Rail foot bracket

Abstract

Rail foot support (1) for attaching a track accessory device (3) to a rail (2), comprising a support structure (11) with an angle piece (12) for gripping a first side of a rail foot (10) and a clamping unit (13) that can be arranged at different positions of the support structure (11) for clamping a second side of the rail foot (10).The application solves the problem of providing a rail foot holder that enables secure and quick attachment to a rail by comprising a clamping unit (13) comprising a base body (14) guided on the support structure (11), a clamping strip (15) arranged on the base body (14) with two projections (16, 17) on opposite sides of the base body (14) and a clamping screw (18), wherein the first projection (16) has a clamping screw receptacle and the clamping screw (18) can be fixed against the support structure (11) when screwed into the clamping screw receptacle in order to clamp the rail foot (10) by the second projection (17).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a rail foot holder according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Track systems often use auxiliary track devices, such as track protection fences, noise protection devices, signals, or signs, to secure the track, reduce noise, or provide appropriate information, for example, for the train driver. The auxiliary track devices must be securely attached to the track systems and fixed in such a way that they remain securely in place, even during trains passing at high speeds or during severe weather.

[0003] Particularly in the case of additional track devices that are only temporarily installed on a track system, such as track protection fences or track bed protection fences used to secure (temporary) track construction sites in railway traffic, the additional track devices are often attached using fastening elements that can be detachably attached to a rail of the track system, to which the additional track devices can be fixed. The fastening elements are fixed in particular to a rail, specifically its rail foot, or to a sleeper on which the rail is mounted.

[0004] A rail foot bracket used to attach a track safety fence to a rail is known, for example, from German utility model DE 20 2005 008 225 U1. The rail foot bracket consists of a tube with an angle piece that positively engages the rail foot on one side. The rail foot bracket also includes a foot clamp that is slidably guided on the tube and has another angle piece. To fix the rail foot bracket to the rail, the foot clamp is pushed along the tube up to the rail foot so that the rail foot is positively received by the angle piece of the foot clamp. It is then fixed in this position using a toggle screw with a lock nut.

[0005] Common rail foot mounts are often only suitable for specific rail designs. Furthermore, they often result in inadequate clamping of the rail foot, thus resulting in inadequate fixation of the rail foot mount to the rail.

[0006] The object is therefore to provide a rail foot holder for attaching additional track devices to a rail, which enables safe and quick attachment to a rail of a track in use, preferably regardless of the exact design of the rail foot.

[0007] This object is achieved with a rail foot holder according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and expedient further developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

[0008] The rail foot holder according to the invention for attaching an additional track device, in particular a track protection fence or a holding device for the same, to a rail, comprises a support structure with an angle piece or a clamping claw for gripping a first side of a rail foot of the rail, and a clamping unit that can be arranged at various positions on the support structure, in particular fixable at various positions along a longitudinal axis of the support structure, for clamping a second side of the rail foot. The support structure is preferably an elongated support structure or one that extends along a longitudinal axis. To fix the rail foot of the rail, the clamping unit can be arranged and fixed continuously at the position on the support structure intended for clamping the rail foot.Preferably, the clamping unit is guided displaceably on the support structure in a released state in which the clamping unit is not fixed to the support structure.

[0009] To secure the rail foot bracket to the rail, the rail foot bracket is first pushed through the ballast bed under the rail foot, and the angle piece is brought into engagement with the first side of the rail foot. The clamping unit is then guided along the support structure to the second side of the rail foot, or positioned on or near the second side of the rail foot. The underside of the rail foot preferably rests on the support structure, especially on the section between the angle piece and the clamping unit.

