HK40074061B - Switch - Google Patents

Description

turnout

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a turnout for rail equipment for rail vehicles, wherein the turnout has a track and a series of sleepers (sometimes called a series), and at least two tracks are fixed opposite each other to the upper side of the respective sleepers, and an intermediate layer is arranged between the respective tracks and the upper side of the respective sleepers, and each sleeper has a sleeper bottom on the lower side of the sleeper opposite to its corresponding upper side, and each sleeper bottom has at least one elastic layer.

Background Technology

A turnout is a point of intersection in railway track equipment, where at least one branch rail is either introduced into or drawn from the main rail. There are so-called single turnouts, in which the branch rail is either introduced into or drawn from the main rail. However, there are also so-called cross turnouts, in which the branch rail intersects with the main rail and branches off on either side via the main rail.

It is known in the prior art that rails are equipped with an elastomeric layer not only in the area between switches but also in the area of the switches, so as to achieve track leveling and vibration reduction when a train passes over them. It is known, for example, that so-called sleeper bottoms are arranged below the sleepers. These sleeper bottoms are thus located between the sleeper and the ballast bed or a fixed road surface, on which the corresponding sleeper rests. Sleeper bottoms are known, for example, by AT 506 529 B1 and WO 2016/077852 A1. In AT 506 529 B1, for example, a sleeper bottom is proposed in which, on the elastic layer of the sleeper bottom, a random fiber layer is arranged on the side pointing towards the sleeper, and a reinforcing layer and another elastic layer are arranged on the opposite side. The random fiber layer is used to fix the sleeper bottom to the sleeper, which is made of cast concrete. The reinforcing layer on the other side of the sleeper bottom limits the intrusion of gravel from the ballast bed into the sleeper bottom to a desired degree.

However, in the prior art, an elastic intermediate layer on the upper side of the sleeper, i.e., an elastic intermediate layer between the track and the sleeper, is also known. This is described, for example, in EP 0 552 788 A1.

AT 503 772 B1 describes a type of turnout in which sleeper bottoms with at least one elastomeric layer are arranged on the underside of the sleepers. In AT 503 772 B1, an intermediate layer is located between the track and the sleeper, and this intermediate layer is referred to as a fixing device in the document. Furthermore, it is known from AT 503 772 B1 that the softness or hardness of the sleeper bottoms varies along the length of the sleeper.

Therefore, different methods are known in the prior art to ensure that the track sinks and flattens when a train passes over it, especially in turnouts used in rail equipment. In the prior art, a unique elastic plane is used and optimized, if possible, throughout the entire structure to achieve this purpose.

Summary of the Invention

The objective of this invention is to improve the type of turnout mentioned above so as to enable improved track subsidence leveling when a train passes overhead.

Based on this type of prior art, the present invention proposes a turnout according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer also has at least one elastomeric layer.

Therefore, contrary to the prior art, the basic concept of the present invention is to achieve not just one, but at least two (viewed in the installation position) elastic planes spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, in order to improve track leveling when a train passes over the turnout. Here, one elastic plane is formed by at least one elastomeric layer at the bottom of the sleeper. The second elastic plane is formed by an intermediate elastomeric layer. The elastic properties of these elastomeric layers can be coordinated with each other as required, so as to achieve optimization of coordination with each other by means of the two elastic planes. This allows the blocking characteristics of the overall turnout system to be matched very precisely with the different requirements occurring at different locations within the turnout. Bounce can be homogenized along the turnout direction. The consideration of at least one second elastic plane allows the elastic characteristics of the turnout to be finely coordinated with the corresponding localized task settings specifically to be solved at different locations within the turnout.

