Rail arrangement

Abstract

One aspect of the invention provides a rail arrangement in which a rail is releasably supported in an inner shell, and the inner shell and rail are received within an outer shell. This provides flexibility in that the design of the inner shell can be varied to provide different relative positioning of the rail with respect to the outer shell. Thus, the inner shell can be used to take account of sinking of the outer shell, which is typically cast into the rail foundations.

1 . A rail arrangement comprising: 
 a rail;    a resilient layer around at least the base of the rail; and    an inner shell for receiving the rail and the resilient layer, and having an inner profile corresponding to the outer shape of the resilient layer,    wherein the inner shell and rail are received within an outer shell.    
     
     
         2 . A rail arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner shell and rail are removably received within an outer shell.  
     
     
         3 . A rail arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the inner shell is formed from pre-cast concrete.  
     
     
         4 . A rail arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner shell is thicker than the resilient layer.  
     
     
         5 . A rail arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rail has base, a head and a central flange region, and wherein the inner shell has an inner profile corresponding to the outer shape of the rail and a substantially rectangular outer shape.  
     
     
         6 . A rail arrangement as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the inner shell has a two-piece cross section, each piece comprising a lateral portion.  
     
     
         7 . A rail arrangement as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the inner shell provides mass damping of the rail.  
     
     
         8 . A rail arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a grout layer is provided between the inner shell and the outer shell.  
     
     
         9 . A rail arrangement comprising: 
 a rail;    a resilient layer around at least the base of the rail; and    a shell for receiving the rail and the resilient layer around the rail,    wherein the rail has a base, a head and a central flange region, and wherein filler portions are provided one each side of the flange region, such that the outer shape of the rail and the filler portions is substantially rectangular, and wherein at least one of the filler portions comprises a first mouldable material and embedded mass damping portions of a second material, which is more dense than the first material.    
     
     
         10 . A rail arrangement comprising: 
 a rail;    a mass damping component beneath the rail and having a width substantially equal to the width of the base of the rail;    a resilient layer around the rail and the mass damping component; and    a shell for receiving the rail and the mass damping component.    
     
     
         11 . A rail arrangement as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the rail has a substantially rectangular cross section.  
     
     
         12 . A rail arrangement as claimed in  claim 10  or  11 , wherein an interface component is provided between the base of the rail and the mass damping component.  
     
     
         13 . A rail arrangement comprising: 
 a rail;    a resilient layer around at least the base of the rail; and    a shell for receiving the rail,    wherein the arrangement further comprises a side piece received within the shell on one side of the rail, the side piece having a first height at one side against the rail and a greater second height corresponding to the height of the rail at the opposite side.    
     
     
         14 . A rail arrangement as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the shell comprises first and second outer side walls and an inner side wall between the outer side walls, wherein the first outer side wall and the inner side wall define a chamber for the rail and the second outer side wall and the inner side wall define a chamber for the side piece.  
     
     
         15 . A rail arrangement as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the side piece is symmetrical about a centre line dividing the side piece into a top half and a bottom half.  
     
     
         16 . A rail arrangement comprising: 
 first and second rails;    a centre piece received within the shell between the first and second rails, the centre piece having a height lower than the height of the rails    a resilient layer around at least the base of the rails; and    a shell for receiving the rails and centre piece.    
     
     
         17 . A rail arrangement comprising: 
 a rail;    a resilient layer around at least the base of the rail; and    a shell for receiving the rail and the resilient layer around the rail,    wherein the shell has approximately equal height on both sides, and wherein on one side of the rail, the shape of the shell corresponds to the shape of the side of the rail, and on the opposite side of the rail, a top portion of the shell has a enlarged width such that a gap is defined between the top of the rail and the shell.    
     
     
         18 . A rail arrangement as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the top portion of the shell is provided with a lining piece.