EP3430203B1 - Railroad rail support - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a rail support, of the type with elastic attachment wherein said fastener bears on a pad of said rail and is tensioned by screwing an anchoring element such as a lag bolt or a stud. The present disclosure relates more particularly to an improvement to easily adjust the transverse position of the rail on the railway.

Such a support can be used to fix rail rails of various natures, on a slab or rail sleepers, in first pose or renovation.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

• une semelle, généralement en élastomère ou matière plastique, placée sous le rail,
• un support, généralement en matériau plastique, positionnée sur le côté du rail le long d'un patin de celui-ci, et sous ledit patin,
• une attache élastique, généralement en fil d'acier, et
• un élément d'ancrage pour appliquer sous contrainte ladite attache élastique sur ledit patin, ledit élément d'ancrage traversant le support et étant fixé sur un élément de voie, typiquement une traverse ou une dalle en béton.

A rail fastening system is generally composed of the following elements:

• a sole, generally of elastomer or plastic material, placed under the rail,
• a support, generally made of plastic material, positioned on the side of the rail along a shoe thereof, and under said shoe,
• an elastic fastener, generally of steel wire, and
• an anchoring member for applying said resilient fastener under stress to said slider, said anchor member traversing the support and being attached to a track element, typically a concrete slab or slab.

The anchoring element may consist of either a sheath-lag assembly or a stud-nut assembly.

More specifically, the rail is fixed, at a given point, by two fasteners, placed on either side of the rail.

When it is necessary to modify or correct the position of the rail in the transverse direction of the track, it is useful to be able to translate the support described above.

To do this, in certain existing supports, the opening of the support in which the anchoring element is engaged has an oblong section, which allows the support to move laterally with respect to the anchoring element as soon as the it's loose. when translation of the rail is desired, it is then possible to slightly loosen the anchoring element (without disassembling it completely), to laterally push the support to the new position of the rail, then to tighten the anchoring element.

The document EP 2 478 154 describes a support according to the preamble of claim 1.

However, these supports can be problematic during certain maintenance operations of the tracks, especially when it is necessary to replace a worn or damaged rail. Indeed, in such a case, it is necessary to loosen the anchoring element to detach the elastic clip and thus release the rail support: and, in doing so, the support is free to move laterally of so that the transverse setting of the rail is lost and must be found and checked carefully when fixing the replacement rail. These supports thus lengthen the duration of the maintenance procedures, make them more complex, and can therefore lead to possible positioning errors.

There is therefore a real need for a railway rail support which is devoid, at least in part, of the drawbacks inherent in the aforementioned known configurations.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a support for rail rail comprising a lateral wedging surface, a first upper bearing surface, a second upper bearing surface, distinct from the first upper bearing surface, a first opening, of oblong section, opening at the first upper bearing surface and traversing vertically support, a second opening, opening at the second upper bearing surface, and a receiving portion configured to receive a rail fastener, provided at least laterally to outside compared to the second opening.

In this presentation, the terms "longitudinal", "transverse", "interior", "exterior" and their derivatives are defined in relation to the principal direction of the rail.

Thanks to such a support for rail rail, the rail clamping functions and transverse setting of the rail are dissociated. The first opening, extending as far as the lower surface of the seat of the support, thus makes it possible to receive an anchoring element and thus to anchor the support on the track: its oblong section then makes it possible to easily adjust the transverse position of the support on the track and thus to wedge the rail transversely on the track, the position of the support being blocked by compression of the anchoring element against its first surface upper support. The second opening for its part to receive a fastening element for clamping a rail fastener on the support and thus to fix the rail relative to the support.

Therefore, once the installation of the track has been completed, when it is desired to change the orientation or position of a rail on the track, it is possible to loosen the anchoring element passing through the first opening of the track. to release the support; it is then possible to push the assembly formed by the support and the rail to position it in its new position; the anchoring element is then tightened to block again the transverse position of the support and therefore the transverse position of the rail relative to the track. For this reason, it is preferable that the first and second openings, and more generally all the openings intended for anchoring the rail support, open onto free surfaces of the rail support, that is to say surfaces that are not intended to be covered by the rail in question: the anchoring openings are thus accessible even in the presence of the rail, it is possible to remove the anchoring elements anchoring the support and thus move the rail without disassembly the latter of the support.

Conversely, when it is desired to change the rail, it is possible to loosen the fastening element cooperating with the second opening so as to loosen the fastener and thus to release the rail. On this occasion, it is possible not to touch the anchoring element so that the support remains firmly fixed on the track and that its transverse position remains unchanged. The installation of the replacement rail is then facilitated since it is sufficient to wedge the rail against the lateral surface of the support wedge to automatically find the correct transverse position of the rail. It is then possible to tighten the fastening element on the fastener and the support to lock the new rail in this position.

The installation, maintenance and replacement of rails is greatly facilitated by the use of such media. It is particularly simple enough to be robotized, thus avoiding the use of an operator.

In some embodiments, the second opening vertically traverses the support, that is to say up to the lower seating surface. This makes it possible to use a fastening element cooperating with the cross member or the slab situated under the support; in such a case, the fixing element may take the form of an anchoring element of the same nature or of a different nature from the anchoring element passing through the first opening.

In some embodiments, the second opening is of oblong section. If necessary, this makes it possible to move the support transversely relative to the fastening element cooperating with the second opening.

In some embodiments, the second aperture is not through. It does not open at the level of the lower seating surface. In such a case, the fastening element is independent of the crossmember or the slab on which the support is mounted: during a rail displacement operation, it is then possible to keep the fastener clamped in such a way that so that the support and the rail form a unitary assembly, thus facilitating the movement of the assembly.

In some embodiments, the second aperture is threaded. More generally, each opening can be threaded.

In some embodiments, the support is made of a rigid material having a Young's modulus greater than 5 GPa, preferably greater than 10 GPa. This reduces the risk of creep of the support under the clamping stress of the anchoring element and / or the fastening element: the clamping stress exerted by the anchoring element and / or the fastening element on the first and / or second upper bearing surface does not decrease, or very little, over time, so that the risk that the support slides transversely is greatly reduced or completely eliminated.

In some embodiments the support comprises a base and a block, the block being mounted in a cavity of the base; and the first opening and / or the second opening is made in said block. It is thus possible to make the base in an inexpensive material, even if it is not rigid, and the block in a more rigid material to reduce the risk of creep mentioned above.

In some embodiments, the block, or more broadly said rigid material, is metallic, preferably steel or cast iron. he can also be made of plastic loaded with glass fibers or other types of reinforcements.

In some embodiments, the base is made of plastic.

In some embodiments, the support comprises a first block, the first block being mounted in a first cavity of the base, and the first opening is made in said first block.

In some embodiments, the support comprises a second block, the second block being mounted in a second cavity of the base, and the second opening is formed in said second block.

In certain embodiments, the first and / or second block passes vertically through the support, that is to say up to the lower seating surface. This ensures a transmission of compression forces up to the cross or the slab on which the support is mounted.

In some embodiments, the receiving portion extends at least on either side of the second opening in the longitudinal direction. The clip thus surrounds the second opening.

In certain embodiments, the support further comprises a second lateral wedging surface, provided in relation to the first lateral wedging surface. It is thus possible to accurately wedge the rail between the two lateral wedging surfaces.

In some embodiments, the support further comprises a third upper bearing surface, distinct from the first and second upper bearing surfaces, a third opening, opening at the third upper bearing surface. This third opening makes it possible to receive a second fixing element so as to fix the second side of the runner of the rail by means of a second rail fastener. This third opening has the same construction options as the second opening.

In some embodiments, the carrier includes a second receiving portion configured to receive a second rail attachment, provided laterally outwardly with respect to the third aperture.

In some embodiments, the support further comprises a third block, the third block being mounted in a third cavity of the base, the third opening is formed in said third block.

In some embodiments, the support further includes an upper support surface, provided between the two wedging side surfaces, configured to receive a rail rail. The support thus has a general shape of U in the middle of which is received the rail.

The present disclosure also relates to a railway rail fastening system, comprising a carrier according to any one of the preceding embodiments.

In some embodiments, the fastening system further comprises a rail fastener, preferably resilient, configured to seat in the support receiving portion and to abut a runner of a railway rail. When the support extends on either side of the rail, the system may comprise a second rail attachment.

In some embodiments, the fastening system further comprises an anchor member and a fastener member each having a bearing shoulder; the anchoring element is configured to penetrate into the first opening until its bearing shoulder bears against the first upper support surface of the support; and the fastener is configured to enter the second opening, preferably until its bearing shoulder bears against the second upper support surface of the support.

In some embodiments, the anchor member and the fastener member are anchor screws.

In some embodiments, the fastening system further comprises a threaded female insert, configured to be anchored in a railway tie or slab and to cooperate with an anchor member.

In some embodiments, the support of the fastening system is of the type comprising two lateral wedging surfaces configured to frame the rail.

