Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – During simulated operation or operating conditions
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-29
2004-09-07
Bryant, David P. (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
During simulated operation or operating conditions
C029S407050, C104S120000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06785945
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION RECEIVED
The present invention concerns a method in accord with tracked vehicles.
BACKGROUND
Generic travel systems of the type of this invention are mostly constructed as elevated railways. Elevated railways customarily possess columns which are spaced across from one another, between which are located beams which pick up the railway design loadings imposed on them. These beams reach longitudinally from column to column. The columns and the beams are subjected to both static and dynamic operational forces. On this account, they must be dimensioned to meet the magnitude of the imposed loads. The beams, in many cases, especially where magnetically levitated high speed vehicles are concerned, must also be fitted with functional components for said vehicles. These components, to carry out their function, can allow only a very small deviation of position. Consequently, in the construction of the beams, together with their functional appurtenances, it is very difficult to maintain the required close tolerances in an economical number of preparatory steps.
When such travel ways have been constructed for a relatively long operational life, because of shrinkage and creep processes, in both the foundations and in the structures thereon, it is very difficult to maintain or guarantee the relative small tolerances in the dimensioning of the travel way for its entire operating life.
EP 0 410 153 A1 discloses a beam construction for the travel way of a tracked vehicle. The necessary beams are, in accord with the embodiment, either made in steel or in concrete. Necessary appurtenances, in this disclosure, are affixed precisely in position on the beams. To this end, it is proposed in the application, that on the beam connection bodies first stop plates be attached. These first stop plates correspond with second stop plates, which are placed on transverse members carrying the appurtenances. After the units with the first stop plates are fastened to the beam, then these first stop plates are machined, so that the required tolerances for the installation of the appurtenances maintained. The machining of the stop plates may be advantageously carried out in an air conditioned fabrication facility under controlled climate conditions. The disadvantage of this procedure lies in the following. Although it is true that the machining of the stop plates is indeed possibly exact where the beams are concerned, after erection of the beams on the construction site, deviations may be expected. These deviations originate especially in the use of prefabricated concrete beams, pretensioned concrete beams, or even steel reinforced beams. These deviations can, for instance, arise from the deformation of the individual steel reinforced concrete beams during placement on the support columns. If, upon the erection of these steel reinforced beams, a vertical or horizontal offset arises, then the previously exactly machined stop plates are no longer within the allowed tolerances relative to the complete travel way. This problem was not recognized in the EP 0 410 153 A1.
SUMMARY
Consequently, a purpose of the invention is to create a possibility of maintaining the required tolerances during the construction of a generic travel way, not only in relation to the beams, but also in relation to the complete travel way.
By the expression “erected condition”,the condition of the beam, or another travel way component, is to be understood in accordance with a conventional erection of a travel way of a rail-bound vehicle. This means, the measurements of the beam, and/or of the travel way components at the time when the beam is installed and positioned on the support columns and after a state of equilibrium has been reached as to shrinkage and warping of the concrete beam and of the travel way components. The term, “reworked condition” indicates the state of the beam and the travel way components during machining of steel and/or concrete, when the state of equilibrium or the individual positioning of the reworked component during the said machining is not yet attained.
In accord with the invention, the beam is essentially shaped to correspond with its final structural position, or erected with a known deviation from its later dimensioning. The position of the connection points between the beam and the appurtenances is measured and, if required, conformation is made to prescribed dimensions of said connection points. This specified measure is carried out, so that at the connection point material may be removed or added. By the invention, the special advantage is achieved, in that the beam can be constructed in a fabrication hall to the most extreme precision, wherein the climatic conditions are of the best to obtain very small tolerances. These small tolerances, especially in the case of magnetically levitated travel ways, are very important in order that a trouble-free operation of the magnetically levitated equipment can be assured. In accord with this, it is not sufficient to merely hold to this exact dimensioning in the air-conditioned fabrication hall. Therefore the next step would naturally be to advantageously situate the beam in the same position that it will be positioned in the travel way in accord with predetermined measurements. Thus, during rework of the connection points, the beam is positioned in the same manner as in its final erected situation. Thus, the deformations such as might be expected on the construction site, for the individual beam, are still in force during the working of the connection points. In this way, the beam is provided with predetermined dimensioning for connection points, as will be required of the said beam in the final erection when the travel way is constructed.
Alterative, the deviation between the rework position of the beam and the later erected position can be determined by computer and taken into consideration when the connection points are machined. The connection points of the beam in such a case are reworked with a defined variance between the later specified dimensioning and the actual reworked dimensions. The deviation takes into consideration the different positioning as held during rework and the later erection of the beam. Then, when the beam is erected in its foreseen place, the measurements required in the field agree with the actual measurements of the beam; that is, with the connection points thereon. By means of the invented procedure, the most precise fabrication of the connection point for a travel way—especially for magnetically levitated ways—is obtained. With the invented procedure, individual beams can be custom made, which are intended to be erected in a specific place in the travel way. This guarantees the greatest, degree of precision and thereby assures reliable operation, especially where magnetically levitated vehicles are concerned.
In accord with a further invented procedure following in another embodiment, an exact positional dimensioning can be made between connection points for the fastening of appurtenances or between functional surfaces on the beam for the vehicle. In this case, a specified dimension for the erected condition of the beam is predetermined. If the erected condition of the beam is seen to deviate from the said specified dimension, then a second specified dimensioning is determined for the rework condition. The specified dimensioning of the connection points or the functional surfaces in the machining condition of the beam is determined, and as may be demanded, the required first or second specified dimension becomes the basis for the rework condition of the beam. In this way material at the connection point or on the function surfaces is removed or replenished. The rework of the connection point can be either on the beam itself or on a console between the beam and the functional surfaces, or on an added appurtenance which bears the said functional surface, or indeed, on the appurtenance itself. The same is valid for the procedure in accord with the embodiment above. Where the case concerns the fact that the erection c
Feix Jürgen
Frisch Theo
Reichel Dieter
Bryant David P.
Dority & Manning
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