WO2012067575A1

WO2012067575A1 - Manually operated arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2012067575A1
Application number: PCT/SE2011/051373
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacob LANDSTRÖM; Martin Somerset; Björn SÖDERBERG
Original assignee: Rosenqvist Rail AB
Current assignee: Rosenqvist Rail AB
Priority date: 2010-11-19
Filing date: 2011-11-15
Publication date: 2012-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-19
Also published as: EP2640896A4; EP2640896A1; EP2640896B1; SE1001120A1; PL2640896T3; SE535945C2

Abstract

The present invention embraces a manually operated arrangement ("A") and a method, adaptable for a transfer along a longitudinal extension of a rail (1) and intended to be able to unsecure said rail from* a subjacent crosstie (2) by a horizontal transfer of clips (3: 3a), included in fastening elements (4), and displaceably oriented in relation to a holder (5, 5a) included in the fastening element (4), where the holder (5) co-operates firmly with said crosstie (2). The respective one of said clips (3; 3a) is adapted to, by a movement, allow displacing the clips (3: 3a) horizontally, for a disengagement from the rail base (1c) in relation to the holder (5). An opposed first pair (6a, 6b) of a first lever-shaped means (6) is adapted to, via its lower end areas (6aa, 6ab), co-operate with each a clip (3, 3a) in order to activate their distancing, horizontal movements, said first lever-shaped means (6), with its first pair of levers (6a, 6b), being turnably arranged around middle horizontal turning shafts (7, 7', 8, 8'), and where they, via their upper end areas (6ac, 6ad), are in a co-operation with an extensible or shortenable device (9), in order to bring said upper end areas (6ac, 6ad) toward each other upon an unsecuring movement of the clips (3, 3a). Said device (9) is arranged to directly or indirectly co-operate with a pair of levers (11a, 11b) in a second lever-shaped means (11), which is adapted to, via its lower end areas (11aa, 11ab), be so movably arranged that said end areas, by counter-directed tensional forces, become adapted to co-operate stiffly with the rail head (1a).

Description

DENOMINATION OF THE INVENTION: Manually operated arrangement.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a manually operated arrangement as well as to a method for, in a selected sequence, allowing actuating the arrangement for an unsecuring movement of clips related to a rail, preferably two opposed clips, included in a fastening element co-ordinated with a crosstie, one on each side of a rail base of an elongate rail.

More particularly, the present invention concerns obtaining an application in an arrangement having the features defined in the preamble of appended claim 1 , alternatively obtaining an application in a method having the features defined in the preamble of appended claim 9.

In a securement of a rail against a subjacent crosstie, there are utilized fastening elements having clips on each side of the rail, and where these fastening elements are firmly anchored to a subjacent crosstie. Each one of the fastening elements consists of at least one holder, attached to the crosstie, and one clip, which is displaceably oriented in relation to the holder between a position detaching the rail base and a position co-operating with the rail base. In a securement, two clips should assume a position that, via a spring force, co-operates with the upper surface areas of the rail base. In an unsecurement of a rail from a subjacent crosstie, the two clips should be displaced from their securing positions, in the positions where they, by spring force, co-operate with the upper surface areas of the rail base, into positions detaching the rail base and disengaging the crosstie from the rail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Methods, arrangements and designs related to the above-mentioned technical field and nature are previously known in a plurality of different embodiments.

As a first example of the background art and technical field to which the invention relates, what is shown and disclosed in the patent publication SE-528 641 -C may be mentioned.

Here, in Figures 1 and 6, an arrangement (1 ) easily manoeuvrable by an operator (O) is shown and described, which is adapted for a displacement along a railway track (2) and has a tool assembly (1b) that is provided with a pliers function and is in the form of a piston-cylinder arrangement (22), adapted to, via the movement of a piston part within a cylinder part, allow displacing pliers' branches (20, 21 ) to and from railway track sections and securing parts (A; B) related thereto.

More particularly, here, it is shown that said tool assembly (1 b) is allocated a first coupling device (31), included in a first two-piece coupling means (30), adapted for a co-operation with a second coupling device (32), related to an operating rod or handle (1c), and that said tool assembly (1b) is allocated a second coupling device (42), included in a second two-piece coupling means (40), adapted for a cooperation with a first coupling device (41 ) related to a power unit (1a).

