DISPOSITIVO DE EXPANSÃO DE TRILHO E MÉTODO PARA COMPENSAR UMA EXPANSÃO DE UMA EXTREMIDADE DE UM PRIMEIRO TRILHO COM RELAÇÃO A UMA EXTREMIDADE DE UM SEGUNDO TRILHO

Abstract

RAIL EXPANSION DEVICE AND METHOD. The present invention relates to a rail expansion device (30) and a method for compensating for the expansion of the first rail (F1) with respect to the second rail (R2), the rail expansion device (3) being configured to connect the first rail (F1) to the second rail (R2) and comprising: - a front connecting rail (31), comprising a front end FE1 and a rear end RE1, wherein the front end FE1 is configured to be connected to the first rail (F1); - a rear connecting rail (32), comprising a front end FE2 and a rear end RE2, wherein the rear end RE2 is configured to be connected to the second rail (F2);the rail expansion device (30) evidenced by comprising a splice joint configured to slidely connect the rear end REI (REI) to the front end FE2 (FE2), said splice joint defining a continuous bearing surface (RS) from the front connecting rail (31) to the rear connecting rail (32), said continuous bearing surface (RS) being particularized by a variable longitudinal length configured to vary as a function of the width (D) of an expansion gap (G) separating the front connecting rail (31) from the rear connecting rail (32).

Description

1 / 40 RAIL EXPANSION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR COMPENSATING FOR AN EXPANSION AT ONE END OF A FIRST TRACK WITH RESPECT TO ONE END OF A SECOND TRACK

[001] The present invention relates to a rail expansion device and a method for compensating for rail expansion designed to guide a guided vehicle.

[002] The present invention relates essentially to the field of guided vehicles, the term guided vehicle referring to a means of public transport, such as subways, trains or train subunits, buses, etc., which are configured to transport passengers and for which safety is a very important factor. These guided vehicles are generally guided along a route or railway by means of at least one rail, usually two rails. More specifically, the present invention relates to rail expansion devices, also known as expansion joints, which are installed in areas where a relative longitudinal movement between two directly adjacent axial rails has to be compensated. Such relative movement may result from an expansion / contraction of the rail, or from the relative movement between a bridge structure on which a rail is mounted and a ballast supporting a directly adjacent axial rail.

[003] The present invention relates particularly to guided vehicles comprising a guide unit guided by a single rail installed on a permanent way. The guide unit follows the trajectory defined by said single rail when the guided vehicle moves on said way. The guide unit allows, for example, a guided vehicle guidance system to direct a guided vehicle steering axis along said trajectory in such a way that said guided vehicle does not leave its lane, maintaining the trajectory defined by the rail. Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, p. 8 / 106 2 / 40 Iho. Generally, the aforementioned steering axle is fitted to the wheels of railway trucks.

[004] Although the guide unit is not part of the present invention, a brief description of said guide unit will help to understand the present invention:

[005] The guide unit generally includes a pair of guide wheels, also called guide rollers, mounted in a V-shape and fitted into flanges that make it possible to grip the rail. Such a guide unit is, for example, described in U.S. Patent documents Nos. 7,228,803 B2 and 6,029,579 A1. Vehicles guided by this type of guide unit operate according to the following general principle, described with reference to Figure 1: said guide unit follows the rail 3 by means of a pair of rollers 1, 2 in contact with the rail 3 and gives the guide system a direction to be imposed on a steering axis of the guided vehicle. A rail 3 adapted to guide such a guided vehicle is generally made of a base plate 4 fixed to the ground 5 and a core 6 that supports a head 7 on which the rollers 1, 2 are supported by means of a bearing plane 9.Each of the rollers 1, 2 of the same pair of guide rollers thus has its rolling plane 9 in contact with a surface of the head 7, called the rolling surface 7a, 7b, and symmetrically distributed on each side of the upper part of the head 7. When the vehicle moves, the rollers 1, 2 remain in contact with the head 7, and their respective flanges 10 surround, without contact in a nominal manner, the same and approach the core 6 below it. Since the distance between the lower ends 201, 101 of the two flanges 10 that surround the head 7 is less than the width W of the head 7, an extraction of the head 7 from the grip of said rollers 1, 2, or even from the zone included between the rolling planes 9 and the flanges 10, will only be possible if the angle 11 at which the rollers are fixed, i.e., the... Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 9 / 106 3 / 40 angle corresponding to the sector formed by the rotation axes of each of the rollers 1, 2 of a pair of guide rollers and cut by the plane of symmetry of the V-shaped pair of guide rollers, increase and / or if the flanges 10 and / or outer edges of the head 7 become deformed.

[006] The correct orientation of the vehicle is therefore obtained by coupling the pair of guide rollers of the guide unit of the guide system with the steering axis of the guided vehicle. When the rollers correctly grip rail 3, the guided vehicle follows the trajectory described by rail 3 when it is moving.

[007] An object of the present invention is to propose a rail expansion device and method capable of enabling a significant rail expansion, while being simple to install, easily adapted to different rail configurations, and capable of ensuring a continuous rail-wheel contact that ensures safe movement of the guided vehicle. In particular, the rail expansion device and method should be adapted to the guide units previously described.

[008] To obtain such an object, the present invention proposes a rail expansion device and a method for compensating for rail expansion as presented by the features of the independent claims. Other advantages of the present invention are presented in the dependent claims.

[009] The rail expansion device according to the present invention is configured to connect a first rail to a second rail, more specifically to one end of the first rail, hereinafter called the first end, to one end of the second rail, hereinafter called the second end, wherein the first end is preferably, but not necessarily, aligned longitudinally to the second end; in effect, the rail expansion device according to the present Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 10 / 106 4 / 40 The invention shall also join a first rail to a second rail, the latter defining a curve. In this case, the rail expansion device is characterized by a curved geometry, being essentially a curved segment configured to connect the first end to the second end.

[0010] According to the present invention, the rail expansion device is configured to connect said first rail to said second rail, wherein the first rail and the second rail have preferably identical cross-sections, as illustrated in Figure 1.The said first rail, as well as the said second rail, or in other words, its cross-section, is preferably configured to guide a guide unit of a guided vehicle, said guide unit comprising a pair of guide rollers 1, 2 mounted in a V shape (see Figure 1), respectively a first roller 1 and a second roller 2, designed to rest respectively on a first rolling surface 7a and a second rolling surface 7b of the rail 3, said first and said second rolling surfaces 7a, 7b being positioned on each side of a longitudinal median plane M of said rail 3, each of the rollers preferably being provided with a flange 10, the flanges 10 of the pair of guide rollers 1, 2 making it possible to freely clamp the rail 3.Hereafter, the rolling surface defined by the head geometry of the first rail or the second rail and designed to support a wheel or roller of the guided vehicle, for example, said first rolling surface 7a, or said second rolling surface 7b, shall be referred to as the nominal rolling surface.

[0011] The rail expansion device according to the present invention comprises: - a front connecting rail, comprising a front end FE1 and a rear end RE1, wherein the ex Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 11 / 106 5 / 40 front end FE1 is configured to be connected, for example by welding, to the first rail, for example, to said first end. Preferably, the front end FE1 has a cross-section identical to the cross-section of the first end; - a rear connecting rail comprising a front end FE2 and a rear end RE2, wherein the rear end RE2 is configured to be connected, for example by welding, to the second rail, for example, to said second end. Preferably, the rear end RE2 is characterized by a cross-section identical to the cross-section of the second end and / or the first end; - optionally, a connection box configured to fit, on one side, to the base of the front connection rail and, on the opposite side, to the base of the rear connection rail, said connection box being configured to prevent any transverse and / or vertical displacement of the rear end RE1 relative to the front end FE2, while allowing a relative longitudinal (or axial) displacement of the rear end RE1 relative to the front end FE2. Preferably, the connection box is configured to be fixed to the ground and to secure said bases, while allowing them to slide longitudinally relative to each other and along a predefined distance.Optionally, said junction box is not directly fixed to the ground, but rather mounted mobilely in translation within a fastening system, said fastening system being configured to be fixed to the ground and allow longitudinal translation of the junction box relative to the ground, while preventing any transverse and / or vertical displacement of said junction box. Advantageously, the junction box together with the fastening system allows for the accumulation of expansions from various rail expansion devices. Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 12 / 106 6 / 40 successive according to the present invention.

