Rail alignment tool

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6385861
  • Patent Number
    6,385,861
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, August 9, 2000
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 14, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A rail alignment system for locating a first end piece and a second end piece of a first rail section and a second rail section. The rail alignment system comprises (a) a first rail alignment tool for engaging and applying force to said first rail section; and (b) a second rail alignment tool for engaging and applying force to said second rail section. The first rail alignment tool includes: (1) a planar plate for extending transversely beneath said first rail section; (2) a pair of block members, each secured to said planar plate and each defining a threaded cavity which is substantially orthogonal to said first rail section and which are aligned with one another; (3) a pair of externally threaded bolts, each adapted for engaging one of said threaded cavities of said pair of block members; and (4) a pair of contoured rail engagement end pieces, each secured to an inner terminating portion of said pair of externally threaded bolts for engaging said first rail section. The second rail alignment tool includes: (1) a planar plate for extending transversely beneath said second rail section; (2) a pair of block members, each secured to said planar plate and each defining a threaded cavity which is substantially orthogonal to said second rail section and which are aligned with one another; (3) a pair of externally threaded bolts, each adapted for engaging one of said cavities of said pair of block members; and (4) a pair of contoured rail engagement end pieces, each secured to an inner terminating portion of said pair of externally threaded bolts for engaging said second rail section. Said first end piece of said first rail section and said second rail section may be aligned by selectively applying torque to said two pair of externally threaded bolts.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates in general to tools which are utilized to align railroad rails, and in particular to tools which are utilized to align abutting rails in order to allow weldment of the rails together.




2. Description of the Prior Art




All railroads have a considerable investment in their infrastructure. However, the infrastructure requires continuous attention and repair. For example, as rail becomes worn or damaged, it must be replaced. Currently, rail is in relatively long continuous sections; however, these sections must be butt welded together in order to allow for safe and efficient locomotion over the rail. In order to get a good weldment between the end pieces of rail sections, in the prior art, work crews have utilized manual equipment, such as mauls, hammers, and wedges to align the ends of the rails prior to weldment. Having railroad crews operate this heavy equipment inherently carries a risk of injury to the employee. For example, if the rail is very old or brittle, metal chips may fly off during the hammering and wedging operations. Additionally, using the heavy equipment is also inherently risky. Any new rail equipment which can reduce the risk of injury to rail crews is typically quickly and readily adopted by the industry.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is one objective of the present invention to provide a rail alignment tool which replaces the utilization of mauls, hammers, and wedges in order to align end pieces of rail section prior to weldment.




It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved rail alignment tool which allows rail pieces to be aligned, but which only requires the work crew to apply torque to a plurality of threaded bolt members, which is far safer than utilizing mauls, hammers, and wedges.




It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide an improved rail alignment tool which is durable, lightweight, and which requires little or no maintenance, but which is safe to operate and which provides for good alignment of rail sections to allow for good welds to be made between adjoining rail sections.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:





FIG. 1

is a top view of the rail alignment tool of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in use to align two sections of rail prior to weldment.





FIG. 2

is a side view of rail alignment tools


11


,


13


of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a top detailed view of rail alignment tool


11


of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is a longitudinal section view of rail alignment tool


11


of the view of FIG.


1


.





FIGS. 5 and 6

are partial longitudinal section views of rail alignment tool


11


of the view of FIG.


4


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments as well as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended clams will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention.





FIG. 1

is a top view of rail alignment tools


11


,


13


being utilized to align rail segments


15


,


17


in abutting relationship prior to weldment, and in order to obtain good alignment between rails


15


,


17


. Rail alignment tool


11


is utilized to determine the location of end


23


of rail


15


, while rail alignment tool


13


is utilized to determine the location of end


23


of rail


17


. Rail alignment tools


11


,


13


may be adjusted incrementally in order to provide for good alignment between rails


15


,


17


. Once the rails


15


,


17


are aligned, a welding crew may make a butt weld between rails


15


,


17


in order to provide for one continuous rail. In other words, the gap between ends


23


,


25


(which is exaggerated in the view of

FIG. 1

) is the location of the weld.




