Rail Fastening System with Elastic Intermediate Plate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail fastening systems fail to effectively smooth out lifting waves and absorb longitudinal and transverse displacements in transition areas between tracks with different elasticity, such as bridges and tunnels, without damaging the substructure.
Innovation Solution
A rail fastening system featuring a highly elastic intermediate plate and layer, combined with high-tension clamps and sliding plates, provides high elasticity and clamping force to manage displacements, while angled guide plates and adjustable components ensure lateral flexibility and secure anchoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rail fastening systems are used in transition areas, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the system cannot effectively smooth out lifting waves and absorb displacements without damaging the substructure
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into multiple functional components: elastic intermediate layers for vibration absorption, sliding plates for displacement accommodation, tension clamps for anchoring, and guide plates for lateral guidance. Each component performs a specific function, allowing the system to handle complex transition area forces while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines materials with different properties: elastic materials for the intermediate layer to absorb lifting waves, sliding surfaces with low friction for displacement accommodation, and high-strength materials for tension clamps and guide plates. This composite approach allows each material to optimize its performance for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
2Reliability
If high elasticity is provided to smooth out lifting waves, then the rail fastening system can absorb vertical movements, but longitudinal creep resistance is reduced causing damaging forces on the substructure
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the fastening system have different mechanical properties optimized for their specific functions. The elastic intermediate layer provides high vertical elasticity for smoothing lifting waves, while the sliding plates and tension clamps provide high longitudinal strength for creep resistance. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between vertical elasticity and longitudinal strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system separates vertical and longitudinal force management into different components. The elastic intermediate layer handles vertical lifting waves, while the sliding plates and tension clamps handle longitudinal creep forces. This functional segmentation allows each component to optimize its properties for its specific force direction without compromising the other.
3Force
If high tension clamps are used to increase hold-down forces, then the system can absorb lifting forces, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tension clamps are designed with optimized geometric parameters and material properties to achieve high hold-down forces. By carefully selecting the clamp geometry, material strength, and pre-tensioning forces, the system achieves the required 15-20 kN hold-down force while keeping the clamp design relatively simple and manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension clamps combine high-strength materials with optimized structural design to achieve high hold-down forces. The use of high-strength steel or composite materials allows the clamps to generate and maintain high tension forces without requiring excessively large or complex structures, thus balancing manufacturing ease with force requirements.
4Reliability
If lateral elasticity is increased to accommodate transverse displacements, then the system can protect against slab movements, but the longitudinal stability and creep resistance are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plates are designed with specific geometric properties that provide lateral elasticity while maintaining longitudinal stability. The plate geometry and material properties are locally optimized to allow transverse movements while restraining longitudinal creep, resolving the contradiction between lateral flexibility and longitudinal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system separates lateral and longitudinal constraint functions into different components. The guide plates provide lateral elasticity for accommodating transverse slab movements, while the sliding plates and tension clamps maintain longitudinal stability against creep. This functional segmentation allows each component to optimize its properties for its specific directional requirement.
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
The system effectively absorbs and smooths out lifting waves, reduces longitudinal push-through resistance, and maintains lateral elasticity, ensuring secure rail fastening without damaging the substructure, even in areas with significant changes in track elasticity.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic intermediate layer is arranged between the rail and the rail fastening plate
Implementation Method 2
an intermediate plate between the rail fastening plate and the concrete slab or height adjustment plate consists of a highly elastic material
Implementation Method 3
at least two second tension clamps are provided for bracing the rail fastening plate to the substructure, preferably via the intermediate plate, with the first and second tension clamps being designed to be highly elastic and with high tension force
Implementation Method 4
at least one upper sliding plate between the rail foot and a first tension clamp and at least one lower sliding plate is arranged between the rail foot and the elastic intermediate layer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a rail attachment system (1) for attaching a rail (2) to a concrete support slab (3a) or a concrete sleeper (3b) or to a steel structure comprising an intermediate plate (4), a rail attachment plate (5) with angle guide plates (6, 6b) arranged thereon, at least two first tensioning clamps (7a) for clamping the rail foot (2a) to the rail attachment plate (5) as well as screws (9) and/or ankle bolts (10) and at least two second tensioning clamps for screwing the rail attachment system (1) to the underlying surface, characterized in that an elastic intermediate layer (8)is arranged between the rail (2) and the rail attachment plate (5), and the intermediate plate (4) is composed of a highly elastic material and/or comprises a steel plate (4), at least two second tensioning clamps (7b) for clamping the rail attachment plate (5) to the substructure, preferably via the intermediate plate (4), wherein the first and second tensioning clamps (7a, 7b) are embodied in a highly elastic fashion with a high tensioning force, are provided, and at least one upper sliding plate (12) is arranged between the rail foot (2a) and a first tensioning clamp (7a), and at least one lower sliding plate (13) is arranged between the rail foot (2a) and the elastic intermediate layer (8) and is attached by means of a steel support (14) in the case of a steel substructure.