[0012] According to the present invention, the rail expansion device comprises a splice joint configured to slidely connect the rear end RE1 to the front end FE2, said splice joint defining a continuous bearing surface from the front connecting rail to the rear connecting rail, said continuous bearing surface being particularized by a variable longitudinal length configured to vary as a function of the width of an expansion gap separating the front connecting rail from the rear connecting rail.

[0013] In particular, the splice joint comprises at least one first protruding element extending from the front connecting rail to the rear connecting rail and configured to slidely overlap a first variable portion of the rear connecting rail, said first protruding element and said first variable portion each comprising a part of said continuous bearing surface, which is notably designed to support a roller of a guide unit as described in Figure 1. In other words, according to the present invention, the bearing surface for a roller / wheel is divided between the first variable portion and the first protruding element.

[0014] Preferably, the splice joint comprises a second protruding element extending from the front connecting rail to the rear connecting rail and configured to slidely overlap a second variable portion of the rear connecting rail. For example, the first protruding element may be mounted on said second protruding element so as to define a first longitudinal opening configured to receive a third protruding element, this element extending from the rear connecting rail to the front connecting rail, which overlaps specially. Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 13 / 106 7 / 40 relative to the second protruding element. Preferably, a second opening is defined between the rear connecting rail and said third protruding element for receiving the second protruding element. In other words, the third protruding element is arranged between the first and second protruding elements, the first and second protruding elements being fixed to or part of the front connecting rail, and the third protruding element being fixed to or part of the rear connecting rail, in such a way that they slide one over the other, said first and second openings associated with the expansion gap allowing the relative longitudinal displacement of the front connecting rail, and consequently of the first rail, with respect to the rear connecting rail, by the second rail.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the first salient element is particularized by a width that is less than a nominal width that characterizes the first or second rail head. Preferably, said first variable portion is particularized by a width that is equal to said nominal width of the first or second rail head. In particular, the rolling surface defined for a roller or wheel by the first salient element, and the rolling surface defined by the first variable portion for said same roller or wheel have identical width.

[0016] According to the present invention, the front connecting rail comprises a front splice, and the rear connecting rail comprises a rear splice. The front splice and the rear splice are part of said splice joint. In other words, said splice joint that allows the joining of the front connecting rail to the rear connecting rail by means of overlapping elements comprises said front splice and said rear splice. The front splice is specially configured to be fixed to the cone rail. Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 14 / 106 8 / 40 front connection, especially to said rear end RE1, and the rear connection is configured to be fixed to the rear connection rail, especially to said front end FE2. According to the present invention, the front connection comprises said first protruding element which is configured to span the expansion gap. The width D of this gap is especially a function of a relative longitudinal displacement of the front connection rail with respect to the rear connection rail.

[0017] Preferably, the rear splice comprises said first variable portion, and said first protruding element is configured to extend into the rear connecting rail and to slide smoothly rest upon the first variable portion of the rear splice. This splice therefore comprises an overlapping surface, wherein the longitudinal length of said surface overlapped by the first protruding element depends on the value of the width D of the expansion gap.Therefore, the front splice and the rear splice each comprise said rolling surface as defined by the first protruding element of the front splice and by said first variable portion of the rear splice, said rolling surfaces being contiguous and / or configured to define a continuous rolling surface for a roller / wheel such that said roller / wheel moving from the rear end RE1 to the front end FE2 is continuously in contact with a contact rolling surface that is dependent on the longitudinal position of the roller / wheel between said rear end RE1 and said front end FE2, and on the width D of the expansion gap, of the rolling surface of the first protruding element, or of the rolling surface of the variable portion, or of the rolling surface of the variable portion and the protruding element.

[0018] Preferably, the front splice Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, p. 15 / 106 9 / 40 comprises an upper piece extending longitudinally along its length to the rear connecting rail, said upper piece comprising a base piece and said first protruding element, wherein the base piece is configured to be fixed to the front connecting rail, and said first protruding element extending from the base piece to the rear connecting rail so as to span the expansion gap, said gap being specifically defined between a base of the front connecting rail and the base of the rear connecting rail. The base piece together with the first protruding element defines a continuous rolling surface for the roller, wherein, for the same roller, the width of the rolling surface of the base piece is equal to the width of the rolling surface of the first protruding element plus the width of the rolling surface of the variable portion.In particular, the base piece and the variable portion both define a rail head characterized by a width configured to be identical to the width of the first or second rail head.

[0019] Preferably, the rear splice comprises said third protruding element, which may be configured to also span the expansion gap. In other words, the third protruding element of the rear splice comprises said first variable portion, which defines said surface of the rear splice that is configured to be overlapped by the first protruding element, the length of the overlapping surface depending on the width of the expansion gap.

[0020] As explained above, the third projecting element preferably cooperates with the first and second projecting elements to define said first and second openings, which are respectively configured to allow a longitudinal displacement of the third, or the second, projecting element towards the tri Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 16 / 106 10 / 40 Front or rear connection point in the case of a decrease in the width D of the expansion gap, or conversely in the case of an increase in said width D. In particular, both or at least one of said openings may be closed when the width D of said expansion gap reaches a minimum value. The longitudinal lengths of said first and second openings, therefore, vary depending on the value of the width D of the expansion gap. Preferably, the first protruding element and the first variable portion each comprise, and for each roller of a guide unit designed to guide a guided vehicle according to a trajectory defined by said first and second rails, a part, preferably half, of a longitudinally extended rolling surface designed to support the roller in question, said rolling surface being preferably equal to the nominal rolling surface.

[0021] Preferably, the front joint comprises a lower piece configured to be fixed to the front connecting rail and to support the base piece of the upper piece, said lower piece comprising or being said second protruding element. In other words, the lower piece, with respect to the upper piece, extends longitudinally to the rear connecting rail and passes through said expansion gap. For example, the lower piece has one side supported by the front connecting rail and another side supported by the rear connecting rail. The base piece is specially configured to be fixed to the front connecting rail either directly, for example, through holes made in the lower piece, or indirectly, for example, using a fastening means configured to adjust the base piece to the lower piece.A space arranged between the upper and lower parts is configured to define said first longitudinally extended opening, located between the first protruding element and an upper surface of the lower part, said first opening. Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 17 / 106 11 / 40 being configured to receive the third protruding element mounted in a sliding manner along the upper surface, thus overlapping the lower piece above a third variable portion.The lower part comprises especially at least one portion characterized by a constant width, said portion extending longitudinally at least from a first cross-section to a second cross-section, said first cross-section being configured to be positioned at a first longitudinal end of the first opening, and the second cross-section at a second longitudinal end of the first opening defined when the same is at its maximum, that is, when the width D reaches a maximum value D for the expansion clearance, said first longitudinal end being the longitudinal end directed towards the front connecting rail, and said second longitudinal end being the longitudinal end directed towards the rear connecting rail, said constant width being configured to be equal to the width of the head of the first rail or the second rail.In other words, the aforementioned constant width portion corresponds, therefore, to the part of the lower piece that remains free of overlap when the expansion gap is at its maximum value, and which is, in that case, configured to be overlapped by the third protruding element, since the width of the expansion gap decreases from its maximum value. According to the description above, the third protruding element rests on the lower piece and serves as a support for the first protruding element, the said third protruding element being interposed between the lower piece and the upper piece.

[0022] According to the present invention, the front joint therefore comprises one side supported by the front connecting rail and the other longitudinally opposite side, which especially comprises said first protruding element, configured to sit Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 18 / 106 12 / 40 tar on the rear splice. As for the rear splice, it comprises one side supported by the rear connecting rail, and the opposite longitudinal side, which comprises said third protruding element, supported by the lower piece of the front splice. In particular, said third protruding piece may or may not cross the expansion gap (see, for example, numerical reference 320A in Figures 3 and 4). Preferably, the front splice together with and in contact with the rear splice both define a rail head configured to support each roller or wheel of a guide unit that moves from the front connecting rail to the rear connecting rail.

[0023] According to the present invention, and in particular, the connection box is configured to adjust the bases as explained above and to limit their relative longitudinal displacement, providing / defining, for example, a minimum value D' and a maximum value D for the variable width D of the expansion gap. The limitation of said relative longitudinal displacement may be done by means of a slot and pin system, wherein a slot is disposed within the connection box (and / or within one of said bases) and configured to receive a pin fixed to the base of the first or second connection rail (and / or to the connection box), wherein the slot extends longitudinally and therefore defines a longitudinal area within which a longitudinal movement of the pin, and consequently of the base (and / or of a connection box) to which said pin is fixed, is limited.

[0024] The widths of the first protruding element, the base piece, the first variable portion, and the constant-width lower piece portion are specifically measured in a cross-section, as shown in Figure 1. Preferably, the front connecting rail comprises a rail head extending longitudinally from the front end FE1 to the front joint, and characterized by a width equal to said nominal width. In other words, the device Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 19 / 106 13 / 40 The rail expansion device comprises, from said front end FE1 to said first protruding element, a rail head characterized by a width equal to said nominal width. Similarly, the rear connecting rail comprises a rail head extended longitudinally from the rear end RE2 to the rear splice, and characterized by a width equal to said nominal width. Advantageously, due to the interleaved construction of the rail expansion device, the aforementioned characteristics will ensure that the rail expansion device continuously has, from the front end FE1 to the rear end RE2, a rail head width equal to said nominal width.Furthermore, in order to increase the rigidity of the rail expansion device according to the present invention, the first protruding element preferably comprises a reinforcing structure installed on its upper surface and extending from the front connecting rail to the second connecting rail. In particular, since the longitudinally extended reinforcing structure is mounted on top of the first protruding element, the rail height at the location of that first protruding element will be greater than the nominal rail height of the first or second rail.In order to allow a sliding contact shoe of the guide unit to rise to this additional height, the rail expansion device will further comprise a first ramp connecting the upper surface of the rail head of the front connecting rail to the upper surface of the reinforcing structure, and a second ramp connecting said upper surface of the reinforcing structure to the upper surface of the rail head of the rear connecting rail.

[0025] The concept of the present invention can be applied to different rail head configurations. A preferred use of the rail expansion device according to the present invention relates to rails for guiding guide units comprising a Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 20 / 106 14 / 40 pair of guide rollers 1, 2 mounted in a V-shape as described in Figure 1. In this case, the first rail and the second rail are typically characterized by a rail head (see Figure 1) whose width W is greater than the distance separating the lower ends 101, 201 of the flanges 10 of the guide rollers 1, 2 in order to prevent the rail from being pulled out of the fork formed by the flanges 10. As shown above, the rail expansion device according to the present invention allows in particular to maintain said width W continuously from the first end to the second end, thus preventing any vertical movement of the flanges and rollers, or in other words, any pulling out of the rail expansion device from said fork, which could result in the guide unit leaving the trajectory defined by the first and second rails.

[0026] Finally, the present invention further proposes a method for compensating for an expansion, i.e., a longitudinal displacement, of one end (i.e., said first end) of a first rail with respect to one end (i.e., said second end) of a second rail, the method comprising the step of connecting the first end to the second end by means of a rail expansion device, as described above.

[0027] Other aspects of the present invention will be better understood through the following drawings, in which similar numerical references are used for similar or corresponding parts.

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a rail configured to guide a guide system with a pair of V-shaped mounted guide rollers.

[0029] Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the main concept of a rail expansion device according to the present invention.

[0030] Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of a Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 21 / 106 15 / 40 first preferred embodiment of the concept according to the present invention.

[0031] Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of a second preferred embodiment of the concept according to the present invention.

[0032] Figure 5 shows a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of a junction box with the expansion gap at its minimum value.

[0033] Figure 6 shows a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of a junction box with the expansion gap at its maximum value.

[0034] Figure 7 shows details of a preferred construction of the junction box according to the present invention.

[0035] Figure 8 shows details of a cross-section of a preferred embodiment of the rail expansion device according to the present invention.

[0036] Figure 9 shows a three-dimensional illustration of a preferred embodiment of a front splice and a front connecting rail according to the present invention.

[0037] Figure 10 shows a three-dimensional illustration of a preferred embodiment of a back splice and a back connecting rail according to the present invention.

[0038] Figure 11 is a three-dimensional schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the rail expansion device according to the present invention.

[0039] Figure 12 shows a schematic illustration of roller bearing surfaces for the different C105 cross-sections of the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 11.

[0040] Figure 13 shows a preferred embodiment for a front ramp according to the present invention. Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, p. 22 / 106 16 / 40

[0041] Figure 14 shows a preferred embodiment for a rear ramp according to the present invention.

[0042] Figure 15 shows a top view of a rail expansion device according to the present invention.

[0043] Figure 1 illustrates a rail 3 adapted to guide a guide unit comprising a pair of guide rollers 1, 2 mounted in a V shape, respectively a first roller 1 and a second roller 2, designed to rest respectively on a first rolling surface 7a and a second rolling surface 7b of the rail 3, said first and said second rolling surfaces 7a, 7b being positioned on each side of a longitudinal median plane M of said rail 3, each of the rollers preferably being provided with a flange 10, said flanges 10 making it possible to freely clamp the rail 3.

[0044] The rail expansion device 30 according to the present invention is schematically illustrated in Figure 2. It comprises a front connecting rail 31 and a rear connecting rail 32 configured to connect, i.e., to be fixed, respectively, to a first rail and a second rail. For example, a front end FE1 of the front connecting rail 31 is configured to be fixed to a first end F1 of the first rail, and a rear end RE2 of the second connecting rail 32 is configured to be fixed to a second end R2 of the second rail. Said front end FE1 and rear end RE2 can be respectively fixed to said first end F1 and second end R2 by any means known in the art, such as welding systems, pins and screws, fastening means, notch and tenon systems, etc., or a combination thereof.In particular, the front connection rail 31 and the rear connection rail 32 each comprise a base, respectively a. Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 23 / 106 17 / 40 base B1 for the front connecting rail 31 and a base B2 for the rear connecting rail 32 (see, for example, Figures 5 and 6), as well as a rail and a rail head, are configured to support and guide a guide unit of a guided vehicle. Said bases are adapted to rest on a support surface, such as ground or sleepers. Preferably, a cross-section of the front end base B1 FE1 is, in particular, identical to a cross-section of the rear end RE2 of base B2 and, preferably, both are also geometrically identical to the cross-section of the first end base F1 or the second end base R2. In effect, the cross-section and / or geometry of the front end FE1 or the rear end RE2 is preferably identical to the cross-section and / or geometry of the first end F1 or the second end R2 in order to provide continuity to the rail and facilitate their connection.According to the present invention, the cross-section and / or geometry of the rear end RE1 is, in particular, substantially different from the cross-section and / or geometry of the front end FE2 in such a way that they can cooperate with each other for the compensation and expansion / contraction of the first rail or the second rail.

[0045] According to the present invention, the rear end RE1 and the front end FE2 are slidably connected to each other by means of a splicing joint of the rail expansion device 30. Said splicing joint comprises at least one first protruding element 312A extending from the front connecting rail 31 to the rear connecting rail 32 and configured to slidably overlap a first variable portion of the rear connecting rail 32. According to the present invention, the first protruding element 312A and said first variable portion together define a continuous rolling surface for a roller of a unit of Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 24 / 106 18 / 40 guide, wherein said continuous rolling surface is particularized by a variable longitudinal length whose variation will depend on the value of a width D of an expansion gap G that separates the rear end RE1 from the front end FE2. Preferably, a front splice 310 of the splice joint comprises said first protruding element 312A, and a rear splice 320 of the splice joint comprises said first variable portion. In other words, the front connecting rail 31 is equipped with said front splice 310, and the rear connecting rail 32 is equipped with said rear splice 320.

[0046] Preferably, the first connecting rail 31, or the second connecting rail 32, has the shape of a rail, that is, it has, as usual, a base, a network, and a head, and extends from the front end FE1 to the rear end RE1, or from the rear end RE2 to the front end FE2, wherein, at said rear end RE1, or at said front end FE2, the head and optionally part of the network is cut / removed to receive said front splice 310, or said rear splice 320, which comprises bearing surfaces for each roller / wheel of the guide unit. The front splice 310 and the rear splice 320 form a splice joint configured to compensate for an expansion of the length of the rail system formed by the first and second rails.The front splice 310 and, optionally, the rear splice 320, as illustrated in Figure 3, are configured to extend longitudinally over the expansion gap G specially arranged between bases B1 and B2, thus projecting beyond base B1 or base B2 for the rear splice 320, and crossing said expansion gap G that separates base B1 of the front connection rail 31 from base B2 of the rear connection rail 32. The front splice 310, or the rear splice 320, may be... Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 25 / 106 19 / 40 fixed to the body / structure of the front connecting rail 31 or the rear connecting rail 32, by any known means, such as welding systems, fastening means, pins and screws, or a combination thereof.

[0047] Preferably, base B1, resp. B2, extends longitudinally from the front end FE1, resp. FE2, to the rear end RE1, resp. RE2. According to the present invention, base B1 is separated from base B2 by said expansion gap G, which will allow a relative longitudinal displacement or translation of one of said bases with respect to the other. In other words, and, for example, in the case of an extension or dilation of the first rail, the first end F1, for example, will push the front connecting rail 31 towards the rear connecting rail 32, thus decreasing the width D of the expansion gap G. Conversely, a contraction of the first rail will increase the width D of the expansion gap G. Said variable width D of the expansion gap G will therefore allow the rail expansion device 30 to compensate for any relative longitudinal movement of the first end F1 with respect to the second end R2.A maximum value D for the width D of the expansion gap G is, for example, between 100 mm and 200 mm, preferably 150 mm. A minimum value D' may be zero or greater than zero, but preferably close to zero.

[0048] Said bases B1, B2 are, in particular, configured to cooperate with a junction box 8, which is specially configured to limit said maximum value D, and optionally to define the minimum value D' for the expansion gap G, wherein D' may be equal to zero. Said junction box 8 has a substantially rectangular shape, extending longitudinally from a first side to a second side opposite the first side, connecting the rear end RE1 to the front end FE2. The junction box Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 26 / 106 20 / 40 is preferably adapted to secure the rear end RE1 on the first side and the front end FE2 on the second side in such a way that a relative longitudinal translation of the rear end RE1 with respect to the front end FE2 is permitted, while any transverse and / or vertical displacement is prevented.

[0049] Figures 5 to 8 show more details regarding preferred embodiments of the junction box 8 according to the present invention. Said junction box 8 preferably comprises: - a grounding plate 81, particularly evidenced by a rectangular shape, and configured to extend from the rear end RE1 to the front end FE2, its longitudinal length being configured to allow the width D of the expansion gap G to reach said maximum width D separating the longitudinal ends of the bases B1 and B2; - a pair of longitudinal clamps 82 configured to be fixed to the grounding plate 81, for example, by means of screws 83 and / or pins, wherein one longitudinal side of the grounding plate 81 is configured to receive one of said longitudinal clamps 82, and the opposite longitudinal side is configured to receive the other longitudinal clamp 82, such that each longitudinal side of the bases B1, B2 is fastened by one of said longitudinal clamps 82. In particular, the longitudinal length of each of said longitudinal clamps 82 is equal to the longitudinal length of the grounding plate 81. Each longitudinal clamp 82 preferably comprises a projecting part 821 directed towards, i.e., extended in the direction of the railway network and configured to allow a longitudinal edge of the bases B1 and B2 to be interposed between the grounding plate 81 and the projecting part 821 (see Figure 8); - optionally, the junction box includes, for ca Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 27 / 106 21 / 40 of the longitudinal clamp 82, a protective housing 86 configured to be fixed to an upper surface of the longitudinal clamp 82, for example, on its projecting part 821, and configured to have a longitudinal side that contacts a rail base surface preferably comprised between the rail network and the longitudinal edge of the projecting part 821 in such a way that the space located between said longitudinal edge and the rail base is closed and therefore remains free from dust that could prevent the sliding of bases B1, B2 inside the connection box 8.

[0050] The junction box 8 further comprises pins for limiting the relative displacement of one base with respect to another base within the junction box 8. For example, one or more fixing pins 84 are fixed to the grounding plate 81, which preferably extends perpendicular to them, and are configured to be positioned within a corresponding hole made in the base B1 of the front connection rail 31 (see Figures 5 and 6), said hole extending and opening into a corresponding additional hole made in the protruding part 821, the fixing pin 84 and receiving hole system (i.e., the receiving holes including the base receiving hole and the protruding part receiving hole) being configured to prevent relative movement of the base with respect to the junction box 8, the hole having, for example, a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the fixing pin.Additionally, at least one sliding pin 85 is configured to slide within a slot 322 made in the base B2 of the rear connection rail 32. Evidently, instead of adjusting the base B1 to the connection box 8, the fixing pins 84 may be configured to adjust the connection box 8 to the base B2, and in that case, the base B1 will comprise said slot 322. Optionally, the connection box comprises only the sliding pins 85 arranged on its grounding plate 81, wherein... Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 28 / 106 22 / 40 minus one of said sliding pins 85 is configured to slide in a slot 322 of base B1, while at least one other of said sliding pins 85 is configured to slide in a slot 322 of base B2. In any case, said slot 322 is preferably an extended longitudinal slot parallel to the rail network, the length of which is configured to limit the relative displacement of base B1 with respect to base B2, thus defining said minimum value D' and maximum value D for the expansion clearance G. The sliding pin 85 preferably extends vertically, i.e., perpendicular to the grounding plate 81, passes through the slot 322 and is then received in a hole made in the protruding part 821 of the longitudinal clamp 82, as shown, for example, in Figures 5 and 6.These figures show in particular two configurations of the rail expansion device 30, wherein, in the first configuration illustrated in Figure 5, the expansion clearance G is at its minimum value, i.e., with its width D = D', and wherein, in the second configuration illustrated in Figure 6, the expansion clearance G is at its maximum value, i.e., with its width D = D. According to the present invention, and preferably, the sliding pins 85 and the fixing pins 84 are arranged on the grounding plate 81 so as to be symmetrically located on each side of the rail with respect to the longitudinal median plane M perpendicular to the grounding plate 81. Obviously, other embodiments are equally possible, wherein, for example, the protruding part 821 comprises one or more slots, and the base B1 and / or B2 comprises a sliding pin that cooperates with one of said slots.When only one base is movable with respect to the junction box, in this case, the other base will comprise at least one fixing pin that is fixed to the protruding part 821.

