US2818820A

US2818820A - Railway tie positioning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2818820A
Application number: US351447A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ray C Williams
Original assignee: Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1953-04-27
Filing date: 1953-04-27
Publication date: 1958-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 1975-01-07

Description

Jan.7, 1958 R. c. WILLgAMS 2,818,820

RAILWAY TIE POSITIONING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1953 90 J09 I. In W Ill IIH Mull Jan: 7,1958 R. c. WlLLlAMS 2,818,820

' RAILWAY TIE POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 19 53 v e Sheets-Sheet 2 'HH II HI I 7 /IHHH ImTIHI- mum Jar 7, 1958 R. c. WILLIAMS 7 2,818,820

RAILWAY TIE POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 195;

6 Sheets-Sheet s Jan. 7, 1958 R. c. WILLIAMS 2,818,829

RAILWAY TIE POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 7, 1958 Filed April 27, 1953 R. C. WILLIAMS RAILWAY TIE POSITIONING APPARATUS e Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 7, 1958 R. c. WILLIAMS RAILWAY TIE POSITIONING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 27, 1953 United States Patent RAILWAY TIE POSITIONING APPARATUS Ray C. Williams, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application April 27, 1953, Serial No. 351,447 Claims. (Cl. 104-2) The present invention relates to apparatus for positioning railway ties for spiking to the track rails, and more particularly to tie positioning apparatus for grasping, lifting, and centering ties at desired locations along the track in accordance with a predetermined spacing of tie centers and nipping the ties against the rails for spiking thereof.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a car adapted to run under its own power on the track to be supported by the ties and carrying outboard of its forward end a vertical mast along which is slidable a tong carriage mounting two pairs of tongs laterally spaced slidable independently of each other substantially parallel to the track for clamping a tie at spaced points. Hydraulic cylinders are shown for opening and closing the tongs, for shifting the tongs longitudinally of the track, and for lifting and lowering the carriage. In addition to stopping brake means, the car is provided with electromagnetic brake means cooperable with the track to prevent car movement during the positioning of a tie. A disk or wheel engaging one of the rails operates an indicator for indexing the apparatus in accordance with the predetermined tie center spacing. Hydraulic set-off means are provided for lifting the apparatus above the rails when it is to be placed on or removed from the track, and set-ofi wheels are suitably disposed for moving the machine laterally onto or ofi the track. on temporary rails placed transversely of the track.

Railway track maintenance and track laying operations involve manipulation of the ties, which are loosened on or. freed from, the track and then relocated and respiked, it old but reused, or positioned and spiked to the track if new, as in tie replacement work or the laying of new track. The ties must be located in properly spaced relation along the track when spiked thereto, and during the spiking operation must be held or nipped tightly against the rail. bases, and disposed directly transversely of the track, that is, substantially at right angles to the rails. Since the ties in practically every instance extend under the. track spaced from and angled relative to the positions to be assumed by their center lines when secured to the track, their proper spacing and positioning for spiking requires considerable handling or manipulation of the ties. The present apparatus accomplishes all manipulative movements necessary to bring each tie to the desired position at its desired location, rapidly, positively, and simply, so that no manual handling is necessary. Only the tie-handling mechanism need be moved during the tie-positioning operation, the machine as a whole being held in fixed position relative to each desired tie location, so that positive centering of the tie at the desired location is assured and a minimum of time and power is expended in each operation. As each tie is spiked in place, the machine is indexed to the next position at which a tie is. to be secured, in accordance with the indexing indicator, which is calibrated to the predetermined spacing of the ties.

2,818,820 Patented Jan. 7, 1958 It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine or apparatus for centering railway ties at desired locations along a track and holding the ties in such position for securement to the track.

It is another object to provide apparatus for placing and holding railway ties in position for securement to the track they are to support, which will grasp slewed or cit-center ties and bring them to properly centered position at desired locations along the track.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus for positioning railway ties in properly centered relation at desired locations of predetermined spacing along a track for spiking or' other securement thereto.

Another object is the provision of apparatus for pcsitioning railway ties of a track which may travel on the track in indexed relation to predetermined tie locations therealong and operate to dispose ties in properly centered relation at such locations for securement to the rails.

Another object 'is the provision of railway tie positioning apparatus adapted to grasp and lift loose ties below a track into close engagement with the track rail bases and hold the same in such engagement during spiking thereof to the bases.

A further object is the provision of the positioning mechanism operable to grasp and raise ties disposed out of desired centered position and automatically center the same at desired locations.

It is another object of the invention to provide tie positioning apparatus including mechanism operable to grasp and raise ties disposed out of desired centered position without movement of the apparatus as a whole.

Another object is the provision of tie positioning apparatus including mechanism for grasping, lifting, and bringing to desired centered position ties disposed out of centered position without movement of the apparatus as a whole.

Still another object is the provision of tie positioning apparatus which will dispose ties in a desired position quickly, easily, and positively.

A further object is the provision of apparatus for positioning railway ties for securement to a track which is operable to shift either end or both ends of a tie longitudinally of the track for effecting proper centering of the tie.

