Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5740961?dq=7222078
Timestamp: 2016-10-27 03:10:06
Document Index: 592337529

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 31', 'art 30', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 31']

Patent US5740961 - Railway crossing installation - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA railway crossing installation for a pair of spaced apart elongated rails each having in transverse section a bottom horizontal flange, a vertically extending bight and a top ball. A plurality of relatively elongated concrete panels are provided, with each panel having a top surface generally aligned...http://www.google.com/patents/US5740961?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5740961 - Railway crossing installationAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS5740961 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/613,213Publication dateApr 21, 1998Filing dateMar 8, 1996Priority dateMar 8, 1996Fee statusLapsedPublication number08613213, 613213, US 5740961 A, US 5740961A, US-A-5740961, US5740961 A, US5740961AInventorsWilliam E. BruningOriginal AssigneeBruning; William E.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (29), Referenced by (9), Classifications (4), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetRailway crossing installation
US 5740961 AAbstract
1. A railway crossing installation comprising:a pair of spaced apart elongated rails each having in transverse section a bottom horizontal flange, a vertically extending bight and a top ball with said ball having an upper surface and lower surface flanking said bight, at least one relatively elongated concrete panel with each panel having a top surface generally aligned with said ball upper surface, each panel having elongated sides disposed adjacent said rails and ends disposed in confronting relation to any adjacent panels, said panel side adjacent a rail having an elongated projection spaced below said panel top surface, said projection extending toward said bight and having a vertical side spaced from said bight, a resilient, elongated extrusion extending along each panel side between said projection side and said rail bight, said extrusion having a body part compressively stressed between a respective ball lower surface and a respective projection side, said body part when unstressed overlying said projection, said extrusion also having a tail part integral with said body part, said tail part being secured to a respective panel side and said body part overlying said tail part when said body part is unstressed, said body part being equipped with opening means extending therethrough for at least partial collapse when said body part is compressively stressed, and said at least partial collapse of said opening means is essentially independent of a railroad wheel passing over said extrusion. 2. A railway crossing installation comprising:a pair of spaced apart elongated rails each having in transverse section a bottom horizontal flange, a vertically extending bight and a top ball with said ball having an upper surface and lower surface flanking said bight, at least one relatively elongated concrete panel with each panel having a top surface generally aligned with said ball upper surface, each panel having elongated sides disposed adjacent said rails and ends disposed in confronting relation to any adjacent panels, said panel side adjacent a rail having an elongated projection spaced below said panel top surface, said projection extending toward said bight and having a vertical side spaced from said bight, a resilient, elongated extrusion extending along each panel side between said projection side and said rail bight, said extrusion having a body part compressively stressed between a respective ball lower surface and a respective projection side, said body part when unstressed overlying said projection, said extrusion also having a tail part integral with said body part, said tail part being secured to a respective panel side and said body part overlying said tail part when said body part is unstressed, said body part being equipped with opening means extending therethrough for at least partial collapse when said body part is compressively stressed, and said extrusion is generally P-shaped when said body part is compressively stressed with said body part constituting the loop of the P shape and the tail part constituting the stroke of the P shape. 3. The installation of claim 2 in which said opening means includes a first opening adjacent the stroke of said P and a second opening remote from said P stroke.
5. A railway crossing installation comprising:a pair of spaced apart elongated rails each having in transverse section a bottom horizontal flange, a vertically extending bight and a top ball with said ball having an upper surface and lower surface flanking said bight, at least one relatively elongated concrete panel with each panel having a top surface generally aligned with said ball upper surface, each panel having elongated sides disposed adjacent said rails and ends disposed in confronting relation to any adjacent panels, said panel side adjacent a rail having an elongated projection spaced below said panel top surface, said projection extending toward said bight and having a vertical side spaced from said bight, a resilient, elongated extrusion extending along each panel side between said projection side and said rail bight, said extrusion having a body part compressively stressed between a respective ball lower surface and a respective projection side, said body part when unstressed overlying said projection, and said extrusion body part is equipped with a plurality of notch means to enable force to be applied to position said body part under a respective rail ball. 6. The installation of claim 5 in which said body part has a generally oval shape in side elevation, said notch means extending transversely of the extrusion length.
9. A railway crossing installation comprising:a pair of spaced apart elongated rails each having in transverse section a bottom horizontal flange, a vertically extending bight and a top ball with said ball having an upper surface and lower surface flanking said bight, at least one relatively elongated concrete panel with each panel having a top surface generally aligned with said ball upper surface, each panel having elongated sides disposed adjacent said rails and ends disposed in confronting relation to may adjacent panels, said panel side adjacent a rail having an elongated projection spaced below said panel top surface, said projection extending toward said bight and having a vertical side spaced from said bight, a resilient, elongated extrusion extending along each panel side between said projection side and said rail bight, said extrusion having a body part compressively stressed between a respective ball lower surface and a respective projection side, said body part when unstressed overlying said projection, and each concrete panel being generally rectangular and equipped with a perimetric metal frame, said frame having interrupted portions to prevent current from flowing from one rail to another. 10. The installation of claim 9 in which said frame is constructed of angle steel with two transverse members connected by two longitudinal members, said interrupted portions being located in said transverse members.
15. A railway crossing installation comprising:a pair of spaced apart elongated rails each having in transverse section a bottom horizontal flange, a vertically extending bight and a top ball with said ball having an upper surface and lower surface flanking said bight, at least one relatively elongated concrete panel with each panel having a top surface generally aligned with said ball upper surface, each panel having elongated sides disposed adjacent said rails and ends disposed in confronting relation to any adjacent panels, said panel side adjacent a rail having an integral elongated protection spaced below said panel tops surface, said projection extending toward said bight and having a vertical side spaced from said bight, and a resilient, elongated extrusion extending along each panel side between said projection side and said rail bight, said extrusion having a body part compressively stressed between a respective rail surface and a projection side, said body part when unstressed overlying said projection, said body part being equipped with transversely extending opening means which are at least partially collapsed when said body part is installed between said projection and rail, said extrusion body part is equipped with a plurality of notch means to enable force to be applied to position said body part under a respective rail ball, said notch means extending generally transversely and having a step engageable by a pinch bar for forcing said body part into compressively stressed condition. 16. A railway crossing installation comprising:a pair of spaced apart elongated rails each having in transverse section a bottom horizontal flange, a vertically extending bight and a top ball with said ball having an upper surface and lower surface flanking said bight, at least one relatively elongated concrete panel with each panel having a top surface generally aligned with said ball upper surface, each panel having elongated sides disposed adjacent said rails and ends disposed in confronting relation to any adjacent panels, said panel side adjacent a rail having an integral elongated projection spaced below said panel top surface, said projection extending toward said bight and having a vertical side spaced from said bight, and a resilient, elongated extrusion extending along each panel side between said projection side and said rail bight, said extrusion having a body part compressively stressed between a respective rail surface and a projection side, said body part when unstressed overlying said projection, said body part being equipped with transversely extending notch means to enable force to be applied to position said body part under a respective rail ball. 17. The installation of claim 16 in which said body part is equipped with transversely extending opening means which are at least partially collapsed when said body part is installed between said projection and rail.
18. A railway crossing installation comprising:a pair of spaced apart elongated rails each having in transverse section a bottom horizontal flange, a vertically extending bight and a top ball with said ball having an upper surface and lower surface flanking said bight, at least one relatively elongated concrete panel with each panel having a top surface generally aligned with said ball upper surface, each panel having elongated sides disposed adjacent said rails and ends disposed in confronting relation to any adjacent panels, said panel side adjacent a rail having an integral elongated projection spaced below said panel top surface, said projection extending toward said bight and having a vertical side spaced from said bight, and a resilient, elongated extrusion extending along each panel side between said projection side and said rail bight, said extrusion having a body part compressively stressed between a respective rail surface and a projection side, said body part when unstressed overlying said projection, said body part being equipped with transversely extending opening means which are at least partly collapsed when said body part is stressed, said body part being equipped with notch means for converting said extrusion from unstressed to stressed conditions. Description
As seen in FIG. 2, the body part 31 and the tail part 30 are superposed, viz., the body part 31 resting on top of the tail part 32. In turn, the tail part 32 is supported on a projection 39 provided in the panel 29. The projection 39 is intermediate the top and bottom of the panel 29 and projects outwardly from a sidewall 40. The upper sidewall, i.e., the portion of the sidewall above the projection 39 is that which is framed by the framing member 35. It will be noted that the projection 29 is suitably below the rail ball 24 and, more especially, below the undersurface 25 of the ball 23. This develops a throat 41 which is best seen in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the final installation is depicted where the tail part 32 still is positioned on the upper surface 42 of the projection 39 but wherein the body part 31IV is now under compressive stress between the side face 43 of the projection 29 and the undersurface 25 of the ball 23 and the bight 22.
The panel 29 has as its basic material of construction concrete and, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 12 is a rectangular solid. The solid is framed about its upper surface by a perimeter of 2"�2" angle steel 35 (still referring to FIG. 12). Now referring to FIG. 9, the frame 35 is seen to include longitudinally extending members 50 and transversely extending members 51. The members 51 are interrupted as at 52 (see especially FIG. 9) to provide a blockage for electrical current which might travel from one rail to the other. To avoid that possibility, I insert a block or section of plastic material as at 53 in FIG. 11 which is of high electrical resistance to prevent the inadvertent short circuiting of the rails.
Unique Rubber Seal: The thin-walled rubber extrusion makes use of a "spring action" of the material to return to its original shape after being compressed under the ball of the rail with a pinch bar. The upward thrust of the rubber against the underside of the ball of the rail forms a seal that prevents water and debris from getting down into the ballast. This seal, in combination with the off-set projection construction, forms a trough to carry water and debris to the end of the crossing. As can be appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 2, for example, the height of the panel 29 is approximately that of the rail 20. With both resting on the tie 27, this insures that there is a plane over which vehicular traffic moves with a minimum of obstruction or bumps. The height (or depth) of the projection 39 at its base is approximately 50% of the height of the panel 29 with the height of the upper and lower portions (as represented by the sidewalls 54 and 40, respectively) of the panel 29. The slope of the upper surface 42 of the projection 39 is of the order of 15� but this may be varied depending upon various design factors including strength of material, etc. Normally, the angle (again with the horizontal) formed by the lower wall 68 is also advantageously of the order of about 15�. Some variation is possible here, again depending upon various design considerations and the accommodation of the projection of the base 21.
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