EP2770106B1 - Electrically insulating force transfer member for receiving tensile and compression forces and method for the production thereof - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrically insulating force transmission member for receiving tensile and compressive forces, with a rod, wherein at least one end of the rod, an end piece for connection to a tensile and compressive force source is arranged. The invention also relates to a method for producing an electrically insulating power transmission member for receiving tensile and compressive forces.

Generic power transmission members are known from the prior art, for example, from the track construction, high voltage engineering and other applications. In many cases find power transmission elements use as tie rods for tracks, especially sleeper laid track. A tie rod here serves to maintain a defined distance between the rails of the tracks, which run essentially parallel to one another. Due to the dynamics of a railway vehicle traveling on a track such a tie rod must be able to absorb tensile forces up to 150 kN.

DE 85 26 882 U shows a generic power transmission member according to the preamble of claim 1.

A first requirement of a generic power transmission member is therefore to be able to safely absorb tensile and compressive forces in the kN range and to have sufficient fatigue strength. Depending on the application, a force transmission member according to the present invention for receiving only one type of force - train or pressure - be designed.

A second requirement of a generic power transmission element is that the force transmission element must be designed to be electrically insulating. In fact, many sensors are electrically connected to the rails of the tracks in order to To gather information about the use of the track. These may, for example, be track-free signaling devices. These sensors only function if the device connecting the two rails of the track is sufficiently electrically isolated. An electrical resistance of at least 120 Ω is required.

To meet the two requirements mentioned above has been tried in the past, in generic power transmission members both, for a secure connection to the rails, a metallic material, as well as, to achieve a sufficient isolation to use a plastic. The known approaches foresee that, for example, in a fully formed metal tie rod in the middle of a portion of the rod is removed and the two remaining rod parts are connected by a type of sleeve made of wound glass fiber reinforced plastic together again.

Here, however, it has proved to be disadvantageous that the tie rod either does not reach the required resistance depending on the selected length of the removed rod portion or does not have sufficient fatigue strength at the tensile forces occurring during operation and thus breaks early.

Based on this prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a generic power transmission member and a method for producing the same, with which the desired electrical resistance and a fatigue strength at tensile forces can be achieved up to 150 kN at the same time.

Device side, the problem is solved in that the rod in the region of its lateral surface has a serving as a well recess in which recess a fastening plate is inserted, and that the inserted into a sleeve of the end piece rod by a non-releasable connection between the mounting plate on the one hand and the sleeve on the other hand is positively connected to the tail.

An inventive power transmission member has a rod on the one hand and an end piece on the other. The tail is used to connect to a tensile and compressive force source, such as the rail of a track. For this purpose, the end piece can have suitable connecting means, for example through-holes. The rod is designed as an elongate component. The longitudinal extent of the rod exceeds its Width clearly, for example by a factor of 10. The rod may be circular in cross-section, oval, rectangular and / or the like. The surface of the rod is composed of the lateral surface and two base surfaces. The rod has two longitudinally opposite end faces. The surface area of the end faces corresponds to the aforementioned base areas.

The rod is used to absorb both tensile and compressive forces. The rod is connected at the end with an end piece. Usually, an end piece is arranged at both ends of the rod. The tail has a sleeve into which the rod can be inserted.

According to the invention, the rod has a recess in the region of its lateral surface. The recess extends at right angles to the longitudinal extent of the rod in this. In the case of a circular rod, the recess extends radially to the rod. The recess is arranged in the region of one end of the rod. The area of the end of a bar is that area which, when used as intended, is inserted into the sleeve of the tail. This area of the end of the bar may also be referred to as a connection area.

According to the invention, the recess serves as a trough. A substance introduced into the recess is recessed with respect to the lateral surface of the rod in the rod. A substance located in the recess therefore first has to be moved radially outward, in particular, in order to be brought out of the recess.

According to the invention, a fastening plate is inserted into the recess. The mounting plate serves for a connection with the sleeve. On the other hand, the mounting plate is the positive arrangement of the rod. The mounting plate is inserted into the recess in the rod. This means that a relative movement between the mounting plate and the rod in the longitudinal direction of the rod is only possible if the mounting plate and the rod are moved apart at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The mounting plate is preferably formed of the same material as the tail, in particular the sleeve of the tail. A cohesive connection can then be formed comparatively easily with conventional methods. The sleeve and the mounting plate may be formed of steel, in particular stainless steel. Particularly suitable has the Steel grade 1.4301 exposed.

