rotated with the
key. The cylinder lock mechanism is rotated to the locked position 5 and thereby allows
for locking of the cover 12 and extraction of the key. The control device 1 has an
interlock mechanism that allows for locking of the cover 12 and extraction of the key
from the lock 13 only in the closed state of the cover 12.
[0012] The control device 1 is installed underneath the floor of a railway vehicle.
10 The control device 1 further includes a control unit 2 as a device for controlling the
railway vehicle. The control unit 2 is accommodated in the housing 11 of the control
device 1. The control unit 2 includes a power converter, a circuit breaker, a transformer,
a reactor, and other components. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration
of an interlock system according to Embodiment 1. The electric power supplied from
15 an overhead wire 3 via a pantograph 4 is supplied to the control unit 2 via a ground
switch 5. The ground switch 5 switches the mode between an ungrounded mode, in
which the control unit 2 is supplied with electric power from the overhead wire 3, and a
grounded mode, in which the control unit 2 is disconnected from the overhead wire 3 and
grounded. The switching of the ground switch 5 is conducted by an operation of a
20 switch operator 6. The interlock system further includes a key retainer 7 for retaining
keys 8 for the locks 13 of the control device 1. Only when the keys 8 are inserted in all
the keyholes 7a of the key retainer 7, the switch operator 6 is operable to conduct the
switching of the ground switch 5 such that the control unit 2 is supplied with electric
power from the overhead wire 3. The control device 1 is thus activated to enable the
25 railway vehicle to run. In addition, only when the switch operator 6 is operated to
conduct the switching of the ground switch 5 such that the control unit 2 is disconnected
from the overhead wire 3, the keys 8 can be extracted from the key retainer 7. The keys
7
8 extracted from the key retainer 7 can thus be used to unlock the covers 12.
[0013] The control device 1 has an interlock mechanism that allows for locking of
the cover 12 and extraction of the key 8 only in the closed state of the cover 12, as
described above. This interlock mechanism of the control device 1 is described below.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a state in which the cover 12 is not closed. FIG. 5 3 illustrates the
housing 11 and the cover 12 when viewed from the inside of the housing 11 to the
outside. FIG. 4 illustrates portions of the housing 11 and the cover 12 to come into
contact with each other when viewed from the inside of the housing 11. In order to
facilitate an understanding, the following description is directed to only one of the three
10 locks 13 because the locks 13 have the identical configuration. In the example
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 12 is unlocked. The lock 13 includes a bar 15 that
swings with turning of the key 8 inserted in the lock 13. When the swinging of the bar
15 is restricted by a restricting member 16, which is described later, the interlock
mechanism restricts the turning of the key 8 inserted in the lock 13, resulting in restriction
15 of locking of the cover 12. In contrast, when the swinging of the bar 15 is permitted, the
interlock mechanism allows for turning of the key 8 inserted in the lock 13, resulting in
permission of locking of the cover 12.
[0014] The above-mentioned restricting member 16 is attached to an inner surface
12a of the cover 12. Specifically, the restricting member 16 is in one of a lock
20 permitting position for permitting locking of the cover 12 and a lock restricting position
for restricting locking of the cover 12. The restricting member 16 is composed of a
plate member. The control device 1 further includes an urging member 17 that urges
the restricting member 16 to the unlocked position. The urging member 17 urges one
end 16a of the restricting member 16 in the direction apart from the inner surface 12a of
25 the cover 12 provided with the restricting member 16. The urging member 17 is
composed on an elastic member. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the
restricting member 16, which is urged by the urging member 17, is in the lock restricting
8
position. Specifically, the one end 16a of the restricting member 16 is located apart
from the inner surface 12a of the cover 12 such that the restricting member 16 is in
contact with the bar 15. This configuration restricts swinging of the bar 15, resulting in
restriction of locking of the cover 12.
[0015] In order to achieve the above-described interlock mechanism, 5 the control
device 1 further includes a pushing member 18 attached to an inner surface 11a of the
housing 11. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pushing member 18 is
integrated with the housing 11 and located at a position that overlaps with the restricting
member 16. Specifically, while the cover 12 is closed, at least a part of the pushing
10 member 18 is located as a position that overlaps with at least a part of the restricting
member 16 in the Z-axis direction. The pushing member 18 pushes the restricting
member 16 to the lock permitting position. Specifically, the pushing member 18 pushes
the restricting member 16 toward the cover 12, so that swinging of the bar 15 is permitted.
This configuration permits turning of the key 8 inserted in the lock 13, resulting in
15 permission of locking of the cover 12.
