CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Application No. 61/192,665, filed September 19, 2008, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE MVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a clamp device and, more particularly, to a hinged clamping device for attaching a rail device to a railroad rail. Description of the Prior Art

[0003] In the operation of railroads, it has long been the practice to apply lubricant or friction modifying materials onto railroad rails, such as to the top of the rails or sides of the rails at curves, turnouts, switches, and in some cases, the sections of the track immediately before a switch, and periodically spaced along the length of the track. Reference may be made to U.S. Patent Nos. 5,348,120; 5,394,958 and 6,971,479, which are hereby incorporated by reference, for a dissertation on rail lubrication and disclosure of rail lubrication systems and applicator bars (oftentimes referred to as "wiping bars") used therein. [0004] Common to these prior art wiping bars is the need for means to rigidly secure the device to the railroad rails so that lubricant can be dispensed repeatedly at the desired rate and at the needed location. In most cases, such means involve a mechanical connection to the rail itself, such as by bolting or clamping in various ways. However, the problems associated with such clamping means, among other things, is that the prior art wiping bars are often difficult to install and/or re-install in the field whenever maintenance is performed on the rail or on the wiping bar itself.

[0005] Fig. 1 shows a typical wiping bar assembly Wl mounted on a railroad rail 10. The rail 10 includes a base 12 that has flanges 14 and 16 extending therefrom. The rail 10 also includes a head 18, and a web 20 connecting the base 12 and the head 18. Referring to Fig. 1, the wiping bar assembly Wl is secured to the railroad rail 10 using a prior art mounting support or clamp 24. Typically, it takes two spaced-apart mounting clamps 24 for securing a typical wiping bar assembly Wl to a railroad rail. The wiping bar assembly typically may include a front blade extending lengthwise on the outside face of a lubricant manifold body and an elongated distribution blade extending lengthwise on the front blade. A flow passageway is defined in a portion of the manifold body and the distribution blade for material to pass through. The flow passageway defines an exit end for depositing material onto the head 18 of the rail 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the wiping bar assembly Wl is positioned to deliver material to the gage face of the head 18, although other wiping bar assembly Wl are utilized.

[0006] The mounting clamp 24 includes a body 26 having a first end 28 and a second end 30 and defining an upper section 32 and a lower section 34. A recess portion 36 is defined at the first end 28 between the upper section 32 and the lower section 34 of the body 26 of the clamp 24, wherein the recess portion 36 is adapted to receive a portion of the flange 16 of the base 12 of the rail 10 as shown. The size and shape of the recess portion 36 is such as to provide a tight fit when the flange 16 is received therein. A bore 38 is defined in the lower section 34 of the clamp body 26 slightly below the recess portion 36 and extends from the first end 28 to the second end 30 of the clamp 24. The mounting clamp 24 also includes a J- bolt 40 having a hook section 42 defining a recess 44 and a straight section 46 having an end portion 48. The recess 44 of the hook section 42 is adapted to receive a portion of the flange 14 of the base 12 of the rail 10 as shown. The straight section 46 of the J-bolt 40, which extends below the base 12 of the rail 10, is received within the bore 38 such that the end portion 48 extends beyond the second end 30 of the clamp body 26. The end portion 48 may be threaded for receiving a threaded fastener 50, such as a nut. A downwardly extending hole 52, which may be internally threaded, is defined in an upper surface 54 of the clamp body 26, wherein the hole 52 is adapted to receive a fastener arrangement 56 for securing the wiping bar assembly Wl to the railroad rail 10.

[0007] With continued reference to Fig. 1, the attachment of the prior art mounting clamp 24 to the railroad rail 10 is accomplished as follows. First, the straight section 46 of the J- bolt 40 is received within the bore 38 of the clamp body 26 and then placed underneath the base 12 such that the base flange 14 is received within the recess 44 of the hook section 42. The first end 28 of the clamp body 26 is placed adjacent the base 12 of the rail 10 such that the flange 16 is received within the recess portion 36 of the body 26 of the clamp 24. A nut 50 or other fastener arrangement such as a nut and lockwasher is placed on the threaded end portion 48 and rotated toward the second end 30, thus drawing the mounting clamp 24 and the hook section 42 of the J-bolt 40 toward each other for tight securement (including lateral securement) to the railroad rail 10. The wiping bar assembly Wl may then be fastened to the upper surface 54 of the clamp body 26 as indicated at 56. When removing and/or installing the wiping bar assembly Wl, such as for routine maintenance, the wiping bar assembly Wl must either be unbolted from the clamp body 26 or the entire mounting clamp 24 must be removed from the railroad rail 10. This requires a tool such as a socket wrench which may be used to unloosen the nut 50 on the J-bolt 40 to remove the clamp 24 entirely or to unloosen the fastener arrangement 56 on the upper surface 54 of the clamp body 26 to remove only the wiping bar assembly Wl. In most prior art clamps of this type, the tightening and/or unloosening process is relatively slow and tedious, thus making installation and removal of the wiping bar assembly Wl difficult and time consuming. This is particularly true with a rail lubrication system that contains at least four wiping bars totaling eight mounting clamps 24.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In one embodiment, a clamp device for mounting a rail device onto a railroad rail includes a clamp body and a pivot arm. The clamp body has a first end and a second end. The first end of the clamp body is configured to receive a portion of a rail flange. The pivot arm has a body and is attached to the clamp body. The pivot arm is displaceable between a first position and a second position relative to the clamp body, and the body of the pivot arm is configured to be attached to a rail device. The pivot arm may be pivotally attached to the clamp body and pivotable relative to the clamp body between the first and second positions. The body of the pivot arm may be u-shaped having a first section, a second section, and an intermediate section extending between the first and second sections. The pivot arm may further comprise a pair of side members extending from each side of the first section. Further, the clamp body defines a bore hole extending through the clamp body, and the side members each define an opening aligned with the bore hole of the clamp body. The pivot arm may be pivotally secured to the clamp body via a fastener positioned through the bore hole of the clamp body and the openings of each side member. The first section of the body of the pivot arm is engaged with the clamp body when the pivot arm is in the first position, and the first section of the body of the pivot arm is retracted from the clamp body when the pivot arm is in the second position.

[0009] In a further embodiment, a clamp device for mounting a rail device onto a railroad rail includes a clamp body having an upper section and a lower section. The body defines a recess portion between the upper and lower sections and an opening in the lower section. The recess portion is configured to receive a portion of a rail flange. A bolt having a first end and a second end extends through the opening in the lower section of the body with the first end of the bolt being configured to receive a portion of a rail flange. A pivot arm having a body is pivotally attached to the upper section of the clamp body. The pivot arm is configured to be attached to a rail device. The body of the pivot arm may be u-shaped having a first section, a second section, and an intermediate section extending between the first and second sections. The pivot arm may further comprise a par of side members extending from each side of the first section. The clamp body may also define a bore hole extending through the clamp body, and the side members may define an opening aligned with the bore hole of the clamp body where the pivot arm is pivotally attached to the upper section of the clamp body via a fastener positioned through the bore hole of the clamp body and the opening of each side member. The pivot arm may be pivotable relative to the clamp body between a first position and a second position with the first section of the body of the pivot arm being engaged with clamp body when the pivot arm is in the first position, and the first section of the body of the pivot arm being retracted from the clamp body when the pivot arm is in the second position. The clamp device may further comprise a rail device attached to the pivot arm. The pivot arm may be pivotable relative to the clamp body between a first position and a second position with the rail device configured to be engaged with a head of a railroad rail when the pivot arm is in the first position, and the rail device configured to be retracted from a head of a railroad rail when the pivot arm is in the second position.

[0010] In another embodiment, a method of mounting a rail device onto a railroad rail is provided. The method includes the steps of: securing the clamp device to a portion of a flange of a railroad rail, where the clamp device includes a clamp body and a pivot arm; securing a rail device to the pivot arm; and pivoting the pivot arm from a first position to a second position relative to the clamp body, where the rail device is engaged with a head of the railroad rail when the pivot arm is in the first position, and where the rail device is retracted from the head of the railroad rail when the pivot arm is in the second position. The clamp device may further include a bolt having a first end and a second end with the bolt extending through an opening defined in the clamp body and the clamp body defining a recess portion. The method may further include the steps of engaging a first flange of the railroad rail with the recess portion of the clamp body, and securing the bolt to the clamp body via a fastener such that the first end of the bolt engages a second flange of the railroad rail. The pivot arm may be a u-shaped body having a first section, a second section, and an intermediate section extending between the first and second sections. The rail device may be attached to the second section of the u-shaped body of the pivot arm. Further, the pivot arm may act as a leaf spring when the pivot arm is in the first position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of a typical wiping bar mounted to a railroad rail using a prior art mounting clamp;

[0012] Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of a hinged clamp for a wiping bar according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of the hinged clamp shown in Fig. 2; [0014] Fig. 4 is an elevational side view of the hinged clamp shown in Fig. 2; [0015] Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the hinged clamp shown in Fig. 2; [0016] Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the hinged clamp shown in Fig. 2, wherein the hinged clamp is secured to a railroad rail;

[0017] Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the hinged clamp shown in Fig. 2 with a wiping bar attached, wherein the clamp is shown mounted to a railroad rail in an engaged position; [0018J Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the hinged clamp shown in Fig. 2 with a wiping bar attached, wherein wiping bar is pivotally moved partially away from a railroad rail; [0019] Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the hinged clamp shown in Fig. 2 with a wiping bar attached, wherein the wiping bar is pivotally moved further away from a railroad rail; and [0020] Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the hinged clamp shown in Fig. 2 with a wiping bar attached, wherein the wiping bar is shown pivotally moved completely away from a railroad rail in a disengaged position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] For purposes of the description hereinafter, spatial orientation terms, if used, shall relate to the referenced embodiment as it is oriented in the accompanying drawing figures or otherwise described in the following detailed description. However, it is to be understood that the embodiments described hereinafter may assume many alternative variations and embodiments. It is also to be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures and described herein are simply exemplary and should not be considered as limiting.

[0022] Referring to Figs. 2-10, one embodiment of the present invention provides for a hinged mounting clamp 60 that quickly engages and disengages a rail device, such as a wiping bar assembly Wl or a sensor (not shown), with respect to a railroad rail 10. The hinged mounting clamp 60 includes a body 62 having a first end 64 and a second end 66 and defining an upper section 68 and a lower section 70. A recess portion 72 is defined at the first end 64 between the upper section 68 and the lower section 70 of the body 62 of the clamp 60. The recess portion 72 is configured to receive a portion of the flange 16 of the base 12 of the rail 10 as shown. A bore 74 (shown in phantom in Fig. 6) is defined in the lower section 70 of the clamp body 62 slightly below the recess portion 72 and extends from the first end 64 to the second end 66 of the clamp 60. Clamp 60 further includes a pivot arm 88 pivotably attached to the top of the upper section 68 of the clamp body 62 with the pivot arm 88 being attached to the wiping bar assembly Wl. Typically, two spaced apart hinged mounting clamps 60 are utilized for securing a wiping bar assembly Wl to the railroad rail 10. For example, a first hinged mounting clamp 60 may be secured to one end of the wiping bar assembly Wl and a second hinged mounting clamp 60 may be secured to the other end of the wiping bar assembly Wl. The pivot arm 88 is pivotable between an engaged position (Figs. 6 and 7) and a retracted position (Figs. 8-10). The mounting clamp 60 also includes a J-bolt 76 having a hook section 78 that defines a recess 80 and a straight section 82 having an end portion 84, The recess 80 of the hook section 78 is configured to receive a portion of the flange 14 of the base 12 of the rail 10. The straight section 82 of the J-bolt 76, which extends below the base 12 of the rail 10, is received within the bore 74 such that the end portion 84 extends beyond the second end 66 of the clamp body 62. The end portion 84 is threaded for receiving a threaded fastener 86, such as a nut.

[0023] Referring to Figs. 2-5, the pivot arm 88 includes a U-shaped body 90 having an inner surface 92 and an outer surface 94 and defining a first section 96, an intermediate section 98 depending from the first section 96 and a second section 101 depending from the intermediate section 98. A recess area 103 is defined between the first section 96 and the second section 101. Referring to Figs. 2 and 5, each side of the first section 96 includes a downwardly extending side member 105, 107 attached thereto. Each side member 105, 107 defines at least two openings 109, 111 therein. The openings 109, 111 in the side member 105 are aligned with the respective openings 109, 111 in side member 107 such that a fastener 113, for example, a nut and bolt arrangement, can pass through the respective openings 109, 111 in each side member 105, 107. Further, the body 62 of the clamp 60 defines a pair of spaced-apart bore holes 115, 117 in the upper section 68 and extend from one side of the body 62 to the other. The bore holes 115, 117 in the upper section 68 of the body 62 align with the respective openings 109, 111 in the side member 105, 107 in the first section 66 of the body 64 of the pivot arm 62 when the wiping bar assembly Wl is in the engaged position (shown in Figs. 6 and 7).

