Rail Brake Calipers With Multi-Surface Rail Head Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail brake systems fail to reliably dynamically brake and securely hold hirail vehicles and other rail equipment on railroad tracks, especially in adverse weather conditions where the coefficient of friction is reduced by moisture, ice, or foreign substances, as they do not effectively engage all surfaces of the rail heads and may not function when one rail is unstable.
Innovation Solution
A rail brake system with braking calipers that apply clamping pressure using brake shoes with finger-like or jaw-like feet to engage both lateral side surfaces and bottom surfaces of the rail heads, providing enhanced frictional contact and the ability to operate on a single stable rail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rail brake systems are used, then the structure is simple, but the braking reliability deteriorates in adverse weather conditions with reduced friction
Solution Approach 1:
The brake shoe feet extend along the longitudinal axis of the rail to engage multiple surfaces (top, inner lateral, and bottom surfaces) of the rail head, transitioning from single-point or single-surface contact to multi-surface engagement along the length of the rail, thereby improving braking reliability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The brake shoe is divided into multiple feet (first foot, second foot, third foot) that can independently engage different surfaces of the rail head, allowing each segment to contribute to the overall braking force and maintaining reliability even if one engagement point is compromised
2Reliability
If brake shoes engage only top and inner surfaces of rail heads, then the device complexity is low, but the braking effectiveness deteriorates when foreign substances are present
Solution Approach 1:
The brake shoe feet engage the rail head in three dimensions by contacting the top surface, inner lateral surface, and bottom surface of the rail head, creating a comprehensive engagement that prevents slippage even when foreign substances are present on any single surface
Solution Approach 2:
Different feet of the brake shoe are positioned to engage different local surfaces of the rail head (top, inner lateral, bottom), with each local engagement point providing friction independent of the others, so that contamination at one location does not compromise overall braking effectiveness
3Adaptability or versatility
If the brake system requires both rails to be stable, then the device structure is simpler, but the adaptability deteriorates when one rail is unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system uses separate brake shoes for each rail, with each shoe having multiple feet that can independently engage the rail head surfaces. This segmentation allows the brake system to function effectively on one stable rail even when the other rail is unstable or missing
Solution Approach 2:
The brake shoe feet are designed to engage multiple surfaces of the rail head (top, inner lateral, bottom), providing universal engagement capability that works whether one or both rails are present and stable, thereby adapting to various rail configurations without requiring complex additional components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively dynamically brakes and securely holds rail vehicles and equipment on tracks by engaging all exposed surfaces of the rail heads, maintaining stability even in adverse conditions and on unstable rail configurations, offering superior performance compared to prior art.
Implementation Method 1
The braking calipers provide frictional contact surfaces that can be brought into clamping/squeezing contact with at least both lateral side surfaces of the head of each rail
Data Source
AI summary
A rail brake system that may be attached to the undercarriage of a hirail vehicle or other rail vehicle or rail equipment and that includes one or more braking calipers that can be deployed downwardly and used to releasably clamp the heads of one or more rails of a railroad track in order to dynamically brake or statically secure the vehicle or equipment in place in relation to the railroad tracks on which the vehicle or equipment is positioned.