Patent Application
20060196963
The present invention relates to an isolator for use with a rail anchor and, more particularly, to an isolator for use with a rail anchor applied to railroad rail mounted on concrete ties.
In the installation and operation of railroad rail, the standard rail fastener is a spike driven into a wood tie on either side of the rail. Such arrangement is designed to keep the lateral spacing between rails to maintain gauge distance. Tie plates are also utilized as bearing pads against lateral and vertical forces.
Special problems have arisen due to the use of concrete ties in certain railroad rail installations. One approach to restricting and restraining rail used with concrete ties is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,816.
The particular problem with railroad rail mounted on concrete ties is longitudinal rail movement when holding is provided with resilient fasteners. Rail anchors can be used to restrict such longitudinal rail movement, which typically occurs during the acceleration and deceleration of trains or the expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. However, abrasions from the steel rail anchor against the concrete tie tend to erode and eventually damage the concrete tie.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved isolator for use with a rail anchor, particularly adapted for use with concrete ties.
The present invention provides an isolator particularly adapted for use with a rail anchor utilized in an application where railroad rail is installed on concrete ties. The isolator protects the concrete tie from longitudinal movement of the rail due to expansion and contraction due to changing temperatures, and the acceleration and deceleration of trains.
In one embodiment, the isolator is comprised of a structural plastic material and includes a front face section and a rear face section. The front face section and rear face section each comprise a generally rectangular structure, having a top edge, bottom edge, and side edges. A center section joins the front face section and rear face section and forms part of the top of the isolator. In another embodiment, the front face section includes a top section and bottom section, with the top section having a lower edge projecting laterally at an acute angle from the bottom section. Similarly, the rear face section includes a top section and a bottom section, with the top section having a lower edge projecting laterally at an acute angle from the bottom section.
The isolator is adapted to receive a rail anchor such that either the front face section or the rear face section of the isolator would contact the concrete tie and thereby isolate the steel rail anchor from the concrete tie.
In the drawings,
Referring now to
Front face section 12 is seen to be a generally elongated, rectangular structure having a top edge, a bottom edge 13, and two side edges 37 and 39. Front face section 12 also includes rib section 14 which extends laterally and includes an angle section 16 that extends from front face section depending lower section 18. Front face section depending lower section 18 is seen to taper to a decreasing thickness toward bottom edge 13.
Similarly, rear face section 23 is seen to be a generally elongated, rectangular structure having a top edge, a bottom edge 31, and two side edges 37 and 39. Rear face section 23 also includes rib section 24 which extends laterally and includes an angle section 26 that extends from front face section depending lower section 28. Rear face section depending lower section 28 is seen to taper to a decreasing thickness toward bottom edge 31.
Front face section 12 is seen to have inner surface 19 and rear face section 23 is seen to have inner surface 29. These surfaces are spaced laterally by a distance A, which is seen to be less than the height of front face section 12, shown as H in
Center section 20 is seen to have longitudinal edges 32 and 34. These edges are inset from inlet a distance B from the longitudinal edge 33 of front face section 12 and the longitudinal edge 35 of rear face section 23.
Referring now to
A rail anchor 50 is shown as comprising a bent, steel structure having a top end 52 extending to a lower end 54. Rail 42 is seen to be received in rail anchor 50 in a usual fashion. Further, rail anchor 50 includes a lower edge 56 with an upper surface 57 which is spaced below and around rail anchor isolator 10; upper surface 57 contacts or abuts center section 20. It is seen that rear face section 23 provides insulation and spacing between concrete tie side 44 and rail anchor 50. Further, rear face rib section 24 is seen to include angle section 26 which is adjacent a similarly angled section 49 of concrete tie 40.
Rail anchor 50 is seen to have intermediate sections 62 and 64 which fit through a spacing A between inner surface 19 of -front face section 12 and inner surface 29 of rear face section 23. This fitting arrangement tends to keep rail isolator 10 in place between rail anchor 50 and concrete tie 40.
It should be understood that rail anchor isolator 10 is a unitary device, usually made in a extruded operation. The preferred material for rail anchor isolator 10 is a structural plastic, usually comprising about half a high density polyethylene, and about half a low density polyethylene component mix.
Referring now to
Front face section 123 is seen to be generally elongated, generally planar rectangular structure having a top edge 122, a bottom edge 131, and two side edges 157 and 159. Similarly, a rear face section 112 is seen to be a generally elongated, generally planar rectangular structure having a top edge 122, a bottom edge 113, and two side edges 137 and 139.
Front face section 123 is seen to have inner surface 129 and rear face section 112 is seen to have inner surface 119. These surfaces are spaced laterally by a distance A′, which is seen to be less than the height of front face section 123, as shown as H′ in
Center section 120 is seen to have longitudinal edges 160 and 162. These edges are inset from inlet a distance B′ from the longitudinal edges 157 and 159 of front face section 123 and the longitudinal edges 137 and 139 of rear face section 112. Further, longitudinal edges 160 and 162 are seen to each extend at an acute angle from top surface 122. This angle is preferably, in the embodiment, about 60°.
Referring now to
A rail anchor 150 is shown as compromising a bent, usually steel structure having a top end 152 extending to a lower end 154. Rail 142 is seen to be received in rail anchor 150 in a usual fashion. Further, rail anchor 150 includes a lower edge 156 with an upper surface 157 which is spaced below and around rail anchor isolator 110; upper surface 157 contacts or abuts center section 120. It is seen that rear face section 112 provides insulation between concrete tie side 144 and rail anchor 150.
Rail anchor 150 is seen to have intermediate sections 162 and 164 which fit through a spacing A between inner surface 129 of front face section 123 and inner surface 119 of rear face section 112. This fitting arrangement tends to keep rail isolator 110 in place between rail anchor 150 and concrete tie 140.
It should be understood that rail anchor isolator 110 is a unitary device, usually made in an injected mold. The preferred material for rail anchor isolator 110 is a structural plastic, usually comprising about half a high density polyethylene, and about half a low density polyethylene component mix.
