Interconnecting track sections of a multi-sectional trackway

Abstract

Apparatus for assembling a multi-sectional trackway has a plurality of like track sections which can be joined together, in series. Each track section has first and second transverse edges with respect to the length of the trackway, and has a first abutment surface on one transverse edge and a complementary abutment surface on the other transverse edge. The abutment surfaces slidingly interengage directly or indirectly, in the transverse direction, in order to withstand tensile forces along the length of the trackway. The joint is completed by a bridging plate which spans the interengaged abutment surfaces and is bolted in position thereafter to restrain sliding disengagement of the track sections. A security bolt may be employed to hold the bridging plate in position.

1 . A method of detachably interconnecting two successive like track sections of a multi-sectional trackway so as to assemble a second track section to a first track section in the longitudinal direction of the trackway, each like track section having first and second transverse edges with at least one abutment surface provided on the first transverse edge and at least one complementary abutment surface formed on the second transverse edge whereby the at least one abutment surface of a first track section is inter-engageable directly or indirectly with the at least one complementary abutment surface of a second track section, the interengaging abutment and complementary abutment surfaces resisting tensile stress in said longitudinal direction, and each track section having at least one aperture formed adjacent each of its transverse edges, which method comprises: 
 slidingly interengaging in said transverse direction the at least one abutment surface of the second track section directly or indirectly with the at least one complementary abutment surface of the first track section;    spanning the interengaged abutment surfaces with a bridging plate, said bridging plate having at least two bores normal to a plane containing said longitudinal and transverse directions to receive a bolts each having a respective head, each bore being configured to accommodate substantially fully the head of a received bolt;    aligning the bores of the bridging plate with the respective apertures in the interengaged adjacent track sections; and    inserting respective bolts through the aligned bores and apertures so as to prevent sliding disengagement of either of the track sections.    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  and in which the respective abutment and complementary abutment surfaces are interengaged with each other indirectly by means of an elongate joining section also having abutment and complementary abutment surfaces provided therealong, in which method the track sections are interengaged by sliding the joining section in the transverse direction so as to interengage its complementary abutment and abutment surfaces respectively with the abutment and complementary abutment surfaces of the first and second track sections to be joined.  
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the joining section is formed integrally with said bridging plate and the bridging plate and joining section are slid simultaneously into engagement with the two sections to be joined, until the bolt holes of the bridging plate are aligned with the respective apertures of the two sections to be joined.  
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , in which a first bolt is inserted through aligned bores and apertures respectively in the bridging plate and a track section, and closely adjacent each such first bolt a second bolt is inserted through aligned bores and apertures to form a first and second bolt pair.  
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each bridging plate has a length transverse to the longitudinal direction of the trackway no greater than half the width of the track section with which the bridging plate is assembled.  
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a trackway of a width greater than the width of a single track section is constructed by laying two or more trackway lengths in a side-by-side, aligned and abutted relationship, and at between two track sections of one trackway and also of the abutting trackway, a single bridging plate is used to span the interengaged abutment surfaces of two track sections of one trackway and also the interengaged abutment surfaces of two track sections of the abutting trackway.  
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a keyed security bolt is used to connect the bridging plate to a track section which security bolt has a head which when fully accommodated within the bore in the bridging plate can be disengaged therefrom solely by using a complementarily-keyed tool.  
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said tool is used to drive the security bolt home, in the bore.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus for assembly to form a trackway having a longitudinal direction, comprising: 
 a plurality of like track sections each having first and second transverse edges which extend in a transverse direction at right angles to said longitudinal direction when the track sections are assembled together form a trackway, each track section having at least one abutment surface provided on the first transverse edge and at least one complementary abutment surface formed on the second transverse edge whereby the at least one abutment surface of a first track section is inter-engageable directly or indirectly with the at least one complementary abutment surface of a second like track section, the abutment and complementary abutment surfaces when interengaged resisting tensile stress in said longitudinal direction, and each track section having at least one aperture formed adjacent each of its transverse edges;    a plurality of bolts, each having a stem and a head;    a bridging plate having at least two bores extending normal to a plane containing said longitudinal and transverse directions, each bore being configured to receive one bolt and being configured to accommodate substantially fully the head of a received bolt;    whereby the trackway may be assembled by slidingly interengaging directly or indirectly the abutment and complementary abutment surfaces of adjacent sections and the assembled sections are held against sliding movement by passing bolts into the bores of the bridging plates aligned with the apertures in the respective track sections.    
   
   
       10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one abutment surface formed on the first transverse edge of each like track section comprises a projecting rib of a T-section.  
   
   
       11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one complementary abutment surface formed on the second transverse edge of each like track section comprises a T-section channel adapted to accommodate and slidingly receive said rib and having a constricted throat through which the head of the rib cannot be withdrawn, so that said rib can be slidingly engaged or disengaged with the T-section channel in the transverse direction.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein there is an elongate joining section arranged to interengage the respective abutment and complementary abutment surfaces of adjacent track sections, said joining section also having abutment and complementary abutment surfaces provided therealong, respectively for interengaging the complementary abutment and abutment surfaces.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the joining section is formed integrally with said bridging plate.  
   
   
       14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein at least some of the bolts are keyed security bolts having a security head so constructed that when fully accommodated within the respective bores and aligned apertures, the bolts can be disengaged therefrom solely by using a complementarily-keyed tool.  
   
   
       15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the security head of each security bolt is cylindrical and is a snug fit in the bore of said bridging plate, the head having a plurality of irregularly-distributed indents recessed into the topmost surface thereof.  
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the security head of the bolt has three indents therein.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  and including at least one complementarily-keyed tool for effecting rotation of the security-headed bolts.  
   
   
       18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the track sections are formed from extruded aluminium alloy profiles.