GB2499464A

GB2499464A - Apparatus for transporting railway track sleeper panels

Info

Publication number: GB2499464A
Application number: GB201204208A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Sewell; Jamie Perkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-14
Filing date: 2012-03-09
Publication date: 2013-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-09
Also published as: GB2499464B; GB201204208D0; GB201202478D0

Abstract

Apparatus for transporting railway track panels. The apparatus comprises a pair of wheel units 30, 35 each supporting one end of a carriage 20 which is adapted to receive and engage a railway sleeper 16. The carriage may comprise a channel having a base plate 21 with four sides 22-25 extending upwards from the base plate. The carriage may also comprise a pair of sockets with a connecting member between them. Also claimed is a method of transporting railway track panels by dismantling a railway track into panels of predetermined length, elevating the panels and lowering the panels into the appropriately positioned apparatus described above, then connecting the apparatus to a vehicle and transporting the track panel.

Description

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APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING RAILWAY TRACK PANELS Field of the Invention

This invention relates to apparatus for transporting railway track panels. Background to the Invention

In the UK alone, there is estimated to be hundreds of miles of disused railway track which requires removal. Typically, a railway track panel comprises two track members supported by a series of sleepers situated underneath the tracks and orientated such that each sleeper supports both tracks.

A railway sleeper is typically constructed from concrete or wood and may be provided in a number of forms. Commonly, concrete sleepers are shaped such that the highest point of the sleeper supports the track members. When viewed on a side elevation, the sleeper is angled downwards from each side of the area supporting the track members. This provides a degree of natural drainage. Wooden sleepers are usually of a uniform cross section.

Typically, to remove disused rails, the railway track is dismantled into panels of pre-determined length by cutting through the rails with a burning torch before being lifted the panel onto a vehicle for transport. This causes particular problems in remote areas where it would be necessary to drive both a crane and a lorry to site, or a rail vehicle.

The use of a rail vehicle to transport railway track panels is often inconvenient as in remote areas is not uncommon for large sections of track to have been removed by metal thieves. In such areas, a rail vehicle cannot be used.

US6089161 (SABAN) discloses truck assemblies for connecting to railway track panels. Each truck assembly comprises a bottom tie bar with a solid wheel connected to each end thereof, and two further wheels connected to the underside of the tie bar which are adapted to run on rails.

A railway track panel is jacked up to permit the truck assemblies to be introduced underneath the railway track panel. At least two truck assemblies are required per railway track panel to be transported, one at each end. An upper tie bar is rested on top of the track members and bolted to the lower tie bar in order to clamp the railway track panel in place.

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On longer railway track panels, one or more additional truck assemblies may be required intermediate to the truck assemblies provided at each end of the railway track panel. To connect the intermediate truck assemblies, the lower tie bar is fitted between two railway sleepers and the upper tie bar is placed on top of the track members directly above the lower tie bar. The upper and lower tie bars are clamped together meaning that they will be lifted when the railway track panel is jacked up. The wheels are fitted to each end of the tie bars while the railway track panel is elevated.

In use, the wheels located at each end of the tie bar may require removal when the truck assembly is being transported along rails. To do so would require the railway track panel to be elevated. This would require lifting means to be transported along with the track panel.

The wheels are spaced apart such that they will run laterally along the top of the railway sleepers. As the truck assemblies do not benefit from any form of suspension, this would result in a very bumpy ride.

Clamping of the top surface of a rail may cause damage which could potentially render the rails unusable. There is a demand, in the UK especially, for old rails to be used on private railways such as heritage railways. Damage to the rails would significantly reduce the resale value of such rails and, in many cases, consign rails for disposal as scrap.

Apparatus for transporting rails or other cargo may be referred to as wheel sets by those skilled in the art. Any reference to the term wheel set within this application will be understood to mean two wheels joined by a connecting member.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for transporting railway track panels, comprising a pair of wheel units, each supporting one end of a carriage adapted to receive and engage a railway sleeper.

The fact that a railway sleeper is received by a carriage means that an entire railway track panel can be lifted to permit the apparatus of the present

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invention to be positioned below a railway sleeper thus permitting a railway track panel to be supported across its width by the apparatus.

Preferably, each of the wheels will be constructed from solid rubber and spaced apart a distance greater than a railway sleeper. Permitting the wheels to run outside of the section of railway track means the apparatus can be used over most terrain without requiring adaptation of the wheels. Use of a solid rubber wheel offers a naturally shock absorbing contact with the ground to permit use of the apparatus over uneven terrain. It will be appreciated that dedicated suspension could be fitted to the apparatus to provide greater shock absorption.

In a preferred embodiment, the carriage comprises a base plate having four sides extending upwardly therefrom. The provision of upwardly extending sides forms a channel within which the railway sleeper can sit. The sides prevent the railway sleeper from moving any significant distance within the channel and further ensure that the section of railway track is securely mounted on the apparatus. If required, a top plate or strap can be attached to the apparatus to prevent a railway sleeper from jumping upwardly, any significant distance, within the channel.

In an alternative embodiment, the carriage may comprise a pair of sockets, each having a base plate, three sides extending upwardly therefrom and a top plate. Such a configuration permits a socket to be slotted on to each end of a railway sleeper. The carriage may further comprise a connecting member extending between the sockets to connect the sockets together.

Preferably, an axle arrangement is connected to each of the upwardly extending sides located, in use, adjacent to the end of a railway sleeper. The axle arrangements connect the carriage to the wheels thus allowing the wheels to rotate relative to the socket.

The carriage may provided with adjustment means to vary the distance between the wheels. Providing an adjustable carriage permits the apparatus to be used with railway track sections of varying width. This may be necessary as the lengths of railway sleepers are not necessarily uniform.

Preferably, the carriage is further provided with one or mounting points permitting a plurality of the apparatus to be joined together in a linear train.

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According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of transporting railway track panels comprising:

dismantling a railway track into panels of pre-determined length;

elevating the panels;

positioning apparatus as hereinbefore defined for transporting railway track panels in a position suitable for receiving the ends of a railway sleeper; lowering the panels onto the apparatus;

connecting a vehicle to mounting points provided on the apparatus; transporting the railway track panel to a pre-determined location. Preferably, a plurality of railway track panels will be transported at the same time by connecting a plurality of the apparatus together to form a linear train.

The present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for transporting railway track panels. The provision of a carriage permits a railway track panel to simply be raised to permit the apparatus to be positioned beneath a railway sleeper so that the railway track panel can be introduced to the apparatus and supported across its width. There is no requirement to independently clamp the railway track panel as the sides of the carriage will prevent significant movement of the railway track panel, although clamping may be desired over particularly rough terrain.

The wheels are spaced apart at a distance greater than the width of the railway sleeper to be received. This allows the wheels to run over the terrain outwardly adjacent to the railway track panels. As the wheels are produced from solid rubber, the apparatus is permitted to be transported over most terrain.

Permitting a plurality of the apparatus to be joined together allows for a number of railway track panels to be transported at one time. The limiting factor as to how many panels can be transported is the suitability of the vehicle used to tow the panels.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 shows an illustrative view of a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 shows a plan view of the first embodiment of the invention.

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Figure 3 shows an illustrative view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows an enlarged plan view of the second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 shows a railway track panel 10 which has been lifted and lowered on to a carriage 20 having a wheel 30, 35 connected at each end thereof. A railway track panel 10 typically comprises of two lengths of rail 12, 14 and a plurality of sleepers 16.

The carriage 20 comprises a base plate 21 which has four upwardly extending sides therefrom 22 to 25. The carriage 20 length is dimensioned to be greater than the longest specified railway sleeper 16, thereby permitting railway sleepers 16 of varying length to be received by the carriage 20.

To prevent the railway track panel 10 from jumping upwardly within the carriage 20 during transit over rough terrain, means of restraining the railway track panel 10 will be provided. This could be as simple as a ratchet strap securing a railway sleeper 16 to the carriage 20 or could consist of a metal plate which can be bolted to the carriage 20.

Each upwardly extending side 22, 23 located adjacent to an end of a railway sleeper 16 will be provided with an axle bracket 45 for receiving an axle arrangement 40 and hub 42 on its outer face to which a solid rubber wheel 30, 35 can be connected. The wheels 30, 35 will be spaced apart a distance which is greater than the width of the railway sleepers 16 in order to permit the wheels 30, 35 to run external to the railway sleepers 16.

Each axle arrangement 40 is connected to the carriage by way of a steel axle bracket 45 which is welded or bolted to respective upwardly extending sides of the carriage 22, 23 and the underside of the carriage. In use, each axle arrangement would be located adjacent to the end of a railway sleeper 16.

One or both of the longitudinal upwardly extending sides 24, 25 will be provided with mounting points 50 on their external face to permit more than one

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of the apparatus to be joined together in a linear train in order to permit a plurality of railway track panels 10 to be transported at one time.

