Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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NOISE REDUCING TRACK COVERING
The invention relates to a noise-reducing track cover comprising
cover elements arranged on the track, these cover elements having a
slab-like base and, on their upper side, a layer provided for plants to
take root therein.
In such track covers, by providing the layer for plants to take
root therein on the cover elements, a dense growth of plants filling the
entire area is intended to be obtained, and cover elements provided with
a plant growth in this manner are intended to have good sound-absorbing
properties. Such a plant growth is intended to be relatively simple to
obtain by sowing or by planting or, under favourable conditions, may
even form by itself.
Known cover elements of this type provide cover elements in the
form of troughs which are set up at the track by means of a larger
number of supporting elements and carrying elements. This results in
relatively high structural expenditures and complex manipulations.
Also other track covers are known which are formed with cover
elements comprised at least on their upper side of a slab-shaped, sound-
absorbing material. Sound-absorbing materials as a rule are mechanically
sensitive, mostly porous and also have relatively high production costs
and require great care when being installed in track systems. These
properties do not agree with the conditions generally prevailing in
track systems. By pressure loads exerted by walking over such cover
elements of sound-absorbing design and by the impact caused by the
falling of various objects on the cover elements, the latter are easily
damaged. Moreover, in the area of railway facilities, undesired deposits
of fine, particulate material form easily, and such deposits may cause a
negative change in the noise-dampening capacity achieved by sounds-
absorbing apertures or pores of cover elements.
It is an intended object of the present invention to provide a
noise-reducing track cover of the initially defined type, in which the
disadvantages of the aforementioned type are intended to be largely
avoided and which can be intended to be produced with relatively little
expenditures in terms of construction and of mounting technique, and
with which a stable fit of the cover elements on the track can be
intended to be attained also under the rough conditions of the railroad
operation. By the installation of the cover elements, the dynamic
behaviour of the track is to be changed as little as possible.
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According to a first broad aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a noise-reducing track cover comprising cover
elements arranged on the track, the cover elements each having a
slab-like base and, on their upper side, a layer provided for plants
to take root therein, wherein the cover elements are arranged
between rails of the track, the cover elements having supporting
noses at their respective rims that face the rails, the supporting
noses engaging in lateral recesses of the rails with elastomer
sections interposed therebetween, the cover elements resting on the
rails by means of the supporting noses to self-supportingly bridge
the space between the rails.
By this design, the aforementioned intended objects can be
intended to be met. The supporting of the cover elements by means of
the supporting noses provided on these cover elements, which
supporting noses engage in the lateral recesses of the rails, is
intended to result in a very stable fit of the cover elements in a
structurally simple manner, installation of the cover elements in
the track and a possible removal of the former for the purpose of
maintenance work being intended to be easy to accomplish. The self-
supporting bridging of the space present between the rails of the
respective track is intended to avoid a detrimental influence on the
track bedding by the cover elements, and in this manner a
detrimental influence on the dynamic behaviour of the track is
intended to be prevented. Moreover, by the fact that the cover
elements are supported merely on the rails, the noise dampening
effect obtained by the plants growing on the cover elements is
intended to be further improved.
An illustrative embodiment of the track cover according to the
invention is characterized in that cover elements arranged to
externally adjoining the rails are provided, which cover elements
have supporting noses on their rim that faces the respective rail,
said supporting noses engaging in the lateral recesses of the
respective rails with elastomer sections interposed, said cover
elements being supported on the respective rail merely by these
supporting noses and, on their side facing away from this rail, are
supported on a pedestal provided adjacent the track and self-
supportingly bridge the space between the respective rail and the
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pedestal.
Furthermore, it is very suitable if it is provided for the
layer provided for plants to take root therein to be covered by
anon-woven fabric. By this measure, it is intended that both the
layer provided for plants to take root therein and also the plants
that are rooted in this layer and which penetrate the non-woven
fabric, can be
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protected in a simple manner, and in particular, it is intended to be
achieved that the material of the layer provided for plants to take
roots therein as well as the plants rooted in this layer are protected
against the suction action exerted by rapidly moving rail-borne
vehicles, and moreover, it is intended to be ensured in this manner that
already shortly after the layer provided for plants to take roots
therein has been applied, the cover elements can be walked on or light
vehicles, e.g. lawn mowers, can be moved thereon without any negative
effects. For this purpose it is also provided for the slab-like base of
the cover elements to have a sufficient dimensional stability at least
for walking thereon and for movement thereon with light equipment.
In order to prevent undesired accumulations of rain water or other
liquids on the cover elements, it is an alternative to provide the cover
elements with drain openings and/or drain channels.
An embodiment of the cover elements intended to be of very simple
construction which also is easy to handle during installation in the
track and during a possible removal from the track is characterised in
that the slab-like base of the cover elements has the shape of a U-
section extending transversely to the rail-longitudinal direction, which
U-section is formed of a substantially plane bottom plate and of flange
ribs projecting upwards from the bottom plate and provided at those rims
of the bottom plate which extend transversely to the rail longitudinal
direction, the rail-side supporting of the cover elements being effected
by supporting noses which are formed by the ends of the flange ribs that
face the rails.
A further embodiment of the inventive track cover which, above all,
is intended to be advantageous as regards its handling during
installation of the cover elements in the track and during a possible
removal of the cover elements from the track is characterised in that
the cover elements arranged between the rails of the track so as to
extend from rail to rail are designed in the form of partial cover
element forming element pairs, the partial cover elements of each pair
being assembled in hinge-like manner and the geometric hinge axis
extending in parallel to the rails. In this embodiment, it is further
intended to be advantageous if it is provided that the partial cover
elements of each element pair are supported on each other at their rims
which
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face each other, and with each partial cover element, along its
rim that faces the other partial cover element of the respective
pair, carrying sections and resting sections are provided in me-
ander-like alternating succession, the resting sections of the
one partial cover element of the respective pair resting on the
carrying sections of the other partial cover element, and the
resting sections of the other partial cover element of the re-
spective pair resting on the carrying sections of the one par-
tial cover element.
The invention will now be described in more detail herein-
after and with reference to the drawing in which exemplary em-
bodiments of the subject matter of the invention are
schematically illustrated. In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a track
provided with a first embodiment of an inventively designed
track cover, in a section made transversely to the longitudinal
direction of the track; Fig. 2 shows a variant to the former, in
which the base of the cover elements has a depressed upper side,
in a section analogous to that of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows an embod-
iment in which the base of the cover elements has the shape of a
trough, once more in a section extending transversely to the
longitudinal direction of the track; Fig. 4 shows an embodiment,
in which the base of the cover elements has the shape of a U-
section, in a section extending transversely to the longitudinal
direction of the track, and Fig. 5 shows this embodiment in a
section extending in the longitudinal direction of the track,
according to line V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows an embodiment in
which the cover elements of the track cover are designed in the
form of partial cover elements assembled in pairs, in a section
extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the
track, and Fig. 7 shows this embodiment in an axonometric view
in the folded-up state, as results during the installation or
removal of the cover elements.
In the track 1 illustrated in Fig. 1, the rails 2, 2' of the
track are fastened to sleepers 4 by means of rail fastening ele-
ments 3, the sleepers 4 in turn being carried on a bed of gravel
5. This track is provided with an embodiment of a track cover
designed according to the invention, which is formed with cover
elements 6 arranged between the rails 2, 2' and with cover ele-
ments 7 externally adjoining the rails 2, 2'. The cover elements
6, 7 have a slab-like base 8 and, on their upper side 9, a layer
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provided for plants to take root therein. Plants 11 rooted in
this layer 10, which may be grasses, e.g., are sketched. The
slab-like base of the cover elements 6 has rim ledges 12 delim-
iting the layer 10 provided for plants to take root therein to-
wards the flange grooves 13; these rim ledges 12 may also be
moulded to the base 8 or joined thereto. In analogous manner,
rim ledges 12' are provided at the cover elements 7 delimiting
the layer 10, provided at these cover elements for plants to
take root therein, at the rims of the cover elements 7 that ex-
tend in the longitudinal direction of the rails.
In order to meet the requirements of rail traffic, the grow-
ing plants can also be cut frequently, with appropriate ma-
chines, e.g., moving on the track. To form the layer provided
for plants to take root therein, various materials may be used.
Thus, in addition to soil, humus and sand, e.g., also granular
materials, such as, e.g., clay or rock particles or plastics
granules may be used, and also foamed material in plate or
particle form. By means of the base of the cover elements, a
clear-cut separation between this layer provided for plants to
take root therein and the track bedding is given, and neither
the plant growth nor the fine material, which forms the layer
for the plants to take root therein, can negatively affect the
track bedding. The material forming the layer for plants to take
root therein can be applied to base parts of the cover elements
that have already been laid, which simplifies the laying, since
weight load resulting from the layer provided for plants to take
root therein does not exist when laying the cover elements. By
the continuous growth of the plants, a regeneration of the
sound-absorbing properties is also given after disturbing influ-
ences.
The rims 14 of the cover elements 6, 7 which face the rails
2, 2' have the shape of supporting noses 15 which are supported
on the rails with elastomer sections 16 interposed. In this man-
ner, the cover elements 6 are mounted on the rails 2, 2' only
and self-supportingly bridge the space 17 between the rails 2,
2' from rail to rail. At their side facing away from the re-
spective rail 2, 2', the cover elements 7 are supported on ped-
estals 18 located adjacent the track, with elastomer sections 19
interposed, there also existing a self-supporting bridging from
the respective rail 2, 2' to the respective pedestal 18. In the
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longitudinal direction of the track, a plurality of cover ele-
ments 6, 7 each is consecutively arranged. On the rims of the
cover elements which extend transversely to the longitudinal
direction of the track, rim ledges may be provided at the base 8
of the cover elements, which rim ledges will delimit the layer
provided for plants to take root therein at the individual
cover elements, or a layer 10 that extends continuously over
several cover elements may be provided, with the cover elements
6, 7 having to be laid in abutting sequence and any possibly re-
maining narrow gaps between successive cover elements having to
be bridged with a cover strip or having to be closed with a
joint filler.
It is an alternative to arrange a non-woven fabric 20 on the
layer 10 provided for plants to take root therein, since in this
manner the layer 10 and also the plants 11 growing thereon will
be stabilized against external influences. To drain off liquid
substances which act on the cover elements - these influences
also including rain water - drain openings 21 are provided at
the base 8 of the cover elements 6, 7.
The illustrated assembly of the track 1 on a bed of gravel 5
is to be seen as by way of example. Also other embodiments of
the substructure are possible.
In the variant of the Fig. 1-embodiment illustrated in Fig.
2, the only thing shown of the track cover is a cover element 6,
arranged between the rails 2, 2' of the track. Of course, also
with this variant, cover elements externally adjoining the rails
2, 2' of the track can be provided. The illustrated base 8 ex-
hibits depressions 22 on its upper side 9 which are separated by
ribs 23 from each other. By this depressed configuration of the
upper side 9 of the base 8 of the cover elements 6, a good hold
of the layer 10, for plants to take root therein, on the base 8
is attained. Also in this variant shown in Fig. 2, drain open-
ings 21 are provided in the base 8. If desired, a non-woven fab-
ric may also be arranged on this layer 10 provided for plants 11
to take root therein.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the base of the
cover elements has the shape of a trough 25, and each one of
these troughs 25 is filled with the layer 10 provided for plants
11 to take root therein. Supporting noses 15 are moulded to the
rims 14 of the trough 25, which supporting noses are supported
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on the rails 2, 2' with elastomer sections 16 interposed, and in
this manner, the cover elements 6 of the track cover are merely
supported on the rails 2, 2' and self-supportingly bridge the
space 17 between the rails from rail to rail. The troughs 25 are
provided with drain openings 21.
In the Figs. 4- and 5-embodiment of an inventively designed
track cover, the slab-like base 8 of the cover elements 6 has
the form of a U-section 27 extending transversely to the rail-
longitudinal direction. This U-section is formed of a substan-
tially plane bottom plate 28 and of flange ribs 29 which Iegin
at those rims of the bottom plate 28 that extend transversely to
the rail-longitudinal direction and which project upwards from
the bottom plate 28. These cover elements 6 are carried by sup-
porting noses 30, with elastomer sections 16 interposed, on the
rails 2, 2' only, and self-supportingly bridge the space 17
between the rails from rail to rail. The supporting noses 30 are
merely formed by the ends of the flange ribs 29 facing the
rails. The space present in the U-section 27 between the flange
ribs 29 is filled with the layer 10 provided for plants 11 to
take root therein. In this embodiment, drain channels 24 are
provided to drain off liquid substances, which drain channels
lead to drain openings 21 or may also directly lead to the out-
side. Such drain channels 24 may illustratively be shaped in a flow-
promoting manner.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of a track
cover designed according to the invention, the cover elements
arranged between the rails 2, 2' of the track have the form of
partial cover elements 31, 31' which together form element
pairs. The partial cover elements 31, 31' of each one of these
pairs are assembled in hinge-like manner, the geometric hinge
axis 32 extending in parallel with the rails 2, 2'. The partial
cover elements 31, 31' of each element pair are supported on
each other on their rims 33, 33' which face each other. In each
partial cover element, along the rim that faces the other par-
tial element of the respective pair, carrying sections 34 or
34', respectively, and resting sections 35 or 35', respectively,
are provided in meander-like alternating succession. The resting
sections 35 of the one partial cover element 31 of the respect-
ive pair rest on the carrying sections 34' of the other partial
carrying element 31' of the respective pair, and the resting
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sections 35' of the other partial cover element 31' of the re-
spective pair rest on the carrying sections 34 of the one par-
tial cover element 31 of the respective pair. In this manner,
the partial cover elements 31, 31' are connected in pairs to a
slab-like element which, in the levelled position, as illus-
trated in Fig. 6, is capable of carrying loads, these not only
being loads derived from the layer 10 provided for plants to
take roots therein and from those plants 11 that are rooted
therein, but also loads coming from the outside, as they occur
when such a track cover is walked or driven over. In the case
illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, each base of the partial cover
elements 31, 31' has the shape of a trough 36, and these
troughs 36 are carried on the rails 2, 2' by means of supporting
noses 15 moulded to the rail-side rim of the respective trough,
with elastomer sections 16 being interposed. The space 17
between the rails 2, 2' is self-supportingly bridged from rail
to rail. In Fig. 7, the growth formed by the plants 11 and ex-
tending over the upper side of the partial cover elements has
been outlined in the form of a geometric pattern for the sake of
simplicity. By the possibility illustrated in Fig. 7 of folding
up the partial cover elements of each pair in hinge-like manner,
insertion of these cover elements into the track and a possibly
required removal of the cover elements from the track are sub-
stantially facilitated.
For the sake of simplicity, in the embodiments of the track
cover designed according to the invention and illustrated in
Figs. 3 to 7, only the cover elements arranged between the rails
2, 2' of a track have been illustrated. Yet, also with these em-
bodiments, it is possible to provide cover elements externally
adjoining the rails of the track.