[0016] In the control device 1 having the above-described configuration, locking of
the cover 12 is available in the closed state of the cover 12. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a
state in which the cover 12 is closed. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate portions of the housing 11
and the cover 12 to come into contact with each other when viewed from the inside of the
20 housing 11. During a closing operation of the cover 12, the restricting member 16,
which is urged by the urging member 17 in the direction apart from the inner surface 12a
of the cover 12, comes into contact with the pushing member 18. When the cover 12 is
further closed, the pushing member 18 pushes the restricting member 16 toward the cover
12, so that the one end 16a of the restricting member 16 approaches the inner surface 12a
25 of the cover 12. The restricting member 16 thus is not in contact with the bar 15, and
allows for swinging of the bar 15 and turning of the key 8 inserted in the lock 13,
resulting in permission of locking of the cover 12. That is, the restricting member 16
9
allows the cover 12 to be locked. In other words, the pushing member 18 pushes the
restricting member 16, so that the bar 15 is able to swing from the position illustrated in
FIG. 5 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6. The key 8 inserted in the lock 13 can thus be
turned and lock the cover 12. After turning of the key 8 and locking of the cover 12, the
key 8 5 can be extracted.
[0017] The pushing member 18 pushes the restricting member 16 and thereby
displaces the restricting member 16 from the lock restricting position to the lock
permitting position, resulting in permission of locking of the cover 12, as described above.
The interlock mechanism of the control device 1 does not require a complicated
10 mechanism, such as a mechanism of permitting locking of an inspection cover in
response to engagement of a swinging claw with an opening of a receiving fitting, or a
mechanism of restricting swinging of an operating lever using a lock pin inserted in a
lock hole of the operating lever. The structure of the interlock mechanism therefore is
simplified. Also, the control device 1 has a production tolerance higher than that of a
15 device having the above-mentioned complicated mechanism.
[0018] As described above, the control device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the
present disclosure has a simplified interlock mechanism, in which the pushing member
18 comes into contact with the restricting member 16 in response to a closing operation
of the cover 12, resulting in permission of locking of the cover 12.
20 [0019] Embodiment 2
Although the locks 13 and the restricting members 16 are attached to the covers 12
and the pushing members 18 are attached to the housing 11 according to an example of
Embodiment 1, these attachment positions are a mere example. The following
description is directed to the control device 1, in which locks and restricting members are
25 attached to the housing 11 and pushing members are attached to the covers 12. The
control device 1 according to Embodiment 2 differs from the control device 1 according
to Embodiment 1 in the attachment positions of the locks and the restricting members.
10
The interlock system including the control device 1 has the configuration identical to that
illustrated in FIG. 2. According to Embodiment 2, the housing 11 is provided with
locks 19, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The control device 1 according to Embodiment 2 has
an interlock mechanism that allows for locking of the cover 12 and extraction of the key
8 from the lock 19 only in the closed state of the cover 12, as in 5 Embodiment 1. The
locks 19 have the mechanism identical to that of the locks 13 according to Embodiment
1.
[0020] The interlock mechanism of the control device 1 is described below. FIGS.
8 and 9 illustrate a state in which the cover 12 is not closed. FIG. 8 illustrates the
10 housing 11 when viewed from the inside of the housing 11 to the outside. FIG. 9
illustrates a portion of the housing 11 to come into contact with the cover 12 when
viewed from the inside of the housing 11. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9,
the cover 12 is unlocked, and a restricting member 20, which is described later, restricts
locking of the cover 12. That is, locking of the cover 12 is restricted in the example
15 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The cover 12 includes the restricting member 20 having a
plate shape. The restricting member 20 is in one of a lock permitting position for
permitting locking of the cover 12 and a lock restricting position for restricting locking of
the cover 12. Specifically, the restricting member 20 rotates about a rotational axis AX2
to be in the lock permitting position or the lock restricting position. The control device
20 1 further includes an urging member 21 that urges the restricting member 20 to the lock
restricting position. The urging member 21 urges an end 20a, which is one end of the
restricting member 20, inward of the housing 11, and urges an end 20b, which is the other
end of the restricting member 20, outward of the housing 11. Specifically, the control
device 1 includes an elastic member as the urging member 21. In the example
25 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the restricting member 20, which is urged by the urging
member 21, is in the lock restricting position.
[0021] The lock 19 includes the bar 15 that swings with turning of the key 8
11
inserted in the lock 19. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the restricting
member 20 in the lock restricting position is in contact with the bar 15 and thereby
restricts swinging of the bar 15. The interlock mechanism thus restricts turning of the
key 8 inserted in the lock 19, resulting in restriction of locking of the cover 12. The
control device 1 further includes a pushing member 22 attached to 5 the cover 12. The
pushing member 22 is integrated with the cover 12 and corresponds to a part of the edge
of the cover 12 adjacent to the housing 11.
