Rail cleaning adapter for model railway wagons

Abstract

Rail cleaning adapter for model railway wagons for attachment in the simulated truss structure (9) on the underbody of a model railway wagon, characterized in that an adapter (1) is attached at least partially in a form-fitting manner via a clamping and / or locking connection in the truss structure (9) formed on a model railway wagon and, via an elongated hole (2) according to the invention, enables the accommodation of a grinding body (5) with a cleaning coating (7) by means of a guide element (6) under the wagon floor without irreversible changes and / or damage to the housing of the model railway wagon.

Description

[0001] For cleaning the track surfaces of model railway layouts, the use of grinding wheels mounted on special cleaning wagons is well known. The cleaning wheels made of fleece, felt, or knitted fabric, as well as special abrasive grinding wheels, are mounted either rigidly or spring-mounted underneath specially designed wagons and / or fixed into existing wagons, for example, through holes and / or screw connections.

[0002] The invention underlying claim 1 is based on the problem of enabling the user to non-destructively and reversibly mount a movable grinding body suitable for rail cleaning on two- or multi-axle model railway wagons of his choice, which are commercially available in great variety and from various manufacturers, in particular replicas of two-axle wagons of the UIC standard design, which are prototypically equipped with a truss system below the wagon floor, without irreversibly changing and / or damaging the model railway wagon.

[0003] This problem is solved by the features listed in claim 1.

[0004] For this purpose, the invention uses an adapter (1) provided with an inventive slot (2) which clamps itself positively within the simulated truss (9) of the model railway wagon ( Fig. 1, Fig. 3-7). The adapter is optionally available with locking lugs (3) and / or mounting surfaces (4) ( Fig. 1, Fig. 2), which allows additional fixation to flat areas of the car floor by applying a double-sided adhesive tape. The grinding wheel (5) used for cleaning the rails is provided with a cleaning pad (7) ( Fig. 2, Fig. 8) is inserted into the slot (2) in the adapter (1) with a guide element (6) adapted to the shape of the slot (2) and preferably via optional flexible locking elements (8) (Fig. 3, Fig. 8) protected from falling out when the wagon is lifted. When the model railway wagon is placed on the track, the grinding wheel is lifted by the contact with the rail to such an extent that the circumferential gap d between the guide element (6) of the grinding wheel (5) and the slotted hole (2) of the adapter (1) allows the clearance required for the various geometries of a model railway track to compensate for tilting ( Fig. 2). In a second, likewise preferred variant, the grinding wheel (5) is designed with a reduced width B' in order to exclusively clean the center conductor of a three-rail track as is customary on a scale of 1:87. In this design, only the surface of the center conductor comes into contact with the grinding wheel (5); there is no contact with the rail surface. The distance d between the guide element (6) and the elongated hole (2) can, for example, be between 0.3 and 2.5 mm on a scale of 1:87. In a preferred variant, the distance d is between 0.4 and 1.5 mm on a scale of 1:87. Height differences, such as those that occur when driving over switches, can be optimally compensated for by the almost free mounting of the grinding wheel (2) in the z-axis.The grinding body (2) is preferably angled on both sides outside the area containing the guide element (6) in order to prevent it from snagging on structures on the rail surface in both directions of travel. The angle to the horizontal can be between 2 and 30 degrees, although an angle between 5 and 20 degrees is preferably used. In a preferred variant, the adapter (2) is also angled; in this case, the angle is particularly preferably adapted to the contour of the truss (9) of the model railway wagon used. In general, however, angles of up to 90 degrees to the horizontal are structurally possible, as long as a collision between the adapter (1) and the grinding body (5) is geometrically avoided. In order to be able to avoid any structures simulated on the wagon floor, such as compressed air tanks, during fastening, optional recesses (10) are possible in the surface of the adapter.To reduce the visibility of the adapter (1), in a preferred variant it can be designed in such a way that only the middle, box-shaped part of the truss (9) is used for anchoring (see . Fig. 5-7). Preferably, additional optional structures are provided for positive locking with structures on the carriage floor (11) in order to reduce or prevent relative movements of the adapter to the carriage floor through at least partial positive locking. In a particularly preferred variant, the visibility of the adapter can also be further reduced by additional optional openings (12) in the surfaces ( Fig. 7).

[0005] Compared to existing solutions with fixed or spring-loaded grinding elements, the present solution is characterized by the floating mounting of the grinding wheel (5), resulting in lower traction requirements and significantly improved running characteristics, in particular a reduced tendency to derail at rail joints and complex track geometries. The further variant according to the invention, a grinding wheel with a reduced width to width B', also allows for selective cleaning of the center conductor of a three-conductor track on a scale of 1:87, with the described advantages.In addition, by presenting an adapter for the chassis of model railway wagons, which have been mass-produced in very high numbers for decades, it is possible to install them on a wide variety of rolling stock and, compared to previous commercial solutions, offer a significantly larger selection of model railway wagons for true-to-scale train formation with different wagons with a cleaning effect. Fig. 1 shows an adapter (1) according to the invention, which is inserted into the truss (9) of a model railway wagon at least partially in a form-fitting manner and / or by means of a clamp. For additional fastening, optional mounting surfaces (4) can be provided, with which the adapter can be additionally fixed to the wagon floor, e.g. using self-adhesive pads. The adapter has an elongated hole (2) according to the invention for receiving the grinding wheel (5), which is at a distance d from the guide element (6) of the grinding wheel in order to ensure mobility of the grinding wheel. In order to be able to bypass any structures reproduced on the wagon arch during fastening, the adapter (1) has optional recesses (10).The grinding wheel (5) is provided on its underside with a cleaning coating (7), which can be made of felt, fleece, knitted fabric, fabric, microfiber, each consisting of natural or synthetic fibers, or an abrasive rubber or grinding element. This coating (7) is permanently or replaceably attached to the grinding wheel (5), e.g., via hook-and-loop fasteners or double-sided adhesive tape. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of a rail cleaning adapter according to the invention in operation. By placing the wagon on the rails (not shown), the grinding wheel (5) is raised to such an extent that the preferably optionally attached flexible locking elements (8), which prevent the grinding wheel (5) from falling out of the adapter (1) when the wagon is lifted, have no mechanical contact with the adapter (1) and the grinding wheel (5) can move horizontally at a circumferential distance (d) from the elongated hole (2). In addition, the grinding wheel (5) can move vertically within the design space provided in order to compensate for height differences in the track bed of the model railway layout. Particularly preferably, due to the design, e.g., on a scale of 1:87, height differences of up to 4 mm can be compensated for by the provided clearance in the z-direction.The grinding body (5) is preferably angled on both sides outside the area containing the guide element (6) to prevent it from snagging on structures of the rail surface in both directions of travel. The angle to the horizontal can be between 2 and 30 degrees; an angle between 5 and 20 degrees is particularly preferred. The adapter (1) is also preferably angled; the angle is particularly preferably adapted to the contour of the truss (9) of the model railway wagon used. Fig. 1-4). In general, angles of up to 90 degrees to the horizontal are structurally possible, as long as a collision of the adapter (1) with the grinding wheel (5) is geometrically avoided ( Fig. 5-7). Fig. Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the adapter (1) according to the invention. In this configuration, the adapter (1) has additional locking lugs (3) that allow clamping in the truss (9) of the model railway car, thus enabling secure fixation of the adapter (1). The details of the preferred modifications are further explained in Figure 4. Fig. 4 shows the preferred design of the adapter (1) from Fig. 3. Here, the adapter (1) is equipped with the inventive elongated hole (2) with a length l and a width b, optional locking lugs (3) for anchoring in the truss (9) of the model railway wagon and an optional recess (10) for bypassing elements formed on the wagon floor, e.g. the replica of a pressure vessel. Fig. 5 shows a further preferred embodiment of the adapter (1). Here, the length of the adapter (1) is limited to the rectangular central section of the truss (9) in order to reduce the visibility of the adapter from the side of the model railway wagon. Here, the adapter (1) is equipped with the elongated hole (2) according to the invention, optional locking lugs (3) for anchoring in the truss (9) of the model railway wagon, and an optional recess (10) for bypassing elements molded onto the wagon floor, e.g., the replica of a pressure vessel. In addition, for better anchoring, an optional structure (11) is provided, which prevents or limits displacement of the adapter along the longitudinal axis through at least partial positive engagement with structures molded onto the wagon floor of the model railway wagon, e.g., the replica of the compressed air vessel. Fig. Figure 6 shows a further preferred embodiment of the adapter (1). Fig. 5, the features mentioned above were retained, but the side walls of the truss structure were not implemented. Thus, the truss structure appears largely openwork in the side view of the model railway wagon, true to the original. Fig. Figure 7 shows a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the adapter (1). In addition to the Fig. 6 described removal of the side walls, openings (12) are provided in the base of the adapter in order to further increase the prototypical light transmission of the truss structure. Fig.Figure 8 shows the particularly preferred embodiment of the grinding body (5) with a cleaning pad (7) attached to the underside, consisting of a felt, a fleece, a knitted fabric, a fabric, a microfiber, each consisting of natural and / or synthetic fibers, or an abrasive rubber or grinding element. In a particularly preferred variant, this cleaning pad (7) consists of a felt or fleece made of plastic fibers, e.g., polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). In the particularly preferred variant, the grinding body (5) has flexible locking elements (8) attached to the guide element (6). These can, for example, be attached to the end faces of the guide element (6) and / or to its sides (not shown). The flexible locking elements (8) prevent the grinding body (5) from falling out when lifting the model railway wagon, despite the floating mounting of the grinding body (5) in the adapter (1).In addition, the flexible locking elements (8) make it easy to replace the grinding wheel (5). The grinding wheel (5) has a length L corresponding to the scale, for example, on a scale of 1:87, a length L of 15-60 mm, particularly preferably a length L of 30-45 mm. The grinding wheel (5) has a width corresponding to the scale for cleaning the entire rail body, e.g., for a scale of 1:87, a width B of 18-30 mm, particularly preferably a width B of 24-29 mm, likewise particularly preferably a width L adapted to the external dimensions of the wagon. For the three-rail tracks with center contact that are common on a scale of 1:87, a further, particularly preferred variant of the grinding wheel (not shown) is optionally provided, with a reduced width B' of 6-16 mm, particularly preferably a width B' of between 8 and 13 mm, which allows particularly intensive cleaning of the current-carrying center conductor only.This can be easily exchanged by the user for the usual version of the grinding wheel (5) and thus the trolley can be specifically adapted to the necessary cleaning measures. List of reference symbols 1 adapter 2 long holes 3 locking lugs 4 mounting surfaces 5 grinding wheels 6 Guide element 7 Cleaning surface 8 flexible locking elements 9 Truss structure of the model railway wagon 10 optional cutouts for bypassing structures on the car floor 11 optional structures for form fit with structures on the car floor 12 optional breakthroughs

Claims

[1] Rail cleaning adapter for model railway wagons for installation in the simulated truss (9) on the underbody of a model railway wagon, characterized by that an adapter (1) is attached at least partially in a form-fitting manner via a clamping and / or locking connection in the truss structure (9) formed on a model railway wagon and, via an inventive slot (2), enables the accommodation of a grinding body (5) with a cleaning coating (7) by means of a guide element (6) under the wagon floor without irreversible changes and / or damage to the housing of the model railway wagon. [2] Rail cleaning adapter according to claim 1, characterized bythat the grinding body (5) according to the invention has on the underside a cleaning coating (7) which is fixed or replaceable, e.g. via a Velcro connection, and which is made of a felt, a fleece, a knitted fabric, a fabric, a microfiber, in each case made of natural and / or synthetic fibers, or an abrasive rubber or grinding element and, depending on the scale, has a layer thickness of 0.1 - 10 mm, on a scale of 1:87 particularly preferably a layer thickness of 0.2 - 4 mm. [3] Rail cleaning adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the grinding body (5) is guided via a guide element (6) in an elongated hole (2) of the adapter (1) at a distance (d), the distance d being, depending on the scale, preferably between 0.1 and 20 mm, and on a scale of 1:87, preferably 0.3 - 2.5 mm. [4] Rail cleaning adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the elongated hole (2) in adapter (1) has a length l of 3 to 150 mm and a width b of 1 - 80 mm, depending on the scale of the model railway wagon, in the scale 1:87 preferably a length l of 6 - 30 mm and a width of 2 - 10 mm. [5] Rail cleaning adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that for fastening to the wagon floor on the side of the adapter (1) optional locking lugs (3) for anchoring in the truss (9) and / or optional structures for form-fitting with structures on the wagon floor (11) are formed. [6] Rail cleaning adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the grinding body (5) is designed in the outer area to be angled on both sides in an angular range of 2 to 60 degrees to the horizontal, particularly preferably in an angular range of 5 to 20 degrees to the horizontal. [7] Rail cleaning adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the grinding body (5) is secured against falling out of the elongated hole (2) by optional flexible locking elements (8) on the front face and / or the sides of the guide element (6). [8] Rail cleaning adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that recesses (10) for structures formed on the vehicle floor and / or openings to increase the light transmission (12) can be provided in the surface of the adapter (1). [9] Rail cleaning adapter for model railway wagons according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the grinding body (5) for cleaning the track surface in the scale 1:87 has a width B of 18-35 mm, particularly preferably a width of 24-29 mm. [10] Rail cleaning adapter for model railway wagons according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a modified grinding body (5) on a scale of 1:87 for intensive cleaning of center conductors of a three-conductor track has a width B' of 6-16 mm, particularly preferably a width B' between 8 and 13 mm. [11] Rail cleaning adapter for model railway wagons according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the grinding body (5) has a length L of 15-60 mm, particularly preferably a length L of 30-45 mm, on a scale of 1:87.

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