METHOD OF REPLACING RAIL LINKS OF JOINTLESS TRACK IN CURVED SECTIONS Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: railway track repair and maintenance technology. SUBSTANCE: this relates to operations aimed at prolonging service life of rail links in curved sections of jointless railway track. According to method, rail links are freed from connections with under-rail base, internal rail link is replaced to location previously occupied by external rail link, and external rail link is moved to place previously occupied by internal rail link. Determined during replacement procedure are values of actual stresses in rail links of jointless track. If tensioning stresses are found in rails, internal rail link is heated to temperature which facilitates occurrence of compressing forces in it. If compressing stresses are detected in rails, external rail link is cooled down to temperature which facilitates occurrence of tensioning stresses in it. If no stresses are detected in rail links, internal rail link is heated, and external rail link is cooled down to temperature which facilities appearance of respective compressing and tensioning stresses in them. Above procedure ensures reduction of forces applied during replacement of rail links. EFFECT: higher efficiency.