Patent GB-266968-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in tracks for high speed suspension railways
IPC: E01B35/02
Filed: 1926-06-25
Abstract: 266,968. Kruckenberg, F., and Stedefeld, C. June 25, 1926. Elevated railways ; systems ; rail joints ; rail joints, scarf and like; rail joints with tread fishplates; rail sections; rails ; platelayers' appliances. -In high-speed railways, the track rails are longitudinally undivided yet have a smooth running surface without inequalities. This is effected either by constructing the rails of a temperatureindifferent metal such as a rustless nickel steel, by preventing temperature changes by enclosing the railway in a tube or tunnel, Fig. 43, above or below ground, or by resisting expansion and contraction through longitudinal compression at the joints. In the first and last cases the rails are supported elastically by allowing them to slide with respect to the bearer arms or by hinging the bearer arms to the main girders. On applying compression to the rail joints, the contact area at the rail ends may be reduced by cutting away the ends at a, Fig. 1, or by forming upper and lower, straight or curved, projections c, d, Fig. 2, on one rail engaging corresponding recesses in the other rail, the intervening parts being free. The joints are compressed either by right and left-hand screws between tension bars l, Fig. 5, passing between the rails and the fishplates k or by wedge plates x, Fig. 8, engaging corresponding faces on the fishplates t, v, the bolts 3 having a slack fit in the parts of the adjoining rail engaged by the plates t. When compression is effected by separate apparatus, the pressure is maintained by the wedging action of unusually long fishplates, preferably of the same material as the rail. Compression may also be effected by an intermediate member 102, Fig. 10, having helical surfaces 109, 110 engaging corresponding surfaces on one rail 108. The member is rotated by a handle 103 on pins 105, 107 projecting into holes in the adjacent rail heads. When the rails are made of costly material, economy is effected by a lightsection rail 123, Fig. 18, braced by plates 124, 125 and bolts 126. The plates may be short and separated; the rail web may be placed towards one side of the rail. To avoid sliding friction, each wheel should touch the rail at only one point, the rail head being so formed that at any point of contact the curvature of the head is less than that of the wheel rim. In the supporting structures the main girders rest on hinged bearings and are connected to the rails 1 and girders 2 by means of hinges or flexible plates 5<a>. The bearer arms 4 may be constructed as spring shackles or formed of waved strips 12, Fig. 26, joined at their ends and centre and restrained by bands 13. This arm 4 is connected to the arm 3 by a hinge plate 14, while arm 3 is connected to the main girder 2 by a ball joint 11. This joint may be replaced by two hinge plates at right-angles or by cutting away the flanges of the bearer arms at the hinge points. To align the rails, they are secured to plates 33, Fig. 30, mounted on brackets 32 carried by gussets 31 on the bearers 3, 4. The parts are fastened by plates 38, 38<a> having oval projections 37 and bolt holes 35. Adjustment is effected by the use of another set of plates in which the holes 35 are drilled to different positions of the projections 37. The suspension railways may be arranged above or to one side of a double ground track, and the girders may carry platforms 47, Fig. 35, for repair work and tracks 46 for repair cars 45 which may also be used to tow disabled carriages. The tracks 46 may be single or double and may carry suspended vehicles. The rails 1 may be protected by a roof 51, Fig. 38, and wind shields 52 placed outside or between the cars 48, or the shields may be arranged to stop only the lower half of the wind stream. In the case of tunnels above ground, small side openings may be made to balance the air pressures caused by the cars.