US3610158A - Nipper structure for spike drivers and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A nipper assembly for use with a spike-driving machine for driving spikes into the ties of railroad track. The assembly is constructed to be applied to existing machines or with new equipment. The nipper assembly can be used with various sizes and lengths of ties and insures movement of the nipper assembly at right angles to the tie, regardless of the size and length of the ties.

Description

United States Patent inventor Gunars Eidemanis Milwaukee, Wis.

Appl. No. 814,674

Filed Apr. 9, 1969 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Assignee Nordberg Manufacturing Company Milwaukee, Wis.

NIPPER STRUCTURE FOR SPIKE DRIVERS AND THE LIKE 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl... 104/17 Int. Cl E0lb 29/26 Field of Search 104/15, 17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 936,679 10/1909 Spanjau 104/17 2,596,823 5/1952 Richardson 104/17 3,426,698 2/1969 Foxx et a1. 104/17 Primary ExaminerArthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Attorney-Parker, Carter & Markey ABSTRACT: A nipper assembly for use with a spike-driving machine for driving spikes into the ties of railroad track. The assembly is constructed to be applied to existing machines or with new equipment. The nipper assembly can be used with various sizes and lengths of ties and insures movement of the nipper assembly at right angles to the tie, regardless of the size and length of the ties.

NIPPER STRUCTURE FOR SPIKE DRIVERS AND THE LIKE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is in the field of machines for driving spikes into railroad ties and is concerned with an improved nipper assembly which is constructed to grasp the tie and hold it and the spike driver in place while a spike is being driven.

A primary object of the invention is a nipper assembly constructed to be adjusted on a spike driver to accommodate different sizes and lengths of ties.

Another object is an adjustment mechanism for a nipper assembly which insures that the nipper assembly itself will always be moved at right angles to the ties.

Another object is a nipper arrangement which pulls the tie, regardless of its size and length, up firmly against the tie plate and rail when a spike is being driven.

Another object is a nipper assembly of the above type which can be quickly and easily adjusted when the spike driver is used on track with difierent size ties from the last operation.

Another object is a nipper assembly constructed for movement in a generally vertical direction which insures a minimum of side loads and therefore a minimum of wear.

Another object is a hydraulically operated nipper assembly which is constructed to prevent side loads and excessive wear on the hydraulic cylinders thereby insuring long life.

Another object is a nipper assembly which does notinterfere with or slow down other operating parts of the spike driver.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specification and drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an end elevation of the nipper assembly mounted on a spike driver;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a side view, like FIG. 2, in a different position of operation; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a portion of FIG. 2, on an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT This nipper assembly is shown in the drawings in connection with a conventional spike driver, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,698, issued Feb. ll, I969, and assigned to this assignee. The spike-driving mechanism and the details of the spike driver itself will not be shown or described here except where necessary to relate the nipper assembly to the basic machine. 3

In FIG. 2 a wheeled vehicle has been indicated generally at which has a suitably arranged frame 12 with wheels 14 constructed in a conventional manner to ride on the rails 16 of a railroad track, The track has the usual ties 18, be they of wood or otherwise, supporting the rails on tie plates 20 and held in place by the usual spikes 22.

The frame 12 includes uprights 24 supporting an upper structure or cross frame 26 with laterally disposed channels 28, in FIG. I, so that a carriage 30 may be positioned laterally, for example, by a hydraulic cylinder 32. The carriage carries one or more driving guns or spiking devices 34 on a subcarriage, not shown, movable longitudinally to give the driving guns 34 two-axis movement for alignment with the spikes, one inside the tie and the other outside, to be driven through each tie plate. The details of the frame, spiking mechanism, and positioning structure are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,698, and additional details will not be included here.

When the guns drive the spikes through the tie plate under the tie, it is conventional to provide a nipping arrangement which reaches under the tie and pulls up while the spike is being driven down so that the rail, tie plate and tie will all be firmly held together while the spike is being driven. This will also prevent the spiking machine from being lifted up off of the rails.

spike driving vehicle, and it should be understood that an identical or similar assembly may be positioned on the other side of the frame so that both ends of the tie are pulled up firmly and snugly at the same time.

