Machine for removing the bead from the joint of a welded railway rail

Claim 2

In a machine for facilitating the removal of an external bead formed at the joint of two sections of railway rail welded endto-end, the combination of, a support, first and second dies located on said support along one side of the rail on opposite end faces of the bead and each mounted for bodily movement lengthwise of the rail, and means connected to said dies for moving the latter simultaneously toward one another and into pressing engagement with opposite end faces of said bead thereby to deform the bead between the dies and reduce the crosssectional dimension of the bead adjacent the joint while forcing both sections of the rail toward one another to apply a compressive force to the joint.

Claim 3

A machine usable in the removal of an external bead formed around the joint of two sections of railway rail welded end-to-end, said machine comprising a support, at least two sets of dies on said support with one set engageable with one side of the rail and with the other set engageable with the opposite side of the rail, each set comprising front and rear dies positionable on opposite end faces of the bead and mounted for bodily movement toward and away from one another lengthwise of the rail, said dies each having edge portions shaped in accordance with the profile of the rail with the edge portions of the corresponding dies of the two sets extending around the periphery of the rail when the dies are positioned in engagement therewith, and means connected to said dies for simultaneously moving the front and rear dies of each set bodily toward one another lengthwise of the rail to force said edge portions into pressing engagement with opposite end faces of the bead thereby to deform the bead between the dies and to reduce the cross section of the bead adjacent the joint while forcing both sections of the rail toward one another to apply a compressive force to the joint.

Claim 4

A machine usable in the removal of an external bead formed around the joint of two sections of railway rail welded end-to-end, said machine comprising a support, at least two sets of dies on said support with one set engageable with one side of the rail and with the other set engageable with the opposite side of the rail, each set comprising front and rear dies positionable on opposite end faces of the bead and mounted for bodily movement toward and away from one another lengthwise of the rail, said dies each having edge portions shaped in accordance with the profile of the rail with the edge portions of the corresponding dies of the two sets extending around the periphery of the rail when the dies are positioned in engagement therewith, and means connected to said dies for simultaneously moving the front and rear dies of each set bodily toward one another lengthwise of the rail to force said edge portions into pressing engagement with opposite end faces of the bead thereby to deform the bead between the dies and to reduce the cross section of the bead adjacent the joint while forcing both sections of the rail toward one another to apply a compressive force to the joint.

Claim 5

A machine as defined in claim 2 in which the edge portion of the rear die of each set is formed with a shearing edge, said machine further including means operable after deformation of the bead for releasing the front dies of each set from pressing engagement with the bead and for causing the front and rear dies of each set to move forwardly in unison along the rail to force the shearing edges of the rear dies through the area of reduced cross section and thereby shear the bead from the rail.

Claim 6

A machine as defined in claim 3 in which the edge portions of the dies, in deforming the bead, form inwardly facing shoulders on opposite end faces of the bead and overlying said edge portions, said machine further including means mounting said dies on said support for lateral movement toward and away from the sides of the rail, and means operable after shearing of the bead to move said dies away from the sides of the rail thereby to shift said edge portions outwardly into engagement with said shoulders to pull the sheared bead away from the rail and to tear the portion of the bead sheared by the rear die of one set away from the portion of the bead sheared by the rear die of the other set.

Claim 7

A machine as defined in claim 3 further including means for clamping said support securely to the rail after deformation of the bead and before forward movement of the dies in unison along the rail.

Claim 8

In a machine for removing an external bead formed at the joint of two sections of railway rail welded together end-to-end, the combination of, a support, a die member and a combined die and shearing member located on said support along one side of the rail on opposite end faces of the bead and mounted for bodily movement toward and away from one another lengthwise of the rail, means connected to said members for moving the latter simultaneously toward one another and into pressing engagement with opposite end faces of the beAd to deform the bead between the members and reduce the cross section of the bead adjacent the joint while forcing both sections of the rail toward one another to apply a compressive force to the joint, and means operable thereafter for releasing the die member from pressing engagement with the bead and for causing the combined die and shearing member to move lengthwise along the rail and through the area of reduced cross section to shear the bead from the rail.

Claim 9

In a machine for removing an external bead formed at the joint of two sections of railway rail welded together end-to-end, the combination of, a support, a die member and a combined die and shearing member located on said support along one side of the rail on opposite end faces of the bead and mounted for bodily movement toward and away from one another lengthwise of the rail, means connected to said members for moving the latter simultaneously toward one another and into pressing engagement with opposite end faces of the beAd to deform the bead between the members and reduce the cross section of the bead adjacent the joint while forcing both sections of the rail toward one another to apply a compressive force to the joint, and means operable thereafter for releasing the die member from pressing engagement with the bead and for causing the combined die and shearing member to move lengthwise along the rail and through the area of reduced cross section to shear the bead from the rail.

