US3908317A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rail base grinding apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-06-29
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A rail base grinding apparatus comprises a self-powered vehicle adapted for movement along a trackway to the location of a welded joint formed between two rails in the trackway. A pantograph linkage extends from one side of the vehicle and supports a lead screw which in turn supports a grinding mechanism. The pantograph linkage serves to manipulate the grinding mechanism between an elevated transportation position and an operating position and to maintain alignment between the grinding mechanism and the plane of the rails of the trackway. The lead screw is employed to control the vertical positioning of the grinding mechanism both prior to and during operation of the grinding mechanism to remove the base portion of the welding flash of the welded joint.
Inventors
- 👤 Lester N Hambrick
- 👤 Carl C Flowers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:53
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01B; E01B31/00; E01B31/02; E01B31/12; E01B31/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In a rail welding system of the type in which welded joints are formed between rails in a trackway at a track site, a device for effecting in situ removal of weld flashing extending beneath the bottom surfaces of the base portions of the rails in the trackway and thereby facilitating the positioning of a tie under the welded joint which comprises: a self-powered vehicle for movement along the trackway; a grinding wheel having an upper grinding surface; a linkage mechanism pivotally mounted on the vehicle and supporting the grinding wheel, said linkage mechanism for positioning the upper grinding surface of the grinding wheel in a horizontal plane extending parallel to the bottom surfaces of the rails connected by the welded joint and for thereafter moving the grinding wheel with the upper grinding surface thereof remaining in said horizontal plane to engage the upper grinding surface of the grinding wheel with weld flashing of the welded joint extending beneath the plane of the bottom surfaces of the base portions of the rails connected by the welded joint; and means for rotating the grinding wheel during the movement thereof and thereby removing the flashing of the welded joint which extends beneath the plane of the bottom surfaces of the joint.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a rail welding system of the type in which welded joints are formed between rails in a trackway at a track site, a device for effecting in situ removal of weld flashing extending beneath the bottom surfaces of the base portions of the rails in the trackway and thereby facilitating the positioning of a tie under the welded joint which comprises: a self-powered vehicle for movement along the trackway; a grinding wheel having an upper grinding surface; a linkage mechanism pivotally mounted on the vehicle and supporting the grinding wheel, said linkage mechanism for positioning the upper grinding surface of the grinding wheel in a horizontal plane extending parallel to the bottom surfaces of the rails connected by the welded joint and for thereafter moving the grinding wheel with the upper grinding surface thereof remaining in said horizontal plane to engage the upper grinding surface of the grinding wheel with weld flashing of the welded joint extending beneath the plane of the bottom surfaces of the base portions of the rails connected by the welded joint; and means for rotating the grinding wheel during the movement thereof and thereby removing the flashing of the welded joint which extends beneath the plane of the bottom surfaces of the joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The grinding device according to claim 1 wherein the linkage mechanism which supports the grinding wheel comprises means for selectively positioning the grinding wheel in an upper position to permit movement of the vehicle along the trackway and in a lower position for engagement with flashing of a welded joint extending beneath the plane of the bottom surfaces of the rails.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The grinding device according to claim 2 wherein the means for supporting the grinding wheel on the vehicle comprises a pantograph linkage connected between the vehicle and the grinding wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The grinding device according to claim 3 further including a lead screw for supporting the grinding wheel on the pantograph linkage and for permitting adjustment of the vertical positioning of the grinding wheel relative to the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The grinding device according to claim 1 wherein the grinding wheel rotating means comprises a drive motor and transmission means forming a drive connection between the drive motor and the grinding wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The grinding device according to claim 5 wherein the linkage mechanism supports the grinding wheel, the transmission means and the drive motor for movement relative to rails connected by a welded joint.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The grinding device according to claim 6 wherein the linkage mechanism is further characterized by means for adjusting the vertical positioning of the grinding wheel, the transmission means, and the drive motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
116 words
A grinding apparatus for finishing the base portions of welded joints formed between adjacent rails in a trackway comprising: a vehicle for movement along a trackway to a position over a welded joint therein; a grinding wheel supported for rotation about a vertical axis; a pantograph linkage extending from one side of the vehicle for supporting the grinding wheel on the vehicle and for moving the grinding wheel relative to the vehicle between a transportation position and an operating position; and means for supporting the grinding wheel on the pantograph linkage and for permitting movement of the grinding wheel from the operating position into engagement with the base portion of a welded joint in the trackway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
A grinding apparatus for finishing the base portions of welded joints formed between adjacent rails in a trackway comprising: a vehicle for movement along a trackway to a position over a welded joint therein; a grinding wheel supported for rotation about a vertical axis; a pantograph linkage extending from one side of the vehicle for supporting the grinding wheel on the vehicle and for moving the grinding wheel relative to the vehicle between a transportation position and an operating position; and means for supporting the grinding wheel on the pantograph linkage and for permitting movement of the grinding wheel from the operating position into engagement with the base portion of a welded joint in the trackway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The grinding apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the pantograph linkage moves the grinding wheel substantially vertically between the transportation position and the operating position and wherein the means for supporting the grinding wheel on the pantograph linkage permits horizontal movement of the grinding wheel from the operating position into engagement with flash protruding from the welded joint.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The grinding apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the means for supporting the grinding wheel on the pantograph linkage also supports a drive motor for rotating the grinding wheel and means operatively connecting the grinding wheel to the drive motor for rotation thereby.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The grinding apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the vehicle further comprises an engine, a hydraulic pump driven by the engine, a hydraulic motor for propelling the vehicle along the trackway, and means for selectively directing hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The grinding apparatus according to claim 11 further characterized by a hydraulic cylinder for actuating the pantograph linkage to move the grinding wheel between the transportation position and the operating position, a hydraulic motor for rotating the grinding wheel, and means for selectively directing hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic cylinder and to the hydraulic motor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |