Abstract: A railroad tie maintenance vehicle is configured to seal spike holes in a railroad tie formed by the removal of railroad spikes. The vehicle includes a chassis with an integrated operator work station. The vehicle may move along railroad tracks with a plurality of wheels that support the chassis and that are configured to engage at least one railroad track. A motive power source, supported on the chassis, may be controlled by an operator within the operator work station to propel the vehicle along the railroad tracks. At least one storage vessel on the chassis contains a chemical solution used to fill the spike holes. At least two injection devices on the chassis are remotely controlled by the single operator, possibly by the operation of a single controller such as a joystick, to move into alignment with respective spike holes and to fill the spike holes with the chemical solution.

Abstract: An anchor cribbing machine includes a pair of ballast cribbing assemblies and a pair of rail clamp assemblies. The ballast cribbing assemblies are hydraulically-driven to push ballast away from the opposing sides of a railroad tie so that an anchor may be applied to the rail at the tie location. The ballast cribbing assemblies include support beams that are movable longitudinally relative to the rails and rotatable between an operative and a stowed position. The rail clamp assemblies are configured to engage the rail to prevent the machine from being driven off the rails in operation.

Abstract: An anchor cribbing machine includes a pair of ballast cribbing assemblies and a pair of rail clamp assemblies. The ballast cribbing assemblies are hydraulically-driven to push ballast away from the opposing sides of a railroad tie so that an anchor may be applied to the rail at the tie location. The ballast cribbing assemblies include support beams that are movable longitudinally relative to the rails and rotatable between an operative and a stowed position. The rail clamp assemblies are configured to engage the rail to prevent the machine from being driven off the rails in operation.

Abstract: A track mounted machine is capable of inserting a previously positioned tie plate between a rail and underlying cross tie of a railway. The machine preferably is also capable of lifting the rail from the tie prior to tie plate insertion and/or, is capable of operating on both rails of a railway simultaneously. The preferred embodiment includes two tie plate inserter assemblies mounted on a common workhead. Each tie plate inserter assembly includes a pusher that can be moved, under control of an operator stationed on the machine, vertically and longitudinally on the rails so as to be aligned with a field end of the tie plate. The pusher can then be actuated to push the tie plate laterally under the rail.

Abstract: A railway grinding system is capable of grinding a frog, another switch, or another railway section of interest in situ over a precisely defined path that is unaffected by the geometry of the railway section to be ground. The system includes a frame providing the reference path and a grinding machine movable along the reference path. The grinding tool preferably has at least four degrees of freedom with respect to the reference frame. Versatility can be further enhanced by permitting one grinding tool, such as a cup grinder configured to grind a generally horizontal surface of the railway, to be replaced with another grinding tool, such as a flange grinder configured to grind a generally vertical surface of the railway. The frog grinder can perform either single-event reconditioning grinding or periodic maintenance grinding.

Abstract: A track mounted machine is capable of inserting a previously positioned tie plate between a rail and underlying cross tie of a railway. The machine preferably is also capable of lifting the rail from the tie prior to tie plate insertion and/or, is capable of operating on both rails of a railway simultaneously. The preferred embodiment includes two tie plate inserter assemblies mounted on a common workhead. Each tie plate inserter assembly includes a pusher that can be moved, under control of an operator stationed on the machine, vertically and longitudinally of the rails so as to be aligned with a field end of the tie plate. The pusher can then be actuated to push the tie plate laterally under the rail.

Abstract: An applicator/remover mechanism automatically applies and/or removes a clip, such as the so-called Safelok clip. Each clip applicator/remover mechanism preferably includes a workarm which is pivotable transversely towards and away from the longitudinal centerline of the rail, a clip applicator tool mounted on the workarm, and a clip retractor tool mounted on the workarm. The clip retractor tool includes first and second retractor arms pivotably mounted on a housing, each arm having downwardly-extending fingers to engage the side of a rail clip. The arms have intermeshing teeth which cause the second retractor arm to pivot upon pivoting of the first retractor arm to selectively pinch and release the rail clip. The resulting mechanism is capable of both applying and removing clips rapidly and efficiently while accommodating variations in position and orientation of the rail and/or the clips.

Abstract: A machine is capable of automatically applying and removing transversely applied rail clips such as the so-called Safelok-type clip. The machine preferably includes a workhead on which is disposed one or more applicator/remover mechanisms, each of which is capable of automatically applying and/or removing a clip. Each clip applicator/remover mechanism preferably includes a workarm which is pivotable transversely towards and away from the longitudinal centerline of the rail, a clip applicator tool mounted on the workarm, and a clip retractor tool mounted on the workarm. The resulting mechanism is capable of both applying and removing clips rapidly and efficiently while accommodating variations in position and orientation of the rail and/or the clips.

Abstract: A rail saw has a power head which includes a two cycle engine which does not require premixing of gasoline and lubricating oil. Instead, undiluted gasoline is stored in the engine's fuel tank, and lubricating oil is supplied to the engine's fuel supply system downstream of the fuel tank by a mechanical metering pump which delivers a designated, preferably adjustable, quantity of oil to the fuel supply system per engine revolution. In the case of a power head formed by converting a chain saw power head to a rail saw power head, the oil supply system may comprise the lubricating oil system originally designed to lubricate the chain saw's chain. Also disclosed is a preferred method of converting a chain saw power head requiring the storage of a premixed gasoline/lubricating oil mixture in its fuel tank to a rail saw power head whose fuel tank stores gasoline only.

