EP4162110A1 - Traverse de voie ferrée - Google Patents

Traverse de voie ferrée

Info

Publication number
EP4162110A1
EP4162110A1 EP21818030.5A EP21818030A EP4162110A1 EP 4162110 A1 EP4162110 A1 EP 4162110A1 EP 21818030 A EP21818030 A EP 21818030A EP 4162110 A1 EP4162110 A1 EP 4162110A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sleeper
railroad sleeper
railroad
contact surface
fact
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP21818030.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP4162110A4 (fr
Inventor
Guilherme LONGA NOSE
Daniel WENZER TREVIZAN
Luiz Francisco Muniz Da Silva
Jorge Luís GOUDENE SPADA
Cláudio PEREIRA DA SILVA ZAMITH
Walter VIDON JÚNIOR
Renato TEIXEIRA VARGAS
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Braskem SA
Original Assignee
Braskem SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US16/891,102 external-priority patent/US11649592B2/en
Priority claimed from BR132020023070A external-priority patent/BR132020023070E2/pt
Application filed by Braskem SA filed Critical Braskem SA
Publication of EP4162110A1 publication Critical patent/EP4162110A1/fr
Publication of EP4162110A4 publication Critical patent/EP4162110A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B3/00—Transverse or longitudinal sleepers; Other means resting directly on the ballastway for supporting rails
    • E01B3/44—Transverse or longitudinal sleepers; Other means resting directly on the ballastway for supporting rails made from other materials only if the material is essential
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B3/00—Transverse or longitudinal sleepers; Other means resting directly on the ballastway for supporting rails
    • E01B3/46—Transverse or longitudinal sleepers; Other means resting directly on the ballastway for supporting rails made from different materials

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a railroad sleeper and to a process for manufacturing a railroad sleeper. More specifically, the present invention relates to a railroad sleeper provided with a hollow sector and to the process of making it.
  • Rail sleepers represent one of the various components of a railroad network and, in conjunction with the ballast and other fixing elements, promote correct anchorage (fixation) of the rails on which the coaches travel.
  • concrete sleepers may be of the singleblock type, formed by a single rigid and continuous piece, are subjected to great bending moments, which appear at different sections of the sleeper.
  • concrete sleepers of the twin-block type composed by two rigid blocks of reinforced concrete arranged under each rail and joined by a flexible steel bar.
  • the two blocks of concrete will be immune to most stresses of static bending and alternating bending, which sleepers made of pre-stressed concrete hardly resist.
  • concrete sleepers have durability of about 50 years, exhibit lateral and vertical rigidity by virtue of their larger mass and elastic fixation.
  • concrete sleepers enable easy and rapid replacement of the rails, as well as an increase in the useful life thereof and reduction in the bending stresses (on the rail), by virtue of the stability of the railroad.
  • the fixation systems are not adjustable to the rail wear and to the widening of the railroad. Further, there is the need for expensive equipment for installing and maintaining the railroads and, in some situations, damage may by caused to the ballast due to the great weight of the sleeper.
  • Said chemical treatment stations are responsible for storing the sleepers and for applying preservatives, with a view to prolong the useful life of the sleeper and preventing the proliferation of fungi and insects.
  • the process of treating sleepers may cause various environmental problems, such as air pollution, due to the breaking of storage tanks, treatment cylinders and tubing that contain the preserving agents.
  • the absorption, inhalation and ingestion of chemical products on the part of employees is not rare.
  • the use of herbicides and pesticides may contaminate the soil and the streams, causing changes in the behavior of the fauna and the possibility of extinction of species.
  • the proposed sleeper does not have restrictions as to its use, being suitable for use on railroad lines in both construction and operation, for transporting loads and/or passengers.
  • Plastic sleepers (either virgin or recycled) known from the prior art do not exhibit optimized combination between weight of the piece and elasticity module.
  • the present invention proposes a railroad sleeper, preferably but not exclusively made of polypropylene with fiberglass, manufactured from a highproductivity process, preferably extrusion, further having a structural shape that enables one to achieve and rigidity dose to those of the hard-wood sleepers, aswell as competitive costs.
  • the sleeper proposed in the present invention has a reduced final price, which facilitates transportation and installation of the piece, enabling the use of standard fixing devices used on wooden sleepers, uses standard machines employed for installation and maintenance of sleepers and, due to its manufacture material, enables one to recycle the product at the end of the useful life of the sleeper.
  • the proposed railroad sleeper comprises a hollow sector (bored-through sector), which acts as an important differential for the function and characteristic of anchoring on the ballast. Due to its proposed shape, the ballast used on the railroad will penetrate the sleeper, thus becoming an integral body.
  • the present invention has the objective of developing a high- performance railroad sleeper for use in railroad lines under construction or operation, used for transporting loads and/or passengers.
  • An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a railroad sleeper whose installation and production processes are simplified, reducing working times, meeting the demand of the Market and guaranteeing efficiency in the cycle of use of the piece.
  • the present invention has also the objective of overcoming (in the most part) the main problems of present solutions (described in the prior art), such as high rigidity and weight of the concrete, which damage the ballast layers, short useful life of the poor-quality wood, and the electric conductivity of the steel, as well as the problem of reliability of the solutions that use recycled resins.
  • the present invention has the objective of providing a railroad sleeper of sustainable appeal, which preferably uses polypropylene as a raw material and can be recycled at the end of its useful life.
  • the present invention has the additional objective of providing a railroad sleeper provided with a hollow sector, thus enabling the ballast of the railroad network to penetrate into the sleeper and potentiate the rigidity of the ballast/sleeper system.
  • An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a railroad sleeper made from a first material and from a composition comprising said first material.
  • a further objective of the present invention is to provide a railroad sleeper, the inner and outer walls of which are made from a first material, and the layer arranged between such walls is made from a composition comprising the first material.
  • the inner wall (or inner layer) may optionally not be included.
  • the outer wall (or outer layer) may optionally not be present.
  • the present invention has also the objective of providing a railroad sleeper made by an extrusion/co-extrusion process.
  • An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a railroad sleeper whose hollow sector comprises a support groove.
  • An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a process for manufacturing a railroad sleeper by an extrusion process that enables compaction of the composition used in making the sleeper within the calibrator of the extruding machine, as well as homogeneous cooling of the whole thickness of the sleeper that is being produced.
  • the present invention has the objective of meeting, on a large scale, the Brazilian Market with good quality and reliability.
  • the objectives of the present invention are achieved by means of a high performance railroad sleeper, produced preferably from polypropylene with high fiberglass contents, which may range from 5 to 40%, manufactured preferably by an extrusion process with a layer of pure polypropylene as an envelope applied by the co-extrusion process.
  • the proposed railroad sleeper exhibits high elastic module and performance dose to that of wood, thus enabling application on railroads for transporting load and passengers.
  • the railroad sleeper proposed in the present invention has the following main advantages:
  • Figure 1 is a top representation of a railroad network suitable for receiving the railroad sleeper proposed in the present invention, wherein figure 1 (a) represents a simple railroad network and figure 1(b) represents a railroad network of multiple rails;
  • Figure 2 is a representation of the cross section of an embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper;
  • Figure 3 is an additional representation of the cross section of an embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper, showing its preferred dimensions
  • Figure 4 is a representation of the cross section of an additional embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper
  • Figure 5 is a representation of the cross section of an additional embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper
  • Figure 6 is a representation of the cross section of the structural embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper shown in figure 5, illustrating its preferred configurations
  • Figure 7 is a representation of the cross section of an additional embodiment of the railroad sleeper proposed in the present invention.
  • Figure 8 is an additional representation of the cross section of the railroad sleeper shown in figure 7, illustrating its preferred
  • Figure 9 is a representation of an additional embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper proposed in the present invention, this embodiment comprising a support groove;
  • Figure 10 is a representation of an additional embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper proposed in the present invention, this embodiment comprising a plurality of support grooves;
  • Figure 11 is a representation of an additional embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper proposed in the present invention, this embodiment comprising a plurality of Anchorage teeth;
  • Figure 12 is a representation of an additional embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper of the present invention, this embodiment comprising a contact surface protruding beyond the anchorage walls and further disclosing double support points, wherein figure 12 (a) further discloses a support groove, figure 12(b) discloses double support points, figure 12 (c) discloses a plurality of support grooves, and figure 12 (d) discloses a plurality of anchorage teeth;
  • Figure 13 is a representation of an additional embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper of the present invention, this embodiment illustrating the embodiment in which the contact surface does not protrude beyond the anchorage walls and further comprising double support point that protrude into the hollow sector, wherein figure 13 (a) further discloses a support groove, figure 13 (b) discloses double support points that protrude into the hollow sector, 13 (c) discloses a plurality of support grooves, and figure 13 (d) discloses a plurality of anchorage teeth;
  • Figure 14 is a representation of the cross section of the structural embodiment proposed for the sleeper illustrated
  • Figure 15 is an additional representation of the cross section of a structural embodiment proposed for the railroad
  • Figure 16 is a representation of the cross section of a structural embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper, highlighting its inner and outer walls, and an intermediate layer;
  • Figure 17 is a representation of the cross section of an additional embodiment of the railroad sleeper proposed in the present invention, this embodiment further comprising the support surface illustrated in figure 17 (a), figure 17 (b) further illustrates a plurality of support grooves, figure 17 (c) further illustrates a plurality of anchorage teeth, and the protrusion of the support and contact surfaces beyond the anchorage walls, and figure 17 (d) illustrates a plurality of anchorage teeth.
