Method and apparatus for shearing welded rail joints

Claim 1

IN AN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING EXCESS WELD MATERIAL FROM A WELD JOINING TOGETHER THE ADJACENT ENDS OF A PAIR OF END TO END RAIL SECTIONS, THE COMBINATION OF A CARRIAGE MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF THE RAIL SECTIONS; MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGE; A SHEARING BOX MOVABLE ALONG SAID CARRIAGE AND COMPRISING WALL PORTIONS EXTENDING ALONG THE OPPOSED SIDES AND THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF ONE OF THE RAIL SECTIONS TO FORM A HOLLOW STRUCTURE SURROUNDING SAID ONE RAIL SECTION, ROLLER MEANS MOUNTED IN ONE OF THE WALL PORTIONS FOR ENGAGING SAID ONE RAIL SECTION TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF THE BOX LONGITUDINALLY OF THE RAIL SECTIONS AND ALONG THE CARRIAGE FROM A RETRACTED POSITION TO AN ADVANCED POSITION, DRIVE MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO THE BOX FOR MOVING IT, AND A PLURALITY OF SHEARING BLADES SECURED TO THE BOX AND ARRANGED AROUND SAID ONE RAIL SECTION FOR ENGAGING THE WELD; AND CLAMPING MEANS OPERABLE WHEN SAID BOX IS IN ITS ADVANCED POSITION TO CLAMP SAID BOX TO SAID CARRIAGE WHEREUPON SAID CARRIAGE MAY BE MOVED IN A DIRECTION TO FORCE THE BLADES THROUGH THE WELD.