METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RETRIEVING AND PLACING TIE PLATES

• US 20200131714A1
• Filed: 10/24/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sperling Railway Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sperling Railway Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Sperling, Fred S., Sperling, Chad H.
• Granted Patent: US 11,015,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 29/32 Installing or removing track components, not covered by the preceding groups, e.g. sole-plates, rail anchors E01B31/26 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for retrieving and placing tie plates is disclosed. The machine may place at least one railroad tie plate in a hopper assembly for storage and transfer of the at least one railroad tie plate, transfer the at least one railroad tie plate from the hopper assembly to a conveyor assembly, upright the at least one railroad tie plate, singulate the at least one railroad tie plate, orient the at least one railroad tie plate, and place the at least one railroad tie plate on a railroad tie.

Claims

1. A machine comprising:

a machine frame having a first end and a second end defining a longitudinal direction therebetween, a first side and a second side defining a transverse direction therebetween, and a top and a bottom defining a vertical direction therebetween;

a plurality of wheels provided on the bottom of the machine frame;

a conveyor assembly mounted on the machine frame and oriented to convey articles in a direction from the first end toward the second end; and

at least one hopper assembly mounted on the machine frame upstream of the conveyor assembly;

the hopper assembly being adapted to store and transfer at least one railroad tie plate to the conveyor assembly.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one hopper assembly comprises:

a hopper, the hopper including an inner surface defining at least one compartment adapted to store the at least one railroad tie plate therein;

at least one pivot member;

the at least one pivot member having a pivot axis; and

at least one translation mechanism;

wherein the at least one translation mechanism causes the hopper to pivot about the pivot axis to transfer the at least one railroad tie plate out of the at least one compartment to the conveyor assembly.

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein the at least one translation mechanism includes a first moveable cylinder and a second moveable cylinder.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the hopper further includes a first side and a second side;

wherein the first moveable cylinder is operably connected to the first side of the hopper; and

wherein the second moveable cylinder is operably connected to the second side of the hopper.

5. The machine of claim 2, wherein the at least one pivot member includes a first pivot member and a second pivot member;

wherein the hopper further includes a front surface; and

wherein the first pivot member and the second pivot member are operably connected to the front surface of the hopper.

6. The machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a vibration plate feeder assembly mounted on the machine frame and positioned between the at least one hopper assembly and the second end;

the vibration plate feeder assembly being adapted to receive and translate the at least one railroad tie plate.

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the vibration plate feeder assembly comprises:

a vibration plate feeder frame; and

at least one translation assembly operably engaged with the vibration plate feeder frame;

the at least one translation assembly providing translational movement to the vibration plate feeder frame.

8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the at least one translation assembly is a motor.

9. The machine of claim 7, wherein the vibration plate feeder assembly further comprises:

at least one tension assembly operably engaged with the vibration plate feeder frame;

wherein the at least one tension assembly restricts movement of the vibration plate feeder frame.

10. The machine of claim 8, wherein the vibration plate feeder assembly further comprises:

a front end;

a rear end; and

a plate receiving surface operably engaged with the vibration plate feeder frame;

wherein the plate receiving surface extends downwardly at an angle from the front end of the vibration plate feeder assembly to the rear end of the vibration plate feeder assembly and relative to the horizontal.

11. The machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a ball transfer table assembly operably engaged with the machine frame and positioned between the at least one hopper assembly and the second end of the machine frame, the ball transfer table assembly being adapted to orient and align the at least one railroad tie plate.

12. The machine of claim 11, wherein the ball transfer table assembly includes a ball mounting plate.

13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the ball transfer table assembly further comprises:

a plurality of transfer mechanisms operably engaged with the ball mounting plate, wherein the plurality of transfer mechanisms are adapted to transfer and orient the at least one railroad tie plate.

14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the plurality of transfer mechanisms comprises a plurality of bearings.

15. The machine of claim 13, wherein the plurality of transfer mechanisms is positionable in rows;

and wherein the rows are substantially transversely aligned.

16. The machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a conveyor support trolley assembly operably engaged with the conveyor assembly, said conveyor support trolley being adapted to align the conveyor assembly.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the conveyor support trolley assembly includes:

a trolley frame; and

a roller assembly operably engaged with the trolley frame, wherein the roller assembly and the trolley frame support the conveyor assembly.

18. The machine of claim 17, wherein the conveyor assembly is operably engaged with the trolley frame vertically above the roller assembly.

19. The machine of claim 17, wherein the trolley frame further comprises:

a moveable support member;

wherein the conveyor assembly is operably engaged with the moveable support member.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the conveyor support trolley assembly further comprises:

an adjustment assembly operatively engaged with the moveable support member;

wherein the adjustment assembly moves the moveable support member in a transverse direction.