EP3555365B1 - Measurement device and method for detecting a track geometry - Google Patents

Description

Field of technology

The invention relates to a measuring device for detecting the track geometry of a track immediately after the track has been processed by means of a track-laying machine, the measuring device comprising wheel axles for driving on the track, connecting elements for fastening to the track-laying machine and a data interface for exchanging data with the track-laying machine. The invention also relates to a method for detecting a track geometry by means of the measuring device.

State of the art

During track construction work there is often a need for an acceptance measurement to prove compliance with standards and other requirements. Hand-held measuring devices are often used for short construction phases. In the case of extensive construction or maintenance activities, a measuring vehicle is used after the work has been completed in order to record the track geometry of the track section being worked on. It is also known to drive over a track section that has been worked on by means of a track laying machine a second time for a final measurement after the track laying work has been completed.

Also known are measuring devices which can be attached to a track-laying machine and which enable the track to be re-measured immediately after machining has been carried out with the track-laying machine. For example, the EP 0 952 254 A1 a track tamping machine with a trailer on which such a measuring device is mounted. This measuring device comprises three measuring trolleys. A measuring chord is stretched between the outer measuring trolleys, the distance to the measuring devices on the middle measuring trolley being recorded. This allows the track geometry to be determined using the walking vision measuring principle (three-point measurement) measure. With inclinometers (pendulum) attached to the measuring trolleys, a track elevation can also be measured.

Summary of the invention

The invention is based on the object of improving a measuring device of the type mentioned at the beginning compared to the prior art. In addition, a method carried out by means of the measuring device should be specified.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by the features of claims 1 and 13. Advantageous developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

The measuring device comprises a device frame on which an inertial measuring unit is arranged, a front wheel axle and a rear wheel axle being mounted on the device frame so as to be rotatable relative to one another about an axis of rotation extending orthogonally to the wheel axles. Such a compact measuring device can be attached in a simple manner to an existing track-laying machine in order to carry out an efficient re-measurement of the lateral, longitudinal and vertical position of the track immediately after a track has been worked. There is no need for a trailer. The rotatability of the wheel axles in relation to one another ensures that the device frame with the interial measuring unit follows the course of the track exactly.

It is advantageous if the device frame is divided into a front frame part and a rear frame part via a pivot joint to form the axis of rotation. Such a construction is robust against vibrations and ensures a very precise final measurement with a backlash-free design of the swivel joint.

Another improvement provides that the connection elements comprise a first Watt linkage for guiding the device frame in the lateral direction. If the measuring device is attached to a track-laying machine, the position of the measuring device with respect to the track-laying machine remains constant in the longitudinal direction and the measurement results can be easily assigned in the longitudinal direction of the track.

So that the measuring device can be used as a rear measuring carriage of a leveling measuring system of a track construction machine, the measuring device advantageously comprises a support bracket for each rail for coupling to a linkage of a leveling chord.

For use as a rear measuring car of a directional measuring system of a track construction machine, it is useful if the measuring device comprises a tendon tensioning device for clamping an alignment tendon. The measuring device fulfills a double function. On the one hand, the final measurement is carried out and, on the other hand, the measuring device serves as a measuring system component for controlling a track processing.

In this case, the tendon tensioning device is favorably connected to a second Watt linkage for connection to the track-laying machine via a handlebar mounted centrally on the device frame. This kinematic characteristic of the connection elements ensures that no torque acts on the measuring device as a result of a tensile force exerted asymmetrically by means of a straightening chord on the measuring device. This could affect the measurement accuracy.

In one embodiment of the invention it is provided that at least one non-contact position measuring device is arranged for determining the position of the device frame opposite each rail. This creates a relationship between the spatial curves recorded by means of the inertial measuring unit and the rail courses, which results in a separate spatial curve for each rail.

In a robust alternative form, each wheel axle is designed as a telescopic axle on which measuring wheels with cylindrical running surfaces are arranged. In this way, the position of the inertial measuring unit fastened to the device frame relative to a rail is determined during a measuring process in order to record the course of this rail as a spatial curve.

A measuring sensor for detecting a track width is advantageously assigned to at least one telescopic axis. With the track width profile recorded, the course of the other rail can also be derived from the spatial curve recorded by means of the inertial measuring unit.

For derailment-safe driving on switches and crossings, it makes sense if each measuring wheel is assigned a guide blade for guidance along a wheel guide. The respective guide sword pulls the assigned measuring wheel inwards as soon as it is guided along a wheel guide. This prevents a measuring wheel from being pushed into a gap in the rail by means of the telescopic axis.

At least one measuring wheel is expediently designed as an element of a distance measuring device in order to assign the changes in position detected with the inertial measuring unit to the distance covered on the track.

For a low-wear and precise measurement, it is advantageous if each measuring wheel comprises an impeller and a flange which are rotatably mounted on a shaft with respect to one another. When cornering, the contact line between the wheel and the rail and the contact line between the flange and the rail have different arc lengths. The division of the measuring wheel into the impeller and the flange means that there is no friction.

The method according to the invention for detecting a track geometry by means of the measuring device provides that immediately after driving on the track by means of a rail carriage of the track tamping machine to remeasure the track geometry, the wheel axles of the measuring device are pressed onto the rails from above and that the position of the device frame is detected by means of the inertial measuring unit becomes. In this way, the track geometry is recorded after the track has been processed, with the rail carriage of the track tamping machine stabilizing the track immediately before the measurement.

In an advantageous development of the method, a separate spatial curve is determined for each rail in an evaluation device from a spatial curve recorded by means of the inertial measuring unit and a recorded track width.

When using the measuring device as a measuring carriage of a directional measuring system, it is advantageous if a tendon tensioning device arranged on the measuring device and guided laterally between two stops is used for positioning against a rail one of the two stops is pressed. In this way, the alignment measuring system can optionally be placed on one of the rails of the track.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

Gleisstopfmaschine mit Messvorrichtung nach dem Stand der Technik

Fig. 2

Messvorrichtung, an einer Gleisstopfmaschine befestigt

Fig. 3

Messvorrichtung in einer Seitenansicht

Fig. 4

Messvorrichtung in einer Draufsicht

Fig. 5

Messvorrichtung mit einer Sehnenspannvorrichtung

The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. It shows in a schematic representation:

Fig. 1

State-of-the-art track tamping machine with measuring device

Fig. 2

Measuring device attached to a track tamping machine

Fig. 3

Measuring device in a side view

Fig. 4

Measuring device in a plan view

Fig. 5

Measuring device with a tendon tensioning device

Description of the embodiments

As an example of a track construction machine 1 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 a track tamping machine is shown. This comprises a machine frame 2, which can be moved on rails 4 of a track 5 by means of rail bogies 3. A tamping unit 6 and a lifting / straightening unit 7 are arranged as working units. In a known manner, a leveling measuring system and a leveling measuring system comprise three measuring carriages 8, a leveling sight 9 and two leveling chords 10. Using these measuring systems, the lifting and straightening unit 7 is controlled when the track 5 is leveled and straightened.

After tamping, the track position is checked. For this final measurement, the track construction machine includes 1 in Fig. 1 According to the prior art, a trailer 11 with two further measuring carriages 8. An additional measuring chord 12 is stretched for a three-point measurement based on the traveling chord measuring principle.

According to the invention, the final measurement is improved if a measuring device 13 with an inertial measuring unit 14 is used instead of a trailer 11 equipped with further measuring trolleys 8 ( Fig. 2 ). This measuring device 13 is by means of several connection elements 15 on the Track construction machine 1 can be fastened and moved on track 5 by means of wheel axles 16. Optionally, the measuring device 13 also serves as a measuring carriage for the directional measuring system and the leveling measuring system.

In one embodiment of the invention, the measuring device 13 comprises contactless position measuring devices 17 (e.g. laser line scanners). Two position measuring devices 17 spaced apart from one another are directed at each rail 4 in order to determine the exact position of the inertial measuring unit 14 with respect to the rails 4. In this way, the courses of the two rails 4 can be derived from a space curve recorded by means of an inertial measuring unit 14.

In the Figures 3 to 5 an embodiment of the measuring device 13 with wheel axles 16 designed as telescopic axles 18, 19 is shown. Measuring wheels 20 with cylindrical running surfaces are arranged on a front telescopic axis 18 and a rear telescopic axis 19. The telescopic axes 18, 19 are mounted rotatably with respect to one another about an orthogonally extending axis of rotation 21. For this purpose, a device frame 22 is divided into a front frame part 24 and a rear frame part 25 via a backlash-free swivel joint 23. For example, a plurality of tapered roller bearings tensioned against one another are arranged in the swivel joint 23.

The inertial measuring unit 14 is arranged centrally on the front frame part 24. This thus detects every change in position of the front frame part 24 when it is moved along the track 5. The measurement result is a space curve which corresponds exactly to the course of that rail 4 against which the device frame 22 with the measuring wheels 20 is placed laterally.

