Patent US2920922A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3974597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rail base grinding method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-04-25
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Granted: 1976-08-17
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Expires: 1995-04-25
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
2026-11-06 01:40
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01B; E01B31/00; E01B31/02; E01B31/12; E01B31/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
In a process for welding the rails of a trackway comprising metal rails supported by metal tie plates on wooden ties which are in turn supported on a ballast roadbed of the type wherein a tie is first moved laterally relative to the roadbed to expose the adjacent end of a pair of rails comprising the trackway, and a welded joint is subsequently formed between the adjacent ends of the rails, the improvement comprising: manipulating a grinding apparatus having an upper grinding surface in the space between the bottom surfaces of the joined rails and the upper surface of the ballast of the roadbed that was previously occupied by the tie and thereby removing weld flashing projecting below the bottom surfaces of the rails; subsequently repositioning the tie between the bottom surfaces and the roadbed; both of the foregoing steps being carried out without disturbing the ballast of the roadbed and thereby facilitating the return of the trackway to service.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a process for welding the rails of a trackway comprising metal rails supported by metal tie plates on wooden ties which are in turn supported on a ballast roadbed of the type wherein a tie is first moved laterally relative to the roadbed to expose the adjacent end of a pair of rails comprising the trackway, and a welded joint is subsequently formed between the adjacent ends of the rails, the improvement comprising: manipulating a grinding apparatus having an upper grinding surface in the space between the bottom surfaces of the joined rails and the upper surface of the ballast of the roadbed that was previously occupied by the tie and thereby removing weld flashing projecting below the bottom surfaces of the rails; subsequently repositioning the tie between the bottom surfaces and the roadbed; both of the foregoing steps being carried out without disturbing the ballast of the roadbed and thereby facilitating the return of the trackway to service.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement according to claim 1 wherein the step of manipulating the grinding apparatus is further characterized by manipulating the upper surface thereof in a plane extending parallel to the bottom surfaces of the joined rails.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the step of manipulating the grinding apparatus is further characterized by initially positioning the upper surface of the grinding apparatus in a horizontal plane extending parallel to the under surfaces of the joined rails, and subsequently manipulating the upper grinding surface of the grinding apparatus in said horizontal plane to engage the upper grinding surface with weld flashing projecting beneath the bottom surfaces of the joined rails.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
A rail grinding process comprising: moving a tie of a trackway laterally to provide an open space between the bottom surface of at least one rail of the trackway and the ballast of the roadbed of the trackway; manipulating a grinding apparatus having an upper grinding surface in the open space between the bottom surface of the rail and the ballast that was previously occupied by the tie and thereby removing material projecting beneath the bottom surface of the rail; and subsequently returning the tie to its original position between the bottom surface of the rail and the ballast of the roadbed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
A rail grinding process comprising: moving a tie of a trackway laterally to provide an open space between the bottom surface of at least one rail of the trackway and the ballast of the roadbed of the trackway; manipulating a grinding apparatus having an upper grinding surface in the open space between the bottom surface of the rail and the ballast that was previously occupied by the tie and thereby removing material projecting beneath the bottom surface of the rail; and subsequently returning the tie to its original position between the bottom surface of the rail and the ballast of the roadbed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The rail grinding process according to claim 4 wherein the grinding apparatus is manipulated to engage the upper grinding surface thereof with weld flashing projecting beneath the bottom surfaces of a pair of rails, the adjacent ends of which are joined by a welded joint.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The rail grinding process according to claim 5 wherein the step of manipulating the grinding apparatus is carried out while maintaining the upper grinding surface thereof in a horizontal plane extending parallel to the bottom surfaces of the joined rails.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The rail grinding process according to claim 6 wherein the grinding apparatus manipulating step is further characterized by initially positioning the grinding apparatus with the upper grinding surface thereof positioned in the horizontal plane and subsequently manipulating the grinding apparatus in the open space between the bottom surfaces of the rails and the ballast of the roadbed to engage the upper grinding surface with the weld flashing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
A rail grinding process comprising: moving a tie of a trackway laterally to provide an open space between the bottom surfaces of the rails of the trackway and the ballast of the roadbed of the trackway; positioning adjacent ends of two rails comprising the trackway above the open space provided by the lateral movement of the tie; forming a welded joint between the adjacent ends of the rails; manipulating a grinding apparatus in the open space between the bottom surfaces of the joined rails and the ballast of the roadbed which was previously occupied by the tie and thereby removing welding flash which extends beneath the bottom surfaces of the rails; and subsequently returning the tie to its original position between the surfaces of the rails and the ballast of the roadbed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
A rail grinding process comprising: moving a tie of a trackway laterally to provide an open space between the bottom surfaces of the rails of the trackway and the ballast of the roadbed of the trackway; positioning adjacent ends of two rails comprising the trackway above the open space provided by the lateral movement of the tie; forming a welded joint between the adjacent ends of the rails; manipulating a grinding apparatus in the open space between the bottom surfaces of the joined rails and the ballast of the roadbed which was previously occupied by the tie and thereby removing welding flash which extends beneath the bottom surfaces of the rails; and subsequently returning the tie to its original position between the surfaces of the rails and the ballast of the roadbed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The rail grinding process according to claim 8 wherein the grinding apparatus has an upper grinding surface and wherein the grinding apparatus manipulating step is further characterized by engaging the upper grinding surface of the grinding apparatus with weld flashing extending beneath the bottom surfaces of the joined rails.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The rail grinding process according to claim 9 wherein the grinding apparatus manipulating step is further characterized by moving the upper grinding surface of the grinding apparatus in a horizontal plane extending parallel to the bottom surfaces of the rails.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The rail grinding process according to claim 10 wherein the step of manipulating the grinding apparatus is further characterized by initially aligning the upper grinding surface of the grinding apparatus with said horizontal plane and subsequently manipulating the grinding apparatus while maintaining the upper grinding surface thereof in said horizontal plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3205623A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-17 | 1980-02-16 | 1980-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-17 | 1984-02-16 | 1984-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-17 | 1988-02-16 | 1988-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |