Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
=
- 1 -
Noise reduction device
The invention relates to a noise reduction device for arrangement on a traffic
route, compris-
ing at least one wall element having a wall element longitudinal extension,
the wall element
being arranged on at least one base element having a base element longitudinal
extension in
the direction of the wall element longitudinal extension, and the base element
has a first front
face and a second front face, and the two front faces lie opposite one another
along the base
element longitudinal extension, a noise reduction wall system comprising
several noise reduc-
tion devices disposed one after the other in the longitudinal direction, as
well as the use of the
noise reduction device.
Noise reduction devices in the form of wall elements are used along or on
traffic routes to
reduce noise. These noise reduction devices are usually erected in a fixed
arrangement on or
next to the traffic route and an appropriate foundation is built for this
purpose, on which or in
which stands for the noise reduction walls themselves, usually profiled I-
sections or profiled
H-sections made from steel, are anchored.
AT 7 753 Ul describes a noise reduction element for use in railway
construction. In order to
reduce the noise which occurs when the wheels roll on the tracks, it is
proposed that a sound
reducing element be disposed on a base element constituting a stand surface
which can be
secured to the ground and which preferably extends vertically upwards, and
which is able to
move relative to the base element, preferably in a folding arrangement, and/or
is mounted so
as to be removable.
DE 298 05 730 Ul discloses a noise reducing wall for traffic routes having a
support con-
struction supported on the ground, on which prefabricated, sound-absorbing
wall elements are
secured, which support construction comprises several prefabricated, vertical
frames in which
the wall elements can be fitted, and the wall elements are at least partially
made from recycled
material and/or immobilized waste products.
DE 85 28 305 U 1 describes a kit for erecting support-free noise reducing
walls, and the indi-
vidual kit elements comprise noise reducing wall elements having rear panels
on which insu-
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 2 -
lating layers are disposed, which are covered by perforated panels, and at
least a lateral end of
the rear panels is of an articulated design with a joint pin which is able to
co-operate with the
adjacent panel.
AT 10 131 Ul discloses a mobile noise reduction wall, comprising a concrete
base, a noise
reducing element detachably connected to it and a cross-member which is
detachably con-
nected to both the concrete base and the noise reducing element. The noise
reducing element
is made from highly absorbing noise reduction panels in a steel construction
and is mounted
on the concrete base and secured by means of cross-members.
DE.44 19 886 Al discloses a soundproof coating for sound-emitting and/or sound-
reflecting
surfaces, in particular for railway permanent-way structures, and the
soundproof coating com-
prises a rubber granulate which is set by means of a preferably elastically
deformable plastic,
and the coating also has a relatively high proportion of at least partially
open-pored air pores.
DE 24 07 281 Al discloses a soundproofing material, two layers of which are
placed in con-
tact with one another, each containing a number of inorganic particles thinly
coated with an
adhesive and thus bonded, holes being formed between mutually adjoining
particles. The par-
ticle sizes in each layer differ from one another so that essentially all the
particles in one layer
are more than two times bigger than the maximum size of the particles in the
adjoining layer.
All the particles in all the layers are essentially within the size range of
between 0.1 mm and
15 mm.
WO 98/37276 Al describes a sound reducing device for reducing the propagation
of airborne
sound, comprising a track system and an elastically deformable, low sound
reducing wall
made from rubber or plastic extending in the track longitudinal direction, and
the low sound
reducing wall disposed at a distance from the track has profiling on its side
facing the track
(inner side), which extends essentially across the entire wall height, whereas
its face remote
from the track (outer side) is predominantly of a flat design. The inner side
is inclined at an
angle a and the outer side is inclined at an angle pi, and is so respectively
towards the track by
reference to the track vertical, and the angle f3 is bigger than the angle a.
The profiling of the
inner side is a system of lips, and the lips are oriented at an angle y, and
are so towards the
floor of the track relative to the track horizontal. The low sound reducing
wall terminates at
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 3 -
the top, where the inner side and outer side meet, by a lip inclined towards
the track which is
oriented at an angle 8, namely upwards relative to the track vertical. The low
sound reducing
wall also has at least one hollow chamber extending in the track longitudinal
direction.
A fixing mechanism is known from AT 8 619 Ul, which enables the use of a noise
reducing
wall without a foundation. The fixing mechanism consists of a simple profiled
section which
is easy to install and dismantle, which can be connected to a rail. Simple
assembly and dis-
mantling is achieved due to the effect of force acting on a mounting plate. An
appropriately
bent fitting support holds the noise reducing wall at an exact horizontal
distance from the rail
and at the same time stabilizes the right-angled position with respect to the
track. A locking
plate connects the noise reducing wall to the fixing mechanism by a latching
action. The fit-
ting support is encased in rubber or another elastic material to protect the
track and crossties
and damp their vibrations. The offset of the fitting support at the transition
from the crosstie
to the ballast bed underneath is used to ensure that the latter is embedded in
the ballast and the
full weight of the noise reducing wall is borne by the ballast bed.
AT 9 954 Ul discloses a noise reduction wall for screening the noise which
occurs due to
travel on railway tracks, the height of the noise reduction wall disposed on
either side of a
track being approximately 0.5 m to 2 m. The distance between two noise
reduction walls ¨
lying opposite one another normally to a longitudinal direction of the track ¨
is in a range of
only approximately 3 to 5 % bigger than the width of a clearance outline of
the track, and the
angle of a side of the noise reduction wall facing the track is in a range of
approximately -15
to +15 relative to the vertical and a flank nose is provided on a bottom end
of the noise re-
duction wall lying on the ballast of the track on a side remote from the track
with a nose end
spaced at a distance apart from said remote side, which subtends an angle of
approximately
100 to approximately 40 with respect to a horizontal.
AT 508 575 B1 discloses a noise reducing device for erecting on a traffic
route comprising at
least one wall element, and the wall element is disposed on at least one base
element which
can be installed on or adjacent to the traffic route without a foundation, and
the base element
can be installed on a ballast bed of a track and is not anchored in the
ground, and the base
element has at least one connecting element by means of which the base element
can be con-
nected to a crosstie and/or a rail of a track.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 4 -
The objective of this invention is to simplify the construction of noise
reduction devices along
lengths of track. In particular, the objective of the invention is to propose
an improved noise
reduction device.
This objective is achieved, independently in each case, on the basis of the
noise reduction
device outlined above, the noise reduction wall system outlined above and the
use of the noise
reduction device and, in the case of the noise reduction device, the first
front face of the base
element is provided with a curvature and the second front face of the base
element is provid-
ed with a second curvature, and the two curvatures extend in the direction
perpendicular to the
base element longitudinal extension, the protective wall system being made up
of the noise
reduction devices, and the protective device is used as a noise reduction wall
along a track,
the noise reduction wall being erected at a distance of between 50 cm and 120
cm from the
neighboring track.
The advantage of this is that the design of the curvatures enables radii of
curvature to be more
easily produced. Furthermore, as a result of this construction, the noise
reduction wall system
is able to withstand higher lateral forces acting on it because the forces are
distributed by the
mutually adjoining noise reduction devices to several noise reduction devices
and the noise
reduction devices can be prevented from sliding laterally apart from one
another when the
noise reduction wall system is in the assembled state. In other words, lateral
movement of the
individual noise reduction devices in the noise reduction wall system is
reduced, so that
means for securing the noise reduction device to the tracks or to the crosstie
can be dispensed
with, even though the noise reduction devices are erected at a very short
distance from the
rail, preferably without a foundation, i.e. they are erected on only a ballast
bed or optionally
on a solid carriageway. This makes it possible to erect the noise reduction
wall system very
close to the source of the noise, as a result of which the height of the noise
reduction devices
can be reduced. It also results in higher security in the center region
between the tracks of two
directions of travel in terms of fixing the position of the noise reduction
devices. Avoiding
mechanical connections between the noise reduction devices and the rails or
crossties simpli-
fies construction of the noise reduction wall system.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 5 -
Based on a preferred embodiment, the first curvature has a conical contour and
the second
curvature has a convex contour. The base elements or all the noise reduction
elements may
therefore all be of the same shape, which simplifies manufacture of the
elements on the one
hand and their assembly on the other hand. Furthermore, it is also possible to
produce nar-
rower radii of curvature, imparting greater stability to the noise reduction
wall.
Another option is for the wall element and base element to be of an integral
design. This sig-
nificantly reduces the time needed to assemble the noise reduction wall
system. Conversely,
however, the time needed to dismantle the noise reduction device by simply
lifting it with a
crane can also be reduced and simplified, which specifically offers advantages
when it comes
to maintenance work along the run of track or rescue operations after train
accidents.
Based on another embodiment, the wall element and /or the base element is or
are made from
a lightweight concrete incorporating pores. Accordingly, these noise reduction
elements may
be based on a monolithic design, thereby obviating the need for a complex
structure to
achieve a noise reducing effect. In addition, this offers a simple way of
adapting the noise
reducing behavior by opting for an appropriate choice of pore size or by
providing a pore size
spectrum or based on the number of pores, i.e. the total pore volume.
However, another option is for the wall element to be filled with rock wool or
rubber granu-
late. In particular, this wall element is used as a so-called field element.
Accordingly, a wall
element is provided which has a high resistance to adverse weather conditions
but does not
require any special treatment to improve resistance to weathering and is low
in terms of
maintenance, whilst at the same time achieving a relatively high reduction of
noise nuisance
for residents living along the run of track.
With a view to reducing noise nuisance still further, a barrier element to
sound waves is dis-
posed on and/or in the wall element. This enables overall weight to be reduced
whilst improv-
ing noise reduction.
Based on one embodiment of the noise reduction wall system, the noise
reduction devices are
connected to one another in a positive fit. This enables an additional force-
fitting connection
to be dispensed with, for example by means of retaining clamps or screws.
Opting for solely a
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 6 -
positively fitting connection in turn makes assembly and dismantling of the
noise reduction
wall system simpler on the one hand, whilst also making production of the
noise reduction
device simpler on the other hand, because fittings such as screw plates or
similar for provid-
ing a force-fitting connection between the noise reduction devices can be
dispensed with.
