US1732568A - Tie removing and replacing machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 22, 1929. J. F. ROBB TIE REMOVING AND REPLACING CHIN! Original Filed larch 9, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 22, J. F. ROBB TIE REMOVING AND REPLACING IACHIIE Original Filed March 9, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 22, 1929. J RQBB- 1,732,568

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Oct. 22, 1929. J. F. ROBB TIE REMOVING AND REPLACING CHINE Original Filed larch 9, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lwuentot J17 750%;

Patented Oct. 22,1929

UNITED STATES JOHN F. ROBE, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO TIE REMOVING LAND REPLACING MACHINE Original application filed March 9, 1923, Serial No. 623,965. Patent No. 1,595,420, dated August 10, 1926.

Divided and this application filed August 9, 1926. Serial No. 128,236.

This invention relates to a tie removing and replacing mach ne, and particularly to a construction provided with traction units by which it may be moved upon a road bed and operate to remove or replace the ties or ballast thereof.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction of such machine embodying a special frame construction adapted to permit the easy raising and lowering of the working tools used to remove the ballast, cut and remove ties, replace ties, and subsequently replace the ballast.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for removing the ballast intermediate of the ties and mechanically returning said ballast at the proper time for replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of ejecting means by which the ties may be removed longitudinally from beneath the rails, said means being adapted to place a fresh tie in position. I a

A further object of the invention is to pre sent an improved construction of tamping nicchanisn'i acting conjointly with the other means upon the machine for tamping the return ballast in position beneath the ties and capable of use as a unit independent of the remaining mechanism of the machine.

The invention also provides a machine having a plurality of transmission mechanisms by which the mechanism to operate upon the ballast and ties may be moved into position relative to the rails of the road bed and the working units therein disposed in operative relation to the road bed intermediate the ties.

The invention involves a number of other features of detail construction that will appear more fully hereinafter, and reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings for a full understanding of all of the construction of my machine, including such specific parts as have not been referred to particularly in the foregoing outline of the machines construction.

In the said accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine of the invention, showing the same elevated from the multiplanes or endless traction units, by which it has been enabled to travel into operating position over a section of road bed from which the ties are to be removed.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine in operating position over a longitudinal sec tion of railroad track.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the same, certain platform parts such as one or more upon which an operator or operators upon the machine may stand or sit, being removed so as to enable the mechanisms beneath them to be clearly shown.

Figure 4: is a sectional view bringing out somewhat more clearly the digging devices by which the ballast is removed from between the predetermined ties.

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing more particularly the cutting mechanism for cutting each tie to be removed, into three sections, for facilitating such removal.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing a little more clearly the grappling device for engaging the middle section of the tie when the cutting mechanism is used, and whereby said section may be readily hoisted by the derrick means shown better in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the machine about where the pounding or hammer mechanism is located and illustrating the tie removing hammer, as well as the tie inserting hammer.

Figure 8 is a sectional View through the main frames, illustrating a little more clearly the ballast return chutes which facilitate the replacement of ballast removed from between the ties.

Figure '9 is a transverse sectional View somewhat similar to the previous sections, but illustrating the pneumatic tampers for tamping the ballast after it has been replaced.

Figure 10 is a perspective .view of the grapple which is co-operative with an old tie for the purpose of removal, as illustrated in Figure 6, and for co-operating with a fresh tie for facilitating the introduction thereof into the place occupied by a tie removed.

Figure llis a sectional view showing more clearly the gearing by which the drive is transmitted from the prime mover to the traction wheels when the latter are engaged by the rails and the machine is totravel progressively along the rails.

F'gure 12 is a detail view showing a certain portion of the gearing otherwise illustrated in Figure 4 in a less complete manner.

Figure 13 is a detail View with parts in section, more clearly showing the spike pulling mechanism.

The mechanisms of the machine will be described generally about in the order that they come into play in the actual use of the machine.

Traction mechanisms The traction mechanisms may be termed as the main traction mechanism on which the machine is supported and moved when it is not being used for its primary purposes, and auxiliary traction mechanism by which the machine'is supported and operated when it is accomplishing its designed functions of tie removals and replacements.

