Rail seat and support structure

Claim 2

A rail seat and support structure for mounting, cushioning, insulating and anchoring a rail having a base flange, a head and an intermediate vertical connecting portion to join the base and head comprising: a flexible rail seat of resilient dielectric material and having surfaces assisting in forming a recess therein; said recess open to the exterior of said rail seat on the upper surface thereof and having an interior configuration corresponding to the base flange and the lower part of said vertical portion of the rail so as to receive and engage those portions of the rail in insulating and cushioning relationship; said rail seat having at least one interior chamber adjacent to said rail; an insulated substantially rigid bar in each of said chambers; a base plate having a horizontal portion and two spaced upright longitudinal side walls; the rail seat positioned in said base between said side walls and adapted to receive the rail in substantially parallel relationship with said side walls; a clamping plate positioned on the upper surface of said rail seat on both sides of the rail; and mounting means adapted to be fastened to a rail bed and to said rail seat and support structure so as to maintain said rail seat and support structure in assembled arrangement, connected to said rail bed, and to retain said rail in mounted, cushioned, anchored, and insulated position thereon.

Claim 3

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chamber and said bar are rectangular in configuration with the longest side thereof being substantially parallel to said side walls and said rail.

Claim 4

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the distance between the inner surfaces of said side walls is slightly greater at the upper portions thereof than at the lower portions.

Claim 5

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said side walls has a centrally located projection extending upwardly therefrom and the clamping plate on each side of said rail contains a corresponding recess so that when said rail seat and support structure is assembled, the inner surface and end surfaces of said projections will form a bearing surface for the corresponding adjacent surface of each clamping plate to thereby provide additional lateral and longitudinal support for said rail seat and support structure.

Claim 6

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the inner surfaces of said clamping plates are in engagement with said rail seat thereby assuring that said rail only contacts said rail seat when mounted within said rail seat and support structure.

Claim 7

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes at least a pair of stud assemblies with each bolt assembly mounted in alignment with another on opposite sides of the rail, each said stud assembly including an enlarged rigid insert permanently mounted in said rail bed, a stud extending upwardly therefom and having a threaded upper end, said stud extending through aligned openings in said rail bed, said base plate, said rail seat, and said clamping plate, and a threaded nut mounted on the threaded upper end of said stud so that when said nut is threaded a predetermined distance on said stud with respect to each of said stud assemblies, said rail seat and support structure will be rigidly mounted to said rail bed and said rail will be rigidly mounted in said rail seat and support structure.

Claim 8

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rail bed includes a concrete base portion with an asbestos cement panel in the upper surface thereof.

Claim 9

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the inner portion of said clamping plate extends upward at an angle from the horizontal as it approaches the rail.

Claim 10

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein adjusting means are provided on said rail seat and supporting structure to facilitate the adjustment of said rail in a lateral direction subsequent to its assembly to said rail bed.

Claim 11

The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein fastening means are provided to fasten said clamping plate to said rail seat and base plate so as to lock said rail in rigid position within said rail seat and support structure, said mounting means including at least two stud assemblies with each stud assembly including a rigid insert mounted in fixed position in said rail bed and a stud extending upwardly therefrom, said stud having a threaded upper portion and extending through aligned openings in a base lug and a clamping lug positioned on said base lug, a nut having a threaded inner surface is positioned on the upper threaded end of said stud, one end of said clamping lug and base lug mounted on said rail seat and support structure, the other end portion of said base lug having a beveled surface, the other end portion of said clamping lug having a downwardly curved configuration and an angular undersurface normally positioned in mating relationship with the beveled upper rear surface portion of said base lug so that when said nut is threaded downwardly on said stud said clamping lug will be biased in a downward direction on the end thereof in engagement with the rail seat and support structure and will rigidly hold said rail seat and support structure into engagement with the rail bed and the angular engagement between the undersurface of the rear portion of the clamping lug and the beveled upper surface of the rear portion of the base lug will tend to bias said base lug toward its end in engagement with the rail seat and support structure to assist in maintaining said rail seat and support structure in engagement with said rail bed.

Claim 12

The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein said adjusting means includes a ratchet-like surface on the portion of the baSe lug which engages with the rail seat and support structure and a corresponding ratchet-like surface on the rail seat and support structure so that when said nut is threaded downwardly on said stud said ratchet-like surfaces will interengage and fix the lateral position of said rail seat and support structure with respect to said rail bed and when said nut is threaded upwardly on said stud said clamping lug will loosen from engagement with said base lug permitting said base lug to be withdrawn from said rail seat and supporting structure so that said interengaged ratchet surfaces are disengaged and said rail seat and supporting structure may be laterally moved a predetermined distance at which point said nut may be threaded downwardly on said stud to re-engage said ratchet surfaces and fix said rail seat and support structure in the second lateral position.

Claim 13

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein a number of the rail seat and supporting structures are positioned at predetermined intervals along a length of rail and a flexible channel member is positioned beneath the rail and between each successive two rail seat and support structures to facilitate support of said rail, said channel member containing a recess insulated from said rail to receive a rigid panel to aid said channel in supporting said rail.

Claim 14

A device of the type set forth in claim 1 as used in a track assembly comprising: a rail bed; a rail; said rail seat and support structure for mounting, cushioning, insulating and anchoring a rail connected to said rail; mounting means fastened to said rail bed and to said rail seat and support structure so as to maintain said rail seat and support structure and attached rail in connection to said rail bed; adjusting means on said rail seat and supporting structure and on said mounting means to facilitate the adjustment of said rail in a lateral direction subsequent to its assembly to said rail bed.