GB2527124A

GB2527124A - Improvements in and relating to control of railway trackside equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2527124A
Application number: GB1410588.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Dickson
Original assignee: ILECSYS Ltd
Current assignee: ILECSYS Ltd
Priority date: 2014-06-13
Filing date: 2014-06-13
Publication date: 2015-12-16
Also published as: GB201410588D0

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved location for controlling trackside equipment, such as railway signalling equipment requiring a Class II power supply installation. A location is disclosed comprising a first enclosure 14 containing a first set of electrical equipment for use in controlling trackside equipment, said first set of electrical equipment operating at 650V and insulated from earth, at least one second enclosure 16 containing a second set of electrical equipment for use in controlling trackside equipment, said second set of electrical equipment operating at no more than 110V and insulated from earth, and means to support each of the first and second enclosures from a support structure. The structure may comprise a skid or scaffold formed from glass fibre reinforced plastic material. The enclosures may be manufactured from non-metallic materials. The enclosures may house transformers, signalling equipment, automatic warning systems, track protection warning systems, point machines, axle counter modules or level crossings.

Description

Improvements in and relating to control of railway trackside equipment s This invention relates to an improved location for controlling trackside equipment, such as railway signalling equipment, in particular that category of equipment requiring a Class II power supply installation.

Class II rated equipment is that for which electrical protection is provided ic by insulating from earth, in such a way that there is not a safety connection to electrical earth (ground). By way of example, a metal casing is not provided with an earth, but instead the casing may have two layers of insulation around the electrically live parts, or reinforced insulation may be used, to provide Class II electrical protection.

In the UK rail industry there is a requirement for trackside equipment such as signalling equipment to be insulated from earth, in particular, equipment operating at 650V in a signalling network must be double insulated or have reinforced insulation equivalent to Class II electrical protection as defined in 357671:2008.

Typically a suitable cabinet for such trackside equipment is seated on a concrete block. Installation of such equipment requires excavation of a suitable ground opening (requiring excavators near a railway line and so closure of the railway line for safety, typically requiring overnight working), delivery of a suitably sized concrete block (typically 1850mm high and weighing 400kg), again requiring track side cranes to deliver such a block, which for safety reasons can only be done while the railway line is closed, typically overnight), location and securing of a cabinet containing suitable signally equipment (again due to the size and weight of such cabinets cranes are required to deliver the signalling equipment, which again is often conducted overnight to avoid closure of the railway line during daylight hours).

Further, since such cabinets will often be visited by testers (as part of the regular maintenance of the equipment) construction of a so called "safe to standing" area about the cabinet on the concrete block also needs to be constructed. Typically this will be assembled in advance and delivered to the site to avoid delays in constructing this on site.

Such metal cabinets also include equipment operating at 650V and is equipment at no more than nOV. Proving for and managing both sets of equipment within a single casing presents a number of problems.

It will be understood that the installation of such equipment is time consuming and expensive (both in terms of man hours and plant hire).

Such trackside equipment is typically located in apparatus cases or cabinets located at or near trackside, which in view of obvious safety considerations requires that a relevant portion of track will need to be closed to trains while operatives are installing and electrically connecting such trackside equipment or subsequently when operatives are working on such trackside equipment. Prolonged closure of the track is clearly undesirable. Such apparatus cases or cabinets, or groups of cabinets, adapted to control a piece of trackside equipment (including the base on which they are mounted) are referred to as a location'.

It is an advantage of the present invention that it addresses the disadvantages discussed above. Further advantages will be made clear

from the description of the invention below.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a location comprises a first to enclosure containing a first set of electrical equipment for use in controlling trackside equipment, said first set of electrical equipment operating at 650V and insulated from earth, at least one second enclosure containing a second set of electrical equipment for use in controlling trackside equipment, said second set of electrical equipment operating at is no more than 11OV and insulated from earth, and means to support each of the first and second enclosures from a support structure.

Preferably the support structure from which each of the first and second enclosures is suspended from comprises a skid or scaffold.

More preferably each of the first and second enclosures is supported from a railing forming part of the skid or scaffold. Yet more preferably, the railing is one of a number of components of the skid or scaffold formed from glass fibre reinforced plastic material.

Preferably each of the first and second enclosures is manufactured from non-metallic materials. More preferably, at least one of the first and second enclosures is manufactured from glass fibre reinforced plastics.

Still more preferably, at least one of the first and second enclosures weighs no more than 80kg.

Preferably the first enclosure further includes a transformer.

Preferably the electrical equipment of the second enclosure is signalling to control equipment.

Preferably, the trackside equipment controlled by the location comprises one or more of the following: Automatic Warning Systems (AWS) is Track Protection Warning Systems (TPWS) point machines Axle Counter Modules (ACM5) and Level Crossings (LX).

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, in relation to the attached Figures, in which Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a location in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the location of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a plan view of the location of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there can be seen a location in accordance with the present invention.

A support structure in the form of a platform assembly is shown. Suitable platform assemblies include those described in GB 2 495 144 B.The support structure illustrated can be seen to comprise a modular structure including a base 4, first and second end railing sections 6, 8, a side railing section 10 and corner connections 12 connecting each of the first and second end railing sections to the side rail section. 1-U

Such support structures have as an advantage that they can be quickly assembled, even when working at night. Such support structures also allow for construction of a suitable location on level ground or on an embankment (or incline).

A first enclosure 14 of a non-metallic, electrically non-conductive material, conveniently glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) is connected to the first end railing section 6 in any suitable manner. The first enclosure 14 includes a rear panel 20, an upper panel 22, a lower panel 24, a left hand panel 26 and a right hand panel 28 together defining a first storage volume. The first enclosure 14 is completed, and the first storage volume completed, by a removable cover 29. Conveniently the cover 29 is hingedly connected to one of the side panels 26, 28 and is releasably locked in a closed position.

It is an advantage that constructing the enclosure from an electrically non-conductive material means that if a fault should develop in the electrical equipment housed within the enclosure, the fault is contained within the enclosure and nobody, for example a tester or maintenance engineer, is exposed to electric shock and so Class II electrical protection is achieved.

A second enclosure 16 of a non-metallic material, conveniently glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) is connected to a different part of the platform to assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, this is the second end railing section 8. The second enclosure 16 is connected to the platform assembly in any suitable manner. The second enclosure 16 includes a rear panel 30, an upper panel 32, a lower panel 34, a left hand panel 36 and a right hand panel 38 together defining a second storage volume. The is second enclosure 16 is completed, and the second storage volume completed, by a removable cover 39. Conveniently the cover 39 is hingedly connected to one of the side panels 26, 28 and is releasably locked in a closed position.

The second enclosure is conveniently located at least 2.5 metres away from the first enclosure.

Conveniently, different locking means are provided to secure each of the first and second enclosures in a closed position. Typically the equipment operating at 650V in the first enclosure is relatively robust and can be tested when manufactured prior to installation in the first enclosure.

Subsequent testing or replacement will be relatively infrequent such that access to the first enclosure will be needed only on relatively few occasions during the working life of the location.

In an alternative construction, the first enclosure is fitted with the required electrical equipment and sealed prior to installation on the support structure. In the event of failure of the electrical equipment in the first enclosure, the first enclosure as a whole may be replaced.

to Accordingly it is an advantage that the first enclosure housing the equipment operating at 650V is low maintenance. In addition, fitting the first enclosure away from the location reduces the work that is required to be conducted during installation of the location.

is In contrast, the equipment in the second enclosure, typically signalling control equipment, requires regular inspection, testing and maintenance.

Accordingly, while the second enclosure needs to be secured in a closed condition to prevent unauthorised access, the closure should readily allow access to those authorised.

In addition, due to the need for regular inspection, testing and maintenance, the terminations from the power supply to the second enclosure should be touch safe.

It is a further advantage that unlike the prior art in which the equipment operating at 650V is housed with other equipment requiring regular maintenance, inspection of the equipment in the second enclosure does not risk inadvertent damage to the equipment operating at 650V.

The weight of the panels making up each of the first and second enclosures 14, 16 is less than 80kg such that the panels making up the enclosures may be readily transported to the location without the need for cranes and may conveniently be assembled on site as required.

In each of the first and second enclosures 14, 16 the side panels are to adapted to support one or more support brackets or mounting flanges to which items of electrical equipment may be mounted. Again such support brackets may readily be transported to the site the location is being constructed and utilised as required. In order to reduce costs, the support brackets, mounting flanges or the like may be selected from an inventory is of standardised parts.

The precise combination of support brackets, mounting flanges or the like is chosen to allow for the optimal assembly of the electrical equipment to be mounted within the relevant enclosure 14, 16. It is an advantage of the present invention that it allows for splitting of the electrical equipment operating at different voltages within the location. Electrical equipment operating at 650V equipment is located in one of the first and second enclosures 14, 16 with the remaining equipment, such as that operating at 11OV is located in the other of the first and second enclosures 14, 16.

In this way suitable provision for Class II electrical protection can be provided for each of the first and second enclosures 14, 16.

Separating the electrical equipment on the basis of their operating voltage allows for the construction of a location using significantly smaller enclosures or cabinets than previously. Since the cabinets are smaller and constructed of more lightweight materials than previously the improved location can be constructed more quickly and so less expensively. It will be appreciated that for a location in accordance with the present invention, the need for constructing and installing an electrically insulating concrete base is removed. It will be appreciated to that this, together with the readily transportable nature of the enclosures means that a location in accordance with the present invention has a reduced carbon footprint compare to the known location assembly described above.

is In addition, as discussed above, separating the equipment operating at different voltages means that different levels of access may be permitted as appropriate.

Further enclosures may also be provided on the support structure. For example, it may be desired to supplement the second enclosure 16 with a further enclosure for further equipment adapted to operate at 11OV or other suitable operating voltage. In such an instance a transformer may be provided in the first enclosure 14 and connected to provide the necessary electrical supply to the further enclosure.

Examples of trackside equipment that may be supported by such a location include Automatic Warning Systems (AWS), Track Protection Warning Systems (TPWS), point machines, signalling equipment, Axle Counter Modules (ACM5) and Level Crossings (LX).

It will be understood that insulated electrical connections extend between the electrical equipment at the location and the trackside equipment being controlled, as well as to a trackside power supply. Conveniently these electrical connections run from the trackside equipment and are connected to to the electrical equipment within the relevant first or second enclosure.

In the region of the location, these electrical connections may be located within a protective duct or housing (not shown) mounted on the scaffold or skid, for example on the end railing section 6,8 between a lower panel of the enclosure 14,16 and base 4. The protective housing may be formed is from any suitable material, for example glass fibre reinforced material.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A location comprising a first enclosure containing a first set of electrical equipment for use in controlling trackside equipment, said first set of electrical equipment operating at 650V and insulated from earth, at least one second enclosure containing a second set of electrical equipment for use in controlling trackside equipment, said second set of electrical equipment operating at no more than 11OV and insulated from earth, and means to support each of the first and second enclosures from a support structure.
2 A location according to claim 1, in which the support structure from which each of the first and second enclosures is suspended from comprises a skid or scaffold.
3 A location according to claim 2, in which each of the first and second enclosures is supported from a railing forming part of the skid or scaffold.
4 A location according to claim 3, in which the railing is one of a number of components of the skid or scaffold formed from glass fibre reinforced plastic material.
A location according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which each of the first and second enclosures is manufactured from non-metallic materials.
6 A location according to claim 5, in which at least one of the first and second enclosures is manufactured from glass fibre reinforced plastics.
7 A location according to claim 6, in which at least one of the first and second enclosures of the first and second enclosures weighs no more than 80kg.
8 A location according to claim 1 in which the first enclosure further includes a transformer.
9 A location according to any of claims 1 to 8, in which the electrical equipment of the second enclosure is signalling control equipment.
A location according to any of claims 1 to 9, in which the trackside equipment controlled by the location comprises one or more of the following: Automatic Warning Systems (AWS) Track Protection Warning Systems (TPWS) point machines Axle Counter Modules (ACM5) and Level Crossings (LX).
11 A location substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures.