Device for maintaining rail alignment and electrical circuit separation in a model railroad layout

Abstract

An apparatus includes a number of structural crossties configured to mimic railroad crossties. The apparatus also includes a number of beams connected to the crossties. A conductive top surface is on portions of the structural crossties or the beams. The conductive top surface is configured for substantially electrically isolating a first conductive rail from a second conductive rail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for a model railroad layout, comprising:
 a plurality of structural crossties configured to mimic model rail track crossties;   a plurality of connective longitudinal beams connected to said structural crossties to hold said structural crossties in positions mimicking model rail track crossties;   a conductive top surface on predetermined portions of one or more of said structural crossties and said connective longitudinal beams;   said conductive top surface being configured to affix conductive rails thereto to provide permanent alignment of the conductive rails when affixed thereon; and   means providing for gaps in said conductive top surface configured to electrically isolate conductive rails affixed on said conductive surface when the conductive rails are coordinated with said gaps.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising one or more electrical gaps cut through said conductive top surface and positioned to align with corresponding gaps cut through conductive rails when affixed thereadjacent, to provide electrical isolation between a plurality of rail segments and stabilize the corresponding gaps cut therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising rails terminated at one end of the device, to provide mechanical steadfastness where track abuts the end of a model railroad layout, modular section, or segment thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the structural crossties are substantially non-conductive. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the connective longitudinal beams are substantially non-conductive. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a hole in the conductive top surface. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said conductive top surface further comprises a metallic surface upon which two or more rails can be permanently affixed. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said structural crossties are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of structural crossties configured to mimic railroad crossties;   a plurality of beams connected to said structural crossties;   a conductive top surface on portions of said structural crossties or said beams, wherein said conductive top surface is configured for substantially electrically isolating a first conductive rail from a second conductive rail.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the conductive top surface is further configured for:
 electrically connecting the first conductive rail to a third conductive rail; 
 electrically connecting the second conductive rail to a fourth conductive rail; and 
 electrically isolating the third conductive rail from the fourth conductive rail. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said plurality of structural crossties and said plurality of beams are configured to align the first conductive rail and the second conductive rail. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said conductive top surface is configured with gaps for substantially electrically isolating the first conductive rail from the second conductive rail. 
     
     
         13 . A method for a model railroad layout, comprising:
 with a plurality of connective longitudinal beams, connecting a plurality of structural crossties, of predetermined dimensions and shape configured to mimic model rail track crossties, to hold the structural crossties in positions mimicking model rail track crossties; and   providing a conductive top surface on predetermined portions of one or more of the connective longitudinal beams and the structural crossties, the conductive top surface being configured for forming gaps therein for electrically isolating conductive rails coordinated with the gaps, and for permanently aligning conductive rails affixed to the conductive top surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising cutting one or more electrical gaps through the conductive top surface to align with corresponding gaps cut through conductive rails when affixed thereadjacent, to provide electrical isolation between a plurality of rail segments and stabilize the corresponding gaps cut therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising terminating rails adjacent one end of the connective longitudinal beams, to provide mechanical steadfastness where track abuts the end of a model railroad layout, modular section, or segment thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of connecting further comprises connecting structural crossties that are substantially non-conductive. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of connecting further comprises connecting with connective longitudinal beams that are substantially non-conductive. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of connecting further comprises forming a hole through one of the structural crossties, through one of the connective longitudinal beams, or through the conductive top surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of providing a conductive top surface further comprises providing a metallic surface upon which two or more rails can be permanently affixed. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of connecting further comprises connecting the structural crossties such that they are substantially parallel.