Railway having vibration-dampened detector tie

Abstract

A detector tie is provided for use in a railway. The detector tie may have a tie base, and a detector operatively coupled to the tie base. The detector tie may also have a vibration damper connected to a least one of the tie base and the detector. The vibration damper may be configured to protect the at least one detector from vibrations induced within the railway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A detector tie for a railway, comprising:
 a tie base;   a detector operatively coupled to the tie base; and   a vibration damper connected to a least one of the tie base and the detector, the vibration damper configured to protect the detector from vibrations induced within the railway.   
     
     
         2 . The detector tie of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration damper is located between the tie base and the detector. 
     
     
         3 . The detector tie of  claim 1 , further including a rail mount formed within the tie base, wherein the vibration damper is located at the rail mount. 
     
     
         4 . The detector tie of  claim 1 , wherein the tie base is fabricated from metal. 
     
     
         5 . The detector tie of  claim 2 , wherein the vibration damper is an elastomeric coating applied to the metal. 
     
     
         6 . The detector tie of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the elastomeric coating encompasses a majority of an external surface of the tie base; and   the elastomeric coating is configured to inhibit oxidation of the tie base.   
     
     
         7 . The detector tie of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the tie base includes a generally hollow enclosure; and   the detector is at least partially disposed within the generally hollow enclosure.   
     
     
         8 . The detector tie of  claim 7 , wherein the elastomeric coating is applied to an external surface of the tie base. 
     
     
         9 . The detector tie of  claim 7 , wherein the elastomeric coating is applied to an internal surface of the generally hollow enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The detector tie of  claim 7 , wherein the elastomeric coating includes:
 a first coating applied to an external surface of the tie base; and   a second coating different from the first coating and applied to an internal surface of the generally hollow enclosure.   
     
     
         11 . The detector tie of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration damper is tuned to reduce a natural frequency of the detector. 
     
     
         12 . The detector tie of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the vibration damper is a coating applied to the tie base; and   a thickness of the vibration damper is tuned to reduce the natural frequency of the detector.   
     
     
         13 . The detector tie of  claim 1 , wherein the detector is one of a dragging equipment detector and an over temperature detector. 
     
     
         14 . A detector tie, comprising:
 a metallic tie base having a generally hollow enclosure;   at least one of a dragging equipment detector and an over temperature detector at least partially disposed within the generally hollow enclosure; and   a vibration coating applied to the, tie base, the vibration coating having a thickness tuned to reduce a natural frequency within the at least one of the dragging equipment detector and the over temperature detector and configured to inhibit oxidation. of the metallic tie base.   
     
     
         15 . A railway, comprising:
 at least one rail;   a plurality of non-detector ties configured to support the at least one rail;   a detector tie disposed between two of the plurality of non-detector ties and configured to support the at least one rail, the detector tie having:
 a tie base made from a material different than a material of the plurality of non-detector ties; 
 a detector operatively coupled to the tie base; and 
 a vibration damper connected to a least one of the tie base and the detector, the vibration damper configured to protect the detector from vibrations induced within the at least one rail: and 
   a plurality of fasteners configured to connect the at least one rail to each of the plurality of non-detector ties and to the detector tie.   
     
     
         16 . The railway of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of non-detector ties are made from a wood or concrete; and   the tie base of the detector tie is made from metal.   
     
     
         17 . The railway of  claim 15 , wherein the detector tie is one of a plurality of detector ties spaced about 10-30 miles apart from each other. 
     
     
         18 . The railway of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the vibration damper is a coating applied to the tie base of the detector tie; and   the plurality of non-detector ties each includes an uncoated tie base.   
     
     
         19 . The railway of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the vibration damper is located between the tie base and the at least one rail; and   the plurality of non-detector ties each includes a tie base connected directly to the at least one rail.   
     
     
         20 . The railway of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the tie base is metallic;   the detector is at least one of a dragging equipment detector and an over temperature detector;   the vibration damper has a thickness tuned to reduce a natural frequency within the detector; and   the vibration damper is further configured to inhibit oxidation of the tie base.