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

If attention is paid to the circumstance that the technical considerations that a person skilled in the relevant technical field has to make to be able to present a solution to one or more technical problems raised, are, on one hand, initially a necessary understanding of the measures and/or the sequence of measures that have to be taken, and on the other hand a necessary selection of the means that is/are required, then the subsequent technical problems would, in view of this, be relevant in the creation of the present subject matter of invention.

Considering prior art, such as it has been described above, it should, therefore, be seen as a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required to improve and guarantee a design, having allocated functions, related to the above-mentioned and known arrangement in the cited Swedish patent publication.

There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required to allow supplementing an arrangement, according to the preamble of claim 1 , so that the same can execute a method that is based on, by one and the same extensible and shortenable device, such as a piston-cylinder arrangement, in a first sequence, allowing lower portions of a first pair of levers in a first lever- shaped means to be brought toward and into a registration against surface areas, proximal to the rail web, of two clips of the fastening elements laterally oriented to the rail, and in a second sequence allowing lower portions of a first pair of levers in a second lever-shaped means to be brought into a squeezing co-operation with a superjacent rail head, and in a third sequence allowing the lower portions in the first pair of levers in the first lever-shaped means to be brought into distancing

displacement motions, for allowing to unsecure the two clips simultaneously by the assigned displacement motions.

There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required to allow said device to be arranged to directly or indirectly cooperate with the first pair of levers of the second lever-shaped means, which is adapted to, via its lower end areas, be so movably arranged that said end areas, by counter-directed tensional forces, become adapted to co-operate firmly with the rail head. There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required to allow the second lever-shaped means to present a respective lever's support surface, where each one of the support surfaces are intended to abut against their surface portions laterally related to the rail head and/or their surface portions subjacent the rail head and next to the rail web.

There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required to allow the second lever-shaped means, with its pair of levers, to be in a turnable co-operation with each a turning shaft, with the respective lever in the means co-ordinated with a bushing, having a horizontally, or at least essentially horizontally, oriented guidance for a limited displacement of the lever in relation to the turning shaft in a horizontal or at least essentially in a horizontal direction.

There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required to allow said device to be arranged to primarily allow transmitting an initial pressing force to the first lever-shaped means, and next allow transmitting an increasing pressing force to the second lever-shaped means, in order to, by a further pressing force to the first lever-shaped means, get the two clips to displace from each other and leave their co-operation with the rail base.

There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required to allow the pressing forces of the second lever-shaped means to be assigned two support surfaces and directed toward each other, while the forces of the first lever-shaped means should be assigned two support surfaces and directed from each other, via one and the same device.

There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required to allow a vertical distance, between one support surface of the first lever-shaped means and one support surface of the second lever-shaped means, to be adapted to connect to a selected rail profile of the rail.

There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required to allow the levers of the second lever-shaped means to be adapted to assume a first adjustment position in its pressing co-operation with its support surface against the rail head, in a first inserted position of the device, and, in a further inserted position, to allow actuating the levers of the first lever-shaped means into a displacement for unsecuring the clips from their co-operation with the rail base.

There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required to allow the lower end areas of the first lever-shaped means to be adapted for a parallel displacement in the horizontal direction, via a system of parallel levers.

THE SOLUTION

In that connection, the present invention starts out from the known technique provided by way of introduction and is based on an arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.

In order to be able to solve one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention particularly teaches that the thus known technique should be supplemented with the features defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1.

As proposed embodiments, falling within the scope of the fundamental idea of the present invention, moreover the features defined in the dependent claims are provided. The invention also embraces a method that utilizes an arrangement according to the invention and that has been assigned the sequence of features that are defined in the characterizing clause of claim 9.

ADVANTAGES

The advantages that foremost may be regarded as characteristic of the present invention and the special significative features provided thereby are that, in this way, conditions have been created in order to, in an arrangement according to the invention and a method related thereto, allow providing a more secure arrangement and having improved functionalities than what the known technique has turned out to be able to produce.

