EP2194189A2

EP2194189A2 - Processing the ballast bed of a railway

Info

Publication number: EP2194189A2
Application number: EP20090177963
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hans Van Eck
Original assignee: VolkerRail Nederland BV
Current assignee: VolkerRail Nederland BV
Priority date: 2008-12-03
Filing date: 2009-12-03
Publication date: 2010-06-09

Abstract

Wagon train comprising a storage (13) for ballast and a unload and load means for the ballast with conveyor belts (5, 6) above each other such that remote from the storage the ballast simultaneously in separate flows in opposite directions is transported through the train across a distance of more than a half, a complete or one and a half wagon length. There is also a conveyor track (7) that can pivot over 90 degrees, to take a the train narrow keeping transport position and an aside above the adjacent track projecting operating position

Description

This invention relates to operations that are carried out to the ballast bed of a railway. Such operations are e.g. removing the old ballast and/or providing new ballast, wherein the ballast particularly consists of loose bulk material like pebbles or pieces of rock.
Our invention can e.g. be applied to the typical manner of renewing the ballast bed, wherein with a so called chain netting of the ballast cleaning machine (hereafter BCM) that also has a stopping machine and a ballast finishing machine the existing ballast bed is removed from below the track and the sleepers. At the front and back of the BCM in the same track, a train of wagons is present. At least part of the old ballast is removed to the train of wagons at the one side. New ballast is supplied to the BCM from the train of wagons at the opposite side of the BCM. The wagons are of special type with conveyor belts, such that the ballast can be loaded from the one into the next wagon of the train.
Our invention can also be applied to a BCM wherein only at the front of back a train of wagons is present in the same track which simultaneously supplies new ballast to the BCM and receives old ballast from the BCM. Examples are to be found in, e.g., EP-A-1369529 , EP-A-0303037 , JP 2000 257004 A .
Our invention is also applicable to a system as disclosed in WO2006/038122 A1 (SO.RE.MA) or EP06021744.5 (VolkerRail; LOLA.I).
The contents of the above five citations is enclosed in here by reference.
Above the possible fields of application for our invention are indicated, wherein the supply and discharge of ballast material takes place in the same track that is under Construction. A different field of application, at present the most prefered, is the possibility to let the supply and discharge of ballast material take place via the one track while said ballast material is used in, and is removed from, respectively, the preferably adjacent track.
Apart from processing ballast material it is also feasible that our invention can be applied with different materials, preferably of the incoherent and/or bulk type, e.g. from the foundation below the ballast bed.
The object of our invention is to e.g. be able to process ballast material in a simple manner, while the supply and discharge of the material can take place via the adjacent track.
Our invention relates to a train of wagons, wherein the train comprises one or more of the following: a storage means for incoherent, bulk material, like ballast material; a conveyor means to convey the bulk material, e.g. through the train and/or towards or way from the train; load- and unload means for the bulk material. Preferably the conveyor means and/or load and unload means are designed such that by one or both the bulk material simultaneously in separated flows in opposite directions is transported through the train, wherein preferably one or both said flows are transported across a transport distance of more than half, complete or one and a half wagon length, counted from the storage means and/or loading or unloading point.
Preferably the load and unload means comprises at least one, preferably at least two wagons. Preferably the wagons of the load and unload means are not designed to store a substantial amount of bulk material. E.g. such a wagon has no across substantial its complete length extending container to contain bulk material. Preferably the load and unload means, of wagon of it, has substantially exclusively conveyor belts and/or tracks to bear bulk material.
It has come out that in this manner e.g. ballast material in the track can be processed by a digging machine, such that it is not required to use a BCM.
The transport of the bulk material, e.g. across the transport distance, preferably takes place in one or more of the following manners: substantially horizontal; above each other; at a level below the highest level at which transport through the storage means takes place; across a transport track which is retractable and/or around an upward axis turning, preferably over substantially 90 degrees; across a transport track which ends/unloads/loads aside the train.
Preferably two transport means can be activated alternating by e.g. retracting and/or pivoting, e.g. to dump into or next to the train.
The storage means is e.g. provided by relative to the wagon train (within it) advancing containers, or fixed/stationary located containers. The train wagons of the storage means are preferably substantially identically designed. The storage means (containers) is preferably open at the top and/or bottom.
The invention can be embodied in different manners which are all covered by the patent claims. Hereafter a presently preferred embodiment is illustrated by way of the drawing. All in the description below disclosed measurements can individually or in arbitrary combination also be applied to embody different embodiments of the invention, possibly in combination with one or more measurements disclosed above. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1 in perspective a proximal part of a wagon train;
Fig. 2 in perspective a distal part of the wagon train of fig. 1.

