AU7663894A

AU7663894A - Ballast machine

Info

Publication number: AU7663894A
Application number: AU76638/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Cesare Rossanigo
Original assignee: Harsco Corp
Current assignee: Enviri Corp
Priority date: 1994-08-31
Filing date: 1994-08-31
Publication date: 1996-03-22
Also published as: EP0783612A1; WO1996006979A1

Description

BALLAST MACHINE DESCRIPTION Background of the Invention

This invention relates to a ballast machine which is a ballast of track undercutter for removing ballast from a railroad track road bed or a ballast cleaner having an undercutter mechanism combined with an arrangement for cleaning the ballast. As used herein, a ballast machine would include any of these types of machines.

Railroad ballast consists of rocks or stones which lie between and under the railroad ties. The ballast serves to stabilize the ties upon which the rails are mounted. Also, the ballast allows water to quickly drain away from the rails.

Unfortunately, the ballast gets filled with dust from the ballast and dirt blown in from nearby. The ballast may harden into material similar to cement. It may also lose its ability to drain water. Under such circumstances, it is necessary to replace the ballast with completely new ballast or to remove the ballast, clean it, and put the cleaned ballast back in the roadbed.

Various type of ballast machines have been heretofore developed for these purposes. While these generally work, they are often subject to one or more disadvantages.

Often such prior machines have undercutter mechanisms which either have problems operating in areas with obstructions (near switches, etc.) or the undercutter mechanisms can operate in areas with obstructions, but are less efficient in other areas. Having a type of undercutter for areas with obstructions and a different type of undercutter for other areas disadvantageously requires two machines for undercutting.

Numerous types of ballast machines with undercutter mechanism exist, but they need not be described in detail herein.

As part of the undercutter operation, prior undercutters usually rely on alift device to dig a trench beside the rail by lifting ballast onto the vehicle and an undercutter mechanism to go into the trench and extend under the ties in order to remove ballast from under the ties. Such lift devices often have problems with overhead obstructions when the lift devices are in an upper or inoperative travel position. Such lift devices are sometimes not as fast at removing ballast as desired due to limited area or removal. Often, the lift device and undercutter mechanism must be used simultaneously, thus somewhat limiting the flexibility of the machine.

Another disadvantage common to such ballast machines is lack of flexibility in where the removed ballast is supplied. That is, some such machines may allow ballast to be sent to the front of the machine, while other machines allow ballast to be sent to the rear, but machines do not have flexibility in allowing ballast to be sent in different directions.

Another common disadvantage among prior ballast machines is slow speed of operation caused by the fact that ballast is removed from only one side of the rail at a time.

The lift device on such prior ballast machines is often very heavy and cannot dig a trench except at a fixed distance from the rail. Often the wheel positions required for travel of the undercutter vehicle or ballast cleaner having undercutter mechanism thereon are different from the optimum wheel positions for the undercutting operation. However, prior ballast machines with fixed wheel positions had to compromise between optimum wheel positions for travel and optimum wheel positions for the undercutting operation. Objects and Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ballast machine with undercutter mechanism. A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a ballast machine with undercutter mechanism with a highly efficient and relatively low in weight lifting device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ballast machine with undercutter mechanism with the ability to function in an area near obstructions without slowing down its ability to operate quickly in areas away from obstructions.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a ballast machine with undercutter mechanism with the ability to deliver the ballast to different locations.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a ballast machine with undercutter mechanism with the ability to independently use and position its undercutter mechanism and its lift device.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a ballast machine with undercutter mechanism with the ability to remove ballast from both sides of a roadbed simultaneously.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a ballast machine with undercutter mechanism which avoids or minimizes the problems with prior undercutters discussed above. The above and other features of the present invention which will be more readily understood when the following detailed description is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings are realized by a ballast machine including: a main frame with front and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; a first lifter supported by the main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a first side of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench; and a first undercutter supported by the main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, the first undercutter moving ballast out towards the first side of the roadbed; and wherein the first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, the first lifter chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom idle chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction. More specifically, in the working position, the first lifter chain mechanism extends between a top powered chain wheel and at least two (preferably three) small bottom idle chain wheels. The top powered chain wheel is bigger than each small bottom chain wheel. The top and bottom chain wheels are used in place of a single big wheel in order to get an increase in wheel or chain section parallel to the roadbed or to the track so that the undercutter can undercut and the ballast can be recovered. The front and back frame supports are front and back pairs or rail engagement wheels, and wherein one of the pairs of front and back rail engagement wheels is movable in a rail direction relative to the main frame between a travel position relatively near a vehicle end and a work position further from the vehicle end with a lower end of the first lifter being between the vehicle end and the one of the pairs. The first lifter chain mechanism has a rising run and a containment plate which restrains ballast from falling off of the rising run over a portion of the rising run. The ballast machine further includes a conveyor system supported by the main fame and positioned to receive ballast lifted above an upper end of the containment plate by the first lifter chain. The conveyor system is positioned to receive ballast from the first lifter and transport the ballast selectively to the front of the ballast machine and to the rear of the ballast machine. The rising run and the containment plate are each less than 90 degrees from horizontal. The first lifter further includes a side chain wheel engaged to the first lifter chain mechanism and positioned just above a lower end of the first lifter chain.

