Sleeper block unit for railway track systems

Abstract

The sleeper block unit (1) for railway track systems consists of a sleeper block (2) and of a sleeper shoe (3) that partly surrounds the sleeper block (2). The sleeper block (2) has a head portion (4) and a base portion (6), the head portion (4) extending beyond the base portion (6) in length and in width, thus forming a step (10). At the upper edge of the sleeper shoe (3), a surrounding, upwardly and outwardly extending sealing lip (14) that lies against the step (10) is arranged. As a result, during vertical movements of the sleeper block (2) in the sleeper shoe (3), the sealing lip (14) is deformed substantially vertically in the elastic range rather than rubbing against an outer wall of the sleeper block as in known sleeper block units. In this manner the sealing lip is subject to reduced wear so that the sealing effect is maintained for a longer period and the sleeper block unit (1) has a longer lifetime.

Claims

1. A sleeper block unit for railway track systems, the sleeper block unit comprising: a sleeper block and a sleeper shoe that partly surrounds the sleeper block; the sleeper block comprising a head portion and a base portion with side wall surfaces and a bottom surface; the head portion being longer and larger than the base portion such that a step is formed between the head portion and the base portion, wherein the step forms a contact surface, a portion of which is oriented at least approximately parallel to the bottom surface; and a surrounding sealing lip extending upwardly and outwardly, the sealing lip comprising a free end lying upwards against the contact surface formed by the step.

2. The sleeper block unit according to claim 1 wherein a junction area between the side walls of the base portion and the step is rounded.

3. The sleeper block unit according to claim 1, wherein a surrounding, outwardly directed nose is provided on the sleeper shoe in the area of the base of the sealing lip.

4. The sleeper block unit according to claim 1, wherein both the base portion of the sleeper block and the sleeper shoe diminish in length and width from top to bottom.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail hereinafter by way of example with reference to the appended drawings showing

(2) FIG. 1 a partly sectioned view of the long side of a sleeper block unit;

(3) FIG. 2 a partly sectioned view of the short side of the same sleeper block unit; and

(4) FIG. 3 a detail of FIG. 1 or 2, respectively, on an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIGS. 1 and 2 show partly sectioned side elevations of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeper block unit 1 according to the invention showing the long and the short sides of sleeper block unit 1, respectively, that has a substantially rectangular plan view. Except the sealing lip 14 that will be described below, sleeper block unit 1 corresponds to the one described in document DE10196374B4 and consists of a sleeper block 2 made of concrete and of 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). Sleeper block 2 further comprises a base portion 6 that is shorter and narrower than head portion 4 so that a step 10 is formed between head portion 4 and base portion 6. The side wall surfaces 7 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. Reference numeral 8 denotes the bottom surface of sleeper block 2. The aforementioned step 10 forms a surrounding contact surface whose outer part is oriented at least approximately parallelly to bottom surface 8 and whose function will be explained below. The junction 9 between side wall surfaces 7 and step 10 is preferably rounded as illustrated.

(6) Sleeper shoe 3 has four side walls 11 and a bottom 12, and between bottom surface 8 of sleeper block 2 and bottom 12 of sleeper shoe 3, a resilient inlay 15 is arranged which in operation under load allows a vertical movement of sleeper block 2 in sleeper shoe 3. On the outer walls 11 of sleeper shoe 3, a horizontally extending nose 13 is arranged which serves as an orientation for the concrete level to be observed while sleeper block unit 1 is being encased and is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by line 16.

(7) As seen particularly clearly in the enlarged detail view of FIG. 3, a surrounding sealing lip 14 is arranged at the upper edge of sleeper shoe 3 whose free end extends outwardly and lies against the lower side of the contact surface formed by step 10. In operation, when sleeper block 2 moves vertically and inlay 15 is compressed, sealing lip 14 is resiliently bent by the contact surface while always remaining in contact with the contact surface and thus reliably sealing the space between sleeper shoe 3 and sleeper block 2. The resilient bending movement produces relatively little friction between sealing lip 14 and sleeper block 2 so that the sleeper block unit according to the invention has a longer lifetime than known sleeper block units in spite of its simpler design.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(8) 1 sleeper block unit

(9) 2 sleeper block

(10) 3 sleeper shoe

(11) 4 head portion

(12) 5 bearing surface

(13) 6 base portion

(14) 7 side wall surfaces of 6

(15) 8 bottom surface of 6

(16) 9 junction

(17) 10 step

(18) 11 side wall of 3

(19) 12 bottom of 3

(20) 13 nose

(21) 14 sealing lip

(22) 15 inlay

(23) 16 line (concrete level)

(24) 17

(25) 18

(26) 19

(27) 20