Apparatus for fixing and positioning rail monitoring elements and method for using the apparatus

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 arranged between the rail bottom and the 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, for example, rail monitoring elements such as sensor elements for axle counters are used. An axle counter can be used particularly to confirm whether a train has completely passed through the position of the axle counter, and for example, to determine whether a related section of the route is empty or occupied. Such rail monitoring elements generally include sensor elements 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 the strain or compression of the optical fiber caused by mechanical variables, and thus can detect forces, torques, accelerations, loads, pressure conditions, etc.

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

[0006] The method of fixing the sensor element of an axis counter to a rail using 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 to the rail web, and is designed for this purpose. 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 fit a number of different rail cross-sections. The device of Patent Document 3 also requires some space below the rail, and this space cannot always be secured.

[0007] An L-shaped elastic clamp for fixing an induction heating device that can hold 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 bottom of the rail. The second leg of the clamp applies 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] European Patent Application Publication No. 3169138 [Patent Document 2] German Patent Application Publication No. 102017216811 [Patent Document 3] German Patent No. 102015209721 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a device that allows for more efficient, simpler, and more accurate fixing and positioning of rail monitoring elements on the rail web of a rail. Furthermore, the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a method for using such a device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] This problem is solved by the apparatus for fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element according to claim 1, and by the method of using the apparatus according to claim 14. Dependent claims specify advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

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

[0012] The device for fixing and positioning the rail monitoring element is secured to the rail via its own clamping device when mounted. Therefore, the clamping device forms a accommodating section for a portion of the rail, which may be, for example, the bottom or top of the rail. The clamping device may also be fixed to the rail web. The clamping device can be installed on rails of various widths and cross-sections.

[0013] The configuration of the apparatus according to the present invention makes it possible to generate pressure on a pressing member in the mounting state when fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element on a rail for an adhesive bonding process, for example, by a biasing element. Meanwhile, the pressing member presses the rail monitoring element against the rail web. The rail monitoring element is preferably located within the housing 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 be fastened to the rail bottom of a rail. An advantage of this configuration is that even when configured as a rail bottom clamp, a railway vehicle can pass over the clamp. The rail bottom clamp has a bottom, which, when installed, engages with the bottom of the rail and forms a rail bottom housing. When it is necessary to fix and position a rail monitoring element above the sleepers of a rail structure, the rail bottom clamp may be a two-part type. A two-part 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 railhead clamp. The device can be fastened to the rail via the railhead clamp, which, in the installed state, engages with the railhead from above and grips the rail web from both sides. This configuration generally has the advantage that railway vehicles cannot pass over it, but no clearance space is required below the rail. The railhead clamp preferably has clamp jaws that grip the rail web. These clamp jaws may have slopes that conform to the shape of the rail web. This ensures that the railhead clamp always grips the rail at the same height, and particularly preferably at a desired height. The clamp jaws may have recesses to reduce material consumption and the weight of the clamp, forming a so-called "C-shape". The device having a railhead clamp can be used, for example, in subways or third-rail systems.

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

[0017] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the biasing element may be mounted on the side of the rail opposite to the pressing member. In this embodiment, the holder for the biasing element is configured to generate pressure on the biasing element against the rail web by being pulled away from the rail. The side of the holder located on the opposite side of the rail moves in the same direction and in the same manner, and as a result, the pressing member located on the side of the rail opposite to the biasing element is pressed against the rail web. Depending on the environment in which the rail monitoring element is mounted, this embodiment may be advantageous, for example, when there is not enough space available on the side of the rail to which the rail monitoring element is mounted. However, this embodiment requires space on the side of the rail opposite to 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 hydraulic cylinder preferably has a piston rod, which 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. Thus, the pressing member can be moved relative to the axis of the pressurizing 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 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 with respect to the pressing member. Here, non-rotatable means that unintentional rotation having a rotation axis in the direction of this at least one piston rod cannot 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 that transmit the pressing force to the pressing member. This type 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, for example, have 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 adhesive bonding process to uniformly press at a predetermined pressure, and thus is particularly advantageous for providing a reliable and efficient adhesive 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, thereby setting the height at which the rail monitoring element is pressed against the rail. That is, it can accommodate 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 an 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 typically 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 features described above and the features to be described in more detail can be used individually 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] It is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the device according to the present invention having a rail bottom clamp. [Figure 2] It is a schematic view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention having a pressing member provided with a swing joint. [Figure 3] It is a view showing a further embodiment of the device for fixing and positioning the rail monitoring element having a rail bottom clamp. [Figure 4] It is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] These are side views of the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of an overhead clamp. [Figure 7] This figure shows a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, which has an overhead clamp. [Figure 8] Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the pressing member in the embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, which has a rail bottom clamp. [Figure 10] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the retaining element for the plate-shaped cylinder. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, which has a magnet as a biasing element. [Figure 12] This figure shows a holder equipped with a magnetic biasing element. [Figure 13] Figure 12 is a top view of the holder. [Modes 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 the rail web 16 of the rail 12. The rail web 16 of the rail 12 is located between the rail head 34 and the 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 force on a pressing member 22 via a piston rod 24. The pressing member 22 has a housing for the rail monitoring element 14. In this embodiment, a holder 36 for the biasing element 20 is fastened to the rail 12, or more precisely to the rail bottom 18 of the rail 12, by a rail bottom clamp 26. The holder 36 is adjustable vertically with respect to the plane on which the rail bottom 18 rests. The vertical adjustment function allows the rail monitoring element 14 to be positioned at a desired height. The biasing element 20 allows the rail monitoring element 14 to be pressed against the rail web 16 with a desired pressure via the pressing member 22. If a pneumatic cylinder is used, the device 10 also has a bellows 30. The force applied by the biasing element 20 is controlled via the control unit 28. If 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 releasing air from the pneumatic cylinder.

[0030] Figure 2 schematically shows the details of the device 10 in which the pressing member 22 is rotatably mounted by a rocking joint 38. This allows the pressing member 22 to rock relative to a plane consisting of the biasing element 20 and the piston rod 24. In this way, the inclination of the pressing member 22, and consequently the inclination in which the rail monitoring element 14 is pressed against the rail web 16, can be adjusted.

[0031] Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the device 10 for fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element (not shown in Figure 3 for clarity), in which the biasing element 20 and the pressing member 22 are located on opposite sides of the rail web 16. The holder 36 is fastened to the rail bottom 18 of the rail 12 via a 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 holder 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 a support 40. This support 40 extends below the rail bottom, which is 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 illustrated example, the pressing member 20 presses against the rail web 16 of the rail 12 from the outside. Here, "outside" refers to the outside of the 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 C-shaped clamping jaws 45. The C-shaped clamping jaws 45 of the overhead clamp 44 are used to grip and clamp the rail 12, and both ends of them are chamfered so as to conform 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 Figure 7, two rail head clamps 44 from Figure 6 are used to implement the apparatus 10 according to the present invention using overhead clamps 44. Figure 7 shows that the overhead clamps 44 engage with the rail head 34 of the rail 12 from above and grip the rail web 16. This embodiment is selected, for example, when a rail bottom clamp 26 cannot be attached to the rail 12 because it cannot be engaged from below the rail 12. The overhead clamps 44 are connected to each other by a bridge 52 to which a biasing element 20 is fastened. The overhead clamps 44, together with their clamp jaws 45 and the bridge 52, form one embodiment of the holder 36. The piston rod 24 of the biasing element 20 passes through the bridge 52 so that the pressing member 22 can be pressed against the rail web 16.

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

[0037] Figure 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 a pressing member 22 located above the sleeper 50. The pressing member 22 is pressed against the rail web 16 of the rail 12 directly above the sleeper 50. Fastening to the rail bottom 18 is performed by two retaining elements 46 for a plate cylinder 48. The retaining elements 46 and the plate cylinder 48 together form one embodiment of the retainer 36. A biasing element 20 is fastened to the plate cylinder 48. The biasing element 20, together with its piston rod 24, penetrates the plate cylinder 48 and presses the pressing member 22 against the rail web 16.

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

[0039] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a retainer 36 having a bridge 52 and C-shaped clamp jaws 45. A magnet 54 is placed inside each clamp jaw 45. The left side of Figure 11 shows an example of a magnet 54 completely filling the cavity of the C-shaped clamp jaw 45. The right side shows an example in the installed state where the cavity of the C-shaped clamp jaw 45 is only partially filled by the magnet 54 located on the side facing the rail 12. In the installed state, the magnet 54 is in contact with the rail web 16. The attractive force between the rail 12 and the magnet 54 applies a compressive force to the retaining element 22 via the bridge 52, pressing the retaining element against the rail web (not shown here).

[0040] Figure 12 shows a retainer 36 having a bridge 52, clamp jaws 45, and magnets 54 positioned within the clamp jaws. In this embodiment, the magnets do not completely fill the cavities of the C-shaped clamp jaws 45. In addition to the magnets 54, this embodiment has a further biasing element in the form of a pressurizing cylinder 20.

[0041] The magnet 54 holds the entire device on the rail web 52. The pressurizing cylinder 20 should not "push" the device when in operation. Therefore, the magnet 54 and the pressurizing cylinder 20 are preferably aligned with each other so that "force generated by the magnet > force generated by the pressurizing cylinder 20" is applied. In principle, the pressing force of the magnet 54 is greater than the pressing force of the pressurizing cylinder 20. Due to the greater pressing force, this embodiment is particularly suitable for, for example, adhesive bonding for fixing where the adhesive must be heated.

[0042] Figure 13 shows a top view of a holder 36 having C-shaped clamp jaws 45 and a bridge 54. Here, the pressing force is generated solely by a magnet 54 positioned within the clamp jaws 45. This embodiment is particularly suitable, for example, for fixed adhesive bonding where the adhesive is only required for fixing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10 Device for fixing and positioning 12 rails 14 Rail monitoring elements 16 Rail Web 18 Rail bottom 20 biasing factors 22 Pressing member 24 Piston Rods 26 Rail bottom clamp 28 Control Unit 30 bellows 32 Adhesive layer 34 Rail Head 36. Holder for biasing element 38. Oscillating joint 40 Supports 42 wheels 44 Rail head clamp 45 C-shaped clamp jaw 46 Retaining element for plate-shaped cylinder 48 Plate-shaped cylinder 50 railway ties 52 Bridge 54 Magnets

Claims

1. A device (10) for fixing and positioning a rail monitoring element (14) on the rail web (16) of a rail (12) comprising a rail bottom (18), a rail web (16), and a rail head (34), A clamping device that can fasten the device (10) to the rail (12), A pressing member (22) for pressing the rail monitoring element (14) against the rail web (16), A biasing element (20, 54) is provided such that when the device is in the mounted state, the pressing member (22) can be pressed against the rail web (16) by the force generated by the biasing element, It has a holder (36) for supporting the biasing elements (20, 54), The biasing element (20) is a pneumatic or hydraulic biasing element. The biasing element (20) is a pneumatic cylinder or hydraulic cylinder having at least one piston rod (24) operably connected to the pressing member (22), The device (10) is such that the pressing member (22) can be tilted relative to the at least one piston rod (24).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping device is a rail bottom clamp (26) that can fasten the device (10) to the rail bottom (18) of the rail (12).

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device is a rail head clamp (44) that can fasten the device to the rail (12), and the rail head clamp (44) engages with the rail head (34) from above and grips the rail web (16) from both sides in the mounted state.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3, characterized in that 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, characterized in that 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, characterized in that the at least one piston rod (24) is configured to be non-rotatable with respect to the pressing member (22).

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

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

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the retainer (36) can be adjusted in a direction perpendicular to the lower surface of the rail with respect to the clamping device in the mounted state.

11. The clamping device is characterized by comprising a magnet (54) that can fasten the device (10) to the rail web (16) of the rail (12), as described in any one of claims 1 to 5 or 9.

12. A method of using the apparatus (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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