EP3741957A1

EP3741957A1 - Modular support structure

Info

Publication number: EP3741957A1
Application number: EP18901499.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alvise Petrucco; Daniel Pilotto; Rino Stefanutti; Vincenzo PERROTTA ORGNANI
Original assignee: Petrucco SA
Current assignee: Petrucco SA
Priority date: 2018-01-17
Filing date: 2018-01-17
Publication date: 2020-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-17
Also published as: BR112020014241A2; PT3741957T; AU2018403511B2; ES2945957T3; CA2996203A1; AU2018403511A1; WO2019141882A1; EP3741957B1; EP3741957A4

Abstract

A modular supporting structure for dismountably supporting a section of railway track (12) while work is in progress below the tracks; comprising at least one adjusting assembly (18) configured so that it can be disassembled from bracing rails (16, 161, 162), which assembly comprises a first adjustable rod cylinder (32) disposed crosswise to bracing rails (161, 162) and a second adjustable rod cylinder (33) and a third adjustable rod cylinder (34) to adjust the height of modular supporting structure (11) to the plane of the running surface in the working position of modular supporting structure (11).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a provisional modular supporting structure for a railway line that carries circulating traffic while the work beneath the in-service railway tracks is being executed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need to remove the bed supporting the tracks when eliminating a level crossing of a railway line that is in service is known in the art.
For example, a support infrastructure for the railway tracks in service is deployed while work is being carried out on casting a concrete box and driving it into position.
The supporting infrastructure takes the form of a set of dismountable stiffening or bracing rails disposed parallel to the railway tracks on the outside of the tracks which are attached to the tracks by means of flanges and braced by crossbeams disposed in between the sleepers of the railway tracks attaching the two sets of bracing rails together to support the weight of circulating railway traffic.
Wooden wedges sometimes have to be driven between the cross-braces and the track sleepers to ensure the proper level or superelevation of the railway tracks while the box is being cast and pushed into position.
The bracing rails are supported on the ends of the crossbeams by a mechanical fastening assembly attaching the ends of the crossbeams to the bracing rails.
The work of assembling and disassembling the provisional supporting infrastructure for the in-service railway tracks is therefore labour intensive and requires lengthy service closures, and trains circulating in the work zone must reduce speed, all of which significantly interferes with normal rail traffic.

SUMMARY

This invention is intended to solve or diminish one or more of the drawbacks referred to above by providing a dismountable modular supporting structure for in-service railway tracks for when work is being carried out beneath the tracks, as claimed in the claims.
The modular supporting structure confers strength, robustness, stiffness, and stability on the section of railway above the work beneath the tracks, ensuring the gauge and cant of the running surface of the in-service tracks and allowing easy disassembly without having to move the tracks.
One object of the invention is to provide a modular supporting structure to temporarily support a section of in-service railway track during work underneath the tracks, for instance, to eliminate a level crossing, such that the in-service tracks have the same service conditions for railway traffic as before the work was started, thus making it unnecessary for railway vehicles to perform special manoeuvres when passing over the section of railway track where work is in progress.
The dismountable modular supporting structure ensures proper stability, stiffness, and sturdiness of the section of in-service railway track where work is being carried out beneath the track.
The modular supporting structure for dismountably supporting a section of railway track comprises at least one crossbeam lodged in respective sockets on bracing rails running parallel to and outside the in-service tracks; at least one adjusting assembly configured so that it can be disassembled from those bracing rails; where the adjusting assembly comprises a first adjustable rod cylinder disposed crosswise to the bracing rails; a second adjustable rod cylinder and a third adjustable rod cylinder to adjust the height of the modular supporting structure to the plane of the running surface in the working position of the modular supporting structure.
The first adjustable rod cylinder is disposed crosswise to the bracing rails, and its ends are respectively attachable to lower drill holes in an inner section on the bracing rail using mechanical fastening means; there is an anchor plate in the form of a rectangular strip attached to the outer upper surface of the first adjustable rod cylinder in the vicinity of the middle of the first adjustable rod cylinder which has at least a first drill hole and a second drill hole symmetrically disposed in parallel on the distal ends of the anchor plate; the second adjustable rod cylinder is attachable to an upper drill hole in the inner section using mechanical fastening means, and the opposite end of the second cylinder is attachable to a first drill hole in the anchor plate; and the third adjustable rod cylinder is attachable to a second upper drill hole in the inner section using mechanical fastening means while the opposite end of the third cylinder is attachable to a second drill hole in the anchor plate.
The second and third adjustable rod cylinders respectively form an acute angle with the first adjustable rod cylinder that is oriented perpendicularly relative to the plane of the running surface in the working position of the modular supporting structure.
The adjusting assembly is configured to be disposed in between two consecutive railway sleepers beneath the in-service railway tracks, and it is adapted so as to adjust the gauge and cant of the in-service tracks relative to the plane of the running surface and to hold the tracks in their in-service position while work is being carried out underneath the railway tracks without a supporting bed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

A more detailed explanation of the invention is given in the following description based on the attached figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the lengthwise distribution of the bracing rails and the crosswise distribution of the crossbeams, adjusting assemblies, and manoeuvring beams for a dismountable modular support structure disposed to support a section of in-service railway track below which work such as casting and driving forward a concrete box is being carried out;
Figure 2A is an elevational view of one of the dismountable modular supporting structure's bracing rails resting on bearings outside in-service railway tracks with a regular arrangement of support sockets for the crossbeams;
Figure 2B is an elevational view of how one end of a crossbeam is seated in the corresponding socket of one of the dismountable modular supporting structure's bracing rails;
Figure 3 is an elevational view of an adjusting assembly of the dismountable modular supporting structure in the structure's working position; and
Figure 4 is an elevational view of one of the dismountable modular supporting structure's crossbeams in the structure's working position.

DESCRIPTION

A dismountable modular supporting structure 11 for temporarily supporting in-service railway tracks 12 while work is in progress underneath the tracks, such as building an underpass by casting a reinforced concrete box 13 and driving it into position, whereby, once installed, modular supporting structure 11 will not interfere with the plane of the running surface of the railway tracks 12 is described below in reference to Figures 1, 2A, and 2B.
Modular supporting structure 11 comprises a plurality of height-adjusting assemblies 18 arranged crosswise perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of railway tracks 12. Dismountable adjusting assembly 18 is configured to be disassembled from pairs of stiffening or bracing rails 16, 161, 162 running parallel outside in-service railway tracks 12 and at least one crossbeam or crosspiece 14 configured to be dismountable from bracing rails 16.
Crossbeams 14 and the adjusting assemblies 18 support and fasten railway tracks 12 and are disposed in the manner of extra sleepers added to the original sleepers 15. Therefore, crossbeams 14 and adjusting assemblies 18 are disposed perpendicularly to bracing rails 16, 161, 162 in between the sleepers 15 for the in-service railway tracks 12.
Now relative to Figure 3, crosswise adjusting assembly 18 is mechanically assembled to longitudinal bracing rails 161, 162. The assemblies are assembled using a plurality of articulated joints that enable the adjusting assembly 18 to rotate relative to the longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of bracing rail 16.
Both adjusting assembly 18 and crossbeam 14 are configured to be installed in between two successive sleepers 15, and an adjusting assembly 18 and a crossbeam 14 may be spaced by at least one sleeper 15 for in-service railway tracks 12, as shown in Figure 1.
Furthermore, at least two adjusting assemblies 18 or two crossbeams 14 may be installed successively, separated by a sleeper 15.
Thus, both adjusting assembly 18 and crossbeam 14 are configured to be installed underneath railway tracks 12 in the space existing between two successive sleepers 15.
Bracing rails 16, 161, 162 have a heavy-duty cross-section composed of an [-shaped profile and an J-shaped angle profile with a connecting web; that is, a _[-shaped cross-section, with an inner seating flange 391 and an outer seating flange 392 defining a lower seating flange 39.
Bracing rail 161, 162 is buttressed by a plurality of inner sections 37 arranged along the rail's length having a heavy-duty elevational section in the manner of a triangle in shape, such as a right triangle truncated at the top, mechanically joining inner seating flange 391 to the inner surface of the connecting web of bracing rail 161, 162 and a plurality of external sections 38 arranged along the rail's length having a heavy-duty elevational section in the manner of a rectangular parallelepiped mechanically joining the flanges of the heavy-duty [-shaped section to the outer surface of the connecting web of bracing rail 161, 162.
Lower seating flanges 39 of bracing rails 161, 162 may be installed under the tracks at a different or the same distance from the plane of the running surface of railway tracks 12.
Bracing rails 161, 162 comprise a plurality of metal sections 37, 38 distributed regularly along the length of bracing rails 161, 162 configured to mechanically join the flanges to the web of bracing rails 161, 162.
Adjusting assembly 18 is configured to adjust the height of modular supporting structure 11 and comprises a first adjustable rod cylinder 32 disposed crosswise to bracing rails 161, 162, the ends of the cylinder being respectively attached to lower drill holes 372 in inner section 37 using mechanical fastening means; an anchor plate 85 in the form of a rectangular strip is attached to the outer upper surface of first adjustable rod cylinder 32 in the vicinity of the middle of the cylinder which has at least two drill holes 351, 352 symmetrically disposed in parallel on the distal ends of anchor plate 35; a second adjustable rod cylinder 33 is attached to an upper drill hole 371 in inner section 37 using mechanical fastening means, and the opposite end of second cylinder 33 is attached to a drill hole 351 in anchor plate 35; and a third adjustable rod cylinder 34 is attached to an upper drill hole 371 in inner section 37 using mechanical fastening means, and the opposite end of third cylinder 34 is attached to a drill hole 352 in anchor plate 35.
In the working position of modular supporting structure 11, the second and third adjustable rod cylinders 33, 34 respectively form an acute angle with first adjustable rod cylinder 32 that is oriented perpendicularly relative to the plane of the running surface, and the two acute angles thus formed need not be the same.
Inner section 37 comprises at least one upper drill hole 371 and one lower drill hole 372 which are not aligned relative to a vertical axis parallel to the vertical leg of inner section 37.
Upper and lower drill holes 371, 372 have a shape that allows mechanical fastening means 23 in the manner of a pin, rod, clip, bolt, threaded screw, or the like to be inserted; the mechanical joint is configured for fastening first adjustable rod cylinder 32, second adjustable rod cylinder 33, and third adjustable rod cylinder 34 and to allow them to rotate relative to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the railway tracks.
Adjusting assembly 18 is disposed in between sleepers 15 for railway tracks 12 initially in the collapsed position; that is, second and third adjustable rod cylinders 33, 34 are disposed parallel to first adjustable rod cylinder 31; the distal ends of second and third adjustable rod cylinders 33, 34 are subsequently raised vertically into their working positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the railway tracks and are attached to the corresponding upper drill holes 371 on inner sections 37 on bracing rails 161, 162 using the mechanical fastening means.
First, second, and third adjustable rod cylinders 32, 33, 34 are configured as adjustable struts to support and hold firm bracing rails 16, 161, 162, thereby anchoring in-service tracks 12 and holding the plane of the running surface of tracks 12 in place, done by adjusting the length of each adjustable rod cylinder 32, 33, 34.
Therefore, adjusting assembly 18 is a triangulated arrangement joined together in the form of triangles and subjected to the forces of traction and compression, being equipped with mechanisms for adjusting the height of and for locking railway tracks 12 relative to the bed that supports tracks 12.
As depicted in Figure 3, first, second, and third adjustable rod cylinders 32, 33, 34 are formed by tightening members screwed into threaded sleeves, such that the tightening members are moveable between a maximum and a minimum length of the threaded sleeves of first, second, and third adjustable rod cylinders 32, 33, 34, respectively, which are attached by their ends to bracing rails 161, 162 and anchor plate 35 so as to adjust the height of the plane of the running surface of in-service railway tracks 12.
To sum up, first, second, and third adjustable rod cylinders 32, 33, 34 comprise adjustable tightening members that cooperate mechanically with each other to adjust the length of adjustable rod cylinders 32, 33, 34 so as to laterally tighten bracing rails 161, 162, which cooperate mechanically with crossbeams 14 to anchor or hold in place a given track gauge and a given cant of the plane of the running surface while work is in progress underneath the tracks without interfering with railway traffic.
The lengthwise displacement of each adjustable rod cylinder 32, 33, 34 is transmitted to bracing rails 161, 162 through the ends of adjustable rod cylinders 32, 33, 34, respectively, so as to hold tension constant and compensate for changes in length from the deflection exerted by rolling stock running over the section of in-service railway track 12 where work is being carried out underneath the railway tracks.
Turning now to Figure 1, bracing rails 16 are respectively disposed along the outer edge of in-service railway tracks 12 and are oriented perpendicularly relative to the plane of the running surface towards the bed supporting tracks 12.
Crossbeams 14 support sleepers 15 in the working or service position and cooperate mechanically with adjusting assembly 18 to keep the track gauge fixed.
Modular supporting structure 11 comprises a plurality of crossbeams 14 which are disposed below railway tracks 12 in between sleepers 15 supporting railway tracks 12 in working position; they are oriented perpendicularly relative to the axis of the railway line in the direction of thrust of cast concrete box 13, such that the loads from rolling stock are transmitted onto the plurality of bracing rails 16 disposed parallel to railway tracks 12.