In the turnout according to the invention, not only the sleeper bottom but also the intermediate layer can be constructed as a single piece or in multiple pieces. Not only the sleeper bottom but also the intermediate layer can each consist of a single elastomeric layer. However, the sleeper bottom and the intermediate layer can also each have multiple elastomeric layers. Furthermore, the sleeper bottom and the intermediate layer can also have inelastic components or layers. The sleeper bottom can, for example, be a reinforcing layer and a randomized fiber layer or connecting layer (as known from AT 506 772 B1). The intermediate layer, in addition to at least one elastomeric layer, can also, for example, have a metal plate, as exemplarily illustrated below in the accompanying drawings.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is configured such that, in a turnout, at least two different sleeper bottom elastomeric layers have different bed moduli and/or, in a turnout, at least two different intermediate elastomeric layers have different stiffnesses. Suitablely configured in the sense of difference, the bed moduli of the at least two different sleeper bottom elastomeric layers differ from each other by at least 25% of a larger bed moduli and/or the stiffnesses of the at least two different intermediate elastomeric layers differ from each other by at least 25% of a larger stiffness.

In particular, the bottom of the sleeper can also have areas of varying hardness or softness along the longitudinal direction of the sleeper. Here, it can refer to a single continuous bottom of the sleeper, but it also refers to sections that are separate from each other, which together form the bottom of the sleeper.

The elastomeric layer (as the term has already been used) is a layer composed of at least one elastomeric material. An elastomeric material is a plastic that is fixed in shape but elastically deformable, deforming elastically under tensile and compressive loads but subsequently returning at least substantially to its original, undeformed shape. Particularly preferably, the elastomeric layer of the corresponding intermediate layer and/or the elastomeric layer of the corresponding sleeper bottom is configured to be polyurethane or rubber or a mixture of polyurethane and/or rubber. The aforementioned elastomeric layer can also be composed entirely of the aforementioned materials. The rubber can be a natural rubber elastomer, but it can also be a synthetic rubber elastomer. Preferably, it involves foamed polyurethane and/or foamed rubber. Two foamed variants are preferably configured as closed porous structures.

Preferably, the elastomeric layer at the bottom of the corresponding sleeper is configured to have a track bed modulus in the range of 0.02 N/ ^mm³ to 0.6 N/ ^mm³ , preferably in the range of 0.1 N/ ^mm³ to 0.5 N/ ^mm³ , and particularly preferably in the range of 0.15 N/ ^mm³ to 0.4 N/ ^mm³ .

The ballast modulus is commonly used to describe the deformation behavior in gravel rails. It describes the ratio of area pressure (Flächenpressung, sometimes called pressure per unit area) to the associated settlement (Verhältnis, sometimes called case). Thus, softer materials have smaller ballast moduli, and vice versa. Simply put, the ballast modulus gives the amount of area pressure required to produce a given settlement.

The corresponding intermediate elastomeric layer is suitably provided with a stiffness ranging from 5 kN/mm (kilonewtons per millimeter) to 1000 kN/mm, preferably from 10 kN/mm to 300 kN/mm, and particularly preferably from 20 kN/mm to 200 kN/mm. Stiffness can also be referred to as spring constant or support point stiffness. Stiffness describes the ratio of support point force to settlement. In the case of softer materials, the stiffness is smaller than in the case of relatively harder materials.

The track bed modulus can be determined, for example, according to DIN 45673 (August 2010 edition). The stiffness can be determined according to EN13146 (April 2012 edition).

Using the basic principle of the invention, which describes at least two elastic planes in a turnout (which are capable of correspondingly coordinating with each other), different specific task settings within the turnout can be resolved better than those achieved in the prior art. Using the basic principle of the invention, for example, sleeper overturning can be better overcome at specific locations within the turnout, particularly in the turnout center area (Herzstückbereich, sometimes called the frog area) or in the area of short sleepers within the turnout. Therefore, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the elastomeric layer at the bottom of one of the sleepers has at least two regions of different softness. The harder region of the elastomeric layer at the bottom of the sleeper is located below the first track in the rail, while the softer region is located below the second track in the rail. The first and second tracks are fixed to the upper side of the respective sleeper at a distance from each other. The elastomeric layers of the intermediate layer between the first track and the upper side of the sleeper, and the intermediate layer between the second track and the upper side of the sleeper, are of different softness relative to each other. Therefore, in addition to the principle known from the prior art itself—that the elastomeric layers at the bottom of the sleeper are designed to be of different softness along the longitudinal direction of the sleeper—it is possible to additionally configure the elastomeric layers of the intermediate layer above the sleeper, i.e., on the upper side of the sleeper, to also be designed to be of different hardness or softness at locations spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the sleeper. Here, particularly preferably, the intermediate layer with a relatively soft elastomeric layer is also located in the region of the relatively soft elastomeric layer at the bottom of the sleeper, and vice versa. In this sense, it is suitably arranged that the elastomeric layer of the intermediate layer between the first track in the track and the upper side of the sleeper is harder than the elastomeric layer of the intermediate layer between the second track in the track and the upper side of the sleeper. Through this variation in hardness or softness, improved and more uniform load leveling can be achieved in a particularly fine and coordinated manner not only in the intermediate layer but also along the longitudinal direction of the sleeper at the bottom, thereby preventing sleeper overturning. Particularly preferably, this variation according to the basic principles of the invention is used in short sleepers connected to the last continuous sleeper, but also in the so-called turnout center region of the turnout.

