Railroad spill containment tray

Abstract

Spill containment tray covers the area between rails on a railroad, or between rails and wall of a platform to drain off contaminants. Longitudinally extending flanges on opposite sides of tray press against webs of rails. Upper surface of tray slopes downwardly toward a drainage opening. Longitudinally extending ribs on underside of tray contact sleepers, or ties, which extend between the rails. Ribs conform to shape of the rails, and elevate the tray relative to sleepers to allow unimpeded flow through drainage opening in tray.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spill containment tray for covering the area between railroad rails or between a railroad rail and the wall of a station platform and for draining off contaminant spills occurring during loading operations, comprising flanges pressed against the webs of the rails and a drainage outlet connected to a drainage pipe adapted for draining off contaminants, the surface portion of the tray located between the flanges sloping towards the drainage opening, and the underside of the tray being equipped with ribs, said tray further comprising a central portion in the surface portion located between the flanges for the on-site production of a drain opening for connection to the drainage outlet, and the ribs, disposed on the underside of the tray, are arranged perpendicular to the sleepers supporting the rails such that the arrangement of the ribs conforms to the shape of the rails. 
     
     
         2 . The spill containment tray according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the central portion consists of a thickened portion of the elliptical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The spill containment tray according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said ribs are longitudinal ribs and are arranged parallel to the rails. 
     
     
         4 . The spill containment tray according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said ribs are curved ribs and are arranged parallel to the curved rails. 
     
     
         5 . The spill containment tray according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a funnel is disposed in the opening formed in the central portion, the funnel being attached to the drainage branch of a drainage pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The spill containment tray according to  claim 1 , characterized in that overlaps are disposed at both ends of each tray, the overlaps being arranged perpendicular to the flanges to connect adjacently disposed containment trays. 
     
     
         7 . The spill containment tray according to  claim 1 , characterized in that welded joints are formed between the spill containment trays, the opening of the central portion, and the funnel. 
     
     
         8 . The spill containment tray according to  claim 1 , wherein said tray is made from a plastic material of improved chemical and UV-resistance. 
     
     
         9 . A spill containment tray covering the area between a pair of spaced rails or between a rail and a station platform, said tray being formed of a chemical and UV resistant plastic,
 said tray being rectangular in shape and including an upper surface and an underside,   flanges extending longitudinally from the opposite sides of said tray at the upper end thereof, said flanges pressing against the rails, or between the rails and a station platform,   spaced ribs extending longitudinally along the underside of said tray and, and adapted to rest upon a sleeper, which extends laterally between the spaced rails or   said upper surface of said tray sloping towards a centrally located drainage opening,   and a drainage outlet connected to said drainage opening for draining off contaminants contacting said tray.   
     
     
         10 . The spill containment tray of  claim 9 , wherein the said drainage opening is formed in a thickened central portion of said tray. 
     
     
         11 . The spill containment tray of  claim 9 , wherein said spaced ribs comprises two pairs of longitudinally extending ribs, one pair located on each side of said drainage opening. 
     
     
         12 . A spill containment tray for covering the area between parallel railroad rails or between a rail and the wall of a station platform and for draining off contaminant spills, said tray comprising:
 sleepers extending laterally between said railroad rails,   flanges at opposite sides of the tray being pressed against webs of the rails, the upper surface of the tray between the flanges sloping downwardly,   a drainage opening extending through the tray at a central location to receive contaminant spills,   ribs located on the underside of the tray,   said ribs extending longitudinally along the tray adapted to contact sleepers extending perpendicularly between the railroad rails to elevate the drainage opening above the sleepers for unimpeded drainage,
 said ribs conforming in shape to the shape of the railroad rails. 
   
     
     
         13 . A spill containment tray according to  claims 12 , wherein said drainage opening is formed, on-site, through the thickened central portion of said tray.