EP0389365B1 - Point railway sleeper, intermediate services for mounting rail elements on such a sleeper and railway point including such sleepers and such mounting intermediate devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a crosspiece for a railway track apparatus, as well as intermediate devices for mounting elements of at least two railroad tracks such as rails, counter-rails, needles and counter-needles on such a cross-piece and an apparatus for railway track comprising such sleepers and such intermediate mounting devices.

In the current state of the art, the switches and crossings are generally mounted on wooden sleepers, in which one produces on demand, that is to say according to an arrangement specific to each sleeper and determined on the one hand by the geometry of the track device considered and on the other hand by the position of this crosspiece in this device, mutually parallel bores in particular intended for the reception of members for mounting track elements and divided into groups each of which corresponds at least one of said elements and comprises several holes for receiving members for mounting this element, arranged respectively on either side of a plane generally constituting a mean plane of the cross member; these mounting members generally consist of lag bolts for fixing intermediate devices for mounting the track elements, namely saddles with regard to the rails, counter-rail supports with regard to the counter-rails, bearings for slip or plates as regards the needles and counter-needles, and fasteners as regards the heart; these intermediate mounting devices themselves have holes suitable for receiving without clearance the mounting members such as lag bolts, so that their fixing by means of these mounting members, on a suitably drilled cross member, ensures their precise positioning, depending on the geometry of the track apparatus and the position of the cross member considered in this apparatus, it being understood that for reasons of rationalization of their manufacture, all the saddles, all the counter-rail supports, all the bearings sliding needles and counter-needles, all the mounting plates for needles and counter-needles, all the heart attachments are identical, respectively, in particular as to the position of their respective holes for receiving organs of mounting on a crossbar.

With the exception of the special cases of possible areas of switchgear with its own symmetry, such as straight crossing hearts, and switchgear as a whole with such own symmetry, such as connections symmetrical or ordinary crossings, even crosspieces which occupy identical positions in switchgear constituting the specular image of each other and therefore having the same dimensions are pierced differently, as pointed out for example in the Review Générale des Chemins de Fer (Paris-February 1986 - pages 87 to 96) in the case of prestressed reinforced concrete sleepers; from this document are known respectively sleepers according to the preamble of claim 1, switches and crossings according to the preamble of claim 12 and a set of sleepers according to the preamble of claim 60; this leads to the need to provide differentiated drilling planes not only as a function of the position of the cross-member in the track apparatus considered and the respective radii of curvature of the railways on it, but also according to the direction of the track apparatus, namely for example according to the direction of deviation in the case of a deviation connection, that is to say comprising a track deviated to the right or left of a direct track, or the direction of exit in the case of a combined crossing, that is to say comprising an aligned track and a curved track; this multiplication of plans results in congestion in the archives and a risk of confusion when making a cross, that is to say a risk of scrap.

In addition to these drawbacks, it is difficult to produce pre-drilled sleepers in the factory because of the difficulty of carrying out a drilling program on a machine tool in the case of wooden sleepers and because of the need to provide suitable molds. not only to the various forms of sleepers but also to the different positioning of the holes on these sleepers in the case of prestressed reinforced concrete sleepers, in which the holes are made directly during molding; thus, for example, DE-A-2 948 303 describes molds with interchangeable bottoms, which are positioned differently depending on whether crossbeams intended for deviations to the right are made or crossbars intended for deviations to the left, for position the holes according to respective plans; in fact, the use of prestressed reinforced concrete sleepers for switches and crossings has been considerably hindered by this need, which results in a multiplication of molds or of the constituents of the latter, and consequently an unacceptable cost and size of the molds which it is necessary to provide to meet the needs.

Admittedly, it has been proposed in DE-B-1 117 625 and in FR-A-495 609 to produce crosspieces of metal or reinforced concrete, respectively, usable indifferently for deviations to the right or deviations to the left, by providing these drilling sleepers distributed along a mean plane and capable of receiving, individually or in pairs, respectively, respective members for mounting a rail track element such as a rail. However, these known solutions have the disadvantage of necessarily limiting to one or two, respectively, the number of fasteners assigned to each track element, which can generally be accepted in the case of rails but can lead to inadmissible local constraints in the sleeper in the case of railway track elements that are more heavily stressed when passing trains, such as the needles, counter-needles and core; in addition, the distribution of the bores along a single plane of the cross-member results in creating therein a privileged area of stress by the mounting members, that is to say an unfavorable distribution of the stresses.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by making it possible to use an identical cross-member, in a determined location of a track device of a determined type such as branching or crossing whatever the direction of this device and even in areas of this apparatus which do not in themselves have symmetry, while allowing the use, if necessary, of more than two mounting members per track element and of distributing favorably in the cross-member the stresses resulting from its stress by mounting devices.

To this end, the present invention provides a cross member, in particular made of prestressed reinforced concrete, intended to carry respective elements of at least two railways in a zone of an apparatus for track not having in itself a symmetry, such as rails, counter-rails, needles, counter-needles and core, said cross member for this purpose having holes for receiving mounting members of said elements, such as lag bolts , said holes having a common direction substantially perpendicular to an average direction of the cross member and being distributed in groups each of which corresponds to at least one of said elements and comprises several holes for receiving the mounting members of this element, the holes of the same group being disposed respectively on either side of a first determined plane of the cross member, which first plane is parallel to said average direction of the cross member as well as to said common direction, characterized in that at least some holes for receiving mounting members are, in the same group, mutually asymmetrical with respect to the foreground of the crossmember, and in that e the holes are mutually symmetrical with respect to a determined axis of the cross member, oriented in said common direction, or with respect to a second determined plane of the cross member, oriented perpendicular to said mean direction and including said determined axis of the cross member, so to allow the use of an identical cross for said area of the switchgear and for another area by constituting the specular image.

The present invention also provides a set of sleepers, in particular in prestressed reinforced concrete, intended to carry respective elements of at least two railroad tracks in an area of a track apparatus that does not in itself have symmetry, such as rails, counter-rails, needles, counter-needles and core, said sleepers comprising for this purpose holes for receiving mounting members of said elements, such as lag bolts, said holes having a common direction substantially perpendicular to a mean direction of the cross member and being divided into groups each of which corresponds to at least one of said elements and comprises several holes for receiving the mounting members of this element, arranged respectively on either side of a first determined plane of the cross member , which foreground is parallel to said average direction of the cross member as well as to said common direction, characterized in that the holes for receiving mounting members are mutually symmetrical with respect to a determined axis of the cross member, oriented in said common direction, or by relative to a second determined plane of the sleeper, oriented perpendicular to said mean direction and including said determined axis of the sleeper, in order to allow the use of an identical sleeper for said area of the switchway and for another area by constituting the specular image.

It is easy to understand that the choice of such an arrangement of the receiving holes for mounting members of the railroad track elements of the track apparatus makes it possible to considerably reduce the number of drilling plans as well as the size of the archives and the risks of confusion which result from it, and makes it possible to industrialize in a rational way the manufacture of sleepers provided, from this manufacture, with the holes for receiving mounting members of the elements of the railway tracks; in the case of wooden sleepers, it becomes easier to carry out a drilling program; in the case of prestressed reinforced concrete sleepers, meeting all needs now requires only a comparatively reduced number of molds, with consequent cost and reasonable overall dimensions of these molds, which makes it possible to envisage in good economic conditions the installation of track devices on sleepers in prestressed reinforced concrete. In addition, insofar as the holes for receiving mounting members are offset from said first plane of the sleeper, which may constitute a mean plane of the latter or, possibly, be offset from such a mean plane of the sleeper, more than two holes can be provided if necessary and for example four holes for receiving mounting members of particularly stressed railway elements such as the needles, the counter-rails and the core, and the stresses resulting from the stress on the cross member by the mounting members are distributed on either side of said foreground, according to a traditional practice in itself and recognized as favorable.

In a preferred embodiment of a cross member according to the invention, the holes for receiving mounting members are equidistant from said first determined plane which includes said determined axis of the cross member. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous in the case of a prestressed reinforced concrete cross member, in that it facilitates the positioning, in such a cross member, of prestressed reinforcements parallel to the mean direction of this cross member by limiting the reservations that must be provided for the holes between the reinforcements, as is generally known in the field of the manufacture of prestressed reinforced concrete sleepers.

In addition, the holes intended to receive the mounting members of the same rail element are preferably placed on the various sleepers in identical relative positions as well as in identical respective positions with respect to said determined foreground of these sleepers. , that is to say independently of the respective positions of these crosspieces in the track apparatus and consequently of the variable orientations of the track element considered with respect to the respective mean directions of the crosspieces; this leads to an additional simplification of the drilling planes since, from one cross member to another, holes intended for the reception of mounting members for the same element, even if this element must have a different orientation with respect to the direction average of the cross, differ from one cross to the other only by their overall position according to the average direction of the cross.

To allow however to properly orient each track element such as rail, counter rail, needle and counter needle relative to the average direction of each cross member, the present invention further provides an intermediate device for mounting at least a rail element on a crosspiece according to the invention and in particular a saddle for mounting a rail, a sliding bushing or a mounting plate for a needle and a counter-needle mutually associated, a counter support rail, said device comprising a flat face for bearing on a cross member, at least one plane face for receiving said rail element at least one in number, said support and reception faces being perpendicular to the same plane determined means of the device, and oblong holes for receiving devices for mounting the device on a cross member, said holes having a common direction substantially perpendicular to said f ace of support and occupying relative positions identical to those of respective bores arranged in the crosspiece for the reception of said mounting members, characterized in that said bores of the device have respective shapes approximately of revolution about the same axis determined device, oriented in said common direction and arranged in said determined mean plane of the device, to allow the orientation of the device around said axis when mounted on a cross. Preferably, the holes of the device are mutually symmetrical with respect to the determined mean plane of the device and / or equidistant therefrom; in embodiments according to which said determined axis is located between said holes of the device, the holes of the latter are preferably mutually symmetrical with respect to said determined axis and / or with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to the determined mean plane and which includes said determined axis. With a view to retaining the respective corresponding track element, each device comprises, as is known, means for receiving retaining members of said track element and, according to the invention, these receiving means themselves, preferably, a symmetry with respect to said determined mean plane of the device or with respect to a disposed axis in said determined mean plane of the device and oriented in said common direction.

Thus, in relation to an embodiment of a crosspiece according to the invention, according to which the holes for receiving mounting members of a rail from one of said tracks are symmetrical with the holes for receiving mounting members of a rail of another of said tracks with respect to said determined axis of the sleeper, and according to which the holes for receiving mounting members of a rail are two in number and are arranged respectively on either side of a determined location of rail and respectively on either side of said first determined plane of the crosspiece, which first plane includes said determined axis of the crosspiece, the present invention provides a saddle intended for mounting a rail on such a cross member and comprising for this purpose a flat bearing face of the saddle on a cross member, a flat receiving face of a rail shoe occupying a determined position relative to the saddle, said bearing and receiving faces being pe perpendicular to the same determined mean plane of the saddle, and two oblong holes for receiving saddle mounting members on a cross member, said holes having a common direction substantially perpendicular to said bearing face and being distributed on both sides other of said receiving face and on either side of said determined mean plane of the saddle, characterized in that said bores have respective shapes approximately of revolution around a same determined axis of the saddle, oriented in said direction common, has in said determined mean plane of the saddle and cutting said receiving face approximately centrally. It is easily understood that a saddle thus designed can be oriented at will, around its aforementioned determined axis, according to the orientation that the rail must have relative to the average direction of the crosspiece.

