Abstract: Aluminothermically produced steel is poured into a casting mold which surrounds the two rail ends. A cooling agent is applied to the surfaces of the rail heads of the rail portions adjacent the two casting mold halves. The cooling agent is applied after the molten steel has been poured into the casting mold until the steel has solidified. The cooling agent may be applied until the projecting material and the casting mold halves has been sheared off. A casting mold for carrying out the method includes two casting mold halves which each has a groove for receiving a sealing paste in the inner surfaces thereof facing the rail ends, wherein the groove extends along the outer contour of the casting mold halves.

Abstract: A method for grinding the running and/or guide surfaces of rails or the like, where the running surfaces are ground by an endless revolving abrasive belt which can be moved against the running surfaces, wherein the abrasive belt revolves transversely to the longitudinal axis of the rail and embraces, at least partially with prestress, the running and/or guide surfaces. An apparatus for performing the method includes a mobile grinding machine, which an endless abrasive belt, guided at least on one rail of the track, which abrasive belt revolves over a drive roller and a reversal arranged at a distance therefrom and which can be moved by these against the surfaces of the rail to be ground. The reversal is formed of two reversing rollers which have a comparatively small spacing from each other, that the axes of the reversing rollers and of the drive roller 19 being arranged to be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail.

Abstract: A self-opening closure for casting crucibles used in aluminothermic reactions and made of a high mechanical-strength, high boiling point inorganic material producing no gases when heated, the closure being composed of one or more sealing disk(s) made of a fibrous aluminum silicate, the ratio of the total thickness of the sealing disk(s) to its (their) diameter being 1:5 to 1:1, the melting point of the aluminum silicate being equal to or exceeding 1650.degree. C., and a metal plate between 0.1 and 3 mm thick mounted on the sealing disk(s).

Abstract: The invention concerns a corrugation-free rail for track-bound vehicles. In the invention, the rail comprises a metallic material in the area of the travel and/or guide surfaces of which the stress limit or yield point is above the wheel-induced compression. Preferably, the rail in the area of the travel and/or guide surfaces is composed of a non-work-hardenable material.The preferred material composition is (by weight):______________________________________ carbon 0.2 to 0.4% chromium 13 to 18% molybdenum 0.3 to 1.5% manganese 0.5 to 1.5% silicon 0.3 to 1% remainder is iron.

Abstract: A firing cap is located in a housing and produces, when detonated, a fuse-igniting fire jet. A firing pin mechanism is provided for impacting and detonating the firing cap. An arrangement is provided which extends across the path of the fire jet and which includes passages through which the jet is compelled to pass to thereby control the behavior of the jet.

Abstract: A process for the aluminothermic welding of rails in which the rail ends to be joined are surrounded by a prefabricated, dry refractory casting mold and sealed from the rails with plastic mold materials, such as, moistened sand; a reaction crucible is arranged above the casting mold and filled with an aluminothermic reaction mixture; the rail ends are preheated, for example, by burning a mixture of propane and oxygen and directing the flames downwardly into the riser-duct of the casting mold for a period of time up to about 2 minutes and at a temperature between about 300.degree. C and about 700.degree.C; the aluminothermic reaction mixture in the reaction crucible is ignited; and, upon completion of the reaction of the aluminothermic reaction mixture, the lower outlet of the reaction crucible is opened and the steel melt is poured into the mold.The amount of aluminothermically produced steel utilized is between about 0.15 and about 0.25 parts by weight based on the weight per meter of the rails to be welded.