# US 9,752,286 B2 · Tie plate separator and method thereof

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- Number: US 9,752,286 B2
- Document ID: US9752286B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/428,796
- Filed: 2012-03-23
- Published: 2013-09-26
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-23
- Assignees: B & B Metals, Inc.
- Applicants: William R. Coots
- Inventors: William R. Coots
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752286B2

## CPC

- E01B 29/32: Installing or removing track components, not covered by the preceding groups, e.g. sole-plates, rail anchors (E01B31/26 takes precedence)
- B65G 47/1485: {using suction or magnetic forces}
- E01B: PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS (derailing or rerailing blocks on track, track brakes or retarders B61K)
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## Abstract

Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tie plate sorter assembly, comprising:
at least one generally cylindrical driving ring;
at least one tie plate receiving side extending from adjacent to said cylindrical driving ring;
at least one magnet fixedly mounted on said at least one tie plate receiving side, said at least one magnet being selectively operable;
a tie plate input which provides tie plates to an interior of said assembly defined by said at least one tie plate receiving side, when said tie plate receiving side is in one position;
a tie plate output which receives tie plates from said tie plate receiving side when said tie plate receiving side is in a second position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 1, said at least one generally cylindrical driving ring being a first cylindrical drive ring and a second cylindrical drive ring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 2, said first and second cylindrical drive rings being disposed on tires wherein at least one of said tires is rotatably driven.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 3, said at least one of said tires being driven by one of an electric or hydraulic motor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 4, said one of an electric motor or a hydraulic motor being directly connected to said at least one of said tires.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 4, said one of an electric motor or a hydraulic motor being connected to said at least one of said tires by a transmission assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 6 wherein said transmission assembly is one of a chain drive, a belt drive, a gear drive, or a hydraulic transmission.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 4 further comprising a chain drive having a drive sprocket extending about said tie plate sorter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 1, said at least one tie plate receiving side forming a geometric shape.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 9, said geometric shape being one of a circle, a polygon, a square, a rectangle, a quadrilateral, a trapezoid, a pentagon, a hexagon, and an octagon.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 1, said at least one magnet being selectively powerable.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 11 further comprising a power supply and a conductor which selectively powers said at least one magnet.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 12 wherein said power supply is a metallic strip.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 13 wherein said conductor engages said power supply dependent on a position of said receiver.

### Claim 15

A tie plate sorter assembly for use on a tie plate distribution vehicle capable of operation on-road and on a railroad track, said vehicle having a bed and a crane, comprising:
a tie plate receiver having a first driving ring and a second driving ring;
at least one tie plate receiving side extending between said first driving ring and said second driving ring, said at least one tie plate receiving side substantially forming one of a circle or a polygon;
at least one driving assembly causing cyclical motion of said at least one tie plate receiving side;
at least one magnet disposed adjacent said at least one tie plate receiving side, said at least one magnet being selectively operable;
an electrical contact operably engaging said at least one magnet;
a tie plate input which delivers tie plates to said tie plate receiver; and,
a tie plate output which receives said tie plates from said tie plate receiver.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 15, said cyclical motion being rotational.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 16, said cyclical motion being bi-directional.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 15, said tie plate input entering a first direction.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 18, said tie plate output exiting a second direction.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 19, said first direction and said second direction being linearly aligned.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 19, said first and second direction being non-aligned.

### Claim 22 (depends on 15)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 15, said tie plate input being one of a roller conveyor, a belt conveyor, a chute or a feeder.

### Claim 23

A tie plate sorter assembly, comprising;
a drive assembly for cyclical motion of a tie plate receiver;
said tie plate receiver having at least one tie plate receiving side;
at least one magnet disposed on said tie plate receiver, said magnet being selectively operable based upon a position of said at least one magnet;
said at least one magnet being an electromagnet;
a tie plate input providing tie plates to said tie plate receiver;
a tie plate output receiving tie plates from said tie plate receiver.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 23, said at least one magnet having at least one on position and at least one off position during movement of said tie plate receiver.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 23 further comprising guides located along said at least one tie plate receiving side.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 23 further comprising a catch disposed on an inside of said tie plate receiver.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The tie plate sorter assembly of claim 23 further comprising a power supply to power said at least one magnet.

### Claim 28

A tie plate sorter assembly, comprising;
a drive assembly for cyclical motion of a tie plate receiver;
said tie plate receiver having at least one tie plate receiving side;
at least one magnet disposed on said tie plate receiver, said magnet being selectively operable based upon a position of said at least one magnet;
further comprising a power supply to power said at least one magnet;
a tie plate input providing tie plates to said tie plate receiver; and,
a tie plate output receiving tie plates from said tie plate receiver.