The sleeve provides a receptacle for the rod. The cross section of the receptacle of the sleeve substantially corresponds to the cross section of the rod, wherein a slight oversize may be provided. However, the oversize is in any case less than the height of the mounting plate. If the mounting plate is inserted into the recess of the rod and the rod is inserted with the mounting plate in the sleeve, the rod can not be pulled out of the sleeve regardless of the mounting plate. Pulling out the rod is completely prevented according to the invention in that the tail is permanently connected to the sleeve. This may be a cohesive connection, such as welding, soldering, gluing or the like. The mounting plate and the rod, however, are not materially connected to each other, but positively. The connection between the rod and the mounting plate is therefore theoretically detachable. Due to the permanent connection between the mounting plate and the sleeve, however, the rod is captive and firmly held on the tail.

The clou of the invention is that a permanent connection between the tail on the one hand and the rod on the other hand can be created without having to connect the rod itself cohesively with another component. The rod is in fact held only in the sleeve due to the positive connection with the mounting plate. This has the advantage that the materials used for the rod and the tail can basically be chosen arbitrarily and completely independently of each other. This is not the case with a cohesive connection between the end piece and the rod, for example a welded connection or an adhesive connection. The solution according to the invention therefore gives rise to new and hitherto unknown freedoms in the development of a generic power transmission element. In the application mentioned as track rod for tracks, for example, the rod can be formed of an electrically insulating plastic, whereas the tail of a metal, such as stainless steel, may be formed. A cohesive connection between plastic and metal, which meets the requirements mentioned above, is not known from the prior art. Thus, such a combination of rod and tail was previously not feasible. The rod can now be formed in one piece and / or solid material.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rod is formed of an electrically insulating material. Due to the construction described above, the entire rod may be formed entirely of an electrically insulating material. This results in an increased resistance in comparison with the solutions known from the prior art. While metal has a resistance of, for example, only 20 Ω in the application of the tie rod, an electrical resistance of 120 Ω can be achieved, for example, with a completely made of plastic rod. In particular, the rod may be formed of a glass fiber reinforced plastic. Experiments of the applicant have shown that this material meets the two requirements in terms of fatigue strength on the one hand and the electrical resistance on the other hand particularly well.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the rod has an electrical resistance of at least 1 Ω / cm in the direction of its longitudinal extent. In the case of a tie rod with a standard width of 120 cm, an electrical resistance of exactly 120 Ω can be achieved.

In one embodiment, the invention further provides that a housing is arranged on the end piece, which has electrical connection elements. This housing thus serves as a kind of junction box for electrical cable connections, so that to be connected to the track cables are particularly easy to connect. In many applications of electrically insulating power transmission members, such as insulated tie rods, electrical components and cable connections must also be connected to the tensile and compressive force sources, in particular to the isolated rails of a track. The electrical connections are carried out conventionally via separate housing, which are connected by cables to the track. For this purpose, additional holes are drilled in the rails, into which special connection bolts with cable connections are screwed. The cables are then clamped in a housing arranged on the track. This cost-intensive and depending on the track environment also susceptible to interference education is now prevented by the invention. The housing according to the invention is mechanically stable, waterproof, non-flammable and temperature resistant. This is particularly recommended because the housing can get in contact with the production of the track surface with 150 ° C hot bitumen. According to the invention, the housing material is thus suitable to withstand the use of temperature-reduced hot asphalt.

In this context, it is further provided that the rod has a longitudinally disposed in its interior electrical conductor, which is electrically insulated from the end piece. The rod is thus still isolated from the end pieces while electrical contact can be made between the bars (pulling and compressive force sources) disposed on the rod and the terminal members of the housing. The electrical connection on the housing itself is taken directly from the track plate. Thus, the electrical connections for both rails are available in the housing very low impedance. The electrical connection to the track is made via connecting pins which are arranged on the end piece. It uses specially designed nuts that are chamfered and roughened to improve contact with the track.

The method, the object is achieved in that in the lateral surface of a rod serving as a recess recess is formed, wherein a mounting plate is inserted into the recess, wherein the rod is then inserted into a sleeve of an end piece for connection to a tensile and compressive force source, and wherein then the mounting plate is non-detachably connected to the sleeve, so that the end piece is positively connected to the rod.

