AU2012229870A1

AU2012229870A1 - An appartus for laterally displacing a pair of railway tracks

Info

Publication number: AU2012229870A1
Application number: AU2012229870A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Shayne Robert Kreymborg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-16
Filing date: 2012-02-29
Publication date: 2013-08-15
Also published as: WO2012122585A1; NZ613642A

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus (10) for laterally displacing a pair of railway tracks (12A and 12B). The apparatus (10) generally comprises a pair of abutment elements (14A and 14B) interconnected by an intermediate member (16) with one of the abutment elements (14A) operatively coupled to an actuator (18). The actuator (18) moves the abutment element ((14A)) into pressing engagement with an outer face (20A) of the railway track (12A) which consequentially urges the other abutment element (14B) into pressing engagement with an outer face (20B) of the other railway track (12B). These forces are effective in displacing the pair of railway tracks (12A/B) inwardly toward one another.

Description

WO 2012/122585 PCT/AU2012/000194 1 AN APPARATUS FOR LATERALLY DISPLACING A PAIR OF RAILWAY TRACKS Field of the Invention The present invention relates broadly to an apparatus for laterally displacing a pair of parallel railway tracks. The invention also relates generally to a method of laterally displacing a pair of railway tracks relative to one another. The apparatus and method are more particularly directed to correcting or rectifying wide or narrow gauge between the railway tracks to restore them to their correct separation. Background to the Invention In order to comply with rail safety regulations it is necessary to periodically audit railway tracks to ensure they are maintained at the correct separation. "AK" or track recording cars are used to identify locations where the tracks have in the horizontal dimension exceeded their defined separation or gauge. This information is logged for a maintenance team to return to that location to rectify the wide gauge tracks. The general steps involved in returning the tracks to their required gauge are as follows: i) manual gauge measurements are carried out to identify the locations of any defects; ii) the insulator located between the sleeper shoulder and the track is inspected for damage; iii) the rail fasteners or clips which secure the track to the underlying sleeper are removed; iv) the railway track is manually (e.g. using a hammer chisel) displaced inwardly to return it to the required gauge; v) the railway clips and their associated replacement insulators are remounted to the underlying sleeper to resecure the railway tracks at their required gauge. This process is time consuming and involves very physical work with a high risk of personal injury. The often oppressive climatic conditions where this maintenance work occurs means that, whether intentional or otherwise, the regauging of tracks may not occur as required and in the extreme can result in the derailing of railcars. Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for laterally displacing a pair of parallel railway tracks, said apparatus comprising: a pair of abutment elements each adapted to engage respective of the pair of railway tracks; WO 2012/122585 PCT/AU2012/000194 2 an intermediate member interconnecting the pair of abutment elements; an actuator operatively coupled to at least one of the pair of abutment elements for laterally displacing the pair of railway tracks relative to one another. Preferably the actuator is operatively coupled to one of the abutment elements for engagement with an outer face of one of the railway tracks. More preferably the intermediate member is a rigid tensile member adapted to extend across an upper surface of the railway tracks and having an other of the abutment elements connected to one of its ends for engagement with an other of the railway tracks. Preferably the actuator includes force biasing means mounted to said one of the abutment elements at one end of the intermediate member. More preferably the force biasing means includes one or more hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders anchored to a bracket connected to said one end of the intermediate member. Even more preferably the other of the abutment elements includes a ram associated with said hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and arranged to abut the outer face of said one of the railway tracks. Alternatively the actuator includes a screw actuator operatively coupled to said one of the abutment elements where on rotation of the screw actuator the abutment elements are laterally displaced relative to one another. Alternatively the intermediate member includes a pair of rigid tensile members movably coupled to one another and having the abutment elements connected to respective of the pair of rigid tensile members. In this alternate arrangement the actuator is operatively coupled to the pair of tensile members to laterally displace the pair of abutment elements and associated tracks relative to one another. In the alternate arrangement having the pair of rigid tensile members, the actuator includes at least one hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and its associated ram(s) connected to both tensile members to draw them together and displace the pair of railway tracks inwardly. Preferably the pair of abutment elements are adapted to abut outer faces of respective webs of the railway tracks. Preferably the apparatus is mounted on a trolley or carriage which runs along the railway tracks. Alternately the apparatus is moved into position on the tracks via an excavator or the like.

