Patent US4265398A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4265398A
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US
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Variable thickness mat for stress transition zones of railroad track crossings, switches, and the like, and method of use
Assignee: WELLMAN QULINE Inc A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1979-11-09
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Granted: 1981-05-05
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Expires: 1999-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A variable thickness fabric mat for use in railroad track structures, and particularly at stress transition zones in the railroad track; the mat is preferably formed of non-woven, multi-layered fabric, with the layers connected together, as for instance by needle punching to form an integral member. The mats are applicable for use with poor load bearing soils, and form a generally stepped, resilient bed for conventional railroad track structure, to help support and progressively spread the stress from the wheeled traffic, over a wider area. The mats provide for effective passing of runoff water, and aid in drainage of water from the soil beneath the mats, to thus improve the track support. The invention also provides a method of forming a railroad track construction so as to spread the stress from wheeled traffic at stress transition zones, over wider areas.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Luebke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:53
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01B; E01B19/00; E01B1/00; E01B1/008; E01B2/00; E01B2/003; E01B2204/00; E01B2204/01; E01B2204/05; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24612; Y10T428/24752; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24917; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/2495; Y10T428/24967; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249986
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of providing for the spreading of stress from wheeled traffic on a railroad track structure including a track crossing, switch or the like, over an increased area, comprising the steps of placing a variable thickness, stepped fabric mat on an earthen support surface along the stress transition zones of the track crossing, switch or the like, placing a layer of ballast on said mat and placing the track structure including the ties and the rails on the ballast, with said mat extending sufficiently lengthwise along the track structure so as to progressively transmit the stress due to wheeled traffic on the tracks to the underlying earth bearing surface via said mat from the minimum stress zone to the maximum stress zone and vice versa.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of providing for the spreading of stress from wheeled traffic on a railroad track structure including a track crossing, switch or the like, over an increased area, comprising the steps of placing a variable thickness, stepped fabric mat on an earthen support surface along the stress transition zones of the track crossing, switch or the like, placing a layer of ballast on said mat and placing the track structure including the ties and the rails on the ballast, with said mat extending sufficiently lengthwise along the track structure so as to progressively transmit the stress due to wheeled traffic on the tracks to the underlying earth bearing surface via said mat from the minimum stress zone to the maximum stress zone and vice versa.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mat is formed of at least three layers of non-woven fiberous fabric material, with the first layer being approximately 100 mils in thickness, the second layer being approximately 110 mil thickness, and the third layer being of approximately 110 mil thickness, with said third layer being the top layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of applying the mat to the ground support surface in a manner so that the maximum stress transition zone is underlaid by the thickest portion of the mat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of preparing the underlying bearing soil surface by leveling it prior to application of the mat to the bearing area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 including applying an abrasion resistant coating to the top surface of the stepped mat, in the interests of resisting puncturing of the mat by the ballast.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 including the step of applying a second mat to the area of the maximum stress zone of the track structure, and in vertically overlapping relation to the first mentioned mat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A variable thickness stepped mat of non-woven fabric material adapted for use at stress transition zones of railroad track, such as at crossings and switches thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A variable thickness stepped mat of non-woven fabric material adapted for use at stress transition zones of railroad track, such as at crossings and switches thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mat adapted for location beneath stress transition zones of railroad track structure, said mat being stepped and comprising, layers of fabric material connected together into an integral member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mat adapted for location beneath stress transition zones of railroad track structure, said mat being stepped and comprising, layers of fabric material connected together into an integral member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
A mat in accordance with claim 8 wherein the mat is formed of at least three layers of non-woven fibrous fabric material, said layers being of different lengths and being disposed in superimposed relation to form said stepped configuration, the first layer being of approximately 100 mil thickness, the second layer being approximately 110 mil thickness, and the third layer being of approximately 110 mil thickness, and with the means connecting the layers together comprising interlocked fibers from the various layers produced by needle punching of the mat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mat in accordance with claim 9 wherein the non-woven fabric is formed of polyester fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mat in accordance with claim 7 wherein the non-woven fabric is formed of polyester fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mat in accordance with claim 7 wherein the fibers of the non-woven fabric are between approximately 5-10 denier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mat in accordance with claim 7 wherein the fibers of the fabric are crimped.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mat in accordance with claim 7 wherein the mat is multi-layered and is needle punched, thereby providing means connecting the layers of the mat together.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mat in accordance with claim 9 wherein the fibers of the non-woven mat are between approximately 5-10 denier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mat in accordance with claim 7 wherein the uppermost surface of the mat includes a layer of abrasion resistant material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A mat in accordance with claim 7 wherein the tensile strength of the fiber of the mat is at least 240 pounds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mat in accordance with claim 7 wherein the fiber has a Mullen burst strength of at least 200 pounds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mat in accordance with claim 7 wherein each layer of the mat has a puncture resistance of approximately 125 pounds.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mat in accordance with claim 7 which has an air permeability of between approximately 70 to 160 cubic feet per minute as defined by ASTM D-737.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mat in accordance with Claim 7 which has a grab elongation of approximately 95% ultimate to approximately 105% ultimate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
