GB2024896A - Multiple gauge railway track - Google Patents

Abstract

The running rails of a track are located in chairs 6 mounted on or integral with sleepers 5, each sleeper having a plurality of chairs which are spaced from one another lengthwise of the sleeper such that running rails supported on the sleeper by the chairs provide tracks of different track gauge. The sleepers are supported on longitudinal and transverse supports 7, 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Track for wheeled vehicles This invention relates to tracks having running rails for wheeled vehicles the running rails being located in chairs mounted on sleepers, the chairs being spaced apart on each sleeper so that the running rails are spaced from each other according to the gauge of the track.

An object of the invention is to provide a track incorporating running rails of different track gauge.

For the construction of a track the invention provides according to one aspect, a sleeper having at least three chairs, the chairs being spaced from one another lengthwise of the sleeper such that running rails supported on the sleeper by the chairs provide tracks of different track gauge.

The chairs and sleepers can be formed separately from one another and subsequently secured together. Advantageously however the chairs and sleepers are formed integral with oneanother. Further, the chairs and sleepers can be made in any suitable material, the chairs being formed to accommodate running rails of conventional bullhead section or any other desired rail section.

According to one particular construction the sleeper can be formed as an elongate member of channel section the outer surface of the base of the channel being provided with outwardly projecting pairs of lugs the lugs of a pair forming together a chair, the pairs of lugs being spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the elongate member according to the different track rail gauges required. For this particular construction, the sleeper can comprise a metal extrusion or pressing the chair formed lugs being produced by piercing and stamping the metal.

In the construction of a railway track or track for a conveyer, the sleepers can be mounted directly on and secured to the ground or a supporting surface extending along the path of the track. Advantageously however the sleepers are mounted on support members extending in the longitudinal direction of the track the sleepers being for example, bolted to the longitudinally extending support members. For example two longitudinally extending support members can be provided, the longitudinally extending support members being spaced apart from one another so that opposite end portions of each sleeper overlap and rest on the support members. Advantageously the spacing of the longitudinally extending support members is such that the two outer rails providing the widest track gauge of the track are disposed directly over the respective longitudinally extending support member.The longitudinally extending support members can also be channel section members formed as extrusions or pressings in metal, the longitudinally extending support members being assembled with the base uppermost the sleepers being mounted on the outer surface of the base of the channel section.

The longitudinally extending support members permit individual and separate lengths of track to be constructed, which can be straight or curved, a complete track being assembled from the required number of track lengths. The adjacent ends of the running rails of adjacent track lengths can be secured together in conventional manner using fish plates.

In the construction of a track from lengths of track as referred to in the previous paragraph, the longitudinally extending support members can be placed directly on the ground or other surface over which the track extends. Advantageously however the track is provided with supports which extend transverse to the track length such transverse supports being provided at spaced intervals along the length of the track. The longitudinally extending supports and the transverse supports are advantageously interconnected so that they are prevented from relative displacement in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction. For example, the said supports can be secured together by bolts or provided with interengaging means.

Each transverse support can for example comprise an elongate member of channel section, made either as an extrusion or pressing in metal.

In a construction in which both the longitudinally extending supports and the transverse supports are each made as elongate members of channel section, the channel walls of one or the other of said support members can be provided with verticaily extending slots the slots of the respective support being arranged to receive the channel walls of the other supports when the longitudinally extending and transverse supports are assembled one on the other.

Adjusting means can also be provided for levelling a track particularly when a complete track is constructed from individual lengths of track as above referred to. The adjusting means can be associated with the longitudinally extending supports or with the transverse supports when such latter supports are provided.

For example, the adjusting means can comprise threaded studs or bolts each of which screws into atapped hole in the respective support so as to extend downwardly, the outer end of each stud or bolt having for preference an enlarged head or ground engaging member. The enlarged head or other ground engaging member is preferably of mushroom form which is arranged with the curved or conical surface facing away from the track. This arrangement has the advantage that should the track be laid on soft ground the enlarged heads or other ground engaging members will become embedded in the ground and thus assist in stabilising the track throughout its length.

Whilst the track of the present invention can be used for the construction of the permanent way of a railway and for conveyors as used in industry, it is particularly applicable to the construction of tracks for so-called model railways frequently used for carrying passengers and which are often provided on temporary sites. The construction of a track for such purpose using separate lengths of track as above described is particularly advantageous as the assembly and dismantling of a track can be effected rapidly and simply.

Accordingly a track suitable for the construction of such a model railway will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a length of track, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sleeper having the chairs integral therewith.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a longitudinally extending support and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a transverse support.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a portion of a straight length of individual track a number of which can be used for the construction of a track, curved lengths of track of the same construction also being used if required.

The track comprises four running rails 1, 2, 3, 4, sleepers 5 and chairs 6, the chairs being formed integral with the sleepers. The sleepers are mounted on two supports 7 which extend longitudinally in the lengthwise direction of the track, the said supports 7 being in turn carried by transverse support members 8 arranged at spaced intervals along the track.

The running rails which can be of conventional bullhead section, are spaced from one another to provide four standard track gauges corresponding for example to 5", 33R, 22111 and 1 4tt scale engines and rolling stock. The two longitudinally extending supports 7 are spaced apart so that the two outer rails 1 and 4, which provide the largest track gauge, are disposed directly over such supports 7.

The length of each sleeper is such that its opposite ends overlap the respective longitudinally extending support 7 by an amount ensuring adequate support to the sleeper each sleeper being secured to the respective support by bolts 9.

The construction of the sleepers 5, longitudinally extending supports 7 and transverse supports 8 are shown in detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4 respectively.

