CA2441458C - Prefabricated rail panel for use in mine shaft railway systems - Google Patents
Prefabricated rail panel for use in mine shaft railway systems Download PDFInfo
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- CA2441458C CA2441458C CA2441458A CA2441458A CA2441458C CA 2441458 C CA2441458 C CA 2441458C CA 2441458 A CA2441458 A CA 2441458A CA 2441458 A CA2441458 A CA 2441458A CA 2441458 C CA2441458 C CA 2441458C
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- Prior art keywords
- rail
- base plate
- rails
- anchoring
- pair
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- Expired - Lifetime
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- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 72
- 241001669679 Eleotris Species 0.000 claims abstract description 48
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 8
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 abstract description 8
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 11
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910000760 Hardened steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000004323 axial length Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004880 explosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000010008 shearing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012421 spiking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
- E01B23/00—Easily dismountable or movable tracks, e.g. temporary railways; Details specially adapted therefor
- E01B23/02—Tracks for light railways, e.g. for field, colliery, or mine use
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
- E01B23/00—Easily dismountable or movable tracks, e.g. temporary railways; Details specially adapted therefor
- E01B23/02—Tracks for light railways, e.g. for field, colliery, or mine use
- E01B23/04—Fastening or joining means
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
- E01B3/00—Transverse or longitudinal sleepers; Other means resting directly on the ballastway for supporting rails
- E01B3/02—Transverse or longitudinal sleepers; Other means resting directly on the ballastway for supporting rails made from wood
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
- E01B9/00—Fastening rails on sleepers, or the like
- E01B9/38—Indirect fastening of rails by using tie-plates or chairs; Fastening of rails on the tie-plates or in the chairs
- E01B9/44—Fastening the rail on the tie-plate
- E01B9/46—Fastening the rail on the tie-plate by clamps
- E01B9/48—Fastening the rail on the tie-plate by clamps by resilient steel clips
- E01B9/483—Fastening the rail on the tie-plate by clamps by resilient steel clips the clip being a shaped bar
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Railway Tracks (AREA)
Abstract
A prefabricated rail panel for use in mine shaft railways includes a pair of conventional steel rails, a number of wooden sleepers and a series of rail mounting assemblies for coupling the rails to the sleepers. The rails are characterized by an upper rail surface and an enlarged laterally extending lower flange. Within the panel, the sleepers are arranged parallel to each other and transverse to the direction of longitudinal elongation of the rails. A rail mounting assembly is used to secure each selected one of the rails to an associated sleeper. The mounting plate assembly includes a rail fastening plate formed having a metal base plate portion and a pair of anchoring flanges. The anchoring flanges extend upwardly from an upper surface of the base plate in a generally mirror arrangement and define a longitudinally extending aperture extending between the flange and the upper surface of the base plate. Anchor clips are insertable in each longitudinal aperture to secure a selected rail to the rail fastening plate. A series of bore holes are formed through the base plate at spaced locations. Threaded fasteners are inserted through the bore holes and into threaded engagement with the sleeper, to thus secure the base plate in place. The threaded fasteners have a size selected to provide the rail panel with sufficient longitudinal stability, whereby the rails do not significantly deflect longitudinally and/or laterally relative to each other if the panel is suspended vertically as it is lowered down a mine shaft.
Description
PREFABRICATED RAIL PANEL FOR USE IN MINE SHAFT RAILWAY SYSTEMS
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a prefabricated rail panel and more particularly, a rail panel in which a pair of rails are each pre-secured to a number of wooden sleepers by an associated rail mounting plate assembly which is configured to provide the rail panel with sufficient longitudinal stability to enable it to be lowered vertically down a mine shaft, without significant deflection of the rails relative to each other.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous types of fasteners have been proposed far securing railway rails to rail ties or sleepers. In the conventional laying of railway track, a series of elongated rectangular wooden sleepers are positioned transversely as a longitudinally extending array along the rail bed. The sleepers are held against movement by infilling thereabout with a suitable ballast material, such as crushed rock or gravel. A pair of steel railway rails having an upper rail surface and a lower portion which flares laterally outwardly as a support flange are positioned in a parallel arrangement along the upper surface of the sleepers. The rails are secured in place relative to each other on the sleepers by driving rail spikes which have an enlarged head into the wooden sleepers, so that the heads of the spikes overlap and engage with the rail support flange.
Various third parties have proposed substituting mechanical clips for rail spikes in securing railway rails to sleepers. The clips are configured for placement by automated rail laying machinery, and act in conjunction with mounting plates which are presecured to the rail ties. The plates, which for example are disclosed in United States Patent No.
4,141,500 to C'rragnani are typically formed from a stamped sheet of 2 to 4 mm thick steel.
Conventionally, the mounting plates are typically secured to wooden sleepers lay driving rail spikes through holes or slots formed in the plate prior to the attachment of the rails.
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a prefabricated rail panel and more particularly, a rail panel in which a pair of rails are each pre-secured to a number of wooden sleepers by an associated rail mounting plate assembly which is configured to provide the rail panel with sufficient longitudinal stability to enable it to be lowered vertically down a mine shaft, without significant deflection of the rails relative to each other.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous types of fasteners have been proposed far securing railway rails to rail ties or sleepers. In the conventional laying of railway track, a series of elongated rectangular wooden sleepers are positioned transversely as a longitudinally extending array along the rail bed. The sleepers are held against movement by infilling thereabout with a suitable ballast material, such as crushed rock or gravel. A pair of steel railway rails having an upper rail surface and a lower portion which flares laterally outwardly as a support flange are positioned in a parallel arrangement along the upper surface of the sleepers. The rails are secured in place relative to each other on the sleepers by driving rail spikes which have an enlarged head into the wooden sleepers, so that the heads of the spikes overlap and engage with the rail support flange.
Various third parties have proposed substituting mechanical clips for rail spikes in securing railway rails to sleepers. The clips are configured for placement by automated rail laying machinery, and act in conjunction with mounting plates which are presecured to the rail ties. The plates, which for example are disclosed in United States Patent No.
4,141,500 to C'rragnani are typically formed from a stamped sheet of 2 to 4 mm thick steel.
Conventionally, the mounting plates are typically secured to wooden sleepers lay driving rail spikes through holes or slots formed in the plate prior to the attachment of the rails.
The applicant has appreciated that conventional anchoring systems and methods for securing railway rails to sleepers are poorly suited for implementation in the construction of subterranean railway systems which are used in mine tunnels and underground mining operations. In particular, because it is often necessary to construct mine shaft railway systems several hundred thousands of feet below ground surface, it is necessary to vertically lower not only the railway materials, but also any equipment used in its installation vertically down a mine shaft by either crane or elevator. Often physical size limitations of the mine tunnel, the mine shaft, and/or or the shaft elevator make it impossible to lower conventional automated rail line laying equipment into the mine shaft. As such, conventional subterranean railway systems are most often constructed by manually lowering into position individual sleepers and rails into the mine tunnels, and thereafter manually or pneumatically spiking the rails in place using conventional rail ties. The manual insulation of rail lines by driving individual metal spikes into the sleepers is often cumbersome within smaller diameter mine tunnels.
Furthermore if methane or other explosive gases are present in the mine tunnel, the manual driving of rail spikes has the potential to produce sparks which could potentially lead to underground explosions within the mine.
~UMMAIZY OF THE INVENTION
To facilitate the construction of mine shaft railway systems, the applicant has considered pre-assembling rail panels above ground using conventional rail spikes and/or conventional clips and mounting plates to anchor the rails to the individual sleepers, and thereafter vertically lowering the elongated rail panels down the mine shaft for use in a specific mine tunnel. The applicant has appreciated, however, that the stresses placed upon such prefabricated rail panels when vertically suspended may partially loosen and/or pull conventional rail spikes from the individual sleepers, thereby permitting the rail to deflect either longitudinally or laterally relative to each other. The deflection of the rails out of pai°allel longitudinal and lateral alignment presents a unique problem in mine shaft railway construction, in that any deformed or misaligned rails have to be either manually realigned on site within the mine tunnel, or the panels would have to be again returned above ground for realignment using suitable rail positioning equipment.
Accordingly, to at least partially overcome some of the disadvantages encountered in prior art in mine shaft railway construction, the applicant has appreciated a prefabricated rail panel construction which is configured to enable its vertical lowering down a mine shaft without significant deflection of the rails longitudinally and/or laterally relative to each other. The rail panel includes a pair of conventional steel rails, a number of wooden sleepers and a series of rail mounting plate assemblies for coupling the rails to the sleepers. The rails are characterized by an upper rail surface along which the railcars move and an enlarged laterally extending lower flange used in the support of the rail or the sleepers. The wooden sleepers are preferably wooden and are fashioned into a generally rectangular shape and provide the principal underlying support surface for the rails. Within the panel, the sleepers are arranged generally parallel to each other and in an orientation transverse to the direction of longitudinal elongation of both the panel and rails, in a conventional orientation.