Rail alignment tool


11


includes a metal plate


27


which slides between rail


15


and tie


19


. In the embodiment depicted in this patent application wooden ties are contemplated; however, the invention may be utilized with concrete or other ties. Plate


27


includes spike ports


31


,


33


which are utilized to secure plate


27


in a fixed position relative to tie


19


. Other types of clamping or securing means may be utilized, especially when the tie is a concrete type tie, as opposed to a wooden tie. Rail alignment tool


11


includes torque-adjustable bolts


41


,


45


which are utilized to apply force to rail


15


to adjust the position of its ends


23


. Bolt


41


is adapted to pass through a bolt receptacle in block


43


, while bolt


45


is adapted to pass through a bolt receptacle in block


47


. Rail engagement end pieces


49


,


51


are secured to the outer end of bolts


41


,


45


respectively, in order to engage rail


15


and allow for efficient transfer of force from bolts


41


,


45


to rail


15


. Preferably, end pieces


49


,


51


are profiled or contoured in a manner which provide for good mating contact with a portion of rail


15


.




In accordance with the present invention, bolts


41


,


45


may be torqued in a manner which collectively fixes the location of end piece


23


of rail


15


. At the same time, rail alignment tool


13


is similarly attached to abutting rail


17


in order to determine the location of end piece


25


. As is shown, rail alignment tool


13


includes plate


29


which is located between wooden tie


21


and rail


17


. Spike holes


35


,


37


are provided within plate


29


in order to allow railroad spikes to secure and fix in position plate


29


. Torque may be applied to bolts


61


,


67


in order to move the bolt inward or outward relative to mating pieces


63


,


69


. End pieces


65


,


71


are secured to the innermost ends of bolts


61


,


63


and are contoured in order to engage rail


17


and determine the location of end piece


25


of rail


17


.




Collectively, as torque is applied to bolts


41


,


45


,


61


,


67


, the bolts are moved inward and outward relative to plates


27


,


29


in order to determine the location of end pieces


23


,


25


of rails


15


,


17


in order to place them in proper alignment for weldment.





FIG. 2

is a side view of rail alignment tool


11


and rail alignment tool


13


of the present invention. As is shown, plates


27


,


29


are located between wooden ties


19


,


21


and rails


15


,


17


.





FIG. 3

is a detailed view of rail alignment tool


11


of FIG.


1


. As is shown schematically bolt


41


includes exterior threads


81


and block


43


includes interior threads


81


. Rotation of bolt


41


in one direction advances bolt


41


inward toward rail


15


, while rotation of bolt


41


in the opposite direction moves bolt


41


outward relative to rail


15


. Block


41


is secured by bolt


91


to plate


27


. Likewise, bolt


45


includes external threads


85


, while block


47


includes internal threads


87


. Rotation of bolt


45


in one direction will advance bolt


45


inward toward rail


15


, while rotation of bolt


45


in the opposite direction will move bolt


45


outward from rail


15


. Likewise, block


47


is secured to plate


27


by bolt


93


.





FIG. 4

is a simplified longitudinal section view of rail alignment tool


11


as utilized to engage rail


15


. As is shown, plate


27


is positioned between rail


15


and tie


19


. Block


43


is secured to plate


27


by bolt


91


, while block


47


is secured to plate


27


by bolt


93


. Bolts


41


,


45


may be torqued relative to blocks


41


,


47


in order to put end pieces


49


,


51


in force-transference engagement with bottom portion of rail


15


. As is shown, end pieces


49


,


51


include contoured outer ends


97


,


99


which are adapted in shape in order to engage the base portion of rail


15


at the corner or shoulder portion of the base so that force is transferred both in a side-to-side manner and an up-and-down manner. Preferably, end pieces


49


,


51


are swivel brackets which have a bit of inherent “adaptability” as they engage rail


15


, but which become more rigid as force is applied through the torquing of bolts


41


,


45


. As is shown, the end pieces are bolted into cavities


101


,


103


formed in the ends of bolts


41


,


45


.





FIG. 5

is a partial longitudinal section view of rail alignment tool


11


of FIG.


4


and it depicts the relative position of bolts


41


and


91


, with bolt


41


being utilized to apply load to rail


15


, while bolt


91


is utilized to secure block


43


in position relative to plate


27


.

FIG. 6

is a partial longitudinal section view from a different plane and it depicts the manner in which bolt


91


is secured to plate


27


. As is shown, bolt


91


includes external thread


105


which is shown schematically. Likewise, block


43


includes a vertical port which includes external threads


107


. A threaded screw port


113


is provided at the outer end of bolt


91


and adapted to receive fastening screw


111


which is located within recess


109


on the bottom surface of plate


27


. In this manner, bolt


91


may be raised and lowered relative to block


43


in order to fix the position of block


43


, but screw


111


is utilized to prevent the parts from being separated from one another, thus minimizing the chances of bolt


91


of block


43


, bolt


41


being separated from plate


27


and misplaced.



Claims
  • 1. A rail alignment system for locating a first end piece and a second end piece of a first rail section and a second rail section, comprising:(a) a first rail alignment tool for engaging and applying force to said first rail section, including: (1) a planar plate for extending transversely beneath said first rail section; (2) a pair of block members, each secured to said planar plate and each defining a threaded cavity which is substantially orthogonal to said first rail section and which are aligned with one another; (3) a pair of externally threaded bolts, each adapted for engaging one of said threaded cavities of said pair of block members; and (4) a pair of contoured rail engagement end pieces, each secured to an inner terminating portion of said pair of externally threaded bolts for engaging said first rail section; (b) a second rail alignment tool for engaging and applying force to said second rail section, including: (1) a planar plate for extending transversely beneath said second rail section; (2) a pair of block members, each secured to said planar plate and each defining a threaded cavity which is substantially orthogonal to said second rail section and which are aligned with one another; (3) a pair of externally threaded bolts, each adapted for engaging one of said cavities of said pair of block members; and (4) a pair of contoured rail engagement end pieces, each secured to an inner terminating portion of said pair of externally threaded bolts for engaging said second rail section; (c) wherein said first end piece of said first rail section and said second rail section may be aligned by selectively applying torque to said two pair of externally threaded bolts.
  • 2. A rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plates includes means for securing said planar plate in position relative to said first and second rail sections.
  • 3. A rail alignment system according to claim 2, wherein said means for securing said planar plate in position comprises a plurality of rail spike ports.
  • 4. A rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein each of said pair of block members is releasably fastened to said planar plate.
  • 5. A rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein each of said contoured rail engagement end pieces comprises a swivel bracket.
  • 6. A rail alignment system according to claim 5, wherein each of said swivel brackets includes a lip portion adapted in shape to engage the shoulder portion of the base of said first and second rail sections.
Parent Case Info

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/147,963, filed Aug. 9, 1999.

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Number Name Date Kind
700994 Torre et al. May 1902 A
3711920 Simmons, Jr. Jan 1973 A
3888477 Tate Jun 1975 A
4195828 Peterson Apr 1980 A
4270036 Zollinger May 1981 A
4320708 Bommart Mar 1982 A
4413415 Stovall Nov 1983 A
4641818 Bommart Feb 1987 A
4674730 Roberts Jun 1987 A
4750662 Kagimoto Jun 1988 A
4800817 Carstensen et al. Jan 1989 A
4960137 Pott et al. Oct 1990 A
5094004 Wooten Mar 1992 A
5297482 Cleveland Mar 1994 A
5575416 Oellerer et al. Nov 1996 A
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Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
32-09-984 Oct 1981 DE
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/147963 Aug 1999 US