[0051] Optionally, according to a preferred embodiment, the junction box 8 may be directly fixed to the ground. From Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, p. 29 / 106 23 / 40 According to another preferred embodiment, the junction box 8 is mounted movably in translation in a fastening system 9, as shown in Figures 11 and 8, said fastening system 9 being configured to be fixed to the ground. The fastening system 9 comprises especially a first longitudinal main clamp 91 and a second longitudinal main clamp 92, each configured to fasten the junction box 8 in such a way that longitudinal movement of the junction box 8 within the main clamps 91, 92 is possible, while transverse and / or vertical movement is prevented. For example, the first longitudinal main clamp 91 is configured to longitudinally adjust one of the longitudinal clamps 82, and the second longitudinal main clamp 92 is configured to longitudinally adjust the other of said longitudinal clamps 82.For example, these clamps are each configured to fit an external protruding part 822 of the longitudinal clamp 82 of the junction box 8, which is disposed along part or all of the longitudinal length of the longitudinal clamp 82, and said external protruding part 822 extends outward from the rail or base attached B1, B2, for example, in a direction perpendicular to the median plane M. As shown in Figures 11 and 15, the longitudinal length of the fastening system 9, especially of said first and second main longitudinal clamps 91, 92, is greater than the longitudinal length of the junction box 8. For example, and preferably, the longitudinal length of the fastening system 9 is equal to the longitudinal length of the junction box plus one or more times the width of the expansion gap G.Advantageously, since the connection box 8 is configured to be movable within the fastening system 9, it will allow for several rail expansion devices 30 according to the present invention to be mounted in series, for example, one. Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 30 / 106 24 / 40 directly after the other, so as to increase the maximum width of a total expansion gap, this gap being the sum of the maximum widths of the expansion gaps of each rail expansion device comprised in said series. Advantageously, the present invention allows connecting in series at least up to three rail expansion devices according to the present invention, in order to allow, for example, a maximum width equal to 45 cm for the total expansion gap, each rail expansion device in the series typically allowing a maximum width of 15 cm for its expansion gap.

[0052] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the splice joint comprises at least one protruding element, especially said first protruding element 312A, which spans the expansion gap G and cooperates with the rear connecting rail 32 for overlapping and sliding over a variable portion thereof. Preferably, and as already explained, the front end FE2 of the rear connecting rail 32 comprises a rear splice 320 comprising said variable portion configured to be overlapped by the first protruding element 312, and the front connecting rail 31 comprises a front splice 310 comprising said first protruding element 312A. The front splice components 310 and rear splice 320 of the rail expansion device form said splice joint. According to Figure 2, the splice joint comprises a single protruding element, which is said first protruding element 312A.According to Figures 3 and 4, the splice joint comprises several, preferably three, protruding elements, namely, a first protruding element 312A, a second protruding element 311A, and a third protruding element 320A. Preferably, at least two protruding elements span the expansion gap G. Preferably, said at least two protruding elements span a. Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 31 / 106 25 / 40 expansion gap G extends from the rear end RE1 from the front connection rail 31 to the rear connection rail 32, and each of these then overlaps and slides over a variable portion of the rear connection rail 31. For example, Figures 3 and 4 show the first and second protruding elements extending over the expansion gap G, overlapping and sliding over the first variable portion of the rear splice 320 and, respectively, over the second variable portion of the rear connection rail 32. Said second variable portion is a part of the front end FE2 that is configured and adapted to slideably receive and support the second protruding element 311A. The first, or the second, protruding element is slideably mounted with respect to the third protruding element 320A, or to the body / structure of the rear connection rail and the third protruding element 320A.The third protruding element 320 may extend over the expansion gap G, as shown in Figure 3, with one side supported by the rear connection rail 32 and one side supported by the front connection rail 31, i.e., extending beyond the free end of the front end FE2, or it may extend in the direction of said expansion gap, but without extending beyond said free end of the front end FE2, said free end being the end of the rear connection rail that is directed towards the rear end RE1.

[0053] Preferred configurations of the front and rear splices are illustrated by Figures 9 and 10. As shown in Figure 9, the front splice is configured to be fixed to the rear end RE1 of the front connection rail 31. As for the rear splice, it is configured to be fixed to the front end FE2 of the rear connection rail 32 (see Figure 10). Fastening means such as screws 83 and / or pins are preferably used to adjust the Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 32 / 106 26 / 40 splices 310, 320 to the body / structure of their respective connecting rails 31, 32. The front splice 310 is configured to extend longitudinally to the rear connecting rail 32 and comprises at least said first protruding element 312A which extends beyond the base B1, overcoming the expansion gap G, and therefore having one of its ends supported by the rear connecting rail 32.The rear splice 320 is configured to extend longitudinally, preferably comprising said third protruding element 320A which extends longitudinally to the front connecting rail 31, according to a first embodiment, said extension going beyond base B2 so as to also pass the expansion gap G, and, according to a second embodiment, said extension going only to the end of base B2 and not beyond in the direction of the front connecting rail 31 such that its longitudinal extension in the direction from the front connecting rail 31 stops at the end of the front end FE2.

[0054] Preferably, the front joint 310 comprises an upper piece 312 extending longitudinally along its length to the rear connecting rail 32 and configured to span said expansion gap G. The upper piece 312 comprises a base piece 312B and said first protruding element 312A, said first element extending from the base piece 312B to the rear connecting rail 32. The base piece 312B is configured to rest on and be fixed to the body / structure of the front connecting rail 31. Optionally, the front joint 312 comprises a lower piece 311 configured to extend longitudinally along its length to the rear connecting rail 32, having one of its longitudinal ends fixed to and supported by the body / structure of the front connecting rail 31, and its other longitudinal end configured to rest on and be supported by the rail of Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 33 / 106 27 / 40 rear connection 32. The lower part 311 is therefore preferably also configured to span said expansion gap G. Preferably, the base part 312B is configured to be supported by the lower part 311, being, for example, bolted to the lower part 311 and / or to the body / structure of the front connection rail 31. Between the first protruding element 312A and the lower part 311, a first opening 310A is longitudinally arranged to receive the third protruding element 320A of the rear connection rail joint 320.

[0055] The rear splice 320 further comprises a base piece 320B and said third protruding element 320A, this third element being specially configured to extend from said base piece 320B to the rear end RE1, i.e., beyond the base piece 320B. This piece is preferably configured to sit and be fixed to the body / structure of the rear connecting rail 32. As already explained, the third protruding element 320A may or may not be configured to pass through the expansion gap G. The third protruding element 320A is configured to slide and sit in the first opening 310A located between the first protruding element 312A and the lower piece 311 of the front splice 310.In particular, said third protruding element 320A extends beyond the base piece 320B so as to create a second opening 321A (see Figures 3 and 4, together with Figure 10) disposed between the third protruding element 320A and the body / structure of the rear connecting rail 32, more precisely the front end FE2. The second opening 321A is configured to receive the second protruding element 311A, which is part of the lower piece 311 that is configured to extend beyond the rear end RE1 of the front connecting rail 31. In particular, the second protruding element 311A ​​is mounted in a sliding manner within said second opening 321A, and the third element. Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 34 / 106 The 28 / 40 protruding 320A is mounted in a sliding manner inside the first 310A opening.

[0056] According to the present invention, the first protruding element 312A overlaps a corresponding overlapping piece of the back joint 320 along a variable length whose variation is a function of the variable width D of the expansion gap G. Said overlapping piece comprises at least the protruding part 320A: For example, the first protruding element 312A is configured to slide over an upper surface of the third protruding element 320A and an upper surface of the base piece 320B, which are continuous with each other.

[0057] According to the present invention, the words top, bottom, upper refer to the vertical construction of the rail expansion device with respect to the ground, a preferred vertical construction being illustrated by the cross-section T of Figure 12: the lower front splice piece 311 is mounted on the rear end RE1 comprising at least the base B1 and optionally a lower mesh piece.The lower front splice piece 311 comprises at least one lower railhead piece 121 and, optionally, an upper mesh piece 120, wherein the rear splice 320 has its base piece 320B mounted on the front end FE2 comprising at least the base B2 and, optionally, a lower mesh piece, the rear splice base piece 320B and the third protruding element 320A comprising at least one intermediate railhead piece 122, said base piece 320B further comprising the lower railhead piece 121 and optionally also said upper mesh piece 120, the third protruding element 320A being mounted on top of the second protruding element 311A, and finally, the upper front splice piece 312 is installed on top of the lower piece 311 and the rear splice 320, said. Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 35 / 106 29 / 40 upper part 312 comprising at least one upper part 123 of the rail head extending from its base part 312B to its first projecting element 312A, its base part 312B further comprising said intermediate part 122 of the rail head. The superposition of the upper, intermediate, and lower parts of the rail head, or in other words, their projection onto a transverse plane, defines a rail head with an external shape substantially identical to the rail head of the first or second rail. In particular, due to the fact that the intermediate part 122 and the lower part 121 are configured to have a width W equal to the width of the first or second rail head, the extraction of the flanges from a guide unit is avoided.

[0058] As shown in the preferred embodiments illustrated in Figure 12, the first protruding element 312A and the first variable rear splice portion, whose lengths vary depending on the overlap by said first protruding element 312A, each comprise, for each roller of a guide unit designed to guide a guided vehicle according to a trajectory defined by said first and second rails, a portion, preferably half, of a longitudinally extended rolling surface designed to support said roller. This aspect ensures that, whatever the width D of the expansion gap G, a roller or wheel will always contact, for example, at least half of the rolling surface that it would contact when moving on the first or second rail.In order to illustrate this aspect, Figure 12 shows RS bearing surfaces for each roller of a guide unit comprising a pair of V-shaped guide rollers, as shown in Figure 1, for the five different cross-sections C1-05 taken at five different longitudinal positions of the rail expansion device and identified by their corresponding cross-sections C1-05 in. Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 36 / 106 30 / 40 Figure 11.

[0059] According to the preferred embodiment of the rail expansion device 30 shown in Figure 11, a pair of identical rolling surfaces RS is symmetrically arranged on each side of a median plane M (i.e., on a vertical plane that extends longitudinally from the first rail to the second rail and passes through the middle of the rail expansion device) as illustrated in cross-section C3 of Figure 12.The said rolling surfaces of the rail expansion device are configured to continuously extend the rolling surfaces of the first and second rails, such that a guide roller moving on one side of said median plane M from the first rail to the second rail, when passing through the rail expansion device according to the present invention, remains continuously in contact with a rolling surface, i.e., with the rail head, defined by the rail expansion device on said side, regardless of the width value D of the expansion gap, with the value D being between the minimum value D' and the maximum value D. Each rolling surface RS of the rail expansion device is designed to support a guide roller of a guide unit, as illustrated in Figure 1.For this purpose, the said RS rolling surfaces are, in particular, not parallel to the ground or permanent way, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, but rather inclined with respect to it at an angle of inclination equal to half the angle 11 formed by the axes of rotation of the guide rollers 1, 2 (see Figure 1).

[0060] When moving from the first rail to the second rail, a guide roller will first encounter the rolling surface of the head of the front connecting rail at its front end FE1, and, due especially to the identical outer shape of their cross-sections, the rolling surfaces of the first rail and Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 37 / 106 31 / 40 of the front connecting rail head will have identical widths and will be continuous with each other. The rolling surface of the front connecting rail head then extends continuously from the front end FE1 to the rear end RE1, said head being defined by the shape of the front splice 310. Said shape is configured to provide continuity of the rolling surface (i.e., the roller is always in contact with the rail head) along the entire longitudinal length of the front splice 310 until it reaches the rear splice 320 which defines the shape of the rear connecting rail head 32 at the front end FE2.The said rail head shape defined by the rear splice 320 is configured to ensure the continuity of said rolling surface from the front splice 310 at said front end FE2 to the rear end RE2, wherein the rolling surface of the second rail head and the rear part connecting the rail head at said rear end RE2 have identical widths and are continuous with each other. For example, the rear connecting rail is particularized, at its rear end RE2, by a rail head whose external cross-sectional shape is preferably identical to the external shape of a cross-section of the second rail, thus ensuring the continuity of the rolling surface from the rear end RE2 to the second rail.By continuity of the rolling surfaces, the present invention means that adjacent / contiguous rolling surfaces are located in the same plane and have a common line or edge, such that a roller moving on said rolling surfaces does not encounter any clearance when passing from one rolling surface to another adjacent / contiguous rolling surface or when moving simultaneously on two adjacent / contiguous rolling surfaces.

[0061] The above-mentioned characteristics of the device in Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 38 / 106 32 / 40 rail extensions therefore ensure the continuity of a guide roller bearing surface from the first rail to the second rail. Preferably, the width of said bearing surface RS measured in a cross-section of the rail head is never less than half the width of the nominal bearing surface of the first or second rail measured in such a cross-section. In effect, when a guide roller reaches a face splice 310, it will rest on a bearing surface whose width is defined by the cross-section C1 (see Figure 4): the bearing surface width RSW of each of the bearing surfaces RS and the width of each of the nominal bearing surfaces that would be measured in a cross-section of the first or second rail are all equal when considering the cross-section C1.In other words, the base part 312B of the upper part 312 comprises bearing surfaces RS, each of which is particularized by a width RSW that is equal to the width of the bearing surface of the first or second rail that a roller would contact when moving on said first or second rail. When the guide roller moves further in the direction of the second rail, it will run on a bearing surface located above the opening 310A (which corresponds, in particular, to the case in which the width D of the expansion gap G has a value greater than D') and whose width is defined by the cross-section C2, or it will run on a bearing surface whose width is defined by the cross-section C3 (which corresponds, in particular, to the case in which the expansion gap G has a width D = D', i.e., its minimum value, for example, D'=0).The cross-section C2 passes through the opening 310A, that is, when the width D of the expansion gap G is greater than D', the upper piece 312 passes through the opening 310A, having its base piece 312B seated and fixed to the lower piece 311 and its first protruding element 312A seated and / or sliding on the joint. Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 39 / 106 33 / 40 rear 320. In such a case, the cross-section C2 comprises the cross-section of the lower part 311 and the cross-section of the first protruding element 312A, with the opening 310A disposed between them and configured to receive the third protruding element 320A during a decrease in the expansion clearance G. As illustrated in Figure 12, the cross-section of the first protruding element 312A comprises, as described above, a pair of bearing surfaces RS, wherein the width RSW of each of said bearing surfaces RS is preferably half the width of the nominal bearing surface that a roller would contact when moving in the first or second rail.Indeed, and as shown in cross-sections C3 and C4, the first protruding element 312A comprises half the width of the nominal rolling surface, and the overlapping piece of the rear joint 320, that is, said first variable portion, preferably comprises the other half of the width of the nominal rolling surface, as defined by the first or second rail.Thus, as soon as an opening 310A is created, for example, due to an increase in the width D of the expansion gap G, the first protruding element 312A will pass through the created opening 310A, the rail expansion device being thus characterized by a cross-section C2 of the rail head that characterizes the rail expansion device from the base piece 312B to a point on the first protruding element 312A where this element comes into contact with the back splice 320, the cross-section at said point of contact defining a rolling surface RS, as illustrated in cross-section C3 or C4, that is, whose width will be the sum of the rolling surface width defined by the first protruding element 312A and the rolling surface width defined by the part of the back splice configured to be overlapped by said first protruding element 312A, said sum giving rise, therefore. Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, p. 40 / 106 34 / 40, therefore, to a total bearing surface width equal to the nominal bearing surface width. In effect, the back splice 320 preferably defines two identical bearing surfaces RS arranged, as explained above, symmetrically on each side of the median plane M and characterized by a width measured in a cross-section that is half the width of the nominal bearing surface, as shown in cross-sections C305. When overlaid by the first projecting element 312A, as illustrated by cross-sections C3 and C4, the bearing surface width RS of the back splice 320 is increased by the bearing surface width of the first projecting element 312A such that the resulting width is equal to said nominal width for the entire length of the back splice that is overlaid by the first projecting element 312A.Any remaining longitudinal length of the back splice 320 that is not overlapped by the first projecting element 312A will, in that case, be characterized by a rolling surface width RSW equal to half the nominal rolling surface width, as shown in cross-section C5.

[0062] In short, the front splice 310, as well as the back splice 320, comprises along its entire length rolling surfaces RS, the width of each of said rolling surfaces RS measured in a cross-section being preferably at least equal to half the width of the rolling surface that would contact a roller moving in the first or second rail.

[0063] Additionally, as shown in Figure 12 and previously explained, the width W of the rail head defined by the rail expansion device according to the present invention remains constant from the first end FE1 to the rear end RE2, and is preferably equal to the rail head width of the pri Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 41 / 106 35 / 40 first or second rail. The rail head widths are measured perpendicular to the median plane M, i.e., within the cross-sections, as illustrated in Figure 12. In particular, the rear joint 320 is characterized by a constant maximum width equal to said width of the first or second rail head. Preferably, the base piece 312B of the top piece 312 is characterized by a maximum width configured to define a rail head whose width W is equal to said width of the first or second rail head. In particular, the first projecting element 312A is characterized by a maximum width W' that is less than the width of the first or second rail head, as shown in cross-section C2 of Figure 12.However, since the first protruding element 312A is always located above another part of the rail expansion device which is characterized by a width equal to the railhead width of the first or second rail, said other part being, for example, the lower part 311 and / or the rear splice 320, it is certain that said first protruding part 312A together with said other part define a railhead width equal to the width of the first or second railhead. In particular, the longitudinal portion of the lower part 311 which is configured to be overlapped by the third protruding element 320A is notably characterized by a constant width which is equal to the width of the first or second railhead.

[0064] According to the preferred mode illustrated by Figure 11, only the lower part 311 and the upper part 312 are configured to span the expansion gap G, especially when it is specified by its maximum width value D, having one side supported by the front connecting rail and the other side supported by the rear connecting rail, while the rear splice 320 does not extend beyond the tip of the front end FE2. The lower part Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 42 / 106 36 / 40 311 is fixed to the body / structure of the first connecting rail 31 and comprises a protruding end, namely said second protruding element 311A, configured to span said expansion gap G when the first rail and the second rail move away from each other, said second protruding element 311A ​​being mounted in a sliding manner on the body / structure of the second connecting rail within said second opening 321A, thus taken as an intercalation between the body / structure of the second connecting rail and the third protruding element 320A. Preferably, when the expansion gap G is at its minimum value characterized by the width D', said second protruding element 311A ​​of the lower part 311 contacts the base part 320B of the rear joint 320.Depending on the length of the third protruding element 320A and whether or not it crosses the expansion gap G, the first opening 310A may be located above the expansion gap G (see Figure 4), or it may remain located above the rear end RE1 (see Figure 3), or it may also be located above the front end FE2 (not shown). In each case, the third protruding element 320A is preferably interposed between the lower part 311 and the upper part 312, which is mounted slidingly within the first opening 310A. When the expansion gap G is at its minimum value, characterized by the width D', preferably D' = 0, said first opening 310A and said second opening 321A are preferably closed.

[0065] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the upper part 312 of the front joint comprises a reinforcing structure 313 configured to reinforce the rigidity of the first projecting element 312A. Preferably, said reinforcing structure 313 extends longitudinally along the entire length of the first projecting element 312A, or optionally also in the direction and along the base piece. Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 43 / 106 37 / 40 312B. Said reinforcement structure 313 may be fixed to the upper part 312 by any means of fastening, or may be obtained by machining, i.e., the upper part 312 and its reinforcement structure 313 being one and the same component. The reinforcement structure 313 extends vertically over the top of the first projecting element 312A, or optionally over the top of the front joint 310, according to a height H which is positive and preferably between 5 and 20 mm, with 15 mm being a preferred value, the upper surface of said reinforcement structure defining an upper level located at an extra height relative to the nominal level of the upper surface of the first or second rail head.

[0066] Consequently, the total height of the rail measured vertically from the base of the rail to the top of its rail head will not be equal when measured in a cross-section of the first or second rail, or in a cross-section, as shown in Figure 12. In order to compensate for this difference in height, i.e., this additional height H resulting from the reinforcing structure 313, the rail expansion device 30 according to the present invention will further comprise a front ramp 314 and a rear ramp 315 configured to guide a contact shoe of a guide unit from the nominal level of the upper surface of the rail head of the first or second rail to said upper level of the reinforcing structure, located at said extra height relative to the nominal level.

[0067] A preferred embodiment of said front ramp, and respectively of said rear ramp, is shown in Figures 13 and 14. The front ramp 314 is substantially in the shape of a rod configured to extend from the front joint to the front end FE1 of the front connecting rail 31. Said front ramp 314 is preferably fixed to the front connecting rail 31 and to the front joint 310 by any known fastening means, such as screws. A Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, p. 44 / 106 38 / 40 front ramp 314 comprises an upper surface 314S designed to support a sliding shoe of a guide unit, said upper surface 314S extending from a front end FER1 configured to be fixed to the front connecting rail to a rear end RER1 configured to be fixed to the front joint 310. Preferably, the front connecting rail 31 comprises a longitudinal slot or groove 31S (see Figures 6 and 9) extending longitudinally to the top of its rail head and configured to receive said front ramp 314, the depth of said slot or groove 31S decreasing as it approaches the front joint 310 such that the upper surface 314S of the front end FER1 of the front ramp 314 is at the nominal level of the upper surface of the rail head of the first or second rail, and the upper surface 314S of the rear end RER1 is at the upper level of the reinforcement structure 313.The upper surface 314S thus defines an inclined plane from the nominal level of the rail head to the upper level of the upper surface of the reinforcing structure 313.

[0068] The rear ramp 315 is substantially shaped like a rod configured to extend from the rear splice 320 to the rear end RE2 of the rear connecting rail 32. Said rear ramp 315 is preferably fixed to the rear connecting rail 31 by any known means of fastening, such as screws. Said rear ramp 315 is free from any attachment to the rear splice 320. Preferably, it comprises the projecting part 315P (see Figures 11 and 14) configured to extend towards the first projecting element 312A and to slide within a slot or groove 313S disposed in the reinforcing structure 313 located above the first projecting element 312 (see Figure 12, T-section, or Figure 11). This projecting part 315P allows the rear ramp 315 to be slidably connected to the front splice 310 in order to Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 45 / 106 39 / 40 compensate for variations in the width D of the expansion gap G. The rear ramp 315 comprises an upper surface 315S designed to support the sliding shoe of the guide unit, said upper surface 315S extending from a rear end RER2 configured to be fixed to the rear connecting rail to a front end FER2 comprising said projecting part 315P and configured to contact the front joint 310.Preferably, the rear connecting rail 32 comprises a longitudinal slot or groove 32S (see Figure 10) extending longitudinally to the top of its rail head and configured to receive said rear ramp 315, wherein the depth of said slot or groove 32S decreases as it approaches the rear joint 320 such that the upper surface 315S of the rear end RER2 of the rear ramp 315 is at the nominal level of the upper surface of the rail head of the first or second rail, and the upper surface 315S of the front end FER2 is at the upper level of the reinforcing structure 313. The upper surface 315S thus defines an inclined plane from the nominal level of the rail head to the upper level of the upper surface of the reinforcing structure 313.

[0069] Finally, Figure 15 shows a top view of the rail expansion device according to the present invention, wherein the front ramp 314 provides a continuous increase in the height of the rail head for the sliding shoe to move from the first rail to the second rail so that it can slide on the rail expansion device, and the rear ramp 315 provides for said roller a continuous decrease in said rail head height so that it can slide from the upper surface of the reinforcement structure back to the nominal level of the upper surface of the second rail head.

[0070] In conclusion, the present invention proposes the joining of a Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, p. 46 / 106 40 / 40 first rail to a second rail by means of a splice joint, said joint comprising a front and rear splice, said splices being removable components of the front and rear connecting rail used to connect said first rail to the second rail, said front splice 310 comprising an upper piece 312 extending longitudinally along its length to the rear connecting rail, said upper piece 312 comprising a first projecting element 312A configured to overlap the rear splice 320 along a variable length, said first projecting element 312A and an upper portion of the rear splice configured to be overlapped by the first projecting element 312A together defining a rail head and each comprising a part, for example,half of the nominal rolling surface defined by the first or second rail for each roller of a guide unit configured to move in said first and second rails. Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, page 47 / 106

Claims

1 / 5 CLAIMS 1. Rail expansion device (30) configured to connect a first rail (F1) to a second rail (R2), the rail expansion device (30) comprising: - a front connecting rail (31), comprising a front end (FE1) and a rear end RE1 (RE1), wherein the front end (FE1) is configured to be connected to the first rail (F1); - a rear connecting rail (32) comprising a front end FE2 (FE2) and a rear end RE2 (RE2), wherein the rear end RE2 (RE2) is configured to be connected to the second rail (F2);- a splice joint configured to slidely connect the rear end RE1 (RE1) to the front end FE2 (FE2), said splice joint defining a continuous bearing surface (RS) from the front connecting rail (31) to the rear connecting rail (32), said continuous bearing surface (RS) being particularized by a variable longitudinal length configured to vary as a function of the width (D) of an expansion gap (G) separating the front connecting rail (31) from the rear connecting rail (32); the rail expansion device (30) being characterized by a rail head width (W) that is constant from the first end (FE1) to the rear end (RE2); 2. Rail expansion device (30), according to claim 1, characterized in that the splice joint comprises at least one first protruding element (312A) extending from the front connecting rail (31) to the rear connecting rail (32) and configured to slidely overlap a first variable portion of the rear connecting rail (32), wherein Petition 870260034013, dated 13 / 04 / 2026, page 48 / 106 2 / 5 said first protruding element (312A) and said first variable portion each comprise a part of said continuous rolling surface (RS).

3. Rail expansion device (30), according to claim 2, characterized in that said splicing joint comprises a second protruding element (311A) extending from the front connecting rail (31) to the rear connecting rail (32) and configured to slidely overlap a second variable portion of the rear connecting rail (32).

4. Rail expansion device (30), according to claim 3, characterized in that the first protruding element (312A) is mounted on said second protruding element (311A) so as to define a first opening (310A) configured to receive a third protruding element (320A) that extends from the rear connecting rail (32) to the front connecting rail (31), and a second opening (321A) is defined between the rear connecting rail (32) and said third protruding element (320A), and configured to receive the second protruding element (311A).

5. Rail expansion device (30), according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the first protruding element (312A) has a width that is less than a nominal width evidencing the first or second rail head.

6. Rail expansion device (30), according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the rolling surface (RS) defined by the first salient element (312A) and the rolling surface (RS) defined by the first variable portion have an identical width.

7. Rail expansion device (30), according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 49 / 106 3 / 5 the splice joint comprises a front splice (310) configured to be fixed to the front connecting rail (31) and a rear splice (320) configured to be fixed to the rear connecting rail (32), wherein the front splice (310) comprises said first protruding element (312A) which is configured to span the expansion gap (G), wherein said rear splice (320) comprises said first variable portion, wherein said first protruding element (312A) is configured to slide smoothly rest upon the first variable portion of the rear splice (320).

8. Rail expansion device (30), according to claim 7, characterized in that the front joint (310) comprises an upper piece (312) extending longitudinally along its length to the rear connecting rail (32), said upper piece (312) comprising a base piece (312B) and said first protruding element (312A), wherein the base piece (312B) is configured to be fixed to the front connecting rail (31), and said first protruding element (312A) extends from the base piece (312B) to the rear connecting rail (32) so as to span the expansion gap (G).

9. Rail expansion device (30), according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said rear splice (320) comprises said third protruding element (320A), said third protruding element comprising said first variable portion.

10. Rail expansion device (30), according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the front joint (310) comprises a lower piece (311) configured to be fixed to the front connecting rail (31) and to support the base piece (312B) of the upper piece (312), wherein said lower piece (311) comprises said second protruding element (311A). Petition 870260034013, dated 13 / 04 / 2026, p. 50 / 106 4 / 5 11. Rail expansion device (30), according to claim 10, characterized in that the lower part (311) comprises at least one portion particularized by a constant width, said portion extending longitudinally at least from a first cross-section to a second cross-section, said first cross-section being configured to be positioned at a first longitudinal end of the first opening (310A), and the second cross-section at a second longitudinal end of the first opening (310A) defined when the same is at its maximum, said first longitudinal end being the longitudinal end directed towards the front connecting rail (31), and said second longitudinal end being the longitudinal end directed towards the rear connecting rail (32),and whereby said constant width is set to be equal to the width of the head of the first rail (F1) or the second rail (R2)., 12. Rail expansion device (30), according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a connection box (8) configured to adjust the base of the front connection rail (31) and the base of the rear connection rail (32), such that a relative transverse and / or vertical movement is avoided, while a relative longitudinal displacement is permitted and limited.

13. Rail expansion device (30), according to claim 12, characterized in that the connection box (8) is mounted movably in translation in a fastening system (9), said fastening system (9) being configured to be fixed to the ground and to allow a longitudinal translation of the connection box with respect to the ground, and at the same time prevent any vertical or transverse movement thereof.

14. Rail expansion device (30), according to Petition 870260034013, dated 04 / 13 / 2026, page 51 / 106 5 / 5 any of claims 2 to 13, characterized in that the first salient element (312A) is overlaid by a longitudinally extended reinforcing structure.

15. Method for compensating for an expansion of one end of a first rail with respect to one end of a second rail, characterized in that it comprises the step of connecting the first rail end to the second rail end by means of a rail expansion device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14. Petition 870260034013, dated April 13, 2026, pp. 52-106

Images