Rails for railroad tracks or guideways are seated atop supports known as railroad ties. In some instances, railroad ties are wooden. In other instances, metal or concrete ties (also referred to as sleepers) are used for the support. Vehicles such as trains traversing the rails induces vibrations in the railroad ties. As such, devices connected to the railroad ties may be subjected to such vibrations.
One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein elements having the same reference numeral designations represent like elements throughout and wherein:
The U-shaped portion is sized to fit a railroad tie support for a railway rail. In at least some embodiments, the U-shaped portion is from 7 to 12 inches in width. In at least some embodiments, the U-shaped portion is from 10 to 11 inches in width. In at least some embodiments, the U-shaped portion is from 6 to 12 inches in height. In at least some embodiments, the U-shaped portion is from 9 to 11 inches in height. In at least some embodiments, the U-shaped portion is from 12 to 24 inches in depth. In at least some embodiments, the U-shaped portion is from 11 to 19 inches in depth. In at least some embodiments, the U-shaped portion comprises fifty percent of the length of bracket 100. In at least some embodiments, the U-shaped portion comprises less than fifty percent of the length of bracket 100.
Tie extension bracket 100 is made of metal or other suitable material. In at least some embodiments, one or more portions of bracket 100 are made of metal or other suitable material.
Side 102 has the same shape and configuration as parallel side 104. In at least some embodiments, side 102 differs in shape and/or configuration from parallel side 104.
Connecting support plate 108 is a rectangular-shaped piece which connects sides 102, 104. In at least some embodiments, connecting support plate 108 is welded along a lengthwise edge of the support plate to the corresponding side 102, 104. In at least some embodiments, connecting support plate 108 has one or more pre-drilled through-holes in the surface in order to enable connection of devices to bracket 100. In at least some embodiments, connecting support plate 108 has no through-holes in the surface. In at least some embodiments, connecting support plate 108 comprises a stacked combination of identical size and shape plates.
In at least one embodiment, connecting support plate 108 is welded to an isolation pad which is bonded to each of the parallel sides 102, 104 as described above in place of connecting support plate 108. Thus, in the given embodiment, the isolation pad is connected to sides 102, 104 in place of connecting support plate 108. In this manner, isolation pad is similar size, shape, and/or configuration as connecting support plate 108. In at least some embodiments, the isolation pad is, for example, Fabreeka SA47 type material available from Fabreeka International of Massachusetts. In at least some embodiments, the isolation pad is another suitable material for isolating a device connected to connecting support plate 108 from vibration transmitted through bracket 100.
Parallel sides 102, 104 each have at least two portions: a tie extension portion 114 and a support portion 116. Tie extension portion 114 corresponds to a portion of the side which extends beyond connecting support plate 108 and support portion 116 corresponds to at least a portion of the length of the side at which connecting support plate 108 connects.
Support portion 116 has a height which is less than a height of the tie extension portion 114. In at least some embodiments, tie extension portion 114 is taller than support portion 116. In still further embodiments, the height of support portion 116 is the same as the height of tie extension portion 114.
Support portion 116 has a length which is greater than a length of tie extension portion 114. In at least some embodiments, tie extension portion 114 is longer than support portion 116. In still further embodiments, the length of support portion 116 is the same as the length of time extension portion 114.
Each of the parallel sides 102, 104 has two through-holes formed in the tie extension portion 114. The through-holes formed in one of the parallel sides are aligned with the corresponding through holes in the other parallel side. In at least some embodiments, the formed through-holes are used in conjunction with an anchoring device, e.g., an anchor rod or other suitable arrangement, to anchor the extension bracket 100 to a railroad tie received in the tie extension portion 114.
In at least some embodiments, each of the parallel sides 102, 104 has at least one through-hole formed in the tie extension portion 114. In at least some other embodiments, each of the parallel sides 102, 104 has more than two through-holes formed in the tie extension portion 114. In at least one embodiment in which parallel sides 102, 104 differ in shape and/or configuration, at least one through-hole formed in each of the sides is aligned with at least one through-hole formed in the other of the sides.
In at least some embodiments, the through-holes formed in tie extension portion 114 are each circular. In at least some embodiments, the through-holes formed in tie extension portion 114 are other than circular. In at least some embodiments, the circular through-holes formed in tie extension portion 114 are 2 inches in diameter.
Each of the parallel sides 102, 104 has three through-holes formed in the support portion 116. The through-holes formed in one of the parallel sides are aligned with corresponding through-holes in the other parallel side. In at least some embodiments, the parallel sides 102, 104 omit the three through-holes. At least some other embodiments, the parallel sides 102, 104 have greater or fewer number of through-holes formed in the support portion 116.
In at least some embodiments, the through-holes formed in support portion 116 of the parallel sides 102, 104 are sized to enable a tool to pass through the opening to the interior of bracket 100 in order to tighten and/or connect a device on connecting support plate 108. In a given embodiment, the through-hole is sized to allow a user to insert a wrench therethrough in order to tighten or assist in tightening a nut to secure the mounting of a device on connecting support plate 108. In at least some other embodiments, the through-holes formed in support portion 116 are sized to enable a person's hand to pass through the opening to the interior of bracket 100.
