EP0919666B1 - Railway sleeper and its sleeper shoe - Google Patents

Abstract

The sleeper consists of at least one rigid block (2), especially of concrete, with its lower part set in a boot (20) molded e.g. from a rigid thermoplastic or resin concrete. The boot is in the form of a rigid shell with an inner sole (33) and pre-stressed segments (39, 40) which are elastic in response to compression or shearing forces. The sole and segments are fitted detachably to the boot and independently of the block, and the upper edge of the boot has a seal between it and the block.

Description

The present invention relates to a sleeper railway, comprising at least one rigid block, especially concrete, with a lower face substantially flat intended to rest on a support, a upper face intended to receive at least one rail longitudinal, and four peripheral faces which connect the upper side to the lower side and each of which has a substantially lower bottom flat, with two peripheral faces longitudinal whose lower parts converge mutually down and from two peripheral faces transverse whose lower parts converge mutually downward, said block being provided with a waterproof boot wrapping the underside of the block and the lower parts of its peripheral faces and having for this purpose a flat bottom having a face upper substantially flat along the lower face block with interposition of an elastic sole, especially in compression and shear, and a flange continuous device bordering this bottom and presenting a upper edge approximately parallel to this substantive, at a level higher than that of the parties bottom of the peripheral faces of the block, this rim having four substantially flat internal faces including each runs along the bottom of one side respective block device.

Such ties are frequently used to install a track without ballast, for example in or on a structure such as a tunnel or a viaduct, offering as a support to the sleepers a raft or a slab. The sleepers are brought to the installation site already provided with their slippers, temporarily retained by links, then we place them in their position definitive with respect to the medium, in particular by posing by the slippers on a temporary raft and adjusting their position by means of appropriate devices, and finally we fill a game with concrete or the like remaining between the slippers and the support as well as from one liner to the other, drowning the frame and slippers without however exceeding their upper edge. After the concrete has set, the provisional retaining links slippers are cut flush with the concrete and the slippers only provide a mechanical connection between the blocks of sleepers and support by authorizing, together with the elastic sole generally provided, a possibility relative elastic deflection.

To this end, in the current technique known, described for example in EP-A-0 795 645 or US-A-4 609 144, each slipper is made in one piece of material with elasticity of rubber, in dimensions as it comes to apply firmly, by the internal faces of its rim, on the parts devices of the block, it being understood that the rheostatic thrust applied by the concrete firms this support. When then it is eventually necessary to change the sleeper, the block is released from the liner which is left in place and in which we introduce a new block.

As it is currently practiced, this track laying technique without ballast does not give total satisfaction and, in this regard, it appeared that the slippers as they were currently designed, and their mode of cooperation with the sleepers, could to be implicated.

A first difficulty appears during the fabrication of sleepers and installation of slippers on the blocks, in the workshop. Indeed, the block making technique, usually by concrete molding, does not allow to respect very strict manufacturing tolerances while the molding techniques for materials presenting the elasticity of the rubber makes it possible to communicate to slippers of precise dimensions. This results in a a certain degree of imprecision in the adaptation of the liner to the block to which it must adapt; in particular, inner sides of the boot edge more or less worse at the lower areas of the peripheral faces of the block and the value of the mutual support pressure presents great uncertainty as it conditions on the one hand the retention of the liner by the block during the cross-handling phases, which can lead to temporarily retain the slippers on the sleepers by means of links or other expedients, and on the other hand the reaction of the whole formed by the block, the liner and the support, through the concrete of filling, passing trains when the cross is in service.

On arrival at the installation site, the material constituting the slippers presents great vulnerability to punching and shifting on the support or on the temporary raft, and tears of some slippers may occur.

Then, when placing the concrete filling and then taking it, the push rheostatic applied to the slipper causes a deformation of it, which is pressed under a more or less controlled pressure, generally strong, on the block, to the point that it can result in a total impossibility for the block to play elastically at inside the bootie, both in the direction of the height than in a plane parallel to the support, which practically cancels the amortization effects generally sought by means of the bootie, and may cause rapid deterioration of it.

Finally, when it is necessary to carry out the replacement of the cross, support constraints thus existing between the internal faces of the liner and the lower parts of the peripheral faces of the block may interfere with its extraction, at the risk of causing liner damage. Once the block is extracted from this last one, this keeps an interior sizing rigorously adapted to that of the block which has just been extract and setting up another block, that is to say that of a new cross, can either present great difficulties if, due to the constraints of manufacturing already mentioned, this block has a dimension slightly larger than that of the block previously extracted while, if the new block has a smaller dimension than that of the block previously extracted, the support of the lower parts of peripheral faces of the new block on the faces internal of the liner may be insufficient or even non-existent in longitudinal and / or transverse direction.

An object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and, to this end, the present invention offers a cross member of the type indicated in the preamble, by further characterized in that the liner is formed a substantially rigid shell carrying, between each inner side of the bootie and the lower part of the respectively corresponding peripheral face of the block, a respective flat segment, elastic in compression and shear, placed in prestress elastic compression and shear.

A skilled person will easily understand the advantages of such an embodiment of the liner.

Even if it can be made, for example by molding a thermoplastic material rigid or resin concrete, with the same precision dimensional as elastic slippers up used, its adaptation specifies to the block it is intended to receive, in workshop, can be carried out easily even if this block has wide tolerances of manufacturing, by choosing thickness segments and / or of an appropriate nature to obtain mutual support firm, providing a determined elastic prestress, especially in compression and shear, being understood that this prestressing is ensured by the single segments, between two rigid components that constitute the slipper on the one hand and the block on the other go. Generally, in a sleeper according to the invention and unlike the case of the sleepers of the prior art, using slippers elastic, the block does not come into contact with the liner, which can be considered as forming a rigid whole with the filling concrete and with the support, so that all the elasticity of the block support in relation to the support and all vibration damping effects suffered by the block during the passage of trains are insured by the segments and the sole alone, that is to say without the shoe plays a role for this purpose other than that a rigid counterpart, integral with the support.

During installation, a substantially rigid liner offers better resistance to sliding or punching on any type of support, i.e. retains its seal under conditions in which a traditional slipper, in material elastic, may tear or puncture.

When, then, we put in place the concrete filling, the substantially rigid liner resists rheostatic thrust of this concrete so that the adjustment precise and adjustment of mutual support constraints between the inner sides of the liner and the lower areas peripheral faces of the block, via segments, is kept and that, subsequently, the block can move elastically in good conditions determined, inside the liner, when passing trains.

If, then, it is necessary to change the cross, the extraction of the block does not present any difficulty since the support of the slipper on him has little varied or, in any case, did not considerably strengthened due to the rheostatic thrust of concrete and when, then, we want to set up a new block in the liner, this new block has a dimensioning sufficiently close to that of the block precedent to come and occupy the place of it without annoyingly modify the constraints applied to segments as well as the elastic sole, that is, if the new block has dimensions appreciably different from the previous block because of the tolerances, it is possible to change all or part of the segments and / or the elastic sole to restore known conditions for supporting the block in the liner.

In this regard, according to an embodiment preferred of the present invention, each segment is detachably retained in the liner and independent of the block, for example the fact that each internal face has a peripheral segment retaining shoulder respective against a relative slip, said shoulder being dimensioned weakly enough to do not come into contact with the block, and / or each side internal and the respective segment present means distributed detachable mutual latching, for example under the shape of a groove parallel to the upper face of the bottom of the liner, arranged on each internal face, and splines fitted additionally on each segment. Likewise, preferably, the sole is retained removably in the liner and independently of the block and we can even foresee that the crosspiece has a shim inserted between the sole and the face upper bottom, detachably retained in the liner and independent of the sole, which allows to intervene at the same time on the thickness of the hold, considered to be substantially incompressible, and on characteristics of the sole to choose the support characteristics of the cross member down in the slipper. To this end, advantageously, provision is made for each internal face forms in the immediate vicinity of the upper face of the bottom, at a level lower than that of a lower limit of the respective segment, a sole retaining shoulder and, if applicable, of the shim against sliding relative, said shoulder being dimensioned sufficiently weakly so as not to come into contact with the block. Naturally, the fact that the shoulders thus provided on the inner faces of the boot edge do not enter not in contact with the block is understood by reference to normal conditions of use of the sleeper. Of plus, the shim of possible thickness present advantageously in contact with the sole a roughness obtained by a relief such as streaks, spikes diamond or spikes, which prevents slipping the sole on the wedge.

