Expansion joint for connecting a first region and a second region of a rail system

An expansion joint for connecting a first region and a second region of a rail system, the expansion joint comprising a first rail element, a second rail element and two brackets, wherein

• each of the first and second rail element is elongate and comprises a first end, a second end and a section of a profiled upper surface defining one or more tracks,
• the first ends of the first and second rail elements are configured to move relative to one another in a longitudinal direction in a junction area where they overlap,
• the sections of profiled upper surface extend from the first rail element through the junction area to the second rail element, and
• the second end of the first rail element is pivotably connected to one of the brackets around a first vertical axis and the second end of the second rail element is pivotably connected to the other bracket around a second vertical axis, each bracket being connectable to the first region or the second region.

A method of allowing rail expansion/contraction between a first region and a second region of a rail system, wherein each of the first region and the second region has rails with a profiled upper surface that define one or more tracks for supporting container handling vehicles, the method comprising:

• connecting each rail of at least one pair of parallel rails of the first region to a corresponding rail of a pair of rails of the second region via an expansion joint,
• wherein the expansion joint comprises a first rail element and a second rail element, the rail elements being elongate and configured at a first end to allow the first ends of the first and second rail elements to move relative to one another in a longitudinal direction in a junction area where they overlap, and
• a profiled upper surface that defines one or more tracks, the tracks extending from the first rail element through the junction area to the second rail element, and
• wherein a second end of the first rail element is pivotably connected to the first region of the rail system around a first vertical axis, and
• a second end of the second rail element is pivotably connected to the second region of the rail system around a second vertical axis.