Rail Sensor Quick Clamping Above Sleepers Without Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamping devices for attaching rail monitoring elements to railway tracks are limited in their application, unable to mount sensors above rail sleepers and often require drilling into the rail, leading to reduced sensor compatibility and space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A quick-release clamping device with separate clamping units and curved brackets that can be adjusted along the rail's longitudinal axis, allowing flexible attachment and positioning over or between sleepers, eliminating the need for additional components like crossbeams, and ensuring secure fixation without reducing tool access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional clamping device with screw connection is used, then reliable clamping is achieved, but the clamping time is long and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional screw-based mechanical clamping system with a cam-based mechanical system. The cam mechanism (with cam lever and cam surface) provides rapid clamping action through rotational or linear cam movement, eliminating the time-consuming screw threading process while maintaining reliable clamping force through the cam's geometric profile and locking features.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping device incorporates a dynamic cam mechanism where the cam lever can rotate or move linearly to rapidly engage and disengage the clamping action. This dynamic movement allows quick adjustment and release of the clamped object, contrasting with the static, multi-step screw operation, thereby reducing clamping time while preserving reliability through the cam's controlled motion path.
2Loss of time
If a quick clamping device with cam mechanism is used, then clamping time is reduced, but manufacturing precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sensor arrangement as an intermediary element that detects the clamping status and provides feedback on clamping force. This sensor system monitors whether the clamped object is properly secured, ensuring manufacturing precision is maintained even with the faster cam-based mechanism. The sensor acts as a mediator between the mechanical clamping action and the control system, verifying correct operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping device incorporates feedback through the sensor arrangement that detects clamping status and force levels. This feedback mechanism ensures that the rapid cam-based clamping achieves the required precision by monitoring and verifying the clamping state, allowing the system to maintain manufacturing precision while benefiting from the reduced clamping time of the cam mechanism.
3Measurement precision
If sensor arrangement is added to detect clamping force, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor arrangement serves multiple functions: it detects clamping status (engaged/disengaged), measures clamping force levels, and provides feedback for control systems. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering comprehensive measurement and control capabilities in a single integrated sensor system, rather than requiring separate sensors for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor arrangement acts as an intermediary between the mechanical clamping system and the control/monitoring systems. It translates mechanical clamping force into electrical signals that can be processed by control systems, enabling precise measurement and control without requiring direct integration of complex measurement equipment into the mechanical clamping mechanism itself.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a quick clamping device (16) for securing at least one rail-monitoring element (14) on a rail (12), comprising two clamping units (24, 26); wherein the clamping units (24, 26) each have two clamping brackets (30, 32) and one clamping means (38); wherein the in each case two clamping brackets (30, 32) are connectable at a first end (36) by the clamping means (38) along a clamping axis (40), such that the clamping means (38), when secured on the rail (12), engages under the rail foot (34) of the rail (12), and wherein the clamping brackets (30, 32) each have, at a second end (46), a clamping region (44) which is designed to be arranged non-positively on a rail web (22) of the rail (12) and/or on the rail-monitoring element (14); characterized in that the clamping units (24, 26), as separate elements, can be arranged on the rail (12) so as to be mutually spaced along a longitudinal extent (28) of the rail (12); and the clamping brackets (30, 32) each have at least one curvature portion (62) that is curved in a plane orthogonal with respect to the clamping axis (40). The invention furthermore relates to a sensor arrangement (10) having a quick clamping device (16), having a rail (12) and having a rail-monitoring element (14). The invention furthermore relates to the use of the quick clamping device (16) for securing a rail-monitoring element (14) above a rail tie (56).