UNDER SLEEPER PAD

Abstract

An under sleeper pad (1) for fastening to an underside, situated opposite rails (2), of a sleeper (3), with the under sleeper pad (1) having at least one first, preferably porous material component (4) and at least one second porous material component (5) different than the first material component (4), the first material component (4) being more elastic than the second material component (5) and the second material component (5) being more plastic than the first material component (4), the first material component (4) being arranged exclusively in a first layer (6) of the under sleeper pad (1) and the second material component (5) being arranged exclusively in a second layer (7) of the under sleeper pad (1).

Claims

1. An under sleeper pad for fastening to an underside, situated opposite rails, of a sleeper, the under sleeper pad comprising: at least one first material component; at least one second material component that is porous and is different than the first material component; the at least one first material component is more elastic than the at least one second material component and the at least one second material component is more plastic than the at least one first material component; and wherein the at least one first material component is arranged exclusively in a first layer of the under sleeper pad and the at least one second material component is arranged exclusively in a second layer of the under sleeper pad.

2. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first material component is porous.

3. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first is nearest to the sleeper and the second layer is remote from the sleeper in an operating position of the under sleeper pad.

4. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer are connected to one another in contact with one another over all of one face.

5. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first layer and the second layer are adhesively bonded to one another.

6. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first layer is formed from granulate grains connected to one another, and the granulate grains consist of the at least one first material component.

7. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 6, wherein the granulate grains of the at least one first material component of the first layer have a grain size in a range of 1 mm to 20 mm.

8. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second layer is formed from granulate grains connected to one another, and the granulate grains consist of the at least one second material component.

9. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 8, wherein the granulate grains of the at least one second material component of the second layer are comprised of cork and have a grain size in a range of 0.1 mm to 10 mm.

10. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 8, wherein the granulate grains of the second material component of the second layer are comprised of polyurethane and have a grain size in a range of 1 mm to 20 mm.

11. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of a) the first layer comprises an intrinsically homogeneous layer consisting of the at least one first material component as mono-material, or b) the second layer comprises an intrinsically homogeneous layer consisting of the at least one second material component as mono-material.

12. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of a) the first layer has a smaller compression set than the second layer, b) the first layer has a compression set less than or equal to 8%, or c) the second layer has a compression set of at least 10%.

13. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first material component is a polyurethane having a porosity in a range of 0% to 90%, and at least one of: a) the at least one second material component is a porous polyurethane having a porosity in a range of 2.5% to 90%, or b) the at least one second material component is a porous cork having a porosity in a range of 2.5% to 90%.

14. The under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of: a) the first layer has a thickness in a range of 3 mm to 15 mm, b) the second layer has a thickness in a range of 3 mm to 10 mm, c) the first layer has a thickness which is between 40% and 85% of an overall thickness of the under sleeper pad, or d) the second layer has a thickness which is between 15% and 60% of the overall thickness of the under sleeper pad.

15. A track system comprising: at least one sleeper; rails arranged on the sleeper; and at least one under sleeper pad as claimed in claim 1 arranged underneath the sleeper, the first layer of the under sleeper pad being nearest to the sleeper and the second layer of the under sleeper pad being remote from the sleeper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] Further advantages and details of advantageous variants of the invention will emerge from the figures and from the associated description of the figures. In the figures:

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a schematic section through one exemplary embodiment of a track system,

[0062] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the exemplary embodiment of a track system of FIG. 1 in the region A, and

[0063] FIGS. 3-6 show schematic sectional illustrations of four exemplary embodiments of an under sleeper pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] First of all, it should be said that all the figures are schematic illustrations which are not true to scale. Thus, for example, all layer thicknesses and their relative dimensions with respect to one another are selected such that they can be clearly illustrated in graphic terms.

[0065] FIG. 1 shows a section through one exemplary embodiment of a track system 12 comprising at least one sleeper 3, rails 2 arranged on the sleeper 3, and at least one under sleeper pad 1 arranged, preferably fastened, underneath the sleeper 3, with the under sleeper pad 1 being in the usual operating position.

[0066] In this illustration, the under sleeper pad 1 is shown as a unit without its individual layers. The individual layers are illustrated only in the following figures.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a detail, or a close-up, of the track system 12 shown in FIG. 1 with the first exemplary embodiment of an under sleeper pad 1 in the region A, the under sleeper pad 1 comprising at least one first material component 4 and at least one second porous material component 5 different than the first material component 4, the first material component 4 being more elastic than the second material component 5 and the second material component 5 being more plastic than the first material component 4, and the first material component 4 being arranged exclusively in a first layer 6 of the under sleeper pad 1 and the second material component 5 being arranged exclusively in a second layer 7 of the under sleeper pad 1.

[0068] In this exemplary embodiment of the under sleeper pad 1, the first layer 6 is nearer the sleeper 3 and the second layer 7 is remote from the sleeper 3 and nearer to the ballast 13.

[0069] In this illustration according to FIG. 2, it is possible to clearly see how the ballast grains of the ballast 13 can penetrate the second, porous and more plastic layer 7, or can deform the second layer 7, and thus bring about a best-possible and also long-lasting form fit between the under sleeper pad 1 and the ballast 13. This form fit causes the ballast grains to be held in place particularly well and for a lengthy period of time underneath the sleeper 3 in the sense of the best possible ballast protection mentioned in the introduction.

[0070] Here, it is preferably provided that the second layer 7 has a compression set of at least 10%, preferably up to 24.5%.