In the prefabricated rail panel construction, a rail mounting plate assembly is used to secure a selected one of the rails to an associated sleeper. Each of the mounting plate assemblies includes a rail fastening plate which, as will be described, is formed having a metal base plate portion and a pair of anchoring flanges. A series of bore holes are formed through the base plate at spaced locations. Lag bolts or other suitable threaded fasteners are inserted through the bore holes and into threaded engagement with the wooden sleeper, to thus secure the base plate to the upper surface of the associated sleeper. The threaded fasteners most preferably have a size which is selected to provide the rail panel with sufficient longitudinal stability, whereby the rails do not significantly deflect longitudinally and/or laterally relative to each other if the panel is suspended vertically with the rails positioned in a generally vertical orientation. With the present invention, the prefabricated rail panel may thus be vertically lowered down a mine shaft without concern that the rails and sleepers will shift out of the prefabricated parallel alignment.
The anchoring flanges on the rail mounting plate are provided in an orientation extending upwardly from an upper surface of the base plate. Preferably, the anchoring flanges are provided in a generally mirror arrangement about the lateral center of the base plate and are spaced from each other by a distance which is marginally greater than the width of the lower rail support flange. The flanges each extend from a respective innermost edge spaced towards the lateral center of the plate, upwardly and outwardly towards opposing lateral plate ends to an outer edge.
The anchor flanges and the base plate thus define a generally longitudinally extending apertures extending between the flange and the upper surface of the base plate.
Anchor clips, such as those disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,141,500, are most preferably insertable in each longitudinal aperture to secure a selected rail to the rail fastening plate. In a simplified construction, each clip includes a first portion which is adapted to be received in a selected aperture, and a second other portion which is provided to overlie and engage an adjacent portion of the rail flange when the first clip portion is so positioned, thereby securing the rail in place in a friction fit.
The prefabricated rail panels most preferably are constructed above ground, although assembly may occur in subterranean environments where, for exarnple, larger mine tunnels exist, such as in salt mines and the like. As with conventional railway track construction, the sleepers are initially arranged as a longitudinally extending array, with the individual sleepers positioned in an orientation generally parallel to each other and with their elongated length extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the panel. Following the positioning of the sleepers in their parallel arrangement, a pair of rail fastening plates are mounted to the upper surface of each sleeper, towards each sleeper end. The rail fastening plates are physically coupled to the sleeper by inserting the threaded fasteners or lag bolts through the bore holes formed in the base plate.
The rail fastening plates are positioned on the sleepers so that the lateral centers of the fastening plates secured to each sleeper end are longitudinally aligned with the lateral centers of the rail fastening plates secured to the next adjacent ends of the adjacent sleepers.
Following the securement of the rail fastening plates, each of the rails are positioned over the aligned lateral centers of the rail fastening plates, and with the rails in a laterally parallel arrangement. The rails t _._ ~_. ____,. .._-.. "_.. _.- ~-.~.~n _ -~~ ~.~.. _~ _~~ ~ ~_~_. ~_a.~, ~_«_~m...,r_ ______ . _~____,d.~__~z~~_ are coupled to each associated rail fastening plate by positioning an anchor clip partially into each longitudinal aperture, so that the clip engages both the rail and the anchoring flange.
Although not essential, the longitudinal length of the panel preferably corresponds approximately to that of each rail. The prefabricated rail panel has a longitudinal length selected to enable it to be physically lowered down a vertical mine shaft for use within a particular mine tunnel. Most preferably, the rail panel has a length selected at between about 3 and 20 meters, and more preferably about 5 and 15 meters, depending upon the rail gauge to be used.
Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention resides in a pxefabricated rail panel for use in a mine-shaft railway system, said panel being elongated in a longitudinal direction and including, a pair of spaced apart parallel rails, each said rail extending in the longitudinal direction and including a rail surface, and a laterally extending bottom support flange, a plurality of generally rectangular wooden sleepers, said sleepers being arranged generally parallel to each other a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails, a rail mounting assembly securing a selected one of said rails to an associated sleeper, the mounting assembly comprising, a rail fastening plate comprising, a metal base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said plate extending in a lateral direction from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, first and second anchoring flanges, each said flange extending in a generally lateral direction from a respective first edge to a respective second edge and curving upwardly over said upper surface of said base plate to define a generally longitudinally extending aperture therebetween, the first and second edges of said first and second anchoring flanges being secured to said upper surface of said base plate in a substantially mirror conf~xguration, the first edge of said first anchoring flange defining first longitudinally oriented vertically projecting shoulder, the first edge of the second anchoring flange defining a second longitudinally extending shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by a distance marginally greater than a lateral width of the rail support flange, whereby engagement of said support flange with said first and second shoulders assists in orienting said selected rail relative to said associated sleeper, a first pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed through said base plate spaced towards said first lateral end, and a second pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed through said base plate spaced towards said second lateral end, a pair of clips having a first portion sized for fitted insertion into a selected longitudinal aperture defined by the farst and second anchoring flanges, and a second portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said rail support flange to fixedly retain said selected rail with said rail support flange located between said farst and second shoulders, a plurality of externally threaded fasteners, a selected one of said fasteners being inserted through each of said bore holes to threadedly engage said associated sleeper and coupling said base plate to said associated sleeper with said lower surface in juxtaposed contact therewith, said threaded fasteners having a size selected to provide the rail panel with longitudinal stability when said rail panel is suspended with said rails oriented. in a generally vertical orientation.
In another aspect, the present invention resides in a mine-shaft rail-way system for use in subterranean railways, the system comprising a plurality of prefabricated rail panels, each prefabricated rail panel including, a pair of parallel spaced apart rails, each said rail extending in a longitudinal direction and including an upper rail surface and a laterally extending bottom support flange, a plurality of wooden sleepers, each sleeper having an elongated top surface extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails, a plurality of rail mounting assemblies, each rail mounting assembly securing a selected one of said rails to an associated sleeper and further comprising, a generally planar base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said plate extending from a first lateral end to a second lateral end and having a width in said longitudinal direction substantially corresponding to a width of said top surface, the base plate further including a first pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed therethrough adjacent to the first lateral end, and a second pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed therethrough adjacent to said second lateral end, a pair of anchoring flanges, the anchoring flanges being each coupled to said upper surface of said base plate in a substantially mirror arrangement and extending in a generally lateral direction as an upwardly curved member from a respective first edge to a respective second edge, each of said first and second edges being joined to said base plate along a substantially continuous weld seam, and wherein each said anchoring flange and said upper surface of said base plate define a respective generally longitudinally extending aperture therebetween, a first one of said anchoring flanges defining first Longitudinally oriented vertically projecting shoulder, the second other one of said anchoring flanges defining a second longitudinally extending shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by a distance marginally greater than a lateral width of the rail support flange, whereby the engagement of said rail support flange with said first and second shoulders assists in orienting said selected one of said rails relative to said associated sleeper, a pair of clips, each clip having a first portion sized for fitted insertion in the aperture of a respective one of said anchoring flanges, and a second portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said rail support flange adjacent thereto to fixedly retain said rail in a position on said upper surface with said rail support flange located between said first and second shoulders, a plurality of threaded lag bolts, each said lag bolt being inserted through an associated one of said bore holes to threadedly engage said associated sleeper and secure said base plated thereto with said lower surface in juxtaposed contact with said elongated top surface.
In a further aspect, the present invention resides in a prefabricated rail panel for use in subterranean mine-shaft railways, the panel having an overall length selected at between about 5 and 10 meters and further comprising, first and second parallel spaced apart rails, each of said rails being elongated in a longitudinal direction and including a rail surface and a laterally extending bottom support flange, a plurality of wooden sleepers, each sleeper being generally rectangular in shape and having an elongated top surface extending in a direction normal to the longitudinal direction of the rails, a pair of rail mounting assemblies securing said rails to each of said sleepers, each of the rail mounting assemblies including, a rail fastening plate comprising, a base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said plate having a thickness selected at between about 1 and 3 cm and extending from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, a pair of farst and second anchoring flanges coupled to said upper surface of said base plate, the anchor flanges being provided in a substantially mirror arrangement about a lateral center of said base plate and each oriented in a generally laterally extending direction as an upwardly curved member extending from a respective first edge spaced towards said lateral center to a respective second edge remote therefrom, wherein each of said anchoring flanges and said upper surface of said base plate define a respective generally longitudinally extending aperture therebetween, and said first anchoring flange defining first longitudinally oriented vertically projecting shoulder, said second anchoring flanges defining a second longitudinally extending shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by a distance marginally greater than the lateral width of the rail support flange, whereby the engagement of said support flange with said first and second shoulders assists in orienting said selected one of said rails in alignment over said longitudinal center of said base plate, and a first pair of bore holes formed through said base plate adjacent to the first lateral end, and a second pair of bore holes formed through said base plate adjacent to the second lateral end, a plurality of threaded bolts, a selected one of said bolts being inserted through each said bore hole to threadedly engage an associated one of said sleepers to secure said base plate thereto with said lower surface in juxtaposed contact with said elongated top surface of said associated sleeper, the bolts having a size selected to provide the panel with longitudinal stability when said rail panel is positioned with said rails oriented in a generally vertical orientation, first and second clips, each of said clips having a first portion sized for fitted insertion into an aperture defined by said first and second anchoring flanges, respectively, and a second portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said support flange when said rail is aligned with said lateral center of said base plate to fixedly retain said rail in a position on said upper surface with said support flange located between said first and second shoulders.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAVVIN(1S
Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a partial perspective top view of a prefabricated rail panel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure ~ illustrates an enlarged view of a rail mounting assembly used in securing one of the rails of the rail panel shown in Figure 1 to its associated sleeper;
Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the rail, rail mounting assembly and sleeper shown in Figure 2 taken along line 3-3';
Figure 4 illustrates a rail fastening plate used in the rail mounting assembly of Figure 2;
and Figure 5 illustrates a schematic side view of the rail fastening plate shown in Figure 4.
