US3314374A

US3314374A - Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath a railroad track

Info

Publication number: US3314374A
Application number: US439595A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr William H Moorehead; Royce G Kershaw
Original assignee: Kershaw Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Kershaw Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1965-03-15
Filing date: 1965-03-15
Publication date: 1967-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1984-04-18
Also published as: DE1534047A1; CH440355A; SE305226B; GB1085620A

Description

pr 8. 1967 w. H. MOOREHEAD, JR. ETAL 3,314,374

APPARATUS FOR INSERTING CROSSTIES BENEATH A RAILROAD TRACK Filed March 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 18, 6 w. H. MOOREHEAD, JR. ETAL 3, 1

APPARATUS FOR INSERTING CROSSTIES BENEATH A RAILROAD TRACK Filed March 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Shet 2 INV NTORS VVf/lr' m H. Moore/ a,,1. Z Rgya e G. Kara/ 45 r BY W M pr 1967 w. H. MOOREHEAD, JR.. ETAL APPARATUS FOR INSERTING CROSSTIES BENEATH A RAILROAD TRACK Filed March 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 William /Mo0 Pa ee G lrshau.)

W,M+M

A /hm w Ap l 8. 1967 w. H. MOOREHEAD, JR.. ETAL 3,314,374

APPARATUS FOR INSERTING CROSSTIES BENEATH A RAILROAD TRACK Filed March 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS mm M Mmwa Ja P yce r K nshaw W. H. MOOREHEAD, JR.. APPARATUS FOR INSERTING CROSSTIES ETAL A ril 18, 1967 BENEATH A RAILROAD TRACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 15, 1965 3,314,374 APPARATUS FOR INSERTHNG CROS'STIES BENEATH A RAILROAD TRACK William H. Moorehead, Jr., and Royce G. Kershaw, Montgomery, Ala, assignors to Kershaw Manufacturing Co., Inc, a corporation of Alabama Filed Mar. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 439,595 16 Claims. (Cl. 104-9) This invention relates to apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track and more particularly to such apparatus which shall be adapted to insert the crossties in a straight line while the top of the crosstie is free of ballast and the like.

An object of our invention is to provide apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track which shall be self-contained in that the crossties are carried by the apparatus and transferred sequentially to a predetermined location whereupon they are then transferred by a transversely movable frame to a position beneath the railroad rails, thus eliminating the necessity of providing men to guide the crossties beneath the railroad track, as is done presently.

A more specific object of our invention is to provide apparatus for inserting crossties beneath a railroad track of the character designated in which guide means is carried by the apparatus in position to engage the upper surface of the crosstie to thus prevent the leading end of the crosstie from striking the railroad rail.

A further object of our invention is to provide apparatus for inserting a crosstie beneath a railroad track of the character dwignated which shall include improved means for carrying a plurality of crossties, together with means for feeding the crossties sequentially to a predetermined location on the apparatus, thus eliminating the necessity of having to position the crosstie at spaced intervals alongside the railroad track.

A still further object of our invention is to provide apparatus for inserting crossties beneath a railroad track which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which positively controls the depth,

nited States Patent attitude and cleanliness of the inserted tie whereby each crosstie is positioned accurately with a minimum of effort and in a minimum of time.

As is well known in the art to which our invention relates, it has been customary to insert crossties beneath realroad tracks by employing men to walk alongside the railroad rails in position to guide the tie as it is forced beneath the rails. Also, it has been customary to position the crossties outwardly of the rails at spaced intervals whereby they are then moved to the proper position relative to the rails and then forced beneath the rails. This procedure not only requires the crosstie to be handled several times but requires considerable labor. Furthermore, the crossties are not inserted in a precise, straightline since the crossties are handled manually. Furthermore, the upper surface of the crosstie is not maintained clean of ballast during the manual operation since the crosstie is moved from side to side by the manual operation whereupon considerable ballast is deposited on the crosstie.

To overcome the above and other difiiculties, we provide a self-contained unit which carries a plurality of crossties thereon in position to be transferred to a conveying unit which in turn deposits the crossties sequentially to a predetermined location. A transversely movable frame is carried by the apparatus in position to move the crossties from the predetermined location to a position outwardly of the rails and thence to a position beneath the rails. The transverse frame is moved transversely of the railroad rails and is moved to selected elevations Patented Apr. 18, 1967 "ice whereby the crosstie is inserted in a precise, straight-line beneath the railroad rails.

