Railroad tie replacement device and method

Abstract

A lightweight portable ratcheting device allows a single workmen to remove a worn railroad tie in a more efficient and productive manner in about half the time now required by work crews using hand tools even in an inaccessible area.

1 . An apparatus for extracting and inserting a railroad tie comprising two drive units, a spacing bar, a handle and clamps on the drive units to secure the apparatus to a rail. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising pins used to assemble and disassemble the apparatus. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising two pawls and two cables on each drive unit. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a sling connected to cables by cable hooks. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   
   
       6 . A method of extracting or inserting a railroad tie with an apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  with the steps:
 a. Placing the apparatus astride a railroad tie and under a rail,   b. Clamping the drive units to the rail,   c. Releasing pawls to even cables,   d. Securing cables to a sling over the end of a tie, and   e. Ratcheting the tie to extract or insert it.   
   
   
       7 . A method of railroad maintenance wherein a worn railroad tie is extracted and a new railroad tie is inserted by one or two operators using a portable apparatus. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the method is carried out without having to close down the rail line during the extraction and insertion. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the method is used for spot maintenance. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the method is used in limited accessibility areas. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the apparatus is as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the apparatus is put into position to remove a railroad tie as shown in  FIG. 2 .