Movable crawler system for railroad equipment

Abstract

A movable crawler system that moves a crawler of railroad equipment from a first position to a second position is disclosed. The crawler system includes a crawler and a positioning system that moves the crawler. The positioning system includes a horizontal positioner and may include a vertical positioner, which move the crawler horizontally and vertically, respectively. The crawler system may be used in railroad equipment for rail change-out processes. When used in this manner, the crawler system enables the crawler to be moved between a position on a guard timber and a position on or above the railroad ties. Because the crawler can be moved to a position on the guard timber, when the equipment is operated on a track suspended by a bridge, which has one rail missing, the need for workers to work outside the rails to raise the equipment above the guard timber is eliminated.

1 . A positioning system for railroad equipment that includes a crawler, the positioning system comprising:
 a vertical positioner connected with the crawler and configured to move the crawler vertically; and   a horizontal positioner connected with the crawler and configured to move the crawler horizontally;   wherein the vertical and horizontal positioners are further configured to move the crawler from a first position to a second position.   
   
   
       2 . A crawler system for railroad equipment, the crawler system comprising:
 a crawler; and   a positioning system connected with the crawler and configured to move the crawler from a first position to a second position, the positioning system including:
 a horizontal positioner connected with the crawler and configured to move the crawler horizontally; and 
 a vertical positioner connected with the crawler and configured to move the crawler vertically. 
   
   
   
       3 . A crawler system for railroad equipment, the crawler system comprising:
 a crawler; and   horizontal positioner connected with crawler and configured to move the crawler horizontally.   
   
   
       4 . The crawler system of  claim 3 , wherein the crawler includes a crawler frame and one or more crawler wheels rotationally connected with the crawler frame. 
   
   
       5 . The crawler system of  claim 3 , wherein the horizontal positioner includes a first horizontal member configured to move the crawler horizontally. 
   
   
       6 . The crawler system of  claim 5 , wherein the first horizontal member is a hydraulic member. 
   
   
       7 . The crawler system of  claim 5 , wherein the horizontal positioner further includes:
 a second horizontal member parallel to the first horizontal member and connected with the crawler; and   a third horizontal member connected with the railroad equipment, wherein the second horizontal member is within the third horizontal member; and   wherein the first horizontal member is connected with the second horizontal member and the third horizontal member.   
   
   
       8 . The crawler system of  claim 3  further comprising a vertical positioner connected with the crawler and configured to move the crawler vertically. 
   
   
       9 . The crawler system of  claim 8 , wherein the vertical positioner includes a first vertical member configured to move the crawler vertically. 
   
   
       10 . The crawler system of  claim 9 , wherein the first vertical member is a hydraulic member. 
   
   
       11 . The crawler system of  claim 9 , wherein the vertical positioner further includes:
 a second vertical member parallel with the first vertical member and connected with the crawler; and   a third vertical member connected with the railroad equipment, wherein the second vertical member is within the third horizontal member; and   wherein the first vertical member is connected with the second vertical member and the third vertical member.   
   
   
       12 . The crawler system of  claim 3 , wherein the first position is located on or above a railroad tie and the second position is located on a guard timber of a timber bridge. 
   
   
       13 . The crawler system of  claim 3 , wherein the first position is located on a guard timber of a timber bridge and the second position is located on or above a railroad tie. 
   
   
       14 . A means for moving a crawler for railroad equipment from a first position to a second position:
 means for moving the crawler vertically; and   means for moving the crawler horizontally.   
   
   
       15 . Railroad equipment comprising:
 a frame;   a first crawler system connected with the frame, wherein the first crawler system includes:
 a first crawler; and 
 a first positioning system connected with the first crawler and the frame and configured to move the first crawler horizontally; and 
   a second crawler system connected with the frame, wherein the second crawler system includes:
 a second crawler; and 
 a second positioning system connected with the second crawler and the frame and configured to move the first crawler horizontally. 
   
   
   
       16 . The railroad equipment frame of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second positioning systems are further configured to move the first and second crawlers, respectively, vertically. 
   
   
       17 . A method for moving a crawler for railroad equipment from a first position to a second position, the method comprising:
 performing a first vertical movement of the crawler;   performing a horizontal movement of the crawler; and   performing a second vertical movement of the crawler.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein performing the first vertical movement of the crawler includes lifting the crawler vertically higher than the second position. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein performing the horizontal movement of the crawler includes moving the crawler to above the second position. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein performing the second vertical movement of the crawler includes lowering the crawler to the second position.