The present invention may alternately be described as a ballast machine including: a main frame with front and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; a first lifter supported by the main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a first side of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench; and a first undercutter supported by the main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, the first undercutter moving ballast out towards the first side of the roadbed; and ' wherein the first lifter has exterior and interior peripheries and the first lifter and the first undercutter are disposable in: a first work mode with said first undercutter positioned at least partially above and to the side of a vertical level corresponding to said interior periphery wherein ballast thrown by said first undercutter drops from above said vertical level prior to being picked up by said first lifter; and a second work mode with said first undercutter positioned relative to said first lifter to throw ballast directly between said interior periphery and said exterior periphery for movement on said first lifter. The ballast machine further includes a conveyor system supported by the main frame and positioned to receive ballast from the first lifter and transport the ballast selectively to the front of the ballast machine and to the rear of the ballast machine. The first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, the first lifter chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction. The first lifter is disposable to dig a trench without the first undercutter simultaneously undercutting and the first undercutter is disposable to undercut without the first lifter simultaneously digging a trench. The ballast machine further includes a second lifter supported by the main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a side of a roadbed opposite to a side of the first lifter and lifting ballast out of the trench, and a second undercutter supported by the main frame for removing ballast from a side of a roadbed opposite to a side of the first undercutter. The first lifter is movable in a transverse direction relative to the main frame and is rotatable between a work position where it has a given vertical height and a travel position with a reduced vertical height.

The present invention may alternately be described as a ballast machine including: a main frame with fron and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; a first lifter supported by the main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a first side of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench; and a first undercutter supported by the main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, the first undercutter moving ballast out towards the first side of the roadbed; and a conveyor system supported by the main frame and positioned to receive ballast from the first lifter and P

- 7 - transport the ballast selectively to the front of the ballast machine and to the rear of the ballast machine.

The first lifter is disposable to dig a trench without the first undercutter simultaneously undercutting and the first undercutter is disposable to undercut without the first lifter simultaneously digging a trench. The first lifter is movable in a transverse direction relative to the main frame. The conveyor system includes a transverse conveyor positioned to receive ballast from the first lifter, an intermediate conveyor positioned to receive ballast from the transverse conveyor, and first and second end conveyors positioned to receive ballast form opposite ends of the intermediate conveyor. The first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, the first lifter chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction.

The present invention may alternately be described as ballast machine including: a main frame with front and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; a first lifter supported by the main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a first side of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench; and a first undercutter supported by the main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, the first undercutter moving ballast out towards the first side of the roadbed; and wherein the first lifter is disposable to dig a trench without the first undercutter simultaneously undercutting and the first undercutter is disposable to undercut without the first lifter simultaneously digging a trench. The ballast machine further includes a conveyor system supported by the main frame and positioned to receive ballast from the first lifter and transport the ballast selectively to the front of the ballast machine with undercutter mechanism and to the rear of the ballast machine; and wherein the conveyor system includes a transverse conveyor positioned to receive ballast from the first lifter, an intermediate conveyor positioned to receive ballast from the transverse conveyor, and first and second end conveyors positioned to receive ballast from opposite ends of the intermediate conveyor. The first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, the first lifter chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction.

The present invention may alternately be described as a ballast machine including: a main frame with front and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; first and second lifters supported by the main frame for digging a trench in ballast at respective first and second sides of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench; and first and second undercutters supported by the main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, the first and second undercutters moving ballast out respectively towards the first and second sides of the roadbed.

The conveyor system includes a first transverse conveyor positioned to receive ballast from the first lifter, an intermediate conveyor positioned to receive ballast from the transverse conveyor, and first and second end conveyors positioned to receive ballast from opposite ends of the intermediate conveyor. (A second transverse conveyor may also be used) . The first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, the first lifter chain mechanism having a woriking position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other features of the present invention will be more readily understood when the following detailed description is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters represent like parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 shows a simplified top schematic view of several basic components of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a simplified side schematic view of several basic components of the present invention; Figs. 3A and 3B (collectively referred to as Fig.

3) respectively show separate halves of a side view of the present invention;

Fig. 4 shows a top view of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion of the present invention showing the mounting of a spoil conveyor;

Fig. 6 is a side detailed schematic depiction of the lifter of the present invention;

Fig.7 is a cross section view along lines 7-7 of Fig. 6; Figs. 8A and 8B respectively are front and side detailed views of a chain block and mounting;

Fig. 9 is an end simplified view of various components of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a simplified end schematic illustrating a first mode of operation;

Fig. 11 is a simplified end schematic illustrating a second mode of operation; 6/06979 PCMT94/00142

- 10 -

Figs. 12 and 13 are simplified perspectives of positioning of the teeth of a lifter and an undercutter in different modes of operation;

Fig. 14 shows a side view of mount details for a lifter and an undercutter;

Fig. 15 shows a cross section view along lines 15- 15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 shows a cross section view taken along lines 16-16 of Fig. 15; and Fig. 17 shows a cross section view taken along lines 17-17 of Fig. 14.

Detailed description Turning initially to Figs. 1 and 2, the principal working components of the present invention are shown simplified for ease of illustration. The machine with undercutter mechanism 10 according to the present invention includes first and second undercutters 12F and 12S respectively. Each of these undercutters 12F and 12S remove ballast from under the roadbed (not separately shown) and supply the old ballast to respective corresponding first and second lifters 14F and 14S which lift the ballast and deposit it respectively on corresponding first and second transverse conveyors 16F and 16S, which trasnverse conveyors are mounted on the upper part of the vehicle (it being understood that the detailed structure of the vehicle itself is not shown in Figs.l and 2, but will be shown in other drawings) . Conveyors 16F and 16S carry ballast to an intermediate conveyor 18 which can carry ballast to a first end conveyor 2OF at the front of the vehicle or (if powered to carry ballast towards the rear) can carry ballast to a second end conveyor 2OS at the rear of the vehicle.

Additionally, conveyors 16F and 16S can be mounted for transverse (i.e., perpendicular to the rail direction) movement relative to the main frame of the vehicle 10, the main frame not being shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but being discussed below. With respect to the conveyor 16F, for example, and referencing Fig. 1, conveyor 16F may be moved in the direction of arrow 16A and caused to rotate such that spoil or old ballast is dropped off the edge of conveyor 16F which is nearest arrow 16A. Thus, conveyors 16F, 16S and 18 can each carry ballast towards either of two ends of the particular conveyor, providing great flexibility or adaptability in operation of the machine. Converyors 18 and 2OS would normally be fixed to the main frame (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2) of vehicle 10, but optionally could be slidably mounted to the main frame for sliding horizontally in the vehicle axial direction (i.e., the direction of the rails on which the vehicle travels) with respect to the main frame.

The conveyor system of the preferred embodiment includes conveyors 16F, 16S, 18, 2OF, and 2OS, but it will be understood that the present invention may include alternate conveyor arrangements.

The undercutters 12F and 12S are available in different sizes (lengths) both for track and switches. Indeed, extensions (not shown) can be added and taken away from the undercutters to adjust their lengths. The first end conveyor 20F can pivot about point

20P over an angle 20A which preferably is at least 90 degrees, 45 degrees to each side, so that spoil ballast can be deposited to either the right front side or the left front side of the vehicle at the side of the right of way. If the removed or spoil ballast is supplied to conveyor 20S, it will be dumped off the rear of the vehicle onto another vehicle (not shown) , which other vehicle may simply carry the ballast to a disposal location or which may clean the ballast and redeposit it on the roadbed.

It should be noted that the use of components 12S, 14S, and 16S (identical respectively to components 12F, 14F, and 16F) is optional and the optional components are shown in Fig. 1 only. The present invention encompasses such components on one or both sides of the vehicles. Accordingly, the discussion and further drawings will involve components 12F, 14F, and 16F and not the corresponding second side components.

Fig. 2 shows the main frame 10F of vehicle 10 and a side view of the pair of front rail engagement wheels 22F and a pair of rear rail engagement wheels 22R, each pair more broadly being described as a frame support. A motor housing 24 may house a diesel motor and/or various hydraulic pumps and other hydraulic components to propel the vehicle and its components 12F and 14F and various conveyors. Turning now to Figs.3 (3A and 3B taken together) and 4, the various components discussed above are shown in more detail. Additionally, cab 26 in which one or more operators may ride is shown. The conveyors 16F, 18 and 20S may be fixed in position to the main frame 10F. As shown for conveyor 2OS, mounts such as 28 may be used to secure the conveyor to the main frame 10F. Similar such mounts, not shown, may be used to secure conveyors 18 and 16F to the main frame. Alternately, if desired, conveyor 16F would be mounted in such a way that it could be slid transversely (i.e., perpendicular to the rail direction) towards the center of the vehicle. The details of mounting and operation of the conveyors may be relatively standard except as discussed hereafter. Importantly, conveyor 18 can operate in either direction so as to dump ballast on either of conveyors 20F or 20S. By using a standard conveyor control, not shown, to change the direction of conveyor 18, one can provide the felxibility of depositing the ballast at different ends of the vehicle.

Turning now to Fig. 5, the mounting of spoil conveyor 2OF will be discussed. The conveyor 2OF is / 1

- 13 - mounted to a left turret upright 30L extending up from a rotational bearing 32, which allows pivoting of the conveyor about the vertical pivot axis 20P under control of left pivot cylinder 34L. Each of the components having an L suffix in this discussion of Fig. 5 has a corresponding identically constructed and operated right side component which is not visible in the left side view of Fig. 5. A left elevating cylinder 36L extends between upright post 30L and a mount plate 38L and is used to lift and lower the conveyor 20F, its lower position allowing good clearance under overhead obstructions.

Fig. 6 shows more details of the lifter 14F. More specifically, the lifter 14F is a lift chain mechanism having teeth holding chain blocks 14T therein. The lift chain mechanism 14F extends between an upper drive chain wheel (such as a sprocket or similar structure) 40 and a plurality of idler chain wheels 42F, 42S, and 42B respectively. Wheel 42S is optional, but is greatly advantageous in avoiding undue stress on the chain 14C as it rounds the wheel 42B. The angle between different sections of lifter 14F at wheel 42B will be about 80 degrees. By having wheels 42F and 42B offset in a rail direction, the lower end of lifter 14F is wider that its upper end. The fact that wheels 42F and 42B provide a significant horizontal section on the lifter allows the lifter to more quickly lift ballast from the roadbed.

As the lifter 14F moves clockwise in the view of Fig. 6, ballast 44 is lifted to create ballast walls 44W at the side of the trench 44T. This tends to hold the ballast to the lifter 14F until the ballast reaches a containment plate 46. The containment plate 46 blocks ballast from falling off the lifter 14F until it clears upper edge 46E of containment plate 46, at which point gravity causes the ballast to fall to conveyor 16F. The containment plate 46 is mounted to the lifter 14F by way of mount arms 46M which are attached to the frame structure about which the actual chain of lifter 14F rotates. With reference to Fig. 7, it will be seen how the containment plate 46 wraps around 3 of the sides of the teeth holding chain block 14T to hold in most of the ballast as it travels up the upwardly moving run of lifter chain echanims 14F.

Figs. 8A and 8B show how a chain block 14T may include two teeth 15F fixed therein and a removable tooth 15R pinned in place in known fashion. Lifter chain mechanism 14F has side support plates 14P with wear plates 48 disposed therein and fixed thereto by welding or other technique. The chain blocks 14T move within the wear plates 48 with pins 50 linking many such blocks 14T together by way of pins 50 holding each block 14T to two securing or connecting lings 49S. Fig. 9 shows a simple end view with the relative positioning of main frame 10F, wheels 22R, undercutter 12F with its teeth 12T (i.e., teeth carrying chain blocks), lifter i4F with teeth holding chain blocks 14T, rails 52, and cross tie or sleeper 54 when the machine is operating. Lifter 14F digs a trench to the side of the rails and ties, whereas undercutter 12F removes ballast from under tie 54 for transport up lifter 14F to the conveyor system having one or more conveyors (not shown in Fig.9) as discussed in detail above.

With reference now to the simplified end views of Figs. 10 and 11, the ability to independently adjust the vertical positioning of undercutter 12F and lifter 1 F allows the machine to operate in two different modes (as well as intermediate stages between the modes). In the first mode of Fig. 10, the first undercutter is positioned at least partially above and to the side of a vertical level corresponding to the interior periphery 14N, the interior periphery corresponding to the travel path of the inner edge (i.e., closest to the central axis 14X of the loop about which lifter 14F extends) of chain block 14T

(simplified in view of Fig. 10) . Accordingly, ballast thrown by said first undercutter drops from above the vertical level prior to being picked up by said first lifter. In the second mode, the ballast (i.e., most of it) is thrown to between the interior periphery 14N and exterior periphery 14E (i.e., travel path of side of chain block 14T furthest from axis 14X) since the undercutter 12F is disposed below the vertical level of interior periphery 14N.

The undercutter 12F may also be movable horizontally relative to lifter 14F such that they are closer (i.e., less horizontal separation distance) in the Fig. 10 mode than in the Fig. 11 mode. The lifter 14F may also be movable horizontally relative to undercutter 12F such that they are closer. In other words, either of undercutter 12F or lifter 14F may be stationary relative to the main frame, while the other may be moving. The Fig. 10 mode of operation allows one to avoid side (tunnels, station platforms, etc.) and possibly top obstacles (e.g., overhead wires), wheras the Fig. 11 mode allows one to operate at switches, crossings, or other locations where the deeper trench of the Fig. 10 mode may not be used. Fig. 12 shows the teeth 12T and 14T in the normal digging position of Fig. 11.

In addition to the modes of Figs. 10 and 11, the independent control od undercutter 12F and lifter 14FG allows a further process of operation in very constricted roadbeds. If a side obstruction such as a tunnel or platform is very close to the side of a roadbed, vehicle 10 may initially operate as shown in Fig. 13 with teeth holding chain blocks 14T of lifter 14F digging a deep trench without undercutter 12F being in the ballast. Instead, the undercutter would be above the cross tie (tie not shown in Fig. 13) . When the trench is dug, the lifter 14 would be lifted out of it and the undercutter 12F would be lowered therein to remove ballast from under and between the ties. The undercutter would be pivoted about a vertical axis from extending in the rail direction to extending perpendicular thereto in a transverse direction as the undercutter 12F operates without the lifter 14F simultaneously moving ballast. Once the undercutter has moved an appropriate amount of ballast and deposited it in the trench, the undercutter is lifted out and away from the ballast. Next, the lifter 14F is returned to dig out the ballast which the undercutter 12F had deposited in the trench. This three step process of dig, undercut, and dig again may then be repeated for another section of roadbed. Turning to Figs. 14-17, the details of mounting of the undercutter 12F and lifter 14F will be discussed. Both are supported by main frame 10F (Fig. 17 only) by way of a main support ass ebly 56 having two horizontal bars 58 and first, second, and third vertical bars 60F, 60S, and 60T. More specifically, undercutter 12F is mounted to an undercutter carriage 62 which moves up and down relative to assembly 56 by the way sliding along posts or vertical bars 60S and 60T (see Fig. 16) under control of carriage lift cylinder 62C having its upper end fixed to assembly 56 and its rod end fixed to carriage 62. Lifter 14F is mounted to a lifter carriage 64 which moves up and down relative to assembly 58 by way sliding along posts or vertical bars 60F and 60S (see Fig. 16) under control of carriage lift cylinder 64C having its upper end fixed to assembly 56 and its rod end fixed to carriage 64. Having separate carriages for the undercutter 12F and lifter 14F advantageously allows independent vertical movement of the two so as provide the different modes of operation discussed above.

Lifter 14F is mounted to rotate about axle 14A under control of tilt cylinder 14T. This advantageously allows 14F to move between the near horizontal travel orientation of Fig. 14 and the more inclined working position of Fig. 6. In its near horizontal position, it may readily pass under overhead obstacles or obstructions that lifters made in a wheel shape might be too large to pass under. Note that, for ease of illustration, Fig. 14 shows lifter 14F smaller relative to carriage 64 than it would be in practice. In actual construction, the lifter 14F would, in its working position (refer momentary to Fig. 5) extend up to or above the top of assembly 56. Therefore, its ability to use cylinder 14T to tilt to a more horizontal position will be advantageous in avoiding overhead obstacles. Indeed, the tilt cylinder 14T may allow lifter 14F to assume a wide range of positions for working with lifter 14F at different tilt angles.

Cylinder 14C moves lifter 14F in a transverse direction (perpendicular to the rail direction) along shaft or axle 14A (see Fig. 16) relative to the assembly 58. Therefore, this allows transverse positioning of the_' lifter 14F independent of the transverse positioning of the undercutter 12F to achieve the various modes of operation discussed above.

Although cylinder 14C allows lifter 14F to be moved transversely independently of undercutter 12C, Fig. 17 shows how assembly 56 (and undercutter 12F and lifter 14F indirectly mounted thereon) is moved transversely relative to the main frame. One or more (only one shown) shafts 56S slidably mount assembly 56 to journals 56J (only one shown) on main frame 10F. Assembly 56 is moved transversely (pependicular to the rail direction) by one or more cylinders 56C (only one shown) . This allows transverse movement of undercutter 12F and lifter 14F in unison in addition to their discussed independent transverse movement.

With reference to Fig. 16, the undercutter 12F is powered by motor 12M and pivotally attached to carriage 62 at pivot axle 12P. Undercutter 12F is rotated about the vertical axis corresponding to 12P by cylinder 12C attached to plate 62P (anchored to carriage 62) and to a vertical bar 12B extending up from the undercutter 14F. Cylinder 12C allows undercutter chain mechanism 12F to move between a position parallel to the rails and a position perpendicular to the rails.

Turning back to Figs. 3A and 4, an advantageous feature of the mounting of rear wheels 22R will be discussed. Wheels 22R may move from their work position shown to travel position 22R' (Fig. 3A only) by operation of cylinder 22C moving wheel mount carriage 22M to which wheels 22R are mounted. Carriage 22M may slide horizontally relative to main frame 10F by a system similar to that used for carriages 62 and 64. In the work position, the wheels 22R remove much of the vehicle weight from the area where undercutter 12F is removing ballast. In that fashion, the rails will be deflected downward less than would otherwise be the case. At the same time, the wheels in their 22R' position are sufficiently close to the rear of the vehicle to have the handling characteristics in normal travel (i.e., when not digging or undercutting) required in some countries and to more evenly distribute the weight between front and rear wheels.

Although various specific constructions and embodiments have been discussed herein, it is to be understood that these are for illustrative purposes only. Various modifications and adaptations will be apparent to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be determined by reference to the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A ballast machine comprising: a main frame with front and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; a first lifter supported by said main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a frist side of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench; and a first undercutter supported by said main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, said first undercutter moving ballast out towards the first side of the roadbed; and wherein said first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, said chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction.

