Patent ID: 8857344
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: B25C,E01B

Abstract:
1. An automatic rail spike feeder system for use with a rail maintenance vehicle having a bulk storage bin for containing a supply of spikes, and at least one spike driving mechanism, comprising: a mechanism constructed and arranged for receiving a supply of spikes from the storage bin and for automatically delivering individual spikes to the at least one spike driving mechanism in a desired orientation without operator contact of the spikes, said mechanism including: a separator configured for receiving a supply of the spikes from the bulk storage bin and separating a portion of the supply for orientation, each of said spikes having a head, said separator includes a platform for receiving the portion of the spike supply and pivoting from a first position adjacent the supply to a second position inclined relative to said first position for delivering the portion to a singulator; at least one singulator constructed and arranged for receiving the portion of the spike supply from the separator and configured for separating the spikes and delivering them sequentially to a desired location; and an orienter disposed for receiving individual spikes separated by said singulator and comprising a frame having an upper end and an opposite lower end, and defining a track with an inlet adjacent said upper end, and an outlet adjacent said lower end, said track dimensioned for slidingly and rotatingly accommodating the shank of individual spikes such that the orienter is configured to rotate each of said spikes about a longitudinal axis defined by the shank of each spike, wherein each of said spikes reaches said outlet so that the head of each of said spikes is in a desired orientation after rotation of said spikes.