The main traction mechanism embodies the endless traction units or devices 1, which are mounted for movement upon the opposite side beams 2 of the main frame of the machine, which frame also comprises the transverse or cross beams 8. The units or devices 1 may be of any conventional type, like the well known caterpillars, multiplanes, etc., very commonly in use today. Suitably supported on the main frame of the machine is the engine or prime mover 4, also of a suitable type arranged to operate the compressor 5, by which a suitable fluid such as air,

is compressed and maintained in such condition in the compressed air reservoir 6, all as seen best in Figure 1. Mounted upon the frame 2-3 is a longitudinal shaft 7, the term longitudinal? being used in the sense of parallel with the sides or side beams of the main frame aforesaid. The term transverse will later be used in the sense of at right angles to the beams 2 and the traction units 1.

The traction drive shaft 7, just referred to, is geared at one end at 8 to'the main power or engine shaft 9. Parallel to the shaft 9 but at the opposite side of the machine, is a traction unit drive shaft 10 suitably connected with the longitudinal shaft 7 by means of any conventional transmission gearing, generally designated 11. At its opposite ends the shaft 10 is connected with the driving sprockets or tumblers of the traction or caterpillar units 1, and in this manner movement is communicated to said traction devices. Different speeds of operation of the traction devices 1 are obtainable by shifting a gear selecting lever 12, forming a part of the transmission mechanism 11. By the operation of the traction units 1, the machine may be caused to travel up the side of a railroad bed, either across a ditch or even up an embankment, until it assumes a position over the tracks somewhat as shown in Figure 1. Thereupon I bring into play operating means for the auxiliary traction mechanism which will now be set forth.

Below the main frame 2-8 is the auxiliary or sub-frame, as it will be called, designated 13. This frame is equipped at its opposite ends which project from the opposite sides of the machine, with track wheels 14. The sub-frame 13 is connected with the main frame by a series of four jacks in the form of screws 15, one series of these jacks being located at each side of the machine externally and internally of the adjacent side beam 2 previously described. At their upper ends the jacks or screws 15 are equipped with sprocket gears 16, and the sprocket gears of each series are connected by a sprocket chain 17. The two series of jacks 15 at opposite sides of the machine are adapt ed to be driven by suitable gearing designated at 18 and 19, and involving suitable bevel gears meshing with a bevel gear on one of the jacks of each series mentioned, also including clutch levers 20 and 21, one for each of said gearings 18 and 19. The clutch levers 20 and 21 are connected by a rod 22 so that they may be simultaneously shifted from a neutral position, in one direction to render the gearing and sprocket mechanisms of both. series operative from the main power shaft 9 to turn the jacks 15 and lower the sub-frame 13 until the wheels 14 engage the track rails A of the roadbed. An operation of the jacks after the engagement of the wheels 4 with the tracks A will ultimately cause a slight elevation of the traction units 1, to raise them into an inoperative position above the rails A. Under these conditions it will be evident that the sub-frame 13 with the wheels 14, is adapted to support the weight of the mechanisms of the machine when the traction devices 1 are relieved of such weight, and an operation of the rod 22 to reverse the movement of the clutch levers 20 and 21 will obviously reverse the rotation of the jacks 15 in such a manner that the sub-frame 13 may be raised relatively to the traction devices 1, whereby the latter can support the machine and be susceptible of operation to readily run the machine otf the roadbed, or on again, as the requirements may be.

In order to cause the machine to progress along the track when it is in the position of Fig. 1, wherein the traction devices 1 are inactive, and the machine is ready to operate upon the ties and their surrounding ballast, I utilize drive gearing leading from the main power shaft 9 to the axle shaft 23 on which two of the wheels 14 adjacent to one side of the machine are mounted. The axle shaft 23 has a worm gear 24 thereon, see Figs. 1, 3, and 11, and this worm gear engages a worm 25 mounted upon a vertical shaft 26 and fixed to rotate with the latter. The shaft 26 passes thru a driving gear 27 and is capable of slidable movement in said gear. The gear 27 meshes with the corresponding bevel gear 28 driven by a sprocket chain connection 29 leading to a transverse shaft 30 which is geared to a shaft 31, now see'Fig. 3, the last mentioned shaft being in turn geared to the main engine or power shaft 9, as shown at 32. The gear at 32 is under the control of a conventional clutch lever 33, and by movement of this lever the shaft 31 may be driven in either of opposite directions, or remain idle, the frictional movements being adapted to drive the axle shaft 23 one way or the other, thus advancing the machine progressively along the track while it is operating upon the ties and ballast. The machine may have to be reversed occasionally, thouglrnot often, when a path of exit from the track or roadbed may be at a point in rear of the direction of travel of the machine, rather than in advance.

Spike pullers As viewed in Fig. 3, the machine is intended to travel in a leftward direction upon the tracks A, and, therefore, I provide in advance of the wheels 14 at such side of the machine, a pair of spike pullers 34 which embody cylinders best seen in Figures 2 and 3, as pivotally mounted upon brackets 35 so as to have a pivotal movement, so to speak, by the provision of the yokes 36. The cylinders 34 contain the operating pistons 37 pressed downwards by springs 38, and having the usual piston rods 39. The lower ends of the piston rods are equipped with the spike grappling jaws 40 manipulatable by the handles 41. The pulling devices are raised by the admission of air in the lower ends of the cylinders 34 from an air conduit 42, extending from a pipe 43 that leads to the compressed air reservoir 6. A suitable valve handle 44 controls the admission of the compressed air into a particular cylinder 34, and the release of said air beneath the piston 37. The spike pulling action of the implement just set forth is obvious without fur ther description.

Bailast removing mechanism diggers are spaced at points where the rails A are located, so that in the reciprocating or oscillating movement of the diggers there is a free space at opposite sides of the rails, between certain series of the diggers, preventing other than yielding contact, if any, be tween the diggers 46 and said rails. \Vhile I have shown a series of diggers or teeth 46 three deep in the transverse direction of the machine, obviously as seen in Fig. 2, a lesser number of these teeth may be employed, and preferably will be, in view of the limited con ditions of space between ties. The digger frameisoscillated by means of crank shafts 47 on a supporting frame 48, below which the digger frame is arranged. Bearing arms 49 project vertically from the frame 45 and re ceive the shafts 47 in suitable bearings therein, said shafts 47 being simultaneously driven by a sprocket chain or equivalent gearing designated 50, said chain engaging sprockets 51 on the several shafts 47 The means for driving the chain comprises the gearing shown best in Figure 12, embodying a bevel gear meshing with the gear 53 on a vertical shaft 54 equipped with a slip joint 55 permitting the raising and lowering of the digger frame 45 out of and into action. respectively, without discontinuing the drive on the diggers 4G, or when they are idle. Shaft 54 has a bevel gear 56 at its upper end meshing with a similar gear 57 on a horizontal shaft 58, see Fig. 12. The shaft 58 is geared to the main power shaft 9 in an evident manner. To lower and raise the digger frame 45 as required under actual conditions of service, I utilize the motive force of compressed air (again) by means of cylinders 59 equipped with piston rods 60 attached at their lower ends to their supporting frame 48. Air is led from the compressed air tank or reservoir 6 thru a pipe 61 to a horizontal pipe 62, which has communication thru valves 63 with the cylinders 59. Valve levers for the valves 63 are connectedtogether by a rod which is operable by a lever 71, so as to open and close the valves 63 simultaneously. This arrangement enables the raising and lowering of the pistons in the cylinders 59, and the consequent raising and lowering of the frames 48 and 45 and diggers 46.

It is contemplated, of course, that the oscillating movement of the diggers 46 shall be utilized to gradually dig into and shift the ballast, especially rock or gravel ballast, endwise from the space between the ties until said ballast is practically at one side of the roadbe'd, and a side of a tie substantially entirely exposed. The opposite side of the tie will then be similarly exposed by the action of the diggers. The material thus removed is returned between the ties by a bucket elevator 148 discharging into a trough 149 extending toward the center of the machine, as shown in Figure 4.

Tie removing mechanism I have shown in Fig. 3, and in Figures 2 and 5, especially, certain cutting means for cutting or sawing the tie to be removed, into three sections. Thismechanism may or may not be used, but if conditions are favorable it will be employed. The cutting mechanism comprises an operating shaft 72 which carries two saws or cutters 73 so spaced. apart that they will operate slightly spaced from the inner sides'of a pair of rails, thereby cutting a tie beneath the rails into three sections. See Figures 5 and 6. The shaft 72 is supported by links 74 suspended from a cross shaft 75 on the sub-frame 13, and also by links 76 supported by slide means on the main frame beams 3. The slide means employed are utilized for lifting the saws or cutters 73 to operating and nonoperating positions respectively, said slide means being best shown in Figure 2 as comprising a slide rack 77 mounted on a suitable guide bar 78 on a main frame beam or channel 3. Each slide 77 has an arm 79 connected with the links .76 previously described, so that the slide when forced to the left as shown in Fig. 2, will raise the cutters or saws 73, and when moved to the right, will lower said saws, the links 76 and 74: forming a sort of toggle arrangement for the purpose. In order that the slides 77 and the parts connected there- 'with may Work in unison, I employ a cross shaft 80 extending across the main frame 23, and equip it with spur gears 81 which mesh in racks on the tops of the slides 77. The actuating means for the slides 77 include compressed air actuating devices again. These devices consist of cylinders 82 mounted on the beams or channels 3, and having piston rods 83'connected with adjacent ends of the slides 7 7.

