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

Abstract

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. The glyde-rail apparatus comprises a front swing arm assembly having a pair of rail wheels which removably attaches to one end of a frame of the excavator and a back swing arm assembly having a pair of rail wheels which removably attaches to a second end of the frame of the excavator. A pair of hydraulic cylinders positioned on the front swing arm assembly and another pair of hydraulic cylinders positioned on the back swing arm assembly enable the rail wheels to be raised or lowered onto the railroad track. A hard rubber cover attaches to the track of the excavator.

1 . An apparatus for attaching to a carrier comprising:
 a front swing arm assembly attached to a first end of said carrier having a first pair of rail wheels extending in front of said first end;   said front swing arm assembly comprises means for raising and lowering said first pair of rail wheels;   a back swing arm assembly attached to a second end of said carrier having a second pair of rail wheels extending in front of said second end; and   said back swing arm assembly comprises means for raising and lowering said second pair of rail wheels.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said carrier comprises tracks made of rubber material or covered with rubber material. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said carrier comprises a first pair of body mounts attached to said excavator for attaching said front swing arm assembly thereto. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said apparatus comprises a first pair of body mounts attached to said excavator for attaching said back swing arm assembly thereto. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said apparatus comprises a second pair of body mounts attached to said carrier for attaching said back swing arm assembly thereto. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said raising and lowering means of said front swing arm assembly comprises:
 a first pair of hydraulic cylinders having a first end mounted on one of a pair of front swing arms and a second end attached to one of a pair of front body mounts attached to said carrier;   means for driving said hydraulic cylinders; and   means for controlling the raising and lowering of said first pair of rail wheels and said second pair of rail wheels.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said raising and lowering means of said back swing arm assembly comprises:
 a second pair of hydraulic cylinders having a first end mounted on one of a pair of back swing arms and a second end attached to one of a pair of back body mounts attached to said carrier; and   means for driving said hydraulic cylinders connected between said front swing arm assembly and said back swing arm assembly.