Incidentally, the use of a rigid material to make the liner also makes it possible to provide reliefs closely located inside of it, to come into contact with the block when introducing this one in the slipper, so as to serve as a guide positioning, then either break or wear out first pass of a train so as not to hinder the functioning of the elastic segments and the sole elastic.

Dissociating, in accordance with this invention, on the one hand the elastic segments in particular in compression and shear and on the other hand the slipper proper, meanwhile substantially rigid, also offers the possibility to choose at will the mechanical characteristics of the segments, i.e. their nature, their thickness, possibly their conformation in contact with the lower part of the peripheral face of the corresponding block respectively, and in particular to adapt these characteristics to the position segments.

In particular, one can provide, according to a mode of preferred implementation of the present invention, that the segments corresponding to the longitudinal faces have a stiffness greater than that of the segments corresponding to the transverse faces so that the segments corresponding to the longitudinal faces primarily provide for amortization and that segments corresponding to the transverse faces ensure simply a resilient support of the block vis-à-vis the slipper and, through it and concrete filling, relative to the support.

One can also provide, as is known in oneself with regard to the inner faces of the slippers made of elastic material, that each segment has a discontinuous structure in contact with the lower part of the peripheral face respectively block correspondent, for example in the form of a grooving parallel to the upper face of the bottom, which facilitates the work of the segment in shearing elastic during vertical elastic deflections of the block, also mainly taken up by elastic compression by the sole, for a constraint of determined elastic compression of the segments between the block and liner.

It will be observed that, in particular due to the possibility to locate at the segment and sole, freely chosen, the supports between the crosspiece and the filling concrete, the liner of which can be considered to be an integral part of its rigidity, we benefit from a greater latitude than by the past to draw the block and, correspondingly, the slipper so that you can play not only on the mechanical characteristics of the segments and sole but also on the slope of the internal faces of the rim of the boot relative to the upper face of the bottom of this one or lower parts of the faces block devices relative to the underside of this one to determine the behavior of the block, vis-à-vis support, and in particular the possibilities of relative elastic deflection and damping, at passing trains.

We can also more easily determine the conditions of effectiveness of a seal between the upper edge of the rim of the liner and the block, in the concern to avoid water penetration and, when laying, of concrete inside the liner, between it and the block.

In this regard, it is advantageously expected that a seal is removably retained on the liner, for example by providing that the joint seal and the upper edge of the boot edge have mutual interlocking means, but the joint can also be made by casting a bead of a suitable material between the upper edge of the rim of the liner and block after fitting the liner on the block.

The effectiveness of the seal is further increased if, according to an improvement of the crosspiece according to the invention, the liner, internally, between the internal faces and the upper edge of its rim, and the block, externally, above the lower parts of its faces peripheral, present facets appreciably planes arranged opposite, without mutual contact, and forming a respective flare upwards, each side device of the block present, above the facet respectively corresponding, an upper substantially flat, and the upper parts of the faces longitudinal devices and upper parts transverse peripheral faces, respectively, converge upward and connect to the respective facet along a peripheral edge of the block, at least approximately parallel to the face bottom of the block and located at a level below that of the upper edge of the boot edge, such so that the gasket is supported so waterproof on the upper parts of the faces block devices.

This avoids any accumulation of water above of the joint, between it and the block, so that the water runoff are guided at best so as not to risk entering the boot.

This avoids the formation, inside the slipper, pockets of standing water which, expelled at passing trains, would create in particular at the bottom of the liner with air pockets that interfere with the sole support or the shim at the bottom of the liner, i.e. the distribution of support on the support, by through the filling concrete and the liner himself.

To further avoid the formation of air pockets under the bottom of the bootie, that is to say between it and the filling concrete, which would also harm the distribution of support between the bottom of the liner and the concrete, it is advantageous to provide that the bottom of the liner has a convex underside, which helps evacuate the air from the bottom of the liner when putting it on place and vibration of the filling concrete. To this end, for example, the underside of the bottom has an area flat central unit, parallel to its upper face, for authorize a press set on the support or on a reinforcement covering it, during installation sleepers before pouring the filling concrete, and also constitute an area at the bottom of the boot thicker, better resistant to sliding and upon punching, and an ascending peripheral zone towards the edge of the liner from said area central to ensure the evacuation of air.

Advantageously, the rigidity of the slipper without having to use a large wall thickness for this one providing that the liner has externally reinforcing ribs.

These can advantageously include anchoring means for retaining means and / or positioning of the liner, and with it of the cross, in relation to the support, in particular before and during the setting filling concrete. For example, we can thus ensuring a direct connection of the liner with a reinforcement covering the support, without using links passing over the block and that it would necessary to section next: such links can be provided between the anchoring means provided on the ribs and reinforcement, and remain embedded in the concrete of filling.

Reinforcement ribs can be oriented longitudinally and / or transversely, in particular perpendicular to the top edge of the rim, along of it and when the underside of the bottom has a flat central area and a peripheral area ascending to the edge of the bootie from this central area, they can also extend under this ascending peripheral zone, so as to extend coplanar with the aforementioned planar central zone and increase the support surface of the liner by example on a reinforcement superimposed on the support, before the placement of filling concrete.

In addition, the reinforcing ribs can extend peripherally around the liner and, in particular, one can advantageously provide that one reinforcing ribs extends continuously around the edge of the liner, substantially parallel to the upper face of the bottom, at a level lower than that of upper edge of the rim and corresponding substantially to that of an upper limit of the segments, to serve level reference for the casting of a material of connection of the liner with the support, namely in practice filling concrete.

This arrangement allows precise adjustment of the level of the filling concrete, or other material of connection of the liner with the support, with respect to segments, so that the rheostatic thrust of the concrete does not apply to the cantilever effort shoe by compared to the segments, above these, which could cause sagging or even breakage, of the wall of the liner at this level and an effect of blocking of the block in the liner, or conversely that the concrete filling does not reach a level insufficient, thus causing a distribution of forces between the liner and the filling concrete, and indirectly between the block and the liner by through the segments, on a surface insufficient at the risk of causing excess constraints. Such an arrangement further allows avoid any risk of concrete overflowing filling above the upper edge of the bootie, with risk of penetration inside of it, which would create hard support points between the block and the slipper and would harm the elasticity of mutual support by through the segments and the sole.

While it is understood that this invention can also be applied to sleepers called "monobloc", comprising a single block provided with a copy of said liner, only to so-called sleepers "biblock" comprising two transversely extreme blocks or "blochets" each of which is provided with a copy of the said slipper and which are mutually connected secured by a rigid transverse spacer, generally metallic, this possibility of adjusting with precision the level of the filling concrete compared at the upper edge of the bootie offers an advantage additional in the case of such a bibloc cross also authorizing the respect of a spacing predetermined, or exceeding a predetermined threshold, between the spacer and the filling concrete. Indeed, we thus avoids a risk of the presence of concrete between the spacer and the slab formed by the concrete of filling, in the immediate vicinity of the liner, which could cause on the one hand an accumulation of waste various and therefore humidity at this level, at may allow stray currents to pass interfering with the functioning of the electronic circuits of safety, which requires mutual insulation of the rails, and on the other hand risks of fatigue of the spacer by localized support on the filling concrete flush with the blochet, passing trains.

It will be observed that the presence of the spacer does not not an obstacle to the free choice of position the upper edge of each liner relative to the block respective since, if the upper edge of the edge of each slipper is located at a lower level than that to which the spacer is connected to each block by a longitudinal peripheral face thereof, the joint sealing advantageously provided on the upper edge of the edge of each boot can continue without discontinuity or deviation under the spacer while, if the upper edge of the edge of each boot is located at an intermediate level of the spacer, we can advantageously provide that this upper edge comprises a notch located around it, in which case we provides sealing means between each liner, the corresponding block and spacer, inside the respective notch, for example by stuffing this last by means of a suitable material which when the seal between the upper edge of the edge of the liner and the corresponding block is provided by a bead of material poured between them, can advantageously be this same material which thus ensures, also in this case, a seamless seal between the shoe and the block.

