Crossings, Frogs, And Mates Patents (Class 246/454)
  • Patent number: 10974618
    Abstract: An insulating track segment for a ground power supply system includes a body made of an electric current insulating material. The insulating track segment constitutes a portion of an insulating track for forming a continuous sliding surface for a pad of a vehicle powered by the ground power supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ALSTOM Transport Technologies
    Inventor: Patrick Duprat
  • Patent number: 8608116
    Abstract: A structure and counter system for railroad switching, characterized by a base support plate with a lower flat surface which on its upper side includes a first flat section with two protruding hooking elements that hold the skid's inside tab on the rail where the wheels roll on, and also includes an outer section of greater thickness that defines a stopping device that ends on the border of the skid's outer tab within the same rail. This base plate includes a wall perpendicular to the upper surface, covering its width, with a flat internal surface adapted to receive a fixing plate that receives the outer side of a counter rail arranged over the first flat section and separated from the hooking elements; thus being parallel to this rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Arturo Alvaro Ortiz Rivas
  • Patent number: 8556217
    Abstract: A crossing panel includes a pair of intersecting rails, a pair of crossing line rails, a plurality of railroad ties supporting the crossing line rails such that the crossing line rails are angled upwardly from a base elevation toward the respective main line rail and terminating such that a tread bearing surface of each crossing line rail at its terminal end is at a height above the crown of the intersecting line rail, an external frog casting being aligned with and secured to the terminal ends of the crossing line rails and having an external frog tread bearing surface substantially above the crown of an intersecting line rail, and transitional guide castings disposed between the intersecting rails and respectively aligned with the crossing line rails. The transitional guide castings are substantially horizontal, and each has a crown maintained at a height sufficient to maintain a railcar wheel of a train wheel set above the intersecting line rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Cleveland Track Material, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Voelkerding, James A. Remington
  • Patent number: 8418970
    Abstract: A swing nose crossing has the swing nose housed in an insert component which itself is mounted within the wing rails of the swing nose crossing. The cradle provides the lateral faces against which the swing nose abuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corp
    Inventor: Andrew Raymond Foan
  • Patent number: 8348203
    Abstract: A leveling joint between connected ends of two rails of different height is provided with a connector/juncture bar member which is configured to fit with and engage corresponding surfaces formed on the rails when the rails are connected together. The leveling joint so formed is one with increased strength, with ease and accuracy of alignment during assembly. The leveling joint is formed of several structural members, yet functions as and affords the strength and stability of a solid, unitary assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: Arturo A. Ortiz Rivas
  • Patent number: 8336831
    Abstract: A switch or rail box for railway rails that include a system for sealing a portion of a location where the rail enters or exits the box. The sealing system includes a pair of seal plates that can be connected to an inner surface and an outer surface of the switch box, wherein the sealing plates each include a groove that conforms to and accepts a portion of a rail and in some embodiments, a rail jacket. The channel formed between the adjacent seal plates is filled with an insulating material that extends around a lower portion of the rail, thereby aiding in stray current control. Methods for sealing the switch box utilizing the sealing system are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: R&R Solutions, LP
    Inventor: Reneā€² Naquin
  • Patent number: 7765936
    Abstract: A transporting system with a fire door (100) is provided with: a rail (1) installed within a facility; a transporting carriage (3), whose wheel (4) is set so as to roll over a surface for rolling of the rail; a fire door plate (7) for segmenting a space within the facility in a direction intersecting the rail at a predetermined position of the rail; and a door plate moving device (8) capable of moving the fire door plate from an open position for the transporting carriage to pass through the predetermined position, to a close position for the fire door plate to segment the space. A first cut (1a) is formed obliquely with respect to a width direction of the rail when planarly seen on the surface for rolling, in the rail at the predetermined position. The fire door plate has a shape capable of passing through the first cut when being moved to the close position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanao Murata, Senzou Kyutoku, Toshio Takasu
  • Patent number: 7318379
    Abstract: A linear-motor driven, rail-mounted transport system for containers and interchangeable bodies includes a network of at least two pairs of parallel disposed rails arranged at an angle with respect to each other and having a continuous flat travel surface. The pairs of rails form intersections. Outside of the intersections, guide profiles are arranged in the middle on one rail in each pair. A two-part transporter trolley has wheels that can swivel around a pivot and horizontal guide rollers. A spacing of the wheels corresponds to the spacing of the rails for the lengthwise and crosswise travel and the wheels with the guide rollers can turn in the intersection. Magnets arranged on the transporter trolley in the lengthwise and crosswise directions move the transporter trolley in the lengthwise and crosswise directions by interacting with stators of the network and a limiting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Noell Mobile Systems & Cranes GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Franke, Reinhard Bauer, Annegret Laengrich, Otto Weis
  • Patent number: 7137601
    Abstract: A check rail arrangement for a switch or an intersection, the arrangement including a grooved rail (16) provided with a grooved rail head (14), a groove (18) and a lip (52), and a check rail (12) which is supported at least on the lip and is arranged by a fixing mechanism in such a way that it can be displaced in relation to the grooved rail. The aim of the invention is to be able to easily displace the check rail. To this end, a fish-plate block (40) extends from the grooved rail (16), the fish-plate block including a longitudinal groove (42) which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the grooved rail and in which a slot pin (44) engages in an adjustable manner. The slot pin can be tightened by a screw (46) extending from the check rail (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignees: BWG GmbH & Co. KG, VAE GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Christ, Fridbert Heinze, Ulrich Jelinski
  • Patent number: 6971610
    Abstract: A railway crossing has a plate with a pocket that defines a crossing angle for enabling one railway line to cross over another at virtually any angle. The pocket closely receives continuous long beams and divided beams. The pocket also has protrusions for restricting longitudinal horizontal movement of the beams. Each divided beam has three separate, discontinuous segments, including two outer segments and one inner segment. The segments are reversible such that the inner segments may be interchangeably positioned with each other, and the outer segments may be interchangeably positioned with each other. Fasteners secure the beams to the plate and resist both vertical movement and lateral horizontal movement. Each fastener has a wedge brace, a clip, and a wedge. The wedge prevents pull-apart of the plate and the beams due to thermal forces, mechanical forces, and surface discontinuities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Capital Corporation
    Inventors: Russell R. Hein, Robert C. Roberts, Jr., Brian Weaver
  • Publication number: 20040124316
    Abstract: An improved railroad frog, and method incorporating the same, for facilitating the intersection of rail lines in a more efficient, effective, and durable manner. In one aspect the invention is a railroad frog apparatus comprising: a body having flangeways that intersect; and at least one connection plug extending from the body for connecting to a running rail; the at least one connection plug having a cross-sectional profile that is substantially identical to a cross-sectional profile of the running rail. In another aspect the invention is a railroad frog apparatus having at least one flangeway having a floor with a convex surface formed of at least one arc. Such geometric surface shape of the floor reduces rail batter, undesirable vibration, and damage to train wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Gerald Marron
  • Publication number: 20030222182
    Abstract: A railway frog insert assembly comprises a casting defining the heel and toe sections of a frog. The portion of the casting intermediate the heel and toe sections consists of an integral spine extending between the heel and toe sections. The height of the spine is below the level of the flangeways in the vicinity of the point. An intermediate point section, the base of which is hollowed out, is removably seated over the spine. The top surface of the intermediate section defines the point, a small portion to the toe side of the point, a small portion to the heel side of the point, and the flangeways in the vicinity of the point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Gary Click, Allen James Tuningley
  • Patent number: 6543728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cross frog (10) for points and crossings, comprising a cross frog tip (14) and wing rails (16, 18) and running rails (20, 22) situated either side of this point, each with a basic course (38) aligned with a main or secondary track (26, 28). The aim of the invention is to reduce the wear around the cross frog tip without reconstructing the cross frog tip itself or the guard rails allocated thereto or realigning them in relation to each other. To this end, at least one of the running rails deviates from its basic course in the area of the cross frog tip, in such a way that the movement of a rail vehicle running through the main or secondary track is influenced through its wheel frame or bogie axle, away from the cross frog tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: BWG GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Benenowski, Alfred Kais, Stefan Schmedders
  • Patent number: 6340140
    Abstract: The rigid frog for switch points and crossings with two wing rails (1, 2) and a frog point (3, 6, 4, 5) arranged therebetween, which forms with the wing rails switch openings (11) that run at an acute angle relative to each other, is characterized in that the frog point and the wing rails are elastically joined by anchor clamps on each foot side to ribbed plates (247-253). The previous unit of a rigid frog with wing rails and HB bolted point is thus resolved to individual rails. The individual rails each have their own intrinsic elasticity so that the frog behaves like a normal rail in the track in terms of oscillation and damping behavior. The previously used filling plates are no longer required. Beneath the rails are plates with which a height adjustment, especially of the wing rails (1, 2), can be effected, so that wear of the traversed surface of the wing rails can be compensated for in terms of height by changing the thickness of the spacers. The spacers (42, 43) can be elastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Inventor: Oswald Lochschmidt
  • Patent number: 6276643
    Abstract: The strength and reliability of railroad, track structures, such as frogs, crossings, and guardrails, is enhanced. Filler members and filler blocks are fitted in to support and strengthen the structures. The filler members and filler blocks provide better matching and alignment of load transfer surfaces. The track structures with the improved components are more easy to align and assemble. The strength of the assembled track and structures is also increased, and the structures are more easily maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventor: Arturo A. Ortiz Rivas
  • Patent number: 6266866
    Abstract: An improved cast insert for a railway frog has two extensions extending in substantially the same direction away from the body portion of the casting and the end of each of the extensions has a cross sectional profile corresponding to the profile of the head and web of a rail but including only one side of what would normally be the base of a rail. A frog assembly is made by providing such an insert, machining each of two rails to also remove one side of the base near the end of the rail and attaching the machined end of each of the two rails to the end of one of said extensions such that the sides of the rails from which the base has been machined away face one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: VAE Nortak North America Inc.
    Inventors: Jacqueline Ramirez, Al Forshaw, Gary Click
  • Patent number: 6254038
    Abstract: The strength and reliability of railroad track structures, such as frogs, crossings, and guardrails, is enhanced. Filler members and filler blocks are fitted in to support and strengthen the structures. The filler members and filler blocks provide better matching and alignment of load transfer surfaces. The track structures with the improved components are more easy to align and assemble. The strength of the assembled track and structures is also increased, and the structures are more easily maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Arturo A. Ortiz Rivas
  • Patent number: 6224023
    Abstract: An improved railroad trackwork spring wing frog is provided with a rail-closer having a single compression spring whose reaction forces are applied to the frog spring wing rail through movable linkages that are each connected to the spring wing rail at different spaced-apart position and that each abut the single compression spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: ABC Rail Products Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Young, Stephen R. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 6119988
    Abstract: The strength and reliability of railroad track structures, such as frogs, crossings, and guardrails, is enhanced. Filler members and filler blocks are fitted in to support and strengthen the structures. The filler members and filler blocks provide better matching and alignment of load transfer surfaces. The track structures with the improved components are more easy to align and assemble. The strength of the assembled track and structures is also increased, and the structures are more easily maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Arturo A. Ortiz Rivas
  • Patent number: 5957055
    Abstract: A container-transporting system with tracks, linear motors and rotatable wheels. The system includes a network of tracks which are arranged transversely at right angles with respect to one another and parallel to one another and form points of intersection. Guide rails are arranged in the tracks outside the points of intersection and have track-bound transporting carriages moving on them by way of running wheels which can be turned about a pivot spindle. The distances between the running wheels correspond to the distances between the tracks. The running wheels, which are enclosed by horizontal guide rollers, can be rotated in the points of intersection. Magnets are arranged on the transporting carriage in the longitudinal and transverse directions and, by way of stators of the track, move the transporting carriage in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Pivoting slides, which are arranged on the transporting carriage, turn the running rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Noell Stahl-und Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Bauer, Walter Hafel, Edgar Huth, Otto Weis
  • Patent number: 5746400
    Abstract: A railroad trackwork rail crossing having four rail intersection corners is comprised, at each corner, of four corner casting elements which have angled planforms, co-operating straight intermediate rail elements, co-operating straight guard rail elements, cooperating straight traffic rail elements, and bolt fasteners joining the casting and rail elements into a rigid unitary rail crossing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: ABC Rail Products Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Remington, Kenneth L. Schultz, Russell R. Hein
  • 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: 4756476
    Abstract: A railway switch is mounted on y-shaped sleepers. All sleepers in the switch have a medium portion of equal slightly s-shaped configuration and length. The length of the straight and parallel ends depends on the position of the individual sleeper in the switch. The sleepers extend alternately from one outer rail in the direction to the other outer rail. The crossing piece is supported by y-shaped sleepers which underlie only the crossing piece and alternately one of the outer rails in the switch. If the switch comprises a straight and a curved line, all sleepers supporting the outer straight rail are arranged at a right angle to the straight line and protrude outwardly over the straight rail in the same length. Preferably the sleepers are composed of two s-shaped I-beam steel profiles and additional shorter I-beam steel profiles at the bifurcated straight ends, all pairs of adjacent I-beams being connected at a distance forming a slit for inserting a coach screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Stahlwerke Peine-Salzgitter AG
    Inventors: Gunter Fasterding, Jurgen Frenzel, Norbert Jacoby, Bernd-Joachim Kempa
  • Patent number: 4516504
    Abstract: A conveying and storage system for wheeled pallets has tracks each formed by a pair of generally parallel rails. The pallet has grooved wheels at one side for riding on the upper edge of one rail and a roller on the other side for riding on the upper edge of the other rail. At the intersection of the tracks, the two wheel engaging rails are interconnected by a frog on which the peripheries of the grooved wheels roll. Where a wheel engaging rail crosses a roller engaging rail, the roller engaging rail is interrupted and elevated pads are provided that are coplanar with the upper edges of the rails. The pads are arranged to support the rollers as they negotiate the gap in the roller engaging rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Lamb Technicon Corp.
    Inventors: John H. Brems, John L. Vaphiadis
  • Patent number: 4081162
    Abstract: Wheel loads on the running surfaces of a frog point and its (cast) integral wings are distributed to the ties by a bottom wall boxing in the side walls which support those running surfaces and by strategically located center ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Assignee: Abex Corporation
    Inventor: Earl E. Frank