Stoneblower having adjustable workheads and improved blowing tubes

摘要

A stoneblower having a workhead and associated blowing tubes that adjust to skewed ties and to nonvertical tie faces. The workhead provided several degrees of movement to the blowing tubes, enabling them to be individually aligned with each tie along the length of track being worked. The blowing tubes can be pre-tilted to match the face angle of the ties. Proper location of the blow tubes is detected by monitoring the tilt change of the tube engendered when the tubes engage the ties. The blowing tubes include an elongated stone exit opening that extends both above and below the tie when the tube is inserted into the ballast. The opening therefore provides a stone discharge below the tie and an overflow above the tie. A finger extends from the lower end of the blowing tube to enable the stoneblower to sense the location of the railroad track ties without scooping ballast into the tube openings. <IMAGE>