Anti-mud pumping railroad ties, pre-plated railroad ties and related methods

Abstract

Novel anti-mud pumping railroad ties, anti-mud pumping pre-plated railroad ties and related methods are disclosed.

1 . An anti-mud pumping railroad tie combination comprising: 
 a railroad tie comprising a bottom surface;    an anti-abrasion covering disposed over at least the bottom surface of the tie;    the anti-abrasion covering being contiguous and in adherence to the bottom surface.    
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the tie is selected from the group consisting of wood, concrete and plastic.  
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the anti-abrasion covering is selected from the group consisting of synthetic resinous material, graphite compositions and composite materials.  
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the anti-abrasion covering is internally reinforced.  
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 4  wherein the internal reinforcement internally bridges between the covering and the tie.  
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the adherence between the covering and the tie comprises a bonding agent.  
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the covering is contiguous with and in adherence to other non-bottom surfaces of the tie.  
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein the other non-bottom surfaces of the tie comprise vertical side and vertical edge surfaces.  
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein one of the other non-bottom surfaces of the tie comprises a top surface of the tie.  
   
   
       10 . An anti-mud pumping pre-plated tie assembly comprising: 
 a railroad tie comprising a bottom surface;    two rail-receiving railroad tie plates superimposed over the railroad tie and secured in position by fasteners passing through each tie plate into the tie;    an anti-abrasion covering disposed over at least the bottom surface of the tie;    the anti-abrasion covering being contiguous with and in adherence to the bottom surface of the tie.    
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the anti-abrasion covering extends over at least part of side and end surface of the tie.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the anti-abrasion covering extends over side, end and top surfaces of the tie, each tie plate being contiguous with the covering.  
   
   
       13 . A method of making a pre-plated anti-mud pumping railroad tie comprising the acts of: 
 proving a railroad tie comprising a top surface and a bottom surface;    a contiguously covering at least the bottom surface of the tie with a layer of anti-abrasion material;    placing two rail-receiving railroad tie plates superimposed over the tie;    fastening the tie plates to the tie in the superimposed position.    
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the contiguously covering act comprises the act of applying the layer selected from the group consisting of spraying, dipping and bonding pre-existing layers.  
   
   
       15 . A method of making an anti-mud pumping railroad tie comprising the acts of: 
 providing a railroad tie comprising a top surface and a bottom surface;    contiguously covering at least the bottom surface of the tie with a layer of anti-abrasion material.    
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the contiguously covering act comprises the act of applying the layer selected from the group consisting of spraying, dipping and bonding pre-existing layers.