We are thus assured, in each case, that runoff from the spacer does not penetrate not in the slipper.

We can predict that the hull of a cross member the invention is carried out in one piece, for example by molding of a thermoplastic material, or of a resin concrete, but you can advantageously constitute a tight, substantially rigid assembly, of several watertight partial shells, substantially rigid, for example produced by this means.

Thus, according to one embodiment, the shell may consist of two watertight half-shells, substantially rigid, each of which corresponds to a respective half of the block considered towards transverse and which are assembled mutually, of tight and substantially rigid, along a plane longitudinal, which is particularly suited to the case of a short block in transverse direction, that is to say of a block of a bibloc crosspiece.

We can also provide, in a more suitable way in the case of one-piece sleepers, that the hull is consisting of two watertight half-shells, substantially rigid, each of which corresponds to an extreme zone respective block considered in transverse direction, and a watertight, substantially rigid chute, which corresponds to an area of the block located between said areas extremes of it and which is assembled at each of half-shells, in a tight and substantially rigid manner, the along a respective longitudinal plane.

It will be observed that the half-shells used in the two cases can be identical, which allows the use of standard half-shells to make facing all situations, putting them together mutually either directly or through a chute of appropriate size according to the block dimension.

Advantageously, the partial shells are mutually assembled by interlocking, namely of preferably in a transverse direction, and clamping mutual, which provides a possibility of adjustment of the transverse dimension of the shell in according to the manufacturing tolerances of the block to which it is intended, it being understood that these tolerances are at most of the order of a millimeter.

Naturally, insofar as the slipper of a crosspiece according to the invention in itself presents original features, the present invention is not not limited to the complete cross member, comprising both at least one block and one shoe, but also extends to a waterproof boot, intended for the realization of a railway sleeper and for this purpose comprising a flat bottom with a substantially upper surface flat and a continuous peripheral rim bordering this bottom and having an upper edge at least approximately parallel to this bottom, this rim having four substantially flat internal faces, this slipper being characterized in that it is formed of a substantially rigid shell, as defined for the realization of a crosspiece according to the invention.

• La figure 1 montre une vue en perspective d'une traverse dite "bibloc" réalisée conformément à la présente invention, si ce n'est que le joint assurant l'étanchéité entre chaque chausson et chaque bloc ou "blochet" n'a pas été représenté.
• La figure 2 montre, à plus grande échelle, le bloc qui se trouve à droite de la figure 1, avec son chausson mais également sans le joint.
• La figure 3 montre une vue de cette traverse après sa pose sur un support, la traverse étant vue en élévation dans un sens longitudinal repéré en III à la figure 3 et le support étant vu en coupe par un plan perpendiculaire à la direction des rails, considérée comme référence de longitudinalité.
• La figure 4 montre, en une vue identique à celle de la figure 3 mais à plus grande échelle, le bloc et le chausson apparaissant à gauche de cette figure 3, c'est-à-dire le bloc et le chausson illustrés à la figure 2 et à droite de la figure 1, avec arrachement partiel et joint d'étanchéité entre le chausson et le bloc.
• Les figures 5 et 6 montrent des vues du bloc, du chausson et du joint, en coupe par des plans longitudinaux repérés respectivement en V-V et VI-VI à la figure 4.
• La figure 7 montre, en une vue analogue à celle de la figure 2, deux demi-coques constituant le chausson selon un mode de réalisation préféré, ces deux demi-coques étant représentées dans une position préalable à leur assemblage.
• La figure 8 montre une vue de l'une de ces deux demi-coques en bout, dans un sens transversal repéré par une flèche VIII à la figure 7.
• La figure 9 montre, en une vue analogue à celle de la figure 7, le chausson formé des deux coquilles assemblées et muni intérieurement des segments servant à l'appui du bloc.
• La figure 10 montre, en une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1, une traverse monobloc mettant en oeuvre l'invention.
• La figure 11 montre, en une vue analogue à celle de la figure 3, cette même traverse dans un sens repéré par une flèche XI à la figure 10, après pose sur un support.
• La figure 12 montre, en une vue en perspective, analogue à celle de la figure 7, une goulotte destinée à être intercalée entre deux demi-coques analogues à celles qui ont été illustrées à la figure 7 pour constituer le chausson de la traverse monobloc des figures 10 et 11.
• La figure 13 montre une vue du chausson ainsi réalisé, avec les segments d'appui pour le bloc, en une vue analogue à celle de la figure 9.

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

• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a cross called "biblock" made in accordance with the present invention, except that the seal ensuring the seal between each liner and each block or "block" has not been represented.
• Figure 2 shows, on a larger scale, the block which is on the right of Figure 1, with its shoe but also without the joint.
• FIG. 3 shows a view of this cross-member after it has been laid on a support, the cross-member being seen in elevation in a longitudinal direction identified in III in FIG. 3 and the support being seen in section through a plane perpendicular to the direction of the rails, considered as a longitudinal reference.
• FIG. 4 shows, in a view identical to that of FIG. 3 but on a larger scale, the block and the liner appearing on the left of this FIG. 3, that is to say the block and the liner illustrated in the figure 2 and to the right of FIG. 1, with partial cutaway and seal between the liner and the block.
• FIGS. 5 and 6 show views of the block, the liner and the joint, in section through longitudinal planes marked respectively in VV and VI-VI in FIG. 4.
• Figure 7 shows, in a view similar to that of Figure 2, two half-shells constituting the liner according to a preferred embodiment, these two half-shells being shown in a position prior to their assembly.
• FIG. 8 shows a view of one of these two half-shells at the end, in a transverse direction marked by an arrow VIII in FIG. 7.
• Figure 9 shows, in a view similar to that of Figure 7, the liner formed of the two assembled shells and provided internally with the segments serving to support the block.
• Figure 10 shows, in a view similar to that of Figure 1, a one-piece crosspiece implementing the invention.
• Figure 11 shows, in a view similar to that of Figure 3, the same cross in a direction identified by an arrow XI in Figure 10, after installation on a support.
• Figure 12 shows, in a perspective view, similar to that of Figure 7, a chute intended to be interposed between two half-shells similar to those which have been illustrated in Figure 7 to constitute the liner of the one-piece cross Figures 10 and 11.
• FIG. 13 shows a view of the boot thus produced, with the support segments for the block, in a view similar to that of FIG. 9.

We will first refer to Figures 1 to 9, where we have illustrated a crosspiece 1 biblock, formed of two pre-stressed reinforced concrete blocks or "blocks" 2, one and the other symmetrical with respect to the same plane 3 oriented at least approximately vertically when the cross member is in service, these two blocks being mutually juxtaposed in a direction 4 of the plane 3, mutually symmetrical with respect to a plane 9 perpendicular to plane 3 and to direction 4, and mutually connected by a rigid spacer 5, straight and oriented in direction 4, and by example consisting of a flooded metal angle partially in both blocks 2. The direction 4 is horizontal if crosspiece 1 corresponds to a stretch of railway line in a straight line and has a cant which can go up to a few degrees from horizontally in the case of a sleeper 1 corresponding to a curved section of track. Each of the blocks 2 is intended to carry a respective rail 11 of the railway, not detailed but known to a Tradesman.

By convention, the rails 11 define, by their common direction, a reference of longitudinality so that plane 9 and section planes V-V and VI-VI which are parallel to it are longitudinal while the plane 3 and direction 4 are transverse.

If we refer to the position of use of crossbar 1, which will serve as a reference for the assembly from this description, each block 2 is delimited towards the bottom by a flat bottom face 6 to the tolerances of close manufacturing, perpendicular to plane 3 and parallel to direction 4, which lower face 6 is intended to rest indirectly on a support 7 constituted by example by the upper face of a raft or a slab ; side 6 is generally parallel, at least approximately on this face 7.

Upwards, block 2 is delimited by one side upper 8 which has a generally planar shape, perpendicular to plane 3 and parallel to direction 4, not illustrated, or tilted a few degrees from the underside 6 so that it is approximate in the direction of a rapprochement vis-à-vis the plan 9 following direction 4, i.e. towards inside the track formed by the rails 11. This face 8 is intended to carry the rail 11 corresponding to the block 2 and may have hollows and / or reliefs 12 receiving and retaining small materials rail mounting intermediaries 11, not shown but well known to a person skilled in the art. For fixing of these small pieces of equipment and / or of rail 11, on the face upper 8 of block 2 can protrude two studs arranged along a respective axis located in the plane 3 and at least approximately perpendicular to the direction 4, also not illustrated but well known to a Tradesman. The mounting of each rail 11 on the block 2 associated is not characteristic of this invention; it is well known elsewhere and will not be detailed further.

Each of the faces 6 and 8 has a shape in approximately rectangular plan, the dimensions of the underside 6 being slightly greater than those of the upper face 8, and both are connect, via a respective bevel 14, 15, to a set of external peripheral faces which connect them together and connect two by two, at the rate of two transverse peripheral faces 16, 17 and two longitudinal peripheral faces 18, 19.

In particular for reasons of manufacturing the block 2 by molding, each of the peripheral faces 16, 17, 18, 19 has two parts or sections, due to a pan lower bearing the same respective reference number affected by index a, and an upper section bearing the same respective reference number assigned with index b, each of these sections being substantially flat, at manufacturing tolerances.

The transverse peripheral faces 16, 17 are mutually symmetrical with respect to plane 3 and their lower panels 16a, 17a converge mutually towards the low including an angle of a few degrees, not referenced, with plan 3 while their upper sides 16bn 17b converge upward mutually an angle of a few degrees, not referenced, with respect to the plan 3. According to the preferred embodiment which has been illustrated, the upper and lower sections respectively of each transverse peripheral face 16, 17 does not not directly, but via a respective facet 16c, 17c, substantially planar at manufacturing tolerances. The two facets 16c, 17c, mutually symmetrical with respect to the plane 3, diverge upward mutually relative to this plane an angle not referenced slightly greater than that formed in relation to this plane the lower sides 16a, 17a, so that the facets 16c, 17c define a flaring of the block 2 upwards, at the transition between the lower panels 16a, 17a and the upper panels 16b, 17b. Thus, sections 16a and 16b are connect to the corresponding facet 16c along a respective rectilinear edge 16d, 16th parallel to the face 6, and the sections 17a and 17b are connected to the facet corresponding 17c along a straight edge respective 17d, 17th also parallel to face 6, the edges 16d and 17d appearing in hollow and the edges 16th and 17th in relief. Edges 16d and 17d are mutually symmetrical with respect to plane 3 and located at the same distance or at the same level from the face lower 6 to which they are closer than the face upper 8, as well as the 16th and 17th edges.

Likewise, the longitudinal peripheral faces 18 and 19 are mutually symmetrical with respect to a plane 10 perpendicular to axis 4, it being understood that the face 18 extends upwards over an area symmetrical of face 19 with respect to plane 10 counts given the aforementioned inclination of the upper face 8 of the block with respect to its underside 6. The sides lower 18a and 19a of these peripheral faces longitudinal 18, 19 converge downwards by forming with respect to the plane 10 an angle not referenced and substantially identical, in the example illustrated, to the one that the lower panels 16a and 17a of the faces peripherals 16 and 17 form with respect to plane 3 and the upper panels 18b and 19b of these peripheral faces longitudinal 18 and 19 converge mutually towards the high by forming with respect to the plane 10 an angle not referenced and substantially identical, in the example illustrated, to that which the upper sections 16b and 17b of the peripheral faces 16 and 17 form with respect to the plane 3. According to the preferred embodiment which has been illustrated, the upper and lower sections respectively of each transverse peripheral face 18, 19 does not not directly, but via of a respective facet 18c, 19c, substantially planar at manufacturing tolerances. The two facets 18c, 19c, mutually symmetrical with respect to plane 3, diverge upward by forming relative to this plane an angle not referenced slightly greater than that formed in relation to this plane the lower sides 18a, 19a, so that the facets 18c, 19c define a widening of the block 2 upwards, at the transition between the lower sections 18a, 19a and the upper panels 18b, 19b. Thus, sections 18a and 19b are connect to the corresponding facet 18c according to a respective rectilinear edge 18d, 18th and sections 19a and 19b are connected to the matching facet 19c next a respective rectilinear edge 19d, 19th, edges 18d and 19d appearing in hollow and the edges 18th and 19th appearing in relief. The edges 18d and 19d are mutually symmetrical with respect to plane 10, parallel to face 6 and arranged at the same distance from it, this distance being identical to that which separates edges 16d and 17d from face 6 so that the edges 16d, 17d, 18d, 19d connect to each other to form around block 2 a flat edge or belt rectangular, re-entrant, parallel to the underside 6, while the 18th and 19th edges, also mutually symmetrical with respect to plane 10 and parallel to face 6, are arranged at the same distance of this face 6 as the 16th and 17th edges so that the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th edges connect to each other to form around block 8 a flat edge or belt rectangular, protruding, also parallel to face 6 but further away from it.

For installation without ballast on the face support upper 7, block 2 is wrapped in solidarity, at its lower part defined by its face lower 6, bevel 14, lower sides 16a, 17a 18a, 19a of the peripheral faces 16, 17, 18, 19, the facets 16c, 17c, 18c, 19c as well as areas of the sides superiors 16b, 17b, 18b, 19b immediately adjacent to these facets 16c, 17c, 18c, 19c, by a waterproof liner 20 which, in accordance with the present invention, presents the shape of a substantially rigid shell in particular flexion and compression; as an example no limitative, this liner 20 can be made of material molded thermoplastic or resin concrete.

For this purpose, the liner 20 has a flat bottom 21, of generally rectangular shape, which has a substantially flat upper face 22 parallel side 6 and is bordered on all sides by a continuous, ascending peripheral rim 23 widening from bottom to top, in relation to the flare of the part bottom of block 2 from bottom to top, between the face lower 6 of it and all of the 16th edges, 17th, 18th, 19th.

More specifically, the rim 23 is formed of four essentially flat panels 24, 25, 26, 27 each of which is associated with a respective one of the faces peripherals 16, 17, 18, 19 of block 2 and which are connect on the one hand two to two and on the other hand to the bottom 21.

Between the upper face 22 of the bottom 21 of the liner 20 and the underside 6 of block 2 is interposed a shock absorbing sole 33 which, so known, is made of a material having elasticity of rubber, especially in compression and shear, for example in cellular elastomer and which, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention rests freely, that is to say so easily removable, on a wedge of thickness 34 as to it substantially incompressible, also resting freely, that is to say easily removable on the upper face 22 of the bottom 21. Advantageously, so not represented but easily understood by a Man of the trade, we avoid a risk of slipping of the sole on the shim by making it rough at sole contact, for example by fitting suitable reliefs such as streaks, spikes diamond, spikes.

Block 2 thus rests on the bottom 21 of the liner via the sole 33 and the wedge of thickness 34 which, for this purpose, have a shape in plan substantially identical to that of the underside 6 of block 2, that is to say substantially rectangular, preferably with dimensions a few more millimeters to those of this face 6.

Inside the liner 20, that is to say towards block 2, each of the panels 24, 25, 26, 27 has an internal face 28, 29, 30, 31 essentially constituted by a respective pan 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a, extending from a level corresponding substantially to that of the junction between the bevel 14 of block 2 and the faces external peripherals 16, 17, 18, 19 thereof up to a level corresponding substantially to that of the junction edge 16d, 17d, 18d, 19d between the panel lower 16a, 17a, 18a, 19a of the peripheral face 16, 17, 18, 19 corresponding to block 2 and the facet respectively corresponding 16c, 17c, 18c, 19c, in having an obliquity identical to that of the pan lower 16a, 17a, 18a, 19a corresponding to be parallel to the latter without coming into contact with him, that is to say by respecting an interval with regard to him continuous not referenced.

