WO2014032865A2

WO2014032865A2 - Heating device for heating a rail foot

Info

Publication number: WO2014032865A2
Application number: PCT/EP2013/065526
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Funke; Reiner Wittig
Original assignee: Triple S-Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-08-28
Filing date: 2013-07-23
Publication date: 2014-03-06
Also published as: DE202012103257U1; WO2014032865A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a heating device for heating a rail foot of a rail, comprising a heat exchanger, which is or can be connected to a heating fluid supply via at least one feed connection and at least one return connection, and a fastening device by means of which the heat exchanger is or can be maintained in heat transferring contact with an underside of the rail foot. The invention further relates to a rail heating and a rail device having a rail heating and/or at least one heating device for heating a rail foot.

Description

Heating device for heating a rail foot

The present invention relates to a heating device for heating a Schienenfu ßes, a corresponding rail heating and a rail device with a rail heater and / or at least one heater for heating a Schienenfu ßes.

In order to ensure their functionality and safe operation even in bad weather, rail facilities can be heated. In particular rail switches are often equipped with rail heaters. Due to the complexity and variety of components, in particular railroad switches, difficulties in the attachment of heaters and in the heat transfer to be heated components can occur.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an easily manufactured and mounted heater, via which an efficient heating of a Schienenfu ßes is made possible.

In the context of this description, a rail device may comprise one or more rails. A rail device may for example be a rail switch, such as a tongue switch. A rail device such as a tongue switch may in particular have a stock rail and an associated tongue rail or corresponding pairs of stock rails and tongue rails. In general, a rail may have a rail foot, which may define a lower region of a rail, in particular of a rail profile. A Schienenfu ß may be provided to support the rail against the ground. It is conceivable that the rail foot is arranged on a support such as a threshold, a concrete substrate or a sliding chair or can be arranged. A slide chair may be provided to movably support a tongue rail to facilitate switch switching. Thus, a sliding chair can be considered part of a rail device, in particular as part of a tongue switch. A sliding chair may support itself via a suitable base such as a base plate and / or a threshold opposite the ground and / or be secured to a corresponding base. A rail head of a rail may be adapted to be brought into contact with the wheels of a rail vehicle and provide a rolling profile for these wheels. Between the rail head and the rail foot can there are a rail web, which is able to pass on the rail head load forces on the Schienenfu ß. The Schienenfu ß may have a bottom, which may be provided for support on the ground, in particular via a pad. It can be provided that the Schienenfu ß is wider than the web, so that the rail foot a Schienenfu ßoberseite may be associated, which may extend in width beyond the web. Depending on the profile, the rail foot can even be wider than the rail head. A rail is usually not stored over its entire length on a solid surface, but can rest on a variety of sleepers or sliding chairs, between which they can rest on a loose surface such as a gravel or gravel bed or even in a stress-free state can float. A solid base may be made of concrete or wood, for example. At a threshold, a fastening device for a rail and / or a storage device for a rail may be provided, on which the rail can move in the direction. A storage device may be formed as a base. For example, a slide chair for a tongue rail can be considered in a tongue switch as such storage device or pad. A fastening device may be a rail, for example a stock rail. Between individual sleepers and / or documents, however, there are usually areas in which the rails sit on at least no solid ground, but for example on a gravel or gravel bed. An area in which a rail is not supported and / or slidably mounted on a fixed base may be referred to as an area between the thresholds of a rail device and / or as an intermediate threshold area. In particular, a heat-transferring contact may mean a direct or indirect physical contact and / or a heat-conducting connection. A heat transferring contact between two components may be provided via an intermediate heat conducting component, such as a thermal grease or other heat conducting material. However, it is also conceivable that a heat-transferring contact between two components or objects takes place via a direct physical contact between these components or objects. A heating fluid supply may be configured to provide a warm heating fluid. A heating fluid may comprise a gas and / or a liquid such as water and / or a water / glycol mixture and / or superheated steam and / or combustion gases and / or oil. A heating fluid supply may generally include utility lines, tubing, and / or tubes. It is conceivable that a heating fluid supply at least one pump for providing a Heizfluidstromes and / or at least one heating device for heating a heating fluid comprises. A heating fluid supply may comprise vessels for receiving and / or providing a heating fluid and / or being connected or connectable to a heating fluid source. In general, thermal insulation may be provided to prevent or limit unwanted heat dissipation from a component to be insulated.

