Abstract:
An arresting device for mounting rails, supports, and connecting members has a clamping member and an arresting plate with a cam, a bracing section, and a middle section connecting the cam and the bracing section to one another. The middle section receives the clamping member. The bracing section has at least one projection in the form of a pin, wherein the pin has a point projecting away from the bracing section. The pin is made of a material having a greater hardness than the arresting plate. The pin is a stud screw and is fastened in the bracing section by being compression-molded with the material of the bracing section.

Description:
This is a continuation of International Application PCT/EP00/08112 with an international filing date of Aug. 19, 2000, not published in English under PCT Article 21(2), and now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an arresting device for mounting rails, supports, connecting parts and the like, comprising an arresting plate having a cam for supporting it on a structural member and a bracing section as well as at least one middle section arranged between them and configured to receive a clamping member, wherein at least one projection in the form of a pin is provided on the bracing section and is formed as a point or tip projecting from the bracing section. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     For mounting rails, supports, connecting parts and the like, several arresting plates, clamping brackets, claws and the like are known which are either configured as universal clamps or are configured so as to match the particular connecting situation. Such an arresting device is comprised in general of an arresting plate and a clamping element. The arresting plate comprises a cam for supporting the arresting device on a structural member and a bracing section, for example, for clamping a flange, and a saddle formed between the cam and the bracing section. The clamping element is usually received in the saddle. 
     With the conventional arresting devices, a high surface pressure between the bracing section and the flange of a support is achieved but when the clamping force decreases there is hardly any resistance against sliding in the transverse direction. It has therefore already been suggested to provide the clamping surface with grooves or corrugations; however, experiments have shown that even with this measure no significant improvement with regard to the securing force in the transverse direction can be achieved. In such arresting devices the resistance against sliding as a function of the surface pressure cannot be precisely defined. The load distribution depends on many unknown factors such as the friction coefficient of the structural member in the thread, maintaining the tightening torque and the like. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,869 a device for attaching railroad rails to wooden railroad ties is described. In this connection, a plate is provided for supporting the rail on the railroad tie which is secured by means of screw anchors on the wooden tie. In order to secure the rail on the plate, holding-down elements are provided on both sides of the rail which are supported on the plate by means of a cam and on the foot of the rail by means of a bracing section. The bracing section is provided with two steel points embedded in the bracing section. The holding-down elements are fastened by means of screw anchors which are threaded into sleeves in the wooden tie. Such an arrangement is useful only to a limited extent. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an arresting device of the aforementioned kind which can be produced in a simple way and which can be used universally for different connecting arrangements. 
     In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved in that the pin is comprised of a harder material than the arresting plate and the pin is configured as a stud screw connected by compression molding with the material of the bracing section. 
     The pin can be secured in a threaded bore of the bracing section. This stud screw can be provided at the end opposite the point with a hexagon socket for receiving a matching tool. The pins can be received either in a throughbore, in a blind bore, or a stepped bore. 
     Especially expedient is an embodiment in which two pins are arranged at a spacing to one another whose points at least approximately project to the same extent or amount (distance) away from the bracing section. In this way, an approximately uniform penetration of the points and a uniform force distribution are ensured. 
     At least one opening for penetration of a tie anchor should be provided in the saddle. Expediently, this opening is formed as a slotted hole. It is especially advantageous when three openings are provided so that, depending on the rail or support to be mounted, one or two tie anchors can be symmetrically employed, as desired. In the case of arresting plates with three openings, it is also possible to employ bracket-shaped clamping elements with different leg spacing. 
