TIE ASSEMBLY
A rail clamp for model railroad track has a base having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface has two spaced apart hooks, each hook having its open end facing away from the open end of the other hook. Male fasteners extend through holes formed in the base component, spaced apart from the hooks a suitable distance to fit a train rail, and each male fastener engages a corresponding female fastener. One of the bottom flanges of a standard train rail fits under the hook, and the other flange is clamped down by heads of the male fasteners. Two conductive sheets lie on the base, each trapped under a rail and between a hook and a pair of screws.
The invention relates to a model railroad track clamp for securing model railroad track rails, and in particular to a robust model railroad track clamp which ensures conductivity and/or isolation and rail alignment while also maintaining proper track gauge and physical appearance.
BACKGROUNDModel railroad track typically comprises two (or more) metal rails, in lengths that are joined together end-to-end, and mounted on transverse ties. The rails imitate the rails of a full-sized railroad, and typically have a flat bottom formed by a pair of flanges projecting to both sides of the rail, which sits on the tie and is held down to the tie. In commercially manufactured track, the ties are usually of plastic or other insulating material. The ties both maintain the spacing or “gauge” between the rails and provide the appearance of ties similar to those used on a full-sized railroad. The two rails may be used to carry electrical voltages or currents that supply power and/or control signals to the trains, and/or that detect the presence of a train for signaling purposes.
It is desirable for smooth running to ensure that the ends of adjacent lengths of rail are aligned accurately end-to-end, and that the gaps between the lengths are not too large. It is desirable to be able to connect adjacent lengths of rail electrically, but to have the option of isolating adjacent lengths of rail so as to divide the track into sections for power supply, signaling, and/or other control purposes.
Model railroad rail clamps are commonly used for securing and aligning the rails of model railway track. An example of a previously proposed model railroad track clamp is shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 326,296 to Hillman. That clamp has two metal pieces, each with a groove to receive one of the bottom flanges of a standard railroad rail. The two pieces are tightened together by horizontal screws passing below the rails, with the ends of two adjacent lengths of rail gripped between the two pieces of the clamps. Another example of a previously proposed model railroad track clamp, commercially available from Split-Jaw Products, Inc., has a single piece on one side of the rails, and two separate pieces, each tightened to the single piece by a respective screw, on the other side of the rails.
Often these rail clamps are made of extruded materials such as brass, aluminum or stainless steel, the process of extruding requires many steps to get to a finished product, and requires a large amount of material to obtain the required strength to secure and align the rails. Furthermore, the rail clamps occupy the space around and below the bottom flanges of the rails, and so require that a tie be removed or omitted in order to secure the rails. That can result in no parallel gauge being maintained at the rail joint, and a less than desirable appearance. Additionally, to achieve isolation of a rail one must also purchase separate rail clamps designed for this specific intended purpose.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a rail clamp which is cost effective to produce, aligns the rail linearly and provides the option of either electrical conductivity or isolation.
SUMMARYAn embodiment of a tie rail clamp assembly is described as having a base in which threaded bodies are secured into. The base bottom also contains geometric features used for securing the mating threaded fasteners. These threaded bodies along with hook like features secure the bottom of the four train rails. Additional pieces of conductive material are placed on top of the base in conjunction with each hook in order to facilitate electrical conductivity. An additional hole is provided for the attachment of electrical conductors. The additional piece of material also contains this hole. When the threaded bodies, the additional pieces of material, and the mating threaded fasteners are assembled to the base, a clamping mechanism is formed to secure rails, ensure conductivity, allow feeder connections, maintain gauge and create an esthetically pleasing look.
A further embodiment of a rail clamp assembly for a model railroad track to form a structural connection between rails and that facilitates electrical conductivity, and rail alignment between rails of a model railroad track, comprises a base component having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface having two spaced apart hooks formed thereon, each hook having its open end facing away from the open end of the other hook, two conductive sheets for disposing on the base component, each sheet extends from a hook to an edge of the base component so as to define a conductive layer for contact by a train rail, each conductive sheet attachable to the base component with mating male and female threaded fasteners, the male fasteners extending through holes formed in the base component and the conductive sheet at a location spaced apart from the hooks a sufficient distance to fit a train rail, each male fastener engaging a corresponding female fastener.
In one variation, the additional pieces of conductive material are omitted or removed from the top of the base in order to facilitate electrical isolation at the connection of the rails. Pieces of electrically insulating material of the same size may then be substituted, in order to ensure that both the electrically conductive and the electrically isolating rail joints have the same height.
In another variation, one of the additional pieces of conductive material is removed or omitted from the top of the base in order to facilitate electrical isolation, and the other additional piece of conductive material is present in order to facilitate electrical connection.
The additional piece of material may be added on top of the base in order to facilitate an extra strength, even if not being used for electrical conductivity or isolation.
The base member, and the additional piece of material, may be provided with an additional hole for an additional fastening member to secure the additional piece of material to the base member.
In another variation, a clamp that is not also a tie has only one hook and retaining members for the ends of successive lengths of only one rail.
In a further variation, a pair of clamps each have one hook, but the pair of clamps have connectors with which the clamps can be joined back to back to form a combined tie and clamp as described above.
Where the joints between lengths of the two rails do not align exactly, the combined clamp and tie may be positioned so that it clamps a joint in one rail, and is secured to the other rail to form a tie.
There is also provided a kit of parts containing at least the base member. The male threaded fasteners are preferably included. The female threaded fasteners are preferably also provided if those are not unitary with or already embedded in the base member. The additional piece of material, conducting or insulating, may also be included.
An embodiment of a kit includes several base members, fasteners, and both conductive and insulating additional pieces of material.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and constructions particularly shown.
An embodiment of a rail clamp assembly 6 is shown in
As shown in the embodiment of
The conductive material 8 is preferably a material having good conductivity, such as copper. The conductive material 8 may be flat. Alternatively, as shown in
The second embodiment of a rail clamp assembly 12 is shown in
In the second embodiment of
As best seen in
Additionally, the conductive material 8 preferably has a curled edge 23 that is the same shape as the inside of the hook feature 22, as shown in
An embodiment of a rail clamp assembly 20 is shown in
The second embodiment of a rail clamp assembly 21 is shown in
Alternatively, the electrically isolating configuration of
Referring now also to
While the invention has been disclosed with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous modifications, alterations, and changes to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the sphere and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
For example, in the interests of simplicity, it has been assumed in the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments that the two rails of the railroad track have joints level with each other, so that the described track clamp will clamp both joints. However, if the joints do not line up, one of the two halves of the separated clamp according to
Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it will have the full scope defined by the language of the following claims. Aspects thereof may also include combinations of the features recited in any two or more of the following claims.
Claims
1. A rail clamp assembly for a model railroad track, the assembly comprising:
- a base component having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a hook formed on the upper surface of the base component, the hook overhanging the base component upper surface and defining a groove having a lower surface flush with the base component upper surface;
- two holes formed in the base component, extending down from the upper surface, spaced apart from the hook so that the groove faces towards the holes and the holes are spaced apart parallel to the length of the groove; and
- a pair of male threaded fasteners having overhanging heads, extending into the holes formed in the base component, and engaging threads in or on the base;
- the hook and the heads of the threaded fasteners dimensioned to receive under and between them the flanges of a length of model railroad track rail.
2. The rail clamp assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a second hook formed on the upper surface of the base component, the second hook overhanging the upper surface and defining a second groove having a lower surface flush with the base component upper surface;
- two second holes formed in the base component, extending down from the upper surface, spaced apart from the second hook so that the second groove faces towards the second holes and the second holes are spaced apart parallel to the length of the second groove; and
- a pair of second threaded fasteners having overhanging heads and extending into the second holes formed in the base component and engaging threads in or on the base component;
- the second hook and the heads of the second threaded fasteners dimensioned to receive under and between them the flanges of a second length of model railroad track rail.
3. The rail clamp assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first and second hooks are on separate base component portions that are connected to one another by a web so as to cause the first and second hooks to be spaced apart by a distance dimensioned to maintain a pair of model railroad rails with their flanges seated in the first and second grooves spaced apart at a commercially available standard gauge.
4. The rail clamp assembly according to claim 3, wherein the commercially available standard gauge is 45 mm.
5. The rail clamp assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet of material overlying the base component upper surface between the hook and the two male threaded fasteners.
6. The rail clamp assembly according to claim 5, wherein the sheet of material is electrically conducting, and is operative to form an electrical connection between ends of two lengths of rail clamped between the groove and respective ones of the two male threaded fasteners.
7. The rail clamp assembly according to claim 5, wherein the sheet of material is formed with two holes through which the male threaded fasteners pass.
8. The rail clamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the threads in the base are formed in female fasteners located in the base member.
9. A pair of rail clamps, each rail clamp according to claim 1, each having a connector on a side away from which the hooks face, the connectors mating to secure the two rail clamps together with the upper surfaces of their base components coplanar and their hooks a desired distance apart.
10. A set of parts for a rail clamp assembly according to claim 1, comprising at least a base member and two male threaded fasteners.
11. A set of parts for a rail clamp assembly according to claim 10, further comprising a sheet of electrically conductive material having two holes and dimensioned to fit between the two male threaded fasteners and the hook.
12. A rail clamp assembly for a model railroad track, the assembly comprising: a base component having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface having two spaced apart hooks formed thereon, each hook having its open end facing away from the open end of the other hook, two conductive sheets for disposing on the base component, each sheet extends from a hook to an edge of the base component so as to define a conductive layer for contact by a train rail, each conductive sheet attachable to the base component with mating male and female threaded fasteners, the male fasteners extending through holes formed in the base component and the conductive sheet at a location spaced apart from the hooks a sufficient distance to fit a train rail, each male fastener engaging a corresponding female fastener.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 19, 2015
Publication Date: Sep 22, 2016
Inventor: Nico Corbo (Blairstown, NJ)
Application Number: 14/662,844