Variable thickness fabric mat for railway track structure and method
AssigneeTrue Temper Corporation
InventorRonald P. Marsh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable thickness fabric mat for use with railroad track right of way beneath the track structure. The mat has a central portion of predetermined thickness, and lateral shoulder portions of a reduced thickness as compared to said cental portion, with the central portion being of a predetermined width of adequate dimension to generally completely underlie the railroad track structure. The mat provides a method for transmission of force from a train on the railroad track structure to be spread over a greater area of the underlying earth bearing surface, and with the mat possessing the capability of passing water, and aiding in draining water from the soil beneath the mat, as well as from the top and sides of the track support.
Claims28
A method of providing for spreading of the load due to wheeled traffic on a railroad track structure, comprising the steps of placing a variable thickness, elongated, integral, liquid pervious fabric mat of selected length on the earthern support surface so as to cover a selected length of the latter along the railroad right of way, placing a layer of ballast including sloping shoulder portions on said mat and placing the track structure including the ties and the rails on the ballast layer, extending lengthwise of the underlying mat in general alignment therewith, with said mat being of sufficient width so as to substantially completely underlie the transverse extent of the track structure including the ties and the rails, with the mat comprising a thicker central portion where it directly underlies said track structure and thinner lateral portions projecting laterally outwardly beyond said transverse extent of said track structure, said central portion of said mat being of predetermined width and of selected and substantially uniform thickness throughout its length, each of said lateral portions being of lesser thickness and width as compared to the respective thickness and width of said central portion, but being of substantially the same length as said central portion, said mat comprising a plurality of stacked, generally equal length individual layers of fabric material connected together into an integral member and being porous so as to readily pass liquid therethrough but being of such porosity as to prevent the passage of soil particles greater than a predetermined size therethrough, to thereby aid in preventing contamination of said ballast layer, the shoulder portions of said ballast layer overlying and resting on said lateral portions of said mat, said mat extending lengthwise in general alignment with the lengthwise extension of said track structure and said lateral portions being disposed generally laterally of the vertical planes defining the side confines of the track structure and beneath said shoulder portions of said ballast layer.
A variable thickness, elongated, integral synthetic fabric mat pervious to liquid and which includes nonwoven needle punched fabric material, adapted for use beneath a railroad track structure lengthwise of the latter for spreading the load on the track structure over an increased area, said mat comprising a plurality of stacked, generally equal length individual layers of fabric material connected together into an integral member, and being of selected length and comprising a central portion of predetermined width and of selected and substantially uniform thickness throughout its length and lateral portions on both sides of said central portion, each of said lateral portions being of lesser thickness and width as compared to the respective thickness and width of said central portion but being of substantially the same length, said central portion being adapted to extend lengthwise of the track structure beneath the latter with said lateral portions being adapted to be disposed generally laterally outwardly of the vertical planes defining the side confines of the track structure.
In combination with a railroad track structure, including spaced ties, a non-woven, needle punched, liquid pervious, elongated integral fabric mat disposed beneath said structure and extending along beneath said structure lengthwise thereof for a predetermined distance, to provide a generally resilient base for the track structure, a layer of ballast disposed on top of said mat and supporting thereon the ties of the railroad track structure, said mat comprising a plurality of stacked, generally equal length individual layers of fabric material connected together into an integral member, and including a central portion of predetermined width and of selected and substantially uniformed thickness throughout its length and lateral shoulder portions on both sides of said central portion of a thinner thickness and lesser width as compared to the respective thickness and width of said central portion, said central portion being disposed beneath said track structure so as to generally completely underlie the transverse dimension of said track structure, with said lateral shoulder portions extending extending lengthwise generally the same length as said central portion and projecting laterally outwardly of the vertical planes defining the side confines of said track structure, and being covered by said ballast layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.