EP4041949A1

EP4041949A1 - Tamping assembly for tamping sleepers of a track

Info

Publication number: EP4041949A1
Application number: EP20771811.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Herbert Wörgötter; Andreas PÖSCHL; Nikolaus MATZINGER
Original assignee: Plasser und Theurer Export Von Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH
Current assignee: Plasser und Theurer Export Von Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH
Priority date: 2019-10-08
Filing date: 2020-09-10
Publication date: 2022-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 2040-09-10
Also published as: PL4041949T3; MX2022003965A; EP4041949B1; ES2956460T3; AT522456B1; EP4041949C0; CN114391055A; CA3152040A1; US20240102251A1; WO2021069172A1; BR112022006779A2; AU2020362072A1; KR20220073736A; JP2022551481A; CN114391055B; AT522456A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a tamping assembly (1) for tamping sleepers (5) of a track, comprising a tamping unit (7) having tamping tools (10), which are located opposite one another, are mounted on a height-adjustable tool support (8), and, by means of drives (13), can be caused to vibrate and can be fed relative to each other. Each tamping tool comprises a pivot lever (11), which can be rotated about a feed axis (12), and an inner and an outer tamping pick retainer (14, 15). Each tamping pick retainer can be laterally pivoted relative to the pivot lever. The outer tamping pick retainer (15) can be pivoted about a first pivot axis (18), and the inner tamping pick retainer (14) can be pivoted about a second pivot axis (19), which is arranged at an offset to the first pivot axis. Thus, it is no longer necessary to adjacently arrange elements for pivoting the tamping pick retainers.

Description

description

Tamping unit for tamping under sleepers of a track

Technical area

The invention relates to a tamping unit for tamping under sleepers of a track, comprising a tamping unit with opposing tamping tools mounted on a height-adjustable tool carrier, which can be set in vibration via drives and can be ordered with respect to one another, each tamping tool having a pivoting lever rotatable about a supply axis and a comprises an inner and an outer tamping tine holder, and each tamping tine holder is laterally pivotable with respect to the pivot lever.

State of the art

[02] To restore or maintain a given track position, tracks with ballast bedding are regularly processed by means of a tamping machine. The tamping machine drives along the track and uses a lifting / straightening unit to raise the track grid, which is made up of sleepers and rails, to a target level. The new track position is fixed by tamping under the sleepers using a tamping unit. The tamping unit comprises tamping tools with tamping tines, which, when subjected to a tamping process, dip into the ballast bed and are placed next to each other. The ballast is compacted below the respective threshold.

[03] Each rail of the track is assigned two tamping units, each of which tampers a sleeper on both sides of the rail. Each tamping unit comprises two opposite tamping tools. Usually, two tamping tines are arranged next to each other on each tamping tool. Specifically, an inner tamping ax dipping next to the rail and an outer tamping ax dipping at a greater distance from the rail are provided. With both tamping ax dipped into the gravel next to each other, a wide effective range is given. When there are obstacles in the track and especially in the area of a switch, however, there is often too little space for the two tamping tines arranged next to one another to plunge in at the same time. Therefore, from AT 379 178 B, for example, a tamping unit with a so-called swivel pick is known. In this case, laterally pivotable tamping tine holders are arranged on the respective tamping tool. In this way, the outer tamping ax can initially be swiveled up separately if there is only space left between the rails, sleepers and track fixtures to insert a tamping ax. If there is no possibility of immersion at all on one side of the sleeper, then the inner tamping tine is also swiveled up. The tamping unit can then only be lowered with the tamping tines of the opposite tamping tool. The disadvantage of the known arrangement of swivel axles is the space required for the respective swivel mechanism including swivel drives.

Presentation of the invention

The invention is based on the object of specifying a tamping unit of the type mentioned at the beginning with a compact design.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of

Claim 1. Dependent claims indicate advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[06] It is provided that the outer tampon holder can be pivoted about a first pivot axis and that the inner tiller holder can be pivoted about a second pivot axis which is offset from the first pivot axis. This eliminates the need

To arrange elements for pivoting the tamping clamps side by side. The offset arrangement enables optimized use of the available installation space. The result is a compact tamping unit that has small external dimensions, especially in a longitudinal direction of the track.