2. The ballast machine of claim 1 wherein said front and back frame supports are front and back pairs of rail engagement wheels, and wherein one of said pairs of front and back rail engagement wheels is movable in a rail direction relative to said main frame between a travel position relatively near a vehicle end and a work position further form the vehicle end with a lower end of said first lifter being between said vehicle end and said one of said pairs.

3. The ballast machine of claim 1 wherein said first lifter chain mechanism has a rising run and a containment plate which restrains ballast from falling off of said rising run over a portion of said rising run.

4. The ballast machine of claim 3 further comprising a conveyor system supported by said main frame and positioned to receive ballast lifted above an upper end of said containment plate by said first lifter chain.

5. The ballast machine of claim 4 wherein said conveyor system is positioned to receive ballast from said first lifter and transport the ballast selectively to the front of the ballast machine and to the rear of the ballast machine. 6. The ballast machine of claim 3 wherein said rising run and said containment plate are each less than 90 degrees from horizontal.

7. The ballast acnine of claim 1 wherein said first lifter further includes a side chain wheel engaged to said first lifter chain mechanism and positioned just above a lower end of said first lifter chain.

8. A ballast machine comprising: a main frame with front and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; a first lifter supported by said main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a first side of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench; and a first undercutter supported by said main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, said first undercutter moving ballast out towards the first side of the roadbed; and wherein said first lifter has exterior and interior peripheries and said first lifter and said first undercutter are disposable in: a first work mode with said first undercutter positioned at least partially above and to the side of a vertical level corresponding to said interior periphery wherein ballast thrown by said first undercutter drops from above said vertical level prior to being picked up by said first lifter; and a second work mode with said first undercutter positioned relative to said first lifter to throw ballast directly between said interior periphery and said exterior periphery for movement on said first lifter.

9. The ballast machine of claim 8 further comprising a conveyor system supported by said main frame and positioned to receive ballast from said first lifter and transport the ballast selectively to the front of the ballast machine and to the rear of the ballast machine.

10. The ballast machine of claim 9 wherein said first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, said first lifter chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction.

11. The ballast machine of claim 10 wherein said first lifter is disposable to dig a trench without said first undercutter simultaneously undercutting and said first undercutter is disposable to undercut without said first lifter simultaneously digging a trench.

12. The ballast machine of claim 9 further comprising a second lifter supported by said main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a side of a roadbed opposite to a side of said first lifter and lifting ballast out of the trench, and a second undercutter supported by said main frame for removing ballast from a side of a roadbed opposite to a side of said first undercutter.

13. The ballast machine of claim 8 wherein said first lifter is movable in a transverse direction relative to said main frame and is rotatable between a work position where it has a given vertical height and a travel position with a reduced vertical height.

14. A ballast machine comprising: a main frame with front and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; _a first lifter supported by said main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a first side of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench; and a first undercutter supported by said main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, said first undercutter moving ballast out towards the first side of the roadbed; and a conveyor system supported by said main frame and positioned to receive ballast from said first lifter and transport the ballast selectively to the front of the ballast machine and to the rear of the ballast machine. 15. The ballast machine of claim 14 wherein said first lifter is disposable to dig a trench without said first undercutter simultaneously undercutting and said first undercutter is disposable to undercut without said first lifter simultaneously digging a trench. 16. The ballast machine of claim 14 wherein said first lifter is movable in a transverse direction relative to said main frame.

17. The ballast machine of claim 14 wherein said conveyor system includes a transverse conveyor positioned to receive ballast from said first lifter, an intermediate conveyor positioned to receive ballast from said transverse conveyor, and first and second end conveyors positioned to receive ballast from opposite ends of said intermediate conveyor. is. The ballast machine of claim 14 wherein said first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, said first lifter chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction. 19. A ballast machine comprising: a main frame with front and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; a first lifter supported by said main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a first side of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench; and a first undercutter supported by said main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, said first undercutter moving ballast out towards the first side of the roadbed; and wherein said first lifter is disposable to dig a trench without said first undercutter simultaneously undercutting and said first undercutter is disposable to undercut without said first lifter simultaneously digging a trench.

