System And Method For Subgrade Stabilization Of Railroad Bed
AssigneeR&B Leasing, LLC
InventorsTomasz Szynakiewicz, Justin Anderson, Robert W. Hollinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is a system and method for repairing, improving, and stabilizing subgrade and subsoil/natural ground layers of a rail bed generally consisting of softer soils. One embodiment includes a method of installing subsurface inclusions and ballast fills comprising injected slurry mixtures of stabilizing material such as cement grout mixed with in situ soil. Another embodiment includes a system of installed ground inclusions and ballast fills. Another embodiment includes an integrated system of equipment for emplacing the system of inclusions and ballast fills.
Claims13
A system for repairing a rail bed underlying a railroad having rails and cross ties, the system comprising:
- a rail mounted vehicle;
- a drill mast assembly mounted on the vehicle, the drill mast assembly having a drill mast frame that supports at least one drill mast;
- a drill mounted on said at least one drill mast, said drill having a drill head;
- a hydraulic lift secured to said drill mast assembly to raise and lower said drill mast assembly;
- a power source for powering the drill to selectively penetrate the rail bed;
- a pump;
- a grout source wherein the pump operates to transfer the grout through a transfer line to the drill mast assembly;
- and
- wherein the drill head injects the grout into the rail bed.
A method for stabilizing subgrade and subsoil ground layers of a railroad bed underlying a railroad having rails and cross ties, the method comprising:
- providing a rail mounted vehicle, a drill mast mounted on the vehicle, the drill mast having a drill mast frame that supports the drill mast, the drill mast frame configured to supporting a pair of drills and corresponding drill heads;
- determining a location on the railroad where the subgrade or subsoil have failed causing destabilization of the ballast upon which the rails and cross ties lie;
- rotating the drill mast including the drill mast frame and first and second drill masts from a first stowed position to a second vertical operating position for drilling;
- positioning the drills over the location to a first position;
- drilling first holes by the drills into the subgrade and/or the subsoil;
- and
- withdrawing the drills and injecting a grout mix by the drill heads as the drills are withdrawn to form corresponding first inclusions in the first drilled holes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.