U.S. patent application number 10/447687 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-31 for interconnecting track sections of a multi-sectional trackway.
Invention is credited to Ardern, Fergus Johnathan.
Application Number | 20050066851 10/447687 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9937647 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050066851 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ardern, Fergus Johnathan |
March 31, 2005 |
Interconnecting track sections of a multi-sectional trackway
Abstract
Apparatus for assembling a multi-sectional trackway has a
plurality of like track sections which can be joined together, in
series. Each track section has first and second transverse edges
with respect to the length of the trackway, and has a first
abutment surface on one transverse edge and a complementary
abutment surface on the other transverse edge. The abutment
surfaces slidingly interengage directly or indirectly, in the
transverse direction, in order to withstand tensile forces along
the length of the trackway. The joint is completed by a bridging
plate which spans the interengaged abutment surfaces and is bolted
in position thereafter to restrain sliding disengagement of the
track sections. A security bolt may be employed to hold the
bridging plate in position.
Inventors: |
Ardern, Fergus Johnathan;
(Norwich, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANDRUS, SCEALES, STARKE & SAWALL, LLP
100 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE, SUITE 1100
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202
US
|
Family ID: |
9937647 |
Appl. No.: |
10/447687 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
104/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01C 9/083 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
104/003 |
International
Class: |
E01B 029/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 29, 2002 |
GB |
02 12382.6 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of detachably interconnecting two successive like track
sections of a multi-sectional trackway so as to assemble a second
track section to a first track section in the longitudinal
direction of the trackway, each like track section having first and
second transverse edges with at least one abutment surface provided
on the first transverse edge and at least one complementary
abutment surface formed on the second transverse edge whereby the
at least one abutment surface of a first track section is
inter-engageable directly or indirectly with the at least one
complementary abutment surface of a second track section, the
interengaging abutment and complementary abutment surfaces
resisting tensile stress in said longitudinal direction, and each
track section having at least one aperture formed adjacent each of
its transverse edges, which method comprises: slidingly
interengaging in said transverse direction the at least one
abutment surface of the second track section directly or indirectly
with the at least one complementary abutment surface of the first
track section; spanning the interengaged abutment surfaces with a
bridging plate, said bridging plate having at least two bores
normal to a plane containing said longitudinal and transverse
directions to receive a bolts each having a respective head, each
bore being configured to accommodate substantially fully the head
of a received bolt; aligning the bores of the bridging plate with
the respective apertures in the interengaged adjacent track
sections; and inserting respective bolts through the aligned bores
and apertures so as to prevent sliding disengagement of either of
the track sections.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 and in which the respective
abutment and complementary abutment surfaces are interengaged with
each other indirectly by means of an elongate joining section also
having abutment and complementary abutment surfaces provided
therealong, in which method the track sections are interengaged by
sliding the joining section in the transverse direction so as to
interengage its complementary abutment and abutment surfaces
respectively with the abutment and complementary abutment surfaces
of the first and second track sections to be joined.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the joining section is
formed integrally with said bridging plate and the bridging plate
and joining section are slid simultaneously into engagement with
the two sections to be joined, until the bolt holes of the bridging
plate are aligned with the respective apertures of the two sections
to be joined.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which a first bolt is
inserted through aligned bores and apertures respectively in the
bridging plate and a track section, and closely adjacent each such
first bolt a second bolt is inserted through aligned bores and
apertures to form a first and second bolt pair.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which each bridging plate has
a length transverse to the longitudinal direction of the trackway
no greater than half the width of the track section with which the
bridging plate is assembled.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which a trackway of a width
greater than the width of a single track section is constructed by
laying two or more trackway lengths in a side-by-side, aligned and
abutted relationship, and at between two track sections of one
trackway and also of the abutting trackway, a single bridging plate
is used to span the interengaged abutment surfaces of two track
sections of one trackway and also the interengaged abutment
surfaces of two track sections of the abutting trackway.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which a keyed security bolt
is used to connect the bridging plate to a track section which
security bolt has a head which when fully accommodated within the
bore in the bridging plate can be disengaged therefrom solely by
using a complementarily-keyed tool.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said tool is used to
drive the security bolt home, in the bore.
9. Apparatus for assembly to form a trackway having a longitudinal
direction, comprising: a plurality of like track sections each
having first and second transverse edges which extend in a
transverse direction at right angles to said longitudinal direction
when the track sections are assembled together form a trackway,
each track section having at least one abutment surface provided on
the first transverse edge and at least one complementary abutment
surface formed on the second transverse edge whereby the at least
one abutment surface of a first track section is inter-engageable
directly or indirectly with the at least one complementary abutment
surface of a second like track section, the abutment and
complementary abutment surfaces when interengaged resisting tensile
stress in said longitudinal direction, and each track section
having at least one aperture formed adjacent each of its transverse
edges; a plurality of bolts, each having a stem and a head; a
bridging plate having at least two bores extending normal to a
plane containing said longitudinal and transverse directions, each
bore being configured to receive one bolt and being configured to
accommodate substantially fully the head of a received bolt;
whereby the trackway may be assembled by slidingly interengaging
directly or indirectly the abutment and complementary abutment
surfaces of adjacent sections and the assembled sections are held
against sliding movement by passing bolts into the bores of the
bridging plates aligned with the apertures in the respective track
sections.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one
abutment surface formed on the first transverse edge of each like
track section comprises a projecting rib of a T-section.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one
complementary abutment surface formed on the second transverse edge
of each like track section comprises a T-section channel adapted to
accommodate and slidingly receive said rib and having a constricted
throat through which the head of the rib cannot be withdrawn, so
that said rib can be slidingly engaged or disengaged with the
T-section channel in the transverse direction.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein there is an elongate
joining section arranged to interengage the respective abutment and
complementary abutment surfaces of adjacent track sections, said
joining section also having abutment and complementary abutment
surfaces provided therealong, respectively for interengaging the
complementary abutment and abutment surfaces.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the joining section
is formed integrally with said bridging plate.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least some of the
bolts are keyed security bolts having a security head so
constructed that when fully accommodated within the respective
bores and aligned apertures, the bolts can be disengaged therefrom
solely by using a complementarily-keyed tool.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the security head of
each security bolt is cylindrical and is a snug fit in the bore of
said bridging plate, the head having a plurality of
irregularly-distributed indents recessed into the topmost surface
thereof.
16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the security head of
the bolt has three indents therein.
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 and including at least one
complementarily-keyed tool for effecting rotation of the
security-headed bolts.
18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the track sections are
formed from extruded aluminium alloy profiles.
Description
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0001] a) Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a method for interconnecting
adjacent track sections of a multi-sectional trackway, and also
apparatus for assembly into such a multi-sectional trackway.
[0003] b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The use of pierced steel planking (PSP) for
ground-reinforcement and thus the construction of temporary
roadways goes back at least 60 years, probably longer. PSP is
however heavy, cumbersome and liable to suffer distortion in use
which may render it incapable of re-use. Other forms of metallic
ground-reinforcement have therefore been sought, and of late track
sections made of extruded aluminium alloys have attracted interest.
Suitably profiled, these have great strength against compressive
stresses and thus are not easily distorted, while they are
relatively light in weight. They are however not without fault.
While each track section can itself adequately withstand the
tensile stresses that arise, the relatively thin aluminium webs of
an extruded profile cannot bear the shear stresses that tend to be
generated where one track section is interconnected with
another.
[0005] A method and apparatus has now been devised for
interconnecting track sections of a multi-sectional trackway that
it is believed better resolves these various conflicting
considerations. This method and apparatus can achieve a further
objective, of making the assembled trackway pilfer-resistant, which
is of significant benefit, given that such a trackway is of
significant value, even as scrap metal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of detachably interconnecting two successive like
track sections of a multi-sectional trackway so as to assemble a
second track section to a first track section in the longitudinal
direction of the trackway. Each like track section has first and
second transverse edges with at least one abutment surface provided
on the first transverse edge and at least one complementary
abutment surface formed on the second transverse edge. The at least
one abutment surface of a first track section is inter-engageable
directly or indirectly through the intermediary of a joining
section with the at least one complementary abutment surface of a
second track section. When interengaged, the abutment and
complementary abutment surfaces resist tensile stress in said
longitudinal direction. Each track section has at least one
aperture formed adjacent each of its transverse edges. The method
of this invention comprises:
[0007] slidingly interengaging in said transverse direction the at
least one abutment surface of the second track section directly or
indirectly with the at least one complementary abutment surface of
the first track section;
[0008] spanning the interengaged abutment surfaces with a bridging
plate, said bridging plate having at least two bores normal to a
plane containing said longitudinal and transverse directions to
receive a bolts each having a respective head, each bore being
configured to accommodate substantially fully the head of a
received bolt;
[0009] aligning the bores of the bridging plate with the respective
apertures in the interengaged adjacent track sections; and
[0010] inserting respective bolts through the aligned bores and
apertures so as to prevent sliding disengagement of either of the
track sections.
[0011] According to another aspect of this invention, there is
provided apparatus for assembly to form a trackway having a
longitudinal direction. This apparatus comprises a plurality of
like track sections each having first and second transverse edges
which extend in a transverse direction at right angles to said
longitudinal direction when the track sections are assembled
together form a trackway. Each track section has at least one
abutment surface provided on the first transverse edge and at least
one complementary abutment surface formed on the second transverse
edge whereby the at least one abutment surface of a first track
section is inter-engageable directly with the at least one
complementary abutment surface of a second like track section.
Alternatively, the at least one abutment surface of a first track
section is interengageable indirectly with the at least one
complementary abutment surface of a second track section, through
the intermediary of a joining section also having at least one
abutment surface and at least one opposed complementary abutment
surface. The abutment and complementary abutment surfaces of the
track sections when interengaged resist tensile stress in said
longitudinal direction.
[0012] Each track section has at least one aperture formed adjacent
each of its transverse edges and there is provided a plurality of
bolts each having a stem and a head. A bridging plate has at least
two bores extending normal to a plane containing said longitudinal
and transverse directions, each bore being configured to receive
one bolt with the head of the bolt accommodated substantially fully
in the bore.
[0013] The trackway is assembled by slidingly interengaging
directly or indirectly (using the joining section) the abutment and
complementary abutment surfaces of adjacent sections and the
assembled sections are held against sliding movement by passing
bolts into the bores of the bridging plates aligned with the
apertures in the respective track sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] A specific embodiment of trackway construction of this
invention is described hereinafter and is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of two track sections
assembled together with an intervening bridging plate to form part
of the embodiment of a multi-sectional trackway in accordance with
this invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one side and the upper
surface of the assembly of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a purely diagrammatic plan view of a length of
trackway formed from an array of side-by-side juxtaposed individual
trackway lengths interconnected by bridging plates; and
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a security bolt and operating tool, for use in
the embodiment of trackway.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The method of this invention may be applied to the
interconnection (and mutatis mutandis to the subsequent
disconnection) of track sections made of any material suitable for
trackway construction, but which will almost certainly be metallic
or predominantly metallic. The invention has been developed
particularly to suit track sections made by extrusion from
aluminium alloys to have appropriate profiles.
[0020] In a case where the track sections are directly
interengaged, it would be possible to provide an aperture in each
section which together form a single hole when the sections are
assembled together, a bolt passing through the bridging plate being
received in that single hole to prevent relative transfer sliding
movement of the two track sections. In such a case, it may be
advantageous to provide an additional backing plate, on the opposed
face of the trackway and threaded to receive the bolt.
[0021] In the alternative case where the track sections are
indirectly interengaged, the bridging plate may be formed
integrally with the joining section and in this case the bridging
plate will require, at each location where the sections are to be
secured against relative sliding movement, two bores, one for
alignment with each track section aperture, respectively. Then,
bolts may be fitted into those bores and aligned apertures, so as
to secure the track sections against relative sliding movement.
[0022] Though a single bolt could be used to secure directly
connected track sections against relative sliding movement, it is
preferred to provide at least two bolts for each direct connection,
spaced apart along the length of the transverse edges of the track
sections. Depending upon the width of the trackway, greater numbers
of bolts may be provided to give adequate security and wear
resistance.
[0023] Though there could be a single bridging plate spanning the
junction between each pair of adjacent track sections, any one
bridging plate need not extend the full width of the adjacent track
sections transverse to the length of the trackway. Two or more
shorter lengths of bridging plate may be employed rather than a
single full-length bridging plate.
[0024] An arrangement involving shorter than full-length bridging
plates has a an important advantage. The length of each track
section in the transverse direction can be sufficient to provide a
trackway of the required width for the intended purpose of the
trackway. If however the track section width is less than that
desired for the finished trackway, two or more lengths of trackway
may be laid side-by-side, abutting each other.
[0025] In the case of a complete trackway having two side-by-side
abutted lengths of trackway, these may very conveniently be
interconnected by means of a bridging plate which spans both parts
of the side-by-side trackways as well as the adjacent track
sections of both trackways.
[0026] As a precaution against the consequences of the loss or
dysfunction of any individual bolt used to prevent transverse
sliding movement of the track sections, it is advantageous to use a
pair of closely-adjacent bolts wherever a bolt is required to
fulfil the function of preventing said sliding movement. Loss of
one bolt, or of its functionality, will not prevent the remaining
bolt performing the required function of holding the trackway
sections together.
[0027] In order to obtain a preferred feature of this invention, at
least some of the bolts are keyed security bolts so constructed
that to drive the bolt fully home within the bore in the bridging
plate, and to remove the bolt therefrom, a complementarily-keyed
tool must be employed. Advantageously, the bolt head is received
wholly within a counter-bore in the bridging plate and is a snug
fit therein, whereby access can be gained solely to the exposed
face of the head of the bolt. That head may be provided with a
plurality--and preferably three--of recesses, in an irregular
distribution. Such a bolt head may be turned solely by a key having
a corresponding number and arrangement of projections receivable in
the recesses of the bolt.
[0028] Various oppositely-directed and interengageable abutment
surfaces may be provided on the individual track sections. In a
preferred arrangement, one transverse edge of a track section has a
rib with an enlarged head (hereinafter for convenience referred to
generically as a "T-section rib"). The other transverse edge of a
track section will then have a channel adapted to accommodate and
slidingly receive the T-section rib. Such a channel will also have
a T-shaped cross-section with a constricted throat through which
the head of the rib cannot be withdrawn. Thus, the T-section rib of
one track section may be interengaged with the channel of another
section solely by transverse sliding movement.
[0029] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with
reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, generally indicated at 10
there is shown apparatus comprising first and second track sections
11,12 and a bridging plate 13. The track sections 11,12 are each
provided at one end 14,14' thereof with a T-section rib 15,15', and
at the other end 16,16' thereof with a complementarily-shaped
T-section channel 17,17'. Each rib 15,15' and each channel 17,17'
extends transversely across the respective end 14,14',16,16' of its
respective track section 11,12. The bridging plate 13 is also
provided with a like T-section rib 15" and a like
complimentarily-shaped T-section channel 17", both formed on or in
a central web 18 extending between upper and lower plates
19,20.
[0030] The track sections are made by an extrusion process from an
aluminium alloy of a suitable grade, the sections being cut to have
a suitable length for the intended purpose of the finished
trackway. Likewise, the bridging plate 13 also is an aluminium
alloy extrusion cut to have an appropriate length as will be
described below.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the bridging
plate 13 is provided with bores 22 extending through the upper
plate 19 thereof. Each bore 22 is counter-bored as shown, so as to
be capable of accommodating the head 52 of a security bolt 50 as
shown in FIG. 4. Apertures 23 are provided in each end
14,14',16,16" of the first and second track sections 11,12, each
aperture 23 being alienable with a bore 22 so as to receive a
security bolt (not shown) therethrough. Each such aperture is in
the form of a notch cut into the transverse edge of the track
section. The central web 18 of the bridging plate 13 also has a
corresponding notch at each bore 22. When the bridging plate is
fitted to adjacent track sections, each such notch in the central
web is aligned with the aperture 23 of a track section thereby
providing a full hole through which the bolt 50 may pass. In the
lower plate 20 of the bridging plate 13, the bores 22 are threaded,
to permit a bolt 50 passed through the aligned notches to be
threaded thereunto and tightened down.
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a security bolt 50 and driving tool 51
therefor. The bolt 50 has a head 52 of cylindrical form, the
diameter and length of the head 52 being substantially the same as
the dimensions of the counter-bore of each bore 22 in the bridging
plates. Let into the upper surface 53 of the bolt head 52 are three
cylindrical recesses 54, irregularly positioned with respect to the
bolt axis.
[0033] The driving tool 51 has a T-bar 55 carrying a boss 56 on the
stem 57 of the bar. The boss 56 is of cylindrical form and has a
planar lower face from which project three pegs 58, receivable in
the recesses 54 of the bolt head. The recesses 54 and pegs 58 are
coded such that the tool 51 is usable only with bolts having the
same arrangement of recesses. For any one trackway, all of the
bolts used therewith should have the same configuration and coding,
but different trackways may be provided with differently configured
bolts and tools.
[0034] As extruded, the track sections 11,12 are hollow and are
profiled to comprise an upper load-bearing surface 24 and a lower
ground-contacting surface 25, which are spaced apart and
interconnected by a plurality of transverse strengthening webs 26
therebetween. The upper and lower surfaces 24,25 may be formed with
transverse ridges 27 extending thereacross to enhance grip.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a sequence of
track sections 30,31,32 extends in the longitudinal direction A and
these are interconnected by bridging plates 33,34,35 so as to form
a length of trackway having the same width in the transverse
direction B as the track sections themselves. Juxtaposed in
side-by-side abutting relationship therewith is a further sequence
of track sections 36,37,38 again extending in the longitudinal
direction A and similarly interconnected by bridging plates
39,40,41 to form a similar length of trackway.
[0036] The two such trackway lengths are interconnected to form a
unitary trackway by further bridging plates 42,43,44 which
simultaneously span the junctions in the longitudinal direction A
and also the intersection in the transverse direction B between the
two side-by-side juxtaposed lengths of trackway. The central
bridging plates 42,43,44 thus serve both to join together the two
separate trackway lengths and also the sections of each separate
trackway length. The bridging plates 33,34,35 and 39,40,41 along
the outer side edges of the trackway lengths function in precisely
the same manner as has been described above with reference to FIGS.
1 and 2.
* * * * *