  • Figure 18 is a profile representation of a railroad network comprising the railroad sleeper proposed in the present invention, further illustrating the fixation blocks;
  • Figure 19 is a representation of the fixation of the railroad sleeper to a fixation block and further making use of a fixation element arranged transversely on the sleeper;
  • Figure 20 illustrates possible structural embodiments for the fixation blocks to be used in conjunction with the railroad sleeper proposed in the present invention
  • Figure 21 illustrates additional embodiments for the fixation blocks to be used in conjunction with the railroad sleeper proposed in the present invention.
  • Figure 22 illustrates the fixation of the railroad sleeper proposed in the present invention by means of metallic plates, wherein figure 21 (a) illustrates the use of a smaller metallic plate as compared to the metallic plate illustrated in figure 21 (b).
  • Figure 23 illustrates the fixation of the railroad sleeper shown in figure 19 by means of metallic plates, wherein figure 23 (a) 23 (b) illustrates segmented plates.
  • Figure 24 illustrates an embodiment wherein the railroad sleeper is made only from the intermediate layer
  • Figure 25 illustrates an embodiment wherein the railroad sleeper comprises an intermediate layer and an inner layer
  • Figure 26 illustrates an embodiment wherein the railroad sleeper comprises an intermediate layer and an outer layer
  • Figure 27 is an additional representation of the sleeper proposed in present application.
  • the present invention relates to a railroad sleeper 1 (called also sleeper
  • the sleeper 1 proposed in the present invention comprises a hollow sector 4, thus enabling the ballast used in the railroad network to penetrate and be compacted into the sleeper 1 , thus increasing the rigidity of the sleeper/ballast assembly.
  • FIGs 1 to 27 illustrate preferred structural embodiments proposed for the railroad sleeper 1 , all of them maintaining the characteristic referring to the shaping of the hollow sector 4, as well as to the material (composite) used. The particularities of each embodiment will be discussed hereinafter.
  • the sleeper 1 proposed is used for fixing at least one pair of rails 2,2' of a railroad. It should be mentioned that the sleeper 1 is suitable for use in simple railroad networks, provided with only one pair of rails 2, 2', as shown in figure 1 (a), or still it may be used at point of the railroad network that comprise a number of rails as shown in 1 (b).
  • Figure 1 further makes reference to a contact surface 3 of the proposed sleeper 1 , said surface 3 being configured preferably as a plane surface for arrangement of each rail 2, 2' of the railroad network.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a first structural embodiment of the railroad sleeper illustrated in figure 1.
  • the contact surface 3 preferably plane, from which anchorage walls 5 and 5' protrudes, thus delimiting the hollow sector 4 mentioned before.
  • the hollow sector 4 is delimited from the contact surface 3 and by means of Anchorage walls 5, 5'.
  • Anchorage walls 5, 5' a free portion adjacent to the anchorage walls 5, 5' is established, opposite the contact surface 3.
  • the embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper 1 establishes an inverted-U shape.
  • the free portion 17 should be understood as a (face) bored- through (opened) portion of the hollow sector 4, this portion enabling the ballast of the railroad network to penetrate the railroad sleeper 1 , and more specifically of the hollow sector 4.
  • the lower portion of the anchorage walls 5, 5' that is, the portion that supports the sleeper 1 on the soil, is called support points 7, 7', such support points 7, 7' being opposite the points of association between the contact surface 3 and the anchorage walls 5, 5'.
  • the anchorage walls 5, 5' delimit a first width Li of the railroad sleeper 1 proposed. As shown in figure
  • the first width Li is delimited by the outermost portions (outer walls) of the anchorage walls 5,5', that is, the portions that are not adjacent to the hollow sector 4.
  • the embodiment shown in figure 4 and more specifically in figure 4 (a) presents double support points 8, 8', wherein the contact thickness of the sleeper 1 with the ground exhibits dimensions larger than the thickness E of the sleeper 1 .
  • the distance between the support points 7, 7' shown in figure 3 and the support points 8, 8' shown in figure 4 define a second width L2 of the railroad sleeper.
  • the first width L1 has dimensions equal to those of the second width L2, as shown in figure 3.
  • the first width Li is smaller than the second width L2, as shown in figure 4, more specifically in figure 4 (b).
  • Figure 5 illustrate a third embodiment valid for the proposed sleeper 1.
  • the proposal shown in figure 5 makes use of simple support points 7, 7', thus establishing equal dimensions for the first and second widths Li and L2, respectively (as shown in figure 6).
  • Figure 7 illustrates an additional structural embodiment for the railroad sleeper 2 proposed, this embodiment making use of the support grooves 9 and of the double support points 8, 8'.
  • the support groove 9 may protrude through the whole height of the hollow sector 4, as illustrated in the embodiments shown in figures 6 and 7, or, alternatively, the later may protrudes freely from the support base 3 and toward the hollow sector 4, as shown in figure 9.
  • the support grooves 9 further protrudes from at least one of the anchorage walls 5, 5' and toward the hollow sector 4 of the railroad sleeper 1 .
