Temporary rail bridge
OwnerRichard H. Fox, David M. Steinbacher +3inventors
InventorsRichard H. Fox, David M. Steinbacher, Wesley L. Olin, Vernon O. Meyers, William J. Zimmerle
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Abstract
The temporary rail bridge (20) of the illustrated embodiment includes a bridge number (20) that is coupled to a track rail (16) by screw clamps (24). Each of the screw clamps (24) includes an internal tensioning component such as a spring (58) that allows for fast installation of the rail bridge (20) and maintains continuous pressure engagement in operation. The rail bridge (20) reduces track closure time due to rail damage and associated costs and inconvenience.
Claims10
An apparatus for use in bridging a damaged section of a railroad track rail which has a rail head connected to a rail web, the rail head including an upper surface for bearing against wheels of a railroad vehicle, an inner side surface for bearing against a flange of the railroad vehicle wheels, and an outer side surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a unitary bridge member having opposed first and second ends with a central portion therebetween for extending longitudinally in an overlapping manner across the damaged section of the track rail, an inner portion for overlapping the inner side surface of the track rail, and an outer portion for overlapping the outer side surface of the track rail, the outer portion including a base extending away from the track rail, the inner portion having a curved portion of uniform thickness configured to create an internal spring tension when the curved portion bears against the rail web;
- and
- a clamp member fixed to the base for coupling the bridge member to the track rail so as to maintain the bridge member in a substantially fixed longitudinal position relative to the track rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.