Figures 3 to 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows a railway track panel 10 which has been lifted and fitted with a wheel 30, 35 at each end of a railway sleeper 16. The apparatus of the second embodiment of the invention comprises two wheels 30, 35 connected to respective axle plates 45 by way of respective axles 40 and hubs 42. The axle bracket 45 comprises an L-shaped steel bracket and is welded or bolted to a vertical flange 62 extending upwardly from a base plate 61, forming part of a socket 60, and to the underside of the base plate 61 itself. The socket 60 is further defined by two additional vertical plates 63, 64 extending upwards from the base plate 61 to form a channel, and a top plate 65 to enclose the socket 60 apart from on one side.

Each socket 60 is connected to the other by way of an elongate connecting member 70 extending between the sockets 60 thereby forming a carriage. The elongate connecting member 70 comprises two parts 72, 74, one part having 72 a lesser external dimension than the internal dimension of the other 74.

The elongate connecting member 70 is further provided with one or more mounting points 50, as shown in Figure 2, permitting attachment of a chain or other means of connecting one or more sockets 60 together.

The elongate member 70 is adjustable in length by inserting the part of lesser cross section 72 into the part of greater cross section 74. Figure 3 shows a series of holes 76 provided in the top face of each part 72, 74 of the elongate member 70 whereby a locking pin 78 can be inserted to lock the extension of the member 70. As railway sleepers 16 are generally of standard lengths, the holes 76 are provided to allow wheel 30, 35 centres sufficient to accommodate all standard railway sleepers 16.

In use, a railway track panel 10 of a pre-determined length is lifted after being cut. The apparatus of either embodiment is positioned roughly in-line with a railway sleeper 16 to enable the carriage 20 or socket 60 to receive and engage the railway sleeper 16.

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Each wheel set has been specified to be capable of carrying a load of two tonnes spread evenly between the wheels 30, 35. This provides a 1.5 factor of safety as the maximum load that could be supported per wheel set is three tonnes. A railway track panel 10 ten feet (3.05m) in length has been calculated to weigh approximately 1.7 tonnes, meaning that a minimum of two wheel sets would be required to support the railway track panel 10.

Railway track panels 10 up to sixty feet (18.3m) in length would be transported using the apparatus. A railway track panel 10 60 feet (18.3m) in length weighs ten tonnes and would require five wheel sets, evenly spaced to support the railway track panel 10.

It will be appreciated that railway track panels 10 less than ten feet in length or greater than 60 feet could be transported.

Two of the apparatus can be connected together by connecting a chain from the mounting points 50 on either the elongate connecting member 70 (Embodiment 2) or the carriage 20 (Embodiment 1) to the corresponding mounting points 50 on another wheel set. This permits a plurality of track panels 10 to be transported at the same time by a suitable vehicle.

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Claims

1. Apparatus for transporting railway track panels, comprising:

a pair of wheel units, each supporting one end of a carriage adapted to receive and engage a railway sleeper.

2. Apparatus for transporting railway track panels according to Claim 1, wherein the carriage comprises:

a channel having a base plate;

and four upwardly extending sides therefrom,

whereby a railway sleeper is permitted to be lowered into the channel and is supported along its length.

3. Apparatus for transporting railway track panels according to Claim 1, wherein the carriage comprises:

a pair of sockets, each having a base plate and three upwardly extending sides therefrom; and a connecting member therebetween, whereby each end of a railway sleeper is permitted to be inserted into a respective socket and supported at each end thereof.

4. Apparatus for transporting railway track panels according to either of Claims 2 or 3, wherein an axle arrangement is connected to the outer face of each side, which in use, is disposed adjacent to the end of a railway sleeper.

5. Apparatus for transporting railway track panels according to any preceding claim, wherein the carriage is provided with adjustment means to permit variation of the distance between the wheels.

6. Apparatus for transporting railway track panels according to any preceding claim, wherein the carriage is provided with one or more mounting points permitting a plurality of carriages to be joined together in a linear train.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the wheels is constructed from solid rubber and is spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the railway sleepers.

8. A method of transporting railway track panels comprising:

dismantling a railway track into panels of pre-determined length;

elevating the panels;

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positioning apparatus for transporting railway track panels, as described in Claims 1 to 7, in a position suitable for receiving a railway sleeper;

lowering the panels onto the apparatus;

connecting a vehicle to mounting points provided on the apparatus; and, transporting the railway track panel to a pre-determined location.

9. A method of transporting railway track panels according to Claim 8, further comprising connecting a plurality of the apparatus, according to any of Claims 1 to 7, in a linear train to permit transport of a plurality of railway track panels.

10. Apparatus for transporting railway track panels, substantially as described with reference to, and/or shown in, the drawings.