EP3596270B1 - Railway vehicle and method for profiling and distributing ballast of a track - Google Patents

Description

Field of technology

The invention relates to a machine for profiling and distributing ballast of a track, with a frame supported on rail bogies and with lateral ballast receiving devices which are adjustably attached to the frame, each ballast receiving device being acted upon by a conveyor drive. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

State of the art

Such machines are usually used to distribute and profile the ballast after track tamping. Above all, the depressions on both sides of the rails that were created when tamping the sleepers were to be filled with gravel. Specifically, the ballast is moved upwards from the bed flanks to the rails by the ballast receiving devices.

If the machine is used behind a track tamping machine, the working speed must be adapted to the slow advance of the track tamping machine. Then the speed of a rigid plow blade is not sufficient to set the ballast in a dynamic upward movement. Therefore, in the prior art, ballast receiving devices for slow work trips are equipped with a conveyor drive. According to EP 0 092 886 A1 For example, plow plates are set in an oscillating motion to convey the ballast upwards.

From the CH 550 282 A a ballast pick-up device is equipped with a revolving conveyor chain or conveyor belts in order to move ballast up a bed flank. The U.S. 4,707,935 A discloses a ballast plow with laterally arranged drums which are set in rotation for ballast conveyance by means of a drive. The EP 397956 A discloses a generic rail vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

Summary of the invention

The invention is based on the object of specifying an improvement over the prior art for a machine of the type mentioned at the beginning and a corresponding method. In particular, a more flexible usability of the machine should be achieved.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by a machine according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 11. Dependent claims specify advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The machine is designed in such a way that the upper contours of the machine are arranged at least in an out-of-work position below a boundary plane that slopes down in the working direction and runs through a field of vision of a driver's cab of a rail vehicle that can be coupled to the machine at its rear end. Thus, the machine can be used as a leading carriage of the rail vehicle, with a sufficient view of the track from the driver's cab being ensured.

In any case, the machine can be moved as a forward carriage in the non-working position on railway lines in regular operation (e.g. transfer trips). For example, the ballast conveying devices are locked in a position that lies within a predetermined light profile. In a working position, too, only individual components may protrude beyond the delimitation plane, so that even in working mode, which is characterized by a low speed, there is sufficient view to the front from the driver's cab.

Ballast profiling and ballast distribution can then be carried out flexibly independently of the sequence within a rail vehicle network. In particular, this creates the possibility of coupling the machine in front of a track tamping machine and using excess ballast from the bedding flanks for lifting and tamping under the track. In this way, a separate ballast supply can be omitted in many cases and ballast can be saved when working on the track. Ballast previously dropped on the bed flanks can also be displaced onto the track by means of the machine according to the invention. A use of a track construction machine operated separately from the track tamping machine for Ballast management (Ballast Distribution System) is no longer necessary.

It is advantageous if the delimitation plane and a reference plane formed by the wheel contact points of the rail trolleys enclose an angle between 3 ° and 10 °, in particular between 5 ° and 8 °. The unobstructed view of the track is then sufficient for all applications, so that the machine can be used anywhere.

A further development of the machine provides that the machine comprises a ballast distribution device above each rail of the track for distributing the ballast on both sides of each rail. This advantageously results in a targeted ballasting of the track at the points of subsequent tamping.

A cross conveyor belt for lateral discharge of the ballast is also useful. This is used, for example, when too much ballast is picked up by the bedding flanks and storage of the excess ballast next to the track is desired.

In a further improvement of the machine, it comprises a centrally arranged longitudinal conveyor belt in order to transport ballast from the ballast receiving devices to a collecting funnel. This additional ballast transport device increases the adjustability of the ballast receiving devices and simplifies the arrangement of the individual machine components below the boundary plane.

A ballast silo is favorably attached to the collecting funnel in order to temporarily store ballast if necessary. An irregular ballast distribution on a track to be worked on can easily be compensated for over a longer distance in this way.

A further simplification of the machine structure provides that the longitudinal conveyor belt can be pivoted from a working position into an out-of-working position by means of an adjusting drive. With this measure, in particular a larger collecting funnel or gravel silo can be used. The longitudinal conveyor belt only conveys the ballast in the working position the collecting funnel and is lowered below the boundary level for the non-working position.

For a simple machine control it is provided according to the invention that the respective ballast receiving device can be adjusted by means of a swivel drive about a swivel axis running orthogonally to an associated bedding flank. To avoid lateral obstacles, the ballast receiving device is merely pivoted upwards about this pivot axis without changing a predetermined bedding flank angle during profiling.

