Railway Graders Patents (Class 37/104)
  • Patent number: 11408131
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Herzog Railroad Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob D. Herzog, Tony Shirk, Daniel T. Marshall, Steven R. Walton, Derek DeMott
  • Patent number: 11313083
    Abstract: An apparatus for cribbing and anchor attachment on rails of a railroad track, including a frame movable along the track, at least one dual function workhead mounted to the frame that is moveable into and out of operational position relative to the track, an anchor applicator tool pivotably mounted to each workhead, and a cribber tool mounted to each workhead and adjacent the anchor applicator tool. Each anchor applicator tool and cribber tool is movable under operator control relative to the workhead from a retracted position to a work position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: NORDCO INC.
    Inventors: Julio Enrique Payán, Mark Daniel David
  • Patent number: 10753048
    Abstract: A machine having a ballast take-up device for taking up ballast located underneath a track. The take up device has an endless clearing chain guided in a chain channel. In a connecting joint from a transverse channel to a transport channel. There is also a ballast deflector blade pivotable about a pivot axis. Arranged on the ballast deflector blade is a ballast conveyor, designed for ballast transport in the direction towards a pivot axis by means of a conveyor drive. With this, it is possible to expand the operating range of the ballast take-up device, as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: PLASSER & THEURER EXPORT VON BAHNBAUMASCHINEN GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H.
    Inventor: Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 10612195
    Abstract: A procedure for laying railway tracks on a trackbed on which sleepers (20) are located, that comprises at least the following steps: a) approach of a track laying train (30) with the stretches of rail (1) to be laid in the laying area; b) joining of the pairs of rails (1) to the consecutive rails (1) by means of tractor plates (200); c) unloading the pairs of rails (1) from the track laying train (30) onto the bed; d) squaring of the sleepers (20) by means of a squaring device; e) joining of the consecutive pairs of rails (1) by means of a joint plate (100); f) unloading of ballast in hoppers onto the bed; g) tamping of the rails (1); h) profiling of the ballast by means of a profiling device (400); i) welding of the rails (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: FERROVIAL AGROMAN, S.A.
    Inventors: Fernando María López Bueno, Rodolfo Moreno Pérez, Miguel Ángel Valencia Arévalo
  • Patent number: 9839181
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a harvester control system that allows for the operation and control of a bottom floor assembly by an operator of a harvester, such as a round baler. The harvester control system generally comprises at least one rotation sensor configured to measure the rotation angle of the bottom floor assembly during the harvesting process, a controller that receives information from the rotation sensor(s), and an operator interface configured to display warning information to the operator if the bottom floor assembly meets certain rotation and time parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chandrashekhar Singh, Carl M. Brewer, Mark K. Chow, John R. McClure
  • Patent number: 9260821
    Abstract: In a section of a ballasted track that extends over a plurality of crossties, ballast is removed and crossties are removed. Crosstie blocks mounted in concrete slabs are inserted, lifted, and fastened to the rails. The rails are supported by temporary, vertically adjustable supports and adjusted. In an area that extends over a number of concrete slabs, infill concrete is filled in from the underground up to at least part of the height of the concrete slabs, and after the infill concrete has hardened, at least a part of each of the supports located between two respective concrete slabs is removed. The method allows the conversion to be carried out without changing the position of the rails. After the placement of the supports, the track is immediately operable again so that the relevant section need not remain closed until all method steps are completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SONNEVILLE AG
    Inventors: Martin Fink, Marco Habegger, Peter Laborenz
  • Patent number: 9206557
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clearing device (5) provided for removing ballast below a track (4), which clearing device comprises a clearing beam (10) of a clearing chain (11) that can be positioned below the track (4) in a ballast bed (6) and pivoted about a vertical axis of rotation (7). An end (12) of the clearing beam (10) that is distanced from the axis of rotation (7) can be connected by a releasable coupling (13) to a supporting device (14) fastened to the machine frame (1). In order to pivot jointly with the clearing beam (10), the supporting device is fastened to the machine frame (1) via a linkage (16) that is distanced from the coupling (13) and has a pivot axis (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen, Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Herbert Woergoetter
