EP1320911B1

EP1320911B1 - Mechanical manual tooling for dismounting free air railway contact wire clamp connectors

Info

Publication number: EP1320911B1
Application number: EP01982294A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joanny Daloz; Dominique Leguy
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics SIMEL SAS
Current assignee: Tyco Electronics SIMEL SAS
Priority date: 2000-09-25
Filing date: 2001-09-15
Publication date: 2010-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-15
Also published as: AU2002213918A1; EP1320911A1; DE60142571D1; ATE474348T1; WO2002025780A1

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus for separating two clamp half-members engaged with each other for holding a free air railway contact wire there between, comprising: guide means (11) for guiding first and second sliding members (16, 17) a spring member arranged there between; first arm (14) rotatable about a pivot point (15) at one end portion (13) of said guide means (11); link member (21) articulated with its end portions to first arm (14) and first sliding member (16); second arm (12) fixedly mounted to said guide means (11); first engagement member (26) mounted to said guide means (11); second engagement member (27) mounted to second sliding member (17); said pivot point (15) of first arm (14) and the articulation points (22, 23) of link member (21) are approximately aligned in a straight line when the distance between said two sliding members (16, 17) has a predetermined value.

Description

The present invention relates to a tool for separating two clamp half-members keyed to each other for holding a free air railway contact wire in between and being displaceable relative to each other in the direction of the wire.
Recently, bolt-less connectors have been developed for railway applications. As shown in Fig. 6 and 7, such a connector 40 of the prior art is comprised of two clamp half-members 41 and 41' mounted in pairs and having similar configurations. Respective two clamp half-members of a pair are positioned on top of a railway contact wire 42 in spaced relationship relative to the longitudinal direction of the wire. The contact wire having the sides thereof cut in such a way that longitudinal notches 43 are provided, and a cross sectional shape, approaching that one of an 8 (eight), is formed thereby, as shown in Fig. 8. Each clamp half-member 41, 41' includes at one side thereof, a side portion extension 43 extending towards and along the direction of a contact wire 42 such that it is overlapping an upper portion of the contact wire when mounted thereon. Furthermore, each clamp half-member 41, 41' includes a longitudinal wedge portion 44, 44' protruding from an inner end face 45, 45' thereof and extending in the direction of a contact wire and forming one piece with the respective side portion extension . At each inner end face a recess 46, 46' is provided for receiving a corresponding wedge portion of an other half-member. Next, when mounting, the two half-members are displaced toward each other with the contact wire disposed between the side portion extensions thereof. Then, each one of the wedge portions 44, 44' will be inserted into the corresponding recess provided in each one of the opposing inner end faces. Finally, for mounting, a sufficient force will be applied to the outer main end faces 48, 48' of each of the clamp half-members such that they will brought into their end positions in which they become wedged together. Single brackets 49, 49' having protrusions 50, 50' are provided on top of each of the two clamp half-members which will be brought into interlocking engagement by these protrusions when attaining the displacement end positions.
It can be seen that a free air railway contact wire will be securely clamped between the two half-members when in the end positions thereof.
If it is wanted to separate clamp half-members 41, 41' from each other then it will be necessary to apply simultaneously a force to each one of defined portions of the clamp half-members opposite to the aforementioned outer main end faces 48, 48'. As these defined portions the minor end faces of the side portion extensions close to the wedge tips could be used. Such forces are conventionally applied by using a hammer to make one member loose from the other one. Obviously, this is a time consuming and tedious work.
The document US-A-3 177 567 discloses the use of a particular apparatus for seperating two connectors.
The document EP-A- 0 642 945 discloses the use of pliers for fastening two half champ members.
The present invention is aimed to overcome the above-mentioned drawback of the conventional art, and its object is to provide a tool and use of a tool facilitating a separation of clamp half-members keyed to each other.
A further object is to provide such a tool enabling as well easy mounting of two clamp half-members.
This object is achieved by the features of independent claims 1 and 4.
Advantageous embodiments are set forth in the depending claims.
The present invention will be explained by preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings without limiting the scope of the invention thereby.

