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US 11,299,859 B2Granted
Railroad tie plate distribution apparatus and method therefore
AssigneeB & B Metals, Inc.
InventorCoty T. Coots
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Present embodiments relate to a railroad tie plate distribution apparatus and method therefore. The tie plate distribution apparatus which may be used in manual or automatic distribution modes in order to place tie plates on a railroad tie in a spaced apart sequence as the apparatus moves over a track being serviced. The tie plate distributor includes an actuator to feed tie plates on to a railroad track system being serviced.
Claims17
A tie plate distributor, comprising:
- a conveyor having a first end and a second end;
- a stop near the second end of said conveyor, said stop being movable to allow advancing of a tie plate in a distribution zone;
- a second stop disposed in said distribution zone, said second stop biased to a blocking position;
- an actuator which engages the tie plate and forces said tie plate past said second stop.
1 more element
A method of distributing tie plates, comprising the steps of:
- moving a tie plate to a first stop position;
- moving said tie plate from said first stop position to a second stop position within a distribution zone;
- actuating an actuator to move said tie plate out of said second stop position by moving at least one support at said second stop position;
- biasing said at least one support of said second stop position back to a first condition independent of said actuator;
- and,
- moving said tie plate on to a railroad tie.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.