Device for Fastening Trackside Modules to Rails

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for fastening trackside modules to a rail having a base and a head. The device includes two clamps that are clamped on the base of the rail with the use of a mechanism that extends under the base of the rail. At least one of the clamps is movable. A bracket is fastened to at least one of the clamps and a trackside module is fastened next to the head of the rail. A pair of brackets is fastened with the use of fasteners to surfaces of each of the clamps. The brackets extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the rail and at least one upwardly extending section is fastened using second fasteners to at least one of the brackets outer side surfaces. At least one trackside module is fastened to an upper end region of at least one upwardly extending section.

Claims

1. A device for fastening trackside modules to a rail having a base and a head, wherein the device comprises two clamps that are to be clamped on the base of the rail with the use of a mechanism that extends under the base of the rail, wherein at least one of the clamps is movable, wherein a bracket is fastened to at least one of the clamps and a trackside module is to be fastened next to the head of the rail, wherein the device has two movable clamps, wherein a pair of brackets fastened with the use of first fasteners to surfaces of each of the clamps, wherein the brackets extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the rail and at least one upwardly extending section is fastened using second fasteners to one of or to each of the outer side surfaces of the brackets, wherein at least one trackside module is to be fastened to an upper end region of the upwardly extending section or to upper end regions of a plurality of the upwardly extending sections.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the clamps are connected with one another with the use of threaded fasteners that extend under the base of a rail in such a manner that it is possible to demount the threaded fasteners from each of the clamps.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the clamps that are clamped on the base of the rail has at least one non-adjustable lug.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein there are grooves in the specific mating surfaces where the clamps come into contact with the brackets and that at least one of the grooves is not parallel to the others.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the clamps has opposite surfaces and which extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail and a first of the pair of brackets is fastened to a first surface of the clamp and a second of the same pair of brackets is fastened to a second surface of the same clamp.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the clamps that are clamped on the base of the rail has at least one non-adjustable lug.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein there are grooves in the specific mating surfaces where the clamps come into contact with the brackets, and that at least one of the grooves is not parallel to the others.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein there are grooves in the specific mating surfaces where the clamps come into contact with the brackets, and that at least one of the grooves is not parallel to the others.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein there are grooves in the specific mating surfaces where the clamps come into contact with the brackets, and that at least one of the grooves is not parallel to the others.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein each of the clamps has opposite surfaces and which extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail and a first of the pair of brackets is fastened to a first surface of the clamp and a second of the same pair of brackets is fastened to a second surface of the same clamp.

11. The device of claim 3, wherein each of the clamps has opposite surfaces and which extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail and a first of the pair of brackets is fastened to a first surface of the clamp and a second of the same pair of brackets is fastened to a second surface of the same clamp.

12. The device of claim 4, wherein each of the clamps has opposite surfaces and which extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail and a first of the pair of brackets is fastened to a first surface of the clamp and a second of the same pair of brackets is fastened to a second surface of the same clamp.

13. The device of claim 6, wherein each of the clamps has opposite surfaces and which extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail and a first of the pair of brackets is fastened to a first surface of the clamp and a second of the same pair of brackets is fastened to a second surface of the same clamp.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein each of the clamps has opposite surfaces and which extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail and a first of the pair of brackets is fastened to a first surface of the clamp and a second of the same pair of brackets is fastened to a second surface of the same clamp.

15. The device of claim 8, wherein each of the clamps has opposite surfaces and which extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail and a first of the pair of brackets is fastened to a first surface of the clamp and a second of the same pair of brackets is fastened to a second surface of the same clamp.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein each of the clamps has opposite surfaces and which extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail and a first of the pair of brackets is fastened to a first surface of the clamp and a second of the same pair of brackets is fastened to a second surface of the same clamp.

Description

[0022] An example of an embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached Figures:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a device for fastening trackside modules to a rail in their actual and/or required position of use on a rail (operating position) but without trackside modules,

[0024] FIG. 2 shows the device with trackside modules fastened in its actual position of use (but without a rail being shown),

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the device in its actual position of use from the side of the base of a rail,

[0026] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of non-parallel grooves that are made in the surface that connects the clamp with a pair of brackets that are mounted on it.

