Abstract: A system for orienting and distributing tie plates along a section of railroad track includes a tie plate flipping assembly. The tie plate flipping assembly flips shoulder-side down tie plates into a shoulder-side up orientation while maintaining shoulder-side up tie plates in the shoulder-side up orientation. One embodiment of the tie plate flipping assembly includes a launch conveyor for launching tie plates against a dampening slide spaced apart from the launch conveyor at a spacing which results in shoulder-side down tie plates flipping over while shoulder-side up tie plates remain shoulder-side up. An alternative tie plate flipping assembly advances tie plates on a longitudinal edge through a vertical guide and past a centered wedge which engages a shoulder side surface of the tie plates conveyed past the wedge causing the tie plates to tip outward and onto a bottom surface.

Abstract: A method for singulating, orientating and distributing tie plates along a section of a track of a railroad is disclosed using a vehicle adapted to travel on rails including a tie plate singulating assembly, a tie plate flipping assembly, a tie plate quarter turn assembly, and a distribution assembly. The tie plate flipping assembly flips shoulder-side down tie plates into a shoulder-side up orientation while maintaining shoulder-side up tie plates in the shoulder-side up orientation. A diverter of the tie plate quarter turn assembly advances tie plates into a rotation inducing abutment resulting in the tie plates turning toward a desired orientation. The distribution assembly distributes tie plates to accumulation slides, controlling distribution with a dealer assembly and orienting discharge assembly to distribute the tie plates in a desired spacing and orientation along the track of a railroad.

Abstract: A tie plate orientation and distribution assembly for orienting and distributing tie plates along a section of a track of a railroad includes a tie plate flipping assembly, a tie plate quarter turn assembly, and a distribution assembly. The tie plate flipping assembly flips shoulder-side down tie plates into a shoulder-side up orientation while maintaining shoulder-side up tie plates in the shoulder-side up orientation. A diverter of the tie plate quarter turn assembly advances tie plates into a rotation inducing abutment resulting in the tie plates turning toward a desired orientation. The distribution assembly distributes tie plates to accumulation slides, controlling distribution with a dealer assembly and orienting discharge assembly to distribute the tie plates in a desired spacing and orientation along the track of a railroad.

Abstract: A rail tie plate singulating machine comprises a lift conveyor sloping upward and adjacent to a singulating conveyor. The lift conveyor extends below the singulating conveyor from a lift conveyor inlet end to a y-axis intercept between the conveyors and above the singulating conveyor past the y-axis intercept. A transfer guide extending above the lift conveyor redirects rail tie plates laterally off the lift conveyor onto the singulating conveyor past the y-axis intercept. A singulating guide extending in spaced relation above the singulating conveyor redirects tie plates thereon toward an edge adjacent the lift conveyor in a spacing that allows rail tie plates oriented longitudinally to advance therealong. A driven roller supported over the reduced width section engages a rail tie plate supported on top of another rail tie plate to advance the engaged rail tie plate laterally onto the lift conveyor.

Abstract: An articulated rail-transport car for transporting long sections of ribbon rail is described. The car includes a plurality of segments arranged end-to-end and coupled and supported at their adjacent ends by shared trucks. Dedicated trucks are provided near each terminal end of the car and couplers configured to couple to an adjacent rail car are provided at the respective terminal ends. Rail stands are disposed along the length of the car with a spacing that is independent of the locations of the shared and dedicated trucks and that provides a greater number of rail stands than trucks. The segments may be configured to enable interchangeability and to allow any number of the segments to be included in the car. A plurality of the cars can be coupled to enable transport of ribbon rails of any length.

