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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates in general to railroad track bridge disengagement systems and, in particular, to a system, method and apparatus for mating easer rails with the uncut webs of fixed running rails at intersections with moveable railroad bridges. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    An easer rail system, also known as a miter rail system, permits a moveable section of railroad track to join with a fixed section of railroad track. Easer rails are used to carry wheels over a gapped joint section that is used to allow bridge movement and to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction by providing a small space between the ends of moveable and fixed rails. 
         [0005]    Applications for easer rails include the moveable portions of railroad bridges. Some railroad bridges that are relatively close the waterway that they traverse have movable decks to allow ships to pass by or beneath them. Such bridges include vertical lift bridges, bascule bridges and swing bridges. A vertical lift bridge is similar to an elevator, as it raises and lowers a bridge deck while maintaining the deck in a horizontal orientation. A bascule bridge only lifts one end of the bridge deck, such that the bridge deck pivots about its opposite end. Finally, a swing bridge always keeps the bridge deck horizontal, but it typically rotates the bridge deck about its mid-section. 
         [0006]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , a conventional easer rail system provides a thermal expansion joint  10  (or gap) between the ends of a fixed rail  11  and a moveable rail  13 . The joint is formed with all easer rail  15  that attaches to the fixed rail  11  and partially overlaps but freely releases the end  17  of the moveable rail  13 . The ends of the easer rail  15  and the fixed rail  11  overlap each other with smooth vertical surfaces  19 ,  21  ( FIG. 3 ), respectively, that are cut or machined into their respective ends. Thus, at the expansion joint  10 , the track cross-section is made up of the machined moveable rail  13  and the easer rail  15 , which cooperate together to provide suitable support for the rolling stock wheels of trains. 
         [0007]    The easer rail  15  is bolted  23  directly to the mating vertical surface  21  on the fixed rail  11 . Bolt holes are provided through the easer rail  15  and the vertical surface  21  of the fixed rail  11 , and a bolted joint is formed between them. As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the smooth vertical surface  19  of the easer rail  15  strictly interfaces with both the fixed rail  11  and the moveable rail  13 . Although this design is workable, an improved system, method and apparatus for mating easer rails with fixed running rails at intersections with moveable railroad bridges would be desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Embodiments of an improved system, method, and apparatus for mating an easer rail with the uncut web of a fixed running rail are disclosed. The joint between the easer rail and the fixed rail is improved by providing an extension on the easer rail end that is more intimately secured to the fixed rail. The extension extends the easer rail into the unnotched, uncut web (i.e., fishing area) or the unmachined portion the fixed rail. Further, the rail ends adjacent the rail expansion gap may be sloped to minimize potential wheel impacts on the ends of the rails. 
         [0009]    The easer extension is formed or machined to be complementary in shape to the uncut web and fits tightly against the base or flange, the underside of the head, and the web of the unnotched portion of the fixed rail. Bolt holes are provided through the extension and the fixed rail to form additional bolt joints. The bolted extension not only lengthens the easer rail but mechanically locks it in place between the head and base of the fixed rail to provide additional rigidity for the easer rail assembly. 
         [0010]    In an alternate embodiment, the easer rail may be supported on a riser. The easer rail may be formed from a 175-pound crane rail section. This installation may comprise a rolled, high carbon steel rail section, and may be provided with a hardened head. This design is very robust and includes substantial mass or material that allows it to be machined for this easer rail design embodiment. 
         [0011]    The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed description of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    So that the manner in which the features and advantages of the present invention are attained and can be understood in more detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. However, the drawings illustrate only some embodiments of the invention and therefore are not to be considered limiting of its scope as the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a conventional easer rail installation; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the easer rail installation of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a sectional end view of the easer rail installation of  FIG. 1 , taken along the lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top view of one embodiment of an easer rail installation constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a sectional end view of the easer rail installation of  FIG. 4 , taken along the line  5 - 5  and is constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a sectional end view of the easer rail installation of  FIG. 4 , taken along the line  6 - 6  and is constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a sectional end view of the easer rail installation of  FIG. 4 , taken along the line  7 - 7  and is constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a top view of another embodiment of an easer rail installation constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a sectional end view of the easer rail installation of  FIG. 8 , taken along the line  9 - 9  and is constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a sectional end view of the easer rail installation of  FIG. 8 , taken along the line  10 - 10  and is constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a sectional end view of the easer rail installation of  FIG. 8 , taken along the line  11 - 11  and is constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are isometric and exploded views, respectively, of the embodiment of  FIGS. 4-7 , and is constructed in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0025]      FIGS. 14 and 15  are isometric and exploded views, respectively, of the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-11 , and is constructed in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-15 , embodiments of a system, method and apparatus for mating easer rails with the uncut webs of fixed running rails at intersections between fixed and moveable rails are shown. For example, the invention is well suited for applications having moveable portions on railroad bridges. Such bridges may include vertical lift bridges, bascule bridges and swing bridges, as are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 4-7  and  12 - 13 , one embodiment of the invention comprises an easer rail assembly for suitable applications, such as a vertical lift or bascule type bridge. In the embodiment shown, the easer rail assembly may be installed on a pair of fixed rails  41  that are mounted to plates  43 , and a pair of aligned movable rails  45  (e.g., on a moveable portion of a bridge) that are mounted to plates  47 . The plates  43 ,  47  may be secured to railroad ties or other conventional support means. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the fixed and lift ends  49 ,  61 , respectively, adjacent the rail expansion gap  63  may be provided with slopes  48  as shown to minimize potential wheel impacts on the ends of the rails. For example, each slope  48  may comprise a reduction in elevation (i.e., vertically or transversely) of one-quarter inch over six inches in rail length (i.e., longitudinally), with the lowest points of each slope  48  occurring adjacent to gap  63 . This design reduces wear on fixed and lift ends  49 ,  61  as wheels travel on the easer rails  71  between the fixed rails  41  and movable rails  45 . 