20. The ballast machine of claim 19 further comprising a conveyor system supported by said main frame and positioned to receive ballast from said first lifter and transport the ballast selectively to the front of the ballast machine and to the rear of the ballast machine; and wherein said conveyor system includes a transverse conveyor positioned to receive ballast from said first lifter, an intermediate conveyor positioned to receive ballast from said transverse conveyor, and first and second end conveyors positioned to receive ballast from opposite ends of said intermediate conveyor.

21. The ballast machine of claim 19 wherein said first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, said first lifter chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction. 22. A ballast machine comprising: a main frame with front and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; first and second lifters supported by said main frame for digging a trench in ballast at respective first and second sides of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench; and first and second undercutters supported by said main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, said first and second undercutters moving ballast out respectively towards the first and second sides of the roadbed.

23. The ballast machine of claim 22 wherein said conveyor system includes a transverse conveyor positioned to receive ballast from said first lifter, an intermediate conveyor positioned to receive ballast from said transverse conveyor, and first and second end conveyors positioned to receive ballast from opposite ends of said intermediate conveyor.

24. The ballast machine of claim 23 wherein said first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, said firs lifter chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 27 December 1995 (27.12.95); original claims 2, 17 cancelled; original claims 1, 14 amended; remaining claims unchanged (3 pages)]

1. A ballast machine comprising: a main frame (10F) with front and back pairs of rail engagement wheels (22F, 22R) , for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails, one of said pairs of front and back rail engagement wheels being movable in a rail direction relative to said main frame between a travel position relatively near a vehicle end and a work position further from the vehicle end; a first lifter (14F) supported by said main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a frist side of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench, a lower end of said first lifter being between said vehicle end and said one of said pairs; a first undercutter (12F) supported by said main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, said first undercutter moving ballast out towards the first side of the roadbed; and wherein said first lifter (14F) is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth (15R) thereon, said chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel (40) and a plurality of bottom chain wheels (42F, 42B) offset from each other in a rail direction. 3. The ballast machine of claim 1 wherein said first lifter chain mechanism has a rising run and a containment plate which restrains ballast from falling off of said rising run over a portion of said rising run.

5. The ballast machine of claim 4 wherein said a conveyor system supported by said main frame and positioned to receive ballast from said first lifter and transport the ballast selectively to the front of the ballast machine and to the rear of the ballast machine. 10. The ballast machine of claim 9 wherein said first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, said first lifter chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction.

14. A ballast machine comprising: a main frame (10F) with front and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; a first lifter (14F) supported by said mam frame for digging a trench in ballast at a first side of the roadbed and lifting ballast out of the trench; and a first undercutter (12F) supported by said main frame for removing ballast from under ties in the roadbed, said first undercutter moving ballast out towards the first side of the roadbed; and a conveyor system supported by said main frame and including a transverse conveyor (16F, 16S) positioned to receive ballast from said first lifter (14F) , an intermediate conveyor (18) positioned to receive ballast from said transverse conveyor, and first and second end conveyors (20F, 20S) positioned to receive ballast from opposite ends of said intermediate conveyor (18) to transport the ballast selectively to the front of the ballast machine and to the rear of the ballast machine.

15. The ballast machine of claim 14 wherein said first lifter is disposable to dig a trench without said first undercutter simultaneously undercutting and said first undercutter is disposable to undercut without said first lifter simultaneously digging a trench.

16. The ballast machine of claim 14 wherein said first lifter is movable in a transverse direction relative to said main frame.

18. The ballast machine of claim 14 wherein said first lifter is a first lifter chain mechanism with a plurality of lift teeth thereon, said first lifter chain mechanism having a working position in which it engages to and extends between a top chain wheel and a plurality of bottom chain wheels offset from each other in a rail direction.

19. A ballast machine comprising: a main frame with front and back frame supports for moving the vehicle along the roadbed and/or along rails; a first lifter supported by said main frame for digging a trench in ballast at a first side of the State ent under Art. 19

Claim 1 is amended by incorporating therein the limitations of features defined in claim 2. Claim 14 is amended by incorporating therein the limitations of features defined in claim 17. Claims 2 and 17 are cancelled.