U.S. patent application number 13/272591 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-09 for system for fastening a rail to a fixed bottom support, and fastener for a rail.
This patent application is currently assigned to Vossloh-Werke GmbH. Invention is credited to Adrian Bednarczyk, Winfried Bosterling, Michael Harra, Andre Hunold, Lutz Rademacher.
Application Number | 20120031991 13/272591 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41694202 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120031991 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bosterling; Winfried ; et
al. |
February 9, 2012 |
System For Fastening A Rail To A Fixed Bottom Support, And Fastener
For A Rail
Abstract
The invention provides a system for fastening a rail in place
and a rail fastener which, while being simple to install, allow a
large measure of freedom in the production of the components
required and at the same time have great practical utility. To this
end a system according to the invention for fastening a rail to a
fixed bottom support comprises: a base plate produced from a
plastics material, an intermediate layer which is arranged between
the base plate and the fixed bottom support, a carrier plate which
is arranged between the intermediate layer and the bottom support,
a resilient member to hold down the rail which is to be fastened in
place, a clamping bolt to brace the resilient member against the
base plate, and a fastening member for fastening the base plate to
the fixed bottom support.
Inventors: |
Bosterling; Winfried;
(Neuenrade, DE) ; Rademacher; Lutz; (Ludenscheid,
DE) ; Bednarczyk; Adrian; (Ludenscheid, DE) ;
Hunold; Andre; (Iserlohn, DE) ; Harra ; Michael;
(Wuppertal, DE) |
Assignee: |
Vossloh-Werke GmbH
Werdohl
DE
|
Family ID: |
41694202 |
Appl. No.: |
13/272591 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12607599 |
Oct 28, 2009 |
|
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13272591 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
238/283 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01B 9/42 20130101; E01B
9/483 20130101; E01B 9/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
238/283 |
International
Class: |
E01B 9/38 20060101
E01B009/38; E01B 9/44 20060101 E01B009/44 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 18, 2009 |
DE |
10 2009 041 848.2 |
Claims
1. A system for fastening a rail to a fixed bottom support,
comprising: a base plate produced from a plastics material, an
intermediate layer which is arranged between the base plate and the
fixed bottom support, a carrier plate which is arranged between the
intermediate layer and the bottom support, a resilient member to
hold down the rail which is to be fastened in place, a clamping
bolt to brace the resilient member against the base plate, and a
fastening member for fastening the base plate to the fixed bottom
support.
2. The according to claim 1, wherein there is formed or moulded in
the base plate at least one opening for a sleeve, in which the
opening for a sleeve and a hold-down sleeve are put in a sliding
fit, the height of which hold-down sleeve is greater than the
thickness of the base plate in the region of the opening for a
sleeve associated with it and which hold-down sleeve has a
projection protruding from its circumferential surface which bears
against an upper side of the base plate in a fully installed state,
and in that the fastening member is intended to be inserted through
an opening of the hold-down sleeve.
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the hold-down sleeve
takes the form of an eccentric sleeve, in that there are formed, in
the opening for the sleeve, markers for indexing which are arranged
at a spacing from one another such that, allowing for the
eccentricity of an axis of rotation of the eccentric sleeve from a
central longitudinal axis of the opening for the sleeve, the
markers for indexing define positions in rotation of the eccentric
sleeve if the eccentric sleeve is adjusted in rotation about its
axis of rotation in the opening for the sleeve, which positions in
rotation correspond to a step-by-step change in the position of the
base plate by a defined amount, and in that the eccentric sleeve
has a shaped member corresponding to the markers for indexing in
the opening for the sleeve by means of which shaped member the
eccentric sleeve inserted in the opening for a sleeve associated
with the said eccentric sleeve is coupled by positive-fit to a
given one of the markers for indexing in the opening for the
sleeve.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein a stiffening structure
formed by ribs and by depressions present between the ribs is
formed or moulded in an underside of the base plate, which
underside is associated with the fixed bottom support, and, wherein
depressions of the stiffening structure are closed off with a
filling material.
5. The according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer is
elastic and, wherein there is formed on an underside of the base
plate at least one projection which points away from the underside
and by which, when the system is fully installed, a limit is set
for the travel by which the base plate sinks, as a result of
elasticity of the elastic intermediate layer, when a railway
vehicle travels over the rail.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer
is elastic and, wherein there is formed on the carrier plate a
projection which, when the carrier plate is in an installed state,
points towards the base plate and by which, when the system is
fully installed, a limit is set for the travel by which the base
plate sinks, as a result of elasticity of the elastic intermediate
layer, when a railway vehicle travels over the rail.
