Rail Welding Recess for Containing Liquefied Grouting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The removal of longitudinal rail grouting prior to welding is time-consuming, costly, and often damages adjacent materials, leading to defective welds due to liquefied grouting material interfering with the welding process.

Innovation Solution

Creating a recess in the longitudinal rail casting parallel to the rail using a milling machine, which absorbs and contains liquefied grouting material during welding, allowing for high-quality welds without complete removal of the grouting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the longitudinal rail grouting is completely removed prior to welding, then the welding quality is improved, but the time consumption and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding qualityVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the critical portion of the grouting material that interferes with welding by creating a recess, rather than removing the entire grouting layer. This selective extraction maintains welding quality while preserving the majority of the grouting structure, significantly reducing preparation time and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality modification by creating a recess specifically in the area where grouting material interferes with welding, while leaving the rest of the grouting intact. This localized approach addresses the welding quality issue without incurring the full cost and time of complete grouting removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the longitudinal rail grouting is completely removed prior to welding, then the welding quality is improved, but the adjacent materials are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding qualityVSAvoiddamage to adjacent materials
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the interfering grouting material through a controlled recess, avoiding the need for extensive mechanical removal that would damage adjacent materials like asphalt or concrete. This selective extraction protects surrounding structures while ensuring welding quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

By modifying only the local area where grouting interferes with welding, the invention prevents the widespread damage to adjacent materials that would result from complete grouting removal. The recess is precisely positioned to affect only the necessary portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the longitudinal rail grouting is not removed prior to welding, then the preparation time is reduced, but the weld quality deteriorates due to liquefied grouting material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreparation efficiencyVSAvoidweld quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the problematic grouting material that would otherwise liquefy and contaminate the weld, but only to the extent necessary. This partial extraction maintains weld quality while avoiding the time-consuming complete removal process, thus improving preparation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The recess is created in advance of welding to pre-position the grouting material away from the weld zone. This preliminary action prevents grouting interference with welding without requiring complete removal, enabling faster preparation while ensuring weld quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If mechanical removal of the joint grouting is used, then the grouting is removed faster, but the adjacent material is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrouting removal speedVSAvoiddamage to adjacent material
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses mechanical removal only to create a controlled recess, extracting just the necessary portion of grouting material. This limited extraction achieves fast removal of interfering material without the widespread damage to adjacent materials that would result from complete mechanical removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Mechanical removal is applied locally to create the recess rather than being used for complete grouting removal. This localized mechanical action maintains high productivity for the critical task while protecting adjacent materials from damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables reliable and efficient rail repair or modification welding by preventing liquefied grouting material from interfering with the weld, reducing the need for extensive pre-welding preparation and minimizing material damage.

Implementation Method 1

the grouting compound, which has liquefied during the preheating of the rail to a temperature of 200-250°C for welding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change (melting): Melting

Data Source

PatentEP4165249B1Method for the repair welding or modification welding of a rail
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 LIND-RUEDT ANDREA
  • EP4165249B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4165249B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A method for the repair welding or modification welding of a rail (2), in particular a grooved rail, having a rail head (3) with a rail head flank (31), wherein the rail (2) is flanked, on at least one of its longitudinal sides, at the height of the rail head (3), by a rail longitudinal casting compound (10) that bears against the rail head flank (31), said method comprising producing, in the rail longitudinal casting compound (10), a cutout (15) that runs in the longitudinal direction of the rail (2) and is spaced apart from the rail head flank (31).