US3638577A — Mobile apparatus for laying track ties

Claim 1

Independent Claim 177 words

In combination with a mobile track renewal apparatus adapted to move in the direction of track elongation, a track tie conveying means comprising a series of sequentially arranged, cooperating driven tie conveyors leading to and from a track section to be renewed in a tie conveyor path extending in the direction of track elongation, and tie conveyor movement control elements arranged between two adjacent ones of the conveyors and mechanically movable by a conveyed tie in contact therewith for driving selected ones of the tie conveyors, one of said tie conveyors being a moving conveyor elongated in said direction for transporting said ties extending in said direction, and another one of said conveyors is a cooperating adjacent conveyor movable around a vertical pivot for receiving the ties from the elongated conveyor and turning them 90* into a direction transverse to the direction of track elongation, said control means including a control element arranged between the one and the other conveyor and being actuatable by a tie in contact therewith to stop the movement of the elongated conveyor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 177 words

In combination with a mobile track renewal apparatus adapted to move in the direction of track elongation, a track tie conveying means comprising a series of sequentially arranged, cooperating driven tie conveyors leading to and from a track section to be renewed in a tie conveyor path extending in the direction of track elongation, and tie conveyor movement control elements arranged between two adjacent ones of the conveyors and mechanically movable by a conveyed tie in contact therewith for driving selected ones of the tie conveyors, one of said tie conveyors being a moving conveyor elongated in said direction for transporting said ties extending in said direction, and another one of said conveyors is a cooperating adjacent conveyor movable around a vertical pivot for receiving the ties from the elongated conveyor and turning them 90* into a direction transverse to the direction of track elongation, said control means including a control element arranged between the one and the other conveyor and being actuatable by a tie in contact therewith to stop the movement of the elongated conveyor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 1, said mechanically movable element being a switch.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein said turning conveyor is pivotally adjustable into alignment with the elongated conveyor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 148 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the turning conveyor comprises an elongated endless conveyor band for supporting the tie while the conveyor is turned, the length of the conveyor band being less than the length of the ties, a third one of said conveyors being less than the length a pair of elongated conveyor bands arranged at diametrically opposite sides of the turning conveyor and extending in the direction of track elongation, the spacing between the elongated conveyor bands of the third conveyor being such that a transversely extending tie may be supported on said third conveyor, and means for vertically moving the third conveyor into and out of the plane of the endless conveyor band on the turning conveyor whereby a tie may be supported selectively by said turning conveyor and the third conveyor for transferring the tie between the turning and the third conveyor.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 44 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 4, said control means including sensors associated with the turning conveyor and actuatable by contact with a tie on the turning conveyor for initiating turning of the conveyor and for stopping turning after the conveyor has turned 90*.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 5, the sensor for stopping turning of the conveyor being capable of simultaneously actuating movement of the third conveyor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 63 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 4, a fourth one of said conveyors being a conveyor means overlapping the third conveyor and being arranged parallel thereto between the pair of elongated conveyor bands thereof whereby a tie may be transferred between the third and fourth conveyor, and said control means including a sensor actuatable by contact with a tie on the fourth conveyor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 7, the last-named sensor stopping the movement of the third conveyor upon said contact and returning the turning conveyor to its original position with the elongated endless conveyor bands thereof in alignment with the one elongated conveyor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 138 words

In combination with a mobile track renewal apparatus adapted to move in the direction of track elongation, a track tie conveying means comprising a series of sequentially arranged, cooperating driven tie conveyors leading to and from a track section to be renewed in a tie conveyor path extending in the direction of track elongation, the tie-conveying means including a short final conveyor means at said track section for supporting a single one of the ties extending transversely to the Direction of track elongation, and a forklift tie support associated with the final conveyor means for transferring individual ones of the ties between the track section and the final conveyor means, and tie conveyor movement control means arranged in the conveyor path and actuatable by a tie conveyed in the path for driving selected ones of the tie conveyors.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 138 words

In combination with a mobile track renewal apparatus adapted to move in the direction of track elongation, a track tie conveying means comprising a series of sequentially arranged, cooperating driven tie conveyors leading to and from a track section to be renewed in a tie conveyor path extending in the direction of track elongation, the tie-conveying means including a short final conveyor means at said track section for supporting a single one of the ties extending transversely to the Direction of track elongation, and a forklift tie support associated with the final conveyor means for transferring individual ones of the ties between the track section and the final conveyor means, and tie conveyor movement control means arranged in the conveyor path and actuatable by a tie conveyed in the path for driving selected ones of the tie conveyors.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 9, said forklift tie support being vertically adjustable and pivotal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 9, said final conveyor means comprising a pair of roller conveyors, the forklift tie support being mounted between the roller conveyors.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 56 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 9, said control means including a sensor arranged to be contacted by said single tie supported on the final conveyor means in an end position of the tie on the conveyor means, contact of the tie with said sensor causing stoppage of an immediately preceding one of said cooperating conveyors.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 55 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 9, said control means including a sensor arranged to be contacted by said single tie supported on the final conveyor means, contact of the tie with said sensor causing operation of the forklift tie support for transferring the tie from a final conveyor means to the forklift tie support.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 46 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 13, said sensor including a sensing element sensing the transverse position of the tie on the final conveyor means, the sensor being responsive to the sensing element to assure operation thereof only when the tie is in accurate transverse position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 9, the final conveyor means being vertically adjustable in relation to the forklift tie support for facilitating transfer of ties between therebetween.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 9, said control means including a sensor at an end position of the adjustable final conveyor means, said sensor being responsive to contact with said conveyor means in said end position for operating the forklift tie support.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 58 words

In the mobile apparatus of claim 1, said control means including a plurality of sensors between successive ones of the cooperating conveyors, a subsequent one of the sensors, in the tie transport direction, actuating a preceding one of the sensors for selectively stopping the movement of a preceding conveyor to avoid jamming of ties in the conveyor path.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-01-31	1975-08-02	1976-02-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-01-31	1979-08-02	1980-02-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-01-31	1983-08-02	1984-02-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Mobile apparatus for laying track ties

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