IL265401A

IL265401A - System for welding a protective strip on a rail fishplate and associated method

Info

Publication number: IL265401A
Application number: IL265401A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Plastiforms
Priority date: 2016-09-19
Filing date: 2019-03-17
Publication date: 2019-05-30
Also published as: EP3516113B1; FR3056231A1; FR3056231B1; BR112019004355A2; EP3516113A1; WO2018050989A1; IL265401B

Description

SYSTEM FOR WELDING A PROTECTIVE STRIP ON A RAIL FISHPLATE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD.

The invention relates to a device suitable for creating a seal along a buried rail in a substrate. The invention also relates to a method for implementing such a seal.

For certain vehicles rolling on rails, in particular tramways, the rails must not form an obstacle for the circulation of pedestrians or automobiles that are circulating on the same platform as that used by the vehicle on rails. This is in particular the case when this platform is a road surface shared by a tramway.

The rails are then generally provided as buried in a substrate of this platform, in such a way as to be flush with the platform.

As shown particularly in FR 2 885 372, the rail is preferably provided isolated from the substrate by a system of fishplates. The fishplates provide in particular sound insulation, electrical insulation and a seal around the rail with respect to its environment. It must nevertheless be ensured that humidity does not penetrate, or penetrates very little, between a coating of this platform and the rail. The coating is generally an asphalt, in other words a bituminous concrete; the coating can also be concrete or cobbles.

FR 2 947 285 proposes to create lateral fishplates that may include, in particular, an upper portion that can be broken along a rupture line running along the lateral face, the strip extending on either side of said rupture line.- 2 - Once the coating is installed, the breakable portion is removed, creating a gorge which is filled with a seal cast in-situ, preferably a two-component polyurethane seal. However, the preparation of the fishplate, the implementation and the supply of such a seal are long and expensive.

Furthermore, this seal is set in place when all the track and road surface work is completed. Thus, the fishplate can be subjected several months and sometimes several years to inclement weather and to road traffic, before the seal is set in place.

The invention proposes a fast and economical system for creating a seal between the rail and the coating of the platform.

According to a first objet of the invention, a system for laying a protective strip on an upper surface of a fishplate provided on a first rail intended to be buried is characterised in that it comprises: - a chassis; - wheels, mounted on the chassis and suitable for rolling on the rail; - a reel pour the strip; - a roller for pressing the strip against the upper surface; and, - means for fastening the strip, preferably by gluing or welding, on the surface.

The means for fastening can be means of welding, preferably means for generating and blowing hot air at the location where the strip is pressed against the surface.

The wheels include advantageously a drive wheel and a guide wheel, both provided to engage with the first rail. More preferably, the system further comprises a stabiliser wheel transversally separated from the other wheels, preferably provided to engage with another rail, parallel to the first rail. The stabiliser wheel can be retractable; it can in particular be mounted at a distal end of a telescopic arm transversally.- 3 - The system may also comprise a roller for maintaining the strip taught between the reel and the pressure roller.

The motor unit can be an electric motor, preferably provided with a speed variator; the system may include a power generator, in particular to power the motor.

The reel, the pressure roller, the possible tensioning roller and the means for fastening are advantageously part of a piece of equipment that is mobile transversally.

The strip preferably comprises a polyethylene (PE) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet. Advantageously, the strip further comprises a lattice glued against the sheet, preferably by welding. The lattice can be formed from wires made of polypropylene, polyethylene, glass fibre or polyamide.

According to another object of the invention, a method for laying a protective strip on an upper surface of a fishplate provided on a rail intended to be buried, uses a system according to the invention.

Several embodiments of the invention shall be described hereinafter, by way of non-limiting examples, in reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: - figure 1 is a diagrammatical perspective view of a system according to the invention during the installation of a seal on a fishplate of a rail of a tramway, figure in which the rail is shown as a transversal cross-section; - figure 2 is a view of the detail II of figure 1; and, - figure 3 is a top view of the system of figure 1.

In the following description and in the accompanying figures, arbitrarily and with a concern for simplification, the rail is assumed to be positioned- 4 - horizontally. The terms "horizontal" and "vertical" refer to such a position.

This does not exclude the rail from being able to be installed with a non-zero cant or slope, without leaving the scope of the invention.