The above applies to the device according to the invention.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the method steps are carried out automatically. The clou of this development is that, basically, the entire process for producing the device can proceed without human intervention. This allows the bars to be automated and set to the required level by machine. Subsequently, the recesses can be automated and machined. The subsequent insertion of the mounting plates in the recesses can also be carried out automatically, for example using a robot system. The subsequent insertion of the rod in the sleeve and connecting the sleeve with the mounting plate can also be automated, for example, using a welding robot, performed. For welding the sleeve to the mounting plate, manually or automatically, laser welding, TIG welding and the like are also suitable.

• Fig. 1 in perspektivischer Darstellung eine Ausführungsform eines endfertig hergestellten Kraftübertragungsglieds;
• Fig. 2 eine Ausführungsform einer Befestigungsplatte;
• Fig. 3 eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Stange;
• Fig. 4 eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Endstücks;
• Fig. 5 eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Hülse; und
• Fig. 6 eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Grundplatte eines Endstücks:
• Fig. 7 eine weitere Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Stange.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following Figures. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a finished manufactured power transmission member;
• Fig. 2 an embodiment of a mounting plate;
• Fig. 3 an embodiment of a rod according to the invention;
• Fig. 4 an embodiment of an end piece according to the invention;
• Fig. 5 an embodiment of a sleeve according to the invention; and
• Fig. 6 An embodiment of a base plate according to the invention of an end piece:
• Fig. 7 a further embodiment of a rod according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a force transmission member according to the invention in a perspective view. This device can be used for example as a tie rod for creasing tracks. The device comprises a rod 1 and two end pieces 2. The rod 1 is formed as an elongate, rectangular in cross section rod body. The end pieces 2 are each arranged at the end of the rod 1. For this purpose, the end pieces 2 are each pushed onto the rod 1. The rod 1 is formed of a glass fiber reinforced plastic.

Each end piece 2 has a base plate or a flange 3 on the one hand and a sleeve 4 on the other. The flange 3 extends at right angles to the sleeve 4. The rod 1 is inserted in each case with one end in the sleeve 4.

Fig. 3 , shows the rod 1 of the device according to Fig. 1 in detail. The rod 1 has a length which exceeds the width of the rod 1 by a factor of approximately 30. The rod 1 is rectangular in cross-section. The rod 1 has recesses 6 in the region of its two ends. The region of the ends of the rod 1 is that region which is inserted in the sleeve 4 when properly connected to a sleeve 4. The rod 1 has in the region of each end 2 recesses 6, which are arranged on opposite large surfaces of the rod 1. The rod 1 can thereby be connected either in any orientation with the sleeve 4, or it can be made a connection with the sleeve 4 at two points.

The recesses 6 have a rectangular base. The recesses 6 extend into the rod 1 inside. The depth of the recesses 6 may amount to approximately one third of the thickness of the rod 1.

In each recess 6, a mounting plate 5 can be used. An embodiment of a mounting plate 5 according to the invention is shown in FIG Fig. 2 shown. The mounting plate 5 has a spatial shape and a volume which corresponds approximately to the spatial shape and the volume of the recess 6. The attachment plate 5 is formed of a different material than the rod 1.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of an end piece 2 according to the invention. This consists of the sleeve 4 on the one hand and the flange 3 on the other. The flange 3 serves to connect to a tensile and compressive force source. This may be, for example, the rail of a track. For this purpose, the flange 3 has bores 7, through which corresponding connecting means such as screws, bolts, rivets and the like can be guided.

The sleeve 4 is frontally welded to the flange 3 butt with this. The sleeve 4 has two slots 8. Through the slots 8, the mounting plates 5 of an inserted into the sleeve 4 rod 1 are accessible. Fig. 5 shows the sleeve 4 in detail. The sleeve 4 also has a recess 9. This is formed in the end face to be connected to the flange 3. The recess 9 serves a particularly secure connection between the sleeve 4 and the flange 3. In addition, it promotes drainage.