As shown in Figure 2 the sleeper 5 comprises an elongate member of channel section which can for example be made as an extrusion or pressing in metal. The chairs 6 are provided on the outer surface of the base of the channel each chair consisting of two lugs 10 which are formed by slitting and punching the metal. The four chairs are spaced from each other lengthwise of the sleeper to locate the running rails in position to provide the four track gauges.

The longitudinally extending supports 7, as shown in Figure 3, each comprise an elongate member of channel section made for example as a metal extrusion or pressing, Similarly the transverse supports 8 each comprise an elongate member of channel section also made for example as a metal extrusion or pressing. The vertical walls of the channel of the transverse supports 8 are provided with pairs of oppositely disposed slots 11, 12 and 13, 14, each slot extending from the outer edge of each said wall. The slots of a pair of slots are spaced apart from each other to correspond to the width of the channel section of the longitudinally extending supports 7 the two pairs of oppositely disposed slots 11, 12 and 13, 14 being spaced from one another to correspond to the spacing of the longitudinaliy extending supports 7.

In the assembled length of track shown in Figure 1, the sleepers 5 and the supports 7 are arranged in an inverted position with the open side of the channel sections facing downwardly so that the sleepers rest on the outer surface of the base of the channel of the supports 7. Each sleeper is secured to each longitudinally extending support 7 by two screws 9 each of which screws into a tapped hole 15 provided in each support 7, a distance piece 1 6 being preferably provided between each sleeper and the support 7 each screw 9 passing through the respective distance piece.

The transverse supports 8 can be fitted to the longitudinally extending supports as the track is laid or alternatively they can be incorporated as part of the assembly of the length of track. The transverse supports 8 are spaced from one another lengthwise of the track each support 8 being in an inverted position with the open side of the channel uppermost. With the transverse supports in this position the walls of the channels of the longitudinally extending supports 7 are inserted in the pairs of slots 11, 12 and 13, 14 to interconnect the supports 7 and 8 and also assisting in restraining the longitudinally extending supports against any tendency to separate.

To facilitate levelling the track adjusting means are provided which as shown in Figure 4 consist simply of a stud or bolt 17 each of which is screwed into a tapped hole 1 8 provided adjacent each end of the base of the channel of each transverse support 8. Each said stud or bolt has an enlarged head 19 to provide a good bearing surface in contact with the ground.

Advantageously the enlarged head has a curved or conical surface which will embed into ground on which the track is laid particularly if the ground is soft thereby assisting in stability of the track.

The track according to the invention can be used with manually or mechanically propelled vehicles or can be adapted to provide an eiectrified system for use with electrically propelled vehicles in which current is supplied from a rail or rails. For example, in the track above described wherein the sleepers and chairs are of metal, the electrified or "live" rails can be electrically insulated from the chairs simply by inserting suitable electrical insulating material between the chairs and the rail.

The present invention thus provides means for the construction of a track having running rails of at least two different track gauges the means also permitting in a single manner, the rapid assembly or dismantling of a track for wheeled vehicles, such as a railway track or a track for a conveyor system.

Claims (20)

1. A sleeper for the construction of a track having running rails for wheeled vehicles said sleeper having at least three chairs, the chairs being spaced from one another lengthwise of the sleeper such that running rails supported on the sleeper by the chairs provide tracks of different track gauge.

2. A sleeper as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the chairs and sleepers are formed separately from one another and subsequently secured together.

3. A sleeper as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the chairs and sleepers are formed integral with one another.

4. A sleeper as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sleeper comprises an elongate member of channel section the chairs being disposed on the outer surface of the base of the channel.

5. A sleeper as claimed in Claim 4 as appendent to Claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the base of the channel is provided with outwardly projecting pairs of lugs the lugs of a pair forming together a chair, the pairs of lugs being spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the elongate member according to the desired different track rail gauges.

6. A sleeper as claimed in Claim 5 comprising a metal extrusion or pressing the chair forming lugs being produced by piercing and stamping the metal.

7. A sleeper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sleeper is adapted for mounting directly on and for securing to ground.

8. A sleeper according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the sleeper is adapted for mounting on and for securing to a supporting surface extending along the path of the track.

9. A sleeper for the construction of a track having running rails for wheeled vehicles as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 0. A length of track for the construction of a track having running rails for wheeled vehicles comprising a plurality of sleepers as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 mounted on and arranged in spaced relationship lengthwise of elongate support means and running rails carried by the sleepers.

1 A track length as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the sleepers are mounted on support members extending in the lengthwise direction of the track, the sleepers and support members being secured together.

12. A track length as claimed in Claim 11 comprising two elongate support members extending parallel to one another in the lengthwise direction of the track.

13. A track length as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the elongate support members are spaced apart from one another such that the two outer rails providing the widest track gauge of the track are disposed directly over the respective lengthwise extending elongate support member.

14. A track length as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 13 wherein the support means or members are of channel section the sleepers being mounted on the outer surface of the base of the channel section.

15. A track length as claimed in Claim 10 as herein described.

1 6. A track length as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 1 5 wherein transverse support members are provided at spaced intervals along the length of track.

1 7. A track length as claimed in Claim 16 wherein the lengthwise extending elongate support members and the transverse support members are interconnected so that they are prevented from relative displacement in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction.

18. A track length as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 17 wherein means are provided for levelling the track length.

1 9. A track having running rails for wheeled vehicles comprising a plurality of track lengths as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 1 8.

20. A length of track for the construction of a track having running rails for wheeled vehicles comprising a plurality of running rails extending parallel to one another and spaced apart to provide tracks of different track gauge and support means for the running rails extending in the lengthwise direction of the track length the running rails and support means being formed integral with one another.