Particularly, the present invention will enable an unsecurement without requiring a utilization of a shoulder (the holder 5) as a means to transmit reaction forces to when an opposite side of the rail should be unsecured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Prior art and a presently proposed embodiment, having the significative features associated with the invention, will now, for the purpose of exemplifying, be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows, as prior art, Figures 1 and 6 in the Swedish patent publication SE- 528 641 -C mentioned by way of introduction,

Figure 2 shows in a side view the arrangement according to the invention having an extensible and shortenable device, here assuming a fully extended position "a" and where shortened positions "b" and "c" only are outlined,

Figure 3 shows the lower parts of a first lever-shaped means and a second lever- shaped means adjacent to the rail, when said devices assume a somewhat shortened position "b" and the lower parts of the second lever-shaped means have been brought into a co-operation with the rail head,

Figure 4 shows the co-ordination of the first and the removed second lever-shaped means, in the position according to Figure 3, Figure 5 shows the co-ordination of the first and the second removed lever-shaped means, in the shortened position "c" and upon a complete unsecurement of the two clips,

Figure 6 shows that, upon the extending movement of the device from the position "c", the second lever-shaped means clears from its co-operation with the rail head while the two clips are displaced from each other by the first lever-shaped means, and

Figure 7 shows the first and the second lever-shaped means assuming a position for a transfer along the rail to subsequent paired fastening elements, related to a subsequent crosstie, in the direction of travel of the arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART ACCORDING TO FIGURE 1

The known technique is described in more detail in the Swedish patent publication mentioned by way of introduction, and for a more brief account, reference is made to the section "Background of the Invention" above.

DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PROPOSED EMBODIMENT

It should then by way of introduction be emphasized that in the subsequent description of a presently proposed embodiment, which has the significative features associated with the invention and which is elucidated by the figures shown in the appended drawings, we have selected terms and a particular terminology with the intention to thereby primarily allow making evident the proper inventive idea.

It should, however, in this connection be taken into consideration that expressions selected here should not be seen as limiting solely to the terms utilized and selected here, but it should be understood that each term selected in this manner should be interpreted so that it, in addition, will be able to comprise all technical equivalents operating in the same or substantially the same way in order to, in this way, enable the achievement of the same or substantially the same intention and/or technical effect.

Thus, with a reference to the appended Figures 2 to 7, the fundamental conditions of the present invention are shown schematically and in detail, and where the significative features associated with the invention have been made concrete, by the presently proposed embodiment described more in detail in the following.

Accordingly, Figure 2 shows a manually operated arrangement "A", adaptable for a transfer along a longitudinal extension of a rail 1 , having a cross-section formed by an upper rail head 1a, a rail web 1 b and a lower rail base 1c, and intended to be able to unsecure said rail 1 from a subjacent crosstie 2 by a horizontal transfer of the respective clip 3: 3a, included in each a fastening element 4, 4a, and

displaceably oriented along a holder 5, 5a included in the fastening element 4, 4a and attached to the crosstie 2 in a known way.

Each one of said holders 5, 5a co-operates firmly in a known way with said crosstie 2 such as on each side of the rail base 1 c, and where the respective one of said clips 3; 3a is adapted to, by a movement, allow displacing the clips 3: 3a from each other horizontally, for a disengagement from the rail base 1c in relation to the holders 5, 5a.

An opposed first pair of levers 6a, 6b of a first lever-shaped means 6 is adapted to, via its lower end areas, 6aa, 6ab (Figure 3), co-operate with each a clip 3, 3a in order to activate their distancing, horizontal movements, said first lever-shaped means 6, with its first pair of levers 6a, 6b, being turnably arranged around the respective middle horizontal turning shafts 7, 8.

Via their upper end areas 6ac, 6ad, they co-operate with an extensible or shortenable device 9, here illustrated as a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly 10.

Said end areas 6ac, 6ad should be brought toward each other, between the indicated positions "a", "b" and "c", upon an unsecuring movement according to the invention of the clips 3, 3a,

According to the principles of the invention, said device 9 should be arranged to directly or indirectly co-operate with a first pair 11 a, 11 b of a second lever-shaped means 11 , which is adapted to, via its lower end areas, 11aa, 11ab, be so movably arranged that said end areas 11aa, 11ab, by counter-directed tensional forces, become adapted to be able to co-operate firmly with averted support surfaces 1aa, 1ab assigned to the rail head 1a (Figure 7).

