Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
PREFABRICATED RAIL PANEL FOR USE IN MINE SHAFT RAILWAY SYSTEMS
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a prefabricated rail panel and more
particularly, a rail
panel in which a pair of rails are each pre-secured to a number of wooden
sleepers by an
associated rail mounting plate assembly which is configured to provide the
rail panel with
sufficient longitudinal stability to enable it to be lowered vertically down a
mine shaft, without
significant deflection of the rails relative to each other.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous types of fasteners have been proposed far securing railway rails to
rail ties or
sleepers. In the conventional laying of railway track, a series of elongated
rectangular wooden
sleepers are positioned transversely as a longitudinally extending array along
the rail bed. The
sleepers are held against movement by infilling thereabout with a suitable
ballast material, such
as crushed rock or gravel. A pair of steel railway rails having an upper rail
surface and a lower
portion which flares laterally outwardly as a support flange are positioned in
a parallel
arrangement along the upper surface of the sleepers. The rails are secured in
place relative to
each other on the sleepers by driving rail spikes which have an enlarged head
into the wooden
sleepers, so that the heads of the spikes overlap and engage with the rail
support flange.
Various third parties have proposed substituting mechanical clips for rail
spikes in
securing railway rails to sleepers. The clips are configured for placement by
automated rail
laying machinery, and act in conjunction with mounting plates which are
presecured to the rail
ties. The plates, which for example are disclosed in United States Patent No.
4,141,500 to
C'rragnani are typically formed from a stamped sheet of 2 to 4 mm thick steel.
Conventionally,
the mounting plates are typically secured to wooden sleepers lay driving rail
spikes through holes
or slots formed in the plate prior to the attachment of the rails.
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
2
The applicant has appreciated that conventional anchoring systems and methods
for
securing railway rails to sleepers are poorly suited for implementation in the
construction of
subterranean railway systems which are used in mine tunnels and underground
mining
operations. In particular, because it is often necessary to construct mine
shaft railway systems
several hundred thousands of feet below ground surface, it is necessary to
vertically lower not
only the railway materials, but also any equipment used in its installation
vertically down a mine
shaft by either crane or elevator. Often physical size limitations of the mine
tunnel, the mine
shaft, and/or or the shaft elevator make it impossible to lower conventional
automated rail line
laying equipment into the mine shaft. As such, conventional subterranean
railway systems are
most often constructed by manually lowering into position individual sleepers
and rails into the
mine tunnels, and thereafter manually or pneumatically spiking the rails in
place using
conventional rail ties. The manual insulation of rail lines by driving
individual metal spikes into
the sleepers is often cumbersome within smaller diameter mine tunnels.
Furthermore if methane
or other explosive gases are present in the mine tunnel, the manual driving of
rail spikes has the
potential to produce sparks which could potentially lead to underground
explosions within the
mine.
~UMMAIZY OF THE INVENTION
To facilitate the construction of mine shaft railway systems, the applicant
has considered
pre-assembling rail panels above ground using conventional rail spikes and/or
conventional clips
and mounting plates to anchor the rails to the individual sleepers, and
thereafter vertically
lowering the elongated rail panels down the mine shaft for use in a specific
mine tunnel. The
applicant has appreciated, however, that the stresses placed upon such
prefabricated rail panels
when vertically suspended may partially loosen and/or pull conventional rail
spikes from the
individual sleepers, thereby permitting the rail to deflect either
longitudinally or laterally relative
to each other. The deflection of the rails out of pai°allel
longitudinal and lateral alignment
presents a unique problem in mine shaft railway construction, in that any
deformed or misaligned
rails have to be either manually realigned on site within the mine tunnel, or
the panels would
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
have to be again returned above ground for realignment using suitable rail
positioning
equipment.
Accordingly, to at least partially overcome some of the disadvantages
encountered in
prior art in mine shaft railway construction, the applicant has appreciated a
prefabricated rail
panel construction which is configured to enable its vertical lowering down a
mine shaft without
significant deflection of the rails longitudinally and/or laterally relative
to each other. The rail
panel includes a pair of conventional steel rails, a number of wooden sleepers
and a series of rail
mounting plate assemblies for coupling the rails to the sleepers. The rails
are characterized by an
upper rail surface along which the railcars move and an enlarged laterally
extending lower flange
used in the support of the rail or the sleepers. The wooden sleepers are
preferably wooden and
are fashioned into a generally rectangular shape and provide the principal
underlying support
surface for the rails. Within the panel, the sleepers are arranged generally
parallel to each other
and in an orientation transverse to the direction of longitudinal elongation
of both the panel and
rails, in a conventional orientation.
In the prefabricated rail panel construction, a rail mounting plate assembly
is used to
secure a selected one of the rails to an associated sleeper. Each of the
mounting plate assemblies
includes a rail fastening plate which, as will be described, is formed having
a metal base plate
portion and a pair of anchoring flanges. A series of bore holes are formed
through the base plate
at spaced locations. Lag bolts or other suitable threaded fasteners are
inserted through the bore
holes and into threaded engagement with the wooden sleeper, to thus secure the
base plate to the
upper surface of the associated sleeper. The threaded fasteners most
preferably have a size
which is selected to provide the rail panel with sufficient longitudinal
stability, whereby the rails
do not significantly deflect longitudinally and/or laterally relative to each
other if the panel is
suspended vertically with the rails positioned in a generally vertical
orientation. With the present
invention, the prefabricated rail panel may thus be vertically lowered down a
mine shaft without
concern that the rails and sleepers will shift out of the prefabricated
parallel alignment.
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
4
The anchoring flanges on the rail mounting plate are provided in an
orientation extending
upwardly from an upper surface of the base plate. Preferably, the anchoring
flanges are provided
in a generally mirror arrangement about the lateral center of the base plate
and are spaced from
each other by a distance which is marginally greater than the width of the
lower rail support
flange. The flanges each extend from a respective innermost edge spaced
towards the lateral
center of the plate, upwardly and outwardly towards opposing lateral plate
ends to an outer edge.
The anchor flanges and the base plate thus define a generally longitudinally
extending apertures
extending between the flange and the upper surface of the base plate.
Anchor clips, such as those disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,141,500,
are most
preferably insertable in each longitudinal aperture to secure a selected rail
to the rail fastening
plate. In a simplified construction, each clip includes a first portion which
is adapted to be
received in a selected aperture, and a second other portion which is provided
to overlie and
engage an adjacent portion of the rail flange when the first clip portion is
so positioned, thereby
securing the rail in place in a friction fit.
The prefabricated rail panels most preferably are constructed above ground,
although
assembly may occur in subterranean environments where, for exarnple, larger
mine tunnels exist,
such as in salt mines and the like. As with conventional railway track
construction, the sleepers
are initially arranged as a longitudinally extending array, with the
individual sleepers positioned
in an orientation generally parallel to each other and with their elongated
length extending
transverse to the longitudinal direction of the panel. Following the
positioning of the sleepers in
their parallel arrangement, a pair of rail fastening plates are mounted to the
upper surface of each
sleeper, towards each sleeper end. The rail fastening plates are physically
coupled to the sleeper
by inserting the threaded fasteners or lag bolts through the bore holes formed
in the base plate.
The rail fastening plates are positioned on the sleepers so that the lateral
centers of the fastening
plates secured to each sleeper end are longitudinally aligned with the lateral
centers of the rail
fastening plates secured to the next adjacent ends of the adjacent sleepers.