The train of fig. 1 and 2 consists of many wagons. The front two (fig. 1) are part of a transport and unload and load means. The in fig. 2 illustrated wagons are part of a storage means with also a conveyor means. The wagons 13 of fig. 2 are substantially identical and comprise each a fixed or stationary to the wagon mounted container 10, and a first 1, second 2, third 3 and fourth 4 conveyor belt.
A first transport track (provided by the first and second transport belts 1, 2) runs at a first level above the containers 10 and is designed to either at desire unload into a container from above, or to only unload in the last (most distal) container. A second conveyor track (provided by the third and fourth transport belts 3, 4) runs at a second level below each container 10 (the by the third conveyor belt 3 provided part of the transport track) and runs between two successive containers 10 upward under an angle (the part of the transport track provided by the fourth transport belt 4) to substantially right below the first level to unload from above into one of the two successive containers 10. Such a storage means with conveyor means is e.g. disclosed in WO2006/038122 A1 (SO.RE.MA) or EP06021744.5 (VolkerRail; LOLA.I).
The wagons 11, 12 of the load and unload means (viz. fig. 1) comprise each a fifth and sixth conveyor belt 5, 6 above each other. A third conveyor track (provided by the fifth conveyor belts 5) runs at a low level and the storage means unloads onto it. The third conveyor track unloads onto a seventh conveyor belt 7 of one of the wagons 11. This seventh transport belt 7 provides a fourth transport track and can be pivoted over substantially 90 degrees around an upward axis and/or can be adapted in length or differently, to take a the train narrow keeping transport position and an aside above the adjacent track projecting operating position (as illustrated). The seventh transport belt 7 thus unloads into the adjacent track. The seventh transport belt 7 could be replaced by a slide gutter or some other type of fourth conveyor track.
A fifth transport track (provided by the sixth transport belts 6) runs at high level and unloads onto the storage means. The fifth transport track runs preferably across a part of its length preferably at a lower level compared to the first level (of the first transport track) of the storage means, such that a digging machine can easily unload onto the part of low level of the fifth transport track. At an end the fifth transport track is substantially at the first level of the storage means, to be able to unload the storage means.
The operation is as follows:
At the one track the wagon train of fig. 1 and 2 is present, of which the storage means initially is completely filled with new ballast. At the adjacent track, which is under construction, at the location of the wagons of the load and unload means a digging machine (not shown) is present which takes ballast material from the track and dumps it onto the fifth transport track (provided by the transport belts 6). The fifth transport track takes this material upwards to the first transport track (provided by the transport belts 1, 2) which brings this material to the last (distal or downstream) wagon 13 and unloads into this wagon. Simultaneously in opposite flow direction by the second transport track (provided by the transport belts 3, 4) new ballast material from the storage means is unloaded onto the third transport track (transport belt 5). This material subsequently comes onto the fourth transport track (transport belt 7) which unloads this material into the track under construction.
The new ballast is by the first (proximal or upstream) wagon/container 13/10 of the storage means via the second transport track (transport belts 3, 4) supplied to the third transport track (transport belt 5). Since all wagons 13 of the storage means are preferably identical, the material is brought upward by the fourth transport track of the proximal wagon 13, before being dumped onto the transport belt 5 (third transport track). At that time all transport belts 3, 4 of the second transport track of all wagons 13 operate. Thus the distal wagon/container 13/10 is the first one that is emptied from new ballast which proximally flowing across the second transport track and through the containers 10 in between arrives in the proximal container 10 and after that onto the fifth transport belt (third transport track) . In the mean time the fifth transport track (transport belts 6) supplies old ballast to the proximal end (start) of the first transport track transport belts 1 and 2). The old ballast advances distally above all wagons 13 (i.e. bypassing all more proximal containers), to be dumped into the distal wagon/container 13/10 and take the place of the in the mean time by the supply of new ballast to the third transport track vacated space within the distal wagon/container 13/10. From said distal wagon 13 the old ballast is advanced proximally by the second transport track (transport belts 3, 4) and follows then the same between a high and low level through the storage means extending route as the new ballast. Thus a proximally through the train advancing transition area between new and old ballast is provided. As soon as this transition area arrives at the proximal container 10 the train has the new ballast substantially completely delivered to the third transport track and is substantially completely filled with old ballast supplied by the digging machine.
The digging machine can the by the seventh transport belt 7 dumped new ballast process in the desired manner, e.g. spread. The work location, the digging machine and the wagon train advance during the operation in the direction of arrow A (downstream direction). The seventh transport belt 7 unloads upstream from the digging machine, relative to the direction of arrow A.
Thus there is through the train from the proximal end a distal flow old ballast above the containers, and from the distal end a proximal flow new ballast followed by the proximal flow old ballast. The distal flow old ballast and the proximal flow new ballast cover through the train a distance of more than a half wagon length from and to, respectively, the point where the ballast is unloaded into and from, respectively, the train.
Preferably the first transport track is provided in that the first transport belts 1, 2 partly mutually overlap such that a (proximal) first transport belt 1 unloads onto a (distal) second transport belt 2. Thus the wagons 13 can be easily uncoupled from each other while it is not required to disassemble transport belts. This can also be the case for the second, third, fifth and/or sixth transport track. Possibly the first and/or second transport belt 1, 2 can be made shorter, e.g. such that the overlap can be cancelled such that unloading into a container 10 different from the most distal becomes possible.
Alternatively the first, second, third and/or fourth transport belt can be integrated and/or replaced by a comparably functioning unit. A transport belt 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 can be designed such that its length can be shortened. According to a different alternative the old ballast exclusively flows distally through the train, such that not continuously old ballast is unloaded into the distal container 10. In stead the distal end of the first transport track is advanced proximally to be successively located above each container 10 to unload old ballast from above into it.
In another alternative the ballast is from the distal container 10 transported proximally while bypassing the intermediate containers 10, e.g. below at a continuous, merely by third (an then partly mutually overlapping) transport belts 3 provided transport track.
The containers preferably have an open top and bottom. Possibly the bottom can be closed, e.g. in case the proximal flow new ballast bypasses the intermediate containers on its way to the proximal end.
Preferably the third transport track (transport belt 5) extends further compared to the fifth transport track (transport belt 6), as shown. Preferably this it at the side of the fourth transport track (transport belt 7). The opposite situation, in that the fifth transport track extends further compared to the third, is also possible.
The fifth transport track is preferably provided with the illustrated upright side edges 8 to simplify the dumping process of the digging machine. At the distal end of the third transport track there are preferably upright walls 9 as illustrated, with which a relatively small at the top and bottom open container is provided to simplify dumping onto the transport belt 5 from the fourth transport belt 4 of the proximal wagon 13. The fifth and first, respectively, transport track extend above this container 9.
If the train is completely filled with old ballast, in any case the storage means of it must be changed by one which is completely filled with new ballast. This can be done by uncoupling and driving away of the storage means. This interrupts the operation. From the proximal end of the illustrated train can, while the illustrated train is still in operation, a similar train be fed at the same track.
The invention can also be used for applications different from processing ballast. The wagons of the storage means can be provided with a removable assembly of first, second, third and fourth transport belts and/or containers. Thus a wagon for generic use can be applied, onto which such an assembly can be temporary mounted at the desired time.
The transport or load and unload means as e.g. embodied by the wagons 11, 12 and transport belts 5, 6 and 7 can also be applied independent from the storage means as embodied by the wagons 13 and transport belts 1-4, e.g. in combination with a different assembly of wagons with containers to contain ballast.
All described of in the drawing illustrated measurements provide in isolation or arbitrary combination the subject matter of this invention, also independent from their presentation in the claims or their reference.