Claim 10

A machine as defined in claim 6 in which each of said members is formed with a generally flat face and with an edge portion projecting from said face toward the bead and shaped in accordance with the profile of the rail, each edge portion comprising a shearing edge positionable alongside the rail, a deforming surface extending outwardly from said shearing edge, and an outer relief surface inclined outwardly from the deforming surface and toward the face of the member.

Claim 11

In a machine for removing an external bead formed around the joint of two sections of railway rail welded together end-to-end, the combination of, a support, a front die member and a rear combined die and shearing member mounted on said support (a) for movement laterally of the rail and into and out of engagement with one side of the rail on opposite end faces of said bead and (b) for movement toward and away from one another lengthwise of the rail, means connected to said members for moving the latter laterally into engagement with said one side of the rail, means connected to said members for moving the members simultaneously toward one another lengthwise of the rail and into pressing engagement with opposite end faces of the bead to deform the bead between the members and reduce the cross section of the bead adjacent the joint while forcing both sections of the rail toward one another to apply a compressive force to the joint, means for causing the members to move forwardly in unison along the rail to force the combined die and shearing member through the area of reduced cross section and thereby shear at least part of the bead from the rail, and means for moving the members laterally out of engagement with the rail while the members are positioned in engagement with the bead, whereby the members pull the sheared bead away from the rail and tear the sheared bead away from any portion of the bead unsheared by the combined die and shearing member.

Claim 12

In a machine for removing an external bead formed around the joint of two sections of railway rail welded together end-to-end, the combination of, a support, a front die member and a rear combined die and shearing member mounted on said support (a) for movement laterally of the rail and into and out of engagement with one side of the rail on opposite end faces of said bead and (b) for movement toward and away from one another lengthwise of the rail, means connected to said members for moving the latter laterally into engagement with said one side of the rail, means connected to said members for moving the members simultaneously toward one another lengthwise of the rail and into pressing engagement with opposite end faces of the bead to deform the bead between the members and reduce the cross section of the bead adjacent the joint while forcing both sections of the rail toward one another to apply a compressive force to the joint, means for causing the members to move forwardly in unison along the rail to force the combined die and shearing member through the area of reduced cross section and thereby shear at least part of the bead from the rail, and means for moving the members laterally out of engagement with the rail while the members are positioned in engagement with the bead, whereby the members pull the sheared bead away from the rail and tear the sheared bead away from any portion of the bead unsheared by the combined die and shearing member.

Claim 13

In a machine for cutting away an external bead formed at the joint of two sections of railway rail welded end-to-end, the combination of, a main support, a carriage mounted on said main support for movement lengthwise of the rail, a front die support mounted on said carriage for movement lengthwise of the rail relative to said carriage, a rear die support mounted on said carriage for movement lengthwise of the rail relative to said carriage and to said front die support, front and rear dies disposed along one side of the rail on opposite end faces of the bead and mounted for movement with said front and rear die supports, respectively, an operator connected between said carriage and said rear die support and operable when actuated to move the rear die support forwardly to shift the rear die into engagement with the bead, means locking said carriage and said front die support against relative movement whereby continued actuation of said operator after engagement of said rear die with said bead causes said carriage and said front die support to shift rearwardly in unison relative to said main support and thereby move the front die into engagement with the bead to deform the latter between the dies, and means operable after deformation of the bead to disable said locking means whereby continued actuation of said operator shifts the front and rear die supports forwardly in unison relative to the carriage to cause the rear die to shear the deformed bead from the rail.

Claim 14

In a machine for cutting away an external bead formed at the joint of two sections of railway rail welded end-to-end, the combination of, a main support, a carriage mounted on said main support for movement lengthwise of the rail, a front die support mounted on said carriage for movement lengthwise of the rail relative to said carriage, a rear die support mounted on said carriage for movement lengthwise of the rail relative to said carriage and to said front die support, front and rear dies disposed along one side of the rail on opposite end faces of the bead and mounted for movement with said front and rear die supports, respectively, an operator connected between said carriage and said rear die support and operable when actuated to move the rear die support forwardly to shift the rear die into engagement with the bead, means locking said carriage and said front die support against relative movement whereby continued actuation of said operator after engagement of said rear die with said bead causes said carriage and said front die support to shift rearwardly in unison relative to said main support and thereby move the front die into engagement with the bead to deform the latter between the dies, and means operable after deformation of the bead to disable said locking means whereby continued actuation of said operator shifts the front and rear die supports forwardly in unison relative to the carriage to cause the rear die to shear the deformed bead from the rail.