Apparatus embodying features of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of our improved apparatus showing a crosstie being inserted beneath the rails of a railroad track;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmental view showing the means for inserting the crosstie beneath the rails;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line IIIIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line IV-IV of FIG, 2, drawn to a smaller scale;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line VIVI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus, the crossties which are usually carried "by the apparatus being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line VHIVIII of -F IG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmental view showing the outermost end of the transverse unit which inserts the crossties.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention, we show a supporting frame 10 having flanged wheels 11 which are adapted to ride along the rails 12 which are supported by crossties 13. The supporting frame 10 is propelled along the railroad track by suitable means well known in the art, such as providing a power unit 14 on the supporting frame. The power unit 14 may be operatively connected to certain ones of the flanged wheels 11 by suitable means, such as by providing a mechanical drive between the power unit and the wheels or by providing a fluid drive therebetween. Since such drive means are well known in the art, no further description thereof is deemed necessary.

A rack 16 is provided adjacent the rear end of. the supporting frame 10 for receiving a plurality of crossties 13 to be inserted. The rack 16 is provided with upstanding end frames 17 and 18 which are connected at their lower ends by a platform 19 for supporting the crossties. The crossties are loaded onto the rack 16 in bundles by a cable 1% which in turn is operatively connected to a fluid pressure operated cylinder 21 whereby upon actua- 1 tion of the cylinder 21, the bundle of crossties is raised or lowered.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, an endless conveyor unit indicated generally at 22 is mounted beneath the platform 19 of the rack 16. Preferably, the conveyor unit 22 comprises two

endless chain units

23 and 24 which are propelled by suitable means, such as a fluid pressure motor 26 having a shaft 27 which in turn is operatively connected to a drive sprocket 28 that meshes with the

chains

23 and 24. Suitable flights 29 are carried by the

chains

23 and 24 in position to engage the crossties 13 whereupon they are conveyed forwardly of the supporting frame. The platform 19 is provided with side members 31 which extend alongside the ends of the crossties 13 to thus maintain the crossties in proper position on the conveying Chains 23 and 24.

As clearly shown in FIG. 8, the under surface of the platform 19 is spaced vertically from the upper surface of the crossties 13 to permit free movement of the crossties beneath the platform. The rear end of the conveyor chain 23 projects beyond the rear end of the rack 16 in position to receive the crossties 13 as they are transferred thereon by suitable means, such as a hoist unit 32 carried by the rear frame member 17, as shown in FIG. 1. A platform 33 is mounted rearwardly of the conveyor unit 22 in position for an operator to stand and operate the hoist '32 to thus transfer the crossties 13 from the rack 16 onto the rearmost conveyor chain 23. The crossties are then transferred forwardly to a predetermined location 34 forwardly of the rack 16. A stop member 36 is mounted on the supporting frame in position to limit forward movement of the crosstie 13 beyond the predetermined location 34. Preferably, the supporting frame 10 is provided with a downwardly and forwardly sloping portion 37 which defines a support for the crosstie at the predetermined location 34. Suitable rollers 37" may be carried by the sloping portion 37, as shown. Accordingly, upon leaving the conveyor unit 22, the crossties 13 move sequentially down the inclined surface 37 into engagement with the stop 36.

The fluid pressure operated cylinder 21 is mounted on a boom 38 which is adapted for pivotal movement about a pivot pin 39, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. A sheave 41 is mounted at the rear end of the boom 38 in position to engage the cable 19, as shown. A sheave 42 is carried by a piston rod 43 for the cylinder 21 and the cable 19 passes around the sheaves 41 and 42 in such a manner that a small amount of movement of the piston rod 43 imparts a considerable amount of movement to the cable 19% The boom 38 is mounted on suitable rollers 44 which are adapted to engage an arcuate trackway 46 whereby the boom is adapted to move from the position shown in FIG. 7 to a position transversely of the railroad track. Movement of the boom 38 about the pivot pin 39 is accomplished by flexible cables 47 and 48 which are connected to opposite sides of the boom, as shown in FIG. 7. Each of the cables 47 and 48 passes around a pair of sheaves 4Z9 and 51. Each sheave 51 is connected to a piston rod 52 carried by a hydraulic cylinder 53 whereby upon actuation of the hydraulic cylinders, the cables 47 and '48 are moved in the proper direction to rotate the boom 38 in a manner well understood in the art. That is, a slight movement of either of the piston rods 52 imparts a considerable amount of movement to the cable connected thereto whereby the boom 38 is moved selectively from the position shown in FIG. 7 to a position transversely of the rails 12.

Pivotally connected to upstanding portions of the supporting frame 10 by suitable pivot pins 54 are a pair of rearwardly extending pantograph arms '56. Pivotally connected to the rear ends of the pantograph arms 56 by suitable pivot pins 57 is a guide frame 58 which extends transversely of the supporting frame 10 and the railroad rails 12, as shown. The guide frame 58 comprises a plurality of spaced apart, vertical frame members 59 which are of a generally inverted V-shape, as viewed in end elevation. The vertical frame members 59 are connected at the upper ends thereof by an elongated member 61 while the lower ends of the vertical members 59 are connected by elongated members 62 and 63, as shown in FIG. 7.

Pivotally connected to the pantograph arms 56 by pivot pins 64 are piston rods 66 of fluid pressure operated cylinders 67. The lower ends of the cylinders 67 are pivotally connected to the supporting frame 10 by suitable pivot pins 68. Fluid under pressure is introuced into the fluid pressure operated cylinder 67 whereby the piston rod 66 is extended or retracted to move the guide frame 58' to selected positions relative to the supporting frame 10.

Pivotally connected to the supporting frame 10 by pivot pins 69 are a pair of fluid pressure operated cylinders 71 having rearwardly extending piston rods 72. The rearmost ends of the piston rods '72 are pivotally connected to the lower portion of the guide frame 58 by suitable pivot pins 73. Accordingly, the guide frame 58 is adapted to be moved by the cylinders 67'and 71 from the solid line position shown in FIG. 2 to dotted line position.

Mounted at the top and at the lower, opposite sides of the guide frame 58 are a plurality of oppositely disposed pairs of support brackets 74. Mounted for rotation between each pair of support brackets 74 on a suitable pivot pin 76 is a roller 77. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rollers 77 are provided with arcuate outer surfaces which are adapted to engage the outer surfaces of elongated trackways 7d car-ried by a movable frame 79 that is adapted to move transversely of the supporting frame 10 and the rails 12. The guide members 78 are rigidly connected to each other by vertical members 81 which are spaced from each other, as shown in FIG. 4.

Secured to the movable frame 79 is a depending support bracket 83, as shown in FIG. 4. Pivotally connected to the support bracket 83 by a pivot pin 84 is a depending gripping member 86 having gripping jaws 87 adjacent the lower end thereof in position to engage a crosstie 13 intermediate the ends thereof. Pivotally connected to the gripping member 86 by a pivot pin 88 is a piston rod 89 of a fluid pressure operated cylinder 91. The cylinder 91 is pivoatlly connected to the transverse frame 79 by a pivot pin 92; Fluid under pressure is, supplied to and exhausted from the fluid pressure operated cylinder 91 whereby the gripping member 86 may be raised and lowered relative to the supporting frame 10. That is, as the crosstie 13 is inserted beneath the rails 12 the gripping member 3-6 is elevated upon approaching the adjacent rail 12 whereby it moves upwardly and outwardly in position to pass over the supporting frame 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the gripping elements 87 are provided with a series of teeth 93 which are adapted to mesh with a rack member 94 which in turn is actuated by a fluid pressure operated cylinder 96.

Mounted adjacent the outer end of the transversely movable frame 79 is a downwardly and outwardly extending support bracket 97. Mounted for vertical movement relative. to the lower end of the support bracket 97 is a vertically movable unit 98 which is raised and lowered by suitable means, such as a fluid pressure operated cylinder 99 carrying a piston rod 191 connected to the movable unit 98, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The movable unit 98 is provided with vertically extending slots 2 therein for receiving a transverse member 193 which is secured by bolts 104 to inturned flanges 196 carried by the lower end of the bracket 97, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9. Accordingly, vertical movement of the piston rod 101 and the movable unit 98 is limited by engagement of the transverse member 193 with the upper and lower ends of the vertical slots'1ll2.

Extending outwardly from opposite sides of the movable unit 98, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, are pairs of vertically spaced brackets 107. Mounted for pivotal movement between each pair of the brackets 107 is a gripping element 198 which is adapted to engage the crosstie 13 adjacent the end thereof, as clearly shown in FIG. 9. Each gripping element 198 is substantially identical to the gripping elements 87. That is, they are provided with a segment of teeth which are adapted to mesh with a rack 94 whereby the gripping elements are moved into and out of gripping relation with the crosstie. The rack 94 shown in FIG. 9 is provided with an upturned end portion 109 which is operatively connected to a fluid pressure operated cylinder 111 whereby the gripping elements 108 are actuated upon operation of the fluid pressure operated cylinder 111 in a manner well understood in the art.

Pivotally connected to the forward end of the supporting frame 10 by a suitable pivot pin 112 is an outwardly projecting arm 113. Pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm 1'13 by a pivot pin 114 is one end of an elongated arm 116. The other end of the arm 116 is pivotally connected by a suitable connection 117 to a support bracket 118 carried by the inner surface of the downwardly and outwardly extending support bracket 97, as shown in FIG. 4. Pivotally connected to the elongated arm 116 intermediate the ends thereof by a pivot pin 119 is a piston rod 121 of a fluidpressure operated cylinder 122. The cylinder 122 is pivotally connected to the supporting frame by a suitable pivot pin 123. Accordingly, upon introducing fluid under pressure into the fluid pressure operated cylinder 122, the piston rod 121 forces the arm 116 outwardly to thereby move the movable frame 79 and the crosstie 13 carried thereby outwardly of the railroad rails. On the other hand, upon moving the piston rod 121 inwardly of the fluid pressure operated cylinder 122, the arm 116 moves inwardly to thus move the movable frame 79 and the crosstie 13 carried thereby beneath the rails 12. It will be understood that the guide frame 58 and the movable frame 79 carried thereby are both lowered to an elevation subjacent the rails 12 by actuation of the fluid pressure actuated cylinders 67 and 71.

To guide the crosstie 13 as it is inserted beneath the rails 12, we provide guide rollers 124 in position to engage the upper surface of the crosstie being inserted, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The guide rollers 124 are provided with outwardly flaring flanges 126 at the sides thereof disposed to urge the crosstie 13 into correct position relative to the guide rollers. The guide rollers 124 are mounted on shafts 127 which are supported by depending plate-like members 128 which in turn are secured to a movable frame 129, as shown in FIG. 5. The movable frame 129 is pivotally connected to the supporting frame 10 by a supporting shaft 131. Secured rigidly to and projecting outwardly from the movable frame 129 is an actuating arm 132. Pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm 132 by a pivot pin 133 is a piston rod 134 of a fluid pressure operated cylinder 136. The cylinder 136 is pivotally connected to the supporting frame 10 by a suitable pivot pin 137.

Mounted for rotation in the movable frame 129 and extending transversely of the railroad rails 12 is a shaft 138 which carries a plurality of broom-like sweeper elements 139 which are adapted to engage the upper surface of the crosstie 13 to thereby maintain the same in a clean condition as it is being inserted beneath the rails. Preferably, the broom-like sweeper elements 139 are mounted at opposite sides of the guide rollers 124, as shown in FIG. 4. Rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 131 by a flexible drive element 141 which is operatively connected to a suitable power unit, such as the fluid motor 142. The shaft 131 is operatively connected to the shaft 138 by a flexible drive element 143 where-by rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 138.

From the foregoing description, the operation of our improved apparatus for inserting crossties beneath a railroad track will be readily understood. A bundle of crossties 13 are loaded onto the rack 16 by actuating the fluid pressure operated cylinders 53 in a manner to swing the boom 38 laterally of the railroad rails 12 whereby the crossties 13 may be engaged by the flexible member 19 It will be apparent that suitable bundle straps may be employed for encircling a bundle of crossties 13 which are in turn connected to the cable 19 The bundle is elevated by actuating cylinders 21 to retract the cable 19*. With the crossties 13 mounted on the platform 19 of the rack 16, as shown in FIG. 1, the crossties are then removed from the rack 16 by the hoist unit 32 whereby they are then positioned on the rearwardly projecting portion of the conveyor unit 22. The crossties 13 are then conveyed beneath the platform 19 sequentially to the downwardly inclined portion 37 of the supporting frame 10 whereby they are supported by the rollers 37 The stop member 36 positions each crosstie 13 acurately in a predetermined position.

The guide frame 58 and the transversely movable frame 79 carried thereby are then moved from the solid line position shown in FIGURE 2 to the dotted line position whereupon the

gripping elements

108 and 87 are in position to engage the crosstie 13, as described hereinabove. The guide frame 58 is moved to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 by energizing the fluid pressure operated cylinders 67 and 71. With the crosstie gripped by the

gripping elements

87 and 108, the transversely movable frame 79 is moved outwardly and laterally of the supporting frame whereby the crosstie 13 is positioned outwardly of the rails 12. Lateral movement of the movable frame 79 is accomplished by actuating the fluid pressure operated cylinder 122 whereupon the arm 116 moves outwardly, as shown in FIG. 7.

While we have shown only one pair of arms 113 and 116 for moving the movable frame 79 transversely of the supporting frame, it will be apparent that where it is desired to insert the cross-ties from the opposite side of the rails 12, the arm 113 will be pivotally connected to a pivot pin 112" whereby the arms 113 and 116 would be at the opposite side of the supporting frame. It will also be apparent that where the crossties are inserted from the opposite side of the rails, the supporting bracket 97 would be mounted at the opposite end of the movable frame from that shown in the drawings. Suffice it to say that the crossties could be inserted from either side of the rails 12 by a slight modification of the apparatus as just described.

With the crosstie 13 positioned outwardly of the rails 12, the guide frame 58 and the transversely movable frame 79 carried thereby are lowered by actuating the cylinders 67 and 71 to thus position the crosstie 13 at the exact location to be inserted beneath the rails 12. That is, the crosstie is lowered to a position whereby it is subjacent the rails 12. With the crosstie thus aligned for insertion benath the rails 12, the fluid pressure operated cylinder 122 is again actuated to move the arm 116 inwardly to thus insert the crosstie beneath the rails 12. As the crosstie moves beneath the rails 12, the rollers 124 limit upward movement of the crosstie relative to the rails thus assuring that the leading end of the crosstie 13 does not strike the far rail. Also, as the crosstie 13 is being inserted, the sweeper elements 139 continuously engage the upper surface of the crosstie to maintain the same free of ballast during insertion of the crosstie. As the depending gripping member 86 approaches the rail 12, the fluid pressure operated cylinder 96 is actuated to release the gripper elements 87 and the fluid pressure operated cylinder 91 is actuated to elevate the gripping member 86 whereby it passes over the supporting frame to thus permit inward movement of the transversely movable frame 79 to its innermost position to accurately position the crosstie 13 beneath the rails 12. In the event an adjoining track or other obstruction requires, the outermost gripping elements 108 can be raised and lowered vertically by actuating the cylinder 99 so as to tilt the crosstie 13 to clear the obstructions.

With the crosstie 13 thus inserted beneath the rails 12, the outermost gripping elements 108 are released by actuating the cylinder 111. The guide frame 58 and the transversely movable frame 79 are then elevated and moved to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 for engagement with another crosstie 13 whereupon the cycle of operation is repeated. It will be understood that the supporting frame 10 travels along the rails 12 to position the movable frame 79 at the correct position for insertion of the crossties 13 beneath the rails. Also, a suitable operators seat is mounted on the supporting frame 10 in position for the operator to have a clear view of the tie inserting apparatus.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have devised improved apparatus for inserting crossties beneath a railroad track. By providing a self-contained unit which carries a plurality of crossties, together with means for introducing the crossties sequentially to a predetermined location on the supporting frame, We eliminate entirely the necessity of distributing the crossties along the railroad track. Also, by providing means for removing the crossties from the predetermined location to a position subjacent the rails, we eliminate the necessity of providing Workers for manual insertion of the crossties be- 7 neath the rails. Furthermore, by providing guide members and sweeper elements in position to engage the upper surface of the crosstie as it is being inserted, the crosstie is inserted accurately into its desired position beneath the rails and at the same time the ballast does not interfere with movement of the crosstie beneath the rails. That is, our improved apparatus positively controls the depth,

attitude and cleanliness of the inserted crosstie.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track comprising:

(a) a supporting frame adapted for movement longitudinally of a railroad track,

(b) means to supply crossties sequentially at a predetermined location on said supporting frame,

(c) a transverse frame mounted on said supporting frame for movement transversely of the rails of the railroad track,

(d) depending gripper elements carried by said transverse frame disposed to engage a crosstie positioned at said predetermined location on said supporting frame,

(e) means to move said transverse frame laterally and outwardly of said supporting frame to position a crosstie carried thereby outwardly of the railroad rails,

(f) means to move said transverse frame to a lowered position to place a crosstie carried thereby at an elevation subjacent the elevation of said rails, and

(g) means to move said transverse frame inwardly from said lowered position to insert a crosstie beneath said rails.

2. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 1 in which a guide member is carried by said supporting frame in position to engage the upper surface of a crosstie as the crosstie is inserted benath the rails to limit upward movement of the crosstie as it is inserted beneath the rails.

3. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 2 in which the guide member comprises:

(a) a movable frame supported by said supporting frame and adapted for movement relative thereto, and

(b) at least one flanged roller carried by said movable frame in position to extend transversely over a crosstie inserted with the flanges thereof disposed at opposite sides of the crosstie.

4-. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 3 in which a rotary brush is carried by said movable frame in position to engage the upper surface of the crosstie being inserted.

5. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 1 in which a first pair of gripping elements are carried by said transverse frame in position to engage a crosstie being inserted intermediate the ends of said crosstie, and a second pair of gripping elements are carried by said transverse frame in position to engage said crosstie being inserted adjacent an end thereof, said first pair of gripping elements being adapted to be elevated upon approaching a rail of the railroad track.

6. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 5 in which power actuating means is interposed between said first pair of gripping elements and said transverse frame to elevate said first pair of gripping elements upon approaching a rail of the railroad track.

7. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 5 in which means is provided to move said second pair of gripping elements to selected vertical positions relative to said transverse frame.

8. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 1 in which the means to supply crossties sequentially at a predetermined location on said supporting frame comprises:

(a) a platform on said supporting frame disposed to support a plurality of crossties,

(b) conveyor means mounted subjacent said platform and disposed to deliver the crossties to said predetermined location, and

(c) means to transfer the crossties from said platform to said conveyor means.

9. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 8 in which the conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor mounted subjacent the platform with one end of said conveyor projecting beyond said platform in position to receive the crossties sequentially from said platform.

10. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 9 in which a hoist unit is mounted on said supporting frame to transfer the crossties from said platform to said one end of the endless conveyor.

11. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim it? in which the means to move said transverse frame laterally and outwardly comprises:

(a) an elongated actuating arm,

(b) means pivotally connecting one end of said arm to said supporting frame,

(6) means pivotally connecting the other end of said arm to said transverse frame, and

(d) power actuated means interposed between said supporting frame and said arm to move said other end of said arm and said transverse frame connected thereto relative to said supporting frame.

12. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track comprising:

(a) a supporting frame adapted for movement longitudinally of a railroad track,

(0) a guide frame extending transversely of said supporting frame,

(d) a movable frame carried by said guide frame and disposed to move transversely of said supporting frame,

(e) depending gripper elements carried by said movable frame and disposed to engage a crosstie positioned at said predetermined location on said supporting frame,

(f) means to move said movable frame outwardly of said supporting frame to position a crosstie carried thereby outwardly of the railroad rails,

(g) means to move said guide frame relative to said supporting frame to move a crosstie carried thereby from said predetermined position to a position subjacent the elevation of said rails, and

(b) means to move said movable frame inwardly relative to said supporting frame to insert a crosstie beneath said rails.

13. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 12 in which the guide frame is operatively connected to the supporting frame by pantograph arms.

14. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 12 in which fiuid pressure operated cylinders are mounted between said guide frame and said supporting frame to move said guide frame relative to said supporting frame.

15. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 12 in which guide rollers are mounted between said guide frame and said movable frame.

16. Apparatus for inserting crossties beneath the rails of a railroad track as defined in claim 14 in which guide rollers are mounted on said guide frame and elongated track members are mounted on said movable frame in position to receive said guide rollers.

No references cited.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR INSERTING CROSSTIES BENEATH THE RAILS OF A RAILROAD TRACK COMPRISING: (A) A SUPPORTING FRAME ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF A RAILROAD TRACK, (B) MEANS TO SUPPLY CROSSTIES SEQUENTIALLY AT A PREDETERMINED LOCATION ON SAID SUPPORTING FRAME, (C) A TRANSVERSE FRAME MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING FRAME FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY OF THE RAILS OF THE RAILROAD TRACK, (D) DEPENDING GRIPPER ELEMENTS CARRIED BY SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME DISPOSED TO ENGAGE A CROSSTIE POSITIONED AT SAID PREDETERMINED LOCATION ON SAID SUPPORTING FRAME,