GB1026235A - Method of and apparatus for loading and transporting rails - Google Patents

Abstract

1,026,235. Lifting railway rails. MATISA MATERIEL INDUSTRIEL S.A. Feb. 6, 1964 [Feb. 6, 1963], No. 5142/64. Heading E1G. Long independant sections of double lengths of rails R are engaged by rollers on a train comprising a hoist wagon D1, a winch wagon C1, intermediate wagons A1 and a centre wagon Bl and are run the length of the train by movement of the wagons, the first pair of rails being loaded towards the centre of the wagons and successive pairs outside the prior pairs, the rollers being substituted by fixed supports for transport. The ends of the rails are raised by a crane on the hoist wagon and led through a guide spacer having rollers mounted on a frame articulated to the end of the hoist wagon to prevent twisting of the rails. Vertically and horizontally mounted rollers guide the rails at the entry of the hoist wagon and of the winch wagon, the vertical rollers of the latter being transversely adjustable to lead the rails towards the centreline of the wagon. The end of one rail is clamped to, and the end of the other rails is supported in a guide-carriage El having the wheels where double flanges engage grooves running the length of the intermediate and centre wagons, thus guiding the leading ends of the two rails the length of the train as the rails move over horizontal rollers on the wagons and pass between vertical guide pins. When the first pair of rails is loaded, they are clamped by their base flanges to the centre wagon. The second and subsequent pairs of rails are similarly loaded outwards of the prior loaded pair, the advancing ends being guided by a carriage running on the prior loaded rails. The last pair of rails is moved longitudinally by winches on the winch wagon which also carries a generator providing power for the electric winches and the hoist. For transport the horizontal guide rollers on the intermediate wagons are retracted and the rails rest on fixed supports on the wagons.