Tread Surfaces Patents (Class 238/148)
  • Patent number: 11802379
    Abstract: A self guarded frog copper weld fixture has a rail form and a pair of transverse locator arms. The rail form is configured to abut with a damaged rail frog and define a proper repaired geometry for the rail frog. A pair of locator arms transversely and vertically locate and secure the rail form against one of the rails of a damaged rail frog, by applying an opposing force against a second one of the damaged rail frog rails. Any wear will present as small gaps between the rail form and rail frog. The transverse locator arms are pivotal with respect to the rail form, and so may be rotated from transverse to the rail form to align longitudinally for compact transport or storage, and may also be reversed to allow either one of the longitudinal vertical side edges of the rail form to be abutted to the rail frog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventors: Wayne A Zins, David M. Zins
  • Patent number: 11724454
    Abstract: A gantry carriage assembly includes a support plate having a first end and a second end. The gantry carriage assembly further includes first guide wheels secured to a first end of the support plate, the first guide wheels including a first pair of guide wheels configured to accommodate a longitudinal member of a gantry truss therebetween, where the first pair of guide wheels are disposed opposite from one another across the longitudinal member. The gantry carriage assembly also includes second guide wheels secured to a second end of the support plate opposite the first end, the second guide wheels including a second pair of guide wheels configured to accommodate the longitudinal member of the gantry truss therebetween, wherein the second pair of guide wheels are disposed opposite from one another across the longitudinal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Peter Sergison
  • Patent number: 11359668
    Abstract: A roller is provided that is configured to support of a rotary platform. The roller includes at least one side flange including an inner surface, a rolling surface to be in contact with a flat running surface of an upper rail member fixedly connected to the rotary platform and a flat running surface of a lower rail member stationary arranged. The roller includes a circumferential recess connecting the rolling surface to the inner surface of the side flange and that the circumferential recess has a depth such that the flat running surfaces of the upper rail member and the lower rail members are out of contact with a bottom surface of the circumferential recess at a potential angle deviation between the flat running surfaces of the rail members and a rotation axis of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: DeLaval Holding AB
    Inventor: Walenty Kalempa
  • Patent number: 10519610
    Abstract: A railroad rail comprising a rail head, wherein the rail head is made from a first material and defines a void, and an insert comprising a second material installed in the void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: L.B. Foster Company
    Inventors: Korhan Ciloglu, William Mohr, David Workman
  • Patent number: 9796272
    Abstract: A road bearing for inductive coupling to an electrical connection device of an electric vehicle includes a series of primary induction coils, a bearing surface element, and a plurality of deformation features in the bearing surface element. The series of primary induction coils are interconnected to a source of electrical power and disposed in a substantially linear array below a roadway surface and within a roadway structure, and are aligned generally parallel to an alignment of the roadway. The bearing surface element is disposed above the primary induction coils, and has an upper surface that is substantially flush with the roadway surface, has a surface flatness in the range of ±1 ?m per 30 mm, and a magnetic permeability in the range of 0.9 to 2. The plurality of deformation features include depressions in the upper surface of the bearing surface element, and are configured to provide friction to vehicle wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Bryan Richards
  • Patent number: 8651393
    Abstract: A rail repair insert enables repair of rails and rail-like structures. A rail defect is initially identified and removed as contained within a volumetric material portion so as to form a contoured void while maintaining continuity of the rail opposite the void. A pre-formed insert is then placed into the void thereby effecting a rail-to-insert interface. Current is driven through the interface as force directs the insert against the rail. Resistance heat and pressure weld the insert to the rail. The flash welding aspects remove oxides and other impurities from the interface, and the forge welding aspects create a robust solid state weld. Excess material, whether flash, rail, or insert-based, is removed during the finishing processes to provide a virtually seamless rail repair. The solid state weld repair insert may be used to repair any number of targeted metallic rail-like structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Holland, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard F. Kral, Shane A. Mayhill, David P. Workman
  • Publication number: 20120168569
    Abstract: A rail or grooved rail having upper and lower parts made of different materials, the upper part having a head and being made of a water-resistant material, and the lower part being made of structural steel, and wherein the lower part of the rail is a profile element having a web or a flat element forming a web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicants: VOESTALPINE VAE GMBH, VOESTALPINE BWG GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Christ
  • Publication number: 20110042474
    Abstract: A trackway for a personal rapid transport systems which comprises track members formed of preformed grid-like structures. The preformed grid-like structures may be formed of fiber reinforced plastic or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Advanced Transport Systems Limited
    Inventor: Martin V. Lowson
  • Publication number: 20090127348
    Abstract: A guide assembly, a guide rail for a guide assembly, and a method for forming guide assemblies are provided. The guide rail includes a plurality of facets angularly spaced from one another such that guide wheels for use with a guide carriage can ride on the guide rails in varying angular orientations. The guide rail preferably includes a pair of running rails that include at least four facets that extend the longitudinal length of the guide rail. The method includes providing a plurality of identical guide rails and a plurality of different carriages that have different characteristics, such as the orientation at which the guide wheels of the carriages engage the guide rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Pacific Bearing Company
    Inventor: Jonathan R. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 6557775
    Abstract: A portable, folding camera dolly track is assembled from a number of folding track sections, each track section having a parallel pair of rails, each rail having a base and a cylindrical wheel-supporting rail element, and a transverse spacer. A continuous, removable, resilient cap is provided on each wheel-supporting rail element to provide a smooth ride over joints formed by adjoining rail elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventors: John Dillard Brinson, Gil Forrester
  • Patent number: 5704570
    Abstract: A nose type rail member for a crossing member applied to a turnout or wayside switch system on the ground for a train and the like, is made of high carbon steel material containing 0.70 to 0.82 wt. % of carbon. The rail member is constructed by a pair of rail parts, which have a concave at a side of the middle support part. A backing plate is made of the same material as the rail member, or a steel material having a less carbon content than that of the rail member, and is held by a pair of the opposite concaves. A pair of the head portions and the base portions at a side thereof are joined by means of electron beam welding, and the joined rail member is subjected to S.Q. heat processing; whereby at least a wheel tread of the rail member becomes a homogeneous and fine pearlite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Yamato Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Irie, Hisashi Takahata
  • Patent number: 5611234
    Abstract: The process consists in increasing the height of the rail to the detriment of the thickness of the web (16) and of the flange (18). Firstly, the thickness of the upper part of the web (16) below the head (14) is reduced by machining and, next, the rest of the web (16) and the flange (18) of the rail (10) are heated up and deformed by forging. This process avoids hardness modifications of the running surface of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: KIHN
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Allegrucci, Gerard Testart
  • Patent number: 5419490
    Abstract: A point rail for switching gear comprises a head (10) with a running surface (.SIGMA.), a web (20) with a mid plane (.pi.) and a base (30). The running surface (.SIGMA.) is inclined relative to this mid plane (.pi.). The base (30) has two unequal wings (300), the larger of which is situated on the side towards which the running surface (.SIGMA.) is inclined. The center of gravity (G) is situated out of the mid plane (.pi.) and placed on the side with the larger wing (300). The point rail has application to switching gears for long welded rail tracks on which very-high-speed trains run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Cogifer - Compagnie Generale d'Installations Ferroviaires
    Inventors: Gerard Testart, Claude Viou
  • Patent number: 5295624
    Abstract: To achieve low wear and hence a greater shape durability of track parts, it is proposed that the contact surface of a track part have a curvature having a constant difference .DELTA.K in relation to the curvature of the corresponding current contact surface of the wheel supported on it, or that successive contact surfaces of the track part and the wheel have a continually changing curvature difference .DELTA.K with the curvature difference between the contact surfaces of the track part and wheel lessening as the angle of contact tangent increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: BWG, Butzbacher Weichenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Ruediger Ziethen, Erich Nuding, Sebastian Benenowski
  • Patent number: 5007351
    Abstract: A mobile storage system includes mobile carriages that roll on rails embedded in a building floor. The carriages are driven along the rails by at least two flanged wheels that engage a grooved rail. The flanged wheels are preferably mounted in parallel channels located at the center of the carriages. The flanged wheels are driven in synchronization by a sprocket and chain drive. Either electric or manual power may be provided. In both cases, the sproket and chain drive is adjustable to provide proper chain tension to the wheels to improve tracking. Chain adjustment may be accomplished by an idler sprocket movably mounted to a carriage channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Spacesaver Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Muth
  • Patent number: 4800619
    Abstract: A wear resistant track for the rollers of an overhead door to roll against includes a pair of uniform longitudinally extruded members such as an insert and a channel and locking means for releasably interlocking the members together whereby a planar surface of the insert is flush with portions of the channel and positioned for the rollers to bear against. In one arrangement the insert was of a polymer such as nylon and the channel was of aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Douglas & Lomason Company
    Inventor: Robert R. Hudak
  • Patent number: 4744512
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composite section having a section or part of the rail cross-section made of light metal and also, mounted securely on the same, a section made of a heavy metal which forms a part of the outer surface of the composite section--in particular a composite conductor rail of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and a steel facing or insert joined to it by means of extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventor: Gerhard Mier
  • Patent number: 4657181
