Modular liquid collection system for railroad roadbeds

Claim 2

A liquid collection system for the roadbed of a railroad which includes a pair of parallel rails supported by longitudinally spaced ties, the system comprising a. a series of collection modules arranged end-to-end along the roadbed and each of which includes at least one rectangular precast basin which rests on a group of ties and extends alongside at least one of the rails, b. said basin having an upper, liquid-receiving surface defined by four planar faces which slope downward and direct liquid flow toward a centrally located drain opening, c. said basin also having internal locking means arranged to engage oppositely directed tie side faces to limit movement of the basin in the direction of the rails, d. each module also including a precast drain trough located between an adjacent pair of ties beneath said drain opening and extending transversely of the roadbed to a region beyond one end of the ties, and e. the drain trough having a discharge opening at said region.

Claim 3

A system as defined in claim 1 in which each end module of said series includes a removable, precast curb which extends across the exposed end of the associated basin.

Claim 4

A system as defined in claim 2 in which a. the basins of the series of modules are located adjacent the outboard side of a rail; and b. each basin has an integral curb extending longitudinally along its exposed side.

Claim 5

A system as defined in claim 2 in which a. each module includes at least two of said basins, b. one basin being located adjacent the outboard side of a rail and having an integral curb extending longitudinally along its exposed side, and the other basin being located between the rails and having opposite sides positioned closely adjacent the inboard sides of the rails; c. the centrally located drain openings of the basins of each module overlie the drain trough of the module; and d. each basin of the end modules of the series has one of said removable curbs at its exposed end.

Claim 6

A system as defined in claim 2 in which a. each module has three of said basins, b. one basin being located between the rails and having opposite sides positioned closely adjacent the inboard sides of the rails, the second basin being located adjacent the outboard side of one of the rails, and the third basin being located adjacent the outboard side of the other rail, c. the second and third basins having integral curbs extending along their exposed sides; d. the drain openings of the three basins and each module overlie the drain trough of the module; and e. each basin of the end modules of the series has one of said removable curbs at its exposed end.

Claim 7

A system as defined in claim 1 in which said four planar faces are of triangular shape in plan view and converge toward said centrally located drain opening.

Claim 8

A system as defined in claim 1 in which each module includes an elongated, resilient sealing member which is compressed between a corner of the basin and the headweb fillet of the adjacent rail.

Claim 9

A system as defined in claim 1 in which said four planar faces have a rough, anti-skid finish.

Claim 10

A system as defined in claim 1 in which a. the end faces of each basin are beveled, whereby the abutting ends of the basins of adjacent modules define a vertical, wedge-shaped gap; and b. which includes sealing means received in said gap.

Claim 11

A liquid collection module for use on a railroad roadbed which includes a pair of parallel rails supported by longitudinally spaced ties, the module comprising a rectangular, precast basin having a length which permits it to span a plurality of ties and a width which enables it to fit along-side the outboard side of a rail without overhanging the adjacent ends of the ties, the basin including a. a bottom having a flat, planar bearing surface arranged to rest on the upper faces of the ties, depending, integral locking means arranged to engage oppositely directed tie side faces to limit movement of the basin in the direction of the rails, and a longitudinally extending recess at its inboard side which is sized and shaped to provide clearance for the rail base and its attachments to the ties; b. a centrally located drain opening extending vertically through the basin; and c. a top having a liquid-receiving surface defined by four planar faces which slope downward and direct liquid flow toward said drain opening, and an integral curb which extends longitudinally along the outboard side of the basin and projects above the liquid-receiving surface.

