Abstract: The present invention is a method and measurement apparatus for measuring the profile of a railway wheel while the railway wheel is in rolling motion on a rail. The railway wheel has a gage side and a field side and a circumferentially defined running surface and flange. The measurement apparatus comprises a first sensor means that is disposed on the field side of the railway wheel and which is disposed at an included angle with respect to the rail that is less than orthogonal senses the profile of the running surface and flange of the railway wheel at a point on the circumference. A second sensor means is disposed on the gage side of the railway wheel and senses selected wheel parameters. A controller is operably communicatively coupled to the first and second sensor means.

Abstract: A railroad hopper ballast discharge door assembly includes pliant side panels along a discharge gate opening. The pliant side panels are strong enough to retain the ballast within the hopper when the door is closed, yet are flexible enough to yield when ballast flowing out of the hopper becomes wedged between the side panel and the door as the door closes. Strengthening ribs reinforce the pliant side panels and may be embedded within them. The discharge door assembly is readily adapted for automatic, motor-actuated operation.

Abstract: The disclosed shoulder ballast cleaning machine with integrated hopper car is particularly designed to provide for the temporary conveyance and storage of clean ballast. The shoulder ballast cleaning machine digs up the stone ballast of the railroad bed, separates dirt and debris from the ballast, and replaces the cleaned ballast on the railroad bed. The hopper car provides the storage capacity to have ballast on board for deployment on the track bed when the quantity of ballast then being cleaned is inadequate to satisfy the need and to store excess cleaned ballast when the quantity of cleaned ballast exceeds the amount needed to be replaced on the track bed. The hopper car is interposed between the power car and the auxiliary car. A unique conveyor system conveys the fouled ballast from the power car where the ballast is dug up, past the hopper car, to the auxiliary car where the ballast and waste are separated.

Abstract: An ultrasonic rail web centerline detector locates the web centerline (18) of a longitudinal rail (12) having a head (80), a base (82), and a web therebetween. The detector includes an ultrasound sensor (14) acoustically coupled to the head (80) of the rail (12) for transmitting ultrasound energy through the rail (12) and for generating electrical signals corresponding to received reflected ultrasound energy. A controller (16) responsive to the electrical signals generates control signals representative of a lateral and angular displacement of the ultrasound sensor (14) with respect to the web centerline (18) of the rail. The position of the ultrasound sensor is adjusted as a function of the control signals representative of the lateral and angular displacement. The ultrasound sensor includes a center transceiver (30) and side transceivers (32, 34) which are acoustically coupled to the head (80) of the rail (12).

Abstract: A tangential grinding machine for railway rails has a rotating member, a plurality of abrasive sectors mounted on supports radially movable on the rotating member, elements which radially move the supports in order to move the abrasive sectors outwards by an extend which compensates their wear, and a plurality of sensors which when a predetermined degree of wear of the abrasive sectors is attained are activated to act under the control of an electronic unit on the radially movable supports, in order to restore the original grinding surface of the abrasive sectors which have undergone wear. In between the rotating member and the machine structure slidable on the rail there is interposed an articulated frame provided with a mechanism to cause the rotating member to undergo transverse oscillations about a longitudinal axis substantially coinciding with the axis of curvature of the corresponding band of the rail to be ground.

Abstract: A railroad maintenance device distributes, regulates and reclaims ballast along a railway road bed. The device includes one or more hopper cars for transporting and depositing ballast, a regulating car including a track regulator, a shoulder regulator, and an extensible plow arm for reclaiming ballast deposited at a distance from the shoulder of the road bed. The hopper cars include radio controlled gates for the remote control of ballast depositing operations, and a computer controlled system for optimizing the distribution of ballast according to predetermined parameters. A bucket elevator is located rearwardly of the track regulator for lifting excess ballast from the road bed, and a belt conveyor transports the lifted ballast to a hopper car.

Abstract: A dust suppression system is particularly designed for the control of dust generated by a self-propelled, on-site, shoulder ballast cleaning machine. The shoulder ballast cleaning machine scoops up the stone ballast of a railroad track bed, separates the ballast from dirt and debris, and replaces the ballast along the shoulder of the track bed. The dust suppression system includes a main pressure line extending along the length of the shoulder ballast cleaning machine, and a plurality of branch lines connecting the main line to spray assemblies positioned on the shoulder ballast cleaning machine at areas of primary dust generation. The various assemblies provide a liquid spray pattern to moisten the air borne dust and debris, neutralizing the static electricity charge of the dust and debris, and/or increasing the particulate weight, and causing the dust and debris to rapidly settle.

Abstract: A strobe light, oriented directly over a railroad track rail and at a 45.degree. angle to the horizontal, projects a light line across the rail. A pair of cameras oriented directly over the rail view the light image on the rail. The light lines reflected from the foot of the rail provide a reference for numerically describing the profile of the railhead. The measured rail profile is compared to an ideal rail profile. The results of the comparison are used to position grinding modules for grinding the rail to a preferred profile.

Abstract: Material handling apparatus for conveying loose material into an elongated container such as a railroad car. An endless belt conveyor is mounted above and extends the full length of the container. A plurality of equally-spaced, individually, selectively operable discharge stations are disposed along the conveyor for discharging material off the sides of the conveyor into the elongated container, thereby providing for uniform loading of the car. Mechanism is provided for raising the conveyor above the container to permit pivotal side dumping of the container without engagement between the container and the conveyor.

Abstract: A fan is passively, detachably carried by the grinding head assembly of a railroad track rail grinding machine. The fan plate is oriented above the grinding stone and rotates with the grinding stone during grinding operations. A downward draft of air is induced by the fan to limit the dispersion of sparks, grinding stone residue, and other byproducts of the grinding operation. Water, with or without a surfactant added, can be introduced into the downdraft.

Abstract: A railroad mounted grinding machine for maintaining the railhead profile of railroad track rails. A plurality of grinding modules are mounted on an undercarriage. The undercarriage is shiftably carried, by a track engaging platform, for side to side positioning of the grinding module across the longitudinal axis of a rail. Each grinding module is independently tiltable relative to the undercarriage.

Abstract: A rail grinding machine especially designed for grinding railroad track rails at railroad track switches and road crossings. The grinding machine includes an articulated grinding module supporting undercarriage suspended from the grinding machine main frame. The undercarriage includes a unique suspension system that allows for lateral shifting and pivoting of the undercarriage independently of the grinding machine main frame. Grinding operations are controlled by sensing the supply pressure of the constant flow hydraulic fluid used to power the individual grinding modules, and positioning the grinding modules in grinding abutment with the rails as a function of the supply pressure.

Abstract: A trench digger for digging and maintaining drainage ditches along railway road beds. The trench digger includes a compact rotary drum cutting head mounted on a boom that can be swung about a boom base pivot axis to position the cutting head to either side of a railroad mounted support carriage. A first conveyor carries loosened composite from the cutting head to a first conveyor discharge point rearwardly of the boom base pivot axis. A second conveyor, pivotally mounted to the boom base at a second conveyor pivot axis oriented rearwardly of the boom base pivot axis, receives the loosened composite from the first conveyor and conveys the loosened composite to a second conveyor discharge point remote from the boom base.

Abstract: A grinding head assembly especially designed for heavy duty grinding applications, such as maintenance of railroad track rails, is disclosed. The grinding head assembly hereof broadly includes an abrasive grinding stone, a backing plate for the stone having a plurality of attachment bosses, and a backing plate holder having a plurality of complementary boss-receiving cavities. The grinding head assembly disclosed herein provides for fast and easy replacement of grinding stones, and is designed to transmit large quantities of power.

Abstract: The angle through which the grinding modules of a railroad track rail grinding machine can be tilted is increased by pivotally mounting the grinding modules on a carriage which is in turn pivotally mounted relative to the rail grinding machine's supporting, main framework. The carriage hereof provides for lateral shifting of the grinding module grinding stones relative to the track rail, as well as tilting of the grinding modules through a ninety degree arc about the rail to be ground. The flexibility of the carriage greatly enhances the rail shaping capability of each grinding module.

Abstract: Railroad right-of-way maintenance equipment and method for removing old ties from beneath railroad rails and replacing them with new ties, characterized by a compound clamping head. The compound clamping head simultaneously grips a new tie and an old tie while withdrawing the old tie from beneath the rails, releases or discards the old tie at the end of the withdrawal stroke, and inserts the new tie in place of the old on the consecutive reciprocal return stroke. The invention also includes a kick-out feature for moving the old tie beyond the end of the withdrawal stroke for release or discard of the old tie.

Abstract: A grinding head assembly for use in maintaining railroad tracks. The invention is typically used in longitudinally spaced series to grind the surface of the rails to remove corrugations, to restore a smooth regular travel surface. The grinding head assembly is characterized by an annular backing plate and grinding wheel designed for ease of mounting and maximum use of the grinding wheel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing defective railroad ties from the right-of-way in one piece and without disturbing the elevation, cross-level and line, of a track system. The method is carried out by first removing the tie plates from an individual tie to be replaced; forming a trench underneath the tie by the use of laterally directed scarifiers while retaining the tie in its normal position and restraining the tie against movement longitudinally of the track system so as to displace ballast material from underneath the tie to the next adjacent crib; applying a downward force to the top of the tie to be removed; and withdrawing the tie from one or the other end.