Rail Fastening with Rolling Contact for Sectional Track Renovation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for refurbishing railway tracks in sections are complex and time-consuming, particularly due to the need for creating gaps for sleeper passage and ballast cleaning, which limits efficiency and requires significant manual effort.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using specially designed rail fastening means with rolling contact elements and length-adjustable connecting elements, allowing for easy displacement and repositioning of sleepers, enabling efficient gap creation and ballast cleaning, and subsequent reliable reattachment to maintain correct sleeper spacing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional rail fasteners are used for track refurbishment, then track stability is maintained, but the complexity and time required for creating gaps and repositioning sleepers increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The rail fastening system is segmented into modular components: a clamp element (Klemmelement) that attaches to the rail, a connecting element (Verbindungselement) that links adjacent fasteners, and a sleeper attachment component. This segmentation allows individual components to be easily manipulated and repositioned, enabling workers to create gaps and move sleepers independently without disturbing the entire fastening system.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element is designed with telescopic or articulated capabilities, allowing it to dynamically adjust its length and configuration. This dynamic property enables the connecting element to accommodate sleeper displacement and gap creation while maintaining connections between adjacent fasteners, facilitating easy repositioning during track refurbishment operations.
2Ease of operation
If sleepers are displaced to create gaps for ballast cleaning and sleeper passage, then track maintenance access is improved, but manual labor effort and time required for repositioning increases
Solution Approach 1:
Adjacent rail fasteners are connected through the connecting element to form a coupled assembly. This merging of multiple fasteners into a single operational unit allows workers to displace and reposition multiple sleepers simultaneously by manipulating one fastener assembly, significantly reducing the manual labor and time required compared to handling each sleeper individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element serves as an intermediary mechanism between adjacent fasteners, providing a mechanical linkage that transmits displacement forces and maintains relative positioning. This intermediary connection enables coordinated movement of multiple sleepers while reducing the direct manual effort required for each individual sleeper repositioning operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If original rail fasteners are removed and replaced with new systems, then track rehabilitation is enabled, but the process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The new rail fastening system is designed with multi-functionality to address multiple track maintenance needs simultaneously. The same fastening components can be used for both initial installation and subsequent refurbishment operations, eliminating the need for specialized removal tools or procedures. The connecting element's telescopic design allows it to accommodate various sleeper positions and gap configurations, making the system universally applicable across different rehabilitation scenarios.
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 the track rehabilitation process by allowing for efficient manual displacement and repositioning of sleepers, reducing manual labor and ensuring accurate sleeper spacing, thereby streamlining the renovation process while maintaining track integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The contact element 6 of the connecting link 8 is designed as a rolling body 10 that can be rotated about an axis 9 for rolling on the rail 3 in a longitudinal direction 11 of the rail
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a rail fastening means (2) which connects a rail (3) and a sleeper (1) and consists of a screw connection (5) for fastening a connecting member (8) on the sleeper (1), said connecting member being in contact with a rail foot (7) of a rail (3) by means of a contact element (6). The contact element (6) of the connecting member (8) is designed as a roll body (10), which is rotatable about an axis (9), for rolling on the rail (3) in a longitudinal direction of the rail. In this way, it is possible to temporarily achieve a simplified grouping of a group of sleepers (1) in order to provide an empty site for the renovation in sections of the track.