Railroad Tie Connecting Layer Fabric Embedding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing railway sleeper connecting layers, such as three-dimensional tangled fabrics, face limitations in force transmission due to heterogeneity and issues with cement slurry layers, which restrict the absorption of lateral forces, particularly in transverse directions.

Innovation Solution

A railway sleeper design featuring a connecting layer formed by a fabric with a three-dimensional structure, where threads or yarns with loop-like or curved courses are embedded in the concrete body and sleeper sole, providing deep embedding and forming undercut surfaces for enhanced shear resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If a three-dimensional tangled fabric is used as the connecting layer, then the embedding depth in concrete is increased, but the heterogeneity of the fabric increases leading to inconsistent force transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveembedding depthVSAvoidforce transmission consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the connecting layer from a three-dimensional tangled fabric to a two-dimensional fabric with loop-like structures. This parameter change maintains adequate embedding depth while achieving uniform force transmission through the structured loop patterns that distribute loads consistently across the concrete interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a three-dimensional tangled fabric structure to a two-dimensional fabric with vertical loop extensions. This dimensionality change allows the fabric to achieve effective embedding depth through the loop structures protruding from the fabric plane, while maintaining the planar arrangement that ensures uniform force distribution and reduced heterogeneity.

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

2Strength

If a three-dimensional tangled fabric is used as the connecting layer, then the tear-resistant connection is improved, but the heterogeneity with holes and fiber accumulations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetear-resistant connectionVSAvoidstructural uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the structural parameter from three-dimensional tangled fibers to two-dimensional fabric with organized loop structures. This transformation maintains tear-resistant connection through the loop structures that anchor into concrete, while eliminating the heterogeneity of holes and fiber accumulations inherent in random three-dimensional fabrics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure combining a two-dimensional fabric base with vertically protruding loop-like structures. This composite approach provides both the mechanical anchoring needed for tear resistance and the geometric regularity that ensures structural uniformity, avoiding the inconsistencies of fully three-dimensional tangled fabrics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If a fabric with loop-like structures is used as the connecting layer, then the shear-resistant connection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshear-resistant connectionVSAvoidfabric structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the fabric structure parameter by using loop-like structures with controlled dimensions (loop length 2-10mm, loop diameter 0.5-5mm). These specific parameter ranges provide adequate shear resistance through the loop anchoring mechanism while keeping the overall structure simple and manufacturable, avoiding excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies partial three-dimensionality through loop structures that extend vertically from the fabric plane, rather than creating a fully three-dimensional tangled structure. This partial approach provides the necessary shear resistance through loop embedding while maintaining the simplicity of a base fabric structure, avoiding the complexity of complete three-dimensional construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2697431B1Railroad tie
Publication Date: 2016.10.26 GETZNER WERKSTOFFE HOLDING GMBH
  • EP2697431B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2697431B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2697431B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A railroad tie has a concrete body (2) having a tie sole (3) which is attached thereto, wherein in order to connect the tie sole (3) to the concrete body (2) in a way which is resistant to shearing force a connecting layer (6) is provided which is connected both to the tie sole (3) and to the concrete body (2), and is at the same time partially embedded in the concrete of the concrete body (2). The connecting layer (6) is or comprises a fabric.