Method, system and devices for railroad track reconditioning and repair
AssigneeDelta Railroad Construction, Inc.
InventorsLarry Laurello, Paul Laurello, Michael Laurello, Rick Ryel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, system and devices for reconditioning, repair and replacement of railroad track components including direct fixation fasteners includes the use of temporary direct fixation fasteners which serve as temporary rail support and fastening and as guides for installation of permanent anchor inserts for installation and anchoring of new permanent direct fixation fasteners. The method of use of the temporary direct fixation fasteners enables operational use of the railroad line at various stages throughout reconditioning, repair and replacement processes.
Claims38
A method of replacing existing direct fixation fasteners attached to rails of a railroad, wherein each existing direct fixation fastener is supported by a substrate and anchored to the substrate by nuts on existing anchor studs and attached to the rails by clips, the method comprising the steps of:
- removing the existing direct fixation fasteners from rails by removing the nuts from the existing anchor studs and removing the clips from the rails;
- installing temporary direct fixation fasteners on the substrate by securing the temporary direct fixation fasteners to the existing anchor studs by use of nuts, and clipping the rails to the temporary direct fixation fasteners by installation of clips which extend from the temporary direct fixation fasteners to the rails supported by the temporary direct fixation fasteners;
- forming holes in the substrate for permanent anchor inserts by inserting a drill through permanent anchor insert openings in the temporary direct fixation fasteners;
- installing permanent anchor inserts in the substrate by inserting the permanent anchor inserts through the permanent anchor insert openings in the temporary direct fixation fasteners;
- removing the temporary direct fixation fasteners from the substrate by removing the nuts from the existing anchor studs, and removing the temporary direct fixation fasteners from the rails;
- eliminating the existing anchor studs from above the surface of the substrate;
- placing permanent direct fixation fasteners on the substrate and over the permanent anchor inserts, and fastening the permanent direct fixation fasteners to the permanent anchor inserts by engaging and tightening permanent bolts with the permanent anchor inserts, and
- attaching the rails to the permanent direct fixation fasteners by installation of clips which extend from the permanent direct fixation fasteners to the rails.
A method of replacement of existing direct fixation fasteners of rails of a railroad track wherein the existing direct fixation fasteners which support the rails of the railroad track are secured by nuts threaded on to existing anchor studs which extend upward from a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
- lifting a rail from the existing direct fixation fasteners;
- removing the existing direct fixation fasteners from the existing anchor studs and the substrate;
- installing temporary direct fixation fasteners on the existing anchor studs and on the substrate by positioning the temporary direct fixation fasteners so that the existing anchor studs extend through existing anchor stud openings in the temporary direct fixation fasteners, and securing the temporary direct fixation fasteners by use of nuts to the existing anchor studs;
- forming permanent anchor insert holes in the substrate by passing a drill through permanent anchor insert openings in the temporary direct fixation fasteners, and
- installing permanent anchor inserts in the permanent anchor insert holes in the substrate by passing the permanent anchor inserts through the permanent anchor insert openings in the temporary direct fixation fasteners.
A system for reconditioning or repair of a railroad track having rails attached to existing direct fixation fasteners supported by a substrate and for repair or replacement of the existing direct fixation fasteners, the system comprising temporary direct fixation fasteners configured to be temporarily installed upon existing anchor studs and in place of the existing direct fixation fasteners, the temporary direct fixation fasteners having openings for the existing anchor studs, a rail bearing surface, openings for permanent anchor inserts, and clip shoulders for attachment of clips between the temporary direct fixation fasteners and a rail supported by the temporary direct fixation fasteners, and permanent anchor inserts installed through the permanent anchor insert openings in the temporary direct fixation fastener, whereby the railroad track can be placed in a fully operational state with the temporary direct fixation fasteners installed in place of the existing direct fixation fasteners after formation of holes in the substrate for the permanent anchor inserts, and a temporary positioning collar which fits with the temporary direct fixation fastener and the permanent anchor insert to position and hold the permanent anchor insert relative to the temporary direct fixation fastener and a hole in the substrate formed through permanent anchor insert openings in the temporary direct fixation fastener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.