GB2030621A - Railway Sleeper - Google Patents

Abstract

A railway sleeper comprises a body 1 moulded of an elastic material, such as a hard rubber or a synthetic resin, these being one or more hollow parts 3 provided within said body at least under a rail fitting position and having therein at least one of a fluid, a powdery material and a granular material 5 to reduce noises and vibrations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Railway Sleeper The present invention relates to railway sleepers having low noise and vibration levels.

It is necessary for a railway tie to have a proper rigidity and vibration absorption and to prevent noises generated by the rail.

Conventionally, railway sleepers have been formed of wood or concrete blocks. However, there are disadvantages in that wood needs to be treated with waterproofing agents and preservatives, and concrete lacks proper vibration absorption. Accordingly, it has been necessary to lay a large amount of gravel as a shock absorbing material when building a railway. Even so, metallic noises generated when a railway car runs on the rail are transmitted to the sleeper and are a source of great noise pollution.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a railway sleeper wherein the disadvantages of the prior art are eliminated or reduced.

According to the present invention there is provided a railway sleeper comprising a body moulded of an elastic material, a hollow part provided within said body at least in response to a rail fitting position and having therein at least one of a fluid, a powdery material and a granular material.

Further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from a detailed consideration of the arrangement and construction of the constituent parts as set forth in the following specification taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a sleeper according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectioned view showing another embodiment: Figures 3 and 4 are sectioned views showing respectively other embodiments.

In Figure 1 a body 1 moulded of an elastic material, such as a hard rubber or a synthetic resin, is provided with a hollow part 3 in response to each rail 2 containing material 5 which is at least one of a fluid, a powdery material and a granular material. Material 5 is introduced into the hollow part 3 by means of a hole 4 which is then sealed with such means as a plug (not illustrated). In an alternative embodiment, material 5 is enclosed within the hollow part 3 simultaneously with the moulding of the body. In order to fit the rail 2, bolt fitting screws (not illustrated) are embedded in advance or any other suitable method is used.

In an alternative embodiment as shown in Figure 2, the body 1 is embedded in a railway laying plate block mat 6 made of concrete. Body 1 may have more than one hollow part 3 as shown on the right of the drawing.

In a further embodiment, shown in Figure 3, a hollow part 3 is provided within an entire body 1 moulded of the same material as in the above mentioned embodiment. Further, rails 2 are shown as fitted to the body 1 through pressing members 7 or directly with bolts 8. Needless to say, a plurality of hollow parts may be provided as shown on the right in Figure 2 or the hollow part may be of a proper sectional shape. Further, in order to fit rails, screws for fitting bolts may be embedded in advance or any other suitable method may be used. This embodiment is effective particularly in the case of laying the rails over the entire surface.

Further, Figure 4 shows still another embodiment. A rigid body 9 made of a wood or concrete is mounted and fixed on the body 1, as required, through an elastic member 10 and rails 2 are fitted on this rigid body 9.

Not only are the railway sleepers of the present invention effective in reducing or preventing noise from passing railway cars, but also they are of such construction as to be suited to massproduction.

While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without actually departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A railway sleeper comprising a body moulded of an elastic material, a hollow part provided within said body at least in response to a rail fitting position and having therein at least one of a fluid. a powdery material and a granular material.

2. A sleeper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic material is a hard rubber.

3. A sleeper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic material is a synthetic resin.

4. A sleeper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said body has means for introducing said fluid, powdery material and/or granular material into said hollow part.

5. A sleeper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said member has been enclosed in the hollow part at the time of moulding the body.

6. A sleeper as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body is embedded in a block mat.

7. A sleeper as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and having rails fixed thereto.

8. A sleeper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a rigid body fitted with rails is fixed on said body.

9. A sleeper as claimed in claim 8, wherein an elastic member is interposed between the rigid body and the body.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Railway Sleeper The present invention relates to railway sleepers having low noise and vibration levels. It is necessary for a railway tie to have a proper rigidity and vibration absorption and to prevent noises generated by the rail. Conventionally, railway sleepers have been formed of wood or concrete blocks. However, there are disadvantages in that wood needs to be treated with waterproofing agents and preservatives, and concrete lacks proper vibration absorption. Accordingly, it has been necessary to lay a large amount of gravel as a shock absorbing material when building a railway. Even so, metallic noises generated when a railway car runs on the rail are transmitted to the sleeper and are a source of great noise pollution. It is an object of the present invention to provide a railway sleeper wherein the disadvantages of the prior art are eliminated or reduced. According to the present invention there is provided a railway sleeper comprising a body moulded of an elastic material, a hollow part provided within said body at least in response to a rail fitting position and having therein at least one of a fluid, a powdery material and a granular material. Further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from a detailed consideration of the arrangement and construction of the constituent parts as set forth in the following specification taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a sleeper according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectioned view showing another embodiment: Figures 3 and 4 are sectioned views showing respectively other embodiments. In Figure 1 a body 1 moulded of an elastic material, such as a hard rubber or a synthetic resin, is provided with a hollow part 3 in response to each rail 2 containing material 5 which is at least one of a fluid, a powdery material and a granular material. Material 5 is introduced into the hollow part 3 by means of a hole 4 which is then sealed with such means as a plug (not illustrated). In an alternative embodiment, material 5 is enclosed within the hollow part 3 simultaneously with the moulding of the body. In order to fit the rail 2, bolt fitting screws (not illustrated) are embedded in advance or any other suitable method is used. In an alternative embodiment as shown in Figure 2, the body 1 is embedded in a railway laying plate block mat 6 made of concrete. Body 1 may have more than one hollow part 3 as shown on the right of the drawing. In a further embodiment, shown in Figure 3, a hollow part 3 is provided within an entire body 1 moulded of the same material as in the above mentioned embodiment. Further, rails 2 are shown as fitted to the body 1 through pressing members 7 or directly with bolts 8. Needless to say, a plurality of hollow parts may be provided as shown on the right in Figure 2 or the hollow part may be of a proper sectional shape. Further, in order to fit rails, screws for fitting bolts may be embedded in advance or any other suitable method may be used. This embodiment is effective particularly in the case of laying the rails over the entire surface. Further, Figure 4 shows still another embodiment. A rigid body 9 made of a wood or concrete is mounted and fixed on the body 1, as required, through an elastic member 10 and rails 2 are fitted on this rigid body 9. Not only are the railway sleepers of the present invention effective in reducing or preventing noise from passing railway cars, but also they are of such construction as to be suited to massproduction. While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without actually departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Claims

1. A railway sleeper comprising a body moulded of an elastic material, a hollow part provided within said body at least in response to a rail fitting position and having therein at least one of a fluid. a powdery material and a granular material.

2. A sleeper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic material is a hard rubber.

3. A sleeper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic material is a synthetic resin.

4. A sleeper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said body has means for introducing said fluid, powdery material and/or granular material into said hollow part.

5. A sleeper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said member has been enclosed in the hollow part at the time of moulding the body.

6. A sleeper as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body is embedded in a block mat.

7. A sleeper as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and having rails fixed thereto.

8. A sleeper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a rigid body fitted with rails is fixed on said body.

9. A sleeper as claimed in claim 8, wherein an elastic member is interposed between the rigid body and the body.

10. A railway sleeper substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.