- The SPTO has highlighted six of the company’s innovations applicable to railways, tunnel linings, composite recycling and offshore platforms
ACCIONA has received support from the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO) to promote the development of six of the company’s own innovations that can be applied internationally in the construction sector.
This initiative is part of the SPTO’s “Program to Promote the Filing of Patents and Utility Models in Spain and Abroad for 2023”. The main objective of the program is to promote the use of industrial property by Spanish companies, providing them with the necessary support to facilitate their access to international markets.
The six ACCIONA innovations selected by the SPTO to participate in this programme are as follows:
- System for securing sleepers in a ballastless track (Application No.: PCT/ES2017/070140)
The company has developed a sleeper securing device that uses a plate to facilitate the installation of rails on a ballastless track. This innovative device offers a solution to several current challenges in ballastless track installation.
- Construction plates (Application No.: PCT/ES2012/070786)
ACCIONA has developed innovative corrugated plates made of thermosetting acrylic resin for tunnel lining. Thanks to their design, which includes an evacuation channel adapted to the curves of the tunnel walls, water is efficiently channelled between the wall and the plate. In addition, special bushings have been designed to distribute the load and ensure that there are no leaks. Together, these plates provide an efficient solution adapted to the needs of tunnels.
- Leaktight arrangement (Application No.: PCT/ES2018/070179)
This solution focuses on optimizing the efficiency and durability of tunnel linings, especially with regard to drilled holes. The sealing device is placed in these holes to ensure effective sealing. This helps to strengthen the integrity of the tunnel structure, providing an effective and long-lasting solution to maintain the stability and safety of these underground infrastructures.
- Portable cutting equipment for composite parts: Application No.: PCT/ES2022/070841)
This is a portable machine for recycling composite materials. It is characterized by its roller configuration that allows the parts to be disassembled, breaking and fracturing the fibers by compressing them in the direction in which they are arranged. This unique feature facilitates in-machine cutting and recycling. This combination allows efficient cutting of composites of different types and thicknesses, making the recycling process more versatile and efficient.
- Thermal degradation facility for composite materials and associated recycling process (Application No.: PCT/ES2022/070842)
This solution is based on a continuous installation and process using two hermetically sealed reactors with a controlled atmosphere. The amount of oxygen is gradually increased, which facilitates the efficient separation of the fibres and allows the process to be properly industrialized. This innovation is a key solution for the effective recycling of composite materials used in sectors such as wind energy and aeronautics.
- S-bos semi-submersible platform (Application No.: PCT/ES2022/070046)
This semi-submersible platform, constructed mainly of concrete, incorporates an anti-flooding system using floating columns. It is designed for a variety of offshore applications, including wind power generation, electrical substations and hydrogen production.