[0071] The first, more elastic material component 4, which is present exclusively in the first layer 6, ensures particularly good vibration damping.

[0072] In this exemplary embodiment of the under sleeper pad 1, the first layer 6 and the second layer 7 each consist of granulate grains 8 connected to one another, in particular adhesively bonded to one another.

[0073] In this exemplary embodiment, a protective layer 15 for protecting the under sleeper pad 1 is arranged on the underside of the under sleeper pad 1, the protective layer 15 protecting the under sleeper pad 1 at least against excessive mechanical loading applied by the ballast 13.

[0074] The protective layer 15 may be a nonwoven, a film, a mesh or the like, as is known per se from the prior art. In general, in the case of under sleeper pads 1 and also track systems 12 according to the invention, such a protective layer 15 may be present but may also be omitted.

[0075] It is also generally conceivable for the under sleeper pad 1 to have further layers with additional functions, such as for noise reduction, for sealing, for frost or heat protection, etc.

[0076] In the following description of the exemplary embodiments of an under sleeper pad 1 that are shown in FIGS. 3-6, where there are differences, primarily the differences relating to the first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 will be discussed to avoid repetitions. The above description of the first exemplary embodiment applies in all other respects, insofar as it is also applicable to the exemplary embodiments of an under sleeper pad 1 which have yet to be shown and described in FIGS. 3-6 below.

[0077] FIGS. 3-6 show that the first layer 6 and the second layer 7 are preferably connected to one another, in particular adhesively bonded to one another, in contact with one another over all of one face.

[0078] In all these exemplary embodiments, a respective protective layer 15 for protecting the under sleeper pad 15 is also placed.

[0079] Furthermore, in all these exemplary embodiments, a connecting layer 14 for connecting the under sleeper pad 1 to the sleeper 3 is present.

[0080] The connecting layer 14 may be for example a nonwoven, flock, mesh or the like, which can be connected to the sleeper 3 in a form fit, in particular in the uncured state of the concrete of the sleeper 3.

[0081] It may also be the case that the connecting layer 14 is a layer of adhesive.

[0082] Different variants and technologies known per se from the prior art can be used for the design of such a connecting layer 14.

[0083] In the case of under sleeper pads 1 according to the invention, a connecting layer 14 may, but does not necessarily have to, be present. The connection between the sleeper 3 and the under sleeper pad 1 may in principle also be made by a frictional engagement, or force fit.

[0084] Furthermore, in all the exemplary embodiments disclosed here, an intermediate layer 16 for connecting the first layer 6 and the second layer 7 may be present.

[0085] The intermediate layer 16 may for example be a nonwoven, hook-and-loop closure, woven fabric, mesh or the like, which connects the first layer 6 and the second layer 7 to one another in a form fit.

[0086] It may also be the case that the intermediate layer 16 is an integrally bonded, for example chemical and/or thermal, connecting layer which can be produced, for example, by adhesive bonding, welding, laminating, pressing or the like.

[0087] A one-component polyurethane binder, such as isocyanate, or else a two-component polyurethane binder or another binder known per se or mixtures of these binders can be used both to connect or adhesively bond possibly present granulate grains 8 in the first layer 6 and/or the second layer 7 to one another and to adhesively bond the connecting layer 14 and/or the protective layer 15 on the respective layer 6 and/or 7 and to adhesively bond the layers 6 and 7 to one another by means of the intermediate layer 16.

[0088] It is also conceivable for the connection between the first layer 6 and the second layer 7 to also be made by frictional engagement, or a force fit.

[0089] Preferably, the first layer 6 has a thickness 9 in the range of 3 mm to 15 mm, preferably 4 mm to 12 mm, in particular which is between 40% and 85%, preferably between 50% and 75%, of an overall thickness 11 of the under sleeper pad 1.

[0090] Preferably, the second layer 7 has a thickness 10 in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm, preferably 4 mm to 8 mm, in particular which is between 15% and 60%, preferably between 25% and 50%, of the overall thickness 11.

[0091] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of an under sleeper pad 1 analogous to FIG. 2, in which the at least one first material component 4 of the first layer 6 and the at least one second material component 5 of the second layer 7 each consist of granulate grains 8 connected to one another, in particular adhesively bonded to one another.

[0092] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of an under sleeper pad 1, in which the at least one first material component 4 of the first layer 6 consists of granulate grains 8 connected, in particular adhesively bonded, to one another, and the second material component 5 of the second layer 7 consists of an intrinsically homogeneous mono-material.

[0093] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of an under sleeper pad 1, in which the first material component 4 of the first layer 6 consists of a mono-material and the second material component 5 of the second layer 7 consists of granulate grains 8 connected, in particular adhesively bonded, to one another.

[0094] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of an under sleeper pad 1, in which the first material component 4 of the first layer 6 and the second material component 5 of the second layer 7 each consist of a mono-material.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0095] 1 Under sleeper pad [0096] 2 Rails [0097] 3 Sleeper [0098] 4 First material component [0099] 5 Second material component [0100] 6 First layer [0101] 7 Second layer [0102] 8 Granulate grains [0103] 9 Thickness (of the first layer) [0104] 10 Thickness (of the second layer) [0105] 11 Overall thickness [0106] 12 Track system [0107] 13 Ballast [0108] 14 Connecting layer [0109] 15 Protective layer [0110] 16 Intermediate layer