US3773255A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid collection assembly for railroad roadbed
Assignee: Contech Engineered Solutions LLC
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Filing: 1972-01-13
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1992-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A metallic, leak proof fluid collection assembly for railroad roadbed wherein apron-like elements are provided in association with each side of the web of each rail and make a fluid tight seal therewith, while being electrically insulated therefrom. Central collector pans in endwise relationship are affixed to those portions of the ties between the rails. Pairs of side collector pans in endwise relationship are affixed to the end portions of the ties outside the rails. Each rail apron is located adjacent one of the side or central collector pans. One or more cross drains, recessed between adjacent pairs of ties and extending transversely of the fluid collection assembly, may be located at the ends of the central and side collector pans. The rail aprons drain to the collector pans and the collector pans, in turn, drain to cross drains. Each cross drain may be provided with a telescoping sleeve protected by a trash screen and connected to a suitable underground piping system. A plurality of the fluid collection assemblies may be provided in end-to-end relationship to form a continuous fluid collection system.
Inventors
- 👤 A Schoulties
- 👤 J Schluter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:30
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/006; E; E01; E01B; E01B1/00; E01B1/008; E01B19/00; E01B19/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A fluid collection assembly for railroad roadbed of the type comprising a plurality of ties supporting a pair of rails, said assembly comprising at least one collector pan affixed to said ties adjacent at least one of said rails and extending longitudinally thereof, a trough-like drain extending transversely of said roadbed and being recessed between an adjacent pair of said ties, means for connecting said transverse drain to a fluid conducting system, said collector pan having an end edge partially overlapping said drain, at least one rail apron extending substantially the length of said collector pan, said rail apron having a longitudinal edge portion adjacent the web of said at least one rail, means for forming a fluid tight seal between said longitudinal edge portion of said rail apron and said adjacent rail web, means for electrically insulating said longitudinal edge portion of said rail apron from said adjacent rail web, said rail apron being configured to drain into said collector pan and said collector pan being configured to drain into said transverse drain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A fluid collection assembly for railroad roadbed of the type comprising a plurality of ties supporting a pair of rails, said assembly comprising at least one collector pan affixed to said ties adjacent at least one of said rails and extending longitudinally thereof, a trough-like drain extending transversely of said roadbed and being recessed between an adjacent pair of said ties, means for connecting said transverse drain to a fluid conducting system, said collector pan having an end edge partially overlapping said drain, at least one rail apron extending substantially the length of said collector pan, said rail apron having a longitudinal edge portion adjacent the web of said at least one rail, means for forming a fluid tight seal between said longitudinal edge portion of said rail apron and said adjacent rail web, means for electrically insulating said longitudinal edge portion of said rail apron from said adjacent rail web, said rail apron being configured to drain into said collector pan and said collector pan being configured to drain into said transverse drain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said fluid conducting system is an undergound piping system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said collector pan comprises a central collector pan affixed to said ties between said rails.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
The structure claimed in claim 3 incLuding one of said rail aprons on either side of said collector pan, each of said rail aprons having a longitudinal edge portion adjacent the web of the adjacent one of said rails, means for forming a fluid tight seal between each of said rail apron edge portions and its respective rail web and means to electrically insulate each of said rail apron edge portions from its respective rail web.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said longitudinal edge portion of each of said rail aprons is affixed to the adjacent rail web by bolts, said means for electrically insulating said longitudinal edge portions of said rail aprons from their respective rail webs comprising resilient gaskets between each of said rail apron edge portions and the adjacent rail web, each of said gaskets extending the length of its respective rail apron edge portion, said gaskets also comprising said means to form said fluid tight seal between each rail apron edge portion and the adjacent rail web.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
The structure claimed in claim 4 including bracket means affixed to said ties on either side of said collector pan and between said collector pan and said rails, said rail aprons being affixed to said bracket means, resilient insulative gasket means being affixed to said longitudinal edge portion of each of said rail aprons, each of said gasket means extending the length of its respective rail apron edge portion and between its respective edge portion and the adjacent rail web to electrically insulate its respective edge portion from the adjacent rail web and to form said fluid tight seal therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said collector pan comprises a side collector pan affixed to end portions of said ties adjacent one of said rails.