Reference is first made to Figure 1 which illustrates partially a prefabricated rail panel 10 for use in a mine shaft railway system. Although only partially shown, the prefabricated rail panel 10 is provided with a typical longitudinal length of between about 5 and 15 meters, and more preferably about 5 and 10 meters. As will be described, the final length of the rail panel 10 is selected to permit it to be lowered vertically down a mine shaft for installation in a subterranean mine railway system. The rail panel 10 includes steel rails 12a, l 2b, a number of wooden sleepers 14 and a number of rail mounting assemblies 16, each used to secure a selected one of the rails l2a,l2b to an associated sleeper 14. In the prefabricated rail panel 10, the rails 12a,12b are secured to the sleepers 14 in an arrangement parallel to each other and the longitudinal direction of the panel 10.
The sleepers 14 have a conventional generally rectangular wood construction and present a generally flat elongated top and bottom surface 18,20 (Figure 3). Typically, the sleepers 14 have a length selected at between 0.75 arid 2 meters, and a width and height of between about 12 and 20 cm. The sleepers 14 are shown best in Figure 1 as being arranged in the panel 10 in an orientation generally parallel to each other, with their elongated rectangular length oriented in a direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails 12a,12b.
The rails 12a,12b are of a conventional design, and as shown best in Figures 2 and 3 include an upper rail surface 22 along which rail cars and engines move, and a lower laterally extending support flange 24 which projects laterally beyond each side of the rail surface 22.
Each of the rails 12a,12b are secured to the sleepers 14 in the panel 10 in the parallel spaced arrangement by a respective rail mounting assembly 16. As shown best in Figures 2 and 3, each rail mounting plate assembly 16 includes a rail fastening plate 28, a pair of fastening clips 30a,30b which as will be described act in conjunction with the fastening plate 28 to secure the selected rail 12a, and four externally threaded lag bolts 32a,32b,32c,32d.
The rail fastening plate 28 is shown best in Figures 2 to 5 as including a generally rectangular base plate 34 and a pair of anchor flanges 36a,36b. The base plate 34 is formed of iron or steel and includes substantially parallel planar upper and lower surfaces 38,40. The base plate 34 has a thickness selected at between about 1 and 3 em and preferably about 2 cm, providing the plate 34 with sufficient structural integrity as to support the rails 12a,12b and panel in a vertically suspended position. The base plate 34 is elongated in a lateral direction from a distance of between about 25 to 50 cm, and most preferably has a width ~U
(Figure 4) in the longitudinal direction of the rails between a first side 50 and a second side 52 which is either approximately either equal to or marginally less than the lateral width of the top surface 18 of the sleeper 14. Depending upon the sleeper configuration, the width W is typically selected at between approximately 10 and 20 cm.
As shown best in Figure 4, two pairs of bore holes 42a,42b,44a,44b are formed vertically through the base plate 34 extending from the upper plate surface 38 through the lower plate surface 40. The bore holes 42a,42b are spaced towards a first lateral end 46 of the plate 34, with the bore holes 44a,44b being spaced towards the other second lateral end 48.
As will be described, the bore holes 42a,42b,44a,44b have a size selected to receive therein the threaded ends 51 (Figure 3) of a respective lag bolt 32a,32b,32c,32d in the coupling of the rail fastening plate 28 to a sleeper 14. Preferably, the bore holes 42a,44a adjacent to the longitudinal side j2 are located at respective centers which are spaced from the longitudinal side 52 of the base plate 34 a distance selected approximately 20 to 30% of the overall plate width W.
Bore holes 42b,44b are similarly located from the longitudinal side 50 by a distance approximately 20 to 30% of the width W of the base plate 34.
As shown best in Figures 4 and 5, the anchoring flanges 36a,36b are each provided as a separate bent strip of iron or steel 0.5 to 1.5 cm thick which is secured to the upper surface 38 of the base plate 34 by weld seams 56,58. The anchoring flanges 36a,36b are provided on the base plate 34 in a mirror arrangement, and are spaced from the lateral center line of the plate C-Cp (Figure 4). The flanges 36a,36b are spaced apart a distance selected so that the minimum spacing between the anchoring flanges 36a,36b is marginally greater than the maximum lateral width of the rail support flange 24. Each of the anchoring flanges 36a,36b is preferably formed having a width W in the longitudinal direction of the rails 12 which is selected at between approximately 35 and 50% the width W of the base plate 34, and more preferably between about 40 and 55% of the width W of the base plate 34. As seen best in Figure 5, the anchoring flanges 36a,36b each extend from a respective innermost farst longitudinally extending edge 60 spaced closest towards the centre line C-Ci, outwardly towards an outer longitudinally aligned second edge 62. The flanges 36a,36b curve in a mirror arrangement upwardly from the edge 60 and towards the ends 46,48 respectively over the upper surface 38 of the base plate 34 with the curvature of each anchoring flange 36a,36b defining a generally longitudinally extending aperture 66a,66b respectively extending between each respective flange 36a,36b and the upper surface 38 of the base plate 34. The flanges 36a,36b are coupled to the base plate 34 by the weld seams 56,58. For enhanced structural integrity, the weld seams 56,58 are preferably substantially continuous along each of the flange edges 60,62. Figures 3 and 5 illustrate best the first longitudinal edge 60 of each of the anchoring flanges 36a,36b as projecting vertically upwardly from the upper surface 38 of the base plate 34.
Figure 5 shows best the anchoring flanges 36a,36b as being bent so as to present a respective generally horizontally extending portion 68 which is spaced above the upper plate surface 38 towards the second edge 62. The horizontally extending portion 68 of each anchor flange 36a,36b may be provided as a flat or trough-shaped saddle, which as will be described, assists in the positioning of a fastening clip 30 securing the selected rail 12a to the rail fastening plate 28.
As shown best in Figure 4, each of the bore holes 42a,42b, and 44a,44b are provided through the base plate 34 at locations spaced laterally between the outer second edge 62 of each respective anchor flange 36a,36b and the adjacent first and second lateral ends 46,48 of the base plate 34.
The inner edges 60 of each anchoring flange 36a,36b thus defines a longitudinally oriented and extending shoulder spaced from each other a marginal distance greater than the lateral width of the rail support flange 24. It is to be appreciated that engagement between the rail support flange 24 and the vertically projecting shoulders of the anchoring flanges 36a,36b assists in orienting the rail 12 relative to the rail fastening plate 28 and its associated sleeper 14.
The lag bolts 32 used to couple the base plate 34 to an associated sleeper 14, with the lower plate surface 40 resting upon and juxtaposed with the top sleeper surface 18 are shown best with reference to Figure 3. In addition to the externally threaded end 51 which is sized for fitted insertion through a bore hole 42,44, the bolts 32 further include enlarged bolt head 70. The bolt head 70 has a head diameter which is selected greater than the diameter of the bore holes 42,44 to prevent its movement therethrough. It is to be appreciated that each of the lag bolts 32a,32b,32c,32d are selected having a size which provides the prefabricated rail panel 10 with sufficient structural integrity to enable the rail panel 10 to be suspended with the rail 12a,12b in a vertical orientation, without shearing or failure of the bolts 32a,32b,32c,32d. The lag bolts 32 are formed from hardened steel and have an exterior thread configuration and axial length selected so that when fully inserted through a selected bore hole 42,44, the threaded ends 51 of the bolt 32 (Figure 3) extends at least half of the distance, and z~ore preferably about three-quarters the distance, into the thickness of the sleeper 14 between its top and bottom surfaces 18,20.
