EP3608473A1 - Railway sleeper - Google Patents

Abstract

In the case of a railway sleeper (1) comprising a first sleeper body (2) with a first underside (4), a first upper side (5) and a first edge region (6), and a second sleeper body (3) with a second underside (7), A second upper side (8) and a second edge region (9), the first edge region (6) being connected to a coupling arrangement (10) in the longitudinal direction with the second edge region (9), it is proposed that the coupling arrangement (10) have at least one The first partial clutch (11) and a second partial clutch (12) have the first partial clutch (11) connecting the first edge area (6) in the area of the first upper side (5) with the second edge area (9) in the area of the second upper side (8) connects that the second partial coupling (12) connects the first edge region (6) in the region of the first underside (4) to the second edge region (9) in the region of the second underside (7), and that the first partial coupling (11) and / or the second partial clutch g (12) has at least one spring (13) and / or a damper.

Description

The invention relates to a railroad tie according to the preamble of claim 1.

Railway sleepers form part of the so-called track superstructure of a railway line. These transfer the loads of the train from the tracks or rails via the rail fastenings to the ballast bed below. The railway sleepers extend laterally beyond the rails. With a standard gauge of 1435 mm and a usual total length of a railway sleeper from 2300 mm to 2700 mm, the railway sleeper projects on both sides approx. 500 mm to 600 mm beyond the track. This protruding surface helps to transfer the load evenly to the ballast bed with low surface pressure.

Areas of a railway line on which a switch is arranged and a track branches off are problematic compared to a conventional line. In the areas in which the branching track is still very close to the continuing track, so-called long sleepers are arranged, with all rails being arranged on a single railroad tie. Railway sleepers of this type are also known as switch sleepers.

From a certain distance between the two track sections, it is necessary to use two shorter sleepers instead of one very long sleeper. However, due to the small distance between the two tracks, it is not possible for these so-called short thresholds to be symmetrical. With these sleepers, the lateral "overhang" is significantly shorter on one side, the so-called inside, than on the other side, the so-called outside. When driving over these points with a train, this causes the threshold on the inside to give more due to the higher wing loading and the train tilts inwards. Since a short threshold is installed in front of the short sleepers, which extends over both tracks and is stable in position, this is clearly pronounced inward tipping and represents a massive discontinuity. The areas concerned are therefore subject to increased material loads and are accordingly maintenance-intensive.

It is known to couple such short thresholds together. However so far no such threshold coupling satisfactory. In particular, it is not possible with the known coupled short thresholds, or only with great effort, to form a smooth transition between long thresholds and standard thresholds.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a railway sleeper of the type mentioned at the beginning, with which the disadvantages mentioned can be avoided, and with which the loads on the rails and the ballast bed in the switch area can be reduced.

According to the invention this is achieved by the features of claim 1.

Forces and moments can be transmitted from one of the two sleeper bodies to the other. This enables a smooth transition from the last long threshold of a turnout area to the first standard threshold. This can reduce the loads on the rails and the ballast bed in the switch area. In the case of a railroad tie in question, the two sleeper bodies still have relative degrees of freedom to one another, which also allow a certain offset of the two sleeper bodies to one another, but a damped or delayed load transfer is also possible via the "neighboring sleeper body" due to the spring and / or the damper is. This results in a significantly improved durability compared to completely rigid connections.

The subclaims relate to further advantageous refinements of the invention.

Reference is hereby expressly made to the wording of the patent claims, as a result of which the claims are inserted at this point by reference into the description and are considered to be reproduced verbatim.

• Fig. 1 eine Anordnung aus Eisenbahnschwellen in einem Weichenbereich für einen Gleiskörper;
• Fig. 2 die Kupplungsanordnung einer gegenständlichen Eisenbahnschwelle mit jeweils den Verbindungen zum ersten und zweiten Schwellenkörper im Aufriss; und
• Fig. 3 die Eisenbahnschwelle gemäß Fig. 2 im Grundriss.

The invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which only preferred embodiments are shown by way of example. It shows:

• Fig. 1 an arrangement of railway sleepers in a switch area for a track body;
• Fig. 2 the coupling arrangement of a railroad tie in question, each with the connections to the first and second sleeper body in elevation; and
• Fig. 3 the railroad tie according to Fig. 2 in the floor plan.

