Abstract: A synthetic railroad tie is provided including a plurality of solid ties each constructed from plastic and having a rectangular configuration. A pair of rails are each situated over the ties in perpendicular relationship therewith and residing adjacent one of a pair of end faces thereof.

Abstract: A composite building material is disclosed produced from recycled materials. The composite building material is composed of an extruded mixture of high density polyethylene and a thermoplastic coated fiber material such as fiberglass. The resulting material has increased strength and is useful in high stress applications such as railroad ties.

Abstract: A railroad rail support includes a first and second horizontally oriented rubber tire having a circumferential tread, a top sidewall including a top rim bead and a bottom sidewall having a bottom rim bead, said bottom sidewall and bottom rim bead being adjacent to a railroad roadbed. First and second rail support members within each tire have a top surface in the plane of the top rim bead and a bottom surface in the plane of the bottom rim bead, and include a top plate and a plurality of tubular channels extending downwards from said top plate to the bottom surface. A concrete matrix fills each rubber tire and retains the rail support within the rubber tire. Railroad spikes are installed into the tubular channels have heads overlapping the opposed edges of the bottom flange of a first and a second railroad rail. Each spike is locked into its respective tubular channel by extending downwards in a generally vertical direction, with a second contiguous portion at an angle of at least 30.degree.

Abstract: A composite railroad tie is provided comprising a phosphogypsum filler and a thermoplastic resin. The composite exhibits desirable physical properties for railroad ties. Suitable sources for phospho-gypsum include fertilizer processes involving (a) providing phosphate rock, (b) contacting the phosphate rock with sulphuric acid in the presence of water to produce phosphoric acid and a calcium sulphate, (c) separating at least a portion of the phosphoric acid from the calcium sulphate to produce a phosphoric acid product and a calcium sulphate byproduct, (d) drying the calcium sulphate byproduct to remove water therefrom. The calcium sulphate byproduct (phospho-gypsum) is then admixed with a thermoplastic and a functionalized compound to produce a filled thermoplastic composition. The filled thermoplastic composition is then melt processed (for example injection or compression molded) to produce a filled thermoplastic composite railroad tie.

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 sock for a tie of ballastless rail track that is to be held in a bed of concrete, the sock comprising firstly an elastically deformable case receiving the tie whose bottom edge is chamfered, and secondly a pad lying beneath the tie in the bottom of the case, wherein the bottom portion of the case includes, in its inside wall, recesses guaranteeing compression flexibility thereto even after the wall has been deformed under the effect of hydrostatic pressure from the concrete bed.

Abstract: A rail tie and track-tie connection includes a molded plastic body member having molded plastic cover pieces attached to the body member, with lip portions engaging and capturing bottom flanges on the track rails. The body member may be hollow with a filler mass supporting the sides and cross bolts providing further reinforcement. A detector circuit for electronically detecting removal of a cover piece is located within the tie body member.

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 railroad track has a roadbed made of concrete and a pair of track beams of precast concrete mounted to the roadbed. Main bodies of the track beams have at the tops thereof a plurality of protrusions serving as ties and a plurality of recesses for receiving adjusting ties. The protrusions and the recesses are alternately disposed in the longitudinal direction of the beams. The track beams extend continuously in parallel, and a pair of rails are laid on the track beams. A method of constructing the track includes the steps of supporting the track beams on the roadbed with screwjacks embedded in the main bodies of the track beams, and forcing concrete between the main bodies of the track beams and the roadbed to form concrete layers securing the track beams to the roadbed.

Abstract: A preservative-bearing pad and a method of using same to treat the interface between a railroad cross tie and tie plate. A sandwich of water-soluble active ingredient disposed between two layers of biodegradable hydrophilic backing is simply placed on the adzed portion of a cross tie prior to installation of the tie plate and rail during a rail laying or relaying operation.

Abstract: Concrete railroad stringer assembly for securing a railroad track comprising supports imbedded in the stringer and having a bow-shaped part extending above the stringer. The supports either are equipped with an abutment made of synthetic material or are made of ductile material forming itself an abutment for the railroad track. The supports are equipped with or intended to receive securing straps for securing the railroad track on the stringer.

Abstract: A railroad cross-tie made from sand and recycled thermoplastic containers. To practice the invention the containers made of many thermoplastic materials are granulated and mixed together. The labels and small amounts of residue from the original contents remain on the containers. Sand is dried and coated with an adhesive substance. The coated sand and recycled granulated thermoplastic plastics are mixed and heated in a compression mold to form the railroad cross-tie.

Abstract: A preservative-bearing pad and a method of using same to treat the interface between a railroad cross tie and tie plate. A sandwich of water-soluble active ingredient disposed between two layers of biodegradable hydrophilic backing is simply placed on the adzed portion of a cross tie prior to installation of the tie plate and rail during a rail laying or relaying operation.

Abstract: In situ wood preservative treatment of a wooden railroad tie. The method includes the steps of injecting a paste-like preparation having a water soluble fungicide into one or more unoccupied spike holes in the rail supporting tie plate. The preparation lodges in crevices and recesses in communication with the spike hole, killing existing decay fungi. Over a period of time the fungicide follows existing or subsequently developed paths of moisture to more remote decay sites.

Abstract: A resilient coat for a direct connection-type tie (Danchoku tie) which is composed of a concrete tie body and a microcellular polyurethane elastomer coating layer which adheres to and coats the lower portion of the tie body to form an integral body therewith, and said microcellular polyurethane elastomer having urethane bonds and a bulk density of 0.4-0.75 g/cm.sup.3 and being prepared from the starting foamable liquid of urethane elastomer composed substantially of (a) a polyether polyol having an average number of functional groups of 2.5-4.5 and a number average molecular weight of 2000-8500, (b) a vinyl monomer-grafted polyol having an average number of functional groups of 2.5-4.0, and the graft ratio of 4-20% by weight, (c) a liquid polybutadiene polyol having hydroxyl terminal group(s), an average number of functional groups of 2.0-3.

Abstract: A concrete crosstie has a recess for holding a rail securing member engaging beneath a nose in the recess. Upper ends holding the rail down resiliently are loop-shaped, to obtain a low surface pressure at two spaced areas and exact positioning of the rail securing member in the recess. The greatest possible crosstie cross-section is retained in that the recess only partially penetrates the concrete crosstie. The nose lower and side faces and the rail foot support surface are formed by steel reinforcements connected to the concrete.

Abstract: A railroad grade crossing structure comprising a plurality of prefabricated, elongated, reinforced concrete panels formed of used, inverted rail sections placed between the rails of each track and outside the rails of each track to provide a smooth durable highway surface; the panels resting on resilient pads supported on elongated crossties containing upstanding studs to fit loosely within sleeves in the bottom of the panels to prevent undue lateral movement; substantially all free space between panels and the rails of each track being filled with a settable elastomeric compound; the end panels adjacent the shoulders of the highway having an upper surface substantially flush with the highway surface and sloping downwardly to the lower surface of the panel which rests on the resilient pads.

Abstract: A railway bed wherein a body on which rails are to be fitted is formed of an elastic member and rigid member and a reinforcing member is provided within the elastic member or at least on the lower surface of the rigid member.With such formation, the railway bed has a proper shock absorption and rigidity and can be expected to prevent vibrations and noises.

Abstract: A concrete sleeper for track systems incorporating electrical circuitry, in which sleeper electrically conducting cables are embedded, and therefore concealed therein, with an assembly to allow electrical connection between the cables and associated tracks and associated track side circuitry. In order to obtain connection to the track side circuitry a recess is provided in one end of the sleeper and receives a terminal box having contacts for contacting exposed ends of the embedded cables and connections within the terminal box are in turn connected to the track side circuitry. In order to achieve an electrical connection with the tracks the cables are connected, within the sleeper, to embedded parts of shoulders of rail fastening assemblies of the type marketed under the name PANDROL.

Abstract: An arrangement at crossings between a road and a railway. Between the rails and the respective edges of the road structure and between the rails are arranged first and second slabs level at their top surfaces with the top surfaces of the rails and the top surfaces of the road structure. Elongated supporting elements rest on the foundation and are located at the edges of the first slabs which face the road structure. On the supporting element a first edge to which the road structure adjoins with a second edge opposite to the first edge of the supporting element, forming a support for the edges of the first slabs, and a support for the opposite edges of the slabs facing the rail is provided on the end portions of the sleepers outside the rails.

Abstract: A long life railroad track and tie arrangement and method of making same. A wooden railroad tie is impregnated and covered with a thin layer of polypropylene which serves to protect the tie both from the weather and from mechanical abuse. The tie is apertured to receive rail mounting hardware. A bottom plate is secured to the underside of the tie and carries threaded fastening means mating the tie apertures. A top plate overlies the tie, carries a channel for receiving the rail, and is apertured to mate the tie apertures. A pair of apertured clips have extended arms overlying the prepositioned rail. Bolts are passed through the clips, the top plate, the tie and into the fasteners in the bottom plate to reliably secure the rail to the tie. In addition to its application in conventional track laying or track repairing situations, the invention allows manufacture of track in transportable prefabricated track and tie sections, which may be positioned and joined on site by simply welding adjacent rails.

Abstract: This invention relates to a latex-modified, pretensioned, and prestressed concrete structure having at least about a 50% reduction in bond transfer length as compared to a structure not modified by a latex. Such structure is composed of a cured concrete composition comprising a mixture of (1) portland cement, (2) mineral aggregate, and (3) a vinylidene chloride polymer latex, said latex being present in an amount sufficient to provide from about 5 to about 25 percent by weight of polymer solids.

Abstract: A wooden structure incapable of holding a fastening device is restored by boring a hole of a desired size into the structure, cleaning the hole, and introducing a cellular plastic insert of a suitable size, so that the insert can hold a fastening device driven thereinto. The method is particularly useful for restoring a "spike-killed" railroad crosstie; the insert is composed of cellular high density polyethylene having average bulk density from about 15 to 50 pounds per cubic foot.

Abstract: A reinforced railroad crosstie formed by molding and bonding comminuted lignocellulosic material into a monolithic beam around a plurality of wooden reinforcing members which have relatively clear and straight grain, a high modulus of rupture and a high modulus of elasticity and are able to withstand a high amount of compression without crushing. The reinforcing members are positioned within the crosstie proximate lines of maximum tensile stresses expected to be induced in the tie by different bending influences caused by passing trains and varying conditions of the underlying ballast. The members are also positioned within the crosstie so as to avoid interference with the spikes employed to fasten the rail to the tie.

Abstract: A composite railroad tie of structurally distinct components adhesively joined in layers to form a unit. At least one of the components being of high density phenolformaldehyde bonded particleboard manufactured in a platen press with heat. At least two elements disposed close to and parallel the broad surfaces are composed of lumber with grain direction oriented parallel the long axis. A remaining centermost element, affixed to the above two lumber elements, is relatively non-critical, being selected from lumber or particleboard of adequate shear and compressive strength on the basis of availability, cost, ease of treatment with preservative, etc.

Abstract: A railroad crosstie is constructed from at least two individually distinct rail support blocks interconnected by a web system which is fastened to the blocks and which comprises at least one self-supporting rigid sheet member adapted to be buried in the roadway ballast when the tie is in place. The blocks are selected to support and secure rails in conventional manner, and the interconnecting web system holds the blocks in relative position in the roadbed. The rigid sheet member adapted to be buried in the roadway ballast is advantageously disposed or provided with means such as horizontal longitudinal corrugations to interact mechanically with the particles of standard railroad ballast, whereby the tie resists being withdrawn from the roadbed.

Abstract: A rail track that reduces noise and vibration for particular use in rapid transit and subway lines. The track is formed of a conventional rail embedded in a pre-stressed concrete bed. Sections of such jacketed rails are joined together by means of flanges, one of which is welded to one side of each rail end, with the bolt holes in the flanges and the joined rails oriented at an angle to axes of the rails so as to transfer a tension load between each rail of a joint. The pre-stress tension wires of the concrete bed extend beyond the ends of each section and are individually joined by turnbuckles or other tension creating couplers. The bottom of each concrete bed section is mounted on a solid sheet of rubber or other elastomer.

Abstract: A metal holder for disposing a guide structure on a concrete foundation, the holder having a top part in the form of an open housing which serves for lateral retention of the guide structure and in which fastening means can engage, the housing being provided with anchoring parts at the underside, wherein the housing is provided with a metal baseplate disposed in a plastic mortar panel which adjoins all round the housing by a horizontal top surface and which adjoins a layer of plastic mortar on the underside, said layer of plastic mortar completely surrounding the anchoring parts of the housing.