Apparatus and Method for Conversion of Land Based Machine to a High-Rail System

A method for reversibly converting a land based machine having an X-Frame to a rail mobile machine for mobilization on rails, having front and rear powered rail means for moving on rails and having powered means to raise and lower the rail means to and from the rails and having powered clamp means to releasably clamp the powered rail means securely to the rails, and having a power source to provide power to the front and rear powered rail means, and where the X-Frame has a front end and a rear end and a top side and a bottom side, the method comprised of the steps of:

• a. Attaching a rigid front member to the front end of the X-Frame so as to engage the front end of the X-Frame;
• b. Attaching a rigid lower member having first and second opposing ends to the front end lower portion of the first rigid member and attaching the second end to the rear end lower portion of the rigid rear member;
• c. Attaching a rigid rear member to the rear end of the X-Frame so as to engage the rear end of the X-Frame;
• d. Attaching top tightening means to the front and rear rigid members to allow for securely engaging the X-Frame vertically and horizontally;
• e. Tightening the tightening means so as to securely engage non-invasively the X-Frame vertically and horizontally between the front, rear, bottom and top means;
• f. Pivotally attaching one powered rail means to the rigid front or rigid rear member as desired so as to allow the selected powered rail means to raise and lower with respect to the rails;
• g. Pivotally attaching the other powered rail means to the other front or rear rigid member so as to allow the selected powered rail means to raise and lower with respect to the rails;
• h. Connecting the power source to the front and rear powered rail means so as to allow an operator of the excavator to lower the two powered rail means to operate on the rails, and so as to allow movement of the mobile powering unit to a desired position and to allow the clamps to engage the rail.

A method for reversibly converting a land based machine having an X-Frame to a rail mobile machine for mobilization on rails, having front and rear powered rail means with powered rail wheels for moving on rails and having powered means to raise and lower the rail means to and from the rails and having powered clamp means to releasably clamp the powered rail means securely to the rails, a power source to provide power to the front and rear powered rail means, and where the X-Frame has a front end and a rear end and a top side and a bottom side, the method comprised of the steps of:

• a. Lifting the excavator to raise it off ground;
• b. Releasably attaching a single rigid non-invasive retaining means having an interior front end, an interior rear end and an interior bottom that together form an interior space, so as to engage the X-Frame within the interior space;
• c. Rotatably connecting the front and rear powered rail means to the rigid non-invasive retaining means;
• d. Attaching releasable rigid top securing means to the single rigid non-invasive retaining means on the top side of the X-Frame so as to releasably secure the X-Frame in a non-invasive manner both vertically and horizontally within the rigid non-invasive retaining means;
• e. Connecting the powering means of the front and rear rail means to the power source so as to allow an operator of the excavator to lower the two powered rail means to operate on the rails, and so as to allow movement of the mobile powering unit to a desired position on the rails and to operate the clamps to engage the rail;
• f. Lowering the excavator back to the ground.