GRIPPING MECHANISM FOR SPINDLE-SCREW CLIPPING MACHINE

Abstract

An installation device for tension clamps for attaching a rail to a railroad tie or another rail substructure, a method for attaching at least two tension clamps in their installation position by such an installation device, and a system made of an installation device with a drive device connected to it are disclosed.

Claims

1.-19. (canceled)

20. An installation device for tension clamps for attaching a rail on a railroad tie or other rail superstructure, comprising: a gripping mechanism for synchronous gripping of at least two tension clamps and for synchronous moving of the at least two tension clamps from a pre-installation position to an installation position; and a device for applying a clamping force to the tension clamps which includes a clamping mechanism and a mechanism for loosening the clamping mechanism or counteracting its clamping force.

21. The installation device according to claim 20, further comprising a device for synchronous screwing in and screwing out of at least two tension clamp screws.

22. The installation device according to claim 21, further comprising a device for operative connection of the gripping mechanism and the device for synchronous screwing in and screwing out which can synchronize movement of the gripping mechanism during synchronous screwing in and screwing out of the at least two tension clamp screws with the device for screwing in and screwing out.

23. The installation device according to claim 20, further comprising a device to determine a position of the installation device on the rail.

24. The installation device according to claim 20, comprising at least two gripping mechanisms opposite each other, which are arranged and movable in mirror image to each other.

25. The installation device according to claim 20, wherein the gripping mechanism includes two gripping arms that can move towards each other and away from each other for gripping the at least two tension clamps.

26. The installation device according to claim 25, wherein active surfaces opposite of each other of the gripping arms include elastic supports.

27. The installation device according to claim 26, wherein the elastic supports are elastomer supports or gripping closures.

28. The installation device according to claim 20, wherein the gripping mechanism can be transferred from a loosened position into a gripping position by spring force or hydraulic force.

29. The installation device according to claim 20, wherein the gripping mechanism can be transferred from a gripping position into a loosened position using a switchable and/or controllable hydraulic device.

30. The installation device according to claim 20, wherein the gripping mechanism is transferred from a loosened position into a gripping position and back by a lifting cylinder.

31. The installation device according to claim 20, wherein the installation device is connected to and/or connectable to a movable drive device.

32. The installation device according to claim 31, wherein movements of all mechanisms and devices, including those that are hydraulic and electric or motorized-mechanical, can be driven through the movable drive device.

33. The installation device according to claim 20, wherein synchronous attachment and/or synchronous removal of at least two tension clamps can be effected automatically.

34. A method for attaching at least two tension clamps, comprising: providing the installation device according to claim 20; setting down the installation device on the rail; gripping and clamping the at least two tension clamps by the gripping mechanism in the pre-installation position; moving the gripping mechanism and the at least two tension clamps into the installation position; tightening tension clamp screws by applying a defined torque or by positive-locking application at least parts of the at least two tension clamps on angled guide plates; loosening of the clamping force of the gripping mechanism and releasing the tension clamps; and removing the gripping mechanism from the installation position without the at least two tension clamps.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein tightening tension clamp screws by applying a defined torque is performed by a device for screwing in and screwing out which follows a movement of the tension clamp screws in their longitudinal direction during the screwing process.

36. A system, comprising the installation device according to claim 20 and a drive device connected to the installation device.

37. The system according to claim 36, wherein the drive device comprises means of setting down and moving the system on a rail.

38. The system according to claim 36, wherein the drive device comprises a device for automatic search function.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a system, including an installation device and a drive device.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a gripping mechanism of an installation device, both in a loose position (FIG. 2a) and in an engaged position (FIG. 2b).

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a top view of parts of an installation device.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows the installation device according to FIG. 3 in both a gripping position (FIG. 4a) and a slid-in position (FIG. 4b).

[0039] FIG. 5 shows part of an installation device while attaching the tension clamps in their installation position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a system, including an installation device 1 and a drive device 10 connected thereto. The system is set down on a rail 3 and is supported by a cross-connector 11, which is connected to the drive device 10, on the rail running in parallel (not shown), and is guided in the longitudinal direction of the rail 3. The installation device 1 includes two gripping mechanisms 5 opposite each other, each of which leads tension clamps 2 between two gripping arms 7a, 7b into their installation positions. In the installation position, the tension clamps 2 are arranged in such a manner that they are arranged both on the rail foot 3a and on an angled guide plate that is set down on a railway tie. Two screw devices 6a, 6b securely screw the tension clamp 2 in their depicted installation position.

[0041] FIG. 2a shows a gripping mechanism 5 of the installation device 1 in a loose state, in which two gripping arms 7a, 7b opposite each other, which are tensioned towards each other by a tension spring 14 or a two-way cylinder (not shown), are moved away from each other by a hydraulic cylinder 9 in order to release the tension clamps 2.

[0042] FIG. 2b shows the gripping mechanism from FIG. 2a in its clamping position, in which the rubberized supports 8a, 8b on the active surfaces of the gripping arms 7a, 7b of the gripping mechanism 5 clamp the tension clamps 2 in a manner that is force-fitting and at least partially positive-locking. The hydraulic cylinder 9 is in an unswitched position, such that the gripping arms 7a, 7b of the gripping mechanism 5 are moved towards each other by the tension spring effect or the hydraulic force effect in such a manner that the tension spring 14 is kept securely between the gripping arms 7a, 7b.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a part of the installation device 1 with two gripping mechanisms 5a, 5b arranged opposite each other. The respective gripping mechanisms 5a, 5b are arranged rotatably around respective pivot bearings 15, 16 and are pre-stressed by respective tension springs 17, 18 or hydraulics in such a manner that, without the actuation of the disengaging cylinder arranged between the gripping mechanisms 5a, 5b opposite each other, a pivoting of the tension clamp 2 arranged between the respective gripping arms of the gripping mechanisms 5a, 5b is effected in a pivoting movement along the arrows 20, 21 (shown). A synchronization of the movement of the respective gripping mechanisms 5a, 5b can be effected by the coupling rod 22 arranged between the two gripping mechanisms 5a, 5b.

[0044] FIG. 4a shows part of an installation device 1 with two gripping mechanisms 5a, 5b arranged opposite each other in a gripping position, with which the tension clamp screws 23 are screwed out of the angled guide plates 24 to a specified extent by the device 6 for screwing in and screwing out the tension clamp screws 23, in order to enable the tension clamps 2 to be pushed into their installation position by the gripping mechanisms 5a, 5b.

[0045] FIG. 4b shows parts of the installation device 1 according to FIG. 4a in an insertion position, with which, after the loosening of the disengaging cylinder 19, the gripping mechanisms 5a, 5b were swiveled into their installation position by the action of the tension springs 2 on the rail 3. The respective tension clamps 2 are now arranged both above the rail foot 3a and above the angled guide plate 24 in such a manner that the installation of the tension clamps 2 can be easily effected automatically by screwing in the tension clamp screws 23 by the device 6 for screwing in and screwing out the tension clamp screws 23.

[0046] FIGS. 5a and 5b show a top view of parts of an installation device 1 with gripping mechanisms 5a, 5b, swiveled into the installation position, for the tension clamps 2.