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of a rod according to the invention 1. This is as described above via end pieces 2, each with a tensile and compressive force source (not shown), in particular the rails of a track connected. At one of the end pieces 2, a housing 10 is arranged, which has electrical connection elements (not shown). In addition, an electrical conductor 11 is arranged inside the rod 1, which is embedded in the material of the rod 1 so that it faces the end pieces 2 is electrically isolated. In the view according to Fig. 7 the ladder 11 is not visible in reality because it is completely embedded in the material. Only for clarity, the conductor 11 is shown in dashed lines in the figure. The insulated in the rod 1 extending electrical conductor 11 provides an electrical connection to the rails, whereby they can be electrically connected to the connection elements of the housing 10. Thus, in the housing 10, the electrical connections for both rails low impedance available. The electrical connection to the rails is ensured by arranged in the holes 7 nuts 12. The nuts 12, in particular the size M20, provide the low-resistance electrical contact resistance. For this purpose, the nuts 12 are chamfered and roughened, so that the contact with the rails improves overall. A very good electrical connection is also a weld, z. B. spot welding of the flange 3 to the rail.

The preparation of a generic device is as follows vonstatten.

In the rod 1, the recesses 6 are milled. In the finished recesses 6 each end pieces 2 are used. Subsequently, an end piece 2 is pushed onto each end of the rod 1. The rod 1 is then arranged with each end in the sleeve 4 of an end piece 2. The inserted into the rod 1 mounting plates 5 are accessible through the slots 8 of the sleeves 4. The mounting plates 5 and the sleeves 4 are made of the same material, such as stainless steel. The mounting plates 5 and the sleeves 4 can be welded together. Laser welding has proven to be particularly suitable. Subsequently, the mounting plates 5 and the sleeves 4 are permanently connected to each other.

The mounting plates 5 form a positive connection with the rod 1. The rod 1 can not be pulled out of a sleeve 4 without the mounting plate 5. In this respect, the rod 1 and the sleeves 4 are captively connected to each other in the finished state produced. The particular clou is that it does not depend on a cohesive connection between the end pieces or the mounting plates and the rod 1. It can therefore be selected for the rod 1 and the end pieces 2 most different materials, which could not be connected together by cohesive measures under certain circumstances.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

pole

2

tail

3

flange

4

shell

5

mounting plate

6

recess

7

drilling

8th

Long hole

9

recess

10

casing

11

electrical conductor

12

mother

Claims (15)

1. An electrically insulating force transfer member for receiving tensile and compression forces, comprising a bar (1), wherein an end piece (2) for the connection to a source of tensile and compression forces is arranged on at least one end of the bar (1), characterized in that in the area of its shell surface, the bar (1) comprises a recess (6) serving as a hollow, in which recess (6) a fastening plate (5) is positively inserted, and that the bar (1) which is inserted into a sleeve (4) of the end piece (2) is positively connected to the end piece (2) by means of a non-separable connection between the fastening plate (5), on the one hand, and the sleeve (4), on the other hand.
2. A force transfer member according to claim 1, characterized in that the bar (1), on the one hand, and the end piece (2), on the other hand, are made of different materials.
3. A force transfer member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bar (1) is made of an electrically insulating material.
4. A force transfer member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end piece (2) and/or the fastening plate (5) is made of steel.
5. A force transfer member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bar (1) is made of plastic or a glass fiber reinforced plastic.
6. A force transfer member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bar (1) comprises an electrical resistance of 1 Ohm per 1 cm in the direction of the longitudinal extension thereof.
7. A force transfer member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a housing (10) is arranged on the end piece (2), which housing comprises electrical connection elements.
8. A force transfer member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bar (1) comprises an electrical conductor (11) which is arranged in the longitudinal direction in the interior of the bar and which is electrically insulated with respect to the end piece (2).
9. A use of a force transfer member according to one of the preceding claims as gauge rod for grooved rail tracks.
10. A method for manufacturing an electrically insulating force transfer member for receiving tensile and compression forces, characterized in that a recess (6) serving as a hollow is formed in the shell surface of a bar (1), wherein a fastening plate (5) is positively inserted into the recess (6), wherein the bar (1) is afterwards introduced into a sleeve (4) of an end piece (2) for the connection to a source of tensile and compression forces, and wherein the fastening plate (5) is then connected in a non-separable manner to the sleeve (4), such that the end piece (2) is positively connected to the bar (1).
11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the fastening plate (5) is welded, in particular laser-welded to the sleeve (4).
12. A method according to one of the claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the recess (6) is formed in the bar (1) by machining, in particular by milling.
13. A method according to one of the claims 10 through 12, characterized in that the bar (1) will be made electrically insulating.
14. A method according to one of the claims 10 through 13, characterized in that the bar (1) will be made of plastic.
15. A method according to one of the claims 10 through 14, characterized in that the end piece (2) and/or the fastening plate (5) will be made of steel.

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