Railroad track tool apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9708777-B2
Application number	US-201514834005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2015
Priority date	Aug 24, 2015
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a railroad track tool apparatus. The apparatus comprises a tool configured to perform an operation to the rail of the railroad track, a clamp assembly, and a coupling. The clamp assembly is moveable between a clamped position and an unclamped position to removably couple the tool with the rail. The clamp assembly is moveable along the rail. The coupling is configured to couple the tool to the clamp assembly. The coupling comprises a pivot, a linkage assembly comprising an arm coupled to the pivot, and a head coupled to the linkage assembly. The coupling is configured such that the tool is moveable between an inner side and an outer side of the rail, rotatable toward and away from the inner side or the outer side of the rail, and rotatable toward and away from an underside of the rail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A railroad track tool apparatus comprising:
a tool configured to perform an operation to a rail of a railroad track, the rail comprising an upper portion, an elongated central portion, and a lower portion;
a clamp assembly moveable between a clamped position and an unclamped position to removably couple the tool with the rail, the clamp assembly comprising:
a first bearing structure configured to engage an upper side of the upper portion of the rail; and
second and third bearing structures configured to engage an underside of the upper portion of the rail on opposite sides of the elongated central portion of the rail when the clamp assembly is in the clamped position, the clamp assembly moveable along the rail; and

a coupling configured to couple the tool to the clamp assembly.

2. A railroad track tool apparatus comprising:
a tool configured to perform an operation to a rail of a railroad track, wherein the tool is a grinder, and wherein the operation performed by the grinder to the rail of the railroad track comprises a grinding operation;
a clamp assembly moveable between a clamped position and an unclamped position to removably couple the tool with the rail, the clamp assembly comprising:
a first bearing structure configured to engage an upper side of the rail; and
second and third bearing structures configured to engage an underside of the rail when the clamp assembly is in the clamped position, the clamp assembly moveable along the rail; and

a coupling configured to couple the tool to the clamp assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the clamp assembly further comprises a lever, the lever configured to, when actuated by a user, cause the second and third bearing structures to engage or disengage the underside of the rail.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the clamp assembly is configured such that the second and third bearing structures rotate toward the rail to engage the underside of the rail and rotate away from the rail to disengage the underside of the rail.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the clamp assembly further comprises fourth and fifth bearing structures configured to move along an inner side and an outer side of the rail to facilitate movement of the clamp assembly along the rail without binding against the rail.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the clamp assembly is configured such that the second and third bearing structures are disposed toward a first end of the clamp assembly; and the first, fourth, and fifth bearing structures are disposed toward a second end of the clamp assembly; and wherein the coupling is coupled to the clamp assembly toward the second end of the clamp assembly near the first, fourth, and fifth bearing structures.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising an adjustment structure configured to adjust a distance between a sixth bearing structure and the second and third bearing structures.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth bearing structures each comprise an individual roller.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the coupling includes a pivot, the pivot configured to facilitate rotation of the coupling to move the tool between an inner side and an outer side of the rail.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the coupling includes an arm coupled to the clamp assembly, the arm being moveable to position the tool on an outer side or an inner side of the rail.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the coupling includes a head configured to couple with the tool, the head configured to:
rotate about a first axis such that the tool is moveable toward and away from an inner side or an outer side of the rail; and
rotate about a second axis such that the tool is moveable toward and away from the underside of the rail.

12. An railroad track tool apparatus comprising:
a tool configured to perform an operation to a rail of a railroad track;
a clamp assembly configured to removably couple the tool with the rail; and
a coupling configured to couple the tool to the clamp assembly, the coupling comprising:
a pivot that couples the coupling to the clamp assembly, the pivot configured to facilitate rotation of the coupling to move the tool between an inner side and an outer side of the rail.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the tool is a grinder, and wherein the operation performed by the grinder to the railroad track comprises a grinding operation.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the clamp assembly has a first end that is clamped to the rail and a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the pivot couples the coupling to the clamp assembly toward the second end of the clamp assembly.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the coupling has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the coupling is coupled to the clamp assembly via the pivot toward the first end of the coupling, and wherein the tool is coupled with the coupling toward the second end of the coupling.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the clamp assembly extends along the rail from the first end of the clamp assembly to the second end of the clamp assembly, and wherein the pivot is positioned above the rail and couples the coupling to the clamp assembly toward the second end of the clamp assembly.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the pivot includes a hard stop and a retractable detent configured to limit rotation of the coupling.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the hard stop and retractable detent are configured to allow enough rotation of the coupling such that the tool is positionable on the inner side or the outer side of the rail.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the clamp assembly is moveable between a clamped position and an unclamped position to removably couple the tool with the rail, the clamp assembly comprising:
a first bearing structure configured to engage an upper side of the rail; and
second and third bearing structures configured to engage an underside of the rail when the clamp assembly is in the clamped position, the clamp assembly moveable along the rail.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the first, second, and third bearing structures each comprise an individual roller.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the coupling includes an arm coupled to the clamp assembly via the pivot, the arm being moveable to position the tool on the outer side or the inner side of the rail.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the coupling includes a head configured to couple with the tool, the head configured to:
rotate about a first axis such that the tool is moveable toward and away from the inner side or the outer side of the rail; and
rotate about a second axis such that the tool is moveable toward and away from an underside of the rail.

23. A railroad track tool apparatus comprising:
a tool configured to perform an operation to the rail of the railroad track;
a clamp assembly configured to removably couple the tool with the rail; and
a coupling configured to couple the tool to the clamp assembly, the coupling comprising:
a linkage assembly configured to facilitate movement of the tool toward and away from the rail, the linkage assembly including a spring structure, wherein a gravitational weight of the tool is countered by a spring force provided by the spring structure.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the tool is a grin

Assignees

• Stanley Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Weatherill Jeffery
• West Gabriel

Classifications

• B24B23/02

  with rotating grinding tools; Accessories therefor · CPC title

• B24B19/004

  for grinding rails, T, I, H or other similar profiles · CPC title

• B24B27/0084

  the grinding wheel support being angularly adjustable · CPC title

• B24B23/00

  Portable grinding machines, e.g. hand-guided; Accessories therefor (B24B7/18 takes precedence; for grinding seat surfaces B24B15/00; having a flexible shaft B24B27/027; grinders for cutting-off B24B27/08; dust extraction equipment B24B55/10; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00) · CPC title

• E01B31/17 Primary

  by grinding · CPC title