Tuesday, 29 August 2023

Cat 430 Self Propels on Rail


Cat 930 equiped with Mitchell Rail Gear drives on rail. Equipped with Mitchell Parallel Linkage Out & Down Outriggers.

Backhoe Loader - Rail Gear with Wing-Down Outriggers

Basic system consists of front and rear hydraulic operated guide wheel attachments. The standard front counter weight must replace with a Mitchell Front counter weight to make room for the front hi-rail. The front hi-rail has rubber springs to keep the front axle level when travelling on rail. If one of the tires hit an obstruction the axle will spring up and then return to level. The raising and lowering of the guide wheels is done in the cab. The rear rail gear has spring suspension to compensate for uneven track. The front hi-rail has a built in pivot to also take up for uneven track. There are two options for outriggers; 1.) We can re-attach the original machine outriggers as shown. 2.) We can install Mitchell parallel linkage outriggers. With the original outriggers re-attached works well in applications where the machine is being transported from one point on rail to another and then get off rail to perform backhoe work. They can be used on rail but on some track conditions the outrigger pads may not stabilize the machine. For tie replacements they do not work well because they are not able to lift the track vertical (using rail clamps). The Mitchell Parallel Linkage Out & Down Outriggers works well in all conditions because they have vertical travel with enough stroke to be able stabilize the machine for on rail work and also to raise the track in a vertical direction when changing tie (using rail clamps).

Sunday, 27 August 2023

TORSION RIDE RAIL GEAR - MODEL 3535



Model 3535 Rail Gear

Model 3535 Rail Gear fits trucks up to 28,000 GVW. The Rail Gear adapts to trucks for the purpose of traveling on the highway or railway.

The Rail Gear is hydraulically raised and lowered either by a trucks PTO hydraulic source or by the optional single high flow self contained hydraulic pump with  emergency hand pump that is activated by either cab controlled electric switch, push a push button control located on each end of the vehicle or both.

This Rail Gear is very unique for this class truck because both the front and rear gear units are modular identical units that can be applied to a large variety of trucks. When the Rail Gear is installed on the rear of trucks with short frames and rear fuel tanks the Rail Gear is positioned so the Rail Gear retracts away from the rear tires. For trucks with mid ship fuels tanks the Rail Gear can be positioned so the Rail Gear pivots toward the rear tires.

The Rail Gear is designed to minimize the rail gear from extending very far beyond the standard front bumper on most trucks. The Front Rail Gear comes standard with a front bumper that has cutouts for work lights and sight rods. The Rail Gear utilizes Mitchell�s 4-Wheel Independent Torsion Rail Suspension Technology that allows the Rail Gear to fit in a compact envelope not possible with other Rail Gear suspension systems. The suspension does not require adjustment for varying payloads up to the maximum gross vehicle weight of the truck. 

The Rail Gear has optional standard safety features not found on most rail gear such as the optional automatic locking mechanism that securely locks the rail gear in the raised and lower position, optional automatic retractable rail sweeps that are spring loaded in the on track position.


The Rail Gear comes standard with precision-machined forged rail wheels.

The front and rear Rail Gear units are identical modular units. The Rail Gear kits comes complete with mounting brackets, built-in de-rail skids and steering wheel lock. 


Optional Mitchell Rail Gear Disc Brakes

Mitchell Rail Gear can be provided with rail wheel disc brakes. The disc brakes are recommended for all front rail gear where the rail wheels are elevated above the track and for optionally for rear rail wheels when customers want to reduce stopping distance on rail. Mitchell�s Electronic Brake Control for Rail Gear disc brakes applies the rail brakes electronically as soon as the brake pedal is engaged. Since our brake controller has no moving parts or pendulums to adjust, they can be mounted in virtually any position and require no leveling - ever. The slim, compact design and contoured shape are combined to provide more under-dash clearance than any other brake control. A conventional four wire hook-up is illustrated in easy-to-follow instructions. Mounting bracket and hardware is included.

RAILROAD BRUSH CUTTER

The amount of braking power (output) and rate of application (sync) are both adjustable for the individual driver's preference, rail conditions load. The driver can control the amount and rate of braking from soft to aggressive and the brakes can be manually applied. For ease of adjustment, an output control is located on the front of the brake control. The brake controller has a thumb wheel adjustment and its output indicator is a digital display, which shows the output when the brakes are applied. The sync control is a slide adjustment located on the side of all the brake controls. The brake controller output indicator will digitally display the sync setting. In case of an overload, caused by either a short of low power, the brake controller will display an overload warning. 


