Track skeletonizer

Apparatus for performing work on a railway roadbed with a roadbed working tool, such as a plow or sled, comprising:

• a mobile support framework;
• a front truck and a rear truck, each truck rotatably supporting wheels for riding on rails of a railway track;
• means for connecting said trucks in longitudinally spaced relationship to said framework;
• rail hook means carried by said framework for selectively connecting said framework with the rails upon which the wheels are riding;
• means carried by said framework for raising said framework and a section of rail connected to said framework by said rail hook means with respect to the ground;
• suspension means located between said trucks for selectively suspending a roadbed working tool from said framework for transport therewith;
• and
• powered handling boom means supported by said framework for manipulating said tool with respect to said framework and railway track after said tool has been released from said framework by said suspension means.

Apparatus for performing work on a railway roadbed with a roadbed working tool, such as a plow or sled, comprising:

• a mobile support framework;
• a plurality of wheels coupled to said framework for riding on rails of a railway track;
• rail hook means carried by said framework for selectively connecting said framework with the rails upon which the wheels are riding;
• means carried by said framework for raising said framework and a section of rail connected to said framework by said rail hook means with respect to the ground;
• suspension means for selectively suspending said tool from said framework;
• motor means for moving said suspension means between a tool supporting position wherein said tool is suspended from said framework and a release position wherein said tool is free to drop from said framework;
• and
• powered handling boom means supported by said framework for moving said tool with respect to said framework after said tool has been released from said framework by said suspension means.

Apparatus for performing work on a railway roadbed with a roadbed working tool, such as a plow or sled, comprising:

• a mobile support framework;
• a plurality of wheels coupled to said framework for riding on rails of a railway track;
• rail hook means carried by said framework for selectively connecting said framework with the rails upon which the wheels are riding;
• means carried by said framework for raising said framework and a section of rail connected to said framework by said rail hook means with respect to the ground;
• suspension means for selectively suspending said tool from said framework;
• said suspension means including a first pair of hooks fixedly attached to a rod for rotation therewith, a second pair of hooks fixedly attached to a second rod for rotation therewith, and means for supporting said first and second rods for rotary motion below said framework at spaced locations along the length of said framework;
• and
• powered handling boom means supported by said framework for moving said tool with respect to said framework after said tool has been released from said framework by said suspension means.

Apparatus for performing work on a railway roadbed with a roadbed working tool, such as a plow or sled, comprising:

• a mobile support framework;
• a plurality of wheels coupled to said framework for riding on rails of a railway track;
• rail hook means carried by said framework for selectively connecting said framework with the rails upon which the wheels are riding;
• means carried by said framework for raising said framework and a section of rail connected to said framework by said rail hook means with respect to the ground;
• suspension means for selectively suspending said tool from said framework;
• and
• powered handling boom means supported by said framework for moving said tool with respect to said framework after said tool has been released from said framework by said suspension means;
• said handling boom means including a generally vertically extending support member, means for rotatably carrying said support member on said framework for rotation about a generally vertical axis, arm means pivotably connected to said support member for pivoting about a generally horizontal axis, coupling means attached to said arm means for coupling said boom means to said tool, first power drive means for rotating said support member, and second power drive means for pivoting said arm means about its axis.

Apparatus for performing work on a railway roadbed with a roadbed working tool, such as a plow or sled, comprising:

• a mobile framework;
• a front support truck and a rear support truck disposed in longitudinally spaced relationship, each of said trucks including a base portion and a movable portion mounted for lateral motion relative to the base portion with the movable truck portions rotatably supporting wheels for riding on rails of a railway track;
• means including powered raising/lowering mechanisms for connecting each truck to said framework;
• rail hook means carried by said framework for selectively connecting said framework with the rails upon which said wheels are riding;
• means carried by said framework for raising said framework and a section of rail connected to said framework by said rail hook means with respect to the ground;
• and
• adjusting means connected between the base and movable portions of each truck for selectively moving the movable portion of each of said trucks laterally with respect to the associated base truck portion and the lengthwise dimension of said framework to effect alignment between the wheels of said trucks and the rails of the track.

Apparatus for performing work on a railway roadbed, comprising:

• a mobile support framework;
• a front truck and a rear truck, each of said trucks rotatably supporting wheels for riding on rails of a railway track;
• means for connecting each truck to said framework;
• each of said trucks including a truck frame and at least one axle carried by each truck frame for supporting said wheels, and said connecting means including a leg assembly having one portion pivotably connected to said framework and another portion connected to one of said truck frames through said adjusting means;
• rail hook means carried by said framework for selectively connecting said framework with the rails upon which said wheels are riding;
• means carried by said framework for raising said framework and a section of rail connected to said framework by said rail hook means with respect to the ground;
• and
• adusting means for moving each of said trucks laterally with respect to the lengthwise dimension of said framework,
• said adjusting means including motor means connected between said truck frame and said other portion of said leg assembly for moving said truck frame with respect to said leg assembly in a direction transverse to the lengthwise dimension of said framework;
• said adjusting means further including a yoke assembly and said motor means including a pair of hydraulic piston-cylinder mechanisms, said other portion of said leg assembly being connected to said yoke, each of said hydraulic piston-cylinder mechanisms having a cylinder connected to said truck frame and a piston connected to one arm of said yoke assembly whereby the motion of said piston with respect to said cylinders adjusts the position of said truck frame with respect to said leg assembly and framework.

A tool for working ballast material below a lifted section of railway track, said tool comprising:

• a support frame;
• blade means extending transversely below said support frame for working the ballast material;
• a transverse plate disposed behind said blade means and extending below said support frame across substantially the entire width of the railway track, said plate having an upturned front edge;
• and
• a pair of control mechanisms connected in laterally spaced relationship between said plate and support frame, each control mechanism including:
• a pair of longitudinally spaced links swingably supporting said plate from said frame;
• and
• means for selectively adjusting the position of said plate relative to said frame.

A tool for moving ballast material below a lifted section of railway track, said tool comprising:

• a support frame;
• blade means extending below said support frame for moving ballast material;
• a control pad mechanism extending below said support frame rearward of said blade means, said control pad mechanism including a pad extending laterally across substantially the entire width of the track with which said tool is to be used;
• means for independently adjusting the space between the support frame and the pad on either side of said pad whereby the level at which said blades move the ballast material is adjustable in said lateral direction;
• and
• a tow ear secured to each side of said tool for coupling said tool to a device for towing said tool, each tow ear being pivotably attached to said tool for pivoting motion between a position wherein each ear extends laterally from a side of the tool for coupling to a towing device and a transport position wherein each ear is pivoted inwardly from its laterally outward extending position for transport, and means for locking each ear to its laterally outward extending position.

A track skeletonizer, comprising:

• a mobile support framework;
• a front truck and a rear truck, each truck rotatably supporting wheels for riding on rails of a railway track;
• means for connecting said trucks in longitudinally spaced relationship to said framework;
• hook means mounted on said framework for selective connection with the rails;
• outrigger means mounted on said framework for selectively raising said framework and a section of rail connected thereto by said hook means relative to the ground;
• means for coupling a roadbed working tool to said frame in an operative position beneath a raised section of rail for movement therewith to perform work on a railway roadbed;
• and
• powered handling boom means mounted on said framework for positively manipulating the tool to and from the operative position, said boom means including:
• a base;
• arm means pivoted at one end to said base;
• means for selectively effecting pivotal movement of said arm means;
• and
• means mounted on the other end of said arm means for selectively engaging the tool for manipulation by said boom means.

A track skeletonizer, comprising:

• a mobile support framework;
• a front truck and a rear truck, each truck rotatably supporting wheels for riding on rails of a railway track;
• means for connecting said trucks in longitudinally spaced relationship to said framework;
• hook means mounted on said framework for selective connection with the rails;
• outrigger means mounted on said framework for selectively raising said framework and a section of rail connected thereto by said hook means relative to the ground;
• means for coupling a roadbed working tool to said frame in an operative position beneath a raised section of rail for movement therewith to perform work on a railway roadbed;
• and
• powered handling boom means mounted on said framework for positively manipulating the tool to and from the operative position, said boom means including:
• a base supported for rotation about a generally vertical axis;
• means for selectively effecting rotation of said base;
• arm means pivoted at one end to said base about a generally horizontal axis;
• means for selectively effecting pivotal movement of said arm means;
• and
• means mounted on the other end of said arm means for selectively engaging the tool for manipulation by said boom means.