Fig. 1: shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tool according to the present invention for separating two clamp half-members;
Fig. 2: shows a perspective view of the tool of Fig. 1 with the arms thereof further apart;
Fig. 3a to 3d: show diagrams for explaining the principles employed with a second embodiment of a tool according to the present invention.
Fig. 4: shows a side view, partly in broken up, of a second embodiment of a tool of the present invention using the principles as shown in Fig. 3a to 3d.
Fig. 5: shows in a perspective view of the tool shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6: shows in a perspective view a pair of clamp half-members partly mounted to a railway conductor wire.
Fig. 7: shows in a perspective view a pair of clamp half-members separated from each other, not positioned at a railway conductor wire.
Fig. 8: shows in sectional view a free air railway conductor wire in the shape similar to the number eight (8).

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a tool according to the invention generally designated by reference numeral 1. A bolt-less connector 40 is connected to a free air railway contact wire 42. The bolt-less connector 40 is composed of two clamp half-members 41, 41' as was explained above with regard to the prior art and as shown in Fig. 6 to 8.
The tool 1 is comprised of a first arm 2 and a second arm 3 which are mounted for relative rotation to each other about a rotational point represented by a shaft 4. This shaft passes through each one of an end portion of both arms 2 and 3, respectively. The first arm 2 comprises a crank-like extension 5 at an end portion thereof close to shaft 4. This crank-like extension 5 has such a shape that it may pass underneath the contact wire 42 when the tool is in operation. At the distal end of this crank-like extension 5 there is provided an engagement member 6 to be brought into engagement with a predetermined end portion of a clamp half-member, such as the minor end face 51 in Fig. 7.
The second arm 3 includes at its end portion close to shaft 4 an extension 7 having a U shape. The basis 8 of the U-extension 7 provides for an engagement member for engagement with a minor end face of a clamp half-member, for example. The axes of the legs of the U-extension embrace with arm 3 to which it is secured, an angle apt for proper operation of the tool, preferably about 90°. The legs 8 of the U-extension 7 are secured to the end portion of the second arm 3. Obviously, the U-extension 7 and the second arm 3 may be made of a single piece.
In operation, both arms 2 and 3 will be opened by relative rotation there between (Fig. 1). Thereby the engagement members 6 and 8 of the crank-like extension 5 of the first arm 2 and the basis 8 of the U-extension of the second arm 3 will be moved apart from each other.
If the spacing between the engagement portion 6 of the crank-like extension 5 and the basis 8 of U extension 7 is sufficiently wide enough, then two clamp half-members of a bolt-less connector to be dismounted will be grasped there between. The engagement portion 6 of the crank-like extension 5 will be positioned against a minor end face of one of the two clamp half-members 41, 41', e.g. face 51 in Fig. 7, and the basis 8 of U-extension 7 will be brought into engagement with a corresponding minor end face of the other clamp half-member.
When counter acting forces are applied to arms 2 and 3 the respective engagement members 6 and 8 associated with the first and second arms are trying to move towards each other, such that opposite forces are applied to the respective minor end faces of the clamp half-members 41, 41'. If the applied forces are sufficiently high then the friction between the clamp half-members may be overcome and the half-members will start separating from each other.
As can be seen, the tool according to the invention operates similar to a pair of tongs, having, however, special engagement members for grasping clamp half-members of a bolt-less connector at the appropriate location.
A particular advantage of the described tool is the crank-like extension of one of the arms thereof. This configuration allows to pass this extension underneath a contact wire allowing a simpler and easier access to the bolt-less connector to be dismounted.
Next, a second embodiment of a tool according to the present invention will be described. This embodiment enables to dismount a bolt-less connector from a railway conductor wire as well as to mount same thereto. Before describing an actual embodiment of such a tool the basic principles will be described with respect to schematic diagrams.
Fig. 3a shows two levers, a and b and a link member c. Lever a and b are rigidly secured to each other at respective first ends and are commonly rotatable around point A. Lever b has its second end thereof articulated to a first end of link member c at articulation point B. The second end of link member c is articulated to an articulation point C at an end portion of a first displaceable member d. There are altogether two displaceable members d and e both linearly displaceable with a helical spring f arranged in between. Now, it may be assumed that two bodies g and h are provided on top of each other and both having become wedged with each other. A stopper i prevents any displacement of the upper body h to the left as viewed in the Fig., whilst in the contrary thereto lower body g may be displaced to the left in Fig. 3a. It is noted that rotational point A and stopper i have a fixed spatial relationship.
Referring to Fig. 3b, when lever a is rotated counterclockwise around point A then lever b is as well rotated counterclockwise due to the rigid connection between the two levers. Furthermore, once lever b is rotated counterclockwise, link member c will be moved to the left whilst rotating about point C and pushes displaceable member d toward displaceable member e acting against the strength of helical spring f. Further rotation will bring displaceable member d into abutting contact against displaceable member e. When these two displaceable members are not far away from coming in contact with each other, link member c and lever b are embracing a large obtuse angle. A further counterclockwise rotation of lever a will bring both displaceable members e and d in abutting contact against each other, and, therefor, any force applied to displaceable member d will directly be transmitted to displaceable member e.
Under this condition, if the amount of force applied to body g is sufficiently high enough then the frictional forces between the two bodies g and h may be overcome, resulting in a displacement of body g toward the left when viewing Fig. 3c. Due to the potential energy stored in helical spring f a gradually decreasing force will continue to be applied to body g , and this body will be displaced with a decreasing velocity.
It is noted that the relative position between link member c and lever b at the stage immediately before a separation of the lower body g from the upper body h depends on the strength of the spring, among other factors.
It may also be considered to achieve a displacement of body g with displaceable member d and e being not in contact with each other. In this case the strength of the helical spring has to be adjusted appropriately.
One advantage of this construction is that the energy supplied by means of rotation of the lever a is stored as potential energy by compression of the spring. Finally, when the two bodies g and h are brought out of engagement from each other the energy stored by the spring is released to promote further displacement of moveable body g.
Referring to Fig. 3a to 3c, the basic principles applied for dismounting a bolt-less connector, as described above, have been explained. However, the basic principal of the present invention may be extended such that it becomes possible to mount a bolt-less connector comprising two clamp half-members. This further development will be explained with reference to Fig. 3d. The parts a to h are the same as in Fig. 3a to 3c. However, a new part j is added. Part j is a blocking member and may be inserted between the two displaceable members e and d. Now, when a force is applied to displaceable member d by means of a rotation of lever a then this force will be directly transmitted to displaceable member e via blocking element j.
If it is assumed in Fig. 3d that body g should be brought into engagement with body h by moving body h to the left hand side in Fig. 3d then the arrangement shown in this Fig. may be used for mounting a bolt-less connector. In other words, the arrangement can be used to bring two clamp half-members to become wedged to each other for holding a free air railway contact wire in between.
Having explained the principles of this embodiment according to the invention, an actual detailed description of a practical embodiment will be given with reference to Fig. 4 and 5 of the drawings.
Fig. 4 shows a tool 10 according to the present invention using the principles as explained with reference to Fig. 3a to 3d. The tool 10 comprises a housing 11 having a general cylindrical cross section. An arm 12 is fixedly mounted with its one end portion to one end portion of the housing 11 by means of a bracket 13. The arm 12 may be secured to the bracket 13 by means of bolts as it is known in the art. A second arm 14 is mounted with its one end portion for rotation about a shaft 15 to that bracket 13.
A first sliding member 16 and a second sliding member 17 are received within cylindrical housing 11 for sliding displacement. A helical spring 18 is arranged between the sliding members 16 and 17. Whilst the shaft 15, allowing a rotation of arm 14, is positioned at the one end portion of cylindrical housing 11, a stopper means 19 is mounted opposite at the other end of housing 11 and fixedly secured thereto. The second sliding member 17 being positioned at the side of the stopper means.
Additionally, a third sliding member 20 is positioned within housing 11 between the first sliding member 16 and shaft 15. A link member 21 is articulated with its one end portion to arm 14 at an articulation point 22 in proximity to shaft 15 and is articulated with its other end portion to a pin 23 of the third sliding member 20.
As can be seen in Fig. 4 first, second and third sliding members 16, 17, and 20 are aligned within housing 11 with the spring 18 between first and second sliding members 16 and 17, respectively. It is noted, that the first sliding member 16 and the second sliding member 17 are pushed apart from each other by the helical spring 18.
The tool 10 comprises first and second engagement members 26 and 27, respectively. First engagement member 26 is fixedly secured to the housing 11 such that a displacement along the longitudinal axis of housing 11 is not possible. However, a rotational movement may be provided for as will explained later on. Second engagement member 27 is secured to the second sliding member 17.
Fig. 5 shows in a clearer manner, as to how first and second engagement members 26, 27 are arranged with regard to the housing 11. A window 28 is cut out from housing 11 to allow displacement of engagement member 27 in the longitudinal direction of housing 11. The engagement members 26 and 27 each have a bent portion 29 and 30, respectively. The second engagement member 27 is shown as having a recess such that bent portion 30 has a smaller width than bent portion 29 of first engagement member 26. Due to the recessed configuration a nose portion 32 is provided. This nose portion 32 is to be brought into engagement with a respective minor end face of the clamp half-members, such as minor end face 51' in Fig. 7.