  • FIG. 10 Such an embodiment is shown in figure 10, where one observes that this proposal comprises a support groove 9 protruding from the contact surface 3 and a support groove protruding from the anchorage walls 5 and 5'.
  • An alternative structural embodiment for the railroad sleeper comprises the support grooves 9 protruding from only the anchorage walls 5, 5', or still protruding from only one of the Anchorage walls 5, 5'. Further, the number of support grooves 9 shown in the figures should not be considered a limitative characteristic of the present invention.
  • the proposed railroad sleeper 1 further comprises a plurality of anchorage teeth 12, such anchorage teeth 12 being preferably arranged on at least one of the anchorage walls 5, 5'.
  • the anchorage teeth 12 are arranged in the portion of the anchorage walls 5, 5' not adjacent the hollow sector 4, or still, for a better understanding, the anchorage teeth 12 are arranged on the outer walls of the anchorage walls 5, 5'.
  • the anchorage teeth 12 are configured as recesses (channels) that preferably travel the whole length of the sleeper. [0080]
  • the anchorage teeth 12 do not interfere in the mechanical characteristics of the sleeper 1 , more specifically such teeth 12 provide greater Anchorage of the sleeper 1 to the ballast, enabling the ballast to penetrate into each of the anchorage teeth 12. Additionally, the arrangement of the anchorage teeth 12 further provides saving of material and optimization in the manufacture of the sleeper 1 .
  • the railroad sleeper 1 might be configured so that the contact surface 3 would protrude beyond the anchorage walls 5, 5', as shown in figure 12 of the present invention.
  • the anchorage walls 5, 5' may be parallel or orthogonal to the contact surface (3).
  • Figure 12 (c) illustrates the sleeper 1 provided with support grooves 9 from the contact surface 3 and also from the Anchorage walls 5, 5', and, finally, figure 12 (d) illustrates the sleeper 1 provided with a support groove 9 from the contact surface 3 and also provided with Anchorage teeth 12.
  • the railroad sleeper 1 comprises double support points 8, 8'
  • such points 8, 8' may protrude out of the hollow sector 4 (as shown in figure 12), or alternatively such support points 8, 8' may protrude both out of the hollow sector 4 and into it, as shown in figure 13.
  • the support points 8, 8' might protrude only into the hollow sector 4.
  • the second width L2 of the sleeper would assume a dimension equal to the first width L1.
  • the embodiments shown in figure 13 are similar to those of figure 12 with respect to the arrangement of the anchorage grooves 9. One just observes that in figure 13 the contact surface 3 does not protrude beyond the anchorage walls 5, 5'.
  • the thickness E of the sleeper 1 preferably assumes the value of 2 centimeters (cm), so that values ranging from 1 to 4 centimeters would be acceptable.
  • the sleeper 1 comprises anchorage teeth 12
  • such teeth comprise a thickness Ei ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 cm.
  • each of the anchorage teeth 12 is provided with a thickness Ei (thickness of the Anchorage teeth El) that preferably range from 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm.
  • each anchorage tooth 12 assumes preferable values from 0.5 to 2.0 cm.
  • the first width Li preferably is equivalent to 24 cm, so that values in the range 18 to 30 cm would be acceptable.
  • the embodiments that make use of double support points 8, 8' establish a second preferred width L2 of 32 cm, so that values in the range 19 to 48 cm would be acceptable, provided that obviously the second width L2 (double support points) is larger than the first width Li (simple support points).
  • the second width L2 will assume a value equal to the first width Li.
  • third width L3 With regard to the width of the double support points 8, 8', referred to as third width L3 (figures 4, 8, 11 and 14), the later preferably is equivalent to 6 cm (figures 4, 8 and 11 ), so that values in the range from 1.5 to 12cm would be acceptable. In the case of the embodiment shown in figure 14, there is a preferred third width L3 of 10 cm, wherein the range of 2 to 20 cm is acceptable.
  • the height of the railroad sleeper 1 proposed in the present invention it is referred to as a first height H and preferably is equivalent, for any of the embodiments proposed, to 19 cm, so that values in the range from 14 to 20 cm would be acceptable.
  • the width of the anchorage groove referred to as L4, assumes preferred values from 0.5 to 3.0 cm.
  • the inner wall 13 and an outer wall 14 of the sleeper 1 are manufactured from the first material, preferably a polymeric material and more preferably a pure polymeric material.
  • the contact surface (3) and the anchorage walls (5, 5') further establish an inner wall (13) and an outer wall (14) of the railroad sleeper (1 ), so that the inner wall (13) of the railroad sleeper (1 ) is manufactured from a first polymeric material; and the outer wall (14) of the railroad sleeper (1) is manufactured from the first polymeric material.
  • the inner and outer walls 13, 14 are delimited by the contact surface 3 and anchorage walls 5, 5', as better shown in figure 16.
  • the outer wall 14 is represented by solid line.
  • the inner wall 13 of the railroad sleeper 1 is referenced by dashed line.
  • the inner portion of the walls 13 and 14, referred to as an intermediate layer 15, is preferably made from a composition that preferably, but not exclusively comprises the first material, more preferably a composition of polypropylene with fiberglass, and still more preferably a composition of polypropylene with a fiberglass mass preferably between 5% and 40% (by weight of the composition) and, even more preferably from 33% to 37% by weight of the composition of fiberglass.
  • the manufacture of the inner wall 13 and the outer wall 14 from the same material used in the manufacture of the intermediate layer 15 is just a preferred characteristic of the present invention.
  • the walls 13 and 14 might be manufactured from a material other than that used in layer 15, as long as obviously it provides the necessary adherence to the piece.
  • Such a preferred characteristic in the material of the proposed sleeper 1, wherein the inner 13 and outer 14 walls are preferably made from polypropylene and the intermediate layer 15 is made from a composition of polypropylene with fiberglass, is valid for all the structural embodiments proposed for the railroad sleeper 1 , and not only for the embodiment shown in figure 16.
  • the thickness of one of the inner walls and outer walls 13 and 4 preferably ranges from 0.005 to 0.05 cm, while the thickness of the inner layer 15 may be achieved by subtracting the thickness E of the railroad sleeper by the value of the thickness of one of the inner 13 and outer 14 walls.
  • composition of polypropylene with fiberglass in the intermediate layer 15 should be considered just a preferred characteristic of the present invention, so that any material (composition) having bending module higher than or equal to 5000MPa might be used. Finally, one should understand that the bending module should be measured (determined) according to the Standard ISO 178.
  • the railroad sleeper 1 can be made only from the intermediate layer without the inner and outer walls.
  • Figure 24 shows an embodiment wherein the sleeper is made only from the intermediate layer.
  • the railroad sleeper 1 would be manufactured solely from the material of the intermediate layer 15, that is, manufactured from a composition that preferably, but not exclusively, comprises polypropylene and fiberglass, and more preferably a composition comprising polypropylene and fiberglass with a mass range preferably between 5% and 40% (by mass) and more preferably between 33% and 37% by mass of fiberglass, in relation to the mass of the composition.
  • any material (composition) provided with a bending module greater than or equal to 5000 MPa could be used in the manufacture of the sleeper 1, said bending module must be measured (determined) in accordance with ISO 178.
  • said material is a polymeric composition.
  • Said polymeric composition can comprise polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, and their mixtures, among other polymeric materials, with or without the addition of additives and/or fillers.
  • said polymeric composition may be of renewable origin or of fossil origin.
  • said polymeric composition may comprise virgin polymers, recycled polymers or mixtures thereof.
  • present application teaches the possibility of manufacturing the sleeper from a composition with a bending module greater than or equal to 5000MPa, more preferably a polymeric composition, and more preferably a polymeric composition comprising polypropylene and fiberglass.
  • said polymeric composition may include fillers and additives that modify various physical and chemical properties when added to the polymeric composition, including one or more polymeric additives such as pigments, flow accelerators, auxiliaries process, lubricants, antistatic agents, clarifying agents, nucleating agents, beta-nucleating agents, gliding agents, antioxidants, antacids, light stabilizers such as HALS, IR absorbers, anti-UV additives, bleaching agents, inorganic fillers, organic and / or inorganic dyes, anti-blocking agents, flame retardants, plasticizers, biocides and adhesion promoting agents.
  • polymeric additives such as pigments, flow accelerators, auxiliaries process, lubricants, antistatic agents, clarifying agents, nucleating agents, beta-nucleating agents, gliding agents, antioxidants, antacids, light stabilizers such as HALS, IR absorbers, anti-UV additives, bleaching agents, inorganic fillers, organic and / or inorganic
  • Polymeric composition according to the present invention can be loaded with charges which can include glass fibers, carbon fibers, carbon black, silica powder, precipitated calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate, talc, titanium dioxide, clay, polyhedral silsesquiloxane oligomeric (POSS), calcium carbonate, metal oxide particles and nanoparticles, inorganic salt particles and nanoparticles and mixtures thereof.
  • charges can include glass fibers, carbon fibers, carbon black, silica powder, precipitated calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate, talc, titanium dioxide, clay, polyhedral silsesquiloxane oligomeric (POSS), calcium carbonate, metal oxide particles and nanoparticles, inorganic salt particles and nanoparticles and mixtures thereof.
  • the sleeper is made only from the intermediate layer may be applied to any of the structural configurations addressed in present application, including the configuration that comprises the support surface 3’.
  • the inner layer 13 could optionally be included in the railroad sleeper 1 ,T.
  • the sleeper 1 would be manufactured from a polymeric composition, preferably comprising polypropylene and fiberglass and only its inner layer 13 would be of a polymeric material, preferably included via coextrusion, as shown in figure 25 of present application.
  • Said polymeric material can be selected from polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, and their mixtures, among other polymeric materials.
  • Said polymeric material can be of renewable origin or of fossil origin, being able to comprise virgin polymers, recycled polymers or mixtures of these.
  • said polymeric material can be selected from polypropylene, polyethylene and their mixtures. More preferably, said polymeric material is a polypropylene with or without the addition of additives and / or fillers.
  • the outer layer 14 could also optionally be included, preferably via coextrusion.
  • the sleeper 1 would be manufactured from a polymeric composition, preferably comprising polypropylene and fiberglass and only its outer layer 14 would be made of a polymeric material, as shown in Figure 26.
  • Said polymeric material can be selected from polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, and their mixtures, among other polymeric materials.
  • Said polymeric material can be of renewable origin or of fossil origin, being able to comprise virgin polymers, recycled polymers or mixtures of these.
  • said polymeric material can be selected from polypropylene, polyethylene and their mixtures. More preferably, said polymeric material is a polypropylene.
  • fixation blocks 10 should be arranged in the hollow sector 4 of the sleeper 1. These blocks have the primary function of enabling the installation of the tirefonds and installation of the fixing devices that fasten the rails 2, 2’ to the sleeper. More specifically, such blocks 10 prevent lateral movements of the railroad and should be arranged in the portion of the sleeper 1 that is below the rails 2, 2’, or, in other words, in the portion of the sleeper 1 opposite the point of arrangement of the tracks on the contact surface 3.
  • Figure 18 illustrates a profile view of a railroad network in which the sleeper 1 proposed in the present invention is used.
  • each of the rails 2, 2’ fixed to the contact surface 3 by means of the support plates 20 and tirefonds 21.
  • fixing blocks 10 arranged below each of the rails 2, 2’ such blocks 10 being configured as solid blocks and may be made from wood, recycled material, concrete, polyethylene, polypropylene, and still may be made from the same material used in the manufacture of the sleeper 1, a composition of polypropylene with fiberglass.
  • the fixing blocks 10 are made from polyethylene.
  • Such fixing blocks 10 may be manufactured by different processes, such as extrusion, intrusion, injection, pultrusion, and machining processes that use massive blocks to obtain the final shape of the piece.
  • fixing elements preferably configured as hexagonal screws 26 might be arranged transversely to the sleeper 1, as preferably represented in figure 19.
  • Figures 20 and 21 illustrate shapes proposed for the fixing blocks 10. It is important to mention that the structural embodiments proposed for the railroad sleeper 1 enable use of any of the embodiments of the fixing blocks 10.
  • FIG 20(a) it preferably represents a larger base in 60 cm, so that values ranging from 50 to 80 cm would be acceptable.
  • the smaller base has a preferred value of about 40 cm, the preferred height is of 15 cm, so that values in the range 13 to 17 cm would be acceptable, and the preferred depth is equivalent to 20 cm, for both the height and the width.
  • the preferred values for the fixing block illustrated in figure 20 (v) are of 15 x 13x 20 (width x height x depth), while for the embodiment shown in figure 20 (c) there are preferred values of 7,5 cm for the smaller base and 15 cm for the larger base, the preferred depth being of 20 cm and the preferred height being equivalent to 13 cm.
  • the structures 27 combine resistance and lightness and establish a new possibility of arranging the fixing blocks 10.
  • the blocks 10 discloses in figures 20 (d) and (20 (e) further comprises orifices 28 already designed for arrangement of appropriate screws. It should be pointed out that the arrangement and the shape of the structures 27 should not be limited to the embodiments shown in figures 20 (d) and 20 (e).
  • any of the fixing blocks 10 discussed in the present invention and disclosed in figures 20 (a), 20 (b), 20 (c), 21 (a) and 21 (b) might be made by an injection process, thus configuring a structured block (with the structures 27).
  • the structural embodiment of the fixing block shown in figure 21 (a) has larger base preferably at 60 cm, so that values in the range from 50 to 60 cm would be acceptable, its preferred height being of 15 cm, values between 13 and 17 cm being acceptable, preferred depth being of 20 cm, while the width of each of the bases adjacent the cavity 24 is preferably of 7.5 cm.
  • FIG. 22 Such fixing form is illustrated in figure 22, wherein figure 22 (a) shows metallic plates 22 of smaller size as compared to that represented in figure 22 (b).
  • the present invention also proposes the shaping of a railroad sleeper T further comprising a support surface 3.'
  • Said support surface 3' is opposite the contact surface 3 and adjacent the anchorage walls 5 and 5'.
  • the hollow sector 4 of the railroad sleeper T is delimited from the association of the contact surface 3 with the support surface 3' and by means of the anchorage walls 5, 5'.
  • the sleeper 1 ' does not comprise the free portion 17, since its hollow sector 4 is delimited also by the support surface 3.'
  • the other characteristics and embodiment proposed for the railroad sleeper 1 comprising the free portion 17 are also valid for the embodiment of the railroad sleeper T shown in figure 17 and that comprises the support surface 3'.