Claims

Wagon train comprising a storage means (13) for incoherent, pourable material, such as ballast material; a conveyor means to convey the pourable material through the train; an unload and load means (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) for the bulk material, wherein the unload and load means is designed such that remote from the storage means the pourable material is simultaneously in separate flows in opposite directions transported through the train, wherein one or both said streams are transported across a transport distance of more than a half, complete or one and a half wagon length, counted from of between the storage means and/or the unload or load point.
Train according to claim 1, wherein the unload and load means comprises at least one, preferably at least two wagons.
Train according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the unload and load means, or its wagon, comprises substantially exclusively conveyor belts and/or track to bear the bulk material.
Train according to any of claims 1-3, wherein of the unload and load means a conveyor track is retractable and/or can turn around an upward axis, preferably over substantially 90 degrees,; and/or aside the train ends/unloads/loads.
Train according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the load and unload means comprises two conveyor tracks (5, 6) above each other, at the lower (5) of which the storage means unloads while the upper (6) of which unloads onto the storage means.
Train according to any of claims 1-5, comprising a conveyor track (7) which over substantially 90 degrees can turn around an upward axis and/or can be adapted in length or in another manner, to have a the train slender keeping transport position and a to the side above the adjacent track projecting operating position.
Train according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the load and unload means comprises one or more conveyor tracks (5, 6) which towards the end extend upward or downward and/or have an at a higher or lower level located end to e.g. end at equal level with a different transport track.
Train according to any of claims 1-7, wherein a conveyor track is provided with upright side edges (8) or upright walls (9).
Method to work at the track wherein at the one track a wagon train with load and unload means stands, e.g. according to any of claims 1-8, of which the storage means is initially completely filled with new ballast and at the other track next to it at the location of the load and unload means of the wagon train a digging machine is located which takes up old ballast material from the other track and dumps it onto a first conveyor track (6) of the unload and load means which brings the old material distally flowing to the storage means while simultaneously in opposite flow direction by a above or below the first conveyor track (6) located second conveyor track (5) of the unload and load means new ballast from the storage means is proximally flowing supplied to the digging machine, wherein the distal flow old ballast and/or the proximal flow new ballast through the train at the first (6) or second (5) conveyor track cover a distance of more than a half, complete or one and a half wagon length between the location where the ballast is unloaded into and from, respectively, the train and the storage means (13).
Method according to claim 9, wherein the flow new or old material at the conveyor track (5, 6) in the unload and load means takes a curve, in top view, of preferably substantially 90 degrees.