EP2949814A1 - Assembly for railway track renovation - Google Patents

Abstract

Railway refurbishment assembly, comprising a first train (1) responsible for the removal operations of the existing track, rails (6a) and crosspieces (7a), a second train (2) responsible for the laying operations of the new track, rails (6b) and sleepers (7b), the trains comprising a flat car (5) and a telescopic gantry (3) with a support leg (4) crawler, telescopic and motorized, the first and second trains (1,2) being distinct, configured to cooperate one after the other and close to each other, on both sides of a construction site zone (Z, Z1, Z2) of track renovation .

Description

The present invention relates to machines and methods for the renovation of railways.

More particularly, the invention relates to a railroad renovation set intended for the replacement of both rails and sleepers of a railroad generally in operation. In practice, the railway is renovated in sections because this renovation is carried out for short periods of time, typically at night, during which traffic is interrupted, and the railway has to be recirculated in a restrictive manner to a precise schedule.

This is done progressively, section by section, to renovate the entirety of a railway. Within each section, the renovation equipment progresses step by step, laying down the old road and resting a new path. At the approach of the interruption, that is to say the end of the section, the new track is laid until the old intact track is connected, in order to allow the restoration of the conventional operating circulation.

It is known, for example from the document US4236452 , combined machines performing both the removal of used rails, used sleepers, and the rests of new sleepers and new rails, these machines supported on both sides both on the old way and on the newly laid track, thanks to gantry beam structures between the support points which are relatively far apart.

Such machines have a great complexity, and the risk that a damage or failure occurs during the intervention of the machine on the track can unfortunately not be completely avoided; if such an eventuality occurs, it is very difficult that companions can intervene under the machine to ask sleepers and rails in troubleshooting solution to allow the resumption of traffic as soon as possible, preferably in time.

As a result, there was a need to improve the situation and to propose solutions to reduce the risk of non-restitution to the circulation of the railway at the prescribed time.

• un premier train chargé des opérations de dépose de la voie existante, à savoir rails et traverses,
• un deuxième train chargé des opérations de pose de la voie neuve, à savoir rails et traverses,
  chacun des premier et deuxième trains comprenant un wagon plat et un portique télescopique pouvant s'appuyer sur le wagon et sur une jambe support à chenille, la jambe support étant déplaçable verticalement entre une position de travail et une position de rangement, le portique télescopique étant déplaçable longitudinalement entre une position de travail et une position de rangement,
• les premier et deuxième trains étant distincts, configurés pour coopérer l'un à la suite de l'autre et à proximité l'un de l'autre, de part et d'autre d'une zone de chantier de rénovation de voie.

For this purpose, the present invention proposes a railroad renovation package, comprising:

• a first train responsible for the removal operations of the existing track, namely rails and sleepers,
• a second train responsible for laying the new track, namely rails and sleepers,
  each of the first and second trains comprising a flat car and a telescopic gantry which can rest on the wagon and on a caterpillar support leg, the support leg being movable vertically between a working position and a storage position, the telescopic gantry being movable longitudinally between a working position and a storage position,
• the first and second trains being separate, configured to cooperate one after the other and close to each other, on either side of a lane renovation site area.

Thanks to these provisions, in the event of a breakdown, it is easy to intervene in the space between the two trains so that the risks of non-return of the building site to the traffic in time and time can be minimized.

The two trains can also be discarded to facilitate the journeyman's intervention in the lane area to be restored. The risk of non-return to the operational circulation at the end of the period of time allotted for the works is consequently reduced, compared to the case of a machine that spans the renovation zone.

In embodiments of the method according to the invention, it may optionally be resorted further to one and / or the other of the following provisions.

The first train includes a tool for removing the sleepers, additional wagons for storing the sleepers deposited, at least one shuttle gantry rolling on the wagons, with handling means. So that this equipment allows to continuously process the removal of old sleepers and their storage on the landing gear.

Advantageously, baskets are used to contain the deposited sleepers, baskets and handling means being configured so that the sleepers are generally parallel to the transverse direction (T) to the track, without exceeding the template; whereby the used sleepers are stored securely, without risk for subsequent transport; it thus proposes a simple handling of the used sleepers, without rotation of the sleepers, and without exceeding template relative to the adjacent channel.

Each of the baskets comprises transverse slats with at least two vertical recesses for the passage of the forks of the handling means in the axial and vertical directions; whereby the baskets form very simple structures, without moving part (s), moreover it is not necessary to strap the sleepers for the subsequent circulation.

