US3557703A - Railway rail handling apparatus - Google Patents

Railway rail handling apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3557703A
US3557703A US751191A US3557703DA US3557703A US 3557703 A US3557703 A US 3557703A US 751191 A US751191 A US 751191A US 3557703D A US3557703D A US 3557703DA US 3557703 A US3557703 A US 3557703A
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United States
Prior art keywords
rail
wheels
force
rotation
tractive force
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Expired - Lifetime
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US751191A
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English (en)
Inventor
John E Moorefield
Charles H Moorefield
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Chemetron Railway Products Inc
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Individual
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Assigned to HARRIS TRUST AND SAVING BANK, 111 WEST MONROE STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60690 reassignment HARRIS TRUST AND SAVING BANK, 111 WEST MONROE STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60690 SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CHEMETRON-RAILWAY PRODUCTS, INC., A DE. CORP.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Assigned to CHEMETRON RAILWAY PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF DE reassignment CHEMETRON RAILWAY PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF DE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: RAILWAY ACQUISITION CORPORATION
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B29/00—Laying, rebuilding, or taking-up tracks; Tools or machines therefor
    • E01B29/16—Transporting, laying, removing, or replacing rails; Moving rails placed on sleepers in the track
    • E01B29/17—Lengths of rails assembled into strings, e.g. welded together

Definitions

  • the apparatus which has been most widely used for handling lengths of railway rail is an apparatus which may be characterized as an endless track machine. That is, a pair of endless tracks somewhat similar to those employed in tracklaying vehicles such as bulldozers and the like are each supported on rollers or other guides for movement along predetermined paths, including reaches substantially parallel and opposed to each other, in order to grip the upper and lower surfaces of a rail to be handled. Due to this arrangement for the paths, the supporting structure chosen for guiding the tracks is substantially fixed or rigid during the use of the apparatus, providing only such capability for adjustment as is required to position the parallel reaches of the track at a spaced distance corresponding to the height of the rail to be advanced.
  • endless track rail handling apparatus has come into use in the railroad industry, certain difficulties with such apparatus have been encountered.
  • One of the major difficulties encountered is in maintenance, due to the manner in which the endless track members must necessarily be constructed. More specifically, it is necessary that the endless track members be assembled as an articulated series of individual links or plates, in order to permit guiding the track members along the necessary closed path of travel. As a result of the articulation of each individual link, there are a large number of points of engagement which will wear, and accordingly, a large number of points of potential failure of the track member.
  • a more specific object of my invention is to provide an apparatus, of the general type described above, wherein feed wheel means including opposed feed wheels define therebetween a nip for receiving a rail to be advanced and are driven in rotation by motive force means operatively connected to the feed wheels.
  • a gripping force means is operatively connected to the feed wheel means for applying a force moving the wheels together and into tightly gripping engagement with a rail disposed in the nip therebetween, so that the exertion of tractive force on the rail by the feed wheel means is facilitated.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus of my invention, as applied to a rail handling train;
  • FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the rail'handling train of FIG.
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. I of a rail handling car included in the rail handling train, the car having mounted thereon two of the rail handling apparatus of my invention;
  • FIG. 4 is an end elevation view, in partial section, through one of the apparatus mounted on the rail handling car of FIGS. I through 3, taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, in partial section, of the rail handling apparatus of FIG. 4, taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a hydraulic fluid circuit suitable for providing control over the elements of the apparatus of FIGS. 4 and 5.
  • my apparatus 20 for handling lengths of railway rail by advancing the rail longitudinally is there illustrated as mounted upon a rail handling car 11 for use in a rail handling train 10. It is to be understood at the outset, however, that the rail handling apparatus 20 need not be mounted upon a rail handling car such as the car 11 or included within a rail handling train such as the train 10. Instead, the apparatus 20 may be mounted in a fixed position, as in a rail maintenance shop, and employed in that fixed position for advancing rails in a manner to be described. In the particular environment shown, wherein the rail handling apparatus 20 is mounted upon a rail handling car 11, the car 11 may be assembled-with rail storage cars 12 and rail guiding cars 14 and 15 as part of the rail handling train 10. Such trains are now in use within the railway industry in laying and taking up continuous lengths of rail as described heretofore.
  • the apparatus includes a main frame means including end standards 21, 22, 23 and 24, secured to horizontally extending base frame members 25 and 26 to extend vertically upwardly therefrom and braced by appropriate diagonal bracing.
  • the standards 21 and 22, adjacent one end of the apparatus 20, are joined at their upper ends by a crossbeam 28, for purposes to be pointed out more fully hereinafter.
  • the frame means of the apparatus 20 includes first and second subframes, respectively identified as a lower subframe 20 and an upper subframe 31.
  • the lower subframe 30 is supported by the frame base, between the main frame members 25 and 26, for pivotal movement (as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5) about a pivotal axis defined by an axle member 32.
  • the subframe 30 is constructed generallyas a rectangular box, and the location of the axle 32 which defines a pivotal axis about which the subframe 30 moves is preferably approximately medially of the length of the subframe.
  • the upper subframe 31 is suspended from a lever arm including upper frame side members 35 and 36 positioned generally above the corresponding base members 25 and 26.
  • the lever members 35 and 36 are pivoted adjacent a fulcrum end thereof to standards 23 and 24, for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis defined by an axle member 37.
  • the opposite free-end extremity of the lever arm formed by the members 35 and 36 is operatively connected to the piston rod of an expansible chamber cylinder device 38.
  • the cylinder device 38 connects the free end of the lever members 35 and 36 with the crossmember 28 of the main frame of the apparatus 20 and, by suitable application of operating fluid pressure to the cylinder device 38, will move the free end up and down.
  • the upper subframe 31 is mounted upon the lever members 35 and 36 for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis defined by an axle member 39, in similarity to the mounting of the lower subframe 30 for pivotal movement about an axis defined by the axle 32, and as indicated by the doubleheaded arrows in FIG. 5. Also in similarity to the construction of the lower subframe 30, the upper subframe 31 is constructed as a generally rectangular boxassembly and is supported approximately medially of its length. By the movement of the upper subframe 3K with the lever members 35 and 36, the spacing between the upper and lower subframes 30 and 31 is varied, for purposes to be pointed out more fully hereinafter.
  • tractive force means including lower feed wheels 40 and 41 and upper feed wheels 42 and 43.
  • the lower wheels 40 and 41 preferably are formed with generally right-circular cylindrical external configuration, for meeting the major area of the lower surface of the flange (FIG. 4) to engage and support the rail during handling thereof.
  • Each of the lower wheels 40 and 41 is supported on the subframe 30 by a pair of aligned journals such as the journals 45 and 46, through which supporting axles such as the axle 47 extend.
  • the motive force means is an expansible chamber pressure fluid operated motor 56 mounted from the subframe 30 by an appropriate bracket 58 and supplied with pressure fluid from a suitable source, as described hereinafter. Upon application of pressure fluid to the motor 56, the drive shaft 55 is driven in rotation and motive force is transmitted to the lower wheels 40 and 41 to drive the same in rotation and advance the rail R.
  • the upper feed wheels 42 and 43 are similarly supported by the upper subframe 31 for rotation about horizontal axes defined by supporting axles 67 and 70, extending through supportingjournals 65 and 66 and are driven in rotation by operative connection with expansible chamber fluid pressure motor 76, suspended from the upper subframe 31 by an appropriate bracket 78.
  • Motive force is applied to the wheels 42 and 43 through a drive train including a drive gear 74 on a drive shaft 75, which meshes with driven gears 71 and 72 respectively fixed to the wheels 42 and 43.
  • the upper wheels 42 and 43 are configured with a right-circular cylindrical portion of appropriate width to engage the traction surface of the head of a rail R to be advanced longitudinally by the apparatus 20 (FIG. 4), and with radially outwardly extending flanges on either side of that right-circular cylindrical portion, in order to assure that the rail R is centered properly on the rail engaging and supporting surfaces of the feed wheel means of the apparatus 20.
  • the spacing between opposed upper and lower feed wheels, such as lower feed wheel 40 and upper feed wheel 42, may be controllably varied to forcefully grip the rail R being advanced longitudinally by the wheels.
  • substantial force may be developed in order to assure that adequate traction is obtained between the feed wheels such as the opposed wheels 40 and 42 and the rail R.
  • the pressure fluid circuit adapted for supplying fluid to the motive force means including the motors 56 and 76 operatively connected to the feed wheel means preferably assures rotation of the feed wheels 40, 41, 42 and 43 at a substantially uniform linear surface speed.
  • the pressure fluid circuit (schematically illustrated in FIG. 6) includes a flow divider means 80 interposed in the fluid flow conduits 81 and 82 respectively supplying pressure fluid to the motors 56 and 76.
  • Flow divider means suitable for use in the illustrated circuit are widely known in the hydraulic industry, and include structures somewhat similar to positive displacement gear pumps, wherein a pair of pumps are joined by a shaft so that the rotors of the pump must necessarily rotate at the same speed.
  • the flow divider means may be such as todivide the flow in a predetermined unequal manner, in order to compensate for any predetermined inequality in radii of the feed wheels driven by the respective motors or in the gear trains operatively connecting the motors with the respective feed wheels.
  • the pressure fluid circuit includes a pressure fluid pump 85 driven by an appropriate prime mover 86, such as an internal combustion engine of the diesel or gasoline type.
  • an appropriate prime mover 86 such as an internal combustion engine of the diesel or gasoline type.
  • the prime mover 86 may be replaced by an electrical motor or other suitable power means in the event that such a power means is available due to the positioning of the apparatus 20 at a fixed location.
  • the pressure fluid motors 56 and 76 may be directly replaced by electrical motors if so desired.
  • the pump 85 driven by the prime mover 86 circulates hydraulic pressure fluid from a reservoir 88 through conduits including the conduits 81 and 82 supplying the motors 56 and 76.
  • pressure fluid derived from the pump 85 is applied to the cylinder device 38 in order to provide the gripping force applied between the opposed pair of feed wheels.
  • a rail R may be threaded into the nip between the opposed pairs of feed wheels either by hand or by the use of an auxiliary handling device such as a cable winch W (H6. 2). Thereafter, the application of hydraulic fluid pressure to the motors 56 and 76 to drive the feed wheel means in rotation ,will result in advancing the rail longitudinally.
  • sanding means substantially similar to that known and used with railway locomotives may be mounted on the frame of the apparatus 20 adjacent the nip-of the feed wheel means, for supplying sand to the rail R as required.
  • Apparatus for handling lengths of railway rail by advancing the rail longitudinally comprising:
  • frame means including certain frame members movable relative to other frame members for accommodating variation in the height between a rail flange and a rail head;
  • gripping force means operatively connected to said frame means for moving said rotatable members of said tractive force means from slipping engagement into tightly gripping engagement with a rail passing therebetween and for maintaining such engagement during transmittal of tractive force to the rail so that the force normal to the location of engagement of the rail by said rotatable members is controlled and the frictional transmission of tractive force thereby facilitated;
  • motive force means operatively connected to said tractive force means for advancing a rail engaged thereby.
  • Apparatus for handling lengths of railway rail by advancing the rail longitudinally comprising:
  • means comprising at least one rail flange wheel and at least one rail head wheel for engaging the base flange and head traction surfaces of a rail and transmitting tractive force to the rail;
  • frame means supporting said tractive force means and including certain frame members supporting said wheels for rotation about a corresponding plurality of rotational axes, said certain frame members being movable relative to other frame members for accommodating variation in the height between a rail flange and a rail head;
  • motive force means operatively connected to said tractive force means for driving at least one of said wheels in rotation and advancing a rail engaged thereby.
  • said motive force means comprises at least two normally independent power devices, one of said devices being operatively con nected to said rail head wheel and the other of said devices being operatively connected to said rail flange wheel, so that tractive force is applied through each of said wheels to a rail gripped between said wheels.
  • said motive force means further includes means for coordinating the rotational speeds of said power devices so that the linear surface speeds of said rail gripping wheels are at least substantially identical and slippage of said rail relative to said feed wheel means is avoided.
  • said tractive force comprises two adjacent pairs of superposed rail head and rail flange wheels adapted to engage the flange and traction surfaces of a rail at spaced points along the length thereof, said frame means supports said wheels for rotation about a corresponding plurality of parallel rotational axes, and said motive force means drives at least two of said wheels in rotation.
  • said frame means comprises at least one subframe supported for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axes of rotation of said wheels, said subframe mounting two of said wheels for rotation with the respective parallel axes equidistant from and parallel to said axis of subframe support, so that adjustment of said apparatus to rail flexure is facilitated.
  • Apparatus for handling lengths of railway rail by advancing the rail longitudinally comprising:
  • frame means including a base, a lever arm mounted for pivotal movement relative to said base about a predetermined first pivotal axis, and first and second subframes respectively mounted on said base and said lever arm for pivotal movement relative thereto about respective predetermined second and third pivotal axes, said first, second and third pivotal axes being parallel;
  • feed wheel means including at least one rail flange wheel adapted to engage the base flange surface of a rail during handling thereof and supported by said first subframe for rotation about an axis parallel to said pivotal axes and further including at least one rail head wheel adapted to engage the head traction surface of the rail and supported by said second subframe for rotation about an axis parallel to said pivotal axes, said feed wheel means defining a nip between said wheels for receiving a rail to be advaneed;
  • fluid pressure actuated gripping force means operatively connected to said base and said lever arm for controlling pivotal movement of said lever arm and thereby applying a force urging said wheels together and into tightly 10.
  • said feed wheel means comprises a pair of rail flange wheels mounted on said first subframe for rotation about axes which are equidistant from said second pivotal axis and a pair of rail head wheels mounted on said second subframe for rotation about axes which are equidistant from said third pivotal axis, whereby flexure of a rail being advanced by said apparatus is accommodated by pivotal movement of said subframes.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Machines For Laying And Maintaining Railways (AREA)
  • Carriers, Traveling Bodies, And Overhead Traveling Cranes (AREA)
US751191A 1968-08-08 1968-08-08 Railway rail handling apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3557703A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US75119168A 1968-08-08 1968-08-08

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US3557703A true US3557703A (en) 1971-01-26

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US751191A Expired - Lifetime US3557703A (en) 1968-08-08 1968-08-08 Railway rail handling apparatus

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US (1) US3557703A (de)
DE (1) DE1940308A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2022118A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1282031A (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5961271A (en) * 1997-01-10 1999-10-05 Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft M.B.H. Cars for removing long rails stored on transport cars
US20050172849A1 (en) * 2004-02-06 2005-08-11 Herzog Contracting Corp. Method and apparatus for unloading ribbon rails from rail cars
US20100320280A1 (en) * 2009-06-23 2010-12-23 Miguelez Tapia Francisco Javier Method for the Installation of Railway Tracks on Ballast, Without an Auxiliary Track

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2077738A (en) * 1934-04-30 1937-04-20 Ernest R Breaker Apparatus for loading rails and ties
US3199462A (en) * 1964-01-29 1965-08-10 Cullen Friestedt Company Rail threader
US3286648A (en) * 1963-08-30 1966-11-22 Brosnan Dennis William Rail renewal process

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2077738A (en) * 1934-04-30 1937-04-20 Ernest R Breaker Apparatus for loading rails and ties
US3286648A (en) * 1963-08-30 1966-11-22 Brosnan Dennis William Rail renewal process
US3199462A (en) * 1964-01-29 1965-08-10 Cullen Friestedt Company Rail threader

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5961271A (en) * 1997-01-10 1999-10-05 Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft M.B.H. Cars for removing long rails stored on transport cars
AU722775B2 (en) * 1997-01-10 2000-08-10 Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft M.B.H. A wagon for drawing off long-welded rails stored on transport wagons
US20050172849A1 (en) * 2004-02-06 2005-08-11 Herzog Contracting Corp. Method and apparatus for unloading ribbon rails from rail cars
US6981452B2 (en) * 2004-02-06 2006-01-03 Herzog Contracting Corp. Method and apparatus for unloading ribbon rails from rail cars
US20100320280A1 (en) * 2009-06-23 2010-12-23 Miguelez Tapia Francisco Javier Method for the Installation of Railway Tracks on Ballast, Without an Auxiliary Track
US8397642B2 (en) * 2009-06-23 2013-03-19 FCC Constructions, S.A. Method for the installation of railway tracks on ballast, without an auxiliary track

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Publication number Publication date
FR2022118A1 (de) 1970-07-31
DE1940308A1 (de) 1970-10-01
GB1282031A (en) 1972-07-19

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: HARRIS TRUST AND SAVING BANK, 111 WEST MONROE STRE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CHEMETRON-RAILWAY PRODUCTS, INC., A DE. CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004736/0334

Effective date: 19870518

AS Assignment

Owner name: CHEMETRON RAILWAY PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF DE,

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:RAILWAY ACQUISITION CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004827/0258

Effective date: 19880217

Owner name: CHEMETRON RAILWAY PRODUCTS, INC., 177 HINTZ RD., W

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:RAILWAY ACQUISITION CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004827/0258

Effective date: 19880217