Rail alignment tool

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6651353
  • Patent Number
    6,651,353
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, September 6, 2001
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 25, 2003
    20 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 welding 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 the prior art, in order to get a good weldment between the end pieces of rail sections, work crews have utilized manual equipment, such as mauls, hammers, and wedges to align the ends of the rails prior to welding. Having railroad crews operate this heavy equipment inherently carries a risk of injury to the employee. For example, when aligning rails with wedges, metal chips may fly off of the wedges when they are struck by hammers during the hammering and wedging operations, resulting in injuries to the workers. 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 rail ends prior to welding.




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

plan view of the rail alignment tools according to one embodiment of the present invention in use to align two sections of rail prior to welding;





FIG. 2

is a right side view of the rail alignment tools of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is an enlarged plan view of one of the rail alignment tools of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is a front view of one of the rail alignment tools of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 5

is a right side view of one of the rail alignment tools of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

is a partial front view of the rail alignment tool of

FIG. 4

;





FIGS. 7A and 7B

are plan and left side views, respectively, of the preferred embodiment of the rail alignment tool according to the present invention;





FIG. 8

is a front view of a sliding plate of the rail alignment tool of FIG.


7


A.





FIGS. 9A and 9B

are front views of a jack member of the rail alignment tool of

FIG. 7A

illustrated in retracted and extended modes, respectively.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to

FIG. 1

in the drawings, one embodiment of the rail alignment system according to the present invention is illustrated. Rail alignment tools


11


,


13


are shown being utilized to align rail segments


15


,


17


in abutting relationship in order to obtain alignment between rails


15


,


17


prior to the welding together of rails


15


,


17


. Rail alignment tool


11


is utilized to selectively locate an end


23


of rail


15


, while rail alignment tool


13


is utilized to selectively locate an end


25


of rail


17


. Rail alignment tools


11


,


13


may be adjusted incrementally in order to provide for a desired alignment of rails


15


,


17


. Rail alignment tool


11


includes a base member


27


that is configured for attachment to a cross tie


19


. Similarly, rail alignment tool


13


includes a base member


29


that is configured for attachment to a cross tie


21


. Although it is preferred that rail alignment tools


11


,


13


be mirror images of each other, it should be understood that in certain applications, it may be desired that rail alignment tool


11


have a different configuration than rail alignment tool


13


.




The rail alignment system according to the present invention includes a means for securing rail alignment tools


11


,


13


to cross ties


19


,


21


, such that rail alignment tools


11


,


13


may be used with wooden cross ties, concrete cross ties, or cross ties made of any other conventional material. To accommodate use with wooden ties, base member


27


includes spike ports


31


,


33


through which may driven conventional railroad spikes


40


(see

FIG. 3

) to secure base member


27


in a fixed position relative to cross tie


19


. Likewise, base member


29


includes spike ports


35


,


37


through which may driven conventional railroad spikes


40


to secure base member


29


in a fixed position relative to cross tie


21


. To accommodate use with concrete ties, base member


27


includes tabs


36


,


38


which are configured for connection to rail clips (not shown) to secure base member


27


in a fixed position relative to cross tie


19


. The rail clips are used to secure the rails to the concrete cross ties. Similarly, base member


29


includes tabs


40


,


42


which are configured for connection to the rail clips (not shown) to secure base member


29


in a fixed position relative to cross tie


21


. It will be appreciated that the means for securing rail alignment tools


11


,


13


to cross ties


19


,


21


may take on other forms.




It is preferred that base member


27


be disposed between rail


15


and cross tie


19


; however, it should be understood that base member


27


may be disposed at other locations relative to rail


15


and cross tie


19


without affecting the functionality of rail alignment tool


11


. For example, base member


27


may be configured to function from positions above or to either side of rail


15


.




Rail alignment tool


11


includes adjustment members


41


,


45


which are preferably disposed transverse to rail


15


. Adjustment members


41


,


45


are utilized to adjustably move end


23


of rail


15


in a transverse direction relative to cross tie


19


. Adjustment member


41


is coupled to base member


27


via a coupling


43


, and adjustment member


45


is coupled to base member


32


via a coupling


47


. Adjustment member


41


terminates with a rail engagement member


49


, and adjustment member


45


terminates with a similar rail engagement member


51


. Rail engagement members


49


,


51


are configured to engage rail


15


. In other words, rail engagement members


49


,


51


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


15


. It is preferred that adjustment members


41


,


45


include external threads and that couplings


43


,


47


include fixed, mating internal threads in order to allow for efficient transfer of force from adjustment members


41


,


45


to rail


15


. Thus, as adjustment members


41


,


45


are rotated back and forth, rail engagement members


49


,


51


advance and retract in a transverse direction relative to rail


15


in a manner which collectively fixes the location of end


23


of rail


15


.




