Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Track Covering
The invention relates to a track covering including covering
elements inserted between the two rails of a track and designed
to be substantially plane on top, and optionally also covering
elements placed to join these rails externally and likewise de-
signed to be substantially plane on top, which covering ele-
ments, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the track, extend
each over several consecutive sleepers of the track and are ar-
ranged above said sleepers and the sleeper bedding of the track
at a vertical distance from the sleepers and the sleeper bed-
ding, whereby the dead weight of the covering elements inserted
between the rails and occasionally loads acting thereon are
transmitted only on the two rails by means of supporting noses
engaging in the lateral recesses of the rails.
Track coverings of the aforementioned kind are frequently
provided in order to form, in connection with a track or a track
system, a traffic surface on the level of the rails which is fit
for traffic and pedestrians. These may, for instance, comprise
level crossings or also traffic surfaces which are fit for road
vehicles and, at the same time, interspersed with tracks, and
which are located in major factory premises or storage facilit-
ies. Track coverings comprising accordingly designed covering
elements may also be provided to reduce the emission of noise
caused by rail vehicles running on rails.
The principle on which track coverings of the initially
defined kind are based, i.e., to arrange the covering elements
above the sleepers and the sleeper bedding of the track at a
vertical distance from the sleepers and the sleeper bedding and
to transmit the dead weight of the covering elements as well as
loads occasionally acting on these elements via supporting noses
only on the rails of the track so as to provide a sleeper-inde-
pendent as well as sleeper-bedding independent self-supported
bridging of the space located between the two rails of a track,
is of substantial importance to the obtainment of good operating
properties of a track and the maintenance of these operating
properties over extended periods of time. Considerable dynamic
loads are, in fact, exerted on the track by the vehicles running
in the region of a track covering and, in particular, rail
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vehicles. Yet, the elastic properties of the track, which are
determined to a high degree by the sleepers and their bedding,
are to be changed by a track covering possibly not at all or
only to a slight extent. By arranging the covering elements at
a vertical distance above the sleepers and the sleeper bedding,
adverse effects of the track covering on the elastic behaviour
of the track are largely eliminated.
With known track coverings of the initially defined kind,
the supporting noses engaging in the lateral rail recesses usu-
ally referred to as "fishing surfaces" are laterally formed to
the covering elements. In order to prevent the covering elements
from resting on the rail fastening elements which are provided
on the individual sleepers of the track and project higher up-
wards than the edge of the rail foot, the covering elements are
provided with recesses arranged in correspondence with the
sleeper distance, leaving free a space for the rail fastening
elements. Thus, covering elements prefabricated in series call
for an equally spaced-apart placement of the track sleepers in
the region of a track covering. Existing tracks frequently do
not comply with this requirement, and in some cases it may hap-
pen even with track systems to be newly mounted that this re-
quirement is not always met for structural and constructive
reasons.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a track
covering of the initially defined kind which can be provided in
a simple manner even for tracks where the sleepers thereof are
not placed at completely identical distances from one another.
The track covering of the initially defined kind and de-
signed according to the invention is characterized in that the
covering elements are seated on carrying elements which, extend-
ing in the direction of the sleepers, are each positioned above
the interspace provided between consecutively arranged sleepers
and are each comprised of two supporting and positioning blocks
connected via a long stretched-out connection means, which sup-
porting and positioning blocks, viewed in the longitudinal dir-
ection of the track, have dimensions corresponding at most to
the clear distance between the rail fastening means provided on
consecutively arranged sleepers and which supporting and posi-
tioning blocks, on their sides facing the rails, further com-
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prise supporting noses intended to engage in the lateral re-
cesses of the rails, wherein the supporting and positioning
blocks are positioned for engagement of the supporting noses in
the neighbouring recess of the respectively associated rail by a
length adapted to the track dimensions in the direction of the
sleepers, of the connection means provided in the respective
carrying element, and that the covering elements seated on the
carrying elements are secured against lateral displacement on
the supporting and positioning blocks of the carrying elements
by form-engagement and the covering elements inserted between
the rails, by partially covering the supporting and positioning
blocks in the direction of the sleepers, extend as far as to the
flange grooves of the track and the covering elements optionally
provided on the outer sides of the rails extend as far as to the
immediate vicinity of the rails. By this configuration, it is
possible to perfectly fulfill the aforementioned objective in a
structurally simple manner. The carrying elements may be posi-
tioned above the interspaces between consecutively arranged
sleepers as a function of the respective track sleeper position
actually provided, it being unnecessary that the sleepers of the
track are laid in an equidistant manner. The positioning of the
covering elements is not stringently bound to the position of
the sleepers, nor to the position of the rail fastening means
provided on the sleepers. If the distance of the sleepers varies
by a mean value, viewed over the longitudinal extension of the
track, as may be the case if larger tolerances have occurred in
the placement of the sleepers, covering elements having identic-
al longitudinal dimensions may be used, as a rule. Since the
length and the shape of the covering elements is not directly
dependent on the distances present between consecutively ar-
ranged sleepers of a track, covering plates prefabricated with
standardized lengths may also be readily shortened in terms of
length if necessary, and hence adapted to the circumstances pre-
vailing on the intended installation site. Since the coordina-
tion of the shape of the covering elements with the position of
the sleepers and the rail fastening elements required by the
known track coverings of the initially mentioned type is no
longer required with the track covering configured according to
the invention, the covering elements of the track covering ac-
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cording to the invention may be formed in a comparatively simple
manner and also may have constant cross sections over their en-
tire lengths, i.e., may form portions of a sectional strand,
thus allowing for a particularly simple and cost-saving produc-
tion. In this manner, covering elements having different lengths
may be provided in a very simple manner by appropriate separa-
tion cuts, thus meeting various demands resulting from mutually
different sleeper distances without problem.
With track coverings, in most cases, not only the space
present between the two rails of a track is to be covered by
covering elements, but also the surface strips externally join-
ing the track rails on either side are to be covered by covering
elements. In a manner analogous to the self-supporting type cov-
ering design intended for the space provided between the two
rails of a track, also the covering of the two zone strips ex-
ternally joining the track rails comprises carrying elements
which are each positioned in a self-supporting manner above the
interspace provided between consecutively arranged sleepers
while extending in the direction of the sleepers, and are each
comprised of two supporting and positioning blocks connected via
an elongated connection means, on which carrying elements cover-
ing elements will then be seated. The rail-side supporting and
positioning blocks comprise supporting noses and are supported
on the rails by means of these supporting noses engaging in the
lateral recesses of the rails; the supporting and positioning
elements provided on the rail-remote end of the carrying ele-
ments are supported on pedestals, said rail-remotely arranged
supporting and positioning blocks preferably being secured
against displacement in cooperation with said pedestals.
The covering elements usually have the shapes of substan-
tially closed plates with some small openings being optionally
provided in the same, which may serve, e.g., to attach hoists or
the like. It is, however, also feasible to provide covering ele-
ments in the form of gratings if liquid or particulate materials
are to be able to flow off unhampered.
Due to the fact that the covering elements seated on the
carrying elements and arranged between the track rails extend as
far as to the flange grooves of the track, or delimit the flange
grooves internally, and that covering elements optionally ar-
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ranged on the rail outer sides extend as far as to the immediate
vicinity of the rails, the formation of undesired openings
between consecutively arranged supporting and positioning blocks
is avoided; such openings might appear negative as vehicles hav-
ing narrow wheels are running over the coverings and also as
people are walking over the same.
In the assembled state, the covering elements together with
the carrying elements form a stable structure in which, viewed
in the direction of the sleepers, on the one hand, covering ele-
ments are present between the supporting and positioning blocks
in a manner secured on the supporting and positioning blocks by
form-engagement and, on the other hand, the elongated connection
provided between the supporting and positioning blocks is formed
therebelow. The supporting and positioning blocks via their sup-
porting noses transmit onto the rails the dead weight of this
structure comprised of the covering elements and the carrying
elements as well as loads acting on this structure, whereby the
supporting and positioning blocks care for the positioning of
this structure in the track, on the one hand, and for the posi-
tioning of the covering elements on the carrying elements, on
the other hand.
The materials suitable for the covering elements and also
for the supporting and positioning blocks preferably are con-
crete or a concrete-like composite material comprised of a par-
ticulate aggregate and a binder. If desired, a reinforcement may
also be provided within these structural components. As binders,
both cement and substances similar to cement in terms of proper-
ties as well as synthetic materials of various types may be con-
sidered, wherein synthetic materials like, e.g., polyester, may
constitute the sole binder or may serve to modify or supplement
a bond primarily based on cement or a cement-like material. Also
several synthetic materials may be combined to form a binder,
and it is likewise feasible to combine several substances from
the group of cement and cement-like materials to form said bind-
er. If a sound-deadening or sound-absorbing behaviour of the
track covering is to be attained, it is advantageously provided
that the particles contained in the composite material of which
the covering elements are formed are comprised of light building
materials, in particular porous light building materials. Fa-
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vourable materials are, e.g., granulated synthetics, granular
slag particles, spherical and burnt, blown alumina particles and
similar burnt natural or synthetically produced materials,
wherein mixtures of various such particulate materials may be
considered as well. Even fibrous particles may constitute the
aggregate, either alone or in combination with other particles.
In order to increase the edge strength of the covering elements
and/or the carrying capacity of the same, and in order to
achieve advantages in the production and handling of the same,
these elements, if desired, may also be provided with a frame
made of a metal or synthetic material. The supporting and posi-
tioning blocks may also be made of synthetic materials either as
a whole or in part (supporting noses), thermoplasts or duro-
plasts or elastomers being conceivable. The use of elastomers
offers advantages in respect to shock absorbance and also in re-
spect to facilitating the mounting of the covering. Furthermore,
it is beneficial if the covering elements and/or the supporting
and positioning blocks are provided with a reinforcement. In the
latter case, it is advantageous to allow the reinforcement to
extend as far as into the supporting noses.
In the track covering designed according to the invention, a
good connection of the covering elements with the carrying ele-
ments appears of relevance, which connection is to be readily
manipulatable both during the installation of the track covering
and during a removal optionally required for track maintenance,
to offer a good long-duration stability and to be able to trans-
mit elevated loads, if need be. From the form-engagement of the
covering elements with the supporting and positioning blocks
results a good fixation in the lateral direction. The dead
weight of the covering elements and optionally the surface pres-
sure attainable by the squeezing of the covering elements in
many cases will be sufficient to prevent the covering elements
from being lifted. In addition, and in an advantageous manner
with a view to mounting and dismounting, it may be provided that
the assemblage of the covering elements with the carrying ele-
ments comprises holding or securing pins. These holding or se-
curing pins may, for instance, be provided with screw threads or
designed as socket pins.
In order to obtain a good coherence of the covering elements
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and the carrying elements also in the vertical direction, it is
advantageously provided that the supporting and positioning
blocks of the carrying elements on the sites where these are
connected with the covering elements comprise undercuts in which
accordingly formed zones of the covering elements engage. Thus,
the good coherence mentioned may be achieved in a structurally
simple manner and by simple manipulations already when connect-
ing the covering plates with the carrying elements.
In order to ensure a good transmission on the carrying ele-
ments, of loads acting on the covering elements and in order to
ensure a statically beneficial load distribution positively in-
fluencing the stability in the event of loading, it is advant-
ageously provided that the supporting and positioning blocks on
their side facing away from the respective rail are stepped in a
rabbet-like manner from top, that the covering elements on their
edges facing the supporting and positioning blocks are stepped
in a rabbet-like manner from the bottom so as to correspond with
the supporting and positioning blocks, and that the covering
elements rest on the step formed on the supporting and position-
ing blocks. The inward shift of the load transmission: covering
elements - carrying elements caused by this step structure,
raises the load carrying capacity of the covering elements or,
in the event of a predetermined carrying capacity, offers ad-
vantages in terms of dimensioning.
It is, furthermore, beneficial if it is provided that a
ledge made of a flexible material, in particular an elastomer
material, is inserted between the covering elements and the sup-
porting and positioning blocks on the sites where the covering
elements are connected with the respective blocks. Such an em-
bodiment of the track covering designed according to the inven-
tion facilitates handling during the assemblage procedure of the
covering elements with the carrying elements and also reduces
the noise emitted during the passage of a track, since the
transmission of vibrations from the rails to the covering ele-
ments is markedly reduced by the flexible material ledge.
In respect to the configuration of the carrying elements, an
advantageous embodiment of the track covering according to the
invention contemplates that the supporting and positioning block
connecting means provided on the individual carrying elements
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are formed by at least one rod or plate leading from one of
these blocks to the other one of these blocks. The connecting
means provided on the individual carrying elements may, thus, be
realized in a manner requiring little space, and, as a result, a
relatively large amount of space will be available for a thick-
walled stable configuration of the covering elements, which is
of particular advantage for the achievement of a high load-bear-
ing capacity. Furthermore, the low space demand of connecting
means designed as rods in the carrying elements allows the car-
rying elements to remain in the track during subsequent track
maintenance works, e.g., when subsequently packing the track
bedding. For the manipulations involved in the installation of
the carrying elements, it is, furthermore, advantageous if the
respective rod or plate is designed to be elastically flexible.
A realization of the rods or plates of fibre-reinforced synthet-
ic materials or steel allows for the attainment of a high
strength and good long-duration stability at low manufacturing
expenses. It is also beneficial if the rods or plates reach as
far as into the supporting noses of the supporting and position-
ing blocks, forming a reinforcement.
Another embodiment of the track covering designed according
to the invention, which allows for the installation of the cov-
ering into a track, and the possible removal of the covering, in
a particularly simple manner, is characterized in that the con-
necting means of the supporting and positioning blocks provided
on the individual carrying elements are formed by pairs of
semirods, one semirod of a pair each being connected with the
one supporting and positioning block of a carrying element and
the other semirod of this pair being connected with the other
supporting and positioning block of this carrying element, and
the two semirods of the respective pair on their ends facing
away from the whole blocks are mutually connected in a hinge-
like manner, the hinge-connection, on the one hand, forming a
fixed position in which the two semirods are in mutual align-
ment, on the other hand, enabling the two semirods to fold up
into an angular position. This embodiment enables a particularly
simple installation procedure of the carrying elements in the
track by inserting into the track the carrying elements in the
folded-up angular position of the pairs of semirods and sub-
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sequently pressing the semirods into the position in mutual
alignment, whereby the placement of the covering elements on the
carrying elements is effected either with the semirods being
already in the aligned position, or the covering elements are
positioned and connected with the carrying elements as the
semirods are being pressed straight. For the latter mode of op-
eration, an advantageous embodiment is characterized in that
tooth-like projections are provided on the inner sides of the
supporting and positioning blocks, which tooth-like projections,
with the covering elements positioned on the supporting and pos-
itioning blocks of the carrying elements, engage in lateral sur-
faces of the covering elements formed in correspondence with
these tooth-like projections and extending in the longitudinal
direction of the track. This embodiment in a simple manner also
allows for the obtainment of very stable covering element seats
which are secured against lifting.
An elastic support of the supporting noses provided on the
supporting and positioning blocks ensures stable seats of the
carrying elements on the track rails, which balance out struc-
tural tolerances, thereby also largely reducing the transmission
of vibrations from the track rails onto the supporting and posi-
tioning blocks. In this context, an embodiment in which the in-
stallation of the carrying elements into the track is feasible
in a particularly simple manner is characterized in that support
sections made of elastically damping materials, in particular an
elastomer material, are inserted between the lateral recesses of
the rails and the supporting noses provided on the supporting
and positioning blocks and each engaging in the respective re-
cesses.