In other embodiments, the fastening system comprises two supports, preferably symmetrical, configured to be positioned on either side of the rail.

In some embodiments, the fastening system further comprises a soleplate configured to be positioned between a railroad tie or slab of a railway track and the bottom surface of the support seat.

In some embodiments, the fastening system further includes a shoe configured to be positioned on the upper support surface and under the rail shoe.

The aforementioned features and advantages, as well as others, will appear on reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the support and the proposed fastening system. This detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are schematic and are intended primarily to illustrate the principles of the invention.

• La FIG 1 est une vue en perspective d'un système de fixation selon le présent exposé.
• La FIG 2 est une vue éclatée du système de fixation de la FIG 1.
• La FIG 3 est une vue en demi-coupe du système de fixation de la FIG 1.

In these drawings, from one figure (FIG) to the other, identical elements (or element parts) are identified by the same reference signs.

• The FIG 1 is a perspective view of a fastening system according to the present disclosure.
• The FIG 2 is an exploded view of the fastening system of the FIG 1 .
• The FIG 3 is a half-sectional view of the fastening system of the FIG 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE (S) OF REALIZATION

In order to make the invention more concrete, an example of a support and fastening system is described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is recalled that the invention is not limited to this example.

The FIG 1 to 3 represent a fastening system 1 for fixing a rail 2 on a slab 3 of a railway. The fastening system 1 comprises a support 10, three anchoring screws 40, 41, three anchoring anchors 42 threaded and anchored in the slab 3, two elastic fasteners 50 and a sole 60.

The support 10 is formed mainly of a base 11 of plastic taking in cross section a general shape of U: it thus has a bottom surface of seat 12, flat and parallel to the slab 3, two side flanks 13, and a surface upper support 14, flat and parallel to the lower seat surface 12, provided in the recess of the U between the two lateral flanks 13. Each lateral flank 13 has a lateral wedging surface 15 directed towards the inside of the support 10: these two lateral wedging surfaces 15 extend vertically vis-à-vis one another and thus frame the upper support surface 14; the distance which separates them corresponds substantially, with a clearance close to the width of the shoe 2a of the rail 2.

One of the flanks 13 of the support 10 comprises a cavity 30 of rectangular cross section through the support 10 from top to bottom; this cavity 30 receives a parallelepipedal block 31 of steel whose lower surface, forming a lower bearing surface 32 ', is flush with the lower seat surface 12 of the support 10 and whose upper surface, forming a first upper bearing surface 32, extends horizontally at the level of the upper surface of the flank 13.

A through opening 33 is made from top to bottom in the block 31: this opening 33 is cylindrical, vertical generatrix and oblong directional curve. The main axis of this oblong guide curve extends here in the transverse direction of the support 10; it could however be oblique with respect to this transverse direction.

Each side flank 13 also includes a receiving portion 20 for rail attachment. Each receiving portion 20 thus forms a platform extending laterally outwardly from the lateral wedging surface 15 of the side 13 considered; it comprises at its outer end a semicircular groove 21 delimited between a semicircular stud 22 and walls 23.

A parallelepiped cavity 24 passing through the support 10 from top to bottom is formed in each of the receiving portions 20; these cavities 24 each receive a parallelepipedal block 25 of metal material, steel in the present example, whose lower surface, forming a lower bearing surface 26 ', is flush with the lower surface 12 of the support and whose upper surface, forming respectively a second and a third upper bearing surface 26, extends horizontally above the level of the semicircular groove 21.

A through opening 27 is made from top to bottom in each of these blocks 25: this opening 27 is cylindrical, vertical generatrix and oblong directional curve. The main axis of this oblong guide curve extends here in the transverse direction of the support; it could however be oblique with respect to this transverse direction.

When mounting the rail 2 on the slab 3, the first operation is to position the support 10 on the slab 3. On this occasion, a sole 60, possibly comprising several layers 60a, 60b, is disposed between the upper surface of the slab 3 and the lower seating surface 12 of the support 10. The layer 60b in contact with the lower seating surface 12, rigid in the sense of the present disclosure, is preferably made of metal.

A first anchoring screw 40, forming an anchoring element, is then engaged in the opening 33 of the block 31 and then partially screwed into the corresponding anchoring insert 42. Thanks to the oblong shape of the opening 33, the support 10 can then be maneuvered so as to precisely adjust its transverse position relative to the slab 3. On this occasion, in order to facilitate the orientation of the support 10, it is possible to to engage already second and third anchoring screw 41, forming fastening elements, in the openings 27 of the blocks 25 and then partially screw in the corresponding anchor inserts 42, the oblong shape of the openings 27 allowing a transverse displacement of the support 10.

