Patents by Inventor William Francis McCulloch

William Francis McCulloch 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: 11332890
    Abstract: A rail lifting head (10) comprises a head gate member (20) defining a gate aperture (22), a rail support member (24) removably secured to the gate member (20) and adapted to support a rail vertically within the gate aperture (22), and a head cartridge (100) which is removably secured to the head gate member (20). The head cartridge (100) includes two opposed vertical rollers (128) which support a rail laterally within the gate aperture and a fixing (112) which secures the head cartridge (100) to the head gate member (20). The rail support member (24) is removable from the head gate member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: W & D MCCULLOCH LTD.
    Inventor: William Francis McCulloch
  • Publication number: 20190249373
    Abstract: A rail lifting head (10) comprises a head gate member (20) defining a gate aperture (22), a rail support member (24) removably secured to the gate member (20) and adapted to support a rail vertically within the gate aperture (22), and a head cartridge (100) which is removably secured to the head gate member (20). The head cartridge (100) includes two opposed vertical rollers (128) which support a rail laterally within the gate aperture and a fixing (112) which secures the head cartridge (100) to the head gate member (20). The rail support member (24) is removable from the head gate member (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: W & D MCCULLOCH LTD.
    Inventor: William Francis MCCULLOCH
  • Patent number: 9981672
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled vehicle (10) provided only with rail-engaging rolling means (18) comprising: a chassis (14); a working surface (16) connected thereto for supporting equipment, materials (20) and personnel; and positioning means (22, 24) connected to the chassis for lifting the vehicle and moving it laterally with respect to a direction of rail travel between a trackside location and an on-track location (12). A lifting apparatus (28) is mountable on the chassis and moveable along the length of the working surface (16). By providing only rail-engaging rolling means (18), the height of the vehicle's overlying working surface (16) above the track (12) and surrounding ground is significantly reduced as compared to existing dual purpose road-rail vehicles. The vehicle is capable of working safely below live overhead lines and alongside tracks open to traffic thus avoiding the need to for full closure of tracks during maintenance and inspection works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: W & D MCCULLOCH LTD.
    Inventor: William Francis McCulloch
  • Publication number: 20160107660
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled vehicle (10) provided only with rail-engaging rolling means (18) comprising: a chassis (14); a working surface (16) connected thereto for supporting equipment, materials (20) and personnel; and positioning means (22, 24) connected to the chassis for lifting the vehicle and moving it laterally with respect to a direction of rail travel between a trackside location and an on-track location (12). A lifting apparatus (28) is mountable on the chassis and moveable along the length of the working surface (16). By providing only rail-engaging rolling means (18), the height of the vehicle's overlying working surface (16) above the track (12) and surrounding ground is significantly reduced as compared to existing dual purpose road-rail vehicles. The vehicle is capable of working safely below live overhead lines and alongside tracks open to traffic thus avoiding the need to for full closure of tracks during maintenance and inspection works.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: W & D MCCULLOCH LTD.
    Inventor: William Francis MCCULLOCH
  • Publication number: 20110052364
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling railway track components has a self-propelled vehicle with ground-engaging rolling means spaced either side of a working space and a load-bearing platform adapted for spanning the working space so as to support a part of a load being transported using the self-propelled vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: W & D McCulloch
    Inventor: William Francis McCulloch
  • Publication number: 20080072783
    Abstract: The present invention relates to railway rail handling apparatus and a method of handling railway rails using such apparatus. The railway rail handling apparatus is configured for track side operation and comprises ground engaging wheel means and rail moving means. The rail moving means is configured to engage a railway rail along part of its length and for its progressive movement longitudinally along the rail as the railway rail handling apparatus moves on the ground engaging wheel means. As the rail moving means moves in this fashion the rail moving means is configured to progressively bend the rail laterally of an unbent part of the rail, thereby moving the rail from a first position to a second position. The railway rail handling apparatus defines a footprint over the ground and the rail moving means is, in use, operative within the footprint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: W & D MCCULLOCH
    Inventor: William Francis McCulloch
  • Patent number: D771149
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: W & D McCulloch Ltd.
    Inventor: William Francis McCulloch