Rail bond tool

Abstract

A rail bond tool for installation and removal of a rail bond to and from a web of a track rail having: a socket adapted to removably and matingly fit about a rail bond head and a rail bond terminal of the rail bond, the socket interior having: an upper cylindrical wall portion, a lower cylindrical wall having a larger diameter than the upper cylindrical wall portion, and an intermediate frustoconical wall portion, an opening at a distal end of the socket adjacent the rail bond tool, the upper cylindrical wall portion, the intermediate frustoconical wall portion, and the lower cylindrical wall adapted to removably and matingly receive the rail bond head, a socket exterior wall, and a slot extending from the opening through the lower cylindrical wall and the intermediate frustoconical wall to the socket exterior wall portion, the slot adapted to removably receive the rail bond terminal.

Claims

1. A rail bond tool for installation and removal of a rail bond to and from a web of a track rail, the rail bond having a rail bond head having a rail bond upper cylindrical portion, a rail bond lower cylindrical portion having a larger diameter than the rail bond upper cylindrical portion, a rail bond frustoconical portion therebetween, a rail bond terminal connected thereto, and a rail bond shank connected to the bottom of the rail bond head, comprising: a socket adapted to removably and matingly receive the rail bond head, the socket having an interior having: a rail bond tool interior upper cylindrical wall portion, a rail bond tool interior lower cylindrical wall portion having a larger diameter than the rail bond tool interior upper cylindrical wall portion, a rail bond tool interior frustoconical wall portion therebetween, an opening at a distal end of the socket adjacent the rail bond tool interior lower cylindrical wall portion having the same diameter as the rail bond tool interior lower cylindrical wall portion, the rail bond tool interior upper cylindrical wall portion, the rail bond tool interior frustoconical wall portion, and the rail bond tool interior lower cylindrical wall portion adapted to removably and matingly receive the rail bond head, a socket exterior wall portion, and a slot extending from the opening through the rail bond tool interior lower cylindrical wall portion and the rail bond tool interior frustoconical wall portion to the socket exterior wall portion, the slot adapted to removably receive the rail bond terminal.

2. The rail bond tool according to claim 1, further comprising: a handle connected to the socket.

3. The rail bond tool according to claim 1, further comprising: a straight handle removably connected to the socket.

4. The rail bond tool according to claim 1, further comprising: a bent handle removably connected to the socket.

5. The rail bond tool according to claim 4, wherein: the bent handle comprises a locking angle adjuster for adjusting the angle of the slot of the socket and a lock for locking the angle.

6. The rail bond tool according to claim 1, further comprising: an L shaped handle removably connected to the socket.

7. The rail bond tool according to claim 6, wherein: the L shaped handle comprises a locking angle adjuster for adjusting the angle of the slot of the socket and a lock for locking the angle.

8. The rail bond tool according to claim 1, wherein: the rail bond tool is insulated.

9. The rail bond tool according to claim 1, wherein: the rail bond tool is configured to pry the rail bond from the web of the track rail.

10. A rail bond tool for installation and removal of a rail bond to and from a web of a track rail, the rail bond having a rail bond head having a rail bond frustoconical portion, a rail bond terminal connected thereto, and a rail bond shank connected to the bottom of the rail bond head, comprising: a socket adapted to removably and matingly receive the rail bond head, the socket having an interior having: a rail bond tool interior frustoconical wall portion, an opening at a distal end of the socket having the same diameter as the rail bond tool interior frustoconical wall portion, the rail bond tool interior frustoconical wall portion adapted to removably and matingly receive the rail bond head, a socket exterior wall portion, and a slot extending from the opening through the rail bond tool interior frustoconical wall portion to the socket exterior wall portion, the slot adapted to removably receive the rail bond terminal.

11. The rail bond tool according to claim 10, further comprising: a handle connected to the socket.

12. The rail bond tool according to claim 10, further comprising: a straight handle removably connected to the socket.

13. The rail bond tool according to claim 10, further comprising: a bent handle removably connected to the socket.

14. The rail bond tool according to claim 13, wherein: the bent handle comprises a locking angle adjuster for adjusting the angle of the slot of the socket and a lock for locking the angle.

15. The rail bond tool according to claim 10, further comprising: an L shaped handle removably connected to the socket.

16. The rail bond tool according to claim 10, wherein: the rail bond tool is insulated.

17. The rail bond tool according to claim 10, wherein: the rail bond tool is configured to pry the rail bond from the web of the track rail.

18. The rail bond tool according to claim 10, wherein: the rail bond frustoconical portion has a rail bond upper smaller diameter portion and a rail bond lower larger diameter portion; the rail bond further comprises: a rail bond upper cylindrical portion adjoined to the rail bond upper smaller diameter portion, a rail bond lower cylindrical wall portion, adjoined to the rail bond lower larger diameter wall portion.

19. A rail bond tool for installation and removal of a rail bond to and from a web of a track rail, the rail bond having a rail bond head having a rail bond frustoconical portion, a rail bond terminal connected thereto, and a rail bond shank connected to the bottom of the rail bond head, comprising: a socket adapted to removably and matingly receive the rail bond head, the socket having: a socket interior wall comprising: an intermediate frustoconical interior wall portion having an upper smaller diameter wall portion and a lower larger diameter wall portion, an upper cylindrical interior wall portion adjoined to the upper smaller diameter wall portion, a lower open ended cylindrical interior wall portion, which is adjoined to the lower larger diameter wall portion, having an open end; a socket exterior wall; a rail bond terminal receiving slot, extending from the open end to a portion of the intermediate frustoconical interior wall portion from the socket interior wall portion to the socket exterior wall, which is adapted to removably receive the rail bond terminal.

20. The rail bond tool according to claim 19, further comprising: a bent handle removably connected to the socket.

21. The rail bond tool according to claim 20, wherein: the bent handle comprises a locking angle adjuster for adjusting the angle of the slot of the socket and a lock for locking the angle.

22. The rail bond tool according to claim 19, further comprising: an L shaped handle removably connected to the socket.

23. The rail bond tool according to claim 19, further comprising: a handle connected to the socket.

24. The rail bond tool according to claim 19, further comprising: a straight handle removably connected to the socket.

25. The rail bond tool according to claim 19, wherein: the rail bond tool is insulated.

26. The rail bond tool according to claim 19, wherein: the rail bond tool is configured to pry the rail bond from the web of the track rail.

27. The rail bond tool according to claim 19, wherein: the rail bond frustoconical portion has a rail bond upper smaller diameter portion and a rail bond lower larger diameter portion; the rail bond further comprises: a rail bond upper cylindrical portion adjoined to the rail bond upper smaller diameter portion, a rail bond lower cylindrical wall portion, adjoined to the rail bond lower larger diameter wall portion.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rail bond tool, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 1A is an enlarged cutaway view of the socket of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 is a side cross section view of a portion of the socket of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 is an end cross section view of the socket of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 6 is a side view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 7 is another side view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1, which is perpendicular to the side view of FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the socket of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1;

(11) FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1, showing the socket and a handle of the rail bond tool;

(12) FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1, showing the socket and another handle of the rail bond tool;

(13) FIG. 8D is a perspective view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1, showing the socket and yet another handle of the rail bond tool;

(14) FIG. 9A is a side view of a rail bond;

(15) FIG. 9B is perspective view of the rail bond of FIG. 9A;

(16) FIG. 9C is a perspective view of the rail bond of FIG. 9A mounted to a web of a track rail;

(17) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1, showing a portion of the rail bond of FIGS. 9A and 9B within the socket of the rail bond tool and ready for installation and/or removal of the rail bond to or from a rail;

(18) FIG. 11 is a side cross section view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1, showing a portion of the rail bond of FIGS. 9A and 9B within the socket of the rail bond tool and ready for installation and/or removal of the rail bond to or from a rail;

(19) FIG. 12A is a schematic representation of a track turnout;

(20) FIG. 12B is a schematic representation of a track crossing;

(21) FIG. 12C is a schematic representation of a track turnout showing typical locations of rail bonds;

(22) FIG. 12D is a schematic representation of a frog rail showing typical locations of rail bonds;

(23) FIG. 13A is a schematic representation of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1, during the initial stage of removal of a rail bond from a rail;

(24) FIG. 13B is a schematic representation of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1, during the final stage of removal of the rail bond from the rail;

(25) FIG. 14A is a schematic representation of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1, during the initial stage of removal of a rail bond from a rail at a track turnout, crossover, or frog;

(26) FIG. 14B is a schematic representation of the rail bond tool of FIG. 1, during the final stage of removal of the rail bond from the rail at the track turnout, crossover, or frog;

(27) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another rail bond tool, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

(28) FIG. 16 is a side cross section of the rail bond tool of FIG. 15;

(29) FIG. 17 is a front view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 15;

(30) FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another rail bond tool, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

(31) FIG. 19 is a side cross section of the rail bond tool of FIG. 18;

(32) FIG. 20 is a front view of a socket of the rail bond tool of FIG. 18;

(33) FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another rail bond tool, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

(34) FIG. 22 is a side cross section of the rail bond tool of FIG. 21;

(35) FIG. 23 is a front view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 21;

(36) FIG. 24A is a perspective view of another rail bond tool, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

(37) FIG. 24B is a perspective view of another rail bond tool, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

(38) FIG. 25 is a perspective view of another rail bond tool, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

(39) FIG. 26 is an end cross section view of a socket of the rail bond tool of FIG. 25;

(40) FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a power driven rail bond tool;

(41) FIG. 28 is a side cross section view of yet another rail bond tool, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

(42) FIG. 29 is a side view of another rail bond;

(43) FIG. 30 is a side cross section view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 28, showing a portion of the rail bond of FIG. 29 within a socket of the rail bond tool and ready for installation and/or removal of the rail bond from a rail;

(44) FIG. 31 is a side cross section view of yet another rail bond tool, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

(45) FIG. 32 is a side view of yet another rail bond;

(46) FIG. 33 is a side cross section view of the rail bond tool of FIG. 31, showing a portion of the rail bond of FIG. 32 within a socket of the rail bond tool and ready for installation and/or removal of the rail bond from a rail; and

(47) FIG. 34 is an exploded perspective view of a rail bond tool kit.

DESCRIPTION

(48) The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-34 of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numbers.

(49) FIGS. 1-7 and FIGS. 8A-8D show a rail bond tool 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention, comprising a socket body 12 and a handle 14 removably connected to the socket body 12. The socket body 12 has a socket 16, which is adapted to removably and matingly fit about a portion of a rail bond 20, which is shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

(50) The rail bond 20, shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, has a head 22 connected to a shank 24, a head terminal 26 connected to the head 22 of the rail bond 20, a cable 28 connected to the head terminal 26, and an end terminal 30 connected to the cable 28. The head terminal 26, which is typically cylindrical, is adjoined to the head 22 of the rail bond 20.

(51) FIG. 9C shows the rail bond of FIGS. 9A and 9B mounted to a web 32 of a track rail 34.

(52) FIGS. 10 and 11 shows a portion of the rail bond 20 within the socket 16 of the socket body 12 of the rail bond tool 10 and ready for installation and/or removal of the rail bond 20 to or from the web 32 of the track rail 34.

(53) The rail bond 20 is typically driven into and mounted to the web 32 of the track rail 34 by hammering the head 22 of the rail bond 20, so that the shank 24, which is typically tapered, is driven into a hole 35 in the web 32 of the track rail 34, the rail bond 20 being shown mounted to the web 32 of the track rail 34 in FIG. 9C. The end terminal 30 may be connected to another location in a rail circuit, as shown in FIGS. 12A-12D to complete a circuit between the web 32 of the track rail 34 and the other location.

(54) The socket 16 of the socket body 12 of the rail bond tool 10 is adapted to removably and matingly fit about the head 22 of the rail bond 20 and over the head terminal 26.

(55) The socket body 12 of the rail bond tool 10 has an insulated socket body covering 36, and the handle 14 of the rail bond tool 10 has an insulated handle covering 38, each to minimize electrical shock hazard and improve grip of the tool, while performing work on the rail bond 20, the web 32, or the track rail 34.

(56) The head 22 of the rail bond 20 is substantially bell shaped and comprises an upper cylindrical portion 40, an intermediate frustoconical portion 42, a lower cylindrical portion 44 having a larger diameter than the upper cylindrical portion 40, the upper cylindrical portion 40 opposing the lower cylindrical portion 44, the intermediate frustoconical portion 42 therebetween, and a convex or dome shaped top portion 46 atop the upper cylindrical portion 40. The head terminal 26, which is typically cylindrical, is adjoined to an intermediate portion of the frustoconical portion 42 of the head 22 of the rail bond 20.

(57) The socket 16 of the socket body 12 is adapted to removably and matingly fit about the head 22 of the rail bond 20 at a distal end 48 of the socket body 12. The socket 16 is substantially bell shaped and comprises an interior upper cylindrical wall portion 50, an interior intermediate frustoconical wall portion 52, an interior lower cylindrical wall portion 54 having a larger diameter than the interior upper cylindrical interior wall portion 50, the interior upper cylindrical wall portion 50 opposing the interior lower cylindrical wall portion 54, the interior intermediate frustoconical wall portion 52 therebetween and connected to each, and an interior convex or dome shaped roof portion 56 atop the interior upper cylindrical interior wall portion 50. The socket body 12 has a slot 58 between exterior wall 60 of the socket body 12 and the interior intermediate frustoconical wall portion 52 and the interior lower cylindrical wall portion 54 of the socket 16, which is adapted to removably fit over the head terminal 26 of the head 22 of the rail bond 20.

(58) The socket body 12 and the handle 14 are preferably of steel or other suitable material. The insulated socket body covering 36 and the insulated handle covering 38 are preferably of neoprene rubber or other suitable material, each to minimize electrical shock hazard and improve grip of the tool, while performing work on the rail bond 20, the web 32, or the track rail 34. The insulated socket body covering 36 and the insulated handle covering 38 may be discrete components, or the socket body 12 and/or the handle 14 may be coated with a suitable insulating material.

(59) The rail bond tool 10 may be constructed as a kit for use in the field, which may be used with the socket body alone, as shown in FIG. 8A, without the handle 14 or with any of the different length handles 14, as shown in FIGS. 8B-8D, depending on the space available between the web 32 of the track rail 34 where the rail bond 20 is to be installed or removed and other obstructions that might otherwise impede installation and/or removal of the rail bond 20. The handle 14 of FIG. 9D may optionally be a breaker bar.

(60) FIGS. 12A-12D show rail bonds and circuits typically used in track turnouts and track crossings.

(61) FIGS. 13A and 13B show the rail bond tool 10 during the initial and final stages of removal of the rail bond 20 from the web 32 of the track rail 34.

(62) FIGS. 14A and 14B show the rail bond tool 10 during the initial and final stages of removal of the rail bond 20 from the web 32 of the track rail 34 at the track turnout, crossover, or frog.

(63) The rail bond 20 may be removed from the web 32 of the track rail 34 by matingly fitting the socket 16 of the rail bond tool 10 about the head 22 of the rail bond 20 and prying the rail bond 20 from the hole 35 in the web 32 of the track rail 34, as shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B, thus, prying the shank 24 of the rail bond 20 out of the hole 35 in the web 32 of the track rail 34, using the rail bond tool 10.

(64) Use of the rail bond tool 20 simplifies and speeds up installation and removal of the rail bond 20 from the web 32 of the track rail 34 substantially.

(65) It is obvious that use of a hammer or lump hammer to hammer the rail bond 20 out of the web 32 of the track rail 34, which is the prior art method of removal of the rail bond 20 from the web 32 of the track rail 34 at the track turnout, crossover, or frog is difficult, because of the close proximity of the webs 32 of the track rails 34 to one another.

(66) Use of the rail bond tool 10 to remove the rail bond 20 from the web 32 of the track rail 34, on the other hand, simplifies and speeds up removal of the rail bond 20 from the web 32 of the track rail 34 substantially.

(67) The rail bond tool 10 may be used to install the rail bond 20 and fasten the rail bond 20 to the web 32 of the track rail 34 by matingly fitting the socket 16 of the rail bond tool 10 about the head 22 of the rail bond 20 and impacting the rail bond tool 10 to drive the shank 24 of the rail bond 20 into the hole 35 in the web 32 of the track rail 34, thus, fastening the rail bond 20 to the web 32 of the track rail 34.

(68) FIGS. 15-17 show an alternate embodiment of a rail bond tool 70, which is substantially the same as the rail bond tool 10, except that the rail bond tool 70 has a substantially L shaped handle 72, which facilitates use of the rail bond tool 70 in tight spaces. The substantially L shaped handle 72 has a friction lock 74, which may be unlocked to allow rotation of socket 76 about the rail bond 20 to align slot 78 of the rail bond tool 70 with the head terminal 26 of the head 22 of the rail bond 20. Once the slot 78 of the rail bond tool 70 is aligned with the head terminal 26 of the head 22 of the rail bond 20 and the socket 76 of the rail bond tool 70 is matingly fit about the head 22 of the rail bond 20 and over the head terminal 26, the friction lock 74 may be locked to prevent further rotation of the socket 76 and allow the rail bond 20 to be removed from the web 32 of the track rail 34.

(69) FIGS. 18-20 show an alternate embodiment of a rail bond tool 80, which is substantially the same as the rail bond tool 70, except that the rail bond tool 80 has a socket body 82 having three substantially equally spaced legs 84 about the socket body 82, which form a tripod about the socket body 82 and facilitate ends 86 of the legs 84 to bite into to the web 32 of the track rail 34 and further facilitate prying the rail bond 20 from the web 32 of the track rail 34. The rail bond tool 80 may have another suitable number of legs and/or leg spacing.

(70) FIGS. 21-23 show an alternate embodiment of a rail bond tool 90, which is substantially the same as the rail bond tool 70, except that the rail bond tool 90 has a flared horn shaped socket body 92 having edge 94, which facilitates the edge 94 to bite into to the web 32 of the track rail 34 and further facilitate prying the rail bond 20 from the web 32 of the track rail 34.

(71) FIG. 24A shows an alternate embodiment of a rail bond tool 95, which is substantially the same as the rail bond tool 70, except that the rail bond tool 95 has a socket body 96 and a bent handle 97, having an obtuse angle 98 at elbow 99, which facilitates use of the rail bond tool 95 in tight spaces. Although the obtuse angle 98 is shown in FIG. 24 as one hundred thirty five degrees, the obtuse angle 98 may be any suitable angle between ninety degrees and one hundred eighty degrees.

(72) FIG. 24B shows an alternate embodiment of a rail bond tool 91, which is substantially the same as the rail bond tool 95, except that the rail bond tool 91 has a locking angle adjuster 93 that facilitates adjusting angle 101 between handle 103 and socket body 105 and may be used to lock the angle 101 between the handle 103 and the socket body 105

(73) FIGS. 25 and 26 show an alternate embodiment of a rail bond tool 100, which is substantially the same as the rail bond tool 10, except that the rail bond tool 100 has a plurality of substantially equally spaced LED light bulbs 102 mounted in intermediate frustoconical portion 104 of socket 106 and a built in power supply 108 to supply power to the plurality of LED light bulbs 102. Light from the LED light bulbs 102 is directed toward distal end 110 of the socket 106 and out of the socket 106 to illuminate the rail bond 20 and facilitate guiding the socket 106 of the rail bond tool 100 about the head terminal 26 and the head 22 of the rail bond 20 on the web 32 of the track rail 34 and further facilitate removal and/or installation of the rail bond 20 on the web 32 of the track rail 34, especially in dimly lit or low light conditions, such as in subways, rail tunnels, and night time. Optional substantially centrally disposed LED light bulb 112 at convex or dome shaped top interior roof portion 114 atop upper cylindrical interior wall portion 116 may be used for additional light. Switch 118 is used to switch power on or off to the plurality of LED light bulbs 102 or the optional substantially centrally disposed LED light bulb 112, or combination thereof.

(74) FIG. 27 shows an alternate embodiment of a rail bond tool 120, which is substantially the same as the rail bond tool 10, except that the rail bond tool 120 has a power impact tool 122 removably and matingly fastened to socket body 124 facilitate installation and/or removal of the rail bond 20 to or from the web 32 of the track rail 34.

(75) FIG. 28 shows an alternate embodiment of a rail bond tool 130, which is substantially the same as the rail bond tool 10, except that the rail bond tool 130 has a substantially frustoconical shaped socket 132, which is adapted to removably and matingly fit about a substantially frustoconical shaped head 134 of a rail bond 136, which is shown in FIG. 29. FIG. 30 shows the frustoconical shaped head 134 of the rail bond 136 within the substantially frustoconical shaped socket 132 of the rail bond tool 130 and ready for installation and/or removal of the rail bond 136 from the web 32 of the track rail 34.

(76) FIG. 31 shows an alternate embodiment of a rail bond tool 140, which is substantially the same as the rail bond tool 10, except that the rail bond tool 140 has a substantially cylindrical shaped socket 142, which is adapted to removably and matingly fit about a substantially cylindrical shaped head 144 of a rail bond 146, which is shown in FIG. 32. FIG. 33 shows the head 144 of the cylindrical shaped rail bond 146 within the substantially cylindrical shaped socket 142 of the rail bond tool 140 and ready for installation and/or removal of the rail bond 146 from the web 32 of the track rail 34.

(77) FIG. 34 is an exploded perspective view of a rail bond tool kit 150, which has a combination of rail bond tools of the present invention, constructed in accordance with the present invention, that may be used in a variety of situations. The rail bond tool kit 150 comprises handles 14, each having a different length, for use with socket bodies 12, 152, 154, and 156 having different sockets 16, 132, 142, and 106, respectively, substantially L shaped handle 72, bent handle 97, and angle adjuster handle 91, each removably and matingly mounted in holder 158. The sockets 16, 132, 142, and 106 include: a substantially bell shaped socket comprising an interior upper cylindrical interior wall portion, an interior intermediate frustoconical wall portion, and an interior lower cylindrical wall portion having a larger diameter than the interior upper cylindrical interior wall portion; a substantially frustoconical shaped socket; a substantially cylindrical shaped socket; and a socket having a plurality LED light bulbs within the socket for directing light out of the socket, respectively. Each of the sockets 16, 132, 142, and 106 of the socket bodies 12, 152, 154, and 156, respectively may be used with any of the handles 14, 72, 97, or 91.

(78) Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.