Following the
securement of the rail fastening plates, each of the rails are positioned over
the aligned lateral
centers of the rail fastening plates, and with the rails in a laterally
parallel arrangement. The rails
t _._ ~_. ____,. .._-.. "_.. _.- ~-.~.~n _ -~~ ~.~.. _~ _~~ ~ ~_~_. ~_a.~,
~_«_~m...,r_ ______ . _~____,d.~__~z~~_
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
are coupled to each associated rail fastening plate by positioning an anchor
clip partially into
each longitudinal aperture, so that the clip engages both the rail and the
anchoring flange.
Although not essential, the longitudinal length of the panel preferably
corresponds
approximately to that of each rail. The prefabricated rail panel has a
longitudinal length selected
to enable it to be physically lowered down a vertical mine shaft for use
within a particular mine
tunnel. Most preferably, the rail panel has a length selected at between about
3 and 20 meters,
and more preferably about 5 and 15 meters, depending upon the rail gauge to be
used.
Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention resides in a pxefabricated
rail panel for
use in a mine-shaft railway system, said panel being elongated in a
longitudinal direction and
including,
a pair of spaced apart parallel rails, each said rail extending in the
longitudinal direction
and including a rail surface, and a laterally extending bottom support flange,
a plurality of generally rectangular wooden sleepers, said sleepers being
arranged
generally parallel to each other a direction transverse to the longitudinal
direction of the rails,
a rail mounting assembly securing a selected one of said rails to an
associated sleeper, the
mounting assembly comprising,
a rail fastening plate comprising,
a metal base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces,
said plate extending in a lateral direction from a first lateral end to a
second lateral
end,
first and second anchoring flanges, each said flange extending in a
generally lateral direction from a respective first edge to a respective
second edge
and curving upwardly over said upper surface of said base plate to define a
generally longitudinally extending aperture therebetween, the first and second
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6
edges of said first and second anchoring flanges being secured to said upper
surface of said base plate in a substantially mirror conf~xguration,
the first edge of said first anchoring flange defining first longitudinally
oriented vertically projecting shoulder,
the first edge of the second anchoring flange defining a second
longitudinally extending shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by
a
distance marginally greater than a lateral width of the rail support flange,
whereby
engagement of said support flange with said first and second shoulders assists
in
orienting said selected rail relative to said associated sleeper,
a first pair of longitudinally spaced bore holes formed through said base
plate spaced towards said first lateral end, and a second pair of
longitudinally
spaced bore holes formed through said base plate spaced towards said second
lateral end,
a pair of clips having a first portion sized for fitted insertion into a
selected
longitudinal aperture defined by the farst and second anchoring flanges, and a
second
portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said rail support flange
to fixedly
retain said selected rail with said rail support flange located between said
farst and second
shoulders,
a plurality of externally threaded fasteners, a selected one of said fasteners
being inserted
through each of said bore holes to threadedly engage said associated sleeper
and coupling said
base plate to said associated sleeper with said lower surface in juxtaposed
contact therewith, said
threaded fasteners having a size selected to provide the rail panel with
longitudinal stability when
said rail panel is suspended with said rails oriented. in a generally vertical
orientation.