It is a heater for heating a Schienenfu ßes described with a heat exchanger, which is connected via at least one flow connection and at least one return connection to a Heizfluidversorgung or connectable. The heating device further comprises a fastening device, by means of which the heat exchanger is held or durable in a heat-transferring contact with a lower side of a rail foot. Thus, a rail can be heated from its underside, where it provides a particularly wide and flat contact surface for a heat-transferring contact. Furthermore, there is a compact design, since the heat exchanger is arranged below the rail. The heat exchanger and / or the heating device can be designed and dimensioned to be arranged underneath the rail foot and / or to be held on the rail foot. It is conceivable that the heat exchanger has exactly one flow connection and / or exactly one return connection. The flow connection and / or the return connection can have a smaller flow cross-section than an associated supply line, which is intended to be connected to the respective connection. Thus, a nozzle effect can be achieved. The holding of the heat exchanger by the fastening device may in particular mean that the fastening device is able to hold the heat exchanger relative to the rail fixed position and / or store, such as by appropriate clamping and / or screwing and / or lashing. It is conceivable that the fastening device is fastened or attachable to the rail and / or fixed relative to the rail and / or fastened, for example on a stationary component of the rail device. The fastening device can be designed in particular to attack for holding the heat exchanger to the rail, in particular on the Schienenfu ß and / or attack a rail web. In one variant, the fastening means may comprise one or more tabs or tab-like components which may be intended to overlap an upper side of a rail foot and / or to be supported thereon and / or to engage therewith. It can be provided that the fastening device is designed to engage the heat exchanger in order to hold it substantially only on the rail, and is not itself supported relative to the ground. It can be provided that the Mounting device and / or the heater and / or the heat exchanger against the Schienenfu ß supported. It can be provided that a heating fluid can be fed to the heat exchanger via a feed or feed connection. For this purpose, the flow or flow connection can be connected or connectable to a heating fluid supply. By way of a return connection or a return, heating fluid which flows through the heat exchanger and gives off heat to the rail foot via the heat-transferring contact can be removed from the heat exchanger or can be discharged. It can be provided that the heat exchanger is adapted to be held or durable with its largest in terms of area in heat-transmitting contact with the underside of Schienenfu ßes. Generally, the heater may include a plurality of heat exchangers, which may be respectively held or held by a suitable fastener or fasteners on a rail foot. A heater may be configured such that the flow port and the return port extend laterally with respect to the rail from the heat exchanger of the heater and / or the heater to allow easy access to the ports. In particular, the heat exchanger and / or fastening device may be designed such that the connections in the state held on the rail extend in a lateral direction which is opposite to a side of the rail on which a second rail assigned to the rail is provided. It is conceivable that the terminals of a heating for a stock rail on the side of the stock rail are arranged and / or aligned in this direction, which is opposite to the associated tongue rail with respect to the stock rail. The terminals for heating a tongue rail may be arranged on the side of the tongue rail and / or aligned in this direction, which is opposite to the associated stock rail with respect to the tongue rail. A heat exchanger may generally include a tube or channel arrangement through which a heating fluid is allowed to flow. The heat exchanger may have a heat exchanger body in which the pipe or channel arrangement may be formed or arranged. The heat exchanger or heat exchanger body may have at least one wall of good heat-conductive material. Such a material may be metallic and may include, in particular, aluminum or an aluminum compound or alloy. Such a wall may be provided to be held in heat-transferring contact with the rail foot and / or to be in heat-conducting contact with the heating fluid on an inner side, which can be guided along the inside, for example. Between such a wall and the underside of the Schienenfu ßes a heat conducting element may be arranged, such as thermal grease to the thermal conductivity between the wall and / or the heat exchanger and the underside of Schienenfu ßes increase. The heat exchanger body may generally be made of a thermally conductive material and may be cast approximately in one piece or formed by an extrusion process. Ports and / or connecting lines to the flow or return can be performed and / or formed by suitable openings in a heat exchanger wall and optionally in a thermal insulation and / or a sheath and / or the fastening device.

