Rail Holding Arrangement With Eccentric Spring Tensioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for holding down stock rails using slide chairs can lead to stress concentration and potential rail fractures due to the transfer of wheel force, making them difficult to service and maintain while ensuring safe tensioning of spring elements.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a plate element that extends beyond the rail foot, using an eccentric element to tension a spring element which bears on the rail foot and the base, preventing displacement and allowing easy tensioning and relaxation without specialized tools, thus securing both the rail and the plate element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the plate element is positioned to hold down the rail foot directly, then the holding-down function is effective, but stress concentration occurs leading to potential rail fractures
Solution Approach 1:
A spring element is introduced as an intermediary between the plate element and the rail foot. The spring element distributes the holding-down force over a larger area and provides elastic compliance, preventing stress concentration while maintaining effective rail securing. The spring element acts as a mediator that transforms the direct contact force into a distributed elastic force.
2Reliability
If the spring element is tensioned using conventional methods, then the spring can be secured, but the tensioning process is complex and requires specialized tools
Solution Approach 1:
An eccentric element is used to create a dynamic tensioning mechanism. By rotating the eccentric element, the spring element can be easily tensioned or relaxed without requiring specialized tools. The eccentric geometry converts simple rotational motion into the necessary spring tension, making the process adaptable and easy to operate.
3Device complexity
If the plate element is made monolithic with the base, then the structure is simplified, but the arrangement becomes difficult to service and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The arrangement is segmented into separable components: the plate element, the spring element, and the eccentric element. This segmentation allows individual components to be easily removed, serviced, or replaced without affecting the entire structure. The modular design maintains structural simplicity while dramatically improving maintainability.
4Reliability
If additional structural features are added to ensure safe spring tensioning, then the tensioning process becomes safer, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The eccentric element is designed to perform multiple functions: it tensions the spring element, maintains the plate element position, and prevents displacement. This self-service design eliminates the need for additional specialized tensioning devices or complex structural features, achieving safe tensioning through the inherent geometry of the eccentric element itself.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution simplifies the holding-down process, reduces the risk of rail fractures, and facilitates easy maintenance by ensuring the spring element is securely tensioned, maintaining the rail and slide chair in position without additional structural features.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element (10), in particular a leaf spring, which is supported, on the one hand, on a rail foot (20) and, on the other hand, on a first abutment (78)
Implementation Method 2
the second abutment is an eccentric element (12), in particular a rod-shaped element, which is rotatably arranged in a receptacle (56)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement for holding down a rail (14) having a rail foot (20), such as a stock rail, comprising a base (18), such as a slide chair plate, tongue roller plate or wheel guide plate, a plate element (16), such as a slide chair or counter bearing, detachably arranged on the base, a spring element (10) holding the plate element on the base, and a first and a second abutment for tensioning the spring element. To enable the rail to be held down with structurally simple measures and at the same time to achieve ease of maintenance and servicing, it is provided that the first abutment is a section (78) of the plate element (16) or extends therefrom, running in the region remote from the rail foot, in that the second abutment is an eccentric element (12) which preferably extends in the longitudinal direction of the rail (14) and is arranged rotatably in a receptacle (46) arranged between the rail foot (20) and the first abutment and starting from the base (18), and in that the spring element is designed to be supported on the rail foot (20).