U.S. patent application number 12/156439 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-23 for apparatus for enabling an excavator to mount, demount and travel on railroad tracks.
This patent application is currently assigned to Glyde-Rail Licensing, LLC. Invention is credited to James Foote, Dennis Inman, John Roy.
Application Number | 20090101042 12/156439 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40562163 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090101042 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Foote; James ; et
al. |
April 23, 2009 |
Apparatus for enabling an excavator to mount, demount and travel on
railroad tracks
Abstract
A glyde-rail apparatus removably attached to a carrier such as
an excavator to enable the excavator to mount and demount at any
point along a railroad track and to travel along the railroad track
without damaging the railroad track. A non-metallic cover attaches
to the track of the excavator. A front swing arm assembly and a
back swing arm assembly attach to ends of the excavator. A first
pair of hydraulic cylinders on the front swing arm assembly and a
second pair of hydraulic cylinders on the back swing arm assembly
enable rail wheels to be raised or lowered. An operator of the
carrier controls the raising and lowering of the front swing arm
assembly and the back swing arm assembly from within a cab of the
carrier by a combination of hydraulic controls in the carrier and
the glyde-rail apparatus.
Inventors: |
Foote; James; (Webster,
NH) ; Inman; Dennis; (Warner, NH) ; Roy;
John; (Deering, NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEARSON & PEARSON, LLP
10 GEORGE STREET
LOWELL
MA
01852
US
|
Assignee: |
Glyde-Rail Licensing, LLC
Webster
NH
|
Family ID: |
40562163 |
Appl. No.: |
12/156439 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11897196 |
Aug 29, 2007 |
|
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12156439 |
|
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60841625 |
Aug 30, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
105/215.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 9/022 20130101;
B60F 2301/04 20130101; B62D 55/02 20130101; B61D 15/00 20130101;
E01B 37/00 20130101; B60F 1/043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
105/215.1 |
International
Class: |
B61F 13/00 20060101
B61F013/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for attaching to a carrier comprising: a front
swing arm assembly attached to a first end of said carrier having a
first pair of rail wheels extending in front of said first end; a
back swing arm assembly attached to a second end of said carrier
having a second pair of rail wheels extending in front of said
second end; hydraulic means for raising and lowering said first
pair of rail wheels and said second pair of rail wheels; and said
hydraulic means comprises a combination of first hydraulic means
provided by said carrier and second hydraulic means provided by
said apparatus to operate under control of said first hydraulic
means.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said apparatus
operates under control of an operator positioned within a cab area
of said carrier.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first hydraulic
means provided in said carrier comprises: a pilot pump and a main
pump; a pilot manifold coupled to said pilot pump; a main/auxiliary
valve coupled to said main pump; and an auxiliary pilot valve
coupled to said main/auxiliary pump for controlling oil flow to
said front swing arm assembly and said back swing arm assembly in
accordance with an operator's activation of said auxiliary pilot
valve.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said apparatus
comprises switch means in a cab of said carrier for generating a
signal coupled to a travel solenoid of said pilot manifold for
activating a pilot control B line for controlling said back swing
arm assembly.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said second
hydraulic means provided by said apparatus comprises: a diverter
valve coupled to said main/auxiliary valve and controlled by a
pilot line from a pilot manifold of said first hydraulic means; a
first lock check valve coupled between said diverter valve and a
first pair of cylinders of said front swing arm assembly; and a
second lock check valve coupled between said diverter valve and a
second pair of cylinders of said back swing arm assembly.
6. A method of providing a carrier with glyde-rail apparatus to
enable the carrier to mount and demount at any location along a
railroad track and travel on the railroad track, said method
comprising the steps of: providing a carrier including an excavator
having a track; attaching a front swing arm assembly to a first end
of said carrier having a front pair of rail wheels extending in
front of said first end; attaching a back swing arm assembly to a
second end of said carrier having a second pair of rail wheels
extending in front of said second end; and providing hydraulic
means of said carrier and hydraulic means of said glyde-rail
apparatus which in combination enable an operator in a cab of said
carrier to control the mounting and demounting of said carrier at
any location along said railroad track.