It can be provided that the heating device in a region between thresholds of a rail device attached to the Schienenfu ß or can be fastened. It can be provided in particular that the heating device and / or the fastening device and / or the heat exchanger and / or a thermal insulation extends only in an intermediate threshold region of the rail device. In such area, if necessary, a gravel or ballast bed can be completely or partially removed to provide sufficient installation space for the heater.

In a development, the heater may have a thermal insulation. Thus, an undesirable heat dissipation into the environment can be reduced. The heat insulation can be held, for example, by the fastening device such that it is able to prevent or reduce heat loss from the heat exchanger. It can be provided that the thermal insulation is at least partially surrounded by a sheath. The casing may be formed as a component of the fastening device, for example as a holding shell.

In particular, the thermal insulation may be designed to insulate the heat exchanger on its underside. This allows a particularly efficient thermal insulation, since the bottom usually has a comparatively large area as the underside of Schienenfu ßes facing the top of the heat exchanger.

Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the thermal insulation insulates the heat exchanger laterally. In particular, it is conceivable that the thermal insulation is designed to surround and / or insulate the heat exchanger on the sides, which are not provided for a heat-transferring contact with the rail. According to one embodiment, the thermal insulation may comprise an insulating foam material and / or polystyrene. Such a material is easy to manufacture, provides good thermal insulation and is flexible enough to retain its thermal insulation properties under stress or occasional impact. At the same time, such a material has a low weight and does not burden the rail unnecessarily.

The attachment means may comprise at least one retaining clip adapted to engage an upper surface of the rail foot to hold the heat exchanger in heat transferring contact. For this purpose, the holding case may have one or more tabs. It is conceivable that the retaining clip is designed to be braced and / or elastic. In particular, the stop may be designed to be clamped and / or braced on the rail and / or the rail foot. In one variant, the retaining clip is adapted to be self-tensioned, optionally without being bolted to the rail or a structure firmly connected to the rail. The retaining clip may have more than one component, wherein the components of the retaining clip can be braced and / or screwed together. In a variant, the retaining clip may have a first component, which may be designed to at least partially surround the heat exchanger and a top of the Schienenfu ßes and / or overlap. Further, the retaining clip may have a second component, which may be adapted to be clamped via a likewise acting on the top of Schienenfu ßes counterpart and a Schraubverklemmung with the first component so that they can provide a firm grip on Schienenfu ß. Thus, the heat exchanger and / or the heater may be or may be substantially or entirely supported on the rail base without the need for an additional support device or fixture. The retaining clip or one of its components can extend from an upper side of the rail foot on one side of the web down around the heat exchanger and / or a thermal insulation in order to attack a component which is supported on the upper side of the rail section opposite the web. about the second component. It is not necessary that the retaining clip is in direct contact with the heat exchanger. There may be provided a plurality of retaining clips to ensure a good attachment of the heat exchanger and / or the heater along the longitudinal extent of the rail. Alternatively or additionally, a retaining shell designed as a retaining clip may be provided, which surrounds the heat exchanger and / or the thermal insulation over a large part of its longitudinal extension, for example over 50% -100%, 60% -90% or 70-80% of its longitudinal extent. Thus, the Holding shell act as a sheath. Such a holding shell can be braced by a plurality of screws. The retaining clip may comprise a metallic and / or elastic and / or stainless material, such as a suitable steel. In particular, the stop can have one or more ribbon-like shaped components which can be braced with each other and / or with themselves

The heat exchanger may be insulated by a thermal insulation against the fastening device. In particular, a heat-transferring contact between the heat exchanger and the fastening device can be prevented by the thermal insulation at least in the region in which the heat insulation between the heat exchanger and fastening device is provided. It can generally be provided that there is no direct physical contact between the fastening device and the heat exchanger, so that a heat conduction between the heat exchanger of the fastening device takes place substantially indirectly via the rail foot. It is conceivable that no large-area contact between Schienenfu ß and fastening device is provided. Thus, heat loss via an interface between the heat exchanger and fastener is minimized.

There is also described a rail heater with at least one heater described herein. The rail heater can have a heating fluid supply to which at least one heat exchanger described herein and / or at least one heating device are connected or connectable. The rail heater may include one or more heat sources such as burners, geothermal heat sources, or electrically powered heating elements and / or pumps to provide heating fluid for at least one or more heaters and / or heat exchangers. Heat exchangers of the heating devices can be connected or connectable to one another in a suitable fluidic circuit, for example in a series connection.

Furthermore, a rail device with a rail heater described herein and / or at least one heating device described herein is provided. The rail device may in particular be a rail switch device, such as a switch. The rail device may have one or more rails. It is conceivable that in each case at least one or more of the heating devices described herein are mounted on one or more rails of the rail device in order to heat the respective rail. It is generally conceivable that the fastening device is intended to be attached to a stock rail or a tongue rail of a tongue switch, in order to convey the heat-transferring contact to the heat exchanger in the Schienenfu ß the corresponding rail. The fastening device, in particular a retaining clip, can each be adapted to a rail profile of the rail to which the heating device is to be attached, for example with regard to the length of individual components and / or with regard to a dimension with which an upper side of the rail foot is to be overlapped. For different rail profiles generally differently shaped fasteners and / or holding clamps can be provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of heaters and rail heaters will be exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings. Identical or functionally similar elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

Show it:

1 a and 1 b arranged on a stock rail heater,

2a and 2b is a plan view of the arrangement of Figures 1 a and 1 b,

3a and 3b an arrangement of heaters on stock rails and

Switch rails,

4a and 4b is a plan view of the arrangement of Figures 3a and 3b,

5a and 5b show an arrangement of a heater on a tongue rail,

6a and 6b is a plan view of the arrangement of Figures 5a and 5b,

Figure 1 a shows a cross-sectional view of a rail device 10, which is formed in this example as a Zungenweiche. The rail device 10 comprises a stock rail 12 and a tongue rail 14. The tongue rail 14 is mounted on a slide chair 16, which has a Gleitstuhlplatte 18. The tongue rail 14 is able to move laterally on the slide chair plate 18. The complete Tongue switch includes yet another, not shown, pair of rails with a stock rail and an associated tongue rail. The stock rail 12 is held on a rail holding device 20 on the side facing away from the tongue rail 14 side, screwed in this example to a frame. On the tongue rail 14 side facing the Gleitstuhlplatte 18 holds the stock rail 12. It is also a base plate 22 of the sliding chair 16 is shown, which is mounted on a threshold 24 by suitable fasteners. The stock rail 12 has a rail foot 52, a rail web 54 and a rail head 56. The rail head defines the upper portion of the stock rail 12 and is intended for contact with wheels of a rail vehicle. It can be seen that the Schienenfu ß 52 has a flat bottom 53. Similarly, the tongue rail 14 has a Schienenfu ß 62 with a flat bottom 63, a rail web 64 and a rail head 66. In both cases, however, the rail foot 52 and 62 wider than the rail web 54 and 64, so that in each case an upwardly tapering top 55 or 65 of the Schienenfu ßes results , which merges each upward in the rail web 54 or 64. Furthermore, a heating device 100 is provided. The heating device 100 comprises a heat exchanger 102 which is held by a fastening device 104 in heat-transmitting contact, in particular heat-conducting contact, with the underside of Schienenfu ßes 53 of the stock rail 12. The heat exchanger 102 is surrounded laterally and from below by thermal insulation material 106, which may comprise polystyrene, for example. It should be noted that the heating device 100 is arranged in front of the threshold 24 in an intermediate threshold region, which can be seen more clearly from FIG. 1 b. The fastening device 104 comprises a retaining clip 120, which has a first ribbon-like component 121 which acts on the upper side of the rail foot 52 and circumscribes the thermal insulation 106 surrounding the heat exchanger 102, on the other side of the web with a second component 122 of the retaining clip via a Gland 124 to be clamped. The second component 122 is supported on the corresponding, located on the side of the screw 124 top 55 of Schienenfu ßes 52. The first component 121 has a tab which engages on the upper side 55 of the Schienenfu ßes 52. The second component 122 is formed like a tab and engages on the opposite side with respect to the rail web 54 on the upper side 55 of the Schienenfu ßes 52. By screwing the second component 122 is braced against an opening provided on the first component 121 counter-tab. Thus, the fastener 104 is clamped to the rail 12 and retains the heat exchanger 102 as desired without being attached or bolted to the rail or other structure. Via a flow connection 108, a heating fluid can be supplied to the heat exchanger via a heating fluid supply 200. The flow cross section in the flow connection 108 can be tapered with respect to the flow cross section of a line of the heating fluid supply 200 connected thereto. The same applies to a return connection, not shown here. FIG. 1 b shows a side view of an arrangement from FIG. 1 a. By the stock rail 12 with rail head 56, web 54 and Schienenfu ß 52, the tongue rail 14 is hidden in this view. The stock rail 12 is screwed in the region of thresholds 24 to the rail holding device 20 and thus held laterally. In areas designated as intermediate threshold areas 25 between the thresholds 24 each heaters 100 are provided. The heating devices 100 are each fastened to the rail base 52 via a first retaining clip 120 and a second retaining clip 130. The second retaining clip 130 is designed analogously to the first retaining clip 120 described above, but can not be seen in FIG. 1a for reasons of perspective. About the screwing of a retaining clip 120, 130 can each achieve a clamping fit of the associated heater 100, through which the heat exchanger 102 is held in heat-transmitting contact with the Schienenfu ß 52 of the stock rail 12, in particular with the underside of the rail foot 53. Alternatively, a fastening device be provided, which surrounds the heat exchanger 102 and / or the thermal insulation 106 substantially completely along the longitudinal extent of the heating device 10 along the rail 12. Thus, in particular, the thermal insulation 106 can be protected from harmful influences.

Figures 2a and 2b are schematic plan views of arrangements of heaters 100 as shown in Figures 1a and 1b. In Figure 2a, the heater 100 is mounted below the rail foot and shown as if the stock rail 12 were transparent. It can be seen that the heating device 100 is arranged in an intermediate threshold region 25 and thus is able to hang substantially freely below the stock rail 12. It is conceivable that, in particular when the rail is loaded by a rail vehicle, an underside of the heating device abuts or rests against gravel or gravel discharged thereunder. Screws 124 of the retaining clips 120, 130 are provided on the tongue rail 14 side facing away from the stock rail 12 and are directed in this example upwards and accessible from above. On the same side as the screw, but laterally directed, each a flow connection 108 and a return port 1 10 are provided, through which a heating fluid through the heat exchanger 102 can be flowed. The terminals 108, 110 are in this example respectively connected to a pipe or hose of a heating fluid supply 200. It can be provided that the connections 108 and / or 1 10 have a flow cross-sectional constriction. Figure 2b shows schematically a series arrangement of heaters 100. The heaters 100 are each arranged in the intermediate threshold areas 25 below the Schienenfu SSE. Between a return of a heating device 100 and the flow of a downstream heating device 100 is in each case a supply line of Heizfluidversorgung 200. The supply line is in each case arcuate, placed substantially U-shaped over the lying between the heaters 100 threshold 24. It can be provided in general regardless of the design of the heater that the corresponding supply line au outside the sliding chair 16, in particular outside the base plate of the sliding chair 16 is laid or laid. Alternatively it can be provided that on the slide, in particular in the base plate or on the underside of the base plate of a sliding chair, a channel for receiving a supply line and / or for guiding a heating fluid is provided. A rail device, such as a tongue switch, may comprise one or more correspondingly configured slide chairs 16. It may also be provided that a heating device 100 in the intermediate threshold region 25 is respectively preceded and / or connected downstream of a heating device which in the region of a threshold 24, in particular in the region of the sliding chair 16 and / or in the sliding chair 16 and / or between the sliding chair 16 and threshold 24 is arranged.

FIGS. 3a and 3b largely correspond to FIGS. 1a and 1b, wherein, according to FIGS. 3a and 3b, a further heating device 150 is provided in addition to the heating device 100, which is fastened to the stock rail 12. The heating device 150 is clamped to the tongue rail via a fastening device 170 adapted to the profile of the rail foot 62 of the tongue rail 14. The structure of the fastening device 170 essentially corresponds to the structure of the fastening device 120 of FIG. 1, even if the dimensioning of the components differs. Here, too, it should be noted that the heating device 150 is provided in an intermediate threshold region 25 or in a region between slide chairs 16.

FIGS. 4a and 4a correspond to FIGS. 2a and 2b, but in analogy to FIGS. 3a and 3b they show heating devices both in the stock rail 12 and in the tongue rail 14. In the tongue rail, the screw connections of the associated heating devices 150 are each on that of the tongue rail assigned Back rail 12 facing away from the side. The same applies to the connections to the Heizfluidversorgung. It is in principle conceivable that the heaters 100 are supplied with heating fluid for heating the stock rail 12 via the same Heizfluidversorgung and / or heat source as the heaters 150. For example, a parallel supply of a heater strand with heaters 100 for the stock rail 12 and a heater strand with Heater 150 may be provided for the tongue rail 14. It is also conceivable that the respective strands are supplied separately or can be supplied and / or that heaters 100 and 150 are supplied in pairs or separately.

FIGS. 5a and 5b show an arrangement of heating devices 150 on a tongue rail 14, without a heating device for the stock rail 12 being provided. In the side view of Figure 5b is a side view of the side facing away from the stock rail 12 side of the tongue rail 14 can be seen. Accordingly, instead of the rail holding device 20, the sliding chair 16 is shown in the region of the threshold 24. The rail profile corresponds to the profile of the tongue rail 14th

Figures 6a and 6b show the arrangement of Figures 5a and 5b in a plan view. The drawings essentially correspond to the representations of FIGS. 4 a and 4 b without the heating devices 100 for the stock rail 12 shown therein.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 rail attachment

12 stock rail

14 tongue rail

16 slide chair

18 slide chair plate

20 rail holding device

22 base plate

24 threshold

25 intermediate threshold area

52 rail foot

53 bottom

54 rail bridge

55 top

56 rail head

62 rail foot

63 bottom

64 rail bridge

65 top

66 rail head

100 heating device

102 heat exchangers

104 fastening device

106 thermal insulation Flow connection Return connection Retaining clip, first component, second component Screw connection Retaining clip

Claims

claims:

1 . Heating device (100, 150) for heating a rail foot (52, 62) of a rail (12, 14), comprising:

a heat exchanger (102) which is connected or connectable via at least one flow connection (108) and at least one return connection (1 10) to a heating fluid supply (200);

a fastening device (104), by means of which the heat exchanger (102) is in a heat - transferred contact with a lower side (53, 63) of the

Rail foot (52, 62) is held or durable.

2. Heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heating device (100, 150) in a region (25) between thresholds (24) of a rail device (10) on the Schienenfu ß (52, 62) is fastened or attachable.

A heater according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heater (100, 150) further comprises a thermal insulation (106).

4. Heating device according to claim 3, wherein the thermal insulation (106) the

Insulates heat exchanger (102) on its underside.

5. Heating device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the thermal insulation (106) insulates the heat exchanger (102) laterally.

6. Heating device according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the thermal insulation (106) comprises an insulating foam material and / or polystyrene.

7. Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Fixing means (104) comprises at least one retaining clip (120, 130) adapted to engage an upper surface (55, 65) of the rail foot (52, 62) to hold the heat exchanger (102) in heat transferring contact.

8. Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Heat exchanger (102) via a thermal insulation (106) opposite to

Fastening device (104) is insulated.

9. Rail heating with at least one heating device (100, 150) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Rail device (10) with a rail heater according to claim 9 and / or at least one heating device (100, 150) according to one of claims 1 to 8.