The support leg is a motorized track support leg; whereby each of the removal and installation trains can carry out renovation operations independently without locomotive tractor and without motorized bogie.

The second train comprises a tool for laying sleepers, additional wagons for storing the new sleepers, at least one gantry-shuttle rolling on the wagons, with handling means. So that this equipment makes it possible to store the new sleepers in waiting on the laying train and allows to continuously process the installation of new sleepers.

The first and second trains can operate with a distance (D1) of reduced separation, less than 2 m, so that in the construction zone (Z), the zone without crosspieces (Z1) has a length of less than 15 m and the zone without laid rails (Z2) has a length of less than 40 m; whereby the length of track deposited is small, and in case of failure of the machine, the manual installation of a portion of track to connect the old way to the new requires only a limited time.

There is provided a vertical pivot connection between the telescopic gantry and the flat car; this is preferably provided for each of the first and second trains; whereby the renovation set can process curve lanes.

An optical guiding device can be provided between the front end of the gantry of the second train and the forward end of the gantry of the first train, whereby the retrofit assembly can rest the new track exactly at the deposited track location. , even in case of curve.

Advantageously, when the support legs and telescopic gantries of the two trains are in the storage position, the two trains can be coupled in a standard manner, so as to be evacuated together in a convoy from the construction site area.

According to another aspect, the purpose of the invention is also to propose a basket for receiving used railway sleepers, specially designed with transverse slats having two vertical recesses for the passage of the forks of the handling means in the axial directions (L) and vertical.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the description following of one of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• la figure 1 est une vue générale en perspective de l'ensemble de rénovation selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus de la partie centrale de l'ensemble de rénovation de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue de côté de la partie centrale de l'ensemble de rénovation de la figure 1,
• les figures 4A 4B 4C montrent l'extrémité avant du train de dépose,
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective montre l'extrémité avant du train de dépose,
• la figure 6 illustre un panier de réception pour les traverses usagées,
• la figure 7 montre l'extrémité avant du train de pose,
• la figure 8 illustre l'accouplement des trains de pose et dépose pour former un convoi.

On the drawings:

• the figure 1 is a general perspective view of the renovation assembly according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a top view of the central part of the renovation complex of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is a side view of the central part of the whole renovation of the figure 1 ,
• the Figures 4A 4B 4C show the front end of the landing gear,
• the figure 5 is a perspective view showing the front end of the landing gear,
• the figure 6 illustrates a basket of reception for the used sleepers,
• the figure 7 shows the front end of the landing gear,
• the figure 8 illustrates the coupling of the laying trains and deposits to form a convoy.

In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

The figure 1 represents the renovation set according to the invention, such a railroad renovation set is intended for the replacement of both rails and sleepers of a railroad generally in operation.

The railway in question generally extends in a longitudinal direction L , the transverse direction T being defined as the perpendicular horizontal to this longitudinal direction.

• tout d'abord déposer les attaches des rails (c'est-à-dire dévisser les tirefonds ou déclipser les clips),
• ensuite écarter les rails existants 6a de leur position précédente, au moins vers l'extérieur, et un peu vers le haut, (la dépose des rails étant connue en soi, elle ne sera pas décrite en détails ici),
• déposer les traverses usagées 7a et les stocker dans des containers appelés paniers 8 qui seront vus en détail plus loin.

The renovation package in question includes a first train 1 , responsible for removal operations of the existing track (it may be called "dropping train"). The landing gear is configured to perform the following operations progressing (arrow F ) along the longitudinal direction L of the track:

• first remove the rail fasteners (ie unscrew the lag screws or unclip the clips),
• then move the existing rails 6a away from their previous position, at least towards the outside, and a little upwards (the removal of the rails being known per se, it will not be described in detail here),
• deposit the used sleepers 7a and store them in containers called baskets 8 which will be seen in detail later.

• poser des traverses neuves 7b en les acheminant depuis une réserve de traverses neuves stockées sur le deuxième train,
• mettre en place des rails neufs 6b en les déplaçant (à l'avancement) depuis une position d'attente le long de la voie vers leur position définitive sur la nouvelle voie,
• poser des attaches neuves (c'est-à-dire visser des tirefonds neufs ou clipser des clips neufs) fixant les rails neufs sur les traverses neuves.

The renovation package in question comprises a second train 2 responsible for laying operations of the new track (it may be called "laying train"). The laying train is configured to perform the following operations while progressing along the longitudinal direction L of the track:

• installing new ties 7b by routing them from a reserve of new ties stored on the second train,
• put in place new rails 6b by moving them (in progress) from a waiting position along the track to their final position on the new track,
• install new fasteners (ie screw new lag bolts or clip new clips) fixing the new rails on the new sleepers.

It should also be noted that if the ballast needs to be refurbished, this can be done in advance regardless of the removal and reinstallation of the track that is described here.

Advantageously according to the invention, the laying train 1 and the laying train 2 are separate, working close to each other, on both sides of a construction site Z zone of renovation.

The Z worksite area in question comprises a zone without cross members Z1 and a zone without rails Z2 placed, zone longer than the previous one. Advantageously according to the invention, in zone Z , the zone without crosspieces Z1 has a length of less than 15 m and the zone without rails Z2 has a length less than 40 m.

Each of the first and second trains 1,2 comprises a flat car 5 with conventional bogies 50 and a telescopic gantry 3 . Said telescopic gantry 3 comprises a rigid mechanically welded mechanical assembly 34 , with front rolling means 35 and rear rolling means 36 provided for rolling on on-board rails 58 on the flat car. In operations, said telescopic gantry 3 is designed to rest on the flat car 5 and on a support leg 4 crawler, vertically movable, said support leg being part of the equipment of the telescopic gantry, at its front beam 33 .

Advantageously, the track is a motorized track 40 , intended to advance the respective train during the laying and / or removal operations.

However, alternatively, the caterpillar could be a passive caterpillar and the train could be driven by a conventional bogie equipped with motorization, or a locomotives (the one who brought the train for example).

In both cases, it is preferably provided a device for controlling the direction of advance (orientation) of the track relative to the telescopic gantry.

The powered crawler device may comprise two separate caterpillars, namely a right caterpillar and a left caterpillar.

In the case where the track is motorized, the steering control can result from a differential control between the left track and the right track.

The support leg 4 is movable vertically between a working position resting on the ground and a storage position on the car 5 . In working position, the height is adjustable by means of a hydraulic cylinder 42 .

The support leg of the landing gear comprises a harrow 41 (also known as claws) to break the coherence of the ballast.

The telescopic gantry 3 is movable longitudinally between a working position (as illustrated in FIGS. Figures 1 to 3 ) and a storage position ( Fig 4A and 8 ), where the gantry is entirely positioned above the flat car 5.

When the support legs 4 and the telescopic gantries 3 of the two trains 1, 2 are in the storage position, the two trains can be coupled in a standard way, so as to be brought together and evacuated together in a convoy from the construction zone ( Fig 8 ).

When the railway becomes available for the resumption of the yard, the convoy formed by the first and second trains 1,2 is routed, through a locomotive or a locomotives (preferably one at each end), to the site area at the junction of the new and old tracks, ie where the renovation project was interrupted during the previous intervention.

Then the laying train is uncoupled from the laying train, and we proceed to the operation of the site of each of the trains, starting with the landing gear.

First, we separate the junction which joined the old rails and the new rails, and cut the old rails a distance of a few meters, remove the fasteners and cut-off rails. The sleepers are also manually removed from the same distance of a few meters, which will allow the crawler of the landing gear to be placed directly on the ballast.

For the landing gear 1 , the telescopic gantry 3 is advanced towards the free end of the train, a distance slightly greater than the length of the tracks. The front wheels 35 of the telescopic gantry are then at the edge of the front end 55 of the flat car. Then we move the support leg 4 down for it to come wear on the ballast ( Fig 4B ).

Thanks to the locotractor located at the far end of the train, the cars 5.15 of the train are moved while the telescopic gantry remains stationary, until the rear wheels 36 of the telescopic gantry 3 are in the vicinity of the end. before 55 free of the flat wagon 5 at the head of the train ( Fig 4C ). There is provision for a longitudinal immobilization of the gantry 3 with respect to the wagon 5 in this position, for the duration of the renovation operations.

Near the support leg, there is provided an operator's cabin in which an operator can act on the controls of the motorized crawler. The motorized track 40 is the means of movement (progression) of the train along the track from the moment it is supported on the ballast.

When the landing gear 1 begins to operate and advances (arrow F ), it frees up space on the ballast without rail or cross, so that the landing gear 2 can be put into operation, after having advanced a few meters so as to be able to put its motorized track directly on the ballast.

Regarding the laying train 2 , to put it into operation, we proceed in a similar way, we advance the telescopic gantry and then we put on the ballast support leg 4 motorized crawler on the ballast; then the wagons 5,15 of the landing gear are moved while the telescopic gantry remains stationary, until the rear wheels 36 of the telescopic gantry 3 are in the vicinity of the front end 55 free of the flat wagon 5 at the top train, and that longitudinal relative immobilization is established.

