Base holder for device holders for attaching devices to vehicle rails

Abstract

The invention relates to a base holder for device holders for attaching devices to vehicle rails, comprising at least two clamping jaws (24, 26) to be clamped against one another on a vehicle rail, wherein at least two pressure zones (82) are formed on each clamping jaw in such a way that, in the intended mounted state of the base holder on a rail, in each case two pressure zones (82) formed on mutually opposing clamping jaws (24, 26) lie opposite one another, and wherein in each case one clamping screw is provided for clamping two of these mutually opposing pressure zones (82) against one another.

Description

[0001] D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] BASIC MOUNTING FOR DEVICE MOUNTS FOR VEHICLE RAILS

[0004] TECHNICAL AREA OF INVENTION

[0005] 5

[0006] The invention relates to a basic mounting for device holders, comprising at least two clamping jaws to be attached to a vehicle rail, for the - preferably height-adjustable - attachment of devices, in particular electronic devices such as wheel sensors, to vehicle rails.

[0007] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0008] For various reasons, there is a need to attach devices, especially electronic devices such as sensors and switching devices, to vehicle tracks, such as railway tracks, for which appropriate device holders are required.

[0009] Numerous device mounting systems for attaching devices to vehicle rails (hereinafter also referred to as rails) have already been proposed. These can be broadly categorized according to whether the mounting system requires drilling through a rail section, usually the so-called rail web, or whether it is clamped to a rail section, usually the so-called rail foot, without drilling. Device mounting systems of the first type are known, for example, from DE 32 34 651 A1, DE 199 15 598 A1, and DE 102013 012 084 B4. Device holders of the second type are known, for example, from DE 695 741 C1, EP 1 960 603 B1 and DE 974202 C1, wherein, according to all three documents, device holders are clamped to the rail base by means of two solid clamping jaws, and wherein the last two documents show height-adjustable device holders.

[0010] The most frequent and safety-related application of such device mounts is the installation of so-called wheel sensors, also known as track switches, although the invention is not limited to such electronic devices. D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0011] - 2 -

[0012] Wheel sensors are regularly used to monitor track sections to determine whether a rail vehicle, especially a train, is present. This is achieved, for example, by inductively detecting how many wheels (and thus axles; in railway engineering, this is generally referred to as axle counting and axle counting circuits) are present.

[0013] 5 spoken) have passed sensors located at the beginning and end of a monitored track section on the rails, in order to determine whether another rail vehicle is permitted to enter the track section or not.

[0014] For such sensors and other devices to function correctly, their precise positioning on a rail is crucial, especially adjusting the distance between the top of the device and the top of the rail's running surface, commonly referred to as height adjustment. The problem of accurate height adjustment doesn't only arise during the initial installation of such a device on a rail. Wear and subsequent modifications often significantly erode the running surface, considerably reducing the distance between the top of the device and the top of the running surface. This can render certain settings, such as device calibration, inaccurate, potentially leading to erroneous measurements, for example, with sensors. In extreme cases, a device can even be damaged by a passing wheel.

[0015] Height adjustment is by no means trivial in the work environment in question. Equipment mounts must be able to withstand loads of several hundred, sometimes even over a thousand grams, which can occur when a very fast train passes over a section of track to which an equipment mount is attached. In addition to the mechanical loads, thermal loads are also regularly present. Accordingly, the equipment mounts are dimensioned and typically made of high-density materials, making them relatively heavy compared to the equipment they are intended to hold.

[0016] To at least partially solve the problem of height adjustment, height-adjustable device holders are known from the aforementioned publications EP 1 960 603 B1 and DE 974202 C1, each comprising a base holder to be fixed to a 5 vehicle rail with two solid clamping jaws D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0017] - 3 - and a so-called adapter plate, which can be fixed to the base bracket in various relative positions to the same, for mounting a device to be attached to the vehicle rail. The solution known from EP 1 960603 B1 allows the heavy base bracket to be fixed to the rail first and

[0018] 5. The adapter plate is then fixed to the base bracket at a specific mounting height, whereas in the solution known from DE 974 202 C1, a single clamping screw clamps both the adapter plate against one of the two clamping jaws of the base bracket and the two clamping jaws against the rail foot, thus fulfilling a dual function with regard to fixing the adapter plate and base bracket and fixing the base bracket to the rail. It should be noted at this point that the common term "adapter plate" does not necessarily refer to an actually plate-shaped (flat) component. Rather, the adapter plate can have various suitable designs and, for example, be shaped like a T-beam or in a box-like form.5 By using different adapter plates, different devices can be attached to one and the same base bracket.In this text, the term adapter plate does not refer to the precise physical shape of the component so designated, but rather to its function. 0.

