Gapless Railway Diamond With Moveable Flangeway Fillers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional railway diamonds experience significant maintenance issues due to invariant geometry, leading to large dynamic impacts, structural damage, and environmental disturbances, necessitating frequent inspections and replacements, which are costly and disruptive.

Innovation Solution

A variable geometry design using moveable flangeway gap fillers with pistons that provide continuous wheel support, eliminating discontinuities in the running surface by extending or retracting pistons based on traffic direction, powered by hydraulic or electric motors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional invariant geometry railway diamond is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but large dynamic impacts and structural damage occur due to permanent gaps in the running surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidtrack component complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the static, invariant geometry of traditional railway diamonds with a dynamic system featuring moveable flangeway gap fillers. These gap fillers can extend or retract based on the position of rolling stock, allowing the running surface to adapt continuously. This dynamic adjustment eliminates permanent gaps while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between strength and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If permanent gaps are provided in the running surface for flangeway clearances, then wheel-flange clearance is ensured, but discontinuity in the running surface causes large dynamic loads and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel-flange clearanceVSAvoiddynamic impacts

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary anti-action by positioning moveable gap fillers in advance to prevent the formation of harmful gaps. When rolling stock approaches, the gap fillers extend to maintain continuous running surfaces, proactively counteracting the potential for dynamic impacts before they occur. This ensures both wheel-flange clearance and elimination of harmful dynamic loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If frequent inspections and maintenance are performed on traditional railway diamonds, then structural damage is mitigated, but track capacity is reduced and productivity is adversely affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrack reliabilityVSAvoidtrack capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the railway diamond to automatically adjust its own geometry through moveable gap fillers that respond to the presence of rolling stock. This self-adjusting mechanism maintains optimal running surfaces without requiring external intervention for frequent inspections or maintenance, thereby preserving both reliability and track capacity simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Duration of action of stationary object

If railway diamond is replaced regularly to extend service life, then infrastructure durability is maintained, but expensive and disruptive replacement operations are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice lifeVSAvoidmaintenance cost and disruption

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by incorporating moveable gap fillers that proactively maintain the running surface continuity throughout the service life of the railway diamond. This preliminary maintenance action prevents the accumulation of structural damage that would otherwise necessitate costly and disruptive replacements, extending the effective service life while reducing maintenance overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Reduces maintenance costs, extends infrastructure life, minimizes noise and vibration, and enhances line capacity by eliminating large dynamic forces and maintaining continuous operation.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric motor: Linear Motor

Data Source

PatentUS12590421B2Gapless railway diamond: a new type of railway track component providing unbroken running surfaces across the flangeways of an intersecting railway line

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 LAROSE PAUL-ANDRÉ

AI summary

Described is a railway diamond that allows two intersecting railway lines to cross each other at-grade without incurring discontinuous miming surfaces, thus avoiding the large dynamic impacts normally occurring in traditional railway diamonds. Modified frogs with piston-mounted load-pads located at critical locations can selectively close the inactive flangeways, thus providing quasi-continuous running surfaces over said flangeways for the active route. Operation of the pistons is performed automatically through an interface with the rail traffic control system and provision is made for continued operation of the diamond in instances of technical anomalies. The operating mechanisms are located below the frogs, with risers providing the required vertical separation between the ties and the frogs. Benefits of embodiments of the invention are reduced maintenance costs, potentially increased line capacity, service life extension for the components and the diamond itself, as well as environmental improvements.