Other and further objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, taken from the right-hand side;

dFig. '2 is a side elevation taken from the left-hand s1 e;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus, taken from a level somewhat below the roof;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation of the tie-handling apparatus ormechanism;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 7f7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the hydraulic system; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a tong blade of slightly different form from that shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the apparatus is shown as comprising a car gengerally designated 10 having a rectangular frame formed by longitudinal side sills 11 connected at their ends and at intermediate points by suitable cross members 12. Outboard of and parallel to the side sills are shorter side members 13 supported and spaced from the side sills by suitable transverse members, not shown, with their forward ends disposed rearwardly of the front end of the frame and connected thereto by diagonally extending members 14 and their rear ends terminating short of the rear of the frame. A floor or platform 15 extending over the frame and side members, except at the frame portion rearwardly of the side members and as omitted or cut away to accommodate the mounting of various elements on the car as later described, is provided by steel plates or the like, preferably of the safety tread type. A pair of vertical posts 16 are secured one at each end of the front cross member 12 with a portion depending therebelow and the major portion extending upwardly to more than head height above the platform. The posts are connected near their upper ends by a cross member 17. A pair of rear uprights 18 each in longitudinal alignment with one of the posts 16 and connected thereto at the upper end by a horizontal member 19 extend from the frame at the rear part'of the platform 15. Suitable gusset plates and braces may be employed to rigidity the .posts, uprights, and members 19, and the uprights may be connected by a cross member at their upper ends. A roof 20 of sheet metal or the like is supported above the platform 15 by the posts 16, uprights 18, and members 19. The frame is mounted on two pairs of wheels 21 fixed on front and rear axles 22.journaled in suitable bearing brackets of journal boxes (not shown supported from the side sills 11 and driven by an engine or motor as hereinafter explained. The wheels are adapted to run on the rails R of a track which extends over ties T, including loose ties which are to be spiked to the rails at predetermined locations along the track, the locations being determined by the desired spacing of the tie centers.

The tie-handling mechanism, which may be understood best by reference to Figs. 3, 5, and 7, is carried by the car 10 forwardly of the frame, on a vertical hollow mast 24 mounted centrally and forwardly by suitably braced horizontal upper supports 25 extending from the cross member 17 and similar lower supports 26 extending from a cross member 27 connecting the lower ends of the posts 16, below the level of the frame. The mast serves to guide vertically a carriage 28 slid'able thereon, which is of generally open framework construction. The carriage comprises a sleeve 29 receiving the mast therethrough, a horizontal plate 30 extending from the bottom of the sleeve, front and rear cross pieces 31 secured to the front and rear edges of the plate and extending transversely of the track, vertical members 32 depending from the ends of. the cross pieces, and horizontal guide members 33 extending longitudinally between the front and rear vertical members at each side of the carriage. The plate 30 has a central portion apertured to receive the lower end of the sleeve 29, to which it is secured, a generally triangular portion extending forwardly from the sleeve and central portion to the front cross piece 31, and a relatively narrow rectangular portion extending rearwardly to the rear cross piece and having a relatively long cross part at its rear end for securement to the cross piece. The guide members 33 are arranged in two pairs laterally spaced on opposite sides of the mast by the cross pieces 31, the guide members of each pair being vertically spaced from each other a suitable distance. They are shown as smooth-surfaced cylindrical bars, though they may be of other forms. The members 33 form parts of the carriage frame, but also serve as guide means for tongs hereinafter described, each pair of members acting as guide means for a pair of tongs. Four vertically disposed gusset plates 34 extend from the sleeve along the side edges of the forward and rear portions of the plate 30. The mast 24 is slotted upwardly from its lower end a suflicient distance, as best shown in Fig. 4, to permit the carriage 28 to move therealong between a lowermost position and an uppermost position, the carriage and its tie-clamping tongs hereafter described being well above the track in the latter position, as shown in Fig. 1. An attaching bar 35 extends diametrically through the slotted portion of the mast and through aligned notches in the upper edge of the sleeve 29 and has its protruding ends bolted between the securing lugs of the two halves of a split collar 36 welded to the sleeve. A hydraulic cylinder 37 is mounted in the upper unslotted portion of the mast (Fig. 2) with piston rod pivoted to the attaching bar 35 for shifting the carriage 28 along the slotted portion of the mast.

A pair of tongs is slidably mounted on each pair of horizontal guides 33 at each side of the carriage, each pair of tongs comprising two clamping members 38. Each clamping member has a slide portion 39 with two vertically spaced horizontally extending apertures suitably formed and bushed or lined to receive the two guides therethrough so that the clamping member 38 may slide smoothly and easily on the guides. Depending from the bottom of the slide portion is an integral attaching portion which is slotted to receive the tang of a tong blade 40 the tie-engaging portion of which extends downwardly from the attaching portion. Bolts or the like secure the tang to permit ready removal and replacement of the tong blade. The blades may be of any desired form adapted to grasp or clamp a tie between them and draw it upwardly, and in the present instance are shown as flat bars pointed at their lower ends, the

edges being rounded or beveled to facilitate penetration of ballast when it is present and prevent lodgement of material between the tong blade and tie. The inner edges extend vertically to engage the sides of a tie and have horizontal projections somewhat above the points for engaging the bottom of the tie. A slightly different form of tong blade 40a is shown in Fig. 9, which is curved between the point and tang so as to bow away from the tie. The inner or concave edge has a right angular notch above the point for engaging the side and bottom of the tie. The edges are beveled as in the case of the tong :blade 40. The tong blades 40a are adapted for use with ties having rounded sides, while the tong blades 40 are provided for use with the ties of substantially rectangular -cross section.

41 are mounted each above and preferably in the vertical plane of one of the laterally spaced pair of'guide means, with one piston rod pivoted to the adjacent rear vertical member 32 and the other carrying a U-shaped crosshead 42 with its arms extending rearwardly. To each arm are pivoted the upper ends of a pair of tong links 43 the other ends of which are pivoted to the respective slide portions 39, one pair of links being disposed on each side of the tongs. The links are offset or suitably bent so-as not to interfere with each other upon sliding of the clamping members 37 relative to each other. Each cylinder 41 is operable separately so that the two pairs of tongs may be moved independently of each other.

Operation of the double cylinder so that one piston is fully retracted and the other .fully extended brings the associated pair of tongs to a centered position, in transverse alignment with the mast 24. From this centered position in which they are normally disposed, each pair Figs. 3 and 4.- In any position of the tongs along the guides, or during movement thereon if desired, each pair of tongs may be opened or closed to the fullest extent permitted by'the particular. proportions adopted forjthe parts. The opening or closing'of each pair of tongs is accomplished by a tong cylinder 45 disposed between the two clamping members 38, the piston rod of which is connected to one slide portion 39 and the closed end of which has an extension connected to the" other slide portion. The two cylinders 45in this case are cont-rolled by common valve means, so that opening and closing of both pairs of tongs by extension or retraction ofthe piston rods is simultaneous, although it will be clear that the cylinders may be arranged for independent operationif desired. The links 43 and cylinders 45 of each pair of tongs may conveniently be connected to the slide portions 39 by common pivot pins 46 extending through suitable bosses formed on the slide portions, as" best shown in Fig. 7. Vertical shield plates 47 are preferably mounted on the sides of the carriage 28 to guard workmen from injury by the mechanism carried by the carriage, the plates being disposed outwardly of the guides and tongs by suitable brackets on the respective front and rear vertical members 32. Sockets 48 for carrying: pneumatic spike drivers or like tools may be secured to the front vertical members. During travel of the apparatus to andfrom its scene of operations, or at other times when the; tiehandling mechanism is not in operation, the carriage is moved by the'lifti-ng cylinder 37 to its uppermost position and held in that position by the: cylinder. A suitable chain 49 is provided to prevent possibleaccidental lowering of the carriage at such times, however, the chain being secured at one end to an eyeon the upper mast supports and having at the other enda hook to engage in another eye on the plate 30. When the chain is not in use, the hook maybe engaged in the upper eye, and if desired the chain may be held against swinging by any suitable means.

Single hydraulic cylinders may be substituted for the double centering cylinders 41 to position the pairs of tongs along the guides, if desired, but in such case, to bring the tongs to centered position, the valves controlling the cylinders must be manipulated inaccordance with visual observation of the positions of the tongs on the guides so as to bring the piston of the single cylinder into a proper intermediate position therein. A- rod or wire may be fixed to each of the crossheads 42 to extend rearwardly with its end bent inwardly over a plate marked to indicate the centered position for enabling: the operator to judge when to close bothends of the cylinder by manipulation of the valve; The doublecylinder arrangement is preferred at present because the centering is automatic and positive in that each piston is merely moved to an extreme position at either end of its chamber simply by opening the opposite end of the chamber to the hydraulic fluid.

An internal combustion engine or motor 50 for driving the car is mounted centrally of the frame and has a suitable transmission 51, preferably providing for reverse and a number of forward speeds, controlled by a shift lever 52 and connected in driving relation with a gear mechanism 53 which may have a speed reducing effect but serves primarily to determine the direction of drive, under the control of a suitable forwar -andreverse lever 54', so that the same range of drive ratios is afforded in reverse as in forward movement of the car. A clutch, not shown, of any suitable type is provided for engaging and disengaging the transmission 51- and motor 50, the clutch being operated by a clutch pedal 55 at the forward part of the car frame and also by a manual lever 56. The pedal and lever arelinked by a rod or the like so that both are moved when either is operated. The front axle is driven from the gear mechanism 53 by a sprocket chain, and the rear axle is driven from the front axle by another sprocket chain arrangement which preferably includes a take-up mechanism. The sprocket and chain arrangements have been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness in illustration, .since the construction and operation will be readily understood by those skilled in. the art. Drive means other than those disclosed may of course be employedl A mechanical brake on the front axle is operated by a brake lever 0n the. gear mechanism housing is mounted. a seat 582 for the operator, the shift lever 52, clutch. pedal 55; clutch lever 56, and brake lever 58 being located for convenient operation: by the operator when seated. An exhaustpipe 59 for the motor 50 with a muffler 60 connected thereto extends upwardly through the roof 20', and preferably has a heat insulation covering 61: as a safeguard against accidents. At one side of the platform 15 is mounted. a fuel supplytank 62 for the motor 50. A pressure tank 63 for compressed air may conveniently be nested with the fuel tank 62, to receive. air under pressure through pipe 64 from an air compressor 65- of: anydesired type and capacity supported on the rear portion of the car frame and operated by a separate internal combustion motor, not shown, supplied with fuel froma tank 66 supported. below the compressor. The pressure tank 63* has: a suitable val ved connection fitting 67' for supplying compressed air to pneumatic toolsfor working on the roadbed and track, for example the spike drivers mentioned hereinabove. Guard rails 68 and 69" are preferably fixed along the sides of the platform.

A pump: 70? for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the several cylinders of the apparatus is mounted behind the car motor: 50 in line with a power take-oil? shaft. 71 of the motor,. which is connectible with the pump shaft by means of a clutch 72 at appropriate times to drive the pump. The means for engagingand disengaging the clutch parts are not shown because such means are well known inthe art, but may comprise a shifter yoke carried by a. pivoted lever. A tank 74 (Fig. 8') for the hydraulic fluid is mounted on the frame below the pomp- 70, and with the pump is connected by conduits in a hydraulic circuit with the several cylinders as hereinafter' explained. Mounted to one side of the pump is an electric generator 7 5 driven from a pulley 76 on the take-off shaft TI to charge a storage battery, not shown, for operating electro-rnagnetic brake means which hold the car firmly anchored on the track during a tie-handling operation. These brake means are of a known type and therefore need not be described in detail, but comprise a pair of elongated brake members 77" each incorporating a temporarily magnetizable element disposed directly above and slightly spaced from one of the rails. The brake members 77' are suspended from. suitable brackets under the platform 15- by springs 78', and areheld against longitudinal movement relative to the car and guided in vertical movement by rigid members 79 depending from side sills 11. The operating circuit of the electrm magnetic brake means is controlled by a suitable switch arranged to be operated by the clutch pedal 55 and clutch lever 56, in such manner that when the clutch is engaged to have the motor 50 drive the car the brakeenergizing circuit. is: open, and when the clutch is disengaged to break the driving connection between the motor and the. front axle the circuit is closed to magnetize the brake elements and cause them to engage and cling to the rails R by reason of the magnetic attraction therebetween. It has been found preferable to arrange the clutch pedal 55 in such relation to the clutch and clutch lever 56 that the clutch is engaged when the pedal is depressed and disengaged when the pedal is released.

On one end of. the front axle 22, outwardly of the adjacent car wheel 21, is fixed a bevel gear 80, with which is engageable another and preferably larger bevel gear 81 on a horizontal shaft 82 journaled in hangers or hearing. brackets 8-3 depending from supports extending between the adjacent side member 13 and side sill 11. A pair of set-off wheels 84 are secured on the axle or shaft 82. The wheels 84 are of smaller diameter than the wheels 21 so: as to clear the rails R. The bevel gear 81 is arranged to be axially movable on the shaft 82 while being in rotationally fixed relation thereto, as. by means of the rail.

. K 7 e splines or keys, and has a hub 85 with a periphera groove in which engages a shifter yoke 86 having a handle lever 87 projecting through the platform and pivoted on a vertical bracket plate 88 fixed on the platform. By moving the handle lever, the bevel gear 81 may be shifted into and out of engagement with the gear 80 by the yoke 86. It will be clear that when the gears 80 and 81 are in mesh, the shaft 82 and the wheels 84 thereon may be driven by the front axle. On the opposite side of the car, two pairs of bearing brackets 83 depend from supports between the side sill 11 and side member 13 to journal two stub axles 89 each of which mounts a single set-off wheel 84 in alignment with one of the wheels 84- on the shaft 82. Secured to the side sills 11 at the front and rear of the frame are pairs of vertically disposed hydraulic set-off cylinders 90 depending below the frame, the piston rods of each pair of cylinders carrying a set-off bar 91 extending transversely of the car and adapted to bear on the rails R when the cylinders are operated to extend the piston rods. The car may thus be raised to lift the wheels 21 clear of the rails, when set-off rails may be disposed under the set-off wheels 84 transversely over the track and the shaft 82 driven as already explained to move the car 10 laterally otf the track along the set-off rails. The car may be set on the track by reversing this procedure.

Indexing means are providing for locating the apparatus in proper relation to each tie to be positioned at a predetermined point along the track, Ordinarily 21, 22, or 24 ties are employed for each thirty-nine feet of track, that being the length of a standard rail, and the ties are spaced uniformly along such length of track so that the locations of and the distance between tie centers is determined by the number of ties to be used. A suitable bracket 92 is secured on the lower end of one of the posts 16 to extend over the adjacent rail R and journals the spindle of a measuring wheel or disk 93 engaged on The disk has a circumference equal to the predetermined distance between tie centers. In a posi tion convenient for viewing by the operator, an indicating dial 94 is mounted on the post 16 by a bracket journaling the spindle of a pointer or the like movable over the dial. An endless belt 95 or the like extends around pulleys on the spindles so that as the disk 93 revolves the pointer is rotated over the dial. The disk, of course, is rotated by frictional engagement with the rail when the car 10 travels along the track, The bracket 92 may be pivotally arranged for biasing of the disk against the rail, and to be swung up for disengaging the disk from the rail when its use is not required, as during travel to and from the point of operations, and any suitable means employed to hold the bracket and disk in desired position. In operation, the carriage 28 is centered over a starting line corresponding to the location of a tie center, by movement of the car to locate the mast 24 directly over such starting line. Any appropriate marker or sighting means may be provided on the apparatus to facilitate such positioning. The pointer is then set at an appropriate mark or calibration on the dial 94, and the disk 93 is engaged on the rail. As the apparatus is driven along the track, the disk makes one revolution. for each space between tie center locations and the pointer moves over the dial and indicates whether the mast 24 is disposed directly over such a location. In the present case, the pointer makes one rotation for each revolution of the disk, and only one mark need be provided on the dial. When the pointer moves to this mark, the mast is centered over a tie center location, and if a tie is to be secured to the rails at such location the apparatus is stopped at that point, with thetie-handling mechanism in position to manipulate and properlycenter the tie. Disks of different sizes corresponding to various desired tie spacings may be substituted on the bracket 92'as necessary. g I