[0024] The pivot arm 88 is pivotally secured to the clamp body 62 by a fastener 113 extending through openings 111 in the side members 105, 107 and the bore hole 117 of clamp body 62. The first section 96 of the pivot arm 88 is engaged with the clamp body 62 when the pivot arm 88 is in the engaged position and the first section 96 of the pivot arm 88 is retracted from the clamp body when the pivot arm 88 is in the retracted position. Similarly, the wiping bar assembly Wl is configured to be engaged with the head 18 of the rail 10 when the pivot arm 88 is in the engaged position and the wiping bar assembly Wl is configured to be retracted from the head 18 of the rail 10 when the pivot arm 88 is in the retracted position. The U-shaped body 90 of the pivot arm 88 acts as a leaf spring when the attached wiping bar assembly Wl is contacted or deflected such as by a rail car, thus preventing damage to the wiping bar assembly Wl. The U-shaped body 90 of the pivot arm 88 can also be reversed such that the intermediate section 98 is furthest away from the railroad rail 10 (not shown).

[0025] Referring to Figs. 2-10, an opening 119 is defined in the second section 101 of the pivot arm 88 and extends from the inner surface 92 to the outer surface 94 of the body 90 of the pivot arm 88. A nut 121 may be attached to the inner surface 92 of the second section 101, wherein the nut 121 is aligned with the opening 119 for receiving a fastener such as a bolt 123 for securing the wiping bar assembly Wl to clamp 60. The opening 119 may also be internally threaded for receiving the bolt 123.

[0026] In operation, as shown in Figs. 6-10, the clamp 60 is secured to the railroad rail 10 in a similar manner as the prior art clamp 24, The straight section 82 of the J-bolt 76 is received within the bore 74 of the clamp body 62 and placed underneath the base 12 of the rail 10 such that the base flange 14 is received by the recess 80 of the hook section 78 of the bolt 76 and engages the hook section 78 of the bolt 76. The first end 64 of the clamp body 62 is placed adjacent the base 12 of the rail 10 such that the flange 16 of the rail 10 is received within the recess portion 72 of the clamp body 62 and engages the clamp body 62. The fastener 86, such as a nut and lockwasher arrangement, is placed on the threaded end portion 84 and rotated toward the second end 66 thereby drawing the mounting clamp 60 and the hook section 78 of the J-bolt 76 toward each other for tight securement to the railroad rail 10. Other suitable arrangements may be used to secure the clamp 60 to the rail 10, such as a quick clamp type of mounting arrangement. The wiping bar assembly Wl is secured to the second section 101 of the pivot arm 88 using the fastener 123 and nut 121 as discussed above. In order to secure the pivot arm 88 in the engaged position (Figs. 6 and 7), the fastener 113 is inserted through the openings 109 in the side members 105, 107 and the bore hole 115 in the clamp body 62 thereby preventing pivotal rotation of the pivot arm 88 and maintaining engagement of the wiping bar assembly Wl with the rail 10. [0027] Referring to Figs. 7-10, when removing the wiping bar assembly Wl, such as for routine maintenance, the wiping bar assembly Wl may be disengaged from the railroad rail 10 using the hinged clamp 60. First, the fastener 1 13 which is closest to the railroad rail 10 is removed from the bore hole 115 in the clamp body 62 and from the openings 109 in the side members 105, 107 as shown in Fig. 7. Instead of a fastener 113, such as a nut and bolt arrangement, a quick release pin arrangement may be used. Next, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the pivot arm 88 is pivotably rotated away from the railroad rail 10 until the wiping bar assembly Wl is removed a sufficient distance away from the railroad rail 10 such that maintenance can be performed on the wiping bar assembly Wl and/or the railroad rail 10. In a disengaged position, as shown in Fig. 10, the pivot arm 88 is prevented from further rotation either by the inner surface 92 of the second section 101 of the pivot arm 88 abutting against the end portion 84 of the J-bolt 16 or by the fastener 123 of the wiping bar assembly Wl abutting against the end portion 84 of the J-bolt 76 (not shown). After maintenance is performed, the pivot arm 88 is pivotably rotated toward the railroad rail 10 such that the outer surface 94 of the first section 96 abuts against or engages the top of the upper section 68 of the clamp body 62, thus placing the wiping bar assembly Wl into the engaged position with respect to the railroad rail 10. The fastener 113 can then be inserted back through the opening 109 in the side members 105, 107 and the bore hole 115 in the clamp body 62 thus securing the wiping bar assembly Wl relative to the clamp 60.

[0028] This invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.