Claim 15

A machine as defined in claim 9 further including clamping mechanism mounted on said carriage and movable into and out of clamping engagement with the rail, and an operator connected between said carriage and said clamping mechanism and operable after deformation of the bead and before disablement of the locking means to shift the clamping mechanism into clamping engagement with the rail thereby to hold the latter and to prevent movement of the carriage along the rail.

Claim 16

A machine as defined in claim 10 in which each of said operators comprises a cylinder with a piston rod reciprocable back and forth relative to the cylinder in response to the admission of pressure fluid alternately into opposite ends of the cylinder, said cylinders being connected to said carriage and being aligned vertically and horizontally with one another.

Claim 17

A machine defined in claim 9 in which said main support comprises an overhead track disposed above said carriage, and a trolley movable along said track and connected to said carriage to mount the latter for movement lengthwise of the rail.

Claim 18

A machine as defined in claim 12 further including means suspending said carriage from said trolley and mounting the carriage for lateral and vertical floating relative to the rail.

Claim 19

A machine as defined in claim 9 in which said operator comprises a cylinder connected to said carriage and having a piston rod reciprocable back and forth within the cylinder in response to the admission of pressure fluid alternately into opposite ends of the cylinder, said piston rod being connected to said rear die support to move the latter and being slidably guided in said front die support, a series of bars connected to said front die support and slidably guided in said rear die support and said carriage, and said locking means comprising a member operable to couple and uncouple said bars and said carriage to respectively prevent and permit sliding of the bars relative to the carriage.

Claim 20

In a machine for cutting away an external bead formed at the joint of two sections of railway rail welded end-to-end, the combination of, a main support, a front die support mounted on said main support for movement relative to the latter and lengthwise of the rail, a rear die support mounted on said main support for movement lengthwise of the rail relative to said main support and said front die support, front and rear dies disposed along one side of the rail on opposite end faces of the bead and mounted for movement with said front and rear die supports, respectively, an operator connected between said die supports and operable to shift the latter in opposite directions relative to said main support thereby to shift said dies toward one another and into pressing engagement with opposite end faces of the bead to deform the bead, and means operable after deformation of the bead to cause said die supports to shift forwardly in unison relative to said main support thereby to move the rear die past the deformed bead to shear the latter from the rail.

Claim 21

In a machine for cutting away an external bead formed at the joint of two sections of railway rail welded end-to-end, the combination of, a main support, a front die support mounted on said main support for movement relative to the latter and lengthwise of the rail, a rear die support mounted on said main support for movement lengthwise of the rail relative to said main support and said front die support, front and rear dies disposed along one side of the rail on opposite end faces of the bead and mounted for movement with said front and rear die supports, respectively, an operator connected between said die supports and operable to shift the latter in opposite directions relative to said main support thereby to shift said dies toward one another and into pressing engagement with opposite end faces of the bead to deform the bead, and means operable after deformation of the bead to cause said die supports to shift forwardly in unison relative to said main support thereby to move the rear die past the deformed bead to shear the latter from the rail.

Claim 22

In a machine for cutting away an external bead formed at the joint of two sections of railway rail welded end-to-end, the combination of, a support defining a passage for the rail, a pair of shearing blades engageable with opposite sides of the rail and mounted on said support for movement lengthwise of the rail and across said bead through forward and return strokes, a blade actuator connected between said support and said blades and operable to exert a force in one direction along the rail to move the blades through said forward strokes to shear away said bead, a pair of clamps disposed on opposite sides of said rail and mounted on said support for movement into and out of clamping engagement with the rail, a clamp actuator connected between said support and said clamps and operable to exert a force in the opposite direction along the rail to move the clamps into clamping engagement with the rail, and said actuators being aligned horizontally and vertically with one another on said support, whereby the force exerted on the support by one actuator is counteracted by the force exerted On the support by the other actuator and without the application of bending forces to the support. 17. A machine as defined in claim 16 in which each of said actuators comprises a cylinder with a piston rod reciprocable back and forth relative to the cylinder in response to the admission of pressure fluid alternately into opposite ends of the cylinder, said cylinders being mounted on said support and being disposed end-to-end with said piston rods extending in opposite directions along the rail.