Abstract: A laminated wood and encapsulated railroad tie structure and its associated method of manufacture. A wood core of laminated wood slats is inserted into an extruded sleeve of scrap tire rubber and polyurethane. A urethane adhesive laminates the wood slats together and serves as a lubricant and bonding agent for placement and secured engagement of the sleeve about the core. End caps are securely engaged at each end of the composite sleeve, being secured to both the wood or other natural fiber core and sleeve. Longitudinal grooves or slots for engagement with a railroad bed characterize the bottom and side surfaces of the sleeve. The core may be provided with bores and grooves to receive sensors and conductors interconnected with a processor and transponder maintained in an end cap. The end case also maintains a photovoltaic device and power source for the active elements of the railroad tie structure.

Abstract: A method for restoring and reusing railroad ties and the resulting product are disclosed. According to the method, otherwise spent wooden ties are sorted as to their apparent suitability for providing a core for reuse. Those found unsuitable are discarded, while those found to be suitable are milled or trimmed about their dimensions to define a suitable core. That core is banded about a transverse perimeter and then submitted to a reaction injection molding process by which urethane or other suitable polymers impregnate the various voids, holes and cracks in the core, bond with the bands, and define a finish unit having the overall size and configuration of previously known railroad ties. The encapsulated product is then capped or plugged at the ends to ensure that the resulting product is impervious to penetration by the environment.

Abstract: A laminated wood and encapsulated railroad tie structure and its associated method of manufacture. A wood core of laminated wood slats is inserted into an extruded sleeve of scrap tire rubber and polyurethane. A urethane adhesive laminates the wood slats together and serves as a lubricant and bonding agent for placement and secured engagement of the sleeve about the core. End caps are securely engaged at each end of the composite sleeve, being secured to both the wood or other natural fiber core and sleeve. Longitudinal grooves or slots for engagement with a railroad bed characterize the bottom and side surfaces of the sleeve. The core may be provided with bores and grooves to receive sensors and conductors interconnected with a processor and transponder maintained in an end cap. The end case also maintains a photovoltaic device and power source for the active elements of the railroad tie structure.

Abstract: A method for restoring and reusing railroad ties and the resulting product are disclosed. According to the method, otherwise spent wooden ties are sorted as to their apparent suitability for providing a core for reuse. Those found unsuitable are discarded, while those found to be suitable are milled or trimmed about their dimensions to define a suitable core. That core is banded about a transverse perimeter and then submitted to a reaction injection molding process by which urethane or other suitable polymers impregnate the various voids, holes and cracks in the core, bond with the bands, and define a finish unit having the overall size and configuration of previously known railroad ties. The encapsulated product is then capped or plugged at the ends to ensure that the resulting product is impervious to penetration by the environment.

Abstract: A laminated wood and encapsulated railroad tie structure and its associated method of manufacture. A wood core of laminated wood slats is inserted into an extruded sleeve of scrap tire rubber and polyurethane. A urethane adhesive laminates the wood slats together and serves as a lubricant and bonding agent for placement and secured engagement of the sleeve about the core. End caps are securely engaged at each end of the composite sleeve, being secured to both the wood or other natural fiber core and sleeve. Longitudinal grooves or slots for engagement with a railroad bed characterize the bottom and side surfaces of the sleeve. The core may be provided with bores and grooves to receive sensors and conductors interconnected with a processor and transponder maintained in an end cap. The end case also maintains a photovoltaic device and power source for the active elements of the railroad tie structure.

Abstract: A method for restoring and reusing railroad ties and the resulting product are disclosed. According to the method, otherwise spent wooden ties are sorted as to their apparent suitability for providing a core for reuse. Those found unsuitable are discarded, while those found to be suitable are milled or trimmed about their dimensions to define a suitable core. That core is banded about a transverse perimeter and then submitted to a reaction injection molding process by which urethane or other suitable polymers impregnate the various voids, holes and cracks in the core, bond with the bands, and define a finish unit having the overall size and configuration of previously known railroad ties. The encapsulated product is then capped or plugged at the ends to ensure that the resulting product is impervious to penetration by the environment.

Abstract: An encapsulated railroad tie structure and its method of manufacture. A core of laminated wood slats is inserted into an extruded sleeve of scrap tire rubber and polyurethane. A urethane adhesive laminates the wood slats together and serves as a lubricant and bonding agent for placement and secured engagement of the sleeve about the core. End caps are securely engaged to both the core and sleeve. The core may be provided with bores and grooves to receive sensors and conductors interconnected with a processor and transponder maintained in an end cap. The end cap also maintains a photovoltaic device and power source for the active elements of the railroad tie structure. The core may also be manufactured of a wood or other natural fiber giving the core a desired flex modulus to provide for better control and serviceability of associated rails and railway cars.

Abstract: A bamboo composite timber and method for making the same is presented. Bamboo slats are laid up into a preform in a mold and coated with a urethane adhesive. The slats are arranged in the preform in side-to-side, end-to-end and face-to-face orientation. The composite is subjected to elevated temperature and pressure in the mold until the adhesive cures, the temperature and pressure ensuring uniformity of the resulting timber and eliminating voids and the like internally. The slats may be arranged in any of numerous ways, including three directions of orthogonal relationships.

Abstract: A bamboo composite timber and method for making the same is presented. Bamboo slats are laid up into a preform in a mold and coated with a urethane adhesive. The slats are arranged in the preform in side-to-side, end-to-end and face-to-face orientation. The composite is subjected to elevated temperature and pressure in the mold until the adhesive cures, the temperature and pressure ensuring uniformity of the resulting timber and eliminating voids and the like internally. The slats may be arranged in any of numerous ways, including three directions of orthogonal relationships.

Abstract: A method for restoring and reusing railroad ties and the resulting product are disclosed. According to the method, otherwise spent wooden ties are sorted as to their apparent suitability for providing a core for reuse. Those found unsuitable are discarded, while those found to be suitable are milled or trimmed about their dimensions to define a suitable core. That core is banded about a transverse perimeter and then submitted to a reaction injection molding process by which urethane or other suitable polymers impregnate the various voids, holes and cracks in the core, bond with the bands, and define a finish unit having the overall size and configuration of previously known railroad ties. The encapsulated product is then capped or plugged at the ends to ensure that the resulting product is impervious to penetration by the environment.

Abstract: An encapsulated railroad tie structure and its method of manufacture. A core of laminated wood slats is inserted into an extruded sleeve of scrap tire rubber and polyurethane. A urethane adhesive laminates the wood slats together and serves as a lubricant and bonding agent for placement and secured engagement of the sleeve about the core. End caps are securely engaged to both the core and sleeve. The core may be provided with bores and grooves to receive sensors and conductors interconnected with a processor and transponder maintained in an end cap. The end cap also maintains a photovoltaic device and power source for the active elements of the railroad tie structure. The core may also be manufactured of a wood or other natural fiber giving the core a desired flex modulus to provide for better control and serviceability of associated rails and railway cars.

Abstract: A laminated and encapsulated railroad tie structure and its associated method of manufacture. A wood core of laminated wood slats is inserted into an extruded sleeve of scrap tire rubber and polyurethane. A urethane adhesive laminates the wood slats together and serves as a lubricant and bonding agent for placement and secured engagement of the sleeve about the core. End caps are securedly engaged at each end of the composite, being secured to both the wood core and sleeve. The bottom and side surfaces of the sleeve are characterized by longitudinal grooves or slots for engagement with a railroad bed.