A welding apparatus for welding rails of a track comprises two welding units which are movable relative to one another and which are each equipped with clamping jaws at a lower end. The clamping jaws are configured for resting on a web of the rail. Each welding unit is connected to a supporting device which can move relative to the welding unit and which is provided for resting on the track during operation.

The invention relates to base part of a mold for aluminothermic welding of metal rails, which base part generally has a rectangular parallelepiped and has an upper face for receiving the foot of said rails, this upper face having a hollow cavity comprising a base, two opposing longitudinal side walls, and two opposing transverse side walls. The invention is characterized in that each of said longitudinal side walls has an intermediate region surrounded by two end regions, and these end regions are located in the same plane, whereas the intermediate region has a curved profile, the well of which is directed towards the opposite side wall.

The invention relates to base part of a mold for aluminothermic welding of metal rails, which base part generally has a rectangular parallelepiped and has an upper face for receiving the foot of said rails, this upper face having a hollow cavity comprising a base, two opposing longitudinal side walls, and two opposing transverse side walls. The invention is characterized in that each of said longitudinal side walls has an intermediate region surrounded by two end regions, and these end regions are located in the same plane, whereas the intermediate region has a curved profile, the well of which is directed towards the opposite side wall.

A tool for aligning a first rail segment with a second rail segment includes an elongated rigid member, a first arrangement, and a second arrangement. The member is configured to be positioned in an overlapping state with the first rail segment and the second rail segment. The first arrangement engages a first end portion of the first rail segment and is actuated to urge the first end portion towards the elongated rigid member. The second arrangement engages a second end portion of the second rail segment and is actuated to urge the second end portion towards the elongated rigid member. When each of the first end portion and the second end portion is urged towards the elongated rigid member, the first rail segment and the second rail segment adjoin and fall in alignment with each other to be connected together and form a contiguous rail portion of a rail line.

A tool for aligning a first rail segment with a second rail segment includes an elongated rigid member, a first arrangement, and a second arrangement. The member is configured to be positioned in an overlapping state with the first rail segment and the second rail segment. The first arrangement engages a first end portion of the first rail segment and is actuated to urge the first end portion towards the elongated rigid member. The second arrangement engages a second end portion of the second rail segment and is actuated to urge the second end portion towards the elongated rigid member. When each of the first end portion and the second end portion is urged towards the elongated rigid member, the first rail segment and the second rail segment adjoin and fall in alignment with each other to be connected together and form a contiguous rail portion of a rail line.

A rail alignment tool for aligning a rail segment of a railroad track positioned on a plurality of railroad ties is provided. The rail alignment tool includes a first side member and a second side member. The first side member includes first and second adjustment arms, and a first connecting member between the adjustment arms. The adjustment arms are positioned on opposite sides of a railroad tie. The second side member receives the adjustment arms and includes a second connecting member. At least one of the side members includes a first adjustment member that extends from the first and/or second connecting members in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rail segment. The adjustment arms engage a bottom surface of the rail segment and move the rail segment away from the railroad tie when the first adjustment member is extended.

A rail alignment tool for aligning a rail segment of a railroad track positioned on a plurality of railroad ties is provided. The rail alignment tool includes a first side member and a second side member. The first side member includes first and second adjustment arms, and a first connecting member between the adjustment arms. The adjustment arms are positioned on opposite sides of a railroad tie. The second side member receives the adjustment arms and includes a second connecting member. At least one of the side members includes a first adjustment member that extends from the first and/or second connecting members in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rail segment. The adjustment arms engage a bottom surface of the rail segment and move the rail segment away from the railroad tie when the first adjustment member is extended.

A fish plate clamp for unloading rails 1. The fish plate clamp includes a support element (11, 12) with a first piece (11) and a second piece (12) each one located on a face of the rail (1). Each piece of the support element (11, 12) includes an internal mortise (13) in the area of the web (3) of the rail (1). The fish plate clamp also includes a gripping element (14) located in an internal mortise (13) of the support element (11, 12). The internal mortises (13) have an inclined surface (15) in a manner that, when the gripping element (14) moves along the length of the inclined surface (15) of the internal mortise (13) in the direction of the pull of the rail (1), the gripping element (14) latches onto the web (3) of the rail (1).

A fish plate clamp for unloading rails 1. The fish plate clamp includes a support element (11, 12) with a first piece (11) and a second piece (12) each one located on a face of the rail (1). Each piece of the support element (11, 12) includes an internal mortise (13) in the area of the web (3) of the rail (1). The fish plate clamp also includes a gripping element (14) located in an internal mortise (13) of the support element (11, 12). The internal mortises (13) have an inclined surface (15) in a manner that, when the gripping element (14) moves along the length of the inclined surface (15) of the internal mortise (13) in the direction of the pull of the rail (1), the gripping element (14) latches onto the web (3) of the rail (1).

A welding head for welding the extremities of two sections of rail and comprises two half-heads (10) aligned and sliding with regard to one another in a longitudinal direction. Each half-head comprises grip mechanism (12, 13) for grasping a respective section of rail and two electrodes (16) suitable for contact with respective sections of rail in order to carry out a flash butt weld. The head also comprises traction actuator mechanisms (20) which extend in a longitudinal direction and are connected to the two half-heads (10) to shift the two half-heads in a longitudinal direction one towards the other, the traction actuator mechanism (20) having a stroke suitable for allowing, during a cycle of welding two sections of rail, simultaneous regulation of rail tensions.