Tie-arrangement system and method of delivering ties

Abstract

Tie-arrangement system includes a conveyor assembly configured to receive ties for placement in a track for rail vehicles. The conveyor assembly is configured to receive the ties in a common plane relative to each other. The tie-arrangement system includes an accumulator assembly configured to receive the ties in the common plane from the conveyor assembly. The accumulator assembly is configured to arrange the ties in a same orientation in groups and to move the groups of the ties out of the accumulator assembly. The tie-arrangement system includes a delivery assembly configured to receive the groups of the ties arranged by the accumulator assembly into the same orientation. The delivery assembly is configured to place the groups of the ties onto a surface off the tie-arrangement system for placement of the ties in the track for the rail vehicles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tie-arrangement system, comprising:
 a conveyor assembly configured to receive ties for placement in a track for rail vehicles, the conveyor assembly configured to receive the ties in a common plane relative to each other;   an accumulator assembly configured to receive the ties in the common plane from the conveyor assembly, the accumulator assembly configured to arrange the ties in a same orientation in groups and to move the groups of the ties out of the accumulator assembly; and   a delivery assembly configured to receive the groups of the ties arranged by the accumulator assembly into the same orientation, the delivery assembly configured to place the groups of the ties onto a surface off the tie-arrangement system for placement of the ties in the track for the rail vehicles.   
     
     
         2 . The tie-arrangement system of  claim 1 , further comprising a collection assembly configured to receive the ties in skew or different orientations and to move the ties into the common plane, the collection assembly configured to deliver the ties in the common plane to the conveyor assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The tie-arrangement system of  claim 2 , wherein the conveyor assembly is a first conveyor assembly, and the collection assembly includes a second conveyor assembly configured to move the ties received in the skew or different orientations relative to the common plane, the collection assembly including a planarizing body configured to move at least some of the ties from the different orientations and into the common plane. 
     
     
         4 . The tie-arrangement system of  claim 3 , wherein the planarizing body includes a mechanism that is configured to move the at least some of the ties that are skew or otherwise not arranged in a common plane to arrange the ties in the common plane. 
     
     
         5 . The tie-arrangement system of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor assembly includes one or more limiting bodies positioned to maintain the ties in the common plane during movement of the ties to the accumulator assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The tie-arrangement system of  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator assembly includes an elevator assembly configured to vertically move relative to the common plane of the ties, the elevator assembly configured to vertically move after each of the groups is loaded into the accumulator assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The tie-arrangement system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery assembly is configured to receive several of the groups of the ties from the accumulator assembly at a common time. 
     
     
         8 . The tie-arrangement system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery assembly is configured to tilt to move the groups of the ties off the delivery assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The tie-arrangement system of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor assembly, the accumulator assembly, and the delivery assembly are configured to be coupled with each other and configured to be positioned on a rail car configured to move along the track. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 receiving ties for placement in a track for rail vehicles, the ties received in a common plane relative to each other;   dividing the ties received in the common plane into one or more groups in which the ties of each group have a same orientation; and   placing the one or more groups of ties onto a surface for placement of the ties adjacent to the track for the rail vehicles.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 previously receiving the ties in different orientations; and   individually moving the ties into the common plane.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein individually moving the ties into the common plane includes moving the ties beneath a planarizing mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ties are moved beneath a horizontal bar of the planarizing mechanism to move the at least some of the ties that are not arranged in a common plane to the common plane for arranging the ties in the common plane. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising maintaining the ties in the common plane during movement of the ties by moving the ties beneath one or more limiting bodies during the movement of the ties. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising moving each group of ties while maintaining the ties in the group in a common plane that is defined by the orientation of the ties. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein placing the groups of the ties includes tilting the groups of the ties. 
     
     
         17 . A tie-arrangement system configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle, the tie-arrangement system comprising:
 a collection assembly configured to receive ties for placement in a track for rail vehicles, the collection assembly configured to receive the ties in different planes, the collection assembly including a first conveyor assembly configured to move the ties in the different planes beneath a planarizing body that moves the ties into a common plane;   a second conveyor assembly configured to receive the ties in the common plane from the collection assembly and to move the groups of the ties away from the collection assembly;   an accumulator assembly configured to receive the ties in the common plane from the second conveyor assembly, the accumulator assembly configured to arrange the ties in a same orientation in groups and to move the groups of the ties out of the accumulator assembly; and   a delivery assembly configured to receive the groups of the ties arranged by the accumulator assembly into the same orientation, the delivery assembly configured to place the groups of the ties onto a surface off the tie-arrangement system for placement of the ties in the track for the rail vehicles.   
     
     
         18 . The tie-arrangement system of  claim 17 , wherein the second conveyor assembly includes one or more limiting bodies positioned to maintain the ties in the common plane during movement of the ties to the accumulator assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The tie-arrangement system of  claim 17 , wherein the accumulator assembly includes an elevator assembly configured to vertically move relative to the common plane of the ties, the elevator assembly configured to vertically move after each of the groups is loaded into the accumulator assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The tie-arrangement system of  claim 17 , wherein the delivery assembly is configured to tilt to move the groups of the ties off the delivery assembly.