Figures 2 and 3 show best the fastening clips 30a,34b which are used to secure the selected rails 12a between the anchor flanges 36a,36b of one of a longitudinally aligned array of rail fastening plates 28. Each of the rail fastening clips 30 is formed from a bent 1 to 2 cm diameter steel rod. The clips 30 include a first straight end portion 76 which has a complementary size selected to permit its sliding insertion into an aperture 66 in complementary fit. The first straight end portion 76 of the clip 30 merges with a second bent portion 78. The second bent portion 78 is provided in the form of a first reverse bend which curves initially upwardly and then back downwardly to a lower bight 80 which., in assembly, physically overlies and engages the rail support flange 24. The second bent portion 78 merges with a third bent portion 82 which is provided as a second reverse bend which curves upwardly and then downwardly so as to overlie the flange saddle 62. then the first straight end portion 76 of the clip 30 is inserted within the aperture 60, the second bent portion overlies the rail support flange 24 and the third bent portion 82 overlies and engages the saddle 68. In such position, the engagement between the saddle 68 and the third end portion 82 acts to bias the bight 80 of the second bent portion 78 downwardly against the support flange .24, to provide a retaining pressure thereon.
Although Figures 2 and 3 illustrate an anchor clip 30 having two reverse bends 78,82 and which are adapted to engage not only the aperture 66, but the anchor flange saddle 68, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not so limited. Other configurations of rail anchoring clips may also be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In the construction of a subterranean rail system, a number of prefabricated rail panels 10 are preferably assembled above ground. To assemble each rail panel 10, initially a pair of rail fastener plates 28 are positioned on the elongated top surface 18 of each sleeper 14, adjacent to each sleeper end 98,99 (Figure 1). The rail fastening plates 28 are secured in the position shown in Figure 1 by aligning the elongated width W of the fastening plate 28 with the wooden sleeper 14 and inserting and tightening the lag bolts 32a,32b,32c,32d through each respective bore hole 42a,42b,44a,44b, until the lag bolt heads 70 are brought into bearing contact with the upper surface 38 of the base plate 34.
Once fastening plates 28 are secured adjacent to each of the ends 98,99 of each sleeper 14, a number of sleepers 14 are positioned as an elongated longitudinally extending array. The sleepers 14 are provided in a parallel spaced arrangement, with the center line C-C~, (Figure 4) of each the fastening plates 28 being substantially longitudinally aligned with that of the plates 28 secured to the next adjacent sleeper ends. Each rail I2a,l2b is thereafter positioned on one of the longitudinally aligned sets of fastening plates 28, so that the support flange 24 of each rail 12 locates between the anchoring flanges 36a,36b, and in general alignment with the center line C-CI thereof. The rails 12a,12b are thus positioned parallel to each other, with each longitudinal end (not shown) of the rail being substantially longitudinally co-terminus.
With the rails I 2a,12b so positioned, a pair of anchor clips 30a,30b are coupled to each fastening plate 28 in a position overlying the support flange 24 to secure the selected rail 12 thereto.
Figure 4 shows best the insertion of the clips 30a,30b into the apertures 66a,66b in securing the rails 12a,12b to each selected rail fastening plate 28. The first end portion 76 of a first one of the clips 30a is inserted into aperture 66a from the first downstream longitudinal side 50 of each plate 34. With the insertion of the first end portion 76 into the aperture 66a, the second portion 78 of the clip 30a is moved so that the bight 80 is brought into bearing contact with the adjacent support flange 24. Simultaneously, the third end portion 82 of the clip 30a is moved into engagement with the saddle 68 of anchor flange 36a, to bias the second portion 78 and lower bight 80 downwardly towards the base plate surface 38.
The second other anchor clip 30b of each rail mounting assembly 16 is inserted into the aperture 66b from the second longitudinal side 52 and in the opposite longitudinal direction from the insertion of clip 30a into aperture 66a. In this regard, the first straight end portion 76 of clip 30b is inserted into the aperture 66b from the second side 52 of the base plate 34, and the second portion 78 of the clip 30b is moved so that the bight 80 thereof is in engagement with the support flange 24. The third end portion 82 of the clip 30b is moved in engaging contact with the saddle 68 of the anchor flange 36b, to bias the lower bight 80 of the clip 30b downwardly against the rail 12 in the similar manner as with clip 30a.
Following the securement of the selected rails 12a, l2b to each of the sleepers I 4 by the associated rail mounting assemblies 16, the prefabricated rail panel 12 may be lowered into the mine. The panel 10 is lowered by means of a mine hoist (nat slhown~ in a vertically suspended orientation in which the rails 12a,12b are oriented vertically. Because of the threaded coupling of the base plate 34 to the sleepers 14, the lag bolts 32 do not loosen from their fastening position under the weight of the panel 10. t~s a result, the rail panel 10 is maintained as a rigid structure, and deflection or movement of the rails 12a,12b longitudinally and/or laterally relative to each other is substantially reduced. Once the rail panel 10 has been lowered into a mine tunnel where the railway system is to be completed, it rnay be wheeled or dragged into place in an abutting end-to-end relationship with a next adjacent rail panel. The longitudinal ends of adjacent rails I2 may be welded or bolted together by conventional rail tie coupling brackets, eliminating the need to secure the rails 12 with spikes within the mine tunnel itself It is to be appreciated that where the panels 10 are to be installed in a subterranean environment, the absence of frost heave lessens the need to provide ballast between the panel sleepers 14.
It is to be appreciated that the present construction avoids the disadvantages which exist whereby conventional rail spikes are used to couple rails either directly or through a mounting plate to a sleeper. Because of the threaded configuration of the lag bolts 32 used in the securement of the rails and/or fastening plates 28 to the sleepers 14, when the panel 10 is vertically oriented, as for example, upon lowering vertically down a mine shaft by means of a mine hoist or winching system, the weight of the panel 10 does not result in the bolts 32 being partially pulled or withdrawn from the sleepers 14. This in turn prevents the rails 12a,12b from deflecting or shifting out of longitudinal andior lateral parallel alignment relative to each other.
As such, the panels 10 may be used in the closer confines within the mine draft tunnels without concern of the rails 12a,12b moving out of the correct parallel spacing and orientation, and without necessitating the repositioning of the whole panel 10.
Although the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrate the rail fastening plate 28 as having two pairs of bore holes 42a,42b and 44a,44b adjacent each of the respective lateral ends 46,48 of the plate 28, the invention is not so limited. It is to be appreciated that a fewer or greater number of bore holes may be provided in different configurations selected to prevent shifting of the base plate 34 relative to the sleepers 14 under longitudinal load forces.
Although the disclosure describes and illustrates various preferred embodiments, the invention is not so limited. Many modifications and variations will now occur to persons skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference may be had to the appended claims.
Furthermore if methane or other explosive gases are present in the mine tunnel, the manual driving of rail spikes has the potential to produce sparks which could potentially lead to underground explosions within the mine.
~UMMAIZY OF THE INVENTION
To facilitate the construction of mine shaft railway systems, the applicant has considered pre-assembling rail panels above ground using conventional rail spikes and/or conventional clips and mounting plates to anchor the rails to the individual sleepers, and thereafter vertically lowering the elongated rail panels down the mine shaft for use in a specific mine tunnel. The applicant has appreciated, however, that the stresses placed upon such prefabricated rail panels when vertically suspended may partially loosen and/or pull conventional rail spikes from the individual sleepers, thereby permitting the rail to deflect either longitudinally or laterally relative to each other. The deflection of the rails out of pai°allel longitudinal and lateral alignment presents a unique problem in mine shaft railway construction, in that any deformed or misaligned rails have to be either manually realigned on site within the mine tunnel, or the panels would have to be again returned above ground for realignment using suitable rail positioning equipment.
Accordingly, to at least partially overcome some of the disadvantages encountered in prior art in mine shaft railway construction, the applicant has appreciated a prefabricated rail panel construction which is configured to enable its vertical lowering down a mine shaft without significant deflection of the rails longitudinally and/or laterally relative to each other. The rail panel includes a pair of conventional steel rails, a number of wooden sleepers and a series of rail mounting plate assemblies for coupling the rails to the sleepers. The rails are characterized by an upper rail surface along which the railcars move and an enlarged laterally extending lower flange used in the support of the rail or the sleepers. The wooden sleepers are preferably wooden and are fashioned into a generally rectangular shape and provide the principal underlying support surface for the rails. Within the panel, the sleepers are arranged generally parallel to each other and in an orientation transverse to the direction of longitudinal elongation of both the panel and rails, in a conventional orientation.
In the prefabricated rail panel construction, a rail mounting plate assembly is used to secure a selected one of the rails to an associated sleeper. Each of the mounting plate assemblies includes a rail fastening plate which, as will be described, is formed having a metal base plate portion and a pair of anchoring flanges. A series of bore holes are formed through the base plate at spaced locations. Lag bolts or other suitable threaded fasteners are inserted through the bore holes and into threaded engagement with the wooden sleeper, to thus secure the base plate to the upper surface of the associated sleeper. The threaded fasteners most preferably have a size which is selected to provide the rail panel with sufficient longitudinal stability, whereby the rails do not significantly deflect longitudinally and/or laterally relative to each other if the panel is suspended vertically with the rails positioned in a generally vertical orientation. With the present invention, the prefabricated rail panel may thus be vertically lowered down a mine shaft without concern that the rails and sleepers will shift out of the prefabricated parallel alignment.
