Fishplate Protective Strip for Rapid Railway Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for burying rail tracks in shared platforms, such as tramways, are inefficient and costly due to the lengthy preparation and exposure to weather and traffic before the seal is applied, leading to potential moisture penetration and damage.
Innovation Solution
A fishplate device with a protective strip made of polyethylene foam, wire mesh, and a sheet, which is welded together and includes chamfers to form a groove for immediate seal application between the rail and the platform, allowing for simultaneous protection and sealing during installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional fishplate system is used with separate seal application, then the rail can be insulated from the substrate, but the preparation and sealing process is long and expensive, and the fishplate is exposed to weather and traffic for months or years before sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the protective strip and sealing function into a single integrated component. The protective strip is directly attached to the fishplate upper face, combining protection and sealing functions that were previously separate operations into one simultaneous action during fishplate installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective strip is pre-attached to the fishplate before installation. This preliminary action ensures that protection and sealing are prepared in advance, eliminating the need for separate post-installation sealing operations and reducing exposure time to weather and traffic.
2Ease of manufacture
If the fishplate is installed without immediate sealing, then the installation process is simpler, but the fishplate is exposed to moisture penetration and damage from weather and traffic for extended periods
Solution Approach 1:
The protective strip integrates multiple functions (protection and sealing) into a single component attached to the fishplate. This merger maintains installation simplicity while simultaneously providing immediate protection against moisture and weather damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective strip acts as a pre-applied protective barrier that cushions the fishplate against harmful factors (moisture, weather, traffic) from the moment of installation, eliminating the vulnerability period that existed in traditional methods.
3Reliability
If a protective strip is added to the fishplate, then immediate protection and sealing are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective strip is applied locally only to the upper face of the fishplate where protection is needed, rather than complicating the entire fishplate structure. This localized approach provides effective protection while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective strip uses composite construction (wire mesh combined with plastic sheet) that provides enhanced protection and sealing properties in a relatively simple, lightweight structure that doesn't significantly increase overall device complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional sealing methods are used, then the seal can be applied after track and road surface work is completed, but the process is expensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The protective strip is pre-attached to the fishplate, allowing sealing to occur simultaneously with fishplate installation rather than as a separate subsequent operation. This preliminary preparation dramatically increases productivity while maintaining adaptability to different installation schedules.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective strip combines protection and sealing functions that were previously separate operations. This merging allows both functions to be achieved in a single step during fishplate installation, significantly improving implementation speed.
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 enables a rapid, economical, and effective seal between the rail and the platform, protecting against moisture and traffic-related damage while the installation is ongoing, reducing the need for prolonged exposure to inclement weather and road traffic.
Implementation Method 1
The strip is preferably formed of a wire mesh and of a sheet glued to one another, preferably via welding.
Implementation Method 2
The strip is advantageously glued, preferably via welding, on an upper face of a matrix of the fishplate
Data Source
AI summary
Lateral fishplate (21) for isolating a railway rail, notably a buried rail, the upper face of which includes a protective strip (26).