Looking now at Figures 2A, 2B, and 4, crossbeam 14 has a heavy-duty cross-section in the form of an H profile comprising flanges mechanically joined to a web.
The opposite ends of the web of crossbeam 14 bear at least one oblong drill hole 41 horizontally elongated towards the central vertical axis of crossbeam 14 for dismountable attachment and mechanical fastening of crossbeam 14 to bracing rails 16, 161, 162.
Bracing rails 16 comprise a plurality of sockets 22 distributed regularly along the web to connect the pair of bracing rails 16 along their lengths by means of crossbeams 14.
Bracing rails 16 and crossbeams 14 cooperate mechanically to secure the track gauge, holding in-service tracks 12 and sleepers 15 in working position while work is in progress underneath railway tracks 12.
Each end of a crossbeam 14 is inserted into and rests in a socket 22 on a bracing rail 16, being dismountably fastened by inserting mechanical fastening means 23 into the corresponding oblong drill holes 41.
Clearly, where bracing rail 16 comprises a large number of sockets 22, a large number of crossbeams 14 can be accommodated, and with them more support for modular supporting structure 11 and hence more immobility imparted to in-service railway tracks 12.
The size and arrangement of sockets 22 on the web of bracing rail 16 depend on the size of crossbeams 14 that are dismountably lodged in sockets 22 and the relative position of crossbeams 14 in between sleepers 15.
Sockets 22 may be circular, hexagonal, octagonal, or the like in shape in function of their purpose of furnishing a mechanical seat for crossbeam 14.
Crossbeam 14 is a beam that has an I, double I, double T, or similar shaped section.
The design of bracing rail 16 allows crossbeams 14 to be installed both underneath in-service railway tracks 12 in between sleepers 15 after the ballast between sleepers 15 has been removed, before or after bracing rails 16 have been installed parallel to railway tracks 12.
Bracing beams 16 may be supported on vertical bearings 21 installed along the outside of in-service railway tracks 12.
When adjusting assemblies 18 and crossbeams 14 have been installed in between sleepers 15, the pairs of bracing rails 16 are positioned adjacent to and outside railway tracks 12 for final positioning of the modular supporting structure assembly.
When bracing rails 16, adjusting assemblies 18, and crossbeams 14 are in position for assembly, the whole is fastened into place using the corresponding mechanical fastening members, and crossbeams 14, adjusting assemblies 81, and bracing rails 16 are fixed in their relative positions.
The corresponding mechanical fastening members are then tightened, and modular supporting structure 11 is then in working position, the final sturdy arrangement of dismountable modular supporting structure 11.
The procedure for disassembly is the converse of the assembly procedure.
The load transmission system is designed so that modular supporting structure 11 forms a grate capable of supporting in-service railway tracks 12 and the railway vehicles that run along railway tracks 12.
The loads generated are transmitted by the modular supporting structure to a plurality of manoeuvring beams 17, allowing box 13 to be cast and driven into position below in-service railway tracks 12.
During casting of box 13 and pushing box 13 into its final position, the modular supporting structure rests on metal manoeuvring beams 17 parallel to the direction of thrust of box 13.
Manoeuvring beams 17 are initially supported on the further end on a previously built foundation resting on groups of micropiles and on the other end using sliding bearings on the box itself.
Manoeuvring beams 17 need to safely bear all the loads of modular supporting structure 11 and rail traffic in their entirety within the admissible deformation tolerances for train service over railway tracks 12.
While box 13 is being driven into position below manoeuvring beams 17, those beams 17 may transmit a relative sliding motion to crossbeams 14 relative to bracing rails 16.
All the members of modular supporting structure 11 are easy to assemble and disassemble, and thanks to their modular construction they can be reused for any length of railway track that has to be stiffened and supported, which lowers the cost of restoring tracks to their normal conditions. Sleepers do not have to be replaced, because they remain in position from the outset.
The dismountable modular supporting structure 11 should be long enough to allow the excavation required to be able to push box 13 into position. Therefore, several modular supporting structures like the one described above can be positioned adjacent to each other to achieve the objective of supporting the tracks and transmitting loads from circulating traffic running over the tracks, inasmuch as there is a predetermined maximum length for the first longitudinal rails to obtain optimum results.

