Patent Publication Number: US-2022235520-A1

Title: Rail clamp connector

Description:
FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a rail clamp connector, for connecting a rail clamp to a beam for mounting equipment to a rail track. The disclosure further relates to a rail clamp assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is possible to mount equipment such as sensors, transponders, magnets or balises directly to a rail foundation. Mounting equipment to the rail foundation directly may be time consuming and may lead to railway lines needing to be closed for long periods of time. Equipment may be positioned between the rails of a railway line and may be mounted directly to the rails. 
     STATEMENTS 
     According to an embodiment, there is provided a rail clamp connector. The rail clamp connector may be for connecting a rail clamp to a beam and the rail clamp connector may comprise a first part connectable to the beam. The rail clamp connector may further comprise a second part, pivotally (pivotably) connected to the first part, connectable to the rail clamp. The rail clamp connector may further comprise a vibration damping device to reduce the transmittal of vibration from the second part to the first part. According to the embodiment, an improved rail clamp connector for an equipment mounting assembly may be provided, which allows for quick installation and increased life of the assembly and equipment. 
     The rail clamp connector may provide a beneficial connection between the rail clamp and the beam, which allows for articulation such that the rail clamp may be passed under the rail to allow for easier and faster installation. Such articulation also provides improved manoeuvrability when attaching the rail clamp, avoiding the need, in some instances, for the rail to be moved to install the rail clamp or equipment mounting assembly. Further, the articulation may allow the rail clamp to move with a rail, to which it is attached, when the rail tilts or moves due for example to the passing of a train. The vibration damper may assist in providing reduced translation of the movement, due to the passing of the train, from the second part to the first part and, indirectly, from the rail to the equipment mounted on the beam. 
     In an example, the second part may be pivotally connected to the first part by a clevis joint. A clevis joint may beneficially allow for sufficient relative movement of the first and second part, while providing appropriate support to the beam and any equipment to be mounted on the beam. A clevis joint may further provide suitable relative movement between the first and second part during installation to allow the rail clamp to be mounted to a rail, but may be fixed in place, so as to inhibit relative movement, after installation, as described further below. 
     In a further example, the vibration damping device may be an elastic member or a resiliently deformable member. The member may for example be made of rubber. Damping may be provided by any suitable material. An elastic or resiliently deformable member may be provided as a mount in the pivotal connection, for example in the clevis joint. In an example, the first and second part may be fixed to the damping device to inhibit movement other than flex provided by the damping device to maintain the damping effect. 
     In an example, the vibration damping device may reduce the transmittal of vibration from the first part to the second part. While the vibration damping device may reduce the transmission of vibrations from the second part to the first part, the vibration damping device may also reduce vibrations in the opposite direction. Vibration damping may beneficially reduce the vibrations experienced by equipment mounted on the beam, which are created by normal railway use, such as a train passing on the rail over the rail clamp. 
     In a example, the rail clamp connector may further comprise a fixing device to restrict relative movement of the first part and the second part at the pivotal connection. 
     According to an embodiment, there is provided a rail clamp assembly or system. The rail clamp assembly may comprise the rail clamp connector as described above. The rail clamp assembly may further comprise an adjustable rail clamp connectable to an underside of a rail. In an example, a rail clamp for attachment around the foot of a rail may be part of a rail clamp assembly. The rail clamp assembly may provide means to connect a beam, on which equipment may be mounted, to a rail. 
     In an example, the rail clamp may be adjustable in width to be connectable around the underside of rails of differing widths. The rail clamp may for example include fasteners, such as bolts, which may be adjusted so that the rail clamp may pass around the foot of rails having different foot widths. With such an arrangement, only a minimal clearance beneath the rail is required, as the rail clamp may be attached to the rail by passing the fasteners under the rail and attaching the fasteners at either end to respective sides of the rail clamp. 
     In a further example, the rail clamp assembly may further comprise a beam connectable to the first part. In use, the beam may extend above the underside of the rail. When viewed from the side, the top of the beam may be higher than the underside of the rail. It may be beneficial to reduce how far the rail clamp assembly protrudes beneath the rail. Components such as the beam may have a relatively large cross section, making their positioning relative to the rail a consideration when reducing the dimensions of the assembly below the rail. In this example, the beam may extend away from the rail clamp connector, towards a rail clamp assembly connected to another rail, while only extending partly beneath the foot of the rail or not extending beneath the foot of the rail at all. In an example, a centreline of the beam may be substantially in line with the bottom surface of the rail, when the rail is in a vertical orientation and therefore the bottom surface of the rail horizontal. By positioning the beam in this way, the amount of space required beneath the rail may be reduced. 