76 words
A rectangular shape, in plan, fabric mat, adapted for use at stress transition zones of a railroad track, such as for instance, at crossings, switches, or the like and having a stepped configuration in elevation, in a direction lengthwise of the mat, and with the side surfaces of the mat being generally vertically oriented, said mat varying from a thickness of approximately 100 mils to a thickness at least approximately three times the first mentioned thickness.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
A rectangular shape, in plan, fabric mat, adapted for use at stress transition zones of a railroad track, such as for instance, at crossings, switches, or the like and having a stepped configuration in elevation, in a direction lengthwise of the mat, and with the side surfaces of the mat being generally vertically oriented, said mat varying from a thickness of approximately 100 mils to a thickness at least approximately three times the first mentioned thickness.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
119 words
In combination with a railroad track crossing, a resilient mat disposed beneath said crossing and extending therefrom along the tracks for a predetermined distance to provide a resilient base, for the stress transition zones of the track to thereby progressively absorb the stress forces from a train passing over said crossing, a layer of ballast disposed on top of said mat and supporting thereon the ties of the railroad track, said mat comprising a multi-layer fabric member of stepped configuration, with the thicknest portion thereof being disposed immediately beneath the crossing and with the thinner portions thereof extending outwardly away from said thickest portion and in general alignment with the respective entry and/or exit track portions of the crossing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
119 words
In combination with a railroad track crossing, a resilient mat disposed beneath said crossing and extending therefrom along the tracks for a predetermined distance to provide a resilient base, for the stress transition zones of the track to thereby progressively absorb the stress forces from a train passing over said crossing, a layer of ballast disposed on top of said mat and supporting thereon the ties of the railroad track, said mat comprising a multi-layer fabric member of stepped configuration, with the thicknest portion thereof being disposed immediately beneath the crossing and with the thinner portions thereof extending outwardly away from said thickest portion and in general alignment with the respective entry and/or exit track portions of the crossing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
75 words
The combination in accordance with claim 23 wherein the bottommost of said layers of said mat is of approximately 100 mil thickness and the other of said layers are each of a thickness at least as great as the first mentioned thickness, said mat being of predetermined length and with each of said layers being of a different length as compared to the length of the adjacent layers, said mat being formed of non-woven fabric.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination in accordance with claim 24 wherein the fibers of the non-woven fabric are between approximately 5 to 10 denier.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination in accordance with claim 23 wherein the mat comprises three layers, the bottommost layer being approximately 300 feet in length, the intermediate layer being approximately 200 feet in length, and the uppermost layer being approximately 100 feet in length, one end of all said layers being disposed in substantially the same vertical plane and with the other end edges thereof forming the stepped configuration of the mat.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination in accordance with claim 23 wherein there is disposed beneath said crossing a pair of said mats with, the thickest portions thereof oriented in generally vertically juxtaposed condition so that the thinner portions of each of said mats extend outwardly away from the thickest portion thereof and in general alignment with respective track portion of the crossing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination in accordance with claim 23 including means connecting the layers of fabric together into an integral member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination in accordance with claim 28 wherein the said connecting means comprises interlocked fibers from the various layers of the mat, said interlocking being produced by needle punching of the mat.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination in accordance with claim 29 wherein the fibers of the fabric are crimped to thereby facilitate the interlocking of the fibers together during the needle punching thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination in accordance with claim 23 wherein the upper surface of said mat includes a layer of abrasion resistant material on which said layer of ballast rests.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination in accordance with claim 23 wherein a pair of said mats are disposed beneath said crossing in stacked relationship with one another but being generally aligned with and extending along the respective track portion of the crossing.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
125 words
In combination with a railroad track switch, a resilient mat disposed beneath said switch and extending therefrom along the main track line for a predetermined distance, to provide a resilient base for the stress transition zones of the main track line to thereby progressively absorb the stress forces from a train passing over said switch, a layer of ballast disposed on top of said mat and supporting thereon the ties and rails of the railroad tracks, said mat comprising a multi-layer fabric member of stepped configuration in elevation with the thickest portion thereof being disposed immediately beneath the switch and with the thinner portions thereof extending outwardly away from said thickest portion and in general alignment with the respective main track section of the switch.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
125 words
In combination with a railroad track switch, a resilient mat disposed beneath said switch and extending therefrom along the main track line for a predetermined distance, to provide a resilient base for the stress transition zones of the main track line to thereby progressively absorb the stress forces from a train passing over said switch, a layer of ballast disposed on top of said mat and supporting thereon the ties and rails of the railroad tracks, said mat comprising a multi-layer fabric member of stepped configuration in elevation with the thickest portion thereof being disposed immediately beneath the switch and with the thinner portions thereof extending outwardly away from said thickest portion and in general alignment with the respective main track section of the switch.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
75 words
The combination in accordance with claim 33 including a further multi-layer fabric mat of stepped configuration in elevation coacting with the first mentioned mat, and with the thickest portion of said further mat being disposed in generally vertical juxtaposed relation with the thickest portion of the first mentioned mat, and with the thinner portions of the further mat extending outwardly away from the thickest portion thereof in general alignment with the respective switch track section.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-05-04 | 1984-11-03 | 1985-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-05-04 | 1988-11-03 | 1989-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-05-04 | 1992-11-03 | 1993-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |