Technical Field

Invention relates to a ballastless track superstructure system positioned as a component supporting rails by connection members within track superstructure system for metro or light rail systems not containing ballast and not needing grounding and providing enhancement of signalization efficiency.

The invention particularly relates to ballastless track superstructure systems not needing grounding, enhancing signalization efficiency and at the same time providing easy installation operations in in-city rail systems, ballastless rail systems such as metro systems or light rail systems.

State of the Art

Rail support members called sleepers or slab track superstructures which are located perpendicular to the rail extension directions are used for the stationary placement of rails on the ground, keeping the distance fixed between the rails, distibution of loads on rails to the ground during transition of the train, and prevention of deviation of the rail extensions due to loads. Sleepers can be made from wooden, concrete and iron materials. In general crushed, sharp cornered and sharp edged, hard and sturdy rock parts are called ballast and are used for transporting the sleepers in accordance with the material of the sleepers, distibution of loads on the rails during transition of the train and reducing vibrations, prevention of water accumulation and prevention of plant growing within the area where rails are positioned.

Ballasted rail systems are commonly used in conventional railways. However, costs of maintenance and operation costs of ballasted rail systems are considerably high in long-term usages. For that reason, particularly after the increase in numbers of construction and usage of the rail systems, ballastless rail systems are developed, and ballastless rail systems in multiple railway systems such as rapid railway lines, in-city rail systems, metro and tramway lines are installed. Ballastless rail systems consist of rail bearing elements in reinforced concrete structure and can be built as prefabricated or cast-in-situ reinforced concrete.Only one or both of the pre-tension, post-tension, reinforced concrete methods are used in the construction of the rail bearing elements in the prefabricated concrete structure.Generally, in rail systems such as in-city rail systems, tramways and subways, steel-reinforced, cast-in- place reinforced concrete rail transport elements are used, and the steel reinforcement and steel labor costs are quite high in ballastless rail systems that contain them. Besides, problems arise during the use of these rail systems during the operation of both geometric and signalling systems, especially during their installation and use in tunnels, unfavorable cases such as decreased quality of use and prolonged installation process are occurred..In addition, need for grounding in rail systems where on-site cast concrete installation is provided the inability to perform this process in the field in a healthy manner cause difficulties in terms of labor, cost and technical aspects.

In the related art patent document numbered US1888287A discloses a concrete sleeper structure developed for tramway-like rail systems. The structure comprises bearing members providing placement of rails parallel to each other and equal distribution of loads to the ground. The bearing members are located perpendicular to extension direction of rails and parallel to each other. The structure also comprises connection members providing fixing bearing members, wooden wedges located between connection member and bearing member and reducing vibration, side ribs preventing slide of bearing members by effects of load. As a result of the structure, ballast use is not required. However, the reinforced concrete structure does not offer a solution for elimination of need for grounding, prevention of problems in operation of geometric and signalization system or reduction in labor time and cost losses.

As a result, in ballastless rail systems such as urban rail systems, subway systems or light rail systems, there is a need for development of a ballastless track superstructure system that does not require grounding, increases signalization efficiency and at the same time, facilitates the installation process and reduces labor time and cost expenses.

Aim of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ballastless track superstructure system meeting the needs mentioned above, eliminating potential disadvantages, and providing some additional advantages.

The primary purpose of the ballastless track superstructure system being subject of the invention is to obtain a ballastless track superstructure system that does not need grounding in the ballastless rail systems and providing increase in signalization efficiency.

Another purpose of the invention is to obtain a ballastless track superstructure system providing an easy and practically installation which reduces labor time and cost.

A further purpose of the invention is to obtain a ballastless track superstructure system providing an equal and efficient distribution of loads transferred onto the rail. Another purpose of the invention is to obtain a practical and long lasting ballastless track superstructure system providing facilitation of installation in tunnels and increasing efficiency of use in tunnels.

