Apparatus for removing crossties

Claim 1

IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING A CROSSTIE FROM BENEATH THE RAILS OF A RAILROAD TRACK AFTER BALLAST HAS BEEN REMOVED THEREFROM: (A) A FRAME ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A RAILROAD TRACK, (B) A FIRST OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ADJACENT ITS INNER END TO SAID FRAME, (C) A SECOND OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ADJACENT ITS INNER END TO SAID FRAME AT AN ELEVATION ABOVE AND IN SPACED RELATION TO THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID FIRST ARM TO SAID FRAME, (D) A DEPENDING ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ADJACENT ITS UPPER END TO SAID SECOND ARM ADJACENT THE OUTER END THEREOF, (E) MEANS TO PIVOTALLY CONNECT THE OUTER END OF SAID FIRST ARM TO SAID DEPENDING ARM AT AN ELEVATION BELOW AND IN SPACED RELATION TO THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID SECOND ARM TO SAID DEPENDING ARM, (F) POWER ACTUATED MEANS DISPOSED TO MOVE SAID FIRST AND SECOND ARMS ABOUT THEIR PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS TO SAID FRAME TO MOVE THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ARMS FROM A FIRST POSITION ADJACENT SAID FRAME TO A SECOND POSITION OUTWARDLY OF SAID FRAME WHEREUPON THE LOWER END OF SAID DEPENDING ARM IS PIVOTED FROM A POSITION ADJACENT SAID FRAME TO A POSITION OUTWARDLY THEREOF, AND (G) CROSSTIE ENGAGING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID DEPENDING ARM AND DISPOSED TO ENGAGE A CROSSTIE WHILE THE LOWER END OF SAID DEPENDING ARM IS ADJACENT SAID FRAME WHEREUPON THE CROSSTIE IS REMOVED FROM BENEATH THE RAILS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ARMS TO SAID SECOND POSITION.