    Abstract: A rail for a track-bound vehicle comprising a number of lateral flanges, which can cooperate with a substructure, the flanges extending in an outwards direction from an essentially vertically arranged web provided with a foot, and a portion of a runway rail forming part of a head of the rail and connected with the web. This makes possible a reduction of excavating and substructure work, when laying rails, and a simplified maintenance of the tracks, and in addition also reduces the required number of sleepers. The lateral flanges as seen in the transverse direction relative to the web project to a larger extend than the foot, so that the load operating on the rail will essentially be absorbed by the substructure cooperating with and substantially being located in the area of the lateral flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Inventor: Bengt N. V. Bonstrom
  • Patent number: 4640459
    Abstract: This invention concerns dual rail transportation system (1) used with roller pallets on which the wheels (2) of at least one pair of wheels are swiveling. On the margins of the running surface (5) of one rail (4) have been provided relatively low steering flanges (6) with a spacing (a) nearly the same as the breath (b) of the wheel traveling thereon. The other rail has a flat running surface sufficiently wider than the surface (5) of the one rail (4) to permit swiveling of the wheel traveling thereon. The roller pallet will hereby be steered with high accuracy on the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Elevator GmbH
    Inventors: Kalevi Hetemaa, Esko Naumanen, Frans Vainio
  • Patent number: 4393960
    Abstract: A brake shoe structure includes a series of alternating long brake shoes and short brake shoes mountable on adjacent brake beams in a railroad car retarder. The length of the long brake shoe is such that the long brake shoe symmetrically straddles two adjacent brake beams. The length of the short brake shoe is such that the shoe occupies the spacing on the brake beams between two long brake shoes. The long brake shoes are affixable to each of the brake beams at at least two points. The brake shoes contain a plurality of slanting slots in their braking surfaces for interrupting harmonics producing screeching noises during retardation. The brake shoes may be formed of steel or heat treatable ductile iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Mazur, Emil M. Punko
  • Patent number: 4304187
    Abstract: A monorail system having a rail surface that is provided for small vehicles traversing an incline or slippery areas, with the surface having a plurality of spaced recesses positioned in those areas to form gripping edges for the drive wheels of the vehicles. The recesses may be of a variety of shapes and positioned in different ways to provide the proper grip. The recesses may be mechanically punched into a separate elongated flat bed riveted in appropriate locations to the rail. The punching may be done in such a way so as to form raised ramp-like edges adjacent the recesses to help with the gripping action. The ramp faces face downwardly in inclined areas. The drive wheels of cooperating vehicles may have elastic treads to help with the gripping action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Mannesmann DeMag AG
    Inventors: Klaus Becker, Ferdinand Nolte, Karl-Ernst Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 4139154
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rail intended to constitute a tread for heavy duty rolling stock, such as gantry cranes, mounted on wheels or rollers and concerns more specifically a guide rail on which both center-flange wheels or rollers, and lateral-flange wheels, as used on railway lines roll, comprising, in section, two integrally formed spaced heads running parallel to each other, the two heads having vertical inner side walls and being separated by a horizontal intermediate channel whose bottom constitutes a horizontal connecting strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1979
    Inventor: Gerard Giroud
  • Patent number: 4102497
    Abstract: Rail bonds providing electrical connections between adjoining and parallel rail lengths, between rail and external circuits, between rail and frogs, switches and the like include a rail bond terminal comprising a stranded conductor, an inner sleeve having a flared portion and secured to an end of the conductor, and a tapered outer sleeve having open ends into which the inner sleeve and conductor can be inserted. One end of the outer sleeve forms a head portion having an opening sufficient to receive the conductor to permit the conductor to be removed from the area of the end of the terminal to which a hammer is applied for driving the terminal into a rail or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Assignee: Hanlon & Wilson Company
    Inventor: Ralph T. Lowerre
  • Patent number: 4015537
    Abstract: A self-propelled car and load-conveying container on the car travel along a track system having horizontal and vertical track runs with bends or curves between such runs, and having inside and outside corner bends or curves between horizontal track runs . The track system also has switches to connect the system between various stations at various locations on the same or different building floors. The track is generally channel-shaped with spaced rail heads at the extremities of the channel legs. The channel web always has vertical orientation for the horizontal and vertical track runs and bends. The track is formed in sections, and the rail heads have replaceable wear strips. The track sections and wear strips have staggered, non-registering joints. Car travel control strips are mounted at desired locations on the track. Spring-pressed, rounded-groove guide wheels support the car on the track. Car movement control brushes are mounted on the car engageable with the control strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1977
    Assignee: Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Harry T. Graef, Kenneth R. Hansen, Larry A. Morrison
  • Patent number: 3952839
    Abstract: A rail trackway fitted with braking devices which are arranged along predetermined intervals and comprise elastically deformable braking bodies adapted for use in warehouses and at loading stations for transshipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1976
    Assignee: Weelpal, A. G.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Brown, Max A. Buehler