Abstract: A track renewal train includes a vehicle bridging an intermediate right of way section between an old and a new track section, and this vehicle carries rail spreaders as well as equipment arranged in succession for removing the ties of the old track section, for lowering the level of, and planing, the ballast in the intermediate right of way section and for laying the ties of the new track section. The ballast lowering and placing equipment includes a ballast planing shield mounted on the vehicle and having a width at least equal to the length of the ties of the new track section, a ballast conveyor elevator associated with the ballast planing shield, the elevator extending over the width of the shield and having an input end adjacent the front end of the shield and an output end at the trailing end of the shield, and a ballast dumping conveyor arranged to receive ballast from the output end of the elevator.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine comprises a ballast redistribution monitoring and control arrangement for controlling the amount of redistributed ballast, which includes an adjustment circuit responsive to output signals produced by monitoring devices for the speed of the forward drive of the machine, the speed of the ballast excavating and conveying chain drive, and the amount of cleaned ballast conveyed by the ballast redistributing conveyor.

Abstract: A self-propelled ballast cleaning machine comprises a machine frame comprised of two frame parts having abutting ends. A pivotal connection is arranged between the abutting frame part ends to enable pivotal movement of the frame parts in vertical and horizontal directions, and hydraulic drives interconnect the abutting frame part ends to effectuate the pivotal movement in at least one direction. Three track-bound undercarriages respectively support the machine frame at the abutting frame part ends and the ends of the frame parts remote from the abutting ends.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine comprises a frame running on two undercarriages a rear one of which is supported on a track section resting on cleaned ballast. A ballast excavating and conveying chain is mounted on the frame in front of this track section and a ballast screening mechanism on the frame receives the excavated ballast from the chain, cleans it and discharges the cleaned ballast to a storage receptacle arranged on the frame between the undercarriages. The storage receptacle has sufficient capacity to hold a volume of the cleaned ballast corresponding to that of the excavated ballast and a rising ballast conveyor is mounted in the storage receptacle for distributing the cleaned ballast therein. The cleaned ballast is discharged from the storage receptacle for redistribution by a ballast conveyor system and devices for regulating the flow of the cleaned ballast and for guiding the same between the discharge from the receptacle and the ballast conveyor system.

Abstract: A mobile machine arrangement for surfacing a track comprises a ballast excavating chain, a ballast cleaning screen, and conveying devices arranged rearwardly thereof for returning the cleaned ballast into respective ones of the cribs. Thrust tamping tools immersible in the cribs are arranged rearwardly of the ballast returning devices, and a track correction unit is arranged between the ballast excavating chain and the thrust tamping tools for moving the track into a desired position.

Abstract: A pair of spaced apart arms disposed on the side of a railway maintenance machine, the arms extending outwardly and carrying vertically positioned sleeves at their outer ends. Bars are slidably held in the sleeves for mounting of a fabric roll on their upper ends. Extension members extend horizontally from the lower ends of the bars. Idler and tension rollers are rotatably mounted across the arms, and an applicator tube extends diagonally under the machine frame, and beneath track raised by the machine, such that fabric can be continuously unrolled and passed under the tension roller, over the idler roller, over the applicator tube and on the track bed.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine comprises a ballast excavating chain, a screening apparatus including a series of screens arranged to receive the excavated ballast and to clean it, a storage receptacle for the cleaned ballast, the storage receptacle having ballast outlets, and hinged covers over the outlets for selectively closing the same by means of jacks, and a ballast conveyor arrangement for controllably redistributing the cleaned ballast to the ballast bed, the ballast redistributing conveyor arrangement being arranged to receive the cleaned ballast from the outlets upon adjustment of the hinged covers.

Abstract: A track renewal train includes a semi-trailer work car which carries track renewal equipment and includes two selectively usable undercarriages for supporting the rear end of the work car. One of the undercarriages is an off-track track-laying bogie supporting the work car on the trackless section where track renewal is effected and the other undercarriage is a vertically movable on-track bogie. A selectively usable on-track bogie supports the forward end of the work car when it is linked thereto, the forward work car end being linked to the last car of the train during track renewal operations.

Abstract: An apparatus for the cleaning of dirty railway ballast includes a dirty ballast remover and a ballast cleaner in the form of a hollow perforate drum rotatable about a central axis inclined upwardly from an inlet to an outlet end thereof. A spiral conveyor is mounted on the inner wall of the drum, and the inlet end thereof lies within a tank filled with a cleaning fluid, while the outlet end lies outwardly thereof. A spoils conveyor is disposed in the tank for the removal therefrom of spoils particles separated from the dirty ballast which is conveyed into the drum through its inlet end whereupon it is cleaned as it is tumbled by the spiral conveyor during drum rotation by separating the spoils particles from the dirty ballast which spoils particles move through the drum perforations. An unclogging device in the form of cylindrical rollers bear against the outer surface of the drum for unclogging any ballast particles from the perforations which may extend therethrough during drum rotation.

Abstract: A ballast excavation chain arrangement includes a polygonal chain guide and an endless ballast excavation link chain supported therein. The lower portions of two longitudinally extending guide sections are connected to respective ends of a transversely extending guide section and the latter guide section and a portion of the link chain is mounted for extension transversely of, and below, the track for excavating ballast. Hydraulic drives are provided for laterally adjusting at least the lower portions of the longitudinally extending guide sections for selectively extending the chain guide to the right and to the left of the track.

Abstract: A self-propelled ballast cleaning machine useful for work in track switch and other widening track sections comprises selectively operable on- and off-track undercarriages supporting the machine frame for selected on- or off-track operation. A ballast excavation chain adjustable in width for operation in widening track sections delivers excavated ballast to a screen for cleaning the ballast and the excavated ballast is stored immediately adjacent a ballast excavating chain portion when it may be discharged in controlled amounts. A vertically movable plow levels the discharged ballast and includes plowshares adjustable for leveling ballast in widening track sections.

Abstract: An improved reciprocatory self-loading dual-ended earth excavation vehicle pivotally connected to two or more unmanned self-leveling and self-maneuvering telescopic conveyor vehicles, the latter in turn are pivotally connected to a multi-function dual-ended distribution vehicle capable of conveying, spreading, wetting, impacting and grading the earth fill. The above-mentioned articulated vehicles provide the means to excavate, convey and discharge a virtually continuous flow of earth while traveling in a forward or rearward direction. The excavation and telescopic conveyor vehicles are readily adaptable to surface mining of various minerals including coal and oil shale by simply exchanging the abovementioned distribution vehicle for a pivotally connected boom conveyer vehicle which provides the means for discharging the ore at a mill site or for the loading of long haul ore carriers.

Abstract: A mobile track renewal train comprises a bridge-like elongated carrier frame supported on an old and a new track section on respective on-track undercarriages and bridging an intermediate trackless ballast bed section. A chain guide including a transversely extending guide section is mounted on the carrier frame and encloses a space, the chain guide rising from the transverse guide section adjacent the ballast bed on an upper portion, and an endless excavating chain is supported for movement in the chain guide to excavate ballast from the bed. The carrier frame also supports a tie laying device for laying new ties in a position extending transversely to the carrier frame and a conveyor for transporting the new ties in succession to the tie laying device, the tie laying device being positioned in the enclosed space and the conveyor having a path extending through the space towards the tie laying device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the so-called ballast cleaning and levelling machines circulating on the railroad to be renovated while bearing on it by two end bogies and lifting the part of the track situated between the two bogies through lifting device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ballast cleaning and leveling machines which ensure in succession the extraction of the old ballast, the screening of said ballast for separating the good re-usable ballast from the earth, the fine and the coarse parts, and the redepositing of the good ballast.The improvement consists in adding between the excavator and the screening assembly a coarse crushing device acting on the old ballast removed by the excavator.The improved machine breaks apart the pebbles of the agglomerated blocks of the ballast so as to separate the re-usable ballast from the earth, fine and coarse parts to be rejected.

Abstract: Ballast is removed from beneath railroad ties in accordance with a ballast treating method and apparatus without disturbing the ballast in the cribs between adjacent ties, and is deposited into a trench formed along the railway. The crib ballast is likewise removed and deposited in the trench. A plow structure used for the ballast removal operation has cutting blades curved toward the trench and disposed with their leading ends lying along a line sloping rearwardly away from the trench. The rail vehicle which supports the plow structure is stabilized against transverse forces imposed on the vehicle during the ballast removal operation, and the plow itself is likewise stabilized against such forces.

Abstract: A ballast conditioning machine which removes ballast from railroad tracks by means of a digging chain conveyor driven transversely through the ballast below the normal rail level travels on the rails on wheels and alternatively travels on caterpillar tracks over track sections from which switches or crossings were removed to give the conveyor full access to the ballast.

Abstract: A track laying car has a rear undercarriage for moving the car in a working direction on the track rails and track-laying bogie for selective engagement with the ballast bed for moving the car on the ballast bed in the absence of a track for the rear undercarriage. An endless scraper conveyor chain is vertically adjustably mounted on the car and includes a transverse stringer arranged for engagement with the ballast bed for planing the ballast bed and conveying excess ballast from the planed bed, the stringer being arranged in front of the bogie. A tie conveyor is mounted on the car to convey ties in a direction opposite to the working direction to the planed ballast bed behind the bogie and to lay the conveyed ties sequentially on the planed ballast bed, and a ballast conveyor moves in a path arranged to enable the ballast conveyor to receive the excess ballast and to convey it in a direction opposite to the working direction to the rear end of the car where the ties have been laid on the planed ballast bed.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine useful for work in track switches and crossings comprises an endless ballast excavation chain including a chain stringer mounted in a transversely extending guide for excavating ballast underneath the track. The guide is adjustable to selected lengths for a corresponding change in the width of the ballast excavation. The excavated ballast is received on a ballast cleaning screen separating the ballast from fines to produce clean ballast, and cleaned ballast distributing conveyors and/or chutes are adjustably mounted for enabling the cleaned ballast to be distributed over the entire width of ballast excavation for selectively distributing the ballast within this width. The excavation chain and/or the distributing conveyors are mounted on mobile supports.

Abstract: A device for removing, cleaning and replacing railroad ballast on a railway road bed comprises a chassis mounted on endless treads, the chassis carrying a bucket elevator at its forward end, that scoops up the ballast and discharges it onto a device that cleans the ballast by removing oversized and undersized particles and dirt. The cleaned pebbles of the ballast then fall to a conveyor belt which moves forwardly to deposit them again on the railway road bed in advance of the treads. The bucket elevator is mounted for horizontal swinging movement about a fixed vertical axis on the chassis; and the conveyor belt is similarly mounted; but the vertical axis of the conveyor belt is in advance of that of the bucket elevator, and the forward end of the conveyor belt is pivotally interconnected about a vertical axis with the bucket elevator for horizontal swinging movement with and relative to the bucket elevator. In this way, the cleaned ballast is evenly distributed over the area swept by the bucket elevator.

Abstract: The chain tensioning device for an endless ballast conveyor chain comprises a first, transverse chain guide for a stringer arranged to extend transversely of the track and therebelow and two longitudinally extending, pivotal chain guides rising from the transverse chain guide for two stringers arranged laterally of the machine frame and extending from respective ends of the first stringer, guide rollers being mounted at the ends for guiding the stringers in a polygonal path. One of the chain guides comprises an upper and a lower part movable in relation to each other in the direction of chain elongation. A power drive moves the two chain guide parts to adjust the effective length of the chain guide and thus selectively shortens or lengthens the effective circumference of the endless chain.

Abstract: The complete renewal of a railway road track, i.e. clearing and screening the ballast, and substituting new ties and rails for the old ones, comprises a continuous sequence of operations forming repeating cycles consisting in removing the old track, clearing and screening the ballast, laying a new track with a single passage of a train comprising, in addition to the apparatus necessary for performing the operations, and to the cars necessary for transporting the rails, ties and hardware accessories, at least one track-laying and removing lift of trucks equipped with gantries and frame trucks.

Abstract: In a ballast cleaning apparatus, wherein ballast is removed from underneath a track section, cleaned and returned, clean ballast is stored so that additional amounts of clean ballast may be selectively delivered under the track/or to the cribs.

Abstract: An undercutting apparatus and a method for removing material from beneath railroad track. The apparatus comprises a rotary trench digging means and horizontal chain means to transport the material from beneath the railroad track to the trench digging means at an underground location. In operation the trench digging means digs a trench alongside of the track while at the same time transporting the material delivered by the horizontal chain means to a suitable location above the ground. Preferably the rotary trench digging means comprises a large hollow wheel and one end of the chain means is disposed inside of and near the bottom of the wheel during normal operation of the chain means. Means are provided to pivot the chain means about a vertical axis whereby the chain means can be pivoted from a first position wherein the chain means extends parallel to the track to a second position wherein the chain means extends perpendicular to the track.

Abstract: An undercutting apparatus for removing ballast and other material from beneath railroad ties, particularly ties in areas that are difficult to undercut with conventional equipment. The apparatus includes a carrier capable of moving over ordinary ground. An undercutter in the form of a toothed chain moving around the periphery of a plate member is rigidly mounted to a first frame member. A drive motor is provided for driving the chain by means of a sprocket. The first frame member is mounted on a second frame to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to the second frame. A motor and interconnecting gears are provided to pivot the first frame member as desired. The second frame is mounted on a travelling frame mounted on a vertically oriented track frame. Hydraulic cylinders pivot the second frame means as desired. The track frame is mounted to the carrier to transport the undercutter and provide it with the necessary power.

Abstract: In a ballast cleaning method and apparatus, wherein ballast is removed from underneath a track section, cleaned and returned, clean ballast is stored so that additional amounts of clean ballast may be selectively delivered under the track and/or to the cribs.