Claims
- 1. A process for replacing worn ties from a railroad track of the type comprising longitudinally extending metal rails supported on transversely extending wooden ties by metal tie plates and a ballast roadbed supporting and at least partially surrounding the ties including the steps of:
- applying a substantially axially directed force to a worn tie in the railroad track and thereby pushing the worn tie out from under the rails and the tie plates and out of the roadbed of the railroad track; and
- simultaneously scarifying the portion of the roadbed immediately adjacent the position previously occupied by the worn tie and thereby facilitating the positioning of a replacement tie in the roadbed beneath the rails and the tie plates of the railroad track.
- 2. The process of replacing worn ties according to claim 1 wherein the tie pushing step is further characterized by simultaneously applying non-sonic vibrations of substantial amplitude to the worn tie and thereby facilitating movement of the worn tie out of the roadbed of the railroad track.
- 3. The process of replacing worn ties according to claim 1 further characterized by removing portions of the worn tie extending above the under surfaces of the tie plates prior to the tie pushing step.
- 4. The process of replacing worn ties according to claim 1 further characterized by:
- positioning a replacement tie for reinsertion under the metal rails and tie plates; and
- applying a substantially axially directed force to the replacement tie for pulling the replacement tie under the rails and the tie plates in the location previously occupied by the worn tie.
- 5. The tie replacement process according to claim 4 further characterized by continuously retaining the tie plates in engagement with the under surfaces of the rails throughout the replacement steps.
- 6. The tie replacement process according to claim 4 further characterized by:
- engaging an anchor mechanism with the roadbed at one end of the worn tie; and
- pushing the worn tie out of the roadbed in the direction of the anchor mechanism so that the reaction force generated by the tie pushing step is directed into the roadbed by the anchor mechanism.
- 7. The tie replacement process according to claim 4 wherein the tie pushing and tie pulling steps are both characterized by vibrating the worn tie to facilitate movement of both the worn tie and the replacement tie through the roadbed.
- 8. The tie replacement process according to claim 4 further characterized by removing portions of the worn tie extending above the upper surfaces of the tie plates prior to the tie pushing step.
- 9. The tie replacement process according to claim 8 wherein the step of removing portions of the tie projecting above the upper surfaces of the tie plates is carried out by engaging opposed tie biting jaws with the upper portions of the worn tie at a point substantially aligned with the under surfaces of the tie plates and then drawing the jaws together to remove the portions of the tie projecting above the upper surfaces of the tie plates by a shearing action.
- 10. The tie replacement process according to claim 1 wherein the step of applying an axially directed force to the worn tie is characterized by advancing a tie pushing-tie pulling mechanism along a path extending substantially axially of the worn tie and thereby pushing the worn tie out from beneath the tie plates and the rails and out of the roadbed of the railroad track.
- 11. The tie replacement process according to claim 10 and further comprising the step of securing a replacement tie to the tie pushing-tie pulling mechanism after the worn tie has been pushed from beneath the tie plates and the rails.
- 12. The tie replacement process according to claim 11 wherein the step of engaging the replacement tie with the tie pushing-tie pulling mechanism is further characterized by:
- positioning the replacement tie directly above the point at which the worn tie is removed from the roadbed;
- releasing one end of the replacement tie to fall under the action of gravity and simultaneously forcing the other end of the replacement tie downwardly; and
- simultaneously actuating a tie gripping mechanism mounted on the distal end of the tie pushing-tie pulling mechanism to engage the replacement tie.
- 13. The tie replacement process according to claim 11 wherein the step of securing the replacement tie to the tie pushing-tie pulling mechanism is further characterized by:
- receiving the replacement tie in gripping mechanisms mounted at one end of a tie inserting and tie guiding mechanism;
- subsequently moving the tie inserting and tie guiding mechanism downwardly to engage the replacement tie with the tie pushing-pulling mechanism; and
- maintaining the tie inserting and tie guiding mechanism in engagement with the replacement tie during the tie pulling step and thereby guiding the replacement tie into position in the roadbed and beneath the tie plates and the rails of the railroad track.
- 14. The tie replacement process according to claim 13 and further characterized by maintaining the tie biting jaws in closed positions during the tie pulling and tie pushing steps so that the jaws function to guide the replacement tie into position during the tie pulling step.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No.. 319,004, filed Dec. 27, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,422.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
319004 |
Dec 1972 |
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