Ballast tamping apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for tamping the ballast of a railroad bed to provide a compacted ballast support for the track, comprising a frame mounted for mobility on the track, a first group of ballast tamping tools mounted on the frame and arranged transversely of the track, means for imparting to the tamping tools of said first group vertically downwardly directed pressure force against the ballast between two adjacent, transversely extending ties to tamp the ballast in the space between the adjacent ties, a second group of ballast tamping tools mounted on the frame and spaced from the first group on at least one side thereof in the direction of the track, means for simultaneously imparting to the tamping tools of said second. group a horizontally directed pressure force against the ballast under the tie adjacent said space, means for imparting a pulsating motion to the tamping tools of at least one of said groups, said means including an eccentric rotary actuator, and means for holding the tamping tools under yielding pressure.

Claim 2

An apparatus for tamping the ballast of a railroad bed to provide a compacted ballast support for the track, comprising a frame mounted for mobility on the track, a first group of ballast tamping tools mounted on the frame and arranged transversely of the track, means for imparting to the tamping tools of said first group vertically downwardly directed pressure force against the ballast between two adjacent, transversely extending ties to tamp the ballast in the space between the adjacent ties, a second group of ballast tamping tools mounted on the frame and spaced from the first group on at least one side thereof in the direction of the track, means for simultaneously imparting to the tamping tools of said second. group a horizontally directed pressure force against the ballast under the tie adjacent said space, means for imparting a pulsating motion to the tamping tools of at least one of said groups, said means including an eccentric rotary actuator, and means for holding the tamping tools under yielding pressure.

Claim 3

An apparatus for tamping the ballast of a railroad bed to provide a compacted ballast support for the track, comprising a frame mounted for mobility on the track; a first ballast tamping means mounted on the frame, said first ballast tamping means including plate means extending transversely of the track for surface engagement with the ballast in the space between two adjacent, transversely extending ties and extending transversely of said space adjacent the ends of one of said ties, means for exerting a vertically downwardly directed pulsating pressure force upon the plate means to force the same into pressure contact with the ballast surface, and flat extensions projecting from the plate means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pulsating force exerted upon the plate means; and second tamping means mounted in the frame, the second tamping means including vibratory tamping tools, means for immersing the vibratory tamping tools in the ballast adjacent said one tie and spaced from the first tamping means in the direction of the track on the other side of said one tie, and means for simultaneously imparting a horizontally directed force to the immersed vibratory tamping tools in the track direction to tamp the ballast under the one tie.

Claim 4

An apparatus for tamping the ballast of a railroad bed to provide a compacted ballast support for the track, comprising a frame mounted for mobility on the track; a first ballast tamping means mounted on the frame, said first ballast tamping means including plate means extending transversely of the track for surface engagement with the ballast in the space between two adjacent, transversely extending ties and extending transversely of said space adjacent the ends of one of said ties, means for exerting a vertically downwardly directed pulsating pressure force upon the plate means to force the same into pressure contact with the ballast surface, and flat extensions projecting from the plate means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pulsating force exerted upon the plate means; and second tamping means mounted in the frame, the second tamping means including vibratory tamping tools, means for immersing the vibratory tamping tools in the ballast adjacent said one tie and spaced from the first tamping means in the direction of the track on the other side of said one tie, and means for simultaneously imparting a horizontally directed force to the immersed vibratory tamping tools in the track direction to tamp the ballast under the one tie.

Claim 5

An appaRatus for tamping the ballast of a railroad bed to provide a compacted ballast support for the track, comprising a frame mounted for mobility on the track; a first ballast tamping means mounted on the frame, said first ballast tamping means including plate means extending transversely of the track for surface engagement with the ballast in the space between two adjacent, transversely extending ties and extending transversely of said space adjacent the ends of one of said ties, and means for exerting a vertically downwardly directed pulsating pressure force upon the plate means to force the same into pressure contact with the ballast surface, said means for imparting a vertically downwardly directed pulsating pressure force including compression spring means exerting a yielding pressure upon the plate means; and second tamping means mounted in the frame, the second tamping means including vibratory tamping tools, means for immersing the vibratory tamping tools in the ballast adjacent said one tie and spaced from the first tamping means in the direction of the track on the other side of said one tie, and means for simultaneously imparting a horizontally directed force to the immersed vibratory tamping tools in the track direction to tamp the ballast under the one tie.

Claim 6

An appaRatus for tamping the ballast of a railroad bed to provide a compacted ballast support for the track, comprising a frame mounted for mobility on the track; a first ballast tamping means mounted on the frame, said first ballast tamping means including plate means extending transversely of the track for surface engagement with the ballast in the space between two adjacent, transversely extending ties and extending transversely of said space adjacent the ends of one of said ties, and means for exerting a vertically downwardly directed pulsating pressure force upon the plate means to force the same into pressure contact with the ballast surface, said means for imparting a vertically downwardly directed pulsating pressure force including compression spring means exerting a yielding pressure upon the plate means; and second tamping means mounted in the frame, the second tamping means including vibratory tamping tools, means for immersing the vibratory tamping tools in the ballast adjacent said one tie and spaced from the first tamping means in the direction of the track on the other side of said one tie, and means for simultaneously imparting a horizontally directed force to the immersed vibratory tamping tools in the track direction to tamp the ballast under the one tie.