Method for delivering replacement rail ties using GPS techniques

• US 20050235864A1
• Filed: 04/22/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Herzog Contracting
• Original Assignee: Herzog Contracting
• Inventors: Herzog, Stanley M., Kneib, Joseph A., Bounds, Ivan E., Laughlin, Daniel B., Beers, Timothy M., Peter, Steve, Bedingfield, Stephen L., Schmitz, Ron
• Application Number:
  US10/829,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20050235864A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 104/2
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 29/06 Transporting, laying, removing or renewing sleepers E01B29/05 takes precedence; carrying devices B65G7/12
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 35/00 Applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track-building purposes apparatus on locomotives or cars to indicate or record bad track sections B61K9/00; measuring angles, linear dimensions, or irregularities in general G01B, G01C

Abstract

A method of efficiently delivering replacement railway ties for use in replacing ties that have deteriorated. GPS technology is used to obtain the GPS location of each tie that needs to be replaced. A tie train carrying replacement ties has a GPS monitor so that one or more ties can be unloaded at or near the location of each tie that requires replacement. A tie replacement crew can use a GPS monitor to locate each tie that requires replacement, and the crew can remove those ties and install a nearby replacement tie.

Claims

1. A method of delivering replacement rail ties along a railway that includes old rail ties to be replaced, said method comprising the steps of:

using a GPS device to determine a GPS location for each old tie to be replaced;

transporting the replacement ties along the railway on a tie train;

using a GPS device to determine the GPS location of the tie train as it moves along the railway; and

unloading a selected number of ties from the tie train at selected GPS locations along the railway, with said selected locations being dependent upon the GPS locations of the old ties to be replaced and said selected number of ties being dependent upon the number of old ties to be replaced that are within a predetermined distance of each of said selected locations.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, including the step of providing a report that includes the number of ties unloaded from the tie train at said selected locations.

3. A method of delivering replacement rail ties along a railway having old rail ties to be replaced, said method comprising:

surveying the railway using a GPS device to determine a GPS location for each old tie to be replaced;

transporting the replacement ties along the railway on a tie train;

monitoring the location of the tie train using an on-board GPS device to determine the GPS location of the tie train as it moves along the railway; and

unloading one replacement tie from the tie train each time the GPS location of the tie train corresponds to the GPS location of an old tie to be replaced.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3, including the step of providing a report that includes the number of replacement ties unloaded from the tie train.

5. A method of replacing old rail ties on a railway, comprising:

surveying the railway and obtaining a GPS location for each old tie needing replacement;

transporting a plurality of replacement ties along the railway on a tie train;

obtaining a GPS location for the tie train as it moves along the railway;

selecting GPS unloading locations along the railway based on the GPS locations of the old ties needing replacement;

selecting a number of replacement ties to be unloaded at each unloading location based on the number of old ties needing replacement that are within a selected distance of each unloading location;

unloading said selected number of replacement ties from the tie train at each unloading location;

moving tie handling equipment along the railway while monitoring the GPS location of the tie handling equipment;

using the tie handling equipment to remove a tie when the GPS location of the tie handling equipment corresponds with the GPS location of a tie needing replacement; and

installing a replacement tie in place of each tie that is removed.