The figures show a system 1 according to the invention in a position of use, on a tramway track. The relative positions of the various elements forming the system 1 shall be given in relation to this track, in this position of use.

Figure 1 shows, diagrammatically and in perspective, the system 1 according to the invention. The system 1 is shown placed on a tramway track in the process of construction. It is provided to be displaced according to a direction F, represented by an arrow in the figures.

The track is provided to be buried in a platform in such a way that the rails are substantially flush with the finished platform. In the figures, only a base coat 2 of the platform has been carried out. In addition to the platform 2, the track comprises two rails 3, 4 in the shape of a Y.

As shown in particular in figure 2, each rail is protected by a lower fishplate 5 and two lateral fishplates 6, 7. The fishplates are made of a plastic foam, preferably a polyethylene foam. The fishplates are provided to absorb vibrations dues to the rolling of the tramways on the rail 1 and to prevent the transmission thereof to the nearby environment, in particular to neighbouring buildings. Furthermore, they must make it possible to ensure a seal with the water between the rail in such a way that the rail is protected from stray currents. The lower fishplate 5 is designed to surround the sole of the rail and to rest on the base 2 of the platform. A first lateral fishplate 6 is designed to engage on the lower fishplate 5 and hug the rail on the side of its rolling portion 8. The second lateral fishplate 7 is designed to engage on the lower fishplate 5 and hug the rail on the side of the guiding portion 9 thereof. The- 5 - lateral fishplates are provided to be mounted substantially flush with the finished platform and the rail.

Each lateral fishplate 6, 7 comprises an upper face 11. The system according to the invention is provided to deposit a protective strip 12 on the upper face 11 of each one of the lateral fishplates 6, 7. The protective strip 12 is provided to protect the corresponding fishplate from aggressions due to: - the rolling of vehicles, such as automobiles circulating on a road that crosses the rails; - inclement weather, in particular rain or UV rays.

In the example shown, the protective strip 12 comprises a sheet made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the lateral fishplates include a matrix made from a polyethylene foam chosen so as to be easily weldable together.

In the example shown, the system 1 according to the invention comprises: - a chassis 15; - wheels 16, 17, 18; - a motor unit 19; - a generator, in the form of a power generator 21; and, - a piece of equipment for laying the strip 12.

The chassis 15 comprises: - two stringers 23; - three cross members 24-26; and, - a telescopic arm 27.

In the position of use shown in the figures, the stringers 23 are substantially parallel to the rails 3, 4, between the two rails. The cross members are mounted on the stringers 23, transversally to the latter. Among the cross members, a rear cross member 24 is mounted at the rear of the stringers, a front cross member 25 is mounted at the front of the stringers and an- 6 - intermediate cross member 26 is mounted between the two others. The arm 27 is mounted on the intermediate cross member 26; it is slidably mounted transversally, in relation to the stringers 23.

The wheels 16, 17, 18 comprise: - a drive wheel 16, fastened to the front cross member 25; - a guide wheel 17, fastened to the rear cross member 24; and, - a stabiliser wheel 18, fastened to a distal end of the telescopic arm 27.

In the example shown, the drive wheel 16 and the guide wheel 17 rest and are both engaged on a first rail 3; the stabiliser wheel rests on the second rail 4, to the left of the first rail 3 in the forward direction F of the system 1. The telescopic arm can have a deployed position of use, shown in figures 1 and 3.

It can also have a retracted position, which makes it possible to bring the stabiliser wheel 18 closer to the stringers 23; thus, the transversal size of the system 1 can be reduced when the system 1 is not used, in particular during the transport thereof from one construction site to another or during the storage thereof. A pin makes it possible to lock the arm in its deployed position or in its retracted position, according to need.

The motor unit 19, fastened at the front, drives the drive wheel 16. The motor unit is an electric motor provided with a speed variator. The power generator 21 is fastened both on the rear cross member 24 and the intermediate cross member 26. It powers the motor unit 19.

The system 1 further comprises a piece of equipment 30 for laying the strip 12. The piece of equipment 30 is carried by the rear cross member 24 and the intermediate cross member 26. It comprises: - a reel 31 that comprises a hub 32 carrying two flanges 33; - a pre s sure roller 34; - a tensioning roller 35; and,- 7 - - means 36 for welding the strip 12.

