AU2018200807B2 - Concrete Plinth for Railway Tracks, Railway Track Incorporating said Plinths and Installation Method for Installing the Track - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a prefabricated concrete plinth or slab for the production of a bed for fastening rails of overland railroad tracks. The plinth 5 comprises an elongated concrete body, having a platform defining an upper base and a lower base, and a side edge arranged in the upper base, such that the body comprises a generic L-shape. The body has a cavity inside the platform leading to the lower base, as well as openings in the upper base of the platform which are communicated with said cavity, such that the upper base is communicated with the 10 lower base through said openings and cavity. The plinth improves railway track installation quality while at the same time reduces labor times and costs. 4/8 Nn V-1I '-I rL LnU

Description

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CONCRETE PLINTH FOR RAILWAY TRACKS, RAILWAY TRACK INCORPORATING SAID PLINTHS AND INSTALLATION METHOD FOR INSTALLING THE TRACK

Object of the Invention The invention relates to a prefabricated concrete plinth (also referred to as slab) for the in-situ production of a support or bed for fastening rails of overland railroad tracks. An object of the invention is to provide a prefabricated plinth which improves railway track installation quality, reduces labor times, and furthermore allows reducing the space and costs derived from transporting the plinth and fasteners associated therewith. The invention also relates to a railway track and an installation method for installing said railway track. Background of the Invention Different types of railroad tracks using prefabricated concrete elements, which are transported and installed in situ by means of concrete casting, instead of using ballast as a base for rail settling are known. These prefabricated element-based track systems are expensive and difficult to produce since they are affected by different factors such as accessibility to the work site, transportation and handling of the large and heavyweight prefabricated concrete elements, as well as the laborious installation process which requires multiple operating phases, such as pouring the concrete in several phases during installation, for example. It is therefore required in this technical sector to reduce labor times and at the same time improve labor quality. Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a plinth for fastening rails of railway tracks, comprising an elongated concrete body, having: a platform defining an upper base and a lower base, a side edge arranged in the upper base, which extends along the length of the body and such that the body comprises a generally L-shaped cross-section, and wherein the edge has a generally rectangular-shaped cross-section with an inner side face and an outer side face, a cavity located inside the platform extending along the length thereof and leading to the lower base, and openings located in the upper base of the platform which are communicated with said cavity, such that the upper base is communicated with the lower base through said openings and cavity, being the openings elongated and arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal body, being the plinth characterized in that the openings extend partially from said inner side face of the edge. Pouring concrete once through the upper openings is enough for it to spread through the entire cavity, filling it up so that the plinth is suitably fastened to the bed. Preferably, said openings extend partially into the inner side face of the edge, which allows the openings to have a large size, and therefore makes coupling and positioning a rail fastener easier. The platform is a generally rectangular prismatic body, having respective support feet in the lower base for support on the ground, arranged in correspondence with the larger side faces of the platform. The plinth preferably incorporates respective strips of elastic material attached to the lower face of said support feet, which strips serve to prevent concrete from leaking out through the lower segments of the plinth during the concrete casting phase. Some of the most significant advantages of the invention are the following: - labor quality is increased and improved, - labor time is reduced due to the cavities of the slab which allow pouring the concrete in a single phase, - the space and costs required for transportation are reduced, - the quick and effective use of different types of fasteners for rails according to track requirements is allowed, these fasteners having an extraordinary freedom of movements during installation, in the direction of any of the three axes (x, y, z), as well as its rotation about each one of said axes, thereby allowing a suitable positioning depending on the irregular topography of the terrain, - the concrete is prevented from leaking out through the lower segments of the plinth during the concrete casting phase. Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the attached drawings where the following has been depicted in a non-limiting manner:

Figure 1 shows several views of a preferred embodiment of the plinth of the invention; specifically Figure 1A) shows a side elevational view, Figure 1B) shows a bottom plan view, Figure 1C) shows a bottom perspective view, Figure 1D) shows a top perspective view, Figure 1E) shows a front elevational view, and Figure 1F) shows a top plan view. Figure 2 shows a perspective view with different types of rail fasteners which can be mounted on the plinth of the invention. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a railway track using the plinths of the invention, and furthermore illustrates the installation method. Figure 4 shows a cross-section view of one of the plinths of Figure 3, where the arrows indicate the possibilities of movement of the rail fastener or sill for precisely positioning it during installation. Figure 5 shows a depiction similar to that of the preceding figure once concrete has been cast in the plinth. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an already installed railway track according to the invention. Preferred Embodiment of the Invention Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of the plinth of the invention, where it can be seen to comprise an elongated body (1) obtained as a single concrete part. The body (1) has a platform (3) which is a generally rectangular prismatic body with two larger side faces and two smaller side faces, and defines an upper base (3a) and a lower base (3b). The body (1) furthermore has a side edge (2) projecting from the upper base (3a), such that the body (1) has a generally L-shaped cross-section, as shown in Figure 1A. The edge (2) extends along the entire length of the body (1) and has a generally rectangular-shaped cross-section with an inner side face and an outer side face. The body (1) has a cavity (4) inside the platform extending along the length thereof and leading to the lower base (3b). The body (1) furthermore has openings (5) in the upper base (3a) of the platform which are communicated with said cavity (4) and arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the body (1). Preferably, the openings (5) extend partially from said inner side face of the edge, as seen in particularly in Figures 1D and 1E, which makes insertion and movement of the rail fasteners during installation easier.

It can be seen in Figure 1 that the upper base (3a) is communicated with the lower base (3b) through said openings (5) and cavity (4). The body (1) has respective feet (6) in the lower base serving to provide support on the ground, which feet are arranged in correspondence with the larger side faces of the platform (3) and extend along the length of the longitudinal body (1). Respective strips (7) of elastic material are attached to the lower face of said supporting feet (6), which strips serve to raise the plinth above the ground and are adapted to the irregularities of the terrain as a result of their elasticity. Concrete is therefore prevented from leaking out through the lower segments of the slab during the concrete casting phase. The strips (7) can be made with a plastic material, such as recycled rubber, expanded polystyrene, etc. The plinth preferably has at least one pair of metal bars (13) in correspondence with each of the openings (5) as shown in Figure 1F, which metal bars serving as a reinforcement frame once concrete has been cast in the plinth. As seen in Figures 1B, 1C and 1F, the body (1) integrates respective first supporting longitudinal members (8) arranged in an off-centered manner in the lower portion of the openings (5). Respective second supporting longitudinal members (9) are likewise arranged in an off-centered manner facing the first longitudinal members (8). These second longitudinal members (9) project from an inner face of the platform (3). Alternatively, the longitudinal members (8,9) can be implemented as steel rods. As illustrated in Figure 2, the plinth of the invention allows interchangeably using different types of fasteners (10, 11, 12) for rails according to track requirements. For example, the following types of fasteners can be used: Fastener (10) made up of: a concrete block (20) comprising a bearing plate (21) for the rail (17), clips (22) for holding the rail, bolts (23) for anchoring the clips, spikes (24) for anchoring to the concrete. Fastener (11) made up of: a concrete block (20) fitted into a cover-like rubber case (25) so that the block can bounce on an inner elastic surface, in that the block comprises a bearing plate (26) for the rail, clips (27) for holding the rail, fasteners for fastening the clips to the rail. Fastener (12) made up of: a concrete block (20) comprising a bearing plate (28) for the rail, clips (29) for holding the rail, bolts (30) for anchoring the clips, holding clamp (31), lower bars (32) for anchoring to the concrete for reinforcement purposes. So any type of fastener (10-12) can be supplied from the factory togetherwith the plinth (see Figure 3) by housing a fastener in each opening (5) such that it is supported in the first and second longitudinal members (8, 9), thereby making use of the inside of the plinth for housing the fasteners during transport so that they will take up little space. The assembly can be transported from the factory, as a unit with the plinth itself, to the actual installation site, thereby substantially reducing material transportation costs and installation time. When required, a concrete block (15) by way of a bed can be incorporated, partially integrating a succession of reinforcement bars (14) embedded therein. Said block (15) is suitable for being used when the plinth is to be installed on soft terrains, thereby providing greater rigidity to the installation and preventing vertical movements, such that the bars (14) collaborate in reinforcing the concrete in the subsequent concrete casting phase. A railway track according to the invention (Figure 6) would therefore comprise a plurality of plinths (1, 1') such as those described above, installed on the ground or a concrete bed (15), with rail fasteners (10-12) for fastening rails (17) housed in the openings (5) of the plinth, and concrete then being cast in the entire assembly by means of pouring the concrete (16) which spreads through the cavity (4) of the plinths, leaving bars (13) or even bars (14) embedded therein, and finally filling up the openings (5) around the fasteners (10-12), the fasteners being partially immersed in the concrete, as seen particularly in Figure 5. The installation method for installing the railway track can be seen in view of Figures 3 to 6, and is described below: - plinths (1) are put on the ground itself, or otherwise on the concrete block (15), such that the plinths already have the fasteners (10-12) housed inside the openings (5), the fasteners being supported on the first and second longitudinal members (8,9); - the rails are placed and fastened to the fasteners (10-12); - rail leveling tools (18) are placed. The height of said tools is adjusted, such that since the rails are fastened to the fasteners and the latter have smaller dimensions than the openings (5), there will be no interaction between the fasteners and openings (5), defining holes (19) around the fasteners, so that the fasteners will have extraordinary freedom of movements during installation, in any of the directions of any of the three axes (x, y, z) as well as its rotation about each one of the three axes, thereby allowing a suitable positioning depending on the irregular topography of the terrain, as depicted by the arrows of Figure 4; - additionally the hole (19) allows pouring the concrete (16) which will fill up the lower portion of the cavities (4) until the concrete block (15), or otherwise the bed, as well as the space around the fasteners (10-12), sealing the entire assembly. The strips (7) in turn prevent the concrete from leaking out from below the supporting feet (6) and onto the irregular terrain during said phase. A reference to any prior art in this Specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components to be grouped therewith.

Claims (9)

1. Plinth for fastening rails of railway tracks, comprising an elongated concrete body, having: a platform defining an upper base and a lower base, a side edge arranged in the upper base, which extends along the length of the body and such that the body comprises a generally L-shaped cross-section, and wherein the edge has a generally rectangular-shaped cross-section with an inner side face and an outer side face, a cavity located inside the platform extending along the length thereof and leading to the lower base, and openings located in the upper base of the platform which are communicated with said cavity, such that the upper base is communicated with the lower base through said openings and cavity, being the openings elongated and arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal body, being the plinth characterized in that the openings extend partially from said inner side face of the edge.

2. Plinth according to claim 1, wherein the platform is a generally rectangular prismatic body with two larger side faces and two smaller side faces, and in that.

3. Plinth according to claim 2, wherein the plinth has respective support feet in the lower base for support on the ground, arranged in correspondence with the larger side faces, and extending along the length of longitudinal body.

4. Plinth according to any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the body has: at least first supporting longitudinal members arranged in an off-centered manner in the lower portion of said openings, and second supporting longitudinal members arranged in an off-centered manner in the lower portion of said openings and facing the first supporting longitudinal members.

5. Plinth according to claim 3 or claim 4, further comprising respective strips of elastic material attached to the lower face of said support feet.

6. Plinth according to any one of claim 1 to claim 4, having at least one pair of metal bars inside the body, arranged in the cavity below each of the openings.

7. Railway track comprising: a plurality of plinths such as the one defined in any one of claim 1 to claim 6, a plurality of rail fasteners housed in the openings of the plinth and a pair of rails coupled to said fasteners, where the cavity and the openings of the plinths are filled with concrete, such that the rail fasteners are partially immersed in said concrete.

8. Railway track according to claim 7, comprising a concrete bed, and in that the plinths are placed on the bed and attached thereto by means of the concrete inside the plinths.

9. Method for installing a railway track which comprises arranging a plurality of plinths such as the one defined in any one of claim 1 to claim 6, said plinths incorporating rail fasteners housed inside the openings of the plinths, putting the plinths on the ground itself or on a concrete bed, coupling rails to said rail fasteners; moving the rail fasteners and rails to the desired position by means of leveling tools to form the track, pouring concrete through the holes of the openings defined around the rail fasteners, such that the concrete fills the cavities of the plinths and the openings around the rail fasteners so as to attach the entire assembly together.