The electrohydraulic system for ensuring the thermal regime of railway switches
Railway switches are exposed to atmospheric influences, especially in the winter season. Condensate, snow, and ice may accumulate between their moving parts, which may cause a malfunction of the switches. Accordingly, failures in the operation of switches are related to the safety of railway transport. Trouble-free operation of the switches is ensured in two ways: cleaning from precipitation and providing a given thermal regime that prevents the formation of snow and ice. The first method involves time spent on cleaning and causes disruption of the train schedule. The second method requires the presence of additional sources of energy for its implementation. Thus, the use of a method for ensuring the thermal mode of the switch operation with minimal energy costs reduces its disadvantage. At the same time, it does not influence the mode of movement of the rolling stock. The article offers a new way to ensure the protection of switches from snow and ice, based on providing the required thermal regime, which completely eliminates the need to stop train traffic for the period of cleaning the switches. The application of the proposed method is most rational for track facilities in the Northern and equivalent regions of Russia. The heating device created on the basis of the proposed method has been tested on critical sections of the Zelenogorskaya track maintenance department of the Oktyabr’skaya railway (Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad region). The proposed method for ensuring the operability of switches is protected by a patent of the Russian Federation.