One embodiment of the machine according to the invention provides that the respective ballast receiving device comprises a screw conveyor. This ensures that the ballast is effectively conveyed, regardless of the grain size and the degree of soiling of the track bed. On the one hand, the screw conveyor introduces kinetic energy into the ballast in order to loosen it. On the other hand, the screw conveyor and a plow blade attached to it serve as a conveyor device for the ballast.

In a simple embodiment it is also provided that the machine is designed without its own drive. This enables a particularly compact design without limiting the benefits. The rail vehicle that can be coupled at the end only has to apply a thrust force to overcome the driving resistance of the machine. In contrast to common ballast plows, the ballast receiving devices of the present machine do not require any feed force due to the existing conveyor drives.

For better operability of the machine, it makes sense if a camera aligned in the working direction is arranged at the front end of the machine. An unrestricted view of the track is then ensured by means of the camera images transmitted to the driver's cab, at least during work.

In addition, it is advantageous if the machine includes a machine control that is set up for data exchange with a control of the rail vehicle that can be coupled. This makes it easier to arrange the machine within a rail vehicle network.

The method according to the invention provides that the machine, as a leading vehicle of a rail vehicle designed as a track construction machine, uses the ballast receiving devices to pick up ballast located on the side of the track and deposit it in a central area of the track. This creates an effective method for ballast profiling and ballast distribution in the context of track renovation.

An advantageous further development is given when the position of the respective ballast receiving device is changed by means of a control of the track construction machine in order to avoid obstacles located to the side of the track. Position data of obstacles stored in the track construction machine or recognized by means of detection devices can also be used.

For simple use of the machine, it makes sense if the ballast receiving devices and, if necessary, a conveyor belt and a ballast distributing device are brought into an out-of-work position by means of assigned drives for a transfer trip. During work, these components are operated in an adjustable working position, which optimizes the use of the machine.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

Maschine als Vorlauffahrzeug einer Gleisstopfmaschine

Fig. 2

Maschine in Arbeitsstellung

Fig. 3

Maschine in Außerarbeitsstellung

Fig. 4

Querschnitt der Maschine mit dargestellten Schotteraufnahmeeinrichtungen

Fig. 5

Querschnitt der Maschine mit dargestellten Schotterverteileinrichtungen und Querförderband

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

Fig. 1

Machine as a lead vehicle for a track tamping machine

Fig. 2

Machine in working position

Fig. 3

Machine in non-working position

Fig. 4

Cross-section of the machine with the ballast receiving devices shown

Fig. 5

Cross-section of the machine with the ballast distribution devices and cross conveyor belt shown

Description of the embodiments

In the Fig. 1 The machine 1 shown for profiling and distributing ballast 2 can be moved on a track 4 by means of rail bogies 3. For example, the machine 1 is coupled as a lead vehicle to a rail vehicle 5 designed as a track tamping machine (track tamping machine or universal tamping machine). The track tamping machine comprises a lifting / straightening unit 6 for lifting and straightening the track 4, as a result of which a predetermined track position is produced. To fix this track position, the track 4 is tamped with a tamping unit 7.

Coupling in front of other track construction machines (e.g. dynamic track stabilizer) or ordinary traction vehicles (for transfer trips) can also be useful.

Often there is excess ballast 2 on bed flanks 8 or additional ballast 2 is deposited there. With the present machine 1, this ballast 2 is picked up and placed in the track 4 at the points to be tamped. For this purpose, the machine 1 comprises a ballast receiving device 9 on each side.

The structure of the machine 1 is designed in such a way that the upper contour lines 10 are arranged below a delimitation plane 11, at least in an inoperative position of the machine 1. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 this is also the case during a working operation when the ballast receiving devices 9 are pivoted out laterally into a working position. In the non-working position, the machine 1 can be moved without restrictions on railway lines in regular operation, being coupled as a leading vehicle to a rail vehicle 5 arranged behind it.

The delimitation plane 11 slopes down in a working direction 12 from a reference plane 14 formed by wheel contact points 13 of the rail trolleys 3 at an angle α of approx. 5 ° to 8 °, the delimitation plane 11 running through a field of vision 15 of a driver's cab 16 of the coupled rail vehicle 5. This means that the delimitation plane 11 is above the rear end 17 of the machine 1 compared to that formed by the wheel contact points 13 of the rail trolleys 3 The reference plane 14 formed mostly runs at a height of approx. 2.5 m to 3.0 m.

