Platform structure and construction method

Abstract

A railway station platform structure is constructed by: (a) constructing foundations ( 36 ) alongside the railway: (b) constructing up-standing supporting members ( 37 ) on the foundations ( 36 ); (c) mounting cross beams ( 38 ) on the supporting members ( 37 ) so that the cross beams have cantilevered extending beyond the supporting members ( 37 ) towards the railways, (d) mounting longitudinal beams ( 42 ) on the cross beams ( 38 ); and (e) mounting platform units ( 1 ) on the longitudinal beams ( 42 ) so that side edge surfaces of the units extend away from the railway and front edge surfaces of the units extend along the railway beyond the ends of the cantilevered portion of the cross beams ( 38 ).

1 . A railway station platform structure comprising: 
 foundations alongside the railway;    upstanding supporting members rising from the foundations;    cross beams mounted on the supporting members;    longitudinal beams, each longitudinal beam extending between a pair of the cross beams, there being at least two longitudinal beams between each pair of cross beams,    platform units on the longitudinal beams, the platform units having side edge surfaces extending away from the railway and having front edge surfaces extending along the railway beyond the front ends of the cross beams    the cross beams, the longitudinal beams, and the platform units being separate from one another:    the cross beams having cantilevered portions extending beyond the supporting members towards the railway; and    at least one of the longitudinal beams which extends between a pair of the cross beams being mounted on the cantilevered portions of those cross beams and at least one of these longitudinal beams being mounted on these cross beams at a position remote from the cantilevered portions.    
     
     
         2 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the supporting members comprise columns.  
     
     
         3 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each cross beam is supported by two said supporting members.  
     
     
         4 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the supporting members and the cross beams have complementary formations which interengage to locate the cross beams relative to the supporting members.  
     
     
         5 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the said formations on the supporting members comprise tie bars and the said formations on the cross beams comprise through-holes.  
     
     
         6 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the cross beam are connected to the supporting members solely by mechanical connection devices.  
     
     
         7 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the cross beams have upwardly and laterally open recesses which accommodate end portions of the longitudinal beams.  
     
     
         8 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 7 , in which resilient pads are interposed between the said end portions and the bottoms of the said recesses.  
     
     
         9 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 7  or  8 , in which the longitudinal beams have end abutment surfaces recessed beneath the said end portions.  
     
     
         10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the upper surfaces of the cross beams are substantially flush with the upper surfaces of the longitudinal beams.  
     
     
         12 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which at least one pair of adjacent longitudinal beams, between an adjacent pair of cross beams, have longitudinal recesses which face each other, for receiving a cable support tray.  
     
     
         13 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which at least one of the cross beams has at least one transverse aperture for the passage of a cable.  
     
     
         14 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each platform has a stepped upper surface comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion, with a step rising between the forward and rearward portions, the forward portion being planar.  
     
     
         15 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 14 , in which the rearward portion of the upper surface slopes downwardly and rearwardly from adjacent the step.  
     
     
         16 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each platform unit is made of reinforced concrete.  
     
     
         17 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the length of each platform unit from front to rear is at least as great as its width.  
     
     
         18 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each platform unit is about 2 metres wide.  
     
     
         19 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the undersides of the platform units have projections for locating the platform units relative to the longitudinal beams.  
     
     
         20 . A platform as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each longitudinal beam supports at least two platform units.  
     
     
         21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the adjacent side edge surfaces of adjacent platform units have, respectively, a key formation and a recess in which the key formation fits so as to resist relative vertical motion of the adjacent platform units.  
     
     
         23 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each platform unit is elongate in the direction away from the railway.  
     
     
         24 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the platform units include raised portions which are aligned to constitute a plinth to the rear of the platform structure.  
     
     
         25 . A platform structure as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising edge copers mounted side by side on the platform units.  
     
     
         26 - 28 . (canceled)  
     
     
         29 . A method of constructing a railway station platform structure, including the following steps: 
 (a) constructing foundations alongside the railway;    (b) constructing upstanding supporting members on the foundations;    (c) mounting cross beams on the supporting members so that the cross beams have cantilevered portions extending beyond the supporting members towards the railway;    (d) mounting longitudinal beams on the cross beams; and    (e) mounting platform units on the longitudinal beams so that the side edge surfaces of the units extend away from the railway and the front edge surfaces of the units extend along the railway beyond the ends of the cantilevered portions of the cross beams.    
     
     
         30 . A method as claimed in claim  29 , further comprising the step of mounting edge copers on a rebated forward portion of the upper surface of the units.  
     
     
         31 . A method as claimed in  claim 30 , in which there are at least four edge copers, mounted side by side per unit.  
     
     
         32 . A method as claimed in  claim 30 , in which the width of each edge coper is less than its length.  
     
     
         33 . A method as claimed in  claim 30 , in which each edge coper weighs at most 25 kg.  
     
     
         34 . A method as claimed in  claim 30 , in which the edge copers are installed on a quick-setting resin-based mortar.  
     
     
         35 . A method as claimed in  claim 30 , further comprising the step of installing paving elements between the edge copers and a step in the upper surface of the unit.