Off-track railroad track undercutter apparatus

• US 20050155257A1
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG PIKE Construction Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LG PIKE Construction Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Holman, Cody Lee, Pike, Darin Glenn, Pike, Lawrence Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/104
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 27/04 Removing the ballast; Machines therefor, whether or not additionally adapted for taking-up ballast E01B27/06, E01B27/12 takes precedence; redistributing ballasting material E01B27/02

Abstract

An undercutter apparatus for scooping out contaminated gravel from beneath railroad tracks is designed for use off of the rail road tracks. It can be used when the grade of the ground adjacent to the railroad tracks is quite different from the grade of the railroad tracks. The apparatus includes a control head mounted on an excavator with the control head carrying hydraulically operated means for pivoting the undercutter bar 180° about a vertical axis; for pivoting the distal end of the undercutter bar up and down relative to the proximal end of the undercutter bar approximately 60° above or below in normal horizontal position; and for driving a continuous loop undercutter chain around the undercutter frame for dragging out the contaminated gravel. The undercover apparatus can be a locked into any selected position within these ranges of motion controlled by the control head, or additional positions controlled by operation of the excavator boom and used in that position.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a. an undercutter bar having a heel end and a toe end; and

b. means for pivoting said toe end up and down relative to said heel end of said undercutter bar.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for driving a continuous loop chain about a perimeter of said undercutter bar.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 where in said up and down pivoting motion is continually controlled throughout a range of motion of 60°

upward from a normal horizontal position and is continuously controlled throughout a range of motion of 60°

downward from a normal horizontal position.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pivoting means further comprises a hydraulic ram connected to a lever arm with said lever arm connected to a normally horizontal pivot shaft fixed to a front plate that carries said undercutter bar.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said hydraulic ram is pivotally connected at an upper end to rear plate of a control head of said apparatus and said hydraulic ram is pivotally is connected at a lower end to said lever arm.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said front plate rotates relative to said rear plate when a piston rod of said hydraulic ram is extended from or withdrawn into a cylinder of said hydraulic ram.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an excavator connected to said undercutter bar and to said pivoting means at a tool fitting on a distal end of a boom connected to said excavator.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for pivoting said undercutter bar about a normally vertical axis adjacent to said heel end of said undercutter bar.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said the pivoting means further comprises a hydraulic motor mounted on a front plate of a control head and connected to said undercutter bar.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further comprising means for pivoting said undercutter bar continuously throughout a range of 180°

of arc with a neutral central position wherein said toe end of said undercutter bar points toward an operator.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 further comprising means for locking said undercutter bar into a preferred operating position.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for moving said heel end of said undercutter bar up and down.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for moving said heel end of said undercutter from side to side.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for moving said heel end of said undercutter bar from side to side.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a. an undercutter bar having a heel end and a toe end;

b. means for pivoting said toe end up and down relative to said heel end of said undercutter bar;

c. means for driving a continuous loop chain about a perimeter of said undercutter bar; and

d. means for pivoting said undercutter bar about a normally vertical axis adjacent to said heel end of said undercutter bar.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14 further comprising means for moving said heel end of said undercutter bar up and down.

17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14 further comprising an excavator connected to said undercutter bar and to said pivoting means and said chain drive means at a tool fitting on a distal end of a boom connected to said excavator.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a. an undercutter bar having a heel end and a toe end;

b. means for pivoting said toe end up and down relative to said heel end of said undercutter bar;

c. means for driving a continuous loop chain about a perimeter of said undercutter bar;

d. means for pivoting said undercutter bar about a normally vertical axis adjacent to said heel end of said undercutter bar; and

e. an excavator having a tool fitting on a distal end of a boom connected to said undercutter bar, said pivoting means, said chain driving means and said pivoting means.

19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 further comprising means for moving said excavator boom up and down.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 further comprising means for moving said excavator boom from side to side.