7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of providing
a carrier including an excavator having a track comprises the step
of covering said track with a non-metallic material.
8. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of providing
hydraulic means of said carrier and hydraulic means of said
glyde-rail apparatus which in combination enable an operator in a
cab of said carrier to control the mounting and demounting of said
carrier at any location along said railroad track comprises the
steps of: providing a pilot pump and a main pump; coupling a pilot
manifold to said pilot pump; coupling a main/auxiliary valve to
said main pump; providing an auxiliary pilot valve for controlling
said main/auxiliary valve in response to an activation of said
auxiliary pilot valve by an operator in said cab; providing a
swivel between said carrier and said glyde-rail apparatus for
passing hydraulic lines to and from said carrier and said
glyde-rail apparatus; and providing a diverter valve for said
glyde-rail apparatus coupled to said main/auxiliary valve and a
first lock check valve on said front swing assembly and a second
lock check valve on said back swing arm assembly for controlling
the raising and lowering of said first pair of rail wheels and said
second pair of rail wheels.
9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said method comprises
the step of activating a travel switch in said cab which is
connected to a solenoid on said pilot manifold for controlling the
raising and lowering of said back swing arm assembly.
10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said method comprises
the step of providing a first pair of hydraulic cylinders on said
front swing arm assembly which are coupled to said first lock check
valve.
11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said method comprises
the step of providing a second pair of hydraulic cylinders on said
back swing arm assembly which are coupled to said second lock check
valve.
12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said diverter valve
comprises a pair of two position, three way diverter valves.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 11/897,196, filed Aug. 29, 2007, which claims the benefit
of Provisional Application No. 60/841,625, filed Aug. 30, 2066,
both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to a vehicle having rail
wheels attached to operate on a railroad track and, in particular,
to a glyde-rail apparatus that enables an excavator having
rubberized tracks to mount on and demount from railroad tracks at
any point along the track, and travel on the railroad tracks.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] The clearing of vegetation along railroad tracks is a
serious responsibility for the owners of railroad tracks for the
safety of trains traveling on the tracks. Further, there are
Federal laws which provide for fines to the track owners if
vegetation is not controlled outside a certain distance from the
tracks.
[0006] Heavy mobile equipment exists having a boon support column
pivotally attached to a boom arm having a universal connection for
connecting various working devices. Typically, work equipment has
to load and unload from railroad tracks at a railroad crossing
where the top of the track is level with the street. When the
mobile equipment is moved along a track to a work area, the
equipment cannot be removed from the track to allow a train to pass
without being moved to a crossing somewhere along the track, which
takes time and requires leaving and returning to a work area.
[0007] The prior art discloses many diverse railroad track repair
and maintenance machines each devoted to a single specialized task.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,296, issued Jan. 31, 1984 to Fredy
Scheuchzner, et al., and assigned to Les Fils d'Auguste Scheuchzner
S.A., of Switzerland, discloses a railroad track relaying train
comprising a track removing car, an excavating car, a track
relaying car and a tie-screw fitting car followed by a transporting
car. Coupling frames interconnect two adjacent working cars by
means of universal or Cardan joints. Each coupling frame is
equipped with a caterpillar truck which has a pair of track members
and is equipped with lifting means comprising a hydraulic cylinder
for lowering and lifting the truck in relation to its coupling
frame. Each of the cars constitute together a hinged sequence of
wagons supported by six bogie-trucks and they are interconnected by
the coupling frames. Each truck is provided with hydraulic cylinder
for raising and lowering the coupling frame relative to the
respective truck and with mechanisms for driving and steering the
truck. However, the relaying train does not disclose an ability to
remove trucks from the rails of any point along the tracks.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,205, issued Jun. 8, 2004 to Lionel C.
