The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 12, 1997
Filed:
May. 31, 1996
Elbert Rudolph Smith, Montgomery, AL (US);
Kershaw Manufacturing Co., Inc., Montgomery, AL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for placing tie plates between a rail and selected crossties along a railroad track. The apparatus includes a mobile frame which travels on the rails along a railroad track and carries a magnetic wheel for retrieving loose tie plates, a magazine for holding and positioning the loose tie plates over a selected rail lie, a rail jack for lifting the rail away from the tie to allow insertion of the tie plate, and an insertion arm and plate which urge the tie plate into position between the tie and the rail. The magazine holds a number of tie plates and has an elongated guide plate, dimensioned to fit the rail receiving area of the tie plates. A series of biased linkages, arranged vertically along the guide plate, urge the tie plates against the guide plate to hold them in place. The lowermost tie plate is supported by a plate stop at the lower end of the guide plate, and a biased retaining lever, which urges the tie plate against the guide plate, until an operator actuates an ejection arm to push the tie plate off of the stop and onto the cross tie below. After the rail is lifted, an insertion arm, having an insertion plate connected to its lower end, is actuated to urge the tie plate between the rail and the tie.