Detachable Transport Platform for Track Construction Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing track construction and rehabilitation equipment is expensive, requires high maintenance and inspection costs, and has specialized designs that limit flexibility and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing, maintenance, and transportation.

Innovation Solution

A transport platform with a fastening device that can be attached to standard freight wagons or containers, featuring running rails on the outside of a base body, allowing for detachment and secure connection to various transport media, including trucks, and enabling independent maintenance and space-saving stacking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If specialized transport wagons for track construction material are used, then the equipment is optimized for specific applications, but the manufacturing and maintenance costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication-specific optimizationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The transport system is divided into separate functional components: a standardized transport wagon and a detachable transport platform. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the wagon for general transport reliability and the platform for specialized track construction functions, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized transport wagon serves multiple functions by accepting different types of transport platforms through the fastening device. This universality eliminates the need for specialized wagons for each track construction application, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining application-specific optimization through the modular platform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If specialized transport wagons are used, then the equipment is designed for specific track construction tasks, but the maintenance and inspection costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask-specific performanceVSAvoidmaintenance cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the specialized transport platform from the general-purpose wagon, maintenance can be performed on each component independently. The platform can be serviced at lower-cost locations without requiring the entire wagon system to be inspected, reducing overall maintenance and inspection costs while maintaining task-specific performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The detachable design enables the transport platform to be serviced independently by smaller, more accessible maintenance units rather than requiring large specialized inspection teams for the entire wagon system, reducing maintenance cost and improving ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If a one-piece design with integral transport medium and platform is used, then the structure is simple, but the flexibility and adaptability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidtransport media flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The transport system is segmented into a standardized wagon and a detachable platform connected by a fastening device. This segmentation provides structural simplicity in the base design while enabling high adaptability - the same simple structure can be attached to different wagon types (flat cars, container cars, trucks) and configured for various track construction applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening device enables the connection between platform and wagon to be dynamic rather than fixed. The platform can be quickly attached and detached from different wagon types, providing flexibility and adaptability across multiple transport media while maintaining a relatively simple base structure that evolves as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If specialized transport wagons are used, then the equipment is optimized for track construction, but the storage costs for vehicles not in use increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction-specific optimizationVSAvoidstorage requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The detachable design allows the transport platform to be separated from the wagon when not in use. This enables compact storage of just the platform component rather than requiring storage space for the entire specialized wagon system, significantly reducing storage costs for vehicles temporarily not in use while maintaining construction-specific optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2412598B1Transport platform
Publication Date: 2015.07.08 EIFFAGE RAIL
  • EP2412598B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2412598B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2412598B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The platform (1) has a fixing device provided for fixing the platform on a transport medium (5) e.g. container wagon. Running rails (4) are arranged at an outer side of a base body (3) in a longitudinal direction. A stake (8) is arranged at an end of the base body. A recess is provided at a lower side of the base body. A load protection device is provided at the base body. The load protection device is formed by a belt winder (11), where a belt (12) of the winder runs between outer sides of the base body and rails. The base body is designed as a steel carrier construction unit.