The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company

Bobby L Smith

Terry E Turner

Charles V Blackwell

Donald G Evans

A rail alignment system for locating a first end piece and a second end piece of a first rail section and a second rail section. The rail alignment system comprises (a) a first rail alignment tool for engaging and applying force to said first rail section; and (b) a second rail alignment tool for engaging and applying force to said second rail section. The first rail alignment tool includes: (1) a planar plate for extending transversely beneath said first rail section; (2) a pair of block members, each secured to said planar plate and each defining a threaded cavity which is substantially orthogonal to said first rail section and which are aligned with one another; (3) a pair of externally threaded bolts, each adapted for engaging one of said threaded cavities of said pair of block members; and (4) a pair of contoured rail engagement end pieces, each secured to an inner terminating portion of said pair of externally threaded bolts for engaging said first rail section. The second rail alignment tool includes: (1) a planar plate for extending transversely beneath said second rail section; (2) a pair of block members, each secured to said planar plate and each defining a threaded cavity which is substantially orthogonal to said second rail section and which are aligned with one another; (3) a pair of externally threaded bolts, each adapted for engaging one of said cavities of said pair of block members; and (4) a pair of contoured rail engagement end pieces, each secured to an inner terminating portion of said pair of externally threaded bolts for engaging said second rail section. Said first end piece of said first rail section and said second rail section may be aligned by selectively applying torque to said two pair of externally threaded bolts.

Growing community of inventors

Cuba, MO, United States of America

Bobby L Smith