Plate Element to Guide a Rail and Method for its Manufacture

The invention relates to a plate element which is provided to guide a rail in a rail fixing point and is manufactured from plastics material.

The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of a plate element of this type.

Modern rail fixing points which in particular are used in the area of heavy goods vehicles or on high-speed lines, regularly comprise various plate-shaped components manufactured from plastics materials which are used to support and guide the rails to be fixed.

These plate-shaped components for fixing rails include plates known in technical language as “steering plates”, “packing plates”, “angled guide plates”, “spacer plates”, “pressure distribution plates” and “ribbed plates”.

In practice, steering plates of the type in question here have a dual function as part of a system for fixing a rail for railway vehicles. On the one hand, they are used for the lateral guiding of the rails and absorb the transverse forces on them when they are fully assembled on the tracks, which transverse forces occur when the respectively supported rails are being run over in the respective fixing points. On the other hand, a spring element is generally supported and guided on the steering plates, which spring element exerts the required elastic holding force which presses the rails against the respective subsoil.

In order to carry out this dual function, known steering plates generally have a contact surface which functions in a fully assembled position against the foot of the rails to be fixed, against which contact surface the rails function when they are being run over by a railway vehicle. The steering plates are supported against the respective subsoil carrying the rails either by means of a support surface which is formed on the side of the steering plate which opposes the contact surface and is turned away from the rails and functions against a shoulder formed on the respective subsoil, or at least a fixing element which connects the steering plate rigidly with the respective subsoil.

If the steering plate is formed as an “angled guide plate” then an additional indent may be formed on the underside of the steering plate which extends in a longitudinal direction of the steering plate, which indent sits in an interlocking manner in a correspondingly formed recess of the subsoil when assembled. In this way, the position of the steering plate is fixed transverse to the longitudinal extension of the rails.

In order to simultaneously be able to tension the springs arranged on the steering plate against the subsoil, a passage opening leading from the upper side to the lower side is regularly created in currently conventional steering plates. The tensioning element required to tension the respective spring element is inserted through this passage opening in order to couple it to the subsoil carrying the rails. In this connection, generally, a screw or a threaded bolt is used as a tensioning element, which can be screwed into a screw anchor inserted into the subsoil.

In order to be able to transport, store and assemble it simply, in addition to sufficiently high resilience of steering plates of this type for the dual function described above, in principle a low weight is required. This requirement can be met by the steering plates being made from a resilient, robust plastics material. Examples of steering plates of this type are described in DE 102 54 679 B4, DE 41 01 198 C1 and DE 20 2004 020 816 U1.

Packing plates, spacer plates, pressure distribution plates and ribbed plates are used in rail fixing systems of the type in question in order to transfer the loads, which occur when the fixing point formed by a fixing system of this type is being run over, in the direction of gravity over a wide area and evenly over the subsoil on which the fixing point is constructed. With regard to the local conditions and their assembly position within the respective rail fixing system, for this purpose they extend at least over the width of the foot of the rails measured transverse to the longitudinal extension of the rails or extend laterally beyond this. The plates in question then either lie directly on the respective subsoil in question or are supported by one or a plurality of intermediate layers on the subsoil. Packages of a plurality of layers consisting of different plates and intermediate layers consisting of elastic material are also formed, through which a, on the one hand even distribution of the loads which occur and on the other hand the required elasticity for a long lifetime of the rails to be fixed, required elastic resilience of the fixing point in the direction of gravity is ensured.

Ribbed plates are a special case for the plate-shaped components for rail fixings. On their free upper side when assembled two ribs which are parallel to one another and extend in a longitudinal direction to the rails to be fixed, which ribs between them define the contact area on which the rail to be fixed stands with its rail foot when it is assembled. The ribs are spaced from one another such that they guide the rail foot laterally and take on the transverse forces which occur when the fixing point formed by the respective rail fixing system is run over.