In another aspect, the present invention resides in a mine-shaft rail-way
system for use in
subterranean railways, the system comprising a plurality of prefabricated rail
panels, each
prefabricated rail panel including,
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
a pair of parallel spaced apart rails, each said rail extending in a
longitudinal direction
and including an upper rail surface and a laterally extending bottom support
flange,
a plurality of wooden sleepers, each sleeper having an elongated top surface
extending in
a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails,
a plurality of rail mounting assemblies, each rail mounting assembly securing
a selected
one of said rails to an associated sleeper and further comprising,
a generally planar base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower
surfaces, said plate extending from a first lateral end to a second lateral
end and having a
width in said longitudinal direction substantially corresponding to a width of
said top
surface, the base plate further including a first pair of longitudinally
spaced bore holes
formed therethrough adjacent to the first lateral end, and a second pair of
longitudinally
spaced bore holes formed therethrough adjacent to said second lateral end,
a pair of anchoring flanges, the anchoring flanges being each coupled to said
upper surface of said base plate in a substantially mirror arrangement and
extending in a
generally lateral direction as an upwardly curved member from a respective
first edge to a
respective second edge, each of said first and second edges being joined to
said base plate
along a substantially continuous weld seam, and wherein each said anchoring
flange and
said upper surface of said base plate define a respective generally
longitudinally
extending aperture therebetween,
a first one of said anchoring flanges defining first Longitudinally oriented
vertically projecting shoulder,
the second other one of said anchoring flanges defining a second
longitudinally
extending shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by a distance
marginally
greater than a lateral width of the rail support flange, whereby the
engagement of said rail
support flange with said first and second shoulders assists in orienting said
selected one
of said rails relative to said associated sleeper,
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
a pair of clips, each clip having
a first portion sized for fitted insertion in the aperture of a respective one
of said
anchoring flanges, and
a second portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said rail support
flange adjacent thereto to fixedly retain said rail in a position on said
upper surface with
said rail support flange located between said first and second shoulders,
a plurality of threaded lag bolts, each said lag bolt being inserted through
an associated
one of said bore holes to threadedly engage said associated sleeper and secure
said base plated
thereto with said lower surface in juxtaposed contact with said elongated top
surface.
In a further aspect, the present invention resides in a prefabricated rail
panel for use in
subterranean mine-shaft railways, the panel having an overall length selected
at between about 5
and 10 meters and further comprising,
first and second parallel spaced apart rails, each of said rails being
elongated in a
longitudinal direction and including a rail surface and a laterally extending
bottom support
flange,
a plurality of wooden sleepers, each sleeper being generally rectangular in
shape and
having an elongated top surface extending in a direction normal to the
longitudinal direction of
the rails,
a pair of rail mounting assemblies securing said rails to each of said
sleepers, each of the
rail mounting assemblies including,
a rail fastening plate comprising,
a base plate having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said
plate having a thickness selected at between about 1 and 3 cm and extending
from
a first lateral end to a second lateral end,
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
9
a pair of farst and second anchoring flanges coupled to said upper surface
of said base plate, the anchor flanges being provided in a substantially
mirror
arrangement about a lateral center of said base plate and each oriented in a
generally laterally extending direction as an upwardly curved member extending
from a respective first edge spaced towards said lateral center to a
respective
second edge remote therefrom, wherein each of said anchoring flanges and said
upper surface of said base plate define a respective generally longitudinally
extending aperture therebetween, and
said first anchoring flange defining first longitudinally oriented vertically
projecting shoulder,
said second anchoring flanges defining a second longitudinally extending
shoulder laterally spaced from said first shoulder by a distance marginally
greater
than the lateral width of the rail support flange, whereby the engagement of
said
support flange with said first and second shoulders assists in orienting said
selected one of said rails in alignment over said longitudinal center of said
base
plate, and
a first pair of bore holes formed through said base plate adjacent to the
first lateral end, and a second pair of bore holes formed through said base
plate
adjacent to the second lateral end,
a plurality of threaded bolts, a selected one of said bolts being inserted
through
each said bore hole to threadedly engage an associated one of said sleepers to
secure said
base plate thereto with said lower surface in juxtaposed contact with said
elongated top
surface of said associated sleeper, the bolts having a size selected to
provide the panel
with longitudinal stability when said rail panel is positioned with said rails
oriented in a
generally vertical orientation,
first and second clips, each of said clips having a first portion sized for
fitted insertion
into an aperture defined by said first and second anchoring flanges,
respectively, and a second
portion oriented to overlie and engage a portion of said support flange when
said rail is aligned
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
with said lateral center of said base plate to fixedly retain said rail in a
position on said upper
surface with said support flange located between said first and second
shoulders.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAVVIN(1S
Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together
with the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a partial perspective top view of a prefabricated rail
panel in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure ~ illustrates an enlarged view of a rail mounting assembly used in
securing one of
the rails of the rail panel shown in Figure 1 to its associated sleeper;
Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the rail, rail mounting
assembly and
sleeper shown in Figure 2 taken along line 3-3';
Figure 4 illustrates a rail fastening plate used in the rail mounting assembly
of Figure 2;
and
Figure 5 illustrates a schematic side view of the rail fastening plate shown
in Figure 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI1VIENTS
Reference is first made to Figure 1 which illustrates partially a
prefabricated rail panel 10
for use in a mine shaft railway system. Although only partially shown, the
prefabricated rail
panel 10 is provided with a typical longitudinal length of between about 5 and
15 meters, and
more preferably about 5 and 10 meters. As will be described, the final length
of the rail panel 10
is selected to permit it to be lowered vertically down a mine shaft for
installation in a
subterranean mine railway system. The rail panel 10 includes steel rails 12a,
l 2b, a number of
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
11
wooden sleepers 14 and a number of rail mounting assemblies 16, each used to
secure a selected
one of the rails l2a,l2b to an associated sleeper 14. In the prefabricated
rail panel 10, the rails
12a,12b are secured to the sleepers 14 in an arrangement parallel to each
other and the
longitudinal direction of the panel 10.
