Abstract: There is disclosed a tamping device for tamping railway track ballast adjacent and beneath the track tie ends. The device includes a track working machine, a retractable tamper frame mounted on the machine; the frame in operative position, extending, at least partially in the ballast, parallel to the center line of the track adjacent the outside the tie ends; a plurality of tamping plates mounted one behind the other longitudinally of the frame and extending inwardly thereof, in the direction of the track center, in stepped formation with a leading tamping plate extending farther from the frame inwardly towards the track center than a next adjacent trailing tamping plate. Each tamping plate has a leading edge and a trailing edge, one of the edges being flexibly connected to the frame and the other of the edges being connected to a tamping plate vibrator. A ballast plough is mounted at a leading end of said tamper frame.

Abstract: In a railway track ballast tamping device, a tamping unit is carried for vertical adjustment by a support mounted on the frame structure of a vehicle and comprises at least one pair of jointly-operating tamping tools crossing each other. The arm of these tools are adapted to pivot on opposite eccentric cranks formed on an eccentric shaft rotatably mounted in a bearing rigidly fastened to the support; the upper ends of the arms, opposite the pick-forming thereof, are each pivotally connected to a hydraulic cylinder inclined not in excess of 30.degree. to the vertical; the planes passing through the axis of rotation on the eccentric shaft and the center of the opposite eccentric cranks thereof form between them an angle of 40.degree. to 80.degree. in order to warrant a symmetrical, synchronous oscillatory motion of the packers carried by the lower ends of the picks.

Abstract: The ballast regulator machine is provided with a ballast plow arrangement, a rotary transverse brush on the rearward end and a ballast transport device with two conveyor belts, the rearward end of the rearward conveyor belt being arranged in the region of the transverse brush and the forward end of the forward conveyor belt being arranged in front of the ballast plow arrangement. The transverse brush is surrounded by a ballast guide housing which is so arranged that the ballast thrown up by the transverse brush is directed into the rearward conveyor belt. The forward conveyor belt can pivot towards both sides about a vertical axis and is extendable towards the front by an adjustable conveyor belt section which in its operating position extends up to a ballast transport wagon arranged in front of the machine and which becomes inoperative in its rest position.

Abstract: A machine for the renewal of railway tracks adapted to replace old rails and/or old sleepers with new rails and/or new sleepers.This machine comprises two frames connected by a swivel and resting on a front, middle and rear bogie. The equipment for the removal of old rails is disposed between the front and middle bogie, and the equipment for the removal of old sleepers, the renewal of the ballast, the laying down of new sleepers and new rails, is located between the middle bogie and the rear bogie. The middle bogie is equipped during the working cycles with a carriage means capable of progressing on the old sleepers still in service but deprived of rails, which sleepers act as a lateral guiding means for said carriage means.

Abstract: In treating cast iron with magnesium to produce nodular iron, a capsule of heat-resistant material, closed except for calibrated limited access passages, containing the magnesium, is plunged into a bath of molten metal in a tall vertical ladle while the latter is capped by a hood to contain the violent reaction resulting. An elevating mechanism lowers and raises the hood and capsule and plunges and withdraws the capsule while the hood caps the ladle. The mechanism includes a plunging rod carrying the capsule and means for maintaining the rod in a fixed radial position relative to its axis and for restraining it against the force of the reaction.

Abstract: In treating cast iron with magnesium to produce nodular iron, a capsule of heat-resistant material, closed except for calibrated limited access passages, containing the magnesium, is plunged into a bath of molten metal in a tall vertical ladle while the latter is capped by a hood to contain the violent reaction resulting. An elevating mechanism lowers and raises the hood and capsule and plunges and withdraws the capsule while the hood caps the ladle. The mechanism includes a plunging rod carrying the capsule and means for maintaining the rod in a fixed radial position relative to its axis and for restraining it against the force of the reaction.

Abstract: In treating cast iron with magnesium to produce nodular iron, a capsule of heat-resistant material, closed except for calibrated limited access passages, containing the magnesium, is plunged into a bath of molten metal in a tall vertical ladle while the latter is capped by a hood to contain the violent reaction resulting. An elevating mechanism lowers and raises the hood and capsule and plunges and withdraws the capsule while the hood caps the ladle. The mechanism includes a plunging rod carrying the capsule and means for maintaining the rod in a fixed radial position relative to its axis and for restraining it against the force of the reaction.

Abstract: A railway track renewal or construction car for use in a track renewal or construction train, which car is in the form of a straight beam resting on its ends on two rail engaging bogies, the front of which is adapted to roll on the old track to be renewed and the rear of which runs on the track which just has been renewed. Between the bogies, there is provided a device for removing the rails of the old track, means for discarding the old ties, a means for regulating the ballast, a means for laying new ties and a means for closing the new rails previously laid on either side of the track. In order to permit such a car to operate on a cleared right-of-way where no previous track exists, the car is provided with a telescopic undercarriage which can be lowered onto the ballast of the right of way replacing the front bogie as a front support for the car. The undercarriage is provided with a suitable rolling device such as an endless track.