The 1 and 2 each show a detail of a railway sleeper 1 comprising a first sleeper body 2 and a second sleeper body 3, the first sleeper body 2 having a first underside 4 and a first upper side 5 and a first edge region 6 in the longitudinal direction, the second sleeper body 3 having a second underside 7 and a second upper side 8 and a second edge region 9 in the longitudinal direction, the first edge region 6 being connected to the second edge region 9 with a coupling arrangement 10 essentially in the longitudinal direction of the first and second sleeper bodies 2, 3, the coupling arrangement 10 being at least one first Has partial clutch 11 and a second partial clutch 12, the first partial clutch 11 connecting the first edge area 6 in the area of the first upper side 5 to the second edge area 9 in the area of the second upper side 8, the second partial clutch 12 connecting the first edge area 6 in the area of the first Bottom 4 mi t connects the second edge region 9 in the region of the second underside 7, and wherein the first partial clutch 11 and / or the second partial clutch 12 has at least one spring 13 and / or a damper.

Forces and moments can be transmitted from one of the two sleeper bodies 2, 3 to the other. This allows a smooth transition from the last long threshold 30 of a switch area 29 to the first standard threshold of the switch area 29 or the track body. As a result, the loads on the rails and the ballast bed in the switch area 29 can be reduced. In the case of a railway sleeper 1 in question, the two sleeper bodies 2, 3 still have relative degrees of freedom to one another, which also allow a certain offset of the two sleeper bodies 2, 3 to one another, but a damped or delayed one by the spring 13 and / or the damper Load transfer is also possible via the "neighboring sleeper body". This results in a significantly improved durability compared to completely rigid connections.

Representative railway sleepers 1 are provided in particular for laying in the area of switches on railway lines or a track body. Fig. 1 shows a corresponding arrangement of different railway sleepers 1, 30, 31, wherein no rails are shown, but only the rail supports 32 on the railway sleepers 1, 30, 31. It can be clearly seen that in the area in which the tracks separate, so-called Long sleepers 30 are used, which have four rail supports 32 on only one sleeper body. So-called short sleepers 31 are laid after the long sleepers 30. It can be clearly seen here that the end which projects inwards via the rail support 32 is shorter than the end which projects outwards.

A concrete railroad tie 1 is in particular formed comprehensively or made of concrete, it being provided in particular that it is a so-called prestressed concrete comprising tension wires 36.

An objective railroad tie 1 consists of at least two sleeper bodies 2, 3, whereby three, four or more sleeper bodies 2, 3 can also be provided. A railroad tie 1 with a first and a second sleeper body 2, 3 is described below.

The first sleeper body 2 has a first underside 4 and a first upper side 5 and a first edge region 6 in the longitudinal direction of the first sleeper body 2 or the railroad sleeper 1. A first connection plate 33 or end plate is preferably arranged on the first edge region 6, which is preferably designed as a metal plate, in particular as a steel plate.

The second sleeper body 3 has a second underside 7 and a second top side 8 and a second edge region 9 in the longitudinal direction of the second sleeper body 3 or the railroad sleeper 1. A second connection plate 34 or end plate is preferably arranged on the second edge region 9, which is preferably designed as a metal plate, in particular as a steel plate.

Preferably, the first and second connection plates 33, 34 are each directly connected to the tension wires 36 of the respective threshold body 2, 3, whereby particularly good load transmission can be achieved through the entire railroad tie.

The edge regions 6, 9 described are the mutually facing edges or ends of the two sleeper bodies 2, 3.

The first edge region 6 is connected to the second edge region 9 with a coupling arrangement 10 essentially in the longitudinal direction of the first and second sleeper bodies 2, 3. It is provided that the clutch arrangement 10 has at least a first partial clutch 11 and a second partial clutch 12, a third partial clutch 24 preferably also being provided.

It is provided that the first partial coupling 11 connects the first edge region 6 in the region of the first upper side 5 to the second edge region 9 in the region of the second upper side 8. When the railroad sleeper 1 is loaded with a train, the railroad sleeper 1 in the area of the upper sides 5, 8 primarily has compressive stresses in the horizontal or parallel to the upper sides 5, 8. Furthermore, compressive stresses occur vertically or normally to the tops 5, 8.

It is further provided that the second partial coupling 12 connects the first edge region 6 in the region of the first underside 4 to the second edge region 9 in the region of the second underside 7. When the railroad sleeper 1 is loaded with a train, tensile stresses occur primarily in the horizontal or parallel to the lower sides 4, 7 in the railroad sleeper 1 in the area of the lower sides 4, 7. Furthermore, compressive stresses occur in the vertical direction or normal to the upper sides 5, 8 or lower sides 4, 7.

The first partial clutch 11 and / or the second partial clutch 12 has at least one spring 13 and / or a damper. It is particularly provided that this spring 13 or the damper is a connecting element of the relevant partial clutch 11, 12. The line of action of the relevant spring 13 or the damper is arranged essentially along or parallel to the longitudinal extent of the railroad tie 1.

It is particularly preferably provided that the spring 13 or the damper is adjustable and / or exchangeable or releasably attached. As a result, different railway sleepers 1 with threshold bodies 2, 3 coupled to different extents can be easily created. As a result, it is easily possible to create a smooth transition from the long sleepers 30 to the so-called standard sleepers on a turnout or subsequently a turnout, wherein a hard discontinuity can be avoided.

The spring 13 can be designed as any type of spring, for example as a metal spring, coil spring, plate spring or elastomer spring 14.

It is preferably provided that the spring 13 and the damper are designed as a spring / damper combination.

It is particularly preferably provided that the first partial clutch 11 has an elastomer spring 14. Such elastomer springs 14 have good durability as a compression spring. In addition, they have high internal damping, which means that vibrations are quickly reduced. In this sense, an elastomer spring 14 can be seen as a spring 13 but also as a spring / damper combination.

As already explained, provision is made in particular for the spring 13 or the damper to be adjustable or replaceable. Particularly preferred and as in the 2 and 3 shown, it is provided that the spring 13 is adjustable by means of a biasing device 15 of the first partial clutch 11. This enables universal use of the railway sleeper 1, which can be adjusted particularly easily on site. This can be done using a torque wrench, for example.

The setting options and thus the usability of the railway sleeper 1 in question can be further improved in that the first partial coupling 11 has at least one length adjustment unit for adapting a distance between the first edge region 6 and the second edge region 9. It can further be provided that the length adjustment unit and the pretensioning device 15 are formed in one piece. This can be done using a screw thread.

According to the preferred embodiment, the second partial coupling 12 comprises at least a first, essentially rigid metal tension element 16. The expression "essentially rigid" means that the relevant metal tension element 16 has no further spring elements apart from the material's own elastic properties. However, since a metal has an elastic deformation behavior, it is not literally rigid.

As shown, the first metal tension element 16 is preferably designed as a metal strip or flat metal element. It can also be provided that the first metal tension element 16 is designed as a wire rope or as a chain.

In particular, steel is provided as the metal, and bronze can also be provided in areas with a particularly high tendency to corrode.

Although metal has been shown to be significantly superior to other materials for practical implementation, it can alternatively be provided that one or more tension elements made of a non-metallic material are used instead of one or more tension elements 16. In particular, such a tension element can be formed comprising carbon fibers and / or aramid fibers and / or Dyneema fibers.

It is preferably provided that the at least one first metal tension element 16 has at least one distance adjustment means 17 for adapting a distance between the first edge region 6 and the second edge region 9, as a result of which such a railroad tie 1 can be adapted to different application environments, and with only one type of railroad sleepers 1 the smooth transition on the switch described above can be implemented.

A particularly simple adaptability and a particularly simple implementation of a distance adjusting means 17 is provided if the distance adjusting means 17 comprises at least one elongated hole 18 on the first metal pull element 16.

Particularly preferred, and as in Fig. 3 shown, it is provided that the second partial clutch 12 further has a second metal pull element 19 that the first Metal tension element 16 connects a first side surface 20 of the first sleeper body 2 to a first side surface 21 of the second sleeper body 3, and that the second metal tension element 19 connects a second side surface 22 of the first sleeper body 2 to a second side surface 23 of the second sleeper body 3. The two metal tension elements 16, 19 are each preferably laterally attached, in particular screwed, to the connection plates 33, 34.

With regard to the preferred embodiment or implementation variants of the second metal tension element 19, reference is made to the explanations regarding the first metal tension element 16, all of which can be used or applied.

As already mentioned in the introduction, it is preferably provided that the clutch arrangement 10 has at least one third partial clutch 24. The third partial coupling 24 is preferably arranged spatially between the first partial coupling 11 and the second partial coupling 12, or in the region of a middle between the upper sides 5, 8 and the lower sides 4, 7 of the two sleeper bodies 2, 3. The third partial coupling 24 is for this purpose formed to transmit vertical transverse forces 25 from the first sleeper body 2 to the second sleeper body 3 or from the second sleeper body 3 to the first sleeper body 2. In Fig. 2 a vector of a corresponding vertical transverse force 25 is symbolically shown. In particular, the third partial coupling 24 is also designed such that it cannot transmit any horizontal transverse forces between the two sleeper bodies 2, 3.

The third partial clutch 24 can be designed per se as any type of clutch which can transmit the said transverse forces. In particular, the third partial clutch 24 can be designed to include a friction connection, a positive connection, such as a toothing, or a screw connection.

It is particularly preferably provided that the third partial coupling 24 is designed to comprise a joint 26 and that an axis of rotation 27 of the joint 26 is arranged essentially vertically. As a result, a robust third partial clutch 24 can be realized, which also has no transverse forces in the horizontal Level transfers. As a result, both good power transmission and high flexibility within the railroad tie 1 can be achieved.

The flexibility or flexibility can be further increased in that a joint axis 35 of the joint 26 is resiliently mounted in the joint 26. For this purpose, provision is made in particular for spring washers 28 to be arranged on the hinge axis 35, which are in particular formed with an elastomer.

In the preferred embodiment, the third partial coupling 24 has two parallel bearing extensions which are fastened, in particular welded, to the first connection plate 33. The hinge axis 35 is supported in these two bearing extensions. A further bearing extension is arranged on the second connection plate 34, which acts on the joint axis 35.

Claims (15)

Railway sleeper (1) comprising a first sleeper body (2) and a second sleeper body (3), the first sleeper body (2) having a first underside (4) and a first upper side (5) and a first edge region (6) in the longitudinal direction, wherein the second threshold body (3) has a second underside (7) and a second top side (8) and a second edge region (9) in the longitudinal direction, the first edge region (6) with a coupling arrangement (10) essentially in the longitudinal direction of the first and the second sleeper body (2, 3) is connected to the second edge region (9), characterized in that the coupling arrangement (10) has at least one first partial coupling (11) and a second partial coupling (12), that the first partial coupling (11) connects the first edge region (6) in the region of the first upper side (5) to the second edge region (9) in the region of the second upper side (8), that the second partial coupling (12) connects the first edge region (6 ) in the area of the first underside (4) with the second edge area (9) in the area of the second underside (7), and that the first partial coupling (11) and / or the second partial coupling (12) has at least one spring (13) and / or has a damper. Railway sleeper (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring (13) and / or the damper is adjustable and / or interchangeable. Railway sleeper (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first partial coupling (11) has an elastomer spring (14). Railway sleeper (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spring (13) is adjustable by means of a pretensioning device (15) of the first partial coupling (11). Railway sleeper (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first partial coupling (11) at least one Length adjustment unit for adjusting a distance between the first edge region (6) and the second edge region (9). Railway sleeper (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second partial coupling (12) comprising at least a first, essentially rigid metal tension element (16), in particular a metal strip, is formed. Railway sleeper (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one first metal tension element (16) has at least one distance adjustment means (17) for adjusting a distance between the first edge region (6) and the second edge region (9). Railway sleeper (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the distance adjusting means (17) comprises at least one elongated hole (18) on the first metal tension element (16). Railway sleeper (1) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the second partial coupling (12) further comprises a second metal tension element (19), that the first metal tension element (16) has a first side face (20) of the first sleeper body (2) connects to a first side surface (21) of the second threshold body (3), and that the second metal tension element (19) connects a second side surface (22) of the first threshold body (2) to a second side surface (23) of the second threshold body (3). Railway sleeper (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the coupling arrangement (10) has at least one third partial coupling (24), which third partial coupling (24) for transmitting vertical transverse forces (25) between the first sleeper body (2 ) and the second threshold body (3). Railway sleeper (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the third partial coupling (24) is arranged in the region of a middle between the upper sides (5, 8) and the lower sides (4, 7) of the two sleeper bodies (2, 3). Railway sleeper (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the third partial coupling (24) comprising a joint (26) is formed, and that an axis of rotation (27) of the joint (26) is arranged substantially vertically. Railway sleeper (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that a hinge axis (35) of the hinge (26) is resiliently mounted in the hinge (26). Railway sleeper (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the spring (13) and the damper are designed as a spring / damper combination. Track body, in particular switch section (29) of the track body, with at least one railroad tie (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 14.

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