Abstract: A rotary ditching attachment for an articulated boom of an excavator type machine includes two rotary excavating heads supported in spaced relation on opposite sides of a central support. The heads rotate about a common axis. The rotary ditching attachment is rotatably coupled to the boom by a rotating tool mount. The rotating tool mount is connectable to the central support such that the central support and attached excavating heads are rotatable about an axis extending through the central support and perpendicular to the common axis of the excavator heads. Excavating assemblies are mounted on outwardly facing and inwardly facing surfaces of rotors forming each excavating heads. Rotating the rotary ditching attachment relative to a direction of movement of the rotary ditching tool relative to the ground increases the width of cut of the excavating heads when used to form or rehabilitate a ditch.

Abstract: A centering apparatus for bi-directionally pivotable hopper doors. The apparatus is coupled between a frame of a hopper car and a bell crank of a hopper door. The apparatus includes a housing with a piston extending from one end. An end of the piston within the housing includes a piston head. A pair of coil springs are disposed within the housing on opposite sides of the piston head and counteract one another to bias the piston head toward the center of the housing and thus bias the hopper door toward a closed state. In a second configuration the apparatus includes a double-acting actuator with a pair of independent piston assemblies. An actuation system coupled to the actuator maintains the actuator and an associated hopper door in a closed position in a normal state and returns the hopper door to the closed position upon a failure in the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing rail ties are disclosed. A method of distributing rail ties at a side of a track comprises providing a plurality of rail tie distribution cars in a consist. Each of the plurality of rail tie distribution cars has a distribution car controller and a discharge means configured to selectively distribute a rail tie on at least one side of the track. The method comprises generating a rail tie distribution plan identifying a plurality of rail tie drop off locations and selecting, from the plurality of rail tie distribution cars in the consist, one rail tie distribution car to distribute a rail tie at one of the plurality of rail tie drop off locations. The distribution car controller and the discharge means of the selected one of the plurality of rail tie distribution cars distributes the rail tie at the drop off location.

Abstract: A system for distributing rail ties along the side of a track from a rail car and consist of the rail cars is disclosed. Each rail car includes a floor conveyor conveying rail ties to a singulating conveyor assembly which advances rail ties individually to a dealer having an indexing mechanism which selectively releases individual rail ties onto a discharge chute. The discharge chute is oriented so ties dropped on the discharge chute are discharged out a selected side of the rail car. A controller on each rail tie distribution car communicates with a computing resource which implements a plan for selectively discharging ties from cars selected by the computing resource to discharge ties at selected drop off locations.

Abstract: A rail-lifting and ballast-spreading apparatus that may be employed to rehabilitate damaged tracks or aid rough in of new tracks, is described. The apparatus includes a track-lifting unit at a forward end thereof that includes an arm that is pivotable to extend forwardly and over a section of track in need of repair or ballast replenishment. Rail clamps are provided on a distal end of the arm that engage and travel along the rails as the apparatus moves forward. A conveyor provides a stream of ballast across the width of the tracks while the tracks are lifted and as the apparatus moves forward onto the now repaired tracks. A surge bin is provided to increase a rate of distribution of the ballast material by the conveyor over that available from the ballast-delivery consist.

Abstract: A centering apparatus for bi-directionally pivotable hopper doors. The apparatus is coupled between a frame of a hopper car and a bell crank of a hopper door. The apparatus includes a housing with a piston extending from one end. An end of the piston within the housing includes a piston head. A pair of coil springs are disposed within the housing on opposite sides of the piston head and counteract one another to bias the piston head toward the center of the housing and thus bias the hopper door toward a closed state. In a second configuration the apparatus includes a double-acting actuator with a pair of independent piston assemblies. An actuation system coupled to the actuator maintains the actuator and an associated hopper door in a closed position in a normal state and returns the hopper door to the closed position upon a failure in the system.

Abstract: A rail-lifting and ballast-spreading apparatus that may be employed to rehabilitate damaged tracks or aid rough in of new tracks, is described. The apparatus includes a track-lifting unit at a forward end thereof that includes an arm that is pivotable to extend forwardly and over a section of track in need of repair or ballast replenishment. Rail clamps are provided on a distal end of the arm that engage and travel along the rails as the apparatus moves forward. A conveyor provides a stream of ballast across the width of the tracks while the tracks are lifted and as the apparatus moves forward onto the now repaired tracks. A surge bin is provided to increase a rate of distribution of the ballast material by the conveyor over that available from the ballast-delivery consist.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a ballast car hopper door includes logic and control circuitry, a hydraulic actuator, a door position sensor, and one or more sensors operable to measure system operational parameters. During normal operation of the hopper door the logic and control circuitry records the system operational parameters. In the event of failure, or absence, of the door position sensor the control circuitry compares real-time data to recorded data to maintain operation and correct positioning of the hopper door.

Abstract: An articulated rail-transport car for transporting long sections of ribbon rail is described. The car includes a plurality of segments arranged end-to-end and coupled and supported at their adjacent ends by shared trucks. Dedicated trucks are provided near each terminal end of the car and couplers configured to couple to an adjacent rail car are provided at the respective terminal ends. Rail stands are disposed along the length of the car with a spacing that is independent of the locations of the shared and dedicated trucks and that provides a greater number of rail stands than trucks. The segments may be configured to enable interchangeability and to allow any number of the segments to be included in the car. A plurality of the cars can be coupled to enable transport of ribbon rails of any length.

Abstract: A backup power system for a railroad power unit includes an emergency backup generator that enables continuous operation of both traction motors and accessories on the power unit when a main generator and/or an accessory power unit (APU) become inoperable. The backup generator can provide power to accessories on the railcar when the APU becomes inoperable and when power provided by the APU is diverted to the traction motors due to the main generator becoming inoperable.

Abstract: An autonomous ballast consist for unloading ballast along a railway and methods for unloading ballast thereby. The consist includes a plurality of ballast cars and at least one control car. The control car includes a controller, a navigation system, and electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic generators that power the hopper cars. The controller employs the navigation system to determine the location of the consist relative to a track survey indicating locations and amounts of ballast to be unloaded. The controller instructs the hopper cars to open/close ballast doors to dump appropriate amounts of ballast in desired locations. The controller also monitors the status of the hopper cars and the accuracy of the navigation system to automatically adjust the operational state of the consist relative thereto. The unloading operation is carried out automatically, without need for operator intervention, and without risk of damage to railroad facilities.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a ballast car hopper door includes logic and control circuitry, a hydraulic actuator, a door position sensor, and one or more sensors operable to measure system operational parameters. During normal operation of the hopper door the logic and control circuitry records the system operational parameters. In the event of failure, or absence, of the door position sensor the control circuitry compares real-time data to recorded data to maintain operation and correct positioning of the hopper door.

Abstract: An autonomous ballast consist for unloading ballast along a railway and methods for unloading ballast thereby. The consist includes a plurality of ballast cars and at least one control car. The control car includes a controller, a navigation system, and electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic generators that power the hopper cars. The controller employs the navigation system to determine the location of the consist relative to a track survey indicating locations and amounts of ballast to be unloaded. The controller instructs the hopper cars to open/close ballast doors to dump appropriate amounts of ballast in desired locations. The controller also monitors the status of the hopper cars and the accuracy of the navigation system to automatically adjust the operational state of the consist relative thereto. The unloading operation is carried out automatically, without need for operator intervention, and without risk of damage to railroad facilities.

Abstract: A drill station for a rail loading and unloading machine. The drill station is provided between primary and secondary drive units to enable adjacent ends of a pair of sections of rail to be driven independently by a respective drive unit to position the ends on the drill station for drilling. The drill station is raised from a stowed position below a walkway to conduct a drilling operation and retracted to provide workspace for an operator to install joining plates on segments of rail.

Abstract: A backup power system for a railroad power unit includes an emergency backup generator that enables continuous operation of both traction motors and accessories on the power unit when a main generator and/or an accessory power unit (APU) become inoperable. The backup generator can provide power to accessories on the railcar when the APU becomes inoperable and when power provided by the APU is diverted to the traction motors due to the main generator becoming inoperable.