US 6,651,353 B1Granted

Rail alignment tool

AssigneeThe Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company

InventorsDonald G. Evans, Charles V. Blackwell, Terry E. Turner, Bobby L. Smith

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A rail alignment system for locating a first end piece and a second end piece of a first rail section and a second rail section. The rail alignment system comprises (a) a first rail alignment tool for engaging and applying force to said first rail section; and (b) a second rail alignment tool for engaging and applying force to said second rail section. The first rail alignment tool includes: (1) a planar plate for extending transversely beneath said first rail section; (2) a pair of block members, each secured to said planar plate and each defining a threaded cavity which is substantially orthogonal to said first rail section and which are aligned with one another; (3) a pair of externally threaded bolts, each adapted for engaging one of said threaded cavities of said pair of block members; and (4) a pair of contoured rail engagement end pieces, each secured to an inner terminating portion of said pair of externally threaded bolts for engaging said first rail section. The second rail alignment tool includes: (1) a planar plate for extending transversely beneath said second rail section; (2) a pair of block members, each secured to said planar plate and each defining a threaded cavity which is substantially orthogonal to said second rail section and which are aligned with one another; (3) a pair of externally threaded bolts, each adapted for engaging one of said cavities of said pair of block members; and (4) a pair of contoured rail engagement end pieces, each secured to an inner terminating portion of said pair of externally threaded bolts for engaging said second rail section. Said first end piece of said first rail section and said second rail section may be aligned by selectively applying torque to said two pair of externally threaded bolts.

A rail alignment system for selectively aligning an end section of a first rail with an end section of a second rail, the rail alignment system comprising:

a first rail alignment tool for adjusting the vertical and lateral position of the end section of the first rail, the first rail alignment tool comprising:
a first base member adapted to be coupled to a first cross tie disposed beneath the first rail;
a means for coupling the first base member to the first cross tie;
a first carriage assembly slidingly coupled to the first base member, such that the first carriage assembly slides in a direction generally transverse to the first rail;
a means for coupling the first carriage assembly to the first rail;
a means for adjusting the vertical position of the first carriage assembly relative to the first cross tie;
and
a means for adjusting the lateral position of the first carriage assembly relative to the first cross tie;
and
a second rail alignment tool for adjusting the vertical and lateral position of the end section of the second rail, the second rail alignment tool comprising:
a second base member adapted to be coupled to a second cross tie disposed beneath the second rail;
a means for coupling the second base member to the second cross tie;
a second carriage assembly slidingly coupled to the second base member, such that the second carriage assembly slides in a direction generally transverse to the second rail;
a means for coupling the second carriage assembly to the second rail;
a means for adjusting the vertical position of the second carriage assembly relative to the cross tie;
and
a means for adjusting the lateral position of the second carriage assembly relative to the cross tie;
wherein the end section of the first rail is selectively aligned by adjustment of the means for adjusting the vertical position of the first carriage assembly and the means for adjusting the lateral position of the first carriage assembly, and the end section of the second rail is selectively aligned by adjustment of the means for adjusting the vertical position of the second carriage assembly and the means for adjusting the lateral position of the second carriage assembly.

15 more elements

Facts

Application

09/947,844Filed 6 Sep 2001 · continuation in part

Priority

9 Aug 1999

Granted

25 Nov 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B25B 5/10
Arrangements for positively actuating jaws: using screws
E01B 29/20
Transporting, laying, removing, or replacing rails; Moving rails placed on sleepers in the track: moving rails placed on installed sleepers in the…
E01B 29/46
Undetachably joining or fastening track components in or on the track, e.g. by welding, by gluing; Pre-assembling track components by gluing;…:…
Y10T 29/53913
Means comprising hand manipulatable tool: aligner or center

Abstract

Claims20