In at least some embodiments, the through-holes formed in the support portion 116 are each rounded rectangular shapes. In at least some embodiments, the through-holes formed in support portion 116 are each rectangular shaped. In at least some embodiments, the through-holes formed in support portion 116 have a shape other than rectangular. In at least some embodiments, the through-holes formed in support portion 116 are 5 to 7 inches in length and in some embodiments, 6 inches in length.
In at least some embodiments, the through-holes formed in tie extension portion 114 and support portion 116 are formed such that the centers of the through-holes are at the same height above the bottom of the side.
In at least some embodiments, each of parallel sides 102, 104 is three-quarter inch in thickness. In at least some embodiments, each of parallel sides 102, 104 is 51 inches in length. In at least some embodiments, support portion 116 is seven and three-quarter (7¾) inches in height. In at least some embodiments, each of parallel sides 102, 104 is 10 inches in height at a highest portion of the side.
Tie extension bracket 100 also comprises a top connecting plate 106 connecting an upper edge of side 102 to side 104, similar to connecting support plate 108. Top connecting plate 106 is perpendicular to sides 102, 104 and connected to the sides at a second portion of the upper edge of each of the sides. Top connecting plate 106 is rectangular-shaped. In at least some embodiments, top connecting plate 106 has a different shape and/or configuration. In at least some embodiments, top connecting plate 106 is connected to sides 102, 104 at the highest portion of the sides. In at least some embodiments, top connecting plate 106 is connected to sides 102, 104 at a height greater than the height at which connecting support plate 108 connects to the sides. In at least some embodiments, top connecting plate 106 is parallel to connecting support plate 108.
Top connecting plate 106 effectively bridges from side 102 to side 104. In at least one embodiment, top connecting plate 106 is omitted. Top connecting plate 106 has an outer surface and an inner surface. In at least some embodiments, the inner surface of top connecting plate 106 faces a railroad tie inserted into tie extension portion 114.
In at least some embodiments, top connecting plate 106 is connected to sides 102, 104 along the entire length of the tie extension portion 114 of the sides. In at least some embodiments, top connecting plate 106 is connected to a portion of the tie extension portion 114 edge of the sides.
In at least some embodiments, top connecting plate 106 is ½ inch in thickness. In at least some embodiments, top connecting plate 106 is 8 inches in length in a direction extending parallel to side 102. In at least some embodiments, top connecting plate 106 is 11 inches in width in a direction extending perpendicular to side 102.
Tie extension bracket 100 also comprises a rear connecting plate 112 connecting a rear edge of side 102 side 104. Rear connecting plate 112 is arranged perpendicular to connecting support plate 108 and parallel sides 102, 104. Rear connecting played 112 is rectangular-shaped.
In at least some embodiments, the rear connecting plate 112 has a different shape and/or configuration. In at least some embodiments, rear connecting plate 112 is arranged perpendicular to connecting support plate 108. In at least some embodiments, rear connecting plate 112 is arranged perpendicular to parallel sides 102, 104. In at least some embodiments, where connecting plate 112 is positioned such that an inner surface of the rear connecting plate faces an end surface of a received end portion of a railroad tie.
Rear connecting plate 112 has a through-hole formed in the face thereof. The through-hole formed in the face is sized to enable a tool to pass through the opening similar to the through-holes formed in support portion 116 of parallel sides 102, 104. In at least some embodiments, rear connecting plate 112 has no through-holes formed therein. In at least some other embodiments, the through-hole formed in rear connecting plate 112 is sized to enable a person's hand to pass through the opening to the interior of bracket 100.
In at least some embodiments, rear connecting plate 112 has a greater number of through-holes formed therein. In at least some embodiments, the through-hole formed in rear connecting plate 112 is a rounded rectangular shape. In at least some embodiments, the through-hole formed in rear connecting plate 112 has a different shape. In at least some embodiments, the through-hole formed in rear connecting plate 112 is between 6 and 8 inches in width.
In at least some embodiments, rear connecting plate 112 is ¼ inch in thickness. In at least some embodiments, rear connecting plate 112 is trapezoidal in shape, tapering from the top to the bottom.
Tie extension bracket 100 also comprises a bottom plate 110 connecting parallel sides 102, 104 at a lower edge thereof. Bottom plate 110 has the same shape and/or configuration as connecting support plate 108. In at least some embodiments, bottom plate 110 extends along substantially the entire portion of support portion 116. In at least some embodiments, bottom plate 110 comprises one or more connecting strips arranged in parallel and in the same plane and connecting side 102 to side 104. In at least some embodiments, bottom plate 110 is parallel with connecting support plate 108.
In at least some embodiments, bottom plate 110 is ¼ inch in thickness. In at least some embodiments, the bottom of bracket 100 is cross braced.
Also as depicted, a pair of internal plates 402 are depicted as spanning from side 102 to side 104. Each internal plate 402 is similar shape, size and configuration as end plate 200. In at least some embodiments, each internal plate 402 is a different shape, size, and configuration from end plate 200 suitable for providing the support to the bracket 100. Internal plate 402 extends parallel to end plate 200 and perpendicular to connecting support plate 108 and sides 102, 104. In at least some embodiments, internal plates 402 are evenly spaced between end plate 200 and rear connecting plate 112.
It will be readily seen by one of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosed embodiments fulfill one or more of the advantages set forth above. After reading the foregoing specification, one of ordinary skill will be able to affect various changes, substitutions of equivalents and various other embodiments as broadly disclosed herein. It is therefore intended that the protection granted hereon be limited only by the definition contained in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.