7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the projection on the
carrier plate forms a receptacle for the elastic intermediate
layer.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein: there is formed or
moulded in the base plate a through-opening which runs from an
upper side of the base plate to an underside of the base plate and
through which the clamping bolt can be inserted from the underside,
a receptacle is formed or moulded in the underside of the base
plate in the region of the mouth of the through-opening, in which
receptacle a polygonal head of the clamping bolt is seated in a
fully installed state, the polygonal head comprising side faces,
and each side-face of the bolt head has associated with it a face
for contact which is formed on a circumferential wall of the
receptacle and which extends for part of the length of whichever is
the associated side-face of the bolt head and against which the
relevant side-face of the bolt head has, in the installed state,
planar support, the faces for contact on the circumferential wall
being arranged to be spaced apart from one another and there being
formed or moulded in the circumferential wall of the receptacle,
between each pair of adjacent faces for contact, a recess in a
region of which there is no contact between the bolt head and the
circumferential wall of the receptacle in the fully installed
state.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the base plate has on
an upper side a supporting surface for the rail which is to be
fastened in place, which supporting surface is bounded by
respective supporting shoulders at longitudinal sides of the
supporting surface which are aligned in a longitudinal direction of
the rail which is to be fastened in place.
10. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one adapter
piece is provided to bridge a gap which exists in an installed
state between a foot of the rail which is to be fastened in place
and the given supporting shoulder.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the adapter piece can
be detachably coupled by positive-fit to the supporting shoulder
which is associated with it in the given case.
12. The system according to claim 9, wherein an elastic layer on
which the rail stands in the fully installed state is applied to
the supporting surface.
13. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one clip is
provided which, for installation, holds together in a pre-assembled
position a pack made up of the base plate, the intermediate layer
situated below it and the carrier plate situated below the
intermediate layer.
14. A fastener for a rail, formed by a system designed in
accordance with claim 1.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/607,599, filed on Oct. 28, 2009, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a system for fastening a rail to a
fixed bottom support which is typically formed by a concrete
sleeper or a concrete slab. Such systems are intended to be
inexpensive to manufacture, to be able to be installed easily and
at the same time to function safely and reliably for as long a time
as possible.
[0004] 2. Brief Description of Related Art
[0005] Known in practice is a rail fastening system offered under
the name "ECF" in which the rail stands on the supporting surface
of a base plate made of steel. At its longitudinal sides which are
aligned in the longitudinal direction of the rail which is to be
fastened in place, the supporting surface is bounded by respective
ribs against which the foot of the rail is guided laterally when in
the fully installed state. The rib also acts as a mounting for a
clamping bolt whose head seats by positive-fit in a receptacle
formed or moulded in the rib and whose shank passes through the
central loop of a W-shaped clamping clip in the direction pointing
away from the upper side of the base plate. By means of a nut which
is screwed onto the clamping bolt, the clamping clip is then braced
against the base plate in such a way that a sufficiently high
hold-down force is exerted on the given side of the foot of the
rail by the free ends of the resilient arms of the clamping
clip.
[0006] It is ensured in this case that a rail fastener formed by
the ECF system has an adequate ability to yield when a railway
vehicle travels over it by an elastic intermediate layer, which
intermediate layer is arranged between the base plate and a carrier
plate which rests on whatever is the solid support in the given
case.
[0007] To enable the position of the rail to be adjusted to
whatever track gauge is required in the given case, there are
formed or moulded in the ECF system, in the regions of the base
plate which project laterally beyond the supporting surface,
respective openings for sleeves, which openings run from the upper
sides of the regions to their undersides and have seated in them
eccentric sleeves which are designed to form hold-down sleeves. At
its end which is at the top in the installed position, the
eccentric sleeve has, in this case, a projection in the form of a
collar which extends round the circumferential face of the sleeve
and which rests on the upper face of the base plate in the
installed position. At the same time, the heightwise distance left
between the underside of the projecting collar and that end of the
eccentric sleeve which is at the bottom in the installed position
is of a size such that the sleeve stands on the carrier plate in
the fully installed state. Inserted through the opening for the
eccentric sleeve in this case is a bolt which is screwed into an
anchor inset into the fixed bottom support and which thus creates
an axis of rotation for the sleeve. What is achieved by this design
is on the one hand that the base plate is braced against the fixed
bottom support with a defined hold-down force by means of the
eccentric sleeve which acts as a hold-down device. On the other
hand, the position of the base plate, and with it the rail standing
on it, can be shifted in a direction at right angles to the
longitudinal extent of the rail by turning the eccentric sleeve, in
order to adjust the position of the rail to the track gauge
required.
[0008] It is a disadvantage of the known ECF system for fastening a
rail in place that the base plate is high in weight and also limits
the freedom which exists when designing and configuring it because
of the steel material which is used to produce it.
[0009] To avoid the disadvantages of base plates of the kind
explained above made of steel, it has been proposed that base
plates of this kind be made from plastics material. An example of a
base plate of this kind is disclosed in EP 1 950 347 A2. The base
plate described therein has, on its underside which is associated
with the fixed bottom support, a stiffening structure which is
formed by intersecting ribs which between them define respective
unfilled recesses. In addition, there are formed or moulded in the
base plate through-openings through which a bolt of conventional
hexagon-head form can be inserted from the underside of the base
plate to act as a clamping bolt to brace a clamping clip against
the base plate. For the head of the clamping bolt, there is
provided in this case a receptacle which is formed or moulded in
the underside of the base plate and which is likewise of a
hexagonal form and in which the head of the bolt is seated with
positive-fit in the fully installed state.
[0010] The base plate known from EP 1 950 347 A2, which is composed
of plastics material, is intended to be laid down directly on
whatever is the fixed bottom support in the given case. To enable a
sufficiently firm hold to be obtained, the known base plate is
provided at each of its narrow sides with three through-openings
through each of which a fastening bolt which can be screwed into
the solid bottom support is inserted. No provision is made in this
case either for any adjustment of the track gauge or for the rail
to be elastically mounted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Against the background of the prior art described above, the
object of the invention was to provide a system for fastening a
rail in place and a rail fastener which, while being simple to
install, would allow a large measure of freedom in the production
of the components required and at the same time have great
practical utility.
[0012] In accordance with the invention, this object has been
achieved by a system formed as defined in claim 1 for fastening a
rail to a fixed bottom support and by a fastener for a rail which
is produced by using a system according to the invention.
Advantageous embodiments of a system according to the invention are
specified in the claims which are referred back to claim 1 and they
will be explained in what follows.
[0013] A rail fastening system according to the invention therefore
comprises a base plate produced from a plastics material. Producing
the base plate from plastics material on the one hand achieves an
appreciable saving in weight in comparison with the known base
plates made of steel or cast iron. In addition, the use of plastics
material is a simple way of enabling shapes to be formed on the
base plate which cannot be reproduced in steel or similar
materials.
[0014] It is also of particular importance to the invention that in
the installed state the base plate produced from plastics material
stands on an intermediate layer which is arranged between the base
plate and the fixed bottom support. This enables to make use of the
elasticity of an intermediate layer of comparably large volume and
to give the fastener produced by the system according to the
invention, when a railway vehicle travels over it, a yield which,
as exactly as possible, can be determined in advance.
[0015] On the one hand to ensure that the support which the rail
has on the fixed bottom support is as even as possible, but on the
other hand to also minimise the abrasive wear on the elastic
intermediate layer, there is provided in addition in a fastening
system according to the invention a carrier plate which is to be
arranged between the intermediate layer and the fixed bottom
support. This can if required be made of comparably thin steel
sheet or of a sufficiently strong plastics material.
[0016] A system according to the invention also includes a
resilient member which, in a known manner, applies the resilient
force required to hold down the rail which is to be fastened in
place. To brace the resilient member, there is provided in this
case, as is also known and usual, a clamping bolt to brace the
resilient member to the base plate.
[0017] Finally, the system according to the invention also
comprises at least one fastening member for fastening the base
plate to the fixed bottom support, at least two or four such
fastening members usually being required to anchor a rail fastening
formed in accordance with the invention safely and securely to
whatever is the fixed bottom support in the given case.
[0018] What the combination according to the invention of a base
plate made of plastics material and an elastic layer carrying it
thus makes available is a rail fastening system or a
correspondingly composed fastener for a rail which is not only able
to be installed in a particularly easy way due to the minimised
weight of its individual parts, and particularly of its base plate,
but which also shows yielding behaviour, particularly well suited
for practical requirements, when a railway vehicle travels over
it.
[0019] Formed or moulded in the base plate there may be at least
one opening for a hold-down sleeve, which opening runs from the
upper side of the base plate to its underside and in which opening
for a sleeve a hold-down sleeve is put in a sliding fit, the height
of which hold-down sleeve is greater than the thickness of the base
plate in the region of the opening for a sleeve associated with it
and which hold-down sleeve has a projection protruding from its
circumferential surface which bears against the upper side of the
base plate in the fully installed state, the fastening member then
being intended in this case to be inserted through the opening of
the hold-down sleeve. What the hold-down sleeve inserted in the
opening for the sleeve does in this embodiment, in a way comparable
to the prior art explained above, is to cause the base plate to be
loaded only by a preset maximum force. This is a safe and certain
way of preventing the base plate made of plastics material from
being damaged by errors at the time of installation. At the same
time, the sleeve also ensures that the elastic intermediate layer
is only compressed by the fastening member so far as is required to
give it a secure and reliable grip. In this way, the elasticity
which the elastic intermediate layer is required to provide is
reliably available even in the fully installed state. The sliding
fit which the sleeve has in its associated opening in the base
plate ensures in this case that the base plate is able to follow
unhindered any compression or expansion of the intermediate layer
which occurs as a result of the loads applied when travel takes
place over it.
[0020] Basically, a system according to the invention is just as
suitable as the prior art for an adjustment of track gauge
performed with the help of an eccentric sleeve. To enable use to be
made of this opportunity for adjustment, the hold-down sleeve may
take the form of an eccentric sleeve. In order in this case to
enable a check to be made on the adjustment which is effected in
the given case, which check is particularly simple and is adapted
to the rough conditions which may arise on the given site, there
may be formed, in the opening for the sleeve, markers for indexing
which are arranged at a spacing from one another such that,
allowing for the eccentricity of the axis of rotation of the
eccentric sleeve from the central longitudinal axis of the opening
for the sleeve, the markers for indexing define positions in
rotation of the eccentric sleeve if the eccentric sleeve is
adjusted in rotation about its axis of rotation in the opening for
the sleeve, which positions in rotation correspond to a
step-by-step change in the position of the base plate by a defined
amount. Because the hold-down sleeve has a shaped member compatible
with the markers for indexing in the opening for the sleeve by
means of which shaped member the hold-down sleeve inserted in the
opening for a sleeve associated with the said hold-down sleeve is
coupled by positive-fit to a given one of the markers for indexing
in the opening for the sleeve, the position of the base plate can
be adjusted without any problems in a way which is easy to follow
for the installer in such a way that an adjustment of the track
gauge to an ideally correct size is obtained without any burdensome
measurements.
[0021] The indexable locking of the eccentric sleeve to the base
plate which fixes the given position in rotation of the eccentric
sleeve may be performed by means of a shaped member formed on the
eccentric sleeve which is compatible with the shape of the marker
for indexing. Depending on the location of the shaped member in
question and the configuration of the eccentric sleeve, the markers
for indexing may be formed or moulded in the form of recesses into
the edge region of the upper side of the base plate, which edge
region surrounds the opening for the sleeve. This may for example
serve a useful purpose when the eccentric sleeve takes the form of
a hold-down sleeve which carries on its circumferential surface a
projection which bears against the upper side of the base plate in
the fully installed state. However, fixing which is particularly
secure and safe against wear is obtained when the markers for
indexing are formed or moulded in the circumferential wall of the
opening for the sleeve.
[0022] Regardless of where they are arranged, the markers for
indexing may take the form of recesses in groove form.
[0023] The markers for indexing may be arranged in a given pattern
which is helpful in the given application. In this way, it may be
useful under certain circumstances for the size of the stepped
change in place from one marker for indexing to the next to
increase following a given function, which size is fixed by the
distance between two markers for indexing. However adjustability
which is versatile and particularly easy for the installer to
follow is obtained if the angular intervals between mutually
adjacent markers for indexing are each sized in such a way that
each adjustment in rotation of the eccentric sleeve seated in the
opening for the sleeve involves a change of unvarying size in the
position of the base plate.
[0024] It also helps to simplify operation if one of the markers
for indexing is defined as the "zero position" which forms the
starting point for the change in the position of the base plate
when a fastener for a rail which is formed using the base plate is
being installed.
[0025] It also helps to save weight and to increase the stiffness
of the base plate if a stiffening structure formed by ribs and by
depressions present between the ribs is formed or moulded in the
underside of the base plate, which underside is associated with the
fixed bottom support. By closing off at least an adequate number,
and in particular all, of the depressions of the stiffening
structure with a filling material, it is possible in this case to
avoid the risk of the stiffening structure impressing itself into
the elastic intermediate layer under load and doing lasting damage
to the latter. What is meant by "closing off" in this connection is
filling of the depressions in any way which ensures that, when the
system is fully installed, the ribs on the base plate at most
impress themselves into the elastic intermediate layer only by an
amount sufficiently small for no permanent damage to be done in the
case where a load is applied by a railway vehicle travelling over
the fastening point formed by the system.
[0026] Depending on the sensitivity and load-bearing capacity of
the elastic layer on which the base plate is to be placed, it may
be useful for only some of the depressions to be filled with
filling material. In this way, a procedure which suggests itself
is, in cases where the depressions are regularly arranged, for one
or more depressions to be left unfilled between two that are
filled, provided that, under load, this does not cause a preset
permitted load per unit area to be exceeded which is preset to
ensure permanent elastic behaviour by the elastic intermediate
layer. However, production becomes particularly simple and
operation particularly safe and reliable if all the depressions of
the stiffening structure on a base plate according to the invention
are filled with moulding material.
[0027] Depending on the load-bearing capacity of the filling
material, it may be enough in this case if, in the form of a thin
layer, it merely closes off the given depression like a sort of lid
at the opening thereof which is associated with the underside. When
this is the case the filling material may for example be a
sufficiently thick film or foil or plate or sheet which closes off
the opening of the given depression.
[0028] If however the depressions are to be filled in such a way
that particular loads can be carried or if the filling material is,
in addition, to assist in sound damping or to perform some other
additional function, it may be equally useful for the depressions
to be completely filled with the filling material or for sufficient
filling material to be placed in each of the depressions for the
filling material to project above the ribs which define the given
depression. Precisely in the latter case, this gives a particularly
reliable guarantee that in practical operation no damage will be
done to the elastic intermediate layer by the ribs.
[0029] The filling in the form of the filling material can always
be introduced into the given depression in a separate stage of
operations, such for example as after the production of the base
plate. For this purpose, the filling material may be injected into
the depressions in a flowable state or may be inserted as a
pre-manufactured shaped member.
[0030] What may be considered as a plastics material for the
production of the base plate is for example glass-fibre reinforced
polyamide. What is suitable as a filling material on the other hand
is unreinforced polyamide.
[0031] Excessive compression of the elastic intermediate layer when
under load may also be prevented by forming on the underside of the
base plate, at the underside thereof, at least one projection which
points away from the underside and which acts as a stop and by
which, when the system is fully installed, a limit is set for the
travel by which the base plate sinks, as a result of the elasticity
of the elastic intermediate layer, when a railway vehicle travels
over the rail. The projection concerned may extend round the base
plate in this case after the fashion of an apron which projects
towards whatever is the fixed bottom support in the given case,
thus ensuring that there is on all sides a stop for the sinking
movement of the base plate regardless of the movement which it
makes in the given case. A surrounding projection of this kind has
the additional advantage that it protects the elastic intermediate
layer against fouling and moisture. However, it is of course
equally conceivable for a separate projection to be provided for
the same purpose at each of given points.
[0032] Alternatively or in addition, the function described above
of a projection formed on the base plate may also be performed by a
projection formed on the carrier plate which, when the carrier
plate is in the installed state, points towards the base plate and
by which, when the system is fully installed, a limit is set for
the travel by which the base plate sinks, as a result of the
elasticity of the elastic intermediate layer, when a railway
vehicle travels over the rail. At the same time, the projection on
the carrier plate may, if suitably configured, form a receptacle
for the elastic intermediate layer. This is particularly true if
the projection concerned extends along the edge of the intermediate
layer for at least a sufficient proportion of the circumference of
the latter or if an adequate number of separate projections which
fix the position of the intermediate layer are arranged on the
carrier plate.
[0033] The bracing of the resilient member which is required in
each case to hold down the rail may also be accomplished, in a
system according to the invention, by forming or moulding in the
base plate a through-opening which runs from the upper side of the
base plate to its underside and through which the clamping bolt can
be inserted from the underside.
[0034] In order on the one hand to easily ensure in this case that
the fastening bolt is securely held during the operation of bracing
the resilient member and on the other hand to prevent the elastic
intermediate layer from being loaded by a bolt head which projects
from the underside of the base plate, a receptacle may also be
formed or moulded in the underside of a base plate designed in
accordance with the invention in the region of the mouth of the
through-opening, in which receptacle the polygonal, and in
particular hexagonal, head of the clamping bolt is seated in the
fully installed state.
[0035] So that the clamping bolt whose head is seated in the
receptacle is able to withstand even the high torques which may be
generated when the given resilient member is being braced without
separate metal members or the like having to be inserted for this
purpose in the base plate which is made of plastics material, the
invention proposes, in a further embodiment which is important from
the practical point of view, that each side-face of the bolt head
have associated with it a face for contact which is formed on the
circumferential wall of the receptacle. This face for contact
extends in this case for part of the length of whichever is the
associated side-face of the bolt head, thus enabling the relevant
side-faces of the bolt head each to have, in the installed state,
planar support from the faces for contact respectively associated
with them.
[0036] At the same time, the faces for contact on the
circumferential wall are arranged, in this embodiment of the
invention, to be spaced apart from one another, thus enabling there
to be formed or moulded in the circumferential wall of the
receptacle, between each pair of adjacent faces for contact, a
recess in the region of which there is no contact between the bolt
head and the circumferential wall of the receptacle in the fully
installed state. What is achieved by a design of this kind for the
receptacle is that even under a torque load there is, between the
sections of the receptacle which receive the load, planar contact
by which the forces to be received are transmitted into the
sections of the base plate surrounding the receptacle over a
comparably large area.
[0037] What are prevented in this way are the load peaks which
occur in receptacles of conventional design whose shape is a close
match to the shape of the bolt head which they are to receive.
Because of the inevitable clearance with which the bolt head is
seated in its associated receptacle, what regularly arises in this
case at the edges situated between the side-faces of the bolt head
is a narrow, linear region of contact at which the entire load is
concentrated. This concentration of force may become so high that
the bolt head works its way into the material surrounding the
receptacle and there is no longer any guarantee of the bolt head
being securely held. With the planar support for the side-faces of
the bolt head which is achieved in accordance with the invention,
this danger no longer exists.
[0038] Following the model provided by the prior art, the base
plate which is provided in a system according to the invention may
have on its upper side a supporting surface for the rail which is
to be fastened in place, which supporting surface is bounded by
respective supporting shoulders at its longitudinal sides which are
aligned in the longitudinal direction of the rail which is to be
fastened in place. To enable tolerances affecting the width of the
foot of the rail to be compensated for or to provide additional
adjustability for the track gauge, at least one adapter piece may
be provided to bridge the gap which exists in the installed state
between the foot of the rail which is to be fastened in place and
the given supporting shoulder. To enable the adapter piece to be
fastened in place in the correct position in a easy way and one
which ensures reliable operation, a shaped member may be provided
on the base plate which, in combination with a complementary shaped
member formed on the adapter piece, ensures that the adapter piece
has a positive-fit grip on the base plate.
[0039] To enable the rail which is to be fastened in place to be
resiliently and elastically supported relative to the base plate
too in a way which allows easy installation and is, at the same
time, effective, an elastic intermediate layer may be applied to
the supporting surface which is present on the base plate. A layer
of an elastic moulding material may for example be sprayed onto the
supporting surface.
[0040] Further minimising of the weight of the base plate can be
achieved by giving the base plate, when seen in plan, a
constriction in the region of the supporting surface. In this
embodiment, when measured in the longitudinal direction of the
rail, the width of the base plate is greater in the portions
thereof which project beyond the rail laterally in the installed
position than in the region which is situated underneath the foot
of the rail. In this way, not only is extra weight saved but the
wider lateral portions also contribute to providing optimised
support for the rail against the transverse forces which act when
travel takes place over the system.
[0041] The installation of the system according to the invention
can be simplified by providing at least one clip which, for
installation, holds together in a pre-assembled position a pack
made up of the base plate, the intermediate layer situated below it
and the carrier plate situated below the intermediate layer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] The invention will be explained in detail below by reference
to drawings, which show an embodiment. In the drawings:
[0043] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a system for fastening a rail
in place.
[0044] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the system in the fully installed
position.
[0045] FIG. 3 is a view of the system from one side, in the fully
installed position, looking in the longitudinal direction of the
rail.
[0046] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the system from one side in
the fully installed position.
[0047] FIG. 5 is a perspective view from above of a base plate and
associated eccentric sleeves.
[0048] FIG. 6 is a perspective view from below of the base plate
having eccentric sleeves inserted in it.
[0049] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an eccentric sleeve.
[0050] FIG. 8 is a perspective view from below showing a first
enlarged detail of the base plate.
[0051] FIG. 9 is a perspective view from below showing a second
enlarged detail of the base plate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0052] The system 1 for fastening a rail S to a fixed bottom
support 2 which is formed in the present case by a concrete sleeper
(not shown) comprises a base plate 3 made of a plastics material,
an intermediate layer 4 made of an elastically yielding material
which is to be arranged below the base plate 3, a carrier plate 5
which is to be arranged, below the intermediate layer 4, on the
fixed bottom support 2, four eccentric sleeves 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d which
have associated with them respective fastening bolts 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d
which act as fastening members, two resilient members 8a, 8b, two
adapter pieces 9a, 9b, and two clamping bolts 10a, 10b.
[0053] Seen in plan, the base plate 3 made of plastics material is
of an elongated bone-like shape. Its outer regions 3a, 3b which
adjoin respective ones of its narrow sides are of a considerably
greater width B in this case, measured in the direction of the
longitudinal extent L of the rail S which is to be fastened in
place, than its central region, the change in the width B from the
narrower central region to the adjoining wide lateral regions 3a,
3b taking place along a continuous step-free path.
[0054] In the central region, there is formed or moulded on the
upper side O of the base plate 3 a supporting surface 3c which
extends in the longitudinal direction L, which extends across
whatever is the width B of the narrower central region of the base
plate 3 in the given case, and which is bounded laterally relative
to the narrow sides of the base plate 3 by respective shoulders 3d,
3e.
[0055] A dovetail-like projection 3f which projects towards the
shoulder 3d, 3e situated opposite is formed on each of the faces
for contact of the shoulders 3e, 3d, which faces for contact are
associated with the supporting surface 3c. By a recess of
complementary shape, respective ones of the adapter pieces 9a, 9b
may be fitted onto this projection 3f in order, if required, to
bridge a gap between the latter and the foot F of the rail S which
is placed on the supporting surface 3c and in this way to ensure
secure and reliable lateral guidance for the rail S.