The upper frame 26 of the spike driver has two ears or lugs 38 projecting laterally therefrom with the nipper assembly 36 suspended or positioned between them, as shown in FIG. 3.'A top plate 40 lies on top of the lugs and is connected thereto by suitable bolts 42. Each of the lugs 38 has a plurality of boltholes 44 so that the top plate 40 may be positioned in one of a number of lateral positions, shown in this case as 3, although it might be otherwise. Depending from the top plate are channels 46 which open inwardly, as shown in FIG. 4, to serve as guides for a vertically movable nipper arrangement 48. Each channel is formed by an angle 50, as shown in FIG-4,

with a removable plate 52 connected thereto by a suitable number of screws 54 to form an inwardly opening channel. The channels are crossconnected across the back by a suita ble number of straps 56, shown in this case as four, to provide a rigid rectangular framework. The upper ends of the channels 46 as well as the top strap 56 are connected to the top piece 40 in any suitable manner, such as by welding or otherwise.

A hydraulic cylinder 58 may be mounted on top of the crosspiece 40 with its piston rod 60 connected to a universal joint 62. A stub shaft 64 interconnects a block 66 to the universal joint and is in turn connected to a sliding plate 68 which extends outwardly into the channels 46 so as to be raised and lowered therein by the cylinder 58. The center of the sliding plate 68 is provided with a cutout 70 in which is positioned a cylinder 72 pivoted at its upper end as at 74 with its piston rod extending therebelow and being connected to a sliding block 76 which is mounted to slide up and down in the cutout.

The sliding plate 68 narrows at each side at the bottom, asat 78, to define a depending lower portion 80 having a bottom abutting surface 82. Ears projectoutwardly on each side, as at 84, to form pivots 86 for tongs 87 whichextend down to hook portions or claws 88 and rise above to connect to links 90 which in turn are pivoted to the block 76. The spacing is such that when the entire mechanism is lowered and the abutting surface 82 hits the top of the tie, the hooks or claws 88 at the ends of the tongs will fit under the bottom of the tie, as shown in FIG. 3.

When the device is not use, for example during traveling, the sliding plate 68 with the tongs and their actuating mechanism can be raised to the upper position, shown FIG. 3, where a key or lock 92 will hold it up so that pressure can be taken off of the cylinder 58. The key is in the form of a rod 94, in FIG, I, which extends through a hole 96 in the upper part of the sliding plate. One end of the rod is provided with a half moon or are 98 and a lever 100. The top plate 40 has a depending sideplate 102 which carries an angle 104. When the sliding plate 68 is raised to the top so that the hole 106 in the sideplate 102 is aligned with the hole 96 in the top of the sliding plate, the rod 94 may be inserted through the aligned holes by turning the handle up so that the cutout portion of the are 98 passes by the angle I04. When fully inserted, the han dle 100 may be rotated to the down position of FIG. 2 which puts the are 98, behind the channel 104. This will prevent the key from falling out and the nipper assembly will be held in the raised position of FIG. 2. Releasing the nipper assembly merely requires the reverse. While the mechanism is in operation, the key may be inserted in a second hole 108 in the side plate 102 which is aligned with a cutout I10 in the top of the sliding plate 68 so that the nipper assembly may be raised and lowered without contacting the key. In either the locked or unlocked positions, the are 98 of the key will be behind the channel 104 so that the key won't fall out.

An adjustable bracing arrangement is provided which includes a turnbuckle 110 or the like pivoted at 112 to the frame and at 114 toward the bottom of the nipper arrangement, with bolts and nuts so that in any adjusted position the bracing may be tightened to fonn a rigid structure. The turnbuckle brace may be positioned at one end of the nipper assembly with a slotted brace 116 at the other which is connected to the nipper assembly by a bolt and nut type connection 118. A bracket I20 on the frame has an adjustable bolt I22 fitted in the slot with a cutout 124 in the frame of the spike driver so that in the innermost position of adjustment, the brace 116 may project through.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

A nipper assembly is provided which can be used to convert existing spike drivers in the field or it can be provided on new equipment. The assembly is preferably hung or mounted outboard of the spike driver so that the nippers grab the ends of the ties, but they might be mounted between the rails.

One of the main advantages of the arrangement shown is that it can be positioned in one of a number of adjusted positions. Three have been shown, but it might be more or less. Depending upon the size and length of ties in the section of track that the machine is to work on, the nipper assemblies can be moved either in or out with the top plate 40 adjusted to match the particular length of tie involved. In FIG. 1, three different tie lengths have been shown at 126 which correspond with the three positions of adjustment indicated by the various bolt holes 44 on the supporting brackets 38. In any particular position that the upper part is secured in, the adjusting arrangement 1 l and 1 16 for the lower portion may be released, adjusted and reclamped so that the lower portions of the vertical guides are at right angles or perpendicular to the ties. This is important to prevent side stresses on the guide mechanism when the nippers grab the ties and provide an upward thrust. No bending stresses or flexing will be applied to the channels or guides.