[0010] According to the invention, the clamping unit has a base body guided on the support structure, a clamping strip arranged on the base body with two projections on opposite sides of the base body and a clamping screw. A projection is understood in particular to be a section that protrudes to the side of the base body or projects beyond it. The first projection has a clamping screw receptacle, in particular a clamping screw receptacle provided with an (internal) thread. When screwed into the clamping screw receptacle, the clamping screw can be fixed against the support structure or presses against it. This firstly fixes the clamping unit to the support structure. Furthermore, the base body guided on the support structure is tilted or inclined at least slightly in the direction of the rail foot, so that the rail foot is clamped by the second projection.Specifically, by screwing in the clamping screw, the first projection is pressed away from the support structure or upwards, and the second projection is pressed downwards against the rail foot as a result of the base body tilting towards the rail foot. The inventive design of the rail foot holder makes it possible, in particular, to clamp all common types of rail feet, regardless of their specific design. The clamping strip, which is preferably in the form of a flat iron, provides a force transmission between the clamping screw and the second projection. Due to the lever formed by the clamping strip or the projections, the rail foot is clamped securely, in particular with a high clamping force.Furthermore, with a suitable design of the clamping strip with the projections, it is possible to incorporate a certain spring effect, which absorbs vibrations caused, for example, by passing trains and, as a result of the force transmission, transfers them from the second projection to the clamping screw. By transferring the vibrations to the clamping screw, this can also counteract, in particular, a loosening of the clamping of the rail foot.

[0011] The base body of the clamping unit is arranged on the support structure so that it can be tilted or pivoted at least to a small extent, preferably tilted or pivoted about a tilt axis running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support structure. Preferably, the base body is guided on the support structure via the tilt axis. In a special embodiment, a design of the clamping unit that can be fixed to the support structure by the tilt axis is also possible. The tilt axis can be formed, for example, by screws or pins arranged on the base body, which are guided close to the support structure or, if appropriate, rest against the support structure.By screwing the clamping screw into the clamping screw receptacle and thereby moving the first projection upward, the base body is rotated slightly about the tilting axis, whereby the second projection is pressed downward against the rail foot as a result of the base body tilting towards the rail foot. As an alternative to the above-described arrangement of the base body via a tilting axis on the support structure, the base body can also be guided on the support structure with a certain amount of play, which allows at least slight tilting of the base body towards the rail foot, for example in the form of a sleeve-shaped base body guided on the support structure, the inner diameter of which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the support structure.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the clamping unit comprises two retaining screws for arranging and guiding the clamping unit on the support structure. The retaining screws are preferably guided through lateral openings on opposite side walls of the base body and can be arranged (close to) the support structure. The retaining screws or the receiving openings are preferably arranged mirror-symmetrically on the base body with respect to the support structure. The retaining screws preferably form a tilting axis of the base body running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support structure, about which tilt axis the base body is rotated in the direction of the rail foot when the clamping screw is screwed into the clamping screw receptacle, so that the rail foot is clamped by the second projection. The retaining screws ensure secure guidance of the clamping unit on the support structure.Furthermore, the aforementioned embodiment enables simple and quick positioning of the clamping unit. Preferably, the retaining screws inserted into the receiving openings of the base body are arranged relative to the support structure in such a way that the clamping unit can be moved along the support structure. However, a configuration is also conceivable in which the retaining screws are brought into contact with the support structure in order to fix the clamping unit to the support structure in a position desired for clamping the rail foot, preventing it from moving. For example, it is conceivable for the receiving openings to have a thread into which the retaining screws can be screwed until they make contact with the support structure. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the receiving openings are arranged off-center on the side walls of the base body, in particular offset in the direction of the second projection.This provides advantageous tilting of the base body in the direction of the rail foot, particularly when the base body is close to the rail, as well as clamping of the rail foot by the second projection of the clamping strip with high clamping force.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the angle piece is arranged at a front end of the support structure. Preferably, the angle piece is firmly connected to the support structure. Particularly preferably, the angle piece is welded to the support structure or formed integrally with it. The support structure and the angle piece can be made, in particular, of iron. This design ensures a stable and robust arrangement of the angle piece on the support structure.

[0014] The clamping strip is preferably formed in one piece and, in particular, is firmly connected to the base body, preferably welded. Furthermore, the second projection can preferably have a contact section or projection that is bent downwards in the direction of the rail foot, in particular a hook-shaped contact section. The aforementioned configurations provide a simple and stable design of the clamping unit, which enables secure clamping of the rail foot, in particular clamping with a high clamping force.

