Railway anchor applicator

Abstract

A railway anchor applicator for applying an anchor to a rail includes a frame configured for movement along a track, an anchor input for sequentially delivering an anchor to a workhead assembly, where the workhead assembly is movably mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from the rail. An anchor receiving arm is configured for movement between a first position receiving an anchor from an anchor input and a second position placing the anchor away from the anchor input. A main pivot arm is configured for movement between a first position generally away from the rail and a second position generally adjacent the rail. A bar clamp arm is operatively linked to the main pivot arm and is configured for movement underneath the rail, then upwards and towards the rail. An operator station is located on the gage side of the rail which the anchor is being applied.

1 . A railway anchor applicator for applying an anchor to a rail of a railroad track having two such rails, said applicator comprising:
 a frame configured for movement in a specified direction of travel along the track;   an anchor input for sequentially delivering at least one anchor to a workhead assembly, said workhead assembly movably mounted on said frame for movement toward and away from the rail receiving the anchor, said workhead assembly including:   an anchor receiving arm configured for movement between a first position sequentially receiving at least one anchor from said anchor input and a second position placing said anchor away from said anchor input;   a main pivot arm associated with said frame configured for movement between a first position generally away from the rail receiving the anchor and a second position generally adjacent that rail;   a bar clamp arm operatively linked to said main pivot arm and configured for movement underneath the rail receiving the anchor, then upwards and towards that rail; and   an operator station disposed on said frame and located on a gage side of the rail receiving the anchor, wherein the operator station is disposed generally between the two rails and above the rail not receiving the anchor.   
   
   
       2 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said anchor input is an anchor magazine configured for accommodating a plurality of rail anchors, and positioning them sequentially for engagement with said anchor receiving arm. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said bar clamp arm further comprises a rail stop, and said anchor receiving arm further comprises an anchor holder, wherein at least one of said rail stop and said anchor holder apply pressure on said anchor from at least one of a field side and a gage side and compress said anchor between said rail stop and said anchor holder on both the field side and the gage side such that compressive forces act on said anchor transversely across the rail. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein through movement from said first position to said second position, said bar clamp arm carries said anchor underneath the rail, then upwards and towards the rail in a generally elliptical path. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said workhead assembly further comprises a plurality of linkages in operational relationship with said main pivot arm, said bar clamp arm and said anchor receiving arm to position and clip the anchor on the rail. 
   
   
       6 . A bar clamp arm suitable for use with a rail anchor applicator having a frame configured for movement in a specified direction of travel along the track, a workhead assembly movably mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from a rail, said workhead assembly including an anchor receiving mechanism configured for movement between a first position receiving at least one anchor from an anchor input and a second position placing said anchor in a position away from said anchor input, an anchor positioning mechanism configured for movement between a retracted position and an extended position for positioning said anchor adjacent to the rail, and an anchor clipping mechanism for positively engaging the anchor onto the rail by applying pressure on said anchor from at least one of a field side and a gage side and compressing said anchor between components of said anchor clipping mechanism on both the field side and the gage side such that compressive forces act on said anchor transversely across the rail, said bar clamp arm comprising:
 a generally elongate arm portion; and   a rail stop portion generally provided on an end of said elongate arm, said rail stop having a clipping surface generally perpendicular to said arm and configured to impart pressure on the anchor to clip the anchor against the rail.   
   
   
       7 . The bar clamp arm of  claim 6  wherein said end of said generally elongate arm portion is a distal end having an adjustment formation, and said rail stop portion is provided with a corresponding adjustment formation configured to be selectively attached on said distal end of said arm. 
   
   
       8 . The bar clamp arm of  claim 6 , wherein said elongate arm portion and said rail stop portion are one of integral and separate components. 
   
   
       9 . The bar clamp arm of  claim 7 , wherein said adjustment formation on said arm comprises a series of grooves configured to be engaged by said adjustment formation on said rail stop comprising of a series of grooves.