With further reference to Fig. 4 and 5, the operation of the tool as described above will be explained. The engagement elements 29 and 30 of tool 10 are positioned such that respective minor end faces of the clamp half-members are engaged.
Before further continuing the explanation, reference is made to Fig. 3a for showing the correspondence between this Fig. and Fig. 4. Rotational point A corresponds to shaft 15 and articulation point B corresponds to articulation point 22 of link member 21 and second arm 14. Link member 21 corresponds to link member c , and articulation point C corresponds to pin 23 as the articulation point between link member 21 and the third sliding member.
When arm 14 is rotated counterclockwise then articulation point 22 of link member 21 located at this arm 14 will be rotated counterclockwise as well whereby link member 21 will move the third sliding member 20 to the right in Fig. 4. Since third and first sliding members 20 and 16 are in abutment against each other, the first sliding member 16 will be displaced to the right in Fig. 4. Consequently, helical spring 18 will be compressed and the first sliding member 16 will approach the second sliding member 17. The latter one is prevented from displacement by second engagement member 27 secured thereto abutting against a clamp half-member. Further rotation of arm 14 will transmit the energy applied directly to the second sliding member 17. During the rotation of arm 14 the force or energy applied has been stored up to this stage within the helical spring 18 whilst applying a corresponding force onto second sliding member 17. Now, when arm 14 is further rotated additional force is applied to first sliding member 16 and thereby directly to second sliding member 17 and further on to second engagement member 27. If the amount of this force is sufficiently high then engagement member 27 will be moved toward engagement member 26 whilst nose portion 32 is acting on a minor end face as explained above. Therefore, the clamp half-member onto which second engagement member 27 is acting will be moved relative to the other one because of engagement member 26 being stationary with respect to the housing 11. Due to the energy stored by the spring (18) first sliding member 16 will be propelled to the right in Fig. 4 and therewith second engagement member 27 secured thereto, though no further rotation of arm 14 is provided.
Consequently, at first an important force is applied to the respective clamp half-member which will slowly decrease resulting in slowing down the displacement movement of a respective clamp half-member.
As has been explained, first engagement member 26 is stationary with respect to a displacement relative to the housing 11. However, it might be rotatable about the longitudinal axis of housing 11 such that another corresponding engagement element 26' may be brought in an upward position when engagement element 26 will be rotated in a downward position. This feature allows to have a different spacing between the respective engagement elements 26 and 27 or 26' and 27 such that bolt-less connectors of different lengths may be worked on.
Having explained as to how the tool according to the invention may be employed for dismounting bolt-less connectors, it will now be explained as to how such bolt-less connectors may be mounted together using this tool. In connection with Fig. 3d it was demonstrated that a modification may be made such that a force applied to the first sliding member 16 will be immediately transmitted to the second sliding member 17 without any interaction with the spring.
For allowing to switch between these two modes of operation, i.e. mounting and dismounting a bolt-less connector, first sliding member 16 is provided with a nose portion 35 which may be received by a recess portion 36 provided for in second sliding member 17. Therefore, the first sliding member 16 may be brought in abutting engagement with the second sliding member 16 when the nose portion 35 is received by that recess portion 36. For selecting either one of the two modes of operation, first sliding member 16 is preferably mounted for rotation within housing 11. A small handle 37 is mounted to the first sliding member 17 allowing a rotation of this sliding member about the longitudinal axis of housing 11. Obviously, a cut out portion (not shown) will be provided within housing 11 to give a free passage for the movement of handle 37. Now, if handle 37 is rotated by 90° then the nose portion 35 is rotated as well and will be brought into a position close to or even contacting the opposing end face of second sliding member 17. Therefore, when arm 14 is rotated counterclockwise the rotational movement is transformed into a linear force acting on the first sliding member 16 and further acting immediately onto the second sliding member 17. Thereby, the force is directly transmitted without any interaction of spring 18.
From the explanation above follows that the invention provides a very useful tool for dismounting bolt-less connectors. According to a further embodiment of such a tool it is possible to use this tool for dismounting a bolt-less connector as well as for mounting same. Consequently, this tool is very versatile and useful.
Further, the guide means may be embodied by a guide rod passing through the sliding members and a spring. Each of the sliding members may have the form of a cup the open sides facing to each and receiving partly a spring. It is not necessary that the housing has a circular cross-section a rectangular would also be possible. It could also envisaged to operate the tool by means of a power source, e.g. pressurized air, with appropriate mechanics applied to replace the arms.