Desmarais, et al., and assigned to Ledcor IP Holdings, Ltd., of
Canada, discloses a rubber tired railway plow comprising a plow
unit mounted on the forward end of the vehicle, railwheels mounted
on the vehicle and a high rail unit positioned on the rear end of
the vehicle. The plow unit is attached so as to be moveable in a
plate. Wedges are used to maintain the plow unit in position on the
plate. Another embodiment shows a cable winder apparatus having a
front reel and a rear wheel mounted on a vehicle having steerable
forward and rearward tires. A high rail unit mounted on rear of the
vehicle comprises a pair of railwheels between arms which are
rotated up and down by hydraulic cylinders. However, the vehicle
cannot access and egress from the railroad tracks without requiring
the presence of a siding.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,822, issued Mar. 8, 2005 to Ken Masse,
of Edmonton, Alberta discloses a mobile railway track repair
apparatus having a mobile unit, a boom unit, a universal connector
unit, an excavator assembly, a tampering/compacting assembly and an
undercutter assembly. The mobile unit comprises a motorized track
traversing member having a dual mode undercarriage that supports a
rotating turret style cab wherein, the undercarriage employs both a
rail engaging flanged wheel assembly and a crawler track assembly
wherein the flanged wheel assembly may be raised relative to the
crawler track assembly in a well recognized fashion to allow the
repair apparatus to gain access and egress from the railway tracks
without requiring the presence of a siding to do so, as well as
ditching/excavating, etc. The cab is rotatably supported on the
undercarriage to support and position the boom unit and the
associated tool assemblies at numerous angular inclinations
relative to both the railroad track and track bed. However, the
track repair apparatus does not have rubber pads replacing track
grooves whereby the apparatus could be self-propelled along the
track.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, it is therefore an object of this invention to
provide a removable glyde-rail apparatus on a vehicle, such as an
excavator, to enable the vehicle to mount and demount on a railroad
track at any point along the railroad track without having to find
a section of the railroad track where the top of the track is level
with a roadway, and to enable the vehicle travel along the railroad
tracks.
[0011] It is another object of this invention to provide a
glyde-rail apparatus for removably mounting on an excavator used to
travel along the railroad tracks without damaging the tracks by
covering the track of the excavator with rubber material.
[0012] It is a further object of this invention to provide control
means to raise and lower rail wheels of the glyde-rail apparatus to
facilitate a vehicle to which the glyde-rail apparatus is attached
mounting on and demounting from a railroad track.
[0013] It is another object of this invention to add control means
for an operator to raise and lower rail wheels of the glyde-rail
apparatus from within a cab of a carrier.
[0014] These and other objects are further accomplished by an
apparatus for attaching to a carrier comprising a front swing arm
assembly attached to a first end of the carrier having a first pair
of rail wheels extending in front of the first end, a back swing
arm assembly attached to a second end of the carrier having a
second pair of rail wheels extending in front of the second end,
hydraulic means for raising and lowering the first pair of rail
wheels and the second pair of rail wheels, and the hydraulic means
comprises a combination of first hydraulic means provided by the
carrier and second hydraulic means provided by the apparatus to
operate under control of the first hydraulic means. The apparatus
operates under control of an operator positioned within a cab area
of the carrier. The first hydraulic means provided in the carrier
comprises a pilot pump and a main pump, a pilot manifold coupled to
the pilot pump, a main/auxiliary valve coupled to the main pump,
and an auxiliary pilot valve coupled to the main/auxiliary pump for
controlling oil flow to the front swing arm assembly and the back
swing arm assembly in accordance with an operator's activation of
the auxiliary pilot valve. The apparatus comprises switch means in
a cab of the carrier for generating a signal coupled to a travel
solenoid of the pilot manifold for activating a pilot control B
line for controlling the back swing arm assembly. The second
hydraulic means provided by the apparatus comprises a diverter
valve coupled to the main/auxiliary valve and controlled by a pilot
line from a pilot manifold of the first hydraulic means, a first
lock check valve coupled between the diverter valve and a first
pair of cylinders of the front swing arm assembly, and a second
lock check valve coupled between the diverter valve and a second
pair of cylinders of the back swing arm assembly.
[0015] These and other objects are further accomplished by a method
of providing a carrier with glyde-rail apparatus to enable the
carrier to mount and demount at any location along a railroad track
and travel on the railroad track, the method comprising the steps
of providing a carrier including an excavator having a track,
attaching a front swing arm assembly to a first end of the carrier
having a front pair of rail wheels extending in front of the first
end, attaching a back swing arm assembly to a second end of the
carrier having a second pair of rail wheels extending in front of
the second end, and providing hydraulic means of the carrier and
hydraulic means of the glyde-rail apparatus which in combination
enable an operator in a cab of the carrier to control the mounting
and demounting of the carrier at any location along the railroad
track. The step of providing a carrier including an excavator
having a track comprises the step of covering the track with
non-metallic material. The step of providing hydraulic means of the
carrier and hydraulic means of the glyde-rail apparatus which in
combination enable an operator in a cab of the carrier to control
the mounting and demounting of the carrier at any location along
the railroad track comprises the steps of providing a pilot pump
and a main pump, coupling a pilot manifold to the pilot pump,
coupling a main/auxiliary valve to the main pump, providing an
auxiliary pilot valve for controlling the main/auxiliary valve in
response to an activation of the auxiliary pilot valve by an
operator in the cab, providing a swivel between the carrier and the
glyde-rail apparatus for passing hydraulic lines to and from the
carrier and the glyde-rail apparatus, and providing a diverter
valve for the glyde-rail apparatus coupled to the main/auxiliary
valve and a first lock check valve on the front swing assembly and
a second lock check valve on the back swing arm assembly for
controlling the raising and lowering of the first pair of rail
wheels and the second pair of rail wheels. The method comprises the
steps of activating a travel switch in the cab which is connected
to a solenoid on the pilot manifold for controlling the raising and
lowering of the back swing arm assembly, providing a first pair of
hydraulic cylinders on the front swing arm assembly which are
coupled to the first lock check valve, providing a second pair of
hydraulic cylinders on the back swing arm assembly which are
coupled to the second lock check valve. The diverter valve
comprises a pair of two position, three way diverter valves.
[0016] Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention
will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration
of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments
exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as
presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The appended claims particularly point out and distinctly
claim the subject matter of this invention. The various objects,
advantages and novel features of this invention will be more fully
apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference
numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a partial cutaway side elevational view of a
glyde-rail apparatus according to the present invention showing
rail wheels lowered on a railroad track.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway side elevational view of a
glyde-rail apparatus according to the present invention showing
rail wheels raised above a railroad track.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a top view of a front swing arm assembly of the
glyde-rail apparatus.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a top view of a back swing arm assembly of the
glyde-rail apparatus.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of an excavator track
having rubber covering attached over the track.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a body mount to which
a front or back swing arm assembly is attached.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a front swing arm
assembly mounted between the tracks of an excavator.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a diagram of hydraulic controls for the front and
back swing arm assemblies according to the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a top view of a front swing arm assembly showing a
cylinder lock check valve mounted on the swing arm tube and
associated hydraulic line connections to diverter valves and
cylinders.
[0027] FIG. 10 is a top view of a back swing arm assembly showing a
cylinder lock check valve mounted on the swing arm tube and
associated hydraulic line connections to diverter valves and
cylinders.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, a partial cutaway side elevational view
of a glyde-rail apparatus 10 attached to a carrier such as an
excavator 12 is shown according to the present invention. The
glyde-rail apparatus 10 comprises a front swing arm assembly 14
which removably attaches to a first end of the excavator 12 and a
back swing arm assembly 16 which removably attaches to a second end
of the excavator 12. A track 20 (FIG. 5) of the excavator comprises
non-metallic cover 22 such as hard rubber or the track 20 may be
made of a non-metallic material such as hard rubber.