[0015] To allow the rail foot holder to be easily inserted into the ballast bed under a rail, the support structure is preferably designed to be substantially T-shaped or in the form of a T-profile.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment, the base body arranged on the support structure has a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration. Specifically, the support structure lies between the two legs of the inverted U-shaped base body, and the clamping strip is located at the upper, closed end of the inverted U-shaped base body. Particularly preferably, the base body is guided and / or can be secured to the support structure via two retaining screws that are inserted into lateral receiving openings on the opposite legs of the inverted U-shaped base body. This aforementioned configuration of the base body makes it particularly easy to attach and detach the clamping unit to or from the support structure, specifically by inserting the retaining screws into the receiving openings of the base body attached to the support structure, or by correspondingly removing the retaining screws from the receiving openings.

[0017] In a practical embodiment, the rail foot holder has a connecting device for connection to an additional track device or a holding device for the same. The connecting device is arranged at the end of the support structure remote from the angle piece. The connecting device preferably comprises an insulating element, in particular a plate-shaped insulating element attachable to a connecting plate of the support structure, and a coupling element attachable to the insulating element for connection to an additional track device or a holding device for the same. The force-locking connection of the support structure to the coupling element via the insulating element arranged between them is preferably achieved via one or more screw connections.To electrically insulate the support structure and the coupling element, the connecting device can comprise further electrically insulating components, such as (plastic) bushings and (plastic) washers. In particular, the connecting device can comprise one or more electrically insulating bearing bushes arranged in corresponding through-openings of the insulating element and, if applicable, the support structure and the coupling structure, and serve to guide the screws of the screw connection. Furthermore, the connecting device can have electrically insulating bearing washers arranged or capable of being arranged on the support structure, specifically the connecting plate, and / or the coupling element, against which the screws or nuts of the screw connection rest when tightened.The insulating element and the other electrically insulating components prevent the transmission of any electrical voltage that may occur between the rail and the additional track device.

[0018] These and other features, as well as advantages and effects, of the rail foot mount according to the invention will become apparent from the following embodiment described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a view of an additional track device attached to a rail via a rail foot bracket; Fig. 2 a detailed view of the rail foot bracket attached to the rail Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 to Fig. 7 different views of the rail foot bracket Fig. 1 .

[0019] Fig. 1shows a side view of an additional track device 3 attached to a rail 2 via a rail foot bracket 1. The additional track device 3 shown as an example comprises a horizontal strut arrangement 4 attached to the rail foot bracket 1 and a vertical strut arrangement 5 connected to the horizontal strut arrangement 4 with a plurality of suspensions 6 in which barrier beams 7 of a track protection fence running parallel to the rail 2 can be inserted and secured.

[0020] The fastening of the rail foot bracket 1 to the rail 2 is in Fig. 2 shown. The rail 2 has a rail head 8, which is connected to a rail foot 10 via a rail web 9.

[0021] Which also in Fig. 3 to Fig. 7The rail foot support 1 shown in various views comprises an elongated and in cross-section substantially T-shaped support structure 11 to the front end of which an angle piece 12 is attached. The angle piece 12 serves, as in Fig. 2 is shown, for receiving a first side of the rail foot 10, usually the inner side of the rail foot 10 directed towards a second rail 2. Furthermore, the rail foot holder 1 comprises a clamping unit 13 which can be fixed to the support structure 11 at the desired position for clamping the second side of the rail foot 10.

[0022] The clamping unit 13 has a base body 14 guided on the support structure 11 and a clamping strip 15 arranged on the base body 14, in particular welded to the base body 14. As can be seen in particular in the front view from Fig. 7As can be seen, the base body 14 has a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration. The clamping unit 13 is guided on the support structure 11 via two retaining screws 20, which are inserted into two receiving openings on the opposite legs of the inverted U-shaped base body 14. The retaining screws 20, which, as described below, form a tilting axis K about which the base body 14 can be tilted or rotated as a result of the clamping screw 18 being screwed into the clamping screw receptacle, are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to a plane running vertically through the longitudinal axis of the support structure 11. Specifically, in the present exemplary embodiment, the retaining screws 20 are inserted from the inside into the receiving openings 20 and screwed on the outside with a screw nut. The screw head, which is round here, is arranged close to the web-shaped lower section of the T-shaped support structure 11.This allows for easy movement of the clamping unit 13 along the support structure 11, for example, to (re-)position the clamping unit 13. The retaining screws 20, especially the screw heads of the retaining screws 20, engage behind the head portion of the T-shaped support structure 11. This prevents the clamping unit 13 from lifting upwards.