[0019] DE 202022 102003 U1 discloses a solution with four clamping jaws arranged in pairs opposite each other. While at least two clamping screws are provided, each clamping jaw has only one pressure zone. This solution also uses solid clamping jaws with continuous contact surfaces, which must be tightened against each other using large clamping screws. The clamping force is distributed over the entire contact surface of each clamping jaw, leading to the well-known problems regarding weight and required tightening torques. US 2022 / 0194448 A1 discloses a solution with a total of six separate clamping jaws, arranged in pairs opposite each other, but each clamping jaw again has only one pressure zone. Here, too, solid clamping jaws with continuous contact surfaces are used, resulting in a large-area force distribution. This requires, according to D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0020] - 4 - dimensioned clamping screws and high tightening torques to generate sufficient clamping forces.

[0021] CN 215851255 U shows a solution in which four clamping jaws two

[0022] Five pairs of clamping jaws are formed (which are intended to enclose a bending stress detection plate between them). Each clamping jaw has only one pressure zone. This design also follows the conventional principle of solid clamping jaws with continuous contact surfaces, which distributes the clamping force over a large area and necessitates correspondingly large clamping screws with high tightening torques.

[0023] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 5 Although the known adapter plates can be fixed to a base bracket in various relative positions, thus enabling the desired height adjustment, the typically manual attachment of a base bracket with at least two clamping jaws to a vehicle rail is extremely laborious and strenuous. The already very heavy, solid clamping jaws, each with a continuous contact surface for resting against the rail foot, are clamped against each other in previously known solutions by means of a single, correspondingly large clamping screw (typically with a nominal diameter in the range of approximately 24 mm to 28 mm) by clamping the rail foot. The clamping screw not only has considerable weight itself, but also requires a corresponding tightening torque (e.g.,400 Nm), meaning that assembly and maintenance personnel must carry correspondingly sized and therefore heavy tools, which poses an additional challenge on remote track sections. Simply using a lighter screw is out of the question due to the massive clamping jaws that need to be tightened and the high loads to which device mounts of this type are subjected.

[0024] Based on this, the invention aims to provide a D / PINUXR-043-PC clamping jaw with at least two clamping jaws that can be attached to a vehicle rail.

[0025] - 5 -

[0026] To specify a basic mounting bracket for device holders for the - preferably height-adjustable - attachment of devices, in particular electronic devices such as wheel sensors, to vehicle rails, in which the attachment of the clamping jaws is significantly simplified.

[0027] 5

[0028] The problem is solved by a base mount with the features of claim 1. Dependent claims 16, 17 and 18 relate to a device mount with a base mount according to the invention, a device, in particular an electronic device, with such a device mount and an arrangement comprising a vehicle rail and a device, in particular an electronic device, attached to the vehicle rail by means of such a device mount.

[0029] In an inventive basic mounting for device holders for attaching devices to vehicle rails, which comprises at least two clamping jaws to be clamped against each other on a vehicle rail, at least two pressure zones are formed on each clamping jaw such that, in the intended mounting state of the basic mounting on a rail, two pressure zones formed on opposing clamping jaws are opposite each other, wherein a clamping screw is provided for clamping each of these opposing pressure zones against each other.

[0030] It has surprisingly been found that the inventive design of the base holder offers a whole range of advantages. Since the solid clamping jaws used up to now each have a continuous contact surface extending across the entire width of the respective clamping jaw, the clamping force exerted by tightening the clamping screw is distributed over a large area, resulting in only a small contact pressure. To nevertheless generate sufficient clamping force with these known base holders, the single clamping screw provided there must not only be very large, but also require very high tightening torques. In contrast, according to the invention, the contact pressure is concentrated on at least four opposing pressure zones in pairs, each clamped against the other by a single clamping screw. This makes it possible to... D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0031] - 6 - to generate high contact pressure with relatively small clamping screws and, in particular, to make the clamping jaws significantly more delicate and therefore considerably lighter than conventional clamping jaws. This greatly simplifies the installation of the base bracket.

[0032] 5

[0033] Lighter clamping jaws require lower clamping forces for a secure hold. However, lighter clamping jaws also mean lower undamped mass, so that vibrations caused by passing trains during use of the base mount have a less pronounced effect and can be dampened more easily.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the base holder, exactly two clamping jaws are provided, each clamping jaw having two pressure zones. This allows the clamping jaws to be manufactured easily, for example by casting, concentrating the material in the pressure zone areas, while the intermediate areas of each clamping jaw need to be less robust.

[0035] In another preferred embodiment, six pressure zones 0 are formed, which are clamped against each other by means of three clamping screws. This allows lighter clamping screws to be used while maintaining the same overall clamping forces.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the clamping jaws each have a skeletal structure in which material is concentrated along the force lines that arise in the intended assembly state of the base supports of a rail. A skeletal structure is generally understood to be a design in which material is only present where it is necessary for force transmission and structural integrity, so that the weight of the clamping jaws can be further reduced while maintaining the required strength. Preferably, the structure has strategically placed cavities or recesses that remove non-essential material, while a number of reinforcing ribs strengthen critical areas. This advantageously allows the clamping jaws to be designed to provide maximum strength with minimal weight.

[0037] - 7 -

[0038] Material usage is offered. The skeletal structure is designed to efficiently distribute forces across the entire clamping jaw.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, each pressure zone has a [missing information] on the

[0040] 5. A pressure plunger is assigned to the outer surface of each clamping jaw, facing away from the pressure zone. This allows clamping forces to be concentrated on relatively unbounded pressure zones while maintaining high stability. Preferably, each pressure plunger has a clamping screw opening for a clamping screw to tighten two pressure plungers against each other, which are formed on opposing clamping jaws in the intended assembly state. In this way, lightweight yet extremely stable clamping jaws can be formed, in which the force lines resulting from tightening the clamping screws have a predefined path, so that material can be concentrated in defined areas and saved in other areas.5

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the clamping jaws each have at least one substantially U-shaped contact surface for the underside of a rail foot. This allows for easy positioning of the clamping jaws on a rail foot during initial assembly.

[0042] In a further preferred embodiment, the clamping screws have a nominal diameter in the metric thread system in the range of approximately 12 mm to 20 mm, preferably in the range of approximately 14 mm to 18 mm, and in other thread systems in equivalent ranges. They are therefore significantly thinner and lighter than the screws typically used to date with nominal diameters in the range of approximately 24 mm to 28 mm. Accordingly, significantly lower tightening torques are required, e.g., in the range of approximately 160 to 240 Nm, so that the tool carried by maintenance or assembly personnel can also be significantly lighter than the tool required to generate the very high tightening torques previously necessary.

[0043] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the clamping jaws are made of 5 ferritic spheroidal graphite cast iron (commonly also referred to in German as D / PINUXR-043-PC).

[0044] - 8 -

[0045] ADI (short for "Austempered Ductile Iron") is manufactured. Compared to the cast iron typically used for clamping jaws to date, ausferritic cast iron with spheroidal graphite has a whole range of properties that can be advantageously used in clamping jaws according to the invention.

[0046] 5 consists of an ausferritic matrix (a mixture of ferrite and stabilized austenite) and contains graphite in spheroidal form (rather than in flake form as in ordinary cast iron), resulting in improved mechanical properties such as high tensile strength (800-1600 MPa), good ductility (elongation of 1-10%), high wear resistance, and good fatigue strength. Compared to conventional cast iron, ausferritic spheroidal graphite cast iron has a better strength-to-weight ratio, higher toughness, and improved wear resistance.

[0047] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of two opposing clamping jaws is designed to support an adapter plate. Such an adapter plate makes it possible to attach various devices, such as wheel sensors in particular, to the base mount and thus to a rail via the adapter plate. Advantageously, each clamping jaw designed to support an adapter plate can be provided with a contact surface for an adapter plate on one of its outer sides facing away from the clamping jaws opposite it.

[0048] The clamping jaws designed to support an adapter plate can be provided with at least one receiving opening for a fastening screw for attaching an adapter plate. In this case, separate fastening screws must be provided for attaching the adapter plate to the base bracket formed by the clamping jaws. This allows the base bracket to be fixed to a rail first, and then a corresponding adapter plate to be attached later. Alternatively, at least two of the clamping screws can be designed to clamp an adapter plate against a clamping jaw designed to support an adapter plate. These clamping screws then perform a dual function: fixing the base bracket to a rail and fixing the adapter plate to the base bracket, thus eliminating the need for separate fastening screws. D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0049] - 9 -

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the clamping jaws are identical components. This significantly reduces manufacturing costs, as it is not necessary to produce different clamping jaws.

[0051] The invention also relates to a device holder for vehicle rails with a [missing information]

[0052] 5 a base bracket according to the invention to be fixed to a vehicle rail and an adapter plate to be fixed to the base bracket for mounting a device to be attached to the vehicle rail.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the device mount is height-adjustable, with the adapter plate being fixed to the base mount in various relative positions. For this purpose, the device mount includes separate means for temporarily fixing the relative position of the adapter plate and the base mount. Thanks to such means for temporarily fixing the relative position, it becomes possible to test various height settings before the adapter plate is fixed to the base mount in a known manner so that the fixation withstands the loads occurring during operation (this is referred to as a permanent fixation, as opposed to a temporary fixation; the permanent fixation is achieved using different means, in particular clamping screws, than the temporary fixation). In other words, a "quick adjustment" is separated from the permanent (but still releasable) fixation.This separation significantly simplifies and, above all, accelerates the entire process of positioning a device to be attached to a rail using the device holder according to the invention, which not only saves forces5 but also contributes massively to cost reduction through the time savings made possible, and is advantageous not only when initially attaching a device, but especially when repositioning it during maintenance work.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the adapter plate and base bracket are fixed by means of at least one clamping screw, which is guided in at least one elongated hole in the base bracket or the adapter plate in a height-adjustable manner, wherein the means for provisional fixing are designed to fix the position of the at least one clamping screw in the at least one elongated hole. This establishes a relative position of the adapter plate and base bracket, and thus D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0055] - 10 - the distance between the device and the rail is determined so that it can be tested whether the device is positioned correctly before at least one clamping screw is tightened.

