Abstract: A method and apparatus for spreading ballast along railways makes use of an inertial measurement system to determine where to apply ballast from a hopper car. A variety of techniques can be used to determine the location and speed of the ballast spreading train, including manual or automated visual techniques, laser technology, radar technology, radio frequency transponders, magnetic sensor, thermal imaging and aerial photogrammetry. The invention also contemplates “on the fly” surveys and terrain profiling using lasers or radar.

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.

Abstract: An improved railroad car loader/unloader apparatus includes a backhoe-type machine adapted to operate atop an open top railroad car. The apparatus includes front and rear support feet and a center support beam to which are pivotally attached a pair of center support feet, one to either end of the center support beam with each of the feet contacting an upper surface of the sidewalls of the railroad car. Each center support foot is pivotable through a horizontal plane between extended support position and a retracted, stored position. In one alternative version, double action hydraulic piston and cylinder units are provided to selectively extend and retract the center support feet.

Abstract: An improved railroad car loader/unloader apparatus includes a backhoe-type machine adapted to operate atop an open top railroad car. The apparatus includes front and rear support feet and a removable center support beam to which are pivotally attached a pair of center support feet, one to either end of the center support beam with each of the feet contacting an upper surface of the sidewalls of the railroad car. Each center support foot is pivotable through a horizontal plane between extended support position and a retracted, stored position. Alternative versions of the center and front support feet include support rollers for enhanced movement. A movable front bucket support stop block enhances the conversion of the apparatus between railroad car loading/unloading operations and other uses.

Abstract: A pressurization system for a tank on a water truck includes a pipe connected at one end via a remotely controllable three-way valve directly into the engine exhaust system of the truck and at the other end into a top portion of the water tank. Engine exhaust is thus selectively introduced into the water tank to pressurize the tank. The tank includes a top-mounted fill opening with an internal, counter-weighted flapper valve. With the internal flapper valve, the truck can be driven beneath a high volume water source and water from the source, when it hits the counter-weighted flapper valve, opens the valve by urging the flapper against the action of the counter-weight, but the flapper valve is once again closed by action of the counter-weight when water flow ceases. An anti-siphon orifice in a water outlet conduit serves to prevent water from freezing in the outlet conduit once pressurization is stopped.

Abstract: A ballast distributing railroad car has a number of ballast hoppers, each with a selectively operable hopper door. The railroad car also has a pair of ballast distributing blades pivotally attached beneath it, one at either end of the car, with the blades being mirror images of each other. Each blade can be selectively raised and lowered via an independent hydraulic actuator. A remote control radio transmitter and car mounted receiver provide for remote, individual and selective control of hopper doors and blades on a car. When there are a plurality of ballast cars on a train, each car has a receiver which responds to a different address sequence. The remote transmitter is operable to selectively send any of the different address sequences so that a single selected car can be remotely controlled. In a modified arrangement, each ballast distributing blade has a pair of extendable wings on either side to allow the wider distribution of ballast where needed.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically and non-destructively measuring the longitudinal stresses in a rail of a continuous rail track includes an ultrasonic transmitter which transmits a signature coded pulse pattern through a rail which pulse pattern is altered by the rail section dependent upon the longitudinal stress within the rail. The altered pulse pattern is then received and a data processor, in conjunction with a rail height detector, a rail temperature detector, and a rail splice detector, dynamically determines the longitudinal stresses in the rail as a function of the received pulse characteristics and calculates the stress free temperature (SFT) of the rail. A rail marker marks portions of the rail having unacceptable SFT values. Stress and related rail data are recorded on a data log. A position sensor provides milepost positions to three decimal places.

Abstract: A ballast hopper car door control apparatus and method for controlling a pivoting hopper discharge control member on a railroad ballast car or the like, includes a drive shaft extending through the discharge control member at the pivot point. A transmission is connected to the drive shaft and is driven by a reversible electric motor. The motor is controlled via a radio receiver which receives motor control signals from a remote radio transmitter. When there are a plurality of ballast cars on a train, each car has a receiver which responds to a different address sequence. The remote transmitter is operable to selectively send any of the different address sequences so that a single selected car can be remotely controlled. Multiple hoppers on a single car are controllable by a single receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to recover spent lime from various manufacturing processes, such as sugar manufacturing from sugar beets and sugar cane, for use as a nutritional flowing agent for poultry and animal feeds, comprises a first holding bin for receiving expended lime cake from a lime lagoon, a second holding bin for receiving expended lime cake from dewatering stockpiles, a rotary kiln dryer, a cyclone dust collector, a negative-air-pressure dust collector, and a product storage bin. As the lime cake is processed through the rotary kiln dryer, the lime cake is dried at a temperature having an upper limit such that the nutritive value of the lime cake is not destroyed. In the kiln, a substantial portion of the lime cake is converted to dust particles suspended in air, which air is directed through one or both of the collectors to collect and remove the suspended particles therefrom.

Abstract: A railroad tie service vehicle includes a chassis system, a drive system and an application system. The chassis system includes front and back ends, opposite sides and a deck. The drive system includes an engine mounted on the chassis deck, front and back pairs of wheels and a pair of drive track assemblies mounted on the chassis front and back ends. The application system includes an actuating subassembly for selectively engaging railroad ties and a sprayer subassembly for spraying preservative on railroad ties in response to engagement by the actuating subassembly. A method of servicing railroad ties includes the steps of removing a rail from one side of a railroad track, exposing connection areas where the rail attaches to the railroad ties, driving a vehicle with preservative along the railroad track and applying preservative to the connection areas in response to engagement of the railroad tracks by an actuating subassembly.

Abstract: A method of loading and unloading an open top or gondola railroad car utilizes a mobile, wheeled apparatus having power actuated front and rear boom structures. A front supportive foot engageable with the upper surfaces of the railroad car sidewalls is connected to free ends of the front boom structure and similarly engageable rear supportive feet are connected to the ends of outrigger arms movable outwardly from the sides of the rear end of the mobile apparatus. The rear boom structure includes an articulated material engaging grapple for loading and unloading operations. During operation, the operator positions the mobile apparatus adjacent an end of the railroad car with the front boom raised and the front supportive foot engaged with the top surfaces of the car sidewalls.

Abstract: A mobile, wheeled apparatus is employed for loading and unloading an open top or gondola railroad car and has power actuated front and rear boom structures. A front supportive foot engageable with the upper surfaces of the railroad car sidewalls is connected to free ends of the front boom structure and similarly engageable rear supportive feet are connected to the ends of outrigger arms movable outwardly from the sides of the rear end of the mobile apparatus. The rear boom structure includes an articulated material engaging grapple for loading and unloading operations. During operation, the operator positions the mobile apparatus adjacent an end of the railroad car with the front boom raised and the front supportive foot engaged with the top surfaces of the car sidewalls.

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.