GB946235A - Improvements relating to tracks for railed transport systems - Google Patents

Abstract

946,235. Portable tracks. PNEUWAYS DEVELOPMENT CO. (PRIVATE) Ltd. July 25, 1961 [Aug. 19, 1960], No. 26963/61. Heading E1G. A portable twin rail-track comprises beams 1 adapted to be assembled in end to end continunity to form the rails of the track, and transverse bearer members 3 for supporting the beams in parallel spaced relation, the bearer members being supported at predetermined heights above the ground, the beams having openings at their ends to receive assembling and connecting means each comprising a hinge member 2 positionable on one of the bearer members 3 with its hinge axis vertical and comprising inter-hinged parts 2a, 2b of complementary cross-section to be receivable as sliding fits into the end openings of two beams adjacently assembled to form a rail. The bearer members 3 are of inverted channel section, Fig. 2, are preferably of steel and are supported by struts 4 comprising screws 5a fitted into sleeves 4a which bear upon spiked sole plates 7. Further screwthreaded rods and sleeves 4a may be fitted to the lower ends of the struts 4 shown in Fig. 1 where the nature of the ground over which the track is to be laid demands, or alternatively the strut height adjustment may be obtained by the means shown in Fig. 2. The upper surfaces 3a of the members 3 carry the two parts 2a, 2b of the hinges 2, the hinge pins 6 of which are formed at the upper ends of the extensions 5a. The rail beams 1 are also of inverted channel section, their ends resting on the surfaces 3a, and having openings which fit over the hinge parts 2a, 2b, bolts 8, which pass through one side of a beam, through a slotted hole 2c in one of the hinge parts, and into the opposite side of the beam, serving to hold the beams in place. The beams may be constructed of lightweight concrete or of hard wood, as in the left-hand side of Figs. 1,2, or from laths or planks and may be internally reinforced by transverse webs or from sheet steel, as in the right hand side of Figs. 1, 2, in which case the sides 1a, 1b of the beams may be internally hinged at x to the top surface 1c, so that the beam is collapsible. The beams may be strengthened by the use of rods as wires tensioned between end anchorages on the beams and one or more downwardly projecting intermediately positioned struts (Fig. 4, not shown). The assembled rail structure may be stiffened by the use of strainer wires or rods provided between lugs 13, Fig. 2, on the members 3, or lugs 15, Fig. 1, collared at 15a to the extensions 5a and ground anchorages 14, as between the struts 4 and the beams 1 themselves. The spacing of the rails may be maintained by tubular or other struts (riot shown) fitted between the beams 1. The use of the hinges 2 and slotted holes 2c enables the track to follow a curved path in a series of chards, if desired, or alternatively curved beams may be used. Specification 946,233 is referred to.