Fixed length clamp assembly

Abstract

The invention provides a clamp assembly for holding a set of seal elements to a rail, the assembly including an arm sub-assembly and a locking mechanism. The arm sub-assembly includes first and second arms which are pivotally attached by a pin. The first arm includes an elongate first link portion and a first engagement portion extending substantially transversely to the first link portion. The first engagement portion includes a first contact part which is adapted to engage a selected one of the set of seal elements. In addition, the second arm includes a second link portion and a second engagement portion extending substantially transversely to the second link portion. Also, the second engagement portion includes a second contact part adapted to engage another one of the set of seal elements.

1 . A clamp assembly for holding a set of rail seal elements to a rail comprising:
 an arm sub-assembly including
 a first arm; 
 a second arm; and 
 a pin pivotally coupling the first arm and the second arm; and 
   a locking mechanism;   wherein the locking mechanism is operable to lock the first arm in a fixed length clamp assembly relative to the second arm to provide a predetermined force to hold the set of rail seal elements against the rail.   
   
   
       2 . The clamp assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first arm includes a first arm link portion, a first arm engagement portion, and a first arm contact part; and   the second arm includes a second arm link portion; a second arm engagement portion; and a second arm contact part,   wherein the pin pivotally couples the first arm link portion and the second arm link portion.   
   
   
       3 . The clamp assembly of  claim 2  wherein a first end of the tube surrounds the first arm link portion and a second end of the tube surrounds the second link portion when the assembly is in an assembled state;
 such that the tube is operable to fix the first arm in the fixed position relative to the second arm by simultaneously covering, at least partially, both the first arm link portion and second arm link portion.   
   
   
       4 . The clamp assembly of  claim 3  wherein the tube further comprises a slot that extends longitudinally along the tube from a first end of the tube to a stop portion of the tube. 
   
   
       5 . The clamp assembly of  claim 4  wherein the distance from the stop portion to a second end of the tube is greater than the length of the second arm link portion and less than the length of the first arm link portion. 
   
   
       6 . The clamp assembly of  claim 4  wherein the slot receives the first arm engagement portion when the tube is slid relative to the first arm engagement portion. 
   
   
       7 . The clamp assembly of  claim 2  wherein the set of rail seal elements comprises a pair of rail seal elements. 
   
   
       8 . The clamp assembly of  claim 7  wherein the first arm contact part is adapted to engage one of the pair of rail seal elements, and the second arm contact part is adapted to engage a second of the pair of rail seal elements. 
   
   
       9 . The clamp assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first engagement portion extends substantially transversely from the first link portion. 
   
   
       10 . The clamp assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second engagement portion extends substantially transversely from the second link portion. 
   
   
       11 . The clamp assembly of  claim 2 , wherein an end of the tube includes an apparatus to enable urging of the tube in a longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       12 . The clamp assembly of  claim 11  wherein the apparatus comprises a protrusion that extends away from the axis of the tube. 
   
   
       13 . A clamp assembly comprising:
 an arm sub-assembly including
 a first arm having a first arm link portion, 
 a second arm having a second arm link portion, and 
 a pin for pivotally coupling the first arm link portion to the second arm link portion; and 
   a substantially straight tube,   wherein the tube is operable to lock the first arm in a fixed position relative to the second arm to provide a fixed length clamp assembly to hold a set of rail seal elements against a rail.   
   
   
       14 . A system for providing a travel path across a rail for surface traffic and for minimizing fouling of ballast comprising a set of rail seal elements and a plurality of fixed length clamp assemblies,
 wherein the fixed length clamp assembly includes:   an arm sub-assembly including
 a first arm having a first arm link portion; 
 a second arm having a second arm link portion; and 
 a pin for pivotally coupling the first arm link portion to the second arm link portion; and 
   a substantially straight tube operable to lock the first arm in a fixed length clamp assembly relative to the second arm to provide a predetermined force to hold the set of rail seal elements against the rail.