Rail Clip Applicator Tool

Abstract

A railroad tie maintenance machine is provided that installs or removes rail clips relative to a plurality of anchor sockets and rails. The machine includes a chassis and a workhead mounted thereto, with a tool configured to either install or remove the rail clips mounted to the workhead. The installation tool includes a curved upper wall configured to engage with the upper side of a rail clip, as well as a side wall configured to engage with a side of the rail clip, such that longitudinal movement of the rail clip is achieved even if the rail clip does not conform to standard sizes or shapes. Various tools can be selected and installed relative to the workhead depending on a number of characteristics associated with the project, including the type of clip, the type of anchor, the type of tie, and any other relevant factors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railway maintenance machine with a rail clip applicator configured to install a plurality of rail clips relative to a plurality of anchor sockets and rails comprising:
 a chassis configured for movement along a railway;   a workhead attached to the chassis;   a clip applying spat tool that is mounted to the workhead, the clip applying spat tool comprising:
 an upper curved wall compatible with a top section of the rail clip, the upper curved wall having an apex extending laterally of the railway; and 
 a sidewall compatible with a rear or front section of the rail clip; 
   wherein the clip applying spat tool moves the clip substantially longitudinally along a portion of the rail into an anchor socket.   
     
     
         2 . The railway maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the clip applying spat tool is one of a left-hand clip applying spat tool configured to install a left-hand clip and a right-hand clip applying spat tool configured to install a right-hand clip. 
     
     
         3 . The railway maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the clip applying spat tool further comprises a curved cut out formed in the sidewall;
 wherein the upper curved wall is configured to surround and guide the top section of the rail clip during installation;   wherein the sidewall is configured to surround and guide a front or rear section of the rail clip during installation; and   wherein the curved cut out is configured to surround and guide a curved portion of the rail clip during installation.   
     
     
         4 . The railway maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the curved upper wall further comprises:
 a first side edge and a second side edge extending longitudinally of the rail;   wherein the first side edge and the second side edge are configured to limit side-to-side movement of the rail clip during application; and   wherein the apex is configured to limit side-to-side and vertical movement of the rail clip during application.   
     
     
         5 . The railway maintenance machine of  claim 4 , wherein the horizontal distance between the first side edge and the second side edge is between approximately 1.75-2.25 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The railway maintenance machine of  claim 4 , wherein the vertical distance between the side edges and the peak is between approximately 4-5 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The railway maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the clip applying spat tool further comprises:
 a mounting section releasably connected to the workhead comprising a base and a plurality of openings formed in the base; and   a clip installation section comprising the upper curved wall, the sidewall, and a hard stop configured to prevent over-installation of the rail clip.   
     
     
         8 . The railway maintenance of  claim 7 , wherein the workhead further comprises a mounting section compatible with the clip applying spat tool mounting section, the workhead mounting section further comprising:
 a base;   a plurality of pegs extending from the base; and   a plurality of openings formed into the base;   wherein the plurality of openings of the clip applying spat tool mounting section align with at least some of the plurality of pegs and plurality of openings.   
     
     
         9 . The railway maintenance machine of  claim 7 , wherein the clip applying spat tool mounting section is flush with a front edge or a back edge of the workhead mounting section. 
     
     
         10 . The railway maintenance machine of  claim 7 , wherein the clip applying spat tool mounting section is offset from a front edge and a back edge of the workhead mounting section. 
     
     
         11 . The railway maintenance machine of  claim 1 , wherein the workhead further comprises a hydraulic cylinder that moves the clip applying spat tool longitudinally along a portion of the rail to install the rail clip into the anchor socket. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a railway maintenance machine with a rail clip applicator, comprising the steps of:
 installing the clip applying tool to a workhead associated with a chassis;   advancing the chassis along a railway;   engaging an upper curved wall of the clip applying tool with a top section of the rail clip;   engaging a sidewall of the clip applying tool with a rear or front section of the rail clip; and   moving the clip applying tool substantially longitudinally to install the rail clip relative to an anchor socket.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 preventing side-to-side movement of the clip by a first side edge and a second side edge of the curved upper wall during application;   preventing side-to-side movement and vertical movement of the clip by an apex located between the first side edge and the second side edge of the curved wall during application; and   engaging a curved cut out formed in the sidewall of the clip applying tool with a curved portion of the rail clip during application.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of aligning the clip applying tool with one of a front end or a rear end of a mounting section of the workhead. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of offsetting the clip applying tool from a front end and a rear end of a mounting section of the workhead. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of actuating a hydraulic cylinder associated with the workhead to move the clip applying tool substantially longitudinally relative to rail. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 terminating longitudinal movement of the workhead towards the anchor socket by engaging a surface of the anchor socket with a longitudinal hard stop; and   terminating vertical movement of the workhead by engaging a vertical hard stop.   
     
     
         18 . A railway maintenance machine with a rail clip applicator configured to install a plurality of rail clips relative to a plurality of anchor sockets and rails comprising:
 a chassis configured for movement along a railway;   a workhead attached to the chassis having a hydraulic cylinder;   a clip applying tool that is mounted to the workhead, the clip applying tool comprising:
 an upper curved wall compatible with a top section of the rail clip; 
 a sidewall compatible with a rear or front section of the rail clip; and 
 a curved cut out formed in the sidewall compatible with a curved portion of the rail clip and extending longitudinally of the railway; 
   wherein the hydraulic cylinder moves the clip applying tool and the clip substantially longitudinally along a portion of the rail into an anchor socket.   
     
     
         19 . The railway maintenance machine of  claim 18 , wherein the clip applying tool further comprises:
 a mounting section releasably connected to the workhead comprising a base and a plurality of openings formed in the base; and   a clip installation section comprising the upper curved wall, the sidewall, and a hard stop;   wherein the workhead further comprises:   a base;   a plurality of pegs extending from the base; and   a plurality of threaded openings formed into the base; and   wherein the plurality of openings align with at least some of the plurality of pegs and plurality of threaded openings.   
     
     
         20 . The railroad tie maintenance vehicle of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of clip applying tools releasably securable to the workhead.