Rail Spike Claw Puller With Slanted Feeder Extensions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spike claw pullers often fail to effectively engage the offset head of rail spikes, leading to non-removal or damage during the spike pulling operation, as they struggle to align properly and provide sufficient surface area for secure engagement.
Innovation Solution
The improved spike claw puller features slanted feeder extensions and a cradle with a concave profile that conforms to the underside of the rail spike's head, along with ribs for enhanced bending stiffness, to guide and securely hold the rail spike, reducing misalignment and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If previous spike claw pullers are used, then the tool can be simple in structure, but it fails to effectively engage the offset head of rail spikes, leading to non-removal or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The puller tool is divided into distinct functional segments: feeder extensions for alignment, a cradle for supporting the offset head, and jaw openings for engagement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively, improving overall engagement reliability without requiring a completely complex redesign of the entire tool structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle acts as an intermediary element between the puller and the offset head of the rail spike. It provides a conforming surface that mediates the engagement, ensuring proper contact and force transmission while protecting the offset head from damage during the pulling operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the feeder extensions extend further from the handle section, then guidance and engagement accuracy improve, but the tool length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder extensions are positioned locally at the critical engagement zone near the handle section, providing precise alignment and guidance only where needed for spike engagement. This localized approach improves engagement precision without requiring the entire tool to be excessively long, as the extended feeder extensions are concentrated in the specific area required for accurate spike positioning.
3Reliability
If the cradle includes a concave profile conforming to the underside of the rail spike head, then engagement security improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle's concave profile is designed with specific geometric parameters that conform to the standard underside shape of rail spike heads. By optimizing the curvature radius, depth, and width of the concave profile, the design achieves secure engagement while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing processes. The parameters are tuned to balance engagement security with manufacturability.
Data Source
AI summary
A spike claw puller for pulling a rail spike includes a handle that defines a through hole that is hole configured to couple to a rail spike pulling machine. A body section defines a top surface and comprises first and second feeder teeth that extend from the handle at a first lift and form a jaw opening therebetween configured to receive the rail spike. First and second feeder extensions extend from the first and second feeder teeth, where the first and second feeder extensions extend beyond a plane that is coplanar with the top surface. The first and second feeder extensions facilitate alignment with the rail spike.