Optional Rail Shunts

Mitchell Rail Gear Cartridge style Rail Shunts adapt to all Mitchell Rail Gear systems for the purpose of either allowing track signals to be set off or not. The rail shunts are controlled by a switch in the cab. When the rail shut system is in the on position there is a direct connection between the rail wheels left to right that allows a direct circuit between the right side and left side rail. When the hy-rail vehicle gets close to the crossing the crossing circuit will be triggered and the crossing lights will go on and the gate will go down. The Cartridge Style Rail Shunt assembly is directly attached to the rail wheel axles so the shunts move with the rail wheel. The Shunt mechanism has a spring loaded cartridge that makes direct contact against each rail wheel. The optional insulation feature is required when ordering rail shunts. 

BALLAST TAMPER

Rail Gear Weights

Front Rail Gear        

660 lbs

Rear Rail Gear                

660 lbs

Mounting Kit (each end)                 

85 lbs

Power Unit w/ Mounting   

142 lbs

Rail Brakes

15 lbs

Rail Sweeps

10 lbs

Packaged Shipping weight              

1850 lbs

Thursday, 24 August 2023

The Rail Clamps travel up and down with the rear Rail Gear

 Backhoe Tie Switcher 

The Backhoe Tie Switcher system fits a wide range of manufacturers’ loader backhoes. The attachments are modular in design allowing them to be easily configured for various backhoe loaders. The system is designed to allow a standard backhoe loader to be configured to be able to change out a railroad tie in 2 minutes.

 

TIE SWITCHER SYSTEM COMPONENTS 

 

Tie Head

The Tie Head is a combination robotic style 360° Rotating Tie Head with an integral Scarifier Blade. The Tie Head grabs ties in any position for extraction, insertion and placement. The built-in Scarifier Blade kicks the ties out and back drags ballast. For wood ties, the Tie Head opens to 10 inches and closes to zero. The ties are securely clamped and help with self-aligning tie pads. The tie pads are the same width of the amount the tie sticks out under the rail for precise placement. The tie head can be ordered with jaws for wood ties, concrete ties or rail.



The Rail Clamps are an integral part of the modular Rear Rail Gear. The Rail Clamps travel up and down with the rear Rail Gear. The backhoe can be clamp to the rail to stabilize the machine on rail and used in conjunction with the Parallel Linkage Stabilizers to lift the rail when removing railroad ties.





§  Non-Roating Ballast Regulator Broom

§  Tamper

§  Tool Circuit

§  Spike Puller

§  Spike Driver

§  Front Bucket Mount Hose Reel and Tool Holder


We can go the distance cause we\\\'re right on track!

Contact Information

Mitchell Equipment Corporation
5275 N. Ann Arbor Rd.
Dundee, MI 48131
Toll Free: 1-888-553-5047
Telephone: 734-529-3400
Fax: 734-529-3433
E-Mail: 
Lovitt@Mitchell-Railgear.com

http://www.mitchell-railgear.com/product-listing/5011/177

Thursday, 10 August 2023

Ballast Tamper: Maintaining Stability and Safety on Railway Tracks

 



A crucial part of the infrastructure for transportation is railroad lines. They are the foundation of the railway system and are essential to the efficient and secure transit of both people and commodities. But over time, the ballast beneath the tracks may deteriorate or move, creating an unstable track bed. Railways employ a device known as a ballast tamper to put the BALLAST TAMPER where it belongs as a solution to this issue.

A heavy-duty device called a ballast tamper is used to compact and level the ballast beneath railroad rails. The ballast is compacted and forced into the spaces between the ties by the tamper's many hydraulic hammers, which are mounted on it. The machine also features a number of tamping units that press down on the ballast to make sure it is level and tightly packed.

Ballast tampers come in a variety of varieties, each with special characteristics and powers. The four-head tamping machine, one of the most popular varieties, has four tamping units that can each be separately adjusted to fit various track gauges and tie spacing. The dynamic tamper is a different kind of tamper that may change the amount of the ballast as well as the alignment of the track.

A team of two or three persons normally operates ballast tampers. A joystick and other controls allow the operator to move the tamper while seated within the machine's cab. A ballast regulator is also part of the team; she or he runs a different equipment that distributes fresh ballast onto the track.

Ballast tampering is essential for preserving the stability and integrity of railroad rails. When the ballast is level and tightly packed, it gives the railway a strong foundation, lowering the possibility of derailments and other mishaps. In the long run, ballast tampering lowers maintenance costs and increases track longevity.

In conclusion, interfering with the BALLAST TAMPER on railroad tracks is necessary to keep them safe and effective. Ballast is correctly packed and leveled when heavy machinery like ballast tampers are used, giving the railroad a solid foundation. The significance of ballast tampering cannot be understated given how important railways continue to be for freight.

The tamping unit can vibrate the tamping tools at 70-110Hz with a tip displacement of 3/16 inch, and generate a down force of 300 lbs per tool. The tamping tools can squeeze the ballast under the tie with a force of 675 lbs per tool

Hydraulic requirements

1. Hydraulic hammer circuit that will be used for the vibrator:

    15.1 GPM at 2000 PSI

2. Rotate tamper right and left

    3 GPM

3. Open close tamper     10 GPM   Weight = 1,150 lbs Vibrations per minute = 5,000 Force produced by vibrator = 8,500 lbs   See the Tamper on YouTube:

Weight: 1150 lbs. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzOj-o-WuHE

e of ballast tampering cannot be understated given how important railways continue to be for freight.



Sunday, 6 August 2023

Railroad Trucks: The Backbone of Efficient Transportation

 



The railway industry cannot function without its railroad vehicles. These trucks are in charge of ensuring that goods and people are transported without incident across great distances, enabling businesses to transfer their commodities swiftly and effectively. This blog article will go through the many varieties of RAILROAD TRUCKS, their characteristics, and their significance to the transportation sector.

Railroad Truck Types

Freight trucks and passenger trucks are the two main categories of railroad trucks. While passenger trucks are made to transport people, freight trucks are built to transport cargo.

There are several different types of freight trucks, including boxcars, flatcars, gondolas, and hoppers. The most popular kind of freight truck is a boxcar, which is used to move a range of items like machinery, automobiles, and bulk supplies. In contrast, flatcars have a flat top and no walls or roof, making them ideal for transporting enormous items like machinery or big automobiles.



Gondolas are open-top vehicles with inwardly sloping sides that are used to transport bulk commodities including sand, gravel, and coal.

On the other hand, passenger trucks are made specifically to move passengers. High-speed trains, long-distance trains, and commuter trains can all be further divided into these categories. Train commuters link those who live in the suburbs to the city center across small distances. While high-speed trains are designed to travel at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour, making them perfect for intercity travel, long-distance trains cross several states.



RAILROAD TRUCKS Features

Railroad trucks have a number of characteristics that make them appropriate for transportation. These characteristics include the couplers, the wheel configuration, and the type of suspension system.

A railroad truck's suspension system is created to give the goods or passengers a comfortable ride. The leaf spring and airbag suspension are two popular varieties of suspension systems. While airbag suspension uses airbags that inflate and deflate as the train moves, leaf spring suspension uses multiple layers of steel to absorb shocks.

A railroad truck's wheel configuration is also essential to how well it works. The 4-wheel, 6-wheel, and 8-wheel arrangements are only a few examples of different wheel configurations. The bigger a truck's load capacity, the more wheels it has.

Lastly, couplers are employed to join railroad vehicles. Knuckle couplers and buffer-and-chain couplers are the two main categories of couplers. In North America, knuckle couplers are most frequently utilized; in Europe and Asia, buffer-and-chain couplers are more frequently employed.

The significance of railroad trucks

RAILROAD TRUCKS are essential to the transportation sector. They are in charge of moving people and cargo across great distances, enabling businesses to deliver items to market swiftly and effectively. Additionally, compared to other forms of transportation, railroad trucks have a number of advantages. 

Rail transit is among the most fuel-efficient means of transportation, making it a sustainable choice for moving both people and commodities. It is a great alternative for long-distance commuting because it is also less likely to experience traffic congestion.


SURE LUBE Bearing System: Superior Lubrication for Reliable Hi-Rail Performance | Mitchell Railgear

In the demanding world of rail maintenance and on-track operations, equipment reliability is everything. Hi-rail vehicles depend on smooth, ...