Claims

A modular supporting structure for dismountably supporting a section of railway track (12) while work is in progress below the tracks; comprising at least one crossbeam (14) supported in respective sockets (22) distributed along the web of bracing beams (16, 161, 162) characterised in that modular supporting structure (11) comprises at least one adjusting assembly (18) configured so that it can be disassembled from bracing rails (16, 161, 162), which assembly comprises a first adjustable rod cylinder (32) disposed crosswise to bracing rails (161, 162) and a second adjustable rod cylinder (33) and a third adjustable rod cylinder (34) to adjust the height of modular supporting structure (11) to the plane of the running surface in the working position of modular supporting structure (11).
A modular supporting structure according to claim 1, characterised in that first adjustable rod cylinder (32) is disposed crosswise to bracing rails (161, 162) and its ends are respectively fastened to lower drill holes (372) in an inner section (37) using mechanical fastening members; an anchor plate (35) in the form of a rectangular strip is attached to the outer upper surface in the middle of first adjustable rod cylinder (32) and has at least a first drill hole (351) and a second drill hole (352) symmetric and parallel on the distal ends of anchor plate (35); a second adjustable rod cylinder (33) is fastened to an upper drill hole (371) in inner section (37) using a mechanical fastening member, and the opposite end of second adjustable rod cylinder (33) is fastened to a first drill hole (351) in anchor plate (35); and a third adjustable rod cylinder (34) is fastened to a second upper drill hole (371) in inner section (37) using a mechanical fastening member, and the opposite end of third adjustable rod cylinder (34) is fastened to a second drill hole (352) in anchor plate (35).
A modular supporting structure according to claim 3, characterised in that second and third adjustable rod cylinders (33, 34) form an acute angle with first adjustable rod cylinder (32) that is oriented perpendicularly relative to the plane of the running surface in the working position of modular supporting structure (11).
A modular supporting structure according to claim 2, characterised in that first adjustable rod cylinder (32) and second adjustable rod cylinder (33) and third adjustable rod cylinder (34) comprise adjustable tightening members that cooperate mechanically with each other to adjust the lengths of adjustable rod cylinders (32, 33, 34) so as to laterally tighten bracing rails (161, 162), to fix and hold in place a given track gauge and a given cant of the plane of the running surface while work is in progress underneath the tracks.
A modular supporting structure according to claim 2, characterised in that first adjustable rod cylinder (32), second adjustable rod cylinder (33), and third adjustable rod cylinder (34) are adjustable struts that can be fastened by the corresponding end to inner section (37), and the corresponding opposite ends of second adjustable rod cylinder (33) and third adjustable rod cylinder (34) can be fastened to anchor plate (35).
A modular supporting structure according to claim 1, characterised in that bracing rails (16, 161, 162) have a heavy-duty cross-section composed of an [-shaped profile and an J-shaped angle profile and a connecting web, a section of lower seating flange (391) and a section of outer seating flange (392) defining an inner seating flange (39).
A modular supporting structure according to claim 6, characterised in that inner section (37) is configured to mechanically join the inner surface of the connecting web to the section of inner seating flange (391) and is triangular in shape.
A modular supporting structure according to claim 7, characterised in that inner section (37) comprises at least one upper drill hole (371) and one lower drill hole (372) which are not aligned relative to a vertical axis parallel to the vertical leg of inner section (37).
A modular supporting structure according to claim 8, characterised in that upper and lower drill holes (371, 372) are configured for fastening the corresponding ends of first adjustable rod cylinder (32), second adjustable rod cylinder (33), and third adjustable rod cylinder (34) and to allow them to rotate relative to inner section (37) along an axis parallel to bracing rail (16).
A modular supporting structure according to claim 9, characterised in that upper or lower drill holes (371, 372) are configured to allow a mechanical fastening member such as a pin, rod, clip, bolt, threaded screw, or the like to be inserted.