The anchoring flanges on the rail mounting plate are provided in an orientation extending upwardly from an upper surface of the base plate. Preferably, the anchoring flanges are provided in a generally mirror arrangement about the lateral center of the base plate and are spaced from each other by a distance which is marginally greater than the width of the lower rail support flange. The flanges each extend from a respective innermost edge spaced towards the lateral center of the plate, upwardly and outwardly towards opposing lateral plate ends to an outer edge.
The anchor flanges and the base plate thus define a generally longitudinally extending apertures extending between the flange and the upper surface of the base plate.
Anchor clips, such as those disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,141,500, are most preferably insertable in each longitudinal aperture to secure a selected rail to the rail fastening plate. In a simplified construction, each clip includes a first portion which is adapted to be received in a selected aperture, and a second other portion which is provided to overlie and engage an adjacent portion of the rail flange when the first clip portion is so positioned, thereby securing the rail in place in a friction fit.
The prefabricated rail panels most preferably are constructed above ground, although assembly may occur in subterranean environments where, for exarnple, larger mine tunnels exist, such as in salt mines and the like. As with conventional railway track construction, the sleepers are initially arranged as a longitudinally extending array, with the individual sleepers positioned in an orientation generally parallel to each other and with their elongated length extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the panel. Following the positioning of the sleepers in their parallel arrangement, a pair of rail fastening plates are mounted to the upper surface of each sleeper, towards each sleeper end. The rail fastening plates are physically coupled to the sleeper by inserting the threaded fasteners or lag bolts through the bore holes formed in the base plate.
The rail fastening plates are positioned on the sleepers so that the lateral centers of the fastening plates secured to each sleeper end are longitudinally aligned with the lateral centers of the rail fastening plates secured to the next adjacent ends of the adjacent sleepers.
Following the securement of the rail fastening plates, each of the rails are positioned over the aligned lateral centers of the rail fastening plates, and with the rails in a laterally parallel arrangement. The rails t _._ ~_. ____,. .._-.. "_.. _.- ~-.~.~n _ -~~ ~.~.. _~ _~~ ~ ~_~_. ~_a.~, ~_«_~m...,r_ ______ . _~____,d.~__~z~~_ are coupled to each associated rail fastening plate by positioning an anchor clip partially into each longitudinal aperture, so that the clip engages both the rail and the anchoring flange.
Although not essential, the longitudinal length of the panel preferably corresponds approximately to that of each rail. The prefabricated rail panel has a longitudinal length selected to enable it to be physically lowered down a vertical mine shaft for use within a particular mine tunnel. Most preferably, the rail panel has a length selected at between about 3 and 20 meters, and more preferably about 5 and 15 meters, depending upon the rail gauge to be used.
Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention resides in a pxefabricated rail panel for use in a mine-shaft railway system, said panel being elongated in a longitudinal direction and including, a pair of spaced apart parallel rails, each said rail extending in the longitudinal direction and including a rail surface, and a laterally extending bottom support flange, a plurality of generally rectangular wooden sleepers, said sleepers being arranged generally parallel to each other a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails, a rail mounting assembly securing a selected one of said rails to an associated sleeper, the mounting assembly comprising, a rail fastening plate comprising, a metal base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said plate extending in a lateral direction from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, first and second anchoring flanges, each said flange extending in a generally lateral direction from a respective first edge to a respective second edge and curving upwardly over said upper surface of said base plate to define a generally longitudinally extending aperture therebetween, the first and second edges of said first and second anchoring flanges being secured to said upper surface of said base plate in a substantially mirror conf~xguration, the first edge of said first anchoring flange defining first longitudinally oriented vertically projecting shoulder, the first edge of the second anchoring flange defining a second longitudinally extending shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by a distance marginally greater than a lateral width of the rail support flange, whereby engagement of said support flange with said first and second shoulders assists in orienting said selected rail relative to said associated sleeper, a first pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed through said base plate spaced towards said first lateral end, and a second pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed through said base plate spaced towards said second lateral end, a pair of clips having a first portion sized for fitted insertion into a selected longitudinal aperture defined by the farst and second anchoring flanges, and a second portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said rail support flange to fixedly retain said selected rail with said rail support flange located between said farst and second shoulders, a plurality of externally threaded fasteners, a selected one of said fasteners being inserted through each of said bore holes to threadedly engage said associated sleeper and coupling said base plate to said associated sleeper with said lower surface in juxtaposed contact therewith, said threaded fasteners having a size selected to provide the rail panel with longitudinal stability when said rail panel is suspended with said rails oriented. in a generally vertical orientation.
In another aspect, the present invention resides in a mine-shaft rail-way system for use in subterranean railways, the system comprising a plurality of prefabricated rail panels, each prefabricated rail panel including, a pair of parallel spaced apart rails, each said rail extending in a longitudinal direction and including an upper rail surface and a laterally extending bottom support flange, a plurality of wooden sleepers, each sleeper having an elongated top surface extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails, a plurality of rail mounting assemblies, each rail mounting assembly securing a selected one of said rails to an associated sleeper and further comprising, a generally planar base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said plate extending from a first lateral end to a second lateral end and having a width in said longitudinal direction substantially corresponding to a width of said top surface, the base plate further including a first pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed therethrough adjacent to the first lateral end, and a second pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed therethrough adjacent to said second lateral end, a pair of anchoring flanges, the anchoring flanges being each coupled to said upper surface of said base plate in a substantially mirror arrangement and extending in a generally lateral direction as an upwardly curved member from a respective first edge to a respective second edge, each of said first and second edges being joined to said base plate along a substantially continuous weld seam, and wherein each said anchoring flange and said upper surface of said base plate define a respective generally longitudinally extending aperture therebetween, a first one of said anchoring flanges defining first Longitudinally oriented vertically projecting shoulder, the second other one of said anchoring flanges defining a second longitudinally extending shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by a distance marginally greater than a lateral width of the rail support flange, whereby the engagement of said rail support flange with said first and second shoulders assists in orienting said selected one of said rails relative to said associated sleeper, a pair of clips, each clip having a first portion sized for fitted insertion in the aperture of a respective one of said anchoring flanges, and a second portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said rail support flange adjacent thereto to fixedly retain said rail in a position on said upper surface with said rail support flange located between said first and second shoulders, a plurality of threaded lag bolts, each said lag bolt being inserted through an associated one of said bore holes to threadedly engage said associated sleeper and secure said base plated thereto with said lower surface in juxtaposed contact with said elongated top surface.
In a further aspect, the present invention resides in a prefabricated rail panel for use in subterranean mine-shaft railways, the panel having an overall length selected at between about 5 and 10 meters and further comprising, first and second parallel spaced apart rails, each of said rails being elongated in a longitudinal direction and including a rail surface and a laterally extending bottom support flange, a plurality of wooden sleepers, each sleeper being generally rectangular in shape and having an elongated top surface extending in a direction normal to the longitudinal direction of the rails, a pair of rail mounting assemblies securing said rails to each of said sleepers, each of the rail mounting assemblies including, a rail fastening plate comprising, a base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said plate having a thickness selected at between about 1 and 3 cm and extending from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, a pair of farst and second anchoring flanges coupled to said upper surface of said base plate, the anchor flanges being provided in a substantially mirror arrangement about a lateral center of said base plate and each oriented in a generally laterally extending direction as an upwardly curved member extending from a respective first edge spaced towards said lateral center to a respective second edge remote therefrom, wherein each of said anchoring flanges and said upper surface of said base plate define a respective generally longitudinally extending aperture therebetween, and said first anchoring flange defining first longitudinally oriented vertically projecting shoulder, said second anchoring flanges defining a second longitudinally extending shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by a distance marginally greater than the lateral width of the rail support flange, whereby the engagement of said support flange with said first and second shoulders assists in orienting said selected one of said rails in alignment over said longitudinal center of said base plate, and a first pair of bore holes formed through said base plate adjacent to the first lateral end, and a second pair of bore holes formed through said base plate adjacent to the second lateral end, a plurality of threaded bolts, a selected one of said bolts being inserted through each said bore hole to threadedly engage an associated one of said sleepers to secure said base plate thereto with said lower surface in juxtaposed contact with said elongated top surface of said associated sleeper, the bolts having a size selected to provide the panel with longitudinal stability when said rail panel is positioned with said rails oriented in a generally vertical orientation, first and second clips, each of said clips having a first portion sized for fitted insertion into an aperture defined by said first and second anchoring flanges, respectively, and a second portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said support flange when said rail is aligned with said lateral center of said base plate to fixedly retain said rail in a position on said upper surface with said support flange located between said first and second shoulders.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAVVIN(1S
Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a partial perspective top view of a prefabricated rail panel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure ~ illustrates an enlarged view of a rail mounting assembly used in securing one of the rails of the rail panel shown in Figure 1 to its associated sleeper;
Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the rail, rail mounting assembly and sleeper shown in Figure 2 taken along line 3-3';
Figure 4 illustrates a rail fastening plate used in the rail mounting assembly of Figure 2;
and Figure 5 illustrates a schematic side view of the rail fastening plate shown in Figure 4.
