Rail Guide Plate Weight Reduction via Reinforcing Ribs

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide plates for rail fastening systems face challenges in achieving a balance between weight reduction and maintaining mechanical properties and load capacity, while also ensuring electrical insulation and resistance to liquids.

Innovation Solution

The guide plate incorporates a reinforcing rib on its upper side that extends transversely to the contact surface, allowing for a hollow design that reduces material volume and weight, while maintaining dimensional stability and load capacity, and features a collar around the through-opening to prevent liquid ingress and enhance stiffness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of stationary object

If the guide plate is designed as a hollow structure with recesses to reduce material volume, then weight is reduced, but mechanical strength and dimensional stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of guide plateVSAvoidmechanical strength and dimensional stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guide plate is divided into multiple functional zones through recesses and reinforcing ribs. The hollow design segments the plate into upper and lower portions, reducing material usage while maintaining structural integrity through strategically placed reinforcing elements that segment and distribute loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the guide plate have different structural properties. Reinforcing ribs are placed in specific locations where strength is needed, while other areas are hollowed out for weight reduction. This local differentiation of structural quality allows weight reduction without compromising overall mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 3:

The guide plate combines hollow structural elements with reinforcing ribs to create a composite design that optimizes the strength-to-weight ratio. The combination of empty space and strategic material placement creates a structure that is both lightweight and mechanically robust.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If the guide plate is made solid to maintain load capacity, then mechanical strength is maintained, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload capacityVSAvoidweight of guide plate

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide plate is divided into multiple functional zones through recesses and reinforcing ribs. The hollow design segments the plate into upper and lower portions, reducing material usage while maintaining structural integrity through strategically placed reinforcing elements that segment and distribute loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the guide plate have different structural properties. Reinforcing ribs are placed in specific locations where strength is needed, while other areas are hollowed out for weight reduction. This local differentiation of structural quality allows weight reduction without compromising overall mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the guide plate includes a collar around the through-opening to prevent liquid ingress, then liquid protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid ingress protectionVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collar around the through-opening is merged with the reinforcing ribs to form an integrated structural element. This combination serves dual purposes: providing liquid protection through the collar while simultaneously reinforcing the guide plate structure, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The collar structure performs multiple functions: it prevents liquid ingress through the through-opening while also serving as a reinforcing element for the guide plate. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2672007B1Guide plate for fixing rails for rail vehicles

Publication Date: 2015.09.09 VOSSLOH WERKE GMBH

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AI summary

Guide plate for fastening rails (S) for rail vehicles, comprising a recess (30-34) formed into the guide plate (3) from the underside (11) on which the guide plate (3) rests in the mounting position, a support surface (13) formed on the upper side (10) of the guide plate (3) for a spring element (1, 2) intended to hold down the rail (S) to be fastened, and a contact surface (9) formed on an end face of the guide plate (3) which extends longitudinally along the guide plate (3) and on which the rail (S) to be fastened is guided laterally in the mounting position. At least one reinforcing rib (21) is formed on the upper side (10) of the guide plate (3), extending above the support surface (13) and transversely to the contact surface (9).The recess formed in the guide plate (3) from the underside (11) extends into the area of the guide plate (3) in which the reinforcing rib (21) is formed.