In order to reduce the risk of the noise reduction device shifting due to
(micro) movements in
the ballast bed in terms of its position, in particular as regards the
distance from the rails, ex-
clusively the first and/or the last noise reduction device of the several
noise reduction devices
disposed one after the other has or have at least one connecting element by
means of which
the noise reduction device can be connected to a crosstie and/or a rail of a
track. Again, the
advantage of this is that this connection is limited to at most two noise
reduction devices,
thereby enabling assembly and dismantling of the noise reduction wall system
to be further
simplified. The stability of the other noise reduction devices between the two
end elements in
terms of position with respect to one another is obtained by the positively
fitting connection
of the individual noise reduction devices to one another.
To provide a clearer understanding, the invention will be described in more
detail below with
reference to the appended drawings.
These are simplified schematic diagrams illustrating the following:
Fig. 1 the design of a noise reduction device on a railway traffic
route seen from the
front in the direction of the rail traffic route;
Fig. 2 a noise reduction device viewed from an angle;
Fig. 3 a plan view of the noise reduction device illustrated in Fig.
2;
Fig. 4 a first end element for the noise reduction device illustrated
in Fig. 4 viewed from
an angle;
Fig. 5 a plan view of the end element illustrated in Fig. 4;
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
=
- 7 -
Fig. 6 another end element for the noise reduction device illustrated
in Fig. 4 viewed
from an angle;
Fig. 7 a detail from a noise reduction wall system with several noise
reduction devices of
the type illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6 viewed from an angle with a rail
connection;
Fig. 8 a plan view of the noise reduction wall system illustrated in
Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 a detail from another noise reduction wall system with several
noise reduction
devices based on one embodiment, viewed from an angle, with a rail connection;
Fig. 10 a plan view of the noise reduction wall system illustrated in
Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 an end view of the noise reduction wall system illustrated in
Fig. 9;
Fig. 12 an embodiment of a fixing element for securing a wall element
to a base element
of a noise reduction device, viewed from the front;
Fig. 13 a side view of the fixing element illustrated in Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 the fixing element illustrated in Fig. 12 viewed from behind;
Fig. 15 a plan view of the fixing element illustrated in Fig. 12;
Fig. 16 a plan view of a rail connecting element for connecting a noise
reduction device to
a rail;
Fig. 17 a side view of the rail connecting element illustrated in Fig.
16;
Fig. 18 the rail connecting element illustrated in Fig. 16 viewed from an
angle;
Fig. 19 a plan view of an embodiment of a base element of the noise
reduction device;
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 8 -
Fig. 20 a plan view of another embodiment of a base element of the
noise reduction de-
vice.
Firstly, it should be pointed out that the same parts described in the
different embodiments are
denoted by the same reference numbers and the same component names and the
disclosures
made throughout the description can be transposed in terms of meaning to same
parts bearing
the same reference numbers or same component names. Furthermore, the positions
chosen for
the purposes of the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., relate to
the drawing specifical-
ly being described and can be transposed in terms of meaning to a new position
when another
position is being described.
Fig. 1 illustrates two embodiments of a noise reduction device 1 which are
very similar to one
another and which are illustrated in more detail in Figs. 2 to 8 and 9 and 10.
In particular,
these noise reduction devices 1 are used as noise reduction walls in the
region of track sys-
tems 2 and, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the noise reduction device 1 has an
advantage in that it can
be erected very close to track runs 3 so that the noise generated by wheels 4
of railway vehi-
cles 5 and the track runs 3 can be effectively damped or directed to an area
where it no longer
constitutes a nuisance, even if the structural height of the noise reduction
device 1 is low.
These two noise reduction devices 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 are naturally
positioned to allow un-
hindered operation of railway vehicles 5, i.e. they are disposed at a
sufficient distance 6, 7
from the travelling railway vehicles 5. Due to the construction of the noise
reduction devices
1, this distance 6, 7 of the two noise reduction devices 1 is between 0.5 m
and 1.2 m, in par-
ticular between 0.7 m and 1 m, so that the two noise reduction devices 1 can
be erected very
close to the source of the noise. In this respect, the distance 6, 7 is
measured between the edge
of the outer edge of the noise reduction devices 1 facing the rails and the
middle of the neigh-
boring rail.
Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the first embodiment of the noise reduction device 1
illustrated in Fig.
1, a so-called center element, which in particular is disposed at least
approximately centrally
between two track runs.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
=
- 9 -
The noise reduction device 1 comprises or consists of a base element 7 and at
least one wall
element 8, and several wall elements 8 may also be used, for example two
placed one above
the other. It would naturally also be possible to use a different number of
wall elements 8 dis-
posed one above the other in the noise reduction device 1.
Such a wall element 4 may have a length of for example ca. 3 m, a width of ca.
12 cm to ca.
20 cm and a height of ca. 80 cm to ca. 100 cm, although these figures should
not be construed
as restrictive.
This noise reduction device 1 may consist of several parts, and in particular
the base element
7 and wall element 8 may be separate components of the noise reduction device
1.