Reference is first made to Figure 1 which illustrates partially a prefabricated rail panel 10 for use in a mine shaft railway system. Although only partially shown, the prefabricated rail panel 10 is provided with a typical longitudinal length of between about 5 and 15 meters, and more preferably about 5 and 10 meters. As will be described, the final length of the rail panel 10 is selected to permit it to be lowered vertically down a mine shaft for installation in a subterranean mine railway system. The rail panel 10 includes steel rails 12a, l 2b, a number of wooden sleepers 14 and a number of rail mounting assemblies 16, each used to secure a selected one of the rails l2a,l2b to an associated sleeper 14. In the prefabricated rail panel 10, the rails 12a,12b are secured to the sleepers 14 in an arrangement parallel to each other and the longitudinal direction of the panel 10.
The sleepers 14 have a conventional generally rectangular wood construction and present a generally flat elongated top and bottom surface 18,20 (Figure 3). Typically, the sleepers 14 have a length selected at between 0.75 arid 2 meters, and a width and height of between about 12 and 20 cm. The sleepers 14 are shown best in Figure 1 as being arranged in the panel 10 in an orientation generally parallel to each other, with their elongated rectangular length oriented in a direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails 12a,12b.
The rails 12a,12b are of a conventional design, and as shown best in Figures 2 and 3 include an upper rail surface 22 along which rail cars and engines move, and a lower laterally extending support flange 24 which projects laterally beyond each side of the rail surface 22.
Each of the rails 12a,12b are secured to the sleepers 14 in the panel 10 in the parallel spaced arrangement by a respective rail mounting assembly 16. As shown best in Figures 2 and 3, each rail mounting plate assembly 16 includes a rail fastening plate 28, a pair of fastening clips 30a,30b which as will be described act in conjunction with the fastening plate 28 to secure the selected rail 12a, and four externally threaded lag bolts 32a,32b,32c,32d.
The rail fastening plate 28 is shown best in Figures 2 to 5 as including a generally rectangular base plate 34 and a pair of anchor flanges 36a,36b. The base plate 34 is formed of iron or steel and includes substantially parallel planar upper and lower surfaces 38,40. The base plate 34 has a thickness selected at between about 1 and 3 em and preferably about 2 cm, providing the plate 34 with sufficient structural integrity as to support the rails 12a,12b and panel in a vertically suspended position. The base plate 34 is elongated in a lateral direction from a distance of between about 25 to 50 cm, and most preferably has a width ~U
(Figure 4) in the longitudinal direction of the rails between a first side 50 and a second side 52 which is either approximately either equal to or marginally less than the lateral width of the top surface 18 of the sleeper 14. Depending upon the sleeper configuration, the width W is typically selected at between approximately 10 and 20 cm.
As shown best in Figure 4, two pairs of bore holes 42a,42b,44a,44b are formed vertically through the base plate 34 extending from the upper plate surface 38 through the lower plate surface 40. The bore holes 42a,42b are spaced towards a first lateral end 46 of the plate 34, with the bore holes 44a,44b being spaced towards the other second lateral end 48.
As will be described, the bore holes 42a,42b,44a,44b have a size selected to receive therein the threaded ends 51 (Figure 3) of a respective lag bolt 32a,32b,32c,32d in the coupling of the rail fastening plate 28 to a sleeper 14. Preferably, the bore holes 42a,44a adjacent to the longitudinal side j2 are located at respective centers which are spaced from the longitudinal side 52 of the base plate 34 a distance selected approximately 20 to 30% of the overall plate width W.
Bore holes 42b,44b are similarly located from the longitudinal side 50 by a distance approximately 20 to 30% of the width W of the base plate 34.
As shown best in Figures 4 and 5, the anchoring flanges 36a,36b are each provided as a separate bent strip of iron or steel 0.5 to 1.5 cm thick which is secured to the upper surface 38 of the base plate 34 by weld seams 56,58. The anchoring flanges 36a,36b are provided on the base plate 34 in a mirror arrangement, and are spaced from the lateral center line of the plate C-Cp (Figure 4). The flanges 36a,36b are spaced apart a distance selected so that the minimum spacing between the anchoring flanges 36a,36b is marginally greater than the maximum lateral width of the rail support flange 24. Each of the anchoring flanges 36a,36b is preferably formed having a width W in the longitudinal direction of the rails 12 which is selected at between approximately 35 and 50% the width W of the base plate 34, and more preferably between about 40 and 55% of the width W of the base plate 34. As seen best in Figure 5, the anchoring flanges 36a,36b each extend from a respective innermost farst longitudinally extending edge 60 spaced closest towards the centre line C-Ci, outwardly towards an outer longitudinally aligned second edge 62. The flanges 36a,36b curve in a mirror arrangement upwardly from the edge 60 and towards the ends 46,48 respectively over the upper surface 38 of the base plate 34 with the curvature of each anchoring flange 36a,36b defining a generally longitudinally extending aperture 66a,66b respectively extending between each respective flange 36a,36b and the upper surface 38 of the base plate 34. The flanges 36a,36b are coupled to the base plate 34 by the weld seams 56,58. For enhanced structural integrity, the weld seams 56,58 are preferably substantially continuous along each of the flange edges 60,62. Figures 3 and 5 illustrate best the first longitudinal edge 60 of each of the anchoring flanges 36a,36b as projecting vertically upwardly from the upper surface 38 of the base plate 34.
Figure 5 shows best the anchoring flanges 36a,36b as being bent so as to present a respective generally horizontally extending portion 68 which is spaced above the upper plate surface 38 towards the second edge 62. The horizontally extending portion 68 of each anchor flange 36a,36b may be provided as a flat or trough-shaped saddle, which as will be described, assists in the positioning of a fastening clip 30 securing the selected rail 12a to the rail fastening plate 28.
As shown best in Figure 4, each of the bore holes 42a,42b, and 44a,44b are provided through the base plate 34 at locations spaced laterally between the outer second edge 62 of each respective anchor flange 36a,36b and the adjacent first and second lateral ends 46,48 of the base plate 34.
The inner edges 60 of each anchoring flange 36a,36b thus defines a longitudinally oriented and extending shoulder spaced from each other a marginal distance greater than the lateral width of the rail support flange 24. It is to be appreciated that engagement between the rail support flange 24 and the vertically projecting shoulders of the anchoring flanges 36a,36b assists in orienting the rail 12 relative to the rail fastening plate 28 and its associated sleeper 14.
The lag bolts 32 used to couple the base plate 34 to an associated sleeper 14, with the lower plate surface 40 resting upon and juxtaposed with the top sleeper surface 18 are shown best with reference to Figure 3. In addition to the externally threaded end 51 which is sized for fitted insertion through a bore hole 42,44, the bolts 32 further include enlarged bolt head 70. The bolt head 70 has a head diameter which is selected greater than the diameter of the bore holes 42,44 to prevent its movement therethrough. It is to be appreciated that each of the lag bolts 32a,32b,32c,32d are selected having a size which provides the prefabricated rail panel 10 with sufficient structural integrity to enable the rail panel 10 to be suspended with the rail 12a,12b in a vertical orientation, without shearing or failure of the bolts 32a,32b,32c,32d. The lag bolts 32 are formed from hardened steel and have an exterior thread configuration and axial length selected so that when fully inserted through a selected bore hole 42,44, the threaded ends 51 of the bolt 32 (Figure 3) extends at least half of the distance, and z~ore preferably about three-quarters the distance, into the thickness of the sleeper 14 between its top and bottom surfaces 18,20.
Figures 2 and 3 show best the fastening clips 30a,34b which are used to secure the selected rails 12a between the anchor flanges 36a,36b of one of a longitudinally aligned array of rail fastening plates 28. Each of the rail fastening clips 30 is formed from a bent 1 to 2 cm diameter steel rod. The clips 30 include a first straight end portion 76 which has a complementary size selected to permit its sliding insertion into an aperture 66 in complementary fit. The first straight end portion 76 of the clip 30 merges with a second bent portion 78. The second bent portion 78 is provided in the form of a first reverse bend which curves initially upwardly and then back downwardly to a lower bight 80 which., in assembly, physically overlies and engages the rail support flange 24. The second bent portion 78 merges with a third bent portion 82 which is provided as a second reverse bend which curves upwardly and then downwardly so as to overlie the flange saddle 62. then the first straight end portion 76 of the clip 30 is inserted within the aperture 60, the second bent portion overlies the rail support flange 24 and the third bent portion 82 overlies and engages the saddle 68. In such position, the engagement between the saddle 68 and the third end portion 82 acts to bias the bight 80 of the second bent portion 78 downwardly against the support flange .24, to provide a retaining pressure thereon.