In order to achieve above purposes in the most general way the invention comprises a ballastless track superstructure system appropriate for use in ballastless rail systems comprising at least two rails providing progress of railway vehicles, at least two fastening members fixing rails, at least two laying members containing at least two tie beams extending to each other from facing edges and providing connections thereof, providing distribution of loads/forces onto rails, reducing vibrations occurring during handling of rails and progress of vehicle, at least two sliding wedge dents in a form appropriate for placement at least a fixing member preventing deviations in extension direction under a load or force effect or separation from each other, at least a filling layer providing fixing laying members by keeping onto them, distribution of load/force transferred thereon during transition of vehicle and reducing occurring vibrations, at least a bearing fundamental layer providing seating of filling layer onto ground and placement of laying members parallel to ground, comprising macro or micro fibres, made from concrete material and applied by means of onsite cast concrete method.

The structural and characteristics features of the invention and all advantages will be understood better in detailed descriptions with the figures given below and with reference to the figures, and therefore, the assessment should be made considering the figures and detailed explanations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order to make the embodiment being subject of the present invention as well as the advantages transparent for better understanding, it should be assessed with reference to the following described figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ballastless track superstructure system of the invention.

Figure 2 is another perspective view of the ballastless track superstructure system of the invention.

Figure 3 is a cross-section view of the ballastless track superstructure system of the invention. Reference Numbers

1. Slab Track Member

1 a. Tie Beam

1b. Sliding Wedge Dents

2. Filling Layer

3. Bearing Fundamental Layer

4. Rail Seating Area

10. Rail

20. Rail Fastening Members

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the ballastless track superstructure system being subject of the invention have been described in a manner not forming any restrictive effect and only for purpose of better understanding of the matter.

As illustratively shown in Figure 1 , the embodiment developed under the invention comprises a ballastless track superstructure system appropriate for use in ballastless rail systems, eliminating need for grounding and increasing signalization efficiency, comprising at least two rails (10) extending parallel to each and in linear direction in a manner having a distance between each and providing movement of railway vehicles thereon, at least two rail fastening members (20) providing fixing of rails (10) comprising at least two tie beams (1a) located on side of rails (10) close to ground, extending in same direction and parallel to each other, in form of flat plate form, extending towards each from facing sides and providing interconnection, at least two slab track members (1) providing distribution of loads/forces transferred onto rails (10) during carrying rails (10) and vehicle progress, reducing occurring vibrations and appropriate for rail fastening members (20) thereon for fixing rails (10) and in prefabricated structure, at least two sliding wedge dents (1b) each preferably in semi-circle form, in a structure allowing placement of at least a fixing member, preferably a sliding wedge, preventing deviation in extending direction or separating from each under effect of a load or force, located on edges of the slab track members (1) perpendicular to extending direction, at least a filling layer (2) made from non-shrink cement or automatically placing concrete, providing fixing by holding thereon of slab track members (1), located between slab track members (1) and ground, providing distribution of load/force transferred thereon during progress of vehicle and reducing occurring vibration. It also comprises at least a bearing fundamental layer (3) located onto ground, providing fixing/seating of filling layer (2) onto ground and placement of slab track members (1) in a manner parallel to ground, comprising macro or micro fibre, made from concrete material and applied by means of onsite cast concrete method.

In an illustrative alternative of the ballastless track superstructure system developed under the invention, slab track members (1) comprising more than one pairs are located in a manner they extend onto ground in compound manner along a line and facing each together with sliding wedge dents (1b) to form a space between them. Connection of rails (10) onto slab track members (1) is provided by means of rail fastening members (20). After adjustment of rails (10) in parallel to ground and in perpendicular position to grounds, filling layer (2) made from non-shrink cement or automatically settling concrete from sliding wedge dents (1b) located facing each other are located between slab track member (1) and ground. Bearing fundamental layer (3) located on the ground provides seating/holding the filling layer (2) onto ground and placement of the slab track members (1) parallel to ground. Thus, it provides equal distribution of loads or forces having effects on rails (10) while railway vehicle passes on the rail (10) and prevents vibrations to occur and prevents shift in directions of rails (10) because of sliding.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ballastless track superstructure system comprises at least two rail seating area (4) providing fixing of the rails (10) located in symmetric position and parallel to each other on surface of the slab track members (1) in a manner edges on the surface far from the ground get closer to each other at an angle.

The slab track members (1) and the bearing fundamental layer (3) comprised in ballastless track superstructure system developed under present invention provide obtaining an efficient, effective and practical ballastless track superstructure not needing grounding for ballastless rail systems, enhancing signalization efficiency and also facilitating installation in open areas and tunnels and reducing labor time and cost expenses.