Each of the sections 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a has a rectangular periphery as large as possible, defined by a continuous peripheral shoulder 28b, 29b, 30b, 31b whose projection relative to the respective pan is weak enough that it also respects vis-à-vis of block 2 a continuous interval not referenced. This shoulder has two straight sides, respectively upper and lower, parallel to the upper face 22 of bottom 21 and located at levels respective corresponding substantially to that of the junction between the bevel 14 of block 2 and the faces external peripherals 16, 17, 18, 19 thereof and to that of the edges 16d, 17d, 18d, 19d, and two sides rectilinear perpendicular to its upper sides and lower and as close as possible to the connections mutuals of the internal faces 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a. The sides lower shoulders 28b, 29b, 30b, 31b form in addition around the upper face 22 of the bottom 21, above from this face, a peripheral shoulder bordering this on all sides and opposing a path sole 33 and shim 32 by sliding on this face 21.

Each internal face 28, 29, 30, 31 comprises in addition above the upper side of the shoulder peripheral 28b, 29b, 30b, 31b of each pan 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a a respective flat facet 28c, 29c, 30c, 31c which connects down to this upper side and extends to a level corresponding substantially to that of the edges 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th of the faces peripherals 16, 17, 18, 19 of block 2 presenting a obliquity close to that of facets 16c, 17c, 18c, 19c, or slightly more pronounced than this, so to define inside the liner 20 a flare towards the top, facing the flaring of block 2, without risk of contact between the latter, in particular through its facets 16c, 17c, 18c, 19c, and the liner 20, in particular by its facets 28c, 29c, 30c, 31c.

Upwards, except possibly in one closely located location as it will appear more away, the internal faces 28, 29, 30, 31 of the panel 24, and more precisely the facets 28c, 29c, 30c, 31c of its internal faces, are connected to an upper edge 32 of the rim 23, which upper edge 32 is parallel to the upper face 22 of bottom 21 of liner 20 and on face lower 6 of block 2 and present at a slightly level higher than that of the projecting edges 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th of the peripheral faces 16, 17, 18, 19 of block 2 a current section in T or the like, suitable for allowing the fixing on it, by complementarity of form, a seal 34 continuous, elastically flexible and / or compressible, for example natural rubber or synthetic, which is supported in deformation prestressing elastic on the areas of the upper panels 16b, 17b, 18b, 19b of the peripheral faces 16, 17, 18, 19 of block 2 closest to the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th edges to create at this level a seal between block 2 and the liner 20 without affecting the possibilities of elastic deflection from block 2 in the liner.

If not shown, the spacer 5 enters in the peripheral face 19 of block 2 exclusively at upper pan level 19b thereof, and higher precisely above the upper edge 32 of the liner 23, this rim 32 can extend continuously in the same way that the gasket 34 on the entire periphery rim 23, in a manner not illustrated but easily understandable by a person skilled in the art.

If, however, as shown, the spacer 5 enters the peripheral face 19 of the block 2 straddling the upper pan 19b and the facet 19c thereof, or more generally in part at a level lower than that of the upper edge 32 liner 20, the latter locally present under the spacer 5, at the top of its corresponding panel 27, a notch 35 at which the seal 34 has an interruption 36. The notch 35, limited to the upper edge 34 and to an area upper side of facet 31c, without reaching the level of upper side of the shoulder 31b of the internal face 31 panel 27, for example has a shape rectangular, symmetrical with respect to plane 3, with sufficient dimensions to comply with the spacer 5 a continuous interval, that is to say for do not come into contact with this spacer 5. At this level, tightness between liner 20 and block 2 can be insured by filling the interruption of the seal 36, inside the notch 35 and around the spacer 5, by means of a suitable material, not shown, such as a cellular synthetic material.

According to a variant not illustrated but easily understandable by a Man of the Trade, one could also make the seal 34, when it extends from continuously over the entire periphery of the rim 23 in the absence of notch 35 when the position of the spacer 5 allows it, or the seal 34 and its additional sealing between liner 20 and block 2 inside the notch 35 when the position of the spacer 5 requires the presence of such notch, by pouring a clean material to insure the tightness sought by offering a certain flexibility and some elasticity, such as a silicone or polyurethane, in the form of a cord continuous between the upper edge 32 of the rim 23 of the liner 20 and block 2 and if necessary in the notch 35, after fitting the liner 20 on the block 2. The shape of the current section of the upper edge 32 of the rim 23 could then be different from the T shape or the like previously described, although such a form also lends itself well to anchoring a joint 34 as well produced by defining a groove towards block 2 likely to receive this seal.

In general, in accordance with this invention, direct contact between block 2 is avoided or the spacer S and the liner 20, at least in normal operating conditions.

To establish between the lower panels 16a, 17a, 18a, 19a of the peripheral faces 16, 17, 18, 19 of block 2 and the internal faces 128, 29, 30, 31 of the liner 20 a elastic support in compression and shear, type of the one that the sole 33 provides between the face lower 6 of block 2 and upper face 22 of the bottom 21, via the shim 34, on each pan 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a is retained by simple pressing against it and nesting inside the respective shoulder 28b, 29b, 30b, 31b, a segment respective flat 37, 38, 39, 40, elastic especially in compression and shear and placed in prestress elastic compression and shear between the pan lower 16a, 17a, 18a, 19a of the peripheral face 16, 17, 18, 19 respectively associated and pan 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a of the internal face 28, 29, 30, 31 respectively associated with the liner 20. The retention of each segment 37, 38, 39, 40 respectively on the associated pan 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a can also be secured by snap-fastening mutual distributed, not illustrated but easily understandable by a person skilled in the art, for example at means of grooves in each pan 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a parallel to the upper face 22 of the bottom 21 and complementary grooves on each segment 37, 38, 39, 40.

Each of the segments 37, 38, 39, 40 has a plan shape substantially identical to that defined by the peripheral shoulder 28b, 29b, 30b, 31b of the pan respectively corresponding 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a and one thickness at rest, as in prestress with respect to block 2, upper part of the projection which this shoulder forms relative to the corresponding pan respectively so to maintain permanently, under normal conditions of operation, block 2 at a distance from the faces internal 28, 29, 30, 31 of liner 20.

The segments 37, 38, 39, 40 are preferably detachably retained in the liner 20 and independent of block 2, as well as sole 33 and the shim 34, so as to be easily interchangeable. They can be advantageously made of a material having the elasticity of the rubber and, if necessary, their elasticity in compression and shear can be increased, at level of their contact with the lower panel 16a, 17a, 18a, 19a of the peripheral face 16, 17, 18, 19 of block 2 respectively corresponding, by arrangement of localized discontinuities, for example in the form of a grooving 41, 42, 43, 44, parallel to the upper face 22 from the bottom 21 of the liner.

It will be observed that, insofar as they are independent of the liner 20 and made of a material different from the material of which it is made, segments 37, 38, 39, 40 can be freely chosen as for their nature, their thickness, their mechanical characteristics including elasticity in compression and shear; in particular, segments 39 and 40 corresponding to the peripheral faces longitudinal 18, 19 of block 2 can be thus chosen so as to have a stiffness greater than that of the segments 37, 38 corresponding to the faces transverse peripherals 16, 17 of block 2, such so that the segments 39, 40 mainly provide a cushioning function between block 2 and the liner 20 and, through it, the face of support 7 while the segments 37, 38 provide simply a resilient support of block 2 compared to the liner 20 and, through it, by relative to the support face 7. This choice does not constitute however a non-limiting example and other choices can be done without leaving the framework of the present invention, and in particular of the choices that the four segments 37, 38, 39.40 have the same characteristics.

Similarly, although we have described and illustrated segments 37, 38, 39, 40 each of which covers so continues almost the entire pan 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a respectively corresponding, one could provide a only partial coverage of all or part of these sections by the corresponding segments, for example divided for this purpose in several elementary segments distributed on the corresponding and selected pan respectively individually thereon, removably, by example by one and / or the other of the means previously describes, as a Man of the Trade will easily understand.

The upper edge 32 of the liner 20 connects the internal faces 28, 29, 30, 31 of the rim 23 thereof respective outer peripheral faces 45, 46, 47, 48 thereof, which delimit the panels 24, 25, 26, 27 outwards from liner 20, up to their connection with the bottom 21. The thickness of the panels 24, 25, 26, 27 being substantially constant, these external faces 45, 46, 47, 48 have a shape close to that of the corresponding internal face respectively 28, 29, 30, 31, but this form is indifferent to the look of the present invention since it ensures good stiffness in the liner 20.

This rigidity is however reinforced by ribs 50, 52, 53, 54 arranged in relief on the faces external devices 45, 46, 47, 48 and, in part, under the bottom 21 and material coming with the liner 20.

These ribs can have any shape appropriate and any appropriate provision in relation to the liner 20.

However, preferably, one of them externally belts the liner 20 at one level substantially corresponding to that of the upper side of peripheral shoulders 28b, 29b, 30b, 31b of the sides 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a of the inner peripheral faces 28, 29, 30, 31 of liner 20, to indicate the limit up to which the latter can and must be drowned in a filling concrete 49 poured between the liners 20 of the two blocks 2, on the one hand, and between each of these slippers 20 and the support face 7, on the other hand, for securing the booties 20 with it after adjusting the position of the rails 11 by in relation to this face 7, in a manner known in itself of a skilled person. Advantageously, this rib 50, thus arranged parallel to the upper face 22 of the bottom 21 of liner 20 and upper edge 32 thereof, at a level lower than that of this edge 32, extends continuously around the liner 20 to serve in off the float guide for the upper face 51 of the concrete 49. Naturally, the spacer 5 must be placed above this face 51 while respecting vis-à-vis from it a clearance 52, the possible notch 35 is fully located above the rib 50 in order to simplify the sealing of the connection between the liner 20 and block 2 opposite a concrete passage when placing the filling concrete 49.

A similar peripheral rib 52, also parallel to the upper edge 32, can be placed immediately below it to serve as counter-support to the seal 34 opposite the support of the latter on the outer peripheral faces 16, 17, 18, 19 of block 2, and the two ribs 50 and 51 are advantageously interconnected in a way distributed to ensure the rigidity of the liner 20 in the area of the panels 24, 25, 26, 27 located above the segments 37, 38, 39, 40, by ribs 53 as for they oriented perpendicular to the edge 32, that is to say to the upper face 22 of the bottom 21, on each of the outer peripheral faces 45, 46, 47, 48.

Other ribs 54, also perpendicular at the edge 34 and at the upper face 22 of the bottom 21 of the liner 20, extend downward, from the peripheral rib 50, on each side external devices 45, 46, 47, 47, to the bottom 21 and partially below it, and more precisely under a peripheral zone 55 of its face lower 56 which, moreover, has a zone flat central unit 57, parallel to the upper face 22. The peripheral zone 55 of the lower face 56 is ascending from its central zone 57, towards the rim 23 of liner 20, and more specifically towards each panels 24, 25, 26, 27 forming this rim 23, which gives the underside 56 a convex shape facilitating the evacuation of air which could have tendency to remain occluded between concrete 49 and bottom 21 slipper 20, or water which would tend to accumulate there due to the vibration of the concrete.

Naturally, other conformations, also convex, of face 56 could be chosen without this goes beyond the scope of the present invention. However, a plane conformation of the central area 57 of the face 56 makes it possible to place the liner 20, that is to say cross member 1 as a whole, in stable position on any flat support, and in particular on a trellis armature 58 disposed above the support face 7, remotely from the latter, prior to setting place sleepers 1 and pour concrete filling 49, which drowns this frame 58.

Advantageously, at least some of the ribs 54 have means, such as notches 59, allowing the liner 20 to be anchored on the frame 58, at means of links then embedded in the filling concrete 49, or on other reinforcements provided for in inside of this concrete, or even on means of positioning of sleepers 1 in relation to others and relative to the support face 7.

Of course, other means could be provided for this purpose, in particular on the ribs 54, and by example of holes or indentations of these.

Given the conformation of the face bottom 56 of the bottom 21, the ribs 54 bypass the connection of the rim 23 of the liner 20 to the bottom 21 of this and extend under the peripheral zone 55 in presenting downward a respective edge 60, planar, coplanarly extending the central area 57 of the face lower 56. Around the junction between the bottom 21 and rim 23, this edge 60 bends in quarter circle upwards and, along the panels 24, 25, 26, 27 of the rim 23, the ribs 54 are delimited by an edge located in a respective geometric plane parallel to plane 3 with regard to the ribs of the panels 24 and 25, or in plane 10 with regard to ribs of panels 26 and 27. This respective plane also delimits the peripheral rib 50 and, on the panels 26 and 27, the peripheral rib 52 and the ribs 53; on the other hand, on panels 24 and 25, the peripheral ribs 52 and ribs 53 are delimited, in the direction of a distance from the plane 3, by an edge located in a plane offset towards the plane 3 with respect to the plane of delimitation of the ribs 54 and 50.

However, other rib configurations 50, 52, 53, 54 could be chosen without being so far from the scope of the present invention.

The rigid shell forming the liner 20 according to the present invention can be carried out of a part, not shown, or, preferably, be made by tight assembly, substantially rigid, of several partial shells themselves waterproof and substantially rigid, as illustrated.

Advantageously, in the case of a liner 20 intended for one of the blocks 2 of a bibloc crossmember, the shell forming the liner consists of two half-shells watertight, substantially rigid 61, 62, of which each corresponds to a respective half of block 2 considered in transverse direction, that is to say at one halves of block 2 separated by plane 10 relative to to which the two half-shells 61, 62 are mutually symmetrical, except for the presence of the notch 35 on one of the two, namely the half-bug 62 in the illustrated example, and along which these two half-shells 61 and 62 are mutually joined and assembled mutually.

For example, for this purpose, each of the half-shells 61, 62 has a front face along the plane 10 respective plane 63, 64, advantageously defined not only by a song from the panel part 24, 25 respectively corresponding and from the bottom part 21 respectively, but also by a respective rib 54 directly adjoining the plane 10 when the two half-shells 61, 62 are assembled mutually. According to a preferred embodiment, the front faces 63, 64 include means mutual interlocking in direction 4, in the form a continuous rib 65 arranged on one of the faces frontal 63, and more precisely on one side of the edge upper 32 compared to plane 3 on the other side of this upper edge with respect to this plane, namely on the edge of the corresponding part of panel 24, edge of the corresponding part of the bottom 21 and the song of the corresponding part of panel 25. Additionally, the other front face 64 has a groove or groove 66 stretching continuously on the song of the parts respective panels 24 and 25 and bottom 21, on one side of the upper edge 32 with reference to plane 3 to the other side of this upper edge 32 in reference to this plan.

The dimension of the rib 65 and of the throat or groove 66 in direction 4 is chosen sufficient to allow a slight tolerance in the relative positioning of the two half-shells 61 and 62 following this direction, depending on tolerances allowed for block 2, so that we can not only assemble the slippers 61 and 62 in one position in which their front faces 63 and 64 are mutually contiguous along plane 10, in particular at the respective ribs 54, respectively adjacent to this plane, but also in a position in which a gap remains between the faces frontal 63 and 64 while retaining a nesting tight of the rib 65 in the groove or groove 66. In both cases, the half-shells 61 and 62 can be assembled by different means, including by clamping at the ribs 54 adjoining immediately plane 10, for example by pinching these two ribs 54 towards each other by means of elastic clamps of known type, overlapping the edges of these ribs, or by screwing or riveting these ribs between them. We could however also provide other means of mutual solidarity two half-shells 61 and 62, and for example a collage when the material from which they are made is suitable.

The segments 28, 29 corresponding to the panels 24, 25 thus subdivided due to the realization of the liner 20 in the form of two half-shells can be each, in one piece, or also be subdivided into two halves, mutually contiguous on along plane 10, as illustrated in the figures.

The bootie can also be made up of more two partial hulls, but we prefer to reserve a such a solution in the case of a bootie intended for a monobloc cross member, fitted with a single copy of this liner, as illustrated in Figures 10 to 13 to which we will now refer, being understood that we could also adopt in such a case a liner formed by two half-shells, or a liner piece.

Insofar as the single block constituting in this case the crosspiece has great similarities with one of the blocks 2 of a biblock cross member 1, found in Figures 10 to 13, as far as they are relevant, the same references as in Figures 1 to 9, however incremented by 100, for components or parts of matching components.

The main difference between the cross monobloc 101 and the bibloc crosspiece 1 resides in the fact only one block 102, for example in reinforced concrete prestressed, receives the two rails 111 and presents by therefore for this purpose an appropriate dimension following transverse direction 104, in particular at its upper face 108 suitably shaped. More precisely, between two extremes mutually symmetrical with respect to plane 109 and corresponding to upper faces 8 of the two blocks 2 of the crosspiece biblock 1, this upper face 108 has an area planes perpendicular to plane 109 and parallel to the non-referenced flat underside of the cross 101, at any point comparable to the face lower 6 of a block 2 except that it spans the entire dimension of the cross member 101 perpendicular to the plane 109. The upper face 108 of block 102 is connected to its underside not referenced by four peripheral faces 116, 117, 118, 119, each of which has the same pan subdivision upper, lower pan and intermediate facet than external peripheral faces 16, 17, 18, 19 of a block 2 and which correspond substantially to the latter if this is that the faces 118 and 119 are identical, mutually symmetrical with respect to plane 109, and that the faces 116 and 117 overlap the plane 109 at which they are perpendicular and relative to which they are respectively symmetrical.

• deux demi-coques 161, 162, dont chacune peut avantageusement être identique à l'une, respective, des coques 61 et 62 si ce n'est que la coque 162 correspondant à la coque 62 ne comporte pas d'encoche comparable à l'encoche 35, chacune de ces demi-coques 161, 162 équipant une zone extrême respective du bloc 102, en référence à la direction 104, et ceci jusqu'à un plan respectif 110 perpendiculaire à cette direction 104 et correspondant au plan 10 de l'un des blocs 2,
• et une goulotte étanche sensiblement rigide 167 qui correspond à une zone du bloc 102 intermédiaire entre les deux plans 110 et qui est assemblée à chacune des deux demi-coques 161, 162, de façon étanche et sensiblement rigide, le long de ce plan 110 respectif, par exemple de la façon décrite à propos de l'assemblage mutuel des deux demi-coques 61 et 62 constituant le chausson 30.

The shape of the block 2 will therefore not be described any further and it will be readily deduced from the design of the liner 20 that of the liner 120, which is substantially rigid, which envelops the block 102 downwards. In fact, the only differences between this liner 120 and a liner 20 consist of its dimension perpendicular to the plane 109, adapted to the dimension that the block 2 has between its outer peripheral faces 118 and 119, and the production of this liner 120, in the example illustrated, by assembling three watertight and substantially rigid partial shells, namely:

• two half-shells 161, 162, each of which may advantageously be identical to one, respectively, of the shells 61 and 62 except that the shell 162 corresponding to the shell 62 does not have a notch comparable to the notch 35, each of these half-shells 161, 162 equipping a respective end zone of the block 102, with reference to the direction 104, and this up to a respective plane 110 perpendicular to this direction 104 and corresponding to the plane 10 of the one of blocks 2,
• and a substantially rigid watertight chute 167 which corresponds to an area of the block 102 intermediate between the two planes 110 and which is assembled to each of the two half-shells 161, 162, in a sealed and substantially rigid manner, along this respective plane 110 , for example as described in connection with the mutual assembly of the two half-shells 61 and 62 constituting the liner 30.

Naturally, at the level of the chute 120 as at the half-shells 161 and 162, the liner 120 presents all the provisions that have been described about the liner 20, and in particular the ribs external peripherals 150, 152 which correspond to ribs 50 and 52, respectively, ribs 153 and 154 which correspond to the ribs 53 and 54, respectively, and a bottom bottom face centrally planar and peripherally convex; to the high, it has a peripheral upper edge 132 continuous, suitable for receiving a seal also continuous, not shown, corresponding to the joint 34 and, internally, it presents all the provisions described about the liner 20 and in particular the elastic segments in compression and shear, of which only the segments 138 and 139 corresponding to segments 38 and 39 and filling internally the panels 125 and 126 corresponding to the panels 25 and 26, it being understood that panels 124 and 127 corresponding to panels 24 and 25 carry also, internally, such segments. Like the segments 37 and 38, segments such as 138 corresponding to panels 124, 125 subdivided due to realization of the hull 120 by assembling three partial shells 161, 162, 167 can be produced respectively of a piece on all three partial hulls, or present the same subdivision along plans 110. Similarly, like segments 37, 38, 39, 40, segments such as 138 and 139 can almost completely cover the pan respectively corresponding, as illustrated, or cover it only partially, evenly, in the form of several respective elementary segments mutually disjoint, spread over this section and retained from removably on it for example by one any of the procedures outlined for the segments 37, 38, 39, 40.

Naturally, in the case of the cross monobloc 101 as in that of the bibloc crossmember, the liner 120 also includes internally, on the upper face of its bottom 121, also subdivided according to plans 110, a sole 133 at all points similar to sole 33 and advantageously based on the upper face of the bottom via a wedge of thickness not referenced, but this sole 133 is advantageously made in one piece for the three partial hulls 161, 162 and 167.

Like liner 20, liner 120 is dimensioned so as never to come into direct contact with the block, 102 in this case, under conditions normal operating conditions, i.e. so that the supports of block 102 on the liner and, through him, on the filling concrete 149 ensuring its connection rigid with the support face 107 are effected exclusively via sole 133, opposite which the shim behaves mechanically as the bottom would behave directly of the liner itself, and through the segments such as 138 and 139, under conditions authorizing a some elastic travel in all directions, with possibility to choose the characteristics of segments such as 138 and 139 so as to provide an effect depreciation by means of segments which like the segment 139, lining the longitudinal panels 126 and 127 by ensuring a simple elastic support effect on the through segments such as segments 138, which line the transverse panels 124, 125.

A person skilled in the art will readily understand that the mode of implementing the invention which has just been described is only a non-limiting example, for report to which many variants can be expected without departing from the scope of this invention, determined by the content of the claims.

Claims (27)