  • Patent number: 9021724
    Abstract: A method puts into operation a clearing apparatus suitable for picking up ballast and is disposed in an endless configuration during employment so as to encircle a railroad track. The clearing apparatus has a horizontal cross-duct which, prior to a start of the employment, is intended to be positioned below the railroad track and connected, on the one hand, to a rising duct and, on the other hand, to a return duct of the clearing apparatus. The method includes displacing ties of the railroad track in a longitudinal direction of the railroad track to create a tie gap; lowering the cross-duct through the tie gap between two rails of the railroad track and transferred, below the ties, into a working position extending crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the railroad track; and connecting the cross-duct to the rising duct and to the return duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Matisa Materiel Industriel SA
    Inventor: Vladimir Svitok
  • Publication number: 20140360056
    Abstract: This invention may comprise a railcar ballast distributing apparatus comprising a ballast railcar traveling in a direction of travel on a pair of railroad rails, a plow mechanism operatively attaching to a main bracket assembly attaching to the middle underside of the railcar, and being powered by a hydraulic system, the plow mechanism comprising: a spring box assembly mechanism operating a single plow blade assembly comprising: a pair of articulating and independently movable plow blades vertically and independently adaptable during contact against the pair of railroad rails and having a transport mode span and a separate deployed mode span, and a spring-loaded safety locking latch mechanism, the spring box assembly mechanism vertically deploying and retracting the pair of plow blades, which automatically and differentially change orientation when contacting the pair of railroad rails, and increase to the deployed mode span and decrease to the transport mode span.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Andrew J. Spurlock, Edward A. Burris, Daniel P. Hartness
  • Patent number: 8904676
    Abstract: An undercutter attachable to utility machines has a bar with chain having teeth for cutting into rock beds, whereby the chain rotates about the bar. The bar has removable top and bottom portions, which when in place and secured, provide a channel for the chain, and when the top and bottom portions are removed, allow for replacement of worn parts without loosening or removing the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Dymax, Inc
    Inventors: Dennis Clasen, Scott Balderson, Harold Fechter
  • Patent number: 8875635
    Abstract: A method for delivering ballast to a section of railroad track includes measuring an existing ballast profile of a section of railroad track using a remote sensing system, and providing a signal indicative thereof to a first computer. Using the first computer, the existing ballast profile is compared with an ideal ballast profile to compute a track file representing a volume of additional ballast needed as a function of linear position along the section of railroad track, and data representing the track file is transmitted to a second computer of an automatic ballast dump train. Ballast is dumped along the section of railroad track according to the track file under control of the second computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Georgetown Rail Equipment Company
    Inventors: H. Lynn Turner, William C. Shell, Brian Roger VanVoorst, David Rozacky, Carlos Martinez, Charles W. Aaron, John Joseph Shackleton, Jr., Joel Scott Howard
  • Patent number: 8844445
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Racine Railroad Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Brenny, Jeff Hon, Frank Gall, III
  • Patent number: 8615110
    Abstract: A method of surveying a section of a railway to determine amounts of soil to be excavated or added at selected position coordinates of track locations includes moving a survey vehicle along the railway, optically scanning the track structure at selected intervals to obtain optical data points with position coordinates, recording images at the intervals with position coordinates, recording position coordinates of drainage points, processing the optical data points to derive ditch overlays formed by ditch profiles associated with locations along the track and ditch templates, detecting anomalous soil unit weights associated with track locations, reviewing images associated with the locations of the anomalous units, adjusting the ditch overlays as necessary, and loading the adjusted data into a computer of an excavator device for display to guide an excavator operator in reshaping the ditches along the track according to the detected position of the excavator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Herzog Railroad Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan A. Landes, Ivan E. Bounds
  • Patent number: 8555786
    Abstract: A machine for renovating a track includes the following: a transverse chain segment of an excavating chain is designed shorter than a crosstie length of new crossties. A ballast plow is disposed relative to a longitudinal machine axis between the transverse chain segment of the excavating chain and the device for placing the new crossties. A width—extending normal to the longitudinal machine axis—of the ballast plow is designed greater than the crosstie length of the new crossties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Matisa Materiel Industriel SA
    Inventor: Jörg Ganz
  • Publication number: 20130206031
    Abstract: A method for constructing at least one railway track (V1, V2) on a platform (5), wherein the permanent crosspieces are placed at the substantially permanent site thereof essentially through the use of railway vehicles (20, 30, 40). Crosspiece deposits are pre-formed on the platform (5) and along at least one track to be constructed (V1, V2) via railway vehicles. The method also includes the placement of rails on the crosspieces. The rails are pushed in front of a placement car for the first track (V1) and are deposited by sliding same out of a rail storage and placement train in a direction to the rear of the train and skewed in relation to the axis of the train for the second track (V2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: ETF
    Inventor: Emmanuel Mange
  • Publication number: 20130192095
    Abstract: A self adjusting chain mechanism for use with an undercutter attached to an excavator having hydraulic means for adjusting the undercutter; the self adjusting mechanism has a chain and sprocket assembly in a sprocket holding frame, a ram and piston, all operating in conjunction with the hydraulics of the excavator with a control system to move an adjuster shaft connected to the chain sprocket assembly, so as to cause the chain to tighten in response to the changes in hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Dymax, Inc.
    Inventor: Dymax, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120248214
    Abstract: The invention relates to a trackbed liner which has a particular utility in a railway trackbed, as well as in other trackbeds such as tram trackbeds. The trackbed liner may include an upper support layer; a lower support layer; and at least one middle filtration layer of a material having a plurality of pores and which is normally impermeable to liquid water. In use and under the load of a vehicle acting on the trackbed, the filtration layer permits passage of liquid water upwardly therethrough but restricts the passage of solids materials, so as to restrict pumping erosion of material located beneath the liner. The trackbed liner may be used to renovate a trackbed comprising ballast contaminated with clay particles. The method includes removing contaminated ballast; laying the trackbed liner; and locating fresh ballast on an upper surface of the liner to provide a renovated trackbed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: GEOFABRICS LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Graham Warwick, Andrew David Leech
  • Publication number: 20120216433
    Abstract: A method puts into operation a clearing apparatus suitable for picking up ballast and is disposed in an endless configuration during employment so as to encircle a railroad track. The clearing apparatus has a horizontal cross-duct which, prior to a start of the employment, is intended to be positioned below the railroad track and connected, on the one hand, to a rising duct and, on the other hand, to a return duct of the clearing apparatus. The method includes displacing ties of the railroad track in a longitudinal direction of the railroad track to create a tie gap; lowering the cross-duct through the tie gap between two rails of the railroad track and transferred, below the ties, into a working position extending crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the railroad track; and connecting the cross-duct to the rising duct and to the return duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: MATISA MATERIEL INDUSTRIEL SA
    Inventor: Vladimir Svitok
  • Publication number: 20120110877
    Abstract: The ballast hopper (14) of a ballast plough (1) is connected at a rear end—with respect to a working direction (5)—to the machine frame (3) by means of a joint (22). A pivot drive (25) is provided for pivoting the hopper (14) about a joint axis (24), extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the machine, of the joint (22). Associated with a discharge end (18), spaced from the joint (22), of the bottom conveyor belt (16) is a transfer conveyor belt (28) for passing the stored ballast (12) on to a storage wagon adjoining the ballast plough (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: FRANZ PLASSER BAHNBAUMASCHINEN INDUSTRIEGESELL SCHAFT MBH
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Günther Buchberger
  • 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: 7987620
    Abstract: A railroad ballast removal system capable of removing ballast material from below a rail line. The railroad ballast removal system includes at least one rotary cutting wheel having a plurality of individually replaceable cutting attachments positioned about a perimeter of the rotary cutting wheel. Each rotary cutting wheel is attached to an articulated arm capable of adjusting the position of the rotary cutting wheel along varying axis. The articulated arm is mounted to a support structure capable of transporting the rotary cutting wheel to a portion of railway requiring maintenance of the ballast material. The railroad ballast removal system is able to operate at a spot location or in a continuous manner down a length of railroad track. The ability to manipulate the rotary cutting wheel along the various axis allows the rotary cutting wheel to be used for ballast removal in locations wherein adjacent railways limit cutting access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Huebner, Aaron M. Foster, John A. Dekarski
  • Publication number: 20110083346
    Abstract: An undercutter having removable top and bottom portions, which when in place and secured, provide the channel means for the chain, and when removed, allow for replacement of worn parts without loosening or removing the chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: New Dymax, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Clasen, Scott Balderson, Harold Fechter
  • Publication number: 20110072692
    Abstract: A railroad ballast removal system capable of removing ballast material from below a rail line. The railroad ballast removal system includes at least one rotary cutting wheel having a plurality of individually replaceable cutting attachments positioned about a perimeter of the rotary cutting wheel. Each rotary cutting wheel is attached to an articulated arm capable of adjusting the position of the rotary cutting wheel along varying axis. The articulated arm is mounted to a support structure capable of transporting the rotary cutting wheel to a portion of railway requiring maintenance of the ballast material. The railroad ballast removal system is able to operate at a spot location or in a continuous manner down a length of railroad track. The ability to manipulate the rotary cutting wheel along the various axis allows the rotary cutting wheel to be used for ballast removal in locations wherein adjacent railways limit cutting access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: LORAM MAINTENANCE OF WAY, INC.
    Inventors: David L. Huebner, Aaron M. Foster, John A. Dekarski
  • Patent number: 7861439
    Abstract: In a method for the continuous renewal of a ballast bed (41) of a track from which the rails and sleepers have been removed, by carrying away old ballast (42) and depositing cleaned ballast or new ballast (44) on the underlying surface (46) from which the old ballast (42) has been removed, a removal device (22) which can travel in the working direction (x) continuously picks up the old ballast (42) of the ballast bed (41). The excavated material is conveyed away from the excavation area and possibly passed on for ballast cleaning At the same time, cleaned ballast or new ballast (44) is continuously deposited in the working direction (x) on the underlying surface (46) from which the old ballast (42) has been removed, to form a new ballast bed (43). The removal device (22), as part of an excavating machine (10) traveling in the working direction (x) on the old ballast bed (41), is arranged downstream of the running gear (14, 16) of the excavating machine (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: J. Muller AG, Maschineller Geleiseunterhalt
    Inventor: Heinz Jager
  • Patent number: 7845098
    Abstract: A railroad ballast removal system capable of removing ballast material from below a rail line. The railroad ballast removal system includes at least one rotary cutting wheel having a plurality of individually replaceable cutting attachments positioned about a perimeter of the rotary cutting wheel. Each rotary cutting wheel is attached to an articulated arm capable of adjusting the position of the rotary cutting wheel along varying axis. The articulated arm is mounted to a support structure capable of transporting the rotary cutting wheel to a portion of railway requiring maintenance of the ballast material. The railroad ballast removal system is able to operate at a spot location or in a continuous manner down a length of railroad track. The ability to manipulate the rotary cutting wheel along the various axis allows the rotary cutting wheel to be used for ballast removal in locations wherein adjacent railways limit cutting access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Huebner, Aaron M. Foster, John A. Dekarski
  • Publication number: 20100293819
    Abstract: A railroad ballast removal system capable of removing ballast material from below a rail line. The railroad ballast removal system includes at least one rotary cutting wheel having a plurality of individually replaceable cutting attachments positioned about a perimeter of the rotary cutting wheel. Each rotary cutting wheel is attached to an articulated arm capable of adjusting the position of the rotary cutting wheel along varying axis. The articulated arm is mounted to a support structure capable of transporting the rotary cutting wheel to a portion of railway requiring maintenance of the ballast material. The railroad ballast removal system is able to operate at a spot location or in a continuous manner down a length of railroad track. The ability to manipulate the rotary cutting wheel along the various axis allows the rotary cutting wheel to be used for ballast removal in locations wherein adjacent railways limit cutting access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: LORAM MAINTENANCE OF WAY, INC.
    Inventors: David L. Huebner, Aaron M. Foster, John A. Dekarski
  • 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
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 7481168
    Abstract: An undercutter apparatus for scooping out contaminated gravel from beneath railroad tracks is designed for use off of the rail road tracks. It can be used when the grade of the ground adjacent to the railroad tracks is quite different from the grade of the railroad tracks. The apparatus includes a control head mounted on an excavator with the control head carrying hydraulically operated means for pivoting the undercutter bar 180° about a vertical axis; for pivoting the distal end of the undercutter bar up and down relative to the proximal end of the undercutter bar approximately 60° above or below in normal horizontal position; and for driving a continuous loop undercutter chain around the undercutter frame for dragging out the contaminated gravel. The undercover apparatus can be a locked into any selected position within these ranges of motion controlled by the control head, or additional positions controlled by operation of the excavator boom and used in that position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Inventors: Lawrence Glenn Pike, Darin Glenn Pike, Cody Lee Holman
  • Patent number: 7316084
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for use in track sledding operations. Machine (1) comprises a wagon (2) having adjustably carried therebeneath a multibladed plough (3). A rail clamp assembly (4) is included for suspending the track above the plough during the sledding operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Queensland Rail
    Inventor: John Phillip Allen
  • Patent number: 7076895
    Abstract: An apparatus for suction and discharge of material comprises a container (9) with a suction opening (19) for letting in a sucked-up air/material mixture and a discharge opening (14) for discharging material. The container (9) is rotatable and has inner conveying means (18) which upon rotation of the container (9) are adapted to convey the material to the discharge opening (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Disab Vacuum Technology AB
    Inventors: Karl T. Haugen, Gert Lovgren, Jan Billberg, Gisle Hauk
  • Patent number: 7013812
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a tamping tool comprising a shank and a blade, with the blade having various arrangements of wear-resistant material affixed to the face of the blade by means of brazing, soldering, gluing or other method. Additionally, some arrangements of the tamping tool have a wear-resistant tip inserted into a groove in the end of the blade. The tamping tool of the present invention reduces wear, providing an increased life and increasing the time intervals at which it becomes necessary to replace the tamping tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Ballast Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Williams
  • Patent number: 6862822
    Abstract: A mobile railway track repair apparatus (10) that includes a mobile unit (11) having a cab (22) rotatably supported on a dual mode undercarriage (21) wherein, a boom unit (12) is pivotally supported by the cab (22) and includes a boom support column (31) pivotally attached to a boom arm (32) having a universal connector unit (13) provided on its lower end (34). In addition, the universal connector unit (13) is operatively connected to an undercutter assembly (50) wherein, a plurality of hydraulic piston elements (35) (35?) and (35?) are employed to manipulate the boom support column (31), the boom arm (32), and the universal connector unit (13) to position the undercutter assembly in a generally transverse relationship to the rail bed (101) to extract weakened ballast (104) from beneath the railroad track (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: Ken Masse
  • Patent number: 6782955
    Abstract: A track rehabilitation machine comprises an elongated machine frame supported on the track by undercarriages for movement in an operating direction, the machine frame having two ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Herbert Wörgötter
  • Patent number: 6745502
    Abstract: A rubber tired railway plow (100) has a plow unit (102) mounted to a plate (111) which extends across the forward end of the rubber tired vehicle (100). The plow unit (102) is attached so as to be movable on the plate (111). Wedges (122, 123) are used to maintain the plow unit (102) in position on the plate (111). When the wedges (122, 123) are removed, the plow unit (102) is movable on the plate (111) from one side of the vehicle (100) to the opposite side thereby to be able to plow on either side of the rails (141).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Ledcor IP Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Lionel Charles Desmarais, Andrew Smith Jackson, Bernie A. Stene, Mark E. Nye
  • Patent number: 6672398
    Abstract: A ballast cleaning machine comprises a machine frame supported on the track by undercarriages for movement in an operating direction. Two vertically and laterally adjustable endless ballast excavating chains are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction for excavating ballast from the ballast bed, and a track lifting device mounted on the machine frame. A first conveyor arrangement conveys the ballast excavated by the first endless ballast excavating chain to a first screening installation, a second conveyor arrangement conveys the ballast excavated by the second endless ballast excavating chain to a second screening installation, and a third conveyor arrangement distributes the cleaned ballast to the ballast bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Herbert Wörgötter
  • Patent number: 6637133
    Abstract: A ballast cleaning machine is a machine frame supported on the track by undercarriages, one of the undercarriages at an end of the machine frame being displaceable in the longitudinal direction. Two vertically and laterally adjustable endless ballast excavating chains are sequentially arranged in the longitudinal direction for excavating ballast from a ballast bed and mounted on the machine frame between the undercarriages, and drives vertically and laterally adjust, and revolve, each endless ballast excavating chain. At least two track lifting devices are mounted on the machine frame, and a screening installation for cleaning ballast is mounted on a car linked to the machine frame. A first conveyor arrangement conveys the ballast excavated by the two endless ballast excavating chains to the screening installation, and a second conveyor arrangement distributed the cleaned ballast from the screening installation to the ballast bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Herbert Wörgötter
  • Patent number: 6619405
    Abstract: A ballast cleaning machine comprises a first machine frame and a second, trailing machine frame linked thereto. Ends of the machine frames are supported on the track by undercarriages for movement of the machine in an operating direction. A vertically and laterally adjustable endless excavating chain as well as a track lifting device is mounted on each machine frame. An upper layer of the ballast bed is excavated by the first excavating chain, the track is lowered to the remaining ballast bed layer, and the remaining ballast bed layer is immediately thereafter excavated by the second excavating chain. The excavated ballast is cleaned in a common screening installation, and the cleaned ballast is distributed at a trailing end of the second machine frame to the ballast bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Herbert Wörgötter
  • Publication number: 20030159316
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for use in track sledding operations. Machine (1) comprises a wagon (2) having adjustably carried therebeneath a multibladed plough (3). A rail clamp assembly (4) is included for suspending the track above the plough during the sledding operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: John Phillip Allen
  • Patent number: 6598325
    Abstract: A mobile machine for clearing ballast from a ballast bed section wherefrom a tie has been removed comprises a machine frame extending in a longitudinal direction, undercarriages supporting the machine frame for mobility on a track supported on the ballast bed, and a ballast clearing device vertically adjustably mounted on the machine frame for clearing ballast from the ballast bed section. The ballast clearing device comprises an inner ballast clearing element arranged on the gage side of at least one rail and pivotal by a pivoting drive in a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal direction about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction, and an outer ballast clearing element vertically adjustable by a vertical adjustment drive independent of the inner ballast clearing element and arranged on the field side of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Herbert Wörgötter
  • Patent number: 6536354
    Abstract: A railway tie bed scarifier mounts on a tie remover/inserter machine. The tie bed scarifier is dimensioned and configured to widen the pre-existing channels left in the ballast through the removal of old ties. The tie bed scarifier includes a carriage moving between a raised travel position and a lowered work position, and a pair of tines reciprocating between a retracted position wherein they fit between the rails, and an extended position wherein they extend towards the sides of the ballast. A method of inserting a railway tie is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Harsco Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Harry Madison, Jarud Hoefker
  • Publication number: 20020157282
    Abstract: A ballast cleaning machine comprises a first machine frame and a second, trailing machine frame linked thereto. Ends of the machine frames are supported on the track by undercarriages for movement of the machine in an operating direction. A vertically and laterally adjustable endless excavating chain as well as a track lifting device is mounted on each machine frame. An upper layer of the ballast bed is excavated by the first excavating chain, the track is lowered to the remaining ballast bed layer, and the remaining ballast bed layer is immediately thereafter excavated by the second excavating chain. The excavated ballast is cleaned in a common screening installation, and the cleaned ballast is distributed at a trailing end of the second machine frame to the ballast bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen- Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Herbert Worgotter
  • Publication number: 20020100191
    Abstract: A mobile machine for clearing ballast from a ballast bed section wherefrom a tie has been removed comprises a machine frame extending in a longitudinal direction, undercarriages supporting the machine frame for mobility on a track supported on the ballast bed, and a ballast clearing device vertically adjustably mounted on the machine frame for clearing ballast from the ballast bed section. The ballast clearing device comprises an inner ballast clearing element arranged on the gage side of at least one rail and pivotal by a pivoting drive in a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal direction about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction, and an outer ballast clearing element vertically adjustable by a vertical adjustment drive independent of the inner ballast clearing element and arranged on the field side of the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen- Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Herbert Worgotter
