Rail Clamp With Straight-Line Gripping Tool

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rail clamps face challenges in gripping rails due to their arcuate path, requiring high force and struggling with non-standard rail profiles like joint bars, which slows down maintenance operations and poses safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A rail clamp assembly with pivotable arms and a gripping tool that moves in a horizontal direction, using a pin and guide rod to achieve straight-line movement, accommodating both traditional I-beam profiles and joint bars with a stepped profile rail clamp tip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If conventional rail clamps use an arcuate path to grip the rail, then they can accommodate the I-beam profile, but they require substantially higher gripping force (around 25,000 lbs) and larger machinery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegripping forceVSAvoidmachinery size

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of following the conventional arcuate path that requires high gripping force, the patent inverts the approach by using a substantially horizontal straight-line path. The gripping tool assembly moves horizontally toward the rail and engages it directly, eliminating the need for large cylinders and complex mechanical leverage systems while achieving effective rail gripping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional rail clamps use an arcuate path, then they can grip standard I-beam rails, but they have difficulty gripping rails with joint bars or deviated profiles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverail profile adaptabilityVSAvoidoperation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic, movable guide surface that can adjust its position and orientation. The guide surface is movable relative to the gripping tool assembly, allowing it to adapt to various rail profiles including standard I-beam rails and rails with joint bars. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to maintain effective gripping across different rail configurations without requiring manual intervention or complex repositioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional rail clamps use a longer stroke cylinder to clear obstacles like joint bars, then they can grip rails with obstacles, but the equipment speed slows down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobstacle clearance capabilityVSAvoidequipment speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the dimensional approach by moving the gripping tool assembly horizontally in a straight line rather than using a vertical arcuate path with extended stroke. This horizontal movement in a different dimension allows the tool to clear obstacles like joint bars efficiently without requiring a longer stroke cylinder, thereby maintaining equipment speed while achieving obstacle clearance capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11364938B2Rail clamp with straight line tool

Publication Date: 2022.06.21 HARSCO TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure generally relates to a rail vehicle that includes a chassis and a rail clamp assembly coupled to the chassis. The rail clamp assembly includes a fixed central member and a pair of lugs each extending outwardly from opposing sides of the fixed central member. The rail clamp assembly further includes a pair of arms respectively coupled to the lugs to thereby provide respective pivot points to permit rotation of the arms about the pivot points. A pair of gripping tool assemblies are disposed at respective lower portions of the arms and are coupled to one another via a guide rod.