1. A railway sleeper comprising at least one rigid block (2, 102), in particular made of concrete, the block presenting a substantially plane bottom face (6) for resting on a support (7, 107), a top face (8, 108) for receiving at least one longitudinal rail (11, 111), and four peripheral faces (16, 17, 18, 19, 116, 117, 118, 119) connecting the top face (8, 108) to the bottom face (6), and each having a substantially plane bottom portion (16a, 17a, 18a, 19a), there being two longitudinal peripheral faces (18, 19, 118, 119) whose bottom portions (18a, 19a) converge towards each other downwards, and two transverse peripheral faces (16, 17, 116, 117) whose bottom portions (16a, 17a) converge towards each other downwards, said block (2, 102) being provided with a leakproof cover (20, 120) surrounding the bottom face (6) of the block and the bottom portions (16a, 17a, 18a, 19a) of its peripheral faces (16, 17, 18, 19 116, 117, 118, 119) and having for this purpose a flat bottom wall (21, 121) presenting a substantially plane top face (22) extending along the bottom face (6) of the block (2, 102) with a sole pad (33, 133) being interposed between them, said pad being elastic in particular in compression and in shear, and a continuous peripheral rim (23) surrounding said bottom wall (21, 121) and presenting a top edge (32, 132) approximately parallel to said bottom wall (21, 121), at a level higher than that one of the bottom portions (16a, 17a, 18a, 19a) of the peripheral faces (16, 17, 18, 19, 116, 117, 118, 119) of the block (20, 120), said rim (23) presenting four inside faces (28a, 29a, 30a, 31a) that are substantially plane, each running along the bottom portion (16a, 17a, 18a, 19a) of a corresponding peripheral face (16, 17, 18, 19, 116, 117, 118, 119) of the block (2, 102);
      the sleeper being characterized in that the cover (20, 120) is constituted by a substantially rigid shell carrying, between each of the inside faces of the cover (20, 120) and the respective corresponding bottom portion (16a, 17a, 18a, 19a) of the peripheral face (16, 17, 18, 19, 116, 117, 118, 119) of the block (2, 102), a respective flat segment (37, 38, 39, 40, 138, 139) that is elastic in compression and shear and that lies in elastic prestress in compression and in shear.
2. A sleeper according to claim 1, characterized in that each segment (37, 38, 39, 40, 138, 139) is releasably held in the cover (20, 120) and is independent of the block.
3. A sleeper according to claim 2, characterized in that each inside face (28a, 29a, 30a, 31a) has a peripheral shoulder (28b, 29b, 30b, 31b) for retaining the respective segment (37, 38, 39, 40, 138, 139) against relative sliding, said shoulder (28b, 29b, 30b, 31b) being of sufficiently small dimensions to avoid coming into contact with the block (2, 102).
4. A sleeper according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that each inside face (28a, 29a, 30a, 31a) and the respective segment (37, 38, 39, 40, 138, 139) present distributed means for releasable mutual snap-fastening.
5. A sleeper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sole pad (33, 133) is held in the cover (20, 120) releasably and is independent of the block (2, 102).
6. A sleeper according to claim 5, characterized in that it includes a thickness spacer (34) interposed between the pad (33, 133) and the top face (22) of the bottom wall (21, 121), held releasably in the cover (20, 120) independent of the pad (33, 133), and presenting roughness in contact therewith.
7. A sleeper according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that each inside face (28a, 29a, 30a, 31a) forms a shoulder (28b, 29b, 30b, 31b) for retaining the pad (33, 133) and, where appropriate, the thickness spacer (34) against relative sliding, the shoulder being in the immediate vicinity of the top face (22) of the bottom wall (21, 121), at a level that is lower than the level of a bottom limit for the corresponding segments (37, 38, 39, 40, 138, 139), said shoulder (28b, 29b, 30b, 31b) being of dimensions that are small enough to avoid coming into contact with the block (2, 102).
8. A sleeper according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the segments (39, 40, 139) corresponding to the longitudinal faces (18, 19, 118, 119) are of stiffness greater than that of the segments (37, 38, 138) corresponding to the transverse faces (16, 17, 116, 117) such that the segments (39, 40, 139) corresponding to the longitudinal faces (18, 19, 118, 119) and the segments (37, 38, 138) corresponding to the transverse faces (16, 17, 116, 117) serve mainly to provide damping and to provide resilient bearing, respectively.
9. A sleeper according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each segment (37, 38, 39, 40, 138, 139) presents a structure that is discontinuous in contact with the bottom portion (16a, 17a, 18a, 19a) of the respective corresponding peripheral face (16, 17, 18, 19, 116, 117, 118, 119) of the block (2, 102).
10. A sleeper according to claim 9, characterized in that each segment (37, 38, 39, 40, 138, 139) presents furrowing (41, 42, 43, 44) parallel to the top face (22) of the bottom wall(21, 121), facing towards the bottom portion (16a, 17a, 18a, 19a) of the respective corresponding peripheral face (16, 17, 18, 19, 117, 118, 119) of the block (2, 102).
11. A sleeper according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the top edge (32, 132) of the rim (23) of the cover (20, 120) carries a gasket (34) sealingly engaging the block.
12. A sleeper according to claim 11, characterized in that the gasket (34) is held releasably on the cover (20, 120).
13. A sleeper according to claim 12, characterized in that the gasket (34) and the top edge (32, 132) of the rim (23) of the cover (20, 120) present mutually interfitting means.
14. A sleeper according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the cover (20, 120) presents internally between the inside faces (28a, 29a, 30a, 31a) and the top edge (32, 132) of its rim (23), and the block (2, 102) presents externally above the bottom portions (16a, 17a, 18a, 19a) of its peripheral faces (16, 17, 18, 19, 116, 117, 118, 119), respective facets (16c, 17c, 18c, 19c, 28c, 29c, 30c, 31c) that are substantially plane and that face one another without coming into mutual contact, forming respective upward flares, in that each peripheral face (16, 17, 18, 19, 116, 117, 118, 119) of the block presents, above the corresponding respective facet (16c, 17c, 18c, 19c), a substantially plane top portion (16b, 17b, 18b, 19b), and in that the top portions (18b, 19b) of the longitudinal peripheral faces (18, 19, 118, 119) and the top portions (16b, 17b) of the transverse peripheral faces (16, 17, 116, 117) converge respectively upwards being connected to the corresponding facets (16c, 17c, 18c, 19c) along respective peripheral edges (16e, 17e, 18e, 19e) of the block (2, 102) that are at least approximately parallel to the bottom face (6) of the block (2, 102) and that are situated at a level that is lower than the level of the top edge (32, 132) of the rim (23) of the cover (20, 120) in such a manner that the sealing gasket (34) bears in leaktight manner against the top portions (16b, 17b, 18b, 19b) of the peripheral faces (16, 17, 18, 19, 116, 117, 118, 119) of the block.
15. A sleeper according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the bottom wall (21, 121) of the cover (20, 120) presents a bottom face (56) that is convex.
16. A sleeper according to claim 15, characterized in that the bottom face (56) of the bottom wall (21, 121) presents a central zone (57) that is plane, and parallel to its top face (22), and a peripheral zone (55) that rises towards the rim (23) of the cover (20, 120) from said central zone (57).
17. A sleeper according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the cover (20, 120) presents reinforcing ribs (50, 52, 53, 54, 150, 152, 153, 154) on its outside.
18. A sleeper according to claim 17, characterized in that the reinforcing ribs (154) include anchoring means (59) for engaging means for holding and/or for positioning relative to the support (7, 107).
19. A sleeper according to claim 17 or claim 18, characterized in that one (50, 150) of the reinforcing ribs (50, 52, 53, 54, 150, 152, 153, 154) extends continuously around the rim (23) of the cover (20, 120) substantially parallel to the top face (22) of the bottom wall (21, 121) at a level that is lower than the level of the top edge (32, 132) of the rim (23) and that corresponds substantially to the level of a top limit of the segments (37, 38, 39, 40, 138, 139), so as to serve as a reference level for casting a material (49) for bonding the cover (20, 120) to the support (7, 107).
20. A sleeper according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that shell is constituted by a substantially rigid leaktight assembly of a plurality of partial shells (61, 62, 161, 162, 167) that are leakproof and substantially rigid.
21. A sleeper according to claim 20, characterized in that said shell is constituted by two leakproof, substantially rigid half-shells (61, 62) each corresponding to a respective half of the block (2) considered in the transverse direction (4), which half shells are assembled together in leaktight and substantially rigid manner along a longitudinal plane (10).
22. A sleeper according to claim 20, characterized in that said shell is made up of two leakproof and substantially rigid half-shells (161, 162), each corresponding to a respective end zone of the block (102) in the transverse direction (104), and a leakproof and substantially rigid gutter (167) corresponding to a zone of the block (102) situated between said end zones thereof, and assembled to each of the half-shells (161, 162) in leaktight and substantially rigid manner along respective longitudinal planes (110).
23. A sleeper according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the partial shells (61, 62, 161, 162, 167) are assembled together by mutual interfitting and clamping.
24. A sleeper according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the sleeper (101) comprises a single block (102) provided with a single cover (120).
25. A sleeper according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the sleeper (1) comprises two blocks (2) at transverse ends, each block being provided with a respective cover (20), the blocks being securely connected together by a rigid transverse spacer (5).
26. A sleeper according to claim 25, characterized in that the spacer (5) is connected to each block (2) via a longitudinal peripheral face (19) thereof, and in that the top edge (32) of the rim (23) of each cover (20) is situated at an intermediate level of the spacer (5) and includes a notch (35) located around it.
27. A sleeper according to claim 26, characterized in that it includes sealing means between each cover (20), the corresponding block (2) and the spacer (5) within the respective notch (35).

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