  • Patent number: 6415720
    Abstract: A machine for renewing a railroad track on a ballast bed comprises a machine frame extending in a longitudinal direction, undercarriages for supporting the machine frame on the railroad track, a first tie transport device for receiving old ties and a second tie transport device for laying new ties, old tie transport devices being mounted on the machine frame and being spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction, and a crawler vehicle and ballast bed planing apparatus being arranged on the machine frame between the tie transport devices, the ballast bed planing apparatus being rotatable by 180° about a vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrigesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 6209462
    Abstract: A crib ballast clearing machine comprises a machine frame supported on undercarriages adapted to support the machine frame on a track comprised of rails fastened to ties defining cribs therebetween, and a ballast scarifying device comprising a revolvable endless excavating chain vertically adjustably mounted on the machine frame for removing ballast from a respective one of the cribs between the rails, a drive for revolving the endless excavating chain, and a displacement drive for vertically adjusting the endless excavating chain. The endless excavating chain has a lowermost ballast receiving part being immersible in ballast in the crib between the rails upon vertical adjustment of the endless excavating chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Josef Theurer
  • Patent number: 6047531
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting vegetation under railway tressels and roadways that includes a vehicle chassis having a turntable body mounted thereon. A primary control station is mounted on the turntable body along with a main boom with a vegetation cutting head attached and a second elevating boom with a secondary control station suspended therefrom. Operators man each of the control stations, and the main boom and elevating boom are hydraulically controlled from either of the control stations as the operators cut vegetation from about railway tressels or roadway overpasses while communicating via a two-way intercom system between the control stations. When cutting below the line of sight of the operator in the primary control station, the cutting head is controlled by the secondary control station operator or is lowered by the elevating boom to a level giving a clear view of the vegetation being cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: William Bryan, III
  • Patent number: 6021717
    Abstract: A machine for compacting and shaping a ballast bed comprises a machine frame supported on undercarriages on a track for mobility in an operating direction, a vertically adjustable track stabilization assembly including a vibrator for generating horizontal oscillations extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and flanged rollers engaging, and running on, the track rails, drives linking the track stabilization assembly to the machine frame for vertically adjusting the track stabilization assembly, and a vertically adjustable plow for profiling the ballast, the plow being affixed directly to the track stabilization assembly to form a structural unit therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Josef Theurer
  • Patent number: 5937763
    Abstract: A machine for distributing ballast on a ballast bed supporting a track comprises a machine frame supported on the track by undercarriages, the undercarriages having wheels making point contacts with the track and the contact points defining a reference plane, chutes arranged on the machine frame and spaced from each other in a direction extending transversely to the machine frame, each chute having a discharge end for downwardly discharging ballast, and a vertically adjustable wiper unit downwardly projecting from the discharge end of each chute towards the track and extending the chute. The wiper unit comprises a drive for adjusting the wiper unit relative to the discharge end, and defines an inlet opening associated with the discharge end of the chute and an outlet opening defining a wiper edge, the wiper edge extending parallel to the reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Josef Theurer
  • Patent number: RE36685
    Abstract: A ballast distributing railroad car has a number of ballast hoppers, each with a selectively operable hopper discharge control member which is operable to selectively drop material from the respective hopper either inside of or outside of the rails of a railroad track. The railroad car also has a pair of ballast distributing blades pivotally attached beneath it, either between the hopper discharge control members or one at either end of the car, with the blades being mirror images of each other. Each blade and each hopper discharge control member can be selectively operated via an independent hydraulic actuator. A remote control radio transmitter and car mounted receiver provide for remote, individual and selective control of hopper discharge control members and blades on a car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Herzog Contracting Corporation
    Inventor: Ivan Eugene Bounds