Apparatus and method for railway crossing structure

An elastomeric gauge insert for fitting between a rail and a gauge panel of a railway crossing, the rail having an upper head, a lower base, and a web connecting the head and base;

• said gauge insert comprising:
• a main body;
• a lower leg extending downwardly from said main body and engaging the base of the rail;
• said main body having a tapered body portion extending toward said rail and having a pair of sides joining each other at a juncture forming a sealing surface engaging the undersurface of said upper head in sealing relation, said body portion having an enclosed elasticity cavity between said sides to facilitate folding of said sides alongside said rail head when said gauge insert is pushed downwardly between the rail and the gauge panel for sealing therebetween, said juncture of said sides snapping beneath said rail head when said gauge insert is pushed downwardly into installed position.

A method of installing an elastomeric gauge insert between a gauge panel and a rail, the rail having an upper head, a lower base, and a connecting web between the head and base;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• forming the elastomeric gauge insert of a main body having an extending body portion formed by two sides of the main body separated by an enclosed elasticity cavity to define an upper side and an outer side intersecting each other at an outer juncture;
• first inserting the gauge insert into a space between the rail and gauge panel with said body portion positioned over the head of the rail;
• pushing said gauge insert downwardly with said outer side of said extending body portion engaging the adjacent side of the head of the rail for bending said sides of said extending body portion about hinge lines in said sides of said body portion adjacent said cavity;
• and
• additionally pushing said gauge insert downwardly to an installed position with said outer side clearing the adjacent side of said rail and said extending body portion snapping beneath said head with said juncture thereon engaging the undersurface of said head in a sealing relation, both of said sides of said extending body portion urging said juncture into a tight sealing relation with the undersurface of said head in said installed position.

A method of installing an elastomeric gauge insert between a gauge panel and a rail, the rail having an upper head, a lower base, and a connecting web between the head and base;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• forming the elastomeric gauge insert of a main body having an extending body portion formed by two sides of the main body separated by an enclosed elasticity cavity to define an upper side and an outer side intersecting each other at an outer juncture;
• first inserting the gauge insert into a space between the rail and gauge panel;
• then pushing said gauge insert downwardly with said outer side of said extending body portion engaging the adjacent side of the head of the rail for bending said sides of said extending body portion about hinge lines in said sides of said body portion adjacent said cavity;
• and
• further pushing said gauge insert downwardly to an installed position with said outer side clearing the adjacent side of said rail and said extending body portion snapping beneath said head with said juncture thereon engaging the undersurface of said head in a sealing relation, both of said sides of said extending body portion urging said juncture into sealing relation with the undersurface of said head in said installed position.

A method of installing in a fixed railway crossing structure a resilient gauge insert between a gauge panel and a rail having an upper head, said gauge insert having a main body with an extending body portion and a cantilevered leg;

• said method comprising:
• inserting said resilient gauge insert into a space between said rail and gauge panel of said railway crossing structure with said extending body portion positioned adjacent said head of the rail and said cantilevered leg extending downwardly between said rail and said gauge panel;
• and
• pushing said gauge insert downwardly in a single continuous step to a final installed position with said body portion snapping beneath said head and engaging the undersurface of said head in a sealing relation.

A railway crossing structure comprising an elongate gauge insert installed between a gauge panel and a rail having a head, a web, and a base, said gauge insert formed of a resilient material and having a profile comprising:

• a main body having a panel side abuttable against said gauge panel;
• said main body having an upper surface offset downwardly when said main body is installed from the top of said rail a distance sufficient to accommodate the flange of a wheel on said rail;
• and
• a cantilevered leg projecting downwardly from said main body toward said rail and having a lower surface engaging said rail in a seated position in an installed position of said gauge insert to block further downward movement of said gauge insert;
• said main body having an extending body portion projecting outwardly toward said rail and upwardly in sealing engagement within the undersurface of said head, said extending body portion having a pair of sides intersecting each other at a juncture having a surface area for engaging said undersurface of said head in a sealing relation and urged into sealing relation against said undersurface by both of said sides.