US3877384A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and machine for laying railroad ties on a prepared road surface
Assignee: Morrison Knudsen Co Inc
•
Filing: 1972-12-21
•
Granted: 1975-04-15
•
Expires: 1992-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and machine are disclosed for dispensing railroad ties, particularly concrete railroad ties, along a prepared roadbed surface for a moving vehicle. The tie laying machine is connected to a trailer carrying the ties. The ties are conveyed from the trailer to the input end of the tie laying machine as needed. The tie laying machine includes a forward carriage shiftable transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle along the roadbed. The vehicle also includes sensing means sensing an alignment line and control and power means operatively connected to the sensing means to shift the carriage to align the ties held by the machine relative to the alignment line prior to discharge. In operation the carriage shifts to a center location to receive a tie from the infeed conveyor of the machine and then, after receipt of the tie, shifts to an alignment position relative to the alignment line. The tie is then released into a discharge assembly where it is discharged on the prepared roadbed surface at a predetermined spaced interval from the preceding tie.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph G Fearon
- 👤 Matt F Rice
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:09
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01B; E01B29/00; E01B29/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A machine for aligning and dispensing railroad ties along a roadbed surface to an established reference line extending along the length of the roadbed surface, comprising: a vehicle supporting railroad ties thereon adapted for travel along a roadbed surface along which a reference line extends, sensing means for sensing the position of the vehicle relative to the established reference line, a shifting carriage assembly having an infeed and an outfeed end for receiving and discharging ties, the shifting carriage assembly supported by the vehicle for movement transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle from a receiving position wherein ties are received from the vehicle to an alignment position relative to the established reference line for discharge of ties aligned with respect to the reference line one at a time, the assembly including discharge means at its outfeed end fOr discharging an aligned tie at a predetermined spaced interval from a previously discharged tie onto the roadbed surface responsive to forward travel of the vehicle, power means operatively connected to the shifting carriage assembly for transverse shifting thereof, and first control means connected between the sensing means and power means for shifting the carriage assembly from the receiving position to the alignment position for discharge of ties one at a time responsive to the sensing means and the established reference line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
A machine for aligning and dispensing railroad ties along a roadbed surface to an established reference line extending along the length of the roadbed surface, comprising: a vehicle supporting railroad ties thereon adapted for travel along a roadbed surface along which a reference line extends, sensing means for sensing the position of the vehicle relative to the established reference line, a shifting carriage assembly having an infeed and an outfeed end for receiving and discharging ties, the shifting carriage assembly supported by the vehicle for movement transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle from a receiving position wherein ties are received from the vehicle to an alignment position relative to the established reference line for discharge of ties aligned with respect to the reference line one at a time, the assembly including discharge means at its outfeed end fOr discharging an aligned tie at a predetermined spaced interval from a previously discharged tie onto the roadbed surface responsive to forward travel of the vehicle, power means operatively connected to the shifting carriage assembly for transverse shifting thereof, and first control means connected between the sensing means and power means for shifting the carriage assembly from the receiving position to the alignment position for discharge of ties one at a time responsive to the sensing means and the established reference line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes an infeed conveyor having its outfeed end disposed adjacent the infeed end of the shifting carriage assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The machine of claim 2 wherein the carriage assembly includes alignment means mounted thereon receiving ties one at a time from the infeed conveyor and aligning them transversely for receipt by the discharge means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The machine of claim 3 including tie release means adjacent the outfeed end of the infeed conveyor releasing the ties one at a time from the infeed conveyor into the carriage assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The machine of claim 3 wherein the discharge means includes (1) tie holding means mounted on the carriage assembly downstream from the alignment means for receiving and holding the aligned ties, (2) power means connected to the tie holding means for releasing the ties at predetermined intervals, and (3) control means sensing the forward travel of the wheeled vehicle and actuating the power means to drop the ties held by the tie holding means at predetermined spaced intervals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The machine of claim 3 wherein the alignment means includes (1) members contacting the respective butt ends of the tie on the carriage assembly to move the tie transversely and correct its alignment for entry into the discharge means, (2) power means operating the alignment means, and (3) control means sensing the alignment position of the tie and actuating the power means to correctly align the tie.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The machine of claim 2 wherein the control means initially shifts the carriage assembly to the receiving position for receipt of a tie from the infeed conveyor of the vehicle, then shifts the carriage transversely relative to the vehicle to the alignment position for discharge of the tie relative to the reference line.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of positioning and dispensing railroad ties from a tie laying vehicle in aligned, spaced relation along a roadbed surface for receipt of rails thereon, comprising: extending a reference line along the roadbed surface on which the ties are to be discharged, conveying individual railroad ties in spaced relation to one another to a shifting carriage assembly of the tie laying vehicle which shifts laterally relative to the direction of travel of the tie laying vehicle, sensing the position of the vehicle relative to the reference line, aligning the ties held by the carriage assembly by lateral shift thereof with respect to the sensed position of the reference line, and discharging the ties from the carriage assembly onto the roadbed surface at predetermined spaced intervals relative to increments of forward travel of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of positioning and dispensing railroad ties from a tie laying vehicle in aligned, spaced relation along a roadbed surface for receipt of rails thereon, comprising: extending a reference line along the roadbed surface on which the ties are to be discharged, conveying individual railroad ties in spaced relation to one another to a shifting carriage assembly of the tie laying vehicle which shifts laterally relative to the direction of travel of the tie laying vehicle, sensing the position of the vehicle relative to the reference line, aligning the ties held by the carriage assembly by lateral shift thereof with respect to the sensed position of the reference line, and discharging the ties from the carriage assembly onto the roadbed surface at predetermined spaced intervals relative to increments of forward travel of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of positioning and dispensing railroad ties from a tie laying vehicle in aligned, spaced relation along a roadbed surface for receipt of rails thereon, comprising: providing a reference line extending essentially parallel to the length direction of the roadbed surface, conveying ties to a tie laying vehicle traveling along the roadbed surface having a laterally shifting carriage assembly thereon which shifts laterally relative to the direction of travel of the tie laying vehicle, conveying a tie into the shifting carriage assembly of the tie laying vehicle, sensing the position of the tie laying vehicle relative to the reference line, shifting the carriage assembly laterally relative to the tie laying vehicle and the sensed position of the reference line to an alignment positIon for discharge of the tie onto the roadbed, sensing the movement of the forward tie laying vehicle along the roadbed, and discharging the aligned tie at a predetermined spaced interval from the preceding tie onto the roadbed relative to a predetermined increment of forward travel of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of positioning and dispensing railroad ties from a tie laying vehicle in aligned, spaced relation along a roadbed surface for receipt of rails thereon, comprising: providing a reference line extending essentially parallel to the length direction of the roadbed surface, conveying ties to a tie laying vehicle traveling along the roadbed surface having a laterally shifting carriage assembly thereon which shifts laterally relative to the direction of travel of the tie laying vehicle, conveying a tie into the shifting carriage assembly of the tie laying vehicle, sensing the position of the tie laying vehicle relative to the reference line, shifting the carriage assembly laterally relative to the tie laying vehicle and the sensed position of the reference line to an alignment positIon for discharge of the tie onto the roadbed, sensing the movement of the forward tie laying vehicle along the roadbed, and discharging the aligned tie at a predetermined spaced interval from the preceding tie onto the roadbed relative to a predetermined increment of forward travel of the vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3604358A
Cited
US3701320A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |