Resilient Tunnel Rail Console with Adjustable Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing consoles for temporarily installed rails in tunnel construction are complex, expensive, and difficult to adapt to varying tunnel radii, leading to noise issues, surface damage, and complex dismantling processes.
Innovation Solution
A console with a plateau and paired arms that can be adjusted in thickness and orientation to fit the tunnel floor and rail, featuring a resilient material and latching mechanism for stability and noise reduction, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional wooden or metal wedges are used as consoles, then the rails can be supported on uneven tunnel floors, but the consoles are very complex to build, expensive to adapt to different installation conditions, and difficult to dismantle
Solution Approach 1:
The console is divided into a base element and a rail support element that can be separated. The base element remains on the tunnel floor while the rail support element can be easily removed and relocated, simplifying dismantling and enabling reuse at different installation sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The base element is designed as a universal component that can be reused across multiple installation locations and different tunnel radii. This multi-functional design eliminates the need to build custom consoles for each specific condition, reducing both construction complexity and cost.
2Strength
If traditional wooden or metal wedges are used as consoles, then the rails can be supported, but noise development is problematic and heavy loads damage the surfaces of segment stone or concrete base
Solution Approach 1:
The material properties of the console are changed from rigid (wood or metal) to resilient. This parameter change allows the console to absorb heavy loads without transmitting impact forces that cause noise and surface damage, while maintaining sufficient load-bearing capacity for rail support.
Solution Approach 2:
The console uses composite construction combining rigid structural elements for load-bearing with resilient materials for noise reduction and surface protection. This composite approach maintains strength while eliminating harmful noise and surface damage effects.
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom wedges of various shapes and inclinations are kept in stock to adapt to different tunnel radii, then adaptation to local conditions is possible, but inventory complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal base element design can be used across multiple installation locations with different tunnel radii. The modular construction allows this one base element type to adapt to various conditions, eliminating the need to stock multiple custom wedge types.
Solution Approach 2:
The console design incorporates adjustable or flexible elements that can be configured for different tunnel radii and inclinations. This dynamic adaptability allows a single base element type to serve multiple purposes without requiring custom-built wedges for each specific condition.
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 console provides a stable, noise-reducing, and adaptable solution for rail support, reducing surface damage and maintenance costs while simplifying installation and dismantling processes.
Implementation Method 1
In addition to being made of a resilient material, the console can also adapt well to local conditions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The console (1) has a plateau positioned below rails (3), and provided with pairwise opposite lying arms (6, 7). The arms comprise a bottom of the rails and/or rail barriers, and comprise projections (17, 18) at an upper side of the arms, where the projection is aligned inwardly. The plateau comprises frames formed corresponding to the rail barriers, and has irregular thickness. The console is manufactured from plastic or natural rubber, and comprises a glued surface at an upper side of the console. The arms are formed and/or supported in a springy manner.