The sleepers 14 have a conventional generally rectangular wood construction
and present
a generally flat elongated top and bottom surface 18,20 (Figure 3). Typically,
the sleepers 14
have a length selected at between 0.75 arid 2 meters, and a width and height
of between about 12
and 20 cm. The sleepers 14 are shown best in Figure 1 as being arranged in the
panel 10 in an
orientation generally parallel to each other, with their elongated rectangular
length oriented in a
direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails
12a,12b.
The rails 12a,12b are of a conventional design, and as shown best in Figures 2
and 3
include an upper rail surface 22 along which rail cars and engines move, and a
lower laterally
extending support flange 24 which projects laterally beyond each side of the
rail surface 22.
Each of the rails 12a,12b are secured to the sleepers 14 in the panel 10 in
the parallel
spaced arrangement by a respective rail mounting assembly 16. As shown best in
Figures 2 and
3, each rail mounting plate assembly 16 includes a rail fastening plate 28, a
pair of fastening
clips 30a,30b which as will be described act in conjunction with the fastening
plate 28 to secure
the selected rail 12a, and four externally threaded lag bolts 32a,32b,32c,32d.
The rail fastening plate 28 is shown best in Figures 2 to 5 as including a
generally
rectangular base plate 34 and a pair of anchor flanges 36a,36b. The base plate
34 is formed of
iron or steel and includes substantially parallel planar upper and lower
surfaces 38,40. The base
plate 34 has a thickness selected at between about 1 and 3 em and preferably
about 2 cm,
providing the plate 34 with sufficient structural integrity as to support the
rails 12a,12b and panel
in a vertically suspended position. The base plate 34 is elongated in a
lateral direction from a
distance of between about 25 to 50 cm, and most preferably has a width ~U
(Figure 4) in the
longitudinal direction of the rails between a first side 50 and a second side
52 which is either
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
12
approximately either equal to or marginally less than the lateral width of the
top surface 18 of the
sleeper 14. Depending upon the sleeper configuration, the width W is typically
selected at
between approximately 10 and 20 cm.
As shown best in Figure 4, two pairs of bore holes 42a,42b,44a,44b are formed
vertically
through the base plate 34 extending from the upper plate surface 38 through
the lower plate
surface 40. The bore holes 42a,42b are spaced towards a first lateral end 46
of the plate 34, with
the bore holes 44a,44b being spaced towards the other second lateral end 48.
As will be
described, the bore holes 42a,42b,44a,44b have a size selected to receive
therein the threaded
ends 51 (Figure 3) of a respective lag bolt 32a,32b,32c,32d in the coupling of
the rail fastening
plate 28 to a sleeper 14. Preferably, the bore holes 42a,44a adjacent to the
longitudinal side j2
are located at respective centers which are spaced from the longitudinal side
52 of the base plate
34 a distance selected approximately 20 to 30% of the overall plate width W.
