A railroad test vehicle extending in a longitudinal direction comprises a measurement axle comprising two flanged wheels rotatable about a measuring axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and adapted to run on two track rails. A cross member extends transversely to the longitudinal direction, is vertically spaced from an underside of the vehicle and is affixed thereto. The connection between the measurement axle and the cross member comprises two trunnions transversely spaced from each other and mounted on the cross member, each trunnion defining a clearance with the cross member sufficient to enable the trunnion to be freely tilted to either side of the vehicle about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction, a support frame mounted on each trunnion for pivoting freely about an axis extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, and two pairs of linkages, the pairs being transversely spaced from each other by the same distance as the transversely spaced trunnions. Each pair comprises an upper swing arm and a lower swing arm spaced from the upper swing arm in a vertical direction. A joint connects each swing arm to the measurement axle, and a hinge connects each swing arm either to a respective one of the support frames. At least one pressure cylinder having a vertically extending cylinder axis exerts a contact force pressing the measurement axle against the rails.

Railroad test vehicle comprising a railroad measurement axle suspension

A rail car mover apparatus for a loader vehicle comprises means to rotatably attach a pair of front rail wheels to a front end of the loader vehicle such that the front rail wheels are spaced to engage the pair of railroad rails and such that the front rail wheels can move up and down in response to forces exerted by a front actuator; means to rotatably attach a pair of rear rail wheels to a rear end of the loader vehicle such that the rear rail wheels are spaced to engage the pair of railroad rails and such that the rear rail wheels can move up and down in response to forces exerted by a rear actuator; and a coupler adapter adapted at a rear end thereof for attachment to a front portion of the loader arms and adapted at a front end thereof for coupling to a rail car hitch.

Rail car mover apparatus for loader vehicle

A glyde-rail apparatus removably attached to a carrier such as an excavator to enable the excavator to mount and demount at any point along a railroad track and to travel along the railroad track without damaging the railroad track. A non-metallic cover attaches to the track of the excavator. A front swing arm assembly and a back swing arm assembly attach to ends of the excavator. A first pair of hydraulic cylinders on the front swing arm assembly and a second pair of hydraulic cylinders on the back swing arm assembly enable rail wheels to be raised or lowered. An operator of the carrier controls the raising and lowering of the front swing arm assembly and the back swing arm assembly from within a cab of the carrier by a combination of hydraulic controls in the carrier and the glyde-rail apparatus.

Apparatus for enabling an excavator to mount, demount and travel on railroad tracks

Railway traction vehicle (1) that is equipped with four rubber wheels (6) and with four steel rail wheels (7), and all eight (8 x 8) can exert traction simultaneously on the rails over which a train is hauled. Each of the eight wheels is equipped with an individual hydraulic or electric motor (5) that can be controlled individually. The traction vehicle is equipped with tilting bogies (8a, 8b) with which the steel rail wheels can be raised or lowered. The tilting bogies also enable ballast bodies (24a, 24b) to be detached and placed on supports, by lowering the level of the supporting frame (2).

Railway traction vehicle

A multi-function apparatus and method for material moving, including excavation and movement of dirt, gravel and other material, as well as other functions. The apparatus is mobile, and comprises a bucket assembly which also has a clamping device, with the bucket being able to rotate about a transverse axis and also have continued rotation about a longitudinally forward to rear axis of rotation. In one embodiment the apparatus travels on ground engaging tracks, and in another embodiment the apparatus is able to travel either over the ground or on rail track engaging wheels, with the same apparatus being able to operate in either mode.

Multi-Function Material Moving Assembly and Method

A hydrostatic hi-rail system for use with a railway maintenance vehicle to allow travel along railway rails by raising the vehicle off of road-engaging tires onto rail-engaging flanged rail wheels. The operator controlled system includes front and rear lift assemblies, which are mounted to the front and rear of the vehicle. The assemblies include hydraulic motors, couplers and fail-safe brakes. The system is powered by the vehicle's power source such as an engine and a hydraulic power source such as the vehicle's hydraulic pump.

Richard L. Hogan

Papers

Hydrostatic hi-rail system