Patent Publication Number: US-6662729-B1

Title: Rail anchor spreader

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to railway maintenance. More specifically, the present invention provides an improved rail anchor spreader. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The rails of a railroad track are usually secured to cross ties by spikes driven into tie plates, with the tie plates located between the rail and the tie, and the head of the spike overlapping the bottom of the rail. The tie plates block lateral movement of the rails, and anchors attached to the rail on either side of the tie are used to secure the rail against longitudinal movement. 
     Railroad ties occasionally must be replaced due to wear. When a tie must be replaced, the spikes are first removed. Next, the anchors are spread away from the time to provide space for removal of the old tie and insertion of the new tie. 
     Several other patents propose various methods of removing and/or spreading rail anchors. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,558, issued to D. C. Quella et al. on Jan. 2, 1990. This patent describes an anchor spreader having a head assembly with a pair of telescoping spreader plates, controlled by hydraulic cylinders, for pushing the anchors away from the ties. The head assembly includes stop members to control the height of the head during an anchor-spreading operation. A rail clamp prevents longitudinal movement of the head during an anchor-spreading operation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,611, issued to J. D. Holley on Feb. 27, 1990, describes an anchor-spreading mechanism having an anchor-spreading head, and a rail clamp. The vertical position of the head is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. After lowering the head and clamping the rail, horizontal hydraulic cylinders located adjacent to the pusher, and in close proximity to the ballast, cause a pusher to be moved back and forth, pushing the tie plate off the tie in one direction, and then the other direction, thereby moving the anchors away from the tie. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,219, issued to J. Theurer et al. on Dec. 24, 1991, describes a rail anchor removing vehicle having the carrier arms for the anchor remover heads directly below the cab. The cab of the vehicle has a transparent floor. The carrier frame rests on a flanged wheel that rolls along the rail during the anchor removal operation. Each anchor remover head includes a hammer for driving the field side of the anchor downward, and a stripping element for pulling the anchor out from under the track, towards the gauge side. The hammer may include a horizontal portion for driving the anchor downward, and a vertical portion for driving the anchor toward the gauge side of the rail. A magnetic anchor collecting drive retrieves the anchors and transfers them to a conveyor, which transports them to a storage container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,760, issued to R. Almarez et al. on Jun. 2, 1992, describes a rail anchor spreader having a pair of spreader bars with interchangeable spreader plates at their tips for engaging different rail anchors. A limit switch controls the vertical positioning of the spreader assembly. Each spreader bar is pulled outward by a hydraulic cylinder to move its anchor, with its limit of travel set by placing a threaded bolt at the maximum outward travel position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,122, issued to R. Almaraz et al. on Jun. 11, 1994, describes a rail anchor adjuster for moving railway anchors towards the tie. The anchor adjuster includes a pair of pivoting arms having top ends connected by a hydraulic cylinder, and bottom ends dimensioned and configured to engage the rail anchors. The height of the anchor adjuster assembly is controlled by interchangeable stop pads. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,931, issued to N. W. Becker et al. on Aug. 8, 1995, describes a rail anchor remover having a telescoping ram assembly for driving the tail of the anchor below the base of the rail, a kicker assembly for driving the anchor transversely under the rail towards the gauge side of the rail, and a window assembly for driving the anchor away from the rail. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,864, issued to W. Straub et al. on Aug. 20, 1996, describes a rail anchor remover having a reciprocating pusher for pushing the anchor downward away from the rail, and a reciprocating scraper for pulling the anchor out from under the rail. Proximity switches are used to monitor the position of the pusher and scraper. A similar device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,060, also issued to W. Straub et al., on Mar. 24, 1998. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,744, issued to S. G. Cotsford on Jun. 29, 1999, and assigned to Harsco Corporation, the assignee of the present invention, describes a rail anchor removal machine and method using anchor removing rollers, and a conveyor system for moving the removed anchors to the side of the railroad track. The anchors are removed by angled rollers as the rail is raised, which push the anchors downward and towards the gauge side of the track as they roll over the anchor. A funnel-like anchor catch deflects the removed anchors towards a conveyor, which deposits them alongside the track. 
     Many of the above-described patents propose devices requiring that the height of the anchor spreader be adjusted and set each time it is used with a different height rail. Furthermore, the means for properly positioning the anchor spreader must, in addition to properly positioning the spreader, ensure that movement of the spreader to spread the anchors does not pose a risk of striking the ties. Accordingly, there is a need for an anchor spreader capable of being used with multiple heights of rail without adjustments. Additionally, there is a need for a height adjustment means that positions the anchor spreader where it will not strike other components of the railway. Further, some of the above-described references position hydraulic cylinders relatively close to the ballast surrounding the ties, resulting in the potential for interference between this ballast and the hydraulic cylinders. Accordingly, there is a need for a railway anchor spreader having hydraulic cylinders and other components kept away from the ballast. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a railway anchor spreader vehicle capable of being used with any size rail, without adjustment, and without any danger of striking the wrong portions of the railway during operation. Additionally, the present invention provides a railway anchor spreader wherein critical components are kept away from locations wherein they may experience interference from the ballast. Furthermore, the present invention provides a rail clamp dimensioned and configured to grasp the lower corners of the rails&#39; ball, thereby permitting the clamp to properly grasp a wide variety of rails. 
     A rail anchor spreader of the present invention includes four plates, pivotally secured to an anchor spreader vehicle so that the anchor spreader plates pivot in unison. Each plate corresponds to one side of one rail. The means for rotating the plates, for example, a hydraulic cylinder, is preferably located at or near the top of the plates. The bottom of each plate includes a pair of jaws. Each jaw includes a first surface facing its opposing jaw, with the first surface being substantially vertical, and a second surface including the bottom and side facing away from the opposing jaw, with the second surface being a convex curve. 
     The entire anchor spreader assembly is preferably mounted to a railway vehicle, and is more preferably mounted to the front of the railway vehicle. One preferred means of mounting the anchor spreader assembly to a railway vehicle uses a raise/lower cylinder secured between the vehicle and a pivotally secured raised/lower lever arm. The other end of the raise/lower lever arm may be secured to the anchor spreader assembly. Extending the raise/lower cylinder will therefore pivot the rail anchor spreader assembly upward, while retracting the raise/lower cylinder will lower the anchor spreader assembly. 
     The railway vehicle also includes a rail clamp for grasping the rail, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the vehicle during an anchor spreading operation. The rail clamp is dimensioned and configured to grab the rails&#39; ball from its lower corners, thereby permitting the upward angled surfaces of the rail clamp&#39;s jaws to accommodate a wide variety of rail sizes. Some preferred embodiments of the rail clamp may accommodate rails ranging from 60 lb./yd. to 150 lb./yd. 
     In use, the railway vehicle is positioned so that the anchor spreader is over the tie to be replaced. The rail clamp engages the rail, holding the vehicle in position. The anchor spreader is lowered until the jaws strike the ballast. The anchor spreader plates are then rotated in a first direction, and then in a second direction, so that the jaws first push the tie plates in a first direction to move one of the two anchors away from the tie, and then push the tie plate a second direction to push the second of the two anchors away from the tie. The shape of the jaws ensures that, when the anchor spreader is lowered until the jaws strike the ballast, rotation of the anchor spreader will cause the jaws to strike the tie plate without striking the tie. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric front view of a railway anchor spreader vehicle according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric rear view of a railway anchor spreader vehicle according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a railway anchor spreader vehicle according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of a rail clamp for use with a railway anchor spreader vehicle of the present invention illustrating the clamp being used with a first size rail. 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of a rail clamp for use with a railway anchor vehicle of the present invention, illustrating the clamp in its unclamped position around a first size rail. 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of a railway clamp for use with a railway anchor spreader vehicle according to the present invention, illustrating the rail clamp grasping the head of a first size rail, above a pair of joint bars. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of a rail clamp for use with a railway anchor spreader vehicle according to the present invention, showing the clamp grasping the ball of a second size rail. 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a jaw for a railway anchor spreader according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of a jaw for a railway anchor spreader according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of a railway anchor spreader according to the present invention, illustrating the anchor spreader in position to begin an anchor spreading operation. 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the detail of circle  11  within FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of a railway anchor spreader according to the present invention, illustrating rotation of the anchor spreader in a first direction, to move the first of two anchors away from their associated tie. 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of the circle  13  within FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 14 is a side view of the circle  14  within FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 15 is a side view of a railway anchor spreader, illustrating the anchor spreader being rotated in a second direction, thereby moving the second of two anchor spreaders away from its associated tie. 
    
    
     Like reference numbers denote like elements throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is an apparatus and method for spreading the anchors securing a rail  12  in place longitudinally with respect to its tie  14 , prior to replacement of the tie  14 . 
     A typical railway  10  includes a pair of rails  12  supported by ties  14 . The ties  14  are typically embedded in ballast to prevent their movement. A tie plate  16  fits between the rail  12  and the tie  14 , with a plurality of spikes passing through the tie  14  and tie plate  16 , and having their heads overlap the bottom flange of the rail  12 . The spikes and tie plate  16  thereby secure the rail  12  against transverse movement with respect to the tie  14 . A rail anchor  18  fits on either side of the tie  14 , and is generally secured to the gauge size of the rail  12 . The rail anchor  18  prevents longitudinal movement of the rail  12  with the respect to the tie  14 . 
     During a tie  14  replacement operation, it is necessary to spread the anchors  18  apart from the tie  14 , thereby making room for a new tie  14  to pass between the anchors  18 . The present invention is directed towards this end. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a rail anchor spreader vehicle  20  is illustrated. The vehicle  20  includes a chassis  22  having a plurality of wheels  24  for engaging the rails  12 . The vehicle  20  is powered by a motor  26 , located at the rear of the chassis  22 , where a fuel storage tank  28  and batter  30  are also located. The rear portion  32  of the chassis  22  also includes a storage tank  34  for the hydraulic fluid that, in some preferred embodiments, supplies mechanical power to other components of the vehicle  20 . 
     The front portion  36  of the vehicle  20  includes an operator&#39;s cab  38 , including an operator&#39;s chair  40  and controls  42 . Some preferred embodiments of the operator&#39;s cab  38  may include a passenger bench  44 . The vehicle&#39;s electronic control system  46  may, if desired, also be located in the front portion  36 . 
     The vehicle  20  includes a rail clamp  48  for preventing longitudinal movement of the vehicle during the anchor spreading operation. Some preferred embodiments may locate the rail clamp  48  in the center portion  50  of the vehicle  20 . The rail clamp  48  is mounted on a carriage  52 , secured to the chassis  22  in a manner permitting the carriage  52  to be raised and lowered as desired. In some preferred embodiments, the carriage  52  includes at least one arm  54  and at least one arm  56 , pivotally secured at one end to the carriage  52 , and at the other end to the chassis  22 . The illustrated example includes one arm  54  and two arms  56 . A clamp raise/lower cylinder  58  is pivotally secured at one end to the chassis  22 , and at the other end to the arm  54 , so that expanding the hydraulic cylinder  58  will raise the clamp, and retracting the hydraulic cylinder  58  will lower the clamp. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 , and  4 - 7 , the clamp  48  includes at least one pair of arms  60  for grasping a rail  12 . The illustrated embodiment includes two pairs of arms  60 . The arms  60  are pivotally mounted on a cross beam  63  at pivot  62 , which in some preferred embodiments will be relatively close to the grasping tips  64 , which are dimensioned and configured to engage the lower corners  66  of the rail&#39;s ball  68 . In the illustrated example, the tips  64  have the form of an angled, upward facing surface. A clamping hydraulic cylinder  70  extends between the top portions  72 , being pivotally secured to each top portion  72 . In many preferred embodiments, the distance between the pivot  62  and the arm grasping tips  64  is significantly less than the distance between the pivot  62  and the top portion  72  of the arm  60 . The arm  60  will therefore act as force multipliers, so that the force with which the grasping tips  64  engage the ball  68  will be significantly greater than the force applied by the hydraulic cylinder  70 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 4-7, these figures illustrate how a rail clamp as herein described may engage rails of various sizes without modification or adjustments to the rail clamp  48  itself. A stop member  65  extends downward from the cross member  63 . The stop  65  is dimensioned and configured so that, when the rail clamp  48  is lowered until the stop  65  touches the ball  68  of the rail  12 , the grasping tips  64  will be positioned to engage the lower surfaces of the ball  68 . As FIGS. 4-7 illustrate, the grasping tips  64  may contact the ball  68  at any portion along the upward angled surfaces of  64 . Therefore, a larger rail will be engaged closer to the bottom portions of the grasping tips  64 , while a smaller rail will be grasped toward the top portions of the grasping tips  64 . Therefore, the rail clamp may be utilized with a wide variety of rail sizes without modification adjustment, and many preferred embodiments may be utilized with rail sizes ranging from approximately 60 lbs./yd. to approximately 150 lbs./yd. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the rail clamp  48  may grasp the ball  68  of a rail  12  at a point wherein two adjacent rail sections are joined by joint bar  74 , without interference from the joint bars  74 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and  10 - 15 , a rail anchor spreader assembly is illustrated. The illustrated example of a vehicle  20  includes the rail anchor spreader assembly  76  on its front end, although other locations are permissible. The anchor spreader assembly includes four interconnected plates  78 , with each plate having a pair of opposing jaws  80  depending from its lower surface  82 . The plates  78  are pivotally secured to the lever arm  84  at pivot  104 . The lever arm  84  is pivotally secured to the vehicle chassis  22  at its central fulcrum  86 , and pivotally secured to a raise/lower cylinder  88  at its opposite end. Spreader hydraulic cylinders  90  are pivotally secured at each end between the top portion  92  of the plate  78  and the chassis  22 . The plates  78  are interconnected by cross member  94  so that they move in unison. 