Claims

Use of an apparatus for separating two clamp half-members engaged with each other for holding a free air railway contact wire there between and being displaceable relative to each other in the direction of the wire,
said apparatus comprising
first and second arms (2.3) pivotably connected to each other (4) at first end portions thereof; and
first and second engagement members (5,6,7,8) fixedly secured to said first end portions of said arms (2,3) respectively,
wherein said engagement members (6,8) are moved apart from each other by rotating said first and second arms (2,3) relative to each other in one direction for receiving said clamp half-members there between, and are moved toward each other by rotating said arms (2,3) relative to each other in an opposite direction, with each one of the engagement members (5, 6; 7, 8) in engagement with an engagement portion of one of the clamp half members and with an engagement portion opposite thereto of the other one of the clamp half-members, respectively, thereby exerting forces onto the respective ones of the engagement portions by means of engagement members (5, 6; 7, 8) causing said two clamp half-members to separate from each other by sliding movement.
Use of the apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the engagement members has a crank-like shape (5) such that, when in operation, the engagement member is passing underneath a contact wire.
Use of the apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that one (7) of the engagement members has a U-like shape, the legs (9) thereof being secured to said end portion of the respective arm (3).
Apparatus for separating two clamp half-members engaged with each other for holding a free air railway contact wire there between and being displaceable relative to each other in the direction of the wire,
characterized by
said apparatus comprising:
a guide means (11) for guiding a first and a second sliding member (16, 17) for sliding movement, with a compressible elastic member (18) arranged there between;

a first arm (14) mounted for rotation about a pivot point (15) at one end portion (13) of said guide means (11);

a link member (21) having a first and a second end portion, one thereof articulated to said first arm (14) and the other one in articulated connection with said first sliding member (16);

a second arm (12) fixedly mounted to said guide means (11);

a first engagement member (26) mounted to said guide means (11);

a second engagement member (27) mounted to said second sliding member (17);

said pivot point (15) of said first arm (14) and the articulation points (22, 23) of said link member (21) are approximately aligned in a straight line when the distance between said two sliding members (16, 17) has a predetermined value.
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized by further comprising a blocking member (35) which may be inserted between the first and second sliding member (16, 17) and retracted therefrom.
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that a further engagement member (26') is secured to the first engagement member (26) and said further and said first engagement members (26', 26) are mounted for a common rotation about a longitudinal axis of the guide means (11) and are offset in the direction of this axis.
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said guide means (11) is rectilinear.
Apparatus according to claim 4 or 7, characterized in that said guide means (11) has a cylindrical form.
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said guide means has a form of a rod passing through said first and second sliding members.
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said first and second sliding members each having a form of a cup, the openings thereof facing to each other.
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said compressible elastic member is a helical spring (18).
Apparatus according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the helical spring is partly received by the cups.