Method to replace an instrument case and replacement case therefor
A method designed to replace a compromised instrument case with a new case without the need to disconnect any wire, relay or any other electric equipment is described herein. The instrument panel is supported for example by a temporary support frame during the dismantling of the old case and the assembly of the new case. The new case is therefore assembled on site around the instrument panel. The new instrument case includes a floor which is made of at least two parts, one on each side of the wiring. The instrument case therefore remains in a normal working mode during the entire replacement procedure thus preventing downtime. As well, the amount of manpower required for the replacement of an instrument case is drastically reduced.
1. A method for replacing an old railroad instrument case along a railroad track with a new railroad instrument case, the old railroad instrument case including at least one instrument panel connected from outside the old railroad instrument case through wiring passing through a hole in an old floor of said old railroad instrument case, the old railroad instrument case primarily used to control rail traffic and crossing gates through one or more networks that is connected through the wiring, the method comprising:
supporting each of the least one instrument panel;
removing the old railroad instrument case, including cutting and dismantling the old floor of the old railroad instrument case around the wiring;
installing the new railroad instrument case, said installing comprising:
providing a new floor comprising two floor sections;
taking measurements on site and cutting a recess according to said measurements in at least one of the two floor sections so as to form a passage for the wiring;
installing the new floor such that the wiring is encompassed within the recess; and
installing a remainder of the new railroad instrument case and securing each of the at least one instrument panel thereto;
removing support from each of the at least one instrument panel;
wherein said method is performed while the railroad track remains in operation and without disconnecting any electric equipment on the at least one instrument panel.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said supporting each of the least one instrument panel includes removably mounting a temporary holding structure to each of the at least one instrument panel, and said removing support from each of the at least one instrument panel includes removing the temporary holding structure from each of the at least one instrument panel.
3. A method such as recited in claim 1 , wherein the recess comprises a recessed portion in each of the floor sections, said recessed portion being aligned upon installation to define a passage for said wiring.