Rail Fastening System with Eccentric Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail fastening devices fail to provide reliable electrical insulation and are cumbersome to assemble, with multiple parts and limited adjustability in both horizontal and vertical directions.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a one-piece support plate with molded dowels and adjustable feet for vertical adjustment, combined with eccentrics and clamps for horizontal alignment, allowing for easy assembly and precise positioning of tram rails on a base layer, ensuring electrical insulation with elastic foot elements and joint sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate fastening components are used, then the fastening can be adjusted horizontally and vertically, but the assembly process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate fastening components (support plate, dowels, adjustable feet, eccentrics, and clamps) into a single integrated one-piece support plate structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate assembly of multiple parts while maintaining both horizontal and vertical adjustment capabilities through integrated adjustable feet and eccentric mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The one-piece support plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, enables vertical adjustment through integrated adjustable feet, allows horizontal positioning via eccentrics, and facilitates secure fastening with clamps. This multi-functionality reduces the overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
2Reliability
If traditional fastening devices are used, then the rails can be fastened to the supporting layer, but electrical insulation between rails and supporting layer is not guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an elastic foot element as an intermediary between the rail and the support plate. This elastic element provides both mechanical support for reliable fastening and electrical insulation to prevent unwanted conductivity between the rail and the supporting layer, thus resolving the contradiction between fastening reliability and electrical insulation.
3Manufacturing precision
If adjustable feet are used for vertical adjustment, then the rail height can be precisely controlled, but the assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable feet are pre-integrated into the one-piece support plate structure during manufacturing, with threads and adjustment mechanisms already in place. This preliminary preparation allows for quick vertical adjustment during assembly without requiring separate components or complex installation procedures, thus reducing assembly time while maintaining positioning precision.
4Manufacturing precision
If eccentrics and clamps are used for horizontal adjustment, then the track width can be precisely adjusted, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the eccentric adjustment mechanism and clamps into the one-piece support plate structure. The eccentrics are integrated directly into the support plate, and clamps are attached as unified components, eliminating the need for separate horizontal adjustment devices. This integration maintains precise horizontal positioning capability while reducing overall device complexity.
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
Enables quick and precise adjustment of rail height and track width, ensuring secure fastening and electrical insulation, simplifying the assembly process while integrating dowels into the concrete base layer for stability.
Implementation Method 1
The adjustable feet (17) can be rotated in order to adjust the distance between the lower supporting layer (18) and the support plate (4) for the vertical adjustment of the support plate (4)
Implementation Method 2
An elastic foot element (3) is located on the support plate (4), which receives the rails and on which the rails can be placed on the support plate (4)
Implementation Method 3
The rails on the support plate are infinitely adjustable horizontally with eccentrics and can be fixed in the dowels with screws. Clamps that can be adjusted horizontally via the eccentrics allow the rails to be positioned horizontally
Implementation Method 4
the support plate being provided with dowels on the underside according to the invention, which can be placed on the base layer and tied into the base layer concrete and fixed
Data Source
AI summary
The device has a supporting plate (4) integrally formed with two formed pins (7) on a lower side (6), where the pins are engaged into adjustable feet (17) that are fixable and brought in a base layer concrete (16). The pins are horizontally adjustable on a lower base layer (18) and vertically adjustable in the feet. A flexible foot element (3) supports a rail (1) on the supporting plate horizontally by eccentric cams (14) and adjustable screws (13), so that the rail and the supporting plate are integrated in the base layer concrete in an electrically isolated manner. An independent claim is also included for a method for fastening and adjusting a rail on a base layer.