ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,297,604, issued on May 13.
"E-clip installation machine" was invented by Hoyt E. Dodd (Lula, Ga.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An e-clip installation machine for securing rails to steel ties via automating and reducing the time required for installing e-clips that attach rails to steel ties is provided. The e-clip installation machine automates the process of securing rails to steel ties via inserting e-clips into a respective shoulder clip on either side of the two rails. A pair of hydraulic jaws clamp the steel tie and bring it up against the underside of the rails. Two e-clips for each rail are placed in position at the respective sh...