Self-detecting shunt bar

Abstract

A self-detecting shunt bar for creating a short-circuit bridge between or across two rails of a section of a railway track includes a first connection which is configured to be brought into electrical contact with a first of the two rails, a second connection which is configured to be brought into electrical contact with a second of the two rails, and a signal generator for providing a test signal across the short-circuit bridge. The self-detecting shunt bar includes a detection device configured to measure and monitor a short-circuit resistance of the short-circuit bridge created, during operation, by measuring the test signal andsignalling means which are configured to signal the measured short-circuit resistance to a user of the shunt bar, characterized in that the shunt bar is integrated into a railway switch.

1 . A self-detecting shunt bar for creating a short-circuit bridge between or across two rails of a section of a railway track, comprising:
 a first connection which is configured to be brought into electrical contact with a first of the two rails;   a second connection which is configured to be brought into electrical contact with a second of the two rails;   a signal generator for providing a test signal across the short-circuit bridge;   a detection device which is configured to measure and monitor a short-circuit resistance of the short-circuit bridge created, during operation, by measuring the test signal; and   signalling means which are configured to signal the measured short-circuit resistance to a user of the shunt bar, characterized in that the shunt bar is integrated into a railway switch, and the electrical power source, the detection device and the signalling means are connected to, and energized by, a power supply of a motor of a switch actuator of the railway switch.   
     
     
         2 . The self-detecting shunt bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the shunt bar is permanently integrated with the railway switch and in particular wherein the first and second connection are permanently integrated with the railway switch. 
     
     
         3 . The self-detecting shunt bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the shunt bar is completely integrated with the railway switch and in particular wherein the first and second connection are permanently integrated with the railway switch. 
     
     
         4 . The self-detecting shunt bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connection are permanently integrated into one or more railway sleepers between the two rails of the railway switch. 
     
     
         5 . The self-detecting shunt bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connection are designed as a first and second arm which are pivotable with respect to one another and which first and second connection are preferably each provided with two or more arm parts in order to be brought into electrical contact with a first or respectively second rail separately in parallel with one another. 
     
     
         6 . The self-detecting shunt bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connection are designed as flexible first and second connections and in particular as cables, which flexible first and second connection are preferably each provided with two or more connection terminals in order to be brought into electrical contact with a first or respectively second rail separately in parallel with one another. 
     
     
         7 . The self-detecting shunt bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical power source of the shunt bar comprises a converter for converting the supply voltage of the power supply of the motor of the railway switch to a power supply which is required for the shunt bar. 
     
     
         8 . The self-detecting shunt bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the shunt bar further comprises a communication device for communicating the status of the shunt bar to a central processing unit. 
     
     
         9 . The self-detecting shunt bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the signalling means comprise one or more auditory and visual signalling means and are accommodated in a housing of the shunt bar in order to signal to the user of the shunt bar by auditory and/or visual means a deviation between the measured short-circuit resistance and a preset threshold value for the short-circuit resistance. 
     
     
         10 . The self-detecting shunt bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the shunt bar further comprises a control unit for comparing the measured short-circuit resistance with a reference value and wherein the signalling means only signal the measured short-circuit resistance if the measured short-circuit resistance exceeds the reference value by a predetermined threshold.