The second lever-shaped means 11 presents a respective lever's 11a, 11 b support surface 12, 12a (Figure 4), where each one of said support surfaces 12, 12a are formed, adapted and intended to abut against their surface portions and/or support surfaces 11a, 11 b laterally related to the rail head 1 a and/or their surface portions subjacent the rail head 1a, according to Figure 4. The support surfaces 12, 12a are formed in order not to only abut against the averted vertical support surface portions of the rail head, but in addition abut against the lower, more horizontal surface portions of the rail head 1a. Said surface portions or support surfaces are raisable and lowerable by means of a sawtooth co-operation 12a' and an attaching means not shown.

The second lever-shaped means 11 , with its pair of levers 11a, 11 b, co-operates turnably with each a turning shaft 7', 8" (according to Figure 2), related to the turning shafts 7, 8.

According to Figure 4, the respective lever 6a, 6b in the means 6 should be coordinated, via the shafts 7, 8, with a bushing 7a, 8a, having a horizontally, or at least essentially horizontally, oriented guidance to enable a displacement motion of the centre and lower areas of the levers 6a, 6b in relation to the turning shaft in a horizontal or at least essentially horizontal direction.

By the arrangement illustrated here, the device 9 will primarily allow transmitting an initial pressing force to the first lever-shaped means 6, according to Figure 2, and next allow transmitting an increasing pressing force to the second lever-shaped means 11 , in order to, by a further pressing force to the first lever-shaped means 6, get the clips 3, 3a to displace from each other and leave their co-operation with the rail base 1c, according to Figure 5.

More particularly, it is taught that pressing forces of the two support surfaces 12, 12a assigned to the second lever-shaped means 11 are directed toward the rail head 1a and toward each other, while forces of two support surfaces 13, 13a assigned to the first lever-shaped means 6 are directed from each other, via one and the same device 9.

The invention also teaches that a vertical distance, "D" in Figure 6, between one support surface 13 of the first lever-shaped means 6 on the lever 6a and one support surface 12 of the second lever-shaped means 11 on the lever 11a is adapted to comply with a selected rail profile of the rail 1 , with its rail head 1a, its rail web 1 b, and its rail base 1c.

The levers 11a, 11 b of the second lever-shaped means 11 are adapted to assume a first adjustment position in their pressing co-operation with their support surfaces 12, 12a against the rail head 1a, in a first inserted position "b" of the device 9, and, in a further inserted position "c", to allow actuating the levers 6a, 6b of the first lever-shaped means 6 into a displacement in order to unsecure the clips 3, 3a from their co-operation with the upper surface areas of the rail base 1c.

The lower end areas 6aa, 6ab of the first lever-shaped means 6 are adapted for a parallel displacement in the horizontal direction, via a system of parallel levers, comprising the levers 6a; 14a and 6b; 14b, respectively.

From Figure 5, it is seen that each one of the shafts is pressed outward by each a spring pile 15, 15a, and that the shafts 7, 8 will be displaceable within their bushings 7a, 8a by the contractive movement of the device 9.

By means of a cog co-operation 16, the movements of the levers 11a, 11 b are coordinated for a uniform turning movement. Stop members 17, 17a (Figure 7) are arranged to limit the motion of turning of the first lever-shaped means 6 around the turning shafts.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiment given above as example, but may be subjected to modifications within the scope of the general idea

according to the invention, illustrated in the subsequent claims. Particularly, it should be taken into consideration that each unit and/or category shown can be combined with any other unit and/or category shown within the scope in order to be able to attain the desired technical function.

Concurrently with this application, an application, embracing a "Manually operated arrangement", has been filed that is aimed at a securement of a rail base to a crosstie with holders and clips related laterally, and with the same applicant and inventor as in this application.