[0029] The front swing arm assembly 14 comprises a pair of rail
wheels 24, 25 shown in contact with the railroad track 18. The back
end swing arm assembly 16 comprises a pair of rail wheels 80, 81
shown in contact with the railroad track 18. When the excavator 12
comprises the glyde-rail apparatus 10 including the track 20 with
non-metal covers, the front end swing arm assembly 14, and the back
end swing arm assembly 16, the excavator 12 is able to mount a
railroad track 18 at any point along the track, demount from the
railroad track 18 at any point along the track, and travel along
the railroad track 18 to perform various work activities. A boom
support 13 extending outward from the front end of the excavator 13
may have various work equipment attached to a boom arm which
connects to the boom support 13. One important and useful machine
tool, for use with the excavator 12, when the glyde-rail apparatus
10 is attached, is a mower used for vegetation control along the
railroad track 18. The glyde-rail apparatus 10, although shown in
FIG. 1 attached to an excavator 12, may be used on other vehicles
such as a dump truck with rubber tracks.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 2, a side partial cutaway elevational view
of the glyde-rail apparatus 10 attached to the excavator 12 is
shown with the front and back rail wheels 24, 25 and 80, 81 raised
above the railroad track 18. When the rail wheels 24, 25 and 80, 81
are in the raised position, the excavator track 20 can rotate
ninety (90) degrees to be perpendicular to the railroad track 18,
and demount from the railroad track 18 at any reasonable point
without the excavator 12 having to travel along the railroad track
18 to a distant location where the top of the track is level with a
road.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 7, FIG. 3 is a top
view of the front swing arm assembly 14 comprising the front rail
wheels 24, 25 attached to each end of an axle 26, and FIG. 7 is a
front elevational view of the swing arm assembly 14 attached to the
excavator 12. Extending from two points along the axle 26 are a
pair of spaced-apart swing arms 30 and 32. Each one of lower
cylinder mounts 38, 40 attaches to one of the swing arms 30, 32
respectively. Two lower cylinder mounts 38, 40 are provided, and
one end of two hydro-power unit cylinders 34, 36 connects to one of
the cylinder mounts 38, 40 respectively and the other end connects
to one of a pair of body mounts 42, 44 (see FIG. 6). The pair of
body mounts 42, 44 are welded to a lower frame portion of the
excavator 12. A top portion 42a of body mount 42 is U-shaped having
holes for receiving a pin 46 which passes through a hole in an end
of a piston arm 50 of hydro-power unit cylinder 34. The pin size
for the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 is 2.5 inches in
diameter which is determined by the size and total weight of the
carrier or excavator 12 with a tool attached to a boom support 13.
A top portion 44a of body mount 44 is U-shaped having holes for
receiving a pin 48 (typically 2.5 inches in diameter) which passes
through a hole in an end of a piston arm 52 of hydro-power unit
cylinder 36. A lower portion 42b of body mount 42 comprises
spaced-apart flanges having holes for securing an end of the swing
arm assembly 30 with a pin (typically 2.5 inches in diameter), and
likewise, a lower portion 44b (FIG. 6) of body mount 44 comprises a
flange having holes for securing an end of the swing arm assembly
32 with a pin (typically 2.5 inches in diameter). The spacing
between the swing arms 30, 32 is determined by the distance between
the tracks 20 of the excavator 12. Two parallel tubes 54, 56 are
mounted between and within the swing arms 30, 32 to provide support
for the swing arms 30, 32, and a 0.75 inch thick plate 57 is
attached in the space between the swing arms 30, 32 and the
parallel tubes 54, 56. The plate 57 serves as a shelf for holding a
battery 58, a hydraulic pump power pack 60 including a hydraulic
tank 62, a motor 64, and two switches 70, 72 located on the side of
the hydraulic tank 62 that controls the swing arm assemblies 14, 16
moving up and down. Hydraulic lines 66a, 66b, 66c and 68a, 68b and
68c extend from the hydraulic pump power pack 60 to the
hydro-cylinders 34, 36, and hydraulic line 70 extends to the
hydro-cylinders 89, 90 on the back swing arm assembly 16. The
glyde-rail apparatus 10 does not connect to the hydraulics of the
excavator 12. The width of the axle 26 with the rail wheels 24, 25
on each end is of course determined by the width of the railroad
track 18. The glyde-rail apparatus 10 is self-powered by the
battery 58 and the hydraulic pump power pack 60.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a top view of the
back swing arm assembly 16 comprising the back rail wheels 80, 81
attached at each end of an axle 82. Extending from two points along
the axle 82 are a pair of spaced apart swing arms 84, 86. Two lower
cylinder mounts 92, 94 are provided, and each one of the lower
cylinder mounts 92, 94 attaches to one of the swing arms 84, 86
respectively. One end of two hydro-power unit cylinders 88, 90
connects to one of the lower cylinder mounts 92, 94, respectively,
and the other end connects one of a pair of body mounts 96, 98. The
pair of body mounts 96, 98 are welded to a lower frame portion of a
carrier or the excavator 12. A top portion 96a of body mount 96 is
U-shaped having holes for receiving a pin 100 (typically 2.5 inches
in diameter) which passes through a hole in an end of a piston arm
104 of the hydro-power unit cylinder 88. A top portion 98a (not
shown) of body mount 98 is U-shaped having holes for receiving a
pin 102 (typically 2.5 inches in diameter) which passes through a
hole in an end of a piston arm 106 of hydro-power unit cylinder 90.
