Railway Track Support Structure Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing provisional support structures for railway tracks face issues with maintaining electrical insulation between rails due to vibrations causing loosening of bolts and displacement of vibration-damping and insulating pads, leading to potential electrical contact and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A supporting structure with metal assemblies, electrically insulating bushings, and anti-loosening devices, featuring metal plates, bolts, nuts, and fins, along with interposed insulating pads and a foil or high-temperature-resistant paint for insulation, ensures consistent electrical isolation and robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vibration-damping material pads are used between rails and supporting elements, then vibration damping and electrical insulation are improved, but the pads can be removed by vibrations causing electrical contact between rails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary fastening system consisting of a clamping element with a clamping face that presses against the pad, and a retaining element that prevents removal. This intermediary mechanism secures the vibration-damping pad in place while maintaining its electrical insulation function, preventing both displacement and electrical contact between rails.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the fastening system to counteract the loosening effect of vibrations before it can cause pad removal. The clamping element and retaining element work together to pre-prevent the pad from being displaced by vibrational forces, thereby maintaining electrical insulation reliability.
2Strength
If metal beams and supporting structures are used to guarantee robustness, then structural strength is improved, but electrical insulation between rails is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the supporting structure into distinct functional components: metal beams for structural robustness, separate vibration-damping pads for electrical insulation and vibration damping, and fastening elements to connect them. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function without compromising the others, maintaining both structural strength and electrical insulation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration-damping pad acts as an intermediary between the metal supporting structure and the rails. It provides electrical insulation while the metal beams provide structural robustness. The fastening system ensures the pad remains in place despite the presence of metal components, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and electrical insulation.
3Ease of manufacture
If bolts and nuts are used to fasten supporting elements, then ease of assembly is improved, but vibrations cause loosening leading to insulation failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling the clamping element and retaining element before installing the vibration-damping pad. This pre-assembly ensures that the fastening system is ready to immediately counteract vibrational loosening forces once the structure is put into service, maintaining fastening reliability while keeping assembly straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping element and retaining element serve as intermediary fastening components between the metal beams and the vibration-damping pad. They provide a reliable connection that resists vibrational loosening while maintaining ease of assembly through standardized fastening mechanisms.
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 solution guarantees reliable electrical insulation and safety for both trains and operators by preventing bolt loosening and maintaining insulation integrity under vibration, while enhancing structural robustness and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a bushing of electrically insulating material fitted on the metal bolt
Implementation Method 2
a pad of electrically insulating and vibration-damping material, which is interposed between each supporting element and each rail
Implementation Method 3
the material with which the pad of vibration-damping material is made of is selected from those also having electric insulation characteristics
Implementation Method 4
a foil or high-temperature-resistant paint for insulation
Implementation Method 5
high-temperature-resistant paint
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
A supporting structure (10) for the provisional support of railway tracks is described. The structure comprises two metal assemblies (15) for supporting the respective rails (5), each metal assembly (15) comprising a plurality of metal cross saddles (30) fastened to horizontal metal beams (20, 20') arranged parallel to the rails (5) of the track. The metal assemblies (15) for supporting the rails (5) are joined together through metal plates (40) bolted to metal fins (50), the latter being fastened to the metal beams (20, 20'). A plate of electrically insulating material is interposed between each of the metal plates (40) and the corresponding metal fins (50), and a bushing of electrically insulating material is fitted on each of the metal bolts.