Prefabricated Slab Track Bed for Rail Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of elastically mounted slab tracks for rail vehicles using in-situ concrete construction is complex and costly due to the need for intricate formwork and subsequent assembly of elastic elements, which is time-consuming and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

The use of prefabricated slabs that serve as both the bottom layer of the mass-spring system and formwork, with elastic elements positioned underneath, eliminating the need for separate formwork and allowing for a monolithic bond with the concrete support slab, along with additional reinforcement for effective force transmission and vibration damping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If in-situ concrete construction with pre-placed elastic elements is used, then vibration decoupling is achieved, but installation complexity and cost increase due to complex formwork requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidformwork complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the formwork function and the bottom layer function into a single integrated component. The prefabricated slab serves simultaneously as the bottom layer of the mass-spring system and as the formwork for concreting the concrete support slab, eliminating the need for separate formwork structures and subsequent assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic elements are pre-positioned on the prefabricated bottom layer before the concrete support slab is cast. This preliminary placement ensures that the elastic elements are correctly positioned without requiring subsequent lifting and positioning operations, simplifying the construction process while maintaining vibration decoupling functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If elastic elements are positioned after concrete support slab assembly, then placement flexibility is maintained, but installation time and cost increase due to hydraulic lifting requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplacement flexibilityVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic elements are pre-positioned on the prefabricated bottom layer before the concrete support slab is cast. This preliminary placement eliminates the need for subsequent lifting and positioning operations, significantly reducing installation time while maintaining correct element positioning through the integrated formwork design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom layer and formwork are merged into a single prefabricated slab unit, which allows elastic elements to be pre-positioned during manufacturing. This integration eliminates the time-consuming sequential operations of assembling formwork, casting concrete, and then positioning elastic elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate formwork and subsequent elastic element assembly are used, then construction flexibility is maintained, but productivity decreases due to multiple process steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction flexibilityVSAvoidinstallation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the bottom layer and formwork into a single prefabricated slab unit, reducing multiple construction steps into a single integrated component. This merger maintains construction flexibility through modular design while significantly improving productivity by eliminating sequential assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The track system is segmented into prefabricated slabs that can be manufactured off-site and assembled on-site. This segmentation allows for standardized production of integrated bottom-layer-formwork units with pre-positioned elastic elements, improving both productivity and construction flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 approach simplifies and cost-reduces the installation process while achieving effective vibration decoupling and suppression of specific frequency range vibrations, enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the slab track system.

Implementation Method 1

The elastic element, which is arranged between the roadway capable of vibrating and the subsoil, for example a tunnel structure, causes a decoupling of the vibrations, so that the size of the vibrations transmitted to the subsoil does not exceed a certain level.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration decoupling: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The track is designed as a separate, oscillating mass, which is movably mounted on an elastic element acting as a spring relative to the ground.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The monolithic connection can be achieved by gluing and/or profiling the surfaces of the prefabricated panel (6) and/or mechanical connections.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical connection: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 4

The monolithic connection can be achieved by gluing and/or profiling the surfaces of the prefabricated panel (6) and/or mechanical connections.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 5

In order to achieve good force transmission in the area of adjacent prefabricated slabs, additional reinforcement can be arranged at the joints. This reinforcement can be designed as a reinforcement mat, the reinforcement rods of which are arranged in the longitudinal direction and each cover the joints.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce transmission: Force

Implementation Method 6

Through the targeted selection of the mass of the concrete base plate and the properties of the elastic elements, vibrations in a specific frequency range can be specifically suppressed.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 7

Through the targeted selection of the mass of the concrete base plate and the properties of the elastic elements, vibrations in a specific frequency range can be specifically suppressed.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTuned mass damper: Tuned Mass Damper

Data Source

PatentEP1836352B1Fixed track bed for rail vehicles
Publication Date: 2009.06.10 RAIL ONE GMBH
  • EP1836352B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1836352B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Fixed track bed for rail vehicles which is mounted on elastic elements, with the concrete support plate (3) being composed of prefabricated plate elements (6) and a layer of local concrete located thereon, with the prefabricated plate elements resting on the elastic elements and forming a monolithic composite with the local concrete.