In practice, plate elements consisting of plastics material of the type in question here are generally manufactured by injection moulding. Even if plastics material plate elements are used in practice, there is a fundamental problem that for example in steering plates, packing plates or ribbed plates comparatively large parts with high wall thickness and material volume are used. This large shape is necessary according to current understanding for the plate elements to be able to absorb the high forces generated during practical operation and to provide sufficient area to support the rails or the other elements of a rail fixing system such as for example each of the spring elements.

As a result of their high thick walls and material volume, comparatively long processing times are required for the manufacture of known plate elements. Furthermore, they also have a negative effect on rigidity due to the problems of blending and cooling. As a result, in addition to long processing times an expensive procedure is required in order to ensure an optimal distribution of rigidity over the total volume of the plate elements and in particular to avoid any loss of stability in the region of the weld seams formed in injection moulding.

It is possible, however, to minimise the required material volume by means of a filigree shape optimally adapted to the loads actually occurring. However, an optimal shape of this type regularly results in a complex design which also entails high requirements in the industrial manufacture through injection moulding.

Against the background of the above mentioned prior art, the object of the invention was to create a plate element which can be manufactured in a particularly simple, cost-effective manner and has optimal characteristics. A method for the manufacture of a plate element of this type should also be given.

In terms of the plate element, this object is achieved according to the invention by the plate element being designed according to Claim 1.

In terms of the method, the solution to the above mentioned object according to the invention is that the measures given in Claim 15 are carried out in the manufacture of the plate element according to the invention.

Advantageous embodiments and variants of the invention are given in the dependent claims and are explained in greater detail below along with the general concept of the invention.

A plate element according to the invention to fix a rail in a rail fixing point is therefore made up of at least two parts which are manufactured spatially separate from one another which are connected to one another in a rigid manner.

The method according to the invention for the manufacture of a plate element of this type includes the following steps:

- producing the parts of the plate element in tools which are spatially separate from one another and
- joining the parts to the plate element.

As a result, a plate element for a rail fixing is created, which plate element is made up of at least two parts which are rigidly connected to one another and are initially pre-produced and then joined together in a further work step such that they are permanently rigidly connected.

A plate element according to the invention is therefore characterised by two or more parts which make it up are not joined during the production of the plate element in the tool used for this purpose in a completed process step as would, for example, be possible in injection moulding manufacture, but rather the parts of the plate element are joined together in a separate step outside of the tool in which they were made.

The division between the individual parts of a plate element according to the invention can be selected such that the individual components each individually and in the state when they are combined in the plate element fulfil the function they are assigned to in an optimal manner. In addition to this, it can be expedient for the divisional plane which is formed between the two parts to be parallel at least in sections and to be positioned at a distance from a contact surface of the plate element, with which contact surface the plate element stands on subsoil when it is in the position of use. This can be useful, for example, when a lower plate half which is lying on the subsoil and is resistant to wear is combined with a second plate half lying thereon which is manufactured from a material which is complexly malleable and therefore required for the formation of the required moulded parts on the upper side of the plate elements but yet is less resistant to wear.

Alternatively, the division between the individual parts of a plate element according to the invention can also extend from the lower side to the upper side of the plate element. In this way, for example, a steering plate for lateral guiding of a rail in the section which comes into direct contact with the lateral edge of the foot of the rail to be guided can be made of a highly wear-resistant material while the section of the steering plate which is manufactured independently from the first section can consist of a lighter and more malleable material which enables a lighter weight and a complex shape that despite the lower rigidity of the material in the second section ensures a sufficiently high inherent stability.

The particular advantage of the invention is that the division of a plate element according to the invention into at least two parts reduces the cycle times in manufacture. This applies in particular when the parts of the plate element are made of plastics material, since the manufacturing time required for the injection moulding manufacture of a plastics material part is related quadratically to the wall thickness of the part in question. In this way, in a process cycle as part of a method according to the invention in a two-component injection moulding tool, both parts can be produced at the same time which results in a considerable reduction in the idle time required between filling the mould and solidifying.

The individual parts of a plate element according to the invention can then be manufactured together in a tool or in various tools before assembly. Simultaneous manufacture in a tool can then be expedient if the parts are to be manufactured using a moulding process from materials which are identical or at least similar in terms of their processability. This is the case, for example, if the parts of a plate element according to the invention are manufactured from plastics materials which are allocated reinforcing fibres if required in order to ensure the requisite rigidity. In this case, tools are used in which for example a number of cavities corresponds to the number of parts to be formed in which the individual parts are each manufactured individually and separately from the other parts.

Of course, it is also possible for the parts of a plate element according to the invention to be formed in different tools. This method enables the materials used for the manufacture of the parts in question to be adapted to the loads which are exerted on these parts during practical application. It is conceivable, for example, for a part of the plate element which is highly loaded in practice to be manufactured from a high-strength plastics material, while another part on which filigree moulded element are to be formed, for example, can be manufactured from a well moulded plastics material which is less rigid. It is also conceivable to manufacture the part of a plate element according to the invention, which lies on the respective subsoil in the installation position and there under certain circumstances is loaded abrasively, from a plastics material with higher abrasive resistance than the other part on the optionally comparatively complexly formed moulded element should be in order to guide a spring element or to direct liquids which have gathered on the steering plate in a targeted manner.

The considerable time and cost saving which is achieved by the design according to the invention and the thus enabled manufacturing prodess also have a corresponding effect on the plate elements provided for usual use in which the first part and the at least one further part are made from different materials.

Due to the separate manufacture of the parts which compose a plate element according to the invention, different materials can further be combined with one another. This means that for loads which are expected to be particularly high, one part can be manufactured from a metal material such as cast aluminium or cast iron, while the other part can consist of plastics material.

The plastics materials from which plate elements according to the invention are typically manufactured are generally thermoplastic plastics materials. These include, for example, polyamides (PA), polypropylenes (PP), polyethylene terephthalates (PET) or general products of polymerisation or polycondensation.

The parts of a plate element according to the invention can be connected rigidly to one another through force-fit, positive engagement or adhesive bonds, or by a combination or mixture of these types of connection.

The manner in which the parts of a plate element according to the invention are joined together can also be selected depending on the loads which occur in practice or on the technique used for joining or connecting which is used to join together the pre-produced parts to a plate element according to the invention. It can therefore be expedient if an indent is shaped into the one part in which the other part sits. The indent can be formed such that the part which sits in it is completely surrounded by the material of the other part up to an outer surface.

An arrangement of this type can be useful, for example, when the part which is sitting in the indent of the other part consists of a plastics material with high wear resistance and the other part consists of a material with high resistance to environmental factors such as UV rays, moisture and temperature but has a comparatively low wear resistance. In this case, the outer part protects the other part sitting in its indent from environmental factors while the outer surface of the part sitting in the indent forms the layer with which the relevant plate element lies on the subsoil on which the respective rail fixing point is constructed.

The parts which form a plate element according to the invention can also be formed such that they interlock with one another in sections. For this purpose, at least one recess can be formed on the one part into which a protrusion of the other part interlocks. The protrusion of the one part can be formed as a notch which locks with the recess of the other part. For this purpose, the recess can be formed as an indent with which the notch of the protrusion of the other part locks. The protrusion of the one part can also be slightly larger than the recess of the other part such that by exerting sufficient pressure the protrusion can be pressed into the recess and is then force-locked there.

Another possibility for generating a rigid connection between the component parts of a plate element is by producing an adhesive bond. For this purpose, the parts can be bonded together, welded (e.g. by ultrasonic welding, friction welding or heating element welding) or soldered. In order to achieve this, on the one part for example a layer can be provided which effects an adhesive connection with the respective other part on contact with the other part automatically or under the influence of heat, radiation energy such as UV light, chemical energy or force. Layers of this type can be formed for example by a film inserted into the tool of the one part and back injection moulded by the material of the relevant part which activates after the moulding of the relevant part.

Special connection means such as screws, nails, rivets, brackets and the like can of course also be used to hold the parts of the plate element according to the invention together. It is also conceivable to use conventional joining and connection techniques such as clinching or clipping. The use of soluble connection means has the advantage that if a certain part needs to be replaced due to wear or the entire plate element needs to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner, the parts can be easily separated from one another.

During assembly, the correct positioning of the parts of a plate element according to the invention can be supported by the parts being connected together articulatedly by means of a hinge. The parts can then be pivoted onto one another about the axis formed by the hinge. To this end, the hinge can be formed as a film hinge which is produced when the parts are manufactured. To this end, the parts which form a plate element according to the invention can be produced from plastics material in the same tool separate from one another with one cavity per part, wherein the cavities are connected to one another by means of a sufficiently narrow channel in which the film hinge which connects the two parts articulatedly to one another is moulded. It is also conceivable that during the simultaneous injection moulding manufacture of the parts of a plate element the sprues provided to fill the moulding cavity can be designed such that after the demoulding of the parts they form a joint about which the parts can be folded together.

Furthermore, the correct positioning of the parts can also be supported by positioning guides such as moulding marks, pins or the like being provided for the correct positioning of the one part on the other part.

The invention is particularly advantageous if the plate element designed according to the invention is a steering plate which is provided to guide the rails to respectively be supported laterally in a rail fixing point. Due to their comparatively large volumes and the high local loads which steering plates of this type have to bear, the advantages of the design of a plate element of this type according to the invention are particularly favourable for fixing rails. In this way, the multiple parts provided according to the invention in particular in steering plates of this type enable the adaptation of the mechanical and other properties of individual sections of the steering plate under the conditions which occur in practice.

Packing plates and ribbed plates can also be manufactured in a cost-effective manner according to the invention, which packing plates or ribbed plates can likewise take in large volumes and can have complexly moulded in order to minimise their weight and carry out any necessary support and guiding functions.

The invention therefore provides a plate element for the fixing of rails for railway vehicles which can be manufactured in a particularly cost-effective manner. This applies in particular if the parts of the plate element are manufactured from plastics material, as the invention makes it possible to reduce the cycle time considerably. A positive effect with manufacturing from plastics materials is that an improved manufacturing quality is achieved through the reduced volume of the individual parts with respect to the volume of an entire plate element, which manufacturing quality is characterised by minimised delay and also by minimised shrinkage. Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to combine a standardised basic part which is pre-produced in large numbers and therefore cost-effectively with a part which is individually adapted to the relevant requirements, so that a considerable cost saving can be achieved. For example, if the plate element according to the invention is a steering plate, a lower part which is always the same can be combined with an upper part which is optimally adapted to the type of spring element to be supported on the steering plate respectively.

The invention is described below in greater detail by means of figures showing exemplary embodiments of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of a first plate element in the form of a steering plate;

FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of a second plate element in the form of a steering plate;

FIG. 3 shows a lateral view of a third plate element in the form of a steering plate;

FIG. 4 shows a lateral view of a fourth plate element in the form of a steering plate;

FIG. 5 shows an aerial view of the plate element in accordance with FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a section of the plate element in accordance with FIG. 4 enlarged in part along the intersection line indicated by X-X in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows an aerial view of a fifth plate element in the form of a steering plate;

FIG. 8 shows a section of the plate element in accordance with FIG. 7 enlarged in part along the intersection line indicated by Y-Y in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a sixth plate element;

FIG. 10. shows a first part of the plate element shown in FIG. 9 in a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 9;

FIG. 11. shows a second part of the plate element shown in FIG. 9 in a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 9;

The plate elements shown in the figures presented here by way of example in the form of steering plates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are each made up of two parts 1a, 1b; 2a, 2b; 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b; 5a, 5b which are pre-produced separately from one another and then joined together with the respective plate element 1-5.

The steering plates 1-5 are part of a fixing system for the fixing of a rail S for a railway vehicle. The individual components of a fixing system of this type are sufficiently known and have, for example, already been described in the above mentioned publications. For example, fixing systems of this type are offered by the applicant under the designations “W14”, “W21”, “300” and “304”.l

With a fixing system of this type, a fixing point is formed on a tie or plate made, for example, of concrete, which forms the subsoil U which is only shown in part in FIG. 1. As such, the subsoil U in question belongs to a fixing point formed using a steering plate 1-5 according to the invention.

The fixing system thereby comprises a spring element which is generally co-shaped and designed based on a conventional tensioning clamp, a tensioning element formed as a screw or a threaded bolt for tensioning the spring element against the respective subsoil and one of the steering plates 1-5. Additional elements can of course also belong to the system, such as packing plates, elastic sheets etc. in order to achieve a certain resilience of the respective fixing point and an optimal pressure distribution.

For reasons of clarity, of the components which generally belong to a rail fixing system, only the steering plates 1-5 are shown and the subsoil U indicated in part.

The steering plates 1-5 are each designed based on the known “angled guide plate” and have a square shape when seen from an aerial view. On one of their longitudinal sides, a contact surface 1c, 2c, 3c, 4c, 5c is formed which extends over the length L of the steering plate 1-5 respectively, with which the respective steering plate 1-5 functions against the foot of a rail S to be fixed in the respective fixing point when fully assembled.

On the opposing longitudinal side of the each steering plate 1-5 a support surface 1d, 2d, 3d, 4d, 5d is formed which also extends over the length L of the respective steering plate 1-5 by means of which the steering plate 1-5 is supported against a shoulder 7 when fully assembled, which shoulder is moulded to the subsoil U carrying the steering plate 1. The subsoil U shown here only in part can for example be formed by a concrete tie, a concrete plate or another fixed component.

On the underside of the steering plates 1-5 associated with the subsoil U a flat contact surface 1e, 2e, 3e, 4e, 5e is respectively formed with which the steering plates 1-5 sits on an also flat contact surface 8 of the subsoil U when fully assembled.

In the region in which the transfer between the contact surface 1e, 2e, 3e, 4e, 5e and the lateral support surface 1d, 2d, 3d, 4d, 5d takes place, an indent 1f, 2f, 3f, 4f, 5f is also formed in a downwards direction extending over the length L of each steering plate 1-5, which indent sits in a correspondingly formed groove 9 on the subsoil U. In this way, the position of the steering plate 1 in a transverse direction Q to the rails S is fixed to the subsoil U in an interlocking manner.

A centrally positioned passage opening 1g, 2g, 3g, 4g, 5g leading from the upper side to the lower side of the steering plates 1-5 is also formed in each of the steering plates 1-5 through which the tensioning element not shown here for tensioning a spring element supported on the upper side of the steering plate 1 and also not shown here is guided when the fixing system is being assembled.

On the upper side of the steering plates 1-5 moulded elements are formed which are provided to guide the central loop of the spring element and to channel off water and other liquids which may collect on the steering plate 1.

As mentioned above, the steering plates 1-5 are each made up of a first part 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a and a second part 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b. The two parts 1a-5a; 1b-5b are each pre-produced from fibre-reinforced plastics material in spatially separate cavities of an injection moulding tool not shown here and then joined to the respective steering plate 1-5.

The plastics material of the upper part 1a-5a of the respective steering plate 1-5 shown towards the top in the assembly position (FIG. 1) is set in each case such that it moulds the mould elements to be formed on the upper side of the respective steering plate 1-5 which are provided to guide the spring elements which are to be positioned there in each case or to channel liquids with high precision. In contrast to this the plastics material of the lower part 1b-5b of the steering plates 1-5 which sits on the subsoil U when assembled (FIG. 1) is adjusted such that the lower parts 1b-5b of the steering plates 1-5 provide a high level of resistance against abrasive wear.

In the steering plate 1 shown in FIG. 1, the divisional plane 1i extends between its two parts 1a, 1b in each case in parallel to the contact surface 1e and to the support surface 1d connected to the contact surface 1e and extends over the total width B and length L of the steering plate 1. The two parts 1a, 1b of the steering plate 1 are connected together by means of an adhesive film which has been applied on the upper surface of the lower part 1b of the steering plate 1 which sits on the subsoil U when assembled (FIG. 1) and which is associated with the upper part 1a of the steering plate 1 which is arranged in the upper area when assembled. The adhesive effect of the adhesive film may be activated for example by the addition of heat or radiation energy.

In the steering plate 2 shown in FIG. 2 a receiving member 2j is formed into the upper part 2a in which the second part 2b sits in an interlocking manner. In this way, the second part 2b is surrounded by the material of the first part 2a laterally and on its upper side while its lower side which is associated with the subsoil U forms the contact surface 2e with which the steering plate 2 lies on the subsoil U. In order to ensure permanent grip of the second part 2b in the receiving member 2j of the first part 2a, the second part 2b may be pressed into the receiving member 2j. In addition to the force-locking connection achieved in this way, bonding can also be carried out.

In the steering plate 3 shown in FIG. 3, in a reversal of the design of steering plate 2 a receiving member 3j is formed into the lower part 3b, in which receiving member the upper part 3a of the steering plate 3 sits. In this case, the highly wear-resistant material of the lower part 3b surrounds the less resilient but well moulded upper part 3a made of plastics material on its side surfaces and its lower side such that only the upper side of the upper part 3a where the moulded parts necessary to guide each of the spring elements are formed is free. Here, too, the upper part 3a can be bonded into the receiving member 3j of the lower part 3b.

In the steering plate 4 shown in FIG. 4 the cavities of the injection moulding tools were connected together by means of a channel with a minimal height during the manufacture of the parts 4a, 4b, such that the parts 4a, 4b of the steering plate 4 were connected together through a thin strip following demoulding. This strip formed a film hinge 4h which extends over the length L of the steering plate 4 around which the parts 4a, 4b have been folded in order to join them to the steering plate 4. In this way, the film hinge 4h enabled the correct positioning of the parts 4a, 4b in a simple manner. In turn, the divisional plane 4i of the parts 4a, 4b which extends over the entire width B and length L of the steering plate 4 extends substantially parallel to the contact surface 4e of the steering plate 4, wherein it moves downwards in the region of the indent 4d.

The connection between the parts 4a, 4b in the steering plate 4 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is ensured by positive engagement and force-fit locking.

To this end, recesses 4k, 4l, 4m, 4n in the form of slits are formed in the upper part 4a which each extend from the upper side to the lower side of the upper part and extend in the longitudinal direction of the steering plate 4. Here, a pair of recesses 4k, 4l is formed arranged at a distance from one another in the section of the upper part 4a provided on the one side adjacent to the passage opening 4g while the other correspondingly positioned pair of recesses 4m, 4n is formed into the section of the upper part 4a provided on the other side. The recesses 4k-4n each have a sharp-edged indent 4o protruding into each recess 4k-4n which extends in each case along the edge of the recesses 4k-4n turned away from the neighbouring recess 4k-4n. On its lower side associated with the lower part 4b a protrusion 4p is formed on the upper part 4a in the region of the recesses 4k-4n, the lateral faces of said protrusion being formed in conically tapering manner.

In the region of the lower part 4b of the steering plate 4 associated with the recesses 4k-4n a hollow 4q correspondingly adapted to the shape of the protrusion 4p is formed, in which hollow the protrusion 4p sits interlocked when the steering plate 4 is fully assembled. The protrusion 4p and the hollow 4q form a positioning guide in this way by means of which the correct positioning of the parts 4a, 4b is additionally supported.

In the hollow 4q of the lower part 4b, notch protrusions 4r, 4s are formed on the lower part 4b, which notch protrusions lock into the recesses 4k-4n associated with them in each case when the steering plate 4 is fully assembled. With their notches 4t, they lock in an interlocking manner with the indent 4o of the respective recess 4k-4n in such a way that the lower part 4b is held rigidly on the upper part 4a in a captive manner.

In the steering plate 5 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a circular recess 5k, 5l is formed in the design of a passage opening in each of the sections of the upper part 5a which are provided laterally adjacent to the passage opening 5g. In this way, the edge 5u of the recesses 5k, 5l which is associated with the lower part 5u of the steering plate 5 is bevelled in an outwards direction such that a self-centring seat for a correspondingly shaped protrusion 5v associated with the respective recess 5k, 5l is formed, the peripheral surface of which protrusion which comes into contact with the bevelled edge region 5u is formed in a conically tapering manner. The cylindrical, unbevelled upper section 5w of the protrusion 5v is a slightly larger than the cross-section of the opening of the associated recess 5k, 5l, such that on the one side the correct positioning of the parts 5a, 5b is ensured by the self-centring of the protrusion 5v in the respective recess 5k, 5l and on the other side the parts 5a, 5b can be pressed together such that they are connected to one another in a captive, force-fitting manner. If necessary a force-fitting connection can of course also be supplemented here by a firmly bonded connection such as bonding or through a force-fitted connection such as latching. In order to ensure wall thicknesses of the lower part 5b which are as even as possible, a countersink 5x is formed into the lower part 5b from the contact surface 5e in the region of the protrusion 5v.

The plate element 100 shown in FIG. 9 is also a steering plate designed as an angled guide plate which is used in a rail fixing system on the one hand for the lateral guiding of the rails S to be fixed and on the other hand a W-shaped spring element (not shown), a tensioning clamp, sits in fully assembled rail fixing system, which tensioning clamp exerts the required elastic holding force on the foot F of the rails to be fixed S.

The plate element 100 is divided into a front part 101 associated with the rails S to be fixed and a back part 102 which have been pre-made separately from one another and from different materials.

The divisional plane T between the parts 101 and 102 extends over the length L of the plate element 100 and extends from the upper side 103 to the lower side 104 of the plate element 100 on which a contact surface is formed with which the plate element 100 sits on a concrete tie (not shown) which forms the subsoil carrying the rails when the plate element is in use.

The first part 101 takes in around a fifth of the width B of the plate element 100. The divisional plane T is then aligned above the large part of the height H parallel to the flat support surface 105 with which the plate element 100 lies at the lateral edge of the foot of the rails S to be fixed during use and which is formed on the front side of the first part 101 which is associated with the rails S. Only in the upper section associated with the upper side 103 does the divisional plane T bounce when a protrusion 106 develops in the direction of the second part 102. With the protrusion 106, the first part 101 lies on a correspondingly formed indent 107 of the second part 102, wherein the height of the protrusion 106 is measured such that in the lateral edge regions of the plate element 100 the upper side 103 of the first part 101 and the second part 102 pass into one another smoothly.

In contrast, on the upper side of the middle section of the first part 101 a guide element 108 is formed which on the one hand defines the passage opening 109 formed into the first part and on the other hand forms a steering for the central loop of the tensioning clamp to be arranged on the plate element 100.

Lateral to the guide element 108 on each side of the guide element 108 a notch recess 110, 111 is subsequently formed from the upper side 103 into the first part 101. A notch protrusion 112, 113 reaches into each of the notch recesses 110, 111, which notch protrusion is formed on the front end 114 of the second part 102 associated with the first part. In this way, the first part 101 and the second part 102 are connected in an interlocking manner when the plate element 100 is in a ready to use state, wherein this connection can be released when the notch protrusions 112, 113 are lifted from the notch recesses 110, 111 and the first part 101 is removed from the second part 102.

When the plate element 100 is fully assembled, cheek sections 117, 118 formed on the lateral broad sides 115, 116 of the second part 102 and projecting in the direction of the first part 101 from the front end E of the second part 102 form a lateral guide which prevents the first part 101 from slipping relative to the second part in a longitudinal direction when loaded. At the same time, the cheek sections 117, 118 serve as positioning guides for the simple, correctly positioned alignment of the parts 101, 102.

The first part 101 is formed from a highly-loadable, fibre-reinforced plastics material and in particular in the section which is adjacent to the contact surface 105 it is designed to be sturdy so that it can tolerate high frictional loads. In this way, it is ensured that the first part 101 reliably takes on the mechanical loads which occur during use.

The second part 102 which extends over the rest of the width B and takes in the considerably greater proportion of the volume of the plate element 100, however, is made of an easily malleable, less loadable plastics material of small thickness and therefore low weight, but statically designed such that it can easily direct the forces occurring during use into the subsoil against which it is supported safely.

The division of the plate element 100 makes it possible in order to further minimise the weight and increase its inherent stability based on its front side which is associated with the first part 101 to form chambers 119, 120 and braces into the second part 102 which separate the chambers 120 from one another. In this way, not only is high rigidity of the second part 102 ensured but it is also attached to the contact surface provided on the underside 104 of the plate element 100. This means that the loads occurring there are distributed over a large area. Accordingly, the danger of premature wear otherwise associated with the concentration of mechanical loads, in particular friction loads on small flat sections is reduced.

In order to support the interlocking between the first and the second parts 101, 102, protrusions can be formed on the first part 101 with which the first part 101 engages into the front openings of the chambers 119, 120 with minimised play when the plate element 100 is assembled and ready for use.

If one of the parts 101, 102 of the plate element 100 wears out, then the relevant part 101, 102 can be exchanged independently of the others.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1-5 steering plates (plate elements according to the invention)

1
a-5a first part of the respective steering plate 1-5

1
b-5b second part of the respective steering plate 1-5

1
c-5c contact surface of the respective steering plate 1-5

1
d-5d support surface of the respective steering plate 1-5

1
e-5e contact surface of the respective steering plate 1-5

1
f-5f indent of the respective steering plate 1-5

1
g-5g passage opening of the respective steering plate 1-5

1
i divisional plane of the steering plate 1

2
j receiving member of the upper part 2a of the steering plate 2

3
j receiving member of the lower part 3b of the steering plate 3

4
h film hinge of the steering plate 4

4
i divisional plane of the steering plate 4

4
k-4n recesses of the upper part 4a of the steering plate 4

4
o indents in each of the recess 4k-4n

4
p protrusion

4
q hollow

4
r,
4
s notch protrusions

4
t notches

5
k,
5
l recesses of the upper part 5a of the steering plate 5

5
u lower edge of the recesses 5k, 5l

5
v protrusion of the lower part 5b of the steering plate 5

5
w upper cylindrical section of the protrusion 5v

5
x countersink

7 shoulder of the subsoil U

8 contact surface of the subsoil U

9 groove of the subsoil U

100 Plate element

101 first part of the plate element 100

102 second part of the plate element 100

103 upper side of the plate element 100

104 lower side of the plate element 100

105 contact surface

106 protrusion of the first part 101

107 indent in the second part 102

108 steering element

109 passage opening

110, 111 notch recesses

112, 113 notch protrusions

114 front edge of the second part 102 facing the first part 101

115, 116 broad sides of the second part 102

117, 118 cheek sections

119, 120 chambers of the first part 101

B respective width of the steering plates 1-5

H height of the plate element 100

L length of the respective steering plates 1-5

Q transverse direction

S rails

T divisional plane between parts 101 and 102

U subsoil

Plate Element to Guide a Rail and Method for its Manufacture

Information

Publication Number

Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

Original Assignees

CPC

US Classifications

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

PCT Information