A longitudinal railway sleeper

Abstract

Problem: During life of a railway infrastructure, added capacity, load, has to be anticipated. Solution: At a known, system, that shows rigid, longitudinal, about 2,4 m long, sleepers (8) that provides for auto adjusting and fuse function, etc. now new and innovatively, is added extra, surplus, redundant, load capacity, Where the sleepers, among others, show: at their respective underside, three levels, one of which, apart of showing three support surfaces, two peripheral (1) and one central (2), as well is showing ribs (3) and two levels, which are the tops of four cavities (4, and 9). Advantages: Redundant capacity in x-y- and z- directions. During technical life time, safely railways can prove the equal, high quality partner at one, common system of transport devices, thus sustainably adding to quality and utilisation of all society. A railway track system satisfying demands, as well for added loads, as added speeds.

Description

[0001] A longitudinal railway sleeper

[0002] Description

[0003] A device for ballasted railway tracks, below the Device, a further development of an earlier known system, for which separately patent applied is (App. 2130021-5)

[0004] Field of application

[0005] Railway infrastructure

[0006] Problem to be solved

[0007] Now rapid shifts are seen. As technical life length of a railway track is 30 years, or more, for not too early turning obsolete, the economic life length has to prove equally long.

[0008] Solution

[0009] Surplus load capacity (hereinafter redundant capacity)

[0010] Description of the Device

[0011] As known by the App., etc., the Device, when at a ready track, at a ballast bed (19) embedded, shows:

[0012] • Short, rigid, beams below sleepers (8), that are longitudinal and about 2,4 m long, which are providing for support of an as well longitudinal rail (10), along a channel (5), which is a part of the sleepers upper side, wherein upper sides of the channel are having recesses (16) that answer to specifications for conventional "clips", that are commercially available.

[0013] • that supporting surfaces of the sleepers (8), vertically support against the ballast bed(19) and that each these support surfaces show a minimal, and a strictly limited supporting area and

[0014] • the ballast bed (19) is from crushed rocks, known as macadam,

[0015] • when sleepers mutually sufficiently vertically levelled are and as well with the rail levelled, then thereby the requested for an equilibrium (a sufficiently big vertically supporting area against the ballast bed) provided is.

[0016] • Alternatively, at higher parts of a not sufficiently vertically levelling track, there mutually adjacent sleepers (8) are showing a vertically convex angle and thereby at such, the requested, is not provided for. Accordingly, against Law of Equilibrium, there, at traffic, by system, the ballast bed (19) settles, until there a level track is restored and then as well equilibrium is provided for.

[0017] • By the Device, at traffic, an auto adjusting and a fuse function provided is and this, by purpose, just where proving beneficial, and safely, as by traffic provided - and against the Law of Equilibrium.

[0018] • The unique advantage of a ballast bed, its robustness, its own resilience by nature, its capacity, when requested, to regroup its rock particles, by the device is benefitted of. When any sufficiently high vertical load imposed is, then the ballast bed regroups and at a lower level settles. Without collapsing, but in fact consolidating, uniquely and innovatively, as well a fuse function provided is.

[0019] • Symmetrically, around centre line of the track, the sleepers longitudinally run in pairs,

[0020] • When viewed from above, the rail (10) and the sleepers (8), at the ready track, together with transverse gauge holders (13), show a continuous ladder.

[0021] New, uniquely and innovatively, for providing redundant load capacity, without sacrificing the auto adjusting capacity, etc., the device shows:

[0022] At three locations of the sleeper (8), one at centre and one at each end, of the sleeper, wings (20), that protrude from a waist (22), at these respective locations, one secondary support surface (2) and two primary support surfaces (1), provide for support against the ballast bed (19) wherein the secondary support surface (2) provides for an alternating relieve of load imposed at the primary support surfaces (1). Thereby, safely, neither without hampering the fuse function, redundant load capacity added is, as well longitudinally (in the x direction) as vertically (in the y-direction).

[0023] At bottom of the sleeper, at level of the support surfaces, ribs (3), sides of which are supporting against the ballast bed and in x- and z- direction provide for added redundancy, etc.: in z-direction, transversally by the longitudinal ribs and in the x-direction, by the transversal ribs, etc. in between underside (12) of the waist (22) and the ballast bed (19), by the ribs, cavities (4 and 9), which provide for the limited, but vital settling capacity of the Device, the needed for fulfilling the auto adjusting, wherein the cavities (4) show lower height (24) than the cavities (9) and thereby at cavities (4), before maximal settling capacity of the Device is reached, innovatively, an added, a redundant support surface is appearing at top surfaces of the cavities (4).

