Railway anchor applicator machine

Abstract

Provided herein is a workhead assembly for a railway anchor applicator that can have an anchor clipping mechanism can be configured to operably couple to an anchor receiving mechanism. The anchor clipping mechanism can have an apply lever configured to be coupled to an actuator. The apply lever may include a fulcrum configured couple to a moveable frame of the workhead. The anchor clipping mechanism may include an applicator arm having an elongated body with a first end, a second end at a distal location, and a middle portion between the first end and the second end. The middle portion may be configured to pivotably couple to the apply lever and a guide pin is located on the second end. An apply cam can be configured to couple to the moveable frame. The apply cam can have a slot configured to receive the guide pin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A workhead assembly for a railway anchor applicator comprising:
 a movable frame configured to be disposed between a set of railway tracks;   an anchor receiving mechanism configured to be coupled to the movable frame, the anchor receiving mechanism configured to rotate between a first position for receiving an anchor and a second position in proximity to one of the tracks;   an anchor clipping mechanism configured to be coupled to the movable frame and the anchor receiving mechanism, the anchor clipping mechanism comprising:
 an actuator configured to be coupled to the movable frame; 
 an apply lever configured to be coupled to a second end of the actuator, the apply lever having a fulcrum configured to be coupled to the moveable frame; 
 an applicator arm having an elongated body with a first end, a second end at a distal location, and a middle portion between the first end and the second end, wherein the middle portion is configured to be pivotably coupled to the apply lever, and a guide pin is located on the second end; and 
 an apply cam configured to be coupled to the moveable frame, the apply cam having a slot configured to receive the guide pin. 
   
     
     
         2 . The workhead assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor receiving mechanism is configured to be operably coupled to the apply lever. 
     
     
         3 . The workhead assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the applicator arm is configured to move in a path based at least in part on the shape of the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The workhead assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising an anchor magazine configured to operably coupled to the anchor receiving mechanism, the anchor magazine configured to supply the anchor to the anchor receiving mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The workhead assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is configured to be aligned perpendicular to the track. 
     
     
         6 . The workhead assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic piston. 
     
     
         7 . The workhead assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the anchor receiving mechanism further comprises a clamp configured to hold the anchor. 
     
     
         8 . The workhead assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a rail coupler configured to be coupled to the first end of the applicator arm. 
     
     
         9 . The workhead assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body comprises a clevis opening configured for receiving the apply lever and the apply cam, the clevis opening formed from the middle portion through the second end. 
     
     
         10 . A method of applying a railway anchor to a railway track comprising:
 supplying an anchor to an anchor receiving mechanism;   rotating the anchor receiving mechanism from a first position located above the track to a second position below the track;   applying a force to an anchor clipping mechanism coupled to the anchor receiving mechanism, the anchor clipping mechanism comprising:
 an applicator arm having an elongated body with a first end, a second end at a distal location, and a middle portion between the first end and the second end, wherein the middle portion is adapted to receive the applying force, and the second end comprises a guide pin; and 
 an apply cam having a slot configured to receive the guide pin. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein applying a force further comprises moving the applicator arm in a path defined by the slot. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein applying a force to the anchor clipping mechanism further comprises actuating a hydraulic actuator operably coupled to the applicator arm through an apply lever. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising applying a force to an anchor through the applicator arm, wherein the force applied to the anchor attaches the anchor to the railway track. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein moving the applicator arm further comprises an upward rotation of the applicator arm from a position below the railway track and a transverse translation of the applicator arm with respect to the railway track. 
     
     
         15 . An anchor clipping mechanism coupled to a movable frame of a railway anchor applicator, the anchor clipping mechanism comprising:
 an actuator configured to couple to the movable frame;   an apply lever configured to couple to a second end of the actuator, the apply lever having a fulcrum configured to couple to the moveable frame;   an applicator arm having an elongated body with a first end, a second end at a distal location, and a middle portion between the first end and the second end, wherein the middle portion is configured to pivotably couple to the apply lever, and a guide pin is located on the second end; and   an apply cam configured to couple to the moveable frame, the apply cam having a slot configured to receive the guide pin.   
     
     
         16 . The anchor clipping mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein the applicator arm moves in a path based at least in part on the shape of the slot. 
     
     
         17 . The anchor clipping mechanism of  claim 16 , wherein the slot is configured to aligned perpendicular to a railway track. 
     
     
         18 . The anchor clipping mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic piston. 
     
     
         19 . The anchor clipping mechanism of  claim 15 , further comprising a rail coupler configured to couple to the first end of the applicator arm. 
     
     
         20 . The anchor clipping mechanism of  claim 19 , wherein the elongated body comprises a clevis opening configured for receiving the apply lever and the apply cam, the clevis opening formed from the middle portion through the second end.