[0056] Formed or moulded in the shoulders 3d, 3e, in a position
which is closely adjacent to the supporting surface 3c and central
relative to the extent of the shoulders in the longitudinal
direction L, are respective through-openings 3g, 3h which run from
the upper side O of the base plate 3 to its underside U. Inserted
through the through-openings 3g, 3h from the underside U of the
base plate 3 are respective clamping bolts 10a, 10b which are
configured after the fashion of a conventional hexagon-head bolt.
The heads 10c of the clamping bolts 10a, 10b are seated in this
case in respective receptacles 3i, 3j which are formed or moulded
in the underside U of the base plate 3 and which are arranged in
the region of the mouths of respective ones of the through-openings
3g, 3h.
[0057] The receptacles 3i, 3j are each surrounded by a
circumferential wall 3k which is integrally connected to the base
plate 3. In their respective circumferential surfaces associated
with the receptacles 3i, 3j, there are formed on the
circumferential walls 3k six faces for contact 3l which are
distributed at equal angular intervals around the centres of the
respective receptacles 3i, 3j and the length La of each of which,
measured in the circumferential direction of the respective
receptacles 3i, 3j, is less than half the length Ls of the
side-faces 10d of the bolt head 10e. Formed or moulded in the given
circumferential wall 3k between each pair of adjacent faces for
contact 3l is a recess 3m which recedes into the circumferential
wall 3k relative to the faces for contact 3l. In the
circumferential wall 3k, there is formed or moulded in addition in
this case, adjacent to one of the faces for contact 3l which define
each of the recesses 3m, a load-relieving recess 3n formed after
the fashion of a groove, while the recess 3m merges into the other
face for contact which defines it at a relatively shallow
angle.
[0058] The regular distribution of the faces for contact 3l,
recesses 3m and load-relieving recesses 3n belonging to the
respective receptacles 3i, 3j, and their position and dimensions,
are selected in such a way that, in the fully installed position
(FIG. 8), the side-faces 10d of the bolt head 10c bear against
respective ones of the faces for contact 3l and each of the edges
10e of the bolt head 10c which are present between pairs of
side-faces 10d is arranged in the region of a load-relieving recess
3n without being in contact with the given circumferential wall
3k.
[0059] In the same way, in the region of the recesses 3m there is
no contact between the bolt head 10c and the given circumferential
wall 3k, which means that it is only the faces for contact 3l which
receive the torques acting on the bolt head 10c during installation
and in practical operation. The bolt head 10c is prevented from
cutting into the material of the circumferential wall 3k in the
region of its edges 10e in this way, and any damage to or
destruction of the circumferential wall 3k as a result of
overloading is also prevented.
[0060] The base plate 3 is therefore able to withstand without any
problems the torques which arise when the resilient members 8a, 8b,
which take the form of a conventional .omega.-shaped clamping clip,
are being braced. For the resilient members 8a, 8b to be braced,
they are placed on the base plate 3 in such a way that the threaded
shanks of the clamping bolts 10a, 10b respectively associated with
them pass through the centre loops of the resilient members 8a and
8b respectively and the free resilient arms of the resilient
members 8a, 8b rest on the foot F of the rail. Then, by means of
nuts 12 which are screwed onto the respective threaded shanks, the
centre loops of the resilient members 8a, 8b are pressed towards
the base plate 3 until an adequate hold-down force is exerted on
the foot F of the rail.
[0061] In the region of each of its corners, there is formed or
moulded in the base plate 3 an opening 3o for a sleeve which runs
from the upper side O of the base plate 3 to its underside U.
[0062] Seated in each of the four openings 3o for sleeves is one of
the eccentric sleeves 6a-6d which are produced from a sufficiently
strong material which is able to slide well when paired with the
material of the base plate 3. These eccentric sleeves 6a-6d have a
through-opening 6e which is eccentrically arranged relative to the
centre axis Me of the given eccentric sleeve 6a-6d. Formed on the
outer circumferential surface of each of the eccentric sleeves
6a-6d is a narrow indexable projection 6f whose axis extends
parallel to the centre axis Me and which extends for the full
height He of each of the eccentric sleeves 6a-6d. The eccentric
sleeves 6a-6d are designed in this case to act as hold-down
sleeves, for which purpose they have, at their upper edge
associated with the upper side O of the base plate 3, a projection
6g which extends round in a circle after the fashion of a collar.
In the fully installed state, the projection 6g from the eccentric
sleeves 6a-6d bears against the upper side O of the base plate
3.
[0063] The four openings 3o for sleeves are each surrounded by a
circumferential wall 3p which is formed by the plastics material of
the base plate 3. Formed or moulded in the circumferential wall 3p
at irregular angular intervals a are markers for indexing 3q which
take the form of grooves, and whose axes extend parallel to the
centre axis Mh of the given opening 3o for a sleeve, and whose
shape is complementary to that of the indexable projection 6f which
is formed on each of the eccentric sleeves 6a-6d.
[0064] The markers for indexing 3q and the openings 3o for sleeves
are each so designed in this case that the eccentric sleeves 6a-6d
respectively associated with them are guided in them by their
indexable projections 6f as a sliding fit and with positive-fit, in
such a way that the position in rotation of the eccentric sleeves
6a-6d in the openings 3o for sleeves associated with them is fixed
but at the same time a relative movement between the base plate 3
and the given sleeve 6a-6d directed in the direction defined by the
centre axis Me is possible without any problems.
[0065] When the system 1 is being installed, one of the fastening
bolts 7a-7d is inserted through the through-opening 6e in each of
the eccentric sleeves 6a-6d and is screwed into the anchor 11 of
plastics material which is inset into the fixed bottom support 2.
In this way, the fastening bolts 7a-7d each create an axis of
rotation about which the eccentric sleeve 6a-6d associated with
them can be adjusted in rotation. Taking into account the
eccentricity of the axis of rotation which is created in this way
relative to the centre axis Mh of the given opening 3o for a
sleeve, the angular intervals a between the markers for indexing 3q
are of a size such that, when the base plate 3 is fully installed,
each adjustment in rotation between two markers for indexing
involves a displacement of the base plate 3 in a direction at right
angles to the longitudinal extent of the rail S by a distance which
is always of the same size. In this way, the angular intervals
.alpha. may for example be so designed that each adjustment in
rotation of the eccentric sleeves 6a-6d displaces the base plate 3
by one millimetre to allow the track gauge to be adjusted.
[0066] Integrally formed or moulded on the base plate 3, to extend
round the edge of the base plate 3, is an apron-like projection 3r
which points away from the underside U. The projection 3r acts as a
stop for movements directed towards the fixed bottom support 2
which the base plate 3 makes when a railway vehicle (not shown)
travels along the rail S standing on it.
[0067] Formed or moulded into the base plate 3, in that region of
the underside U which is not occupied by the openings 3o for
sleeves and their circumferential walls 3q or by the receptacles
3i, 3j, is a stiffening structure 3s which is formed by ribs 3t
which intersect at right angles and by depressions 3u which are
arranged between them. The depressions 3u are filled in this case
with a moulding material T which is lightweight but dimensionally
stable. The filling T of moulding material terminates in this case
substantially flush with the free top of the ribs 3t or projects
beyond the top of the ribs for a distance of, typically, at least 2
mm, and there are thus no longer any sharp protruding edges of the
ribs 3t.
[0068] So that the rail S is also supported elastically directly
against the base plate 3, an elastic layer 3v which is composed of
a permanently elastic plastics material is sprayed onto the
supporting surface 3c. Alternatively, it is also possible for the
elastic layer 3v to be formed by a pre-manufactured pad of elastic
material which is placed down on the supporting surface 3c and
which is in particular adhesively bonded thereto.
[0069] When seen in plan, the elastic intermediate layer 4 is of a
shape which corresponds to the area occupied by the stiffening
structure 3. When the system 1 is in the fully installed state, the
stiffening structure 3 therefore completely covers the intermediate
layer 4. This being so, even under the load applied by a railway
vehicle travelling along the rail S, the filling T of filling
material which is present in the depressions 3u of the stiffening
structure 3s ensures that the ribs 3t of the stiffening structure
3s do not cut into the intermediate layer 4. Instead, the base
plate 3 is always supported on the elastic intermediate layer 4
over such a large area that an optimum resilient action is
maintained in the long term.
[0070] The thin carrier plate 5 which rests on the fixed bottom
support 2 serves to protect the elastic intermediate layer against
abrasive wear and dirt and ensures that there is an even surface
for it to rest on. To secure the elastic intermediate layer in
place on the carrier plate 5, a projection 5a which follows the
outline shape of the elastic layer forms, on the upper side of the
carrier plate 5, which upper side is associated with the base plate
3, a receptacle in which, when the system 1 is fully installed, the
intermediate layer 4 is seated in positive-fit. In addition, the
projection 5a also acts in this case as a stop which sets a limit
to the movements of the base plate 3 directed towards the fixed
bottom support 2 and which prevents any excessive compression of
the elastic intermediate layer 4.
[0071] The elastic intermediate layer 4 is also protected against
being too highly compressed when being installed by the fact that
the height He of the eccentric sleeves 6a-6d, which are designed to
act as hold-down sleeves and which stand on the carrier plate 5 in
the fully installed state, is selected to be such that the base
plate 3 is only pressed against the elastic intermediate layer 4
with a defined force even when the fastening bolts 7a-7d are fully
tightened. If the force concerned is to be very low, the height He
of an eccentric sleeve is selected to be one which corresponds to
the thickness of the base plate 3 in the region of the openings 3o
for sleeves plus the thickness of the elastic layer in the relaxed
installed state, less the thickness of the projection 6g.
* * * * *