GB2031486A - A railway clip-applying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for simultaneously inserting a pair of clips 80 into sockets 77 on a tie 75 at opposite sides of a rail comprises, a head 30 positionable at a predetermined location relative to the tie and rail, a pair of arms 100, 101 pivotally mounted on said head for rotation in planes which extend parallel to the rail and with one plane at each side of the rail, a clip-engaging member on each of the arms, and power structure for simultaneously pivoting both of the arms between a raised retracted position and a lowered position to drive the two clips to fully-seated position. The head 30 includes vertical tubes 38 which engage guide rollers 45 on a wheeled frame 10 and which carry rail-locators 60, 61. The head 30 is lowered by chain 31 to seat on blocks 49, 50. Upward thrust during clip-driving is resisted by cylinders 150, 151. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A clip-applying machine BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a machine for simultaneously applying a pair of clips to sockets imbedded within a tie and positioned at either side of a rail.

For many years, United States railroads have utilized rails mounted on wooden ties, with rail anchors associated with the rail where needed and with the rail anchors being mounted to extend transverse to the length of the rail and being set and applied by movement and forces applied transverse to the length of the rail. Additionally, tie plates have been positioned between the wooden tie and the rail and with spikes driven into the tie to secure the rail and tie plate to the tie.

In Canada, concrete ties are used wherein clips are associated with sockets cast into the concrete tie and are positioned to overlie the flanges of the rail base to hold the rail and tie in association. Normally, a pair of clips is associated with each rail at either side thereof and at one tie, with the clips being manually set and then forcefully applied, as by use of a sledge hammer. Additionally, a prior machine has had the capability of applying an individual clip at one side of a rail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary feature of the invention disclosed herein is to provide a clip-applying machine which will simultaneously apply a pair of clips associated with a tie and positioned one at either side of a rail, with rapid location of the machine in operating position and rapid action thereof in applying the pair of clips and with minimal reaction forces.

In carrying out the foregoing, the machine has a head positionable at a predetermined location relative to a tie and a rail and has a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said head for rotation in planes which extend parallel to the rail and with one plane at each side of the rail. Means are provided on each of the arms for engaging a clip. Means on the head provide for simultaneous pivoting of said arms between a raised, retracted position and a lowered position, with movement between said positions causing the clip-engaging means to engage a pair of clips and advance the clips in opposite directions to fully seated position.

More specifically, the head is carried by a wheeled frame movable along a pair of rails and the head has a pair of pivot mountings at the lower end thereof located, one at each side of the rail. Each pivot mounting mounts one of said arms. A pair of fluid cylinders is connected one to each of said arms and is connected in parallel in a fluid circuit for causing simultaneous movement of the arms to apply a pair of clips by rotation of the arms in opposite directions in their respective planes.

Additional features of the invention are to provide: structure between the head and frame for locating the head in vertical position dependent upon the height of rail with which the clips are being associated; guide means for holding the head against twisting movement relative to the rail during applying of the clips; and an additional pair of fluid cylinders connected between the head and the frame and energized simultaneously with the arm operating cylinders to transmit to the frame reaction forces created during applying of the clips.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the clip-applying machine associated with a railroad track including a rail supported on a plurality of ties; Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of the central part of the structure shown in Fig. 1 and with the clipapplying arms shown in fully lowered position; Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, taken generally along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section, taken generally along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2; and Figure 5 is a schematic circuit drawing of the fluid circuit for the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI MENT A wheeled frame is indicated generally at 10 in Fig. 1 and may be of a type generally known in the art for supporting track maintenance structure. The frame has base members 11 and 1 2 interconnected by an upper structure, including upright members 1 5 and 1 6 and a horizontal connecting member 1 7 and with comparable structure being laterally spaced therefrom. The base members 11 and 1 2 each support a rail-engaging wheel 20 and 21, respectively, and with the laterally spaced base members supporting an additional front and rear wheel whereby the frame may move along the rail. The wheels may be driven by power means (not shown).

A head, indicated generally at 30, is vertically movable relative to the frame, with the elevation thereof being controlled by a movable chain member 31 connected to the head and with the vertical movement being guided by guide structure connected between the head and frame. The head 30 has a pair of interconnected, spaced-apart members 35 and 36 which extend vertically and with each of these members having an elongate vertical generally round guide tube 37 and 38, respectively, which coact with guide members carried by the wheeled frame. The guide tube 37 coacts with a pair of vertically-spaced, conical guide rollers 40 and 41 carried by brackets 42 and 43 secured to the frame member 16.The guide tube 38 coacts with a pair of conical guide rollers 45 and 46 carried by brackets 47 and 48, respectively, on the frame member 1 5. With this structure, the head 30 is free to move up and down relative to the vehicle frame under the control of the chain 31.

The lowered position of the head is established by a pair of spacer blocks 49 and 50 which may be selected of a suitable size to locate the head relative to a rail and which are mounted on the brackets 42 and 47, respectively, to underlie a lateral extension from each of the head members 35 and 36 and as identified at 52 and 53, respectively. Guide means 60 and 61 are located at the lower end of the head and act to prevent sway of the head during operation of the machine.

One of these guide means is shown particularly in Fig. 4 and has a pair of depending side plates 62 and 63 which can have their spacing varied by the use of shims 64 and 65 to have the spacing between the plates roughly equal to the width of the rail ball 71.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine is shown associated with a rail 70 having a ball 71, a web 72 and a base 73. The rail is shown as overlying three ties 74, 75, and 76. Each of the ties has four sockets 77 imbedded therein and each socket has an opening extending lengthwise thereof. Two of the sockets lie at opposite sides of one rail and two at opposite sides of the other rail. A clip 78 is shown set in association with a socket of the tie 75 and another clip is shown fully seated in association with a socket carried by the tie 76. The clip has a first leg 79 which fits within the longitudinal opening of the socket and which is connected by a curved section 80 to holddown section 81 and with a second curved section 82 connecting the hold-down section 81 to a second leg 83.As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, the hold-down section 81 firmly engages an insulator pad 85 supported on the upper surface of the rail base flange and the second leg 83 firmly engages a part of the socket 77 whereby the rail is firmly held against the tie with a tie pad 86 positioned therebetween.

With the clip set in the position shown in Fig. 1 in association with the tie 75, the head 30 has an applying arm 100 movable between the raised position of Fig. 1 and the lowered position, shown in Fig. 2, to apply the clip and move the clip to a fully-seated position and as shown in Fig. 2. The arm 100 moves in a plane which is parallel to and at one side of the rail 70 while a second arm 101 moves in a parallel plane and at a side of the rail opposite to the side where the arm 100 operates. The arms 100 and 101 are supported at the lower end of the head 30 for pivoting movement by a frame structure including a pair of plates 102 and 103 which lie to either side of a box channel member 104 forming part of the head frame and a strengthening beam 105 disposed therebeneath, with this structure held together by a series of bolts 106 and 107.The lower end of the plate 102 mounts a fixed shaft 110 which rotatably mounts the arm 100 with spacers 111 and 11 2 positioned to either side of the arm. The plate 103 mounts a fixed shaft 11 5 for pivotally mounting the arm 101 and with similar spacers 11 6 and 11 7 associated with the shaft and the arm.

Each of the arms has a clip-engaging means associated therewith and, as shown for arm 100, the clip-engaging means includes a member 1 20 formed of interconnected shaped members which receive the curved section 80 of the clip and also which abut against the second leg 83 of the clip (Fig. 3) to firmly hold the clip as pressure is exerted on the clip to move the first leg 79 thereof into a fully-seated position in the socket 77. A similar clip-engaging structure 121 is carried at the lower end of the arm 1 01.

Fluid power means for causing movement of the arms 100 and 101 comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders 130 and 131 having their respective piston rods 1 32 and 1 33 connected to the arms 100 and 101, respectively. The upper ends of the cylinders are pivoted at 1 35 to a bracket 1 36 carried on the head 30. A hydraulic circuit for causing operation of the cylinders 1 30 and 1 31 is shown schematically in Fig. 5 wherein a pump 140 supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure to a control valve 141 and with the valve having positions including a first position to connect a line 142 to fluid pressure and a line 143 to reservoir 144 and a second position to reverse the connections.The line 142 connects to a pair of lines 145 and 146 leading to the upper ends of the cylinders 1 30 and 131. When pressure fluid is supplied to the line 142, the piston rods 1 32 and 1 33 of the cylinders are caused to extend to move the anchor-applying arms 100 and 101 from the upper position shown in Fig. 1 to the lowered position, shown in Fig. 2. Shift of the valve 141 to the second position causes slow delivery of pressure fluid through line 143 which connects to lines 147 and 148 which deliver pressure fluid to the opposite ends of the cylinders and cause retraction of the piston rods 1 32 and 1 33 to raise the anchor-applying arms. The line 1 43 has an orificed check valve 149 which permits free flow to reservoir 144 while restricting pressure flow to limit the rate of upward movement of arms 100 and 101.

