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US 11,680,374 B2Granted
Direct fixation fastener assembly for track rail having molded support block and method of making same
AssigneeProgress Rail Services Corporation
InventorScott David Osler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastening system for track rail includes a molded support block, and a direct fixation fastener positioned upon an upper side of the molded support block. The direct fixation fastener includes a metallic frame and a non-metallic overmolded jacket. Clamping fasteners of the fastening system are structured to engage with retention elements integrally molded in a concrete matrix material of the molded support block to clamp the direct fixation fastener to the upper side within a range of lateral positions.
Claims18
A fastening system for track rail comprising:
- a molded support block including a lower side having a base face extending to a lower perimetric edge, an upper side having an upper perimetric edge, and a plurality of outer sides each extending between the lower side and the upper side;
- at least two of the outer sides each including a respective planar side face extending continuously from the upper perimetric edge to the lower perimetric edge, and being oriented obliquely to the upper side so as to form a taper that opens in a direction of the lower side;
- the molded support block further including retention elements positioned within bores opening at the upper side;
- a direct fixation fastener positioned upon the upper side and including a metallic frame having an upper rail plate, and a non-metallic overmolded jacket encasing the metallic frame;
- a clearance extends in lateral directions from the direct fixation fastener to the upper perimetric edge, such that the direct fixation fastener is positionable at a range of lateral positions upon the upper side of the support block;
- a plurality of clamping fasteners structured to engage with the retention elements to clamp the direct fixation fastener to the upper side within the range of lateral positions;
- and
- reinforcements situated entirely within the molded support block such that the plurality of outer sides are entirely unobstructed from the upper perimetric edge to the lower perimetric edge.
5 more elements
A track rail fastener assembly comprising:
- a molded support block including a lower side having a base face extending to a lower perimetric edge, an upper side having an upper perimetric edge, and a plurality of outer sides;
- the upper side including a planar mounting face extending to the upper perimetric edge, and each of the plurality of outer sides including a planar side face extending continuously from the upper perimetric edge to the lower perimetric edge;
- the lower perimetric edge forms a rectangular footprint, and the molded support block has a trapezoidal fore-aft profile, and a trapezoidal lateral profile;
- the molded support block defining a fore-aft width dimension of the upper side, and a height dimension between the lower side and the upper side that is from about 42% to about 44% of the fore-aft width dimension;
- reinforcements situated entirely within the molded support block such that the plurality of outer sides are entirely unobstructed from the upper perimetric edge to the lower perimetric edge;
- and
- a direct fixation fastener mounted to the molded support block upon the planar mounting face, and including a metallic frame having an upper rail plate, and a non-metallic overmolded jacket encasing the metallic frame and extending between the metallic frame and the planar mounting face.
4 more elements
A method of making a track rail fastener assembly comprising:
- receiving a molded support block removed from a mold and having a lower side including a base face extending to a lower perimetric edge, an upper side including a planar mounting face extending to an upper perimetric edge, a plurality of outer sides oriented so as to form a taper opening in a direction of the lower side, and reinforcements situated entirely within the molded support block such that the plurality of outer sides are entirely unobstructed from the upper perimetric edge to the lower perimetric edge;
- positioning a direct fixation fastener having an overmolded non-metallic jacket encasing a metallic frame upon the planar mounting face;
- engaging clamping fasteners with retention elements molded integrally within a matrix material of the molded support block;
- and
- coupling the direct fixation fastener to the molded support block with the clamping fasteners.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.