Device for fixing and positioning rail monitoring element and method for using device

Abstract

To provide a device that more efficiently, simply, and accurately fixes and positions a rail monitoring element on rail web of a rail.SOLUTION: A device (10) includes a clamping device that fasten the device (10) for fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element (14) to a rail (12), a pressing member (22) for pressing the rail monitoring element (14) against rail web (16), an energizing element (20) for pressing the pressing member (22) against the rail web (16) to which the device is mounted by force generated by the energizing element, and a holding tool (36) for supporting the energizing element (20); the energizing element (20) is a pneumatic or hydraulic energizing element, and the energizing element (20) is a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder that has at least one piston rod (24) that is operably connected to the pressing member (22), and the pressing member (22) can be tilted against at least one piston rod (24).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element on a rail web of a rail. The rail web of the rail is disposed between a rail bottom and a rail head of the rail. The present invention further relates to a method of using a device for fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element on a rail web of a rail.

Background Art

[0002] A device for fixing a rail monitoring element is known from Patent Document 3.

[0003] In order to make railway transportation safer, rail monitoring elements such as sensor elements for axle counters are used, for example. The axle counter can be used in particular to check whether a train has completely passed through the position of the axle counter, and can be used, for example, to determine whether a related track section is empty or occupied. Such a rail monitoring element generally comprises a sensor element fastened to the rail.

[0004] The importance of fiber optic sensors in rail monitoring is increasing. One or more sensors embedded in an optical fiber, such as a fiber Bragg grating (FBG), are used to detect strain or compression of the optical fiber caused by mechanical variables, and thus can detect force, torque, acceleration, load, pressure state, etc.

[0005] A rail monitoring element having an FBG sensor is known, for example, from Patent Document 2. Patent Document 2 proposes to adhesively fix a rail monitoring element to a rail, that is, to join it with an adhesive. However, in order to do this, the rail monitoring element must be positioned and fixed at the mounting site.

[0006] Fixing the sensor element of the shaft counter to the rail by means of a clamping device is known from Patent Document 3. The device known from Patent Document 3 is used to support the sensor on the rail web or to fasten the sensor on the rail web, and a design for this purpose has been made. This device is not designed to absorb horizontal forces. Furthermore, this device is configured to fit a specific rail bottom. However, the mounting tool needs to be adapted to a number of different rail cross-sections. The device of Patent Document 3 also requires a certain amount of space under the rail and does not necessarily ensure that space.

[0007] An L-shaped elastic clamp for fixing an induction heating device capable of holding a planar inductor on the rail web of a rail is known from Patent Document 1. The first leg of the clamp engages from below around the rail bottom. The second leg of the clamp applies a lateral preload to the inductor so that the inductor is pressed against the rail web of the rail.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a device that more efficiently, simply, and accurately fixes and positions a rail monitoring element on the rail web of a rail. Furthermore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method of using such a device.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0010] This problem is solved by an apparatus for fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element according to claim 1 and a method of using the apparatus according to claim 14. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0011] The apparatus according to the present invention has a clamping device capable of fastening the apparatus to a rail. The clamping device is preferably configured such that a railway vehicle can pass over it. The apparatus also has a pressing member for pressing a rail monitoring element against a rail web and a biasing element. When the apparatus is in the mounted state, the pressing member can be pressed against the rail web by the force generated by the biasing element. The apparatus preferably further comprises a holder for supporting the biasing element. The biasing element is connected to the pressing member and is configured to apply pressure to the pressing member.

[0012] The apparatus for fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element is fixed to a rail via its clamping device in the mounted state. Therefore, the clamping device forms a receiving portion for a part of the rail. This may be, for example, the rail bottom or the rail head. The clamping device may be fixed to the rail web. The clamping device can be installed for various rail widths and rail cross-sections.

[0013] Due to the configuration of the apparatus according to the present invention, for example, when fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element on a rail for an adhesive bonding process, it is possible to generate a pressure of the pressing member against the rail monitoring element by the biasing element in the mounted state. On the other hand, the pressing member presses the rail monitoring element against the rail web. The rail monitoring element is preferably arranged in a receiving portion of the pressing member. In this state, the pressure on the rail monitoring element is maintained, for example, until the adhesive bonding process is completed.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the clamping device is a rail bottom clamp that can fasten the device to the rail bottom of the rail. Even configured as a rail bottom clamp, it is an advantage of this configuration that a railway vehicle can pass over the clamp. The rail bottom clamp has a bottom, and this bottom engages under the rail bottom of the rail in the mounted state and forms a housing portion for the rail bottom. When it is necessary to fix and position the rail monitoring element above the sleeper of the rail structure, the rail bottom clamp may be of a two-piece type. The two-piece type means that the first part of the rail bottom clamp can be attached to one side of the sleeper, and the second part of the rail bottom clamp can be attached to the other side of the sleeper.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the clamping device is a rail head clamp. The device can be fastened to the rail via the rail head clamp. In the mounted state, the rail head clamp engages the rail head from above and grips the rail web from both sides. Generally, this configuration has the advantage that a railway vehicle cannot pass over it, but it does not require free space under the rail. The rail head clamp preferably has clamp jaws for gripping the rail web. These clamp jaws may have inclined surfaces that conform to the shape of the rail web. Thereby, the rail head clamp can always grip the rail securely at the same height, particularly preferably at a desired height. The clamp jaws may have recesses to reduce the material consumption and the weight of the clamp and form a so-called "C shape". The device having the rail head clamp can be used, for example, in subways or third-rail systems.

