Patent Publication Number: US-6705536-B1

Title: Concrete railroad grade crossing panels

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation-in-part application of Petitioners&#39; earlier application Ser. No. 10/147,234 filed May 15, 2002, entitled “CONCRETE RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING PANELS” which is a continuation-in-part application of Petitioners&#39; earlier application Ser. No. 10/103,308 filed Mar. 20, 2002, entitled “CONCRETE RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING PANELS”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,676. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an improved concrete railroad grade crossing and more particularly to an improved railroad grade crossing comprising concrete gauge panels which extend between the rails and further comprising concrete approach or field panels which extend between each rail and the roadway. Even more particularly, the invention relates to improved elastomeric gauge seals which are partially cast in the sides of the gauge panels and relates to improved elastomeric approach or field seals which are partially cast in the inner ends of the approach or field panels. More particularly, the invention relates to the means for securing the seals to the panels through the use of a bar, rod or shaft (“bar”) extending through the seal with the bar being secured to the retainers which hold the associated edge protector in place. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Frequently, a railroad track crosses a roadway which necessitates that the space between the rails be filled with a material which brings that space up to grade. It is also necessary to bring the approaches on either side of the rails up to grade. In the past, precast concrete panels, or gauge panels, have been positioned between the rails and precast concrete panels, or approach or field panels, have been positioned on the approach sides of the track. The prior art railroad grade crossings have also used elastomeric seals on the sides of the concrete gauge panels to fill the space between the gauge panels and the rails to prevent foreign materials from entering and filling the space between the gauge panels and the rail. The prior art railroad grade crossings have also used elastomeric seals on the inner ends of the concrete field panels to prevent foreign materials from entering and filling the space between the field panel and the associated rail. In some cases, the upper inner ends of the field panels and the upper outer ends of the gauge panels were chamfered or beveled to prevent portions of the concrete field panels and gauge panels from chipping off and filling the spaces between the panels and the rails. In other cases, angle irons have been used as edge protectors to prevent the chipping problem. 
     In later years, the gauge seals and field seals have been partially embedded in the concrete panels to aid in attaching the seals to the panels. However, even where the seals are partially embedded in the prior art concrete panels, it is believed that the prior art devices experience some attachment problems of the seals. Petitioners&#39; co-pending applications are believed to solve at least some of the attachment problems. The instant invention is believed to represent a further advance in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A railroad grade crossing for extending a roadway across a pair of parallel spaced-apart rails is disclosed. The railroad grade crossing includes one or more concrete gauge panels which extend substantially between the rails. Each of the gauge panels has a top surface which is substantially coplanar with the roadway with the bottom surface of the gauge panel being supported upon the ties. Each of the gauge panels has an elongated elastomeric gauge seal on each side thereof which is positioned adjacent the rails. The upper ends of the gauge seals are positioned downwardly from the top surface of the gauge panel with the upper ends of the gauge seals having arcuate recessed portions formed therein adjacent the outer ends thereof. The lower inner ends of the gauge seals are at least partially cast in the outer ends of the gauge panels. Concrete approach panels or field panels are positioned between each rail and the roadway associated therewith. Each of the concrete field panels has a top surface which is substantially coplanar with the roadway and a bottom surface which is supported upon the ties. The field panels have elongated elastomeric field seals at their inner ends thereof with the upper ends of the field seals being preferably positioned downwardly from the top surface of the field panels. The lower inner ends of the field seals are at least partially cast in the inner ends of the field panels. Elongated, metal angle members (edge protectors) are cast in the upper outer edges of the gauge panels and the upper inner edges of the field panels and are maintained therein by horizontally disposed DBAs (deformed bar anchors) and by vertically disposed headed studs. The inner end of each of the field seals and the inner end of each of the gauge seals has a lobe formed thereon which has an opening extending lengthwise therethrough. An elongated metal bar is positioned in and extends along the length of the opening formed in the lobe. Portions of the lobe are cut away to expose the bar. The exposed portions of the bar are secured by tie wires or the like to the DBAs to securely maintain the seal in the panel. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved concrete railroad grade crossing. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an improved concrete railroad grade crossing comprising concrete gauge panels and concrete field panels wherein elastomeric seals are partially embedded in the panels and extend therefrom so as to be positioned adjacent the rails. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved concrete railroad grade crossing including elastomeric gauge seals and field seals which have voids formed therein so as to reduce the amount of elastomeric material required to construct the same. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved concrete railroad grade crossing including concrete gauge and field panels which have elastomeric seals partially embedded therein. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of attaching elastomeric gauge and field seals to gauge panels and approach panels, respectively. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved railroad crossing which has greater durability than the railroad grade crossings of the prior art. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial top plan view of the concrete railroad grade crossing of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of the concrete railroad grade crossing of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of one of the field panel seals of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the gauge panel seal of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view of the concrete railroad grade crossing of this invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a modified form of the invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the manner in which the seals are secured to the rebar. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the drawings, the numeral  10  refers to a railroad track including rails  12  and  14  which are supported upon a plurality of spaced-apart ties  16  by means of tie plates  18  which are secured to the ties  16  in conventional fashion such as by spikes, clips or bolts. In many cases, the railroad track  10  must cross a roadway which is generally referred to by the reference numeral  20 . 
     Normally, a plurality of precast concrete approach or field panels  22  will be positioned between the roadway  20  and the rails  12  and  14  with the field panels  22  being supported upon the outer ends of the ties  16 . Normally, the field panels  22  will be positioned between the roadway  20  and one of the rails in an end-to-end fashion, the number of which will depend upon the width of the roadway and the length of the field panels. The numeral  24  refers to precast concrete gauge panels which are positioned between the rails  12  and  14  and which are supported upon the ties  16 . The gauge panels  24  are supported upon the ties  16  in an end-to-end fashion, the number of which will depend upon the width of the roadway and the length of the gauge panels. 
     Each of the approach or field panels  22  is comprised of a precast concrete material and includes top surface  26 , bottom surface  28 , and opposite sides  30  and  32 . Field panel  22  is provided with a recessed portion  34  formed therein at each of the opposite sides thereof to provide a clearance space for the spikes, bolts, clips, etc., which secure the tie plates  18  to the ties  16  and which secure the rail to the tie plate  18  in conventional fashion. 
     An elongated, metal angle member  38  (edge protector) is cast in the field panel  22  at the upper inner side thereof, as illustrated in the drawings, and which is held in place in the concrete by horizontally disposed and horizontally spaced retainers, rods or bars  40  secured thereto which are commonly referred to as DBAs (deformed bar anchors). The angle member  38  is also held in place by a plurality of vertically disposed and horizontally spaced retainers or studs  41  secured thereto having enlarged head portions  41   a  at their lower ends. As will be explained in more detail hereinafter, a field seal  42  is secured to the inner end of each of the field panels  22 . 
     Each of the gauge panels  24  is comprised of a precast concrete material and includes top surface  44 , bottom surface  46 , and opposite sides  48  and  50 . Gauge panel  24  is provided with a recessed portion  52  at side  48  and is provided with a recessed portion  54  at its side  50 , as seen in FIG. 2, to provide a clearance space for the spikes, bolts, clips, etc., which secure the tie plates  18  to the ties  16  and which secure the rails to the tie plates  18  in conventional fashion. 
     Elongated, metal angle members (edge protectors)  56  and  58  are cast in the gauge panel  24  at the upper outer sides thereof, as illustrated in the drawings, and which are held in place by horizontally disposed and horizontally spaced retainers, rods or bars  60  (DBAs) secured thereto. The angle members  56  and  58  are also held in place by a plurality of vertically disposed and horizontally spaced retainers or studs  61  secured thereto having enlarged head portions  61   a  at their lower ends. As will be explained in more detail hereinafter, gauge seals  62  and  64  are secured to the outer sides of each of the gauge panels  24 . Inasmuch as gauge seals  62  and  64  are identical, only gauge seal  62  will be described in detail. 
     As seen in FIG. 3, field seal  42  is comprised of an elastomeric material generally having an outer end  66  and an inner end  68 . The upper end  70  of seal  42  is ribbed, as illustrated in FIG. 3, with upper end  70  being preferably positioned below the top surface of the panel  22  and below the upper end of the associated rail. FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the seal wherein the upper end  70 ′ of seal  42 ′ is substantially coplanar with the top surface of the panel. Seal  42 ′ is identical to seal  42  except for the height thereof and will not be described in detail. 
     Elongated voids  72  and  74  are formed in the seal  42  to reduce the amount of material required to fabricate the seal. Additional voids may be utilized if so desired. The inner end  68  of seal  42  has a lobe, nose or protrusion  76  extending therefrom which is embedded in the concrete of the panel  22 . Lobe  76  has an elongated bore or opening  78  extending lengthwise therethrough which receives an elongated bar or rod  80  therein. Bar  80  is preferably comprised of a rebar, but could be a flat bar, a round bar or a square bar. Lobe  76  has a plurality of cut-away areas  82  formed therein to expose portions of the bar  80  (FIG.  7 ). The exposed portions of the bar are secured to the DBAs  40  by tie wires  84  which are extended around the bar  80  and DBA  40  and twisted or tied to facilitate the connection therebetween. The connection of the bar  80  to the DBAs  40  along the length of the bar  80  at spaced locations firmly attaches the seal  42  to the field panel  22  without the need for embedding the vertical leg of the edge protector  38  in the seal  42 . 
     The outer end of the seal  42  is arcuate in shape, as best seen in FIG. 3, to provide an arcuate surface  86  which is in contact with the arcuate shape of the rail below the head of the associated rail (FIG.  5 ). The engagement of the outer end of the upper end  70  of the seal  42  with the side of the head of the rail  12  and the engagement of the arcuate portion  86  with the side of the rail creates a seal to prevent foreign material such as concrete, rocks, etc., from falling down into the space below the seal  42 . 
     As seen in FIG. 4, each of the gauge seals  62  generally has an outer end  88 , inner end  90 , upper end  92 , and lower end  94 . Seal  62  is formed of a suitable elastomeric material and has lobe  96  at its inner end. Seal  62  is provided with voids  98 ,  100  and  102  formed therein to reduce the amount of material required to fabricate the seal. Additional voids may be formed in the seal  62  if desired. Void  98  also creates additional flexibility in the outer end  88  of the seal  62  so that it may flex somewhat so as to be in engagement with the arcuate portion of the inner end of the side of the associated rail. Seal  62  is provided with an arcuate recessed portion  108  formed therein for sealing the flange of the railroad wheels moving along the rails. Lobe  96  has an elongated bore or opening  108  extending lengthwise therethrough which receives an elongated bar or rod  110  therein. Bar  110  is preferably comprised of a rebar, but could be a flat bar, a round bar or a square bar. Lobe  96  has a plurality of cut-away areas formed therein to expose portions of the bar  110  in the same manner as the cut-away areas are formed in lobe  76 . The exposed portions of the bar  110  are secured to the DBAs  60  by tie wires  114  which are extended around the bar  110  and DBA  60  and twisted or tied to facilitate the connection therebetween. The connection of the bar  110  to the DBAs  60  along the length of the bar  110  at spaced locations firmly attaches the seal  62  to the gauge panel  24  without the need for embedding the vertical leg of the edge protector in the seal  62 . 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.