Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Collocating
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-17
2001-05-15
Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Collocating
C033S0010DD, C033S287000, C254S044000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230417
ABSTRACT:
This invention concerns a level crossing adjusting device.
A railway level crossing has to give as smooth a path as possible to road traffic. The space between the rails, known as the gauge area, is often fitted with one or more panels over the sleepers and level with the top of the rails, leaving only narrow gaps on the insides of the rails for the wheel flanges of the trains. Outside the rails, the “cess areas” also have panels which can lead right up to the heads of the rails and create a smooth transition between the ordinary roadway and the gauge area.
The gauge and cess area panels have a tendency to creep longitudinally of the track, particularly when the crossing is skew. Each road vehicle disturbs them very slightly, and cumulatively this “creep” can produce quite a shift in a matter of weeks. If panels separate, the gaps between them are a hazard, particularly for bicycles. A large amount of effort and expense is therefore incurred by the track owners in shifting the panels back to eliminate such gaps.
It is the aim of this invention to provide a device which will make the job quick and easy, with no disruption to rail or road traffic.
According to the present invention, there is provided a level crossing adjusting device comprising a structure for co-operating with at least one rail of the track in a manner such that it is effectively rigid and fast to the track when a force lengthwise of the track is applied to it at a point offset from the rails, and an element carried by said structure at that point for engagement with the end of a level crossing panel and movable to shift such a panel in the opposite lengthwise direction of the track.
Said structure may simply be a bar with two abutments adjacent one end spaced to engage opposite sides of a rail with the bar generally transverse to the track. Preferably the bar will be adapted to engage under a rail, the abutments being spaced by marginally more than the bottom flange width of the rail, and conveniently there will be means for holding the bar up to the rail when the abutments are cooperating with the bottom flange of the rail. The bar will generally be cranked upwardly from the rail engaging end to said point so that the element is at the most appropriate level just below the plane tangential to the heads of the rails to act on the panel. No obstruction is then offered if the device has to be temporarily abandoned for passage of a train.
Alternatively, the structure may comprise two bars hinged end-to-end with said element at the hinge, the structure in use forming a shallow V pointing towards a gauge panel and the free ends of the bars abutting the insides of the rails.
Said element is conveniently a cam, and preferably is rotatable about a vertical axis. It can be rotatably mounted by a pin or bolt projecting beyond it and have an abutment projecting on the same side adjacent its periphery, the pin or bolt and the abutment providing means for levering the cam about the pin.
Another possible element is a screw threadedly engaged with said structure and having its axis generally lengthwise of the track when the device is fitted thereto.
REFERENCES:
patent: 907844 (1908-12-01), Miller
patent: 1379801 (1921-05-01), Cole
patent: 1389393 (1921-08-01), Stolle
patent: 1522788 (1925-01-01), Moltz
patent: 1617539 (1927-02-01), Newman
patent: 1637459 (1927-08-01), Schwerin
patent: 1895030 (1933-01-01), Elmore
patent: 2344368 (1944-03-01), Rich
patent: 2449232 (1948-09-01), Jones
patent: 2546294 (1951-03-01), Blomstrom
patent: 2636716 (1953-04-01), Fudge
patent: 4783001 (1988-11-01), Subrick
patent: 5204467 (1993-04-01), Kennel et al.
patent: 5478050 (1995-12-01), Ott
Hirshfeld Andrew H.
Smith R. Alexander
Young & Thompson
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