Once the desired transverse position has been obtained, the first anchor screw 40 is screwed firmly into the insert 42 until its bearing shoulder 40a contacts and exerts a stress against the first upper bearing surface 32 In this way, the position of the support 10 is blocked and the rail 2 can be mounted on the support 10 without the risk of moving it.

A sole 35, possibly comprising several layers 35a, 35b, is then placed on the upper support surface 14 of the support 10. The rail 3 is then placed on this sole 35 between the two surfaces. lateral 14, so that the accuracy of its transverse position is automatically ensured.

The rail 3 is then fixed on the support 10 by means of two elastic fasteners 50, made of steel wire, taking substantially the shape of an omega with a central portion 51, forming a semicircular loop, extended by two rectilinear and parallel branches 52, and each terminated by support lugs 53 extending substantially perpendicular to the rectilinear branches.

Each fastener 50 is thus inserted under the bearing shoulder 41a of the anchor screw 41 considered so that the central portion 51 is received in the semicircular groove 21 of the receiving portion 20 of the support 10, which the rectilinear branches 52 extend on either side of the opening 27 and the anchoring screw 41 and under the bearing shoulder 41a of the anchoring screw 41, and that the bearing lugs 53 bear against the shoe 2a of the rail 3.

Once the fasteners 50 are positioned in this way, the anchoring screws 41 can be screwed completely and firmly until their bearing shoulder 41a is in contact and exert a stress against the second and third upper surface. In this way, the rail 3 is firmly fixed on the support 10 on the one hand and on the slab 3 on the other hand.

In order to ensure effective blocking of the support 10 on the slab 3, it is desired to obtain a static coefficient of friction as high as possible, at least greater than 0.25, between the upper bearing surfaces 26, 32 and the shoulders bearing 40a, 41a anchoring screws on the one hand and between the lower bearing surfaces 26 ', 32' and the sole 60b secondly. Optionally, these contact surfaces can benefit from a surface treatment, such as a formation of roughness, to increase this coefficient.

Claims (10)

1. A support for a railway rail comprising
   a side surface (15) for wedging the rail,
   a first upper bearing surface (32) for a bearing shoulder (40a) of an anchor element (40) of the support on a track,
   a second upper bearing surface (26) for a bearing shoulder (41a) of a fixing element (41) of a railway fastener (50) on the support, distinct from the first upper bearing surface (32),
   a first aperture (33), having an oblong cross-section, coming out at the first upper bearing surface (32) and vertically passing through the support (10),
   a second aperture (27), coming out at the second upper bearing surface (26), and
   a receiving portion (20), configured to receive a railway fastener (50), provided at least laterally outward relative to the second aperture (27),
   said support being characterised in that the first aperture (33) is adapted to adjust a transverse position of the support on the track by translating said support relative to the anchor element (40), and in that each anchor aperture of said support on the track comes out at a free surface of said support.
2. The support according to claim 1, wherein the second aperture (27) vertically passes through the support (10).
3. The support according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second aperture (27) has an oblong cross-section.
4. The support according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support (10) is made of a material having a Young modulus greater than 5GPa.
5. The support according to any of claims 1 to 4, comprising a base plate (11) and a block (25, 31), the block (25, 31) being mounted in a cavity (24, 30) of the base plate (11), and
   wherein the first aperture (33) and/or the second aperture (27) are made in said block (25, 31).
6. The support according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the receiving portion (20) extends at least on either side of the second aperture (27).
7. The support according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a second wedging side surface (15), provided facing the first wedging side surface (15),
   a third upper bearing surface (26), distinct from the first and second upper bearing surfaces,
   a third aperture (27), coming out at the third bearing upper surface (26), and
   a second receiving portion (20), configured to receive a railway fastener (50), provided laterally outward relative to the third aperture (27).
8. A fixing system for a railway rail, comprising a support (10) according to any of the previous claims.
9. The fixing system according to claim 8, further comprising a railway fastener (50) configured to be placed in the receiving portion (20) of the support (10) and to bear against a base (2a) of a railway rail (2).
10. The fixing system according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising an anchor element (40) and a fixing element (41) each including a bearing shoulder (40a, 41a),
    wherein the anchor element (40) is configured to penetrate the first aperture (33) until its bearing shoulder (40a) begins to bear against the first bearing upper surface (32) of the support (10), and
    wherein the fixing element (41) is configured to penetrate the second aperture (27).

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