     Referring to FIGS. 8-9, the jaws  80  are illustrated in detail. Each of the jaws  80  defines a tie plate engaging surface  96 , and an outside surface  98 . The top of each jaw  80  includes mounting holes  100 , for securing the jaws  80  to the plates  78 . Alternative means of securing the jaws  80  to the plates  78 , for example, welding or unitary construction, may of course also be utilized. The jaws  80  will be secured to the plates  78  so that the tie plate engaging surfaces  96  of the opposing jaws  80  face each other, and the outside surfaces  98  face outward. The tie plate engaging surfaces  96  are dimensioned and configured to push a tie plate  16 , for example, the tie plate engaging surfaces  96  may be substantially vertical when the plates  78  are in their vertical position. Specifically, the tie plate engaging surfaces  96  are substantially parallel to the arc radius A in FIG. 10, passing substantially halfway in between the surfaces  96 . The corner  102 , defined between the surfaces  96  and  98 , is preferably the farthest point from the pivot  104  between the plates  78  and lever arms  84 , and the outside surface  98  may in some examples be in the form of a convex curve. 
     When the vehicle  20  is moving, the raised/lower cylinder  88  will be extended to push downward on the arm  84 , thereby pushing the anchor spreader assembly  76  to an upward position wherein it will not interfere with travel of the vehicle. The raise/lower cylinder  58  of the rail clamp  48  is also extended, raising the rail clamp  48  to its travel position. 
     Upon reaching a tie  14  that must be replaced, the raise/lower cylinder  58  is retracted to lower the rail clamp  48  until the stop  65  contacts the rail&#39;s ball  68 . At this point, the clamping hydraulic cylinder  70  is extended, to clamp the grasping tips  64  around the ball  68 . The rail clamp  48  has now secured the vehicle  20  against lateral movement. 
     The raise/lower cylinder  88  will then be retracted to lower the anchor spreader assembly  78  over the tie  14  to be replaced. The anchor spreader  76  may be lowered until the corners  102  of the jaws  80  strike the ballast surrounding the tie  14 . At this point, spikes would already have been removed from the tie  14 , permitting the tie plate  16  to move. The hydraulic cylinder  90  is first either extended or retracted, thereby rotating the plates  78  in a first direction. In the illustrated example, the cylinder  90  is first retracted to rotate the plate  78  clockwise from the position of FIGS. 10 and 11 to the position in FIGS. 12 and 13, thereby pushing the tie plate  16  into one of the two anchors  18  surrounding the tie  14 , moving the anchor  18  away from the tie  14 . Next, the cylinder  90  is extended or retracted to rotate the plates  78  in the opposite direction, to move the opposite anchor  18 . In the illustrated example, the cylinder  90  is extended to rotate the plate  78  from the position of FIGS. 12 and 13 to the position of FIGS. 14 and 15, thereby pushing the tie plate  16  in the opposite direction, pushing the other anchor  18  away from the tie  14 . The cylinder  90  is then used to return the plates  78  to their vertical position of FIG.  10  and the raised/lower cylinder  88  is extended to raise the anchor spreader assembly  76 . 
     The clamping cylinder may then be retracted to release the rail  12  from the grasping tip  64 , and the raise/lower cylinder  58  extended to raise the rail clamp  48  to its travel position. The vehicle  20  may now move to the next tie to be replaced. 
     Referring back to FIGS. 11,  13 , and  14 , by making the corner  102  the furthest point on the jaw  80  from the pivot  104 , rotation of the plate  78  after the spreader assembly  76  has been lowered until the jaws  80  contact the ballast, and then rotating the plates  78 , ensures that the jaws  80  will strike the tie plate  16  only, and will not strike the tie  14 . By preventing damage to the tie  14  in this manner, the tie  14  may be recycled for other uses after it is removed from use as a railroad tie. 
     While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.