OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention, twin-block sleeper for slab track without ballast, relates
to a railway sleeper to be used in particular for ballastless track or (concrete)
slab track, comprising two concrete blocks joined by a reinforcing steel frame, said
blocks being provided with holes intended to house an fastening to secure a rail,
preferably four holes which allow the sleeper to be used for two different track widths,
thus being multipurpose, and in any case with the particularity that said blocks of
the sleeper have an improved structural configuration which provides significant advantages,
both in their manufacturing and in their effectiveness for absorbing displacements
and loads of the fastenings which support the rails, with respect to the systems currently
known for such purpose.
[0002] The field of application of the present invention belongs to the sector of the industry
dedicated to the manufacturing of railway installations and tracks, focusing in particular
on the field of twin-block sleepers equipped for ballastless slab track.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the prior art, sleepers of the type concerned here are known and which basically
consist of mono-block sleepers which have a distinct elasticity and of sleepers formed
by two twin-blocks joined by a reinforcing steel frame. Each block may have up to
four holes for housing an fastening, such that two holes or another two will be used
according to the width of the track to be installed (thus multipurpose). In the case
of mono-block, this has eight holes or bores. Said holes or bores are composed of
a dowel inserted during the manufacturing process of the block and which will subsequently
house the securing element of the fastening to the sleeper or block. These types of
sleepers of the prior art are known as PR series and are used on ballast.
[0004] The rails remain secured to the block or sleeper by way of the fastenings, such that
the wheels of the train transmit their forces to the rail, this to the fastening and
this to the plate.
[0005] These blocks should serve so that the fastenings can principally absorb the lateral
forces and movements of the rail, even though they must also absorb the vertical forces
of the same. These forces to be absorbed by the fastenings cause some lateral and
vertical displacements in the same, said displacements being greatest in the slab
track fastenings than in mono-block sleeper fastenings. This is due, amongst other
things, to the fact that the tracks in mono-block sleepers are supported on ballast
which aids in distributing the pressures and forces which the track transmits to the
ground, a ballast which is not present in ballastless slab tracks and is also due
to the fact that all the flexibility must be provided by the fastening.
[0006] The blocks for slab track in the prior art have some lateral protrusions or shoulders
on the upper surface of the blocks in which the fastenings are supported in order
to achieve the absorption of the lateral forces (see Figure 5), however, these blocks,
although they fulfil their function, have aspects which can be improved upon, in particular
relating to their ease of manufacturing and complexity of the fastenings to be installed
on the sleepers, the essential object of the present invention being to develop an
improved structural configuration of the blocks of this type of twin-block sleeper
for slab track both to reduce the cost of its manufacture by making it simpler as
well as to facilitate the use of more effective fastenings. The securing of the fastenings
of these types of multipurpose sleepers is complicated as well as the shape of the
securing means itself, since it is necessary to support the fastenings on the protrusions
or shoulders, which means the fastening must be enlarged to achieve said support since
the same are only secured to two of the four bores or dowels.
[0007] ES 2 380 963 A1 discloses a twin-block sleeper according to the preamble of claim 1. Specifically,
the present invention, a twin-block sleeper for ballastless slab track, is to be used
with highly flexible fastenings which can be height-regulated which cause lateral
and vertical forces greater than the sleepers used on ballast.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The twin-block sleeper for slab track without ballast relates to a reinforced twin-block
sleeper of the type to be used in ballastless track and which comprises two concrete
blocks joined by a reinforcing steel frame, said blocks being provided with a structural
configuration which provides significant advantages compared to the blocks of the
sleepers known at present and geared towards improving their manufacture as well as
their effectiveness in absorbing displacements of the fastenings which are inserted
into them for supporting the rails. An example of the fastenings with the characteristics
previously mentioned, as well as the components of the same, is shown in Figures 6
and 7. Specifically, these are fastenings whose components are the object of patent
applications by the company, Schwihag AG.
[0009] In particular, each one of said blocks is configured as a pyramidal truncated body
with a rectangular base and inclined upper surface, preferably with a slope of approximately
1:20, which has a flat upper surface with transversal recesses or channels with a
depth of at least 15 mm, preferably 18 mm and a surface width of between 20 and 40
mm, preferably 30 mm, the width in the deep part of the channel or recess being approximately
one third of said surface width. The objective of said channels or recesses is the
absorption of the forces generated in the fastenings of the rails by the wheels of
the train. Each one of said blocks has at least two recesses which run the width of
the block. These recesses or channels preferably have a depth greater than that of
the sleepers in the prior art used in slab track.
[0010] The object of said recesses is the introduction into the same of the angled side
plates of the fastening, plates which are supported on the inclined surfaces of the
channels or recesses for the subsequent transmission of forces from the rail to the
block. In the prior art, said plates are supported on the shoulders of the blocks
and not on the channels or recesses.
[0011] Moreover, the blocks have, on their upper surface, at least two bores or holes per
block, located on the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the block for the securing
of the fastening of the rail, at least one recess being located between said holes
or bores. Said bores preferably have an inclination with respect to the upper surface
of the block, that is to say, their axial axis is inclined with respect to the support
plane of the rail with the object of allowing longer-lasting securing of the fastenings
to the block, extending the path of the bolts which are threaded in said bores. Although
there is mention of the presence of bores in the block for the subsequent introduction
of the bolts which secure the fastenings to the block, said bolts are threaded in
dowels which are inserted into the block during the manufacturing process of the same.
Said dowels are made from a different material to that of the block. For the purposes
of the present application, it is irrelevant to designate said bores, holes or dowels.
[0012] It is possible to include four bores in the block, relating each pair of bores two
by two and with differing or the same inclination in order to be able to use the twin-block
sleeper for slab track with two different track widths, that is to say, the twin-block
sleeper is transformed into a multipurpose sleeper.
[0013] The blocks also have a greater width in their upper surface than the sleepers of
the prior art, their width being at least 200 mm, preferably 210 mm, instead of 160
mm.
[0014] Based on the foregoing, the advantages which the sleeper, which is the object of
the invention, provides, are principally:
- Ease of manufacture,
- Less wear of the element, thus more reliable, since its manufacture is simpler,
- Direct type fastening and absorbed by the block, without the presence of a reinforcing
element being required between the concrete and the track,
- The lateral forces are absorbed by means of channels or recesses without the shoulders
or protrusions of the prior art being required which makes fastening securing means
difficult in multipurpose solutions,
- Greater flexibility since it can be used for ballastless tracks. The ballast provides
flexibility in conventional sleepers whereas here the flexibility is provided by the
fastening.
- Regulatable to different heights since in the conventional sleeper the ballast elevates
the track and with the solution described, it is the fastening which elevates the
track.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In order to complement the description and with the aim of facilitating the understanding
of the characteristics of the invention, various figures are adjoined, in which the
following is represented in an illustrative and non-limiting manner:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of the twin-block sleeper for ballastless
slab track, which is the object of the invention, wherein its general configuration
can be observed.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of one of the blocks of the sleeper according to
the invention, without including the reinforcing steel frame which joins the two blocks
in Figure 1 and wherein the configuration of its upper surface as well as the position
of the bores it incorporates for the fastenings can be observed.
Figures 3 and 4 show two views, in plan view and lateral elevation, of the example
of the block of the sleeper without including the reinforcing steel frame, according
to the invention, shown in Figure 2.
Figure 5 shows a sectioned schematic view of an example of a conventional sleeper
block, which represents the prior art.
Figures 6 and 7 show an exemplary fastening, suitable for the present invention, which
are the objects of the patent applications on the part of Schwihag AG.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Below and in conjunction with the Figures 1 to 4, an exemplary embodiment of the
sleeper, which is the object of the present invention, will be described. The twin-block
sleeper (1) for slab track, comprises two concrete blocks (2) joined together by a
reinforcing steel frame (3), said blocks being configured as a pyramidal truncated
body with a rectangular base (2a) and inclined upper surface (2b), with the particularity
that said upper surface (2b) has a flat configuration in which there are present at
least two transversal recesses (2c) to be used to absorb the forces of the fastenings
(4) which support the rails (5).
[0017] Each block (2) also has at least two bores, holes or dowels (6), provided on the
vertical plane of symmetry, to be used for the insertion of the bolts of the aforementioned
fastenings (4), such bores being formed such that the axial trajectory or axis of
the same, instead of being perpendicular, is inclined with respect to the inclined
upper surface (2b) of the block (2), this surface being the one that constitutes the
support plane of the rail (5), with the object of allowing longer-lasting securing
of the fastenings to the block.
[0018] Optionally, when the sleeper is of a multipurpose type, in order to be able to be
adapted to two track widths, each block (2) has a greater number of transversal recesses
(2c), preferably four, as well as two pairs of bores (6).
[0019] Figure 1 shows a twin-block sleeper (1), which is the object of the invention, having
two concrete blocks (2), of the type normally used for these types of applications,
joined together by a reinforcing steel frame (3). In Figures 2 to 4, one of the two
blocks (2), which form the sleeper (1), is shown.
[0020] Said blocks (2) have a width in their upper surface (2b) of approximately 263 mm
and a length of approximately 705 mm. The base (2a) of the blocks (2) has an approximate
width of 300 mm and a length of approximately 765 mm. As mentioned, the upper surface
(2b) of the block (2) is inclined, the height of the block (2) at one of its sides
being approximately 277 mm and at the opposite side approximately 242 mm.
[0021] On the upper surface (2b), each block has four transversal recesses (2c), as long
as the width of the upper surface (2b), and each having a width on the upper surface
of approximately 30 mm. The approximate depth of each recess (2c) is approximately
18 mm and the width at the bottom of said recess (2c) is approximately 10 mm.
[0022] In Figure 5, an exemplary sleeper (1) is observed which is known from the prior art,
in which it is observed how the blocks (2) of the same have two protrusions (21) to
be used to absorb the forces of the fastenings (4) which support the rails (5). In
the example shown, the block is a multipurpose sleeper which has four bores (6) for
enabling two different positions of the rail (5), said bores (6) being formed perpendicular
to the upper surface of the block.
1. A twin-block sleeper for ballastless slab track, composed of two concrete blocks (2)
joined together by a reinforcing steel frame (3), each of said blocks being configured
as a pyramidal truncated body with a rectangular base (2a) and an inclined upper surface
(2b) comprising at least two bores, holes or dowels (6), said inclined upper surface
(2b) constituting the support plane for a rail (5) supportable by means of fastenings
(4) in one or two positions by means of bolts threaded in pairs of said bores, holes
or dowels (6) in each one of said blocks (2), characterized in that the upper surface (2b) of each one of said blocks (2) has a flat configuration comprising
at least two transversal recesses (2c) with inclined surfaces for introduction of
angled side plates of the fastening (4), supported on the inclined surfaces of the
recesses (2c) for subsequent transmission of forces from the rail (5) to the block
(2) to absorb the lateral forces exerted on the fastenings (4).
2. The sleeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two bores, holes or dowels (6) to be used to secure the fastenings (4)
by means of bolts, said bores, holes or dowels having an inclination in their axial
axis with respect to the inclined upper surface (2b) of the block (2).
3. The sleeper according to claim 2, characterized in that each block (2) has four transversal recesses (2c) as well as two pairs of bores,
holes or dowels (6) when the sleeper is of the multipurpose type for being adapted
to two track widths.
4. The sleeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the width of the upper surface (2b) of the block is at least 200 mm.
5. The sleeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the recesses (2c) have a depth of at least 15 mm.
6. The sleeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the width on the upper surface (2b) of the (2c) is between 20 and 40 mm, the width
at the deep part of said recess (2c) being approximately one third of the width at
the surface.
1. Zweiblockschwelle für eine schotterlose feste Fahrbahn, bestehend aus zwei Betonblöcken
(2), die durch einen verstärkenden Stahlrahmen (3) miteinander verbunden sind, wobei
jeder der Blöcke als ein pyramidenförmiger abgeflachter Körper mit einer rechteckigen
Basis (2a) und einer geneigten Oberseite (2b) gestaltet ist, umfassend mindestens
zwei Bohrungen, Löcher oder Dübel (6), wobei die geneigte Oberseite (2b) die Stützebene
für eine Schiene (5) bildet, die durch Befestigungen (4) in einer oder zwei Positionen
durch Bolzen stützbar ist, die in Paare von den Bohrungen, Löchern oder Dübeln (6)
in jedem der Blöcke (2) geschraubt sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Oberseite (2b) jedes der Blöcke (2) eine flache Gestaltung hat, umfassend mindestens
zwei transversale Aussparungen (2c) mit geneigten Flächen zum Einführen von abgewinkelten
Seitenplatten der Befestigung (4), gestützt auf den geneigten Flächen der Aussparungen
(2c) für anschließende Übertragung von Kräften von der Schiene (5) zu dem Block (2),
um die Seitenkräfte, die auf die Befestigungen (4) einwirken, zu absorbieren.
2. Schwelle nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die mindestens zwei Bohrungen, Löcher oder Dübel (6) verwendet werden, um die Befestigungen
(4) durch Bolzen zu sichern, wobei die Bohrungen, Löcher oder Dübel eine Neigung an
ihrer Axialachse bezüglich der geneigten Oberseite (2b) des Blocks (2) haben.
3. Schwelle nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jeder Block (2) vier transversale Aussparungen (2c) sowie zwei Paare von Bohrungen,
Löchern oder Dübeln (6) hat, wenn die Schwelle einer Mehrzweckart zum Anpassen an
zwei Gleisbreiten entspricht.
4. Schwelle nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Breite der Oberseite (2b) des Blocks mindestens 200 mm beträgt.
5. Schwelle nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Aussparungen (2c) eine Tiefe von mindestens 15 mm haben.
6. Schwelle nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Breite der Oberseite (2b) der (2c) zwischen 20 und 40 mm beträgt, wobei die Breite
an dem tiefen Teil der Aussparung (2c) etwa ein Drittel der Breite der Fläche beträgt.
1. Traverse bibloc pour chaussée rigide sans ballast, composée de deux blocs de béton
(2) reliés ensemble par une armature de renfort en acier (3), chacun desdits blocs
étant configuré comme un corps tronqué pyramidal avec une base rectangulaire (2a)
et une surface supérieure inclinée (2b) comprenant au moins deux alésages, trous ou
goujons (6), ladite surface supérieure inclinée (2b) constituant le plan de support
pour un rail (5) supportable au moyen d'éléments de serrage (4) dans une ou deux positions
au moyen de boulons filetés par paire desdits alésages, trous ou goujons (6) dans
chacun desdits blocs (2), caractérisée en ce que la surface supérieure (2b) de chacun desdits blocs (2) a une configuration plate
comprenant au moins deux renfoncements transversaux (2c) avec des surfaces inclinées
pour l'introduction de plaques latérales angulaires de l'élément de serrage (4), supportées
sur les surfaces inclinées des renfoncements (2c) pour la transmission ultérieure
de forces depuis le rail (5) au bloc (2) pour absorber les forces latérales exercées
sur les éléments de serrage (4).
2. Traverse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les au moins deux alésages, trous ou goujons (6) à utiliser pour fixer les éléments
de serrage (4) au moyen de boulons, lesdits alésages, trous ou goujons ayant une inclinaison
dans leur axe axial par rapport à la surface supérieure inclinée (2b) du bloc (2).
3. Traverse selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que chaque bloc (2) a quatre renfoncements transversaux (2c) ainsi que deux paires d'alésages,
trous ou goujons (6) lorsque la traverse est du type multifonctions pour être adaptée
à deux largeurs de chaussée.
4. Traverse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la largeur de la surface supérieure (2b) du bloc est au moins de 200 mm.
5. Traverse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les renfoncements (2c) ont une profondeur d'au moins 15 mm.
6. Traverse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la largeur sur la surface supérieure (2b) du (2c) est entre 20 et 40 mm, la largeur
sur la partie profonde dudit renfoncement (2c) étant approximativement un tiers de
la largeur à la surface.