[0027] As it is shown in the Figures, the device for fastening trackside modules such as, e.g. wheel detector heads and/or current transformers, has two movable clamps 1, 2 with pairs of brackets 3, 4 and 5, 6 respectively which are fastened using threaded fasteners to the walls of the clamps that extend perpendicular to the Z axis of the rail (FIG. 2). Vertically extending sections 7 and 8 are fastened to the side outer surfaces of the brackets 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 respectively using threaded fasteners and the trackside modules 9 and 10 are fastened to the upper ends of the vertical sections. The clamps 1, 2 are connected with each other using threaded fasteners 11 that are led under the base of a rail in such a way that it is possible to demount the threaded fasteners from each of the clamps 1, 2. At least one of the clamps 1 or 2 that are clamped on the base of a rail has at least one non-adjustable lug 12.

[0028] There are grooves 5.1 and 6.1 made in the specific mating surfaces of the items that connect with one another and whose position in relation to one another can be changed by a user during operation, i.e. in the mating surfaces of the clamps 1, 2, and the brackets 3 and 4 as well as 5 and 6. At least one of these grooves or sets of grooves is not parallel to the others or other. The clamps 1, 2 have surfaces 1.1 and 1.2 and 2.1 and 2.2 which extend perpendicular to the rail axis and which enable mounting of the brackets 3, 4 and 5, 6 and sections 7, 8 on both sides of the head of a rail.

[0029] In the described device each of the clamps has a lug which together with the clamp forms an integral whole. Such a solution improves the resistance of the device to high vibration load and enables using higher forces that hold the clamps down to the base of a rail.

[0030] Thanks to the use in the device consistent with the invention of lugs that are integrated with the clamps, as well as independently mounted brackets for a section to which a trackside module is fastened, it is possible to adjust the position and replace the trackside modules after the clamps have been installed on the rail which significantly facilitates the works related to installation and maintenance of the trackside modules. Increased resistance of the device to vibrations, in particular vibrations that occur simultaneously along a number of axes, is achieved through the use of grooves that are not parallel to one another and are situated on the mating surfaces of the items that enable changing the position of a trackside module. Reduced complexity of the design of the device and thereby lower manufacturing cost has been achieved through standardizing the sections that are connected with the clamps. It is possible to use a set of sections with each of the clamps used.

[0031] The described design enables using typical fasteners in order to guarantee the pressure of the clamps on the base of a rail which contributes to reducing the device manufacturing and maintenance costs. Furthermore, the disclosed design allows for fastening the trackside modules on both sides of the rail at the same time and it is often required in respect of trackside modules forming a part of a rail traffic control system.

[0032] As far as the presented solution is concerned, it is required to use only one set of clamps for fastening of trackside modules on each side of a rail thereby resulting in lower cost of delivery of rail traffic control systems.

Example of an Embodiment

[0033] The movable clamps 1, 2 of the device which are clamped on the base of a rail are in the form of supports with brackets 3, 4, 5, 6 that are fastened to the side surfaces of supports.

[0034] Clamping of the clamps 1, 2 on the base of a rail is possible thanks to the use of threaded fasteners 11 which are led via the clamps 1, 2 and under the base of the rail. The brackets 3, 4, 5 and 6 do not touch the base of the rail. The purpose of the brackets 3 and 4 is to hold the vertical section 7 together with a trackside module 9 in the required position. The change of position of brackets 3, 4 in parallel to the Y axis enables changing the position of the trackside module in parallel to Y axis.

[0035] The change of position of sections 7 in relation to brackets 3, 4 in parallel to X axis makes it possible to change the position of the trackside module 9 in parallel to X axis.

[0036] The purpose of brackets 5 and 6 is to hold the vertical section 8 together with a trackside module 10 in the required position. The change of position of brackets 5, 6 in parallel to the Y axis enables changing the position of the trackside module 10 in parallel to Y axis. The change of position of sections 8 in relation to brackets 5, 6 in parallel to X axis makes it possible to change the position of the trackside module 10 in parallel to X axis. The items which during the process of setting the operating position of trackside modules 9 and 10 need to change their position and to be re-fastened have grooves 5.1 and 6.1 on their mating surfaces, however some of the grooves are not parallel to the others as shown as an example in FIG. 4. The grooves 5.1 and 6.1 are made in the mating surfaces of clamps 1, 2 and brackets 3, 4 and 5, 6.