Abstract: A railroad track tamping machine for consolidating and compacting railroad track ballast includes ballast tampers, preferably rollers, adapted to roll over and between the ties, and guides for the rollers to guide them in a manner such that the rollers either roll over and between the ties or along the shoulders. The rollers are mounted in the guides and vibrator arrangements are provided for vibrating the rollers during operation thereof to consolidate and compact the ballast. In a preferred embodiment, the vibrator arrangement comprises a hydraulic system whereby the roller means are vibrated due to rapid fluctuations created in the system. Preferably the rollers are arranged in a set and are located one after the other so that each roller rolls over the same area of the ties and ballast as the other rollers of the set as the device moves once over a length of railroad track to be consolidated.

Abstract: A screening device suitable for cleaning railroad ballast which has become fouled with use, and of the type in which ballast to be cleaned is fed into a screen member to separate the coarse or ballast stone from the fines, the stone being reused to ballast the track. A screen member of generally frusto-conical shape, open at each end, is rotatably mounted on a track running frame, with the axis of the screen extending substantially parallel to the track and either horizontal or slightly inclined to the horizontal. The screen member is rotated so that centrifugal action results in the fouled ballast, loaded into the narrower open end of the screen member, moving up the walls thereof to its larger open end. The fines pass through the screen member and the stone is collected at a stone receiving member located adjacent the wide end of the screen member.

Abstract: In a shear machine, the lower or fixed knife which is installed in a bed or table, which, in turn, is slidably supported on the front sloping edges of the machine housings, is adjustable horizontally with respect to the upper or movable knife by a power actuated wedge assembly installed frontally, in position to elevate the bed or table along the sloping edges, to reduce the horizontal spacing between the knives. Adjustable horizontal increase of the spacing between the knives is accomplished by adjustably lowering the bed or table along the sloping edges of the side wall housings, utilizing power in cooperation with the pull of gravity to accomplish this.

Abstract: Holes in railway ties are drilled and impregnated with creosote or other preservative using a hollow drill with consecutive drilling and creosote injection cycles, either at the time of rail mounting or in a prior processing stage so as to produce a tie with improved resistance to deterioration, for example due to ingress of water in the tie hole. The invention enables the preservation of pretreated ties, which are subsequently drilled to receive spikes for rail tie plates, by continuing the skin of creosote or other preservative from the outer surface of the tie to the walls of the drilled hole. A sealing collar assembly is mounted on the drill to prevent egress of preservative from the hole during the injection process.

Abstract: In a programming system for press brakes or the like where a number of bending operations are performed on a piece of work, in the course of which the work, must be turned or flipped over, means are provided for alerting an operator as to the necessity for turning or flipping of the work in preparation for the coming bending operation.

Abstract: An indicator mechanism for an apparatus for correcting the existing grade and horizontal alignment of railroad track in accordance with a wire reference system. The mechanism includes frame means, the position of which in use is referenced to the existing position of an adjacent section of the railroad track. Pivot means are mounted for vertical, sliding movement on the frame means and a needle indicator is mounted on the pivot means to pivot about a horizontal axis generally parallel to the rails of the railroad track. Scale means are arranged on the frame means near one end of the indicator to indicate in combination with the indicator the existing grade and horizontal alignment of the adjacent section with reference to the wire reference system. During use of the mechanism, the position of the indicator is adjusted by a reference wire of the system which contacts the indicator. Preferably, this reference wire extends through a relatively small hole in the bottom portion of the indicator.

Abstract: An undercutting apparatus and a method for removing material from beneath railroad track. The apparatus comprises a rotary trench digging means and horizontal chain means to transport the material from beneath the railroad track to the trench digging means at an underground location. In operation the trench digging means digs a trench alongside of the track while at the same time transporting the material delivered by the horizontal chain means to a suitable location above the ground. Preferably the rotary trench digging means comprises a large hollow wheel and one end of the chain means is disposed inside of and near the bottom of the wheel during normal operation of the chain means. Means are provided to pivot the chain means about a vertical axis whereby the chain means can be pivoted from a first position wherein the chain means extends parallel to the track to a second position wherein the chain means extends perpendicular to the track.

Abstract: An undercutting apparatus for removing ballast and other material from beneath railroad ties, particularly ties in areas that are difficult to undercut with conventional equipment. The apparatus includes a carrier capable of moving over ordinary ground. An undercutter in the form of a toothed chain moving around the periphery of a plate member is rigidly mounted to a first frame member. A drive motor is provided for driving the chain by means of a sprocket. The first frame member is mounted on a second frame to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to the second frame. A motor and interconnecting gears are provided to pivot the first frame member as desired. The second frame is mounted on a travelling frame mounted on a vertically oriented track frame. Hydraulic cylinders pivot the second frame means as desired. The track frame is mounted to the carrier to transport the undercutter and provide it with the necessary power.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning track and compacting ballast therebetween. A pair of shoes contoured to fit the shoulder of the ballast is placed in contact with the shoulder whereby each shoe is located on the outside of a respective one of the rails and extends in a longitudinal direction along the shoulder. A vibration device is used to fluidize portions of the ballast beneath each of the shoes and between each shoe and the ends of the adjacent ties. A lifting jack is articulately connected to each shoe and the two jacks apply a lifting force to the rails substantially equal to the weight of the track by means of laterally and vertically adjustable clamps adapted to grasp each of the rails. A lateral force is then applied to the rails by means of the clamps to displace the track in a substantially horizontal position through said fluidized ballast.

Abstract: A method and a system for correcting the misalignment of a railroad track is provided which corrects the track by the steps of applying a force laterally of the track to move it in the direction of its correct position, sensing the track position relative to a datum, automatically reducing the force in response to the sensing step, permitting the track to react to the reduction of the force and automatically rapidly repeating the force application, sensing, and reduction steps to set up a vibratory cycle of force application until the desired track condition has been achieved. The system provides a valve which has a rail position feeler in the hydraulic connection between pump and jack, which feeler upon sensing the rail operates to close the valve to terminate a jacking action. Pressure sensitive switch is provided in the hydraulic connections between the valve and the pump that operates to exhaust the jack when a pre-determined pressure has been built up in the connections between the pump and the valve.

Abstract: Apparatus for the vertical and lateral movement of a section of railway track. Gripping members are operated to grip the two lines of rails. The gripping members are mounted on at least one support frame connected by articulated connecting members to the chassis of a track maintenance vehicle movable on the track. The support frame is movable both vertically and laterally relative to the vehicle under the action of lifting members or lining members, to move said track section and to bring it into a predetermined reference position. The apparatus comprises in combination vertical and lateral support members connected to the support frame to guide the same and supported on at least one line of rails and guidance and control members for moving each gripping member relative to the support frame in directing both vertical and transverse to the track.