Method for restoring used railroad ties and the restored railroad ties formed thereby

A restored used railroad tie that can be reused in subsequent rail replacement operations, comprising

• a railroad tie having at least one means defining a railroad spike hole located therein, said restored railroad tie, after formation thereof, being capable of having a railroad spike penetrate and be retained within the confines of the restored railroad spike hole means without substantial bending problems;
• and
• a solid polymeric plug preformed in situ in each said means defining a railroad spike hole, said solid polymeric plug formed of a polymeric material consisting essentially of a non-cellular, non-foaming polymeric material, said polymeric material infiltrating and tightly bonding with the railroad spike hole means to prevent moisture infiltration thereby impeding substantial tie rot due to moisture, and to dam the leaky railroad spike hole means and substantially completely filling said railroad spike hole means so that said railroad spike can be subsequently re-driven through the railroad spike hole means and be firmly anchored within the confines of the used railroad tie;
• said solid non-foaming, non-cellular polymeric plug being capable of penetration by and retention of said railroad spike so that it is firmly anchored within said solid polymeric plug and within the confines of the used railroad tie, said solid polymeric plug having an SWR Ratio of at least about 0.90.

A method for restoring at least one means defining a railroad spike hole located in a used wooden railroad tie, so that the restored railroad tie can be reused in subsequent rail replacement operations, said restored railroad tie being capable of having a railroad spike penetrate and be retained within the confines of the restored railroad spike hole means without substantial bending problems, which comprises:

• providing said used railroad tie having at least one means defining a railroad spike hole located therein;
• introducing an isocyanate material and a polyol material into each said means defining a railroad spike hole;
• and
• preforming in situ in each said means defining a railroad spike hole, a solid polymeric plug formed of a substantially non-foaming, non-cellular polyurethane material, said in situ preformed solid polyurethane polymeric plug infiltrating and tightly bonding with the railroad spike hole means to prevent moisture infiltration thereby impeding substantial tie rot due to moisture, and to dam the leaky railroad spike hole means and substantially completely filling said railroad spike hole means so that said railroad spike can be subsequently re-driven through the railroad spike hole means and be firmly anchored within the confines of the used railroad tie;
• said solid polymeric plug being capable of penetration by and retention of said railroad spike so that it is firmly anchored within said polymeric plug and within the confines of the used railroad tie, said solid polymeric plug having an SWR Ratio of at least about 0.90.

A method for restoring at least one means defining a railroad spike hole located in a used railroad tie, so that the restored railroad tie can be reused in subsequent rail replacement operations, said restored railroad tie, after formation thereof, being capable of having a railroad spike penetrate and be retained within the confines of the restored railroad spike hole means without substantial bending problems, which comprises:

• providing said used railroad tie having at least one means defining a railroad spike hole located therein;
• and
• forming in situ within each said means defining a railroad spike hole, a solid polymeric plug formed of a polymeric material consisting essentially of a non-foaming, non-cellular polyurethane material, said solid polymeric plug infiltrating and tightly bonding with the railroad spike hole means to prevent moisture infiltration thereby impeding substantial tie rot due to moisture, and to dam the leaky railroad spike hole means and substantially completely filling said railroad spike hole means so that said railroad spike can be subsequently re-driven through the railroad spike hole means and be firmly anchored within the confines of the used railroad tie;
• said solid polymeric plug being capable of penetration by and retention of said railroad spike so that it is firmly anchored within said solid polymeric plug and within the confines of the used railroad tie, said solid polymeric plug having an SWR Ratio and an SWL Ratio of at least about 0.90, and a density of greater than about 30 lb/ft.sup.3 up to 120 lb/ft.sup.3.

A method for restoring at least one means defining a railroad spike hole located in a used railroad tie, so that the restored railroad tie can be reused in subsequent rail replacement operations, said restored railroad tie, after formation thereof, being capable of having a railroad spike penetrate and be retained within the confines of the restored railroad spike hole means without substantial bending problems, which comprises essentially of:

• providing said used railroad tie having at least one means defining a railroad spike hole located therein;
• and
• forming in situ within each said means defining a railroad spike hole, a solid polymeric plug formed of a polymeric material consisting essentially of a substantially non-foaming, non-cellular polymeric material, said solid polymeric plug infiltrating and tightly bonding with the railroad spike hole means to prevent moisture infiltration thereby impeding substantial tie rot due to moisture, and to dam the leaky railroad spike hole which substantially completely fills said railroad spike hole means so that said railroad spike can be subsequently re-driven through the railroad spike hole means and be firmly anchored within the confines of the used railroad tie;
• said solid polymeric plug being capable of penetration by and retention of said railroad spike so that it is firmly anchored within said solid polymeric plug and within the confines of the used railroad tie, said solid polymeric plug having an SWR Ratio of at least about 0.90.