Advantageously according to the present invention, the front end 31 of the gantry 3 of the first gear 1 is separated from the front end 32 of the gantry of the second gear 2 by a distance denoted D1 ; this distance D1 can be short at the beginning of the worksite, preferably lower at 2 m, or even less than 1 m.

During the progression of the site, this distance D1 may be greater, however it is desirable that it remains relatively small, preferably less than a few meters; this distance D1 will be reduced again as much as possible near the time limit, preferably less than 2 m, or even less than 1 m, to restore the way to traffic.

In operational configuration, the renovation assembly progresses along the longitudinal direction L of the track, the landing gear 1 preceding the laying train 2 , with independent control thanks to the motorized tracks.

The landing gear 1 comprises, in addition to the telescopic gantry 3 and the flat head wagon 5 already mentioned, complementary wagons 15 for storing the deposited sleepers 7a, and a gantry-shuttle 12 rolling on the wagons with handling means.

In addition, as illustrated in figure 5 , there is provided a tool 9 removal sleepers. The tooling includes a pulling chain 91 of the sleepers, provided with teeth, a recovery conveyor 92 , and a fork manipulator 93 . The sampling line raises the sleepers and deposits them one by one on the recovery conveyor 92.

The fork manipulator 93 has two forks 94 which extend in the longitudinal direction L; the fork manipulator 93 is configured to deposit the used sleepers 7a in baskets 8 which form containers for containing the used sleepers.

The fork manipulator 93 takes a group of sleepers (7 in the illustrated example) from the recovery conveyor 92 , and transports them to deposit them in a storage basket 8 used sleepers.

All the handling of the sleepers described above is carried out by maintaining the sleepers parallel to the transverse direction T of the track, that is, without turning them (contrary to what is practiced in the prior art).

As illustrated in figure 6 , the baskets in question are specially designed with transverse side panels 81 (parallel to T) and longitudinal side panels 82 (parallel to L). The transverse side walls 81 comprise two vertical recesses 83 for the passage of the forks 94 in the axial directions L and vertical. Note that the two transverse side panels 81 each have two vertical recesses 83 , which allows manipulator forks (or forklift) to intervene from one side or from the other side. Shims 85 are also provided for laying the lower level of the sleepers for the passage and withdrawal of the forks. Wooden blocks are also provided between the different layers of sleepers that are stored in the basket 8 .

The baskets in question do not exceed the standard circulation gauge; therefore the receiving baskets of used sleepers keep a constant orientation, without rotation.

As soon as a basket 8 for receiving the sleepers is complete, that is to say with several layers of sleepers separated for example by wooden sleepers, the aforementioned shuttle gantry 12 rolling equipped with handling means (known in self) evacuates the full basket to a position further away from the front end 55 of the train, and supplies another empty basket 8 for the continuation of the removal operations, and so on.

The sleepers 7a being stored in baskets with sideboards, the convoy once reformed at the end of the intervention sequence, can travel safely without the risk of falling sleepers.

Note that the reception baskets 8 are particularly simple, without moving parts or hood to fold, they have a relatively simple structure and are very robust and enduring.

The laying train 2 comprises, in addition to the telescopic gantry 3 and the above-mentioned flat head wagon 5 , complementary wagons 15 for supplying new sleepers 7b , and a gantry-shuttle 12 rolling on the wagons with means of support. handling.

The new sleepers 7b can be arranged in batches on pallets or directly on a treadmill. They are deposited on the ballast as and by measure tooling 10 , known per se, and therefore not described in detail here.

After the laying of the new sleepers 7b , the gantry proceeds, thanks to the guide arms (not shown, but known in itself), the laying of the new rails 6b , then to the installation of the fasteners that fix the rails relative to the sleepers . Thus the bogies 50 of the laying train 2 roll on a set path and attached. The gantry of the laying train 2 also includes a tool for installing the fasteners or screws lag screw (not shown).

The motorized track support leg of the landing gear comprises a shield / blade 46 for leveling the ballast, and a tamping means 47 , arranged between the motorized track and the position of the depositing tool 10 .

Advantageously, on the landing gear 1 , the mechanical connection between the telescopic gantry 3 and the flat head wagon 5 has a degree of freedom of rotation of vertical axis A1.

Similarly, on the landing gear 2 , the telescopic gantry is also provided and the head flat car has a degree of freedom of rotation with a vertical axis A2 .

