Abstract: A bulk loader conveys articles in bulk and has a hopper configured for receiving the articles, such as railroad articles. A reciprocating member is configured for reciprocating between a retracted position and an extended position in a track associated with the hopper. Articles that are loaded into the hopper fall into the track when the reciprocating member is in the retracted position and are conveyed from the hopper when the reciprocating member actuates to the extended position, resulting in the removed articles being positioned in a convenient location for further handling by an operator.

Abstract: A rail fastener driver apparatus for driving fasteners into ties of a railroad track includes a fastener driving mechanism with a reciprocating element for engaging a fastener and driving it into a tie, a fastener magazine configured for accommodating a plurality of rail fasteners and feeding them sequentially for driving by the element, a fastener feeder mechanism including a fastener holder configured for movement between a first position sequentially receiving one fastener from the magazine and a second position placing the fastener in a driving position for engagement by the driving element and the fastener feeder mechanism configured for lowering and axially rotating the fastener from the first position to the second position. An obstacle accommodation device, and a method of driving rail fasteners are also provided.

Abstract: A rail ballast wing assembly includes a outer door with at least one hinge edge, a template door pivotably secured to least one of the hinge edges and a positioning device associated with the outer door and the template door for maintaining an angular orientation of the template door relative to the outer door. A breakaway mechanism is connected to the positioning device and the template door and configured for temporarily disengaging the template door from the positioning device upon exposure to impact forces. The breakaway mechanism preferably includes a plate connecting the positioning device to the template door, and being disengageable from the template door. A top pin on the outer door is pivotably secured to a top plate through the use of at least one retainer bracket.

Abstract: A rail plate handling device is provided for removing plates located on rail ties on a railroad track having a pair of rails, and includes a frame configured for movement relative to the track, at least one tie plate gripping assembly mounted to the frame, the assembly configured for grasping a selected tie plate, pulling the plate away from the rail and away from the tie, and subsequently releasing the plate onto the track. The device is mounted upon a cart which is movable on the track, and features gripping assemblies for working on both rails. A tie jack is preferably provided for ensuring the release of the tie from the gripped plate. Still another feature of the present device is a plate height mechanism associated with each gripping assembly for ensuring that the gripping assembly engages the plates at the proper height.

Abstract: A riding rail tie plugging apparatus for plugging spike holes in ties on a railroad track includes a frame provided with wheels for supporting and moving the frame along the track. At least one reservoir is disposed in operational relationship to the frame for dispensing a supply of chemical tie-plugging solution. At least one applicator gun is in fluid communication with the at least one reservoir for dispensing the solution into the holes. At least one operator station is on the frame in operational relationship to the track and to the at least one applicator gun so that the at least one applicator gun is directly positionable by an operator disposed at the station for dispensing the epoxy solution into selected ones of the holes.

Abstract: A rail ballast wing assembly includes a outer door with at least one hinge edge, a template door pivotably secured to least one of the hinge edges and a positioning device associated with the outer door and the template door for maintaining an angular orientation of the template door relative to the outer door. A breakaway mechanism is connected to the positioning device and the template door and configured for temporarily disengaging the template door from the positioning device upon exposure to impact forces. The breakaway mechanism preferably includes a plate connecting the positioning device to the template door, and being disengageable from the template door. A top pin on the outer door is pivotably secured to a top plate through the use of at least one retainer bracket.

Abstract: A bulk loader conveys articles in bulk and has a hopper configured for receiving the articles, such as railroad articles. A reciprocating member is configured for reciprocating between a retracted position and an extended position in a track associated with the hopper. Articles that are loaded into the hopper fall into the track when the reciprocating member is in the retracted position and are conveyed from the hopper when the reciprocating member actuates to the extended position, resulting in the removed articles being positioned in a convenient location for further handling by an operator.

Abstract: A combined tie extractor and plate remover for railroad track maintenance includes a frame configured for movement along the track and having a first side corresponding to a first side of the track and a second side corresponding to a second side of the track, each side of the track having a corresponding rail. A rail lifting apparatus associated with the frame is configured for lifting a selected one of the first and second rails away from the track. A plate remover assembly associated with the frame is configured for grasping and removing tie plates associated with each side of the track from a selected tie. At least one tie extracting assembly is disposed on the frame for extracting the gripped tie transversely relative to the track in conjunction with the removal of the tie plates.

Abstract: A riding rail tie plugging apparatus for plugging spike holes in ties on a railroad track includes a frame provided with wheels for supporting and moving the frame along the track. At least one reservoir is disposed in operational relationship to the frame for dispensing a supply of chemical tie-plugging solution. At least one applicator gun is in fluid communication with the at least one reservoir for dispensing the solution into the holes. At least one operator station is on the frame in operational relationship to the track and to the at least one applicator gun so that the at least one applicator gun is directly positionable by an operator disposed at the station for dispensing the epoxy solution into selected ones of the holes.

Abstract: A railway maintenance device movable on a railroad track having a pair of spaced rails, the device including a frame configured for movement relative to the track and having at least two side members. At least one track contacting element is associated with at least one of the sides. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the relative position of at least one of the track contacting elements to the frame to thus position the frame relative to the rails. The device preferably includes a fluid power cylinder associated with each track contacting element to control the position of the wheel relative to the frame, as well as a stop mechanism for adjustably limiting the pivoting action of the contacting element relative to the frame, and thus control the displacement of the element.

Abstract: A rail plate handling device is provided for removing plates located on rail ties on a railroad track having a pair of rails, and includes a frame configured for movement relative to the track, at least one tie plate gripping assembly mounted to the frame, the assembly configured for grasping a selected tie plate, pulling the plate away from the rail and away from the tie, and subsequently releasing the plate onto the track. The device is mounted upon a cart which is movable on the track, and features gripping assemblies for working on both rails. A tie jack is preferably provided for ensuring the release of the tie from the gripped plate. Still another feature of the present device is a plate height mechanism associated with each gripping assembly for ensuring that the gripping assembly engages the plates at the proper height.

Abstract: A railway maintenance device movable on a railroad track having a pair of spaced rails, the device including a frame configured for movement relative to the track and having at least two side members. At least one track contacting element is associated with at least one of the sides. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the relative position of at least one of the track contacting elements to the frame to thus position the frame relative to the rails. The device preferably includes a fluid power cylinder associated with each track contacting element to control the position of the wheel relative to the frame, as well as a stop mechanism for adjustably limiting the pivoting action of the contacting element relative to the frame, and thus control the displacement of the element.

Abstract: A combined tie extractor and plate remover for railroad track maintenance includes a frame configured for movement along the track and having a first side corresponding to a first side of the track and a second side corresponding to a second side of the track, each side of the track having a corresponding rail. A rail lifting apparatus associated with the frame is configured for lifting a selected one of the first and second rails away from the track. A plate remover assembly associated with the frame is configured for grasping and removing tie plates associated with each side of the track from a selected tie. At least one tie extracting assembly is disposed on the frame for extracting the gripped tie transversely relative to the track in conjunction with the removal of the tie plates.

Abstract: A rail tie replacement apparatus that includes a frame having a first side associated with a first side of a railroad track, and a second side associated with a second side of a railroad track; gripping mechanisms disposed on each of the sides of the frame and configured for grasping rail ties located in the track; and extending members attached to the gripping mechanisms and the frame. The extending members include a first extending member and a second extending member in a non-axial relationship to each other, and configured for positioning the gripping mechanisms relative to the rail ties. The apparatus further includes fluid powered cylinders attached to the extending members and the frame that are configured to facilitate the reciprocal movement of the extending members.

Abstract: A rail tie replacement apparatus that includes a frame having a first side associated with a first side of a railroad track, and a second side associated with a second side of a railroad track; gripping mechanisms disposed on each of the sides of the frame and configured for grasping rail ties located in the track; and extending members attached to the gripping mechanisms and the frame. The extending members include a first extending member and a second extending member in a non-axial relationship to each other, and configured for positioning the gripping mechanisms relative to the rail ties. The apparatus further includes fluid powered cylinders attached to the extending members and the frame that are configured to facilitate the reciprocal movement of the extending members.

Abstract: A suspension system configured to provide suspension to a railroad maintenance machine having a frame and a chassis, where the suspension system is selectively operable between work and transportation modes of the machine. The suspension system includes a suspension that is operable between a first position and a second position. The first position is when the suspension is substantially inflated for transportation of the machine, and the second position is when the suspension is substantially deflated for conducting railroad maintenance. Contact with the rail is maintained in either position.

Abstract: A bulk loader conveys rigid, stick-like articles in bulk. The bulk loader has a bin for holding a plurality of the articles and a trough connected to a bin having an entrance portion for receiving the articles from the bin and a discharge portion for discharging the articles. An auger, with an inlet end and an outlet end, is rotatably positioned in the trough so that the inlet end is positioned near the entrance portion and the outlet end is positioned near the discharge portion. Upon rotation of the auger, the auger conveys the articles from the entrance portion to the discharge portion. The trough is constructed and arranged to prevent conveyed articles from becoming jammed between said auger and said trough.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a rail anchor from a rail, the apparatus constructed and arranged to be mounted on a railway maintenance vehicle having a frame, and including a scraper for applying a preload against the anchor and for removing the anchor from the rail, and a pusher insert for applying vertical pressure against the anchor to impact and dislodge the anchor from the rail. An improved method for removing a rail anchor from a rail involves applying a preload or a horizontal scraping force against the first, curved end of the anchor with the scraper, applying vertical pressure against the second, knobbed end of the anchor with the pusher to impact and dislodge the anchor from the rail, and removing the dislodged anchor from the rail with the scraper.

Abstract: A system for detecting targets and for positioning at least one work module over a particular target to perform a task thereon. The system includes a movable machine having a main frame, a drive mechanism for propelling the machine across a base surface, a sensor associated with the machine for detecting locations of at least one target positioned on said base surface, and an encoder assembly associated with the machine for obtaining motion data. The motion data includes at least one of the displacement and velocity of the machine across the base surface. Also included is a control unit for receiving the target locations from the sensor, for receiving the motion data from the encoder assembly, for determining a target distance for the drive mechanism to propel the machine such that the work module is generally aligned with a particular target in a target area, and for creating a destination signal indicating when the work module is operationally aligned with the target area.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing and removing rail clips from a rail, the apparatus constructed and arranged to be mounted on a railway maintenance vehicle having a frame, and including an applicator/remover configured to perform one of installation and removal of the rail clips relative to a rail, an actuator configured for reciprocating the applicator/remover in a direction substantially transverse to the rail so that rail clips are moved one of towards the rail or away from the rail.