Two connection brackets 26, four pneumatic vertical cylinders 27 and a first Watt linkage 28 are arranged as connection elements 15. By means of the vertical cylinders 27, the measuring device 13 can be lowered from a transport position to a working position, it being possible for a length measuring sensor to be assigned to each vertical cylinder 27. This allows the position of the measuring device 13 in relation to the track construction machine 1 to be determined. In this way, the measuring device 13 can be switched on and off by remote control and can be pressed onto the rails 4 from above with a constant pressure during a measuring process.

It is advantageous here if remotely controllable locking elements 29 are provided for fixing in the transport position. These are, for example, hooks that can be pivoted by means of their own drives and hooked onto the shaft ends 30 of the telescopic axles 18, 19.

The first Watt linkage 28 (Lemniskatenlenker with a horizontal plane of movement) causes a lateral guidance of the measuring device 13 opposite the track construction machine 1. It comprises two lever rods 31 of equal length, each of which can be articulated at one end to the track construction machine 1 or to the connection brackets 26 are. The other ends are connected to one another via a coupling element 32. The coupling element 32 is mounted symmetrically about a guide axis of rotation 33 in the center of the measuring device 13.

In this way, the guide axis of rotation 33 is guided on an orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the track construction machine during cornering. Thus, the position of the measuring device 13 in the longitudinal direction with respect to the track construction machine 1 always remains unchanged, so that the subsequent measurement results can be easily assigned in the longitudinal direction.

A pneumatic horizontal cylinder 34 is assigned to each telescopic axis 18, 19 in order to press the measuring wheels 20 against the respective inside of the rails 4 during a measuring process. With the pneumatic cylinders 34, a uniform contact pressure can be achieved. In addition, the measuring wheels 20 can be pulled inward before the measuring device 13 is lifted. Specifically, with each telescopic axis 18, 19, a measuring wheel 20 can be displaced laterally with respect to the device frame 22. The respective non-displaceable measuring wheel 20 is guided with the device frame 22 along the associated rails 4, the respective displaceable measuring wheel 20 compensating for a variable track width of the track 5.

To detect the track width, each telescopic axle 18, 19 is assigned a measuring sensor 35, which continuously detects the variable length of the respective telescopic axle 18, 19. The spatial curve of a rail 4 recorded with the inertial measuring unit 14 becomes a spatial curve of the second over the track width Track 4 determined. In this way, an exact re-measurement of both rail lines is possible.

A guide blade 36 is assigned to each measuring wheel 20 in order to ensure that switches and crossings are passed safely. The guide blade 36 assigned to the respective measuring wheel 20 is located on the other side of the measuring device 13 and pulls the measuring wheel 20 inward when it comes into contact with a wheel guide. The respective displaceable measuring wheel 20 is coupled to the associated guide blade 36 via a connection 37 shown in dashed lines, so that the measuring wheel 20 and guide blade 36 can be moved together.

In addition, each measuring wheel 20 is designed to be divided. An impeller 38 and a flange 39 are separately supported on a shaft 40. When traveling through a curve, the running wheel 38 and the flange 39 can rotate at different speeds of rotation and in this way compensate for different arc lengths of the lines of contact with the rail 4.

In addition to a pneumatic connection, the measuring device 13 includes a data interface 41 for data exchange with the track construction machine 1. For example, a bus system of the track construction rail 1 is used to transmit measurement data and control data. The unchangeable longitudinal positioning of the measuring device 13 with respect to the track-laying machine 1 facilitates the data comparison with other measuring devices of the track-laying machine 1.

A measuring wheel 20 is preferably designed as an element of a displacement measuring device 42 for each rail 4. In this way, an improved assignment of the measurement results to the kilometrage of track 5 is achieved. The respective displacement measuring device 42 is arranged, for example, with a torque support on an outside of the assigned measuring wheel 20.

In Fig. 5 A measuring device 13 is designed as a rear measuring carriage of a directional measuring system and a leveling measuring system of a track construction machine 1. For this purpose, the measuring device 13 comprises a tendon tensioning device 43 with a transverse beam 44 in which a slide 45 is guided. A rear end of a straightening tendon 9 is located in the carriage 45 clampable. When cornering, the carriage 45 is displaced laterally by means of a drive in order to enable chord tracking.

So that an eccentric tensile load on the straightening chord 9 cannot exert a disruptive torque on the measuring device 13, a second Watt linkage 46 is arranged, by means of which a centrally mounted link 47 can be coupled to the track construction machine 1. The position of the link 47 thus always remains aligned orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the track machine during cornering.

