What Is Crane Rail? | QU70, QU80 | AGICO Rail

What Is Crane Rail?

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Jan 31, 2018

 

Rail tracks, often referred to as railroad rails, are key components in railway systems. They guide vehicle wheels forward while bearing the load from these wheels and distributing it to railway sleepers. Various types of rail tracks include light rail, heavy rail, and crane rail. These types are classified by their weight per meter. Light rail typically weighs between 8kg and 22kg per meter, while heavy rail is often around 38kg to 43kg per meter.

So, what exactly is crane rail? As its name suggests, crane rail is used specifically for crane railways. These rails have unique materials, dimensions, standards, and sizes. AGICO Rail, a reputable provider, offers various standard rail tracks such as AREMA, GB, BS, DIN, UIC, and custom options.

Crane Rail Specifications

Note: This standard applies to special section rail for crane carts or crane cars.

Crane Rail Size

The dimensions and part names for these rails are shown in the following chart. The cross-sectional sizes should meet the requirements specified in Table 1 below.

Model

b

b1

b2

s

h

h1

h2

R

R1

R2

r

r1

r2

QU

70

70

76.5

120

28

120

32.5

24

400

23

38

6

6

1.5

QU

80

80

87

130

32

130

35

26

400

26

44

8

6

1.5

QU100

100

108

150

38

150

40

30

450

30

50

8

8

2

QU

120

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120

129

170

44

170

45

35

500

34

56

8

8

2

The permitted size deviation of rail sections must align with the values in Table 2.

Table 2

Model

Width of Railhead b

Width of Rail Flange b2

Thickness of Rail Web s

Height of Rail h

QU70

QU80

QU100

QU120

+0.1/-0.2

+0.1/-0.2

±0.1

±0.1

Table 2

Section area, theoretical weight, and reference values should comply with Table 3.

Table 3

Model

Section Area cm2

Theoretical Weight Kg/m

Barycenter Distance y1 cm

Inertia Moment Ix cm4

Iy cm4

Section Factor W1= Ix/y1 cm3

W2= Ix/y2 cm3

W3= Iy/(b2/2) cm3

QU70

67.30

52.80

5.93

1081.99

327.16

182.46

54.53

QU80

81.13

63.69

6.64

1547.40

482.39

240.65

74.21

QU100

113.32

88.96

7.60

2864.73

940.98

376.94

125.45

QU120

150.44

118.10

8.43

4923.79

1694.83

584.08

199.39

Length of Crane Rail

• The standard lengths of rail are 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 11.5, 12, or 12.5 meters.
• A certain ratio of variable-sized rails between 4m to 8.9m can be supplied upon agreement and specified in the contract. Rail weight calculation is incremented per 100mm.
• The allowable deviation of rail length is ±500mm.

Shape of Crane Rail

• Lateral curvature of rail should not exceed 1.5mm per meter, and the total lateral curvature should not exceed 8mm.
• Total upward and downward curvature should not exceed 6mm.
• Rail end curvature should be within 1mm over a 0.5m distance.
• The torsion of the rail should be no more than 1/10000 of its overall length.
• The rail must not be concave. The distance between the center of the rail flange and the highest points on both sides should be within 0.5mm.

Weight of Crane Rail

The rail is delivered based on theoretical weight.

Example of Marking

QU100 crane rail made of U71Mn steel is marked as Crane Rail U71Mn-QU100-YB/T 5005-93.  

Drawings of Crane Rail

Technical Requirements

Marks and Chemical Components

The marks and chemical components of crane rail must align with Table 4.  

Table 4

Mark

Chemical Components (%)

C

Mn

P

S

U71Mn

0.65~0.77

0.15~0.35

1.0~1.5

﹤0.040

﹤0.040

Manufacture

• Crane rail is produced using killed steel via open hearth smelting.
• Manufacturing techniques that prevent the formation of white points in the rail should be used.

Mechanical Property

The tensile strength of the rail should be no less than 90 kg/mm2.

Surface Quality

• The surface of the rail should be free from cracks, folds, scars, bubbles, or impurities. Minor indentations and scratches within allowable deviations, and hairlines up to 1mm deep are acceptable.
• The rail's end face must be cut vertically, with skew angles not exceeding 5mm in any direction. Overlong rags should be ground down.
• No welding or filling of surface flaws is permitted.