[0023] The clamping strip 15 arranged above the base body 14 projects along the support structure 11 on both sides of the base body 14, wherein a first projection 16 has a threaded clamping screw opening for a clamping screw 18 and a second projection 17 has a hook-shaped downwardly bent contact section 19 which serves for contact with the rail foot 10.

[0024] At the end remote from the angle piece 12, the support structure 11 has a connecting device 21 for connection to the Fig. 1shown additional track device 3. In particular, the connecting device 21 comprises, as shown in particular in Fig. 5 is shown, a connecting plate 22 which is firmly connected, in particular welded, to the support structure 11, a plate-shaped insulating element 23 attached to the connecting plate 22 and a coupling element 24 attached to the insulating element 23, which is used for connection to the horizontal strut arrangement 4 of the additional track device 3 from Fig. 1The coupling element 24 shown in the present embodiment specifically comprises two parallel coupling webs which can be placed, for example, externally against a horizontal strut arrangement 4 designed as a square tube and screwed to it. However, other designs of the coupling element 24 for connection to the horizontal strut arrangement 4 are also possible. In the present embodiment, the connecting plate 22, the insulating element 23 and the coupling element 24 are connected to one another by two screw connections 25 introduced into corresponding through-openings in the connecting plate 22, the insulating element 23 and the coupling element 24. For electrical insulation, the screw connections 25 are preferably guided in (plastic) bearing bushes (not shown) which are introduced into the through-openings.Furthermore, electrically insulating bearing washers 26 are provided on the outside of the connecting plate 22 and the coupling element 24, against which the screw or the screw nut of the screw connection 25 rests in the clamped state.

[0025] To attach the additional track device 3 to the rail 2, the rail foot holder 1 is first fastened to the rail 2. For this purpose, the rail foot holder 1 is pushed through the ballast bed under the rail foot 10 of the rail 2. The angle piece 12 is then brought into engagement with the inside of the rail foot 10. The clamping unit 13, which is arranged on the support structure 11 via the retaining screws 20, is initially displaced far enough in the direction of the connecting device 21 so that the rail foot 10 can be received by the angle piece 12. To clamp the rail foot 10, the clamping unit 13 is then guided along the support structure 11 up to the rail foot 10 so that the base body 14 of the clamping unit 13 rests against the rail foot 10 or is at least positioned close to it.To clamp the rail foot 10, specifically the top side of the rail foot 10, using the clamping strip 15, the clamping screw 18 is screwed into the clamping screw receptacle of the first projection 16. By applying the clamping screw 18 against the support structure 11, the first projection 16 is pressed upwards by the support structure 11, whereby the base body 14 is tilted forwards about the tilt axis K running through retaining screws 20 and the second projection 17, more precisely the contact surface 19, is pressed downwards against the rail foot 10 of the rail 2. The rail foot holder 1 is hereby securely attached to the rail 2. Finally, the additional track device 3 can be connected to the rail foot holder 1 via the connecting device 21. In the example shown in . Fig. 1 In the embodiment shown, the horizontal strut arrangement 4 is specifically arranged and fixed to the coupling element 24.

[0026] The rail foot holder 1 is released from the rail 2 in the reverse manner, in particular by unscrewing the clamping screw 18 to such an extent that the clamping unit 13 can be moved along the support structure 11 away from the rail foot 10.

[0027] Typically, the clamping unit 13 can remain in the arrangement guided by the retaining screws 20 on the support structure 11 for the next use. However, the clamping unit 13 can also be removed from the support structure 11. This can be done in particular if the clamping unit 13 needs to be replaced, for example due to a defective clamping unit 13. To release the clamping unit 13 from the support structure 11, the clamping screw 18 is unscrewed completely or at least far enough so that the base body 14 can be moved downwards in the direction of the support structure 11 such that the retaining screws 20 can be removed from the receiving openings of the base body 14 by loosening the screw nut.The new clamping unit 13 can then be attached to the support structure 11 by inserting the retaining screws 20 into the receiving openings and screwing the retaining screws 20 with screw nuts arranged on the outside of the base body 14.

