Abstract: The self-propelled load carrying vehicle includes a vehicle framework supported by road wheels, and railroad wheels are mounted on the framework and are movable up and down with respect to the framework for supporting the vehicle from the railroad track. The rear road wheels propel the vehicle along the track. A sub-frame is rotatably mounted on the vehicle framework about an upwardly extending axis, and dump body is pivotally mounted on the sub-frame about an approximately horizontal axis. A conveyor is mounted to the rear end of the sub-frame and rotates with the sub-frame and dump body and receives the load from the dump body when the dump body is tilted and progressively urges the load on beyond the rear opening of the dump body.

Abstract: An auxiliary lift axle wheel assembly is mounted to a vehicle body by L-shaped levers, each of which is pivotally mounted at the intersection of its legs to the vehicle, and the lift axle is held in its upward, unloaded position on the longitudinally extending legs of the levers by the force of springs positioned over the longitudinally extending legs bearing against the upwardly extending legs of the levers. Air inflatable air springs positioned between the auxiliary lift axle and vehicle body are filled with air to move the auxiliary axle downward relative to the vehicle body with force sufficient to overcome the force of the springs to urge the wheels of the axle down into load-bearing engagement with the road surface beneath the vehicle.

Abstract: An auxiliary lift axle wheel assembly is mounted to a vehicle body by L-shaped levers, each of which is pivotally mounted at the intersection of its legs to the vehicle, and the lift axle is held in its upward, unloaded position on the longitudinally extending legs of the levers by the force of springs bearing against the upwardly extending legs of the levers. Air inflatable air springs positioned between the auxiliary lift axle and vehicle body are filled with air to move the auxiliary axle downward relative to the vehicle body with force sufficient to overcome the force of the springs to urge the wheels of the axle down into load-bearing engagement with the road surface beneath the vehicle.

Abstract: The retractable railroad wheel assembly for a road vehicle includes an axle for placement beneath a vehicle which extends across the normal direction of movement of the vehicle, and railroad wheels mounted on the ends of the axle. A pair of linkage assemblies are mounted at each end of the axle inwardly of the wheels for connection to the vheicle, and each linkage assembly includes a wheel support arm pivotally connected at one of its ends to a first support bearing mounted on the vehicle and connected at its other end to the axle for moving the axle and wheels through an arc beneath the vehicle between an upwardly retracted position beneath the vehicle and a downwardly distended position where the wheels engage the rails of a railroad track. An actuating linkage is connected between the axle and another support bearing mounted on the vehicle and includes a fluid actuated ram for folding and unfolding the linkage to retract and distend the wheels.

Abstract: New railroad crossties are placed on the rails of a railroad track and pushed along the track by a rail mounted vehicle. When the new crosstie is positioned over a crosstie in the railroad bed that it to be replaced, the ballast at one end of the old crosstie is removed, the rails are urged upwardly to relieve the force on the old crosstie, the new crosstie is then grasped and moved along its length laterally across the track until its trailing end clears the exposed end of the old crosstie, then the new crosstie is lowered and pushed against the exposed end of the old crosstie until the new crosstie pushes the old crosstie out from beneath the rails. A work head assembly is mounted at one end of the vehicle and includes a shovel and clamp assembly, and the work head assembly is movable laterally with respect to the rails of the railroad track to clear the soil away from the ends of the old crossties and to grasp and insert the new crossties beneath the rails.