     In an example, the rail clamp may comprise pivotally attachable fasteners to clamp a foot of the rail. The rail clamp may include a portion arranged to extend at least partly over the foot of the rail, so that, when tightened, the portion holds or clamps onto the rail. Such fasteners may for example include nut and bolt-type fasteners where the bolt is able to pivot so as to provide flexibility to accommodate rails of different sizes. Pivotally attachable fasteners may provide a benefit during installation that they can be moved to allow the rail clamp to be manoeuvred into place more easily. Further, pivotally attachable fasteners may allow the rail clamp to fit around rails having a range of different foot heights. 
     In an example, there is provided a further rail clamp assembly. The rail clamp assembly may comprise a rail clamp connector as described above. The rail clamp assembly may further comprise an adjustable rail clamp connectable to a side of a foot of a rail, wherein the rail is a running rail or a guard rail. 
     In an example, there is provided a further rail clamp assembly. The rail clamp assembly may comprise a beam, a first rail clamp connector of any preceding claim attached to one end of the beam, a second rail clamp connector of any preceding claim attached to the other end of the beam, a first adjustable rail clamp connected at one side to the first rail clamp connector and at the other side to a side of a foot of a first rail, and a second adjustable rail clamp connected at one side to the second rail clamp connector and at the other side to a side of a foot of a second rail. The first and/or second rails may be a running rail or a guard rail. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Examples will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic of an example of a rail clamp connector in situ; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic of an example of a rail clamp assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic of an example of an underside view of a rail clamp; 
         FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    are schematics of an example of an adjustable clamp; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic of an example of a rail clamp; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic of an example of a rail clamp assembly attached to a guard rail. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the present disclosure, there is provided a rail clamp connector which may be used to mount equipment between sleepers on ballasted track, or in between rail fastenings on slab or ballastless track, which equipment is retained in place by clamping to the foot of the rail. A railway rail may include a head, web (middle connecting portion) and foot. In order to attach equipment at a desired location to the rail, there may be provided a rail clamp. Such a clamp may be attachable around the foot of the rail. A rail clamp may then be connected to a beam, such as an equipment mount beam, via a rail clamp connector. The rail clamp connector may be part of the rail clamp or may be separate to the rail clamp. A rail clamp may be provided on each rail of a railway track, with a beam mounted between the two clamps and attached to both clamps by two rail clamp connectors. A rail clamp assembly, which may also be described as an equipment mounting assembly, may for example include the rail clamps, connectors and beam. In an example, a rail clamp may include parts which extend around both sides of the foot of a rail or a part attaching/clamping onto one side of the rail, which may for example be the inner side of the rail, facing the other rail, on a railway track having two rails. 
     The rail clamp connector may provide a pivotal connection so that the rail clamp may pivot relative to the beam. Providing such a pivotal connection allows the rail clamp assembly to be adjusted during installation to compensate for any rail leaning, so as to provide an appropriate attachment to a leaning rail. Further, providing a pivotal connection with a vibration damping device may allow any equipment mounted to the beam to be held while experiencing less movement resulting from the rail leaning (cant) as the pivot allows the rail and clamp to move while the beam and equipment remain relatively still. The beam may be attached to the rail clamp connector by any suitable means. For example, the beam may be attached to the rail clamp connector by fitting to a yoke end (clevis end). Equipment may be attached to the beam by any suitable means, for example a fastener or clamp. The beam may comprise a length of glass reinforced plastic (GRP). The beam may provide electrical isolation and resilience to shock as well as further vibration damping. 
     The rail clamp connector may for example be made primarily of stainless steel. GRP and stainless steel may provide a rail clamp assembly that is highly resistant to chemical and biological substances. 
     In an example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , there is provided a rail clamp connector  10 . The rail clamp connector  10  may connect a rail clamp  20  to a beam  30  and the rail clamp connector  10  may comprise a first part  11   a  connectable to the beam  30 . The rail clamp connector  10  may further comprise a second part  11   b , pivotally connected to the first part  11   a  at a pivotal connection. The second part  11   b  may be connectable to the rail clamp  20 . The rail clamp connector  10  may further comprise a vibration damping device  13  to reduce the transmittal of vibration from the second part  11   b  to the first part  11   a . In an example, the rail clamp connector  10  may further comprise a fixing device (124—shown in  FIG. 3 ) to restrict relative movement of the first part and the second part at the pivotal connection. Such a fixing device may attach to the vibration damping device  13 . In an example, the fixing device  124  may comprise a through bolt and locking nut. 
     The second part  11   b  may be pivotally connected to the first part  11   a  by a clevis joint and the damping device  13  may be an elastic member or a resiliently deformable member. The member may for example preferably be made of rubber. 
     In an example, the vibration damping device  13  may provide vibration damping to reduce the transmittal of vibration from the first part  11   a  to the second part  11   b . While the vibration damping device  13  may reduce the transmission of vibrations from the second part  11   b  to the first part  11   a , the vibration damping device  13  may also reduce vibrations in the opposite direction. Vibration damping may beneficially reduce the vibrations experienced by equipment mounted on the beam, which are created by normal railway use, such as a train passing on the rail over the rail clamp. In an example, the pivotal connection, which may be a clevis joint including a pin  12  surrounded by rubber bushes as the damping device  13 , isolating the male and female parts. Rubber bushes  13  may improve shock and vibration resistance to whatever equipment may be mounted on the beam, from the shock and vibration input by traffic running on the rail. 
     In an example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , there is provided a rail clamp assembly or system  1 . The rail clamp assembly  1  may comprise the rail clamp connector  10  as described above. The rail clamp assembly  1  may further comprise an adjustable rail clamp  20  connectable to an underside of a rail  40 . In an example, a rail clamp  20  for attachment around the foot of a rail  40  may be part of the rail clamp assembly  1 . The rail clamp assembly  1  may provide connection means to connect a beam  30 , on which equipment  50  may be mounted, to a rail  40 . 
     The rail clamp assembly  1  may provide means for fixing or mounting equipment  50 , such as sensors, between rails  40  of a railway line. The rail clamp assembly  1  may for example include two rail clamps  20  for attachment to two parallel rails  40 . The rail clamps  20  may each be connected by a rail clamp connector  10  to either side of a beam  30 . The beam  30  may extend from one rail clamp connector  10  to the other, so that the rail clamp assembly  1  may hold the beam  30  in place, extending between the rails  40 . Therefore, equipment  50  may be mounted in the space between the rails  40 , on the beam  30 . Providing a rail clamp connector  10  at either side of the beam  30 , between the beam  30  and each rail  40 , may beneficially make installation easier as the assembly  1  may be more easily manoeuvred into place and/or reduce movement of the equipment  50  when mounted to the beam  30 . This arrangement may allow for installation on leaning rails and allow the rails  40  to lean without the need for the beam  30  to move or flex. The rail clamp assembly  1  may accommodate typical rail incline/lean/cant, such as 1:20, 1:30, 1:40 or vertical rail, but the rail clamp connector  10  may allow for total adjustability for cant. 
     In an example, the rail clamp  20  may be adjustable in width to be connectable around the underside of rails  40  of differing widths. The rail clamp  20  may for example include fasteners  121 ,  122 , such as bolts, which may be adjusted so that the rail clamp  20  may pass around the foot of rails  40  having different foot widths. In an example, the rail clamp may be connectable to one side of a foot of a rail only. 
     In a further example, the rail clamp assembly  1  may further comprise a beam  30  connectable to the first part  11   a . In use, the beam  30  may extend above the underside of the rail  40 . It may be beneficial to reduce how far the rail clamp assembly  1  protrudes beneath the rail  40 . Components such as the beam  30  may have a relatively large cross section, making their positioning relative to the rail  40  a consideration when reducing the dimensions of the assembly  1  below the rail  40 . In this example, the beam  30  may extend away from the rail clamp connector  10  while only extending partly beneath the foot of the rail  40  or not extending beneath the foot of the rail  40  at all. In an example, a centreline of the beam  30  may be substantially in line with the bottom surface of the rail  40 , when the rail  40  is in a vertical orientation and therefore the bottom surface of the rail  40  horizontal. 
     In an example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , which shows the underside of the rail clamp  20 , the rail clamp  20  may be adjustable in width. The width may be adjusted by appropriate tightening/untightening of through bolts  121  that pass under the rail  40 . The bolts  121  may allow for adjustment over any desired range of rail foot widths. In some examples, the range may include 100 mm to 155 mm rail foot widths. The bolts  121  may be fastened by corresponding nuts  122 , such as locking nuts. 
     The rail clamp  20  may clamp a rail  40  in place by positioning the rail foot between a clamp plate  112  and a clamp seat  123 . The clamp plate  112  and clamp seat  123  may be held together by bolts  111 , described in more detail below. 
     The rail clamp  20  may further be adjustable for different foot heights. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the rail clamp  20  may be adjusted by a convex ‘arched’ washer arrangement, in the concave ‘arched’ housing of the clamp seat. Therefore, various rail foot heights may be accommodated by the rail clamp. 
     In an example, the rail clamp  20  may comprise pivotally attachable fasteners to clamp a foot of the rail  40 . The rail clamp  20  may include a portion arranged to extend at least partly over the foot of the rail, so that, when tightened, the portion holds or clamps onto the rail. In an example, the rail clamp connector  10  may be fixed in place by a fixing device  124  to restrict relative movement of the first part and the second part at the pivotal connection. The fixing device  124  may for example comprise a through bolt and locking nut. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b   , in some examples the rail clamp  20  may provide a clamp or fastener which may attach to a rail  40  and the rail clamp connector  10 . The rail clamp  20  may include a clamp bolt  111  which passes through the clamp seat  123 , through the second part  11   b  of the rail clamp connector  10 , through a clamp plate  112  and engages with a nut  113 , such as a hardlock nut. The second part  11   b  of the rail clamp connector  10  defines an arched or concave housing for the bolt head  111   a . Between the bolt head  111   a  and the concave housing of the second part  11   b  there is provided an arched or convex washer  114  which allows the bolt  111  to pivot relative to the second part  11   b  of the rail clamp connector  10 . In another example, the bolt head  111   a  may be arched or convex, in a similar shape to the washer, so as to allow the bolt  111  to pivot relative to the second part  11   b  of the rail clamp connector  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 a   , the bolt  111  may pivot slightly clockwise (as shown in the figure) to clamp onto a rail foot having a height of    6   mm and may pivot slightly anticlockwise, as shown in  FIG. 4 b    to accommodate a rail foot having a greater height, so as 16 mm in the example shown. The values shown in the figures are exemplary and only used for explanation. The fasteners, such as nut and bolt-type fasteners, being able to pivot may ensure than the clamp is firmly securable around the foot of the rail by aligning the head of the bolt, and the nut, respectively, with the surfaces of the clamp seat and clamp plate. 
     In an example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a rail clamp  20   a  may clamp a rail  40  in place by positioning the rail foot between a clamp plate and a clamp seat, as shown in  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b   . In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the rail clamp  20   a  only clamps to one side of the rail. For example, the rail clamp  20  may comprise two rail clamps  20   a , connected together by one or more fasteners, which, in situ, may pass underneath the rail  40 . 
     In an example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the rail clamp  20   a  may clamp to a guard rail  40   a . The guard rail  40   a  may normally run next to the running rail  40 , on the inside (between the two running rails  40 ). In this example, the beam  30  may be correspondingly shorter than if attached between the two running rails  40 . The guard rail  40   a  may for example be oriented vertically, whereas the running rail  40  may lean. With the rail clamp connector  10  as described above in a rail clamp assembly  1 , the assembly  1  may be mounted onto a running rail  40  which is leaning at one end and a guard rail  40   a , which is vertical (the foot thus being horizontal), at the other end. 
     While the apparatus and related aspects have been described with reference to certain examples, various modifications, changes, omissions, and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. It is intended, therefore, that the apparatus and related aspects be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. It should be noted that the above-mentioned examples illustrate rather than limit what is described herein, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 
     The word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of elements other than those listed in a claim, “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality, and a single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several units recited in the claims. 
     The features of any dependent claim may be combined with the features of any of the independent claims or other dependent claims.