WO 2012/122585 PCT/AU2012/000194 3 According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of laterally displacing a pair of parallel railway tracks relative to one another, said method comprising the steps of: engaging each of a pair of abutment elements with respective of the pair of railway tracks; moving the pair of abutment elements relative to one another via an intermediate member interconnecting the pair of abutment elements and an actuator operatively coupled to at least one of the pair of said elements whereby the pair of railway tracks are displaced relative to one another. Preferably the railway tracks are displaced inwardly of one another to correct for wide gauge to restore them to their correct separation. Alternately the tracks are displaced outwardly of one another to correct for narrow gauge. Brief Description of the Drawings In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present invention a preferred embodiment of an apparatus and method for laterally displacing a pair of railway tracks will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is plan and elevational views of an apparatus for laterally displacing a pair of railway tracks according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of figure 1 in operation in laterally displacing a pair of railway tracks. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment As best shown in figure 1 there is an apparatus 10 for laterally displacing a pair of railway tracks such as 12A and 12B. In this embodiment the apparatus 10 generally comprises a pair of abutment elements 14A and 14B interconnected by an intermediate member 16 with one of the abutment elements 14A operatively coupled to an actuator 18. The actuator 18 moves the abutment element 14A into pressing engagement with an outer face 20A of the railway track 12A which consequentially urges the other abutment element 14B into pressing engagement with an outer face 20B of the other railway track 12B. These forces are effective in displacing the pair of railway tracks 12A/B inwardly toward one another. In this embodiment the intermediate member 16 is in the form of a rigid tensile member adapted to extend across an upper surface of the railway tracks 12A/B. One of the abutment WO 2012/122585 PCT/AU2012/000194 4 elements 14B is connected to one end of the rigid tensile member 16 whereas an opposite end of said member 16 is connected to a support bracket designated generally as 22. In this embodiment the actuator 18 is in the form of force biasing means such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder anchored to the support bracket 22. The abutment element 14A includes a ram 24 associated with the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 18. The hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 18 moves or drives the ram 24 outwardly into pressing engagement with the outer face 20A of the railway track 1 2A to laterally displace it relative to the other railway track 12B. In this example the apparatus 10 has its abutment elements 14A/B engage respective webs 26A and 26B of the tracks 12A and 12B. The apparatus 10 is configured so that its abutment elements 14A/B engage the respective railway tracks 12A/B at a desired height. The rigid tensile member 16 rests on the upper flange 28A and 28B of the respective track 12A and 12B so that the height is determined by: 1. The vertical position of the support bracket 22 and the associated cylinder 18 and ram 24 which abuts the web 26A; 2. The relative height of the other abutment element 14B which engages the other web 26B. It is envisaged that the apparatus could vary in its dimensions and in particular the relative vertical heights of the abutment elements dependent on the heights of the railway track to which it is to be applied. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with adjustability in the vertical height of the abutment elements. In either case the apparatus is engineered to effect relative movement of the railway tracks 12A/B inwardly toward one another. In this embodiment the rigid tensile member 16 includes a pair of lifting handles 32A and 32B. The lifting handles 32A/B provide convenient lifting points for lifting equipment such as an excavator (not shown). It is alternatively envisaged that the apparatus 10 would be mounted either permanently or detachably to a trolley or carriage (not shown) which runs along the railway tracks 12A/B. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of figure 1 in operation on the pair of parallel railway tracks 12A/B. For ease of reference and to avoid repetition like components have been designated with the same reference numerals used in figure 1.

WO 2012/122585 PCT/AU2012/000194 5 In its preferred application the apparatus 10 is used to correct for wide gauge railway tracks to restore them to their correct separation. It should be appreciated that the apparatus could also be used to correct for narrow gauge tracks which are to be displaced outwardly of one another. The general steps in operating the apparatus 10 in its preferred application are as follows: 1. With the ram 24 retracted the intermediate member 16 is lowered onto the upper flanges 28A and 28B of respective tracks 12A and 12B; 2. The actuator 18 is actuated to extend the ram 24 and to drive the pair of abutment elements 14A and 14B into engagement with respective outer faces of the railway tracks 12A/B; 3. The actuator 18 or in this example the hydraulic cylinder and its associated ram 24 displace the railway tracks 12A/B inwardly of one another. It will be understood that prior to step 1 railway fasteners or clips (not shown) at or in the vicinity of the wide gauge tracks are removed or loosened to allow for extraction of the associated insulator (not shown) between the fastener or clip and the track itself. This allows for sufficient displacement of the track to return it to the required or defined gauge. The movement or compression of the railway tracks 12A/B in step 2 is effected in this example by the application of hydraulic pressure to the cylinder 18 and its associated ram 24. In step 3 this force of the hydraulic cylinder 18 provides relative movement or closure of the railway tracks 12A/B in one of the following ways: 1. The opposing railway track 12B is secured by track fasteners or clips and thus is anchored whereby the track 12A is slidably moved toward it; 2. The track 12A is anchored with the opposing track 12B being slidably urged toward it via the combined action of the actuator 18 and the intermediate or tensile member 16 together with abutment elements 14A/B; 3. Neither of the railway tracks 12A/B is anchored so that they both are able to move toward one another under the compression of the apparatus 10. In an alternative embodiment not illustrated the apparatus may include an intermediate member having a pair of rigid tensile members slidably coupled to one another. In this WO 2012/122585 PCT/AU2012/000194 6 example each of the pair of rigid tensile members may have substantially identical abutment elements connected to them. The actuator in this alternative arrangement is operatively coupled to the pair of tensile members to draw them together and displace the pair of railway tracks inwardly. The actuator would in this instance include a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder connected to one of the rigid tensile members with its associated ram connected to the other of the tensile members. The apparatus 10 may be electrically insulated or isolated from the tracks such as 12A/B for use in controlled track circuit (CTC) or level crossing areas. The apparatus 10 would include insulating elements such as nylon insulators secured to it at the locations where it contacts the tracks 12A/B. In the embodiment described, nylon insulators would be located at the abutment elements 14A/B and the two (2) points where the intermediate member 16 rests on the tracks 12A/B. The apparatus 10 may be extended to include a pair of the intermediate members 16 each with their associated abutment elements 14A/B and hydraulic equipment. In this variation the intermediate members are connected by a cross hitch (not illustrated) which allows the apparatus to be lifted and manoeuvred into position. The intermediate members 16 are generally set apart at the same distance as the spacing between sleepers, for example about 600mm. The apparatus 10 can be operated by a common hydraulic supply or alternately each of the hydraulic actuators such as 18 may have its own hydraulic supply for independent operation. It is also possible that the apparatus 10 will include a lifting device (not shown) for separating the track from the underlying sleeper prior to its lateral displacement. In this arrangement the lifting device may take the form of a jack having a foot which locates under the track. The jack is typically mounted to the intermediate member such as 16 to form part of the assembly for ease of moving and locating in conjunction with the rest of the apparatus. Now that preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in some detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the apparatus and method for laterally displacing a pair of railway tracks have at least the following advantages: 1. The apparatus significantly reduces the time otherwise involved in manually correcting wide or narrow gauge tracks; WO 2012/122585 PCT/AU2012/000194 7 2. The apparatus by nature of its design as compared to the manual process significantly reduces the risk of personal injury; 3. The apparatus is relatively mobile and can be transported and moved on site with relative ease; 4. The apparatus allows for replacement of fatigued insulators in some instances without removing existing fasteners or clips; 5. The apparatus allows maintenance teams to diligently regauge tracks to reduce higher priority defects. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For example, the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder of the preferred embodiment could equally be replaced with a screw actuator which on rotation drives the corresponding abutment element into pressing engagement with the associated railway tracks. The apparatus need not be limited to its application in regauging rail tracks but may have other applications with railway tracks. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

Claims

1. An apparatus for laterally displacing a pair of parallel railway tracks, said apparatus comprising: a pair of abutment elements each adapted to engage respective of the pair of railway tracks; an intermediate member interconnecting the pair of abutment elements; an actuator operatively coupled to at least one of the pair of abutment elements for laterally displacing the pair of railway tracks relative to one another.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the actuator is operatively coupled to one of the abutment elements for engagement with an outer face of one of the railway tracks.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the intermediate member is a rigid tensile member adapted to extend across an upper surface of the railway tracks and having an other of the abutment elements connected to one of its ends for engagement with an other of the railway tracks.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the actuator includes force biasing means mounted to said one of the abutment elements at one end of the intermediate member.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the force biasing means includes one or more hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders anchored to a bracket connected to said one end of the intermediate member.

6. An apparatus as defined in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the other of the abutment elements includes a ram associated with said hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and arranged to abut the outer face of said one of the railway tracks.

7. An apparatus as defined in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the actuator includes a screw actuator operatively coupled to said one of the abutment elements where on rotation of the screw actuator the abutment elements are laterally displaced relative to one another.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the intermediate member includes a pair of rigid tensile members movably coupled to one another and having the abutment elements connected to respective of the pair of rigid tensile members. WO 2012/122585 PCT/AU2012/000194 9

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the actuator is operatively coupled to the pair of tensile members to laterally displace the pair of abutment elements and associated tracks relative to one another.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the actuator includes at least one hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and its associated ram(s) connected to both tensile members to draw them together and displace the pair of railway tracks inwardly.

11. An apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pair of abutment elements are adapted to abut outer faces of respective webs of the railway tracks.

12. An apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus is mounted on a trolley or carriage which runs along the railway tracks.

13. An apparatus as defined in any one of the claims 1 to 11 wherein the apparatus is moved into position on the tracks via an excavator or the like.

14. An apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims also comprising insulator elements adapted to contact the railways tracks to electrically isolate the intermediate member and associated components.

15. An apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus is one of a pair of interconnected apparatuses.

16. A method of laterally displacing a pair of parallel railway tracks relative to one another, said method comprising the steps of: engaging each of a pair of abutment elements with respective of the pair of railway tracks; moving the pair of abutment elements relative to one another via an intermediate member interconnecting the pair of abutment elements and an actuator operatively coupled to at least one of the pair of said elements whereby the pair of railway tracks are displaced relative to one another.

17. A method as defined in claim 16 wherein the railway tracks are displaced inwardly of one another to correct for wide gauge to restore them to their correct separation. WO 2012/122585 PCT/AU2012/000194 10

18. A method as defined in claim 16 wherein the tracks are displaced outwardly of one another to correct for narrow gauge to restore them to their correct separation.