[0024] At each pair of opposing sleepers vertical, longitudinal, sides, a pair of gauge holders (13), are fixed with metallic screws (14), at metallic threads(15) and thereby provide for the gauge of the track.

[0025] At top surface of the sleeper (8), at bottom of the channel (5), low, vertical lugs (6) are showed, by which an, at bottom of the channel supported rubber sheet (18), as furnished is with holes, that allow for the lugs (6), the rubber sheet safely is guided in x- and z-directions.

[0026] After the rail (10), laterally, mechanically, has been brought to its correct position, relative the sleeper, as well at peripheries of the rubber sheet, as at peripheries of foot of the rail, provided is for an embedding with polyurethane rubber (7), against sides of the Channel. Thereby in the z- direction, for an even, elastic a continuous force transmitting, provided is.

[0027] For lifting purposes, the longitudinal ribs, at the cavities (4) show small entries (23). Present state of the art

[0028] Majority of railway tracks are ballasted and showing transverse sleepers, sleepers that, as the original, primitive wood sleepers, just are with one, single bottom surface level.

[0029] No fuse function present is, etc.

[0030] Accordingly, now by system, at uneven tracks, at traffic, big, unlimited dynamic forces and stresses, imposed are, which seriously is reducing the allowed working load. Neither sustainable redundant load capacity available is. (Single option for added load is longer trains and not sustainably, now reduced speed is the option for reducing the dynamic forces, etc.)

[0031] At tracks, suffering from "RCF" (cracks and "squats", from rail contact fatigue...) for a temporary relief, attending, adjustments, an "optimal maintenance", is performed.

[0032] For proving passable resilient, now the ballasted sleeper tracks have to rely upon simple, reactive, mechanical procedures, which devastatingly is amplifying the existing shortage of capacity (and the devastatingly shortage of redundancy).

[0033] Advantages of the device

[0034] Unique, innovative and safely, margin provided is, for redundant load capacity.

[0035] Still at added traffic, a just minimal maintenance requested is, etc.

[0036] Redundant railway capacity, the by Swedish parliament, with a "must", strongly and visionary, the demanded, now provided is.

[0037] The Special Part

[0038] Fig. 1. Side view at a construction phase

[0039] Fig. 2. Cross section at a ready track

[0040] Fig. 3. Plan view at a construction phase

[0041] Fig. 4. Cross section at cavity (4)

[0042] Fig. 5. Plan view of a the sleeper (8)

[0043] Fig. 6. Side view of the sleeper toward the lower side Fig. 7. Cross section, the sleeper, at primary support

[0044] Fig. 8 Under side of the sleeper, seen from below

[0045] Fig. 9. Longitudinal section

[0046] The Device shows

[0047] As earlier known: sleepers (8),

[0048] • that are identic and rigid beams, which show a limited length, ranging at 2,4 m,

[0049] • that underlying, longitudinally, provide for the support of a rail (10),

[0050] • that, at their upper side show a longitudinal channel (5)

[0051] • that longitudinally, all along the ready track continuously in x- direction show intermediary small, minimal gaps (11) with length ranging at 10 cm,

[0052] • that, by their small and limited, support surfaces, vertically, provide for the support against a ballast bed (19), a bed of gravel material,

[0053] New, unique and innovatively the sleepers (8):

[0054] • at their under side, against the ballast bed, show a plurality of levels, where one level, at centre of the sleeper, show one secondary support surface (2) and at each end of the sleeper, show a primary support surface (1).

[0055] • At each these respective support surfaces (1 and 2) show pairs of wings (20), that are protruding from a waist (22) and that these wings show symmetry around the longitudinal centre line of the sleeper and against a central transverse line of the sleeper.

[0056] • at their under side show longitudinal and transverse ribs (3), which at their bottom surfaces show same common level as the support surfaces.

[0057] • at their under side, ensured by the ribs, show cavities (4 and 9), against the ballast bed and that the cavities (4) are with a less area and show a lower height (24) than the cavities (9), that the cavities, with their top surfaces contribute to area of the bottom surface of the sleeper and that, at the cavities (4), the longitudinal ribs show small transverse entries (23)

[0058] • at the upper side of the sleeper (8) a longitudinal channel (5), which at its bottom is showing lugs (6,21 and 17): wherein, partly nearby and along the longitudinal centre line of the channel, five longitudinal (6 and 21) and partly at each end of the sleeper a pair of smaller, transverse (17) where a rubber sheet(18), that shows thorough holes, which are allowing for the lugs (6 and 21), when at bottom of the channel resting, by these holes and by the lugs, is ensured a sufficient steering in x- and z- direction, where the lugs, all of them, show a height that is less than the thickness of the rubber sheet that the channel (5), at each top of its two upper sides show five recesses (16),

[0059] Patent claims

[0060] Claim 1

[0061] A device for ballasted railway tracks, showing sleepers (8), that are rigid beams,

[0062] • where the sleepers (8), when viewed from above, show a waist (22) and transverse wings (20), wherein the wings are opposed in pairs and protruding from the waist (22) and show symmetry around a transverse centre line of the sleeper.

[0063] • Where bottom of the sleeper (8) shows a plurality of levels and one of the levels partly shows: two peripheral, primary support surfaces (1) plus one central secondary support surface (2), where each the support surfaces (1 and 2) respectively comprises a pair of the wings (20) and partly shows the bottom surfaces of longitudinal and transverse ribs (3).

[0064] Further the bottom at the waist (22) shows separate cavities (4 and 9) where the upper levels of the cavities form the rest of the bottom,

[0065] • where each longitudinal side surface of the cavities is a part of sides of the longitudinal ribs (3) and the transverse sides of two adjacent cavities form the two sides of one transverse rib, where fourth side of cavities (4) is adjacent to a primary support surface (1) and fourth side of cavities (9) adjacent is to the secondary support surfaces (2),

[0066] • Where between any of two support surfaces (1 and 2) and at each of the two longitudinal peripheries of the waist (22), longitudinal ribs are showed,

[0067] • Where area between any two of the three support surfaces (1 and 2) shows a transversal rib (3),

[0068] • where all along upper side of the sleeper (8), with its longitudinal centre, parallel with the longitudinal centre line of the sleeper, a channel (5) is showed,

[0069] Claim 2

[0070] The sleepers, against Claim 1, show a limited length, ranging at 2,4 m. Claim 3

[0071] The sleepers, against Claim 1, where the cavities (9) have a bigger height (24), than the cavities (4) and that the bottom of the sleeper shows a total of three different levels.

[0072] Claim 4

[0073] The channel (5) against Claim 1 at its bottom, shows lugs (6,17 and 21), partly longitudinal lugs (6, and 21), five in number, on a straight line lying and partly transverse lugs (17), two peripheral pairs, one pair at each end of the channel, where the pairs, at a mutual distance of about 18 cm, from resp. end of the channel, show a common transverse centre line. Claim 5

[0074] The channel against claims 1 and 4, where one, longitudinal, centre lug (21), shows a length that is about twice the length of any the other four lugs (6).

[0075] Claim 6

[0076] The channel against claims 1,4 and 5, shows, at both sides of and direct adjacent to longitudinal peripheries of, its bottom surface, five pairs of vertical recesses (16), located at a higher level, than that of the bottom of the channel and that each such pair, show a common transverse centre line at its respective transverse centre line of the lugs (6 and 21) Claim 7

[0077] The sleepers against claims 1-6, where bottom of the channel (5), as well as bottom of the recesses (16) and top surfaces, of the lugs (6,17 and 21) all these, laterally and parallel, are sloping, from a higher side, towards a lower side of the sleeper.

Claims

Claim 8The sleepers against claims 1-6, symmetric around sleepers transverse centre line, at lower side side of the sleeper show metallic threads (15). Claim 9The sleeper against Claims 1,2, 4, 5, 7 and 8, where a rubber sheet (18), when resting against bottom of the channel (5) shows:• Thorough holes, that allows for the lugs (6 and 21),• Thickness, in y-direction, exceeding height of the lugs,• A length corresponding to distance between the two pairs of peripheral, transverse lugs (17)• A top surface showing a slope, that aligns with the sloping disclosed at Claim 7Claim 10The waist (22) against Claims 1 and 3, where, the longitudinal ribs at cavities (4) show opposing pairs of entries (24)

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