i It is, of course, necessary to drive the cutters or saws 73 at high speed, and for this purpose I take off power from the main shaft 9 by means of suitable gearing shown best in.Fig. 5, as comprising a worm wheel'on said shaft, a worm 84 on a vertical shaft 85, worm gearing 86 and a clutch 87 operable by a clutch lever 88. The shaft 75 will normally remain idle but will turn when the clutch 87 is thrown in. Under these conditions motion of the shaft 75 will be transmitted to the cutter shaft 72 thru the gears 89, 9.0, shaft 91, gear 92, and gear 93, see Fig. 5: The shaft 91 is hung from a pivotally moving hanger 9'6, and when the shaft 72 is raised in relation to the shaft 75, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the gearing between the parts in no way interferes. Likewise the worm shaft is freely movable thru the worm 84 and the bracket supporting said worm to accommodate for relative movements between the main frame 23 and the sub-frame 13.

lVhen the cutting mechanism is used, which will be after the space at opposite sides of a tie is cleared of the ballast, by the previously working digging mechanism, the tie having been cut into three pieces, it will be readily seen that it will be a simple matter to use the derrick 97, comprising the mast and boom seen in Figure 1, with its cable hoisting means 98, to remove the middle section of the tie as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the holstmg cable means 98 carries a grapple 99 adapted emplified in Figure 7, and this pounding mechanism will now be described.

Hammer mechanism Referring to Figures 3 and 7, it is notable that the tie removing mechanisms including the cutting means if used, and the pounding mechanism now to be set forth in detail, are located at the central portion of the machine as remotely as possible from the portions of the rails upon which the machine is supported by means ofthe wheels 14. In other words, the removing mechanism is preferably as far off from the points of application of the weight of the machine on the rails as is practicable, so that said weight will interfere to the least possible extent with the removal operation. Again referring to Figure 7, it is notable that the removal of the central portion of the tie by the grapple 99 will permit of the use of a central hammer 100 mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the machine and carried by a supporting and guide bar 101 on which a hanger 102 directly attached to the hammer 100 is carried. The bar 101 is reciprocative in guides 103 on the sub-frame 13, which supports a cylinder 104 containing a piston 105 having oppositely extending piston rods 106. The rods 106 are connected at opposite ends by heads 107 and 108, the latter having an angular shaped hammer arm- 109 pivoted thereto, and carrying the auxiliary hammer 110. By suitable control conduits 111 supplied from the compressed air reservoir 6 thru pipes 112, having branches 113, and a flexible .conduit 11 1 communicating with a Valve chamber 115, it is possible to admit air to opposite sides of the piston 105,-at opposite ends of the cylinder 104, whereby to reciprocate the piston 105 and correspondingly reciprocate the hammer 100 when it is used, or the hammer when it is used. Usually the hammer 100 will be used to hammer out a tie, or portions of a tie, from the roadbed. The hammer 110 will be used preferably to hammer into place a fresh tie which is to be substituted for one till vgreases withdrawn from the roadbed. Under these conditions, the hammer 110 will not be of any use at certain times, for which reason it is adjustable and capable of being raised to the dotted line position of Figure 7, and held upraised by a cross pin passing thru openings in the angular arm 109 and the bracket 108.

It is desirable that the hammer be susceptible of a slight raising movement to elevate it out of the way of the rails as the machine is crawling into place above the roadbed or traveling olf of the roadbed. For this purpose, I may cause the hammer 100 to move pivotally slightly relatively to its bar 101, by admission of air into the lower cylinder portion 102 of the hanger 102. The cylinder portion aforesaid contains the piston rod 118 which directly carries the hammer 100. Admission of air to the under side of the piston in the cylinder 102 will raise the hammer 100 in an obvious manner. As seen in Figure 7 a valve lever 116 operable by a handle 117, controls the admission of the compressed fluid to the opposite ends of the cylinder 104 and opposite sides of the piston 105.