The basic principle of the invention mentioned above can also be used in another application of the turnout according to the invention to avoid abrupt transitions in elastic characteristics along the longitudinal direction of the turnout, that is, not only along the longitudinal direction of the main rail but also along the longitudinal direction of the branch rail. For this purpose, in a preferred variant, the elastic body layers at the bottom of at least two of the successively arranged sleepers are configured to be of different softness relative to each other when viewed transversely, preferably orthogonally, to the longitudinal direction of the sleepers. Furthermore, the elastic body layers of the intermediate layers on at least two of the successively arranged sleepers are also configured to be of different softness relative to each other. Specifically, when the softness of the elastic body layer at the bottom of the sleeper varies from one sleeper to the sleeper following the aforementioned sleeper along the longitudinal direction, the elastic body layers of the intermediate layers on these two sleepers are equally soft, and/or when the softness of the elastic body layer of the intermediate layers varies from one sleeper to the sleeper following the aforementioned sleeper along the longitudinal direction, the elastic body layers at the bottom of the sleepers below these two sleepers are equally soft. In simple terms, in this application according to the basic principles of the invention, the change in softness in the plane of the sleeper bottom does not simultaneously result in a change in softness in the plane of the intermediate layer, but rather these changes are offset from each other by at least one sleeper in the transverse longitudinal direction of the sleeper. Thus, the change in elasticity along the turnout can be leveled or filled. This principle is suitable for application throughout the entire turnout area. Overlapping on multiple sleepers is suitable. According to this variation of the basic principles of the invention, the change in softness or hardness in the plane of the intermediate layer is always arranged to be offset from the change in softness or hardness in the plane of the sleeper bottom.

Another application of the basic principles of the invention can be used to improve the so-called switch area (Zungenvorrichtungbereich, sometimes called the switching area) of a turnout. In this switch area, it is important to note that the ballast bed is typically constructed relatively thin, i.e., with a relatively small vertical extension, and the sleepers are also constructed relatively short. Furthermore, particularly in this area of the track, there is a tendency for the rail to flex laterally due to track expansion and contraction caused by temperature, and also due to force blockage caused by the heating of the turnout, which is frequently located there. To overcome this tendency, the bottom of the sleepers in the switch area should be constructed to be relatively plastic or viscoelastic, thereby achieving the highest possible resistance to lateral movement in the ballast bed or on other bases. However, this, on the other hand, results in relatively stiff elastic properties in the vertical direction. To compensate for this, it can be configured, particularly in the switch area, that the elastomeric layer in the middle layer of a corresponding sleeper is softer than the elastomeric layer at the bottom of the sleeper below it. By using a relatively soft elastomeric layer in the intermediate layer, the relatively hard elastomeric layer at the bottom of the sleeper, which is intended to ensure the required lateral movement resistance, can be compensated for, thus achieving the desired elastic behavior overall in the vertical direction. In particular, it is suitably configured, especially in the switch rail area, that the elastomeric layer at the bottom of the sleeper is constructed to be viscoelastic with an EPM index in the range of 10% to 25%, preferably in the range of 10% to 20%, wherein the EPM index can be defined and measured as in WO 2016/077852 A1.