A lower portion 98b of body mount 98 comprises a flange having
holes for securing an end of the swing arm 86 with a pin similar to
pin 102. The spacing between the swing arms 84, 86 is determined by
the distance between the tracks 20 of the excavator 12. Two
parallel tubes 108, 110 are mounted between and within the swing
arms 84, 86 to provide support for swing arms 84, 86. A hydraulic
line 70 from the hydraulic pump power pack 60 located in the front
swing arm assembly 14 feeds hydraulic lines 70a, 70b, 70c which
connect to hydraulic lines 110a, 110b and 110c which feed hydraulic
cylinders 88, 90.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, a partial perspective view of one of
the excavator's track 20 is shown having a hard rubber covering 22
attached over the metal track. Mounting bolts 23 are provided
between each rib 21 of the track 20. Also, the track 20 or the ribs
21 of the track 20 may be made of rubber or some other similar
material that will not damage the railroad tracks 18. The track 20
of the excavator is covered with rubber to prevent damage to the
railroad tracks.
[0034] The hydro-power unit cylinders 34, 36 and 88, 90 may be
embodied by Model No. 067839-755261 (BM07-25-001), manufactured by
Parker Hannifix of Cleveland, Ohio. The hydraulic pump power pack
60 may be embodied by Model No. 2622960027 (G03G), manufactured by
Mason Dynamics of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The battery 58 may be
embodied by a heavy-duty 31 Series 12 V Battery.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 8, a diagram of an alternate hydraulic
control system 120 is shown for the front swing arm assembly 14 and
the back swing arm assembly 16 of the glyde-rail apparatus 10. This
hydraulic control system 120 provides for the raising and lowering
of the front rail wheels 24, 25 and the raising and lowering of the
back rail wheels 80, 81 by an operator within a cab 17 of the
carrier 12 using controls located within the cab 17 The dashed
lines in FIG. 8 represent hydraulic pilot or control lines or hoses
which are typically 1/4 inch diameter. The other carrier 12
hydraulic lines or hoses are represented by solid lines and are
typically 3/8 inch diameter. The hydraulic lines or hoses in the
glyde-rail apparatus 10 are also represented by solid lines and are
typically 1/2 inch diameter.
[0036] FIG. 8 shows main pumps 122, 123, a pilot pump 126, a pilot
manifold 128, an auxiliary pilot valve 130, travel switch 144
located in the cab 17, a main valve 132 and an auxiliary valve 134
which are provided in the carrier 12. A 6 port rotary manifold or
swivel 136 is provided between the carrier 12 and the glyde-rail
apparatus 10 which has internal sections for hydraulic lines or
hoses to pass through for connection to the glyde-rail 10
components.
[0037] The portion of the hydraulic control system 120 provided by
the glyde-rail apparatus 10 comprises two 2-position three-way (2P
3W) diverter valves 138a, 138b and two cylinder lock check valves
140, 142. Other types of diverter valves known n the art may be
used.
[0038] The glyde-rail apparatus 10 is controlled by an operator in
the cab of the carrier 12 operating the auxiliary pilot valve 130
which is a head and toe pedal valve. With the diverter valves 138a,
138b in a spring offset position, the oil flow from the auxiliary
valve 134 flows to the rod side of the cylinder 34 and cylinder 36
on the front swing arm assembly 14.