  • FIG. 23 illustrates additional possibilities of fixing the railroad sleeper T, wherein metallic plates 22' are used (the number of metallic plates 22' does not restrict the number represented in the figures).
  • the comment already made in figures 22 (a) about the increase in the strength of the sleeper 1 is also valid for the representation of figures 23 (a).
  • the railroad sleeper 1 ' comprises support grooves 9, which protrude from at least one of the contact surfaces 3, support surface 3' and Anchorage walls 5.5'.
  • the contact surface As observed in figure 17 (c), the contact surface
  • the simple support points 7, 7' should be understood as the proposal in which the contact surface 3 and the support surface 3' do not protrude beyond the Anchorage walls 5, 5', as shown in figures 17 (a), 17 (b) and 17 (d).
  • the double support points 8, 8' should be understood as the proposal in which the contact surface 3 and the support surface 3' protrudes beyond the Anchorage walls 5, 5,' just as the embodiment proposed in figures 17 (c).
  • the railroad sleeper 1' comprises all the characteristics mentioned before for the railroad sleeper 1.
  • extruding machine do not represent the preferred aspect of the present invention, so that extruding machines known from the prior art may be used to shape the railroad sleeper 1, 1,' proposed.
  • extruding machines known from the prior art may be used to shape the railroad sleeper 1, 1,' proposed.
  • determined parameters and extrusion- process steps should be followed for correct shaping of the sleeper 1 , T, such parameters and steps being discussed hereinafter.
  • the process proposed comprises the initial step of adding the composition used (preferably polypropylene with fiberglass) to the feeder of the extruding machine and then regulate temperature parameter of the head (melting zone) to meet the characteristics of the material.
  • the composition used preferably polypropylene with fiberglass
  • the composition of polypropylene with fiberglass with pure polypropylene thus establishing a structure with the arrangement of the inner 13 and outer 14 walls in pure polypropylene and the intermediate layer 15 in polypropylene and fiberglass.
  • the first layer (layer A) consists of a determined material (in this case, pure polypropylene)
  • the intermediate layer (layer B) consists of another material, in this case a composition of polypropylene with fiberglass
  • the third layer consists again of the material A, pure polypropylene.
  • the manufacture of the inner 13 and outer 14 walls from the same material used in making the intermediate layer 15 is just a preferred characteristic of the present invention.
  • the walls 13 and 14 might be mede from a material other than that used in the layer 15, as long as obviously it provides the necessary adherence to the piece.
  • the structure upon coming out of the matrix, passes through calibrator provided with a water-based cooling system.
  • Said cooling system aims at keeping the molten structure in its final shape, besides aiding in cooling the piece.
  • the piece Upon coming out of the calibrator, the piece gets into a system for controlling the velocity of the extruding machine, thus limiting the flowrate of the process and enabling compaction of the structure 5 within the calibrator, thus preventing bubbles and loss of material. Finally, the molten structure) is cut into a desired size.
  • composition of polypropylene with fiberglass in the intermediate layer 15 should be considered only as a preferred characteristic of the process described, so that any material (composition) having a bending module higher than or equal to 5000MPa might be used.
  • the composition of polypropylene with fiberglass preferably used comprises, preferably, fiberglass in the range from 5% to 40% by mass, and more preferably from 33% to 37% by mass of fiberglass.
  • the calibrator of the extruder may be configured as a calibrator with or without vacuum. On calibrators without vacuum, one proposes a preferred length from 0.3 to 0.5 meters, while on a calibrator with vacuum, one proposes a preferred length between 1 and 4 meters and vacuum of the cooling chamber from 0 to 0.4 bar.
  • a calibrator without vacuum should be preferably used for shaping the railroad sleeper 1 whose hollow sector 4 is delimited by the free portion 17.
  • a calibrator with vacuum is preferably used in shaping the sleeper 1’ whose hollow sector 4 is delimited by the support surface 3.’
  • o temperature of the extruder preferably ranging from 220 °C to 250°C; o amperage of the extruder ranging from 25 to 350 A; o pressure of the head preferably ranging from 15 5 to 70 bar; o velocity of the extruding machine (velocity of the line) ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 meters/minute; o rotation of the screw preferably ranging from 10 to 45 rotations per minute (rpm); o productivity of the extruding machine 5 preferably ranging from 0.1 to 0.8 k/meter;
  • said contact surface 3 can be a flat contact surface.
  • the anchorage walls 5,5’ are arranged orthogonally to the contact surface 3.
  • the anchorage walls 5,5’ are parallel or substantially parallel to each other.
  • the anchorage walls 5,5’ are vertical or substantially vertical with respect to the ground. It is noteworthy that a small inclination (maximum of 15 °) between each of the anchoring walls and the vertical axis (“y” axis, perpendicular to the ground) would be acceptable. This inclination could occur both for the interior of the sleeper or for its exterior.
  • Figure 27 illustrates the y-axis, where the x-axis must be understood as the ground. It is therefore understood that said inclination would result in an angle of 90 ° ⁇ 15 ° in relation to the x axis.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Road Paving Structures (AREA)
  • Railway Tracks (AREA)
  • Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une traverse de voie ferrée permettant de fixer au moins une paire de rails (2.2') d'un réseau ferroviaire, la traverse de voie ferrée (1) comprenant une surface de contact (3) sur laquelle chaque rail de la paire de rails (2.2') étant espacé l'un par rapport à l'autre, la traverse de voie ferrée (1) comprenant un secteur creux (4) délimité par l'association de la surface de contact (3) avec des parois d'ancrage (5.5'), ce qui permet d'établir une partie libre (17) adjacente aux parois d'ancrage (5,5') et opposée à la surface de contact (3), la traverse de voie ferrée (1, 1') étant fabriquée à partir d'une composition comprenant un module de cintrage supérieur ou égal à 5000 MPa.
EP21818030.5A 2020-06-03 2021-06-02 Traverse de voie ferrée Withdrawn EP4162110A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16/891,102 US11649592B2 (en) 2014-11-11 2020-06-03 Railroad sleeper and process for manufacturing a railroad sleeper
BR132020023070A BR132020023070E2 (pt) 2014-11-11 2020-11-11 dormente ferroviário
PCT/BR2021/050240 WO2021243431A1 (fr) 2020-06-03 2021-06-02 Traverse de voie ferrée

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4162110A1 true EP4162110A1 (fr) 2023-04-12
EP4162110A4 EP4162110A4 (fr) 2024-06-12

Family

ID=78831673

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21818030.5A Withdrawn EP4162110A4 (fr) 2020-06-03 2021-06-02 Traverse de voie ferrée

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US20230228041A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4162110A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2023529179A (fr)
KR (1) KR20230047074A (fr)
CA (1) CA3181206A1 (fr)
MX (1) MX2022015359A (fr)
WO (1) WO2021243431A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11649592B2 (en) * 2014-11-11 2023-05-16 Braskem S.A. Railroad sleeper and process for manufacturing a railroad sleeper
DE102022127736A1 (de) * 2022-10-20 2024-04-25 Schwihag Ag Kastenschwelle

Family Cites Families (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1055216A (en) * 1912-09-05 1913-03-04 Lafe Owen Rail tie and fastener.
US1261883A (en) * 1918-01-24 1918-04-09 Stanley Wojtan Railway-tie and rail-fastener.
US3355534A (en) * 1965-09-10 1967-11-28 Poor & Co Method of preparing a synthetic railway tie
US3416727A (en) * 1966-04-27 1968-12-17 Benjamin P. Collins Synthetic plastic railroad tie
GB2159860B (en) * 1984-05-24 1987-07-15 British Steel Corp Railway sleeper
US6179215B1 (en) * 1996-07-29 2001-01-30 Primix International, Llc Composite railroad crosstie
US5713518A (en) * 1996-08-01 1998-02-03 Fox; James C. Railroad cross tie and track continuity detector systems
US5836512A (en) * 1997-01-29 1998-11-17 Tie & Track Systems, Inc. Unitary steel railroad tie
US7011253B2 (en) * 2001-11-06 2006-03-14 Polywood, Inc. Engineered railroad ties
CN101759898B (zh) * 2010-01-04 2012-03-21 江苏嘉景复合材料有限公司 玻璃纤维合成轨枕及其制造方法
US8680165B2 (en) * 2010-06-04 2014-03-25 Encell Composites, Llc Thermoset composite material and structural component and method of making the same from engineered recycled rubber powder
US8342420B2 (en) * 2010-10-27 2013-01-01 Roberts Jr Richard W Recyclable plastic structural articles and method of manufacture
DE102011117760A1 (de) * 2011-11-07 2013-05-08 Hans-Joachim Brauer Thermoplastischer Werkstoff enthaltend Recycling-Polyolefin und Glasfasern
WO2013148977A1 (fr) * 2012-03-28 2013-10-03 Roberts Richard W Articles structuraux en matière plastique recyclable et procédé de fabrication
EP3219851B1 (fr) * 2014-11-11 2023-06-14 Braskem S.A. Poutre ferroviaire et procédé de fabrication d'une traverse ferroviaire
US10213973B2 (en) * 2015-01-22 2019-02-26 Michael A. Hawkins Composite rail tie apparatus and method
CN209292789U (zh) * 2018-11-30 2019-08-23 上海高铁电气科技有限公司 轨枕及轨道系统

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
MX2022015359A (es) 2023-03-21
EP4162110A4 (fr) 2024-06-12
US20230228041A1 (en) 2023-07-20
WO2021243431A1 (fr) 2021-12-09
KR20230047074A (ko) 2023-04-06
JP2023529179A (ja) 2023-07-07
CA3181206A1 (fr) 2021-12-09

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