Adzer Machine Having a Head Assembly with a Cylindrical Drum

The present disclosure relates generally to an adzer machine, and more particularly, to an adzer machine having a head assembly with a cylindrical drum.

An adzer machine is used in the rail industry to resurface worn cross ties, which are the base components of railroad tracks. Over time, support plates that connect rails to the cross ties are forced into the cross ties by the weight of the trains traveling along the tracks. And depending on a differing hardness of individual cross-ties, the support plates are forced deeper into some cross ties than into other cross ties. In order to maintain a straightness of the rails and ensure that the rails are adequately supported along their lengths, the support plates are periodically reset using the adzer machine.

To reset the support plates, one of the rails is separated from the corresponding support plates and the support plates are removed from the cross ties. A head assembly of the adzer machine is then moved along the cross ties at the locations from whence the support plates were removed. The bead assembly includes a series of cutters mounted to a rotating hub. As the head assembly is moved along the cross ties, the cutters create a smooth level surface at each cross tie, the smooth level surface of all cross ties being set at a common height. The support plates and rail are then reconnected to the newly resurfaced cross ties.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,249,542, (“the '542 patent”), describes an adzer machine having a head assembly including a cutting head having a vertically orientated rotational axis. Such a cutting head may result in large cutting debris, and may direct the cutting debris in undesired directions, such as outward of the machine. Also, the cutting head orientation of the '542 patent may be difficult to service, and the bit placement on the cutting head may place detrimental loads on the machine during the cutting process.

The present disclosure may solve one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art. The scope of the current disclosure, however, is defined by the attached claims, and not by the ability to solve any specific problem.

In one aspect, a head assembly for an adzer machine includes a drum housing having a top end, a bottom end, a first side end, a second side end, a front end and a back end, the drum housing forming a drum chamber including an open bottom end. The head assembly further includes a cylindrical adzer drum located within the drum chamber and having a rotation axis extending between the first and second side ends, and a plurality of drum bits located on the cylindrical adzer drum. The head assembly also includes a motor coupled to the drum housing and drivingly connected to the cylindrical drum.

In another aspect, a head assembly for an adzer machine includes a drum housing having a top end, a bottom end, a first side end, a second side end, a front end and a back end, the drum housing forming a drum chamber including an open bottom end. The head assembly further includes a cylindrical adzer drum located within the drum chamber and having a rotation axis extending generally parallel to the surface to be adzed, and a plurality of drum bits located on the cylindrical adzer drum. The head assembly further includes a motor located above the drum housing and drivingly connected to the cylindrical drum, the motor having a drive shaft that is parallel to the rotation axis of the cylindrical adzer drum.

In yet another aspect, an adzer machine includes a first machine end and a second machine end, and a machine frame, at least one rail wheel configured to ride on a railroad rail, the at least one rail wheel located on a first side of the machine, at least one motive track for propelling the machine along the railroad rail, the at least one motive track located on a second side of the machine, and an adzer head assembly. The adzer head assembly includes a drum housing having a top end, a bottom end, a first side end, a second side end, a front end and a back end, the drum housing forming a drum chamber including an open bottom end, a cylindrical adzer drum located within the drum chamber and having a rotation axis extending between the first and second side ends, a plurality of drum bits located on the cylindrical adzer drum, and a motor coupled to the drum housing and drivingly connected to the cylindrical drum. The adzer head assembly is selectively movable with respect to the machine frame.

Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the features, as claimed. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes,” “including,” or other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. In this disclosure, unless stated otherwise, relative terms, such as, for example, “about,” “substantially,” and “approximately” are used to indicate a possible variation of +10% in the stated value.

depicts an exemplary adzer machine (“machine”)configured to resurface cross tiesof a railroad track. As is known in the art, cross ties support parallel rails at opposing ends thereof. The rails may be connected to the cross ties by way of support plates, and fasteners (e.g., spikes) that are driven through the plates into the cross ties. As part of the resurfacing process, one of the rails, the support plates associated with that rail, and the corresponding fasteners may have already been removed at the side of the track (i.e., the exposed side shown in) being resurfaced. Only one side of the track may be resurfaced at a time, as adzer machinemay ride on the remaining railat the opposing side.

Machinemay include, among other things, a machine frame, and one or more rail wheelslocated on one side of machineand configured to support machine frameand ride along the remaining raillocated at the end of the cross ties not being resurfaced. Machinemay also include one or more motive track-type crawlers (“crawlers”)located at the side of machineopposite at the one or more least one rail wheels. Crawlersmay support and propel machine, and may be located to ride directly on the ends of the cross-ties that are being resurfaced. A forward or front located crawlermay ride along unfinished surfaces of the cross-ties, while an aft or rear located crawlermay ride along newly finished surfaces. Crawlersmay have a width about the same as the support plates and be aligned to travel along the same locations previously occupied by the support plates. Machinemay include brushesat the first end of machineand/or the second end of machine. The brushes may be configured to remove debris from a surface of the cross-ties,

Machinemay include a head assemblyconfigured to cut into and thereby perform resurfacing of the cross ties. As shown in, head assemblymay be generally located between and longitudinally aligned with crawlers. In one or more embodiments, a shield (e.g., a rubber or canvas drape, not shown) may be disposed on a bottom of machineand/or around head assemblyto help contain fragments, dust, and/or debris generated during the resurfacing process. Due to features of head assemblydescribed below, the shield may be omitted as fragments, dust, and/or debris generated by head assemblyare removed by components of head assemblyor are thrown in a direction parallel to the rails of the railroad track and/or thrown generally downward toward the railroad.