The tie, removal of which is effected in the above manner, will be replaced by a fresh tie, and it is required that the ballast at opposite sides of said tie be restored and tamped firmly in place as usual, In Figure 8 I illustrate inclined chutes 119 at the front and rear portions of the main and auxiliary frames 2-3 and 13. It is apparent that ballast shoved to and piled at a side of the roadbed may be readily shoveled into the chutes 119, which will direct it back to the spaces between the ties and on opposite sides of the freshly inserted tie. Or it is contemplated to employ ballast elevators of the endless bucket class, as indicated at 150, leading down from the upper outer ends of the chutes 119, to mechanically elevate the ballast and cause it to be restored to the roadbed in proper relation to the fresh tie inserted by the machine, similarly to the means shown in- Fig. 4.

BaZZaszi mmpz'ng mechanism Figure 9 best illustrates, this mechanism in conjunction with Figure 3. The tamping devices are of the pneumatic type, and comprising the tanipers 120 which are mounted for vertical reciprocation in a carrier 121, there being a battery of these tampers preferably arranged in sort of staggered relations, or not, as desired. It is not believed necessary to describe these pneumatic tampers in detail, because they. may be of types similar to those at present in use today, of individual construction. That is to say, the tampers may be reciprocated vertically under the control of suitable valve means admitting a compressed fluid to opposite ends of a cylinder in which the tamper is mounted. I preferably use a flexible conduit 122 to sup ply the compressed fluid to the pipe 123 which. leads to the cylinders which lead to the tampers 120, and passage of the fluid in the conduit is controlled by a valve lever 124: and a hand rod 125. Likewise for raising the carrier 121 bodily, whereby to shift the tan'lpers 120 from or to the position of their extreme movements, preparatory to putting them into action, or maintaining them inactive, I employ lifting piston rods 126, working in lifting cylinders 12?, to the lower ends of which lead the compressed fluid supply pipe branches 128. The branches 128 lead from a pipe 129 connected by a conduit 130 leading to an air supply pipe 131. The pipe 131 connectswith a cross forms a continuation of the compressed fluid branch pipes 113. A valve lever 183controlled by a hand rod 134 enables a manual control of the admission of motive fluid to the lower ends of the lifting cylinders 127, and the release of such air, whereby the tampers 120 may be reciprocated for their tamping operation, and raised or lowered preliminary to being put out of operation, and made effective, respectively.

While I use a battery of these 'tampers 120, I preferably mount the carrier 121 so that it reciprocates longitudinally of the machine, for which purpose, as seen in Figure 3, I employ a rack 135. The rack 135 is connected with the carrier 121 by means of a link 136. A gear 137 engages the rack 135, and may be suitably driven from the main shaft 9, in a reversible manner to shift the carrier 121 longitudinally of the machine with a back and forth movement, or operated by a hand wheel 137 whereby the various tampers 120 may be caused to act upon the ballast with tamping effect. The tampcrs 120 are shown in substantially vertical positions as illustratcd, but within the purview of the 1nvention, some of them may be mounted at a slight angle to the vertical, so as to eflectively perform their tamping function, and espe cially to crowd the ballast beneath the tie. On reference to F igures 3 and 9, 1t Wlll be noted that the carrier 131 is not only mounted to move longitudinally of the machine by being carried by a trolley frame 138 on which it operates longitudinally, but the trolley frame 138 itself is adapted to have a certain amount of movement transversely on the subframe 13. At its rear end the trolley frame 138 has trolley wheels 139 mounted to travel on the frame 13, and permitting of the neces sary transverse movement of the carrier 121 to properly position the tampers over the space between certain ties. its an occasional tie is rather crooked at times, it is contemplated that certain of the tampers 120 may be thrown into and out of action so that a lesser number oftampers covering a lesser pipe 132 that transversely relatively to the main supporting frame of the machine, being carried, of course, by the sub-frame 13. The means to move the trolley frame 138 transversely may comprise a shaft 140, having a link connection 141 with the frame 138, the said shaft 140 being equipped with suitable operating lever and a crank or other arm attached to the link 141. The lever of the shaft 140 may be operable by a rod that extends to some point adjacent where the operator' stands or sits on the machine, enabling adjustment of the frame 138 by said operator.

