DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LAYING RAILS

Abstract: Device for laying railway track. When deploying a long rail in the course of tracklaying, it is desirable that the position of the rail relative to the sleeper be controlled and corrected as required. This is achieved if the roller (1) is free to move relative to the base (7), that is, in practice, relative to either the rail and/or the roadbed. This is achieved by mounting the roller (1) in a cradle (2) which is free to pivot in a base (7), the degree of movement of the roller/cradle relative to the base being limited by twin stops (4). The invention is provided with a carrying handle (6) to facilitate its practical use.

Description: DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LAYING RAILS The present invention relates to a device for laying railway track, consisting of a mobile, self-correcting conveyer incorporating a roller mounted in a cradle, which is free to pivot in a base. Background to invention Rails are now available in considerable lengths (360 metres at present). When laying railway track, the rails are pulled out to the desired position on the roadbed prior to final mounting on the sleepers. This operation can be facilitated by the use of conveyers which permit the rail to move forward easily over the roadbed into the said position. The position of the rail relative to the run of the track must be controlled and, as required, corrected in the lateral direction. No equipment capable of meeting this requirement is available. The invention meets this need. Purpose and most important characteristics of invention The purpose of the invention is to make the laying of railway track simpler and more efficient. A number of devices in accordance with the invention is placed along the roadbed at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the rails. When the rail is then pulled out over these devices, its position relative to the sleepers is automatically controlled and, if necessary, corrected, which is of major importance to the achievement of fast and efficient tracklaying. Once the rail has been pulled out and is in the correct position relative to the sleepers, it can be transferred easily from the invention to the sleepers. The most important characteristic of the invention is that the roller over which the rail is drawn is free to turn relative to both the rail and the roadbed. Description of drawings Fig. 1 shows the invention in elevation and plan. Description of embodiment The invention consists of a roller (1) mounted in a cradle (2) provided with a journal (5), which is movably mounted in a base (7) provided with a carrying handle (6) and with twin stops (4), which limit the turning movement of the cradle and, therefore, that of the roller relative to the rail and the base, and in which the cradle arms (8) are either fixed, partly to prevent the rail from slipping off the roller and partly to permit the rail to pull the cradle with it in the direction of travel of the rail, thereby changing the direction of the centre line of the roller in relation to the longitudinal direction of the rail, an effect which is achieved if the cradle arms are semicircular in section, with the rounded part facing the roller, or can be lowered (3 and 3A) to facilitate removal of the rail from the roller.

Claims: Patent claims 1. Mobile, self-correcting device, an unspecified number of which is placed in advance at equal intervals along the stretch of roadbed over which new or used rails are to be pulled, each such device being provided with a roller which, in addition to its capacity to facilitate movement of the rail by turning freely, is free to pivot horizontally relative to both the longitudinal direction of the rail which is pulled over it and to the ground on which the device is placed, thereby enabling compensation to be applied for curvatures of different types in both the rail and ground, due to the fact that if the rail tends to move sideways when pulled forward and, as a result, moves outward towards either of the cradle arms, it will, for a short time, bear against and pull with it the said cradle arm in the direction of travel of the rail, whereupon the alignment of the centre line of the roller relative to the longitudinal direction of the rail will be changed, causing the rail to return towards the centre of the roller and, as a result, towards the centre of the device and remain there until another correction is required, an occurrence which cannot be predicted but which, due to the free movement of the roller relative to both the rail and the underlying surface, occurs automatically at all times as the rail is pulled over the device, which device is characterised in that the invention consists of a roller (1) mounted in a cradle (2) provided with a journal (5), which is movably mounted in a base (7) provided with a carrying handle (6) and with twin stops (4), which limit the turning movement of the cradle and, therefore, that of the roller relative to the rail and the base, and in which the cradle arms (8) are either fixed, partly to prevent the rail from slipping off the roller and partly to permit the rail to pull the cradle with it in the direction of travel of the rail, thereby changing the direction of the centre line of the roller in relation to the longitudinal direction of the rail, an effect which is achieved if the cradle arms are semicircular in section, with the rounded part facing the roller, or are collapsible (3 and 3A) to facilitate removal of the rail from the roller. 2. Device for laying railway track in accordance with patent claim 1, characterised in that the positions of the stops (4) on the base (7) form an angle (9) of between zero (0) and one hundred and eighty (180) degrees as measured from the apex, which is located in or around the hole provided in the base for the journal (5). 3. Device for laying railway track in accordance with patent claim 1 , characterised in that the base (7) is provided with a carrying handle (6) of wood, plastic, steel, wire, leather or hemp. 4. Device for laying railway track in accordance with patent claim 1, characterised in that the arms (8 and 3) of the cradle (2) are provided with movable rollers or are designed with a semicircular cross-section, the rounded part of which faces the roller (1). 5. Device for laying railway track in accordance with patent claim 4, characterised in that the cradle arm (3) may be lowered, as required, from a vertical to a horizontal position (3A). 6. Device for laying railway track in accordance with patent claim 1 , characterised in that the base (7) is made of alloy steel, unalloyed steel, aluminium, timber, reinforced concrete or plastic. 7. Device for laying or lifting railway track in accordance with patent claim 1, characterised in that an unspecified number of devices is placed, in advance or in conjunction with tracklaying, at equal intervals along the stretch of roadbed over which new or used rail is to be pulled.

Inventors: JANSSON ULF, JANSSON, ULF
Applicants: JANSSON ULF, JANSSON, ULF
Application year: 1997
Main classification: E01B29
IPC codes: E01B29