RAILWAY RAIL INDUCTION-WELDING DEVICE

• US 20190330805A1
• Filed: 05/19/2017
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mirage Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mirage Ltd.
• Inventors: BIRKS, Kevin, FINNEMORE, Mark Ross, MOUNTFORD, Nicholas John
• Granted Patent: US 11,519,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 13/015 Butt welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/26 Railway- or like rails
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/0426 Fixtures for other work
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/0443 Jigs
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 29/04 Lifting or levelling of tracks lifting devices in general B66F
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 29/42 Undetachably joining or fastening track components in or on the track, e.g. by welding, by gluing; Pre-assembling track components by gluing; Sealing joints with filling components E01B31/26 takes precedence; independent heating means E01B31/18; welding in general B23K; gluing metal parts in general F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 29/44 Methods for effecting joining of rails in the track, e.g. taking account of ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 29/46 Devices for holding, positioning, or urging together the rail ends adjusting the joint by moving rails E01B29/20

Abstract

A railway rail induction-welding device is provided which includes a device support and a railway rail alignment means for aligning opposing railway rails in three mutually perpendicular directions, the railway rail alignment means being supported by the device support. The railway rail alignment means includes first and second railway-rail clamping elements to horizontally and longitudinally align the opposing railway rails when gripped by the first and second railway-rail clamping elements, with at least one of the first and second railway-rail clamping elements being movably supported by the device support, and a vertical lifting means for moving each railway-rail clamping element vertically to align the opposing railway rails. A railway rail clamping and lifting module, a vehicle a railway rail induction-welding device, and a method of inductively welding opposing railway rails together are also provided.

Claims

1. A railway rail induction-welding device comprising:

a device support;

a railway rail alignment means for aligning opposing railway rails in three mutually perpendicular directions, the railway rail alignment means being supported by the device support and including;

first and second railway-rail clamping elements to horizontally and longitudinally align the opposing railway rails when gripped by the first and second railway-rail clamping elements, at least one of the first and second railway-rail clamping elements being movably supported by the device support; and

vertical lifting means for moving each railway-rail clamping element vertically to align the opposing railway rails;

urging means for moving at least one railway-rail clamping element towards the other clamping element to bring aligned opposing railway rails towards each other; and

an induction heating device on the device support and interposed or interposable between the first and second railway-rail clamping elements to inductively weld the opposing railway rails together.

2. A railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertical lifting means comprises first and second lifting elements supported by the device support, at least one of the first and second lifting elements being movably supported by the device support and the first and second lifting elements each comprise at least one lifting head.

4. A railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one lifting head includes a pair of opposed pivotable lifting armatures, wherein a pivot point of each pivotable lifting armature is proximate a lifting grip end of the pivotable lifting armature.

6. A railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the or each lifting head is associated with a linear actuator to effect a pivoting motion of the or each lifting head.

7. A railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second lifting elements are respectively co-located with the first and second railway-rail clamping elements to form first and second clamping and lifting modules.

8. A railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertical lifting means is adapted to engage with a head of the said railway rails.

9. A railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 2, comprising at least one of the following:

wherein the first and second clamping elements each comprise at least one clamping head; and

wherein the first and second clamping elements are adapted to engage with a web of the said opposing railway rails.

10. A railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one clamping head includes a pair of opposed pivotable clamping armatures, wherein a pivot point of each pivotable clamping armature is proximate a clamping grip end of the pivotable clamping armature.

12. A railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the or each clamping head is associated with a linear actuator to effect a pivoting motion of the or each clamping head.

13. A railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 9, claim wherein a plurality of said clamping heads is provided for each of the first and second clamping elements and/or a plurality of said lifting heads is provided for each of the first and second lifting elements, the or each clamping head being provided in an alternating configuration with the or each lifting head of the first and second lifting elements respectively.

15. A railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the urging means comprises at least one actuatable forge cylinder arrange to actuate the first or second clamping element towards the other.

16. A railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one of the following:

an actuatable shear die which is adapted to remove upset material following inductive welding of the opposing railway rails; and

a device housing, and a support actuator, the support actuator being in engagement with the device housing and device support to permit pivoting of the device support for maintenance.

18. A railway rail clamping and lifting module for a railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 1, the railway rail clamping and lifting module comprising:

a module frame;

at least one clamping head supported by the module frame; and

at least one lifting head supported by the module frame;

the railway rail clamping and lifting module being arranged to engage with and simultaneously clamp and lift a railway rail inserted into the frame via the at least one clamping head and the at least one lifting head.

19. A railway rail clamping and lifting module as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one clamping head includes a pair of opposed pivotable clamping armatures.

20. A railway rail clamping and lifting module as claimed in claim 19, wherein a pivot point of each pivotable clamping armature is proximate a clamping grip end of the pivotable clamping armature.

21. A railway rail clamping and lifting module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the at least one lifting head includes a pair of opposed pivotable lifting armatures, and a pivot point of each pivotable lifting armature is proximate a lifting grip end of the pivotable lifting armature.

23. A railway rail clamping and lifting module as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one clamping head and the at least one lifting head are provided in an alternating configuration.

26. A method of inductively welding opposing railway rails together, the method comprising the steps of:

a] moving two facing ends of opposing railway rails into alignment in three mutually perpendicular directions using a railway rail induction-welding device as claimed in claim 1;

b] applying electromagnetic induction to the two facing ends to reach a welding temperature; and

c] longitudinally forcing the two facing ends of the aligned railway rails towards one another to inductively weld the railway rails together.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, comprising one of the following:

wherein during step c], the two facing ends are forced into contact with one another to form a direct weld between the railway rails;

or wherein before step b], a sacrificial piece of railway rail is positioned between the opposing railway rails, and during step c], the two facing ends of the railway are forced into contact with the sacrificial piece of railway rail to form an indirect weld between the railway rails.

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