Auxiliary Cribbing System for Rail Track Debris Clearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cribbing systems face challenges in effectively clearing debris, rocks, and mud from pathways to secure rail tracks, leading to increased wear on anchoring equipment and potential derailments.
Innovation Solution
A cribbing vehicle equipped with a primary cribbing device and an auxiliary cribbing system, featuring a push arm and clearing head, which moves between rail ties to provide supplemental clearing functionality, reducing wear on anchoring machinery and improving anchor placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single primary cribbing device is used to clear debris and prepare the pathway, then the device must handle all clearing tasks, but this leads to increased wear on the anchoring equipment and insufficient clearing capability in difficult conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The cribbing system is divided into two distinct devices: a primary cribbing device for initial pathway clearing and an auxiliary cribbing device for supplemental clearing and anchor placement. This segmentation allows each device to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall clearing effectiveness while distributing wear across multiple components rather than concentrating it on a single device.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary cribbing device serves multiple functions: it performs supplemental clearing of debris, rocks, and mud that the primary device cannot remove, positions anchors correctly, and prepares the pathway for secure rail attachment. This multi-functionality addresses the limitations of the single-device approach while maintaining system efficiency.
2Productivity
If the anchor machine work head operates through rocks, mud, and debris without proper clearing, then anchor placement can proceed, but this causes additional wear and early replacement of the anchor machine
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary clearing actions with both the primary and auxiliary cribbing devices before anchor placement. The auxiliary device specifically prepares the immediate anchor placement area by removing rocks, mud, and debris, ensuring the work head operates on a prepared surface. This preliminary action protects the anchor machine from excessive wear while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary cribbing device acts as an intermediary between the primary clearing operation and the anchor placement process. It creates a transition zone where debris is removed and the pathway is prepared, allowing the anchor machine to operate in optimal conditions without directly engaging with difficult terrain that would cause wear.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pathway is not properly cleared of debris and mud, then track installation can proceed, but this results in unsecure rails causing wear, bumpy rides, or derailments
Solution Approach 1:
The track installation process is segmented into distinct phases: initial pathway clearing by the primary device, supplemental clearing and anchor positioning by the auxiliary device, and final anchor placement. This segmentation ensures that each phase is properly completed before proceeding to the next, guaranteeing rail security without complicating the overall installation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the pathway through mechanical clearing actions, transforming it from an unprepared state with debris and mud to a prepared state suitable for secure rail attachment. The auxiliary device specifically modifies the local parameters at anchor placement points, ensuring optimal conditions for rail security.
Data Source
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AI summary
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.