Rail Nozzle Mounting via Vertical Fastening and Elastic Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foreign material removing devices for track turnout portions face issues with securely attaching nozzles to the rail belly portion without machining the rail, leading to potential gaps and interference with point rails during operation.

Innovation Solution

The device employs a fixing member with a tapered surface and elastic deformation to securely attach the nozzle pipes to the stock rail's belly portion, preventing movement and interference with point rails, even when compressed air is sprayed, without requiring special machining of the rail.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the bolt is tightly fastened in the horizontal direction, then the fixing bracket is securely attached to the stock rail, but a gap is produced between the rail belly portion and the nozzles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidgap between rail belly and nozzles
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional horizontal fastening approach by using vertical fastening instead. The fixing bracket is attached to the lower surface of the stock rail through vertical bolts, which eliminates the gap formation issue while maintaining secure attachment. This inversion of the fastening direction resolves the contradiction between attachment strength and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from horizontal attachment to vertical attachment, changing the dimension of fastening. By fastening the fixing bracket vertically to the lower surface of the stock rail, the system achieves both secure attachment and proper positioning of nozzles against the rail belly portion, resolving the gap issue without compromising attachment strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the nozzles are tightly attached to the rail belly portion, then foreign material removal effectiveness is improved, but the point rails cannot move away from the stock rails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeign material removal effectivenessVSAvoidpoint rail movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the attachment system into a fixing bracket that is separately attached to the lower surface of the stock rail, with nozzles then attached to the fixing bracket. This segmentation allows the nozzles to be positioned for effective foreign material removal while the fixing bracket absorbs the attachment forces, preventing interference with point rail movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing bracket acts as an intermediary between the stock rail and the nozzles. It provides a stable mounting platform that secures the nozzles in the correct position for effective foreign material removal, while its attachment to the lower surface of the stock rail ensures it does not interfere with the lateral movement of point rails.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the nozzles are positioned close to the point rails for effective foreign material removal, then removal effectiveness is improved, but the nozzles may interfere with point rail operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeign material removal effectivenessVSAvoidpoint rail operation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the nozzles in the vertical dimension by attaching the fixing bracket to the lower surface of the stock rail and extending nozzles toward the rail belly portion. This vertical positioning allows the nozzles to be close enough for effective foreign material removal while maintaining sufficient horizontal clearance from the point rails to prevent interference with their lateral movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution ensures stable and tight attachment of nozzles to the stock rails, preventing interference with point rails and ensuring effective removal of foreign materials without damaging the equipment, while allowing for easy installation without rail machining.

Implementation Method 1

The device employs a fixing member with a tapered surface and elastic deformation to securely attach the nozzle pipes to the stock rail's belly portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

spray the compressed air from the compressed air source device to a front end side of the point rail

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air spray: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP2765239B1Foreign matter removal device for track branching section
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 NABTESCO CORP
  • EP2765239B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2765239B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2765239B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

There is provided a foreign material removing device of a track turnout portion which can tightly attach and fix nozzles to a rail belly portion stably without machining a rail itself. A foreign material removing device 100 of a track turnout portion which has point rails 502 which can move to contact and move away from stock rails 501 of the track turnout portion 800, and which removes a foreign material dropped between the stock rail 501 and the point rail 502, includes a piping unit which includes a plurality of nozzle portions 110 which spray compressed air AIR to remove the foreign material, and the piping unit includes a close-contact arrangement structure in which the piping unit is arranged in close contact with a lateral surface of the stock rail 501 opposed to the point rail 502.