EP0146164B1 - Method for the renewal of railroad switches, and railroad machine for carrying it out - Google Patents

Abstract

A train for carrying out the renewal of a railroad switch or crossing in a track comprises two chassis with a girder between them supported by two cranes on the respective chassis. Cross beams on the girder have hooks for gripping the switch or crossing. The girder is suspended from the cranes by rotary joints and an auxiliary winch has a cable connected to the switch or crossing off-center to provide for tilting the switch or crossing. At least one of the chassis is provided at its four corners with articulated arms and extensible columns provided with bogies for running on side rails. The arms can be swung in so that the bogies can run on standard gauge track.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of renewing a railway apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as a train for the implementation.

A similar process is described in FR-A-1258437 concerning however the replacement of the sleepers of a railroad track, and in the train for implementing the process the lifting devices are gantries which are provided with means for traveling only on the service road after installation. The gantries are integral with the beam and to bring them to the working place the beam is rolled which is provided with rolling means on the railroad track, while the gantries during this time are retracted.

In FR-A-2448598 a method and a train are also described for the replacement of switches and crossings by means of two cranes traveling on the railway track and a beam suspended from the spiers facing two cranes. According to this process, we arrive at the location of the device to be replaced with the beam loaded with the new device, we rotate the beam 180 ° around a horizontal axis, we grab the old device, we rotate the beam still 180 ° to place the new device facing its location and we put it down.

• 1. Par des grues se déplaçant sur la voie parallèle, ou la voie dans laquelle se trouve l'appareil à remplacer.
• 2. Par des portiques roulant sur une voie de service placée sous l'appareil de voie que l'on à préalablement levé.

When renewing a railway track, the renewal of the track devices, for example switches, crossings or crossings, represents a very important and relatively complicated job because the track devices are very bulky elements by their width, and handling them poses problems. Currently, the installation, removal and moving of the track equipment is carried out mainly in two ways.

• 1. By cranes moving on the parallel track, or the track in which the device to be replaced is located.
• 2. By gantry cranes running on a service track placed under the switch which has been lifted beforehand.

In both cases the movement of the device takes place in a plane parallel to the track plane and the gauge of the track is greatly exceeded. In addition, in the first case of use of the parallel track the cranes block the track parallel to the traffic and in the second case a significant personnel is necessary for the installation of the track of service under the raised device and the control of several gantries.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks by proposing a method and an implementation train allowing the installation or the removal of a switchgear or of a part, without blocking the track parallel to the traffic by moving there. machines such as cranes and offering the possibility of respecting the gauge of the track when moving the set or set down track equipment.

The method according to the invention is characterized by the characterizing clause of claim 1.

The advantages of the process which is the subject of the present invention are the fact that the cranes are on the track containing the switchgear, thus leaving the parallel track free to traffic, that they can move on the auxiliary track, thus facilitating renewal and ensuring good stability of the train because of their spacing, that the apparatus is tilted during movements thus respecting the gauge of the track leaving parallel tracks free to traffic, in addition it is necessary to use the service rails by reducing to the normal spacing for sanitation of the ballast by conventional machines allows a rationalization of the work without resorting to special machines.

Of course, the new device is transported in the same way from the deposit location to the installation location.

The invention also relates to a train for implementing the method characterized by the characterizing clause of claim 2.

According to a preferred embodiment the same means which are used for movement on the service rails and which are preferably crutches orientable in the plane of the chassis and provided with undercarriages, are also provided with rail princes for the laying of rails. service.

Apart from the advantages mentioned above, the process and the implementation train also make it possible to minimize the number of people on the team responsible for the switchgear renewal operations, most of the operations being carried out by the 'through mechanical means.

In addition, the undercarriages for running on the service rails are also adaptable for running on the normal track, which makes it possible to increase the stability of the cranes when transporting a track device.

• La fig. 1 est une vue schématique de côté d'un train de renouvellement;
• la fig. 2 est une vue de dessus d'une voie avec un appareil de voie et les relais de service;
• la fig. 3 est une vue analogue à la précédente, l'appareil de voie étant évacué et les rails de service assemblés à l'écartement normal;
• la fig. 4 est une vue de côté montrant plus en détail la grue munie des moyens de déplacement sur les rails de service et une partie de la poutre;
• la fig. 5 est une vue de dessus de la figure précédent;
• la fig. 6 est une vue parallèlement à l'axe de la voie montrant un appareil de voie levé et incliné;
• la fig. 7 est une vue de côté d'une partie d'un des trains de roulement d'une des béquilles;
• la fig. 8 est une vue de face de la partie montrée dans la figure précédente;
• la fig. 9 montre de face la poutre et les moyens de préhension de l'appareil;
• la fig. 10 est une vue de côté de la représentation selon la fig. 9.

The invention will be described in detail with the aid of appended drawings relating to a preferred variant of the invention.

• Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a renewal train;
• fig. 2 is a top view of a track with a track device and the service relays;
• fig. 3 is a view similar to the previous one, the track apparatus being evacuated and the service rails assembled at normal spacing;
• fig. 4 is a side view showing in more detail the crane provided with means of movement on the service rails and part of the beam;
• fig. 5 is a top view of the previous figure;
• fig. 6 is a view parallel to the axis of the track showing a raised and inclined track apparatus;
• fig. 7 is a side view of part of one of the undercarriages of one of the crutches;
• fig. 8 is a front view of the part shown in the previous figure;
• fig. 9 shows the beam and the gripping means of the device from the front;
• fig. 10 is a side view of the representation according to FIG. 9.

The renewal train illustrated in fig. 1 comprises a first crane 1 mounted on a chassis 2 provided with devices 3 for traveling on track 4, a second crane 5 mounted on a chassis 6 provided on the one hand with devices 7 for traveling on track 4 and on the other hand undercarriages 8 for running on the service rails 9 and finally a beam 13 suspended at its ends from the two cranes 1 and 5. The service rails 9 are arranged on either side of the apparatus 10 and sections of the adjacent track 4, that is to say connected by the track device 10 (fig. 2). The undercarriages 8 are fixed to the ends of crutches 11 articulated to the chassis 6 of the crane 5. The beam 13 is provided with gripping means 14 in the form of palliers for gripping the device 10 to be lifted.

In fig. 3 shows the track 4 in the absence of the device 10, and the service rails 9, at the location of the device, being ripped at normal spacing 9 'and assembled by spacing bars 9 "to ensure the continuity of the track and allow sanitation of the ballast and / or the platform by known machines.

The cranes 1 and 5 are each provided with a telescopic arm 15 equipped with an auxiliary winch 16 and a cable 17, as shown only for the crane 5 (fig. 4 and 5), making it possible to tilt the device. track lifted as will be described later. The crane 1 respectively 5 is mounted on a pivoting plate 12 at 360 °. At least one of the rolling devices 3 respectively 7 is provided with propulsion means to allow the movement of the train on track 4.

In the example considered only the crane 5 is intended and equipped to run on the service rails 9 and will therefore be described in detail.

The chassis 6 of the crane 5 is provided at its ends with four crutches 11 and 11 'articulated to the chassis 6 by axes 18 perpendicular to the plane of the chassis 6. The angular position of the crutches 11, 11' in the plane of the chassis 6 is provided by hydraulic cylinders 20 (fig. 5), a cylinder 20 being provided by stand. At the free ends of four crutches 11, 11 ′ are suspended by jacks 19 from the undercarriages 8 able to run on the service rails 9, at least one of these undercarriages being provided with propulsion means (fig. 7) .

When the crane 5 moves on the service rails 9 the crutches 11 and 11 'are deployed, the undercarriages 8 are brought into contact with the service rails 9 by means of suspension cylinders 19 allowing at the same time lifting, if necessary, the rolling devices 7 with respect to the track 4. In principle a pair of crutches located on the same lateral side of the chassis 6, for example 11 ′, are locked in a determined angular position while the other pair 11 remains free in order to be able to follow the variations in the spacing of the service rails 9, in particular at the location of the apparatus 10.

The gripping means 14 of the beam 13 formed by spreaders are provided with hooks 21 for gripping the track apparatus 10, as shown in FIGS. 6, 9 and 10. In fig. 6 shows a track apparatus 10 raised and inclined so that it remains inside the gauge G of the track.

The beam 13 is suspended from the movable pulleys 22 of the cranes 1 and 5 by articulations 23 (fig. 9 and 10) allowing the inclination of the beam 13 around an axis parallel to the plane of the track 4. The inclination is obtained by the action of the cable 17 of each crane 1, 5 attached to a point 24 of a lifting beam 14, offset with respect to the axis defined by the two suspension joints 23 of the beam 13, driven by the auxiliary winch 16. This same cable 17 makes it possible, when the apparatus 10 is lifted, to balance the load in a plane approximately parallel to that of the track 4. In order to avoid deformation of the apparatus 10, several extendable spreaders 14 are provided. adjustable in width to adapt to the spacing of two non-parallel rails. The hooks 21 (fig. 9) are positioned at the desired spacing by endless screws 27, to allow the gripping of the device 10 or its release.

To allow the installation of service rails 9 (fig. 7 and 8) the undercarriages 8 of the crutches 11, 11 'are provided with rail clamps 25 controlled by a double-acting cylinder 26. These clamps allow the installation service rails on both sides of the railway as well as their removal at the end of the works.

In fig. 7 there is shown an undercarriage 8 provided with a motor M ensuring the propulsion of the crane on the service rails 9.

The operation of the train according to the method is as follows: The train comes on track 4 to the location of the apparatus 10 while progressively laying the service rails 9, on both sides. In the example illustrated in fig. 2 the train comes from the left side (in the direction of arrow F) and during this time the two cranes 1 and 5 run on the normal track 4. When the beam 13 is above the track device 10 we do lower the suspension trains 8 by the suspension cylinders 19 so that they rest on the service rails 9 and to simultaneously lift the chassis 6 with its rolling devices 7 of track 4; then the device 10 is dismantled from the rest of the track 4, it is lifted with the beam 13 and the two cranes (fig. 4 and 5), and it is inclined by means of the winches 16 (fig. 6) . The train leaves on the side where it came from (on the left of fig. 2) and the crane 5 crosses the area of the device deposited by rolling only on the service rails 9 by means of crutches 11, 11 ′ fitted with undercarriages 8 until the poor area of the track apparatus 10 is crossed, then the crane 5 can be lowered so that its running devices 7 are in contact with the normal track 4 and the crutches 11, 11 'and the undercarriages 8 return to their rest position. The suspension cylinders 19 make it possible to absorb the variations in height of the service track constituted by the service rails.

In principle, the track apparatus 10 can be dismantled or lifted while the crane 5 rests on the normal track 4 by its running devices 7 and after the track device 10 is lifted and ready to be transported, the running gear 8 is brought into contact with the service rails 9. Of course if this latter operation is carried out before disassembling the track device 10 it increases the stability of the crane 5.

The new switchgear is brought to the site of the old one by the way and the reverse operations. In the meantime, the ballast and / or the platform have been cleaned up by maintenance machines known per se. To do this, the service rails 9 (fig. 3) can be assembled at the normal spacing 9 'to allow the movement of the sanitation machines. After the renovation works, the service rails 9 are moved aside to allow the train with the new track device 10 to cross the poor area of the track device, by means of crutches 11, 11 'and undercarriages. 8 and come and park above said area. In fact, since it is generally prohibited, for obvious safety reasons, to work under the suspended track device 10, the service rails 9 ′ had to be moved apart before the arrival of the new track device 10 , so the service track cannot be used at the normal spacing 9 'to allow crossing the stripped area of the track apparatus 10.

It is understood that the other crane 1 or both cranes 1 and 5 can be provided with crutches 11, 11 'to carry out this work.

If the two cranes 1, 5 of the train are provided with means 8, 11, 11 'to move on the service rails 9 the arrival and departure of the train can be done in any direction. On the other hand, if a single crane is provided with these means, as in the variant described above, the departure of the train with the track apparatus 10 must be done so that the crane 1, which is not equipped to run on the service rails 9, either at the head because it cannot cross the area of the track where the raised track device 10 was located.

It is obvious that if the track apparatus 10 is of a very long length, it can be removed and brought back the new one by dismantling it in two or more parts. In this case it is necessary that the two cranes 1, 5 are able to roll on the service rails 9 in order to be able first to evacuate all the parts of the track apparatus 10 before bringing back the parts of the new apparatus, because in this case the distance between the two cranes 1 and 5 is less than the total length of the switchgear 10.

To allow the stability of the train to be increased when moving on the normal track with the device raised, the undercarriages 8 can be constructed so that they can also run on the rails of the normal track 4. For this, we modify by the 'jacks 20 the angle of the crutches 11, 11' so that the undercarriages 8 are vertical to the rails of the track 4 and for the suspension jacks 19 they are lowered onto the rails of the normal track 4 .

Claims (8)

1. Method for the renewal of a railroad switch or crossing, according to which working rails (9) are disposed on both sides of the railroad switch or crossing (10), said switch or crossing (10) or a part thereof is raised by means of a girder (13) suspended by its ends from lifting devices (1, 5), at least one of which is provided with means (8, 11, 1T) for running along said working rails (9), said switch or crossing (10) is moved to the site of dismounting, and the new railroad switch or crossing is supplied and placed by means of the girder (13) and the two lifting devices (1, 5), characterized by the fact that two cranes (1, 5) are used as lifting devices which are disposed on the ends of two sections of the track (4) connected by said switch or crossing (10), that said raised railroad switch or crossing (10) is tilted about a longitudinal axis approximately parallel to the plane of the track (4) in such a way that this switch or crossing is located in the structure gauge (G), that after removing the railroad switch or crossing (10) and before supplying the new switch or crossing, the working rails (9) are shifted to normal gauge (9') and joined together by spacer bars (9"), that the work of sanitation of the ballast and/or of the road bed is carried out by maintenance machines known in that art, and that thereafter the working rails (9) are arranged at the initial gauge.

2. Train for carrying out the method according to claim 1, comprising two lifting devices (1, 5) mounted on running devices (8, 11, 1T), at least one of which is suitable for running along working rails (9) disposed on both sides of the railroad switch or crossing (10), a girder (13) provided with gripping means (14) for the railroad switch or crossing (10) and suspended by its ends from the two lifting devices (1, 5), characterized by the fact that the lifting devices are two cranes (1, 5) provided with means (3, 7) for running along the track (4), and the running devices (8, 11, 11') thereof suitable for running along the working rails (9) are also suitable for running along the track (4), that the girder (13) is suspended from the two cranes (1, 5) by joints (23), that each crane (1, 5) is provided with an auxiliary winch (16) whose hoisting cable (17) is connected to a point (24) outside the line connecting the two suspension joints (23) of the girder (13) to allow equilibrium during lifting of the switch or crossing (10) and the one hand, and to allow it to be tilted on the other hand by rotating the girder (13) about the longitudinal axis defined by the two suspension joints (23) of the girder (13), said axis being approximately parallel to the plane of the track (4).

3. Train according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the means for moving along the working rails (9) are four supports (11, 11') disposed in the vicinity of four ends of a chassis (6) carrying the crane (5), and provided with bogies (8), which are preferably suspended from the supports (11, 11') by actuators (19) allowing adjustment of the position of the chassis (6) relative to the plane of the track (4).

4. Train according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the supports (11, 11') are articulated to the chassis (6) about axles (18) at least approximately perpendicular to the plane of the chassis (6), and that actuators (20) allowing adjustment of the angular position of said supports (11, 11') in the plane of the chassis (6) are provided.

5. Train according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized by the fact that at least one of the bogies (8) is provided with drive means (M).

6. Train according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by the fact that the gripping means (14) of the girder (13) are lifting beams of adjustable length provided with hooks (21).

7. Train according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized by the fact that the supports (11,11') are provided with means (25, 26) for respectively laying and removing working rails (9), which are preferably at least one pair of track lifters (25) driven by actuators (26) mounted respectively on the four bogies (8) of the supports (11,11').

8. Train according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized by the fact that the means (8,11,11') for moving along the working rails (9) are also suitable for running along the ordinary track (4) when transporting a railroad switch or crossing (10) from the site to the depot or vice versa to increase the stability of the cranes (1, 5) during such transport.

Images