Cribbing system and method

Abstract

A cribbing vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle frame and a primary cribbing device coupled to the vehicle frame and having a work head may move between rails of a track. The cribbing vehicle may include an auxiliary cribbing system removably coupled to the vehicle frame in spaced relation to the primary cribbing device and having a push arm may move between a first tie and second tie of the track.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cribbing vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame;   a primary cribbing device coupled to the vehicle frame and having a work head configured to move between rails of a track; and   an auxiliary cribbing system removably coupled to the vehicle frame in spaced relation to the primary cribbing device and having a push arm configured to move between a first tie and second tie of the track.   
     
     
         2 . The cribbing vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary cribbing system is configured to move from a travel position where the push arm is coupled to the vehicle frame at a push arm first end and at a push arm second end, to a ready position where the push arm is coupled to the vehicle frame at only the push arm first end, and to a working position wherein the push arm is configured to be at least partially under a rail of the rails. 
     
     
         3 . The cribbing vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary cribbing system comprises:
 a kicker frame;   a first actuating member coupled to the vehicle frame at a first actuating member first end, and coupled to the kicker frame at a first frame pivot at a first actuating member second end; and   a second actuating member coupled to the kicker frame between a second actuating member first end and a second actuating member second end, and coupled to the push arm at the second actuating member second end; and   wherein the first frame pivot is aligned with a second frame pivot such that horizontal forces on the second actuating member are directed into the first actuating member.   
     
     
         4 . The cribbing vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the first actuating member extends from a first position to a second position to lift and move the push arm from a travel position to a ready position. 
     
     
         5 . The cribbing vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the first actuating member includes a locking member configured to lock the first actuating member in the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The cribbing vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the second actuating member extends from a first position to a second position to move the push arm from a ready position above ground to a working position wherein the push arm is configured to be at least partially under a rail of the rails. 
     
     
         7 . The cribbing vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the first actuating member is a first pneumatic cylinder, and the second actuating member is a second pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The cribbing vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the second actuating member engages the push arm to engage the push arm at the second actuating member second end. 
     
     
         9 . The cribbing vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the push arm includes a cribbing head secured to an arcuate body and having a different cross section than a push arm body. 
     
     
         10 . The cribbing vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the primary cribbing device is a one-piece construction with the vehicle frame. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a kicker frame;   a first actuating member coupled to a vehicle frame at a first actuating member first end, and coupled to the kicker frame at a first frame pivot at a first actuating member second end; and   a second actuating member coupled to the kicker frame between a second actuating member first end and a second actuating member second end, and coupled to a push arm at the second actuating member second end; and   wherein the push arm is configured to move from a travel position where the push arm is coupled to the vehicle frame at a push arm first end and at a push arm second end, to a ready position where the push arm is coupled to the vehicle frame at only the push arm first end, and to a working position wherein the push arm is configured to be at least partially under a rail of a track.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the first frame pivot is aligned with a second frame pivot such that horizontal forces on the second actuating member are directed into the first actuating member. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first actuating member extends from a first position to a second position to lift and move the push arm from the travel position to the ready position. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first actuating member includes a locking member configured to lock the first actuating member in the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second actuating member extends from a first position to a second position to move the push arm from the ready position above ground to the working position wherein the push arm is configured to be at least partially under a rail of the rails. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second actuating member engages the push arm. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the push arm includes a cribbing head secured to an arcuate body and having a different cross section than a push arm body. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 performing, with a primary cribbing device, an initial cribbing between a first tie of a track and a second tie of the track between rails of the track; and   after the initial cribbing, performing a supplemental cribbing between the first tie of the track and the second tie of the track with an auxiliary cribbing device, including cribbing under a rail of the rails of the track.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the supplemental cribbing includes moving a push arm of the auxiliary cribbing device from a travel position to a ready position with a first actuating member of the auxiliary cribbing device and moving the push arm from the ready position to a working position with a second actuating member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the supplemental cribbing further includes locking the first actuating member upon reaching the ready position.