Rail Track Elastomer Profile Reinforcement for Fatigue Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing track designs with elastomer profiles supporting covering elements face challenges in maintaining the dynamic properties and extending the service life of these profiles, as they undergo deformation and stress, leading to fatigue and wear.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating longitudinally stable reinforcement elements, such as rods or strip-shaped plates, within or on the elastomer profiles to enhance their rigidity and reduce deformation, thereby maintaining the elastic properties and extending the operational life by distributing loads and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastomer profiles are used to support covering elements on rails, then the track maintains dynamic properties and achieves sound insulation, but the elastomer profiles undergo deformation and stress leading to reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer profile is combined with reinforcement elements (metal rods, strips, or plates) to create a composite structure. The elastomer provides damping and sound insulation properties, while the reinforcement elements provide structural strength and resistance to deformation, thereby extending the service life of the support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and mechanical parameters of the elastomer profile by incorporating reinforcement elements with specific rigidity, arrangement patterns, and bonding characteristics. This changes the overall stress distribution and deformation characteristics, allowing the profile to maintain its load-bearing capacity over longer periods.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If elastomer profiles are used to support covering elements, then the track achieves sound-insulating behavior, but the profiles experience stress concentrations that cause fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of elastomer combined with rigid reinforcement elements creates a material system that simultaneously provides sound damping (from the elastomer) and fatigue resistance (from the reinforcement elements that distribute stress and prevent crack propagation).
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement elements are strategically positioned within the elastomer profile at locations where stress concentrations are most likely to occur. This local reinforcement approach maintains sound insulation properties while specifically addressing fatigue-prone areas.
3Device complexity
If covering elements are supported directly on rails via elastomer profiles, then the structure is simple, but deformations occur that worsen the fit of covering elements over time
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer-reinforcement composite maintains the relatively simple overall structure while internally distributing loads more evenly. This prevents excessive deformation that would compromise the fit of covering elements, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision over the service life without significantly increasing structural complexity.
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 reinforcement elements effectively distribute stresses, reduce deformation, and minimize wear, ensuring the elastomer profiles maintain their elastic behavior over longer periods and improve the fit of covering elements, thus extending their service life.
Implementation Method 1
the reinforcement elements effectively distribute stresses, reduce deformation, and minimize wear
Implementation Method 2
the elastomer profiles maintain their elastic behavior over longer periods
Implementation Method 3
the rigidity of which is greater than that of the elastomer material
Implementation Method 4
the reinforcement elements effectively distribute stresses, reduce deformation, and minimize wear
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a track, comprising a covering formed from slab-like cover elements (2), the upper face (5) of the covering forming a transportation surface running at the level (3) of the rails (4) of the track. The cover elements (2) are supported at the edge zones (6) thereof facing the rails (4) of the track by engaging in the lateral recesses (8) of the rails (4) via intermediate elastomeric profiles (7a, 7b). The elastomeric profiles (7a, 7b) arranged in the lateral recesses (8) of the rails (4) are provided with reinforcement elements (14, 15, 16, 27), which are arranged in the interior (11) of said elastomeric profiles (7a, 7b) and/or on the outer face (12) thereof.