Mobile automated tie replacement system
AssigneeHarsco Technologies LLC
InventorRobert R. Schrunk, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method for the replacement of railroad ties is disclosed. The tie extends laterally under two rails and is attached to the rails via tie plates. An example rail changing machine includes a tie changing boom moveable to one side of the two rails. The tie changing boom including a gripping assembly for clamping the railroad tie. The tie changing boom is moveable between a proximate position and a distal position from the one side of the two rails to grip the tie and remove the tie from under the rails. A kicker is located on the opposite side of the rails from the tie changing boom and contacts one end of the tie to move the tie toward the tie changing boom. A pair of tie plate clamps to hold the tie plates in place when the kicker moves the tie.
Claims17
A railroad tie changing machine, comprising:
- a plurality of wheels operable to travel over rails;
- a tie changing boom including a gripping assembly operable to clamp a railroad tie extending laterally under the rails, the tie changing boom being operable to move between a proximate position and a distal position relative to a side of the rails to grip a tie and remove it from under the rails;
- a kicker operable to contact an end of the tie to move the tie toward the tie changing boom;
- a rotatable platform coupled to the tie changing boom and the kicker and operable to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the tie changing boom is disposed at a first side of the wheels and the kicker is disposed at a second side of the wheels, and in the second position, the tie changing boom is disposed at the second side of the wheels and the kicker is disposed at the first side of the wheels;
- at least one jack operable to lift the rails at a location proximate to the tie;
- and
- a set of tie plate clamps operable to hold tie plates in place when the kicker moves the tie.
A method of replacing a railroad tie, comprising:
- clamping tie plates disposed under rails with a tie plate clamping assembly;
- lifting the rails;
- pushing a first end of a first tie disposed under the rails using a kicker coupled to a rotatable platform;
- gripping a second end of the first tie using a tie gripper;
- removing the first tie from under the rails using a boom arm coupled to the tie gripper and the rotatable platform;
- gripping a first end of a second tie using the tie gripper;
- positioning the second tie under the rails using the boom arm;
- and
- rotating the rotatable platform from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first position, the boom arm is disposed at a first side of the rails and the kicker is disposed at a second side of the rails, and in the second position, the boom arm is disposed at the second side of the rails and the kicker is disposed at the first side of the rails.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.