Rail tie handling system and method
AssigneeTransportation IP Holdings, LLC
InventorsMichael VanderLinden, Mark Bachman, Norman Wellings
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rail tie handling system is provided that includes at least one chassis that either has self-propulsion or can be coupled to a vehicle having a propulsion system, or both. The handling system includes a conveyor segment, a bundler segment, and an unloader segment. The conveyor can receive rail ties and to provide them upon demand or request. The bundler can receive rail ties from the conveyor, to bundle the rail ties into a bundle, and to provide the bundle upon demand or request. The unloader can receive the bundle from the bundler and can unload that bundle from the handling system upon demand or request. The system includes a controller that can determine when and/or where to unload the bundle from the unloader.
Claims20
A rail tie handling system, comprising:
- at least one chassis configured to move along a track;
- a conveyor configured to be coupled with the at least one chassis, to receive rail ties, and to provide the rail ties upon demand or request;
- a bundler configured to be coupled with the at least one chassis, to receive the rail ties from the conveyor, to bundle the rail ties into a bundle, and to provide the bundle upon demand or request;
- an unloader configured to be coupled with the chassis, to receive the bundle from the bundler, and to unload that bundle from the handling system upon demand or request;
- and
- a controller configured to determine one or more of when or where to unload the bundle from the unloader.
A method, comprising:
- receiving rail ties at a conveyor on a vehicle chassis;
- receiving the rail ties at a bundler from the conveyor;
- bundling the rail ties into a bundle using the bundler;
- receiving the bundle at an unloader from the bundler;
- unloading the bundle via the unloader upon demand or request;
- and
- determining one or more of when or where to unload the bundle from the unloader.
A rail tie handling system, comprising:
- a conveyor configured to receive rail ties, and to provide the rail ties upon demand or request;
- a bundler configured to receive the rail ties from the conveyor, to bundle the rail ties into a bundle, and to provide the bundle upon demand or request;
- an unloader configured to receive the bundle from the bundler, and to unload that bundle upon demand or request;
- and
- a controller configured to determine one or more of when or where to unload the bundle from the unloader.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.