Abstract: A railway surveying apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a light beam transmitter for transmitting a beam along the track, a light beam receiver and an intermediate shadow board all mounted on respective rail-engaging buggies so that the transmitter, receiver and board are located on the center line of the track. The shadow board and receiver buggies are connected through a twist transducer that measures the relative angular positions of the buggies. A pendulum is mounted on the receiver buggy and serves to measure the actual rail cross level condition at that point. A pendulum on the transmitter buggy and appropriate circuitry can reference the apparatus to either the track center line or one of the rails.

Abstract: A hydro mechanical condition-responsive servo control valve for controlling a variable condition, such as position or rate of change of position, of a remote element, comprises a rotary fluid valve controlled by a differential gear train arranged to register differential movement between two input shafts, one of which is connected for movement according to a desired input condition and the other of which is alternatively connected either to register the actual element condition or a reference [datum] condition; the rotary valve including mating stationary and rotary valve plates each incorporating fluid flow ports cooperatively arranged on the mating plate surfaces thereby to control fluid flow from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet in accordance with the relative position or movement of said two input shafts.

Abstract: A track aligning device for monitoring the curvature of a track and adjusting the track successively to correct the curvature incorporates two taut wires mounted on a car or cars running on the track, the wires each defining two chords each extending between a pair of spaced points located on the track center line. Preferably the cords overlap. Each chord operates as a reference line which cooperates with a respective measuring device. A first measuring device located nearer the rearward point of the first chord derives a voltage which is sampled at equal intervals, say 2 meters, as the aligning device passes along the track. The voltages are summed and averaged electrically and a voltage equivalent to the mean displacement of the track from the first chord is obtained. The second measuring device is located nearer the rearward point of the second chord and derives a voltage equivalent to the actual displacement at that position of the track with respect to the second chord.

Abstract: A railway ballast tamping tool is disclosed which has a foot welded to the lower end of a shank. The foot has rectangular front and rear faces and is gradually tapered from one side to the other.

Abstract: A hole sensing device for a spike driving machine is disclosed. The sensing device has two projecting fingers both of which ride along the surface of a tie plate as the sensing device is swept along parallel to the rails. The fingers actuate two switches one open and the other closed when the fingers are not contacting the tie plate. When the fingers are both engaging the tie plate the switch associated with the leading finger is open and the other closed. As soon as the leading finger registers with a hole it closes its associated switch completing the circuit and allowing a hole sensing signal to be sent.

Abstract: A car on tracks behind the knives of a shear machine, has a section for receiving product cuttings when the car occupies one position on the tracks, and means are provided for receiving scrap cuttings when said car is moved to another position, the car being capable of additional movement on said tracks to a position to the rear of the machine for convenient disposal of cuttings carried by it. Work support means carried by the car, supports work prior to shearing and, when possessed of magnetic qualities, will magnetically grip the work and enable adjustment thereof for shearing, by movement of the car. In lieu of magnet work supports, roller supports may be provided, and such roller supports may be power driven.

Abstract: On a shear machine having a ram, a work table, and a hold-down means to grip work to the work table, a hydraulically sequenced circuit to inhibit the downstroke of the ram until a sufficient hold-down pressure has been achieved at the hold-down means to effectively grip the work to be operated upon, and a booster cylinder responsive to the down-stroke of the ram for maintaining the pressure at the hold-down means during the cutting stroke of the ram.

Abstract: A rake angle adjustment assembly operated from the front of a shear machine to adjust a fluid control valve which effects a rake angle adjustment; such assembly being intimate with the movable ram being adjusted in such a manner that the achieving of the correct rake angle stops the adjustment process.

Abstract: A reference mechanism for a spike driving machine is disclosed. The spike driving machine has a hole sensing device followed by a spike setter and drive head all of which sweep along a rail tie in a direction parallel to the rail. When the sensing device senses a hole it signals to the reference mechanism which references the hole to the setter and drive head which are following. The sweep continues until the setter and drive head are located over the hole at which point the sweep is stopped by the reference mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for correcting the surface of a railroad track by exerting pressure on the shoulders of the track from both sides thereof by means of vibrating compactors mounted on a vehicle chassis and provided with pressure applying jacks. The ballast is compacted beneath the track which raises it to a desired first track level which may be above the final desired track level, whereafter the track is tamped down to the desired level by means of a force applicator which imparts pulsating force to depress the raised track.

Abstract: An indicator mechanism for an apparatus for correcting the existing grade and horizontal alignment of railroad track in accordance with a wire reference system. The mechanism includes frame means, the position of which in use is referenced to the existing position of an adjacent section of the railroad track. Pivot means are mounted on the frame means and a needle indicator is mounted on the pivot means so as to pivot about a horizontal axis generally parallel to a reference wire. A second indicator is mounted on the needle indicator for generally vertical, sliding movement thereon. A first index is arranged on the frame means to indicate in combination with the needle indicator the existing horizontal alignment of the adjacent section with reference to the reference wire. A second index in the form of a scale is arranged on the needle indicator and it indicates in combination with the second indicator the existing grade of the adjacent section of a track again with reference to the reference wire.