EP-4739841-A1 - TEMPORARY RAIL POINTS MODULE

Abstract

A temporary rail points module for connecting a first section of railway track and a section of railway track is disclosed. The temporary rail points module comprises a base and a track section connected to the base allowing for movement between a stored position, where it rests on the base, and a deployed position, where it extends over the first section of railway track. The track section comprises a first set of rails that engage with the first section of railway track, while the base incorporates a second set of rails aligned with the second section of railway rack. When deployed, the first and second rail sets cooperate to provide a path between the first and second set of railway tracks enabling efficient railway operations without the need for permanent infrastructure.

Inventors

• MCCULLOCH, BILLY

Assignees

• BMC Design and Innovations Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240628

Claims (19)

1. 1. A temporary rail points module for connecting a first section of railway track and a second section of railway track, the temporary rail points module comprising a base and a track section connected to the base such that the track section can move between a stored position lying upon the base and a deployed position lying upon the first section of railway track, wherein the track section has a first set of rails engageable with the first section of railway track and the base has a second set of rails engageable with the second section of railway track, wherein when the track section is in the deployed position the first and second sets of rails cooperate to provide a path between the first and second sections of railway track.
2. 2. The temporary rails points module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the track section is hinged to the base for rotation about a hinge axis between the stored and deployed positions.
3. 3. The temporary rail points module as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a deployment mechanism for moving the track section between the stored and deployed positions.
4. 4. The temporary rail points module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises an automatic actuation mechanism.
5. 5. The temporary rail points module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the automatic actuation mechanism comprises one or more hydraulic rams and a hydraulic control circuit.
6. 6. The temporary rail points module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a manually operated actuation mechanism.
7. 7. The temporary rails points module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the manually operated actuation mechanism comprises a post and a winch attached to the post.
8. 8. The temporary rails points module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the post is removable from and fixed to the base of the temporary rail points module and the winch comprises a cable extending to the track section to facilitate movement between the stored position and the deployed position.
9. 9. The temporary rail points module as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the track section comprises a pair of parallel members and a plurality of brace members extending transversely between the parallel members, wherein the first set of rails are mounted on one side of the parallel members.
10. 10. The temporary rail points module as claimed in claim 9, wherein a second side of the parallel members are adapted to engage the first section of railway track when the track section is in the deployed position.
11. 11 . The temporary rail points module as claimed in claim 9, wherein one or more of the brace members are provided with a foot to engage a supporting surface when the track section is in the deployed position.
12. 12. The temporary rail points module as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the base has an underside comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a pair of channels adapted to accommodate a pair of rails from the second section of railway track.
13. 13. The temporary rail points module as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the base further comprises one or more levelling jacks for adjusting the position of the temporary rail points module.
14. 14. The temporary rail points module as claimed in any of the preceding claims further comprising a transport module.
15. 15. The temporary rail points module as claimed in claim 14, wherein the transport module comprises a set of wheels configured to engage with the base.
16. 16. The temporary rail points module as claimed in claim 15, wherein the transport module comprises a pair of male members configured to engage with the pair of channels of the base.
17. 17. The temporary rail points module as claimed in claims 14 to 16, wherein the transport module comprises a mechanical coupling configured to attach an end of the base to a vehicle.
18. 18. A temporary railway track kit comprising : one or more sections of railway track; and a temporary rail points module as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
19. 19. A method of installing a temporary rail branch or siding, the method comprising: laying one or more sections of railway track to form the temporary rail branch or siding adjacent a primary section of railway track; installing a temporary rail points module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 adjacent the primary section of railway track such that the second set of rails of the base engage a first end of the temporary branch or siding; and selectively moving the track section between its stored position and its deployed position such that when the track section is in its deployed position the first and second sets of rails of the temporary rail points module cooperate to provide a path between the primary and temporary sections of railway track.

Description

TEMPORARY RAIL POINTS MODULE Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to the field of railway infrastructure and in particular railway track. More specifically, the present invention is a temporary module which acts as points or a turnout in order to allow trains and maintenance plant to move off the main track onto a branch or siding. Background of the Invention With railway infrastructure it is sometimes necessary to build a temporary branch line or siding off a primary rail line. A temporary branch line may be needed so as to get equipment to a construction site or maintenance location away from existing railway lines, for example. When maintenance works are taking place on a railway line a temporary siding can be employed to allow maintenance plant and/or wagons to be stored off the railway line but still relatively close to the maintenance site. Presently there are two means by which rail stock and maintenance plant can transfer from the primary line onto a temporary branch or siding. Firstly, a set of permanent points can be added to the primary line at the desired location, with the branch or siding running off the new points. However, adding permanent points has a significant construction cost for what is intended to be a temporary installation. It also requires the primary line to be closed while the new points are added. An alternative arrangement is to add temporary points, which are laid over part of the primary line and mechanically fixed in place. Whilst not as expensive as creating a permanent set of points these temporary points still take time to be fixed in place, and the fixing also means that the installation process must be reversed before the points can be removed and the primary line put back in use. It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages with the existing solutions. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a temporary rail points module for connecting a first section of railway track and a second section of railway track, the temporary rail points module comprising a base and a track section connected to the base such that the track section can move between a stored position lying upon the base and a deployed position lying upon the first section of railway track, wherein the track section has a first set of rails engageable with the first section of railway track and the base has a second set of rails engageable with the second section of railway track, wherein when the track section is in the deployed position the first and second sets of rails cooperate to provide a path between the first and second sections of railway track. The temporary rail points module provides a temporary connection between two sections of railway track without the need for permanent infrastructure. This allows for flexibility in railway operations, particularly during construction or maintenance projects where temporary railway tracks or sidings are required. The module facilitates easy deployment and removal, reducing installation time and costs associated with traditional rail point installations. Additionally, the module's design ensures compatibility and smooth transition between the primary and temporary railway tracks, maintaining operational efficiency. Preferably, the track section is hinged to the base such that the track section rotates about a hinge axis between the stored and deployed positions. Preferably, the temporary rail points module further comprises a deployment mechanism. Preferably the deployment mechanism comprises an automatic actuation mechanism which moves the track section between the stored and deployed positions. The automatic actuation mechanism may comprise one or more hydraulic rams and a hydraulic control circuit. Alternatively, the deployment mechanism comprises a manually operated actuation mechanism. The manually operated actuation mechanism may comprise a post and a winch attached to the post. The post may be removable from and securely fixed to the base, while the winch comprises a cable extending to the track section to facilitate movement of the track section between the stored position and the deployed position., Preferably, the track section comprises a pair of substantially parallel members and a plurality of brace members extending transversely between the parallel members, wherein the first set of rails are mounted on one side of the parallel members. A second side of the parallel members may be adapted to engage the first section of railway track when the track section is in the deployed position. Alternatively, one or more of the brace members may be provided with a foot which will engage a supporting surface when the track section is in the deployed position. Preferably, the base has an underside comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a pair of channels adapted to accommo