The base element 7 is preferably a concrete base in the form of a flat element
as may be seen
from Figs. 2 and 3. For example, such a base element 3 may have a width of ca.
1.2 m, a
length of ca. 3 m and a height of ca. 0.26 m, these figures also being given
purely by way of
example.
One surface 9 is preferably flat and optionally has a gradient in the
direction towards longitu-
dinal end faces 10, 11 extending in the direction of a base element
longitudinal extension 12.
The gradient may be only a few degrees, for example between 0.5 and 3 , to
allow water to
drain off.
However, it would also be possible for this base element 3 to be designed so
that an at least
approximately flat surface is formed in a middle region 13 on which the wall
element or ele-
ments 8 are disposed, and the width of this surface in the direction towards
the tracks may at
least approximately correspond to or be greater than the width of the wall
elements 8.
However, the base element 7 is preferably made integrally with the wall
element 8, in other
words produced as a single piece with the wall element 8.
The bottom face of the base element 3 is preferably of a flat design in order
to provide a big-
ger standing surface and thus impart greater stability to the noise reduction
device 1.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
-
Given that the base element 7 is disposed on a ballast bed 14 (Fig. 1) of a
track system 2, it
may be of advantage if an elastomer element, for example a rubber mat or a non-
woven mate-
rial, is provided on the bottom face of the base element 7, into which the
pieces of ballast can
be partially pressed. This elastomer element or non-woven material may be
adhered to the
5 bottom face of the base element 7 and another option is to lay it in the
formwork when pro-
ducing the base element 7 so that it is already joined to the concrete base
during production.
The base element 7 has a first front face 14 and a second front face 15 lying
opposite one an-
other along the base element longitudinal extension 12. As may be seen from
Figs. 2 and 3,
10 the first front face 14 is provided with a curvature 16 and the second
front face is provided
with a second curvature 17, and the two curvatures extend in the direction
perpendicular to
the base element longitudinal extension 12. The first curvature 16 has a
radius of curvature 18
and the second curvature 17 has a second radius of curvature 19 and in this
embodiment, the
two radii of curvature 18, 19 extend parallel with the plane of the surface 9,
as illustrated in
Figures 2 and 3.
The two radii of curvature 18, 19 may be of differing sizes but in the
preferred embodiment
have at least approximately the same value, in other words are at least
approximately the same
size.
At this stage, it should be pointed out that the expression "at least
approximately" in the con-
text of the description should be understood as meaning that variances are
possible within
manufacturing tolerances. If anything else is meant, this will be pointed out
separately.
The values of the two radii of curvature 18, 19 may be selected from a range
of 0.75 m to 1.5
m, in particular from a range of 0.85 m to 1.2 m. For example, the two radii
of curvature 18,
19 may be based on a size of 1 m.
In a noise reduction wall system 20 created by aligning several base elements
7 in a row, as
illustrated by the detail of in Fig. 7 for example, the curvatures 16, 17
impart to the base ele-
ments 7 an ability to move to a certain degree in the horizontal direction in
the direction of the
base element longitudinal extension 12, thereby making it possible to
approximate the radius
of curvature in the bend region of rails more effectively. However, this
ability to move im-
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 11 -
parted by the curvatures 16, 17 is not so great that the base elements 7 move
out of mutual
engagement, thereby also ensuring that the noise reduction wall system 20 is
stable in its lon-
gitudinal direction. This in turn offers an advantage because it is not
necessary to fix the base
elements 7 to the rails or crossties because the base elements 7 of the noise
reduction wall
system 20 are essentially self-stabilizing in terms of their position relative
to one another.
The two curvatures 16, 17 of the front faces 14, 15 may have different radii
of curvature 18,
19. However, these two curvatures have at least approximately the same radius
of curvature
18, 19.
Based on the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the first curvature 17
of the front face
14 is inwardly cambered, in other words concave, and the second curvature 18
of the second
front face 15 is outwardly cambered, in other words convex. Aligning noise
reduction devices
1 in the noise reduction wall system 20 creates a positive connection because
the convex cur-
vature 17 of one noise reduction device 1 engages in the concave curvature 16
of a second,
adjoining noise reduction device 1.
In order to mount the wall element 8 on the base element 7, at least two
anchor plates may be
provided, which are disposed eccentrically with respect to and spaced apart
from the two end
faces 5, as disclosed in AT 508 575 Bl, to which explicit reference is made
and which there-
fore falls within the scope of this description in this context.
In the preferred variant of this embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3,
however, the base el-
ement 7 is made integrally with the wall element 8. In particular, these two
elements are made
from concrete, preferably a lightweight concrete incorporating pores. However,
it would also
be possible for the base element 7 to be produced from a non-porous concrete,
onto which the
wall element 8 made from lightweight concrete is cast, in which case
appropriate formwork is
used in order to produce an integral noise reduction device 1.