Similarly, in relation to an embodiment of a crosspiece according to the invention according to which the holes for receiving mounting members of a needle and a mutually associated counter-needle are symmetrical with the holes for receiving members for mounting another needle and another counter-needle mutually associated with respect to said determined axis of the cross member, and according to which the holes of reception of mounting members for a mutually associated needle and counter-needle are four in number, divided into two sub-groups each of which combines two holes arranged respectively on either side of a determined location d 'needle and counter-needle and respectively on either side of said first determined plane of the crosspiece, which first plane includes said determined axis of the crosspiece, the present invention provides a sliding bushing intended for mounting a needle and of a mutually associated counter-needle on such a cross-member and comprising for this purpose a plane face for bearing the bearing on a cross-member, a planar face for receiving a counter-needle occupying a determined position relative to the bearing, the said bearing and receiving faces being perpendicular to the same determined mean plane of the bearing, a planar sliding face for a needle occupying a variable position relative to u bearing and juxtaposed at said determined position, said sliding face being juxtaposed to said receiving face along said determined mean plane of the bearing and perpendicular to said determined mean plane of the bearing, and four oblong holes for receiving members for mounting the bearing on a cross member, said bores having a common direction substantially perpendicular to said bearing face and being distributed in two groups each of which combines two bores arranged respectively on either side of said receiving and sliding faces and respectively on both sides other of said determined mean plane of the bearing, characterized in that said holes of the bearing have respective shapes approximately of revolution around a same determined axis of the bearing, oriented in said common direction, disposed in said determined mean plane of the bearing and between said bearing holes. Similarly, in relation to such an embodiment of a cross, the present invention provides a plate for mounting a needle and a counter-needle mutually associated on such a cross and having for this purpose a flat face of bearing of the plate on a cross-member, of the flat receiving faces of a pad of a counter-needle and of a pad of a needle occupying respective positions determined with respect to the plate, said bearing faces and receiving being perpendicular to the same determined mean plane of the bearing and said receiving faces being mutually juxtaposed along said determined mean plane, and four oblong holes for receiving plate mounting members on a cross member, said holes having a common direction substantially perpendicular to said face support and being divided into two groups, each of which brings together two holes arranged respectively on either side of said receiving faces and respectively on either side of said determined mean plane of the plane, characterized in that said holes in the plate have respective shapes approximately of revolution around the same determined axis of the plate, oriented in said common direction, disposed in said determined mean plane of the plate and between said holes in the plate.

It is easy to see that such a sliding bearing and such a mounting plate offer the same possibilities of orientation, this time with reference to the orientation of the counter-needle relative to the determined direction of the cross-member, as the aforementioned saddle.

This possibility is found in connection with an embodiment of a crosspiece according to the invention according to which, in addition to or in replacement of the aforementioned arrangement of the holes for receiving assembly members of the needles and counter-needles mutually associated, the holes for receiving mounting members of a needle and a mutually associated counter-needle are symmetrical with the holes for receiving mounting members of another needle and another mutually associated counter-needle with respect to said second determined plane of the crosspiece and, in addition, the holes for receiving mounting members of a needle and a mutually associated counter-needle are four in number, divided into two sub-groups which are arranged respectively on either side of a determined location of needle and counter-needle and each of which combines two mutually symmetrical bores with respect to said first determined plane of the crosspiece. The present invention therefore provides a sliding bushing intended for mounting a mutually associated needle and counter-needle on the crossmember and comprising for this purpose a flat face for bearing the bushing on a crossmember, a flat face for receiving a counter-needle occupying a determined position relative to the bearing, said bearing and receiving faces being perpendicular to the same determined mean plane of the bearing, a flat sliding face for a needle occupying a variable position relative to the bearing and juxtaposed at said determined position, said sliding face being juxtaposed to said receiving face along said determined mean plane of the bearing and perpendicular to said determined mean plane of the bearing, and four oblong holes for receiving members for mounting the bearing on a cross member, said holes having a common direction substantially perpendicular to said bearing face i and being divided into two groups which are arranged respectively on either side of said receiving and sliding faces and each of which combines two holes which are mutually symmetrical with respect to said determined mean plane of the bearing, characterized in that said holes have shapes respective approximately of revolution around the same determined axis of the bearing, oriented in said common direction, disposed in said determined mean plane of the bearing and between said holes of the bearing. It also offers a plate for mounting a needle and a counter-needle mutually associated on such a cross member and comprising for this purpose a flat face for bearing the plate on a cross member, flat faces for receiving a pad of a counter-needle and a pad of a needle occupying respective determined positions relative to the plate, said bearing and receiving faces being perpendicular to the same determined mean plane of the bearing and said receiving faces being mutually juxtaposed along said determined mean plane, and four oblong holes for receiving organs mounting the plate on a cross, said holes having a common direction substantially perpendicular to said bearing face and being divided into two groups which are arranged respectively on either side of said receiving faces and each of which combines two mutually drilling symmetrical with respect to said determined mean plane of the plate, characterized in that said holes in the plate tine have respective shapes approximately of revolution around a same determined axis of the plate, oriented in said common direction, disposed in said determined mean plane of the plate and between said holes of the plate.

Similarly, in relation to an embodiment of a crosspiece according to the invention according to which the holes for receiving mounting members of a counter-rail of one of said tracks are symmetrical with the holes for receiving bodies for mounting a counter-rail of another of said tracks relative to said second determined plane of the cross-member and according to which the holes for receiving mounting members of a counter-rail are four in number, distributed in one first sub-group and into a second sub-group which are arranged between said second determined plane of the cross-member and a determined location of counter-rail and each of which combines two holes, said second sub-group of holes being disposed between said first sub-group of holes and said determined location of counter-rail and along said determined location of counter-rail and the holes of said first sub-group being equidistant of an axis of symmetry between the holes of said second sub-group, which axis of symmetry is oriented in said common direction, the present invention provides a counter rail support, intended for mounting a counter rail on such a cross member and comprising for this purpose a flat bearing face of the support on a cross member, at least one receiving face of a counter-rail occupying a determined position relative to the support, said bearing and receiving faces being perpendicular to a same determined average plane of the support, and of the holes for receiving support mounting members on a cross member, said holes having an average direction co mm substantially perpendicular to said bearing face and being offset relative to said receiving face of a counter-rail, characterized in that said holes in the support are four in number, divided into a first group and a second group which is disposed between said first group and said receiving face of a counter-rail, in that the second group joins two circular cylindrical bores and in that the first group joins two bores of respective oblong shapes, approximately of revolution around 'A single determined axis of the support, oriented in said common direction and disposed midway between the two holes of the second group.

Such a support offers the same possibility of orientation as necessary, by rotation on itself, as the saddle, the sliding pads and the aforementioned plates.

Finally, in relation to an embodiment of a crosspiece according to the invention according to which the holes for receiving members for mounting a core are mutually symmetrical with respect to said second determined plane of the crosspiece and, more precisely, are at number of four, divided into two sub-groups, mutually symmetrical with respect to said first determined plane of the cross member, of two holes situated respectively on either side of said first determined plane of the cross member and are equidistant from said first determined plane, it it is possible to use a mounting clip for a core known in itself, comprising a flat face for bearing on a cross member and a flat face for bearing against a core, mutually perpendicular and perpendicular to a determined mean plane of the fastener, and two holes for receiving fastening means for mounting the fastener on a cross member, said holes having a common direction substantially perpendicular to said bearing face on a cross member and being set back with respect to said face d 'support against a heart and mutually symmetrical with respect to said determined mean plane of the fastener; to allow the use of such a fastener for mounting a core and in particular a curved core, that is to say a core having no inherent symmetry, on any of the corresponding crosspieces in respecting the appropriate orientation, it is then generally possible to simply take advantage of the design tolerances of the holes for receiving fastening members for mounting the fastener on a cross member, in comparison with the dimensioning of these bodies such as lag bolts.

Insofar as the use of sleepers according to the invention in a switchgear area which does not in itself have its own symmetry, in particular in conjunction with intermediate mounting devices according to the invention such as saddles, supports for counter-rail, sliding bearings or plates, results in an originality in the design of this zone, the present invention also provides a track device according to claim 12, comprising crosspieces, in particular in prestressed reinforced concrete, respective elements of '' at least two railway tracks such as rails, counter-rails, needles, counter-needles and core and organs mounting said elements, received in holes in the sleepers, said track apparatus comprising at least one zone which does not in itself have symmetry; said zone comprises crosspieces according to the invention, the respective mean directions of which may be, for localized groups of consecutive crosspieces, approximately or even substantially parallel to one another, in particular when intermediate mounting devices according to the invention are used together.

• Les figures 1A, 1B, 1C, qui se complètent, montrent le plan de pose d'un appareil de voie UIC 60-A74 posé sur des traverses en béton armé précontraint conformes à la présente invention, à savoir un branchement à deux voies, à déviation tg 0,085 à droite et à coeur de croisement courbe ; ces figures montrent respectivement l'aiguillage, les voies intermédiaires, l'ensemble du croisement à coeur courbe et la sortie de croisement de ce branchement.
• Les figures 2 à 8 montrent des vues de dessus de traverses réalisées conformément à la présente invention et destinées à ce branchement, à savoir respectivement une traverse située dans l'aiguillage, une traverse située au niveau des voies intermédiaires, des traverses situées dans le croisement et se succédant à partir de la pointe de l'appareil, et une traverse située en sortie de croisement.
• La figure 9 montre une vue de dessus d'une selle destinée au montage d'un rail sur une traverse selon l'invention, destinée au montage d'un rail UIC 60 sur l'une quelconque des traverses des voies intermédiaires, du croisement et de la sortie de croisement.
• La figure 10 montre une vue de cette selle en coupe par deux demi-plans repérés en X-X à la figure 9.
• La figure 11 illustre, en une vue en coupe par deux demi-plans repérés en XI-XI à la figure 9, d'une part le montage d'une telle selle sur une traverse et d'autre part le montage d'un rail UIC 60 sur cette selle au moyen d'une attache du type commercialisé en France sous la marque enregistrée NABLA et aux Etats-Unis d'Amérique sous la marque enregistrée FORTAX.
• La figure 12 montre, en une vue analogue à celle de la figure 9, une variante de réalisation de la selle destinée au montage d'un rail sur une traverse selon l'invention.
• La figure 13 montre une vue de la selle de la figure 12 en coupe par deux demi-plans repérés en XIII-XIII à la figure 12.
• La figure 14 illustre, en une vue en coupe par un plan repéré en XIV-XIV à la figure 12, le montage de la selle de la figure 12 sur une traverse, ainsi que le montage d'un rail UIC 60 sur cette selle.
• La figure 15 montre, en une vue de dessus, un coussinet de glissement destiné au montage d'une aiguille et d'un contre-aiguille mutuellement associés sur une traverse selon l'invention, située au niveau de l'aiguillage.
• Les figures 16 et 17 illustrent un tel montage, en des vues en coupe par des plans repérés en XVI-XVI à la figure 15, respectivement sans butée et avec butée entre l'aiguille et le contre-aiguille.
• La figure 18 montre, en une vue analogue à celle de la figure 15, un autre coussinet de glissement destiné au montage d'une aiguille et d'un contre-aiguille mutuellement associés sur une traverse conforme à la présente invention, située au niveau de l'aiguillage.
• La figure 19 illustre un tel montage, en coupe par des plans repérés en XIX-XIX à la figure 18.
• La figure 20 montre une vue de dessus d'une platine destinée au montage d'une aiguille et d'un contre-aiguille mutuellement associés sur une traverse conforme à la présente invention, située au niveau de l'aiguillage.
• Les figures 21 et 22 illustrent un tel montage, en coupe par des plans repérés en XXI-XXI à la figure 20, respectivement avant torsion et après torsion de l'aiguille.
• La figure 23 montre une vue de dessus d'un support de contre-rail, destiné au montage d'un contre-rail sur une traverse selon l'invention, située au niveau du croisement.
• La figure 24 montre une vue de ce support en coupe par des plans repérés en XXIV-XXIV à la figure 23.
• La figure 25 montre une vue de dessus d'une attache de montage d'un coeur sur une traverse selon l'invention, située au niveau du croisement.
• La figure 26 montre une vue de cette attache en coupe par des plans repérés en XXVI-XXVI à la figure 25.
• La figure 27 montre une vue de cette attache en coupe par un plan repéré en XXVII-XXVII à la figure 25.
• La figure 28 illustre le montage d'un coeur sur une traverse selon l'invention au moyen d'une telle attache, partiellement en coupe.
• La figure 29 illustre ce montage en une vue en coupe par un plan repéré en XXIX-XXIX à la figure 28.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description below, relating to nonlimiting examples of implementation, as well as from the appended drawings which form an integral part of this description.

• FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, which complement each other, show the installation plan of a UIC 60-A74 track device placed on prestressed reinforced concrete sleepers in accordance with the present invention, namely a two-way connection, with deviation tg 0.085 to the right and with a curved crossing heart; these figures respectively show the switch, the intermediate tracks, the whole of the crossing with a curved heart and the crossing output of this connection.
• Figures 2 to 8 show top views of sleepers made in accordance with the present invention and intended for this connection, namely respectively a sleeper located in the switch, a sleeper located at the intermediate tracks, sleepers located in the crossing and succeeding each other from the tip of the apparatus, and a crosspiece located at the crossing outlet.
• FIG. 9 shows a top view of a saddle intended for mounting a rail on a cross member according to the invention, intended for mounting a UIC rail 60 on any of the cross members of the intermediate tracks, of the crossing and from the crossing exit.
• FIG. 10 shows a view of this saddle in section through two half-planes marked in XX in FIG. 9.
• Figure 11 illustrates, in a sectional view through two half-planes identified in XI-XI in Figure 9, on the one hand the mounting of such a saddle on a cross member and on the other hand the mounting of a rail UIC 60 on this saddle by means of a clip of the type sold in France under the registered trademark NABLA and in the United States of America under the registered trademark FORTAX.
• Figure 12 shows, in a view similar to that of Figure 9, an alternative embodiment of the saddle for mounting a rail on a crosspiece according to the invention.
• FIG. 13 shows a view of the saddle of FIG. 12 in section through two half-planes marked in XIII-XIII in FIG. 12.
• Figure 14 illustrates, in a sectional view through a plane marked in XIV-XIV in Figure 12, the mounting of the saddle of Figure 12 on a cross member, as well as the mounting of a UIC rail 60 on this saddle.
• FIG. 15 shows, in a top view, a sliding bushing intended for mounting a needle and a mutually associated counter-needle on a crosspiece according to the invention, located at the level of the switch.
• Figures 16 and 17 illustrate such an arrangement, in sectional views through planes identified in XVI-XVI in Figure 15, respectively without stop and with stop between the needle and the counter-needle.
• FIG. 18 shows, in a view similar to that of FIG. 15, another sliding bearing intended for mounting a mutually associated needle and counter-needle on a crosspiece according to the present invention, located at the referral.
• FIG. 19 illustrates such an arrangement, in section through planes identified in XIX-XIX in FIG. 18.
• Figure 20 shows a top view of a plate for mounting a needle and a mutually associated counter-needle on a crosspiece according to the present invention, located at the switch.
• Figures 21 and 22 illustrate such an assembly, in section through planes identified in XXI-XXI in Figure 20, respectively before twisting and after twisting of the needle.
• FIG. 23 shows a top view of a counter-rail support, intended for mounting a counter-rail on a crosspiece according to the invention, located at the crossing.
• FIG. 24 shows a view of this support in section through planes marked in XXIV-XXIV in FIG. 23.
• Figure 25 shows a top view of a fastener for mounting a core on a crosspiece according to the invention, located at the crossing.
• FIG. 26 shows a view of this fastener in section through planes marked in XXVI-XXVI in FIG. 25.
• FIG. 27 shows a view of this fastener in section through a plane marked in XXVII-XXVII in FIG. 25.
• FIG. 28 illustrates the mounting of a core on a crosspiece according to the invention by means of such a fastener, partially in section.
• FIG. 29 illustrates this arrangement in a section view through a plane marked in XXIX-XXIX in FIG. 28.

Reference will firstly be made to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C where there has been illustrated, by way of nonlimiting example of a track apparatus capable of being mounted on sleepers according to the invention, a connection connected at a point to a section of running track 1, in the heel to two sections of running track 2, 3, respectively direct and deviated to the right in this nonlimiting example; in a manner known in itself, this connection comprises a switch 4, formed by a straight counter-needle 5 and a curved needle 6 mutually associated, mounted on the corresponding crosspieces 7 by means of sliding bearings in the area closest to tip 131 of the device and by means of plates in the area furthest from tip 131 of the device, a curved counter-needle 8 and a straight needle 9 also mounted in this way, intermediate tracks 10 formed by four standard rails 11 mounted on the corresponding crosspieces 7 by means of saddles, a crossing 12 comprising such rails 11 thus mounted, locally bordered by counter-rails 13 in number two, mounted on the corresponding crosspieces 7 by means of cross-rail supports, the crossover 12 further comprising a curved core 14 mounted on the corresponding crosspieces 7 by fasteners, and a hook outlet isement 15 formed by four standard rails 11 mounted via saddles on the corresponding crosspieces 7, common to the four rails immediately at the crossing exit and specific to the two rails of the direct track and to the two rails of the deviated track immediately before respectively connection to tracks 2 and 3.

The crosspieces 7 have respective mean directions 16 rectilinear which, in the example illustrated, are mutually parallel, and in practice perpendicular to the axis 64 of the direct track, at the level of the switch 4 while, at the level of the tracks intermediate 10, the mean directions 16 of the crosspieces 7 are mutually inclined and oriented, at each level, perpendicular to the bisector (not shown) of the angle (not shown) formed between them, at this level, that of the rails of the deviated track with the largest radius and the corresponding rail of the direct track; at the crossing 12 and in the part of the crossing outlet 15 in which the sleepers 7 are common to the rails of the direct track and the deviated track, the mean directions of the sleepers 7 are at least approximately parallel to each other, for localized groups of consecutive sleepers, and in practice at least approximately perpendicular to the bisector (not shown) of the angle (also not shown) formed between them by the direct track and the track deviated from the theoretical crossing point 130, or else to an axis (not shown) means between the respective axes 64 and 65 of the direct path and the deviated path; in the part of the crossing outlet 15 in which the crosspieces of the direct track and the deviated track are mutually independent, the mean direction 16 of each crosspiece is perpendicular to the axis of the corresponding track respectively.

With a view to fixing, on the crosspieces, sliding bearings and receiving plates for each assembly formed by a needle and a mutually associated needle, mounting saddles for rails, supports for counter rails and heart mounting clips, depending on the case, the crosspieces 7 are provided with holes 18, 60, 80, 100 (FIGS. 2 to 8) for receiving mounting members, in practice lag bolts, which holes have general shapes identical, cylindrical of revolution around respective axes having a common direction substantially perpendicular to the mean direction 16 of the respective corresponding cross member, and in particular perpendicular to a face 17 constituting the upper face of the cross member 7 in the normal position of use.

In accordance with the present invention, although the sleepers 7 are individualized according to their serial number in the switchgear, the bolt receiving holes are arranged in such a way that the same sleeper can be used , with the same serial number, indifferently in the connection on the right illustrated and in a connection on the left by constituting the specular image; sliding bearings, plates, saddles, rail supports and to some extent the heart fasteners are also designed for this purpose.

Referring to Figure 2 and Figures 15 to 22, we will first describe the mounting of a mutually associated needle and counter-needle, for example needle 6 and counter-needle 5, on a cross member 7 of the switch 4 by means of a sliding bush 118, 119 or a plate 120.

FIG. 2 illustrates more particularly a cross member 7 intended to receive two sliding bearings 118, it being understood that the arrangements described with reference to this figure can be easily transposed, by a person skilled in the art, in the case of a cross member 7 intended to receive two pads 119 or two plates 120, which are mounted identically on the corresponding cross member 7 respectively.

FIG. 2 shows that, in accordance with the present invention, with a view to receiving each of the pads 118, which are respectively specific to a needle 6, 9 and to the associated counter-needle 5, 8, the cross-member 7 comprises a group 20 of four identical holes 18, of respective axes 19 perpendicular to the upper face 17 of the cross member 7. According to the present invention, the four holes of one of the groups 20, thus two in number at a rate of one per bearing 118, are symmetrical with the four holes of the other group 20 with respect to a plane 21 perpendicular to the mean direction 16 of the cross-member 7, or also with respect to an axis 22 situated in this plane 21 and parallel to the common direction (not referenced) of the holes 18, that is to say to the respective axes 19 of the holes 18; in the example illustrated, the plane 21 constitutes a plane of general symmetry of the cross-member 7 just as the axis 22 constitutes an axis of general symmetry for this cross-member, but it could be otherwise without it being taken out of the scope of the present invention.

As will be readily deduced from the subsequent description of the sliding bearings 118 and 119 and of the plate 120, the four bores of each group 20 are divided into two sub-groups which are arranged respectively on either side of a location mutually associated needle and counter needle.

In the case of the preferred embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated in FIG. 2, the holes 18 themselves have mutual symmetry within each group 20. More precisely, in the example illustrated, the four holes 18 of each group 20 are distributed half on either side of a plane 23 oriented perpendicular to the plane 21, that is to say along the average direction 16 of the cross 7, and including the axis 22, and are equidistant from this plane 23, just as they are divided for half on either side of a respective plane 24 of the group 20 to which they belong and oriented parallel to the plane 21, and are equidistant from this plane 24; in other words, the four holes 18 of each group 20 are mutually symmetrical with respect to the plane 23 as with respect to the plane 24 respectively associated, that is to say also with respect to an axis 25 specific to the group 20 considered and defined as the intersection, parallel to axis 22, of planes 23 and 24.

From one cross member 7 of the switch 4 to another, the spacing of the groups 20 of four holes 18 relative to the plane 21 varies but the four holes 18 of each group 20 retain the same relative position as well as their symmetry with respect to the four holes 18 of the other group 20 on all the crosspieces 7 of the switch 4, it being understood that for some of them, the plane 21 and the axis 22 do not necessarily constitute planes and axes of symmetry of the crosspiece as a whole.

Naturally, despite this positioning of the holes 18 on each cross member 7, the bearings 118, 119 and plate 120 must be able to be oriented at will relative to the mean direction 16 of the corresponding cross member, depending on the orientation which must present. relative to this mean direction 16 the counter-needle 5, 8 respectively corresponding.