In the following, the invention will be explained in more
detail by way of exemplary embodiments schematically illustrated
in the Figures of the drawing. In the drawing, Fig. 1 depicts a
track provided with an embodiment of a track covering designed
according to the invention in the top view; Fig. 2 illustrates
this track sectioned along line II-II of Fig. 1, on an enlarged
scale relative to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 likewise is a section through
the surroundings of the left-hand rail of Fig. 2 on an even fur-
ther enlarged scale; Figs. 4 to 8 show variants in illustrations
analogous to Fig. 2; Figs. 9 and 10 depict a further embodiment
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in illustrations analogous to Fig. 2, Fig. 9 showing this track
covering in the state of being installed and Fig. 10 showing
this track covering in the completely installed state. In the
drawing, identical details are denoted by the same reference nu-
merals in the different Figures.
In the track represented in Figs. 1 to 3, which is provided
with an embodiment of a track covering 1 designed according to
the invention, covering elements 5 are placed between the two
rails 2, 3 of a track 4 and covering elements 6 are placed to
join these rails 2, 3 externally. The covering elements 5, 6
have substantially plane surfaces. The covering elements 5, 6
are seated on carrying elements 14 extending in the direction 15
of the sleepers and each positioned above the interspace 16
present between consecutively arranged sleepers 8 of the track.
For reasons of clarity, Fig. 1 illustrates the track 4 without
any covering in sections a and d, provided with carrying ele-
ments 14 in section b and provided with the complete covering in
section c, i.e. the track including the covering elements 5, 6
positioned on the carrying elements 14.
The sleepers 8 of the track 4 are arranged at different dis-
tances from one another, as may result in rough tolerance track
building or from special situations with complexly designed
track sections.
The carrying elements 14, which are each positioned above
the interspace 16 present between consecutively arranged sleep-
ers 8, are each comprised of two supporting and positioning
blocks 17 which are connected by an elongated connection means
18 and, viewed in the longitudinal direction 7 of the track 4,
have a dimension 19 corresponding at most to the clear distance
21 between the rail fastening means 20 provided on consecutive
sleepers 8. The supporting and positioning blocks 17 on their
sides facing the rails 2, 3 comprise supporting noses 11 for en-
gagement in the lateral recesses 10 of the rails 2, 3, and the
supporting and positioning blocks 17 are positioned for engage-
ment of the supporting noses 11 in the respectively neighbouring
recess 10 of the respectively associated rail 2, 3, by a length
adapted to the track dimensions in the sleeper direction 15, of
the connection means 18 provided in the respective carrying ele-
ment 14. The covering elements 5, 6 are seated on the supporting
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and positioning blocks 17 of the carrying elements, and the car-
rying elements 14 with the covering elements 5, 6 seated thereon
are arranged above the sleepers 8 and the sleeper bedding 9 of
the track at a vertical distance from these sleepers and the
sleeper bedding, whereby the dead weight of the covering ele-
ments 5 and the carrying elements 14 carrying these covering
elements 5 as well as loads occasionally acting thereon are
transmitted only on the two rails 2, 3 by means of supporting
noses 11 engaging in the lateral rail recesses 10 so as to en-
sure the self-supporting bridging of the space present between
the two rails 2, 3. The covering elements 6 placed to join the
rails 2, 3 of the track externally likewise are seated on carry-
ing elements 14 analogously to the covering elements 5, one of
the supporting and positioning blocks 17 of these carrying ele-
ments engaging the neighbouring rails 2 and 3, respectively, by
a supporting nose 11 and one of the supporting and positioning
blocks 17 being provided on the rail-remote side of these carry-
ing elements and supported on a pedestal 23. Again, a self-sup-
porting bridging of the spaces located between the rails 2, 3 of
the tracks and the externally arranged pedestals 23 is provided
by the covering elements connected with the carrying elements.
For the elastic support of the supporting noses 11 of the
various carrying elements on the track rails, support sections
12 made of an elastically resilient material, in particular an
elastomer material, are inserted between the lateral recesses 10
of the rails 2, 3 and the supporting noses 11. In a correspond-
ing manner, flexible ledges 13 are inserted between the rail-re-
mote supporting and positioning blocks 17 of the carrying
elements carrying the covering elements 6, and the pedestals 23.
The covering elements 5 arranged between the rails 2, 3 ex-
tend as far as to the flange grooves 30 of the track by par-
tially covering the supporting and positioning blocks 17 in the
sleeper direction 15, and the covering elements 6 provided on
the outer sides of the rails 2, 3 reach as far as to the immedi-
ate vicinity of the rails 2, 3. Thus, the formation of undesired
openings in the rail region is counteracted.
The covering elements 5, 6 rest on the upper sides of the
supporting and positioning blocks 17 of the carrying elements 14
arranged below the covering elements, a step-like form-engage-
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ment, thus, preventing the covering elements from being later-
ally displaced relative to the associated carrying elements. The
supporting and positioning blocks 17 of the carrying elements 14
on the sites where these are connected with the covering ele-
ments 5, 6 comprise undercuts 31 in which accordingly formed
zones 32 of the covering elements 5, 6 engage; thereby, the cov-
ering elements 5, 6 are also secured against lifting off the
carrying elements.
The connecting means 18 of the supporting and positioning
blocks 17 provided at the carrying elements 14 are comprised of
a rod 33 leading from one of the blocks 17 to the other block.
Such rods may be replaced with thin plates. Preferably, this rod
33, or the plate provided instead, is designed to be elastically
flexible, thus facilitating the assemblage of the covering ele-
ments with the carrying elements, since the supporting and posi-
tioning blocks 17 comprising said undercuts can be slightly
pivoted in the sense of an opening of the undercuts during
mounting by pressing up the centre of the rod 33 or an accord-
ingly designed plate, respectively, such that the covering ele-
ment zones 32 shaped to correspond with said undercuts may be
readily inserted between the undercuts 31, whereupon the previ-
ously lifted centre of the rod 33 is released, thus ensuring a
firm engagement between the undercuts 31 and the zones 32.
Depending on the materials provided for the covering ele-
ments 5, 6 and the blocks 17 of the carrying elements 14, and
the requirements set on these elements 5, 6, 14 in each respect-
ive case, it is beneficial in many cases to provide a reinforce-
ment 28 in covering elements 5 and/or a reinforcement 29 in
covering elements 6 and/or a reinforcement 39 in blocks 17, as
indicated in Fig. 3. Such reinforcements may be provided also in
other embodiments, e.g. in those illustrated in the remaining
Figures. The reinforcements may, for instance, be designed in
the form of rods or grids made of metals or synthetic materials
or also in the form of fibres. Frequently, no reinforcements
need be provided at all.
In the variant represented in Fig. 4, the supporting and po-
sitioning blocks 17 of the carrying elements are stepped from
top in a rabbet-like manner on their sides facing away from the
respective rail so as to form a step 27 on these blocks 17 by a
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rabbet 26, and covering elements 5, 6 are stepped from the bot-
tom in a rabbet-like manner on their edges facing the supporting
and positioning blocks in a manner corresponding with the sup-
porting and positioning blocks 17, resting on the steps 27
formed by the supporting and positioning blocks 17. In the case
illustrated in Fig. 4, no undercut is provided and the covering
elements 5, 6 are secured against upward lifting by holding pins
24, which are, for instance, provided with screw threads 25, en-
gaging in corresponding female threads or screw-in pegs provided
in the blocks 17 and not illustrated in detail. A variant would
be socket pins. The resting of the covering elements 5, 6 on the
steps provided inwardly on the supporting and positioning blocks
reduces the supporting width of the covering elements 6, this
enabling the latter to be burdened by a higher load and/or di-
mensioned to be less heavy at a pregiven load-bearing capacity.
The variant represented in Fig. 5 contemplates a configura-
tion similar to that of Fig. 3, wherein, however, a ledge 36
made of a soft-flexible material and, in particular, an elast-
omer material is inserted between the covering elements 5, 6 and
the respective supporting and positioning blocks 17 on the sites
where the covering elements 5, 6 are connected with said blocks
17. This facilitates the assemblage of the covering elements
with the carrying elements, and the seat of the covering ele-
ments on the carrying elements may also be improved by such
ledges.