It should be pointed out that by lightweight concrete is meant a concrete with
a maximum
weight by volume of 2500 kg/m3.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 12 -
The lightweight concrete may have pores with a size selected from a range of 2
mm to 12
mm, in particular from a range of 4 mm to 8 mm. It is also of advantage to
provide pores of
differing sizes because this enables a broader spectrum of sound frequencies
to be covered.
However, it is also possible for the wall element 8 to be made from a
different material, as
described in more detail below.
To assist with moving this noise reduction device, lifting eyes 21 may be
provided on the top
face of the wall element 8, in particular cast in the wall element 8.
At least individual ones of the edges of the noise reduction device 1 in this
and all embodi-
ment(s) may be of a chamfered design. Likewise, the transition between the
wall element 8
and base element 7 may be of a rounded design.
Figs. 4 and 5 as well as 6 illustrate embodiments of the noise reduction
devices I viewed from
an angle or from above. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a first end element 22 and
Fig. 6 a second end
element 23 of the noise reduction wall system 20, as illustrated in Fig. 7.
By contrast with the embodiment of the noise reduction device 1 illustrated in
Figs. 2 and 3,
these end elements 22 and 23 are provided with wall elements 8 which have an
at least partial-
ly inclined contour. Accordingly, the height above the base element 7 of the
wall element 8
based on the embodiment of the noise reduction device 1 illustrated in Figs. 4
and 5 increases
from the front face 15 in the direction towards the front face 14 and that
based on the embod-
iment illustrated in Fig. 8 decreases in this direction, and in the case of
two embodiments,
angled regions of the wall elements 8 may merge into a horizontally extending
region of the
top face, as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6.
However, it should be pointed out that although it may be of advantage to opt
for a separate
design of the end elements 22, 23, the noise reduction device 1 illustrated in
Figs. 2 and 3
may also be used as these end elements 22, 23.
Given that these noise reduction devices 1 may form the end elements 22, 23 of
the noise re-
duction wall system 20, the front face 15 of the base element 7 of the noise
reduction device 1
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 13 -
illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and the front face 14 of the base element 7 of
the noise reduction
device 1 illustrated in Fig. 6 may be straight, i.e. without curvatures,
because no other noise
reduction device 1 sits in in a positive fit on these front faces 14, 15.
However, the design of
these front faces 14, 15 .having the curvatures 16, 17 described above is
nevertheless possible.
Another option is for these end elements 22, 23 to be of a shorter design than
that of the noise
reduction device 1 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.
Furthermore, these end elements 22, 23 may be based on the design of the noise
reduction
device 1 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, in particular in terms of the choice of
materials for the
base element 7 and wall element 8.
Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the noise reduction wall system 20 made up of several
noise reduction
devices 1 viewed from an angle and from above. The positively fitting
connection of the indi-
vidual noise reduction devices 1 may be seen in these drawings in particular.
Although Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate only two of the noise reduction devices 1
illustrated in Figs.
2 and 3 as well as the end element 22, the number of noise reduction devices 1
will depend on
the length of the run to be fitted with these noise reduction devices 1 and
the diagrams shown
in Figs. 7 and 8 should therefore not be construed as restrictive. In
addition, the end element
23 illustrated in Fig. 6 may also be provided on what is the left-hand side in
the drawings as a
termination.
The noise reduction devices 1 between the two end elements 22 and 23 are not
connected to
the track run 3. They are also not connected to the crossties but sit without
any foundations on
the ballast bed, although the latter is not illustrated. Only the two end
elements 22, 23 are
preferably connected to the track run 3 in order to fix the position of the
noise reduction wall
system 20 relative to the track run 3. No fixing of the other noise reduction
devices 1 between
the end elements 22, 23 is necessary due to the positive connection between
the noise reduc-
tion devices 1.
The end elements 22, 23 are connected to the track run 3 ¨ alternatively these
end elements
22, 23 could also each be connected to a crosstie ¨ respectively by a
connecting element 24.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 14 -
To affix the connecting elements 24 to the end element 22 respectively 23,
they may be pro-
vided with a coupling element 25 respectively 26 (see also Figs. 4 and 6). In
the simplest situ-
ation, these coupling elements 25, 26 are provided in the form of metal strips
to which the
connecting element 24 is screwed. The coupling elements 25, 26 may be secured
to the sur-
face of the base element 7, for example by means of screws. However, they are
preferably
integrated in the concrete body of the base element and in particular cast
with it and anchored
in it, for example by means of claws, round steel rods, flat steel lugs, etc..
To this end, these
coupling elements 25, 26 may be placed in the formwork used to produce the
base element
before the latter is cast with the concrete.
However, it would also be possible to use other coupling elements 25, 26, by
means of which
the connection between the connecting element 24 and noise reduction device
can be estab-
lished. It would optionally also be possible to dispense with the coupling
elements 25, 26 and
connect the connecting element 24 directly to the noise reduction device 1, in
particular by a
screw fixing.
Figs. 9 to 11 show the embodiment of the noise reduction device 1 illustrated
in Fig. 1, dis-
posed in the side regions of a track, in other words not between two tracks,
i.e. the so-called
field element. Several noise reduction devices 1 again make up the noise
reduction wall sys-
tern 20 and the two end elements 22, 23 (only end element 22 is illustrated in
Figs. 9 to 11)
are also provided with this embodiment and in particular can be connected by
the connecting
element 24 to the track 3. Accordingly, reference may be made to the
explanations given
above.
The base element 7 is preferably cast from concrete and is based on the design
of a flat ele-
ment although it may have a shorter width than the base element 7 based on the
embodiment
illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. This width of the top face is preferably
dimensioned so that a
walkway with a width of ca. 0.5 m can be provided next to the wall elements 8.
In principle, it is also possible for the base element 7 to be made integrally
with the wall ele-
ment 8 in this embodiment of the noise reduction device 1, However, a separate
design is pre-
ferred so that the wall elements can be easily removed if necessary, in which
case the remain-
ing base element 7 will define re-positioning, thereby making re-erection
easier.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
. ,
. .
- 15 -
This base element 3 may also be provided with the anchoring plates described
above in order
to hold the wall elements 8 above them, i.e. to secure the holders provided
for this purpose,
and the latter are not disposed in a middle region but in the region of one of
the longitudinal
side edges 27, 28 depending on whether the wall element 8 is disposed to the
right or left. The
longitudinal side edges 27, 28 extend in the direction of a wall element
longitudinal extension
28a.
However, a preferred embodiment is one where the wall element 8 is laterally
secured to the
base element 7 by means of a support element 29, which is more clearly
illustrated in Figs. 12
to 15. Connected to this support element 29 is a retaining element 30, which
is used to retain
the wall elements 8. The retaining element 30 is provided in the form of a
profiled H-section
retaining element so that the wall elements 8 can be slotted into these
without the need for
additional connecting elements. Naturally, however, the wall elements 30 could
be connected
to the support element by mechanical means and/or in a positively fitting
arrangement if nec-
essary.
The support element is connected to the base element 7 at a side face
31thereof, in particular
by mechanical means, for example screwed to it. This side face is of an angled
design and
extends inwards, as may be seen from Figs. 9 and 11. As a result of this side
face 31 extend-
ing at an angle relative to the surface of the base element 7, a better hold
of the support ele-
ment 29 is obtained, especially with respect to the suction effect and thrust
effect of a passing
train.
Starting from the top face of the base element, the side face 32 facing the
track run 3 is at least
partially angled. This angling means that the base element 7 can be positioned
closer to the
track run 3 making allowance for the clearance outline of the railway vehicle
(see Fig. 1).
This results in more efficient noise damping in spite of a shorter wall height
of the wall ele-
ment 8, which might be between 0.7 m and 1.2 m, in particular between 0.8 m
and 1 m, for
example.
Accordingly, the base element 7 of this embodiment of the noise reduction
device 1 prefera-
bly has a cross-section in the shape of an irregular pentagon, as may be seen
in Fig. 11.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
= =
= =
- 16 -
This base element 7 may also have lifting eyes 21.
For details of the curvatures 16, 17 of the front faces 14, 15 of the base
element 7 and the end
elements 22, 23, reference may be made to the explanations given above.
The wall element 4 itself may be made from concrete, a rubber
granulate/concrete mixture or
a composite element comprising two lateral facing walls with rubber granulate
disposed in
between or rubber granulate bonded with a binding agent. Another possible way
of improving
the acoustic effect is to provide the side faces, in particular those faces
directed towards the
traffic route, with commercially available acoustic non-woven material.
Another option is for the wall element 4 as a whole to be made from a plastic
or a hard elas-
tomer or similar.
If a mixture of rubber particles/concrete or rubber particles/plastic
particles/plastic binding
agents is used, the proportion of rubber particles in this mixture may be
selected from a range
with a lower limit of 10 % by volume and an upper limit of 70 % by volume or
from a range
with a lower limit of 20 % by volume and an upper limit of 65 % by volume or
from a range
with a lower limit of 25 % by volume and an upper limit of 55 % by volume.
A binding agent for plastics or similar may also optionally be added to the
rubber parti-
cles/concrete mixture. The proportion of the plastic binding agent in the case
of two variants
may be in the range of between 5 % by weight and 25 % by weight, in particular
between
10% by weight and 15 % by weight. In terms of the plastic particles used,
these may be parti-
cles of PE, PP, PTFE, PVC, etc., for example, in particular recycled
materials. The rubber
particles/plastic particles/plastic binding agent mixture may optionally also
contain a hydrau-
lic binding agent, e.g. cement.
Another option is to select a mean grain size of these rubber particles from a
range with a
lower limit of 0.4 mm and an upper limit of 4 mm or from a range with a lower
limit of 1 mm
und an upper limit of 3.5 mm or from a range with a lower limit of 1.5 mm and
an upper limit
of 3 mm.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 17 -
In the case of a wall element 4 filled with rubber granulate, this rubber
granulate may have a
grain size of between 0.5 mm and 4 mm. In this respect, it has proved to be of
advantage to
use different grain sizes of rubber granulate in a wall element 4, for example
grain sizes of 0.5
mm and 2.5 mm and 4 mm, in order to obtain a different filling level and
differing acoustic
behavior. Accordingly, it is possible to create cavities between the
individual rubber particles,
in which case the proportion of cavities is between 5 % by volume and 30 % by
volume, rela-
tive to the total volume occupied by the rubber granulate. These cavities also
reduce noise
nuisance on the side facing away from the traffic route.
Generally speaking, in the context of the invention, the rubber particles may
be provided with
a standard plastic binder, in which case its proportion may be between 5 % by
weight and
15% by weight. A polyurethane adhesive is used by preference.
The binding agent may be cement or concrete, although it would also be
possible to use other
binding agents in order to obtain a self-supporting wall element 8 made from a
rubber granu-
late.
With regard to the particle sizes of the rubber granulate, it is of advantage
if these are also
incorporated in the rubber particle/concrete mixture.
In addition, it is also possible for the wall element 8 to be constructed in a
different way, for
example from woodwork materials, in which case these woodwork materials may
also be
used in the form of composite materials, for example with wooden lathwork on
the two side
walls, i.e. the walls directed towards and away from the traffic route, and an
acoustic filling or
noise-reducing filling made from insulating material or similar in between.
In the case of wall elements 8 filled with rubber granulate, it is also
possible for them to be
cast, for example from an elastomer, in particular a hard elastomer, or from
concrete, in which
case an appropriate recess is provided between the two side walls which is
then filled with
rubber granulate.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
- 18 -
In a preferred embodiment of the wall element 8, rock wool is used as a
filling for the car-
casses.
Another option is to provide a barrier element on or in the wall element 8 to
counter sound
waves, for example made from metal, plastic or concrete.
It should be pointed out that also in the case of the embodiment of the noise
reduction device
1 illustrated in Figs.2 and 3, in other words the center element, a wall
element 8 of this type
may be used instead of the integral wall element 8 described, although this is
not the preferred
embodiment of this noise reduction device 1.
The wall elements 8 are preferably disposed on the base elements 7 in such a
way that they
span two mutually adjacent base elements 7, thereby enabling cohesiveness
within the noise
reduction wall system 20 to be improved. Another option is for the base
element 7 to be of a
length in the direction of the track extension which at least approximately
corresponds to the
length of the wall elements 8 in the same direction.
For the sake of completeness, it should be pointed out that the two end
elements 22, 23 are
shorter than the rest of the noise reduction devices 1.
If necessary, it is also possible to connect the wall element 8 to the base
element 7 by mechan-
ical means.
The base element 7 is preferably not anchored in the ground, in other words
sits without any
foundation on a ballast bed.
Figs. 12 to 15 illustrate the support element 29 from different perspectives.
This support ele-
ment 29 is made in particular from a metal material, preferably from steel. At
least certain
regions of an outer edge 33 pointing away from the wall element 8 (e.g. Fig.
10) are of a
rounded design, although this shape should not be construed as restrictive.
Alternatively, it
would also be possible to opt for polygonal shapes, etc..
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
=
- 19 -
The support element is essentially made up of a bottom region 34 and a top
region 35. The top
region 35 serves as a support surface 36 for the retaining element 30, in
other words the pro-
filed H-section mentioned above, for example. This support surface 36 is
oriented with its
longitudinal extension at least approximately vertical in the fitted state.
The bottom region 34 in turn has a connecting surface 37, by means of which
the support el-
ement 29 is connected to the base element 7, in particular screwed to the side
face 31 as de-
scribed above. To this end, this connecting surface 37 may be provided with
appropriate ori-
fices 38.
The connecting surface 37 is disposed at an angle 39 relative to the vertical,
as may be seen
from Fig. 13, so that the connecting surface 37 lies in an at least
approximately flat arrange-
ment against the side face 31 of the base element 7. The angle 39 may be
selected from a
range of 120 to 180 . Accordingly, the side face 31 is also inclined at an
at least approxi-
mately corresponding angle.
A cover plate 40 may be provided on the top face of the support element 29, by
means of
which the top open end of the retaining element 30 can be covered (e.g. Fig.
10).
However, another option is to use the support element 29 itself as the
retaining element 30 for
the wall element 8. In this embodiment, the support surface 36 is the center
web of the H-
shaped cross-section. To the rear, two support surfaces 41, 42 are provided in
the form of a
vertical leg 43. Disposed between the bottom region 34 and the top region 33
are support sur-
faces 44, 45 which extend at least approximately in the horizontal direction
when the support
element 29 is in the fitted state and provide a support for the wall element
8. The wall element
8 may therefore preferably be clamped between one of the support surfaces 44,
45 and the
cover plate 40. Once the wall elements 8 has been inserted in the support
element 29, the open
region to the rear can be closed by means of another, in particular plate-
shaped, cover element
46 (Fig. 9) thereby resulting in an H-shaped cross-section when viewed from
above.
The support element 29 may also be used as part of the grounding system of the
noise reduc-
tion device 1.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
= =
=
- 20 -
Figs. 16 to 18 illustrate different views of the connecting element 24 by
means of which the
end elements 22 respectively 23 are connected to the track run 3 (Fig. 11).
The connecting element 24 is provided in the form of a clamp in particular and
essentially
comprises two parts (apart from the illustrated screw connection for these two
parts), namely
a clamp element 47 and a fastening element 48.
By means of the fastening element 48, the connecting element 29 is connected
to the base
element 7. To this end, the fastening element 48 may be at least approximately
L-shaped at
the rear end with an at least approximately vertically oriented leg 49.
The clamp element 47 is of an at least approximately shackle-shaped or at
least approximately
carriage-shaped design and has hook-shaped end regions 50, 51 at its front end
which extend
around the track run 3 from the bottom face and are hooked onto it, as may be
seen from Figs.
7, 9 and 11, for example. In order to produce the clamping effect, the front
end of the fas-
tening element 48 has an approximately U-shaped cross-section as viewed from
the side and
thus acts as a clamp element part 52. On its front at least approximately
vertical leg, the clamp
element part 52 has at least one support element 53, for example a rubber
damper, which lies
in the region above the rail foot on the track run 3 in the fitted state and
thus clamps it.
This connection is preferably designed to permit a certain amount of relative
movement be-
tween the base element 7 and rail.
Fig. 19 illustrates a plan view of another embodiment of the noise reduction
device 1 serving
as a center element in the noise reduction wall system 20. It also comprises
the base element 7
and the wall element 8. Where this embodiment differs from the embodiments
described
above is that a base element 7 has exclusively convex curvatures 17 and the
adjoining base
element 7 has exclusively concave curvatures 16, and the radii of curvature in
terms of their
values are preferably of the same size for all base elements 7.
Fig. 20 illustrates an embodiment of the noise reduction device 1 in the noise
reduction wall
system 20 from a side view incorporating the base element 7 and the wall
element 8. In this
embodiment, the curvatures 16, 17 do not extend horizontally but vertically.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
=
- 21 -
It should be pointed out that although the noise reduction devices 1
illustrated in the diagrams
of Figs. 19 and 20 are not sitting one against the other, they are disposed
end to end sitting
one against the other in the noise reduction wall system 20, as is the case
with all embodi-
ments of the noise reduction device 1.
In the case of another embodiment, not illustrated, it is possible for the
base element 7 to have
curvatures 16, 17 extending both in the horizontal direction and in the
vertical direction,
thereby creating an at least approximately spherically-shaped cross-sectional
surface of the
front faces 14, 15 (e.g. Fig. 3).
It should generally be pointed out that the curvatures 16, 17 in all of the
embodiments may be
provided with a radius of curvature which increases or decreases around the
contour of the
curvature.
Furthermore, at least one seal element, e.g. a Compriband N, is disposed
between the noise
reduction devices 1 in at least certain regions on the front faces 14, 15 in
the case of all em-
bodiments of the noise reduction device 1 and the noise reduction wall system
20.
It is also of advantage if the base element 7 has ground connections for the
electrical ground-
ing.
The embodiments illustrated as examples represent possible variants of the
noise reduction
device 1, and it should be pointed out at this stage that the invention is not
specifically limited
to the variants specifically illustrated, and instead the individual variants
may be used in dif-
ferent combinations with one another and these possible variations lie within
the reach of the
person skilled in this technical field given the disclosed technical teaching.
For the sake of good order, finally, it should be pointed out that, in order
to provide a clearer
understanding of the structure of the noise reduction device 1, it and its
constituent parts are
illustrated to a certain extent out of scale and/or on an enlarged scale
and/or on a reduced
scale.
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
,
, .
- 22 -
It should also be noted that parts of the noise reduction device 1 and the
noise reduction wall
system 20 may constitute individual inventions in their own right. This
applies in particular to
the design of the base element 7and/or the wall element 8 based on lightweight
concrete in-
corporating pores, the design of the wall element 8 incorporating rock wool,
the connecting
element 24 for connecting the noise reduction device 1 and noise reduction
wall system 20 to
a rail as well as the support element 29 for connecting the wall element 8 to
the base element
7.
15
25
CA 02858850 2014-06-11
A
- 23 -
List of reference numbers
1 Noise reduction device 36 Support surface
2 Track system 37 Connecting surface
3 Track run 38 Orifice
4 Wheel 39 Angle
Railway vehicle 40 Cover plate
6 Distance 41 Support surface
7 Base element 42 Support surface
8 Wall element 43 Vertical leg
9 Surface 44 Support surface
Longitudinal end face 45 Support surface
11 Longitudinal end face 46 Cover element
12 Base element longitudinal exten- 47 Clamp element
sion 48 Fastening element
13 Middle region 49 Leg
14 Front face 50 End region
Front face
51 End region
16 Curvature 52 Clamp element part
17 Curvature 53 Support element
18 Radius of curvature
19 Radius of curvature
Noise reduction wall system
21 Lifting eye
22 End element
23 End element
24 Connecting element
Coupling element
26 Coupling element
27 Longitudinal side edge
28 Longitudinal side edge
28a Wall element longitudinal exten-
sion
29 Support element
Retaining element
31 Side face
32 Side face
33 Outer edge
34 Region
Region
