Mobile apparatus for continuously laying ties

In a mobile apparatus for continuously replacing old ties by new ties as the apparatus advances along a right of way including an old track section, a new track section and an intermediate trackless ballast bed section wherein the old ties are replaced by new ties:

• (a) a first bridge-like elongated carrier frame,
• (b) on-track undercarriages supporting the first carrier frame on the old track section,
• (c) conveyor means for transporting the old and new ties mounted on the first carrier frame,
• (d) a like, second bridge-like elongated carrier frame,
• (e) an on-track undercarriage supporting the second carrier frame on the old track section, another on-track undercarriage supporting the second carrier frame on the new track section and an off-track track laying undercarriage selectively supporting the second carrier frame on the intermediate trackless section,
• (f) means for coupling the first and second carrier frames together for common advance along the right of way,
• (g) an arrangement for excavating ballast from the intermediate trackless section and for smoothing this section, the ballast excavating arrangement including
• (1) a chain guide including a transversely extending guide section mounted on the second carrier frame, the chain guide enclosing a space and rising from the transverse guide section adjacent the intermediate trackless section to an upper portion, and
• (2) an endless ballast excavating chain support for movement in the chain guide,
• (h) conveyor means mounted on the second carrier frame for transporting the old ties to and the new ties from the conveyor means on the first carrier frame, and conveyor means being arranged to convey successive ones of the ties in a direction substantially parallel to the elongation of the carrier frames,
• (i) a pick-up device for the old ties mounted on the second carrier frame,
• (j) turntable means arranged between the pick-up device and the conveyor means for the old ties, the turntable means turning the picked-up old ties into a position extending substantially parallel to the elongation of the carrier frames,
• (k) a tie laying device for the new ties mounted on the second carrier frame within the space enclosed by the chain guide, and
• (1) another turntable means arranged between the tie laying device and the conveyor means for the new ties, the other turntable means being arranged to receive successive ones of the new ties from the conveyor means and to turn the same into a position extending transversely to the carrier frames, the tie laying device being arranged to receive the turned new ties from the other turntable means.