Railways – Car stops
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-27
2001-04-17
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Railways
Car stops
C104S250000, C104S251000, C104S254000, C104S258000, C104S144000, C212S329000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216601
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority of German Patent Application, Ser. No. 198 22 109.6, filed May 8, 1998, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for limiting a travel path of a running gear moving along a running rail of a type having at least one flange and a web.
German patent specification DE-OS 23 19 185 describes a travel path limitation apparatus of a type including two claw-like side elements which are formed with buffers and secured against opposite sides of the flange. A clamping unit in the form of a tie element braces the side elements together and presses the side elements, when being installed, against both sides of the flange. In addition, the side elements are urged by tensioning elements in the form of screws against one of the flange surfaces. When installed, the side elements have two aligned throughholes through which the tie element is guided. This conventional travel path limitation apparatus suffers the shortcomings that the buffers are always positioned on the inside of the flange. Thus, the use of this travel path limitation apparatus is not suitable for running gears in which guide wheels are disposed, when viewed in travel direction, in front of and behind the running wheels.
German Pat. No. DE 30 46 882 C2 describes a travel path limitation apparatus with claw-like side elements which can be affixed to the flange in two attachment positions through vertical rotation of the side elements about 180°. For this purpose, the side elements have a first pair of aligned throughholes and a second pair of aligned throughholes in parallel disposition to the first pair of throughholes for selective disposition of the tie element. The securement of the side elements is realized in both attachment positions by two identical clamp pieces which have a triangular configuration in lateral projection. The attachment of the travel path limitation apparatus is realized by so disposing the clamp pieces on each side that their hypotenuse areas abut one another, with one of the clamping members being pressed by the tie element against the outside of the flange at exploitation of the wedging effect. The vertical positioning of the other (second) clamping member during assembly of the travel path limitation apparatus is realized by an oblong hole through which the tie element is guided. This conventional travel path limitation apparatus suffers the drawback of a relatively complex structure by means of the two clamp pieces, and thus requires a relatively complicated assembly. Moreover, this type of travel path limitation apparatus is not suitable in either one of the attachment positions for flanges with slanted inner sides.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved travel path limitation apparatus for running gears, obviating the afore-stated drawbacks.
In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved travel path limitation apparatus for running gears, in particular hoists, which is so constructed as to realize a limitation of the travel path above as well as below the running rail.
These objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter, are attained in accordance with the present invention by providing a pair of side elements respectively secured to opposite sides of the flange and including at least one buffer, with the side elements having a first pair of aligned throughholes and a second pair of aligned throughholes oriented parallel to the first pair of throughholes, a clamping unit having a tie element for bracing the side elements to one another and pressing the side elements against the sides of the flange, with the tie element extending through the first pair of throughholes of the side elements in a first attachment position of the side elements and extending through the second pair of throughholes of the side elements in a second attachment position in which the side elements are rotated in a vertical direction by 180°, and further by providing tensioning members for urging the side elements against one of the flange surfaces, and support members positioned in the side elements for supporting the tensioning members.
In accordance with the present invention, it is now possible to so attach the travel path limitation apparatus that the buffer can be selectively disposed above or below the flange. In conjunction with running gears having guide wheels positioned in front of and behind the running wheels, as viewed in direction of movement, the buffer can be disposed underneath the flange so that the buffer action is realized during impact of the running gear upon the housing or frame of the running gear. As a consequence of being also attachable to the upper flange, the travel path limitation apparatus can be used also for running gears that move along the upper flange. Thus, the added capability to attach the side elements through turning in vertical direction results in a more universal use.
A travel path limitation apparatus of the present invention can be made of simple structure when both inside surfaces of the flange one either side of the web and the outside surface of the flange extend parallel to one another.
Advantageously, each side element has an inwardly directed U-shaped groove, with the groove respectively encompassing the sides of the flange in the first attachment position as well as in the second attachment position of the side elements when the side elements have been installed. In this manner, the travel path limitation apparatus is useable for different flange widths while still being capable to absorb great impulse forces as the same time.
Suitably, the groove of each side element has a rectangular cross section to enhance mechanical properties of the travel path limitation apparatus.
The mechanical stability can be improved by arranging the clamping unit in immediate confronting disposition to the outer flange surface, so that the travel path limitation apparatus as a whole encompasses the flange of the running rail.
According to another feature of the present invention, the tie element of the clamping unit is provided in the form of a threaded spindle having opposite ends traversing the first pair of throughholes in the one attachment position and traversing the second pair of throughholes in the other attachment position, with fasteners being provided for securing the threaded spindle on both ends to the side elements.
For reasons of stability, the threaded spindle extends parallel to the outer flange surface and transversely to the web. The required stability is ensured when the threaded spindle extends at a distance to the outer flange surface. Suitably, the tensioning members extend transversely to the threaded spindle to further enhance the mechanical stability.
In order to realize a high mechanical load-absorbing capability in both attachment positions of the side elements, the tensioning members extend vertically through one of the parallel side walls of the groove and projects across the groove. Suitably, the side walls of the groove extend parallel to the outer flange surface to realize a stable and constructively simple solution. The tensioning members may be formed as screw fasteners which are supported against the inner flange surfaces or the outer flange surface.
In a most simple manner, the side elements may be secured to the threaded spindle by means of nuts screwed to the ends of the threaded spindle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1074407 (1913-09-01), Braden
patent: 2037589 (1936-04-01), Pilkington
patent: 2053179 (1936-09-01), Brown
patent: 2359106 (1944-09-01), Hayes
patent: 2789517 (1957-04-01), Hayes
patent: 476654 (1951-09-01), None
patent: OS 23 19 185 (1974-10-01), None
patent: 2319185 (1974-10-01), None
patent: 30 46 882 C2 (1982-07-01), None
patent: 3223705A1 (1983-12-01), None
patent: 3046882C2 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 3223705 (1983-12-01), None
Feiereisen Henry M.
Jules Frantz F.
Mannesmann AG
Morano S. Joseph
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