Abstract: A railroad tie adzer has a cutter head and means for rotating the cutter head to surface the tie plate area of a tie. A cutter guard extends peripherally about the path of rotation of the cutter head, and there is a vacuum duct opening into the cutter guard to remove debris during the adzing operation. A volute deflector is positioned within the cutter guard and extends partially about and outside of the path of movement of the cutter head. The volute deflector extends from adjacent the vacuum duct circumferentially in the direction of cutter head movement. There is an inclined ramp adjacent the entrance to the vacuum duct to direct debris from adzing, moving in a volute or spiral pattern, as defined by the deflector, into the vacuum duct. The vacuum duct is connected to a fan which in turn is connected to a separator from which the separated dust and debris are discharged away from the adzer.

Abstract: In a rail spike driving machine having a frame, wheels and a spike driver gun slidable in parallel relationship to the rail, and control means for limiting that sliding action, an apparatus for releasably locking the position of said gun above a particular tie comprising a telescoping tube with an inner member and a hollow outer member, the inner member inserted at one end into the outer member and at the other end to the spike driver gun, the outer member receiving the inner member at one end and slidably secured to the frame at the other end to control the perpendicular action of the spike driver gun in relation to the rail, and a releasable brake assembly mounted on the outer member so as to exert a locking force on the inner member and prevent lateral movement of the spiker gun.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical orientation system for conveyed articles having a distinguishable top and bottom such as a rail tie plate or the like is disclosed comprising a sensor frame having a transverse pivot axis, a plurality of elongate sensor fingers pivotable about that axis and subject to a biasing force, a plurality of notched beam interceptors, one mounted to each sensor finger, a corresponding plurality of opto switches and a logic circuit, whereby the frame is oriented in relation to a conveyor surface so that the sensor fingers intercept and are triggered by the conveyed article. The pattern of triggered sensor fingers is transmitted through the beam interceptors and opto switches to the logic means, from where it may be used to trigger a conveyed article reorientation device.

Abstract: A spike-driving machine for use in driving spikes into railroad ties and including a rail clamping apparatus for securing the machine to the rails while spikes are being driven into the rails. The rail clamping apparatus can employ only a single hydraulic cylinder and is constructed so as to firmly grip the rails even if the heads of the rails are substantially worn and also constructed so as to grip a variety of different sizes of rails whether or not those rails are new rails or substantially worn.

Abstract: A machine for pulling spikes from railroad ties including a pair of claws supported by the machine frame, one of the claws being positioned on one side of the rail and for pulling spikes on that side of the rail and the other of the claws being positioned on an opposite side of the rail and for pulling spikes on that side of the rail. Each of the claws including a lower end portion having a pair of spaced fingers extending toward the rail, and each claw being supported for movement from a retracted position to a position wherein the fingers of that claw are positionable under the head of a spike on opposite sides of the spike. The claws then move upwardly to pull spikes from the ties.

Abstract: In a railroad spike driving machine, the spike driving mechanism is centered over a spike by a system which provides simultaneous proportional control over both the vertical and horizontal positions of the spike driver. The driver is mounted on a carriage whose position is adjustable according to signals derived from the deflection of a control arm. Strain gauges mounted on the control arm sense the push or pull of the operator to adjust the carriage position. The speed of the drive stroke of the hydraulic spike driver is governed by a proportional control valve which is in turn controlled by a signal generated from a trigger switch on the control arm.

Abstract: This is an apparatus for removing ties from under railroad track and is specifically concerned with removing ties in one piece and involves removing the high wood from the ties in the area between the rails of the track and on one end thereof so that the tie may be pulled or pushed out the other way.

Abstract: This is a method and apparatus for removing ties from under railroad track and is specifically concerned with removing ties in one piece and involves removing the high wood from the ties in the area between the rails of the track and on one end thereof so that the tie may be pulled or pushed out the other way.

Abstract: This is a method of and apparatus for forming a trench in the ballast under railroad track, commonly referred to as scarifying, and for grasping new ties, one at a time, positioned on top of the rails, drawing each tie in turn out to one side, positioning it opposite the trench and inserting it, all in a series of coordinated movements in sequence with a minimum, if any, disturbance of the ballast.

Abstract: This is concerned with an electric circuit for controlling or damping the shock loading on the structural components and parts of machinery which are moved by a conventional hydraulic cylinder. It is more specifically concerned with a control circuit to be used with a proportional control valve so that the mass moved by the cylinder will be gradually accelerated and decelerated to avoid abrupt starts and stops.

Abstract: This is a machine for doing work on railroad track and includes a mechanism for setting new tie plates on top of ties so that a new rail may be accurately positioned thereon. The machine is specifically constructed and arranged to accurately set the tie plates so that they do not require further adjustment prior to laying the new rail. The machine is self-propelled and automatic so that it does not require an attendant, other than possibly personnel to feed tie plates to it.

Abstract: This is concerned with a method and apparatus for sensing and/or finding objects along railway track, for example a tie, so that work may be done in relation thereto. More specifically, the subject matter is concerned with a method and apparatus for finding ties on a step-by-step basis and performing work in relation thereto, for example tamping between the ties or driving spikes through the holes in tie plates into the ties, or the like.