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal edge portion of said rail apron is affixed to said rail web by bolts, said means for electrically insulating said longitudinal edge portion of said rail apron from said web comprising insulative bushings surrounding said bolts and an insulative resilient gasket between said edge portion and said web along the length of said rail apron, said gasket also comprising said means to form a fluid tight seal between said rail apron edge portion and said adjacent rail web.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure claimed in claim 8 wherein said collector pan comprises a central collector pan affixed to said ties between said rails.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure claimed in clain 8 wherein collector pan comprises a side collector pan affixed to end portions of said ties adjacent one of said rails.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 including bracket means affixed to said ties between said collector pan and said adjacent rail, said rail apron being affixed to said bracket means, resilient insulative gasket means being affixed to said longitudinal edge portion of said rail apron, said gasket means extending the length of said edge portion and between said edge portion and said rail web to electrically insulate said edge portion from said rail web and to form said fluid tight seal therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure claimed in claim 11 wherein said collector pan comprises a central collector pan affixed to said ties between said rails.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure claimed in claim 11 wherein said collector pan comprises a side collector pan affixed to end portions of said ties adjacent one of said rails.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said rail apron and said collector pan comprise a one piece integral structure, resilient insulative gasket means being affixed to said longitudinal edge portion of said rail apron, said gasket means extending the length of said edge portion and between said edge portion and said rail web to electrically insulate said edge portion from said rail web and to form said fluid tight seal therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure claimed in claim 14 wherein said collector pan comprises a central collector pan affixed to said ties between said rails.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure claimed in claim 14 wherein said collector pan comprises a side collector pan affixed to end portions of said ties adjacent one of said rails.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 including additional fluid collection assemblies in end wise relationship.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure claimed in claim 17 including one of said transverse drains between each of said fluid collection assemblies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure claimed in claim 17 including one of said transverse drains between alternate one of said fluid collection assemblies, the assemblies on each side of each transverse drain draining into that drain.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
136 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 including a pair of said collector pans affixed in side-by-side relationship to said ties between said rails, means to form a fluid tight seal between adjacent longitudinal edges of said pans, a rail apron for and draining into each of said pans, each of said rail aprons and its respective pan comprising an integral one piece structure, each of said rail aprons having a longitudinal edge portion adjacent the web of the adjacent one of said rails, a resilient insulative gasket means on said edge portion of each of said rail aprons, each of said gaskets being located between its respective rail aprons edge portion and the adjacent rail web to form a fluid tight seal therebetween and to electrically insulate its respective edge portion from said adjacent rail web.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure claimed in claim 1 including walkway means supported by said fluid collection assembly and extending at least partway thereacross.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure claimed in claim 21 wherein said walkway means overlies said transverse drain.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
157 words
A fluid collection assembly for railroad roadbed of the type comprising a plurality of ties supporting a pair of rails, said assembly comprising at least one collector pan affixed to said ties adjacent at least one of said rails and extending longitudinally thereof, a trough-like drain extending transversely of said roadbed and being recessed between an adjacent pair of said ties, means for connecting said transverse drain to a fluid conducting system, said collector pan having an end edge partially overlapping said drain, at least one rail apron extending substantially the length of said collector pan, said rail apron having a longitudinal edge portion adjacent the web of said at least one rail, means for forming a fluid tight seal between said longitudinal edge portion of said rail apron and said adjacent rail web, said rail apron being configured to drain into said collector pan and said collector pan being configured to drain into said transverse drain.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
157 words
A fluid collection assembly for railroad roadbed of the type comprising a plurality of ties supporting a pair of rails, said assembly comprising at least one collector pan affixed to said ties adjacent at least one of said rails and extending longitudinally thereof, a trough-like drain extending transversely of said roadbed and being recessed between an adjacent pair of said ties, means for connecting said transverse drain to a fluid conducting system, said collector pan having an end edge partially overlapping said drain, at least one rail apron extending substantially the length of said collector pan, said rail apron having a longitudinal edge portion adjacent the web of said at least one rail, means for forming a fluid tight seal between said longitudinal edge portion of said rail apron and said adjacent rail web, said rail apron being configured to drain into said collector pan and said collector pan being configured to drain into said transverse drain.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |