EP2649237A1

EP2649237A1 - Rail-bearing beam

Info

Publication number: EP2649237A1
Application number: EP11808283.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lewis Lesley
Original assignee: Tram Research Ltd
Current assignee: Tram Research Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-10
Filing date: 2011-12-08
Publication date: 2013-10-16
Also published as: GB201020989D0; GB2486271A; WO2012076891A1

Abstract

A beam section 10 for supporting a vehicle rail has internal ducts 30 for conveying utilities such as communication and power lines.

Description

The present invention concerns a beam section for a rail used in railways or tramways. There is an ongoing and increasing need for providing in urban areas utilities such as power cabling and communication lines, including copper and fibre optic cables. Other utilities may include signal paths for the transport networks, including for traffic signalling (traffic lights, rail/tram signalling), road usage and sensor data. The excavation required to install utilities is expensive and disruptive, particularly in urban areas.

A quite separate reason for excavating roads and other areas is to install rails for trains or trams. US 5,51.3,797 discloses a flanged rail which may be installed in a shallow channel in the road, avoiding deeper excavation which would cause disruption of subsurface utilities. In addition, US 5,513,797 also discloses a concrete beam which is shaped to receive and support such a flanged rail.

The inventors have recognised that by adapting a rail installation to provide the facility to receive and mount utility lines one can, in a convenient and economical manner, enable the installation of the utility lines without need of additional excavation. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a beam, section for supporting a vehicle rail, comprising a channel for receiving the vehicle rail, the channel extending between a first end and a second end of the beam section, characterised in that the beam section comprises at least one internal duct, the internal duct extending throughout the beam section and. forming an opening at each of the first end and second end of the beam section, so that when multiple such beam sections are placed end-to-end, their internal ducts form a continuous duct to receive at least one utility.

By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a cross section of a beam section according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a beam section according to the present invention showing, in dotted outline, the internal ducts.

Figure 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention, showing an access duct between the internal duct and a side face of the beam section.

Figure 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention, showing two access duets between the internal duct and a side face of the beam section.

The beam section 10 illustrated in Figure 1 is intended to be laid in a shallow trench in the ground and to support a rail of a railway or tramway (not shown). The beam section 10 may be received in a shallow trench, e.g. in a road surface, and may be grouted with concrete as described in US 5513797, It is intended for use with the type of track disclosed in thai US patent, which is well suited to light railways and tram tracks.

The beam section may for example be installed in an existing road surface or in any other area of ground. It has an upwardly open channel 12 formed, in its upper face 14 and shaped to receive the rail. A central portion of the channel receives the body of the rail and shoulders 16 on either side of the central portion support side flanges of the rail. The load upon the rail is distributed across the relatively large base 20 of the beam section, thereby reducing pressure on the ground beneath.

Any suitable material may be used, but it is particularly preferred that the beam section 10 is formed by a moulding process. Concrete is a very suitable material for a moulded beam section. The illustrated embodiment incorporates multiple pre-stressed tendons 2.0 extending along the length, of the beam section 10 and serving to reinforce it.

In plan view (Figures 2 through 4), the beam section 10 is seen to have first and second end faces 22, 24, the channel 12 extending longitudinally of the beam between the end faces. For ease of manufacture, transportation and handling, the beam section 10 is of limited length. Numerous such sections are laid end-to-end to form a continuous rai l-supporting structure of arbitrary length.

In order to ensure alignment of neighbouring beam sections 10, the first and second end feces 22, 24 of each section are provided with alignment features which are complementary - that is, the alignment features of the first end of the further, neighbouring, section, in the illustrated example (see Figure 2. in particular) the alignment features take the form of a pin 26 projecting along the longitudinal direction from the end face 22, 24 and a bore 28 to receive the pin.

In accordance with the present invention, the beam section 10 is provided with at least one internal duct 30 for receiving a utility. The term "utility" is used herein to refer to any elongate member used to conduct e.g. data, electricity, gas or liquid from one point to another. Examples are cabling, for communications or for electrical power, pipe for conduction of gas or of a water supply etc. The utility may he a mechanical linkage, a metal cable, or a fibre optic cable. In the illustrated embodiment, the beam section 10 has two internal ducts 30 on opposite sides of the rail-supporting channel 12 and, while any suitable cross sectional shape may be adopted, they are in this embodiment circular. Each internal duct 30 extends along the entire length of the beam section 10, communicating with openings in both the first and the second end faces 22, 24. When multiple beam sections 10 are laid end-to-end, and aligned by the features 26, 28, the internal ducts 30 together form a continuous, elongate passage through which the utility can be fed and in this way the beam provides a convenient and economical means of installing the utility. A railway or tramway constructed using the beam section 10 provides, at little or no additional cost, a ready-made route for the utility. Figure 3 shows a variant of the beam section 10 in which one of the internal ducts 30 is bifurcated, providing a curved lateral branch 33 which communicates with a side face of the beam section 10 and serves as an access duct through which the utility (which is not shown in the drawings) can emerge from the rail-supporting structure. Figure 4 shows another variant having two such lateral branches 34. 36. The curvature of these lateral, branches helps to ensure that the utility is not excessively curved or kinked at its point of emergence.

While the beam sections 10 seen in the drawings are straight, it will be appreciated that curved sections can be provided to accommodate curvature of the rail. Sections which are shaped to accommodate rail switches, junctions etc may also be provided.

As noted above the beam section 10 may be used to mount the rail of a tram or light railway and may be used to mount rails in a road surface. The top of the beam section 10 may be adapted to permit safe passage of road vehicles, particularly in having a skid resistant surface. The beam section serves to minimise the need to excavate and reinstate streets - typically the amount of excavation needed, in comparison with conventional bottom-supported rail systems, is very much less, e.g. 20 times less. The beam distributes vehicle loadings over an increased area. By incorporating the duct for receipt of a utility, the beam enables under-street utilities to be maintained and repaired without disruption to tram or railway services, It also reduces the need for streets to be excavated for future utility accommodation. The accidental severance of utilities by other road works is reduced or eliminated. Road pavement life is increased by virtue of a more robust surface free from freeze/thaw damage. The road pavement is protected from damage by defrosting salts and accidental spillage of chemicals.

The aforegoing embodiments serve as examples only of one manner of implementation of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the appended claims, and not to be considered to be limited by any of the specific features of the exemplary embodiments.

Claims

1 . A beam section for supporting a vehicle rail, the beam section comprising a channel for receiving the vehicle rail, the channel extending between a first end and a second end of the beam section, characterised in that the beam section comprises at least one internal duct, the internal duct extending throughout the beam section and forming respective openings at the first end and the second end of the beam section, so that when multiple such beam sections are placed end-to- end, their internal ducts form a continuous duct to receive at least one utility.

2, A beam section as claimed in claim 1 in which the internal duet is bifurcated to form at least one access duct which communicates with a side face of the beam section and through which the utility can be led out of the continuous duct.

3. A beam section as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the first and second ends of the beam section are provided with alignment features, the alignment features at the first end of the beam section being engageable with the alignment features at the second end of a further, identically formed, beam section.

4, A beam section as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the channel is formed to provide at least one support surface for a rail flange.

5. A beam section according to any preceding claim which is formed by moulding and which further comprises at least one pre-stressed tendon to increase the rigidity of the beam section.

6. A beam for supporting a vehicle rail, the beam being formed from a plurality of beam, sections, the beam comprising at least one continuous duct extending through the length of the beam, the continuous duct to receive at least one utility.

7. A beam according to claim 6, wherein the continuous duct contains a utility which is one of a cable for communications, an electrical power cable, a pipe for conducting a gas, a pipe for conducting water or any other liquid, a hydraulic cable, a metal cable, a fibre optic cable, or a mechanical linkage,

8. A method for mounting a utility comprising the steps of forming a beam from a plurality of beam sections according to any of claims 1 to 5, forming a continuous duct through the beam by aligning the openings of neighbouring beam sections, installing a vehicle rail in the beam, and installing at least one utility in the continuous duct,

9. A method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one utility is a cable for communications, an electrical power cable, a pipe for conducting a gas, a pipe for conducting water or any other liquid, a hydraulic cable, or a mechanical linkage.