Railway Angle Guide Plate Stiffening Ribs

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing angle guide plates in railway superstructures require high material usage due to thick wall thicknesses, leading to long production cycles and a significant CO2 footprint.

Innovation Solution

The angle guide plate incorporates a majority of stiffening ribs, preferably crossed across the track direction, which are connected between the intervention area and the stop area. These ribs effectively distribute and derive forces, allowing for a reduction in base body thickness and material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the wall thickness of the angled guide plate is increased to ensure stability and withstand forces, then the strength and stability are improved, but the material usage increases and production cycle time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is segmented into a support area with greater thickness and a guide area with lesser thickness. This segmentation allows the structure to have sufficient strength where needed (support area) while reducing material usage in areas where less strength is required (guide area), thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and material usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The angled guide plate is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, having a first area (support area) with greater thickness and a second area (guide area) with lesser thickness. This local quality variation optimizes the distribution of material according to the actual stress requirements, improving strength where needed while reducing overall material consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the wall thickness of the angled guide plate is increased to ensure stability, then the strength is improved, but the production cycle time increases due to longer cooling times

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoidproduction cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is segmented into a support area with greater thickness and a guide area with lesser thickness. This segmentation allows the structure to have sufficient strength where needed (support area) while reducing material usage in areas where less strength is required (guide area), thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and material usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The angled guide plate is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, having a first area (support area) with greater thickness and a second area (guide area) with lesser thickness. This local quality variation optimizes the distribution of material according to the actual stress requirements, improving strength where needed while reducing overall material consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the wall thickness of the angled guide plate is increased to ensure stability, then the strength is improved, but the carbon footprint increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoidcarbon footprint
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is segmented into a support area with greater thickness and a guide area with lesser thickness. This segmentation allows the structure to have sufficient strength where needed (support area) while reducing material usage in areas where less strength is required (guide area), thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and material usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The angled guide plate is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, having a first area (support area) with greater thickness and a second area (guide area) with lesser thickness. This local quality variation optimizes the distribution of material according to the actual stress requirements, improving strength where needed while reducing overall material consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4530398A1Angle guide plate and track superstructure
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 WIRTHWEIN SE
  • EP4530398A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4530398A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4530398A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Angle guide plate for a rail fastening system comprising a bottom and a top, wherein the bottom is designed for arrangement on a sleeper, in particular a railway sleeper, a bead-shaped engagement area on the bottom of the angle guide plate, which extends substantially in the track direction and serves to engage in a corresponding recess on the top of a sleeper, a recess opposite the engagement area on the top of the angle guide plate, which serves as a contact area for a clamping clamp, a stop area which is arranged on the side of the angle guide plate opposite the engagement area, facing a rail, and serves to bear against a rail foot,wherein a plurality of upper stiffening ribs are arranged on the upper side of the angle guide plate, spaced apart from each other along the track direction, between the engagement area and the stop area.