In a similar fashion, rail alignment tool


13


includes adjustment members


61


,


67


which are preferably disposed transverse to rail


17


. Adjustment members


61


,


67


are utilized to adjustably move end


25


of rail


17


in a transverse direction relative to cross tie


21


. Adjustment member


61


is coupled to base member


29


via a coupling


63


, and adjustment member


67


is coupled to base member


34


via a coupling


69


. Adjustment member


61


terminates with a rail engagement member


65


, and adjustment member


67


terminates with a similar rail engagement member


71


. Rail engagement members


65


,


71


are configured to engage rail


17


. In other words, rail engagement members


65


,


71


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


17


. It is preferred that adjustment members


61


,


67


include external threads and that couplings


63


,


69


include fixed, mating internal threads in order to allow for efficient transfer of force from adjustment members


61


,


67


to rail


17


. Thus, as adjustment members


61


,


67


are rotated back and forth, rail engagement members


65


,


71


advance and retract in a transverse direction relative to rail


17


in a manner which collectively fixes the location of end


25


of rail


17


.




Rail alignment tool


11


includes at least one means


80


for adjusting the height of rail alignment tool


11


, and rail alignment tool


13


includes at least one means


84


for adjusting the height of rail alignment tool


13


. Means


80


is preferably a threaded adjustment screw that is coupled to base member


27


via a coupling


82


and passes through base member


27


to contact cross tie


19


. Likewise, means


84


is preferably a threaded adjustment screw that is coupled to base member


29


via a coupling


86


and passes through base member


29


to contact cross tie


21


. Means


80


,


82


are utilized to adjustably raise ends


23


,


25


of rails


15


,


17


in a vertical direction relative to cross ties


19


,


21


, respectively. It is preferred that means


80


,


84


include external threads and that couplings


82


,


86


include fixed, mating internal threads in order to allow for efficient transfer of force from means


80


,


84


to rails


15


,


17


. Thus, as means


80


,


84


are rotated back and forth, base members


27


,


29


raise and lower in a vertical direction relative to cross ties


19


,


21


, thereby, raising and lowering ends


23


,


25


of rails


15


,


17


, respectively. It should be understood that means


80


,


84


may include other methods of raising ends


23


,


25


.




Referring now to

FIG. 2

in the drawings, rail alignment tools


11


,


13


are illustrated in a right side view. As is shown, base members


27


,


29


are disposed between cross ties


19


,


21


and rails


15


,


17


. As torque is applied to adjustment members


41


,


45


,


61


,


67


, rail engagement members


49


,


51


,


65


,


71


are moved inward and outward relative to base members


27


,


29


in order to determine the lateral location of ends


23


,


25


of rails


15


,


17


, thereby placing ends


23


,


25


of rails


15


,


17


in proper lateral alignment for welding. In addition, as torque is applied to means


80


,


84


, base members


27


,


29


are moved upward and downward relative to cross ties


19


,


21


in order to determine the vertical location of ends


23


,


25


of rails


15


,


17


, thereby placing ends


23


,


25


of rails


15


,


17


in proper vertical alignment for welding. Once ends


23


,


25


of rails


15


,


17


are properly aligned, a welding crew may perform a butt weld between rails


15


,


17


in order to create a continuous section of rail. In other words, a gap


24


between ends


23


,


25


, which is exaggerated in the views of

FIGS. 1 and 2

, is closed by the butt weld. After rails


15


,


17


have been welded together, adjustment members


41


,


45


,


61


,


67


are loosened, spikes


40


are removed from cross ties


19


,


21


by conventional means, and rail alignment tools


11


,


13


are removed.