         [0029]    The fixed and moveable rails  41 ,  45  extend in a longitudinal direction and are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. Each fixed rail  41  has a conventional rail section  50  with a head  51  ( FIG. 5 ), a base or flange  53 , and a web  55 . The web  55  extends in a transverse (i.e., vertical) direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral directions between the head  51  and the flange  53 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  13 , each fixed rail  41  also has a fixed surface or “flat”  57  that is substantially vertical and located between the fixed end  49  and the rail section  50 , extending in the transverse direction. 
         [0030]    As described herein, the easer rail assembly also comprises the lift rails  45 , which are longitudinally aligned with but moveable relative to the fixed rails  41 . Each lift rail  45  has a lift end  61  ( FIG. 13 ) that is longitudinally spaced apart from the fixed end  49  to define the longitudinal space or gap  63  between the fixed rail  41  and the lift rail  45 , Like the fixed rails  41 , each of the lift rails  45  has a lift surface  65  or flat that is vertical and located adjacent to its respective lift end  61 . 
         [0031]    In the embodiments illustrated, easer rails  71  are respectively mounted to the fixed rails  41  at both the rail sections  50  (i.e., bolted  75  into webs  55 ; see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ) and further down the line at the fixed surfaces  57  ( FIG. 6 ). Each easer rail  71  has an easer end  73  that extends longitudinally from the fixed rail  41  beyond the lift end  61  of the lift rail  45 . In one embodiment, each easer rail  71  is bolted to the rail section  50  of the fixed rail  41  with two bolts  75 , and to the fixed surface  57  of the fixed rail  41  with three bolts  75 . Each of the bolts  75  may be provided with a diameter of 1⅜-inches for additional rigidity. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 12 , the easer ends  73  are movably engaged by the lift surfaces  65  of the lift rails  45 , but are not bolted to them. 
         [0032]    Referring again to  FIGS. 4 ,  6 , and  13 , each easer rail  71  has an easer fixed surface  77  (e.g., vertical flat) that abuts a respective fixed surface  57 . Each easer rail  71  also has an easer lift surface  79  (e.g., vertical flat) that movably engages the lift surface  65 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the lift surface  65  of lift rail  45  is provided with a sloped lower end  66  that may be machined one-half inch laterally inward (i.e., to the left in  FIG. 7 ) from surface  65  over a two-inch transverse (i.e., vertical) span, and along 15 longitudinal inches of lift rail  45 . This feature avoids interference between the components during movement operations. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  12  and  13 , each easer rail  71  also has a protrusion  81  and recesses  83 ,  85  that are complementary in shape to and closely received by the head  51 , flange  53  and web  55  of the rail section  50  of the fixed rail  41 . These features may extend in the transverse direction and in a lateral direction that is substantially perpendicular to both the longitudinal and transverse directions. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 8-11  and  14 - 15  depict another embodiment of the invention comprising easer rails  171  for suitable applications, such as a swing span bridge. In this embodiment, the fixed rails  141  are mounted to and supported by fixed plates  143 , and a riser  191  is located between each easer rail  171  and fixed plate  143 . The lift rails  145  are mounted to plates  147 , and may be provided with a lift mechanism  148  for moving at least portions of lift rails  145 . A space  163  is located between rails  141 ,  145 . To reduce the complexity of the drawings, this embodiment is shown without plate clips. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , each riser  191  may be provided with a lip  193  that is located between its respective easer rail  171  and the flange  185  of the rail section  150  ( FIG. 8 ) of fixed rail  141 . The lip  193  may extend along its entire longitudinal length in contact with flange  185 , such that flange  185  is unaltered from its conventional shape. Thus, this design only requires the formation of fixed surface  157  ( FIGS. 10 and 15 ) on fixed rails  141  for engaging fixed easer surface  177 . In some embodiments, slopes  148  ( FIG. 8 ) also may be formed on the ends of rails  141 ,  145 , as described above for the previous embodiments with regard to slopes  48 . 
