Rail Heating Device Radiant Body for Track Laying

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for laying railway tracks fail to efficiently control temperature variations, leading to mechanical neutralization operations that cause traffic disturbances and speed restrictions due to the inability to account for thermal expansion and contraction of rails, with existing heating methods being complex or inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A method using a work train with a heating device featuring gas burners and radiating bodies that apply at least 75% of heat through radiation, allowing precise temperature control of the rail before attachment, minimizing convection losses and optimizing heating efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If mechanical neutralization operations are performed after laying, then the rail temperature control is achieved, but traffic disturbances and speed restrictions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverail temperature controlVSAvoidtraffic flow

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The rail is heated to neutral temperature before attachment to the sleeper, so that when the rail is laid, it is already at the correct temperature. This eliminates the need for subsequent mechanical neutralization operations, allowing traffic to resume at full speed immediately without interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If induction technology is used for continuous heating, then heating precision is improved, but equipment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating precisionVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex induction heating technology with a simpler gas burner system. The gas burner apparatus, while less sophisticated than induction equipment, achieves sufficient heating precision for rail laying by using controlled gas combustion, thereby reducing equipment complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a simpler, more affordable gas burner system instead of expensive induction technology. The gas burner apparatus is less complex, cheaper to operate, and sufficient for the application, eliminating the need for expensive induction equipment with its power generators and cooling systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Power

If convective heating is used, then heating capability is improved, but control difficulty increases due to air current dependence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating capabilityVSAvoidcontrol difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces convective heating with radiant heating. The radiant heating system uses a burner positioned to directly radiate heat onto the rail, eliminating dependence on air currents. This provides more reliable and easier-to-control heating, as radiant heat transfer is not affected by wind or air flow variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 ensures efficient and reliable heating of railway tracks, reducing traffic disturbances and allowing for immediate resumption of higher travel speeds by maintaining the rail at a neutral temperature, while minimizing equipment complexity and operational drawbacks.

Implementation Method 1

at least 75%, and preferably at least 80%, and preferably at least 85% of the heat applied to the portion of the rail is transmitted by radiation from the radiating body or bodies

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

one or more gas burners

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS11384486B2Method for laying a rail of a railway track

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 MATISA MATERIEL INDUSTRIEL SA

AI summary

A work train lays a rail of a railway track. The work train has a heating device with a heating zone, gas burners, and a radiant body interposed between the gas burners and the heating zone. The radiant body has openings that open into the heating zone. The work train is moved in a laying direction, so that at each moment a portion of the rail to be fixed passes through the heating zone. Heat is supplied to the rail to be fixed through the heating zone by feeding the gas burner so that no flame emerges from the openings in the heating zone and that at least 75% of the heat supplied to the rail is transmitted by radiation from the radiant body. Then the rail is fixed after the heat has been applied to a tie of the railway track behind the heating zone in the laying direction.