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 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: 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 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: 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.

Abstract: A railroad track tamping machine for consolidating and compacting railroad track ballast includes ballast tampers, preferably rollers, adapted to roll over and between the ties, and guides for the rollers to guide them in a manner such that the rollers either roll over and between the ties or along the shoulders. The rollers are mounted in the guides and vibrator arrangements are provided for vibrating the rollers during operation thereof to consolidate and compact the ballast. In a preferred embodiment, the vibrator arrangement comprises a hydraulic system whereby the roller means are vibrated due to rapid fluctuations created in the system. Preferably the rollers are arranged in a set and are located one after the other so that each roller rolls over the same area of the ties and ballast as the other rollers of the set as the device moves once over a length of railroad track to be consolidated.

Abstract: A screening device suitable for cleaning railroad ballast which has become fouled with use, and of the type in which ballast to be cleaned is fed into a screen member to separate the coarse or ballast stone from the fines, the stone being reused to ballast the track. A screen member of generally frusto-conical shape, open at each end, is rotatably mounted on a track running frame, with the axis of the screen extending substantially parallel to the track and either horizontal or slightly inclined to the horizontal. The screen member is rotated so that centrifugal action results in the fouled ballast, loaded into the narrower open end of the screen member, moving up the walls thereof to its larger open end. The fines pass through the screen member and the stone is collected at a stone receiving member located adjacent the wide end of the screen member.

Abstract: In a shear machine, the lower or fixed knife which is installed in a bed or table, which, in turn, is slidably supported on the front sloping edges of the machine housings, is adjustable horizontally with respect to the upper or movable knife by a power actuated wedge assembly installed frontally, in position to elevate the bed or table along the sloping edges, to reduce the horizontal spacing between the knives. Adjustable horizontal increase of the spacing between the knives is accomplished by adjustably lowering the bed or table along the sloping edges of the side wall housings, utilizing power in cooperation with the pull of gravity to accomplish this.

Abstract: Holes in railway ties are drilled and impregnated with creosote or other preservative using a hollow drill with consecutive drilling and creosote injection cycles, either at the time of rail mounting or in a prior processing stage so as to produce a tie with improved resistance to deterioration, for example due to ingress of water in the tie hole. The invention enables the preservation of pretreated ties, which are subsequently drilled to receive spikes for rail tie plates, by continuing the skin of creosote or other preservative from the outer surface of the tie to the walls of the drilled hole. A sealing collar assembly is mounted on the drill to prevent egress of preservative from the hole during the injection process.

Abstract: In a programming system for press brakes or the like where a number of bending operations are performed on a piece of work, in the course of which the work, must be turned or flipped over, means are provided for alerting an operator as to the necessity for turning or flipping of the work in preparation for the coming bending operation.

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 for vertical, sliding movement on the frame means and a needle indicator is mounted on the pivot means to pivot about a horizontal axis generally parallel to the rails of the railroad track. Scale means are arranged on the frame means near one end of the indicator to indicate in combination with the indicator the existing grade and horizontal alignment of the adjacent section with reference to the wire reference system. During use of the mechanism, the position of the indicator is adjusted by a reference wire of the system which contacts the indicator. Preferably, this reference wire extends through a relatively small hole in the bottom portion of the indicator.

Abstract: An undercutting apparatus and a method for removing material from beneath railroad track. The apparatus comprises a rotary trench digging means and horizontal chain means to transport the material from beneath the railroad track to the trench digging means at an underground location. In operation the trench digging means digs a trench alongside of the track while at the same time transporting the material delivered by the horizontal chain means to a suitable location above the ground. Preferably the rotary trench digging means comprises a large hollow wheel and one end of the chain means is disposed inside of and near the bottom of the wheel during normal operation of the chain means. Means are provided to pivot the chain means about a vertical axis whereby the chain means can be pivoted from a first position wherein the chain means extends parallel to the track to a second position wherein the chain means extends perpendicular to the track.

Abstract: An undercutting apparatus for removing ballast and other material from beneath railroad ties, particularly ties in areas that are difficult to undercut with conventional equipment. The apparatus includes a carrier capable of moving over ordinary ground. An undercutter in the form of a toothed chain moving around the periphery of a plate member is rigidly mounted to a first frame member. A drive motor is provided for driving the chain by means of a sprocket. The first frame member is mounted on a second frame to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to the second frame. A motor and interconnecting gears are provided to pivot the first frame member as desired. The second frame is mounted on a travelling frame mounted on a vertically oriented track frame. Hydraulic cylinders pivot the second frame means as desired. The track frame is mounted to the carrier to transport the undercutter and provide it with the necessary power.

Abstract: Apparatus for the vertical and lateral movement of a section of railway track. Gripping members are operated to grip the two lines of rails. The gripping members are mounted on at least one support frame connected by articulated connecting members to the chassis of a track maintenance vehicle movable on the track. The support frame is movable both vertically and laterally relative to the vehicle under the action of lifting members or lining members, to move said track section and to bring it into a predetermined reference position. The apparatus comprises in combination vertical and lateral support members connected to the support frame to guide the same and supported on at least one line of rails and guidance and control members for moving each gripping member relative to the support frame in directing both vertical and transverse to the track.