EP0161117B1 - Continuously advancing apparatus for railroad track works - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a continuously advancing machine for works on a railway track, comprising a main chassis mounted on bogies and provided with a mobile auxiliary chassis supporting working members such as ballast tamping and track lifting/shifting units. The auxiliary chassis may move along the main chassis under the action of a bar for attachment to a chain driven by a motor and borne by a carriage, so as to advance, during the works, step by step with respect to the track while the machine progresses continuously. The reactions of inertia are entirely taken up by the track, via the carriage immobilized thereon thanks to grippers during the phases of advance of the auxiliary chassis and its working units.

Description

The invention relates to a continuously advancing machine for work on railways, comprising a main chassis provided with running members on the track and an auxiliary chassis supporting working members such as ballast tamping and lifting groups. - track slip, the latter chassis being integral with a mobile chassis which can move in translation along the main chassis under the action of drive means so as to advance, during the works, step by step with respect to to the track while the craft progresses continuously.

A machine of this kind is characterized, in operation, by a continuous advancement of the main chassis to which is superimposed a discontinuous advancement of the auxiliary chassis supporting the working members. The latter must in fact, in the case in particular of a track-stuffing machine, start, brake and stop at each work cycle, on a relatively short travel path determined for example by an interval of 50 to 60 cm. between the sleepers of the track.

Railroad tamping machines are already known (9B-A-2126635) designed for this purpose, in which the auxiliary chassis carrying the tamping and lifting-shifting members is produced from a chassis resting on the rear on a axle running on the rails between the running gear of the main frame of the tamping machine. This chassis is provided at its front part with a single or double drawbar sliding relative to the main chassis in the appropriate guide devices. The auxiliary chassis is accelerated and braked at each work cycle by a longitudinal cylinder, integral at one end of this chassis and at the other end of the main chassis of the tamping machine.

A tamping machine designed according to this principle makes it possible to obtain a significant increase in the working yield compared to tamping machines in which the working members are fixed relative to the main chassis and therefore require, for their movement from cross to cross, the acceleration and braking of the whole machine.

Continuously advancing tamping machines make it possible, during the transverse displacement phase to transverse of the working members, to overcome the conditions of wheel-rail adhesion and, consequently, to significantly reduce the duration of this phase, since the forces acceleration or deceleration of the working members are no longer to be transmitted in the form of engine torques acting on the wheels of the machine traveling on the rails. The translation systems of the working groups, which characterize this type of tamping machine, make it possible to impart much higher traction and braking forces to the working groups.

A problem specific to this type of tamping machine with continuous advancement however lies in the compromise which it is necessary to find between the increase in yield theoretically permitted by the principle stated above of a support frame for the working members in relative movement. relative to the main chassis of the machine, and the comfort of the driving staff, located in the cabins integral with the main chassis.

The accelerations and decelerations of the auxiliary chassis supporting the working members which appear at each work cycle are reflected, taking into account the non-negligible weight of this chassis, by longitudinal inertia reactions, which have repercussions on the main chassis of the tamping machine and printing to the conductors located in the cabins of significant tremors at the beginning and at the end of the displacement phase. The resulting discomfort is all the more significant when one seeks to further increase the yield of the tamping machine by increasing the speed of movement of the auxiliary chassis. Another effect of these inertia reactions is manifested in a loss of adhesion of the main chassis rolling on the rails at the moment when they appear. This requires in practice to give the main chassis an adherent driving load as high as possible and therefore leads to increased expenses in terms of driving the machine.

The present invention proposes to provide a continuously advancing machine, of the type described above, for which the inertia reactions generated by the discontinuous movements of the working members are eliminated, so that the increase in working efficiency does not more limited by increasing discomfort from the driving staff.

The invention resides in the fact that said means for driving the auxiliary chassis consist of a device for coupling the latter to a movable carriage which can run on the track and is provided with means of advancement and means of immobilization by relative to it, and that this coupling device, constituted by a rigid connection assembly whose length can vary under the control of a motor, makes it possible to control variations in the distance between the auxiliary chassis and the carriage.

Thus, the movements of the auxiliary chassis and of the working members which it carries can be ensured by immobilizing the carriage on the track and by varying the distance from the auxiliary chassis to the latter by controlling the coupling device which connects them. It follows from this arrangement that the inertia reactions of the whole of the auxiliary chassis and of the working members are transmitted not to the chassis of the machine, but entirely to the track, via said carriage immobilized on it, this which eliminates any feeling of discomfort for the driving staff located in the cabins. The efficiency of the machine can therefore be increased by reducing the step-by-step advancement time of the auxiliary chassis and its working members.

The means of advancement of the trolley, required res to move it between the consecutive displacements of the auxiliary chassis, can also be constituted by the aforementioned coupling device, operating in the opposite direction to the direction which corresponds to the displacements of the auxiliary chassis.

The rigid connection assembly according to the invention is capable of transmitting both traction and thrust forces, corresponding respectively to a decrease and to an increase in the distance between the carriage and the auxiliary chassis, the latter being advantageously provided with immobilization means relative to the track, which are put into action during the advancement phases of the carriage. The coupling device thus constitutes a common motor means for translational driving of the auxiliary chassis and of the carriage.

In a preferred embodiment, the rigid connection assembly comprises an element of fixed length in series with an element of variable length. More specifically, this element of fixed length can be constituted by a bar articulated on the one hand to the uri of the two chassis to be connected (preferably the auxiliary chassis), on the other hand at an attachment point belonging to a mechanism carried by the other chassis (preferably that of the carriage) and capable, under the action of said motor, of moving this point relative to the latter chassis in the longitudinal direction of the track, in one direction or in the opposite direction. This mechanism can in particular be constituted by a chain extending horizontally, in the direction of the track, between two rotary pinions mounted on the supporting frame of the mechanism, one of which is coupled to said motor.

The immobilization means with which the carriage and possibly the auxiliary chassis are equipped are advantageously constituted by at least one clamp mounted on board the respective chassis and capable, on command, of firmly gripping a rail of the track, then of releasing it. One can for example equip the chassis of the carriage with a set of two pairs of clamps cooperating with the two rows of track rails, and the auxiliary chassis with a pair of clamps also cooperating with the two rows of track rails .

• La figure 1 représente schématiquement en élévation latérale un engin selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 représente, à échelle agrandie, la partie de l'objet de la figure 1 où se situent les organes de travail.
• La figure 3 représente une coupe suivant la ligne III - III de l'objet de la figure 2.
• La figure 4 représente une coupe suivant la ligne IV - IV de l'objet de la figure 3.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, of a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment.

• Figure 1 shows schematically in side elevation a machine according to the invention.
• Figure 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, the part of the object of Figure 1 where the working members are located.
• FIG. 3 represents a section along line III - III of the object of FIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 represents a section along line IV - IV of the object of FIG. 3.

For the clarity of the representation, the working members have been omitted in FIGS. 3 and 4. The machine shown in FIG. 1 comprises a main chassis 1 comprising a platform 51 and two strong side members 37, and resting on the track 2, constituted by rails 3 and crosspieces 4 on a ballast bed 5, by means of bogies 6, 7. The wheels 8 of the bogie 7 are coupled to a drive motor 9 making it possible to advance the machine during working periods in the direction indicated by arrow 10.

The machine also comprises two driving cabs 11, 11a and an energy group 12 supplying in particular the engine 9 and the working members.

The latter comprise a pair of lifting-shifting groups 13 (one per row of rails 3) and a pair of tamping groups 14 (also one per row of rails), which are carried by an auxiliary chassis 52.

Each lifting-shifting group 13 comprises a chassis 15 which can slide vertically along a column 16, integral with the auxiliary chassis 52, under the action of a jack 17 to raise a file of rails gripped by two pairs of horizontal discs 18 carried by the chassis 15, and pivot horizontally around this column under the action of another actuator to make the file of rails be ripped transversely by means of vertical disks 19 also carried by the chassis 15.

Each tamping group 14, which can slide vertically along a column also integral with the auxiliary frame 52, under the action of a jack 22, comprises a pair of vibrating jamming tools 23, actuated by jacks 24, which can enter the ballast 5 on either side of a cross 4.

The auxiliary chassis 52 of the working members 13, 14 is fixed below a movable chassis 25, which can move along the main chassis 1, where it is supported by four rollers of vertical bearings 26 and guided by four horizontal rollers 27. In addition , four other vertical rollers 28 take up the forces directed upwards which the mobile chassis can undergo 25. The rollers 26, 27, 28 cooperate with two lateral beams 29 belonging to the main chassis 1 and extending below the beams 37.

The auxiliary chassis 52 is coupled to a carriage 53, rolling on the track 2 by means of wheels 60, by a rigid connection assembly the length of which can be varied in order to command a reconciliation or mutual separation of the auxiliary chassis 52 and of the carriage 53. This connection assembly comprises a bar 54, of fixed length, and a device 55 making it possible to modify the length of the connection assembly. The device 55 consists of a chain 56 stretched horizontally between two return sprockets 57, 58 carried by the chassis 59 of the carriage 53. The chain 56 forms a closed loop, its ends being joined by a tensioning member 61 to which is articulated, along a horizontal axis 62, the bar 54 by one of its ends, its other end being articulated, along a vertical axis 63, to the auxiliary frame 52. The pinion 57 is coupled to a motor 64 for driving in rotation, which allows to set in motion the chain and to make thus move the member 61 between the pinions 57, 58, in the longitudinal direction of the track 2, and thus vary the length of the assembly 54, 55, therefore the distance between the auxiliary frame 52 and the carriage 53 Furthermore, the latter is provided with two pairs of clamps 65 which can be clamped on the rails 3, at the core, under the action of hydraulic actuators 66 for controlling the carriage 53 on the track. The auxiliary chassis 52 can likewise be immobilized by means of a pair of clamps 67 mounted on the chassis 15 of the lifting-shifting group 13 and actuated by hydraulic cylinders 68.

The lifting-shifting operations of track 2, intended to eliminate the misalignments that it may present, are controlled by a leveling assembly with which the machine is equipped, which comprises a wire 43 stretched between the tops of two widely spaced vertical rods 44, 45 resting on the track by rollers 46, 47. Between them is disposed a track feeler carriage 48 supporting a vertical rod 49 at the top of which is placed a displacement sensor 50 which, depending on the position it takes with respect to the wire 43, controls the leveling-shifting groups 13 in leveling. Another similar assembly provides the lateral control relating to the track layout corrections.

In operation, the machine is propelled continuously at low speed, in the direction of the arrow 10, by the motor 9 actuating the wheels of the bogie 7. Upon completion of a lifting-shifting operation of the track 2 followed by a ballast stuffing operation 5, the carriage 53, located behind the working groups 13, 14 in the direction of advancement of the machine, is immobilized by clamping the clamps 65 on the rails 3 under the action of the jacks 66, while the clamps 67 are released, which immobilized the auxiliary chassis 52 of the working groups during these operations. The motor 64 of the chain 56 is then started and causes it to move, driving the member 61 of the rear sprocket 57 towards the front sprocket 58. This movement is communicated by the bar 54 to the auxiliary chassis 52, which advances by an amount equal to twice the pitch of the crosspieces 4. On reaching the new position 52 ′ of the auxiliary chassis, the engine 64 is cut, the clamps 67 are tightened and the clamps 65 are loosened, so that the chassis 52 is immobilized for a new implementation of the working groups, while the carriage 53 is released. The motor 64 is then restarted, but in the opposite direction, and the corresponding movement of the chain 56 then causes the carriage 53 to move on the track 2 in the direction of the auxiliary chassis 52 until it recovers its position. initial compared to this one.

Thus, the working groups 13, 14 are advanced step by step on track 2, by pushing the assembly 54, 55 connecting to the immobilized carriage 53, then the carriage 53, released, by pulling the same assembly 54, 55 while the frame 52 is immobilized and the working groups are in action. The inertia forces generated by the successive displacements of the working groups do not have repercussions on the main chassis 1 of the machine, because the reaction forces are completely taken up by track 2, by means of the carriage 53. In Consequently, the movements of the working groups, even the most brutal which correspond to their rapid passage from one cross member 4 to the next cross member between two tamping operations, do not induce any harmful shock in the main chassis 1 and the assembly of the craft.

For its part, the carriage 53 being much lighter in construction than the auxiliary chassis 52, the inertia reactions generated during its movements are negligible. They are also also fully transmitted to the track, by means of clamps 67 immobilizing the auxiliary frame 52 relative to the track.

Claims (9)

1. A continuously advancing machine for works on a railway track, comprising a main chassis (1) provided with members (6, 7, 8) for rolling on the track (2) and an auxiliary chassis (52) supporting working members such as ballast tamping and track lifting/shifting units, the latter chassis being fast with a mobile chassis (25) adapted to move in translation along the main chassis (1) under the action of drive means so as to advance, during the works, step by step with respect to the track while the machine progresses continuously, characterized by the fact that said drive means consist in an assembly (54, 55) connecting the auxiliary chassis (52) with a movable carriage (53) able to move on track (2) and provided with advancing means and with immobilization means with respect thereto, and in that said connection assembly, constituted by a rigid connection assembly (54, 55) of which the length can vary under the control of a motor (64), enables the control of the variations of the distance between the auxiliary chassis (52) and the carriage (53).

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the auxiliary chassis (52) is equipped with immobilization means (67) with respect to the track (2).

3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the rigid connection assembly (54, 55) comprises a fixed length element (54) in series with a variable length element (55).

4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the fixed length element is a bar (54) articulated on the one hand on one of the two chassis to be connected - the auxiliary chassis (52) and chassis (69) of carriage (53) -, and on the other hand, in one attaching point belonging to a mechanism (55) borne by the other chassis and adapted to move this point, under the action of motor (64) with respect to the latter chassis according to the longitudinal direction of the track (2) in one way in the opposite way.

5. Machine according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the mechanism (55) is borne by the chassis (59) of the carriage (53).

6. Machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by the fact that the mechanism (55) is constituted by a chain (56) extending horizontally, following the direction of track (2), between two gears (57, 58) mounted on the supporting chassis of the mechanism, one of them being coupled to motor (64).

7. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that the immobilization means with which are equipped the carriage (53) and optionally the auxiliary chassis (52) are constituted by at least one set of grippers (65, 67) mounted respectively on said chassis and adapted, at will, to gripp firmly a rail (3) of the track (2) and to release same.

8. Machine according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the chassis (59) of carriage (53) is equipped with an assembly of two pairs of gripping members (65) cooperating with the two lines or rails (3) of the track (2).

9. Machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by the fact that the auxiliary chassis (52) is equipped with a pair of gripping members (67) cooperating with the two lines of rails (3) of the track (2).

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