Prefabricated concrete support mechanism for a railroad track with integral rubber boot and method of manufacture

Abstract

A precast, concrete slab rail system is provided which includes a resilient boot positioned around at least one rail, and which can be reversibly installed or removed from the concrete slab without the use of attachment hardware or destruction of the concrete slab.

1 . A precast apparatus for supporting a transportation rail, comprising: 
 a) a substantially monolithic concrete slab including at least one shaped trough comprising a first lateral recess having an upper shoulder;    b) a resilient boot shaped for insertion into said shaped trough, said resilient boot including a bottom portion and two side support portions, at least one of said side support portions including a substantially lateral projection that operatively engaged with said first lateral recess to impede vertical travel of said resilient boot;    c) a rail positioned within an interior opening in said resilient boot, wherein said resilient boot supports said rail when said resilient boot and said rail are installed within said shaped trough.    
     
     
         2 . The precast apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said shaped trough further comprises a second lateral recess having an upper shoulder.  
     
     
         3 . The precast apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said two side support portions of said resilient boot include a lateral projection.  
     
     
         4 . The precast apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said upper shoulder at least partially confines said lateral projection.  
     
     
         5 . The precast apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said bottom portion and said side support portions of said resilient boot are contiguous.  
     
     
         6 . The precast apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said substantially concrete slab includes a plurality of shaped troughs.  
     
     
         7 . The precast apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said resilient boot comprises a rubber material.  
     
     
         8 . The precast apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a lifting means for lifting said substantially concrete slab.  
     
     
         9 . The precast apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said lifting means comprises at least one of a lifting hook, an eye-bolt, a strap material, and a rope material.  
     
     
         10 . The precast apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially concrete slab further comprises at least one of a wire mesh material, a carbon fiber material and a fiberglass material.  
     
     
         11 . The precast apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a steel reinforcing member positioned in said substantially concrete slab below said resilient boot.  
     
     
         12 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         13 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         14 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         15 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         16 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         17 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         18 . A method of installing a precast rail support apparatus, comprising: 
 a) preparing a subgrade to receive the precast rail support apparatus;    b) placing a precast slab portion of the precast support apparatus onto the prepared subgrade, the precast slab portion including at least one shaped trough extending along a longitudinal orientation of said precast slab and having a lateral recess, the lateral recess further including an upper shoulder;    c) positioning a resilient boot around a transportation rail;    d) installing said resilient boot and said transportation rail into said at least one shaped trough by compressing said resilient boot to temporarily reduce the overall size of the resilient boot, the resilient boot having a lateral projection to engage the lateral recess of said shaped trough under said upper shoulder, wherein said resilient boot is impeded from being disengaged from said precast slab.    
     
     
         19 . The method of installing as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said step of installing the resilient boot and rail further comprises the steps of: 
 lubricating the exterior of the resilient boot; and    forcing the resilient boot and rail downward into the shaped trough of the precast slab until said lateral projection of said resilient boot engages said lateral recess of said shaped trough.    
     
     
         20 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         21 . The precast apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said resilient boot further comprises at least one aperture positioned within said resilient boot to facilitate temporary compression of said resilient boot, wherein said resilient boot can be positioned within said at least one shaped trough;  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said resilient boot comprises at least one aperture which allows said resilient boot to be temporarily compressed during said installing step.