Own development

NIOP

Name: NIOP
Brand: KAMPA

A retensioning system that keeps the concrete plates of UNI level crossings permanently clamped together, independent of sleeper position.

NIOP is a retensioning system for UNI level crossings (Universal Crossings Model '98). It replaces the conventional locking construction and keeps the prefabricated concrete crossing plates clamped together so they do not drift apart.

At its core is a tie-rod that runs underneath the plates and is brought to tension with a nut and a disc-spring pack. The outer-plate tensioner sits just outside the sleeper ends, and the tensioner for the middle plates includes a run-up plate to protect loose-hanging couplings. The system works independently of sleeper position.

Request information

Galvanised NIOP tensioner at a UNI level crossing, between the concrete plates and the rail.

The problem it solves

The concrete plates of a UNI crossing are not connected to one another.

Today's practice

In a standard UNI crossing the prefabricated concrete plates simply sit next to one another without being connected. The joints between them are a hazard for road traffic crossing the track.

Maintaining UNI crossings is relatively costly. The work can only be carried out during track possessions, which limits when and how often the joints can be addressed.

Benefits

Stability

Plates that stay clamped together.

The tie-rod and disc-spring pack keep the concrete crossing plates under permanent tension, so they no longer drift apart and the joints stay closed.

Independent of the sleepers

Works regardless of sleeper position.

NIOP replaces the conventional locking construction and clamps the plates independently of sleeper position, so it does not depend on how the sleepers sit under the crossing.

Compatibility

For all NL heavy-rail UNI crossings.

NIOP can be applied to all heavy-rail UNI crossings in the Netherlands with NS90, 14-002 and wooden sleepers, suitable for the Universal Crossing Model '98.

In the field