Systems and methods for automatically loading and setting a rail fastener driving workhead unit

Abstract

A rail fastener driving machine used for performing a spiking operation is provided, and includes a rail fastener workhead unit configured for driving a fastener into a rail tie. Also included in the machine is a position feedback system configured for controlling the spiking operation of the fastener driving machine based on a position signal and a mode signal, and a position sensor connected to the position feedback system for generating the position signal relative to a cylinder connected to the workhead unit, the position sensor transmitting the position signal to the position feedback system. The mode signal indicates an operation mode selected by an operator, and the workhead unit is actuated by the cylinder based on the mode signal for automatically positioning the workhead unit for driving the fastener into the rail tie.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rail fastener driving machine used for performing a spiking operation, comprising:
 a rail fastener workhead unit configured for driving a fastener into a rail tie;   a position feedback system configured for controlling the spiking operation of the fastener driving machine based on a position signal and a mode signal; and   a position sensor connected to the position feedback system for generating the position signal relative to a cylinder connected to the workhead unit, the position sensor transmitting the position signal to the position feedback system,   wherein the mode signal indicates an operation mode selected by an operator, and the workhead unit is actuated by the cylinder based on the mode signal for automatically positioning the workhead unit for driving the fastener into the rail tie.   
     
     
         2 . The rail fastener driving machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a mode selection module configured for selecting the operation mode under which the position feedback system is operated, and generating the mode signal based on the mode selection. 
     
     
         3 . The rail fastener driving machine of  claim 1 , wherein the operation mode includes at least one of:
 an off mode for operating the position feedback system manually without automation;   an auto-load mode for operating the position feedback system with an automatic fastener loading sequence; and   an auto-load-set mode for operating the position feedback system with an automatic fastener loading and setting sequences.   
     
     
         4 . The rail fastener driving machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a position detection module configured for receiving the position signal from the position sensor for determining whether the workhead unit of the rail fastener driving machine is in a fastener loading position based on the position signal. 
     
     
         5 . The rail fastener driving machine of  claim 4 , wherein the fastener loading position refers to a position where the workhead unit is fully retracted and has reached an upper limit of its operational range relative to the cylinder, such that when the workhead unit is in the fastener loading position, fastener gripping jaws are in an open position, thereby preparing to receive the fastener from a fastener magazine. 
     
     
         6 . The rail fastener driving machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a spike loading module configured for performing an automatic fastener loading sequence by operating a fastener magazine in response to the mode signal. 
     
     
         7 . The rail fastener driving machine of  claim 6 , wherein when the workhead unit is in a fastener loading position and the mode signal indicates either an auto-load mode or an auto-load-set mode, the spike loading module automatically loads the fastener into a delivery point such that fastener gripping jaws switch to a closed position and securely grip the fastener for spiking. 
     
     
         8 . The rail fastener driving machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a spike setting module configured for performing an automatic fastener setting sequence in response to the mode signal. 
     
     
         9 . The rail fastener driving machine of  claim 8 , wherein when the mode signal indicates an auto-load-set mode, the spike setting module automatically transitions the workhead unit to a set position. 
     
     
         10 . The rail fastener driving machine of  claim 9 , wherein the set position refers to a position where the fastener is positioned above a tie plate hole within a predetermined distance between a lower tip of the fastener and an opening of the tie plate hole. 
     
     
         11 . The rail fastener driving machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a spiking module configured for actuating the workhead unit to be in a driving position under the action of the cylinder such that the fastener is driven into the rail tie using the workhead unit. 
     
     
         12 . A method for performing a spiking operation of a rail fastener driving machine using a position feedback system, comprising:
 controlling the spiking operation based on a position signal and a mode signal;   generating the position signal relative to a cylinder connected to a workhead unit of the rail fastener driving machine;   receiving the position signal from a position sensor connected to the position feedback system;   transmitting the position signal to the position feedback system;   generating the mode signal based on an operation mode selected by an operator; and   actuating the workhead unit using the cylinder based on the mode signal for automatically positioning the workhead unit for driving a fastener into a rail tie.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 selecting the operation mode under which the position feedback system is operated; and   generating the mode signal based on the mode selection.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the operation mode includes at least one of:
 an off mode for operating the position feedback system manually without automation;   an auto-load mode for operating the position feedback system with an automatic fastener loading sequence; and   an auto-load-set mode for operating the position feedback system with an automatic fastener loading and setting sequences.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining whether the position feedback system is in one of an auto-load mode or an auto-load-set mode based on the mode signal;   receiving the position signal from the position sensor when the operation mode is in either one of the auto-load or auto-load-set mode.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 performing an automatic fastener loading sequence in response to the mode signal when the operation mode is in either one of an auto-load or auto-load-set mode; and   manually performing the fastener loading sequence when the operation mode is in neither one of the auto-load or auto-load-set mode.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 performing an automatic fastener setting sequence in response to the mode signal when the operation mode is in an auto-load-set mode; and   manually performing the fastener setting sequence when the operation mode is not in the auto-load-set mode.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising overriding an automatic fastener loading sequence or an automatic fastener setting sequence by the operator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising automatically transitioning the workhead unit to a set position when the mode signal indicates an auto-load-set mode. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising actuating the workhead unit to be in a driving position under the action of the cylinder such that the fastener is driven into the rail tie using the workhead unit.