Rotatable Receiver Separating Railroad Track Anchors and Spikes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current railroad maintenance systems fail to accurately separate mixed other track materials (OTM) like anchors and spikes, making it difficult to determine which materials are suitable for reuse due to their mixing during collection.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable receiver with a feed and discharge end, featuring a plurality of holes and pans that allow spikes to pass through while retaining anchors, enabling effective separation of these materials through directional changes and conveyor systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If materials are collected together during railroad maintenance, then collection efficiency is improved, but material separation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the collection and separation process into distinct functional zones: a receiving area that collects mixed materials, and a separation area with pans and holes that sorts materials by type. This segmentation allows efficient collection of mixed materials while maintaining accurate separation capability through the segmented pan structure with varying hole patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The device extracts specific material types (spikes, anchors, tie plates) from the mixed collection through the pan holes. Each pan type is designed to extract specific materials based on size and shape characteristics, separating them from the mixed pile for individual reuse assessment.
2Measurement precision
If materials are sorted manually into piles, then separation is achieved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces manual mechanical sorting with an automated mechanical separation system. The rotatable receiver with pans and holes automatically sorts materials through controlled rotation and gravity-fed discharge, eliminating time-consuming manual sorting while maintaining separation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation process uses periodic rotation of the receiver to achieve continuous sorting. As the receiver rotates, different pan sections are positioned to receive and discharge specific material types at appropriate intervals, enabling efficient continuous separation without manual intervention.
3Productivity
If mixed materials are reused without separation, then resource efficiency is improved, but material quality control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts and separates materials by type through the pan holes, ensuring that only appropriate materials are grouped together for reuse. This extraction process maintains material quality control by preventing incompatible materials from being mixed, while still enabling efficient reuse of separated material groups.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments provide devices and methods for separating other track material (OTM) which is generated during railroad maintenance or replacement procedures. More specifically, but without limitation, embodiments provide devices and methods for separation of materials to desired groups of specific materials.