Patents by Inventor Manfred Brunninger

Manfred Brunninger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11718963
    Abstract: A machine for profiling and distributing ballast of a track, having a frame supported on on-track undercarriages and lateral ballast pick-up devices which are adjustably fastened to the frame, wherein each ballast pick-up device is actuated by a conveyor drive. In this, the machine is designed in such a way that, in an inoperative position, the upper contours of the machine are arranged below a delimiting plane which slopes downward in the working direction and extends through a field of vision of a driver's cabin of a rail vehicle to be coupled to the machine at the rear end thereof. Thus, the machine can be employed as a leading wagon of the rail vehicle, wherein sufficient visibility from the driver's cabin to the track is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Max-Theurer, Manfred Brunninger, Herbert Woergoetter
  • Patent number: 10822210
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rail vehicle (1) having a machine frame (2) supported on on-track undercarriages (4), on both sides of which are arranged—in the longitudinal direction (3) of the rail vehicle—crane rails (8) for a mobile gantry crane (11). In this, for lifting or lowering of the gantry crane (11), a crane rail section (12) of the respective crane rail (8) is arranged to be vertically adjustable by a drive (18). In this manner, contrary to the prior art, a higher gantry crane (11) can be used without violating a given clearance profile during transfer travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Patrick Hoetzendorfer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 10753048
    Abstract: A machine having a ballast take-up device for taking up ballast located underneath a track. The take up device has an endless clearing chain guided in a chain channel. In a connecting joint from a transverse channel to a transport channel. There is also a ballast deflector blade pivotable about a pivot axis. Arranged on the ballast deflector blade is a ballast conveyor, designed for ballast transport in the direction towards a pivot axis by means of a conveyor drive. With this, it is possible to expand the operating range of the ballast take-up device, as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: PLASSER & THEURER EXPORT VON BAHNBAUMASCHINEN GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H.
    Inventor: Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 10385517
    Abstract: In a method for renewing a track (2) and cleaning a ballast bed (3), the old track (2) is lifted off the ballast bed in sections as a track panel (15), transported forward in a working direction (4) and deposited on track panel wagons (8). The exposed ballast bed (3), forming a renewal gap (17), is cleaned by a cleaning machine (11), spoil (32) accruing in the process is transported forward underneath the track panels (15) deposited on the track panel wagons (8), and stored in hopper cars (10). New rails (29), pre-deposited underneath new sleepers (27) positioned on sleeper wagons (14), are pulled forward into the renewal gap (17) by the cleaning machine (11) and deposited on the cleaned ballast bed (3). The new sleepers (27) are laid down on the cleaned ballast bed and connected to the new rails (29) lifted off the ballast bed (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 10363947
    Abstract: A storage wagon (1) for bulk material (2) has, above the transfer end (9) of a bottom conveyor belt (4) and underneath a discharge end (15) of an auxiliary conveyor belt (14), a deflector plate (17) extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (3) of the wagon. The deflector plate (17) is designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis (18) relative to the loading container (5) for changing a deflection angle ? enclosed with a conveying plane (19) of the bottom conveyor belt (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 10266991
    Abstract: A vehicle combination for cleaning ballast on a track consists of a first ballast-collecting vehicle at the front with respect to a working direction, equipped with two edge-clearing chains which are mutually opposed across the width of the track and are designed to collect the ballast lying in a track bed region adjacent to the sleeper ends, and also consists of a subsequent second ballast-collecting vehicle having a continuous clearing chain that can be placed around the track to collect the ballast lying under the track, and comprising sieve systems for cleaning the ballast. In front of the first ballast-collecting vehicle there are two mutually separable sieve vehicles disposed one behind the other in a longitudinal direction of the machine and each having a sieve system. The two sieve vehicles can be loaded via a first conveyor belt line with ballast collected by the ballast-collecting vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 10232863
