Abstract: The mold for aluminothermic welding of metal rails has two components made of identical rigid refractory material and suitable for fitting around two ends of rails to be welded, each component includes: a lower part having a face defining a mold cavity suitable for enveloping the foot and a core of the ends of the rails, and a channel opening at the bottom into a lower region of the mold cavity and having at the top an opening and an upper part including a cooling chamber connected to the mold cavity and capable of containing the heads of the rail ends, the cooling chamber forming a non-compartmentalized volume to which the channel is connected via the opening and which is bounded by an external wall of each mold component.

Abstract: The mold for aluminothermic welding of metal rails has two components made of identical rigid refractory material and suitable for fitting around two ends of rails to be welded, each component includes: a lower part having a face defining a mold cavity suitable for enveloping the foot and a core of the ends of the rails, and a channel opening at the bottom into a lower region of the mold cavity and having at the top an opening and an upper part including a cooling chamber connected to the mold cavity and capable of containing the heads of the rail ends, the cooling chamber forming a non-compartmentalized volume to which the channel is connected via the opening and which is bounded by an external wall of each mold component.

Abstract: An aluminothermic welding device. The device, which is for the butt welding of two metal members such as railroad rails, comprises a mould and a crucible the respective upper and lower faces of which are so formed with mutually complementary respective depressions and/or reliefs as to enable the crucible to be placed on the mould in a position in which the discharge aperture of the crucible and the pouring bush of the mould are coaxial and turned downwards and upwards respectively. This ensures the correct positioning of the crucible in relation to the mould. The crucible can also be constructed in a form enabling it to be used once and from a material selected for this purpose and advantageously differing from the material used for the mould.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrical supply rail comprising the following steps: (a) producing a mounting body and a wearing plate between rebates of the mounting body and edges of the wearing plate, interposing a sheet of electrically conductive material between the mounting body and the wearing plate; (b) mutually superposing faces of the mounting body and the wearing plate transversely with interposition of the sheet of electrically conductive material having a fusion temperature below those of the mounting body and of the wearing plate; (c) causing the fusion of the sheet by heating and exerting a stress on the mounting body and on the wearing plate; and (d) cooling the solidification of the continuous longitudinal film.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the butt-ends of two rails to be connected has a fixed frame for enclosing one of the two rails and two integral bars, parallel to the rails, and extending from the fixed frame toward the other rail. Two movable frames are slidable over a limited portion of the parallel bars in the vicinity of the other rail and can be selectively secured to the other rail so that only one of these two frames is slidably movable. Jacks are provided to effect relative movement between the two movable frames. Actuation of the jacks effects movement of the two movable frames relative to each other and, depending upon which of these frames is secured to the parallel bars, the gap between the two butt-ends will be either increased or decreased.

Abstract: A device for adjusting two butt ends of rails to be connected by welding comprises a rigid structure which is formed by two support plates. The support plates are aligned and interconnected by a concave part and which is able to be disposed horizontally so that the two support plates are pressed one against one vertical side of the head of one of the rails and the other against the corresponding vertical side of the head of the other rail. The concave part provides a region for access around the butt ends. Each support plate is provided with a retaining clamp which is provided with a jaw able to bear against the opposite vertical side of the head of the rail. The device can be applied to the welding of rails on a track or on a fixed installation.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for aligning and setting the gap between two rail ends comprises a rigid housing overlapping the two rails and providing an access area around the two rail ends. A first pair of presses and a second pair of presses are mounted in line on the frame and arranged so that the first pair of presses is situated between the second pair of presses. Each combination of a first press and a second press serves to grip one of the two rails to be joined. A pair of vertically mounted jacks are operatively secured to the second pair of presses to provide vertical movement of the second pair of presses independent of the rigid housing. Vertically adjustable support stops engage the tops of the rails and together with the vertically adjustable second presses effect vertical adjustment of the rails. The improved apparatus can be mounted singly or in pairs on a gantry and can include gap setting apparatus and weld dressing apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing weld surplus formed after the aluminothermic welding of two rail butt ends, and incorporating a frame, a first cutting tool secured to the frame and a second cutting tool movable relative to the frame towards the first tool to remove the weld surplus. This apparatus is characterized by the fact that both tools have a cutting edge each with a profile suitable for cutting only the weld surplus on top of the rail head, and the second tool may either be moved horizontally and parallel or perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rail by a hydraulic jack whose body is attached to the frame and whose ram is fixed to the second tool above its cutting edge.

Abstract: A mould for use in a metallothermic welding process of at least two metal items together comprises at least two parts for arrangement around butts of each of the metal items to define a pouring cavity which is adapted to receive hot welding fluid. At least one of the faces of the mould, which in use will contact either a part of one of the items to be welded or another portion of the mould, defines a projection which presents sloping side towards the exterior of the pouring cavity. A strip of a compressible material which is little affected by heat is fitted on the projection in order to abut said part of one of the items or the other portion of the mould.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning and setting the gap between two rail-ends prior to joining these two ends by fish plating or welding and possibly dressing the weld, comprises a rigid horizontal frame of open structure overlapping the two rails and providing an access area around the two ends to be joined. Two main presses and two end presses are mounted in line on the frame and arranged so that the two main presses are located between the end presses. Each combination of a main press and an end press serves to grip one of the two rails to be joined. The gap setting means can be locked on the two rails and has rams for moving the rails together or apart. Weld dressing means for eliminating the weld bead formed after a weld joining operation comprises a dressing tool movable by the aforesaid rams. The apparatus is especially for use in laying or reconditioning railway lines.