The various hydraulic cylinders are controlled by sultable valves which may conveniently be mounted in front of the operators position in two banks by brackets 96 secured on the posts 16. The front pair of set-0E cylinders iis controlled by a valve 97 in one bank, and the rear pair by a similar valve 97 in the other bank of valves. The carriage lifting cylinder 37 is operated by means of a valve 98 in the right-hand bank, and the two tong cylinders 45 by a valve 99 included in the left-hand bank. The two centering cylinders 41 are each controlled by a pair of valves 100 and 101, the valve 100 controlling one chamber of the respective double cylinder and valve 101 the other chamber. The pair of valves 100 and 101 for the cylinder on the right side of the carriage 28 is mounted in the right-hand valve bank, and the valve pair for the other cylinder41 is mounted in the left-hand bank. The disclosed mounting and location of the valves may of course be varied. If instead of the double cylinders41 single cylinders are used for centering or shifting the tongs along the guide means, only one valve 100 or 101 is required for each cylinder. Referring to Fig. 8, liquid under pressure is provided by the pump 70 through a supply conduit 102 leading to the right-hand bank of valves through a pressure relief valve 119?: having a relief bypass line 104 to the tank 74. A surge tank 195 and a pressure gauge 166 may be connected to the supply line in a conventional manner. The valves are connected in series, with the last valve of the left-hand bank connected by a return line 107 to the tank. From each valve 97 a branching conduit 1118 leads to corresponding ends of the associated pair of set-off cylinders 90, and another common conduit 109 connects the other ends of the cylinders to the valve. The valve 98 has a pair of lines 110 and 111 leading to opposite ends of the carriage lifting cylinder 37. Abranched line 112 connects corresponding ends of the tong cylinders 45 with the valve 99, and another such line 113 extends between the other ends of the cylinders to the valve. Each valve 160 is com nected by a pair of

conduits

114 and 115 to opposite ends of one chamber of its associated double cylinder 41, and

each valve 101 is similarly connected to the opposite ends several conduits are not shown in full except in Fig. 8, for

the sake of clearness in the other views.

A screen 118 is preferably provided at the front of the car frame before the seat 58 to intercept pieces of bal- --last in' the event any should possibly be thrown toward the operator in the course of positioning of the ties. A tongue 119 is secured to the rear cross member 12 of the frame for towingequipment or similar vehicles if desired. A step 120 is supported by angle members or the like from each of the diagonal members 14 to facilitate mounting or dismounting from the car platform 15. The apparatus is equipped with suitable lights and a warning signal, which, however, are not shown in the drawings.

In operation, the apparatus is set on the track and driven to the spot at which the tie-spiking operation is to begin; There the apparatus is positioned to bring the mast 24 into alignment with a starting line, as already explained, and the indexing means adjusted. If the starting line is the desired tie center location of the first tie to be positioned, the electromagnetic brake means are applied -to anchor the car in place, and if not the car is driven ;to the point where the first tie to be handled is disposed, positioned in accordance with the indication of the indexthe tie inwardly of the rails R, by manipulation of the re-' spec'tive valves 1110 and 101 to operate the cylinders 41.

Then the cylinders 45. are operated by their common valve 99 to open the tongs, and the carriage is shifted downwardly by the lifting cylinder 37 under the control of the valve 98 so that the tong blades 40 are lowered into position With the tie therebetwecn, substantially as shown in Fig. 6. The cylinders 45 then are operated to close the tongs so that the tie is clamped between the blades ofeach pair of tongs, and the carriage is raised by the cylinder 37 and the tongs brought to the centered position by the cylinders 41. The lifting of the tie is preferably in two steps, so as to clear the roadbed or ballast as well as the rails before centering the tie and after centering to bring the tie into engagement with the bases of the rails R. This reduces the force required and allows tie plates to be placed on the tie. After the tie is brought to centered position against the rail bases, it is held there by the centering cylinders 41 and upward force applied by the lifting cylinder 37, and is spiked to the rails as by spike drivers powered by compressed air supplied by the compressor 65. When one tie has been secured in position, the electromagnetic .brake elements. are deenergized to release the car, which is then driven forward a distance corresponding to the predetermined tie spacing, which is indicated by the indexing means in the manner already explained, and brought, to a stop at the proper point. Since the apparatus travels. only a short distance between the tie locations, it is. not necessary to employ the mechanical brake for stopping, and the car is quickly and easily brought to the desired point by means of the electromagnetic brake, which as previously described is rendered effective immediately upon release of the. motor clutch pedal 55 to disengage the drive. The electromagnetic brake thus serves as both a stopping brake and as track anchoring means for the car. The second tie is brought to centered position and secured in substantially the manner described in. connection with the first tie, and the apparatus continues along the track in this fashion to position successive ties at the predetermined locations.

It will be understood. that the tongs need not in every case be. shifted from the centered position, and need not be perfectly centered over the. tieportions to be grasped.

