Replacement rail support device

Abstract

A support device ( 10 ) for a replacement rail (RA) intended to be made integral with a running rail including a first part with removable fastening means (A 1 ) for attachment to a foot (P) of a running rail (RC), and a second part (B) for receiving a replacement rail. The second part is rotatable about an axis (X) relative to the first part (A) and includes two lateral portions (B 3 , B 4 ) extending in a first longitudinal direction (L 1 ) parallel to the axis of rotation. The two lateral portions (B 3 , B 4 ) each being designed to bear on a sleeper (T), the second part (B) including a lock for a replacement rail (RA) in at least one second direction (L 2 ) perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction (L 1 ).

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A support device ( 10 ) for a replacement rail (RA) intended to be made integral with a running rail (RC), comprising:
 a first part (A) comprising removable fastening means (A 1 ) for attachment to a foot (P) of a running rail (RC),   a second part (B) for receiving a replacement rail (RA), this second part (B) rotatable about an axis (X) relative to the first part (A) and comprising two lateral portions (B 3 , B 4 ) extending in a first longitudinal direction (L 1 ) parallel to the axis of rotation (X), said two lateral portions (B 3 , B 4 ) each designed to bear on a sleeper (T), the second part (B) comprising means (B 2 - 1 , B 1 - 1 ) for locking a replacement rail (RA) in at least one second direction (L 2 ) perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction (L 1 ).   
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the first part (A) comprises a substantially baseplate (A 2 ) extending in a fourth direction (L 4 ) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (X) and of which a first end in said fourth direction (L 4 ) is connected in rotation to the second part (B) about said axis (X) and a second opposite end comprises means for clamping the first part (A) to a foot (P) of a running rail (RC). 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 22 , wherein the first end of the baseplate (A 2 ) comprises at least one notch, preferably two notches (E), said two notches (E 1 , E 2 ) being spaced apart along the axis (X) of rotation, said at least one notch for receiving and retaining, in a fifth direction (L 5 ) perpendicular to the axis X and to the fourth direction (L 4 ), a first edge of a foot (P) of a running rail (RC). 
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein each side portion (B 3 , B 4 ) of the second part (B) comprises a flat top surface, said two top surfaces (B 3 - 1 , B 4 - 1 ) lying in the same first plane. 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the second part (B) comprises two partitions (B 5 , B 6 ) whose upper ends are aligned in a same second plane. 
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 24 , wherein the second part (B) comprises a riser member (B 9 ) comprising a bearing surface of a replacement rail (RA), the riser member (B 9 ) being able to assume a first position in which the bearing surface (B 10 ) is arranged below said plane and a second position in which the bearing surface (B 10 ) is arranged above said plane. 
     
     
         27 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the riser member (B 9 ) comprises an eccentric pin whose outer surface forms the bearing surface (B 10 ). 
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the second part (B) comprises at least one abutment (B 7 - 1 ) capable of abutting on an upper edge of the foot (P) of a running rail (RC) when the first part (A) is fixed to said running rail (RC). 
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the second part (B) comprises at least two abutments (B 7 - 1 ) spaced apart along the axis (X) of rotation. 
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the locking means in the second direction (L 2 ) comprise two longitudinal flanges (B 2 - 1 , B 1 - 1 ) formed on each lateral portion (B 3 , B 4 ), these longitudinal flanges (B 2 - 1 , B 1 - 1 ) together delimiting a longitudinal groove for receiving a replacement rail (RC). 
     
     
         31 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the locking means (B 8 ) are able to lock the rail in a third direction (L 3 ) perpendicular to the second direction (L 2 ) and to the first direction (L 1 ). 
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein the locking means comprise at least one member (B 8 ) movable between a first position releasing the replacement rail (RA) in the third direction (L 3 ) and a second position locking the replacement rail (RA) in the third direction (L 3 ). 
     
     
         33 . The device according to  claim 21 , further comprising means for electrically isolating the first part (A) and the second part (B). 
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein the electrical insulation means comprise a sleeve (A 7 ) carried by a rod for rotational connection of the first part (A) to the second part (B), the sleeve (A 7 ) being interposed between the first part (A) and the second part (B). 
     
     
         35 . An assembly comprising a device according to  claim 22 , wherein the first part (A) is attached to a running rail (RC). 
     
     
         36 . The assembly according to  claim 35 , wherein the first part (A) is interposed between two successive sleepers and the fourth direction (L 4 ) is perpendicular to the running rail (RC). 
     
     
         37 . The assembly according to  claim 35 , in which one side portion (B 3 ) is carried by a sleeper and another portion (B 4 ) is carried by an adjacent sleeper. 
     
     
         38 . A method of using the device according to  claim 21 , comprising:
 a) fixing the first part (A) to a foot of a running rail (RC) so that the first part (A) is arranged between two successive sleepers (T),   b) rotating the second part (B) until the two side portions (B 3 , B 4 ) come into contact with said two successive sleepers (T).   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein wedges are arranged on said two sleepers (T), the two side portions (B 3 , B 4 ) being applied to the wedges. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 38 , further comprising: a step prior to step a) of inserting the first part (A) under the foot (P) of the running rail (RC).