Patents by Inventor Manfred Brunninger

Manfred Brunninger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8061432
    Abstract: For the purpose of rehabilitation, a ballast bed of a track is taken up in the form of an upper bed layer by a first clearing device and cleaned. The bulk material accruing in the process is discharged in front of the first clearing device—with regard to the working direction—laterally upon the ballast bed in a bed region. The latter can only be covered by the second clearing device which is configured to be of greater width—with regard to a transverse direction of the track—than the first clearing device. Thus, it is possible to intermediately store bulk material, accruing in a front end region of a machine, on the ballast bed for later use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 7966938
    Abstract: A machine (1) for picking up and storing rail fastenings (2) of a track (3) includes two rail fastening pickup devices (9). Arranged between these and a rear on-track undercarriage (4)—with regard to a working direction (6)—is a crawler track (24). At each longitudinal side of the machine, two devices (29) for guiding rails (30) are provided which are adjustable by drives (28) relative to the machine frame (5) and arranged one following the other in the longitudinal direction of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20100319940
    Abstract: For the purpose of rehabilitation, a ballast bed of a track is taken up in the form of an upper bed layer by a first clearing device and cleaned. The bulk material accruing in the process is discharged in front of the first clearing device—with regard to the working direction—laterally upon the ballast bed in a bed region. The latter can only be covered by the second clearing device which is configured to be of greater width—with regard to a transverse direction of the track—than the first clearing device. Thus, it is possible to intermediately store bulk material, accruing in a front end region of a machine, on the ballast bed for later use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: FRANZ PLASSER BAHNBAUMASCHINEN- INDUSTRIEGESELLSCHAFT MBH
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 7739811
    Abstract: In a method of rehabilitating a ballast bed of a track by excavating contaminated ballast and conveying the excavated contaminated ballast by a first conveyor band unit to a screening unit for cleaning the excavated contaminated ballast, the ballast bed is rehabilitated selectively, in dependence on the degree of contamination of the ballast, in a first or second operating stage. The first operating stage comprises the steps of excavating an upper layer of the ballast by a first excavating device which precedes a second excavating device, in an operating direction, and conducting the excavated upper ballast layer to the first conveyor band unit while, at the same time, the remainder of the ballast is excavated by the second excavating device and is conducted to a second conveyor band unit for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20100132582
    Abstract: A machine (1) for picking up and storing rail fastenings (2) of a track (3) includes two rail fastening pickup devices (9). Arranged between these and a rear on-track undercarriage (4)—with regard to a working direction (6)—is a crawler track (24). At each longitudinal side of the machine, two devices (29) for guiding rails (30) are provided which are adjustable by drives (28) relative to the machine frame (5) and arranged one following the other in the longitudinal direction of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 7661369
    Abstract: The invention relates to the replacement of old ties of a railway track by new ties. This aim can be achieved by spreading the two rails apart from each other. The reception of ballast gravel for producing a recess of ballast is carried out in a region below of the sleeper head of a ballast bed, which is located adjacent to the region of the old sleepers along their longitudinal axis. The received ballast gravel is temporarily stored and, once the new sleepers have been deposited, thrown off for the purpose of ballasting. In parallel and prior to the deposit of new sleepers, excess ballast gravel is ploughed in the recess of ballast so as to produce a leveled surface of ballast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 7587981
    Abstract: A method for cleaning ballast of a track comprising rails extending in a longitudinal direction is executed by means of a ballast cleaning machine having a machine frame supported on on-track undercarriages. The machine includes a cleaning chain with a chain cross member extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. At the start of the cleaning process, an on-track undercarriage situated immediately ahead of the cleaning chain, with regard to a working direction of the ballast cleaning machine, is lifted off the track. The rails are severed, and the track is lifted, after which the chain cross member of the cleaning chain is positioned underneath the track. Finally, the on-track undercarriage is set down upon the track again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 7516702
    Abstract: A track renewal machine is equipped with a ballast conveyor band extending in the longitudinal direction and arranged between upper and lower tie transport units and between ballast receiving means and ballast distributing means. The ballast conveyor band has a discharge end positioned rearwardly of a device for laying new rails, in the operating direction. A device for spacing the new ties from each other is positioned rearwardly of the ballast conveyor band discharge end in the operating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20080302265
    Abstract: The invention relates to the replacement of old ties of a railway track by new ties. This aim can be achieved by spreading the two rails apart from each other. The reception of ballast gravel for producing a recess of ballast is carried out in a region below of the sleeper head of a ballast bed, which is located adjacent to the region of the old sleepers along their longitudinal axis. The received ballast gravel is temporarily stored and, once the new sleepers have been deposited, thrown off for the purpose of ballasting. In parallel and prior to the deposit of new sleepers, excess ballast gravel is ploughed in the recess of ballast so as to produce a leveled surface of ballast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20080251265
    Abstract: In a method of rehabilitating a ballast bed of a track by excavating contaminated ballast and conveying the excavated contaminated ballast by a first conveyor band unit to a screening unit for cleaning the excavated contaminated ballast, the ballast bed is rehabilitated selectively, in dependence on the degree of contamination of the ballast, in a first or second operating stage. The first operating stage comprises the steps of excavating an upper layer of the ballast by a first excavating device which precedes a second excavating device, in an operating direction, and conducting the excavated upper ballast layer to the first conveyor band unit while, at the same time, the remainder of the ballast is excavated by the second excavating device and is conducted to a second conveyor band unit for disposal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20080163780
    Abstract: A track renewal machine is equipped with a ballast conveyor band extending in the longitudinal direction and arranged between upper and lower tie transport units and between ballast receiving means and ballast distributing means. The ballast conveyor band has a discharge end positioned rearwardly of a device for laying new rails, in the operating direction. A device for spacing the new ties from each other is positioned rearwardly of the ballast conveyor band discharge end in the operating direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20070283835
    Abstract: A method for cleaning ballast of a track comprising rails extending in a longitudinal direction is executed by means of a ballast cleaning machine having a machine frame supported on on-track undercarriages. The machine includes a cleaning chain with a chain cross member extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. At the start of the cleaning process, an on-track undercarriage situated immediately ahead of the cleaning chain, with regard to a working direction of the ballast cleaning machine, is lifted off the track. The rails are severed, and the track is lifted, after which the chain cross member of the cleaning chain is positioned underneath the track. Finally, the on-track undercarriage is set down upon the track again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20070199472
    Abstract: A gantry crane for transporting track panels comprises a longitudinal beam extending in a longitudinal direction. The longitudinal beam includes lifting tools for gripping a track panel and is supported by chassis frames including in each case two vertical beams, having vertical adjustment drives, and two transverse beams connected to the vertical beams. The transverse beams extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction and have drives for transverse adjustment. Pairs of crawler tracks are fastened to the chassis frames for mobility of the longitudinal beam, each crawler track being connected to one of the vertical beams. Each chassis frame is designed to be rotatable relative to the longitudinal beam by means of a vertical axis of rotation which is disposed centrally between the two crawler tracks and connects the two transverse beams to the longitudinal beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20070022898
    Abstract: A machine for transporting and laying track switches has a switch carrier that can be supported on a track or a ballast bed, on the end thereof, by a rail or track-laying gear. The switch carrier has a central carrier section connected with winches, and two end carrier sections that are mounted on the gear carrier and are respectively connected to the central carrier section in an articulated manner by a carrier joint. The two end carrier sections can be pivoted about a gear axis, which is parallel to a carrier axis of the carrier joint and at a distance from the same, in relation to the gear carrier, by way of a rotational drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 7081170
    Abstract: A method of cleaning encrusted ballast comprises the steps of screening the encrusted ballast to separate detritus from the ballast, washing the screened ballast with water while removing the separated detritus on a conveyor belt unit, clarifying the washing water to produce a clarified water portion and washing water sludge, and disposing of the washing water sludge by moving it to the detritus on the conveyor belt unit for common removal with the detritus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20060117987
    Abstract: A transport car comprises a loading platform for transporting a crawler crane having a pair of crawler treads, and undercarriages supporting the platform for moving the transport car along a track, the loading platform extending in a longitudinal direction and having two lateral edges extending parallel to the longitudinal direction. A pair of transversely spaced support plates on the loading platform retains and supports each crawler tread on the loading platform, and drives are provided for repositioning the support plates relative to the loading platform perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction into an assembling position in which the support plates project beyond the lateral edges of the loading platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 6792870
    Abstract: In a machine for removing an old track and laying a new track, which comprises a device for receiving old ties, a first conveyor device arranged adjacent thereto for conveying the old ties away from the device for receiving the old ties, and a second conveyor device for conveying new ties to a device for laying new ties, a transfer device having a power-driven, vertically adjustable transfer element for selectively transferring old ties from the first to the second conveyor device is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20040045472
    Abstract: In a machine for removing an old track and laying a new track, which comprises a device for receiving old ties, a first conveyor device arranged adjacent thereto for conveying the old ties away from the device for receiving the old ties, and a second conveyor device for conveying new ties to a device for laying new ties, a transfer device having a power-driven, vertically adjustable transfer element for selectively transferring old ties from the first to the second conveyor device is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Therurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 6698358
    Abstract: A machine picks up ties from a ballast bed of a track while advancing continuously in an operating direction. A machine frame carries a tie transport unit onto which a tie pick-up device transports the ties. The pick-up device has tie skids immersed in the ballast bed for supporting the ties to be lifted. The tie skids are extended backward by a tie sliding track on which the underside of the ties is supported and the ties are slid to the tie transport unit. The tie sliding track extends in the longitudinal direction and it has a transfer end at which the ties are transferred to a receiving end of the tie transport unit. An endless transporting chain with tie engaging members shifts the ties from the ballast bed to the receiving end of the tie transport unit. The transporting chain has a lower deflection end that lies ahead of its upper deflection end and it extends along a reference line that encloses an acute angle with the ballast bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20040011383
    Abstract: A method of cleaning encrusted ballast comprises the steps of screening the encrusted ballast to separate detritus from the ballast, washing the screened ballast with water while removing the separated detritus on a conveyor belt unit, clarifying the washing water to produce a clarified water portion and washing water sludge, and disposing of the washing water sludge by moving it to the detritus on the conveyor belt unit for common removal with the detritus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger