RAILWAY BALLAST BROOM ELEMENT CLAMP PLATE, BROOM ELEMENT AND EXTRUSION PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING BROOM ELEMENT AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS

摘要

A clamping plate (12) for attachment to clamp bracket (7) of a rotary ballast broom reel (8) is disclosed. A drum (8) is adapted to rotate such that the distal end of the broom elements (11) rotate to dislodge railway track ballast. A depending leg (16) has an internal bore (17) therein. A bolt (14) includes thread which is completely encased within the bore (17) and thus is not exposed to flying debris resulting from action of the broom element (11) on railway ballast. An extruded broom element (11) has a main portion (60) of substantially constant circular cross section with the distal end portion (61) tapering outwardly to provide an increased thickness to resist wear. A process of extruding such a broom element is also disclosed.