Modifications of structure It may be noted that instead of using the diggers 46 for the removal of the ballast, I may mount upon the frame or support 48, in lieu thereof, an endless bucket excavating device of any well known type, adjustable longitudinally of the machine so that it may be moved over the space between the ties for engaging and elevating the ballast.

Mz'sceZMaeou-s features It is contemplated that the various levers such as are used to operate or control opera tion of the several mechanisms of the machine, shall preferably be grouped adjacent to one another and adjacent to the operating handles of the operating rods, such as those seen in Figure 4, and Figure 9. This provides for a central control by a single operator on the machine, although preferably two operators will be employed, one in position on the machine to look after the action of the ballast digging or removing mechanism, and the hammer, and cutting mechanism, if the latter be used. T he other operator will preferably supervise the operation of the ballast replacement in conjunction with a couple of hand laborers at the front and rear ends of the machine, if the construction of Figure 3 be used, or supervise such ballast replace ment by himself if the construction of Figure 8 be used. The last mentioned operator will also be able to look after the proper control of the tamping mechanism as regards the positioning of the same by lowering into active position, the controlling of its longitudinal movement, and any lateral or transverse adjustment that may be necessary for the preliminary use of said tamping mechanism'. Either of these operators may have the supervision of the control devices that shift the load of the machine on the main endless traction units 1, to the track wheels 14. The same .operator would, of course, look after the reverse operation to restore the load of the machine to the units 1. preparatory to running the machine ofi' of the track whenever necessary.

General operation of machine Without reference to much by way of details, it is notable that when the machine is to be driven into position over the track, one or more ties of which are to be removed, the operator causes the traction units 1 to be driven until the machine is about in the position of Figure 1, with the wheels 14 in alinement with the tracks A. The devices for lowering the auxiliary frame 13 and its wheels 14, are then brought into action, thereby raising the traction units 1 to inoperative positions as illustrated in Figure 1. The wheels 14 may then be operated by the driving mechanism 24, 25, 29, etc.. to bring the machine to a position so that-the ballast digging devices are ready to work on the ballast between two of the ties. This ballast having been cleaned out the machine is moved until the ballast removing devices are at the opposite side of the tie which is to be replaced. Then by moving the machine forward a little more, the cutting mechanism may be brought into action if it is going to be used, the tie cut into three pieces, the middle piece raised and thrown to one side of the machine by derrick 97 and grapple 99, and the end pieces of the tie hammered out by the hammer 100. If the cutting mechanism is not used, the hammer 110 may be employed as a driving hammer acting endwise on the tie. and the tie thus driven out from beneath the tracks by said hammer 110. Furthermore. a fresh tie may be placed in position with facility by using the driving action of the hammer 110 in such operation. The fresh tie having been put into position, the ballast may be replaced by the methods described l'lGlGiDbOfOlt, and the tamping mechanism brought into position over the ballast, so as to firmly tamp the latter into place around the freshly inserted tie. Of course, it is to be understood that where a series of ties next to one another are to be replaced, the several mechanisms are susceptible of being operated simultaneously, speaking in regard primarily to the ballast digging, ballast replacing, and tamping instrumentalities.

Obviously, my machine may embody all or a lesser number of the mechanisms which I have described. One or more of these mechanisms may be dispensed with in practice if desirable, the remaining mechanisms will constitute an effective operating machine for performing certain, at least of the laborious operations now performed by hand labor. The extreme cost of hand labor when millions of ties are to be replaced each year. is obvious, and the desirability of a machine for the reduction of the tie replacement cost is also self evident. It is notable that it is desirable to mount the various ballast and tie working mechanisms of the machine upon the auxiliary or sub-frame of the machine, because by so doing, the action of lowering said frame to compel an elevation of the main frame, whereby to render the endless traction units 1 inoperative, and lower simultaneously the several mechanisms above mentioned, brings these mechanisms near to their active positions of use.

It will be obvious that the main traction units 1 are virtually main traveling supported unit structures, as are the auxiliary wheel traction devices 14. Furthermore, these main and auxiliary traction unit structures act complementary to each other. Obviously and preferably the drive for the wheels 14 will be at a higher gear ratio than for the caterpillars or traction units 1, to facilitate the transportation of the machine along the railway track, and change speed mechanism may be employed in this connection so as to enable the machine to progress at a relatively high speed when going to and from work.