Bore holes
42b,44b are similarly located from the longitudinal side 50 by a distance
approximately 20 to
30% of the width W of the base plate 34.
As shown best in Figures 4 and 5, the anchoring flanges 36a,36b are each
provided as a
separate bent strip of iron or steel 0.5 to 1.5 cm thick which is secured to
the upper surface 38 of
the base plate 34 by weld seams 56,58. The anchoring flanges 36a,36b are
provided on the base
plate 34 in a mirror arrangement, and are spaced from the lateral center line
of the plate C-Cp
(Figure 4). The flanges 36a,36b are spaced apart a distance selected so that
the minimum
spacing between the anchoring flanges 36a,36b is marginally greater than the
maximum lateral
width of the rail support flange 24. Each of the anchoring flanges 36a,36b is
preferably formed
having a width W in the longitudinal direction of the rails 12 which is
selected at between
approximately 35 and 50% the width W of the base plate 34, and more preferably
between about
40 and 55% of the width W of the base plate 34. As seen best in Figure 5, the
anchoring flanges
36a,36b each extend from a respective innermost farst longitudinally extending
edge 60 spaced
closest towards the centre line C-Ci, outwardly towards an outer
longitudinally aligned second
edge 62. The flanges 36a,36b curve in a mirror arrangement upwardly from the
edge 60 and
towards the ends 46,48 respectively over the upper surface 38 of the base
plate 34 with the
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
13
curvature of each anchoring flange 36a,36b defining a generally longitudinally
extending
aperture 66a,66b respectively extending between each respective flange 36a,36b
and the upper
surface 38 of the base plate 34. The flanges 36a,36b are coupled to the base
plate 34 by the weld
seams 56,58. For enhanced structural integrity, the weld seams 56,58 are
preferably
substantially continuous along each of the flange edges 60,62. Figures 3 and 5
illustrate best the
first longitudinal edge 60 of each of the anchoring flanges 36a,36b as
projecting vertically
upwardly from the upper surface 38 of the base plate 34.
Figure 5 shows best the anchoring flanges 36a,36b as being bent so as to
present a
respective generally horizontally extending portion 68 which is spaced above
the upper plate
surface 38 towards the second edge 62. The horizontally extending portion 68
of each anchor
flange 36a,36b may be provided as a flat or trough-shaped saddle, which as
will be described,
assists in the positioning of a fastening clip 30 securing the selected rail
12a to the rail fastening
plate 28.
As shown best in Figure 4, each of the bore holes 42a,42b, and 44a,44b are
provided
through the base plate 34 at locations spaced laterally between the outer
second edge 62 of each
respective anchor flange 36a,36b and the adjacent first and second lateral
ends 46,48 of the base
plate 34.
The inner edges 60 of each anchoring flange 36a,36b thus defines a
longitudinally
oriented and extending shoulder spaced from each other a marginal distance
greater than the
lateral width of the rail support flange 24. It is to be appreciated that
engagement between the
rail support flange 24 and the vertically projecting shoulders of the
anchoring flanges 36a,36b
assists in orienting the rail 12 relative to the rail fastening plate 28 and
its associated sleeper 14.
The lag bolts 32 used to couple the base plate 34 to an associated sleeper 14,
with the
lower plate surface 40 resting upon and juxtaposed with the top sleeper
surface 18 are shown
best with reference to Figure 3. In addition to the externally threaded end 51
which is sized for
fitted insertion through a bore hole 42,44, the bolts 32 further include
enlarged bolt head 70. The
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
14
bolt head 70 has a head diameter which is selected greater than the diameter
of the bore holes
42,44 to prevent its movement therethrough. It is to be appreciated that each
of the lag bolts
32a,32b,32c,32d are selected having a size which provides the prefabricated
rail panel 10 with
sufficient structural integrity to enable the rail panel 10 to be suspended
with the rail 12a,12b in a
vertical orientation, without shearing or failure of the bolts
32a,32b,32c,32d. The lag bolts 32
are formed from hardened steel and have an exterior thread configuration and
axial length
selected so that when fully inserted through a selected bore hole 42,44, the
threaded ends 51 of
the bolt 32 (Figure 3) extends at least half of the distance, and z~ore
preferably about three-
quarters the distance, into the thickness of the sleeper 14 between its top
and bottom surfaces
18,20.
Figures 2 and 3 show best the fastening clips 30a,34b which are used to secure
the
selected rails 12a between the anchor flanges 36a,36b of one of a
longitudinally aligned array of
rail fastening plates 28. Each of the rail fastening clips 30 is formed from a
bent 1 to 2 cm
diameter steel rod. The clips 30 include a first straight end portion 76 which
has a
complementary size selected to permit its sliding insertion into an aperture
66 in complementary
fit. The first straight end portion 76 of the clip 30 merges with a second
bent portion 78. The
second bent portion 78 is provided in the form of a first reverse bend which
curves initially
upwardly and then back downwardly to a lower bight 80 which., in assembly,
physically overlies
and engages the rail support flange 24. The second bent portion 78 merges with
a third bent
portion 82 which is provided as a second reverse bend which curves upwardly
and then
downwardly so as to overlie the flange saddle 62. then the first straight end
portion 76 of the
clip 30 is inserted within the aperture 60, the second bent portion overlies
the rail support flange
24 and the third bent portion 82 overlies and engages the saddle 68. In such
position, the
engagement between the saddle 68 and the third end portion 82 acts to bias the
bight 80 of the
second bent portion 78 downwardly against the support flange .24, to provide a
retaining pressure
thereon.
Although Figures 2 and 3 illustrate an anchor clip 30 having two reverse bends
78,82 and
which are adapted to engage not only the aperture 66, but the anchor flange
saddle 68, it is to be
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
appreciated that the invention is not so limited. Other configurations of rail
anchoring clips may
also be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In the construction of a subterranean rail system, a number of prefabricated
rail panels 10
are preferably assembled above ground. To assemble each rail panel 10,
initially a pair of rail
fastener plates 28 are positioned on the elongated top surface 18 of each
sleeper 14, adjacent to
each sleeper end 98,99 (Figure 1). The rail fastening plates 28 are secured in
the position shown
in Figure 1 by aligning the elongated width W of the fastening plate 28 with
the wooden sleeper
14 and inserting and tightening the lag bolts 32a,32b,32c,32d through each
respective bore hole
42a,42b,44a,44b, until the lag bolt heads 70 are brought into bearing contact
with the upper
surface 38 of the base plate 34.
Once fastening plates 28 are secured adjacent to each of the ends 98,99 of
each sleeper
14, a number of sleepers 14 are positioned as an elongated longitudinally
extending array. The
sleepers 14 are provided in a parallel spaced arrangement, with the center
line C-C~, (Figure 4) of
each the fastening plates 28 being substantially longitudinally aligned with
that of the plates 28
secured to the next adjacent sleeper ends. Each rail I2a,l2b is thereafter
positioned on one of the
longitudinally aligned sets of fastening plates 28, so that the support flange
24 of each rail 12
locates between the anchoring flanges 36a,36b, and in general alignment with
the center line C-
CI thereof. The rails 12a,12b are thus positioned parallel to each other, with
each longitudinal
end (not shown) of the rail being substantially longitudinally co-terminus.
With the rails I 2a,12b
so positioned, a pair of anchor clips 30a,30b are coupled to each fastening
plate 28 in a position
overlying the support flange 24 to secure the selected rail 12 thereto.
Figure 4 shows best the insertion of the clips 30a,30b into the apertures
66a,66b in
securing the rails 12a,12b to each selected rail fastening plate 28. The first
end portion 76 of a
first one of the clips 30a is inserted into aperture 66a from the first
downstream longitudinal side
50 of each plate 34. With the insertion of the first end portion 76 into the
aperture 66a, the
second portion 78 of the clip 30a is moved so that the bight 80 is brought
into bearing contact
with the adjacent support flange 24. Simultaneously, the third end portion 82
of the clip 30a is
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
16
moved into engagement with the saddle 68 of anchor flange 36a, to bias the
second portion 78
and lower bight 80 downwardly towards the base plate surface 38.
The second other anchor clip 30b of each rail mounting assembly 16 is inserted
into the
aperture 66b from the second longitudinal side 52 and in the opposite
longitudinal direction from
the insertion of clip 30a into aperture 66a. In this regard, the first
straight end portion 76 of clip
30b is inserted into the aperture 66b from the second side 52 of the base
plate 34, and the second
portion 78 of the clip 30b is moved so that the bight 80 thereof is in
engagement with the support
flange 24. The third end portion 82 of the clip 30b is moved in engaging
contact with the saddle
68 of the anchor flange 36b, to bias the lower bight 80 of the clip 30b
downwardly against the
rail 12 in the similar manner as with clip 30a.
Following the securement of the selected rails 12a, l2b to each of the
sleepers I 4 by the
associated rail mounting assemblies 16, the prefabricated rail panel 12 may be
lowered into the
mine. The panel 10 is lowered by means of a mine hoist (nat slhown~ in a
vertically suspended
orientation in which the rails 12a,12b are oriented vertically. Because of the
threaded coupling
of the base plate 34 to the sleepers 14, the lag bolts 32 do not loosen from
their fastening position
under the weight of the panel 10. t~s a result, the rail panel 10 is
maintained as a rigid structure,
and deflection or movement of the rails 12a,12b longitudinally and/or
laterally relative to each
other is substantially reduced. Once the rail panel 10 has been lowered into a
mine tunnel where
the railway system is to be completed, it rnay be wheeled or dragged into
place in an abutting
end-to-end relationship with a next adjacent rail panel. The longitudinal ends
of adjacent rails I2
may be welded or bolted together by conventional rail tie coupling brackets,
eliminating the need
to secure the rails 12 with spikes within the mine tunnel itself It is to be
appreciated that where
the panels 10 are to be installed in a subterranean environment, the absence
of frost heave lessens
the need to provide ballast between the panel sleepers 14.
It is to be appreciated that the present construction avoids the disadvantages
which exist
whereby conventional rail spikes are used to couple rails either directly or
through a mounting
plate to a sleeper. Because of the threaded configuration of the lag bolts 32
used in the
CA 02441458 2003-09-18
17
securement of the rails and/or fastening plates 28 to the sleepers 14, when
the panel 10 is
vertically oriented, as for example, upon lowering vertically down a mine
shaft by means of a
mine hoist or winching system, the weight of the panel 10 does not result in
the bolts 32 being
partially pulled or withdrawn from the sleepers 14. This in turn prevents the
rails 12a,12b from
deflecting or shifting out of longitudinal andior lateral parallel alignment
relative to each other.
As such, the panels 10 may be used in the closer confines within the mine
draft tunnels without
concern of the rails 12a,12b moving out of the correct parallel spacing and
orientation, and
without necessitating the repositioning of the whole panel 10.
Although the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrate the rail
fastening plate 28
as having two pairs of bore holes 42a,42b and 44a,44b adjacent each of the
respective lateral
ends 46,48 of the plate 28, the invention is not so limited. It is to be
appreciated that a fewer or
greater number of bore holes may be provided in different configurations
selected to prevent
shifting of the base plate 34 relative to the sleepers 14 under longitudinal
load forces.
Although the disclosure describes and illustrates various preferred
embodiments, the
invention is not so limited. Many modifications and variations will now occur
to persons skilled
in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference may be had to the
appended claims.
