GB2502542B

GB2502542B - Hollow sleepers and cable management system

Info

Publication number: GB2502542B
Application number: GB1209559.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Merrills Richard
Original assignee: SIGASSURE UK Ltd
Current assignee: SIGASSURE UK Ltd
Priority date: 2012-05-30
Filing date: 2012-05-30
Publication date: 2019-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-30
Also published as: WO2013179032A2; WO2013179032A3; GB201209559D0; AU2013269315A1; AU2013269315B2; GB2502542A

Description

HOLLOW SLEEPERS AND CABLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The present invention relates to railway sleepers and in particular to hollow railway sleepers, a management system including such sleepers and a method of using such sleepers.

Railway signalling trackside equipment needs a considerable amount of cabling for connection to the controlling system and correct operation. This cabling needs to be managed correctly and protected on its routing from the control to operation. This is usually done by means of line side concrete troughs but there are occasions where the cabling needs to cross one or more running lines to reach equipment. This also needs some form of routing but a method which seamlessly integrates with the physical track infrastructure. For these reasons the hollow bearer (sleeper) was invented to act in supporting the rail as a conventional bearer does but also offering a protective means to route a (or set of) cable(s) across the formation.

Figure 1 shows a known way for transferring a cable 10 across rails 12. A hollow sleeper 14 is provided having open ends 16 and a slot 18 running along the top of the sleeper 14. The rails 12 are attached to the sleeper in a conventional means. A problem with this method of transferring cable is that a ballast 20 can enter the hollow sleeper and can also cover a connector 22, which connector 22 connects to a further cable 24. Consequently when a cable is to be replaced the operative will not know where the connector 22 is. It can take time to locate the connector as the ballast 20 must be cleared until the connector is found. ln addition the ballast in the sleeper will have to be dug out by hand before the cable can be replaced.

Furthermore, the operative will not know how long the cable that is to be replaced is. Consequently, on initial installation or upon replacement, a roll of cable is taken to the site and the required length is cut off the roll and connectors are attached on site. Further, the ballast in the sleeper must be cleared. This takes time and requires a skilled operative to effect the connections. ln addition, off-cuts of the cable are often wasted. ln addition, cable at the site can be stolen. A further problem is that rodents can enter the hollow sleeper and gnaw at the cable causing cable failure.

It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least of the above or other disadvantages.

The present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hollow sleeper in accordance with one aspect ofthe present invention, and

Figure 3 is a cross-section through a sleeper in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 2, the hollow sleeper 114 has a plate 124 releasably secured by bolt 126 to each open end of the sleeper. Cables 110 run through the hollow sleeper and the cables 110 are attached to connectors 128 located in openings in the plates. Further cables 110 can be plugged into each connector 128.

The end plates 128 prevent the ingress of ballast. Further plates 130 are bolted or welded to the top of the sleeper over the slot 18 (as shown in Figure 1) to prevent a ballast entering the hollow sleeper. Accordingly, the cable within the sleeper is protected from ballast and rodents and exists in a clean environment. Consequently, the cable within the sleeper will rarely require to be replaced.

With the arrangement shown in Figure 2, the sleeper is able to have the cables, connectors, end plates and top plates fitted off-site in a factory. Consequently, quality control is enhanced. Furthermore, the time required to lay the sleeper and cables is considerably reduced. ln addition there is no need to employ a skilled operative to attach the connectors to the cables entering through the sleeper on site. ln use, the required location of the hollow sleeper may be known. ln addition, the distance from the connectors on the hollow sleeper to the distant connector that a cable is to extend to is known. Consequently, a pre-cut cable with connectors at each end can be made up off site and delivered to the site and an operative simply has to plug the pre-cut cable into the connector on the sleeper and the remove connector. Thus, no cable off-cuts exist at the site, there is a reduced risk of theft, down time ofthe track is reduced and the exact location of the connectors ofthe sleeper are known.

The cable will be ordered and managed, in volume. It will then be cut to specific lengths (as per customer requirements) and either end “dressed” as per the application requirement. This will either entail the process of stripping, labelling, beading and crimping the cable or fitting a plug coupler if needed. The cable will then be tested and certified as per standards and be ready for installation and instant commissioning on site. Each stretch of cable will be stored safely and securely (not coiled) in a manner by which its integrity will be protected. The ordering process will be one that has not previously been employed. A dedicated web portal with an intuitive stepped ordering and specifying process will be used to enable the customer to fulfil their total cabling needs for any given project, for delivery on any given day. This process will minimise the costs associated not only for installation but for the management process the Client has put in place for cable requirements. It will also minimise and deter cable theft associated with drums of cable sat in situ and vulnerable when a project is underway.

The management system will also include delivery to site for the Client, as part of project delivery, but also as a result of cable theft, damage or maintenance renewals, such that cable provided for the final application can be provided from source to use anywhere in the UK without creating wasteful stocks.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. The sleeper has barriers at each end which may comprise curved plates 132 extending across the complete lower face 134 at the sleeper. The plates may be secured such as by being possibly detachably secured by bolts 136. The plates 132 may be plastic. The plates 132 may be retro-fitted to existing sleepers. The plates 132 may also be shaped to extend up at least part of the way of each side wall of the sleeper. The plates may extend to the height of the top of the sleeper and may extend vertically to cover the end face. At least one cable may extend through the sleeper as shown without being connected to the plates. Altematively at least one cable must be connected to at least one or possibly both plates. A plurality of cables may extend through the sleeper.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A hollow sleeper having at least one cable extending at least partially therethrough, the sleeper including a plate extending upwardly from each end region of the sleeper, the plate being arranged, in use, to inhibit the ingress of ballast into the sleeper from the ends; in which at least one cable extends within and at least partially across the sleeper; and in which the or each cable is attached to a connector associated with at least one plate.

2. A sleeper as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one cable is attached to a connector associated with the plates at each end.

3. A sleeper as claimed in any preceding claim in which the plates extend at least partially across the end face regions of the sleeper.

4. A sleeper as claimed in claim 3 in which the plates extend completely across the end face regions of the sleeper to form a barrierto the ingress of ballast.

5. A sleeper as claimed in any preceding claim in which the plates are connected to the end faces of the sleeper.

6. A sleeper as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 or claim 5 when dependent upon any of claims 1 to 3 in which the plates extend upwardly and outwardly from the end face region of the sleeper.

7. A sleeper as claimed in claim 6 in which the plates are connected to the end regions of the sleeper.

8. A sleeper as claimed in claim 7 in which the plates are connected to the bottom surface of the sleeper.

9. A sleeper as claimed in the preceding claim including a plurality of cables.

10. A method of inhibiting the ingress of ballast into a hollow sleeper including at least one cable extending at least partially therethrough comprising providing a plate extending upwardly from each end region; in which at least one cable extends within and at least partially across the sleeper; and in which the or each cable is attached to a connector associated with at least one plate.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 comprising providing a sleeper as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9.

12. A method as claimed in claims 10 or 11 comprising fitting the plate to at least one end to a hollow sleeper already forming part of an existing track.

13. A method as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12 comprising providing at least one cable with a connector with the connector being associated with a plate at at least one end.

14. A management system including a sleeper as claimed in claim 2 or any claim when dependent upon claim 2 comprising transporting the sleeper to a site and plugging additional cables to the connectors at each end region.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14 comprising providing at least one pre-cut length of cable to the site which the pre-cut cable includes a connector at at least one end for connection to a connector associated with the plate at at least one end of the sleeper.