Tie plate

Abstract

An electrically-insulated tie plate for electrically isolating parts of a railroad rail system from each other. The electrically-insulated tie plate includes a base plate having a recessed area for receiving a railroad rail and a layer of electrically-insulating material covering portions of the base plate.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tie plate, comprising: 
 a base plate having a first surface and defining a peripheral edge;    a pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members defined on said base plate, said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members define a recessed area on said first surface of said base plate for accommodating a railroad rail therebetween;    a layer of electrically-insulating material covering at least a portion of said base plate; and    a plurality of slots defined on said base plate, wherein said slots are adapted to receive fasteners for securing a railroad rail.    
     
     
         2 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members extend a width of said base plate.  
     
     
         3 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said layer encapsulates said base plate.  
     
     
         4 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said layer covers said first surface of said base plate.  
     
     
         5 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said layer covers said recessed area and said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members on said first surface of said base plate.  
     
     
         6 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said base plate is a metallic core.  
     
     
         7 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members are made of an electrically-insulating material.  
     
     
         8 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said electrically-insulating material comprises a polymeric material.  
     
     
         9 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said electrically-insulating material comprises a polymeric material containing reinforcing fibers.  
     
     
         10 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said slots each define an inner surface, said inner surface covered by an inner layer made of an electrically-insulating material.  
     
     
         11 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said inner layer is molded onto said inner surface of said slots on said base plate.  
     
     
         12 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said inner layer is insertable into said slots on said base plate.  
     
     
         13 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said layer and said inner layer are made of the same electrically-insulating material.  
     
     
         14 . A tie plate assembly for a railroad rail, comprising: 
 an electrically-insulated tie plate adapted to a receive a railroad rail;    a plurality of slots defined on said tie plate;    a fastener passing through one of said slots for securing said tie plate to a rail tie; and    an electrically-insulated clip secured to said tie plate via said fastener, said clip having a surface for coacting with the railroad rail for securing the railroad rail to said tie plate.    
     
     
         15 . The tie plate assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said surface of said clip comprises a first ledge adapted to coact with the railroad rail for securing the railroad rail to said tie plate.  
     
     
         16 . The tie plate assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said surface of said clip further coacts with a rail joint attached to the railroad rail for securing the railroad rail to said tie plate.  
     
     
         17 . The tie plate assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said surface of said clip comprises a second ledge adapted to coact with a rail joint attached to the railroad rail for securing the railroad rail to said tie plate.  
     
     
         18 . The tie plate assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said tie plate is made of an electrically-insulated material.  
     
     
         19 . The tie plate assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said tie plate is made of fiberglass.  
     
     
         20 . The tie plate assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said tie plate comprises a base plate having a first surface and defining a peripheral edge, a pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members defined on said base plate, said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members define a recessed area on said first surface of said base plate for accommodating a railroad rail therebetween, and a layer of electrically-insulating material covering at least a portion of said base plate.  
     
     
         21 . The tie plate assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said clips are made of an electrically-insulating material.  
     
     
         22 . The tie plate assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said clips are made of fiberglass.  
     
     
         23 . An electrically-insulated tie plate, comprising: 
 a metallic core having a first surface and defining a peripheral edge;    a plurality of slots having an inner surface defined in said metallic core;    a pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members defined on said metallic core, said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members define a recessed area on said first surface of said metallic core for accommodating a railroad rail therebetween; and    a layer of electrically-insulating material covering said first surface of said metallic core and said inner surface of said slots.    
     
     
         24 . The tie plate as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members are made of an electrically-insulating material.  
     
     
         25 . An electrically-isolated railroad rail system, comprising: 
 a pair of railroad rails;    a rail joint attaching each of said railroad rails together;    an electrically-insulated tie plate having a plurality of slots for receiving said attached railroad rails;    a fastener passing through one of said slots for securing said tie plate to a rail tie; and    an electrically-insulated clip secured to said tie plate via said fastener, said clip having a surface for coacting with said railroad rail and said rail joint.    
     
     
         26 . A tie plate as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said layer is an extruded member adhered to said first surface of said base plate.