Apparatus (300, 400) for laying an elongate member such as a pipe (306) or a rail (472). Material carried by the apparatus is smelted in a furnace (340) and fed to a casting head (342) by which the elongate member is continuously cast. The so cast elongate member is then laid by the apparatus, as it travels on the ground surface.
A smelting furnace having a vessel (102) for receiving material to be smelted. An inner surface (109) of the furnace is concave and reflective, at least an upper part thereof. A conductive electrode (120) of the furnace is continuously formed in the furnace by casting.
Apparatus (10) for applying a surface layer to a rail (16). The apparatus (10) is mounted to a locomotive (14) for movement along the rail (16). A barrier structure (70) of the apparatus (10) has side walls (20, 22), in use disposed against sides of the rail, and spaced forward and rear walls (40, 42) extending between these. In an initial condition, forward wall (40) and rear wall (42) extend downwardly to the upper surface (36) of the rail. Granular metal in a receptacle (62) is fed to a space (72) defined between the walls (20, 22, 40, 42) and heated by application of electric power to electrodes (84,84) extending into the space, to form molten metal. Some of the molten metal sets against the rear wall (42), after which the rear wall is moved upwardly to be clear of the rail. The locomotive (14) is then operated to transport the apparatus (10) along the rail so that molten metal is progressively deposited on the rail forwardly of the originally set metal. When set, the deposited metal forms an integral layer (100) of metal on the rail (16).
E01B 31/02 - Working rail or other metal track components on the spot
E01B 31/18 - Reconditioning or repairing worn or damaged parts on the spot, e.g. applying inlays, building-up rails by weldingHeating or cooling of parts on the spot, e.g. for reducing joint gaps, for hardening rails
patents