Railway ballast cleaning machine with integrated hopper car

{
  "publication_number": "US5347933A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Railway ballast cleaning machine with integrated hopper car",
  "abstract": "The disclosed shoulder ballast cleaning machine with integrated hopper car is particularly designed to provide for the temporary conveyance and storage of clean ballast. The shoulder ballast cleaning machine digs up the stone ballast of the railroad bed, separates dirt and debris from the ballast, and replaces the cleaned ballast on the railroad bed. The hopper car provides the storage capacity to have ballast on board for deployment on the track bed when the quantity of ballast then being cleaned is inadequate to satisfy the need and to store excess cleaned ballast when the quantity of cleaned ballast exceeds the amount needed to be replaced on the track bed. The hopper car is interposed between the power car and the auxiliary car. A unique conveyor system conveys the fouled ballast from the power car where the ballast is dug up, past the hopper car, to the auxiliary car where the ballast and waste are separated. A further unique conveyor system conveys the cleaned ballast from the separator on the auxiliary car to the hopper car for redeployment on the track bed.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A ready ballast holding and distribution system for a railway shoulder ballast cleaning machine having a first digger portion including a plurality of digger buckets for scooping up fouled ballast having dirt and debris imbedded therein from along a railway shoulder and depositing said fouled ballast within said machine and a second cleaning portion including ballast cleaning means operably positioned to receive said fouled ballast for separating said debris from said fouled ballast to provide cleaned ballast and separated debris, said ready ballast holding and distribution system comprising: a hopper car having rail engaging wheels interposed between and operably coupled to the first portion of the ballast cleaning machine and the second portion of the ballast cleaning machine for selectively retaining a quantity of clean ballast ready for selective distribution on the track shoulder and having a plurality of downwardly directed chute doors adapted for deployment of clean ballast along the railway shoulders, said chute doors being selectively variably openable for controlling the quantity of ballast being deployed and being selectively positionable to deploy ballast on either railway shoulder; first conveyor means for transporting fouled ballast from the digger portion to the cleaner portion and having a span terminating in a first end and an opposed second end, the first end operably positioned adjacent to the digger portion for receiving fouled ballast therefrom and the second end operably positioned adjacent to the cleaning portion for delivering fouled ballast thereto, the span of the first conveyor means being generally coextensive longitudinally with and overlying said hopper car; second conveyor means for conveying the cleaned ballast from the cleaning means to the hopper car and having a first end and an opposed second end, the first end being disposed to receive cleaned ballast from the ballast cleaning means and the second end being disposed to discharge the cleaned ballast into the hopper car."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates to machines for on-site cleaning of railroad track bed ballast material. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus that integrates a hopper car and a unique ballast handling conveyor system into a ballast cleaning machine for the improved storage and deployment of both new and cleaned ballast material.\n\nRailroad tracks and cross ties are conventionally supported on beds of stone ballast. The stone ballast provides a firm foundation for the tracks and the cross ties. Further, the spaces between the ballast stones allow for proper drainage of the track bed area. Proper drainage is important to prevent erosion of the track bed area and deterioration of the wooden cross ties, both of which ultimately lead to an unsafe track condition. Over time, the space between the individual stones of the ballast becomes fouled with dirt, debris, and so called \"fines\" from the wearing down of the individual ballast stones. Fouling of the ballast prevents proper drainage, leading to premature deterioration of the wooden cross ties and weakening of the track bed.\n\nIt has become commonplace for railroad companies to periodically remove the ballast from the shoulders of the railroad track beds, clean it, and redispose the cleaned ballast on the shoulders. Such periodic cleaning has been found to restore proper drainage, even when the ballast between the cross ties is not removed and cleaned. The stone ballast is typically removed from the shoulder of the track bed shoulder, carried to a vibrating screen where the stone ballast is separated from the dirt, debris, and fines.",
  "cpc": [
    "E01B 27/10"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E01B 27/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Loram Maintenance of Way Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Dennis R. Mathison",
    "James H. Perkins"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1993-01-05",
  "publication_date": "1994-09-20",
  "grant_date": "1994-09-20",
  "priority_date": "1993-01-05",
  "application_number": "US-84093-A",
  "family_id": "21693231",
  "cited_by_count": 19,
  "citations": [
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    "US4611541A",
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    "US5094018A",
    "US5029649A",
    "US5231929A"
  ]
}