SD
SIGNAL+DRAHT | Issue 07-08/2015

Electric operation of clamp-lock switches – a low-cost solution

August 2015 | Tommi Latva, Esko Kaijansinkko

Hand-operated clamp-lock points are still commonly used in railway yards, harbours and similar industrial environments. The use of manual clamplock points unnecessarily ties up resources, lowers the work efficiency and reduces ergonomics as well as occupational safety. Furthermore, they are slow to operate. As there was no commercially available device on the market that was automated and easy to install and operate, VR Track- Ltd developed its own electrically operated point machine solution for clamp-lock points during the years 2013 and 2014. The newly developed solution is affordable, easy to install and operate. The solution also removes the problems caused by handoperation and increases efficiency.