The load-bearing component of the machine 1 is a frame 18 which is formed, for example, from shaped steel tubes welded together and is supported on the rail bogies 3. The ballast receiving devices 9 are adjustably fastened to this frame 18 on each side via suspension devices 19 and actuators 20. In the exemplary embodiment, the ballast receiving devices 9 convey the ballast 2 onto a centrally arranged longitudinal conveyor belt 21. In a simpler version, the ballast receiving devices 9 drop the ballast 2 in the area of the rails 22 directly onto the track 4 or the respective ballast receiving device 9 conveys the ballast 2 via its own lateral longitudinal conveyor belt upwards.

The respective ballast receiving device 9 shown comprises a screw conveyor 23 which is set in rotation by means of a conveyor drive 24 and which conveys the ballast 2 upwards along a trough-shaped plow blade 25. Further ballast receiving devices 9 with conveyor drive 24 can also be used, e.g. conveyor chains, vibration drives, etc.

In the exemplary embodiment, each rail 22 is assigned its own ballast distribution device 26, the ballast being supplied by means of a longitudinal conveyor belt 21 or, in a simplified variant, directly by means of the ballast receiving devices 9. The respective ballast distribution device 26 has outlet openings which can be adjusted via drives, the opening width set in each case regulating the ballast discharge. In this way, an adjustable amount of ballast is deposited on the track 4 on both sides of each rail 22. In an alternative embodiment, a conveyor belt pivotable about an approximately vertical axis is provided as the ballast distribution device 26. A free end of the conveyor belt is swiveled back and forth during work and drops the ballast 2 on both sides of the rails 22.

The ballast 2 can be diverted onto a transverse conveyor belt 28 by means of a diverting device 27. This makes it possible to use the bed flanks 8 deposited ballast 2 at a desired location laterally next to track 4. The direction of travel of the cross conveyor belt 28 determines the deposit side. As a result of the transverse adjustability of the transverse conveyor belt 28 or a variable belt speed, the distance between the discharge point and the rails 22 can also be varied.

To supply the driven devices 9, 21, 26, 28, an energy module 29 is preferably arranged on the machine 2. This is e.g. an internal combustion engine with a generator and / or a hydraulic pump. A fuel tank 30 is optionally arranged without affecting the upper contour lines 10 of the machine 1 in the front area on the underside of the frame 18. Another drive variant is an electrically supplied hydraulic unit (hydraulic power pack), which is arranged on the machine, whereby an accumulator can be provided as an energy buffer. The ballast receiving devices 9, conveyor belts 21, 28 and other devices are driven electrically or hydraulically. A supply by the coupled rail vehicle 5 is also possible.

The Figures 2 and 3 show another embodiment of the machine 1 in a working position and in an out-of-working position. The longitudinal conveyor belt 21 is designed to be height-adjustable in order to convey the ballast 2 during operation into a collecting funnel 31 to which a ballast silo 32 is connected. The intermediate storage in the ballast silo 32 allows a better distribution of the ballast 2 over a longer track.

The ballast 2 is optionally deposited from the ballast silo 32 via ballast distribution devices 26 on both sides of each rail 22 or via a transverse conveyor belt 28 to the side of the track 4. Both the ballast receiving devices 9 as well as the ballast distributing devices 26 and the longitudinal conveyor belt 21 can be moved into an out-of-work position by means of drives 20, as in FIG Fig. 3 shown.

The longitudinal conveyor belt 21 is lowered so far that the contour lines 10 run below the delimitation plane 11. But even in working mode, the longitudinal conveyor belt 21 projects only insignificantly over the delimitation plane 11, so that at least one of the driving cab 16 straight view 33 to the front is still possible without restriction. With this foresight, a work trip at low speed is possible without any problems.

In an expanded embodiment, a camera 34 is arranged at the front end of the machine 1, the images of which are displayed in real time in the driver's cab 16. This means that an additional safety device is provided for work.

In the Figures 4 and 5 cross sections of the machine 1 are shown. Fig. 4 shows the ballast flow 35, which is caused by the ballast receiving devices 9 and runs essentially upwards, from the bedding flanks 8 upwards to a lower end of the longitudinal conveyor belt 21. This conveys the ballast 2 backwards to the collecting funnel 31.

