Securing spikes in pre-existing loosened spike cavities in railroad ties

Abstract

Technology is disclosed by which loosened railroad spikes may be re-secured in pre-existing spike cavities in reconditioned or repaired railroad ties, i.e. novel, facile, on-site, non-complex, miniaturized pre-packaged, clean, non-labor intensive, non-equipment intensive ways of bonding or polymerizing pre-existing previously used railroad spike cavities in the field for again receiving railroad spikes in a secure manner, so as to repair damaged spike cavity walls and prevent moisture infiltration. Frangibly encapsulated bonding agent or polymerizable resin placed in pre-existing spike cavities is preferred.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to repair and / or reuse of reconditioned or repaired railroad ties and more particularly to providing technology for field use by which loosened spikes may be re-secured in pre-existing spike cavities in ties in an efficient, forcible, facile and cost effective way. BACKGROUND [0002] In regard to railroad ties formed of wood or plastic and composite materials, spikes are driven through apertures in two spaced tie plates, placed on top of each tie, into the solid material comprising the tie. In each instance, this creates a spike cavity in the tie. The extent to which, each spike, once fully driven, is held in place depending on compression and frictional forces existing at the interface between the tie material defining the associated spike cavity and the spike. If the spike loosens, the associated tie plate and / or rail will also loosen, creating a potential for damage, shorter expected life, potential for water infilt...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] Another paramount object of this invention is to provide facile, on-site, non-complex, miniaturized pre-packaged ways of bonding or polymerizing a resinous material in pre-existing railroad spike cavities in the field for thereafter receiving railroad spikes in a secure manner.

[0015] A further important object is the provision of methodology and products for securing railroad spikes in previously used spike cavities, which is clean, involves limited labor and obviates any need for complex equipment.

Problems solved by technology

If the spike loosens, the associated tie plate and / or rail will also loosen, creating a potential for damage, shorter expected life, potential for water infiltration and a danger for trains traveling over the track.

Over time spikes often loosen.

This up and down movement creates forces which tend over time to loosen the railroad spikes in their respective spike cavities.

When this happens, play in the associated tie plate and / or rail section results, which further loosens the associated spikes.

Also, over time, train forces sometimes tend to cause the tie plates to become indented into the top of the associated tie, which also results in a loosening of the associated spikes.

Furthermore, once a spike has loosened within its spike cavity, water infiltration into the spike cavity predictably occurs, which causes rotting of the tie at the spike cavity, when the material thereof is wood.

This approach has proven unsatisfactory for long term repairs because the plug does not prevent water infiltration with resulting tie rot.

Also, the plug sometimes does not tightly retain the re-driven spike in place.

Liquid polyurethane in 55 gallon drums are provided along with a complex, heavy, and expensive foam machine requiring two men and much labor to operate.

Curing time thereafter is lengthy and the proper time for re-insertion of the spikes into polymer fitted spike cavities is hard to estimate.

In other words, the equipment and manpower requirement do not accommodate use only on one or a few ties.

This technology is messy and clean up of the treated area and the workers is difficult, if not impossible.

A malfunction of the on-site complex equipment requires the equipment to be returned to a remote site for repairs.

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