Spike pulling machine

Abstract

A machine for pulling rail spikes from ties of a railroad track is equipped with a clamping device including gripper-like clamping elements for engaging a spike head. A clamping drive is provided for movement of the gripping elements, and a separate vertical adjustment drive is provided for vertical adjustment of the clamping device. With this, even rail spikes of different sizes can be gripped without problems.

1 . A spike pulling machine for pulling rail spikes from ties of a railroad track extending in a track plane, the rail spikes having spike heads, the machine comprising: 
 a clamping device with gripping elements configured for application to a spike head;    a clamping drive provided for moving the gripping elements relative to one another; and    a vertical adjustment drive provided for adjusting the clamping device in a vertical direction.    
     
     
         2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a supporting leg intended for placement upon a tie of the track, wherein the clamping device together with the clamping drive is mounted for vertical adjustment on said supporting leg.  
     
     
         3 . The machine according to  claim 2 , which further comprises flanged rollers, provided for support on the track and spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction, and operating handles for controlling the machine, wherein the clamping device and the supporting leg are arranged one following the other with respect to the longitudinal direction, and wherein the supporting leg is distanced from the operating handles farther than the clamping device.  
     
     
         4 . The machine according to  claim 3 , which further comprises a machine frame, mobile on the track by means of said flanged rollers, and a tool carrier supported on said machine frame for pivoting about an axis extending perpendicularly to the track plane, wherein the clamping device and the supporting leg are mounted on said tool carrier.  
     
     
         5 . The machine according to  claim 4 , wherein said tool carrier may be fixed in its pivoted position relative to the machine frame by means of a blocking device.  
     
     
         6 . The machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the supporting leg has a lower end configured as a supporting plate which is mounted for displacement relative to the supporting leg in a direction of longitudinal extension of the supporting leg and designed to be connected to the supporting leg in different displacement positions, as desired.