Referring now to

FIG. 3

in the drawings, a detailed view of rail alignment tool


11


of

FIG. 1

is illustrated. As is shown, adjustment member


41


includes exterior threads


81


and coupling


43


includes interior threads


83


. Rotation of adjustment member


41


in one direction advances rail engagement member


49


inward toward rail


15


, while rotation of adjustment member


41


in the opposite direction moves rail engagement member


49


outward relative to rail


15


. Likewise, adjustment member


45


includes external threads


85


, while coupling


47


includes internal threads


87


. Rotation of adjustment member


45


in one direction will advance rail engagement member


51


inward toward rail


15


, while rotation of adjustment member


45


in the opposite direction will move rail engagement member


51


outward from rail


15


.




Referring now to

FIG. 4

in the drawings, a simplified longitudinal section view of rail alignment tool


11


as utilized to engage rail


15


is illustrated. As is shown, base member


27


is disposed between rail.


15


and cross tie


19


. Adjustment members


41


,


45


may be adjusted relative to couplings


43


,


47


in order to put rail engagement members


49


,


51


in force-transference engagement with the bottom flanges of rail


15


. As is shown, rail engagement members


49


,


51


include contoured outer ends


97


,


99


which are configured to matingly engage the bottom flanges of rail


15


at the corner or shoulder portion of the flanges so that force is transferred in the vertical and transverse directions. Preferably, rail engagement members


49


,


51


include swivel couplings


100


,


102


which have some inherent “adaptability” as they engage rail


15


, but which become more rigid as force is applied through the adjustment of adjustment members


41


,


45


. As is shown, couplings


100


,


102


may be secured to adjustment members


41


,


45


at cavities


101


,


103


formed in the ends of adjustment members


41


,


45


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 5 and 6

in the drawings, rail alignment tool


11


is illustrated in a right side view and a slightly enlarged front view, respectively. The relative position of adjustment member


41


and means


80


is shown. In these views, the operation of means


80


for adjusting the height of rail alignment tool


11


is depicted. As is shown, means


80


preferably includes external threads


105


. Coupling


82


includes a vertical port having internal threads


107


that mate with external threads


105


. A counter bore


113


is provided at the lower end of means


80


. Counter bore


113


is adapted to receive a jack member


111


. When means


80


is fully retracted relative to base member


27


, jack member


111


is disposed within a recess


109


on the bottom surface of base member


27


. As means


80


is rotated, it extends through base member


27


causing jack member


111


to come into contact with cross tie


19


. Further downward extension of means


80


causes base member to rise relative to cross tie


19


. In this manner, base member


27


may be raised and lowered relative to cross tie


19


in order to fix the vertical position of end


23


of rail


15


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 7A

,


7


B,


8


,


9


A, and


9


B, the preferred embodiment of the rail alignment tool and system according to the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment a rail alignment tool


201


performs the same functions of rail alignment tool


11


by employing a slightly different methodology. Although only one rail alignment tool


201


is illustrated, it will be understood that in this embodiment, two such rail alignment tools


201


are employed, one on each section of adjoining rail.




Referring now specifically to

FIGS. 7A and 7B

in the drawings, rail alignment tool


201


is illustrated in a top plan view and a left side view, respectively. Rail alignment tool


201


includes a base member


203


and a sliding carriage member


205


that translates longitudinally relative to base member


203


, and transversely relative to a rail


207


. Base member


203


includes at least one spike port


209


through which a conventional rail road spike (not shown) may be driven to secure rail alignment tool


201


to a wooden cross tie (not shown). To accommodate use with concrete ties, base member


203


includes tabs


211


,


213


which are configured for connection to rail clips (not shown) to secure rail alignment tool


201


in a fixed position relative to the concrete cross tie (not shown). As mentioned above, the rail clips are used to secure the rails to the concrete cross ties.




Base member


203


carries at least one jack member


213


for lifting base member


203


relative to the cross tie. Jack member


213


includes a protective sleeve portion


214


, and a vertical adjustment means


216


. Jack members


213


will be discussed in more detail with respect to

FIGS. 9A and 9B

.




Base member


203


includes an upraised block member


215


. In the preferred configuration of this embodiment, block member


215


includes an aperture through which is fitted thrust bearings


217


having internal threads (not shown). A threaded shaft


219


having mating external threads


221


passes through thrust bearings


217


. At least one handle


223


to aid in carrying rail alignment tool


201


is coupled to base member


203


.




Additionally referring now to

FIG. 8

in the drawings, carriage member


205


is illustrated in a front view. Carriage member


205


translates longitudinally relative to base member


203


, and transversely relative to a rail


207


. In the preferred configuration, base member


203


includes an elongated aperture


225


. Aperture


225


includes a counter bored portion that forms a recessed portion


227


having a flanged surface that is exposed to the underneath surface of base member


203


. Carriage member


205


includes an upper plate


231


and a lower plate


233


. Upper plate


231


is wider and longer than elongated aperture


225


, such that upper plate translates upon the upper surface of base member


203


over elongated aperture


225


. Lower plate


233


is wider than elongated aperture, but not as wide and not as thick as the counter bored portion, such that lower plate


233


is either flush with the underneath surface of base member


203


, or entirely disposed within recessed portion


227


. Upper plate


231


is coupled to lower plate


233


via one or more pivot pins


255


,


257


. In this manner, base member


203


is sandwiched between upper plate


231


and lower plate


233


of carriage member


205


.




Because upper plate


231


is disposed on the upper surface of base member


203


, and because the rail is carried on the upper surface of upper plate


231


, an upraised lip


235


is provided to ensure that base member


203


and the underneath surface of rail


207


remain substantially coplanar. It should be understood that upper plate


231


may be configured to be flush with the upper surface of base member


203


without affecting the functionality of rail alignment tool


201


.




At least one guide means


241


may be coupled to base member


203


to ensure that carriage member


205


translates in the desired direction. In addition, sleeve portions


214


of jack members


213


may include guide means


243


to further ensure that carriage member


205


translates in the desired direction. Other guide members and alignment tabs, such as alignment tab


246


, may be included on rail alignment tool


201


to aid in properly attaching and aligning rail alignment tool


201


to and with the cross tie.




Carriage member


205


includes clamping means


251


,


253


for clamping rail


207


to rail alignment tool


201


. Clamping means


251


,


253


are pivotally coupled to carriage member


205


by pivot pins


255


,


257


, respectively. Clamping means


251


includes a handle portion


257


and a rail engagement portion


259


. Likewise, clamping means


253


includes a handle portion


263


and a rail engagement portion


265


. By rotating clamping means


251


with handle portion


257


in the directions of arrow A, rail engagement portion


259


engages and disengages one lower flange


271


of rail


207


. In a similar fashion, by rotating clamping means


253


with handle portion


263


in the directions of arrow B, rail engagement portion


265


engages and disengages the opposing lower flange


273


of rail


207


. In this manner, rail


207


is secured to carriage member


205


.




Carriage member


205


includes a receiver


281


having internal threads


283


for matingly receiving threaded shaft


219


. Thus, rotation of threaded shaft


219


causes carriage member


205


to translate longitudinally relative to base member


203


along elongated aperture


225


. Once base member


203


is secured to the cross tie, and rail


207


is clamped and secured to carriage member


205


, rotation of threaded shaft


219


causes rail


207


to translate transversely relative to the cross tie. In this manner, transverse alignment of an end


291


of rail


207


with the end of an adjoining rail (not shown) can be achieved so that the two rails can be welded together.




Rail alignment tool


201


may include visual indicia


292


of a trim or default alignment condition. For example, a first indicator mark


294


may be placed on base member


203


, and a second indicator mark


296


may be placed on carriage member


205


. Alignment of indicator mark


294


with indicator mark


296


prior to installation of rail alignment tool


210


onto the cross tie ensures that carriage member


205


will be adjustable in either direction after installation. It will be understood that other types of indicator marks, such as graduated marks, may be used to position rail alignment tools


201


and align the adjacent rails for welding.




Referring specifically now to

FIGS. 9A and 9B

in the drawings, jack member


213


is illustrated in a retracted mode and an extended mode, respectively. Adjustment means


216


of jack member


213


includes a threaded shaft


295


disposed within sleeve portion


214


. Threaded shaft


295


passes through a fixed thrust bearing


297


disposed at the upper end of sleeve portion


214


. A jack foot


299


telescopes into sleeve portion


214


. A receiver


301


having internal threads (not shown) matingly receives threaded shaft


295


. Receiver


301


is fixed to the upper portion of jack foot


299


. Jack foot


301


includes an internal shaft


303


into which threaded shaft is disposed when jack member is in the retracted mode. Jack foot


299


may include a key way


305


which receives a key


307


. Key


307


and key way


305


ensure that jack foot


299


telescopes into an out of sleeve portion in a properly aligned manner. Jack foot


299


terminates with a toe portion


309


that is configured and adapted to engage the cross tie. Toe portion


309


may be pivotally coupled to jack foot


299


to provide a slight amount of angular tolerance between rail alignment tool


201


and the cross tie. It should be understood that one function of sleeve portion


214


is to prevent debris, such as welding debris, from being deposited on threaded shaft


295


and preventing jack member


213


from functioning properly.