[0039] When the operator depresses the auxiliary pilot valve 130
for operation in the UP position to raise the front swing arm
assembly 14, pilot valve portion 130b is activated and pilot line A
150 sends oil out to auxiliary valve 134 which allows the oil from
main pump 122 to go out port B2 through the swivel 136 to the
diverter valve 138a V2 port and out the C2 port to port b.sub.1 of
the cylinder lock check valve 142 and through the lock check valve
142 to a rod end of the cylinder 34 and cylinder 36 (FIG. 9). As
pressure rises in the line of the rod end of cylinder 34 and
cylinder 36, an internal passage in the lock check valve 142 uses
this pressure to unlock the check valve portion that is in the
return oil path at the head end of the cylinder 34 and cylinder 36
and port a.sub.2 of the lock check valve 142 allowing the oil to
exit port a.sub.1. This causes the cylinder rod 50 to travel into
the cylinder 34 and cylinder rod 52 to travel into cylinder 36. The
oil from the head end will return to diverter valve 138b through
port C2 to port V1 and then through the swivel 136 back to port A1
of auxiliary valve 134 and into pump 122. As a result of the rod 50
traveling into cylinder 34 and the rod 52 traveling into cylinder
53, the front rail wheels 24, 25 are lifted.
[0040] The rail wheels 24, 25 of the front swing arm assembly 14
are lowered when the operator depresses the auxiliary pilot valve
130 for operation in the DOWN position activating the pilot valve
130a portion causing oil flow in pilot line C 154 to be sent to
auxiliary valve 134 which shifts the main pump 122 oil out port A1
of the auxiliary valve 134 through swivel 136 to diverter valve
138b V1 port and out C2 port to port a.sub.1 of the cylinder lock
check valve 142, then through the check valve 142 to the head end
of the cylinder 34 and cylinder 36 (FIG. 9). As pressure rises in
the line of the head end of the cylinder 34 and cylinder 36, an
internal passage in the lock check valve 142 uses this pressure
rise to unlock the check valve 142 portion at port b.sub.2 that is
in the return oil path from the rod end of the cylinder 34 and
cylinder 36 allowing the oil to exit port b.sub.1. This causes the
cylinder rod 50 to extend out of the cylinder 34 and cylinder rod
52 to extend out of the cylinder 36. The oil from the rod end of
cylinder 34 and cylinder 36 returns via diverter valve 138a through
port C2 to port V2, and then via swivel 136 to port B2 of the
auxiliary valve 134 and into pump 122. As a result of rod 50
extending out of cylinder 34 and rod 52 extending out of cylinder
36, the front rail wheels 24, 25 are lowered.
[0041] Still referring to FIG. 8, the rail wheels 80, 81 of the
back swing arm assembly 16 are raised and lowered in a similar
manner as the front swing arm assembly 14. However, this occurs by
activating a travel switch 144, located in the cab 17 of carrier
12, which energizes a travel solenoid 129 on a pilot manifold 128.
The pilot manifold 128 provides oil flow in pilot line B 152 which
causes the diverter valves 138a and 138b to operate in non-offset
position setting them up for providing the hydraulic fluid to raise
and lower the back swing arm assembly 16 and in particular the back
rail wheels 80, 81.
[0042] For this case where the operator in the cab 17 of the
carrier 12 wishes to raise the back rail wheels 80, 81 of the back
swing arm assemble 16, the operator depresses the auxiliary pilot
valve 130b for operation in the UP position which activates oil in
the pilot line A 150 and allows oil to flow from the main pump 122
to go out port B2 of auxiliary valve 134 through the swivel 136 to
diverter valve 138a V2 port and because diverter valve 138a has
been switched, the oil comes out port C1 and goes to port b, of the
lock check valve 140 and through the lock check valve 142 to a rod
end of the cylinder 88 and cylinder 90 (FIG. 10). As pressure rises
in the line of the rod end of cylinder 88 and cylinder 90, an
internal passage in the lock check valve 140 uses this pressure to
unlock the check valve portion that is in the return oil path at
the head end of the cylinder 88 and cylinder 90 and port a.sub.2 of
the lock check valve 140 allowing oil to exit port a.sub.1 This
causes the cylinder rod 104 to travel into the cylinder 88 and
cylinder rod 106 to travel into cylinder 90. The oil at the head
end of cylinder 88 and cylinder 90 returns to diverter valve 138b
through port C1 to port V1 (diverter valves 138a and 138b are in
the position for back swing arm assembly 16 operation). From port
V1 of diverter valve 138b the oil proceeds through the swivel 136
back to port A1 of auxiliary valve 134 and into pump 122. As a
result of the rod 104 traveling into cylinder 88 and the rod 106
traveling into cylinder 90, the back rail wheels 80, 81 are
lifted.
[0043] When the operator wishes to lower the back swing arm
assembly 16 and in particular the rail wheels 80, 81, the operator
activates the travel switch 144 located in the cab 17 of carrier 12
which energizes the travel solenoid 129 on the pilot manifold 128.
The pilot manifold 128 provides oil flow in the pilot line B 152
which causes the diverter valves 138a and 138b to operate in the
non-offset position. The operator depresses the auxiliary pilot
valve 130a for operation in the DOWN position activating the pilot
valve 130a portion causing oil flow in the pilot line C 154 to be
sent to auxiliary valve 134 which shifts the main pump oil out port
A1 of the auxiliary valve 134 through swivel 136 to diverter valve
138b VI port and out C1 port to port a.sub.1, of the cylinder lock
check valve 140, then through the check valve 140 to the head end
of cylinder 88 and cylinder 90 (FIG. 10). As pressure rises in the
line of the head end of the cylinder 88 and cylinder 90, an
internal passage in the lock check valve 140 uses this pressure
rise to unlock the check valve 140 portion at port b.sub.2 that is
in the return oil path from the rod end of the cylinder 88 and
cylinder 90 allowing the oil to exit port b.sub.1. This causes the
cylinder rod 104 to extend out of cylinder 88 and the cylinder rod
106 to extend out of cylinder 90. The oil from the rod end of
cylinder 88 and cylinder 90 returns via the diverter valve 138a
through port C.sub.1 to port V.sub.2, and then via swivel 136 to
port B.sub.2 of auxiliary valve 134 and back into main pump 122. As
a result of rod 104 extending out of cylinder 88 and rod 106
extending out of cylinder 90, the back rail wheels 80 81 are
lowered.
[0044] Referring now to FIG. 9, a top view of the front swing arm
assembly 14 shows the cylinder lock check valve 142 mounted on the
swing arm tube 56 and coming out of the lock check valve 142 are
two hydraulic lines for controlling cylinder 34 and cylinder 36 and
2 position/3 way diverter valves 138a, 138b for controlling oil
flow to and from the lock check valve 142. The diverter valves 138a
and 138b may be mounted under the cab of the carrier 12.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 10, a top view of the back swing arm
assembly 16 shows the cylinder lock check valve 140 mounted on the
swing arm tube 110, and coming out of the lock check valve 140 are
two hydraulic lines for controlling cylinder 88 and cylinder 90 and
2 position/3 way diverter valves 138a, 138b for controlling oil
flow to and from the lock check valve 140.
[0046] The carrier 12 may be embodied by a Model 315C excavator
manufactured by Caterpillar, Inc. of Peoria, Illinois. The main
pumps 122, 123, the pilot pump 126, the pilot manifold 128, the
auxiliary pilot valve 130, the main/auxiliary valve 134, and the
travel switch 144 are provided in the Model 315C excavator by
Caterpillar, Inc. The diverter valves 138a, 138b may be embodied by
Hydraforce Valves, distributed by Hydro Air of North Haven, Conn.
The cylinder lock check valves 140, 142 may be embodied by
Hydraforce Valves, distributed by Hydro Air of North Haven, Conn.
The swivel 136 may be embodied by a 6 port rotary manifold,
manufactured by Caterpillar, Inc. of Peoria, Illinois.
[0047] This invention has been disclosed in terms of a certain
embodiment. It will be apparent that many modifications can be made
to the disclosed apparatus without departing from the invention.
Therefore, it is the intent of the appended claims to cover all
such variations and modifications as come within the true spirit
and scope of this invention.
* * * * *