In operation, the upper cylinder 58 lowers the entire sliding mechanism while the intermediate cylinder 72 has the tongs spread, such as shown in FIG. 2. When the abutting surface 82 hits the top of a tie, cylinder 72 retracts the block 76 which closes the tongs 87 until the claws 88 clamp in under the bottom of the tie, as shown in FIG. 3. An upthrust s then provided by the upper cylinder 58 with the lower cylinder 72 merely providing sufficient upthrust to keep the claws 88 in under the tie but without exerting any upthrust itself. This pulls the tie and tie plates up firmly against the bottom of the rail and the spikes may be driven. Then the upper cylinder 58 releases the upthrust which allows the intermediate cylinder 72 to below the block 76 thereby opening the tongs. The upper cylinder 58 then raises the entire mechanism to the FIG. 2 position and the spike driver can be moved to the next tie.

While the preferred form has been shown and described and several modifications have been suggested, it should be understood that suitable additional modifications, changes, substitutions and alterations may be made without departing from the inventions fundamental theme.

I claim:

1. In a tie nipper assembly for railroad spike drivers and the like, a wheeled vehicle with a frame movable along the rails of a track, a nipper assembly on the frame constructed to be moved vertically between a retracted upper position and an extended lower position where it grasps a tie, a guide assembly defining a generally vertical path of movement for the nipper assembly, and an adjustment mechanism between the guide assembly and the frame and mounting the guide assembly on the frame and constructed to effect adjustment of the position of the guide assembly, as a unit, laterally on the frame so that the nipper assembly may be disposed in all positions for movement generally at right angles to the ties, the adjustment mechanism including upper and lower mountings for the nipper assembly constructed to effect lateral adjustment thereof so tat the entire nipper assembly can be moved laterally, either in or out, on the frame to adjust for different sizes of ties, the guide assembly including a pair of oppositely disposed channels spaced longitudinally from each other and definin a generally vertic al ath of movement for the ni per assemb y, a hydraulic cyhn er mounted on the frame 0 the vehicle above the nipper assembly and connected thereto so as to raise and lower the nipper assembly between its upper and lower positions on the oppositely disposed channels, and a universal joint between the upper cylinder and the nipper assembly to accommodate misalignment in the movement of the nipper assembly relative to the direction of movement of the cylinder due to minor manufacturing inaccuracies.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the nipper assembly includes a pair of tongs spaced from each other longitudinally and mounted on pivots intermediate their ends so that the lower ends of the tongs can be forced into the ballast in the crib between the ties, a linkage connected to the upper ends of the tongs, and a hydraulic cylinder connected to the linkage and carried by the nipper assembly so that actuation thereof will separate or close the lower ends of the tongs in under a tie.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the bottom adjustment includes forward and rear adjustable braces to stabilize the nipper assembly in any position of adjustment.

Claims (3)

1. In A tie nipper assembly for railroad spike drivers and the like, a wheeled vehicle with a frame movable along the rails of a track, a nipper assembly on the frame constructed to be moved vertically between a retracted upper position and an extended lower position where it grasps a tie, a guide assembly defining a generally vertical path of movement for the nipper assembly, and an adjustment mechanism between the guide assembly and the frame and mounting the guide assembly on the frame and constructed to effect adjustment of the position of the guide assembly, as a unit, laterally on the frame so that the nipper assembly may be disposed in all positions for movement generally at right angles to the ties, the adjustment mechanism including upper and lower mountings for the nipper assembly constructed to effect lateral adjustment thereof so tat the entire nipper assembly can be moved laterally, either in or out, on the frame to adjust for different sizes of ties, the guide assembly including a pair of oppositely disposed channels spaced longitudinally from each other and defining a generally vertical path of movement for the nipper assembly, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the frame of the vehicle above the nipper assembly and connected thereto so as to raise and lower the nipper assembly between its upper and lower positions on the oppositely disposed channels, and a universal joint between the upper cylinder and the nipper assembly to accommodate misalignment in the movement of the nipper assembly relative to the direction of movement of the cylinder due to minor manufacturing inaccuracies.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the nipper assembly includes a pair of tongs spaced from each other longitudinally and mounted on pivots intermediate their ends so that the lower ends of the tongs can be forced into the ballast in the crib between the ties, a linkage connected to the upper ends of the tongs, and a hydraulic cylinder connected to the linkage and carried by the nipper assembly so that actuation thereof will separate or close the lower ends of the tongs in under a tie.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the bottom adjustment includes forward and rear adjustable braces to stabilize the nipper assembly in any position of adjustment.

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