Claims

1. Manually operated arrangement ("A"), adaptable for a transfer along a longitudinal extension of a rail (1 ), having a cross-section formed by an upper rail head, a rail web and a lower rail base (1c) and intended to be able to unsecure said rail from a subjacent crosstie (2) by a horizontal transfer of clips (3: 3a), included in fastening elements (4), and displaceably oriented along holders (5, 5a) included in the fastening element (4), where the holder (5) cooperates firmly with said crosstie (2), and where the respective one of said clips (3; 3a) is adapted to, by a movement, allow displacing the clips (3: 3a) horizontally, for a disengagement from the rail base (1c) in relation to the holder (5), an opposed first pair of levers (6a, 6b) of a first lever-shaped means (6) being adapted to, via its lower end areas (6aa, 6ab), co-operate with each a clip (3, 3a) in order to activate their distancing, horizontal movements, said first lever-shaped means (6), with its first pair of levers (6a, 6b), being turnably arranged around middle horizontal turning shafts (7, 8), and where they, via their upper end areas (6ac, 6ad), are in a co-operation with an extensible or shortenable device (9), such as a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly (10), in order to bring said upper end areas (6ac, 6ad) toward each other upon an unsecuring movement of the clips (3, 3a), characterized in that said device (9) is arranged to directly or indirectly co-operate with a pair of levers (11a, 11 b) in a second lever-shaped means (11), which is adapted to, via its lower end areas, be so movably arranged that said end areas, with their counter-directed tensional forces, become adapted to co-operate firmly with the rail head (1a).

2. Arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the second lever-shaped means (11 ) presents a respective lever's support surface (12, 12a), where each one of the support surfaces are intended to abut against their surface portions and/or support surfaces laterally related to the rail head (1a) and/or their surface portions subjacent the rail head.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second lever-shaped means (11 ), with its pair of levers, co-operates turnably with each a turning shaft (7, 8) with the respective lever in the means coordinated with a bushing, having a horizontally, or at least essentially horizontally, oriented guidance for a displacement of the lever in relation to the turning shaft in a horizontal or at least essentially horizontal direction.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterized in that said device (9) is arranged to primarily allow transmitting an initial pressing force to the first lever-shaped means (6), and next allow transmitting an increasing pressing force to the second lever-shaped means (11 ), in order to, by a further pressing force to the first lever-shaped means (6), get the clips (3, 3a) to displace from each other and leave their co-operation with the rail base (1c).

5. Arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that pressing forces of two support surfaces assigned to the second lever-shaped means (11 ) are directed toward each other, while forces of two support surfaces assigned to the first lever-shaped means (6) are directed from each other, via one and the same device (9).

6. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that a vertical distance between one support surface of the first lever-shaped means and one support surface of the second lever-shaped means is adapted to comply with a selected rail profile of the rail.

7. Arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the levers of the second lever-shaped means (11 ) are adapted to assume a first adjustment position in their pressing co-operation with their support surfaces against the rail head, in a first inserted position of the device (9), and, in a further inserted position, to allow actuating the levers of the first lever-shaped means (6) into a displacement in order to unsecure the clips from their co-operation with the rail base.

8. Arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the lower end areas of the first lever-shaped means (6) are adapted for a parallel displacement in the horizontal direction, via a system of parallel levers.

9. Method for, in a manually operated arrangement ("A"), adaptable for a transfer along a longitudinal extension of a rail (1 ) and intended to be able to unsecure said rail from a subjacent crosstie (2) by a transfer of clips (3, 3a), included in fastening elements (4), and displaceably oriented along a holder (5) included in the fastening element (4), where the holder co-operates firmly with said crosstie (2), and where the respective one of said clips (3, 3a) is adapted to, by a movement, allow displacing the clips (3, 3a), for a disengagement from the rail base (1c), via the holder (5), an opposed first pair of levers (6a, 6b) of a first lever-shaped means (6) being adapted to, via its lower end areas (6aa, 6ab), cooperate with each a clip (3, 3a) in order to activate their distancing, horizontal movements, said first lever-shaped means (6), with its first pair of levers (6a, 6b), being turnably arranged around middle turning shafts (7, 8), and where they, via their upper end areas (6ac, 6ad), are in a co-operation with an extensible or shortenable device (9), such as a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly (10), in order to bring said upper end areas (6ac, 6ad) toward each other upon an unsecuring movement of the clips (3, 3a), characterized in that, by means of one and the same device (9), lower portions of said first pair of levers are brought into a registration against the parts of the clips facing the web (1 b) of the rail, that lower portions of a first pair of levers in a second lever- shaped means (1 ) is brought into a co-operation with the rail head (1a) of the rail, and that the lower portions of said first pair of levers after that are brought into a distancing displacement, for allowing to unsecure the clips (3, 3a) from their secured positions by the assigned displacement motion.