    Abstract: A bulk material loading wagon (1) for incorporation into a loading train consisting of several such wagons has a storage box (3) for storing bulk material, the storage box being open at the top and fastened to a wagon frame (2), and—associated with the storage box—a bottom conveyor belt (5) extending in the lower region of the storage box (3) and in the longitudinal direction of the wagon. The wagon frame (2) is equipped with an opening (16), arranged between two adjacent on-track undercarriages (14), for passage of a lower section—adjoining the lower deflection end (9)—of a transfer conveyor belt (8). A drive (18) is provided for displacement of the transfer conveyor belt (8) in its conveying- or longitudinal direction (4) through the opening (18) relative to the wagon frame (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 10214864
    Abstract: In a method for stabilizing an earth formation exposed after removal of a track and ballast, in a first working pass in a work section following a rear crawler track with regard to a working direction, parallel to the removal of the ballast the earth formation is loosened up, aggregates are introduced, and grading takes place. In a second working pass, the earth formation to which aggregates have been added is mixed thoroughly by getting picked up by means of a clearing chain and transported onward to a discharge point located behind the rear crawler track and discharged again upon the exposed earth formation, after which, by grading and consolidating the discharged earth formation, a rehabilitation layer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Vahnbaumaschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20130186656
    Abstract: An installation for cleaning a ballast bed contains a first machine frame and a second machine frame coupled to the former, each being equipped with two vertically adjustable crawler tracks and two on-track undercarriages. A receiving unit of a clearing chain for picking up ballast is disposed between the crawler tracks of the first machine frame. A ballast discharge device is arranged between the two crawler tracks of the second machine frame, the latter having a screening installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: FRANZ PLASSER BAHNBAUMSCHINENINDUSTRIEGESELLSCHAFT MBH
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20120111697
    Abstract: A storage wagon (1) for transporting bulk material (2) is equipped with a bottom conveyor belt (4), extending in a longitudinal direction (5) of the wagon, which is arranged within a container (3) and serves as a bottom surface, and with a transfer conveyor belt (12) positioned at a front end (13) of the wagon and projecting beyond the same. At a rear end (29) of the wagon, a loading conveyor belt (17)—displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the wagon—as well as an excavating device (21) and a work cabin (20) are provided. A front end (25) of the loading conveyor belt (17) is mounted for displacement in the longitudinal direction (5) of the wagon by means of a drive (41) on a longitudinal guide (39) extending in an upper end region (16) of the container (3), thus forming a first belt support (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20120034057
    Abstract: A storage cart for transporting bulk goods has a floor conveyor belt disposed within a container and serving as a floor surface, and a transfer conveyor belt positioned at a front end of the cart and protruding beyond the end. A loading conveyor belt is displaceable in a longitudinal axis of the cart. A lifting device and an operator cab are provided at a rear end of the cart. The above are disposed directly on the loading conveyor belt in a segment of the loading conveyor belt directly adjacent to a receiving end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: FRANZ PLASSER BAHNBAUMASCHINEN- INDUSTRIEGESELLSCHAFTMBH
    Inventors: Josef Teurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 8061432
    Abstract: For the purpose of rehabilitation, a ballast bed of a track is taken up in the form of an upper bed layer by a first clearing device and cleaned. The bulk material accruing in the process is discharged in front of the first clearing device—with regard to the working direction—laterally upon the ballast bed in a bed region. The latter can only be covered by the second clearing device which is configured to be of greater width—with regard to a transverse direction of the track—than the first clearing device. Thus, it is possible to intermediately store bulk material, accruing in a front end region of a machine, on the ballast bed for later use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 7966938
    Abstract: A machine (1) for picking up and storing rail fastenings (2) of a track (3) includes two rail fastening pickup devices (9). Arranged between these and a rear on-track undercarriage (4)—with regard to a working direction (6)—is a crawler track (24). At each longitudinal side of the machine, two devices (29) for guiding rails (30) are provided which are adjustable by drives (28) relative to the machine frame (5) and arranged one following the other in the longitudinal direction of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20100319940