In the variant illustrated in Fig. 6, the supporting and po-
sitioning blocks 17 are made entirely of a synthetic material,
to which end a dimensionally stable elastomer is particularly
suitable. The rods 33 constituting the connection means of the
carrying elements extend as far as into the supporting noses 11
of the supporting and positioning blocks 17. In the case illus-
trated, the covering elements 5, 6 simply rest on the supporting
and positioning blocks without any undercuts, the transmission
of load occurring on top of the blocks 17 and the lateral fric-
tion between the covering elements 5, 6 and the supporting and
positioning blocks 17, in addition to the dead weight of the
covering elements 5, 6, securing the latter against lifting. If
desired, a reinforcement is provided.
In the variant according to Fig. 7, the geometry of the co-
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operating zones of the covering elements 5, 6 and the supporting
and positioning blocks 17 of the carrying elements 14 carrying
these covering elements is chosen to be similar to that of the
embodiment according to Fig. 3 with the exception that, follow-
ing the lateral undercuts 31 of the supporting and positioning
blocks 17, the respective lateral inner surfaces of these blocks
17 extend freely downwards, thus usually enabling simpler hand-
ling in practice when connecting the covering elements with the
carrying elements, in the course of which the zones 32 of the
covering elements 5, 6 enter into engagement with the undercuts
31 provided on the blocks 17.
At the variant according to Fig. 8, again geometric condi-
tions similar to those illustrated in Fig. 3 are present, yet
the undercuts 31 are designed to be semi-circular in cross sec-
tion, which provides for an enhanced stability and durability of
the zones 32 formed in correspondence with the undercuts and
provided on the edges of the covering elements 5, 6, on the one
hand, and also facilitates the procedure involved in connecting
the covering elements and the carrying elements, on the other
hand.
In the embodiment represented in Figs. 9 and 10, of a track
covering designed in accordance with the invention, the carrying
elements 14 allocated to the covering elements 5 to be arranged
between the rails 2, 3 of the track, are provided with connec-
tion means 18 comprised of pairs of semirods 33a, 33b between
the supporting and positioning blocks 17. One semirod 33a of a
pair is each connected with one of the supporting and position-
ing blocks of such a carrying element, the other semirod 33b of
this pair being connected with the other one of the supporting
and positioning blocks of this carrying element; the two
semirods 33a, 33b of the respective pair on their ends facing
away from said supporting and positioning blocks are intercon-
nected in a hinge-like manner, the hinge connection 34 allowing
the folding up of the two semirods 33a, 33b into an angular pos-
ition as illustrated in Fig. 9. In this manner, the carrying
elements 14 can most readily be inserted between the track rails
2, 3 by folding up into the angular position illustrated and the
semirods 33a, 33b subsequently can be brought into a mutually
aligned position by being pressed down in the sense of arrow 22,
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as illustrated in Fig. 10. The hinge connection 34 is designed
to form a fixed position in the mutually aligned position of the
semirods illustrated in Fig. 10. Depending on the configuration
of the cooperating surfaces of the covering elements and the
supporting and positioning blocks, the connecting of the cover-
ing elements 5 with the supporting and positioning blocks 17 of
the carrying elements 14 may be effected as the semirods are be-
ing pressed down into the mutually aligned position or after
this mutually aligned position has been reached. In the event of
an undercut engagement, the covering elements may be connected
with the carrying elements as the semirods are being pressed
down. This also holds for the configuration illustrated in Figs.
9 and 10, in which tooth-like projections 37 are provided on the
inner sides of the supporting and positioning blocks 17, which
projections engage in lateral surfaces 38 of the covering ele-
ments 5 formed in correspondence with these tooth-like projec-
tions 37, with the covering elements 5 being positioned on the
supporting and positioning blocks of the carrying elements 14.
Those edges 35 of the covering elements 5, 6 which extend
transversely to the rails advantageously are each positioned to
extend over a carrying element 14, as is apparent from Fig. 1,
which ensures a good coherence of consecutively arranged cover-
ing elements, because two neighbouring covering elements are
each commonly seated on one carrying element.