[0016] The biasing element may be attached to the same side as the pressing member of the rail. In this embodiment, the biasing element directly exerts a force on the pressing member.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the biasing element may be attached to the side surface of the rail on the side opposite to the pressing member. In this embodiment, the holder for the biasing element is configured to generate a pressure on the rail web by being separated from the rail, and the side surfaces of the holders located on the opposite side of the rail move in the same direction in the same manner. As a result, the pressing member located on the side surface of the rail on the opposite side of the biasing element is pressed against the rail web. Depending on the environment in which the rail monitoring element is attached, this embodiment may be advantageous, for example, when there is not enough available space on the side surface of the rail to which the rail monitoring element is attached. However, this embodiment requires space on the side surface of the rail on the opposite side of the rail monitoring element.

[0018] The biasing element may be, for example, a pneumatic or hydraulic biasing element, i.e., a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. The pneumatic cylinder or the hydraulic cylinder preferably has a piston rod, and the piston rod is operably connected to the pressing member and can transmit the force generated by the biasing element to the pressing member. The piston rod is preferably mechanically connected to the pressing member.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressing member can be tilted with respect to at least one piston rod. Therefore, the pressing member can be moved relative to the axis of the pressure cylinder. This is to compensate for the fact that the sensor element cannot be pressed straight in the direction of the piston rod, and the plane for pressing the rail monitoring element is slightly tilted with respect to the pressing direction of the piston rod.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one piston rod is configured to be non-rotatable relative to the pressing member. Here, non-rotatable means that no unintended rotation having a rotation axis in the direction of this at least one piston rod can occur. This can be achieved, for example, by the at least one piston rod having an angular or elliptical cross-section, the piston rod being guided by a guide groove, or, for example, by providing two parallel piston rods for transmitting the pressing force to the pressing member. This kind of non-rotatability that prevents rotation about the rotation axis in the pressing direction of the at least one piston rod has the advantage that the rail monitoring element can be reliably attached to the rail so as to be straight with respect to the rail course.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, the stroke of a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder can be adjusted. Thereby, the present device can be adjusted for various requirements and rail shapes and / or the shapes of various rail monitoring elements.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a control unit for displaying and / or setting the pressure exerted on the pressing member is provided. For example, it is also possible to limit the pressure by a pressure relief valve that can permanently preset a trigger threshold. When a pneumatic cylinder is used as the biasing element, the control unit may have, for example, a pressure gauge or cooperate with a pressure gauge. The pressure applied by the pneumatic cylinder may be displayed via the pressure gauge.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressing member has a housing portion for the rail monitoring element, and the pressing member having the housing portion is configured to be uniformly pressed against the rail web. Such a shape of the pressing member is particularly advantageous for the adhesion bonding process to uniformly press at a predetermined pressure, and thus is particularly advantageous for bringing about a reliable and efficient adhesion bonding process of the rail monitoring element to the rail.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, the holder is adjustable with respect to the clamping device. This adjustment is performed in a direction perpendicular to the lower surface of the rail in the mounted state, whereby the height at which the rail monitoring element is pressed against the rail can be set. That is, it can correspond to various rail dimensions and rail shapes.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the biasing element is configured as a magnet that generates a compressive force by the attractive force between the rail and the magnet. The magnet is disposed, for example, on the clamping jaw of the overhead clamp and preferably abuts against the rail web.

[0026] This device is particularly suitable for adhesively bonding the rail monitoring element to the rail web of the rail. The adhesive bonding process usually requires uniform pressing at a predetermined pressure. Such an effect can ideally be achieved using the device according to the present invention. Therefore, it is particularly advantageous to use this device for adhesive bonding.

[0027] Further advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the claims, the specification, and the drawings. Similarly, the above-described features and the features to be described in more detail can be used alone or in any arbitrary combination according to the present invention. It should be understood that the illustrated and described embodiments are not to be construed as listing all of them, but rather have an exemplary character for explaining the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 10

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Figure 12

Figure 13

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0029] Figure 1 schematically shows a device 10 for fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element 14. The rail monitoring element 14 is pressed against a rail web 16 of a rail 12. The rail web 16 of the rail 12 is located between a rail head 34 and a rail bottom 18. The device 10 has a biasing element 20. The biasing element 20 may be, for example, a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder. The biasing element 20 exerts a force on a pressing member 22 via a piston rod 24. The pressing member 22 has a receiving portion for the rail monitoring element 14. A holder 36 for the biasing element 20 is fastened to the rail 12, more precisely to the rail bottom 18 of the rail 12, by a rail bottom clamp 26 in this embodiment. The holder 36 is adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the plane on which the rail bottom 18 is placed. By means of the vertical adjustment function, the rail monitoring element 14 can be positioned at a desired height. By the biasing element 20, the rail monitoring element 14 can be pressed against the rail web 16 with a desired pressure via the pressing member 22. When a pneumatic cylinder is used, the device 10 also has a bellows 30. The force applied by the biasing element 20 is controlled via a control unit 28. When a pneumatic cylinder is used, a pressure gauge is used to measure and display the pressure applied by the pneumatic cylinder. The pressure can be increased via the bellows 30. It is also possible to decrease the pressure via the pressure gauge, for example, by discharging air from the pneumatic cylinder to decrease the pressure.

[0030] Figure 2 schematically shows details of the device 10 in which the pressing member 22 is rotatably mounted by a swing joint 38. Thereby, the pressing member 22 can swing with respect to the plane formed by the biasing element 20 and the piston rod 24. In this way, the inclination of the pressing member 22, and thus the inclination at which the rail monitoring element 14 is pressed against the rail web 16, can be adjusted.

[0031] Figure 3 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 10 for fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element (not shown in Figure 3 for clarity), where the biasing element 20 and the pressing member 22 are arranged on the opposite side of the rail web 16. The retainer 36 is fastened to the rail bottom 18 of the rail 12 via the rail bottom clamp 26. The biasing element 20 presses one side of the rail web 16 with its piston rod 24. As a result, the pressing member 22 is pressed against the rail web 16 via the retainer 36 on the opposite side of the rail web 16.

[0032] Figure 4 is a top view of this embodiment of Figure 3. The biasing element 20 is here mounted on the support 40. This support 40 extends under the rail bottom attached to the rail bottom clamp 26. The support 40 is part of the retainer 36, and the pressing member 22 is pressed against the rail web 16 via the support 40.

[0033] Figure 5 schematically shows how the support 40 is attached to the rail bottom clamp 26 together with the pressing member 22. In the example shown, the pressing member 20 is pressed against the rail web 16 of the rail 12 from the outside. Here, the outside means the outside of two parallel rails (not shown) of the railway track. The wheels 42 of a railway vehicle running on the rail head 34 are also schematically shown. The rail bottom clamp 26 is fastened to the rail bottom 18.

[0034] Figure 6 is a side view showing an example of a rail head clamp 44 having a C-shaped clamp jaw 45. The C-shaped clamp jaws 45 of the overhead clamp 44 are used to grip and clamp the rail 12, and their both ends are chamfered, thus being adapted to the shape of the rail 12, for example. The C-shape is preferred over a fully filled shape, for example, to save material and cost.

[0035] In FIG. 7, two rail head clamps 44 of FIG. 6 are used to implement the device 10 according to the present invention using an overhead clamp 44. FIG. 7 shows that the overhead clamp 44 engages the rail head 34 of the rail 12 from above and grips the rail web 16. This embodiment is selected, for example, when the rail bottom clamp 26 cannot be attached to the rail 12 because it cannot engage below the rail 12. The overhead clamps 44 are connected by a bridge 52 to which the biasing element 20 is fastened. The overhead clamps 44, together with their clamp jaws 45 and the bridge 52, form one embodiment of the fixture 36. To enable the pressing member 22 to be pressed against the rail web 16, the piston rod 24 of the biasing element 20 passes through the bridge 52.

[0036] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the bridge 52 having the C-shaped element 45 and the biasing element 20. Both the bridge 52 and the C-shaped element 45 form one embodiment of the fixture 36.

[0037] FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of the device 10 according to the present invention, in which the rail monitoring element 14 can be fixed and positioned by the pressing member 22 located above the sleeper 50. The pressing member 22 is here pressed against the rail web 16 of the rail 12 directly above the sleeper 50. The fastening to the rail bottom 18 is effected by two retaining elements 46 for the plate-shaped cylinder 48. Both the retaining element 46 and the plate-shaped cylinder 48 form one embodiment of the fixture 36. The biasing element 20 is fastened to the plate-shaped cylinder 48. The biasing element 20 presses the pressing member 22 against the rail web 16 by passing through the plate-shaped cylinder 48 together with its piston rod 24.

