Viaduct for a railway line or the like

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6684793
  • Patent Number
    6,684,793
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, April 16, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 3, 2004
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
  • Examiners
    • Morano; S. Joseph
    • Olson; Lars A.
    Agents
    • Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
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)
Number Name Date Kind
2226432 Heinze Dec 1940 A
3859682 Sulkiewicz Jan 1975 A
4142468 Birnstiel Mar 1979 A
4313383 Parazader Feb 1982 A
5119731 Muller Jun 1992 A
5231931 Sauvageot Aug 1993 A
5386782 Dinis et al. Feb 1995 A