To this end, the bearings 118, 119 and plates 120 have arrangements which will now be described.

Reference will firstly be made to FIGS. 15 to 17, where there is illustrated a bearing 118 intended for mounting on a crosspiece according to the invention, comprising in a manner known per se a planar face 26 or lower face, intended for lean on the upper face 17 of a cross member 7 by means of a sole made of elastically compressible material 27, a flat face 28 or upper face for receiving the pad of a counter-needle such as 5 occupying a position determined relative to the pad 118, the two faces 26 and 28 being mutually inclined but symmetrical with respect to the same mean plane 29 constituting a plane of symmetry of the pad, and a planar face 30 for sliding the pad of the corresponding needle such that 6, juxtaposed against the needle 5 but occupying a variable position relative thereto as well as relative to the pad 118; this face 30 is parallel to the bearing face 26, symmetrical with respect to the plane 29 and juxtaposed with the face 28 in a direction (not referenced) parallel to both the bearing face 26 and the plane 29; in a manner also known, the pad 118 further comprises means 31 for receiving retaining members integral with the corresponding counter-needle such as 5 in its determined position relative to the pad 118, such as bolts and toads, at the opposite the sliding face 30 relative to the receiving face 28; like the faces 26, 28, 30, these receiving means 31 respect the overall symmetry of the pad 18 with respect to the plane 29; thus, in the example illustrated, these receiving means 31 comprise two holes 122 partially undercut, perpendicular to the bearing face 26, capable of receiving a T-bolt for fixing the pad of the counter-needle 5 by means of a toad retained by a nut and an elastic washer, in positions mutually symmetrical with respect to the plane 29, and a hole 123 for receiving a bolt-nut assembly for fixing the core of the counter-needle 5, arranged parallel to the bearing face 26, above the receiving face, symmetrically with respect to the plane 29, and opening into a face 124 which is itself symmetrical with respect to the plane 29 and serving to support the core of the counter needle 5 opposite needle 6.

For the mounting of the bearing 118 on the corresponding cross member 7 by screwing in the four holes 18 of the same group 40, the bearing 118 comprises, equally distributed respectively on either side of the assembly formed by the receiving face 28, the sliding face 30 and the receiving means 31, four mutually identical bores 32 of respective axes 121; the axes 121 of the four holes 32 have a common direction perpendicular to the bearing face 26 and intended to merge with the common direction of the axes 19 of the holes 18 and occupy relative positions corresponding to those of the axes 19 of the four holes 18 d '' the same group 20.

To allow the orientation of the plane 29 of the bearing 118 relative to the mean direction 16 of the cross-member 7, by relative rotation about the axis 25 of the four bores 18 of the corresponding group 20, the bores 32 have respective oblong shapes, at least approximately of revolution around the same axis 33 which has their common direction perpendicular to the bearing face 26 and, in the example illustrated, is located in the plane 29 of the bearing 118. In practice, in the example illustrated, the four holes 32 are symmetrical two by two with respect to the plane 29, whose axes 121 are distant by the same distance, equal to that which separates the axes 23 from the axes 19 of the holes 18; the four holes 32 are also symmetrical two by two with respect to a plane 34 which is perpendicular to the plane 29 and also includes the axis 33, and whose axes 121 of the holes 32 are spaced by the same distance, equal to that which separates from the plane 24 the axes 19 of the holes 18 of a determined group 20; in other words, the holes 32 also have mutual symmetry with respect to the axis 33 of which they are equidistant and which is located between them.

Not illustrated, the four holes 32 could be delimited, respectively towards the axis 33 and in the direction of a distance with respect thereto, by flanks having forms of rigorously revolution around this axis 33, and for example cylindrical of revolution about this axis and mutually distant, in a radial direction with reference to this axis 33, by a distance corresponding substantially to the diameter that a lag screw has near its head. However, if the holes 32 are sufficiently distant from the axis 33 and taking into account the small angular clearance which it is necessary to have between the plane 29 of the bearing 118 and the plane 23 of the cross-member 7, we can admit the illustrated arrangement, according to which each bore 32 is defined respectively towards the axis 33 and in the direction of a distance from it by planar sides 34, 35, parallel to the same respective plane 36 which is parallel to the axis 33 and oblique to the planes 29 and 34 and includes their axis 121; the two sides 34 and 35 are mutually spaced, radially with reference to the axis 33, by a distance slightly greater than the aforementioned diameter of a lag screw and connected mutually by two semi-cylindrical faces 37, 38, of revolution around respective axes 39, 40 located parallel to the axis 33, in the plane 36 and mutually symmetrical with respect to the corresponding axis 121.

It is easy to see that thus, during the positioning of the pad 118 on a cross-member 7 and as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the axis 33 of the pad 18 is placed in coincidence with the axis 25 of the group 20 of corresponding holes 18 by placing each of the holes 32 above one of the holes 18 in this group 20, then a respective lag screw 41 is engaged in each of the pairs of holes 18-32 thus associated, which are screwed coaxially in the corresponding hole 118; before tightening the lag bolts 41, the bearing 18 is properly oriented relative to the cross-member 7, by relative rotation around the combined axes 25, 33, then the lag bolts 41 are tightened.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show that the same bearing 118 can be used for mounting a needle 6 and a mutually associated counter-needle 5 without stop capable of imposing on them a minimum relative spacing (FIG. 16) or with a stop 42 imposing a minimum relative spacing on them (FIG. 17), secured to the bearing 118 by the same bolt-nut assembly as the core of the counter-needle 5.

The bearing 118 illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17 corresponds to the mounting of a needle and a counter-needle mutually associated near the tip 131 of the apparatus, that is to say in an area in which the counter -aiguille 5 has only a partial shoe, the dimensions of which are adapted to the dimensions of the face 28 for receiving the counter-needle 5.

Naturally, the characteristic arrangements of the invention, as for the position of the holes allowing the mounting of the bearing on a cross-member, can be kept in the case of a bearing intended to be placed further from the point, in an area where the counter-needle 5 has a complete pad and FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate precisely a bearing 119 suitable for a such case; this pad 119 differs from the pad 118 described above only in the dimensions of the face 28 for receiving the counter-needle 5 and the sliding face 30 of the needle 6; the assembly illustrated in FIG. 19 differs from the assembly illustrated in FIG. 17 only by the dimension of the stop 42 imposing a minimum spacing of the needle 6 relative to the counter-needle 5; therefore, if we disregard these dimensional differences, we find in Figures 18 and 19, under the same references, the same elements as in Figures 15 and 17, respectively.

A person skilled in the art will readily understand that the cushion 119 illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 is mounted on a cross-member 7, differing from that which was illustrated in FIG. 2 only by the relative spacing of the two groups of bores 18, of the manner which has been described in connection with the bearing 118 and the corresponding cross-member 7.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 20 to 22, on which there is illustrated a plate 120 intended for integral mounting of a needle such as 6 and to the associated counter-needle such as 5, occupying respective determined positions, in a zone of the switch even further from the point 131 of the apparatus, on crosspieces differing from the crosspiece 7 illustrated in FIG. 2 only by the relative spacing between the two groups of drillings 18.

To this end, the plate 120 has, in a manner known per se, a flat lower face 43 intended to bear on the upper face 17 of the cross-member 7, by means of a rubber sole 44, and two flat upper faces 45, 46 having respective different obliquities with respect to the face 44 while being respectively symmetrical, like this face 44, with respect to a mean plane 47 constituting a plane of general symmetry for the plate 120; the faces 45 and 46, mutually juxtaposed in a direction (not referenced) parallel to the bearing face 43 as well as to this plane, are intended to receive, in determined relative positions, the respective pads of the needle 5 and needle 6 associated.

In view of its fixing to the cross-member 7, by lag bolts 55 screwed into the holes 18 of the same group 20, the plate 120 has four holes 48 also equally distributed on either side of the assembly formed by the two faces 45 and 46 and having a common direction perpendicular to the bearing face 43.

The four holes 48 are placed in relative positions strictly identical to those of the holes 32 of the sliding bearings 18 and 19 and, in particular, are symmetrical two by two with respect to the plane 47 of general symmetry of the plate 120 as well as by relative to a plane 49 perpendicular both to this plane 47 and to the bearing face 43, just as they are symmetrical two by two with respect to an axis 50 situated between them, at the intersection of the two planes 47 and 49, that is to say perpendicular to the bearing face 43 near the junction between the faces 45 and 46.

As has been said of the holes 32 with reference to the axis 33, the holes 48 have respective oblong shapes, approximately of revolution around the axis 50 and reference may be made to the description of the holes 32 for a more precise definition of this shape approximately of revolution around the axis 50; it will be noted that it would not be departing from the scope of the present invention to delimit the holes 48, respectively in the direction of approximation with respect to the axis 50 and in the direction of a distance from the latter, by flanks which are rigorously of revolution about this axis 50 as was said of the holes 32 with reference to the axis 33.

In view of the integral mounting of the counter-needle 5, by means of retaining members of its shoe such as two bolt - toad - elastic washer-nut 51 assemblies, the plate 120 has respectively on either side of the face 45 of the means 52 suitable for receiving such retaining members 51, namely in the illustrated example holes perpendicular to the bearing face 43 and partially undercut, at the rate of one per retaining member 51 .

As shown in FIG. 20, the two holes 52 are disposed respectively on either side of the face 45, that is to say of the location of the pad of the counter-needle 5, and respectively on the side and d 'other of the plane 47, symmetrically of one another with respect to an axis 53 parallel to the axis 50 and situated in the plane 47, substantially centrally with respect to the face 45.

Similarly, with a view to receiving organs 54, for example bolt - toad - elastic washer-nut assemblies, for retaining the shoe of needle 6 in a fixed but adjustable position, in a parallel (not referenced) direction both on the bearing face 43 of the plate 120 and on the plane 47 thereof, means 55 are provided for receiving such retaining members 51, for example in the form of elongated slots, undercut , parallel to this direction.

These two slots 55 are arranged on the one hand respectively on either side of the face 46, which they however partially overlap, and on the other hand respectively on both sides of the plane 47, in a relationship of symmetry mutual with respect to an axis 56 parallel to the axis 50 and situated in the plane 47, substantially centrally with respect to the face 46.

It is easy to understand that the holes 52 and the slots 55 allow the introduction then the retention, respectively in a fixed position and in an adjustable position, of a T-bolt on which we then retain, by means of a nut assembly - respective washer, a respective toad for retaining the pad of the counter-needle 5 or the needle 6, respectively, that the latter are connected to each other moreover as shown in FIG. 21, in the case of an area relatively close to the tip 131 of the device before twisting of the needle 6, or that they are also mutually independent as shown in FIG. 22 which illustrates a zone relatively more distant from the tip 131 of the device, namely an area in which the needle 6 has a slope.

It is easily understood that the mounting of the plate 20 which has just been described on a corresponding cross-member 7, by means of lag screws 57 engaged in the holes 48 and 18, is carried out in the manner described above with reference to the bearing 18, with adjustment in relative orientation after alignment of axes 50 and 25 and before complete tightening of lag screws 57.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 3, where a cross member 7 has been illustrated which, at the level of the intermediate tracks 10 of the track apparatus, carries four rails by means of individual mounting saddles, of a type illustrated at 58 in Figures 9 to 11 or a type illustrated at 59 in Figures 12 to 14.

With a view to receiving each of these saddles, the crossmember 7 carries a respective group 63 of two identical bores 60, of generally cylindrical shape of revolution about a respective axis 61 perpendicular to the upper face 17 of the crossmember 7 of such so that the various holes 60 have a common direction perpendicular to this face 17.

Four groups 63 each having two holes 60 are thus provided and, in accordance with the present invention, two holes 60 of each of the groups 63 are symmetrical with the two holes 60 of another group 63 with respect to the axis 22 defined as above, located at the intersection of a plane 21 perpendicular to the mean direction 16 of the cross-member and of a plane 23 parallel to this mean direction but parallel to the common direction of the holes 60, that is to say perpendicular to the face 17; preferably, but nonetheless optional, the planes 21 and 23 constitute planes of symmetry for a cross-member 7 situated at the level of the intermediate tracks 10 of the track apparatus, but it would not go beyond the scope of the present invention to adopt a other provision.

Preferably, as illustrated, the two bores 60 of each group 63, arranged respectively on either side of the location of the corresponding rail as will be deduced from the subsequent description of the saddles 58 and 59, are also arranged respectively on either side of the plane 23, at the same distance therefrom, that is to say symmetrically one from the other with respect to an axis 62 specific to the group 63 considered, and situated perpendicularly on face 17, in plane 23.

According to the crosspiece 7 considered, at the intermediate tracks 10, the spacing of the groups 63 of holes 60 relative to the plane 21 varies, but the relative positions of the two holes 60 of each group 63 remain unchanged, as does the mutual symmetry respective holes 60 of two groups 63 relative to the axis 22.

As mentioned above, at the level of the intermediate tracks 10, the mean direction 16 of each cross member 7 is oriented perpendicular to the bisector of the angle formed between them, at the cross member considered, that of the rails of the deviated track which has the largest radius and the corresponding rail of the direct track, namely the left rails in the case of the connection with deviation to the right illustrated; the relative orientation of each of the rails 11, 12 on the one hand, and of the mean direction 16 of the sleepers 7, on the other hand, varies from one sleeper to the other and, to accommodate this variation, the saddles 58 and 59 have arrangements which will now be described.

Reference will firstly be made to FIGS. 9 to 11 which show the saddle 58, comprising a flat lower face 66 bearing on the face 17 of the cross member, by means of a sole made of elastically compressible material 67, and a flat upper face 68 for receiving the shoe of a rail 11, which face 68 is inclined relative to the face 66 but is, like the latter, perpendicular to a mean plane 69 constituting for the saddle 58 a plane of general symmetry, with certain exceptions which will emerge from the following description.

Respectively on either side of the face 68 if we refer to a direction parallel to the plane 69, as well as respectively on either side of the plane 69, in a relationship of mutual symmetry with respect to an axis 70 perpendicular to the face 66, located in the plane 69 and substantially cutting the face 68 centrally, the saddle 58 has two holes 71 for receiving a respective lag screw 72 for screwing in a hole 60 respectively corresponding to a group 63.

To this end, the two holes 71 have the same direction parallel to the axis 70 and respective oblong shapes, approximately of revolution around the axis 70 and defined for example as those of the holes 32 of the bearing 118 with reference to the axis 33 so that we will refer to the description of these holes 32 as to the precise shape of the holes 71; it will be noted that it would not depart from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims by delimiting the latter, respectively towards the axis 70 and in the direction of a distance from it, by faces rigorously of revolution around this axis 70.

Each of the bores 71 has an axis 73 perpendicular to the bearing face 66 and distant from the plane 69 of the saddle 58, by a distance equal to that which separates the axis 61 from a bore 60 opposite of the plane 23 of the cross 7 as well as this axis 73 is located at the same distance from the axis 70 as the axes 61 of the holes 60 of the same group 63 with respect to the axis 62 corresponding so well that, when mounting the saddle 58 on the cross-member 7, the axis 70 can be placed in coincidence with the axis 62 of the group 63 of corresponding holes 60, making the planes 69 and 23 and the holes more or less coincide 71 with the holes 60 then, after having started to engage in each hole 71 and in the associated hole 60 a lag screw 72, orient the plane 69 relative to the plane 23 if necessary by relative rotation around the axes 70 and 62 combined before screwing lag screws 72 completely.

In addition to the arrangements which have just been described, the saddle 58 has means 74 for receiving members 75 for retaining the pad of a rail 11 in a determined position on the bearing face 68. In the example illustrated, these receiving means 74 are in the form of holes partially undercut, arranged perpendicular to the bearing face 66 in positions mutually symmetrical with respect to the axis 70, respectively on either side of the plane 69 and respectively on either side of the face 68, in order to receive respectively, as a member 75 for retaining the shoe of the rail, a T-bolt capable of retaining a fastener of the type marketed in France under the registered trademark NABLA and in the United States of America under the registered mark FORTAX by means of a nut and a washer as shown in Figure 11.

The saddle 59 illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14 differs from the saddle 58 which has just been described only in that it is intended to allow the rail pad to be retained by means of bolt - toad - elastic washer - assemblies. nut 76 and that, for this purpose, holes 74 partially undercut are replaced holes 77 of different shape, also undercut, respecting the same relationship of mutual symmetry as the holes 74. We therefore find in Figures 12 to 14 respectively, the same references as in Figures 9 to 11 to designate identical elements, except for holes 74.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 4, where a cross member 7 has been illustrated which is situated at the crossing 12, on the side of the point of the needle, and therefore intended to carry not only four rails, by the 'intermediate individual saddles, in the same way as the cross member 7 described with reference to Figure 3, but also one or two counter-rails 13 via suitable supports which, according to the invention, are shaped as illustrated at 78 in Figures 23 and 24.

As a result, the cross member 7 illustrated in FIG. 4 comprises four groups 63 of two holes 60, at all points in accordance with what has been described with reference to FIG. 3 in particular as regards the relationship of symmetry of two holes 60 of a group 63, with respect to the axis 22 of the cross member 7 defined as above, with respect to two bores 60 of another group 63 and as to the relationship of mutual symmetry of two bores 60 of the same group 63 with respect to an axis 62 specific to this group.

In addition, the cross member 7 illustrated in FIG. 4 comprises two groups 79 of four bores 80 which, in accordance with the present invention, are mutually symmetrical, from one group 79 to the other, with respect to the plane 21 defined as above and have respective axes 81 perpendicular to the upper face 17 of the crosspiece 7. It will be noted that each of the groups 79 of bores 80 is juxtaposed to a group 63 of two bores 60, on the same side of this group 63 as the plane 21 in the measure or each counter-rail 13 must run along the corresponding rail 11 in the crossover.

In each of the groups 79, two of the holes 80, namely the holes 80 furthest from the plane 21, are disposed respectively on either side of the plane 23, at the same distance from the latter, but are mutually asymmetrical by relative to this plane 23 while being symmetrical to each other with respect to an axis 82 perpendicular to the face 17 of the cross-member 7 and situated in this plane 23; these two holes 80 thus constitute a sub-group arranged along a determined location for the counter-rail 13, as will emerge from the subsequent description of the support 78; more precisely, by a plane 83 passing through the axis 82 as well as by their respective axes 81, they determine the orientation of the counter-rail 13 relative to the mean direction 16 of the cross-member 7 which, as has been said above, is intended to be oriented at least approximately perpendicular to the bisector of the angle formed between them by the direct and deflected paths at the theoretical crossing point 130 or at an average axis between the respective axes 64 and 65 of these two ways ; naturally, the orientation of the plane 83 with respect to the plane 23 varies according to the crosspieces 7, as a function of their serial number in the switchgear.

The other two holes 80 of each group 79 constitute a subgroup placed closer to the plane 21 than the subgroup previously described, and are mutually symmetrical with respect to the plane 23, preferably at the same distance from this plane that the holes 80 of the subgroup previously described; in addition, the two holes 80 closest to the axis 21 are equidistant from the axis 82 of mutual symmetry of the two holes 80 of the other subgroup.

Preferably, the distance separating from the plane 23 the respective axes 81 of the four bores 80 of each group 79 is identical from one crosspiece to the other, and also equal to the distance separating from this plane the respective axes 61 of the bores 60 so as to facilitate the positioning of prestressing reinforcements in the cross member 7 when the latter is made of prestressed reinforced concrete; this distance is itself equal to that which separates from the plane 23 the respective axes 19 of the holes 18 to allow standardizing the positioning of the prestressing reinforcements in the various crosspieces; it will be noted that this results, as a consequence of the difference in orientation of the plane 83 relative to the plane 23 of the crosspieces 7 from one crosspiece to the other, a difference in spacing between the respective axes 81 of the most distant bores 80 from plane 21, along the sleepers; this difference in spacing however remains small in relative value taking into account the geometry of the switchgear.

In view of its mounting on the cross-member 7 by threading in the bores 80 of the same group 79, the support 78 of the counter-rail 13 has a shape which will now be described with reference to FIGS. 23 and 24.

In a manner known per se, this support 78 against the rail 13 has a flat lower face 84 bearing on the upper face 17 of the cross member 7 by means of a sole made of elastically compressible material 85, the face 84 being materialized by a base plate 86 of the support 78. In a manner also known, this base plate 86 carries, projecting upwards, that is to say opposite the face 84, a stirrup integral 87 having itself, offset from the plumb of the base plate 86 if we refer to a normal position of use, two flat faces 88, 89 respectively perpendicular to the face 84 and parallel to the latter but turned away from the latter, with a view to supporting the counter-rail 13 thus placed in cantilever with respect to the base plate 86. In a manner also known, the plate base 86, the bracket 87 which is integral therewith and in particular the faces 88 and 89 thereof are symmetrical s relative to a mean plane of symmetry 92 of the support 78 and the counter-rail 13 is itself retained in abutment against the faces 88 and 89 by appropriate retaining members 90 for example of the nut - lock nut type, received in appropriate reception means 91 arranged on the stirrup 87 also symmetrically with respect to the plane 92; in the example illustrated, these receiving means 91 consist of a hole 91 passing right through, perpendicular to the face 88, the area of the stirrup 87 corresponding to this face 88, this hole 91 being oblong perpendicular to the plane 92 that it overlaps symmetrically.

The base plate 86 is pierced, in a common direction perpendicular to its face 84, with two holes 93 and two holes 94 for receiving lag screws 95, 96 for screwing respectively in the holes 80 furthest from the plane 21 and in the holes 80 closest to this plane 21, in the same group 79.

The two holes 93, with respective axes 97 perpendicular to the face 84 are located closer to the vertical alignment of the faces 88 and 89, that is to say plumb with the counter-rail 13, that the two holes 94 and are mutually symmetrical with respect to the plane 92, just as the two holes 94, with respective axes 99 perpendicular to the face 84, are mutually symmetrical with respect to this plan ; the respective axes 97 and 99 of the four holes 93, 94 are located at the same distance from the plane 92 and this distance is equal to that which separates, from the plane 23, the respective axes 81 of the holes 80 of the same group 79.

The two holes 93 have respective cylindrical shapes of revolution around their respective axis 97 with a diameter such that they can receive, possibly by means of a barrel washer as illustrated in FIG. 24, with just enough play to accommodate the aforementioned difference in spacing between the axes 81 of the holes 80 furthest from the plane 21, the lag screw 95 respectively corresponding so that the drawing of the support 78 by the holes 93, in the bores 80 of the corresponding group 79 which are furthest from the plane 21, determines within tolerances an orientation of the plane 92 of the support 78 relative to the plane 23 of the crosspiece.

