Abstract: A track maintenance vehicle having a workhead that is pivotally mounted to the superstructure at its upper end. The workhead includes a blowing tube mounted at its lower end and a vertical cylinder that is selectively extendable and retractable to control the height of the blowing tube. The vehicle includes a control system that controls the height of the blowing tube as well as the left/right and fore/aft positions of the workhead. The track maintenance vehicle further includes an automated height control system that automatically extends and retracts the vertical cylinder to position the blowing tube at a uniform height despite its lateral disposition.

Abstract: A track maintenance vehicle having a workhead that is pivotally mounted to the superstructure at its upper end. The workhead includes a blowing tube mounted at its lower end and a vertical cylinder that is selectively extendable and retractable to control the height of the blowing tube. The vehicle includes a control system that controls the height of the blowing tube as well as the left/right and fore/aft positions of the workhead. The track maintenance vehicle further includes an automated height control system that automatically extends and retracts the vertical cylinder to position the blowing tube at a uniform height despite its lateral disposition.

Abstract: A transducer for use in a railroad track maintenance chord reference system for measuring the vertical and horizontal position of the rails of the track. The transducer is carried by a carriage riding on the rails and provides a signal indicative of the offset between the reference chord and the rails. Each transducer includes a uncounterbalanced arm mounted to the transducer housing by a low friction carriage. The arm engages and follows a reference chord causing the arm to move as the carriage moves with respect to the chord. A linear displacement transducer is mounted within the housing to provide a signal indicative of the arm position and therefore indicative of the position of the rails.

Abstract: A maintenance vehicle and associated method for measuring and correcting the level of a railroad track in a single pass. An instrument carriage, or frog, is towed by and in fixed relationship to the maintenance vehicle. The frog carries at least one inclinometer to measure at least one of longitudinal level and crossfall. As the vehicle periodically stops to work the track e.g. tamping or stoneblowing), the inclinometers are provided with the settling time necessary for accurate readings. In an additionally disclosed method, the track is measured and modeled prior to working using a primary measurement system and is then measured and modeled a second time while the track is worked using the frog.

Abstract: A stoneblower having a workhead and associated blowing tubes that adjust to skewed ties and to nonvertical tie faces. The workhead provided several degrees of movement to the blowing tubes, enabling them to be individually aligned with each tie along the length of track being worked. The blowing tubes can be pre-tilted to match the face angle of the ties. Proper location of the blow tubes is detected by monitoring the tilt change of the tube engendered when the tubes engage the ties. The blowing tubes include an elongated stone exit opening that extends both above and below the tie when the tube is inserted into the ballast. The opening therefore provides a stone discharge below the tie and an overflow above the tie. A finger extends from the lower end of the blowing tube to enable the stoneblower to sense the location of the railroad track ties without scooping ballast into the tube openings.

Abstract: The specification discloses an improved railroad track curve liner for more accurately locating track transition points to more accurately calculate an improved track configuration as a funcion of the existing track configuration. The curve liner is mounted on a track tamper. During a first pass over the track, the curve liner acquires track ordinate information. After calculating the ideal track configuration, the tamper laterally shifts the track to the ideal configuration in a second pass over the track. The improved track configuration is calculated in recognition that the ordinate graph is not linear in all areas--particularly at tract transition points.

Abstract: A vehicle hand operated engine throttle and brake control system has a dash-mounted and operator actuated pivotable tubular control arm with a rotary knob on its outer end. A cable has a first end being drivingly connected to the knob on the control arm and a second end connected to a throttle on the vehicle carburetor so that rotation of the knob controls the carburetor.A vacuum operated power assist means is connected to the cable for aiding in movement of the cable against the force of the throttle spring and for maintaining the cable in any given position of adjustment. A rod connects the control arm to the brake on the vehicle so that pivotal movement of the control arm controls the vehicle brakes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for converting an optical system, employing an electrooptic device in conjunction with a pair of crossed polarizing devices, between an activated mode and a deactivated mode. Embodiments in which the optical system is used as a neutral density filter, a selective color filter, or a light shutter, as applied to a television camera are described in which the electrooptic device and the polarizing analyzer are fixed with respect to the television camera, and the first polarizing device is selectively positioned in, or removed from, the optical path of the optical system to activate or deactivate the optical system, respectively. Where the optical system is used as a selective color filter to produce light beams of alternating colors in a field sequential color television system, deactivation of the optical system renders the television a black-and-white system.