         [0036]    Each riser  191  also may be provided with a riser flat  195  ( FIG. 11 ) that is free of contact with and laterally spaced apart from the lift surface  165  ( FIGS. 8 ,  11  and  15 ). Easer lift surface  179  is provided for engaging lift surface  165 . Like easer rail  71 , easer rail  171  has protrusion  181  ( FIGS. 9 ,  14  and  15 ) and recesses that are complementary in shape to and closely received by the head  151 , flange  185  and web  155  of the fixed rail  141 . 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the riser  191  supports a 175-pound crane rail section that may be formed from a rolled, high carbon steel rail section, and may be provided with a hardened head. This design is very robust and includes substantial mass or material that allows it to be machined for this easer rail embodiment. Other features, elements and advantages of this embodiment may be provided in similar or identical manners as those of the previously described embodiments. 
         [0038]    The invention also comprises a method of forming an easer rail assembly. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a fixed rail having a fixed end, a rail section with a head, a flange and a web between the head and the flange, and a fixed surface located between the fixed end and the rail section; aligning a lift rail with and moveable relative to the fixed rail, the lift rail having a lift end that is spaced apart from the fixed end, and a lift surface located adjacent the lift end; and mounting an easer rail to both the rail section and the fixed surface of the fixed rail, the easer rail having an easer end that extends beyond the lift end of the lift rail, and the easer end being movably engaged by the lift surface of the lift rail. 
         [0039]    In other embodiments of the method, the mounting step may comprise bolting the easer rail to both the web of the rail section and the fixed surface of the fixed rail; and/or providing the easer rail with an easer fixed surface that abuts the fixed surface, an easer lift surface that movably engages the lift surface, and a protrusion and recesses that are complementary in shape to and closely received by the head, flange and web of the rail section of the fixed rail. The initial steps may comprise providing each of the fixed and lift rails with a slope adjacent the fixed and lift ends, respectively, each slope comprising a reduction in elevation with a lowest point of each slope occurring adjacent to a space between the fixed rail and the lift rail. In still another embodiment, the initial step further comprises mounting the fixed rail to a fixed plate, and then locating a riser between the easer rail and the fixed plate. The method may further comprise providing the riser with a lip located between the easer rail and the flange of the rail section, the riser also having a riser flat that is free of contact with the lift surface. 
         [0040]    The invention provides several advantages by mating an easer rail with the uncut web of a fixed running rail. This joint is improved by providing an extension on the easer rail end that is more intimately secured to the fixed rail. The easer rail extension not only lengthens the easer rail but mechanically locks it in place between the head and base of the fixed rail to provide additional rigidity to prevent relative vertical movement of the easer rail assembly. The crane rail version may comprise a rolled, high carbon steel rail section, and may be provided with a hardened head. This design is very robust and includes substantial mass or material that allows it to be machined for this easer rail design embodiment. The invention has the additional advantages of lower cost and maintenance, and less material removal than other designs as the parent rail section has a shorter starting height prior to machining since it is supported on the riser section. Joint integrity is further enhanced with larger bolts (e.g., 1⅜-inch diameters) to provide significantly more (e.g., 2.5 times greater) clamping ability than conventional designs. In addition, the rail ends adjacent the rail expansion gap may be sloped to minimize potential wheel impacts on the ends of the rails. 
         [0041]    While the invention has been shown or described in only some of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the invention. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0042]    As explained herein, the system, method and apparatus for mating railroad easer rails with the uncut webs of fixed running rails according to the present invention are useful for railroad bridges, and are particularly useful for an intersections with moveable railroad bridges.

Summary:
An easer rail is mated with the uncut web of a fixed running rail to form a more rigid thermal expansion joint between the fixed rail and a moveable rail. The easer rail has an extension that protrudes into the uncut web the fixed rail. The easer rail extension is machined to be complementary in shape to the uncut web and fits tightly against the flange, the underside of the head, and the base of the uncut web of the fixed rail. Bolt holes are provided through the extension and the easer rail, its extension, and the fixed rail to form multiple bolt joints. The bolted extension not only lengthens the easer rail but locks it in place between the head and base of the fixed rail to provide additional rigidity.