The two holes 94 have oblong shapes, approximately of revolution around an axis 98 located perpendicular to the face 84, halfway between the axes 97 of the two holes 93, and their respective axes 99 are equidistant from the axis 98, of a distance identical to that which separates the axes 81 from the two bores 80 of the same group 79 which are closer to the plane 21 of the crosspiece 17, with respect to the axis 82 of the other two 80 holes in this group 79.

Naturally, the notion of character of approximately revolution around the axis 98, with regard to the two bores 94, is understood in the same way as with regard to the bores 32 of the bearing 118, the description of which will be referred to for more ample detail as to the shape of the holes 94.

Under these conditions, whatever the orientation of the common plane 83 of the respective axes 81 of the two bores 80 of the same group 79 which are the most distant from the plane 21, this orientation being dictated by the orientation to be given to the counter rail 13, and as soon as the support 78 is drawn by its holes 93 in these holes 80, with mutual coincidence of the axes 98 and 82, the holes 94 are placed in coincidence with the other two holes 80 to receive the respective corresponding lag screws 96 .

It will be noted that, according to the order number of the cross member 7 considered in the crossing 12 and according to the direction of deflection, the two groups 79 of drilling 80 mutually symmetrical with respect to the plane 21 can be used for the mounting of supports 78 of a respective counter-rail 13, or else only one of these groups 79 can be used as is the case in the zones of the crossing 12 closest to the switch 4 as shown in FIG. 1C.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 5 to 7 which illustrate the crosspieces 7 situated at the level of the core 14, in the region of the crossing 12, and in front of this therefore carry two rails 11, one or two counter-rails 13 and the core 14. Like all of the crosspieces 7 being located in the crossover zone 12, these crosspieces 7 are intended to be oriented, by their mean direction 16, at least approximately perpendicular to the bisector of the angle which the track forms between them. direct and the path deviated to the theoretical crossing point 130 or to an average axis between the respective axes 64 and 65 thereof.

In order to receive each of the corresponding rails 11 and each of the corresponding counter-rails 13, the crossbeams illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7 have provisions described above, namely groups 63 of two mutually symmetrical bores 60, in the same group, with respect to an axis 62 placed in the plane 23 of the cross member and symmetrical, from one group to the other, with respect to axis 22 defined as previously, and two groups 79 of four mutually symmetrical bores 80, from one group to another, with respect to the plane 21 of the cross member and suitably arranged.

To receive and retain the core 14, in addition, each of the crosspieces 7 illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7 comprises four specific bores 100 of respective axes 101 perpendicular to the face 17.

These four holes 100 are mutually symmetrical with respect to the plane 21 but, according to the crosspieces, are mutually symmetrical with respect to the plane 23 (FIG. 6) or asymmetrical with respect to this plane (FIGS. 5 and 7), being however equidistant from this plan ; preferably, the axes 101 of the various holes 100 are all located at the same distance from the plane 23 as the respective axes 19, 61, 81 of the holes 18, 60, 80 previously described, this distance being constant from one crosspiece to the other, so that the distance mutually separating the respective axes 101 of two bores 100 disposed respectively on either side of the plane 23 but on the same side of the plane 21 varies along the sleepers; this variation remains small in relative value, however, given the geometry of the switchgear.

Each group of two holes 100 located on the same side of the plane 21 and facing each other on either side of the plane 23 is intended to receive a mounting clip for the core 14, illustrated at 102 in FIGS. 26 to 29.

The fastener 102 has a flat lower face 103 intended to bear on the upper face 17 of the cross-member 7, by means of a sole made of elastically compressible material 104, and a face 105, also flat, perpendicular to the face. 103, intended to bear against the heart 14, the two faces 103 and 105 being perpendicular to the same common plane 106 constituting a mean plane of symmetry for the fastener 102.

Respectively on either side of the plane 106, in a relationship of mutual symmetry with respect thereto, the fastener 102 has two holes 107 of respective axes 108 perpendicular to its face 103, the two axes 108 being spaced from the plane 106 by a distance identical to that which separates from the plane 23 the respective axes 101 of two holes 100 located on the same side of the plane 21 of the cross-member 7; the two holes 107 have respective cylindrical shapes of revolution around their respective axis 108, to receive, with a clearance just sufficient to accommodate the aforementioned variation in relative spacing between the axes 101 of the holes 100 along the sleepers, a respective lag bolt 109 of lag bolt in a hole 100 respectively corresponding to one of the groups of two holes 100 located on the same side of the plane 21.

Thus, the threading of the fastener 102 in two holes 100 located on the same side of the plane 21 determines, to the nearest tolerances, the position of the fastener 102 relative to the corresponding cross-member 7, and in particular the orientation of the plane 106 of this fastener 102 relative to the plane 23 of this crosspiece, as required.

With a view to receiving means 110 for retaining the core 14, which in the illustrated example have the form of a bolt - toad - spring washer - nut assembly, the fastener 102 has a hole 111 in the undercut, under the shape of an oblong slot along the plane 106 and opening into the face 105; the hole 111 is suitable for receiving a T-bolt making it possible to retain on the fastener 102, by means of a washer and a nut, the core retaining clip 14 relative to this fastener 102.

Finally, reference will be made to FIG. 8 which shows a crosspiece situated at the crossing outlet 15 and receiving, at this level, both the two rails 11 of the direct track as well as the two rails 11 of the deviated track.

To this end, this cross member 7 has, like the cross member described with reference to FIG. 3, four groups 63 of two holes 60, these groups 63 being mutually symmetrical with respect to the axis 22; the respective positions of these four groups 63 are naturally specific to each cross member 7, that is to say different from one cross member to another.

By each of the groups 63 of holes 60, the cross member 7 illustrated in FIG. 8 can receive any one of the saddles 58 and 59 described respectively with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11 and to FIGS. 12 to 14.

It will be observed that in the part of the crossing outlet 15 furthest from the crossing 12, the two rails belonging respectively to the direct track and to the deviated track are mounted on respective sleepers, specific to these tracks; mounting can be carried out by means of saddles 58 and 59, mounted on each crosspiece by means of two groups 63 of bores 60 suitably arranged.

Naturally, the sleepers according to the invention which have been described, as well as the saddles for mounting rails on such sleepers, the sliding bearings and plates for mounting needles and counter needles on such sleepers, the supports of counter-rails and the heart fasteners which have been described constitute only non-limiting examples of implementation of the invention, and we can make many modifications to them without departing from the scope of this invention such as defined by the appended claims.

Likewise, although the invention has been described with reference to the example of a two-way connection, to the right deviation and with a curved crossing heart, it will easily be understood that this invention finds its application in d other types of switchgear, namely in particular in branches, whatever the direction of deviation and the shape of the crossing heart, and in crossings and in particular in combined crossings whatever the direction, these examples are in no way limiting.

Claims (60)

