Railway track and switch weather protection barrier system

摘要

A railway track barrier system that includes a barrier extending along a rail adjacent a switch having an upper edge adjacent a rail head disposed within a wash zone thereof formed of deflector elements movable relative to one another permitting railway vehicle wheel and wash contact during train passage without barrier dislodgement or damage. The barrier is formed of a deflector acutely inclined toward the head and a downwardly extending skirt that conforms to uneven railway bed and tie surfaces. A preferred barrier is formed of oppositely extending brushes removably attached to a mounting bracket. The bracket can be attached to a hinge assembly that releasably latches the barrier in an operating position and that can be unlatched permitting the barrier to be swung away from the rail to an inspection position. A hinge pin with a manually graspable handle can be removed to detach the barrier for storage.

主权项

1. A barrier system for a railway track having a pair of spaced apart and generally parallel elongate rails of generally I-shaped cross-section with each track rail having a head on top and a base on the bottom, the barrier system comprising:
an uprightly extending barrier extending alongside a section of an adjacent one of the track rails, the barrier comprised of a plurality of deflecting elements movable relative to one another defining a flexible deflector having an upper edge located adjacent and alongside the head of the adjacent one of the track rails inclined toward the head of the adjacent one of the track rails, the flexible deflector having a portion vertically overlying a portion of the base of the adjacent one of the track rails; and a mounting assembly that holds the barrier uprightly alongside the section of the adjacent one of the track rails.