Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6684793
-
Patent Number
6,684,793
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, April 16, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 3, 200421 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Morano; S. Joseph
- Olson; Lars A.
Agents
- Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 104 124
- 104 125
- 104 126
- 104 27
- 104 28
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
Beams extend transversely outwards from at least one side of each span beyond the corresponding side flange and shelf. Each beam is of a length in the transverse direction and of strength that are predetermined to be sufficient for enabling additional structures, e.g. slabs, to be installed subsequently on said beams, which additional structures preferably extend said soleplates outwards, in particular to form a station.
Description
The present invention relates to a viaduct for a railway line or the like, and comprising successive spans resting on supports such as piers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,468 discloses a viaduct of the above-specified type in which each span is substantially U-shaped in cross-section.
This U-shaped section corresponds to a load-carrying slab forming the web of the U-shape and connected on either side to respective upwardly extending flanges.
Each flange is surmounted on top by a substantially horizontal soleplate forming a shelf that extends transversely, at least towards the opposite flange.
After such a viaduct has been built, it can become necessary to build additional structures, for example a new station comprising, on one side at least, a slab forming a platform for passengers.
Such new structures require major work in order to establish new supports standing on the ground, one or more slabs, and superstructures that are provided in conventional manner in such stations.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of known viaducts and to propose a viaduct of the above-specified type adapted to make it very easy and quick to build new superstructures on at least one side of the viaduct without impeding use of the line.
According to the invention, in the viaduct of the above-specified type, for at least some of its spans it includes beams extending transversely outwards from at least one side of said spans beyond the corresponding side flange and shelf, each beam being of length in the transverse direction and of strength that are predetermined to be sufficient to enable additional structures to be built subsequently on said beams, e.g. slabs which preferably extend said soleplates outwards.
Thus, these transverse beams made when the viaduct is initially built make it possible at a later date, without any lead time, to build additional structures suitable for fixing on such transverse beams, and to do so in any conventional known manner.
Thus, using the transverse beams for support, it is possible to erect any kind of additional structure, whether temporary or permanent, e.g. a new station with platforms, and superstructures, without there being any need to dig the ground and install new foundations or to mount bulky scaffolding in order to build such new structures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention appear from the following detailed description.
In the accompanying drawings, given purely by way of non-limiting example:
FIG. 1
is a diagrammatic cross-section view through an embodiment of a viaduct in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a diagrammatic view similar to
FIG. 1
showing platforms and superstructures for a new station;
FIG. 3
is a view similar to
FIG. 2
showing another embodiment of a viaduct of the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a section view through another embodiment of a viaduct of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is a diagrammatic section view through another embodiment of a viaduct of the present invention;
FIG. 6
is a view similar to
FIG. 5
showing another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7
is a view similar to
FIG. 5
showing another embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 8
is a view similar to
FIG. 5
showing another embodiment of the present invention.
MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the embodiment of
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the viaduct
1
for a railway or other line comprises successive spans
2
resting on supports such as piers
3
themselves built on foundations
4
e.g. standing on piles
5
engaged in conventional manner in the ground.
In cross-section, each span
2
is substantially U-shaped, comprising a load-carrying slab
7
forming the web of the U-shape and connected on at least one side, and on both sides in the figures, to a respective upwardly-extending side flange
8
,
9
.
The top of each flange
8
,
9
is surmounted by a substantially horizontal corresponding soleplate
10
,
11
forming a shelf which extends transversely in the direction of arrow
12
, at least towards the opposite flange
9
,
8
.
As shown diagrammatically, the top surface
10
a,
11
a
of each soleplate
10
,
11
is situated at a level that is substantially equal to the level of the floor of a transport vehicle
13
traveling on the railway or other line carried by the viaduct
1
.
In the example shown, the vehicles
13
run on rails
14
, themselves laid on conventional supports
15
of known type, e.g. transverse or longitudinal sleepers (ties).
Naturally, the vehicles
13
can be mounted on wheels fitted with pneumatic tires, in a manner that is known per se and need not be described herein (see below).
In the example shown, at least some of the spans
2
of the viaduct
1
include transverse beams
16
,
17
projecting outwards transversely in the direction of arrow
12
on either side of each span
2
beyond the corresponding side flanges
8
,
9
and shelves
10
,
11
.