[0028] It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown here. For example, an embodiment is also conceivable in which the retaining screws 20 can be brought into contact with the support structure 11 in such a way that the clamping unit 13 is fixed by them in the position brought close to the rail foot 10, but tilting of the base body 14 about the tilt axis K formed by the retaining screws 20 is still possible. For example, an embodiment is conceivable in which the receiving openings of the base body 14 are provided with a thread into which the retaining screws 20 can be screwed from the outside until they rest against the support structure 11. To reposition such a clamping unit 13, the retaining screws 20 are then only loosened from the support structure 11 to the extent that the clamping unit 13 can be moved along the support structure 11.An (almost) complete unscrewing of one or both retaining screws 20 would only be necessary in the event that the clamping unit 13 is to be removed from the support structure 11. Reference symbol

[0029] 1Rail foot bracket 2Rail 3Supplementary track device 4Horizontal strut arrangement 5Vertical strut arrangement 6Suspension 7Barrier beam 8Rail head 9Rail web 10Rail foot 11Support structure 12Elbow 13Clamping unit 14Base body 15Clamping strip 16First projection 17Second projection 18Clamping screw 19Support section 20Retaining screw 21Connecting device 22Connecting plate 23Insulating element 24Coupling element 25Screw connection 26Bearing disc KKilting axis

Claims

1. Rail foot holder (1) for attaching an additional track device (3), in particular a track protection fence or a holding device for the same, to a rail (2), comprising a support structure (11) with an angle piece (12) for gripping a first side of a rail foot (10) of the rail (2) and a clamping unit (13) which can be arranged at various positions of the support structure (11) for clamping a second side of the rail foot (10), characterized in thatthe clamping unit (13) comprises a base body (14) guided on the support structure (11), a clamping strip (15) arranged on the base body (14) with two projections (16, 17) on opposite sides of the base body (14) and a clamping screw (18), wherein the first projection (16) has a clamping screw receptacle and the clamping screw (18) can be fixed against the support structure (11) when screwed into the clamping screw receptacle in order to clamp the rail foot (10) by means of the second projection (17).

2. Rail foot holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (14) is guided and / or fixable on the support structure (11) in a tiltable manner, in particular about a tilting axis (K) running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support structure (11).

3. Rail foot holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe clamping unit (13) comprises two retaining screws (20) for arranging the clamping unit (13) on the support structure (11), which can be arranged close to and / or directly on the support structure (11) through lateral receiving openings on opposite side walls of the base body (14).

4. Rail foot holder (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the receiving openings are arranged off-center, in particular offset in the direction of the second projection (17), on the side walls of the base body (14).

5. Rail foot holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angle piece (12) is arranged at a front end of the support structure (11), in particular is firmly connected to the support structure (11), preferably welded or formed in one piece with the support structure (11).

6. Rail foot holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe terminal block (15) is formed in one piece and is in particular firmly connected, preferably welded, to the base body (14).

7. Rail foot holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second projection (17) has a contact section (19) which is bent downwards in the direction of the rail foot (10), in particular in the shape of a hook.

8. Rail foot holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a substantially T-shaped support structure (11).

9. Rail foot holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail foot (10) rests on the support structure (11) when the rail foot holder (1) is attached to the rail (2).

10. Rail foot holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (14) has a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration.

11. Rail foot holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a connecting device (21) arranged at the end of the support structure (11) remote from the angle piece (12) for connection to an additional track device (3) or a holding device for the same.

12. Rail foot holder (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the connecting device (21) comprises an insulating element (23), in particular a plate-shaped insulating element (23), and a coupling element (24) attachable to the insulating element (23) for connection to an additional track device (3) or a holding device for the same.

13. Rail foot holder (1) according to claim 12, characterized in thatthe connecting device (21) comprises at least one screw connection (25) for connecting the support structure (11) to the coupling element (24), wherein the connecting device (21) preferably has an electrically insulating bearing bush for guiding the screw of the at least one screw connection (25) and / or one or more electrically insulating bearing washers (26) against which the screw connection rests on the support structure (11) and / or the coupling element (24).

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