Because adjustment means


216


and threaded shaft


295


pass through fixed thrust bearing


297


, and because receiver


301


is fixed to jack foot


299


, rotation of adjustment means


216


causes jack foot


299


to translate between the retraced mode of FIG.


9


A and the extended mode of FIG.


9


B. In the retracted mode, base member


203


is either in contact with or in close proximity to the cross tie. In the extended mode, base member


203


is lifted away from the cross tie. In this manner, vertical alignment of end


291


of rail


207


with the end of an adjoining rail (not shown) can be achieved so that the two rails can be welded together.




Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, 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 claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A rail alignment system for selectively aligning an end section of a first rail with an end section of a second rail, the rail alignment system comprising:a first rail alignment tool for adjusting the vertical and lateral position of the end section of the first rail, the first rail alignment tool comprising: a first base member adapted to be coupled to a first cross tie disposed beneath the first rail; a means for coupling the first base member to the first cross tie; a first carriage assembly slidingly coupled to the first base member, such that the first carriage assembly slides in a direction generally transverse to the first rail; a means for coupling the first carriage assembly to the first rail; a means for adjusting the vertical position of the first carriage assembly relative to the first cross tie; and a means for adjusting the lateral position of the first carriage assembly relative to the first cross tie; and a second rail alignment tool for adjusting the vertical and lateral position of the end section of the second rail, the second rail alignment tool comprising: a second base member adapted to be coupled to a second cross tie disposed beneath the second rail; a means for coupling the second base member to the second cross tie; a second carriage assembly slidingly coupled to the second base member, such that the second carriage assembly slides in a direction generally transverse to the second rail; a means for coupling the second carriage assembly to the second rail; a means for adjusting the vertical position of the second carriage assembly relative to the cross tie; and a means for adjusting the lateral position of the second carriage assembly relative to the cross tie; wherein the end section of the first rail is selectively aligned by adjustment of the means for adjusting the vertical position of the first carriage assembly and the means for adjusting the lateral position of the first carriage assembly, and the end section of the second rail is selectively aligned by adjustment of the means for adjusting the vertical position of the second carriage assembly and the means for adjusting the lateral position of the second carriage assembly.
  • 2. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein the means for coupling the first base member to the first cross tie is at least one aperture passing through the first base member for receiving a spike, and the means for coupling the second base member to the second cross tie is at least one aperture passing through the second base member for receiving a spike.
  • 3. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein the means for coupling the first base member to the first cross tie is at least one tab member extending outward from the first base member for engagement with the first cross tie, and the means for coupling the second base member to the second cross tie is at least one tab member extending outward from the second base member for engagement with the second cross tie.
  • 4. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein the means for coupling the first carriage assembly to the first rail comprises:a first clamping member pivotally coupled to the first carriage assembly; and an opposing second clamping member pivotally coupled to the first carriage assembly; wherein both the first clamping member and the second clamping member are configured to releasably secure the first rail to the first carriage assembly.
  • 5. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein the means for coupling the second carriage assembly to the second rail comprises:a first clamping member pivotally coupled to the second carriage assembly; and an opposing second clamping member pivotally coupled to the second carriage assembly; wherein both the first clamping member and the second clamping member are configured to releasably secure the second rail to the second carriage assembly.
  • 6. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein the first rail is carried by the first carriage assembly, and the second rail is carried by the second carriage assembly.
  • 7. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting the vertical position of the first carriage assembly relative to the first cross tie is a jack member comprising:a jack body coupled to the first base member; a jack foot operably associated with the jack body, the jack foot being adapted for engagement with the first cross tie; and a means for adjusting the position of the jack foot relative to the jack body; wherein actuation of the means for adjusting the position of the jack foot relative to the jack body causes a corresponding adjustment of the vertical position of the first carriage assembly relative to the first cross tie.
  • 8. The rail alignment system according to claim 7, wherein the means for adjusting the position of the jack foot relative to the jack body is a threaded shaft coupled to the jack foot and the jack body.