During the push against a pair of clips 78 at opposite sides of a rail by movement of the two anchor-applying arms in opposite directions, there is generally a balance of opposing forces. However, there is an upward force tending to raise the head 30. This force is counteracted by a pair of single-acting cylinders 1 50 and 1 51 which are connected between brackets 1 52 and 153, respectively, fastened to the lower end of the head and have their piston rods 1 54 and 1 55 pivotally connected to the vehicle frame, as indicated at 156 and 157. As shown in Fig. 5, the single-acting cylinders 150 and 151 are connected in parallel with the main cylinders 1 30 and 131 by a pair of lines 160 and 161 which connect to the line 142.

In operation of the clip-applying machine, the vehicle frame is moved to a position as shown in Fig. 1 with the anchor-applying arms in raised position and overlying a pair of clips 78 which have been initially set in position. The valve 141 is then operated to move the anchor-applying arms to the position shown in Fig. 2 wherein the pair of clips are applied and, thereafter, the anchor-applying arms are raised.

It will be understood that the machine may have two of the heads 30 associated one with each rail whereby four clips may be applied at the same time.

If the machine is to operate with different height rail, different height spacer blocks 49 and 50 may be used to control the elevation of the head 30. If the ball 71 of the rail 70 has a different width, then the shims associated with the guide plates 62 and 63 may be varied. Although the machine has been disclosed in connection with applying clips to concrete ties, it will be obvious that the machine can be used in applying clips to wooden ties. In such instance, the pivot shafts 110 and 11 5 for the anchor-applying arms would be positioned at an increased distance apart because of a longer slot or channel to receive the clip leg.

Claims (9)

1. A machine for simultaneously applying a pair of clips to a tie at opposite sides of a rail comprising, a head positionable at a predetermined location relative to a tie and rail, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said head for rotation in planes which extend parallel to said rail and with one plane at each side of the rail, means on each arm for engaging a clip, and means for simultaneously pivoting both of said arms between a raised retracted position and a lowered position with movement between said positions causing a clipengaging means to engage a clip and advance the clip to fully seated position.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 including a wheeled frame mountable on a pair of rails, means coacting between said frame and head to place the head at said predetermined location, and means acting between said head and frame to hold said head in position as said arms are moved to lowered position.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for pivoting the arms includes at least one fluid cylinder and the means for holding the head includes at least one fluid cylinder, and a fluid circuit including both of said cylinders connected to receive pressure fluid at the same time.

4. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said coacting means includes replaceable spacer blocks positionable between aligned parts of the frame and head with the head parts resting thereon, and guide members depending from the head and positioned at both sides of the rail head to confine the head against twisting relative to the rail during operation of said arms.

5. A clip-applying machine comprising, a head, guide means on said head for orienting said head in lengthwise parallel and overlying relation to a rail, a pair of clip-applying arms on said head and in spaced relation to be positioned one at either side of a rail, and means pivotally mounting said arms for rotation in planes extending parallel to the length of said head.

6. A clip-applying machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said arms rotate in opposite directions between a raised retracted position and a lowered extended position.

7. A clip-applying machine as defined in claim 6 including hydraulic cylinder means connected to said arms to cause said rotation of the arms.

8. A clip-applying machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said hydraulic cylinder means comprises a pair of cylinders connected one to each arm, and said cylinders being connected in parallel in an hydraulic circuit.

9. A clip-applying machine for applying clips to a tie for securing a rail thereto comprising, a wheeled frame movable along a rail, a head movably carried by said frame for positioning lengthwise of and above a rail, a pair of clip-applying arms on said head and in spaced-apart relation to be positioned one at either side of a rail, means pivotally mounting said arms for rotation in opposite directions between a raised retracted position and a lowered position, a pair of fluid actuator cylinders connected between said head and one to each of said arms for causing rotation of the arms between said positions, and a fluid circuit having said cylinders connected in parallel.

1 0. A clip-applying machine for applying clips to a tie for securing a rail thereto comprising, a wheeled frame movable along a rail, a head movably carried by said frame for positioning lengthwise of and above a rail, a pair of clip-applying arms on said head and in spaced-apart relation to be positioned one at either side of a rail, means pivotally mounting said arms for rotation in opposite directions between a raised retracted position and a lowered position and spaced parallel axes ex tending transverse to the length of the head, a pair of fluid actuator cylinders connected between said head and one to each of said arms for causing rotation of the arms between said positions, an additional pair of fluid cylinders extending between said head and frame and each inclined downwardly toward the head, and a fluid circuit having all of said cylinders connected in parallel whereby said additional pair of cylinders act to hold the head in position relative to the frame as said fluid actuator cylinders are pressurized to move the arms to lowered position to apply a pair of clips.