As seen in at least in, head assemblymay include a drum housinghaving a drum chamberconfigured to contain at least portion of a cylindrical adzer drum. Drum housingmay include a first side end or longitudinal endand a second side end or longitudinal end. Drummay be located within drum chamberbetween first side endand second side end. Further, drummay have a rotation axisextending between first side endand second side end. Rotation axisof drummay be a central longitudinal axis of drum, and may extend generally horizontally and parallel to the surface to the adzed or milled.

Drum housingmay further include a front or forward end or walland a back or rear end or wall. In operation, machinemay be configured to move in a direction from back endtoward front end, or visa-versa. Front endmay be generally planar (e.g., may include a planar surface). Front endmay extend generally parallel relative to rotation axisof drum. Back endmay include an angled wallthat is angled away from rotation axis. Relative to back end, front endmay be located closer to rotation axis.

Drum housingmay include a top endand a bottom end. Bottom endmay be positioned nearer the cross ties than top end. Top endmay include a planar top wall portion. Top endmay further includes an angled front wall portionand angled rear wall portion. Angled front wall portionmay be connected and/or adjacent to front end or walland angled rear wall portionmay be connected and/or adjacent to back end or wall. During operation, bottom endmay be suspended or positioned above the cross ties.

Drum housing(e.g., top end, bottom end, first side end, second side end, front end, and back end) may form chamber. As discussed above, chambermay be sized and shaped to receive drum. Chambermay include an openingat bottom end. Openingmay be sized and shaped to receive drum. At least a radial portion of drumand/or one or more components of drum(e.g., one or more of a plurality of drum bitsdiscussed below) may extend through and beyond openingtoward the cross ties.

As seen in, cylindrical adzer drummay include a plurality of drum bitslocated on drum. Plurality of drum bitsmay be positioned on a curved surface of drum. In one example, planar style bitsmay be disposed around the drumin a scroll shaped pattern. During operation, drummay be rotated along rotation axisso that tips of plurality of drum bitsare driven into/contact the cross-ties. While drumis rotating during operation, debris collected on drumor plurality of drum bitsmay be thrown downward and/or in a direction parallel to the rails of the railroad track. Drumand plurality of drum bitsmay be configured to resurface or mill the cross-ties. Drummay include a longitudinal length of less than approximately 56.5 inches (143.51 cm) corresponding to the standard distance between the rails of the railroad tracks.

As at least seen in, head assemblymay include a drive motorand an enclosed belt transmission(shown in dashed lines in). Motorand belt transmissionmay be configured to rotate drumabout rotation axis. For example, drummay be drivingly connected to motorvia the belt transmission. In some examples, motormay be a hydraulic motor. Motormay be positioned above top endand/or may be coupled to top end, and may include a drive shaft that is parallel to rotation axisof drum. Belt transmissionmay be located within a transmission service housingon first side endof drum housing.

As at least seen in, head assemblymay include a chamber vent connection. Vent connectionmay be configured to provide a path for the removal of dust, particles, and debris from chamberduring operation. Vent connectionmay be located on first side endof drum housing. Vent connectionmay include an opening through first sideand a tubeextending from the opening, away from chamber. It should be understood that portions of tubeare omitted fromto highlight other features of head assembly. Tubemay include a bendconfigured to direct tubeparallel to first side endtoward top endof drum housing. Tubecontinues to a top of machineas shown in.

As at least seen in, head assemblymay include one or more height adjustment brackets, for example, head assemblymay include a pair of height adjustment brackets. The pair of height adjustment bracketsmay be fixedly coupled to top endof drum housingsuch that drum housingmoves with the pair of height adjustment brackets. As best shown in, head assemblymay be movably coupled to machine framevia a pair of pivoting armsand one or more hydraulic cylinders, all of which may be coupled to height adjustment bracketsof head assembly. For example, the pair of pivoting armsmay be rotationally or pivotably coupled to a horizontal barat one end, and rotationally or pivotably coupled to a portion (e.g., a lower portion) of height adjustment bracketsat an opposite end. Three hydraulic cylindersmay be rotationally or pivotably coupled to another portion (e.g., an upper portion) of height adjustment bracketsto controllably or selectively raise, lower, and/or rotate head assemblywith respect machine frame.

The disclosed aspects of the head assemblyof machinemay be of the present disclosure may be used in industry. For example, head assemblymay be used to resurface worn cross ties of railroad tracks so that track support plates can be reset.

The head assemblywith drum rotation axisoriented generally parallel to the milling surface and may provide for a reduction in the size of the cut pieces so that the milled debris may be easily removed via vent connectionor sweeper brushes of machine. Further, the orientation of rotation axismay facilitate service of drum, such as providing easy access to the drumfor the replacement of damaged or worn bitson the drum. Further, the generally horizontal rotation axisof drummay help force material or milled debris to discharge downward, rather than outward, of machine. Finally, the orientation of drumabout rotation axismay help alleviate over loading of machineduring the adzing operation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed system without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments of the system will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the system disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.