1. Sleeper, notably made of prestressed reinforced concrete, intended to carry the respective components of at least two railway tracks in a region (4, 10, 12, 15) of a set of points which is not in itself symmetrical, such as rails (11), check-rails (13), point-rails (6, 9), stock-rails (5, 8) and frog (14), the said sleeper having for this purpose drillings (60, 80, 100) for receiving members for mounting the said components, such as anchor bolts, the said drillings having a common direction (axes 61, 81, 101) approximately perpendicular to a mid-direction (16) of the sleeper (7) and being distributed in groups, each of which corresponds to at least one of the said components and includes several drillings (60, 80, 100) for receiving members for mounting this component, the drillings in any one group being disposed respectively on each side of a first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7), which first plane (23) is parallel to the said mid-direction (16) of the sleeper (7) and also to the said common direction (axes 61, 81, 101),
   characterised in that at least some drillings (60, 80, 100) for receiving mounting members are, within any one group (63, 79), mutually asymmetrical with respect to the first plane (23) of the sleeper (7), and in that the drillings (60, 80, 100) are mutually symmetrical with respect to a determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7), orientated in the said common direction, or with respect to a second determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7), orientated perpendicular to the said mid-direction (16) and including the said determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7), so as to permit the use of an identical sleeper for the said region (4, 10, 12, 15) of the set of points and for another region constituting the specular image thereof.
2. Sleeper according to Claim 1 characterised in that the drillings (60) for receiving the members for mounting a rail (11) of one of the said tracks are symmetrical with the drillings (60) for receiving members for mounting a rail (11) of another of the said tracks with respect to the said determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7).
3. Sleeper according to Claim 2, characterised in that the drillings (60) for receiving the members for mounting a rail (11) are two in number and are disposed respectively on each side of a determined position on the rail and respectively on each side of the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7), which first plane (23) includes the said determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7).
4. Sleeper according to Claim 3, characterised in that the drillings (60) for receiving the members for mounting a rail (11) are mutually symmetrical with respect to an axis (62) included in the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7) and orientated in the said common direction.
5. Sleeper according to any one of Claims of 1 to 4, characterised in that the drillings (80) for receiving members for mounting a check-rail (13) of one of the said tracks are symmetrical to the drillings (80) for receiving members for mounting a check-rail (13) of another of the said tracks with respect to the said second determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7).
6. Sleeper according to Claim 5, characterised in that the drillings (80) for receiving the members for mounting a check-rail (13) are four in number, distributed in a first sub-group and a second sub-group, which are disposed between the said second determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7) and a determined check-rail position (13), and each of which contains two drillings (80), the said second sub-group of drillings (80) being disposed between the said first sub-group of drillings (80) and the said determined check-rail position (13) and running along the said determined check-rail position (13) and the two drillings (80) of the said first sub-group being equidistant from an axis of symmetry (82) between the two drillings (80) of the second sub-group, which symmetry axis (82) is orientated in the said common direction.
7. Sleeper according to Claim 6, characterised in that the two drillings (80) in the said first sub-group of drillings (80) for receiving members for mounting a check-rail (13) are mutually symmetrical with respect to the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7), and in that the two drillings (80) in the said second sub-group of drillings (80) for receiving members for mounting a check-rail (13) are mutually asymmetrical with respect to the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7) but disposed respectively on each side of the latter in such a way that their symmetry axis (82) is included in the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7).
8. Sleeper according to Claim 7, characterised in that the drillings (80) for receiving members for mounting a check-rail (13) are equidistant from the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7).
9. Sleeper according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the drillings (100) for receiving members for mounting a frog (14) are mutually symmetrical with respect to the said second determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7).
10. Sleeper according to Claim 9, characterised in that the drillings (100) for receiving members for mounting a frog (14) are four in number, distributed in two sub-groups, mutually symmetrical with respect to the said second determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7), of two drillings (100) situated respectively on each side of the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper, and are equidistant from the said first determined plane (23).
11. Sleeper according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the drillings (60, 80, 100) for receiving mounting members are equidistant from the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7), which first plane (23) includes the said determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7).
12. Set of points including sleepers (7), notably made from prestressed reinforced concrete, respective components (5, 8, 6, 9, 11, 13, 14) of at least two railway tracks such as rails (11), check-rails (13), point-rails (6, 9), stock-rails (5, 8) and frog (14) and members (41, 57, 72, 95, 96, 109) for mounting the said components on the sleepers (7), the sleepers (7) having for this purpose drillings (18, 60, 80, 100) for receiving the said mounting members (41, 57, 72, 95, 96, 109), the said drillings in a sleeper (7) having a common direction (axes 19, 61, 81, 101) approximately perpendicular to a mid-direction (16) of the sleeper (7) and being distributed in groups (20, 63, 79) each of which corresponds to at least one of the said components and has several drillings (18, 60, 80, 100) for receiving members (41, 57, 72, 95, 96, 109) for mounting this component on the sleeper (7), disposed respectively on each side of a first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7), which first plane (23) is parallel to the said mid-direction (16) of the sleeper (7) and to the said common direction (axes 19, 61, 81, 101), the said set of points having at least one region (4, 10, 12, 15) which is not in itself symmetrical, characterised in that at least the said region (4, 10, 12, 15) includes sleepers (7) on which the drillings (18, 60, 80, 100) for receiving mounting members (41, 57, 72, 96, 109) are mutually symmetrical with respect to a determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7), oriented in the said common direction, or with respect to a second determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7), oriented perpendicular to the said mid-direction (16) and including the said determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7), in order to allow the use of an identical sleeper for the said region (4, 10, 12, 15) of the set of points and for another region constituting the specular image thereof.
13. Set of points according to Claim 12, characterised in that, at least in the said region (4, 10, 12, 15), the respective mid-directions (16) of the said sleepers (7) are at least approximately parallel to each other in respect of localised groups (4, 12, 15) of consecutive sleepers (7).
14. Set of points according to either one of Claims 12 and 13, characterised in that, on a sleeper (7) carrying at least one rail (11) of each of the said tracks, in the said region (4, 10, 12, 15), the drillings (60) for receiving members (72) for mounting a rail (11) of one of the said tracks are symmetrical with the drillings (60) for receiving members (72) for mounting a rail (11) of another one of the said tracks with respect to the said determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7).
15. Set of points according to Claim 14, characterised in that the drillings (60) for receiving members (72) for mounting a rail (11) are two in number and are disposed respectively on each side of a determined position of the rail and respectively on each side of the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7), which first plane (23) includes the said determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7).
16. Set of points according to Claim 15, characterised in that the drillings (60) for receiving members (72) for mounting a rail (11) are mutually symmetrical with respect to an axis (62) included in the said first determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7) and oriented in the said common direction.
17. Set of points according to either one of Claims 12 and 13, characterised in that, on a sleeper (7) carrying point-rails and stock-rails (5, 6, 8, 9) in the said region (4), the drillings (18) for receiving members (41, 57) for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) are symmetrical with the drillings (18) for receiving members (41, 57) for mounting another mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) with respect to the said determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7).
18. Set of points according to Claim 17, characterised in that the drillings for receiving members (41, 57) for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) are four in number, distributed in two sub-groups, each of which includes two drillings (18) disposed respectively on each side of a determined point-rail and stock-rail position and respectively on each side of the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7), which first plane (23) includes the said determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7).
19. Set of points according to Claim 18, characterised in that each drilling (18) in one of the said sub-groups of drillings (18) for receiving members (41, 57) for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) is symmetrical with the other drilling (18) in the same sub-group with respect to an axis (62) included in the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7) and oriented in the said common direction.
20. Set of points according to Claim 19, characterised in that the drillings (18) for receiving members (41, 57) for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) are equidistant from the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7).
21. Set of points according to either one of Claims 12 and 13, characterised in that, on a sleeper (7) carrying point-rails and stock-rails (5, 6, 8,9) in the said region (4), the drillings (18) for receiving members (41, 57) for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) are symmetrical with the drillings (18) for receiving members (41, 57) for mounting another mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) with respect to the said second determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7).
22. Set of points according to Claim 21, characterised in that the drillings (18) for receiving members (41, 57) for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) are four in number, distributed in two sub-groups which are disposed respectively on each side of a determined point-rail and stock-rail position and each of which includes two drillings (18) mutually symmetrical with respect to the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7).
23. Set of points according to Claim 22, characterised in that the two drillings (18) in one of the said sub-groups of drillings (18) for receiving members (41, 57) for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) are symmetrical with the two drillings (18) in the other one of the said sub-groups of drillings (18) for receiving members (41, 57) for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) with respect to an axis (62) included in the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7) and oriented in the said common direction.
24. Set of points according to any one of Claims 12 to 16, characterised in that, on a sleeper (7) carrying check-rails (13) in the said region (12), the drillings (80) for receiving members (95, 96) for mounting a check-rail (13) on one of the said tracks are symmetrical with the drillings (80) for receiving members (95, 96) for mounting a check-rail (13) on another one of the said tracks with respect to the said second determined plane (21) of the sleeper.
25. Set of points according to Claim 24, characterised in that the drillings (80) for receiving members (95, 96) for mounting a check-rail (13) are four in number, distributed in a first sub-group and a second sub-group which are disposed between the said second determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7) and a determined check-rail position (13) and each of which includes two drillings (80), the said second sub-group of drillings (80) being disposed between the said first sub-group of drillings (80) and the said determined check-rail position (13) and running along the said determined check-rail position (13), and the two drillings (80) in the said first sub-group being equidistant from an axis (82) of symmetry between the two drillings (80) in the said second sub-group, which symmetry axis (82) is oriented in the said common direction.
26. Set of points according to Claim 25, characterised in that the two drillings (80) in the said first sub-group of drillings (80) for receiving members (95, 96) for mounting a check-rail (13) are mutually symmetrical with respect to the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7), and in that the two drillings (80) in the said second sub-group of drillings (80) for receiving members (95, 96) for mounting a check-rail (13) are mutually asymmetrical with respect to the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7) but disposed respectively on each side of the said plane so that their symmetry axis (82) is included in the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7).
27. Set of points according to Claim 26, characterised in that the drillings (80) for receiving members (95, 96) for mounting a check-rail (13) are equidistant from the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7).
28. Set of points according to any one of Claims 12 to 16, 24 to 27, characterised in that, on a sleeper (7) carrying a frog (14) in the said region (12), the drillings (100) for receiving members (110) for mounting a frog (14) are mutually symmetrical with respect to the said second determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7).
29. Set of points according to Claim 28, characterised in that the drillings (100) for receiving members (110) for mounting a frog (14) are four in number, distributed in two sub-groups, mutually symmetrical with respect to the said second determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7), of two drillings (100) situated respectively on each side of the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper and are equidistant from the said first determined plane (23).
30. Set of points according to any one of Claims 12 to 29, characterised in that the drillings (18, 60, 80, 100) for receiving mounting members (41, 57, 72, 96, 109) are equidistant from the said first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7), which first plane (23) includes the said determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7).
31. Intermediate device for mounting at least one railway track component on a sleeper in a set of points according to any one of Claims 12 to 30, and notably a bed plate (58, 59) for mounting a rail (11), a sliding bearing (118, 119) or plate (120) for mounting a mutually associated point-rail (6, 9) and stock-rail (5, 8), or a support (78) for a check-rail (13), the said device (58, 59, 78, 118, 119, 120) having a flat face (26, 43, 66, 84) for bearing on a sleeper (7), at least one flat face (28, 45, 46, 68, 88, 89) for receiving the said railway track component (5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13) at least one in number, the said bearing (26, 43, 66, 84) and reception (28, 45, 46, 68, 88, 89) faces being perpendicular to the same determined mid-plane (29, 47, 69, 92) of the device (58, 59, 78, 118, 119, 120), and oblong drillings (32, 48, 71, 94) for receiving members (41, 57, 72, 96) for mounting the device (58, 59, 78, 118, 119, 120) on a sleeper (7), the said drillings (32, 48, 71, 94) having a common direction approximately perpendicular to the said bearing face (26, 43, 66, 84) and occupying relative positions identical to those of respective drillings (18, 60, 80) provided in the sleeper (7) for the purpose of receiving the said mounting members (41, 57, 72, 96),
    characterised in that the said drillings (32, 48, 71, 94) in the device (58, 59, 78, 118, 119, 120) have respective shapes formed approximately by rotation about the same determined axis (33, 50, 70, 98) of the device (58, 59, 78, 118, 119, 120), oriented in the said common direction and disposed in the said determined mid-plane (29, 47, 69, 92) of the device (58, 59, 78, 118, 119, 120) in order to allow the orientation of the device (58, 59, 78, 118, 119, 120) about the said axis (33, 50, 70, 98) at the time it is mounted on a sleeper (7).
32. Device according to Claim 31, characterised in that the drillings (32, 48, 94) in the device (78, 118, 119, 120) are mutually symmetrical with respect to the determined mid-plane (29, 47, 92) of the device (58, 59, 78, 118, 119, 120).
33. Device according to either one of Claims 31 and 32, characterised in that the drillings (32, 48, 71, 94) in the device (5, 8, 59, 78, 118, 119, 120) are equidistant from the determined mid-plane (29, 47, 69, 92) of the device (58, 59, 78, 118, 119, 120).
34. Device according to any one of Claims 31 to 33, characterised in that the said determined axis (33, 50, 70) is situated between the said drillings (32, 48, 71) in the device (58, 59, 118, 119, 120).
35. Device according to Claim 34, characterised in that the drillings (32, 48, 71) in the device (58, 59, 118, 119, 120) are mutually symmetrical with respect to the said determined axis (33, 50, 70).
36. Device according to either one of Claims 34 and 35, characterised in that the drillings (32, 48) in the device (118, 119, 120) are mutually symmetrical with respect to a plane (34, 49) which is perpendicular to the determined mid-plane (29, 47) and which includes the said determined axis (33, 50).
37. Device according to any one of Claims 31 to 36, characterised in that it includes means (31, 52, 55, 74, 77, 91) for receiving members for holding the said track component (5, 8, 6, 9, 11, 13) and in that the said reception means (31, 52, 55, 74, 77, 91) are symmetrical with respect to the said determined mid-plane (29, 92) of the device (78, 118, 119) or with respect to an axis (53, 56, 70) disposed in the said determined mid-plane (47, 69) of the device (58, 59, 120) and oriented in the said common direction.
38. Bed plate according to Claim 31, intended for mounting a rail (11) on a sleeper (7) in a set of points according to either one of Claims 15 and 16 and having for this purpose a flat face (66) for the bed plate (58, 59) to bear on a sleeper (7), a flat face (68) for receiving a rail flange (11) occupying a given position with respect to the bed plate (58, 59), the said bearing (66) and reception (68) faces being perpendicular to the same given mid-plane (69) of the bed plate (58, 59), and two oblong drillings (71) for receiving members (72) for mounting the bed plate (58, 59) on a sleeper (7), the said drillings (71) having a common direction approximately perpendicular to the said bearing face (66) and being distributed on each side of the said reception face (68) and on each side of the said determined mid-plane (69) of the bed plate (58, 59),
    characterised in that the said drillings (71) have respective shapes formed approximately by rotation about the same determined axis (70) of the bed plate (58, 59), oriented in the said common direction, disposed in the said determined mid-plane (69) of the bed plate (58, 59) and cutting the said reception face (68) approximately in the centre.
39. Bed plate according to Claim 38, characterised in that the said drillings (71) are mutually symmetrical with respect to the said determined axis (70) of the bed plate (58, 59).
40. Bed plate according to either one of Claims 38 and 39, characterised in that it includes means (74, 77) for receiving members for holding a rail flange (11) occupying the said determined position, respectively opposite each of the said drillings (71) with respect to the said determined mid-plane (69) of the bed plate (58, 59), and in that the means (74, 77) for receiving members for holding a rail flange (11) are mutually symmetrical with respect to the said determined axis (70) of the bed plate (58, 59).
41. Sliding bearing according to Claim 31, intended for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) on a sleeper in a set of points according to any one of Claims 18, 19, 20 and having for this purpose a flat face (26) for the bearing (118, 119) to bear on a sleeper (7), a flat face (28) for receiving a stock-rail (5, 8) occupying a determined position with respect to the bearing (118, 119), the said bearing and reception faces (26, 28) being perpendicular to the same determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing (118, 119), a flat sliding face (30) for a point-rail (6, 9) occupying a position which is variable with respect to the bearing (118, 119) and juxtaposed with the said determined position, the said sliding face (30) being juxtaposed with the said reception face (28) in the said determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing (118, 119) and perpendicular to the said determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing (118, 119), and four oblong drillings (32) for receiving members (41) for mounting the bearings (118, 119) on a sleeper (7), the said drillings (30) having a common direction approximately perpendicular to the said bearing face (26) and being distributed in two groups, each of which contains two drillings (32) disposed respectively on each side of the said reception and sliding faces (28, 30) and respectively on each side of the said determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing (118, 119),
    characterised in that the said drillings (32) have respective shapes formed approximately by rotation about the same determined axis (33) of the bearing (118, 119), oriented in the said common direction, disposed in the said determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing (118, 119) and between the said drillings (32).
42. Bearing according to Claim 41, characterised in that each drilling (32) in one of the said groups is symmetrical with the other drilling (32) in the same group with respect to the said determined axis (33).
43. Bearing according to Claim 42, characterised in that the drillings (32) are equidistant from the said determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing.
44. Sliding bearing according to Claim 31, intended for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) on a sleeper (7) in a set of points according to either one of Claims 22 and 23, and having for this purpose a flat face (26) for the bearing (118, 119) to bear on a sleeper (7), a flat face (28) for receiving a point-rail (5, 8) occupying a determined position with respect to the bearing (118, 119), the said bearing and reception faces (26, 28) being perpendicular to the same determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing (118, 119), a flat sliding face (70) for a point-rail (6, 9) occupying a variable position with respect to the bearing (118, 119) and juxtaposed with the said determined position, the said sliding face (30) being juxtaposed with the said reception face (28) in the said determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing (118, 119) and perpendicular to the said determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing (118, 119), and four oblong drillings (32) for receiving members (41) for mounting the bearing (118, 119) on a sleeper (7), the said drillings (32) having a common direction approximately perpendicular to the said bearing face (26) and being distributed in two groups disposed respectively on each side of the said reception and sliding faces (28, 30) and each of which contains two drillings (32) mutually symmetrical with respect to the said determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing (118, 119),
    characterised in that the said drillings (32) have respective shapes formed approximately by rotation about the same determined axis (33) of the bearing, oriented in the said common direction, disposed in the said determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing (118, 119) and between the said drillings (32).
45. Bearing according to Claim 44, characterised in that the two drillings (32) in one of the said groups of drillings are symmetrical with the two drillings (32) in the other one of the said groups of drillings with respect to the said determined axis (33).
46. Bearing according to any one of Claims 41 to 45, characterised in that it includes means (31) for receiving members for holding a stock-rail (5, 8), and in that the said means (31) for receiving holding members are symmetrical with respect to the said determined mid-plane (29) of the bearing (118, 119).
47. Plate according to Claim 31, intended for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9) on a sleeper (7) in a set of points according to any one of Claims 18, 19, 20 and having for this purpose a flat face (43) for the plate (120) to bear on a sleeper (7), flat faces (45, 46) for receiving respective flanges on a stock-rail (5, 8) and point-rail (6, 9) occupying respective positions determined with respect to the plate (120), the said bearing and reception faces (43, 45, 46) being perpendicular to the same determined mid-plane (47) of the bearing (180) and the said reception faces (45, 46) being mutually juxtaposed in the said determined mid-plane (47), and four oblong drillings (48) for receiving members (57) for mounting the plate (120) on a sleeper (7), the said drillings (40) having a common direction approximately perpendicular to the said bearing face (43) and being distributed in two groups, each of which includes two drillings (48) disposed respectively on each side of the said reception faces (45, 46) and respectively on each side of the said determined mid-plane (47) of the plate (120),
    characterised in that the said drillings (48) have respective shapes formed approximately by rotation about the same determined axis (50) of the plate (120), oriented in the same common direction, disposed in the said determined mid-plane (47) of the plate (120) and between the said drillings (48).
48. Plate according to Claim 47, characterised in that each drilling (48) in one of the said groups is symmetrical with the other drilling (48) in the same group with respect to the said determined axis (50).
49. Plate according to Claim 48, characterised in that the drillings (48) are equidistant from the said determined mid-plane (47) of the plate (120).
50. Plate according to Claim 31, intended for mounting a mutually associated point-rail and stock-rail (5, 6, 8, 9,) on a sleeper (7) in a set of points according to either one of Claims 22 and 23, and having for this purpose a flat face (43) for the plate (120) to bear on a sleeper (7), flat faces (45, 46) for receiving respective flanges on a stock-rail (5, 8) and point-rail (6, 9) occupying respective positions determined with respect to the plate (120), the said bearing and reception faces (43, 45, 46) being perpendicular to the same determined mid-plane (47) of the plate (120) and the said reception faces (45, 46) being mutually juxtaposed in the said determined mid-plane (47), and four oblong drillings (48) for receiving members (57) for mounting the plate (120) on a sleeper (7), the said drillings (48) having a common direction approximately perpendicular to the said bearing face (43) and being distributed in two groups disposed respectively on each side of the said reception faces (45, 46), and each of which includes two drillings (48) mutually symmetrical with respect to the said determined mid-plane (47) of the plate (120),
    characterised in that the said drillings (48) have respective shapes formed approximately by rotation about the same determined axis (50) of the plate (120), oriented in the same common direction, disposed in the said determined mid-plane (47) of the plate (120) and between the said drillings (48).
51. Plate according to Claim 50, characterised in that the two drillings (48) in one of the said groups of drillings are symmetrical with the two drillings (48) in the other one of the said groups of drillings with respect to the said determined axis (50).
52. Plate according to any one of Claims 47 to 51, characterised in that it has means (52) for receiving members (51) for holding a flange on a stock-rail (5, 8) occupying the said determined position, respectively on each side of the said determined mid-plane (47) of the plate (120) and respectively on each side of the said face (45) for receiving a flange on a stock-rail (5, 8), and in that the said means (52) for receiving members (51) for holding a flange on a stock-rail (59) are mutually symmetrical with respect to the same determined axis (53) of the plate (120), oriented in the said common direction, disposed in the said determined plane (47) and cutting the said face (45) for receiving a flange on a stock-rail (5, 8) approximately centrally.
53. Plate according to any one of Claims 47 to 52, characterised in that it has means (55) for receiving members (54) for holding a flange on a point-rail (6, 9) occupying the said determined position, respectively on each side of the said determined mid-plane (47) of the plate (120) and respectively on each side of the said face (46) for receiving a flange on a point-rail (6, 9), and in that the said means (55) for receiving members (54) for holding a flange on a point-rail (6, 9) are mutually symmetrical with respect to the same determined axis (56) of the plate (120), oriented in the said common direction, disposed in the said determined plane (47) and cutting the said face (46) for receiving a flange on a point-rail (6, 9) approximately centrally.
54. Plate according to Claim 53 characterised in that the means (55) for receiving members (54) for holding a flange on a point-rail (6, 9) are of a type suitable for allowing a positional adjustment parallel to the said determined mid-plane (47) of the plate (120) and to the said bearing face (43).
55. Check-rail support according to Claim 31, intended for mounting a check-rail (13) on a sleeper (7) in a set of points according to any one of Claims 25 to 27 and having for this purpose a flat face (84) for the support (78) to bear on a sleeper (7), at least one face (88, 89) for receiving a check-rail (13) occupying a determined position with respect to the support (78), the said bearing and reception faces (84, 88, 89) being perpendicular to the same determined mid-plane (92) of the support (78), and drillings (93, 94) for receiving members (95, 96) for mounting the support (78) on a sleeper (7), the said drillings (93, 94) having a common mid-direction approximately perpendicular to the said bearing face (84) and being offset with respect to the said face (88, 89) for receiving a check-rail (13),
    characterised in that the said drillings (93, 94) are four in number, distributed in a first group and a second group which is disposed between the said first group and the said face (88, 89) for receiving a check-rail, in that the second group includes two circular cylindrical drillings (93) and in that the first group includes two drillings (94) with respective oblong shapes, formed approximately by rotation about the same determined axis (98) of the support (78), oriented in the said common direction and disposed halfway between the two drillings (93) in the second group.
56. Support according to Claim 55, characterised in that the two drillings (94) in the said first group are mutually symmetrical with respect to the said determined mid-plane (92) of the support (78), in that the two drillings (93) in the said second group are also mutually symmetrical with respect to the said determined mid-plane (92) of the support (78), and in that the said axis (98) is situated in the said determined mid-plane (92) of the support (78).
57. Support according to Claim 56, characterised in that the drillings (93, 94) are equidistant from the said determined mid-plane (92) of the support (78).
58. Support according to any one of Claims 55 to 57, characterised in that it has means (91) for receiving members for holding a check-rail (13) occupying the said determined position, and in that the said means (91) for receiving holding members are symmetrical with respect to the said determined mid-plane (92) of the support (78).
59. Set of points according to any one of Claims 12 to 30, characterised in that, at least in the said region (4, 10, 12, 15), it has intermediate mounting devices (58, 59, 78, 118, 119, 120) and notably, respectively, bed plates (58, 59) for mounting a rail (11), sliding bearings (118, 119) or plates (120) for mounting a mutually associated point-rail (6, 9) and stock-rail (5, 7), and supports for check-rails (13) according to any one of Claims 31 to 58.
60. Set of sleepers, notably made from prestressed reinforced concrete, intended to carry respective components of at least two railway tracks in a region (4, 10, 12, 15) of a set of points which is not in itself symmetrical, such as rails (11), check-rails (13), point-rails (6, 9), stock-rails (5, 8) and frog (14), the said sleepers having for this purpose drillings (18, 60, 80, 100) for receiving members for mounting the said components, such as anchor bolts, the said drillings having a common direction (axes 19, 61, 81, 101) approximately perpendicular to a mid-direction (16) of the sleeper (7) and being distributed in groups, each of which corresponds to at least one of the said components and includes several drillings (18, 60, 80, 100) for receiving members for mounting this component, disposed respectively on each side of a first determined plane (23) of the sleeper (7), which first plane (23) is parallel to the said mid-direction (16) of the sleeper (7) and to the said common direction (axes 19, 61, 81, 101),
    characterised in that the drillings (18, 60, 80, 100) for receiving mounting members are mutually symmetrical with respect to a determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7), oriented in the said common direction, or with respect to a second determined plane (21) of the sleeper (7), oriented perpendicularly to the said mid-direction (16) and including the said determined axis (22) of the sleeper (7), in order to allow the use of an identical sleeper for the said region (4, 10, 12, 15) of the set of points and for another region constituting the specular image thereof.

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