Claim 12

A liquid collection module for use on a railroad roadbed which includes a pair of parallel rails supported by longitudinally spaced ties, the module comprising a rectangular, precast basin having a length which permits it to span a plurality of ties and a width which enables it to fit along-side the outboard side of a rail without overhanging the adjacent ends of the ties, the basin including a. a bottom having a flat, planar bearing surface arranged to rest on the upper faces of the ties, depending, integral locking means arranged to engage oppositely directed tie side faces to limit movement of the basin in the direction of the rails, and a longitudinally extending recess at its inboard side which is sized and shaped to provide clearance for the rail base and its attachments to the ties; b. a centrally located drain opening extending vertically through the basin; and c. a top having a liquid-receiving surface defined by four planar faces which slope downward and direct liquid flow toward said drain opening, and an integral curb which extends longitudinally along the outboard side of the basin and projects above the liquid-receiving surface.

Claim 13

A module as defined in claim 10 in which the locking means comprises two projections which are located near opposite ends of the basin and extend in the direction of the basin width, each projection having two faces arranged to abut the opposing side faces of a pair of adjacent ties.

Claim 14

A module as defined in claim 10 in which said four planar faces are of triangular shape in plan view and converge toward said drain opening.

Claim 15

A module as defined in claim 10 which includes a removable, precast curb which extends across the basin at one of its ends and projects above the liquid-receiving surface.

Claim 16

A module as defined in claim 13 in which the removable curb is of L-shape in cross section and has a horizontal leg which rests at its side on the basin and a vertical leg which lies along the end face of the basin and is arranged to bear at its end on the top of an underlying tie.

Claim 17

A module as defined in claim 10 in which said four planar faces having a rough, anti-skid finish.

Claim 18

A module as defined in claim 10 in which the end faces of the basin are beveled so that when two basins are abutted end-to-end they define a vertical, wedge-shaped gap.

Claim 19

A liquid collection module for use on a railroad roadbed which inludes a pair of parallel rails supported by longitudinally spaced ties, the module comprising a rectangular, precast basin having a length sufficient to span a plurality of ties and a width which enables it to be placed between the rails with its sides closely adjacent the rail webs, the basin including a. a bottom having a flat, planar bearing surface arranged to rest on the upper faces of the ties, depending, integral locking means arranged to engage oppositely directed tie side faces to limit movement of the basin in the direction of the rails, and a longitudinally extending recess at each side which is sized and shaped to provide clearance for the adjacent rail base and its attachments to the ties; b. a centrally located drain opening extending vertically through the basin; and c. a top having a liquid-receiving surface defined by four planar faces which slope downward and direct liquid flow toward the drain opening.

Claim 20

A liquid collection module for use on a railroad roadbed which inludes a pair of parallel rails supported by longitudinally spaced ties, the module comprising a rectangular, precast basin having a length sufficient to span a plurality of ties and a width which enables it to be placed between the rails with its sides closely adjacent the rail webs, the basin including a. a bottom having a flat, planar bearing surface arranged to rest on the upper faces of the ties, depending, integral locking means arranged to engage oppositely directed tie side faces to limit movement of the basin in the direction of the rails, and a longitudinally extending recess at each side which is sized and shaped to provide clearance for the adjacent rail base and its attachments to the ties; b. a centrally located drain opening extending vertically through the basin; and c. a top having a liquid-receiving surface defined by four planar faces which slope downward and direct liquid flow toward the drain opening.

Claim 21

A module as defined in claim 17 in which the locking means comprises two projections which are located near opposite ends of the basin and extend in the direction of its width, each projection having two faces arranged to abut the opposing side faces of a pair of adjacent ties.

Claim 22

A module as defined in claim 17 in which said four planar faces are of triangular shape in plan view and converge toward said drain opening.

Claim 23

A module as defined in claim 17 which includes a removable, precast curb which extends across the basin at one of its ends and projects above the liquid-receiving surface.

Claim 24

A module as defined in claim 20 in which the removable curb is of L-shape in cross section and has a horizontal leg which rests at its side on the basin and a vertical leg which lies along the end face of the basin and is arranged to bear at its end on the top of an underlying tie.

Claim 25

A module as defined in claim 17 in which said four planar faces have a rough, anti-skid finish.

Claim 26

A module as defined in claim 17 in which the end faces of the basin are beveled so that when two basins are abutted end-to-end they define a vertical, wedge-shaped gap.