Systems and methods for confining ballast samples

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12000762-B2
Application number	US-202117534961-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2021
Priority date	Sep 25, 2019
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A sample confinement tool includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the sample confinement tool is coupled to a driving tool. The driving tool is coupled to a heavy-duty vehicle. The sample confinement tool is operable to insert a predetermined depth below a ballast surface and collect a ballast sample within the second end of the sample confinement tool. The sample confinement tool is also operable to confine the ballast sample within the second end of the sample confinement tool by mechanically compressing the ballast sample. The sample confinement tool is further operable to release the ballast sample into a sample receptacle by mechanically decompressing the ballast sample.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sample confinement tool, comprising:
a first member comprising:
a first end coupled to a driving tool, the driving tool coupled to a heavy-duty vehicle; and
a C-shaped second end opposite the first end;

a second member mechanically coupled to the first member by a fastener, the second member configured to move relative to the first member by pivoting about an axis of the fastener, the second member comprising a C-shaped end that overlaps the C-shaped second end of the first member, thereby forming an end of the sample confinement tool; and
a hydraulic actuator operably configured to control the movement of the second member relative to the first member,
wherein the sample confinement tool is operable to:
insert a predetermined depth below a ballast surface,
collect a ballast sample within the end of the sample confinement tool, and
confine the ballast sample within the end of the sample confinement tool by mechanically compressing the ballast sample.

2. The sample confinement tool of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the second member overlaps at least a portion of the first member.

3. The sample confinement tool of claim 2 , wherein the hydraulic actuator is operable to:
rotate the second member in a first direction relative to the first member to mechanically compress the ballast sample; and
rotate the second member in a second direction relative to the first member to mechanically decompress the ballast sample.

4. The sample confinement tool of claim 1 , wherein the sample confinement tool is a hollow square tube that is approximately four feet in length, approximately eight inches in depth, and approximately eight inches in width.

5. The sample confinement tool of claim 1 , wherein:
the sample confinement tool is coupled to one or more hydraulic lines; and
the one or more hydraulic lines are coupled to a hydraulic circuit of the heavy-duty vehicle.

6. The sample confinement tool of claim 1 , further operable to vibrate, using the driving tool, until the end of the sample confinement tool reaches the predetermined depth below the ballast surface.

7. The sample confinement tool of claim 1 , wherein:
the heavy-duty vehicle is a backhoe,
the driving tool is a vibrating tool, and
the ballast surface is a bed of a railroad track.

8. An apparatus, comprising:
a first end;
a second end;
a first member comprising a first C-shaped end;
a second member coupled to the first member by a fastener, the second member configured to move relative to the first member by pivoting about an axis of the fastener, the second member comprising a second C-shaped end that overlaps the first C-shaped end of the first member, thereby forming the second end of the apparatus; and
a controller configured to receive a location of the second end of the apparatus,
wherein the apparatus is operable to:
insert a predetermined depth below a ballast surface,
collect a ballast sample within the second end of the apparatus, and
release the ballast sample into a sample receptacle by mechanically decompressing the ballast sample.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a hydraulic actuator.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic actuator is operable to:
rotate the second member in a first direction relative to the first member to mechanically compress the ballast sample; and
rotate the second member in a second direction relative to the first member to mechanically decompress the ballast sample.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is a hollow square tube that is approximately four feet in length, approximately eight inches in depth, and approximately eight inches in width.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
the apparatus is coupled to one or more hydraulic lines; and
the one or more hydraulic lines are coupled to a hydraulic circuit of a heavy-duty vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further operable to vibrate until the second end of the apparatus reaches the predetermined depth below the ballast surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first end is coupled to a driving tool and the ballast surface is a bed of a railroad track.

15. A method, comprising:
inserting an end of a sample confinement tool a predetermined depth below a ballast surface, the sample confinement tool comprising:
a first member having a first end and a C-shaped second end;
a second member coupled to the first member by a fastener, the second member configured to move relative to the first member by pivoting about an axis of the fastener, the second member comprising a C-shaped end that overlaps the C-shaped second end of the first member, thereby forming the end of the sample confinement tool;

confining a ballast sample within the end of the sample confinement tool by mechanically compressing the ballast sample;
releasing the ballast sample by mechanically decompressing the ballast sample.

16. The method of claim 15 , the sample confinement tool further comprising a hydraulic actuator.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
rotating, using the hydraulic actuator, the second member in a first direction relative to the first member to mechanically compress the ballast sample; and
rotating, using the hydraulic actuator, the second member in a second direction relative to the first member to mechanically decompress the ballast sample.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the sample confinement tool is a hollow square tube approximately four feet in length, approximately eight inches in depth, and approximately eight inches in width.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising coupling one or more hydraulic lines to the sample confinement tool and to a hydraulic circuit of a heavy-duty vehicle.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising vibrating, using a driving tool, the sample confinement tool until the end of the sample confinement tool reaches the predetermined depth below the ballast surface.

Assignees

• Bnsf Railway Co

Inventors

• Krueger Darrell R
• Wnek Michael A
• Dombrow William

Classifications

• G01N1/08 Primary

  involving an extracting tool, e.g. core bit · CPC title

• E01B27/04

  Removing the ballast; Machines therefor, whether or not additionally adapted for taking-up ballast (E01B27/06, E01B27/12 takes precedence; redistributing ballasting material E01B27/02) · CPC title

• E01B37/00 Primary

  Making, maintaining, renewing, or taking-up the ballastway or the track, not provided for in a single one of groups E01B27/00 - E01B35/00 · CPC title

• E01B27/00

  Placing, renewing, working, cleaning, or taking-up the ballast, with or without concurrent work on the track; Devices therefor; Packing sleepers · CPC title

• E01B2203/028

  Alternative ways · CPC title