Adaptive railway fastener and anchor installation system

A railway component handling system comprising:

• a railway anchor manipulator movably couplable with a support structure of a railway workhead, the railway anchor manipulator comprising one or more anchor tools and operable to squeeze one or more railway anchors, where:
• a frame assembly of the support structure comprises a first leg and a second leg;
• and
• the railway anchor manipulator is movably couplable with the first leg and the second leg so that the railway anchor manipulator is operable to lower to a deployed position in part by sliding along the first leg and the second leg of the frame assembly;
• and
• one or more actuators operable to selectively raise or lower the railway anchor manipulator;
• a railway fastener installer comprising a hammer assembly and movably couplable with the support structure, the railway fastener installer operable to install one or more railway fasteners through one or more holes of a railway tie plate and into a railway tie;
• and
• the railway anchor manipulator operable to:
• lower to the deployed position at least partially by operation of the one or more actuators;
• engage one or more railway anchors attached to a rail with the one or more anchor tools;
• and
• adjust the one or more railway anchors using the one or more anchor tools.

A railway component handling system comprising:

• a railway anchor manipulator movably couplable with a support structure of a railway workhead, the railway anchor manipulator comprising one or more anchor tools and operable to squeeze one or more railway anchors;
• a self-centering assembly that comprises the one or more anchor tools and that is movably coupled with a dual-beam support framework;
• one or more actuators operable to selectively raise or lower the railway anchor manipulator;
• a railway fastener installer comprising a hammer assembly and movably couplable with the support structure, the railway fastener installer operable to install one or more railway fasteners through one or more holes of a railway tie plate and into a railway tie;
• and
• the railway anchor manipulator operable to:
• lower to a deployed position at least partially by operation of the one or more actuators;
• engage one or more railway anchors attached to a rail with the one or more anchor tools;
• and
• adjust the one or more railway anchors using the one or more anchor tools.

A railway component handling system comprising:

• a railway anchor manipulator movably couplable with a support structure of a railway workhead, the railway anchor manipulator comprising one or more anchor tools and operable to squeeze one or more railway anchors;
• one or more actuators operable to selectively raise or lower the railway anchor manipulator;
• a railway fastener installer comprising a hammer assembly and movably couplable with the support structure, the railway fastener installer operable to install one or more railway fasteners through one or more holes of a railway tie plate and into a railway tie;
• the railway anchor manipulator operable to:
• lower to a deployed position at least partially by operation of the one or more actuators;
• engage one or more railway anchors attached to a rail with the one or more anchor tools;
• and
• adjust the one or more railway anchors using the one or more anchor tools;
• and
• a system controller configured to facilitate alignment of the railway anchor manipulator and the railway fastener installer with respect to the railway tie so that the railway anchor manipulator and the railway fastener installer are disposed in an aligned position with respect to the railway tie.

A method comprising:

• lowering a railway anchor manipulator to a deployed position at least partially by operation of one or more actuators, wherein:
• the railway anchor manipulator movably couplable with a support structure of a railway workhead, the railway anchor manipulator comprising one or more anchor tools and is operable to squeeze one or more railway anchors;
• and
• the one or more actuators are operable to selectively raise or lower the railway anchor manipulator;
• engaging one or more railway anchors attached to a rail with the one or more anchor tools;
• adjusting the one or more railway anchors using the one or more anchor tools;
• and
• installing, with a railway fastener installer, one or more railway fasteners through one or more holes of a railway tie plate and into a railway tie, wherein the railway fastener installer comprises a hammer assembly and is movably couplable with the support structure, and wherein the railway fastener installer is slidably and pivotably couplable with the support structure.

A method comprising:

• lowering a railway anchor manipulator to a deployed position at least partially by operation of one or more actuators, wherein:
• the railway anchor manipulator movably couplable with a first leg and a second leg of a frame assembly of a support structure of a railway workhead so that the railway anchor manipulator is operable to lower to the deployed position in part by sliding along the first leg and the second leg of the frame assembly;
• the railway anchor manipulator comprises one or more anchor tools and is operable to squeeze one or more railway anchors;
• and
• the one or more actuators are operable to selectively raise or lower the railway anchor manipulator;
• engaging one or more railway anchors attached to a rail with the one or more anchor tools;
• adjusting the one or more railway anchors using the one or more anchor tools;
• and
• installing, with a railway fastener installer, one or more railway fasteners through one or more holes of a railway tie plate and into a railway tie, wherein the railway fastener installer comprises a hammer assembly and is movably couplable with the support structure.

A method comprising:

• lowering a railway anchor manipulator in a self-centering assembly to a deployed position at least partially by operation of one or more actuators, wherein:
• the railway anchor manipulator movably couplable with a support structure of a railway workhead, the railway anchor manipulator comprising one or more anchor tools and operable to squeeze one or more railway anchors;
• the one or more actuators are operable to selectively raise or lower the railway anchor manipulator;
• and
• the self-centering assembly comprises the one or more anchor tools and is movably coupled with a dual-beam support framework;
• engaging one or more railway anchors attached to a rail with the one or more anchor tools;
• adjusting the one or more railway anchors using the one or more anchor tools;
• and
• installing, with a railway fastener installer, one or more railway fasteners through one or more holes of a railway tie plate and into a railway tie, wherein the railway fastener installer comprises a hammer assembly and is movably couplable with the support structure.

A method comprising:

• facilitating, by a system controller, alignment of a railway anchor manipulator and a railway fastener installer with respect to a railway tie so that the railway anchor manipulator and the railway fastener installer are disposed in an aligned position with respect to the railway tie;
• lowering the railway anchor manipulator to a deployed position at least partially by operation of one or more actuators, wherein:
• the railway anchor manipulator movably couplable with a support structure of a railway workhead, the railway anchor manipulator comprising one or more anchor tools and operable to squeeze one or more railway anchors;
• and
• the one or more actuators are operable to selectively raise or lower the railway anchor manipulator;
• engaging one or more railway anchors attached to a rail with the one or more anchor tools;
• adjusting the one or more railway anchors using the one or more anchor tools;
• and
• installing, with the railway fastener installer, one or more railway fasteners through one or more holes of a railway tie plate and into the railway tie, wherein the railway fastener installer comprises a hammer assembly and is movably couplable with the support structure.