Railroad tie plate distribution apparatus and method therefore
Present embodiments relate to a railroad tie plate distribution apparatus and method therefore. The tie plate distribution apparatus which may be used in manual or automatic distribution modes in order to place tie plates on a railroad tie in a spaced apart sequence as the apparatus moves over a track being serviced. The tie plate distributor includes an actuator to feed tie plates on to a railroad track system being serviced.
1. A tie plate distributor, comprising:
a distribution zone;
a conveyor having a first end and a second end, wherein said distribution zone is located near said second end;
said conveyor capable of moving a tie plate from said first end to said distribution zone;
an actuator positioned near said distribution zone which moves said tie plate from said distribution zone past a stop and on to a railroad tie or ballast; and,
said stop comprising at least one support and being biased independently of said actuator.
2. The tie plate distributor of claim 1 , said at least one support moving between an open position and a closed position.
3. The tie plate distributor of claim 2 , said at least one support comprising a first support and a second support.
4. The tie plate distributor of claim 2 further comprising a biasing spring which biases said at least one support.
5. The tie plate distributor of claim 2 , said moving being a pivoting movement.
6. The tie plate distributor of claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor stop which limits stops a plurality of tie plates on said conveyor and allows only one said tie plate into said distribution zone.
7. The tie plate distributor of claim 1 further comprising a magnet disposed on said actuator.
8. The tie plate distributor of claim 7 , said magnet retaining said tie plate on said actuator and releasing said tie plate when said tie plate passes by said at least one support.
9. A method of distributing tie plates, comprising the steps of:
providing a tie plate distributor for operation along a railroad;
providing a first stop between a conveyor and a distribution zone;
providing a second stop at said distribution zone, said second stop being movable between a first position and a second position;
providing an actuator near said distribution zone;
moving one tie plate of said tie plates from said distribution zone to said railroad.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising actuating one or both of said one tie plate or said second stop to perform said moving.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing a biasing force on said second stop to retain the second stop in a normally closed position.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing said conveyor and said tie plates on said conveyor.
13. The method of claim 12 , locating said distribution zone at an end of said conveyor.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing a magnet on said actuator.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising releasing said one tie plate from said actuator when said one tie plate is past said second stop.
16. A method of distributing tie plates, comprising the steps of:
providing a conveyor capable of moving a plurality of tie plates from a first end to a second end;
providing a distribution zone near said second end of said conveyor;
providing a stop at said distribution zone;
biasing said stop to one position;
providing an actuator near the stop to move one tie plate of said plurality of tie plates;
moving said one tie plate from said distribution zone.
17. The method of claim 16 , said biasing being by one of a spring, electrical actuator, pneumatic actuator, or a hydraulic actuator.
18. The method of claim 16 , said actuator moving said one tie plate through said distribution zone.
19. The method of claim 18 , providing a magnet on said actuator.