In the example shown, the piece of equipment 30 is positioned for laying the strip 12 on the upper surface 11 of the first fishplate 6 of the first rail 3. The piece of equipment 30 is mobile transversally, along M, relatively to the stringers 23, in such a way that it can be positioned in order to be able to place a strip on the second fishplate 7 of the same first rail 3, without having to derail the system 1.

One of the flanges 33 is removable in such a way that the strip 12 can be stored on the hub 32, in the form of a roller. During the installing, the strip, which is unwound from the reel, passes between the pressure roller 34 and the surface 11 of the fishplate. Over its travel between the reel 31 and the pressure roller, the strip is maintained taught by the tensioning roller 35.

In the example shown, the means for welding 36 is a hot air generator. As shown particularly in figure 2, the hot air generated is blown by a nozzle 37, between the strip 12 and the surface 11, immediately before the pressure roller 34, at the location where the strip is installed on the surface 11. The strip and the surface are brought to a temperature that is sufficient so that, pressed against one another by roller, they are welded to one another. The position of the hot air generator can be adjusted in order to obtain a precise positioning of the nozzle; the temperature of the blown air is adjustable, in order to optimise the welding.

In the example shown, the stringers and the cross members are made from aluminium. The forward speed of the system for depositing 1 can be adjusted from a few centimetres per minute to several metres per minute.

The system 1 is designed to be able to install strips of at least two different widths. Typically, the width of the upper surface 11 is 50 millimetres on the- 8 - first fishplate 6, on the rolling side, and, 20 millimetres on the second fishplate 7.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments that have just been described but, on the contrary, the invention is defined by the claims that follow.

It will appear indeed to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described hereinabove, in light of the teaching that has just been disclosed to them.

Thus, other materials can be chosen for the fishplates and the strip, with the condition that they are compatible and provide the sought seal. Thus, the fishplates can be made of wood or rubber.

In addition, instead of being welded with hot air, the strip can be glued. With the purpose, the strip may include a layer of adhesive protected by a removable film; the system according to the invention can then include means of removing this film.

Instead of being mounted at the distal end of a telescopic arm, the stabiliser wheel can be mounted at the distal end of a rotating arm, in such a way as to be retractable by folding back the rotating arm parallel to the stringers.

The power generator can also be replaced with other means of generating power, for example, batteries and/or a low-voltage power supply by the rails.

A method for installing a protection according to the invention is particularly advantageous, since it makes it possible to create a seal and protection as soon as the fishplate is installed, without waiting for the end of the project of creating the railroad. Thus, the fishplate, carrying its own protection, is- 9 - protected all throughout this project, in particular from the circulation of construction equipment.-10-

Claims

1. System for laying a protective strip on an upper surface of a fishplate provided on a first rail intended to be buried, characterised in that it comprises: - a chassis; - wheels, mounted on said chassis and adapted to roll on said rail; - a reel for said strip; - a roller for pressing the strip against said upper surface; and, - means for fastening said strip, preferably by gluing or welding, on the surface.

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the means for fastening are means of welding, preferably means for generating and blowing hot air at the location where the strip is pressed against the surface.

3. System according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the wheels comprise a drive wheel and a guide wheel provided to engage with the first rail.

4. System according to claim 3, characterised in that it further comprises a stabiliser wheel transversally separated from the other wheels, preferably provided to engage with another rail, parallel to the first rail.

5. System according to claim 4, characterised in that the stabiliser wheel can be retracted.

6. System according to claim 5, characterised in that the stabiliser wheel is mounted at a distal end of a telescopic arm transversally. 02640342\48-01 - 11 -

7. System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it comprises a roller for maintaining the strip taught between the reel and the pressure roller.

8. System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the motor unit is an electric motor provided with a speed variator.

9. System according to claim 8, characterised in that it comprises a power generator.

10. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the reel, the pressure roller, the possible tensioning roller and the means for fastening are part of a piece of equipment that is mobile transversally (T).

11. Method for laying a protective strip on an upper surface of a fishplate provided on a rail intended to be buried, characterised in that it uses a system according to any one of the preceding claims. 02640342\48-01