Abstract: A clip applicator machine is capable of automatically separating individual spring-type rail clips from a stack of clips and of applying the individual clips in anchor sockets such that they are fully tensioned against the base of the rail. The clip applicator machine may include two separate workheads 1) each of which is positioned over a respective rail and 2) each of which may support gauge and field side clip applicator assemblies operable to apply clips on the respective sides of the associated rail. Each applicator assembly is movable from a position in which it receives clips one at a time from a magazine, through a position in which it is aligned with the anchor socket of tie plate, and into a clip applying position.

Abstract: An anchor removing machine is capable of automatically removing anchors from a rail and of windrowing the removed anchors between rails. The machine preferably employs a ram assembly to detach the tail of the anchor from the rail, a field side kicker assembly to drive the anchor towards the gauge side of the rail in order to facilitate anchor removal, and a windrow assembly to engage the head of the anchor and to pull the anchor away from the gauge side of the rail for subsequent pick up. Lateral and vertical alignment between the anchor removing machine and the anchor is assured by opposed plates and by stops, respectively. Preferably, pressure switches or the like prevent the operation of each component in the system until operation of the preceding component is completed.

Abstract: A clip setting machine is capable of automatically separating individual spring-type rail clips from a stack of clips and of setting the individual clips in anchor sockets for subsequent application, e.g., by an automatic rail applicator. The clip setting machine may include two separate workheads each of which is positioned over a respective rail and which may support gauge and field side clip setter assemblies operable to set clips on the respective sides of a rail. Each clip setter assembly is movable from a position in which it receives clips one at a time from a magazine, through a position in which it is aligned with the shoulder of the anchor, and into a clip setting position. Each workhead can be lowered onto the rail into longitudinal alignment with the sockets and moved from tie to tie along the rail without being lifted, thereby facilitating the clip setting process.

Abstract: A rail adjuster has a frame which mounts a head assembly for powered vertical movement between a raised travel position and a lowered operative position, with the head assembly having adjuster arms which can be positioned immediately adjacent a pair of rail-mounted anchors. The adjuster arms are moved together to shift the rail-mounted anchors along the rail toward the tie to achieve the anchor adjusting. The adjuster arms are constructed in a pivoting linkage having a horizontally acting hydraulic cylinder to provided a substantially horizontal force to the adjuster arms for providing an enhanced mechanical advantage in adjusting the anchors.

Abstract: An automatic anchor applicator is provided having a frame which mounts a head assembly for vertical movement between a raised travel position and a lowered operative position. The head assembly has an inclined anchor conveyor and a pair of articulated applicator arms for transporting a pair of anchors from a loading station to a position adjacent a rail. Adjuster members are positioned immediately adjacent the pair of anchors at an adjustment station to shift the anchors along the rail into abutting relation with opposite vertical faces of the tie. Relative rotation of the articulated arms resiliently places the positioned anchors into positive engagement with the rail.

Abstract: An anchor spreader having a frame which mounts a head assembly for vertical movement between a raised travel position and a lowered operative position, with the head assembly having spreader members which can be positioned adjacent a tie and inwardly a pair of rail-mounted anchors. The spreader members can be moved apart to shift the rail-mounted anchors along the rail away from the tie to spread the anchors. A positive clamp mechanism securely holds the head assembly in position longitudinally of the rail whereby the head assembly can remain in fixed position regardless of the reaction to forces exerted in spreading one or more anchors.

Abstract: An anchor spreader having a frame which mounts a head assembly for vertical movement between a raised travel position and a lowered operative position and with the head assembly having spreader members which can be positioned immediately above a tie and inwardly of portions of rail-mounted anchors extending above the tie. The spreader members can be moved apart to shift the rail-mounted anchors along the rail away from the tie to achieve the anchor spreading. Positive clamp structure securely holds the head assembly in position longitudinally of the rail whereby the head assembly can remain in fixed position regardless of the reaction to forces exerted in spreading one or more rail mounted anchors.

Abstract: A rail cutting apparatus mountable on a rail and having a linkage structure which supports a rail saw in an upright position at either side of a rail. The linkage structure and rail saw have coacting structure including a mounting block and a mounting plate which securely lock the rail saw in either of its positions and which enable movement of the rail saw between these two positions without complete removal of the rail saw from the linkage structure.

Abstract: A tie adz for cutting a section from a railroad tie adjacent a tie plate, with the tie plate still in association with the tie and preparatory to regauging the rails. The tie adz has a frame with rail-engaging wheels supportable on a rail and with an outrigger extending to the spaced parallel rail. The cutter head is mounted on the frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis to position the cutter carried thereby at a desired distance from the inner edge of a tie plate and with the location of the cutter head being established by a gauge member. The cutter head is locked in position and has a longitudinally movable driven spindle carrying the cutter which is movable lengthwise of the cutter head to place the cutter at a cutting depth relative to the tie whereby advance of the frame along the rail moves the cutter through the tie and cuts the section from the tie.

Abstract: A machine for applying a clip to a tie at a side of a rail and detecting when the clip has been fully seated comprising, a head positionable at a predetermined location relative to the tie and rail, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the head for rotation in a plane which extends parallel to the rail, and power structure for simultaneously pivoting both of the arms between a raised retracted position and a lowered position. Movement between the retracted and lowered positions causes a clip-engaging member on one arm of the pair to engage and advance the clip to a fully-seated position. The second arm of the pair detects when the clip has reached the fully seated position and stops further movement of the clip-engaging member.

Abstract: A rail cutting apparatus mountable on a rail and having a linkage structure with an offset arm connected to one end of the linkage, a cutting device having a mounting bar with a mounting element lying in a plane containing the cutting element of the cutting device, said mounting element being connected to the offset arm for rotation about an axis lying in said plane, and coacting means on the offset arm and mounting bar to positively limit the rotative positions of the cutting device and accurately position the cutting device for cutting of the rail.