Integrated train rail system with ties and thermal expansion joints

Abstract

A railroad tie that is positioned on a rail bed as part of a rail system comprises a first end section, a second end section, and a middle section The middle section extends between and couples the first end section and the second end section The first end section has a first width The second end section has a second width The middle section has a middle width that is at least five percent different than the first width and the second width The middle width can be at least five percent less than the first width and the second width Additionally, the first width can be substantially equal to the second width Further, the middle section can extend away from the first end section at a first angle of between approximately 75 and 95 degrees

1 . A railroad tie that is positioned on a rail bed as part of a rail system, the railroad tie comprising;
 a first end section having a first width;   a spaced apart second end section having a second width; and   a middle section that extends between and that couples the first end section and the second end section, the middle section having a middle width that is at least five percent different than the first width and the second width,   
     
     
         2 . The railroad tie of  claim 1  wherein the middle Width is at least five percent less than the first width and the second width. 
     
     
         3 . The railroad tie of  claim 1  wherein the middle width is at least twenty-five percent less than the first width and the second width. 
     
     
         4 . The railroad tie of  claim 1  wherein the first width is substantially equal to the second width. 
     
     
         5 . The railroad tie of  claim 1  further comprising a bottom surface having one or more cavities that are at least approximately eighty square millimeters in area. 
     
     
         6 . The railroad tie of  claim 5  further comprising a top surface, wherein the one or more cavities do not extend through the top surface. 
     
     
         7 . The railroad tie of  claim 1  that is substantially Z-shaped 
     
     
         8 . The railroad tie of  claim 1  that is substantially dumbbell shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The railroad tie of  claim 1  wherein the middle section extends away from the first end section at a first angle of between approximately seventy-five and ninety-five degrees, and wherein the middle section extends away from the second end section at a second angle of between approximately seventy-five and ninety-five degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The railroad tie of  claim 1  wherein the first end section and the middle section cooperate to define a first pocket and the second end section and the middle section cooperate to define a second pocket, and wherein the first pocket and the second pocket inhibit relative movement between the railroad tie and the rail bed. 
     
     
         11 . The railroad tie of  claim 1  further comprising a first intermediate section that is positioned between the first end section and the middle section and a second intermediate section that is positioned between the second end section and the middle section, and wherein the first intermediate section has a first intermediate width that is different than the first width and the middle width, and wherein the second intermediate section has a second intermediate width that is different than the second width and the middle width. 
     
     
         12 . A rail system comprising:
 a rail bed:   a plurality of railroad ties that are positioned on the rail bed, the railroad ties having features as described in  claim 1 ; and   a pair of spaced apart rails that are coupled to the plurality of railroad ties.   
     
     
         13 . A railroad tie that is positioned on a rail bed as part of a rail system, the railroad tie comprising:
 a top surface; and   a bottom surface having a plurality of cavities, wherein at least one of the cavities has an area at an opening to the cavity that is at least approximately eighty square millimeters, wherein the plurality of cavities do not extend through the top surface.   
     
     
         14 . The railroad tie of  claim 13  wherein the cavities are substantially evenly spaced along the bottom surface. 
     
     
         15 . The railroad tie of  claim 13  further comprising a first end section, a spaced apart second end section, and a middle section that extends between and that couples the first end section and the second end section, the middle section cooperating with the first end section to form a first pocket and cooperating with the second end section to form a second pocket, wherein the first pocket and the second pocket inhibit relative movement between the railroad tie and the rail bed. 
     
     
         16 . The railroad tie of  claim 15  wherein the middle section extends away from the first end section at a first angle of between approximately seventy-five and ninety-five degrees, and wherein the middle section extends away from the second end section at a second angle of between approximately seventy-five and ninety-five degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The railroad tie of  claim 15  wherein the first end section has a first width, the second end section has a second width and the middle section has a middle width that is at least five percent less than the first width and the second width. 
     
     
         18 . A rail system comprising:
 a rail bed;   a plurality of railroad ties that are positioned on the rail bed, the railroad ties having features as described in claim and   a pair of spaced apart rails that are coupled to the plurality of railroad ties.   
     
     
         19 . A rail joint for joining together a first rail section and a second rail section of a rail system that supports a rail vehicle, the first rail section and the second rail section being positioned substantially along the same line, the rail joint comprising;
 a first joint member;   a second joint member that is selectively coupled to the first joint member such that the second joint member at least partially overlaps the first joint member, wherein each joint member is designed to individually support the weight of the rail vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . The rail joint of  claim 19  wherein the first joint member is fixedly secured to the first rail section and the second joint member is fixedly secured to the second rail section. 
     
     
         21 . The rail joint of  claim 19  wherein the first joint member includes a first aperture and a first slot and the second joint member includes a second aperture and a second slot, and further comprising a pair of connectors that extend through the first joint member and the second joint member to selectively couple the first joint member to the second joint member, wherein one connector extends substantially through the first aperture and the second slot, and the other connector extends substantially through the second aperture and the first slot. 
     
     
         22 . The rail joint of  claim 21  wherein the connectors cooperate to allow relative translational movement between the first joint member and the second joint member. 
     
     
         23 . The rail joint of  claim 21  wherein the apertures are substantially circular in shape and the slots have ends that are substantially semi-circular in shape, and wherein the diameter of the apertures is substantially equal to the diameter of the ends of the slots. 
     
     
         24 . A rail system comprising:
 a first rail that includes a first rail section and a second rail section that is positioned substantially along the same line as the first rail section;   a second rail that is spaced apart from the first rail; and   a rail joint that is positioned substantially between the first rail section and the second rail section and that couples the first rail section to the second rail section, the rail joint having features as described in  claim 19 .   
     
     
         25 . The rail system of  claim 24  wherein the second rail includes a third rail section and a fourth rail section that is positioned substantially along the same line as the third rail section, and further comprising a second rail joint that is positioned substantially between the third rail section and the fourth rail section and that couples the third rail section to the fourth rail section, the second rail joint having features as described in  claim 19 .