Laterally adjustable nipper-clipper assembly and method of operating a laterally adjustable nipper-clipper assembly
AssigneeHarsco Technologies LLC
InventorStephen G. Cotsford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nipper-clipper assembly for lifting railroad ties and installing clip assembly springs to couple rails to a tie. The ties are disposed below the rails and extending in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal rails. The nipper-clipper assembly includes a main beam assembly, a right side clipping assembly, a left side rail clipping assembly, a right side nipper assembly having a pad assembly, and a left side nipper assembly having a pad assembly. The nipper assemblies and the clipper assemblies are coupled to the main beam assembly. The right side pad assembly and the side pad assembly are structured to act upon the tie by contacting the lateral ends of the tie.
Claims42
A nipper-clipper assembly for lifting railroad ties and applying clips and structured to be coupled to a rail vehicle, said railroad ties disposed below longitudinal railroad rails and extending in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal rails, said nipper-clipper assembly comprising:
- a mounting device;
- a nipper assembly that is structured to lift said ties and move said ties laterally and which includes a vertical lifting device that is structured to lift said ties and a lateral movement device that is structured to move said ties laterally;
- and
- one or more clipping assemblies.
A nipper-clipper assembly for lifting railroad ties and applying clips and structured to be coupled to a rail vehicle, said railroad ties disposed below longitudinal railroad rails and extending in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal rails, said nipper-clipper assembly comprising:
- a main beam assembly;
- a right side clipping assembly coupled to said main beam assembly;
- a left side clipping assembly coupled to said main beam assembly;
- a right side nipper assembly having a pad assembly coupled to said main beam assembly;
- a left side nipper assembly having a pad assembly coupled to said main beam assembly;
- and
- said right side pad assembly and said left side pad assembly structured to act upon said tie by contacting the lateral ends of said tie.
A mobile nipper-clipper vehicle for installing clip assembly springs on rails, said clip assemblies coupled to a tie disposed below said rails, said ties extending in a lateral direction relative to said longitudinal rails, said mobile nipper-clipper vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- an engine coupled to said frame;
- a cab coupled to said frame;
- a control panel disposed in said cab;
- a plurality of rail wheels coupled to said frame;
- said engine structured to drive at least one of said rail wheels;
- said nipper-clipper assembly comprising:
- a mounting device;
- a nipper assembly that is structured to lift said ties and move said ties laterally and including a vertical lifting device that is structured to lift said ties and a lateral movement device that is structured to move said ties laterally;
- and
- one or more clipping assemblies.
A mobile nipper-clipper vehicle for installing clip assembly springs on rails, said clip assemblies coupled to a tie disposed below said rails, said ties extending in a lateral direction relative to said longitudinal rails, said mobile nipper-clipper vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- an engine coupled to said frame;
- a cab coupled to said frame;
- a control panel disposed in said cab;
- a plurality of rail wheels coupled to said frame;
- said engine structured to drive at least one of said rail wheels;
- a nipper-clipper assembly comprising:
- a main beam assembly;
- a right side clipping assembly coupled to said main beam assembly;
- a left side clipping assembly coupled to said main beam assembly;
- a right side nipper assembly having a pad assembly coupled to said main beam assembly;
- a left side nipper assembly having a pad assembly coupled to said main beam assembly;
- and
- said right side pad assembly and said left side pad assembly structured to act upon said tie by contacting the lateral ends of said tie.
A method of operating a nipper-clipper vehicle to install springs on railroad clip assemblies to secure rails to ties, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a nipper-clipper vehicle having a frame, an engine coupled to said frame, a cab coupled to said frame, a control panel disposed in said cab, a plurality of rail wheels coupled to said frame, said engine structured to drive at least one of said rail wheels, a nipper-clipper assembly pivotally coupled to said frame and structured to move between a first, lower position and a second, upper position, said nipper-clipper assembly having a main beam assembly, a right side clipping assembly, a left side rail clipping assembly, a right side nipper assembly having a pad assembly, a left side nipper assembly having a pad assembly;
- and, wherein said right side pad assembly and said left side pad assembly structured to act upon said tie by contacting the lateral ends of said tie;
- b) positioning said nipper-clipper vehicle on a railroad track having one or more uninstalled springs on one or more railroad clip assemblies, where one or more ties are misaligned and spaced from the bottom of the rails;
- c) positioning said nipper-clipper vehicle so that said nipper-clipper assembly is disposed above said misaligned tie;
- d) holding said tie between said right side nipper assembly and said left side nipper assembly;
- e) lifting said tie into contact with said rails;
- and
- f) utilizing said right side clipper assembly and said left side clipper assembly to install said springs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.