Railroad Tie Hardware Removing Apparatus and Methods
AssigneeRail Construction Equipment Company
InventorsDean T. Wickman, Steven L. Benck, Dennis Hanke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A railroad tie hardware removing apparatus and methods are provided. The apparatus includes one or more tool mechanisms each carrying one or more tools. The tools are positionable relative to a mounting structure or tower of a concrete railroad tie to remove the tower therefrom. Once the towers are removed, the tie can be pulled from underneath rails supported by the tie.
Claims20
A railroad tie hardware removing apparatus for removing mounting structures used to affix the rails of a railroad track to a concrete railroad tie, the railroad tie hardware removing apparatus comprising:
- a frame configured for travel upon the rails of the railroad track;
- at least one tool adapted to break the mounting structures free from the concrete railroad tie;
- at least one tool mechanism mounted to the frame, the at least one tool carried by the at least one tool mechanism;
- and
- wherein the at least one tool mechanism is operable to transition the at least one tool from a stored position wherein the at least one tool is spaced above the mounting structures, and a working position wherein the at least one tool is in contact with one of the mounting structures.
A railroad tie hardware removing apparatus configured for travel upon a pair of rails of a railroad track and configured for removing mounting structures used to affix the pair of rails of the railroad track to a concrete railroad tie, the railroad tie hardware removing apparatus comprising:
- a frame including at least a pair of wheels configured for rolling translation upon the pair of rails;
- a first tool mechanism mounted to the frame and having a first linear actuator operably connected to a first scissor mechanism to simultaneously transition first and second tools carried by the first tool mechanism from a stored position to a working position, wherein in the working position the first and second tools each contact mounting structures of the railroad track;
- a second tool mechanism mounted to the frame and having a second linear actuator operably connected to a second scissor mechanism to simultaneously transition third and fourth tools carried by the second tool mechanism from a stored position to a working position, wherein in the working position the third and fourth tools each contact mounting structures of the railroad track;
- and
- a power source for supplying power to the first and second linear actuators;
- a controller operably connected between the power source and the first and second linear actuators to selectively direct power to each of the first and second linear actuators.
A method for removing a mounting structure used to affix a pair of rails of a railroad track to a concrete railroad tie, the method comprising:
- positioning a frame carrying at least one tool mechanism over the mounting structure;
- extending at least one tool carried by the at least one tool mechanism from a stored position to a working position, wherein in the working position the at least one tool contacts the mounting structure;
- and
- removing the mounting structure from the concrete railroad tie by applying a force against the mounting structure at a selected orientation using the tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.