Test Methods

The sample number, sampling location, and test methods for each group of crane rails are as per Table 5.

Table 5

Serial Number

Inspection Items

Sample Number

Sampling Location

Test Methods

1

Chemical Components

One

GB222-63

YB35-78

2

Tension Test

One

GB2975-82

GB228-76

3

Size

Every

 

Sample Plate and Rule

4

Surface Quality

Every

All Surfaces

Naked Eyes

Inspection Rule

Inspection and Acceptance

The supplier's technical supervision department is responsible for inspection and acceptance.

Lot Grouping Rule

Crane rails should be inspected and accepted in groups. Each group should contain crane rails of the same model and retort number.

Sample Number

• Sample numbers are specified by Table 5.
• If the manufacturer guarantees that the tensile strength meets the requirement, the inspection may be omitted. However, if requested by the customer, tensile strength tests should be conducted.

Review Rule and Judgment

Inspection items and review rules are carried out according to GB2101-80 “General Regulation of Inspection and Acceptance, Package, Mark, Quality Certificate of Shape Steel.”

Package, Mark, Quality Certificate

Table 3 Annotation: The theoretical weight is calculated based on a specific gravity of 7.85. The delivery of the rail is based on theoretical weight. QU crane rail made by U steel is marked as Crane Rail U-QU-YB/T 5005-93. The marks and chemical components of crane rail should meet the requirements in Table 4. Table 4 The tensile strength of rail should be no less than 90kg/mm². The sample number, sampling location, and test methods of every group of crane rails are detailed in Table 5. Table 5 The supplier's technical supervision department is responsible for inspection and acceptance. Crane rails should be grouped and accepted in batches of the same model and retort number. Inspection items and review rules follow GB “General Regulation of Inspection and Acceptance, Package, Mark, Quality Certificate of Shape Steel.”

Clear and raised markings should be rolled onto the waist of the crane rail:

a. Manufacturer's Trademark
b. Model
c. Year and Month of Manufacture

Every crane rail should have marks indicating the steel type, smelting number, and the quality supervision department’s mark.

The package, mark, and quality certificate should also meet the standards of  GB2101-80 in addition to these standards.

Types of Rail

Railway rails come in a variety of types and sizes. This overview covers some of the most commonly found ones.

This article is part of a series exploring rail basics. Follow #rail101 and the author for more insights.

Vignoles / Flat Bottomed Rails

The most common type, Vignoles rails are symmetrical and have a flat base, allowing them to sit on sleepers. They are named after Charles Blacker Vignoles, who invented them.

Grooved Rails

Grooved rails feature a deep and wide groove for flange clearance. They are typically used in road or grass areas to prevent obstruction in tramway wheel flanges.

Check Rails

Check rails don’t support the train directly; instead, the back of the wheels rub against them in areas requiring extra steering, such as sharp curves or switch layouts. Often called guard rails in North America, these help guide the train in unfavorable conditions.

Guard Rails

Guard rails are used to control vehicle paths when normal guidance fails, such as during a derailment. These are commonly found around bridges, tunnels, and other critical sections. Various standard rails are used as guard rails.

Asymmetric Rails

Unlike symmetrical rails, asymmetric rails, often used in switch blades, allow traffic to move from one track to another thanks to their unique profiles.

Thick Web Rails

These flat-bottomed rails have a thicker web and are typically used in constructing rail turnouts, switches, and crossings.

Conductor Rails

Conductor rails conduct electricity for trains, rather than supporting them. Made of low-resistance steel, they allow efficient electrical conduction. Some versions use aluminum with a stainless steel cap for wear resistance.

Piste Rails

Used mainly for metro trains with rubber tires, piste rails act as the running surface. Their dimensional tolerances are tighter than typical construction sections to accommodate the unique transit system.

Bullhead Rails

A historic but still commonly used type in the UK, bullhead rails require special housings and are restrained with steel or wooden keys.

Crane Rails

Crane rails resemble flat-bottomed rails but are much heavier and have thicker webs to support large axle loads. Typically, these rails are continuously supported and do not rest on discrete sleepers.

Rail Roundup

I hope you found this overview informative. For additional insights, follow #rail101 for more rail-related content. Feel free to contact the author for any railway issues or to add any omitted rail types in the comments.

Contact us to discuss your requirements for Light Rail Wholesale. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.