Although Figures 2 and 3 illustrate an anchor clip 30 having two reverse bends 78,82 and which are adapted to engage not only the aperture 66, but the anchor flange saddle 68, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not so limited. Other configurations of rail anchoring clips may also be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In the construction of a subterranean rail system, a number of prefabricated rail panels 10 are preferably assembled above ground. To assemble each rail panel 10, initially a pair of rail fastener plates 28 are positioned on the elongated top surface 18 of each sleeper 14, adjacent to each sleeper end 98,99 (Figure 1). The rail fastening plates 28 are secured in the position shown in Figure 1 by aligning the elongated width W of the fastening plate 28 with the wooden sleeper 14 and inserting and tightening the lag bolts 32a,32b,32c,32d through each respective bore hole 42a,42b,44a,44b, until the lag bolt heads 70 are brought into bearing contact with the upper surface 38 of the base plate 34.
Once fastening plates 28 are secured adjacent to each of the ends 98,99 of each sleeper 14, a number of sleepers 14 are positioned as an elongated longitudinally extending array. The sleepers 14 are provided in a parallel spaced arrangement, with the center line C-C~, (Figure 4) of each the fastening plates 28 being substantially longitudinally aligned with that of the plates 28 secured to the next adjacent sleeper ends. Each rail I2a,l2b is thereafter positioned on one of the longitudinally aligned sets of fastening plates 28, so that the support flange 24 of each rail 12 locates between the anchoring flanges 36a,36b, and in general alignment with the center line C-CI thereof. The rails 12a,12b are thus positioned parallel to each other, with each longitudinal end (not shown) of the rail being substantially longitudinally co-terminus.
With the rails I 2a,12b so positioned, a pair of anchor clips 30a,30b are coupled to each fastening plate 28 in a position overlying the support flange 24 to secure the selected rail 12 thereto.
Figure 4 shows best the insertion of the clips 30a,30b into the apertures 66a,66b in securing the rails 12a,12b to each selected rail fastening plate 28. The first end portion 76 of a first one of the clips 30a is inserted into aperture 66a from the first downstream longitudinal side 50 of each plate 34. With the insertion of the first end portion 76 into the aperture 66a, the second portion 78 of the clip 30a is moved so that the bight 80 is brought into bearing contact with the adjacent support flange 24. Simultaneously, the third end portion 82 of the clip 30a is moved into engagement with the saddle 68 of anchor flange 36a, to bias the second portion 78 and lower bight 80 downwardly towards the base plate surface 38.
The second other anchor clip 30b of each rail mounting assembly 16 is inserted into the aperture 66b from the second longitudinal side 52 and in the opposite longitudinal direction from the insertion of clip 30a into aperture 66a. In this regard, the first straight end portion 76 of clip 30b is inserted into the aperture 66b from the second side 52 of the base plate 34, and the second portion 78 of the clip 30b is moved so that the bight 80 thereof is in engagement with the support flange 24. The third end portion 82 of the clip 30b is moved in engaging contact with the saddle 68 of the anchor flange 36b, to bias the lower bight 80 of the clip 30b downwardly against the rail 12 in the similar manner as with clip 30a.
Following the securement of the selected rails 12a, l2b to each of the sleepers I 4 by the associated rail mounting assemblies 16, the prefabricated rail panel 12 may be lowered into the mine. The panel 10 is lowered by means of a mine hoist (nat slhown~ in a vertically suspended orientation in which the rails 12a,12b are oriented vertically. Because of the threaded coupling of the base plate 34 to the sleepers 14, the lag bolts 32 do not loosen from their fastening position under the weight of the panel 10. t~s a result, the rail panel 10 is maintained as a rigid structure, and deflection or movement of the rails 12a,12b longitudinally and/or laterally relative to each other is substantially reduced. Once the rail panel 10 has been lowered into a mine tunnel where the railway system is to be completed, it rnay be wheeled or dragged into place in an abutting end-to-end relationship with a next adjacent rail panel. The longitudinal ends of adjacent rails I2 may be welded or bolted together by conventional rail tie coupling brackets, eliminating the need to secure the rails 12 with spikes within the mine tunnel itself It is to be appreciated that where the panels 10 are to be installed in a subterranean environment, the absence of frost heave lessens the need to provide ballast between the panel sleepers 14.
It is to be appreciated that the present construction avoids the disadvantages which exist whereby conventional rail spikes are used to couple rails either directly or through a mounting plate to a sleeper. Because of the threaded configuration of the lag bolts 32 used in the securement of the rails and/or fastening plates 28 to the sleepers 14, when the panel 10 is vertically oriented, as for example, upon lowering vertically down a mine shaft by means of a mine hoist or winching system, the weight of the panel 10 does not result in the bolts 32 being partially pulled or withdrawn from the sleepers 14. This in turn prevents the rails 12a,12b from deflecting or shifting out of longitudinal andior lateral parallel alignment relative to each other.
As such, the panels 10 may be used in the closer confines within the mine draft tunnels without concern of the rails 12a,12b moving out of the correct parallel spacing and orientation, and without necessitating the repositioning of the whole panel 10.
Although the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrate the rail fastening plate 28 as having two pairs of bore holes 42a,42b and 44a,44b adjacent each of the respective lateral ends 46,48 of the plate 28, the invention is not so limited. It is to be appreciated that a fewer or greater number of bore holes may be provided in different configurations selected to prevent shifting of the base plate 34 relative to the sleepers 14 under longitudinal load forces.
Although the disclosure describes and illustrates various preferred embodiments, the invention is not so limited. Many modifications and variations will now occur to persons skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference may be had to the appended claims.
Claims (20)
1. A prefabricated rail panel for use in a mine-shaft railway system, said panel being elongated in a longitudinal direction and including, a pair of spaced apart parallel rails, each said rail extending in the longitudinal direction and including a rail surface, and a laterally extending bottom support flange, a plurality of generally rectangular wooden sleepers, said sleepers being arranged generally parallel to each other a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails, a rail mounting assembly securing a selected one of said rails to an associated sleeper, the mounting assembly comprising, a rail fastening plate comprising, a metal base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said plate extending in a lateral direction from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, first and second anchoring flanges, each said flange extending in a generally lateral direction from a respective first edge to a respective second edge and curving upwardly over said upper surface of said base plate to define a generally longitudinally extending aperture therebetween, the first and second edges of said first and second anchoring flanges being secured to said upper surface of said base plate in a substantially mirror configuration, the first edge of said first anchoring flange defining first longitudinally oriented vertically projecting shoulder, the first edge of the second anchoring flange defining a second longitudinally extending shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by a distance marginally greater than a lateral width of the rail support flange, whereby engagement of said support flange with said first and second shoulders assists in orienting said selected rail relative to said associated sleeper, a first pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed through said base plate spaced towards said first lateral end, and a second pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed through said base plate spaced towards said second lateral end, a pair of clips having a first portion sized for fitted insertion into a selected longitudinal aperture defined by the first and second anchoring flanges, and a second portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said rail support flange to fixedly retain said selected rail with said rail support flange located between said first and second shoulders, a plurality of externally threaded fasteners, a selected one of said fasteners being inserted through each of said bore holes to threadedly engage said associated sleeper and coupling said base plate to said associated sleeper with said lower surface in juxtaposed contact therewith, said threaded fasteners having a size selected to provide the rail panel with longitudinal stability when said rail panel is suspended with said rails oriented in a generally vertical orientation.
2. The rail panel as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of rail mounting assemblies, each of said rails being secured to said associated sleeper by a selected one of said rail mounting assemblies.
3. The rail panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rail panel has an overall longitudinal length selected at between about 5 and 15 meters.
4. The rail panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first anchoring flange further defines a saddle spaced remotely from said first longitudinally extending shoulder, and said second anchoring flange further defines a saddle spaced remotely from said second longitudinally extending shoulder, each of said clips further comprising an end portion integral with said second portion and configured to engage said saddle of said respective first and second anchoring flanges, whereby engaging contact between said end portion of the first clip and said saddle of said first anchoring flange biases said second portion of said first clip towards said base plate to assist in maintaining said selected rail secured in position therebetween.
5. The rail panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first portion of said first clip is inserted into said aperture defined by said first anchoring flange from a first longitudinal side of said plate, and the first portion of the second other one of said clips is inserted into said aperture defined by the second anchoring flange from the second other longitudinal side of said plate.
6. The rail panel as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first and second edges of the anchoring flanges are joined to said base plate along a substantially continuous weld seam.
7. The rail panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base plate has a width extending in a longitudinal direction from a first longitudinal side to a second longitudinal side, said first and second anchoring flanges have a width in the longitudinal direction a distance selected at between about 35% and 60% the width of the base plate, said first pair of bore holes each having a respective center, the center of a first one of said bore holes being spaced from the first longitudinal side by a distance selected at between about 20% and 30% the width of the base plate, and the center of the second bore hole being spaced from the second longitudinal side by a distance selected at between about 20% to 30% the width of the base plate.