  • 9. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting the vertical position of the second carriage assembly relative to the second cross tie is a jack member comprising:a jack body coupled to the second base member; a jack foot operably associated with the jack body, the jack foot being adapted for engagement with the second cross tie; and a means for adjusting the position of the jack foot relative to the jack body; wherein actuation of the means for adjusting the position of the jack foot relative to the jack body causes a corresponding adjustment of the vertical position of the second carriage assembly relative to the second cross tie.
  • 10. The rail alignment system according to claim 9, wherein the means for adjusting the position of the jack foot relative to the jack body is a threaded shaft coupled to the jack foot and the jack body.
  • 11. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting the lateral position of the first carriage assembly relative to the first cross tie is an adjustment member comprising:a receiver coupled to the first carriage assembly; a block member coupled to the first base member; and an adjusting member operably associated with the receiver and the block member; wherein actuation of the adjusting member causes a corresponding adjustment of the lateral position of the first carriage assembly relative to the first cross tie.
  • 12. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting the lateral position of the second carriage assembly relative to the second cross tie is an adjustment member comprising:a receiver coupled to the second carriage assembly; a block member coupled to the second base member; and an adjusting member operably associated with the receiver and the block member; wherein actuation of the adjusting member causes a corresponding adjustment of the lateral position of the second carriage assembly relative to the second cross tie.
  • 13. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, further comprising:a first handle member coupled to the first rail alignment tool; and a second handle member coupled to the second rail alignment tool.
  • 14. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, further comprising:first visual indicia disposed upon the first rail alignment tool for indicating a trim position for the first carriage assembly relative to the first base member; and second visual indicia disposed upon the second rail alignment tool for indicating a trim position for the second carriage assembly relative to the second base member.
  • 15. The rail alignment system according to claim 1, further comprising:at least one first guide member for guiding the translation of the first carriage assembly relative to the first base member; and at least one second guide member for guiding the translation of the second carriage assembly relative to the second base member.
  • 16. A rail alignment tool for adjusting the vertical and lateral position of an end section of a rail, the rail alignment tool comprising:a base member adapted to be coupled to a cross tie disposed beneath the rail; a means for coupling the base member to the cross tie; a carriage assembly slidingly coupled to the base member, such that the carriage assembly translates in a direction generally transverse to the rail; a means for releasably securing the carriage assembly to the rail; at least one jack assembly for adjusting the vertical position of the carriage assembly relative to the base member; and an adjustment assembly for adjusting the lateral position of the carriage assembly relative to the cross tie; wherein the vertical position of the end section of the rail is located by actuation of the jack assembly, and the lateral position of the end section of the rail is located by actuation of the adjustment assembly.
  • 17. The rail alignment tool according to claim 16, wherein the means for coupling the base member to the cross tie is at least one aperture passing through the base member for receiving a spike.
  • 18. The rail alignment tool according to claim 16, wherein the means for coupling the base member to the cross tie is at least one tab member extending outward from the base member for engagement with the cross tie.
  • 19. The rail alignment tool according to claim 16, wherein the means for releasably securing the carriage assembly to the rail comprises:a first clamping member pivotally coupled to the carriage assembly; and an opposing second clamping member pivotally coupled to the carriage assembly; wherein both the first clamping member and the second clamping member are configured to releasably secure the second rail to the second carriage assembly.
  • 20. The rail alignment tool according to claim 16, wherein the adjustment assembly comprises:a receiver carried by the carriage assembly; a fixed block carried by the base member; and a single adjustment shaft operably associated with both the receiver and the fixed block; wherein actuation of the single adjustment shaft adjusts the lateral position ofd the rail relative to the cross tie.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/634,899, filed Aug. 9, 2000, titled “Rail Alignment Tool,” now U.S. pat. No. 6,358,861 which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/147,963, filed Aug. 9, 1999, titled “Rail Alignment Tool.”

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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
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4674730 Roberts Jun 1987 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
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/634899 Aug 2000 US
Child 09/947844 US