    Abstract: For the purpose of rehabilitation, a ballast bed of a track is taken up in the form of an upper bed layer by a first clearing device and cleaned. The bulk material accruing in the process is discharged in front of the first clearing device—with regard to the working direction—laterally upon the ballast bed in a bed region. The latter can only be covered by the second clearing device which is configured to be of greater width—with regard to a transverse direction of the track—than the first clearing device. Thus, it is possible to intermediately store bulk material, accruing in a front end region of a machine, on the ballast bed for later use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: FRANZ PLASSER BAHNBAUMASCHINEN- INDUSTRIEGESELLSCHAFT MBH
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 7739811
    Abstract: In a method of rehabilitating a ballast bed of a track by excavating contaminated ballast and conveying the excavated contaminated ballast by a first conveyor band unit to a screening unit for cleaning the excavated contaminated ballast, the ballast bed is rehabilitated selectively, in dependence on the degree of contamination of the ballast, in a first or second operating stage. The first operating stage comprises the steps of excavating an upper layer of the ballast by a first excavating device which precedes a second excavating device, in an operating direction, and conducting the excavated upper ballast layer to the first conveyor band unit while, at the same time, the remainder of the ballast is excavated by the second excavating device and is conducted to a second conveyor band unit for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20100132582
    Abstract: A machine (1) for picking up and storing rail fastenings (2) of a track (3) includes two rail fastening pickup devices (9). Arranged between these and a rear on-track undercarriage (4)—with regard to a working direction (6)—is a crawler track (24). At each longitudinal side of the machine, two devices (29) for guiding rails (30) are provided which are adjustable by drives (28) relative to the machine frame (5) and arranged one following the other in the longitudinal direction of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 7661369
    Abstract: The invention relates to the replacement of old ties of a railway track by new ties. This aim can be achieved by spreading the two rails apart from each other. The reception of ballast gravel for producing a recess of ballast is carried out in a region below of the sleeper head of a ballast bed, which is located adjacent to the region of the old sleepers along their longitudinal axis. The received ballast gravel is temporarily stored and, once the new sleepers have been deposited, thrown off for the purpose of ballasting. In parallel and prior to the deposit of new sleepers, excess ballast gravel is ploughed in the recess of ballast so as to produce a leveled surface of ballast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 7587981
    Abstract: A method for cleaning ballast of a track comprising rails extending in a longitudinal direction is executed by means of a ballast cleaning machine having a machine frame supported on on-track undercarriages. The machine includes a cleaning chain with a chain cross member extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. At the start of the cleaning process, an on-track undercarriage situated immediately ahead of the cleaning chain, with regard to a working direction of the ballast cleaning machine, is lifted off the track. The rails are severed, and the track is lifted, after which the chain cross member of the cleaning chain is positioned underneath the track. Finally, the on-track undercarriage is set down upon the track again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 7516702
    Abstract: A track renewal machine is equipped with a ballast conveyor band extending in the longitudinal direction and arranged between upper and lower tie transport units and between ballast receiving means and ballast distributing means. The ballast conveyor band has a discharge end positioned rearwardly of a device for laying new rails, in the operating direction. A device for spacing the new ties from each other is positioned rearwardly of the ballast conveyor band discharge end in the operating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Publication number: 20080302265
    Abstract: The invention relates to the replacement of old ties of a railway track by new ties. This aim can be achieved by spreading the two rails apart from each other. The reception of ballast gravel for producing a recess of ballast is carried out in a region below of the sleeper head of a ballast bed, which is located adjacent to the region of the old sleepers along their longitudinal axis. The received ballast gravel is temporarily stored and, once the new sleepers have been deposited, thrown off for the purpose of ballasting. In parallel and prior to the deposit of new sleepers, excess ballast gravel is ploughed in the recess of ballast so as to produce a leveled surface of ballast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger