SLEEPER BLOCK UNIT FOR RAILWAY TRACK SYSTEMS

Abstract

A sleeper block unit including a sleeper block and a sleeper shoe that surrounds the latter in its lower area. In the area of the upper edge of the side walls (9) of the sleeper shoe, a surrounding sealing collar (14) of an elastic material is arranged which sealingly connects the sleeper block to the sleeper shoe. The sealing collar (14) includes an upper edge section (15), a lower edge section (16), and a lateral section (17) arranged therebetween. In the area of the upper edge of the side walls (9) of the sleeper shoe (3), a surrounding bead (11) is externally arranged which is sealingly overlapped by the lower edge section of the sealing collar (14).

Claims

1. A sleeper block unit for railway track systems, including a sleeper block and a sleeper shoe that surrounds the sleeper block in its lower area and comprises a bottom and four side walls, a surrounding sealing collar of an elastic material being arranged in the area of the upper edge of the side walls, which sealingly connects the sleeper block to the sleeper shoe, wherein: the sealing collar comprises an upper edge section, a lower edge section, and a lateral section arranged therebetween, a surrounding bead is arranged externally in the area of the upper edge of the side walls of the sleeper shoe, and the lower edge section of the sealing collar overlaps the bead and lies against the bead at least in an area situated below the largest horizontal dimension of the bead.

2. The sleeper block unit according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge section of the sealing collar is encased in the sleeper block.

3. The sleeper block unit according to claim 2, wherein the upper edge section of the sealing collar has anchoring elements.

4. The sleeper block unit according to claim 1, wherein the lateral section of the sealing collar is vaulted away from the sleeper shoe.

5. The sleeper block unit according to claim 1, wherein the lower edge section of the sealing collar is oriented at an angle of 30 degrees to 60 degrees relative to the exterior of the side wall of the sleeper shoe.

6. The sleeper block unit according to claim 1, wherein the lower edge section of the sealing collar is thicker than its lateral section.

7. The sleeper block unit according to claim 1, wherein the sleeper block has a head portion and a base portion, the head portion being longer and larger than the base portion such that a step results between the head portion and the base portion.

8. The sleeper block unit according to claim 7, wherein the upper surface of the upper edge section of the sealing collar is flush with the step.

9. The sleeper block unit according to claim 1, wherein, above the bead, the side walls of the sleeper shoe are terminated by a upwardly tapering lip that lies against the sleeper block.

Description

[0011] An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the appended drawings showing

[0012] FIG. 1 a view of the long side of a sleeper block unit;

[0013] FIG. 2 a view of the short side of the same sleeper block unit; and

[0014] FIG. 3 a partly sectioned detail of FIG. 1 or 2, respectively, on an enlarged scale.

[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 show side elevations of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeper block unit 1 according to the invention showing the long and the short side of sleeper block unit 1, respectively, that has a substantially rectangular plan view. Sleeper block unit 1 is similar to the one described in the reference DE10196374B4 and includes a sleeper block 2 made of concrete and a sleeper shoe 3 that surrounds the latter on part of its height and is made of an elastomeric material, preferably of rubber. Sleeper block 2 has a head portion 4 with a bearing surface 5 for rail fastening means (not shown). Furthermore, in the present example, sleeper block 2 comprises a base portion 6 that is shorter and narrower than head portion 4 so that a step 7 (FIG. 3) is formed between head portion 4 and base portion 6. The junction area 9 between the side wall surfaces of base portion 6 and step 7 is preferably rounded as illustrated. The side wall surfaces of base portion 6 are slightly inclined such that the length and the width of base portion 6 decrease toward the bottom. This allows replacing sleeper block unit 1 without the need of breaking up the surrounding concrete. Sleeper shoe 3 has four side walls 9 and a bottom 10, and between bottom surface of sleeper block 2 and bottom 10 of sleeper shoe 3, a resilient inlay that is not shown in the drawing is arranged which in operation under load allows a vertical movement of sleeper block 2 in sleeper shoe 3.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged, partly sectioned detail of the upper edge of a side wall 9 of sleeper shoe 3. On the outside of side wall 9, a surrounding bead 11 is arranged which is preferably rounded as illustrated. Reference numeral 12 denotes a line that extends perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing and corresponds to the apex of bead 11 and thus to the largest horizontal dimension of bead 11 and consequently also of sleeper shoe 3. Above bead 11, side wall 9 is terminated by a tapering lip 13 that lies against sleeper block 2. This lip serves as an aid while sealing collar 14 is being slipped over sleeper shoe 3, either during first assembly or after a replacement of sleeper block 2 in an existing track.

[0017] A sealing collar 14 of an elastomeric material, preferably rubber, bridges the upper edge of side walls 9 of sleeper shoe 3. Sealing collar 14 has a horizontally oriented upper edge section 15 followed by a substantially vertically oriented lateral section 17 and a lower edge section 16 that is inclined toward side wall 9 of sleeper shoe 3. The latter edge section is preferably a little thicker than lateral section 17, as illustrated. Upper edge section 15 is encased in sleeper block 2, and anchoring elements 18 additionally enhance the connection between sleeper block 2 and sealing collar 14. In FIG. 3, a rib-shaped anchoring element 18 is shown, but it is also possible to use anchoring elements in the form of recesses or apertures in upper edge section 15. In the illustration of FIG. 3, the sleeper block unit is encased in concrete, reference numeral 19 denoting the level of the infill concrete.

[0018] In operation, when the arrangement of FIG. 3 is loaded by a passing train, sleeper block 2 will be slightly pressed down in sleeper shoe 3 and will entrain the upper edge section 15 of sealing collar 14 encased in sleeper block 2 while the lower edge section 16 of sealing collar 14 remains in the depicted position and remains in contact with bead 11. The level 19 of the infill concrete surrounding sleeper shoe 19 helps to prevent that the lower edge section 16 of the sealing collar loses contact with bead 11. As a result, as the upper edge section 15 of sealing collar 14 slightly approaches the lower edge section 16 due to the downward movement of sleeper block 2 in sleeper shoe 3, lateral section 17 of sealing collar 14 will resiliently yield. Lateral section 17 may basically be straight in shape and vertically oriented. However, in order to promote the aforementioned resilient yielding, lateral section 17 is preferably outwardly vaulted, i.e. away from sleeper shoe 3, as illustrated. Therefore, under load, a bending stress of lateral section 17 results, whereby an undesired sliding friction between sealing collar 14 and sleeper shoe 3 is also prevented.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0019] 1 sleeper block unit

[0020] 2 sleeper block

[0021] 3 sleeper shoe

[0022] 4 head portion

[0023] 5 bearing surface

[0024] 6 base portion

[0025] 7 step

[0026] 8 junction area

[0027] 9 side wall of 3

[0028] 10 bottom of 3

[0029] 11 bead

[0030] 12 apex of 11

[0031] 13 lip

[0032] 14 sealing collar

[0033] 15 upper edge section of 14

[0034] 16 lower edge section of 14

[0035] 17 lateral section of 14

[0036] 18 anchoring element

[0037] 19 level