[0022] In the control device 1 having the above-described configuration, locking of
the cover 12 is available in the closed state of the cover 12. FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a
10 state in which the cover 12 is closed. FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate portions of the housing
11 and the cover 12 to come into contact with each other when viewed from the inside of
the housing 11. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the pushing member 22
pushes the end 20b of the restricting member 20. When the pushing member 22 pushes
the end 20b of the restricting member 20, the end 20a is displaced from the position of
15 contact with the bar 15 to the position of no contact with the bar 15. The restricting
member 20 thus allows for swinging of the bar 15. In other words, the pushing member
22 pushes the restricting member 20, so that the bar 15 is able to swing from the position
illustrated in FIG. 10 to the position illustrated in FIG. 11. The key 8 inserted in the
lock 19 can thus be turned and lock the cover 12. After turning of the key 8 and locking
20 of the cover 12, the key 8 can be extracted.
[0023] The pushing member 22 pushes the end 20b of the restricting member 20
and thereby displaces the restricting member 20 from the unlocked position to the lock
permitting position, resulting in permission of locking of the cover 12, as described above.
The interlock mechanism of the control device 1 does not require a complicated
25 mechanism, such as a mechanism of permitting locking of an inspection cover in
response to engagement of a swinging claw with an opening of a receiving fitting, or a
mechanism of restricting swinging of an operating lever using a lock pin inserted in a
12
lock hole of the operating lever. The structure of the interlock mechanism therefore is
simplified. Also, the control device 1 has a production tolerance higher than that of a
device having the above-mentioned complicated mechanism.
[0024] As described above, the control device 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the
present disclosure has a simplified interlock mechanism, in which 5 the pushing member
22 comes into contact with the restricting member 20 in response to a closing operation
of the cover 12, resulting in permission of locking of the cover 12.
[0025] The above-described embodiments should not be construed as limiting the
present disclosure. The interlock system should not necessarily operate in association
10 with control of the railway vehicle. The shapes of the restricting members 16 and 20
and the pushing members 18 and 22 in the above-described embodiments are mere
examples. Each of the locks 13 may have a sliding mechanism in place of the
above-described cylinder lock mechanism. In this case, while the cover 12 is not closed,
a sliding portion of the sliding mechanism is in contact with the restricting member 16 or
15 20, and thereby restricts locking of the cover 12. Furthermore, the cover 12 rotatable
about the rotational axis AX1 may be replaced with a slidable cover or an insertable
cover, for example.
[0026] The foregoing describes some example embodiments for explanatory
purposes. Although the foregoing discussion has presented specific embodiments,
20 persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail
without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive
sense. This detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the
scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims, along with the full range of
25 equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
Reference Signs List
[0027] 1 Control device for a railway vehicle
13
2 Control unit
3 Overhead wire
4 Pantograph
5 Ground switch
5 6 Switch operator
7 Key retainer
7a Keyhole
8 Key
11 Housing
10 11a, 12a Inner surface
12 Cover
13, 19 Lock
14 Opening
15 Bar
15 16, 20 Restricting member
16a One end
17, 21 Urging member
18, 22 Pushing member
20a, 20b End
20 AX1, AX2 Rotational axis
14
We Claim :
1. A control device for a railway vehicle, comprising:
a housing provided with an opening;
a cover to close or open the opening; and
an interlock mechanism to permit locking of the cover while the 5 cover is closed,
and restrict locking of the cover while the cover is open, the interlock mechanism
comprising:
a lock to lock the cover while the cover is closed;
a restricting member attached to one of an inner surface of the housing and
10 an inner surface of the cover, the restricting member being located in one of a lock
permitting position for permitting locking of the cover and a lock restricting position for
restricting locking of the cover;
a pushing member attached to the other of the inner surface of the housing
and the inner surface of the cover; and
15 an urging member to urge the restricting member to the lock restricting
position, wherein
in response to a closing operation of the cover, the pushing member pushes the
restricting member to the lock permitting position.
20 2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a bar provided to the lock and configured to swing with turning of a key inserted in
the lock, wherein
when the restricting member is in the lock restricting position, the restricting
member is in contact with the bar and thereby restricts turning of the key and swinging of
25 the bar, and
when the restricting member is in the lock permitting position, the restricting
member is not in contact with the bar and thereby permits turning of the key and
swinging of the bar.
3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein
the lock is turned while the cover is closed and thereby locks the cover, extraction of the
key from the 5 lock is available.
4. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the restricting member
the urging member
10 member inward of the housing or the cover to which the restricting member is attached.
5. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the restricting member
the urging member
15 member inward of the housing or the cover to which the restricting member is attached,
and urging another end of the restricting member outward of the housing or the cover t
which the restricting member is attached.
6. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising
20 a device for controlling a railway vehicle, the