     In order to ensure in a simple way an adjustment to the flange shape and flange thickness, the arresting plate must be configured to be positioned at different angles relative to the clamping element. In order for the force introduction of the clamping element onto the arresting plate to be uniformly unaffected as much as possible independent of the position, it is suggested that the saddle at its upper side is configured as a concave depression or as a convex outwardly projecting bulge and that in this depression or on this bulge a spherical cap or a clamping strip with matching surface is positioned. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the drawing: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view onto an arresting plate; 
     FIG. 2 is a section along the line II—II of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a section along the line III—III of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrow IV of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 1 provided with only one opening for receiving a clamping element; 
     FIG. 6 is a section along the line VI—VI of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is an illustration of an arresting device for clamping a first flange configuration; 
     FIG. 8 is an illustration of an arresting device for clamping a second flange configuration; 
     FIG. 9 is an illustration of an arresting device for clamping a third flange configuration; 
     FIG. 10 is an illustration of an arresting device for clamping a fourth flange configuration; 
     FIG. 11 is a clamping bracket shown as an individual part; 
     FIG. 12 a  is a plan view of a spherical cap; 
     FIG. 12 b  is a section view of a spherical cap; 
     FIG. 12 c  is a side view of a spherical cap; 
     FIG. 13 a  is a plan view of a clamping strip; 
     FIG. 13 b  is a cross-section view of a clamping strip; 
     FIG. 13 c  is a longitudinal section view of a clamping strip; 
     FIG. 14 is a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with different possibilities of positioning the clamping means; 
     FIG. 15 is a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 16 shows different embodiments of pins and their attachment in the bracing section of the arresting plate as well as different embodiments of the points or tips; 
     FIG. 17 is a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 5 for use in connection with profiled members of different widths; 
     FIG. 18 is a section along the line XVIII—XVIII of FIG. 17; 
     FIG. 19 is a view in the direction of arrow XIX of FIG.  17 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIGS. 1 through 4 an arresting plate  1  is illustrated which comprises a cam  6 , a bracing section  10 , and a middle section in the form of a saddle  5  arranged therebetween. In the area of the saddle  5 , three slotted holes  2  are arranged whose longitudinal axes extend parallel to one another. On the upper side of the saddle  5  a concave depression  4  is provided. The underside of the arresting plate  1  is arc-shaped or curved. From the slotted hole  2  to the arc, a conically widened portion  3  is provided. On the side of the saddle  5  facing the cam  6  the arresting plate  1  is provided with a recess  11 . At the lower end of the cam  6  a bearing surface  6 ′ is provided against which the structural member to be connected rests. Laterally adjacent to the bearing surface  6 ′ projections  7  are provided so that a structural member positioned on the bearing surface  6 ′ is laterally engaged. In the bracing section  10  pins  8  are provided which have points or tips  9 . They project away from the underside of the bracing section  10 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show an arresting plate  21  which has only a single slotted hole  22 . On the top side of a saddle  25  a concave depression  24  is provided. The saddle  25  is provided with a recess  20  in the direction toward the cam  26 . The underside of the cam  26  is configured as a bearing surface  26 ′ with projections  27  adjacent to the bearing surface  26 ′. On the opposite end of the arresting plate  21  a bracing section  30  is provided in which two pins  28  with points  29  formed thereon are secured. 
     In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 6, the pins  8  or  28  are formed as stud screws with a hexagon socket  40  on the end of the stud screw remote from the tip  9  or  29 . This stud screw is secured in a threaded bore  42  in the bracing section  10 ,  30 , respectively. 
     FIGS. 7 through 10 show that the arresting device comprised of the arresting plate  1  and a clamping member in the form of a clamping bracket  13  is suitable for fastening different supports and flanges. The clamping member or clamping bracket  13  is illustrated as an individual part in FIG.  11 . This clamping bracket  13  has two parallel extending legs  14  and  14 ′ wherein each one of these legs  14 ,  14 ′ is provided with a threaded section  15 ,  15 ′. The spacing S between the legs  14 ,  14 ′ is determined by the respective size or spacing of the slotted holes  2  in the arresting plate  1 . Between the legs  14 ,  14 ′, a rail  18  is received which is to be connected with a support  12  (FIG. 7) or  12 * (FIG.  8 ). As can be seen clearly in FIGS. 7 through 9, the supports  12  and  12 * have different thickness. With the aid of the arresting plate  1 , however, the connection can be realized independent of the respective thickness of the support  12 ,  12 * without requiring any changes, because, on the one hand, the position of the arresting plate  1 , relative to the clamping bracket  13 , is variable and, on the other hand, there is always a suitable contact of the cam  6  on the rail  18  as a result of the contour of the bearing surface  6 ′. Moreover, the point  9  of the pin  8  can penetrate into the surface of the supports  12  or  12 * in both positions of the arresting plate  1 . 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 show the arresting plate  1  in connection with a clamped rail flange as an example, wherein in FIG. 9 a straight flange  19  and in FIG. 10 a slanted flange  19 * are illustrated. In FIGS. 7 through 10, a spherical cap  17  is provided as an intermediate member for providing a suitable supporting action for a clamping nut  16  threaded onto the threaded section  15  of the clamping member in the form of a tie anchor. The spherical surface of the cap  17  always ensures a suitable contact and force introduction into the saddle  5  of the arresting plate  1 . 
     The spherical cap  17  is illustrated in FIG. 12 in three different views wherein FIG. 12 a  shows a plan view, FIG. 12 b  shows a section, and FIG. 12 c  a side view of the spherical cap. 
     Instead of employing individual spherical caps, it is also possible to employ a clamping strip  37  as an intermediate member, as illustrated in FIG.  13 . In this connection, FIG. 13 a  shows a plan view onto the clamping strip  37  having two slotted holes  38 . As illustrated in FIG. 13 b , the cross-section of the clamping strip  37  is of such a configuration that the top side of the clamping strip  37  is planar and the underside is shaped like a cylinder section. This means that the underside has a bulge or convexity  39 . FIG. 13 c  shows a longitudinal section of the clamping strip  37  with the two slotted holes  38 . The slotted holes  38  enable receiving of clamping means at different spacings, i.e., even clamping brackets with different spacings of the parallel legs can be received in the slotted holes  38 ; alternatively, round holes can also be provided. 
     FIG. 14 shows a plan view onto an arresting plate  31  which correspond substantially to the one illustrated in FIG.  1 . Accordingly, the cam  6  as well as the bracing section  33  with the pins  8  arranged therein are identical. The arresting plate  31  has a cylinder section-shaped depression  34  in which three parallel slotted holes  36  are arranged. In FIG. 14 several positions of clamping elements are illustrated in an exemplary fashion, wherein these are the legs  14 ,  14 ′,  14 *,  14 ** of clamping brackets. In this connection, not only a symmetrical arrangement of the legs  14 ,  14 ′ or  14 * is possible, but also an asymmetrical arrangement of legs  14 * and  14 **. With such a configuration of the arresting plate  31  a plurality of different leg spacings can be realized wherein two examples are illustrated in FIG. 14, i.e., a spacing S 1  between the legs  14  and  14 ′, and a spacing S 2  between the legs  14 * which are positioned laterally adjacent to the arresting plate  31 , respectively. For such a leg spacing it is however required to provide a clamping strip  37  of a corresponding length by which the force of the clamping elements can be transmitted onto the arresting plate  31 . 
     FIG. 15 shows a section of an arresting device which is fastened by means of a clamping member in the form of a hammer head screw  23  on the profiled rail  18  and clamps a support  12 ′. Otherwise, this embodiment of FIG. 15 corresponds to that of FIG. 8 so that the same reference numerals are employed for the same parts. 
     FIG. 16 shows different embodiments of pins and points or tips. As already illustrated in the above described Figures, the bracing section  10  can be provided with threaded bores  42  into which the threaded pins  8  in the form of stud screws are threaded. On the end which projects downwardly from the bracing section  10 , the pin  8  is provided with the tip or point  9  which in the present case has a small flattened area. The pin  8  is comprised of a hard or hardened material so that it is capable of penetrating into the softer material of the object to be clamped. At the end remote from the point  9 , the pin  8  has a hexagon socket  40  for use in connection with a matching tool. 
     The pin  44 , as illustrated in the lower area of FIG. 16, can have a point  29  which is completely conical. As an alternative thereto, it is also possible to configure the front end as a spherical section as illustrated in the example of point  49 . In the upper area of FIG. 16, it is also illustrated that in the bracing section  10  a blind bore  43  is arranged in which the pin  44 * can be received. This pin  44 * can be fastened in the bracing section by compression-molding or pressing with the material of the bracing section  10 . There is also the possibility of configuring the bore as a stepped bore  45  into which the pin  44 * is then inserted. 
     FIG. 17 shows a plan view onto an arresting plate  61  whose section is illustrated in FIG.  18  and whose side view is illustrated in FIG.  19 . This arresting plate  61  has a depression  64  with a slotted hole  62  wherein the depression  64  is arranged between a saddle  65  and a bracing section  70 . The saddle is provided in the direction toward the cam  66  with a recess  60 . In the bracing section  70  the pins  8  are provided in threaded bores  42  in the same way as described in connection with FIG.  1 . At the lower end of the cam  66 , projections  67  extending downwardly are arranged on both sides; adjacent thereto, a step  68  is provided on the inner side of the projections, respectively, i.e., the steps  68  are facing one another. Between these steps  68  a first bearing surface  66 ′ is formed which has a length L 1  corresponding to the distance between the steps  68 . In contrast, the distance L 2  between the projections  67  is greater. Adjacent to the projections  67 , partial surfaces of a second bearing surface  66 * are formed by the steps  68 . The configuration according to FIGS. 17 through 19 has the advantage that the arresting plate  61  can be used without changes for different profile widths or the like. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.