This allows a possible misalignment, which is useful for the treatment of curved tracks.

When the time limit for completing the project approaches, then the dropping train stops its operations. The train of pose continues to join him in order to minimize the distance D1 which separates their respective ends before 31,32 .

In order to allow the evacuation of the whole of renovation, one carries out the operations opposite of those of the starting of the building site.

More precisely, the telescopic gantries 3 are retracted on either side of their respective flat cars 5 by pushing the respective locotractors located at the remote ends of the laying trains and removing them. Then we proceed to the lifting of the support leg 4 , and finally we proceed to the complete folding of each telescopic gantry 3 so that it is found entirely above the head wagon (that is to say the rear wheels 36 to near the rear end 56 ).

We start by folding the telescopic gantry 3 of the landing gear 1 ; so that the track of the laying train 2 can advance to the limit of the old rail that has been cut at that location; we minimize the rest to be done in manual. At this time, it proceeds to the folding of the laying train 2 in the opposite of the unfolding.

Then, there is a limited length area where the missing ties are added by companions, the new rails are cut to allow the splicing of these rails to the old rails cut on the track, to allow the recirculation.

At this time, the laying and removal trains can be evacuated separately, or they can be coupled to form a single convoy to be evacuated ( Fig 8 ).

Advantageously, there is provided a proximity sensor device 61 between the front ends of the two trains to avoid buffering. A visual and audible warning can warn from a distance D1 too low; it is also possible to provide an intervention on the motorization means of the tracks.

In addition, advantageously an optical guiding device 62 , 63 is provided so that the front end 32 of the The rest-train may be guided laterally so that the new track is laid exactly where the old track was, for both the straight and curved sections.

It should be noted that in the figures are not shown the tools for removing the fasteners (arranged on the gantry of the landing gear 1 ), the tools for laying the fasteners (arranged on the gantry of the landing gear 2 ), and the arms guiding old rails and new rails.

Claims (11)

Railroad Renovation Set, consisting of: a first train (1) responsible for the removal operations of the existing track, namely rails (6a) and sleepers (7a), a second train (2) responsible for the laying operations of the new track, namely rails (6b) and sleepers (7b),
each of the first and second trains comprising a flat car (5) and a telescopic gantry (3) being able to rest on the wagon and on a caterpillar support leg (4), the support leg being movable vertically between a working position and a storage position, the telescopic gantry being movable longitudinally between a working position and a storage position, the first and second trains (1,2) being distinct, configured to cooperate one after the other and close to each other, on both sides of a construction zone (Z, Z1, Z2) of lane renovation, whereby in case of failure, it is easy to intervene in the space between the two trains, so that the risk of non-return of the building site to the traffic can be minimized right in time. Retrofit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first train comprises a tooling removal (91) sleepers, complementary wagons (15) for storing the deposited sleepers (7a), at least one shuttle gantry (12) rolling on wagons with handling means (9). Retrofit assembly according to claim 2, wherein baskets (8) are used to hold the deposited sleepers, the baskets and the handling means being configured so that the sleepers remain generally parallel to the transverse direction (T) at the track. , without exceeding the template. Retrofit assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of the baskets (8) has transverse side panels (81) with at least two vertical recesses (83) for the passage of the forks (94) handling means (9) in the directions axial and vertical. Retrofit kit according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support leg (4) is a motorized track support leg. Renovation assembly according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second train comprises a tool for laying sleepers, complementary wagons for storing the new sleepers, at least one shuttle gantry (12) rolling on the wagon (5). ) with handling means. Retrofit assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and the second train can operate with a distance (D1) of reduced separation, less than 2 m, so that in the construction zone (Z), the zone without crosspieces (Z1) has a length of less than 15 m and the zone without laid rails (Z2) has a length of less than 40 m. Retrofit assembly according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein there is provided a vertical pivot connection (A1, A2) between the telescopic gantry (3) and the flat car (5). Retrofit assembly according to one of Claims 1 to 8, in which an optical guiding device (62, 63) is provided between the front end (32) of the gantry of the second gear and the front end (31) of the gantry of the first train. Retrofit assembly according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein when the support legs (4) and telescopic gantries (3) of the two trains (1,2) are in the storage position, the two trains can be coupled with standard way, so that they can be evacuated together in a convoy from the construction zone. Receiving basket (8) of used railway sleepers, specially designed with transverse side panels (81) having two vertical recesses (83) for the passage of forks (94) handling means (9) in the axial directions (L) and vertical.

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