Lap joint
A rail joint bar for use in an insulated lap joint assembly includes a longitudinal extending body defining a plurality of holes therein for receiving fasteners. The body has a first end and a second end positioned at opposite ends of the body relative to a longitudinal direction of the body. The body is bent forming a first portion adjacent to the first end, a second portion adjacent to the second end and spaced from the first portion in the longitudinal direction, and an intermediate portion defined therebetween and positioned between the first and second ends. The first portion and the second portion are substantially parallel to each other and, and the intermediate portion of the body is configured to accommodate an increase in thickness of a web section at a point where two railroad rails are joined.
1. A rail joint bar for use in an insulated lap joint assembly, the rail joint bar comprising:
a longitudinal extending body defining a plurality of holes therein for receiving fasteners, the body having a first end and a second end positioned at opposite ends of the body relative to a longitudinal direction of the body, the body includes a first portion adjacent to the first end, a second portion adjacent to the second end and spaced from the first portion in the longitudinal direction, and an intermediate portion defined therebetween and positioned between the first and second ends, wherein the first portion and the second portion are substantially parallel to each other and, wherein the intermediate portion of the body is configured to accommodate an increase in thickness of a web section at a point where two railroad rails are joined, wherein the body is configured to receive insulating material to insulate the body from first and second adjoined rails when secured to the first and second rails.
2. The rail joint bar of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the body is offset relative to the second portion of the body in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
3. The rail joint bar of claim 2 , wherein the intermediate portion of the body defines the offset between first portion of the body and the second portion of the body.
4. A railroad rail used to join two mating railroad rail end sections to each other, the railroad rail comprising:
a body defining a first section and a tapered second section having a first end and a second end, each section defines a head section, a web section depending from the head section, and a base section depending from the web section, wherein a portion of the base section, the web section and the head section of the second section defines a first abutting surface at the first end, an intermediate abutting surface that tapers from the first end to the second end, and a second abutting surface at the second end, wherein the abutting surfaces of the railroad rail are configured to contact corresponding abutting surfaces of a complementary railroad rail when joined together, wherein the railroad rail is formed from a railroad rail having at least one bend defined by a head section, a web section, and a base section of the railroad rail.
5. The railroad rail as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the first abutting surface of the railroad rail is configured to contact a corresponding second abutting surface of a complementary railroad rail and, wherein the second abutting surface of the railroad rail is configured to contact a corresponding first abutting surface of the complementary railroad rail when joined together.
6. The railroad rail as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a portion of a top surface of the head section of the first section tapers downward toward the base section ending at the first end of the second section and, wherein a portion of a top surface of the head section of the second section tapers downward toward the base section ending at the second end of the second section such that when a complementary railroad rail is joined to the railroad rail, a recess portion is defined on respective top surfaces thereof.
7. The railroad rail as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said railroad rail comprises a standard tee railroad rail.
8. The railroad rail as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the web section of each railroad rail comprises a plurality of slots adapted to receive fasteners.
9. The railroad rail as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a thickness of the entire web section of the second section of the railroad rail decreases from the first end to the second end such that when a complementary railroad rail is joined thereto the web section of the joined railroad rails is greater than the thickness of the web section of the first section of the body.
10. A lap joint arrangement comprising:
first and second complementary mating railroad rails, wherein each railroad rail is formed from a railroad rail having at least one bend defined by a head section, a web section, and a base section of the respective railroad rails, and wherein each railroad rail comprises a body defining a first section and a tapered second section having a first end and a second end, wherein a portion of the base section, the web section and the head section of the second section defines a first abutting surface at the first end, an intermediate abutting surface that tapers from the first end to the second end, and a second abutting surface at the second end, wherein the abutting surfaces of the first railroad rail abut against complementary abutting surfaces of the second railroad rail when the railroad rails are joined together.
11. The lap joint arrangement as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first abutting surface of the first railroad rail abuts against the second abutting surface of the second railroad rail, the second abutting surface of the first railroad rail abuts against the first abutting surface of the second railroad rail and the intermediate abutting surface of the first railroad rail abuts against the intermediate abutting surface of the second railroad rail when joined together.
12. The lap joint arrangement as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a portion of a top surface of the head section of the first section of each railroad rail tapers downward toward the base section ending at the first end of the second section and, wherein a portion of a top surface of the head section of the second section tapers downward toward the base section ending at the second end of the second section, wherein recess portions are defined on the top surfaces thereof of the joined railroad rails.
13. The lap joint arrangement as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a thickness of the entire web section of the joined railroad rails is greater than the thickness of the web section of the first section of the body of each individual railroad rail.
14. The lap joint arrangement as claimed in claim 13 , wherein an increase in thickness of the web section of the joined railroad rails occurs where the first abutting surface of a first railroad rail and the second abutting surface of a second railroad rail meet on the second side and, wherein another increase in thickness of the web section occurs where the first abutting surface of the second railroad rail and the second abutting surface of the first railroad rail meet on the first side of the joined railroad rails.
15. A method of manufacturing a lap joint assembly comprising:
providing two spaced apart mating railroad rails, each railroad rail having at least one bend;
machining the two spaced apart mating railroad rails to complement each other, wherein each railroad rail end section comprises a body defining a first section and a tapered second section having a first end and a second end, each section defines a head section, a web section depending from the head section, and a base section depending from the web section, wherein a predetermined portion of the base section, the web section and the head section of the second section is removed, thereby defining a first abutting surface at the first end, an intermediate abutting surface that tapers from the first end to the second end, and a second abutting surface at the second end, wherein the abutting surfaces of a first railroad rail abut against the abutting surfaces of a complementary second railroad rail when the railroad rails are joined together,
wherein a bend in the first railroad rail is bent upward in a first direction away from the second railroad rail, and a bend in the second railroad rail is bent downward in a second direction away from the first railroad rail.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
placing electrically-insulating material between the abutting surfaces of the two machined railroad rails; and
attaching the machined railroad rails to one another.
17. A method for manufacturing a railroad rail end section for use in an insulating lap joint assembly, the method comprising:
providing a railroad rail having a body and defining a head section, a web section depending from the head section, and a base section depending from the web section;
bending the head section, web section, and base section of the railroad rail;
machining the railroad rail thereby forming a first section and a tapered second section having a first end and a second end, wherein a predetermined portion of the base section, the web section and the head section of the second section is removed such that the first end defines a first abutting surface, the second end defines a second abutting surface and an intermediate abutting surface that tapers from the first end to the second end is defined therebetween; and
trimming the machined railroad rail, wherein a portion of a top surface of the head section of the first section tapers downward toward the base section ending at the first end of the second section and, wherein a portion of a top surface of the head section of the second section tapers downward toward the base section ending at the second end of the second section.
18. A railroad rail used to join two mating railroad rail end sections to each other, the railroad rail comprising:
a body defining a first section and a tapered second section having a first end and a second end, each section defines a head section, a web section depending from the head section, and a base section depending from the web section, wherein a portion of the base section, the web section, and the head section of the second section defines a first abutting surface at the first end, an intermediate abutting surface that tapers from the first end to the second end, and a second abutting surface at the second end, wherein the abutting surfaces of the railroad rail are configured to contact corresponding abutting surfaces of a complementary railroad rail when joined together, wherein a thickness of the entire web section of the second section of the railroad rail decreases from the first end to the second end.
19. A railroad rail used to join two mating railroad rail end sections to each other, the railroad rail comprising:
a body defining a first section and a tapered second section having a first end and a second end, each section defines a head section, a web section depending from the head section, and a base section depending from the web section, wherein a portion of the base section, the web section, and the head section of the second section defines a first abutting surface at the first end, an intermediate abutting surface that tapers from the first end to the second end, and a second abutting surface at the second end, wherein the abutting surfaces of the railroad rail are configured to contact corresponding abutting surfaces of a complementary railroad rail when joined together, and
wherein a portion of a top surface of the head section of the second section tapers downward toward the base section ending at the second end of the second section to define a recess.
20. A lap joint assembly comprising:
a first railroad rail;
a second railroad rail configured to be joined to the first railroad rail, wherein each railroad rail having a first side and a second side comprises a body defining a first section and a tapered second section having a first end and a second end, the first section and the second section each defines a head section, a web section depending from the head section and a base section depending from the web section, wherein a portion of the base section, the web section, and the head section of the second section defines a first abutting surface at the first end, an intermediate abutting surface that tapers from the first end to the second end, and a second abutting surface at the second end, the first abutting surface of the first railroad rail is configured to abut against the second abutting surface of the second railroad rail and the second abutting surface of the first railroad rail is configured to abut against the first abutting surface of the second railroad rail, and
wherein a portion of a top surface of the head section of the second section of each of the first and second railroad rails tapers downward toward the base section ending at the second end of the second section to define a recess.
21. The lap joint assembly as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising:
an electrically-insulating material comprising a body defining an upper portion, a lower portion spaced from the upper portion, and a web portion connecting the upper portion to the lower portion, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion extend in a first direction away from the web portion to define a generally C-shaped profile, the electrically-insulating material configured to conform to at least one of the first and second abutting surfaces of the first railroad rail.
22. A lap joint assembly comprising:
a first railroad rail;
a second railroad rail configured to be joined to the first railroad rail, wherein each railroad rail having a first side and a second side comprises a body defining a first section and a tapered second section having a first end and a second end, the first section and the second section each defines a head section, a web section depending from the head section, and a base section depending from the web section, wherein a portion of the base section, the web section, and the head section of the second section defines a first abutting surface at the first end, an intermediate abutting surface that tapers from the first end to the second end, and a second abutting surface at the second end, the first abutting surface of the first railroad rail is configured to abut against the second abutting surface of the second railroad rail and the second abutting surface of the first railroad rail is configured to abut against the first abutting surface of the second railroad rail; and
an electrically-insulating material comprising a body defining an upper portion, a lower portion spaced from the upper portion, and a web portion connecting the upper portion to the lower portion, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion extend in a first direction away from the web portion to define a generally C-shaped profile, the electrically-insulating material configured to conform to at least one of the first and second abutting surfaces of the first railroad rail.