Importance

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Abstract

A ballast machine for plowing ballast from the outer ends of rail supporting cross ties of a railroad bed. The machine is provided with a ballast ridge plow assembly including a slider box having an inner section which is vertically movable by a hydraulic actuator. The slider box is mounted to the frame of the ballast machine. The ridge plow assembly further includes a blade assembly having ballast engaging blades which are disposed for biased, pivotal movement responsive to engagement of the blades with an obstruction on the railroad bed or cross ties. Means are provided for vertical positioning of the blade assembly and for movement of the blade assembly to an 'in and up' position for stowing the blades against the sides of the machine and for movement of the blade assembly to a 'down and out' position for the ballast dressing operation. The 'in and up' movement and the 'down and out' movement are both responsive to displacement of the inner section of the slider box.

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First Claim