GB2127072A

GB2127072A - Supporting railway rails

Info

Publication number: GB2127072A
Application number: GB08319238A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vincent Aubrey Diesel
Original assignee: Edward Bateman L Ltd; Edward L Bateman Ltd
Current assignee: Edward Bateman L Ltd; Edward L Bateman Ltd
Priority date: 1982-07-16
Filing date: 1983-07-15
Publication date: 1984-04-04
Also published as: AU1686683A; GB8319238D0; IL69241A0; GB2127072B

Abstract

A concrete support 13 for a heavy- duty rail 16 has embedded in its upper surface a pair of metal members such as 2-section bars 2 which are rigidly connected within the concrete by a welded cross-member 3, the bars 2 carrying rail-fastening attachments 17 and welded-on plates (Fig. 2) abutting the edges of the rail base flange. Before casting the concrete 13 the bars 2 are accurately positioned as by nuts 10 on J-bolts 9 upstanding from the base concrete 13. The bars 2 are then used to determine the upper surface 15 of the concrete. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rail anchor Background to the invention This invention relates to a rail anchor and to a method of using same.

In this specification the invention will be described with reference to rails for reclaiming machines and the like as used in reclaiming of minerals from stockpiles. The invention should, however, not be considered as being limited to this application.

Where reclaiming machines mounted on rails are used not only are there downwardly directed forces arising form the weight of the machine, but generally there are significant lateral forces which are transmitted to the rails.

These lateral forces are generally transmitted to the rails be means of horizontal guide wheels fixed to the machine and adapted to run on a guide surface on the inside of the rail.

Because the clearance between the lower surfaces of these guide wheels and the concrete bed to which the rails are mounted is small, specially shaped anchoring devices are used so that fouling of the guide wheels does not occur.

For example, high tensible steel bolts may be embedded into the concrete bed, high tensile steel bolts being required, because of the high shearing forces acting on them. Alternatively steel plates may be glued into recesses in the bed using a high strength epoxy resin. Rail retaining lugs are then bolted to the plates. It has been found, however, that the epoxy resin degenerates with time with a consequent loosening of the plates.

Furthermore it should be noted that it is preferable to lay rails of this type directly onto the concrete of the foundation and not onto plates embedded in the concrete. Laying the rails directly onto the concrete results in a continuous flat bed, without any irregularities.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rail anchor which allows for accurately and easily alligned rails on their foundations.

Summary ofthe invention According to the invention a rail anchor comprises: a pair of spaced mounting members of suitable metal material providing two substantially co-planar spaced upper mounting surfaces adapted to have a rail located therebetween, a rigid connecting member extending between and rigidly connected to each mounting member at a position spaced below the plane of the mounting surfaces; and attaching means for attaching rail engaging means to the mounting surfaces.

Further according to the invention the attaching means comprises at least one aperture through each mounting surface and an elongated member having a screw threaded end projecting through the aperture.

Still further according to the invention the mounting members and connecting member are steel, and the mounting members each comprise a right angled bracket.

Brief description of the drawings An embodiment of the invention described by way of example only, follows with reference to the accompanying drawings is which: Figure 1 shows a cross sectional elevation through a rail, rail anchor and concrete foundation.

Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the same assembly.

Detailed description of the drawings In this embodiment of the invention a rail anchor indicated generally by numeral 1 comprises a pair of spaced mounting members 2 each of which is in the form of a right angled steel bracket. Each bracket will be formed of a strip of mild steel or higher strength material. Shorter lengths of brackets are also envisaged.

The mounting members 2 are spaced apart by approximately th ansverse dimension of the foot a rail and are rigidly fixed together by means of a connecting member 3 which is welded to the operatively downwardly extending leg of each of the brackets.

As may be seen from the drawing the other legs 4 of the mounting members not attached to the connecting member 3 but are directed outwardly from the connecting member 3 and parallel thereto and provide co-planar mounting surfaces 5. Furthermore, the connecting member 3 is fixed near the free edges 6 of the downwardly extending leg and is thus spaced well below the plane of the mounting surfaces 5.

In each of the mounting surfaces there is an aperture 7 through which projects the screw threaded end 8 of an elongated "J"-shaped member 9 which is adapted to extend past the connecting member 3. The distance which the screw threaded end 8 projects through the aperture 7 is determined by means of an adjustment nut 10. The operatively lower end of the "J"-shaped member is bent over to ensure captive anchorage of the member in a foundation base.

The rail anchor described above is fixed to an elongated rail foundation in the following manner.

A concrete base or primary foundation 11 having necessary reinforcing 12 is manufactured having the "J"-shaped members positioned therein in pairs.

Once the base foundation has substantially set a smaller secondary foundation 13 is laid on top of the base foundation to encompass reinforcing projecting from the centre of the base foundation and the upper portion of the "J"-shaped members 9.

At the stage of laying the secondary foundation 13 the rail anchors are positioned on the threaded ends 8 of the members 9 and using the nuts 10 are positionally adjusted so that the mounting surfaces 5 thereof will be flush with the top 14 of the secondary foundation 13 and also so that the mounting surfaces 5 of the adjacent rail anchors will be substan- tially co-planar.

As may be seen from the Figure the connecting member 3 of each rail is located well below the surface of the secondary foundation and this enables a smooth and accurate concrete surface 15 to be obtained between the mounting member of each anchor.

When the concrete of the foundation has set a rail 16 either in the form of a continuous rail or lengths of co-axial rail is laid either directly on to the concrete surface 15 or alternatively on to a pad of high density polyethylene (for example) thereon.

At this stage rail engaging means are mounted to the mounting surfaces 5 of the mounting members 4. The rail engaging means comprises two separate components which take the following form: (a) Firstly, a rail engaging means 17 having an aperture therethrough which the screw threaded end 8 of the member 9 will pass to enable it to be bolted in place by means of a bolt 18. The free end of the engaging means is cranked to form alip 18which extendes upwardly over the edge of a flange 19 for the rail 20. This means serves primarily to hold the rail down to the bed.

(b) Secondly, a lateral plate 22 which in use abuts the edges of the flanges 19 of the rail 20 to prevent lateral movement of the rail will be affixed to the surfaces. These lateral plates simply welded in position. The plate 22 will have a thickness of approximately 1 Omm to ensure that the possibility of the rail lifting slightly and sliding over the plate will not exist.

It is envisaged that when the anchor of the above described type is used the lateral forces on the rail in use will be transmitted via the lateral plates to the mounting member and connecting member 3 embedded in the concrete of the foundation 13. This will obviate the necessity of using high tensile bolt to fix the rail engaging means to the mounting members 4.

The rail foundation may take any convenient form and the use of the invention with a conventional type concrete sleeper is particuiarly envisaged.

Other embodiments are envisaged within the scope of the invention and include the application of the anchor to rails for devices other than reclaiming machines and also the use of other designs and configurations for the rail anchor.

Claims

1. A rail anchor comprising a pair of spaced mounting members of suitable metal material providing two substantially co-planar spaced upper mounting surfaces adapted to have a rail located therebetween in use; a rigid connecting member extending between and rigidly connected to each mounting member at a position spaced below the plane of the mounting surfaces; and attaching means for attaching rail engaging means to the mounting surfaces.

2. A rail anchor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the attaching means comprises at least one aperture through each mounting surface and an elongate member having a screw threaded end projecting through the aperture, the other end adapted to be anchored in a concrete foundation.

3. A rail anchor as claimed in either preceding claim wherein the mounting member and connectig member are steel.

4. A rail anchor as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting members comprise a right angled bracket.

5. A rail anchor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.