[0056] 5 In a further preferred embodiment, the means for provisional fixing comprise a grid and a counterpart engaging in the grid to define predetermined relative positions of the adapter plate and the base mount. Such a design can contribute to particularly quick and easy positioning of a device on a rail, in which the desired distance (the "height") can be set in predefined steps, the grid naturally having suitable distances between the individual grid positions for the respective application.

[0057] If the base bracket and adapter plate are fixed by at least one clamping screw, the position of the at least one clamping screw in the elongated hole can advantageously be determined by at least one clamping screw opening in the counterpart or the indexing mechanism. Such a clamping screw opening can advantageously be dimensioned such that it guides and holds an inserted clamping screw in such a way that the device bracket can be provided partially pre-assembled.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one clamping screw opening is arranged between the adapter plate and the base bracket in the intended assembly state of the electronics holder. This allows locking elements such as snap rings, locking washers, wedge washers, etc., to be positioned directly between the clamping screw head and, depending on the clamping screw's orientation, the adapter plate or the base bracket, so that the element containing the at least one clamping screw opening does not impair the locking element's effectiveness. The same applies, if provided, to a nut interacting with the clamping screw, in which case corresponding locking elements also bear directly against the nut and, depending on the clamping screw's orientation, either the base bracket or the adapter plate. D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0059] - 11 -

[0060] In another preferred embodiment, the indexing has a sawtooth profile with a preferred direction in which the engaging counterpart can be moved without being positively locked. Typically, the preferred direction is selected such that, for positioning a device, this

[0061] 5 can be easily pushed closer and closer to the running surface without tools, starting in a remote position, and then remaining in the respective detent positions where the counterpart is positively engaged with the detent.

[0062] In another preferred embodiment, the counterpart is formed by a spring-loaded sheet, wherein the indexing or the spring-loaded sheet is slidably attached to the base mount or the adapter plate. Such a design enables reliable temporary fixing of the adapter plate relative to the base mount with minimal weight of the necessary components. It should be expressly noted here that the spring-loaded sheet need not be a rolled metal product, as the term "sheet" might suggest. Rather, the "spring-loaded sheet" can also be made of other suitable materials, in particular appropriate plastics. However, since components of the type in question are typically made of metal, at least currently, the term "spring-loaded sheet" has been used in the trade, and this term is to be understood here in a functional sense and not as restrictive to the material.

[0063] If such a spring plate is provided, it can, according to a further preferred embodiment, have an engagement section that engages in the indexing and an actuating section for removing the engagement section from the indexing. This advantageously eliminates the need for separate components for height adjustment, as the engagement section can simply be moved out of the indexing by, for example, pulling on the actuating section. Advantageously, the actuating section is designed so that, in the intended mounting state of the device holder on a rail, it can be actuated from a side of the device holder facing away from the rail, which allows for particularly easy handling of the device holder. 5 D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0064] - 12 -

[0065] In another preferred embodiment, the spring plate has a mounting section with two undercuts, which can be passed through a receiving opening in the base holder or the adapter plate in such a way that the undercuts are in the intended position.

[0066] 5. The mounting position of the device holder is such that the spring plate rests against the rim of the mounting opening. This advantageously allows the spring plate to be attached to the adapter plate or the base bracket without any additional separate fasteners, ensuring that it is held securely during work with the device holder, particularly when positioning a device to be mounted on a rail. By appropriately designing the mounting opening, it is also possible, if desired, to easily position the spring plate so that it can slide along the adapter plate or the base bracket.

[0067] In another preferred embodiment, the engagement section and the actuation section are formed on the mounting section of the spring plate, for example by punching and bending, if the spring plate is indeed a sheet metal part, so that the spring plate can be multifunctional at a low weight. The indexing can be formed on the base bracket or the adapter plate. In a preferred embodiment, however, the indexing is provided by an indexing plate supported on the base bracket or the adapter plate, which can offer manufacturing and weight advantages. In general, it is easier to manufacture, for example, a indexing plate made of plastic than to provide the base bracket or the adapter plate, which is typically made of metal, with an indexing system. In addition, the indexing plate can help to ensure that a component such as, for example,The spring plate is to be attached to the adapter plate or the base bracket: If the aforementioned mounting opening is provided for a mounting section of a spring plate, the grid plate can be positioned between the mounting opening and the mounting section in the intended assembly state of the device bracket, thus contributing to securing the spring plate, while conversely the spring plate tensions and secures the grid plate against the mounting opening. D / PINUXR-043-PC.