Fig. 5 shows the further, essentially downwardly running ballast flow 36 from the upper end of the longitudinal conveyor belt 21, via the collecting funnel 31 and possibly the ballast silo 32 to the ballast distribution devices 26 Track 4 will be dropped.

To avoid obstacles located next to the track 4, each ballast receiving device 9 can be pivoted about a pivot axis 37 by means of a pivot drive 38. The pivot axis 37 is adjusted before work begins in order to profile the assigned bedding flank 8 with a predetermined bedding flank angle β. For this purpose, a carrier with end brackets for mounting the screw conveyor 23 is arranged behind the plow blade 25 in the respective ballast receiving device 9. In order to adjust the pivot axis 37, the carrier is fastened to the associated suspension device 19 via a cardan-type joint.

Specifically, the pivot axis 37 is set up orthogonally to the assigned bedding flank 8 by means of auxiliary drives. When pivoting about the pivot axis 37, the set bedding flank angle β is thus retained, whereby simple control for avoiding obstacles is provided. As a rule, the Ballast receiving devices 9 are guided exactly over a protective planning layer 39 located under the ballast bedding.

The machine 1 is preferably controlled from the driver's cab 16 of the coupled rail vehicle 5. For this purpose, the machine 1 comprises a machine control 40 which is set up for data exchange with a control 41 of the rail vehicle 5. An operator 42 in the driver's cabin 16 can initiate control commands via operating elements and make settings on the machine 1. Automated ballast distribution can also be provided.

Claims (13)

1. A rail vehicle (5) with a machine (1) for profiling and distributing ballast (2) of a track (4) with bedding shoulders (8), having a frame (18) supported on on-track undercarriages (3) and lateral ballast pick-up devices (9) adjustably fastened to the frame (18), wherein each ballast pick-up device (9) is actuated by a conveyor drive (24), wherein the machine (1) is designed in such a way that, in an inoperative position, the upper contours (10) of the machine (1) are arranged below a delimiting plane (11) which slopes downward in the working direction (12) and limits a field of vision (15) of a driver's cabin (16) of a rail vehicle (5) coupled to the machine (1) at the rear end (17) thereof, characterized in that the respective ballast pick-up device (9) comprises a screw conveyor (23) and is adjustable about a pivot axis (37) extending orthogonally to the associated bedding shoulder (8) by means of a pivot drive (38).
2. A rail vehicle (5) with a machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the delimiting plane (11) and a reference plane (14), formed by wheel contact points (13) of the on-track undercarriages (3), enclose an angle (α) of between 3° and 10°, particularly between 5° and 8°.
3. A rail vehicle (5) with a machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the machine (1) comprises a ballast distributing device (26) above each rail (22) of the track (4) for distributing the ballast (2) at both sides of each rail (22).
4. A rail vehicle (5) with a machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the machine (1) comprises a transverse conveyor belt (28) for discharging the ballast (2) laterally.
5. A rail vehicle (5) with a machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the machine (1) comprises a centrally arranged longitudinal conveyor belt (21) to transport ballast (2) from the ballast pick-up devices (9) to a collecting hopper (31).
6. A rail vehicle (5) with a machine (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that a ballast silo (32) is connected to the collecting hopper (31).
7. A rail vehicle (5) with a machine (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that that the longitudinal conveyor belt (21) is pivotable by means of an adjustment drive from a working position into the inoperative position.
8. A rail vehicle (5) with a machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the machine (1) is designed without a motive drive.
9. A rail vehicle (5) with a machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a camera (34) oriented in the working direction is arranged at the front end of the machine (1).
10. A rail vehicle (5) with a machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the machine (1) comprises a machine control (40) which is set up for data exchange with a control (41) of the rail vehicle (5) designed to be coupled up.
11. A method for profiling and distributing ballast (2) of a track (4) by means of a rail vehicle (5) with a machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, as a leading vehicle of a rail vehicle (5) designed as a track maintenance machine, the machine (1) picks up ballast (2) located laterally of the track (4) by means of the ballast pick-up devices (9) and deposits the same in a central region of the track (4).
12. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the position of the respective ballast pick-up device (9) is changed by means of a control (41) of the track maintenance machine (5) in order to evade obstacles situated next to the track (4).
13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that for transfer travel, the ballast pick-up devices (9) and, optionally, a conveyor belt (21, 28) as well as a ballast distribution device (26) are brought into an inoperative position by means of associated drives (20).

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