Automatic feedback systems and methods for railway nipper machines

A method for performing a nipping operation of a railway nipper machine, comprising:

• performing a nipping operation using a nipper frame having a pair of nipper hooks;
• controlling the nipping operation based on a depth signal and a time signal;
• generating the depth signal relative to a nipper actuator connected to the nipper frame using a depth sensor;
• transmitting the depth signal to a position feedback device;
• generating the time signal using a timer;
• and
• actuating the nipper machine using the nipper actuator in response to a determination value generated based on the depth signal and the time signal;
• and
• determining whether a predetermined depth relative to the nipper actuator has been reached within a predetermined time period based on the time signal and the depth signal.

A railway nipper machine, comprising:

• a nipper frame having a pair of nipper hooks for performing a nipping operation;
• a position feedback device having a central control module configured for controlling the nipping operation based on a depth signal and a time signal, the central control module including an agitation initiation module configured for starting an agitation sequence of the actuator for a predetermined duration, wherein the agitation sequence is triggered when a downward travel velocity of the nipper actuator is reduced by a predetermined amount before reaching a predetermined depth;
• a depth sensor connected to the position feedback device for generating the depth signal relative to a nipper actuator connected to the nipper frame, the depth sensor transmitting the depth signal to the position feedback device;
• a timer that generates the time signal;
• and
• wherein the nipper machine is actuated by the nipper actuator in response to a determination value generated by the position feedback device based on the depth signal and the time signal.

A railway nipper machine, comprising:

• a nipper frame having a pair of nipper hooks for performing a nipping operation;
• a position feedback device having a central control module configured for controlling the nipping operation based on a depth signal and a time signal, the central control module including a velocity comparison module that determines whether a velocity of the nipper actuator has been reduced by a predetermined amount, and a predetermined depth relative to the nipper actuator has not been reached within a predetermined time period;
• a depth sensor connected to the position feedback device for generating the depth signal relative to a nipper actuator connected to the nipper frame, the depth sensor transmitting the depth signal to the position feedback device;
• a timer that generates the time signal;
• and
• wherein the nipper machine is actuated by the nipper actuator in response to a determination value generated by the position feedback device based on the depth signal and the time signal.

A method for performing a nipping operation of a railway nipper machine, comprising:

• performing a nipping operation using a nipper frame having a pair of nipper hooks;
• controlling the nipping operation based on a depth signal and a time signal;
• generating the depth signal relative to a nipper actuator connected to the nipper frame using a depth sensor;
• transmitting the depth signal to the position feedback device;
• generating the time signal using a timer;
• actuating the nipper machine using the nipper actuator in response to a determination value generated based on the depth signal and the time signal;
• starting an agitation sequence of the actuator for a predetermined duration;
• and
• receiving the depth signal and the time signal, and calculating a velocity of the nipper actuator based on the depth and time signals.

A method for performing a nipping operation of a railway nipper machine, comprising:

• performing a nipping operation using a nipper frame having a pair of nipper hooks;
• controlling the nipping operation based on a depth signal and a time signal;
• generating the depth signal relative to a nipper actuator connected to the nipper frame using a depth sensor;
• transmitting the depth signal to the position feedback device;
• generating the time signal using a timer;
• and
• actuating the nipper machine using the nipper actuator in response to a determination value generated based on the depth signal and the time signal;
• and
• determining whether a velocity of the nipper actuator has been reduced by a predetermined amount, and a predetermined depth relative to the nipper actuator has not been reached within a predetermined time period.