[0068] - 13 -

[0069] In another preferred embodiment, alignment openings are provided in the component containing the receiving opening, i.e., in the base holder or the adapter plate, and alignment projections that are at least partially complementary to the alignment openings are provided on the grid plate. This facilitates the

[0070] 5. Positioning and mounting of the grid plate, which can also be glued in place, for example.

[0071] In another preferred embodiment, at least one elongated hole and, if present, the receiving opening are provided in the adapter plate. This not only offers manufacturing advantages but also advantageously contributes to reducing the weight of the adapter plate, which is essentially an undamped mass, and thus the forces acting on the base mount. Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following purely exemplary and non-limiting description of embodiments in conjunction with the drawing comprising nine figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0072] Fig. 1 shows a highly schematic representation of a section of a rail together with a device holder according to the invention arranged on it, containing an electronic device.

[0073] Fig. 2 shows a highly schematic representation of a section of a rail with a device holder according to the invention, including an electronic device. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the front of an adapter plate according to the invention, including a spring plate and a grid plate. D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0074] - 14 -

[0075] Fig. 4 shows a partially schematic perspective view of the back of the adapter plate including spring plate and grid plate according to Fig. 4.

[0076] Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a spring sheet according to the invention.

[0077] Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a grid plate according to the invention.

[0078] Fig. 7 shows a partially schematic representation of a step in the assembly of the device holder according to the invention.

[0079] Fig. 8 shows two clamping jaws arranged opposite each other according to the invention.

[0080] Fig. 9 shows one of the clamping jaws according to Fig. 8 on an enlarged scale.

[0081] DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION FORMS

[0082] Figures 1 to 9 show, in a more or less schematic form, a basic mounting according to the invention for a device holder and its respective parts in various assembly and application stages.

[0083] Figures 1 and 2 schematically show a section of a rail, designated 10 in its entirety, together with a device holder according to the invention arranged thereon, comprising an electronic device designated 12 in its entirety. The device is a typical wheel sensor with a sensor plate 14 and a sensor housing 16. The invention can be advantageously used with such wheel sensors, but is also fundamentally suitable for any other devices mounted on rails. D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0084] - 15 -

[0085] The section of rail 10 shown is a typical railway rail with a rail head 18, the upper side of which forms a running surface, a rail web 20 and a rail foot 22.

[0086] 5. The base bracket, consisting of two clamping jaws 24 and 26 clamped against each other by means of two clamping screws (not shown in Figures 1 and 2), is attached to the rail foot 22 in the illustrated embodiment. Theoretically, the base bracket could also be clamped to the rail web 20 if the clamping jaws are appropriately designed; however, this requires additional material without any added benefit.

[0087] The base bracket forms part of a device holder, which includes an adapter plate 28 to be fixed to the base bracket. In this embodiment, the adapter plate 28 and the base bracket are fixed by precisely 5 the two clamping screws, which, as described below, also clamp the jaws 24 and 26 against each other. For this purpose, the clamping screws are guided in two elongated holes 30 so as to be height-adjustable. To clarify the design of the adapter plate 28, the clamping screws, which actually pass through the two elongated holes 30 in the adapter plate 28 to fix the adapter plate 28 relative to the base bracket, as well as the fastening screws, which actually pass through the two mounting openings 32 to attach the device 12 to the adapter plate 28, have been omitted from the schematic representations in Figures 1 and 2.5 The technical term "height-adjustable guided" refers to the fact that by moving the adapter plate along the elongated holes 30 the distance of the device 12 to the running surface of the rail 10, and thus the height of the device 12 above the rail foot 22, can be changed.

[0088] Figures 3 and 4 show the adapter plate 28 together with a spring plate 34 and a grid plate 36 in perspective and partially schematic form, once obliquely from the front (i.e., viewed in the intended assembly state towards a rail) and once obliquely from the rear (i.e., viewed from the direction of the rail), including mounting elements such as clamping screws 38 for fixing the adapter plate 28 to the base holder and for clamping the clamping jaws D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0089] - 16 - against each other and fastening screws 40 for attaching a device to the adapter plate 28 are shown. As in Fig. 7, the screws are shown only schematically, i.e. without threads. In reality, the cylindrical sections of the screws 38 and 40 are provided with external threads.

[0090] 5 In addition, they are of course considerably longer, since they must not only penetrate the adapter plate, but also clamp the two clamping jaws arranged on opposite sides of the rail foot against each other, for which purpose at least one e.g. self-locking nut, a nut resting against a locking washer or a combination of a nut and a lock nut is screwed onto each clamping screw 38 at its free end opposite the respective screw head.

[0091] In this embodiment, the means for provisionally fixing a relative position of adapter plate 28 and base bracket are designed to fix the position of the clamping screws 38 in the elongated holes 30 and comprise the spring plate 34 and the grid plate 36, which, according to the invention, makes it possible to decouple the positioning of the adapter plate 28 relative to the base bracket, and thus the height adjustment of a device attached or to be attached to the adapter plate relative to the rail, from the fixing of the adapter plate 28 to the base bracket, so that, advantageously, the fixing only needs to take place when the height is correctly set.

[0092] In the illustrated embodiment, the grid plate 36 provides a grid (42 in Fig. 6), while the spring plate 34, more precisely an engagement section (44 in Fig. 5) formed on the spring plate 345, forms a counterpart that engages in the grid to define predetermined relative positions of the adapter plate 28 and the base holder. In principle, such a grid can also be formed directly on the adapter plate 28 or, depending on the design, on the base holder. However, providing the grid by means of a separate component has several advantages, which will be discussed below.

[0093] As can be clearly seen in Fig. 5, the spring plate 34, which in this embodiment acts as a counterpart to the indexing mechanism, has two clamping screw openings 48 formed in tab sections 465, which are advantageously each attached to the D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0094] - 17 -

[0095] The outer diameter of the clamping screws is adapted so that they guide and hold inserted clamping screws in such a way that the adapter plate can be provided pre-assembled, meaning that a fitter on site does not have to first equip the adapter plate with clamping screws.

[0096] 5

[0097] When the adapter plate 28 shown in Figures 3 and 4 is attached to a base bracket, the tab sections 46, and thus the clamping screw openings 48 of the spring plate 34 shown in Figure 4, are located between the adapter plate and the base bracket. This allows locking elements 50, such as snap rings, locking washers, wedge washers, etc., to bear directly against the adapter plate 28 and exert their full locking effect against unintentional loosening of the clamping screws 38. As indicated, for example, in Figure 7, a washer 51 can be placed between the screw head and the locking element; however, this is not desirable when the locking elements are locking washers.

[0098] As can be clearly seen in Fig. 5, the spring plate 34 in this embodiment has a fastening section 52 with two undercuts 54, which can be guided through a receiving opening (56 in Fig. 3) in the adapter plate 0 such that the undercuts 54 rest against an edge of the receiving opening in the intended assembly state. This advantageously allows the spring plate to be attached to the adapter plate without any further separate fastening means, so that it is held securely during work with the device holder, in particular when positioning a device to be attached to a rail 5. In this embodiment, the grid plate 36, as shown in Fig. 3, is pushed through a slot formed between the fastening section 54 and the adapter plate 28, so that the spring plate 34 and the grid plate 36 are mutually secured to the adapter plate 28.

[0099] As can further be seen in Fig. 5, in this embodiment the edge of the fastening section 52 facing the grid plate in the intended assembly state forms an engagement section 44 that engages in the grid of the grid plate, while the side of the fastening section 52 opposite the engagement section 44 is bent for easier handling D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0100] - 18 - and an actuating section 58. The fastening section 52 is connected to the rest of the spring plate 34 via two spring bars 60, so that the engagement section 44 can be removed from the detent by pulling on the actuating section 58, thus changing the relative position of the adapter plate.

[0101] 5 of the preferred direction described below can be adjusted. As can be seen from Fig. 3, in the intended assembly state, the actuating section 58 is located on the side of the adapter plate 28 facing away from one of the rails and can therefore be easily actuated.

[0102] Fig. 6 shows in detail the grid plate 36 provided in this embodiment. It has two identical grids 42, the individual locking projections 62 of which, for the sake of clarity, only some have been provided with reference numerals, are designed such that the grids 42 each have a sawtooth profile with a preferred direction 5 64 indicated by an arrow, in which an engaging counterpart, in the illustrated embodiment the spring plate, can be moved without being positively locked.

[0103] The grid plate 36 also has a retaining section 66 and a projection 680, which serve to align and support the grid plate 36 in the receiving opening (56 in Fig. 3).

[0104] Fig. 7 shows a highly schematic representation of a step in the assembly of the device holder according to the invention, namely the positioning of the spring plate 5, of which only the fastening section 52 with engagement section and actuating section as well as part of one of the spring bars are visible, on an adapter plate 28. To clarify the subsequent installation situation, the clamping screws 38 are also shown, although these are actually only inserted after the spring plate has been correctly positioned in the receiving opening 56 through the adapter plate and the clamping screw openings (48 in Fig. 5) which are then positioned behind the elongated holes. Fastening section 52 and receiving opening 56 are dimensioned such that the fastening section 52 can only be guided obliquely through the receiving opening 56. Once the clamping screw openings are positioned behind the elongated holes, the spring plate is supported by the undercuts described above (54 in Fig. 5).5) to the corresponding D / PINUXR-043-PC.

[0105] - 19 -

[0106] The spring plate can be moved upwards and downwards in the receiving opening parallel to the elongated holes (30 in Fig. 1) at the edges of the receiving opening 56. Once the clamping screws are guided through the elongated holes and the clamping screw openings, movement of the spring plate causes

[0107] 5. Movement of the clamping screws.

[0108] When the spring plate is correctly positioned in the receiving opening 56, the grid plate 36 is pushed from below through the slot formed between the mounting section 52 and the adapter plate 28 and positioned in the receiving opening 56. The projection 68 then rests against an upper edge 70 of the receiving opening 56, while the retaining section 66 rests against the adapter plate 28 below the receiving opening 56. The spring plate then clamps the grid plate 36 against the adapter plate 28, while conversely, the grid plate 36 holds the spring plate correctly positioned in the receiving opening 56. This positioning is further supported by the clamping screws 38 after they are inserted.For easy positioning and support of the grid plate 36 on the adapter plate 28, this embodiment provides two alignment openings 72 in the adapter plate 28, which interact with alignment projections on the grid plate 36 that are at least partially complementary to the alignment openings and are not visible here. Alternatively or additionally, the grid plate 36 can also be glued to the adapter plate 28, for which purpose, for example, a self-adhesive strip can be provided on the side of the retaining section 66 facing the adapter plate 28.5. When fully assembled, the grid plate 36 and spring plate are slidable relative to each other parallel to the elongated holes, but are held firmly in predefined detent positions. This allows the adapter plate to also be moved relative to the base mount if the clamping screws 38 are not tightened. This enables quick and easy adjustment of various relative positions between the adapter plate and the base mount – and thus between the device to be mounted and the rail. It can then be tested whether the respective position is optimal, i.e., whether the device to be mounted is in the desired position relative to the rail. Only when an optimal position has been found are the clamping screws 38 tightened 5 and the adapter plate 28 fixed relative to the base mount so that the D / PINUXR-043-PC.

[0109] - 20 - the set position is maintained even under the heavy loads that occur during operation.

[0110] Figures 8 and 9 show clamping jaws according to the invention without

[0111] Five clamping screws and other components are shown. Fig. 8 shows two clamping jaws 24 and 26 in a position where they would be opposite each other on a rail foot in the finished assembly state. Fig. 9 shows one of the clamping jaws 24 on an enlarged scale. All clamping jaws are identical, which enables particularly cost-effective manufacturing. Preferably, the clamping jaws are made of ADI and are cast in one piece.

[0112] The clamping jaws 24, 26 have integrated pressure pins 74 through which the clamping screws are guided. These pressure pins 74 are characterized by a higher material density and contrast particularly with the comparatively thin connecting webs 76 between them, on which no particular forces act after the clamping jaws 24, 26 are clamped against each other. To nevertheless stabilize these connecting webs 76, especially against rotation before they are fixed to a rail, reinforcing ribs 780 are provided on the rear side of each connecting web 76 facing away from the rail.

[0113] For the insertion of clamping screws, each pressure die 74 is provided with a clamping screw opening 80, the side of which is chamfered facing the opposite clamping jaw, as can be clearly seen in Fig. 8 on the clamping jaw 26. This forms a centering aid that facilitates the insertion of the clamping screws, which in the situation shown in Fig. 8 are guided, for example, through the clamping screw openings 80 in the clamping jaw 24, into the corresponding clamping screw openings 80 of the clamping jaw 26.

[0114] The design of the pressure stamps 74 and the clamping screw openings 80 penetrating them ensures that the forces occurring against each other when clamping the jaws 24 and 26 are concentrated on specific pressure zones 82 and are not distributed over a large area, as in the prior art,5 thus advantageously increasing the contact pressure. Surprisingly, D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0115] - 21 - showed that the holding forces resulting after the clamping jaws are attached are so large that the clamping jaws are still reliably held to a rail even if one of the clamping screws should break.

[0116] 5 As can be clearly seen in Figures 8 and 9, the clamping jaws 24 and 26 each have a so-called skeletal structure, in which material is concentrated along the force lines that result in the intended assembly state of the base supports of a rail, while material is omitted in other areas. To ensure the desired stability at a low weight, a whole series of projections and protrusions, also referred to here as reinforcing ribs 84, are formed on the clamping jaws 24 and 26, of which only some have been labelled for clarity. A typical feature of the skeletal structure is that even the reinforcing rib of the 5 connecting web 76, designated in its entirety as 78 in Figure 8, is designed to conserve material, as can be clearly seen in Figure 9, and consists of a thin projection strip 86 and a substantially cylindrical crossbar 88.

[0117] In this embodiment, each clamping jaw 24 and 26 has two essentially U-shaped contact surfaces 90 for the underside of a rail foot. These surfaces facilitate the positioning and attachment of the clamping jaws 24 and 26 to a rail foot and provide a certain guiding function when the clamping jaws 24 and 26 are tightened against each other. Each of the two clamping jaws 24 and 26, which are identical in this embodiment, is designed to support one of the adapter plates described above. Typically, a corresponding device is attached to only one side of a rail using an adapter plate, meaning that the fully assembled base supports only one, and not two, adapter plates.In this embodiment, each clamping jaw 24 and 26 has a contact surface 92 for an adapter plate on one of its outer sides, facing away from the clamping jaw opposite it. These contact surfaces 92 are formed on the pressure pins 74. This design makes it possible to use the clamping screws guided through the clamping screw openings 80 to also fix an adapter plate 5. Alternatively, an adapter plate D / PINUXR-043-PC can be used to support the clamping screws.

[0118] - 22 - formed clamping jaw shall have at least one receiving opening for a fastening screw for fastening an adapter plate.

[0119] REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0120] 10 rail

[0121] 12 devices

[0122] 14 Sensor plate

[0123] 16 sensor housings

[0124] 18 Railhead

[0125] 20 rail bridge

[0126] 22 Rail foot

[0127] 24 clamping jaws

[0128] 26 clamping jaw

[0129] 28 Adapter plate

[0130] 30 slotted holes

[0131] 32 Mounting opening

[0132] 34 Spring sheet

[0133] 36 grid plates

[0134] 38 clamping screw

[0135] 40 fastening screw

[0136] 42 grid

[0137] 44 Intervention section

[0138] 46 tab section

[0139] 48 Clamping screw opening

[0140] 50 safety devices

[0141] 51 Washer

[0142] 52 Fastening section

[0143] 54 Undercut

[0144] 56 Intake opening

[0145] 58 Actuation section

[0146] 60 spring bars

[0147] 62 Rastvorsprung

[0148] 64 Preferred direction D / PINUXR-043-PC

[0149] - 23 -

[0150] 66 Stop section

[0151] 68 lead

[0152] 70 top edge

[0153] 72 Alignment opening

[0154] 74 printing stamps

[0155] 76 Connecting bridge

[0156] 78 Reinforcing rib

[0157] 80 clamping screw opening

[0158] 82 Pressure zone

[0159] 84 Reinforcing rib

[0160] 86 attachment strips

[0161] 88 Cross brace

[0162] 90 m² of installation area

[0163] 92 site area

Claims

D / PINUXR-043-PC - 24 - PATENT CLAIMS 1. Basic mounting bracket for device holders for attaching devices to vehicle rails, comprising at least two on a vehicle rail 5 clamping jaws to be clamped against each other, characterized in that at least two pressure zones are formed on each clamping jaw such that, in the intended assembly state of the base holder on a rail, two pressure zones formed on opposing clamping jaws are opposite each other, and that a clamping screw is provided for clamping each of these opposing pressure zones against each other.

2. Base holder according to claim 1, characterized in that two clamping jaws are provided and two pressure zones are formed on each clamping jaw.

3. Base bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that six pressure zones are formed and three clamping screws are provided.

4. Base bracket according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the clamping jaws each have a skeletal structure in which material is concentrated along the force lines resulting in the intended assembly state of the base brackets of a rail. 5 5. Base holder according to claim 4, characterized in that the clamping jaws each have a number of recesses and reinforcing ribs.

6. Base holder according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each pressure zone is assigned a pressure stamp formed on the outside of the respective clamping jaw facing away from the pressure zone.

7. Base holder according to claim 6, characterized in that each pressure die has a clamping screw opening for a clamping screw for clamping. D / PINUXR-043-PC - 25 - is provided by two pressure stamps formed on clamping jaws opposite each other in the intended assembly state. 5 8. Base holder according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the clamping jaws each have at least one substantially U-shaped contact surface for an underside of a rail foot.

9. Base bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the clamping screws have a nominal diameter which in the metric thread system is in the range of approximately 12 mm to 20 mm, preferably in the range of approximately 14 mm to 18 mm, and in other thread systems in equivalent ranges. 5 10. Base bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the clamping jaws are made of ausferritic spheroidal graphite cast iron (ADI).

11. Base holder according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one of two opposing clamping jaws is designed to support an adapter plate.

12. Base holder according to claim 11, characterized in that each clamping jaw designed to carry an adapter plate is provided on one outer side facing away from the clamping jaw opposite it with a contact surface for an adapter plate.

13. Base holder according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that each clamping jaw designed to carry an adapter plate is designed with at least one receiving opening for a fastening screw for fastening an adapter plate.

14. Base bracket according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that at least two of the clamping screws are designed to, D / PINUXR-043-PC - 26 - to clamp an adapter plate against a clamping jaw designed to support an adapter plate.

15. Base mount according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein 5 indicates that the clamping jaws are identically designed components.

16. Device holder for vehicle rails, comprising a base holder to be fixed to a vehicle rail according to one of claims 1 to 15, and 0 - an adapter plate to be fixed to the base holder for mounting a device to be attached to the vehicle rail.

17. Device, in particular an electronic device, with a device holder according to claim 16. 5 18. Arrangement comprising a vehicle rail and a device, in particular an electronic device, attached to the vehicle rail, characterized by a device holder according to claim 16.

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