Securing spikes in pre-existing loosened spike cavities in railroad ties
Technology is disclosed by which loosened railroad spikes may be re-secured in pre-existing spike cavities in reconditioned or repaired railroad ties, i.e. novel, facile, on-site, non-complex, miniaturized pre-packaged, clean, non-labor intensive, non-equipment intensive ways of bonding or polymerizing pre-existing previously used railroad spike cavities in the field for again receiving railroad spikes in a secure manner, so as to repair damaged spike cavity walls and prevent moisture infiltration. Frangibly encapsulated bonding agent or polymerizable resin placed in pre-existing spike cavities is preferred.
The present invention relates generally to repair and/or reuse of reconditioned or repaired railroad ties and more particularly to providing technology for field use by which loosened spikes may be re-secured in pre-existing spike cavities in ties in an efficient, forcible, facile and cost effective way.
BACKGROUNDIn regard to railroad ties formed of wood or plastic and composite materials, spikes are driven through apertures in two spaced tie plates, placed on top of each tie, into the solid material comprising the tie. In each instance, this creates a spike cavity in the tie. The extent to which, each spike, once fully driven, is held in place depending on compression and frictional forces existing at the interface between the tie material defining the associated spike cavity and the spike. If the spike loosens, the associated tie plate and/or rail will also loosen, creating a potential for damage, shorter expected life, potential for water infiltration and a danger for trains traveling over the track.
As stated above, to fasten the tie plate to the tie and in some cases the railroad rail to the tie plate, spikes are forcibly displaced through apertures in the tie plates and into the adjacent solid tie material. The upper portion of the spike is characterized by a broadened eccentric head which come to rest on the tie plate or the lower flauge of a railroad rail after the spike is fully driven through the aperture in the tie plate and into the solid tie material. Upon being fully driven, the spike is held in place by above-mentioned compression and frictional forces.
The function of the driven spikes is to hold the tie plates and rails of a railroad track in place allowing trains to travel along the spaced rails, sometimes at high speeds. Over time spikes often loosen. Loads imposed on the tie plates and railroad ties vary as a train passes thereover. The maximum load is instantaneous, i.e. when two spaced wheels of the locomotive and the railroad cars are directly above a given railroad tie. This greater force tends to drive the tie downward into the ballasts upon which the tie is supported. When the instantaneous load lessens, the tie moves upward toward the earlier position.
This up and down movement creates forces which tend over time to loosen the railroad spikes in their respective spike cavities. When this happens, play in the associated tie plate and/or rail section results, which further loosens the associated spikes.
Also, over time, train forces sometimes tend to cause the tie plates to become indented into the top of the associated tie, which also results in a loosening of the associated spikes.
For safety reasons, the problem of loosen spikes in a railroad must be solved in a timely manner. Furthermore, once a spike has loosened within its spike cavity, water infiltration into the spike cavity predictably occurs, which causes rotting of the tie at the spike cavity, when the material thereof is wood.
Heretofore, the loosened spike problem has been addressed in two ways. One method comprises removal of the loosen spike and insert a wooden plug into the associated spike cavity. The removed spike is then re-driven into the spike cavity, with the tie plug acting as filler to, in effect, reduce the lateral size of the spike cavity. This approach has proven unsatisfactory for long term repairs because the plug does not prevent water infiltration with resulting tie rot. Also, the plug sometimes does not tightly retain the re-driven spike in place.
The other approach comprised complex technology by which polyurethane foam is used to reduce the size of used spike cavity. A loose spike is first removed from the tie. Liquid polyurethane in 55 gallon drums are provided along with a complex, heavy, and expensive foam machine requiring two men and much labor to operate. The liquid polyurethane is transferred to 5 gallon pots, heated, activated and pumped as foam into the spike cavity. Curing time thereafter is lengthy and the proper time for re-insertion of the spikes into polymer fitted spike cavities is hard to estimate. To use this method, a section of the railroad must be shut down for an extensive period of time because this technology is advantageous only when a large number of loosen spikes are involved. In other words, the equipment and manpower requirement do not accommodate use only on one or a few ties. This technology is messy and clean up of the treated area and the workers is difficult, if not impossible. A malfunction of the on-site complex equipment requires the equipment to be returned to a remote site for repairs.
Given the problems of the prior art, it would be a major advancement to provide a facile, non-complex miniatured clean, non-labor intensive, non-equipment intensive way of bonding or polymerizing empty pre-existing spike cavities for again securely receiving railroad spikes, so as to repair damaged spike cavity walls and prevent moisture infiltration.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTIONIn brief summary, the present invention overcomes or substantially alleviates problems of the past related to technology by which loosened railroad spikes may be re-secured in pre-existing spike cavities in reconditioned or repaired railroad ties. The present invention is directed to novel, facile, on-site, non-complex, miniaturized pre-packaged clean, non-labor intensive, non-equipment intensive ways of bonding or polymerizing pre-existing previously used railroad spike cavities in the field for again receiving railroad spikes in a secure manner so as to repair damaged spike cavity walls and prevent moisture infiltration. Frangibly encapsulated bonding agent or polymerizable resin placed in pre-existing spike cavities is preferred.
With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present intention to overcome or substantially alleviate problems of the past related to loosened railroad spikes.
It is another predominate object to provide technology by which railroad spikes may be secured in pre-existing spike cavities in railroad ties, on a small or large scale.
Another paramount object of this invention is to provide facile, on-site, non-complex, miniaturized pre-packaged ways of bonding or polymerizing a resinous material in pre-existing railroad spike cavities in the field for thereafter receiving railroad spikes in a secure manner.
A further important object is the provision of methodology and products for securing railroad spikes in previously used spike cavities, which is clean, involves limited labor and obviates any need for complex equipment.
A further object of significance is the provision of frangibly encapsulated bonding agent or polymerizable resin placed in used spike cavities to secure railroad spikes therein.
Another valuable object is the provision of a way for a metered or controlled amount of bonding agent or polimer creating resin to be placed in a pre-existing spike cavity for securing a spike therein and sealing the spike cavity against liquid and debris infiltration.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout. As set forth in some detail above, rail deflection from the weight of railroad cars, which is maximum when two car wheels are directly above a given railroad tie, as well as vibration and other loads imposed, tend to loosen spikes. Loosened spikes tend to allow tie plates to undesirably move up and down and, with some tie plates, also allow vertical displacement or load chatter between a railroad rail and an associated tie plate. Loosening of railroad spikes creates danger of rail malfunction with the possibility of railroad car or locomotive derailment. It also sometimes allows moisture to infiltrate into the associated spike cavity, which, with wooden railroad ties, can cause rot within the spike cavity further weakening the grasp between spike and the spike cavity. This invention addresses the problem of re-introducing railroad spikes into a fully inserted position in pre-existing spike cavities. The present invention provides facile, non-complex miniaturized ways of placing bonding agent or polymerizable resin cartridges into empty previously existing spike cavities for again fully receiving and securely retaining railroad spikes therein. The technology of this invention is clean, not labor intensive and does not require complex equipment. It may be used on-site on either a large or small scale. It is extraordinarily effective to retain spikes against subsequent loosening in their respective spike cavities.
The tie plate 22 of
The conventional spike 28, shown in
When assembled, the bottom surface of the tie plate 22 rest contiguously upon the top surface of the tie and the bottom surface of the rail 26 rests upon the central top surface 29 of the tie plate 22.
On occasions, previously fully inserted and later loosened spikes allow up and down clapping of the tie plate 22 against the top surface of the tie 20, causing an indentation 41. One way of eliminating the indentation 41 is to remove the rail 26 and tie plate 22 and sever, along dotted lines 43, the top portions of the tie which are defined in part by shoulders 41. Reassembly then takes place.
Reference is now made to
Referring to
Loosen spikes also create a potential danger of derailment. Furthermore, the life expectancy of the ties, tie plates, etc. is shortened by the damage done by the clapping phenomenon allowed by loose spikes.
The transportability and facile nature of the current invention is illustrated in
Activator is added in the spike cavity. It may be in the capsule with polymerizable resin or in a second seperate capsule or applied from a separate source. Where the activator is water, a hand-held water dispenser may be used.
In
In
Reference is now made to
Upon activation, the resinous material coats the worn, decayed or damaged wood and provides protection against further decay. It fills the entire spike cavity so as to prevent water and debris infiltration into the spike cavity. It causes powerful adherence between the fully inserted spike and wall which defines the spike cavity.
Where a foamable polyurethane is used, activation causes the foam expands up to three times its original volume within the spike hole cavity. During expansion essentially all voids within the spike cavity and in the adjacent tie material are fitted. This insures the spike cavity is sealed against entry of moisture and debris. It also assures full coverage and coating of both the shank of the spike and wall material defining the spike cavity for prevention of spike loosening. The wall of the tie defining the spike cavity is repaired as well.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and are not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Claims
1. A method for affixing a railroad spike into a previously used railroad spike cavity: comprising the acts of:
- inserting adhering material contained within a frangible vessel into a previously used railroad spike cavity defined by a railroad tie surface;
- discharging the adhering material from the frangible vessel into the spike cavity;
- placing a spike into the spike cavity so that the adhering material firmly adheres to the spike and the surface defining the tie cavity.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the inserting act comprises manually dropping the vessel into the spike cavity.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the discharging act comprises rupturing a wall of the vessel in the spike cavity.
4. A method according to claim 3wherein the rupturing act comprises tearing the vessel wall by inserting the spike into the spike cavity against the vessel.
5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the discharging act comprises cutting the vessel wall with a hand-held cutting instrument.
6. A method according to claim 3 wherein the discharging act comprises rupturing the wall of the frangible vessel prior to full insertion into the previously used spike cavity.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the inserting act comprises placing a vessel containing epoxy in the spike cavity.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the inserting act comprises placing a vessel containing foamable polyurethane in the spike cavity.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the vessel is selected from the group consisting of frangible plastic and glass.
10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the frangible vessel is comprised of spaced outer and inner walls creating two interior sealed chambers.
11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the interior sealed chamber contains separate non-activated resinous material and an activator.
12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the adhering material is selected from the group consisting of a bonding agent and a polymerizable resinous material.
13. A method of re-securing a railroad spike in a pre-existing railroad spike cavity comprising the acts of:
- removing a loosened spike from a spike cavity to expose the spike cavity;
- inserting a containerized bonding agent or polymerizable resinous material into the exposed spike cavity;
- discharging the bonding agent or polymerizable resinous material from its containerized state into the spike cavity;
- thereafter fully inserting a spike into the spike cavity.
14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the bonding agent comprises an epoxy;
15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the resinous material comprises foamable polyurethane;
16. A method according to claim 13 wherein the fully inserting act is into the resinous material and occurs at a time selected from the group consisting of immediately following polymerization, after partial curing has occurred and after full curing has occurred.
17. A method according to claim 13 wherein further comprising the act of impregnating a wall defining the spike cavity with the bonding agent or resinous material to strengthen the wall and cure any wall defects.
18. A method according to claim 13 wherein the inserting act comprises keeping the resinous material and an activator separate while containerizing both.
19. A method according to claim 13 wherein the inserting act comprises confining the resinous material and the activator in separate frangible compartments while containerized.
20. An on-site method for addressing the problem of loosened railroad spikes in previously formed spike cavities in railroad ties comprising the acts of:
- removing railroad spikes from associated railroad spike cavities to expose the spike cavities;
- inserting capsulized foamable polyurethane and activator into the exposed spike cavities;
- displacing a railroad spike into each capsule contained within the spike cavities rupturing each capsule causing the polyurethane and the activator to commingle to polymerize and foam the polyurethane in each spike cavity;
- whereby the polyurethane foam securely adheres the spikes in each spike cavity.
21. In combination:
- a railroad tie;
- a spike cavity in the railroad tie;
- an encapsulated composition disposed in the spike cavity;
- whereby release of the composition within the spike cavity will firmly secure an
- inserted railroad spike in the spike cavity.
22. A method of securing a railroad spike in a pre-used spike cavity in a railroad tie comprising the acts of:
- providing a railroad tie with an exposed pre-used spike cavity therein;
- placing an encapsulated composition in the pre-used spike cavity;
- causing release of the composition within the spike cavity;
- firmly securing an inserted railroad spike in the spike cavity with the released composition.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 25, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 25, 2007
Inventor: David Ollendick (Ogden, UT)
Application Number: 11/410,639
International Classification: E01B 13/00 (20060101);