The cross bar 44 of the tendon tensioning device 43 is connected to the handlebar 47 via two coupling rods 48. In this way, the torque caused by the off-center tendon tension is supported on the track construction machine 1 via the coupling rods 48, the link 47, the second Watt linkage 46 and a connection bracket 26. The counterforce in the longitudinal direction occurring on the central guide axis of rotation 33 is absorbed by the track construction machine 1 via the first Watt linkage 28, so that the measuring device 13 remains completely unaffected by the tensile force of the straightening tendon 9.

In order to be able to relate the directional measuring system optionally to one of the two rails 4 of the track 5, the transverse beam 44 is guided laterally between two stops 49, 50, only one stop 49 having a rigid connection with the device frame 22. In a first operating position, an actuator presses the transverse bar 44 against this stop 49, as a result of which the directional measuring system and the device frame 22 are placed on the same rail 4.

The second stop 50 is coupled to the transversely displaceable measuring wheel 20 and the associated guide blade 36. When the crossbar 44 is pressed against this stop 50 in a second operating position, the other rail 4 serves as a reference for the alignment measuring system. In this way, the inner rail in a curve can always be selected as the reference base for the alignment measuring system.

In addition, two support brackets 51 are arranged on this measuring device 13 on the device frame 22, around a height position of the measuring device 13 to be able to transmit via linkage to leveling tendons 10 of the leveling measuring system.

In the case of an optical track measuring system (e.g. according to Austrian patent application A 325/2016), there is no need for a tendon tensioning device 43. Instead, for example, a console for attaching a camera is arranged on the measuring device 13.

An evaluation device 52 is arranged in the measuring device 13 itself or in the track tamping machine 1 in order to evaluate the data from the inertial measuring unit 14, the position measuring devices 19 or the measuring sensors 35 to detect the track width and to create a space curve for each rail 4.

Claims (15)

1. A measuring device (13) for recording a track geometry of a track (5) immediately after a treatment of the track (5) by means of track maintenance machine (1), wherein the measuring device comprises wheel axles (16) for travelling on the track (5), connecting elements (15) for mounting to the track maintenance machine (1) and a data interface (41) for exchanging data with the track maintenance machine (1), characterized in that the measuring device (13) comprises an assembly frame (22) on which an inertial measuring unit (14) is arranged, and that a front wheel axle (16) and a rear wheel axle (16) are mounted on the assembly frame (22) for rotation relative to one another about an axis of rotation (21) extending orthogonally to the wheel axles (16).
2. A measuring device (13) according to claim 1, characterized in that, to form the axis of rotation (21), the assembly frame (22) is split by a rotation joint (23) into a front frame part (24) and a rear frame part (25).
3. A measuring device (13) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting elements (15) comprise a first Watt linkage (28) for guiding the assembly frame (22) in lateral direction.
4. A measuring device (13) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the measuring device (13) comprises a support bracket (51) for each rail (4) for coupling to a linkage of a levelling chord (10).
5. A measuring device (13) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the measuring device (13) comprises a chord tensioning device (43) for clamping a lining chord (9).
6. A measuring device (13) according to claim 5, characterized in that the chord tensioning device (43) is connected via a steering arm (47), supported centrally on the assembly frame (22), to a second Watt linkage (46) for connection to the track maintenance machine (1).
7. A measuring device (13) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one contact-less position measuring device (17) is arranged for determining the position of the assembly frame (22) relative to each rail (4).
8. A measuring device (13) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each wheel axle (16) is designed as a telescopic axle (18, 19) on which the measuring wheels (20) having cylindrical running surfaces are arranged.
9. A measuring device (13) according to claim 8, characterized in that a measuring sensor (35) for registering a track gauge is associated with at least one telescopic axle (18, 19).
10. A measuring device (13) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that a guide blade (36) for guidance along a check rail is associated with each measuring wheel (20).
11. A measuring device (13) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that at least one measuring wheel (20) is designed as an element of a path measuring device (42).
12. A measuring device (13) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that each measuring wheel (20) comprises a running wheel (38) and a flange (39) which are mounted for rotation relative to one another on a shaft (40).
13. A method for recording a track geometry of a track (5) by means of the measuring device (13) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, immediately after an rail undercarriage (3) of the track tamping machine (1) has travelled on the track (5), the wheel axles (16) of the measuring device (13) are pressed onto the rails (4) from above for check measurement of the track geometry, and that the position of the assembly frame (22) is registered by the inertial measuring unit (14).
14. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that a separate spatial curve is established for each rail (4) in an evaluation device (52) from a spatial curve recorded by means of the inertial measuring unit (14) and from a recorded track gauge.
15. A method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a chord tensioning device (43), arranged on the measuring device (13) and laterally guided between two stops (49, 50), is pressed against one of the two stops (49, 50) for positioning relative to a rail (4).

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