Patent ID: 8365604

Claim:
An apparatus for inspecting joint bars having a head with an outside vertical surface and mounted on opposite sides of a rail, said apparatus comprising: a carriage having at least one wheel for engaging the rail, a frame slidably mounted to said carriage, said frame having legs spaced apart to straddle the rail and joint bars mounted on opposite sides of the rail, a first actuator secured to said carriage and coupled to said frame for adjusting the frame vertically between a first position and a second position, second and third actuators one of each secured to opposite lower ends of said frame legs and each extending outwardly from said frame legs, a pair of idler arms one of each slidably mounted to said second and third actuators, said idler arms positionable horizontally between a first position and a second position, and each having a lower horizontal surface, a pair of sensor assemblies one of each rotatably secured to said lower horizontal surface of said idler arms, whereby when said frame is in said first position and said idler arms are in said first position, said sensor assemblies are in a stored position away from said rail and pair of joint bars, whereby when said frame is in said second position and said idler arms are in said second position, said sensor assemblies are engaged with the joint bars mounted on opposite sides of the rail.