ARRANGEMENT, METHOD, AS WELL AS USE OF A RUBBER MAT

TECHICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for the clamping of vibration, use of a rubber mat constructed from tyres, as well as an arrangement in connection with a land traffic lane, as presented below in the preambles of the independent claims.

PRIOR ART

Train traffic is a source of vibration which is a nuisance in areas near the railway tracks. Automobile traffic creates a similar problem in the vicinity of roads. Frequently repeated or long-lasting vibration may cause damage for example to buildings in the vicinity of a railway track or a roadway. The vibration may also give an uncomfortable sensation to a human and the noise carried thereby may sound unpleasant.

In one known solution, between the rail track and the sleeper is arranged a damping element constructed from a flexible material, for example rubber. However, the objectionable vibration caused by a heavy train occurs mostly at such a low frequency that the elements in question are not able to damp the vibration with a sufficient efficiency.

OBJECT AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to mitigate or even completely eliminate the foregoing problems existing in the prior art.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a solution, whereby the vibration caused by railway and road traffic can be damped in a simple manner very effectively.

An object of this invention is to recycle and reutilize material and to cut back on the use of raw materials.

In order to fulfill the above objects, among others, a method of the invention for the damping of vibration, the use of a rubber mat constructed from tyres, as well

as the arrangement in conncection with a land traffic lane are characterized by what is presented in the characterizing parts of the appended independent claims.

The embodiments set forth in this disclosure apply, when applicable, both to the method of the invention for the damping of vibration, to the use of a rubber mat constructed from tyres, as well as to the arrangement in connection with a land traffic lane, even if it is not always specifically mentioned.

In a typical method according to the invention, a rubber mat constructed from tyres is arranged in the ground for the damping of vibration in the ground.

In a typical arrangement according to the invention, a rubber mat constructed from tyres is arranged in connection with a land traffic lane, such that the rubber mat is arranged within the ground at least partially, preferably substantially in its entirety within the ground.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, more than 90% of the mat is arranged within the ground.

According to one preferred embodiment, the mat is left within the ground permanently or for a long time, for example for years or forever.

Highly preferably, a method and arrangement of the invention are useful for the damping of vibration caused by traffic or earthquake.

The word ground is used in reference to soil. It refers, for example, to the regolith which covers the solid rock. The ground may comprise for example clay, sand, gravel and topsoil.

In this application, a rubber mat constructed from tyres is a term used in reference to a mat, which is constructed for the most part from rubber plates obtained from tyres, particularly truck tyres.

Highly preferably, the rubber plates are constructed from used tyres by removing a side wall from the tyre partially or completely, such that all that is left of the tyre is its tread. Examples of rubber plates are shown e.g. in the Figures of this application.

Rubber plates are secured in connection with each other by fastening means, such as wire, ribbed bars or loops, for example side by side to form a mat. Rubber plates can also be arranged on top of each other or, for example, in an overlapping fashion. According to one preferred embodiment, the mat comprises two superimposed layers of rubber plates. The structure of the rubber mat can be selected according to the intended use.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mat is flat in shape, such that its thickness is considerably smaller than its length and width. According to one embodiment, the mat has a length of 3-4 meters, a width of 3-5 meters, and a thickness of 3-15 cm. The length and width of a mat define the mat's major surfaces. The major surfaces may have an area of e.g. 5-25 m ² , preferably 10-20 m ²

In a method according to one embodiment of the invention, by means of a rubber mat to be arranged within the ground the ground structure is disrupted and a flexible layer is formed therein.

In a method according to one embodiment of the invention, the rubber mat is arranged within the ground in a substantially vertical position. According to one embodiment, it is arranged in a horizontal position. The mat can also be arranged within the ground diagonally, in a position which is intermediate between horizontal and vertical.

The horizontal position of a mat refers to a position in which the floor rug is typically held on the floor. The vertical position of a mat refers to a position that the mat assumes when hung for example by one of its edges. In the vertical position, the mat's major surfaces are substantially in the direction of a vertical plane. In the horizontal position, the major surfaces are in the direction of a

horizontal plane. The positions are depicted more precisely in the Figures of the application.

In a horizontal arrangement, the mat can have an installation depth of e.g. 15-200 cm, 30-150 cm or 80-100 cm below the ground surface.

In a vertical arrangement, the mat is arranged to extend to the depth of e.g. 1-5 m, 1-3 m, 2-4 m, 3 m, 4 m or 5 m from the ground surface straight or diagonally downward. The edge closer to the ground level can be set at a distance of e.g. 0- 50 cm from the ground surface, preferably as close to the ground surface as possible.

In a method according to one embodiment of the invention, the rubber mat is arranged in connection with a source of vibration. The purpose is to use a rubber mat to disrupt the continuous ground in connection with a vibration source in such a way that the rubber mat prevents the vibration from spreading to the surrounding ground.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the source of vibration is a land traffic lane, such as a railway track or a roadway. It can also be for example an airport runway, a factory, a machine shop or a section of any of the above, for example a turbine hall or an individual turbine of a factory.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rubber mat is arranged in conncection with a target to be protected from vibration. According to one embodiment of the invention, the target to be protected from vibration is a manmade building, such as a house. It can also be some other building or structure, such as a church, a monument, a statue or a tower.

According to one highly preferred embodiment of the invention, the rubber mat is arranged between a source of vibration and a target to be protected from vibration.

A benefit gained by the invention, as defined in the independent claims, is its ability to damp ground vibration, e.g. vibration caused by railway and road traffic or earthquake, in a simple and inexpensive fashion very effectively.

One advantage of the invention is that the rubber mats to be used for vibration damping can be brought to an installation site in a ready-to use condition, followed by an easy installation of the ready-to-use mat within the ground.

One advantage of the invention is its ability to increase the recycling and exploitation of especially tyres.

In addition to the ground, the invention described in this application is also suitable for use in the damping of vibration in connection with not just the ground, but also e.g. in connection with buildings, structures or any other sites, whereby in connection with the site, preferably partially or completely inside the site, such as a structure, will be arranged a rubber mat constructed from tyres.

Among other things, the flexibility and elasticity of a rubber mat can be affected e.g. by deciding how large a portion of the tyre's side walls is left in connection with the tread and with the rubber plate to be formed therefrom. Another relevant factor is which way the rubber plates and possible side wall remnants carried thereby will be arranged in a mat, that is, whether the treads lie against each other in such a way that the opposed rubber plates have their side wall remnants pointing away from each other, or if the treads face away from each other in a way that the side wall remnants are pointing towards each other, yet certainly in an overlapping manner and with the treads facing away from each other. The number of layers constructed from rubber plates, as well as among others the fastening elements and fastening method of rubber plates, affect the properties of a mat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be described below more closely with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing, in which

Fig. 1 shows an arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention in a substantially vertical cross-section,

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention in a substantially vertical cross-section,

Fig. 3 shows an arrangement, wherein, according to one embodiment of the invention, a first and a second rubber mat are arranged for damping vibration which propagates in the ground,

Fig. 4 shows an example of a tyre, which can be used for manufacturing rubber plates for rubber mats,

Fig. 5 shows a rubber plate obtained from a tyre,

Fig. 6 shows a rubber plate formed from a tyre, having the side walls only partially cut off,

Fig. 7 shows how rubber plates formed from tyres are arranged side-by-side in two layers and secured to each other,

Fig. 8 shows an example of a rubber mat, which can be used for the clamping of vibration in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE FIRGURES Fig. 1 shows an arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention in a substantially vertical cross-section. On a location higher than the surrounding ground 11 is arranged a railway 5, which consists of sleepers 3 and track rails 4 arranged on top of the same. Underneath the railway 5 is arranged a rubber mat 1 constructed from tyres, in a substantially horizontal position. An objective of the rubber mat 1 is to disrupt the structure of a ground 2, 11 formed of continuous soil and to provide it with a vibration damping layer. Arrows 31 represent a powerful vibration caused by railway traffic, which propagates from the rails 4 through the sleepers 3 into the ground 2. Arrows 32 represent vibration penetrated through the rubber mat 1 , which has been damped considerably by the rubber mat.

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention in a substantially vertical cross-section. On either side of a railway 5 is arranged a rubber mat 1 constructed from tyres, in a substantially vertical position. The rubber mats 1 disrupt the continuous structure of a ground 2, 11 and damp a powerful vibration 31 originating from railway traffic, such that the vibration propagates into the railway-surrounding ground 11 in a considerably weakened condition 32.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an arrangement, involving a railway 5 and a roadway 6, as well as a house 7 located therebetween. Arrows 31 represent vibration propagating in the ground and having its source in railway and roadway traffic. Between the house 7 and the railway 5 is arranged, in a vertical position according to one embodiment of the invention, a first rubber mat 1 and between the house and the roadway 6 a second rubber mat 1 for damping vibration 31 propagating in the ground and for blocking its access to the vicinity of the house 7.

Fig. 4 shows an example of a tyre, which can be used for manufacturing rubber plates for rubber mats to be used in the invention. The tyre's side walls 25 are cut off partially or completely for leaving just the tyre's tread 26. In connection with the tread 26 can be left a portion of the tyre's side walls 25, e.g. 0,5-10 cm, as measured in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the tread. The tyre is cut for example along a line indicated by arrows D for producing a rubber plate as shown in Fig. 5. The rubber plate of Fig. 5 does not have a portion of the side walls left in connection with the tread 26. In Fig. 5, also a pattern of the tread 26 can be seen.

The rubber plate obtained from a tyre is mainly flat and preferably roughly rectangular in shape, such as the rubber plate of Fig. 5. The rubber plate of Fig. 6 is also obtained from a tyre, but it has its side walls 25 only partially cut off, the tyre's tread being left in connection with a portion of side walls 25'. In the case of the Figure, of the tread, an inner side part 26' of the tyre is visible, the patterned outer side 26 pointing downward.

Fig. 7 shows one example of how rubber plates obtained from tyres are arranged side-by-side in two layers 21 , 22 and secured to each other for forming a rubber mat. The bottom layer rubber plates have treads 26a downward and side wall remnants 25a upward, and the top layer rubber plates have treads 26b upward and side wall remnants 25b downward. The rubber plates are secured to each other by means of wires 9a, 9b. Leaving some of the tyre's side wall 25a, 25b intact with the rubber plates allows to affect the mat's degree of flexibility. The water, possibly accumulating between the two layers 21 , 22 in the ground, is generally able to escape through the ends of a mat, unless those are specifically blocked. The mat and its rubber plates can be intentionally arranged in the ground

in a position to collect water between the rubber plates, resulting in a flexible layer between the rubber plates

Fig. 8 shows an example of a rubber mat, which can be used for the damping of vibration in accordance with the invention. Five rubber plates 8 formed of tyres are fastened to each other by means of wires 9b. The mat has its corners provided with loops 10 for lifting the mat, for example during installation.

The invention is by no means to be limited to the above exemplary embodiments, but it is intended for a wide range of interpretations within the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.