Abstract: Concrete railroad ties are made having steel plates cast directly into the concrete railroad tie so that the top surface of each steel plate is even with the top surface of the concrete railroad tie. Fasteners for the rails can be welded to anywhere within the steel plate. Additionally, each steel plate can be cast into one of two different positions of the concrete railroad tie thus, creating more flexibility as to the positions of the rail fasteners on the railroad tie and reducing the length of the steel plate needed by half to three inches. By utilizing this assembly, the amount of concrete the patterns needed in a turnout is reduced.

Abstract: Concrete railroad ties are made having steel plates cast directly into the concrete railroad tie so that the top surface of each steel plate is even with the top surface of the concrete railroad tie. Fasteners for the rails can be welded to anywhere within the steel plate. Additionally, each steel plate can be cast into one of two different positions of the concrete railroad tie thus, creating more flexibility as to the positions of the rail fasteners on the railroad tie and reducing the length of the steel plate needed by half to three inches. By utilizing this assembly, the amount of concrete the patterns needed in a turnout is reduced.

Abstract: A system for securing a rail to a concrete railroad tie employing a two-piece insulator spacer that improves the resistance of the insulator spacer to the crushing deterioration induced by laterally-directed compressive forces during service. The insulator spacer comprises an upper member and a post member. The post member is subjected to high compressive loads in service and consists of composite material that is sufficiently electrically insulating to operably electrically insulate the rail with which the insulator spacer is in contact from the shoulder insert with which the improved insulator spacer is also in contact.

Abstract: A system for securing a rail to a concrete railroad tie employing an improved insulator spacer that improves the resistance of the insulator spacer to the crushing deterioration induced by laterally-directed compressive forces during service. The improved insulator spacer has at least one composite insert located in an area that is subjected to high compressive loads in service. The composite insert or inserts are sufficiently electrically insulating to operably electrically insulate the rail the improved insulator spacer is in contact with from the shoulder insert the improved insulator spacer is also in contact with.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the inspection and sorting of buttons and the like. The buttons to be inspected are fed from a feeder to a mechanical conveyance system which imparts a velocity to and a spacing between the buttons. The buttons are conveyed between a light source and detector, and the light from the source is masked to limit it to the central zone of the button. The light passing through the central zone is converted to an electrical signal by the detector. The signal value, which is a measure of button quality, is independent of velocity and time is compared to preset limits. In addition, a counter circuit determines the symmetry of the buttons. If the signal is within the limits an accept signal is generated, which cooperates in the control operation of the reject mechanism to automatically separate the acceptable and unacceptable buttons.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the presence or absence of a predetermined minimum flexural strength and stiffness of a relatively rigid material, said apparatus comprising:a frame, a pair of flexure means, each flexure means affixed on opposite sides and ends of a support means affixed to said frame, and equidistant from a fulcrum means for said support, said fulcrum means affixed to said frame with a pivot point at the midpoint thickness of the material to be tested, a pair of guide means, each guide means affixed to said frame equidistant from said fulcrum means and positioned on opposite sides of and apart from said flexure means whereby the material to be tested is guided between the flexure means and guide means in a substantially horizontal path, a load means affixed to said frame for applying a predetermined force to said support means whereby the flexure means deflects the relatively rigid material, and sensor means affixed to said frame for detecting the amount of deflection of said material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting and sorting buttons and the like. The buttons to be inspected are fed to a velocity control system which imparts a uniform velocity to each button and propels it between a light source and detector. The light from the source is controlled by a mask to limit the light to the central zone of the button. The amount of light which passes through the central zone of the button is then converted to an electrical signal by the detector electronics. The electrical signal is then compared to pre-set upper and lower limits. If the signal falls within the pre-set limits, an accept signal is generated which is used to control a reject mechanism for automatic separation of buttons for collection and use.