A tie might be exactly parallel to its desired position but slightly to one side thereof. If it were sufficiently close to such position, the tongs in their centered positions would merely need to be. opened sufliciently to straddle the tie and lowered, and the tie would be moved directly into line with its desired centered position by the movement of the tong blades toward each other in closing, with no shifting of the tongs from their centered positions. If the tie were farther from its desired position although parallel to it, both pairs of tongs would be shifted in the same direction, lowered over the tie and closed on it, andthen raised and shifted back to centered position. A tie extending below the track at an angle, across its desired centered position, as for example the tie next to the last spiked tie in Fig. 6,. requires one. pair of tongs be moved rearwardly and the other forwardly in order that they'may clamp the tie. In Fig. 6, the righthand pair of tongs has been shifted rearwardly and the left-hand tongs forwardly, and lowered, so as to straddle the tie adjacent the respective rails. The left-hand tongs are illustrated as closed to indicate how the tie would overlie the horizontal projections or notch portions on the tong blades, while the right-hand tongs are open, although as explained hereinabove both pairs of tongs would actually be opened and closed together.. The tie when clamped by both pairs of tongs would be raised and then brought to its. desired centered position, represented by the broken-line. outline, by sliding the righthand tongs forwardly and the left-hand tongs rearwardly to their centered positions, swinging the tie as about. a pivot, point. The next loose tie in Fig. 6 would be handled similarly. but in this case the left-hand tongs would be moved rearwardly instead of the right-hand tongs, and the right-hand tongs would be moved forwardly, or possibly not moced from center but merely opened. wide. Each tie must be handled according to its 715 '10 particular position relative to its desired location, but the present apparatus has'such flexibility of operation that thetie is readily grasped and effectively positioned with a minimum expenditure of time and power. The open construction of the carriage 28 permits the operator to judge accurately therelative positions of the tongs and tie so that he can operate the several valves with great efiiciency and a minimum of false tong movements. The apparatus is fast and elficient in action, and economical to operate, particularly in relation to the number of ties it will position in a given time.

If single cylinders be used instead of the double cylinders for shifting the tongs along the guide means, the operation is substantially as described above, except that the centering of the tongs must be done by manipulation of the valves in accordance with visual observation of the positions of the indicating rods or like means employed in such case, as previously explained, and not automatically in response to locating the valve operating handles in specific positions. The single cylinders are eflective enough, particularly in applications in which the apparatus is employed primarily as a nipper to lift the ties against the rails and hold them during spiking, with the bulk of such tie centering as may be necessary being effected by the closing of the tongs against the ties rather than by sliding of the pairs of tongs as units along the guides. It is considered preferable even in such applications, however, to employ the double cylinders 41 because of their advantages. The lifting cylinder 37 not only shifts the carriage 28 along the mast 24 and provides the lifting force to hold the ties against the rail bases, but pushes the tongs through ballast to the necessary level for engaging under the bottom of a tie, when the ties lie on or in ballast. The centering and tong cylinders furnish the power necessary to shift the ties even against the resistance of loose ballast and to close the tongs through such ballast in order to clamp the tie. The electromagnetic brake means securely anchor the apparatus on the track to prevent any shifting thereof which might throw the mast 24' out of the desired alignment in the vertical plane of the tie center location, since the magnetic holding force developed is much more positive than would be provided by clamping or other mechanical means which might be used to anchor the car on the track. The tie-handling mechanism may be used to jar or roll a tie to remove pieces of ballast thereon which would interfere with its engagement with the rail, by suitable manipulation of the tongs in a manner which will readily appear from the operation of the mechanism as described.

While the apparatus finds its greatest usefulness in operations extending continuously over an appreciable extent of track, it is also efficient in operations involving only occasional ties along a stretch of track rather than a considerable number of successive ties, as in tie replacement operations. It will be appreciated that while the apparatus. of the present invention is well adapted to use as one of a number of machines, such as cribbing, ballast cleaning, and tamping machines, for performing various consecutive steps in track maintenance operations, it is not limited to use in such fashion but may be employed to effect its purpose without regard to the manner or means used. to perform related operations on the track and roadbed.

What is claimed is:

l.v Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, a vertically disposed mast carried by the car outboard of one end and centrally relative to the track, indexing means carried by the car engageable with the track for indicating car positions in which the mast is disposed directly above a desired tie location along the track, means on the car cooperable with the track to hold the car in any of said positions, a tong carriage mounted on and guided by the mast for vertical. sliding, movement,

a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the mast and connected to the tong carriage for positioning the carriage along the mast, a plurality of horizontal guide means'mou'nted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, a plurality of pairs of tongs each slidable along respective of said guide meanstprojecti'ng downwardly from the carriage, each pair of tongs comprising a pair of opposed clamping members slidable relative to each other along said guide means and a hydraulic cylinder extending between and connected to the clamping members for shifting the same relative to each other, a plurality of double hydraulic cylinders each connected to one pair of tongs for sliding the same along its guide means independently of the other tongs and normally disposing said one pair of tongs in a centered position transversely aligned with said mast, a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure connected to said cylinders for operation thereof, and valve means controlling-the operatiton of the cylinders including separate valves for the chambers of said double cylinders operable to cause each double cylinder automatically to dispose its associated pair of tongs in said centered position.

2. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, a vertically disposed hollow mast carried bythe car outboard of one end and centrally relative to the track, track-engaging indexing means carried by the car for indicating car positions in which the mast is disposed directly above a desired tie location along the track, electromagnetic brake means cooperable with the track to hold the car in any of said positions, a tong carriage mounted on and guided by the mast'for vertical sliding movement, a hydraulic cylinder mounted in the mast and connected to the tong carriage for positioning the carriage along the mast, horizontal guide means mounted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, two pairs of tie-clamping tongs each slidable along respective of said guide means and depending below the carriage, a hydraulic cylinder for each pair of tongs to open and close the same, a pair of double hydraulic cylinders each connected to one pair of tongs for normally holding said pair of tongs in a centered position transversely aligned with said mast and for shifting said pair of tongs in either direction relative to said centered position independently of the other pair of tongs, a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure connected to said cylinders for operation thereof, and valve means controlling the operation of the cylinders including separate valves for the chambers of said double cylinders operable to cause each double cylinder automatically to dispose its associated pair of tongs in said centered position. 7

3. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties,

vertical guide means carried by the car outboard of one end, and centrally relative to the track, indexing means carried by the car engageable with the track for indicating car positions in which the guide means extend directly above a desired tie location along the track, means on the car cooper-able with the track to hold the car in any of said positions, a tong carriage slidable along said vertical guide means, means for positioning the carriage along the guide means, a plurality of horizontal guide means mounted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, a plurality of pairs of tongs each sidable along respective of said horizontal guide means and depending below said carriage, hydraulic means for opening and closing each of the pairs of tongs, a plurality of other hydraulic means each connected to one of said pairs of tongs for moving the same along the horizontal guide means independently of the other tongs and normally disposing the associated pair of tongs in a centered position transversely aligned with said vertical guide means, a source of pressure fluid connected to said hydraulic means for operation thereof,

12 and valve meanscontrolling the operation of the hydraulic means.

4. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, vertical guide means mounted on the car centrally relative to the track, a tong carriage slidably carried by said guide means, hydraulic cylinder means for positioning said carriage along said guide means, horizontal guides mounted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, pairs of tongs each slidable along respective of said guides and depending below the carriage, hydraulic cylinder-means for opening and closing each pair of tongs, double hydraulic cylinder means associated with each pair of tongs for positioning the associated pair of tongs along said guides and normally disposing the same at a centered position vertically aligned with a desired tie location, a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure for operating said cylinder means, and valve means for controlling the operation of the cylinder means by the fluid.

' 5. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, vertical guide means mounted on the car centrally relative to the track, a tong carriage slidable along said guide means, fluid-operated means for positioning the carriage along the guide means, a pair of horizontal guide means mounted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tong units each slidably carried by one of said spaced guide means and each including a pair of opposed tong members extending below the carriage slidable relative to each other along the respective guide means, fluid-operated means for positioning the tong units along the respective spaced guide means independently of each other, fluid-operated means for shifting relative to each other and holding against such shifting the tong members of each unit, a I source of pressure fluid for said fluid-operated means, and

valve means for controlling the operation of operated means by said fluid.

6. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, vertical guide means mounted on the car outboard of one end for disposition extending directly above a desired tie location, a tong carriage slidable along the guide means, fluid-operated means for positioning the tong carriage along the guide means, a pair of horizontal guide means mounted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tong units each slidably carried byone of said horizontal guide means, fluid-operated means for opening and closing each of said tong units, fluid-operated means for positioning the tong units along the respective horizontal guide means independently of each other, a source of pressure fluid for said fluid-operated means, and valve means controlling the operation of the fluid-operated means by the pressure fluid.

7. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, ver- -tical guide means mounted on the car for disposition extending directly above a desired tie location, a tong carriage slidable along said guide means, means for positioning the carriage along the guide means, a pair of horizontal guide means mounted in laterally spaced relation on the carriage to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tong units one slidably carried by each of the horizontal guide means and each including a pair of opposed clamping members slidable relative to each other along the respective horizontal guide means, means for shifting toward andfrom each other the clamping members of each tong unit, and double hydraulic cylinders operable for positioning each of the tong units along its I guide means, independently of the other tong unit. a 8. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, vertical guide means mounted on the car for disposition extending directly above a desired tie location, a tong carriage slidablealong said guide means, means for positioning the carriage along the guide means, a pair of horizontal guide means mounted in laterally spaced relation on the carriage to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tong units one slidably carried by each of the horizontal guide means and each including a pair of opposed clamping members slidable relative to each other along the respective horizontal guide means, a hydraulic cylinder for each tong unit operable to shift the clamping members thereof toward and from each other, and means for positioning each of the tong units along the respective horizontal guide means independently of the other tong unit.

9. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending, over the ties, vertical guide means carried by the car for disposition extending directly above a desired tie location, a tong carriage slidable along said guide means, means for shifting the carriage vertically along the guide means, a pair of horizontal guide means mounted in laterally spaced relation on the carriage to extend longitudinally of the. track, two pairs of tongs each slidably carried, by one of said pair of horizontal guide means, means for moving the pairs of tongs to selected positions along the respective horizontal guide means independently of each other, and means for opening and closing the tongs, said pairs of tongs each comprising a pair of opposed clamping members slidable relative to each other along the respective horizontal guide means and depending below the carriage.

10. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, vertical guide means supported by the car, a tong carriage slidable vertically along said guide means, means for positioning the carriage along the guide means, a pair of horizontal guide means mounted on the carriage to extend longitudinally of the track disposed in laterally spaced relation, two pairs of tongs each slidably carried by one of said pair of horizontal guide means, means for opening and closing each pair of tongs, and means for sliding each pair of tongs as a unit in either direction along tis respective horizontal guide means.

11. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, a tong carriage mounted on the car shiftable in a vertical plane central relative to the track and disposable with a transverse plane thereof directly above a desired tie location, means for shifting the carriage vertically, a pair of guide means mounted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tong members slidably carried by each of said pair of guide means, hydraulic cylinder means operable to shift relative to each other and to hold against such shifting the tong members of each pair, and a pair of double hydraulic cylinders each operable to shift one pair of tong members along its respective guide means independently of the other pair and normally to dispose said one pair of tong members in said transverse plane of the carriage.

12. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, a tong carriage mounted on the car shiftable in a vertical plane and disposable with a transverse plane thereof directly above a desired tie location, means for shifting the carriage vertically, a pair of guide means mounted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tongs slidably carried by each of said pair of guide means and each including a pair of opposed clamping members slidable relative to each other along the respective guide means, a hydraulic cylinder for each pair of tongs operable to slide relative to each other and to hold against such sliding the clamping members of each pair, and means for shifting each pair of tongs along its respective guide means independently of the other pair and normally disposing said one pair of tongs in said transverse plane of the carriage.

13. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, a tong carriage mounted on the car shiftable in a vertical plane and disposable with a transverse plane thereof directly above a desired tie location, means for shifting the carriage vertically, a pair of guide means mounted on the. carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tongs slidably carried by each of said pair of guide means and each including a pair of opposed clamping members slidable relative to each other along the respective guide means, means for sliding relative to each other and holding against such sliding the clamping members of each pair of tongs, and a pair of double hydraulic cylinder means each operable for sliding one pair of tongs along its respective guide means and normally disposing said one pair of tongs in said transverse plane of the carriage.

14. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, at tong carriage mounted on the. car shiftable in a vertical plane, means for positioning the carriage in said vertical plane, guide means mounted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tong members slidably carried by each of said spaced guide means, means for shifting relative to each other along the respective guide means and holding against'such shifting the tong members of each pair, and means for shifting each pair of tong members as a unit along its respective guide means in either direction independently of the other pair.

15. Apparatus for positioning railway ties, comprising a car for traveling on a track extending over the ties, a tong carriage mounted on the car shiftable in a vertical plane, means for shifting the carriage in said vertical plane, guide means mounted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tongs slidably carried by each of said spaced guide means, means for opening and closing each pair of tongs, and means for sliding each pair of tongs in either direction along its respective guide means independently of movement of the other pair of tongs.

16. In a machine for positioning railway ties adapted for disposition on a track extending over the ties, vertical guide means fixed in a position to extend directly above a desired tie location along the track, a carriage vertically shiftable along said guide means, means for shifting the carriage vertically, horizontal guide means mounted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tong members slidably carried by each of said spaced guide means and depending below the carriage for clamping a tie, hydraulic cylinder means operable for shifting relative to each other along the respective spaced guide means and holding against such shifting the tong members of each pair, and double hydraulic cylinder means operable for sliding each pair of tong members as a unit along its respective spaced guide means independently of the other tong member pair toward and from transverse alignment with said vertical guide means.

17. In a machine for positioning railway ties adapted for disposition on a track extending over the ties, vertical guide means fixed in a position to extend directly above a desired tie location along the track, a carriage vertically shiftable along said guide means, means for shifting the carriage vertically, horizontal guide means mounted on the carriage in laterally spaced relation to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tongs slidably carried by each of said spaced guide means and depending below the carriage for clamping a tie, means for opening and closing each pair of tongs, and means for sliding each pair of tongs along its respective spaced guide means independently of the other pair of tongs toward and from a position transversely aligned with said vertical guide means.

18. Apparatus for positioning railway ties adapted for disposition over a track extending over the ties, comprising a carriage shiftable in a vertical plane to extend directly above a desired tie location, means for shifting the carriage in said plane, guide means mounted in laterally spaced relation on said carriage to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tong members slidably carried by each of said spaced guide means and depending below the carriage for clamping a tie below the track,

hydraulic cylinder means operable for shifting relative to each other along the respective guide means and holding against such shifting the tong members of each pair, and means for sliding each pair of tong members as a unit along its respective guide means independently of another pair of tong members.

19. Apparatus for positioning railway tics adapted for disposition over a track extending over the ties, comprising a carriage shiftable in a vertical plane to extend directly above a desired tie location, means for shifting the carriage vertically, guide means mounted in laterally spaced relation on said carriage to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair of tong members slidably carried by each of said spaced guide means and depending below the carriage for clamping a tie below the track, means for shifting relative to each other along the respective guide means and holding against such shifting the tong members of each pair, and double hydraulic cylinder means for sliding each pair of tong members as a unit along its respective guide means independently of another pair of tong members.

20. Apparatus for positioning railway ties adapted for disposition over a track extending over the ties, comprising a carriage shiftable in a vertical plane to extend directly above a desired tie location, means for shifting the carriage vertically, guide means mounted in laterally spaced relation on said carriage to extend longitudinally of the track, a pair oftongs slidably carried by each of said spaced guide means and depending below the carriage for clamping a tie below the track, means for opening and closing each pair of tongs, and means for sliding each pair of tongs as a unit along its respective guide means independently of another pair of tongs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,836,444 Carnahan Dec. 15, 1931 2,596,823 Richardson May 13, 1952 2,603,255 Woolery July 15, 1952