Abstract: Concrete that exhibits increased flexibility (i.e., low modulus of elasticity) and high compressive strength is described. High aspect ratio structures as may be formed of the concrete are described. Structures formed of the concrete can have the same high compressive strength as similar structures formed from a more conventional concrete but can be significantly more flexible, which can allow for better load distribution in the structure and associated assembly. The concrete includes a weathered granite as coarse aggregate. The materials can be particularly beneficial in forming concrete components of a rail infrastructure, such as railroad ties and slabs.

Abstract: A composite railway sleeper (1; 50; 100) comprising an outer coating shell (2; 51; 101) made of composite plastic material and a shaped structural core (3; 52; 102), made of a material comprising at least concrete contained within said outer coating shell (2; 51; 510; 101), wherein said outer coating shell (2; 51; 510; 101) presents in the upper outer face (2a; 51a; 101a) two distinct and opposite groups of grooves (4; 53) suitable to receive the angular guide plates (G) belonging to pre-assembled elastic type fastening systems (64) for the connection of two respective rails (R) with said railway sleeper (1; 50; 100).

Abstract: A cleaning unit of this invention includes a body and a cleaning member. The body includes an upper face. The upper face subsides to form a receiving recession for receiving a slit nozzle of the slit coater. The receiving recession includes a sidewall and a bottom face. The sidewall includes a first injection hole. A cleaning material is sprayed via the injection hole. The cleaning member eliminates dregs of the material attached on the slit nozzle of the slit coater. The cleaning member is attached on the bottom face of the receiving recession. According to the present invention, the slit nozzle is effectively cleared, so that the substrate is uniformly coated with the photosensitive layer, and the photosensitive layer is not scratched.

Abstract: A method of maintaining proper distance between railroad rails is disclosed. The method utilizes railroad ties manufactured from a composite of polystyrene and polyolefin components, preferably obtained from recycled plastics. The composite exhibits a dual phase morphology wherein the two phases, polystyrene and polyolefin, intertwine and remain continuous throughout the material.

Abstract: A composite load bearing structure comprises a main body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface defining a dimension of thickness therebetween, first and second side surfaces defining a dimension of width therebetween, first and second end surfaces defining a dimension of length therebetween, and a first longitudinal axis oriented along the length of the main body portion. The thickness is significantly less than at least the length of the load bearing structure. The main body portion is made of a first composite material comprising a binding constituent in a proportion of about 10% to about 20% by volume, and an aggregate material in a proportion of about 80% to about 90% by volume. The binding constituent comprises polyethylene or a polyethylene blend having at least 10% polyethylene.

Abstract: A composite railway tie, and process for manufacture thereof, is disclosed. The composite railway tie comprises a main body portion being made of a first composite material comprising a binding constituent in a proportion of about 10% to about 20% by volume, and an aggregate material in a proportion of about 80% to about 90% by volume. The binding constituent comprises a plastic material chosen from the group of polyethylene and a polyethylene blend having at least 10% polyethylene. The aggregate material is in the form of irregular multi-faceted pieces chosen from the group consisting of crushed furnace slag, crushed gravel, crushed limestone, crushed granite, crushed basalt, and crushed trap rock, and mixtures thereof. The pieces of the aggregate material are distributed and otherwise arranged within the main body portion of the second material so that opposed surfaces of the pieces of the aggregate material have at least partial contact, one with another, in a contiguous manner.

Abstract: A rail tie has a pair of rail supporting portions disposed on opposite sides of a central portion. The central portion is elevated relative to the central portion and supports a reaction rail of a linear induction motor used to propel a vehicle along the guideway. The reaction rail is secured to flanges extending laterally from the central portion to reduce the unsupported span of the reaction rail between ties. The tie is supported on the deck of the guideway by resilient pads. An eccentric insert cooperates with a securing stud to allow alignment of the tie.

Abstract: A railroad tie 10 is described. The tie includes elongated side surfaces 23 with a plurality of ballast locking indentations 34 formed therein. The indentations converge from open upward ends 35 to reduced bottom ends 36. The configuration of the locking indentations at the bottom ends is such that the indentations will receive the maximum aggregate size within the ballast. The tie body, provided with the indentations, and relationship of the sides 23 to the indentations 34 is such that maximum resistance is offered by the tie to longitudinal movement of the tie in the ballast with respect to the tie length dimension.

Abstract: Modern D.C.-tractioned trains and track circuit signal systems as well as high load trains need a special track construction. A new concrete cross sleeper system is provided for high load and high velocity tracks as well as for urban rapid transit systems comprising rails and sleepers having center part, connected to bar shaped ends and having reinforcing means.On the bar shaped ends two rail seats for each rail are positioned having elastic, electrically non-conducting plastic pads. The rails are fastened onto the rail seat by special tension means clamping the foot of the rail and fixed into plugs in the sleepers. This feature allows a triple point fixing of the rail at each sleeper end. Tracks on asphalt pavement may be secured by anchor device of the general type as sold under the trademark NELSON.The new track construction decreases the intermittent load of the rail/sleeper system and avoids trouble in track circuit signal systems existing in normally used prestressed concrete sleepers (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Anchor for a railway tie embedded in ballast. In order to further simplify the installation of such an anchor, the clamp is constructed in two or more parts. With an anchor construction having a clamp gripping the tie on both sides, the clamp parts are constructed of approximately the same size in order to form clamp halves, the connection is formed as a pivot arrangement and in the region of the connection position a tightening means is provided for producing a tightening force clamping the clamp halves on the tie.