In the transverse direction of arrow
12
, each beam
16
,
17
is of predetermined length and strength that are sufficient to enable additional structures to be installed subsequently on said beams
16
,
17
, e.g. slabs
18
,
19
which preferably extend said soleplate
10
,
11
outwards.
In the embodiment of
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the transverse beams
16
,
17
are secured to joists or “trimmers”
20
placed on top of the piers
3
and supporting the deck
21
of each span
2
.
This is advantageous and enables spans
2
to be built that are identical and fully prefabricated or that are made up of identical prefabricated arch members, with only certain piers carrying joists
20
fitted with transverse beams
16
,
17
of the invention at locations that are decided in advance.
Naturally, the beams
16
,
17
can be replaced by slabs of length in the longitudinal direction of the viaduct matching the length of said joists
20
.
In the diagrammatic example of
FIG. 2
, longitudinal beams shown diagrammatically at
22
are placed on the joists
20
of two adjacent piers and support the slabs
18
and
19
which extend the soleplates
10
and
11
.
As shown diagrammatically in
FIG. 2
, it is thus possible to build a station
23
having a platform-forming shelf
24
,
25
on either side. Each platform
24
,
25
has a front platform portion constituted by the correspond soleplate
10
,
11
, and a rear platform portion constituted by the corresponding slab
18
,
19
adjacent to said soleplate and at the same level.
In conventional manner, the station also has a roof-forming superstructure shown diagrammatically at
26
, which superstructure is supported, like the slabs
18
and
19
, by the transverse beams
16
,
17
, and all of these elements can be built or installed without interrupting operation of the transportation line.
Thereafter, it suffices to install conventional means for moving passengers in both directions beneath ground level
6
and the slabs
18
,
19
and also, where appropriate, to install any such premises, offices, etc. as may be required for housing station staff and users of the line.
In the embodiment of
FIG. 3
, the deck
27
rests directly on the capital
28
formed at the top of each pier
3
.
The transverse beams
29
,
30
are secured to the deck
27
and are situated substantially at the same level as the load-carrying slab
7
.
It is quite possible to choose to fit the deck
27
of each span with transverse beams
29
,
30
. It is also possible, in a variant, to provide transverse beams
29
,
30
only for those spans that might subsequently receive an additional structure such as a station.
In the embodiment of
FIG. 4
, there can be seen two parallel viaducts each carrying a single track. It is then possible to envisage installing a central platform only, as shown diagrammatically at
31
and of arbitrary width, depending on requirements.
To this end, transverse beams
32
,
33
are provided on one side only of the corresponding deck and they extend transversely towards the other deck. Thus, the slab
34
which may be constituted by a single piece or built up using a plurality of individual slabs, is placed between the two adjacent soleplates
10
,
11
of the two adjacent viaducts, and the structure formed by the beam
22
supporting the slab
34
is fixed to the transverse beams
32
,
33
.
It is also possible to provide a roof-forming superstructure bearing on the transverse beams
32
,
33
, either directly or else via the slab
34
.
FIG. 5
shows a single track viaduct receiving a vehicle that is mounted on wheels fitted with pneumatic tires.
This viaduct can be fitted equally well with transverse beams such as
17
secured to joists
20
or transverse beams such as
29
secured to spans
2
or arch members constituting said spans.
Each flange
8
,
9
has a shape
37
on its bottom wall facing towards the other flange, which shape forms a substantially vertical guide serving as a runner and bearing surface for guide wheels
38
on the vehicle
13
.
The vehicle
13
is itself mounted on tires
39
running on longitudinally extending sills referenced
40
.
It would also be possible to provide rails (not shown) suitable for supporting conventional flanged railway wheels in the event of a tire puncturing (not shown).
In the embodiment of
FIG. 6
, the span
2
which is mounted joists
20
has a load-carrying slab
7
with metal flanges
8
,
9
connected thereto, the web being connected in any known manner to the slab
7
together with filler concrete
41
that is put into place on site.
In this case, the soleplates
10
and
11
are themselves supported by metal sheet
42
.
In the embodiment of
FIG. 7
, corresponding particularly to building the viaduct by means of fully prefabricated spans carried by joists
20
, each new span can be brought to its site for installation by a transport vehicle, referenced
43
, adapted to travel along the load-carrying slab
7
of spans that are already in place. Such a vehicle can naturally be fitted with pneumatic tires, as shown in the figure, prior to laying the railway tracks, or it can be provided with flanged wheels and run along the railway track that has already been put into place.
In the embodiment of
FIG. 8
, which corresponds to a single track viaduct in this example, a gantry
44
suitable for running on the soleplates
10
,
11
and provided with hoists shown diagrammatically at
45
serves to transport, lay, and adjust rails
14
on the sleepers
15
.
A viaduct has thus been described which is provided with transverse beams that project outwardly, said beams being placed either along the entire length of the viaduct, or else only at particular locations specified in advance.
Such beams make it possible subsequently to build a new station or to extend an existing station quickly, easily, and at reduced cost.
When the transverse beams
16
,
17
are secured to joists
20
, the platforms of new stations are independent of the deck of each span, thus making it simpler both to design each span and to design each platform, in particular concerning vibration, bracing, etc.
Naturally, all kinds of electric cable suitable for use in operating the line can be placed beneath the soleplates
10
,
11
as represented by reference
46
in FIG.
6
.
The flanges
8
,
9
and the soleplates
10
,
11
are preferably designed in such a manner as to be capable of holding a train or a vehicle that has derailed or that has escaped from the guide means provided.
The station shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
which rest directly on the beams
16
,
17
or
29
,
30
has minimum visual impact in the surroundings given that its own outline is not added to that of the viaduct and the vehicles, but on the contrary replaces said outline.
Finally, the flanges
8
,
9
serve in conventional manner as screens against noise.
Naturally, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and numerous changes and modifications can be made thereto without going beyond the ambit of the invention.
Naturally, one-piece arch members or spans that are prefabricated prior to being installed can be made of prestressed concrete. The same applies to all of the other prefabricated elements used in the context of the present invention.
Claims
- 1. A viaduct for a railway line, comprising a deck formed by successive spans resting on supports or as piers, each span having a substantially U-shaped cross-section comprising a load-carrying slab forming the web of the U-shape and connected on either side to an upwardly-extending side flange, the top portion of each flange being surmounted by a substantially horizontal shelf-forming soleplate extending transversely at least towards the opposite flange, the top surface of each soleplate being situated substantially the same level as the floor of a transport vehicle, so that said soleplate is adapted to constitute a front platform portion of a platform-forming shelf of a railway station.
- 2. A viaduct according to claim 1, wherein, for at least some of its span, it includes beams extending transversely outwards from at least one side of said spans beyond the corresponding side flange and shelf, each beam being of length in the transverse direction and of strength that are predetermined to be sufficient to enable additional structures to be built subsequently on said beams.
- 3. A viaduct according to claim 2, wherein said beams extend outwards from said soleplates.
- 4. A viaduct according to claim 2, wherein said additional structures to be built comprise said platform-forming shelf of said railway station.
- 5. A viaduct according to claim 2, wherein said beams are secured to the deck and are situated at substantially the same level as the load-carrying slab.
- 6. A viaduct according to claim 2, wherein said beams are secured to joists supporting the deck at the location of each pier or support.
- 7. A viaduct according to claim 2, wherein it has at least one station comprising at least one platform-forming shelf made up of a front platform portion constituted by the corresponding soleplate and of slabs forming a rear platform portion adjacent to the front platform portion and placed on a structure which is fixed to the transverse beams in such a manner that the slabs forming the rear platform portions are at substantially the same level as the corresponding soleplate.
- 8. A viaduct according to claim 7, wherein the slab forming a portion of the platform is placed between two adjacent soleplates of two adjacent viaducts and the structure supporting the slab is fixed to transverse beams of the two adjacent viaducts so that the shelf constitutes a central platform common to both viaduct.
- 9. A viaduct according to claim 7, including a roof-forming superstructure supported on the transverse beams.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
01 05215 |
Apr 2001 |
FR |
|
US Referenced Citations (7)