Method and apparatus for protecting concrete rail beds

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting a continuous concrete rail bed, including a resilient, compressible cushion for being placed directly upon the continuous concrete rail bed and a spacer plate for being positioned onto the cushion. The cushion and spacer plate are sized and shaped to extend laterally outward in opposing directions beyond the width of the opposing flanges of a rail positioned on the spacer plate to define first and second attachment areas on opposite sides of the rail. First and second locks are provided for being positioned on a top surface of the spacer plate at the first and second attachment areas and engaging the opposing flanges of the rail for locking the rail in position on the spacer plate. First and second anchors are provided for anchoring the cushion, spacer plate and lock to the concrete bed at the respective first and second attachment areas of the spacer plate.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for protecting concrete rail beds of the type found in rail yards where rail locomotives are matched with rail cars to form trains. A rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading / unloading railroad cars and / or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic. Railroad cars are moved around by specially designed yard switchers, a type of locomotive. Cars in a railroad yard may be sorted by numerous categories, including railroad company, loaded or unloaded, destination, car type, or whether they need repairs. In many cases rails in rail yards are not attached to laterally-extending sleepers, or ties, as is the case with rails that carry locomotives and attached cars between destinations. Rather, large concrete beds ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a method to prevent damaging effects on continuous concrete railroad beds caused by long-term vibration and weight application.

Problems solved by technology

However, the manner in which rails are presently mounted on these concrete beds subjects these concrete beds to severe stresses.

Whereas on mainline tracks the rails are under load for relatively short, intermittent periods of time, in rail yards extremely heavy locomotives and loaded cars may sit for hours or days in the same location.

This causes crushing and eventual disintegration of the concrete.

In cold climates water can enter the cracks and fissures caused by this disintegration and freeze, causing further damage as the expanding water opens the cracks and fissures further.

Eventually, the concrete is subjected to greater vibration as the spacer plate wallows in an area of disintegrated concrete.

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