8. The rail panel as claimed in claim 7 wherein said base plate has a thickness selected at between about 1 and 3 cm.
9. The rail panel as claimed in claim 8 wherein said respective centers of said first pair of bore holes being spaced intermediate said second edge of said first anchoring flange and said first lateral end of said base plate.
10. A mine-shaft rail-way system for use in subterranean railways, the system comprising a plurality of prefabricated rail panels, each prefabricated rail panel including, a pair of parallel spaced apart rails, each said rail extending in a longitudinal direction and including an upper rail surface and a laterally extending bottom support flange, a plurality of wooden sleepers, each sleeper having an elongated top surface extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails, a plurality of rail mounting assemblies, each rail mounting assembly securing a selected one of said rails to an associated sleeper and further comprising, a generally planar base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said plate extending from a first lateral end to a second lateral end and having a width in said longitudinal direction substantially corresponding to a width of said top surface, the base plate further including a first pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed therethrough adjacent to the first lateral end, and a second pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed therethrough adjacent to said second lateral end, a pair of anchoring flanges, the anchoring flanges being each coupled to said upper surface of said base plate in a substantially mirror arrangement and extending in a generally lateral direction as an upwardly curved member from a respective first edge to a respective second edge, each of said first and second edges being joined to said base plate along a substantially continuous weld seam, and wherein each said anchoring flange and said upper surface of said base plate define a respective generally longitudinally extending aperture therebetween, a first one of said anchoring flanges defining first longitudinally oriented vertically projecting shoulder, the second other one of said anchoring flanges defining a second longitudinally extending shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by a distance marginally greater than a lateral width of the rail support flange, whereby the engagement of said rail support flange with said first and second shoulders assists in orienting said selected one of said rails relative to said associated sleeper, a pair of clips, each clip having a first portion sized for fitted insertion in the aperture of a respective one of said anchoring flanges, and a second portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said rail support flange adjacent thereto to fixedly retain said rail in a position on said upper surface with said rail support flange located between said first and second shoulders, a plurality of threaded lag bolts, each said lag bolt being inserted through an associated one of said bore holes to threadedly engage said associated sleeper and secure said base plated thereto with said lower surface in juxtaposed contact with said elongated top surface.
11. The railway system of claim 10 wherein each said sleeper has a elongated length selected at between about 0.75 and 2 meters and wherein said base plate has an elongated length between said first lateral end and said second lateral end selected at between about 15% and 30% of the elongated length of said sleeper.
12. The railway system of claim 11 wherein said panels are prefabricated modular panels which are pre-constructed above ground, and which have an overall longitudinal length selected at between 5 and 15 meters.
13. The railway system of claim 10 wherein a first one of said pair of anchoring flanges further defines a saddle spaced remotely from said first longitudinally extending shoulder, and said second other one of said anchoring flanges further defines a saddle spaced remotely from said second longitudinally extending shoulder, each of said clips further comprising an end portion integral with said second portion and configured to engage said saddle of said respective one of said first and second anchoring flanges, whereby engaging contact of said end portion of the clip and said saddle of said respective anchoring flanges biases said second portion of said clip towards said base plate to assist in maintaining said selected rail secured in position therebetween.
14. The railway system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said first portion of a first one of said pair of clips is inserted into said aperture of said respective first anchoring flange from a first longitudinal side of said plate, and the first portion of the second other one of said pair of clips is inserted into said aperture of the respective second anchoring flange from the second other longitudinal side of said plate.
15. The railway system claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said first anchoring flanges having a width in the longitudinal direction which is selected at between about 40% and 55% the width of the base plate, said first pair of bore holes each having a respective center, the center of a first one of said bore holes being spaced from a first longitudinal side of said base plate by a distance selected at between about 20% and 30% the width of the base plate, and the center of the second bore hole being spaced from the second longitudinal side by a distance selected at between about 20% to 30% the width of the base plate.
16. The railway system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said base plate has a thickness selected at between about 1 and 3 cm, and wherein said respective centers of said first pair of bore holes are spaced intermediate said second edge of said first anchoring flange and said first lateral end of said base plate.
17. A prefabricated rail panel for use in subterranean mine-shaft railways, the panel having an overall length selected at between about 5 and 10 meters and further comprising, first and second parallel spaced apart rails, each of said rails being elongated in a longitudinal direction and including a rail surface and a laterally extending bottom support flange, a plurality of wooden sleepers, each sleeper being generally rectangular in shape and having an elongated top surface extending in a direction normal to the longitudinal direction of the rails, a pair of rail mounting assemblies securing said rails to each of said sleepers, each of the rail mounting assemblies including, a rail fastening plate comprising, a base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said plate having a thickness selected at between about 1 and 3 cm and extending from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, a pair of first and second anchoring flanges coupled to said upper surface of said base plate, the anchor flanges being provided in a substantially mirror arrangement about a lateral center of said base plate and each oriented in a generally laterally extending direction as an upwardly curved member extending from a respective first edge spaced towards said lateral center to a respective second edge remote therefrom, wherein each of said anchoring flanges and said upper surface of said base plate define a respective generally longitudinally extending aperture therebetween, and said first anchoring flange defining first longitudinally oriented vertically projecting shoulder, said second anchoring flange defining a second longitudinally extending shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by a distance marginally greater than the lateral width of the rail support flange, whereby the engagement of said support flange with said first and second shoulders assists in orienting said selected one of said rails in alignment over a longitudinal center of said base plate, and a first pair of bore holes formed through said base plate adjacent to the first lateral end, and a second pair of bore holes formed through said base plate adjacent to the second lateral end, a plurality of threaded bolts, a selected one of said bolts being inserted through each said bore hole to threadedly engage an associated one of said sleepers to secure said base plate thereto with said lower surface in juxtaposed contact with said elongated top surface of said associated sleeper, the bolts having a size selected to provide the panel with longitudinal stability when said rail panel is positioned with said rails oriented in a generally vertical orientation, first and second clips, each of said clips having a first portion sized for fitted insertion into an aperture defined by said first and second anchoring flanges, respectively, and a second portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said support flange when said rail is aligned with said lateral center of said base plate to fixedly retain said rail in a position on said upper surface with said support flange located between said first and second shoulders.
18. The prefabricated rail panel as claimed in claim 17 wherein said base plate has a width extending in a longitudinal direction from a first longitudinal side to a second longitudinal side, said first and second anchoring flanges have a width in the longitudinal direction a distance selected at between about 35% and 60% the width of the base plate, said first pair of bore holes each having a respective center, the center of a first one of said bore holes being spaced from the first longitudinal side by a distance selected at between about 20% and 30% the width of the base plate, and the center of the second bore hole being spaced from the second longitudinal side by a distance selected at between about 20% to 30% the width of the base plate.
19. The prefabricated rail panel as claimed in claim 17 wherein said respective centers of said first pair of bore holes being spaced intermediate said second edge of said first anchoring flange and said first lateral end of said base plate.
20. The prefabricated rail panel as claimed in claim 18 wherein said first portion of said first clip is inserted into said aperture defined by said first anchoring flange from a first longitudinal side of said plate, and the first portion of the second other one of said clips is inserted into said aperture defined by the second anchoring flange from the second other longitudinal side of said plate.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2441458A CA2441458C (en) | 2003-09-18 | 2003-09-18 | Prefabricated rail panel for use in mine shaft railway systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2441458A CA2441458C (en) | 2003-09-18 | 2003-09-18 | Prefabricated rail panel for use in mine shaft railway systems |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2441458A1 CA2441458A1 (en) | 2005-03-18 |
| CA2441458C true CA2441458C (en) | 2011-03-22 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2441458A Expired - Lifetime CA2441458C (en) | 2003-09-18 | 2003-09-18 | Prefabricated rail panel for use in mine shaft railway systems |
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| Country | Link |
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| CA (1) | CA2441458C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109083331A (en) * | 2018-09-28 | 2018-12-25 | 朱建玉 | Concrete construction ready-package prestressed anchor |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103015274A (en) * | 2011-09-28 | 2013-04-03 | 昆明市鹤源工贸有限公司 | Mining horseshoe-shaped pressing rail spring fasteners |
| CN106245467B (en) * | 2016-08-23 | 2017-11-24 | 吴永芳 | A kind of paving frame method for assembling board-like track structure |
| CN112195687B (en) * | 2020-09-07 | 2022-11-01 | 中铁大桥勘测设计院集团有限公司武汉分公司 | Construction method for integral ballast bed of assembly type rail weighbridge |
| CN114838271B (en) * | 2022-06-07 | 2024-05-31 | 安徽工程大学 | Mobile shooting supporting device for shooting and using method thereof |
-
2003
- 2003-09-18 CA CA2441458A patent/CA2441458C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109083331A (en) * | 2018-09-28 | 2018-12-25 | 朱建玉 | Concrete construction ready-package prestressed anchor |
| CN109083331B (en) * | 2018-09-28 | 2020-09-01 | 柳州盛泰预应力技术有限公司 | Fast-assembling prestressed anchorage for concrete building |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2441458A1 (en) | 2005-03-18 |
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