Furthermore, it is suitable, particularly in the switch point assembly area, that the intermediate elastomeric layer has a stiffness in the range of 20 kN/mm to 200 kN/mm, preferably in the range of 40 kN/mm to 100 kN/mm. The preferred relationships and characteristics given in claims 5 to 10 are applicable to the at least one elastomeric layer at the bottom of the sleeper and/or the at least one elastomeric layer in the intermediate layer, respectively, but also to the entire bottom of the sleeper and/or the entire intermediate layer.

Attached Figure Description

Other features and details of preferred variations of the invention are illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein:

Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of a turnout in the form of a so-called single turnout according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic vertical cross-sectional view along section line AA in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a schematic vertical cross-sectional view along the section line BB in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a schematic vertical cross-sectional view along the section line CC in Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a schematic vertical cross-sectional view along the section line DD in Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a schematic vertical cross-sectional view along the section line VV in Figure 1;

Figure 7 shows a schematic vertical cross-sectional view along the section line ZZ in Figure 1, and

Figure 8 schematically illustrates one alternative design for the intermediate layer.

Detailed Implementation

The turnout 1 shown schematically in top view in Figure 1 is a so-called single turnout, in which the branch rail 18 leads into the main rail 3. For completeness, it should be noted that the invention can also be implemented in a so-called crossover turnout, in which the branch rail 18 leads into the main rail 3 on one side and is guided beyond the main rail on the other side. Here, the rail that is most primarily used is referred to as the main rail 3. The branch rail 18 is usually the less frequently used rail.

Before and after the turnout, the rails 2 are fixed in pairs, facing each other, on corresponding sleepers 4. The sleepers 4 are arranged transversely to, and locally even orthogonally to, the longitudinal direction 13 of not only the main rails 3 but also the branch rails 18. The turnout 1 itself has a switch rail assembly area 14, an intermediate rail area 15, and a switch point area 16. The switch rail 23, which is pivotally arranged at the switch rail articulation 23, is located in the switch rail assembly area 14. The switch point 17 is located in the switch point area 16 of the turnout 1. The intermediate rail area 15 of the turnout 1 is located between the switch rail assembly area 14 and the switch point area 16. The intermediate rail 25, rigidly fixed to the sleepers 4, is located in the intermediate rail area 15. In the switch rail assembly area 14, the outer rail 2 is also referred to as the stock rail 24. The turnout region 16 of turnout 1 ends on the side away from the switch plate region 14 with a last continuous sleeper 20, which is also commonly referred to as LDS. Then, multiple so-called short sleepers 21 follow not only in the region of main rail 3 but also in the region of branch rail 18. These short sleepers can be constructed unilaterally shorter due to space constraints compared to the given space of the sleepers 4 used in main rail 3 and branch rail 18.

In the area of switch point 17, track 2 is generally referred to as wing rail 26. In the area of short sleepers 21, track 2 is generally referred to as connecting track 27. Furthermore, in the intermediate rail area 15 and switch point area 16, as is known and also depicted herein, there may also be so-called wheel guard rails (sometimes called guide rails) 19. The structure of the switch 1 in Figure 1 depicted here is known in itself and therefore need not be further explained. The term "track 2" in principle includes all types of track 2, regardless of whether these tracks have specific names and additional markings.

Figures 2 through 7, which are subsequently illustrated, are schematic vertical cross-sectional views along the aforementioned cutting lines. They respectively show how the corresponding track 2 is placed on the upper side 5 of the sleeper 4 via the intermediate layer 6, and how the sleeper 4 is placed on the ballast bed 28 via the sleeper bottom 8 disposed on its lower side 7. The method of fixing the track 2 and the intermediate layer 6 at the sleeper 4 is not shown in the figures. This fixing method can be implemented as in the prior art. The same applies to the fixing of the sleeper bottom 8 at the lower side 7 of the sleeper 4.

The alternative ballast bed 28 can also have a known fixed substructure, such as a concrete slab or similar material. The sleeper bottom 8, especially in the case of a fixed substructure, can not only be arranged on the underside 7 of the sleeper, but also extend upwards, preferably a considerable distance, from the side of the corresponding sleeper 4. In this case, the sleeper bottom 8 can also be referred to as a sleeper shoe (Schwellenschuhe). The sleeper bottom can also have a known sleeper shoe insert plate.

In addition to Figure 8, it is shown that not only the intermediate layer 6 but also the sleeper bottom 8 is constructed as a single layer in the form of an elastomer layer 10 or 9. As explained at the beginning, this is not necessary. Not only the intermediate layer 6 but also the sleeper bottom 8 may have additional layers attached to its elastomer layer 10 or 9, as exemplarily described at least for the intermediate layer 6, as already explained at the beginning and according to Figure 8, which is further explained below.

In all the figures described below, the elastomeric layer 9 at the bottom of the sleeper 8 and the elastomeric layer 10 in the middle layer 6 are depicted with different shading lines. Each type of shading line exemplarily represents a specific stiffness or softness of the corresponding elastomeric layer 9 or 10, wherein the chosen illustrations are simply proportionate to each other. In all the illustrations, the stiffest elastomeric layer 9 or 10 is depicted with a vertical dashed line. The intermediate stiffness or softness is depicted with a sloping dashed line. The softest elastomeric layers 9 and 10 are characterized by horizontal shading lines.

Figure 2 shows a vertical cross-sectional view along section line AA in the intermediate rail region 15, in which rail 2 is also referred to as intermediate rail 25. As explained at the beginning, there are two vertically spaced elastic planes. The lower elastic plane is formed by the elastic layer 9 of the sleeper bottom 8. The upper elastic plane is achieved by the elastic layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6. By coordinating the elastic properties or softness of the respective elastic layers 9 and 10, the overall elasticity along the turnout 1 can generally be matched with the corresponding local requirements. In the intermediate rail region 15 according to Figure 2, the elasticity or softness of the elastic layer 9 of the sleeper bottom 8 is constructed consistently along the entire longitudinal extension dimension 31 of the sleeper 4. The elastic layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6, arranged on the upper side 5 of the sleeper, is stiffer than the elastic layer 9 of the sleeper bottom 8, but is constructed to be equally soft or stiff relative to each other.

Figure 3 shows a vertical cross-section along the longitudinal direction 13 of turnout 1 in Figure 1, passing through the same sleeper as in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a vertical cross-section along the section line CC in Figure 1 in the center region 16 of turnout 1, and thus along the sleeper 4 constructed as a long sleeper, which is always eccentrically loaded when a train passes over it, because the train travels either along the main rail 3 or along the branch rail 18. This inevitably leads to unilateral loading and thus a tendency for sleeper 4 to overturn in this region. To overcome this, the outer region 11 of the elastic layer 9 of the sleeper bottom 8 is constructed to be stiffer than the central region 12 of the elastic layer 9 of the sleeper bottom 8. However, the feasibility of this method to compensate for the overturning effect is limited. To avoid overloading of the sleeper 4 in its middle section, the softness in region 12 of the sleeper bottom 8 or its elastic layer 9 cannot deviate too much from the edge region 11. In order to achieve the ideal softness for the support of the second track 30 in this middle region of the sleeper 4 despite this, the softness of the elastic layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 is also changed along the longitudinal direction 31 of the sleeper 4. Therefore, relating to a first example, in which the elastic layer 9 of the bottom 8 of a corresponding sleeper in the sleeper 4 has at least two regions 11 and 12 of different softness, wherein the harder region 11 of the elastic layer 9 of the bottom 8 of the sleeper is arranged below the first track 29 in the track, while the softer region 12 of the elastic layer 9 of the bottom 8 of the sleeper is arranged below the second track 30 in the track, wherein the first track 29 and the second track 30 in the track are fixed to the upper side 5 of the corresponding sleeper 4 at a distance from each other. Furthermore, the elastic layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 between the first track 29 and the upper side 5 of the sleeper 4 and the elastic layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 between the second track 30 and the upper side 5 of the sleeper 4 are not of the same hardness relative to each other. Specifically, the elastic layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 between the first track 29 and the upper side 5 of the sleeper 4 is harder than the elastic layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 between the second track 30 and the upper side 5 of the sleeper 4.

Figure 5 shows a second example in which the softness of the elastomeric layers 9 and 10 varies along the longitudinal direction 31 of the sleeper 4, not only in the sleeper bottom 8 but also in the intermediate layer 6. This relates to a vertical cross-section along the section line DD in Figure 1, specifically a vertical cross-section of the short sleepers 21 immediately following the last continuous sleeper 20. These short sleepers 21 tend to overturn because they protrude less beyond the track 2 on one side than on the opposite side due to space constraints on one side. This overturning effect can be overcome by the varying softness or hardness of regions 11 and 12 of the elastomeric layer 9 in the sleeper bottom 8. However, measurements have shown that while leveling is achieved, the resulting load is still highly uneven, leading to varying settlement in the substructure, specifically in the ballast bed 28. Here, the additional elastomeric layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6, i.e., the second elastic plane, allows for further fine coordination of elasticity or softness along the longitudinal direction 31 of the sleeper 4. This also generally results in improved and more uniform load leveling in the region of the unilaterally shortened short sleeper 21. Preferably, the softer intermediate layer 6 is located on the softer region 12 of the sleeper bottom 8, while the harder intermediate layer 6 is located on the harder region 11 of the sleeper bottom 8.

Figure 6 shows a longitudinal section 13, which is transverse to the sleeper 4 and parallel to the turnout 1 or main rail 3. The following principle is achieved here: the changes in elasticity in the elastic body layers 9 and 10 of the bottom layer 8 and the middle layer 6 are only staggered from each other, that is, not between the same sleepers 4. Therefore, in Figure 6, the elastic body layer 9 of the bottom 8 of at least two of the successively arranged sleepers 4 is configured to be of different softness relative to each other when viewed in the longitudinal direction 13, preferably transverse to and orthogonal to the sleepers 4. Similarly, the elastic body layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 on at least two of the successively arranged sleepers 4 is also configured to be of different softness relative to each other. Specifically, when the softness of the elastic body layer 9 of the bottom 8 of the sleeper varies from one of the sleepers 4 to following the sleepers 4 along the longitudinal direction 13, the elastic body layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 on these two sleepers 4 is equally soft, and/or when the softness of the elastic body layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 varies from one of the sleepers 4 to following the sleepers 4 along the longitudinal direction, the elastic body layer 9 of the bottom 8 of the sleepers below these two sleepers 4 is equally soft. By staggering the changes in elasticity or softness during the transition between the two elastic planes along the longitudinal direction 13, abrupt changes in the elastic characteristics along the turnout 1 are avoided. This indicates the existence of a leveling or balancing effect. This is illustrated exemplarily in Figure 6. Looking from left to right, between the first sleeper 4 and the second sleeper 4, the elasticity of the elastomeric layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 changes first, while the elasticity of the elastomeric layer 9 of the sleeper bottom 8 remains constant during the transition from the first sleeper 4 to the second sleeper 4. Then, from the second sleeper 4 to the third sleeper 4, the elasticity or softness of the elastomeric layer 9 in the sleeper bottom 8 changes, while the elasticity or softness of the elastomeric layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 remains constant during the transition between these two sleepers. Then, between the third sleeper 4 and the fourth sleeper 4, and between the fourth sleeper 4 and the fifth sleeper 4, neither the elasticity of the elastomeric layer 9 nor the elasticity of the elastomeric layer 10 changes, while between the fifth sleeper 4 and the sixth sleeper 4, the softness of the elastomeric layer 9 of the sleeper bottom 8 changes, while the softness of the elastomeric layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 remains constant. Then, when transitioning from the sixth sleeper 4 to the seventh sleeper 4, the softness of the elastic layer 10 in the intermediate layer 6 changes, while the softness of the elastic layer 9 at the bottom of the sleeper 8 no longer changes between the two sleepers 4. This principle is suitably implemented across the entire longitudinal extension of the turnout 1, that is, not only in the main rail 3 but also in the branch rail 18.

Based on the principles depicted in Figures 4 to 6, it is generally suitable that the ballast modulus of the elastic layer 9 at the bottom of the sleeper 8 is in the range of 0.02 N/ ^mm³ to 0.2 N/ ^mm³ , and the stiffness of the elastic layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 is in the range of 5 kN/mm to 150 kN/mm. If the ballast modulus of the elastic layer 9 at the bottom of the sleeper 8 is in the range of 0.2 N/ ^mm³ to 0.3 N/ ^mm³ , then the elastic layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 suitably has a stiffness in the range of 10 kN/mm to 200 kN/mm in this variant. And if the ballast modulus of the elastic layer 9 at the bottom of the sleeper 8 is in the range of 0.3 N/ ^mm³ to 0.6 N/ ^mm³ , then the elastic layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 suitably has a stiffness in the range of 15 kN/mm to 250 kN/mm in the aforementioned variant.

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view ZZ in the switch rail assembly area 14 of Figure 1. To ensure a correspondingly high lateral movement resistance between the respective sleeper 4 and the subgrade (here in the form of a ballast bed 28), a sleeper bottom 8 with a viscoelastic elastomer layer 10 is suitably used. The EPM index of the elastomer layer 9 of the sleeper bottom 8 in this area is suitably between 10% and 25%, preferably between 10% and 20%. The ballast modulus of the elastomer layer 9 of the sleeper bottom 8 in this switch rail assembly area 14 is suitably between 0.1 N/ ^mm³ and 0.6 N/ ^mm³ . To achieve sufficiently soft support for the track 2 in the vertical direction, the intermediate layer 6 is suitably constructed accordingly softly in this switch rail assembly area 14. The elastomer layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 here suitably has a stiffness in the range of 20 kN/mm to 200 kN/mm, preferably 40 to 100 kN/mm. Thus, in general, in the switch rail device area 14 of the turnout 1, the elastomeric layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6 on a corresponding sleeper 4 is appropriately arranged to be softer than the elastomeric layer 9 of the sleeper bottom 8 below that sleeper 4.

In the cross-sectional view shown so far, the intermediate layer 6 consists of a single elastomer layer 10. However, as explained at the beginning, the intermediate layer 6 can also be multi-layered and constructed from different materials. Such an example is shown in Figure 8. Here, the intermediate layer 6 has a metal plate 32 in addition to the elastomer layer 10. The track 2 is fixed to the metal plate 32. This metal plate 32 can be used, for example, to increase the area so that it is pressed against the elastomer layer 10 of the intermediate layer 6. Of course, there are many other variations on how the intermediate layer 6 can be constructed in multiple layers. This also applies to the sleeper bottom 8, wherein, in particular, reference is made to the prior art described at the beginning regarding multi-layered sleeper bottom 8.

List of reference numerals

1. Turnout

2. Track

3. Main railway tracks

4. Railway sleepers

5. Upper side of sleeper

6. Intermediate Layer

7. Underside of sleepers

8. Bottom of sleeper

9. Elastomer layer

10 Elastomer Layer

11 Region

12 Region

13 Longitudinal direction

14. Switchboard Installation Area

15. Intermediate rail area

16. Fork in the middle area

17 Fork in the road

18. Branching rails

19 Wheel guard rail

20 LDS

21. Short sleepers

22 Switch track

23. Switch rail hinge

24. Basic Track

25 Middle track

26 Wing Rail

27 Connecting rails

28 Crushed stone bed

29 First Track

30 Second Track

31 Longitudinal direction

32 Metal Plate

Claims (16)

1. A turnout (1) for rail equipment for rail vehicles, wherein the turnout (1) has a track (2) and a sequence of sleepers (4), and at least two tracks of the track (2) are respectively fixed opposite to each other on the upper side (5) of the corresponding sleepers (4), and an intermediate layer (6) is respectively arranged between the corresponding track and the corresponding upper side (5) of the sleeper in the track (2), and each sleeper (4) has a sleeper bottom (8) on the lower side (7) opposite to its corresponding upper side (5), and each sleeper bottom (8) has at least one elastic layer (9), characterized in that the intermediate layer (6) has at least one elastic layer (10), wherein the elastic layer (9) of the sleeper bottom (8) of one of the sleepers (4) has at least two different soft areas. Regions (11, 12), wherein the harder region (11) of the elastomeric layer (9) of the bottom of the sleeper (8) is arranged below the first track (2, 29) in the track, while the softer region (12) of the elastomeric layer (9) of the bottom of the sleeper (8) is arranged below the second track (2, 30) in the track, wherein the first track (2, 29) and the second track (2, 30) in the track are fixed to the upper side (5) of the respective sleeper (4) at a distance from each other, and the elastomeric layer (10) of the intermediate layer (6) arranged between the first track (2, 29) in the track and the upper side (5) of the sleeper (4) and the elastomeric layer (10) of the intermediate layer (6) arranged between the second track (2, 30) in the track and the upper side (5) of the sleeper (4) are not as soft as each other. 2. The turnout (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the turnout (1), the elastomeric layers (9) of at least two different sleeper bottoms (8) have different track bed moduli and/or in the turnout (1), the elastomeric layers (10) of at least two different intermediate layers (6) have different stiffnesses. 3. The turnout (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elastomeric layer (9) of the corresponding sleeper bottom (8) has a track bed modulus in the range of 0.02 N/ ^mm3 to 0.6 N/ ^mm3 and/or the elastomeric layer (10) of the corresponding intermediate layer (6) has a stiffness in the range of 5 kN/mm to 1000 kN/mm. 4. The turnout (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elastomeric layer (10) of the corresponding intermediate layer (6) and/or the elastomeric layer (9) of the corresponding sleeper bottom (8) are made of polyurethane or rubber or a mixture of polyurethane and/or rubber or composed of polyurethane or rubber or a mixture of polyurethane and/or rubber. 5. The turnout (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elastomeric layer (10) of the intermediate layer (6) arranged between the first track (2,29) in the track and the upper side (5) of the sleeper (4) is harder than the elastomeric layer (10) of the intermediate layer (6) arranged between the second track (2,30) in the track and the upper side (5) of the sleeper (4). 6. The turnout (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the switch rail assembly area (14) of the turnout (1), the elastomeric layer (10) of the intermediate layer (6) on one of the sleepers (4) is softer than the elastomeric layer (9) of the bottom layer (8) of the sleeper below the sleeper (4). 7. The turnout (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the switch rail assembly area (14) of the turnout (1), the elastomeric layer (9) of the bottom of the sleeper (8) is constructed to be viscoelastic with an EPM index in the range of 10% to 25%. 8. The turnout (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the switch rail device region (14) of the turnout (1), the elastomeric layer (10) of the intermediate layer (6) has a stiffness in the range of 20 kN/mm to 200 kN/mm. 9. The turnout (1) according to claim 3, wherein the track bed modulus is in the range of 0.1 N/ ^mm³ to 0.5 N/ ^mm³ . 10. The turnout (1) according to claim 3, wherein the track bed modulus is in the range of 0.15 N/ ^mm³ to 0.4 N/ ^mm³ . 11. The turnout (1) according to claim 3, wherein the stiffness is in the range of 10kN/mm to 300kN/mm. 12. The turnout (1) according to claim 3, wherein the stiffness is in the range of 20kN/mm to 200kN/mm. 13. The turnout (1) according to claim 4, wherein the polyurethane is foamed. 14. The turnout (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, viewed in the longitudinal direction (13) orthogonal to the sleepers (4), the elastic body layer (9) of the bottom (8) of at least two of the sleepers (4) arranged successively is constructed to be different softness relative to each other, and the elastic body layer (10) of the intermediate layer (6) on at least two of the sleepers (4) arranged successively is also constructed to be different softness relative to each other, wherein the elastic body layer (9) of the bottom (8) of the sleeper... When the softness varies from one of the sleepers (4) to the sleepers (4) following the aforementioned sleepers along the longitudinal direction (13), the elastomeric layer (10) of the intermediate layer (6) on the two sleepers (4) is equally soft and/or when the softness of the elastomeric layer (10) of the intermediate layer (6) varies from one of the sleepers (4) to the sleepers (4) following the aforementioned sleepers along the longitudinal direction (13), the elastomeric layer (9) of the bottom (8) of the sleeper below the two sleepers (4) is equally soft. 15. The turnout (1) according to claim 7, wherein the EPM index is in the range of 10% to 20%. 16. The turnout (1) according to claim 8, wherein the stiffness is in the range of 40kN/mm to 100kN/mm.