Rail mounted scanner

• US 5,660,470 A
• Filed: 02/06/1996
• Issued: 08/26/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Southern Technologies Corp.
• Original Assignee: Southern Technologies Corp.
• Inventors: Mench, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTIERREZ, DIEGO F
• Application Number:
  US08/596,063
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 374/121, 374/124, 374/141, 374/153, 374/208, 246/169 D, 246/169 A, 246/169 R, 246/DIG. 1, 246/DIG. 2, 33/1 Q, 33/286, 33/287, 33/651, 33/645
• US Class Current: 374/121
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/04 Detectors for indicating the overheating of axle bearings and the like, e.g. associated with the brake system for applying the brakes in case of a fault
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/041 Mountings in enclosures or in a particular environment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 246/01 Radiant energy devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 246/02 Thermal sensing devices

Abstract

A housing having a base having a cavity within which a temperature scanner module may be mounted and which is readily clamped to a rail of a railroad track so that a scanner may detect an over-heated wheel or wheel bearing. The base includes a rail clamp support portion for extending beneath the rail. A clamping assembly is positioned on the clamp support portion with resilient compressible bumpers sandwiched therebetween. The clamping assembly includes a first rail clamp and a pair of spaced apart arms between which a second rail clamp is positioned and adjustably attached to the first clamping assembly so as to secure the assembly to a rail. The arms of the clamping assembly terminate at locations above the upper surface of the clamp support portion and may be forcibly urged to apply a bending moment to the clamping assembly adjacent the cavity to pivot the clamping assembly on the bumpers relative to the base. The base may thus be angularly adjusted relative to the rail.

Claims

1. A housing for mounting a temperature scanner adjacent a rail of a railroad track comprising, a base member including a scanner mounting portion and a rail clamping portion extending from said scanner mounting portion, a rail clamp assembly positioned on said clamping portion having first clamp means and a pair of spaced apart arms, second clamp means removably and adjustably connected between said arms to said first clamp means, resiliently compressible bumper means, means for securing said rail clamp assembly and said bumper means to said rail clamping portion adjacent said scanner mounting portion with said arms extending away from said scanner mounting portion and with said bumper means disposed intermediate said first clamp means and said clamping portion, said arms having free ends spaced above said rail clamping portion, and means for connecting said free ends to said clamping portion and for applying a bending moment to said rail clamp assembly, to pivot said assembly on said bumper means relative to said rail clamping portion.

2. A housing as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for securing said rail clamp assembly and said bumper means to said rail clamping portion includes elongated members extending through said bumper means.

3. A housing as recited in claim 2, wherein said bumper means comprises elastomeric members.

4. A housing as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for connecting said free ends to said clamping portion and for applying a bending moment to said rail clamp assembly comprise threaded rod means extending through each arm adjacent the free ends and through said rail clamping portion, and means rotatably mounted on each said rod means and acting against the respective arm.

5. A housing as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for securing said rail clamp assembly and said bumper means to said rail clamping portion includes elongated members extending through said bumper means.

6. A housing as recited in claim 5, wherein said bumper means comprises elastomeric members.

7. A housing for mounting a temperature scanner adjacent a rail of a railroad track for detecting over-heated wheel or wheel bearing conditions of a railroad train, said rail having an upper flange on which a wheel of the train may roll and a bottom flange, said housing comprising a base member having a scanner mounting portion including a cavity for receiving said scanner and a clamp support portion including a support surface extending from said scanner mounting portion for receipt beneath said bottom flange of said rail when said scanner mounting portion is adjacent and outboard of said rail relative to a train, a first clamping member having a floor and a first rail clamping means disposed above said floor adjacent said scanner mounting portion for grasping an outboard edge of said bottom flange of said rail, and a pair of spaced apart arms extending remotely from said rail clamping means, said arms terminating in free ends disposed at an elevation above said floor, resiliently compressible bumper means disposed intermediate said floor and said support surface adjacent said scanner mounting portion, means for securing said first clamping member to said clamp support portion with said bumper means intermediate said floor and said support surface, means for fastening said arms to said clamp support portion with said free ends elevated above said support surface, second clamp means disposed intermediate said arms and adjustable toward said first clamp means for grasping an inboard edge of said bottom flange of said rail to thereby secure said base member to said rail, and means for forcing said free ends of said arms selectively towards and away from said support surface to compress and relieve compression of said bumper means so as to pivot said base member relative to said first and second clamping means for adjusting the angle of the base member relative to the rail.

8. A housing as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for securing said first clamping member to said clamp support portion comprises threaded rod means, and said bumper means comprise elastomeric washers disposed about said rod means.

9. A housing as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for fastening said arms to said clamp support portion includes threaded rod means extending through each arm adjacent the free ends and through said clamp support portion, and said means for forcing said free ends of said arms selectively comprises means rotatably mounted on each said rod and acting against the respective arm.

10. A housing as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for securing said first clamping member to said clamp support portion comprises threaded rod means, and said bumper means comprise elastomeric washers disposed about said rod means.

11. A housing as recited in claim 7, including a cover disposed on said base member for closing said cavity, said cover having a window through which said said scanner may view, a block removably positioned in said window having a reflective surface including a target formed thereon, in combination with fixture means supported on said rail and having a target sight member adjustably positioned vertically and horizontally to a selected scanning point, said sight member including an aperture for sighting said reflective surface to aid in adjusting the angle of said base member relative to said rail until said target is sighted through said aperture.