Temporary fasteners for railway ties and method for installing railway ties

JP7943634B2Active Publication Date: 2026-10-30TOYO KIKAI CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023001999
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-01-10
Publication Date
2026-10-30
Estimated Expiration
2043-01-10

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Abstract

To provide a sleeper temporary fixture and a sleeper installation method which are capable of enhancing safety and work efficiency of sleeper installation work.SOLUTION: A sleeper temporary fixture 10 has an insertion part 11, an engaging part 12, an abutting part 13, and a connecting part 14. The insertion part 11 can be inserted into holes of a pair of inner shoulders and a pair of outer shoulders for fixing to a rail on a sleeper. The engaging part 12 can be positioned on the bottom of the rail when the insertion part 11 is inserted into the hole. When the insertion part 11 is inserted into the hole and the engaging part 12 is positioned over the bottom part of the rail, the abutting part 13 abuts on the sleeper on the side opposite to the engaging part 12 across the inner shoulder or the outer shoulder. The connecting part 14 connects the insertion part 11, the engaging part 12 and the abutting part 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a temporary sleeper fixing tool for temporarily fixing a sleeper to a rail, and a sleeper installation method.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In recent years, PC sleepers (prestressed concrete sleepers) and metal sleepers have been used as sleepers for railway tracks. PC sleepers and metal sleepers are fixed to rails by attaching clips to shoulders. Insulators are interposed between the shoulders and the rails so as to abut each other in the track gauge direction (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] The rail fastening structure for PC sleepers is shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4. The PC sleeper 1 includes a pair of inner shoulders 2 and a pair of outer shoulders 3. Conventionally, in sleeper replacement work, after removing an existing sleeper, the sleeper 1 is gripped by the claws of a backhoe, and is slid from the side of the rail 5 to arrange the sleeper 1 under the rail 5. The sleeper 1 is lifted vertically upward as it is, so that the lower surface of the rail 5 and the upper surface of the sleeper 1 are brought into close contact with each other. In this state, after a worker inserts the insulators 6 between the shoulders 2, 3 and the rail 5, the clips 4 are inserted into the holes 7 of each of the shoulders 2, 3 to fix the sleeper 1 to the rail 5.

[0004] To set the insulators 6, it is necessary to grip the sleeper 1 with the claws of the backhoe and move it in the direction perpendicular to the rail 5 to adjust the gap between the inner shoulder 2 or the outer shoulder 3 and the rail 5. The backhoe operator operates at a position away from the sleeper 1, and the sleeper 1 is in a blind spot, so the sleeper 1 is moved according to the instructions of the worker who fixes the sleeper 1. After the worker sets the insulators 6 at four positions on the outer side of the rail and the inner side of the rail, the clips 4 are inserted into the shoulders 2, 3 at the four positions, and the sleeper replacement work is completed.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-18401 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] Traditionally, during sleeper replacement, while the operator makes fine adjustments to the sleeper's position, the worker holds the insulator between the rail and the shoulder by hand until the sleeper is in the correct position. This presented a challenge: if the sleeper, gripped by the backhoe's claws, moved beyond the worker's instructions, there was a risk of the worker's fingers getting caught between the rail and the shoulder. Furthermore, because fine adjustments to the sleeper's position are time-consuming, the backhoe had to continue holding the sleeper until all the clips were inserted, resulting in poor backhoe efficiency.

[0007] This invention was made in view of these problems, and aims to provide a temporary sleeper fixing device and sleeper installation method that can improve the safety and work efficiency of sleeper installation work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the temporary sleeper fixing device according to the present invention is a temporary sleeper fixing device for temporarily fixing a sleeper to a pair of rails, wherein the sleeper is provided with two pairs of shoulders for fixing to the rails, each pair of shoulders is fixed to the rails by sandwiching the rails between them, and the shoulders have holes that extend along the length direction of the rails when fixed to the rails, and each shoulder has an insertion part that can be inserted into the hole, an engagement part that can be positioned on the bottom of the rail when the insertion part is inserted into the hole, a contact part that abuts the sleeper on the opposite side of the engagement part, sandwiching the shoulders, when the insertion part is inserted into the hole and the engagement part is positioned on the bottom, and a connecting part that connects the insertion part, the engagement part and the contact part. The insertion portion, the engagement portion, and the contact portion are each made of parallel rods, and the connecting portion connects one end of each of the insertion portion, the engagement portion, and the contact portion in the same direction. It is characterized by the following:

[0009] The temporary sleeper fixing device according to the present invention preferably has a handle that extends upward when the insertion part is inserted into the hole, the engaging part is placed on the bottom part, and the contact part is brought into contact with the sleeper, and is provided on the insertion part, the engaging part, the contact part, or the connecting part. In this case, the handle can be used to insert the insertion part into the hole and position the engaging part on top of the bottom, making it easy to handle.

[0010] In the temporary sleeper fixing device according to the present invention, the insertion portion, the engagement portion, and the contact portion are each made of parallel rods, and the connecting portion connects one end of the insertion portion, the engagement portion, and the contact portion in the same direction. Therefore, it can be manufactured with a simple structure consisting of rods. When the insertion portion is inserted into the hole and the connecting portion on the contact side of the insertion portion is brought into contact with the shoulder, it is preferable that the connecting portion on the engagement side of the insertion portion has a gap between it and the shoulder for inserting a part of the insulator. in this case, Insert Since the connecting portion on the engagement side of the entry point has a gap between it and the shoulder for inserting a part of the insulator, the insulator can be easily inserted.

[0011] The sleeper installation method according to the present invention is a sleeper installation method using the aforementioned sleeper temporary fixing device, comprising: an arrangement step of arranging the sleepers below a pair of rails in a direction intersecting each rail, and sandwiching each rail with each pair of shoulders; a holding step of inserting the insertion parts of the pair of sleeper temporary fixing devices into the holes of the shoulders on the inside or outside of the rails after the arrangement step, arranging the engaging part on the bottom, and bringing the contact part into contact with the sleeper to hold the sleeper with the rails via the sleeper temporary fixing device; and the holding step The method further comprises: an insertion step of inserting each of the four insulators between the rail and the shoulder; a temporary fixing step of fixing a pair of shoulders, which do not have the temporary sleeper fasteners attached, to the rail via the insulators after the insertion step; a removal step of removing the pair of temporary sleeper fasteners from the shoulders after the temporary fixing step; and a fixing completion step of fixing the shoulders, from which the pair of temporary sleeper fasteners have been removed, to the rail via the insulators after the removal step.

[0012] The sleeper installation method according to the present invention can be implemented using the sleeper temporary fixing device according to the present invention. The sleeper temporary fixing device according to the present invention is used in pairs to temporarily fix sleepers to rails. In the placement step, it is preferable to position the sleepers in a direction intersecting each rail with the upper surface of the sleeper in contact with or close to the lower surface of the rail. In the temporary fixing step and the final fixing step, it is preferable to fix the shoulder to the rail by inserting a clip into the hole in the shoulder.

[0013] By using the temporary sleeper fixing device according to the present invention, sleepers can be temporarily fixed to the rails when installing them, thereby preventing accidents where hands are caught between the rails and the shoulders of the sleepers, and improving the safety of sleeper installation work. In addition, since it is not necessary to continuously hold the sleepers with a device such as a backhoe until the fixing of the sleepers is complete, work efficiency can be increased. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a temporary sleeper fixing device and a sleeper installation method that can improve the safety and work efficiency of sleeper installation work. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] (A) A plan view and (B) A front view of a temporary sleeper fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows (A) a plan view and (B) a front view of the sleepers temporarily fixed to the rails using the sleeper temporary fasteners. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the rail fastening structure of PC sleepers. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a right side view of the rail fastening structure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows a temporary sleeper fixing device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the state in which the sleeper 1 is temporarily fixed to the rail 5 using the temporary sleeper fixing device 10. As shown in Figure 2, the sleeper 1 is a PC sleeper, consisting of a long, narrow plate made of PC (prestressed concrete). The sleeper 1 has a pair of inner shoulders 2 and a pair of outer shoulders 3 spaced apart along its length on its upper surface 1a for fixing to the rail 5. The inner shoulders 2 and outer shoulders 3 are designed to sandwich the rail 5 and be fixed to the rail 5. The inner shoulders 2 and outer shoulders 3 have holes 7 that penetrate along the upper surface 1a of the sleeper 1 in a direction perpendicular to the length of the sleeper 1. The holes 7 extend along the length of the rail 5 when the inner shoulders 2 and outer shoulders 3 are fixed to the rail 5.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the temporary sleeper fixture 10 has an insertion part 11, an engagement part 12, an abutment part 13, a connection part 14, and a handle 15. The insertion part 11, engagement part 12, abutment part 13, and connection part 14 are each made of a metal rod material with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the hole 7 and the same diameter. The insertion part 11, engagement part 12, and abutment part 13 are arranged on the same plane and are parallel to each other. The connection part 14 consists of a first connection part 14a and a second connection part 14b, and connects respective ends of the insertion part 11, engagement part 12, and abutment part 13 that face in the same direction. The first connection part 14a is connected perpendicularly to the insertion part 11 and the engagement part 12, and the second connection part 14b is connected perpendicularly to the insertion part 11 and the abutment part 13.

[0018] The insertion part 11 has a length substantially equal to the length of the hole 7, and can be inserted into the hole 7. The engagement part 12 has the same length as the insertion part 11. The engagement part 12 can be disposed on the bottom part 5b near the web part 5a of the rail 5 when the insertion part 11 is inserted into the hole 7. The abutment part 13 is shorter than the insertion part 11 and the engagement part 12. The abutment part 13 is configured such that when the top surface 1a of the sleeper 1 is brought into abutment with the bottom surface 5c of the rail 5, the insertion part 11 is inserted into the hole 7, and the engagement part 12 is disposed on the bottom part 5b, the abutment part 13 abuts against the sleeper 1 on the side opposite to the engagement part 12 with the inner shoulder 2 or the outer shoulder 3 interposed therebetween.

[0019] The first connection part 14a and the second connection part 14b have a step, and the second connection part 14b is connected to the side portion of the insertion part 11. When the insertion part 11 is inserted into the hole 7 and the second connection part 14b on the abutment part side relative to the insertion part 11 is brought into abutment with the inner shoulder 2 or the outer shoulder 3, the first connection part 14a on the engagement part side relative to the insertion part 11 has a gap between itself and the inner shoulder 2 or the outer shoulder 3 for inserting the end portion of the insulator 6.

[0020] One end of the handle 15 is connected to one end of the first connection part 14a, and the handle 15 extends perpendicularly to the first connection part 14a and the insertion part 11. The handle 15 extends upward when the insertion part 11 is inserted into the hole 7, the engagement part 12 is disposed on the bottom part 5b of the rail 5, and the abutment part 13 is brought into abutment with the sleeper 1. The temporary sleeper fasteners 10 are used in pairs to temporarily secure the sleepers 1 to the rails 5. As shown in Figure 2, each pair of temporary sleeper fasteners 10 is inserted into the holes 7 from opposite directions.

[0021] The method for installing railway ties using the temporary tie fixing device 10 includes a placement step, a holding step, a clamping step, a temporary fixing step, a removal step, and a fixing completion step. In the case of replacing railway ties, the existing ties are removed before the placement step. In the placement process, the backhoe is operated to grasp the sleeper 1 with its claws. The sleeper 1 is lifted upward below a pair of rails 5, and with the upper surface 1a of the sleeper 1 in contact with or close to the lower surface 5c of the rails 5, the sleeper 1 is positioned perpendicular to each rail 5, and each rail 5 is sandwiched between the inner shoulder 2 and outer shoulder 3 of each pair.

[0022] In the holding process, after the placement process, the worker grasps the handle 15 and inserts the insertion parts 11 of a pair of temporary sleeper fasteners 10 into the holes 7 between the inner shoulders 2 or between the outer shoulders 3 from opposite directions. Then, the engaging part 12 is placed on the bottom 5b and the contact part 13 is brought into contact with the sleeper 1, so that the sleeper 1 is held by the rail 5 via the temporary sleeper fastener 10. The sleeper 1 is then suspended from the rail 5 by the temporary sleeper fastener 10. Once the sleeper 1 is held by the temporary sleeper fastener 10, the backhoe is released from restraint, so its claws can be released from the sleeper 1 and the backhoe can be moved to place the next sleeper.

[0023] In the clamping process, after the holding process, the worker grasps the insulator 6 and makes fine adjustments to the sleeper 1 perpendicular to the rail 5, clamping each of the four insulators 6 between the bottom 5b of the rail 5 and the inner shoulder 2 and outer shoulder 3. In the temporary fixing process, after the clamping process, one pair of inner shoulders 2 or outer shoulders 3 that do not have the sleeper temporary fixing device 10 attached are fixed to the rail 5 via the insulator 6 using a clip 4 with a special tool. One end of the clip 4 is inserted into the hole 7 and the other end is pressed against the insulator 6.

[0024] In this case, if the clearance between the rail 5 and the sleeper 1 is large and the insulator 6 can be set but the clip 4 cannot be inserted into the hole 7, a metal pipe or the like can be inserted into the handle 15, and the handle 15 can be rotated to lift the sleeper 1, thereby reducing the clearance between the rail 5 and the sleeper 1 and making it easier to insert the clip 4 into the hole 7.

[0025] In the removal process, after the temporary fixing process, a pair of temporary sleeper fasteners 10 are removed from the inner shoulder 2 or outer shoulder 3. Even after the temporary sleeper fasteners 10 are removed, the sleeper 1 is still fixed to the rail 5 by the pair of inner shoulders 2 or outer shoulders 3 with clips 4, so the upper surface 1a of the sleeper 1 is in contact with or close to the lower surface 5b of the rail 5. In the final fixing process, after the removal process, the inner shoulder 2 or outer shoulder 3 from which the pair of temporary sleeper fasteners 10 have been removed is fixed to the rail 5 via the insulator 6 using clips 4 with a special tool. One end of the clip 4 is inserted into the hole 7, and the other end is pressed against the insulator 6. In this way, the sleeper 1 is fixed to the pair of rails 5 with four clips 4. After the sleeper is laid, crushed stone is returned to the underside of the sleeper.

[0026] By using the temporary sleeper fixing device 10, when installing sleepers 1, especially when inserting the insulator 6 between the rail 5 and the inner shoulder 2 or outer shoulder 3, the sleeper 1 can be temporarily fixed to the rail 5. This prevents accidents where hands get caught between the rail 5 and the inner shoulder 2 or outer shoulder 3 of the sleeper 1, thus improving the safety of sleeper installation work. Furthermore, by temporarily fixing the sleeper 1 with the temporary sleeper fixing device 10, equipment such as backhoes can be released, eliminating the need to hold the sleeper 1 with the equipment until the fixing of the sleeper 1 is complete, thus improving work efficiency.

[0027] Furthermore, the temporary sleeper fixing device 10 is easy to handle because the insertion part 11 can be inserted into the hole 7 by holding the handle 15 and the engaging part 12 can be placed on the bottom part 5b. The temporary sleeper fixing device 10 can be manufactured with a simple structure consisting of rod material. Furthermore, since the first connecting portion 14a on the engagement portion side of the insertion portion 11 has a gap between it and the inner shoulder 2 or outer shoulder 3 for inserting a part of the insulator 6, the insulator 6 can be easily inserted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1. Sleeper, 2. Inner shoulder, 3. Outer shoulder, 4. Clip, 5. Rail, 5a Abdomen, 5b Bottom, 6 Insulator, 7 Hole, 10 Temporary fastener for sleeper, 11 Insertion part, 12 Engaging part, 13 Contact part, 14 Connecting part, 14a First connecting part, 14b Second connecting section, 15 Handle

Claims

1. A temporary sleeper fastener for temporarily fixing sleepers to a pair of rails, wherein the sleepers are provided with two pairs of shoulders for fixing to the rails, each pair of shoulders is fixed to the rails by sandwiching the rails between them, and the shoulders have holes that extend along the length of the rails when fixed to the rails. An insertion portion that can be inserted into the aforementioned hole, When the insertion portion is inserted into the hole, an engaging portion is provided which can be positioned on the bottom of the rail, When the insertion portion is inserted into the hole and the engaging portion is positioned on the bottom, the contact portion that abuts the sleeper on the opposite side of the engaging portion, sandwiching the shoulder, It has a connecting portion that connects the insertion portion, the engagement portion, and the contact portion, The insertion portion, the engagement portion, and the contact portion are each made of parallel rods, and the connecting portion connects one end of each of the insertion portion, the engagement portion, and the contact portion in the same direction. A distinctive temporary fastener for railway ties.

2. The temporary sleeper fixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the insertion portion is inserted into the hole, the engaging portion is positioned on the bottom portion, and the contact portion is brought into contact with the sleeper, the inserting portion, the engaging portion, the contact portion, or the connecting portion has a handle that extends upward.

3. The temporary sleeper fixing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that when the insertion portion is inserted into the hole and the connecting portion on the contact portion side of the insertion portion is brought into contact with the shoulder, the connecting portion on the engagement portion side of the insertion portion has a gap between it and the shoulder for inserting a part of the insulator.

4. A method for installing railway ties using the temporary railway tie fixing device described in claim 1, 2, or 3, The process involves arranging the sleepers below a pair of rails in a direction intersecting each rail, and sandwiching each rail with the shoulders of each pair, After the arrangement step, the insertion portion of a pair of temporary sleeper fasteners is inserted into the holes in the shoulders of the rails, either on the inside or outside of the rails, the engaging portion is placed on the bottom portion, and the contact portion is brought into contact with the sleeper to hold the sleeper in place with the rails via the temporary sleeper fasteners; After the holding step, the four insulators are inserted between the rail and the shoulder, respectively. After the aforementioned clamping step, a temporary fixing step is performed to fix the pair of shoulders, which do not have the temporary sleeper fixing devices attached, to the rail via the insulator, After the temporary fixing step, a removal step is performed to remove the pair of temporary sleeper fasteners from the shoulder, After the removal step, the shoulder from which the pair of temporary sleeper fasteners have been removed is fixed to the rail via the insulator in a fixing completion step. A method for installing railway ties, characterized by having [a certain feature].

Citation Information

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