[0038] FIG. 10 schematically shows again the retaining element 46 for the plate-shaped cylinder 48.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a fixture 36 having a bridge 52 and a C-shaped clamp jaw 45. A magnet 54 is disposed within each clamp jaw 45. On the left side of FIG. 11, an example of a magnet 54 that completely fills the cavity of the C-shaped clamp jaw 45 is shown. The right side is an example in which, in the mounted state, only a part of the cavity of the C-shaped clamp jaw 45 is filled by the magnet 54 located on the side facing the rail 12. In the mounted state, the magnet 54 is in contact with the rail web 16. Due to the attractive force between the rail 12 and the magnet 54, a compressive force is applied to the holding element 22 via the bridge 52, and the holding element is pressed against the rail web (not shown here).

[0040] FIG. 12 shows a fixture 36 having a bridge 52, a clamp jaw 45, and a magnet 54 disposed within the clamp jaw. In this embodiment, the magnet does not completely fill the cavity of the C-shaped clamp jaw 45. In addition to the magnet 54, this embodiment has a further biasing element in the form of a pressure cylinder 20.

[0041] The magnet 54 holds the entire device on the rail web 52. The pressure cylinder 20 must not "push" the device during operation. Thus, the magnet 54 and the pressure cylinder 20 are preferably coordinated with each other such that the "force generated by the magnet > force generated by the pressure cylinder 20" is applied. In principle, the pressing force of the magnet 54 is greater than the pressing force of the pressure cylinder 20. Due to the large pressing force, this embodiment is particularly suitable for a fixed adhesive joint where, for example, the adhesive has to be heated.

[0042] FIG. 13 shows a top view of a fixture 36 having a C-shaped clamp jaw 45 and a bridge 54. Here, the pressing force is generated only by the magnet 54 disposed within the clamp jaw 45. This embodiment is particularly suitable for a fixed adhesive joint where, for example, the adhesive only requires fixation.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0043] 10 Device for fixing and positioning 12 Rail 14 Rail monitoring element 16 Rail web 18 Rail bottom 20 Biasing element 22 Pressing member 24 Piston rod 26 Rail bottom clamp 28 Control unit 30 Bellows 32 Adhesive layer 34 Rail head 36 Holder for biasing element 38 Swing joint 40 Support 42 Wheel 44 Rail head clamp 45 C-shaped jaw clamp 46 Retaining element for plate cylinder 48 Plate cylinder 50 Sleeper 52 Bridge 54 Magnet

Claims

1. An apparatus (10) for fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element (14) on a rail web (16) of a rail (12) comprising a rail bottom (18), a rail web (16), and a rail head (34), a clamping device capable of fastening the apparatus (10) to the rail (12), a pressing member (22) for pressing the rail monitoring element (14) against the rail web (16), biasing elements (20, 54) capable of pressing the pressing member (22) against the rail web (16) by a force generated by the biasing elements when the apparatus is in the mounted state, a holder (36) for supporting the biasing elements (20, 54), wherein the biasing element (20) is a pneumatic or hydraulic biasing element, the biasing element (20) is a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder having at least one piston rod (24) operably connected to the pressing member (22), and the pressing member (22) is tiltable with respect to the at least one piston rod (24), the apparatus (10).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device is a rail bottom clamp (26) capable of fastening the apparatus (10) to the rail bottom (18) of the rail (12).

3. The clamping device is a rail head clamp (44) capable of fastening the apparatus to the rail (12), and the rail head clamp (44) engages the rail head (34) from above and grips the rail web (16) from both sides in the mounted state, the apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3, wherein the biasing element (20) is located on the same side of the rail (12) as the pressing member (22) in the mounted state.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3, wherein the biasing element (20) is located on the opposite side of the rail (12) from the pressing member (22) in the mounted state.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one piston rod (24) is configured to be non-rotatable with respect to the pressing member (22).

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the stroke of the pneumatic cylinder or the hydraulic cylinder can be adjusted.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a control unit (28) for displaying and / or setting the pressure exerted on the pressing member (22) is provided.

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pressing member (22) has a housing for the rail monitoring element (14), and the pressing member (22) is configured to be uniformly pressed against the rail web (16).

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the fixture (36) is adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the lower surface of the rail with respect to the clamping device in the mounted state.

11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or 9, characterized in that the clamping device comprises a magnet (54) capable of fastening the device (10) to the rail web (16) of the rail (12).

12. A method of using the device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 for adhesively bonding a rail monitoring element (14) to the rail web (16) of the rail (12).

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