Where the machine is used on electric traction lines, it may be convenient to employ an electric motor for driving the mechanisms of the machine, in which event electric current as power may be availed of by any conventional means for connecting the motor with the trolley wires.

I claim:

1. In a portable machine for the removal and replacement of railroad ties, a frame, independent traction means for moving the frame over said ties and along rails supported thereby, and a tie removing hammer mounted upon the frame and reciprocatable to engage and remove ties from a road bed.

2. In a portable machine for the removal and replacement of railroad ties, a frame, independent tract-ion means for moving the frame over said ties and along rails supported thereby, a tie removing hammer mounted upon the frame and reciprocatable to engage and remove ties from a road bed, and means for temporarily adjusting said hammer into an inoperative position.

3. In a portable machine for the removal and replacement of railroadties, a frame, in dependent traction means for moving the frame over said ties and along rails supported thereby, a tie removing hammer mounted upon the frame and reciprocatable to en gage and remove ties from a road bed,

and an auxiliary hammer connected with the first named hammer supporting means and arranged .for,knocking into position on the road bed a fresh tie in lieu of one re moved by the action of the first named hammer.

4. In a portable machine for the removal and replacement of railroad ties, a frame, independent traction means for moving the frame over said ties and along rails supported thereby, a tie removing hammer mounted upon the frame and reciprocatable to engage and remove ties from a road bed, and power means for reciprocating said hammer in a horizontal direction whereby it is adapted for knockingout or knocking in ties of a railway road be 5. In a portable machine for the removal and replacement of railroad ties, a frame, iiidependent traction means for moving the frame over said ties and along rails supported thereby, a tie removing hammer mounted upon the frame and reciprocatable to engage and remove ties from a road bed, power means for reciprocating said hammer ,in a horizontal direction whereby it is adapted for knocking out or knocking in ties of a railway road bed, and means for adjusting the hammer to a position out of the way of the rails or road bed construction as the machine is carried by its-traction mechanism into a position above the rails and ties preparatory to operation upon the ties by the hammer.

6. A portable machine for removal and re placement of railroad ties comprising a frame, transmission mechanism for said frame, a fluid pressure cylinder mounted upon the frame, a piston therein having a connection from its rod, and tie ejecting means carried by said connection and operable longitudinally of the tie.

7. A portable machine for removal and replacement of railroad ties comprising a frame, transmission mechanism for said frame. a fluid'pressure cylinder mounted upon the frame, a piston therein having a connection from its rod, tie ejecting means carried by said connection and'operable longitudinally of the tie. and means for raising and lowering the tie ejecting means relative to the tie.

8. A portable machine for removal and replacement of railroad ties comprising a frame, transmission mechanism for said frame, a fluid pressure cylinder mounted upon the frame, a piston therein having a connection from its rod, tie ejecting means carried by said connection and operable longitudinally of the tie, and means for raising and lowering the tie ejecting means relative to the tie, said last mentioned means comprising a fluid pressure operated mechanism.

9. A portable machine for removal and replacement of railroad ties comprising a frame with oppositely disposed traction means, and tie ejecting means intermediate said traction means and operable transversely of a road bed.

1.0. A portable machine for removal and replacement of railroad ties comprising a frame with oppositely disposed fraction means, tie ejecting 'means intermediate said traction means and operable transversely of a road bed, and lifting means mounted upon the frame for removing a tie after its ejection beneath the rails.

11. A portable machine for removal and replacement of railroad ties comprising a frame with oppositely disposed traction means, and tie ejecting means intermediate said traction means and operable transversely of a road bed, one of said ejecting means being disposed intermediate the rails of a road-bed and another ejecting means disposed at the outer side of one of said rails.

12. A portable machine for the removal and replacement of railroad tiespomprising a frame, a supporting device thereon capable of movement transversely of the frame, a tie ejectinghammer mounted upon said support intermediate its ends, and a secondary hammer mounted at one end of said support.

13. A portable machine for the removal and replacement of railroad ties comprising a frame, a supporting device thereon capable of movement transversely of the frame, a tie ejecting hammer mounted upon said support intermediate its ends, and a secondary hammer pivotally mounted at one end of said support to swing from a horizontal operative position into a vertical inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN F. ROBB.

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