Patent ID: 7484669
Filing Date: 2009-02-03
Classification: E01B

Abstract:
1. In an electrified transportation rail system having a plurality of elongated rail sections assembled in end-to-end relation for extension along a rail bed, each said rail section having a bottom flange, top flange along which a train or other vehicle is advanced, and a vertical web portion interconnecting said bottom and top flanges, the improvement comprising: a rail cover vulcanized to each of said rail sections, said cover composed of a solid sheet of flexible dielectric vulcanizable material, said rail cover vulcanized and bonded under heat and pressure to each of said rail sections prior to being assembled in said railbed, said cover including a lower portion surrounding and vulcanized to said bottom flange and an upper portion covering and vulcanized to opposite sides of said web portion; and an insulating member overlapping each pair of adjacent ends of said rail sections, said insulating member and said rail cover having similar cross-sections and being joined together to act as a barrier against stray current flow along the length of the rail sections.