[07] A first contact element is advantageously arranged on an outer side of the inner tampon holder, a second contact element being arranged on an inner side of the outer tamper holder and the two contact elements being pivoted downward Interlocking tampon mounts. When working with both tamping tines, there is thus a form-fitting connection of the two tamping tine holders. This avoids excessive stress on a pivot bearing when a higher counterforce of the ballast acts on the associated tamping point. In addition, the increase in torsional rigidity has a positive effect on the tamping quality.

In a preferred development of the invention, the outer

Tamping tine holder is connected directly to a first swivel drive and the inner tamping tine holder is connected to a second swivel drive via a coupling arrangement mounted on the associated swivel lever. The arrangement of the coupling arrangement allows a further reduction in the space required. This makes the construction of the tamping unit even more compact.

It is advantageous if the coupling arrangement can be rotated on

Swivel lever mounted swivel element and a connecting element connecting the swivel element to the inner tine holder. This arrangement is robust and space-saving at the same time. Only swivel joints are used, which are easy to manufacture and have a long service life with little maintenance effort. In another form of the coupling arrangement, it can also be useful to use coupling elements that are mounted in a translatory manner.

[10] Another simplification provides that the pivot element is arranged to be pivotable about the first pivot axis. Thus, on the respective pivot lever, the outer tampon holder and the pivot element can be rotated about the same pivot axis. This enables a compact design of the corresponding bearings with a continuous bearing shaft.

The function of the tamping unit is advantageously expanded if a driver is arranged on the connecting element and if the driver rests against a link element of the outer tamping bracket when the inner tamping bracket is pivoted up. In this way, when the inner tampon holder is pivoted up, the outer tampon holder is also pivoted up. For swiveling up both Tamping tine mounts, it is sufficient to activate the second swivel drive while the first swivel drive remains enabled.

[12] The narrow and robust design of the swivel assemblies is further improved in that the outer tampon holder has a recess through which the coupling assembly is passed. For example, the outer tampon holder has a fork with a deepened recess in the direction of the pivot bearing, so that the recess is suitable for carrying out the coupling arrangement. Advantageously, the inner tampon holder is also forked in the area of the associated pivot bearing, the coupling arrangement being articulated in the middle.

In a simple embodiment of the tamping unit according to the invention, a hydraulic cylinder is assigned to each tamping tool as a drive for providing and for applying vibrations. A hydraulic control is set up in such a way that an oscillating movement is superimposed on a provision movement during a provision process. A pulsating pressure is applied to a chamber of the hydraulic cylinder. When the tamping ax is immersed in a ballast bed, only vibrations are applied.

In this version, it is advantageous if the hydraulic cylinders of the two opposite tamping tools are arranged one below the other. This achieves a compact design of the unit, with small external dimensions in the longitudinal direction of the track.

In another embodiment of the invention, each tamping tool is assigned an auxiliary cylinder, each auxiliary cylinder being coupled to an eccentric drive for the application of vibrations. A narrow design is also achieved here with side cylinders arranged next to one another or one below the other. A corresponding solution is disclosed in the publication AT 520267 A1, the content of which is included in the present application.

[16] An advantageous further development provides that several tamping units are arranged one behind the other in a longitudinal direction of the track for the simultaneous tamping of several sleepers. The narrow design the respective tamping unit enables this arrangement with unrestricted function of the swivel ax.

[17] It is advantageous if the tamping units are of identical construction. This simplifies production and reduces maintenance, because fewer different spare parts are required. In addition, a higher-level control of the jointly arranged tamping units is facilitated. The same kinematic properties of the individual tamping units mean that synchronous movements can be easily implemented.

[18] The tool carriers of the tamping units arranged one behind the other are advantageously supported in a height-adjustable manner in a common assembly frame. This enables a joint sideways displacement or rotation around a vertical axis by adjusting the unit frame. In this way, the tamping units arranged one behind the other can be positioned in a simple manner over a branching track of a switch.

The possibilities of using a tamping unit for tamping several sleepers at the same time are improved by the fact that each tool carrier of the tamping units arranged one behind the other can be height-adjusted separately by means of its own actuator. For example, the tamping units arranged one behind the other can be lowered to different depths. This allows successive tamping of a threshold in different depth zones. In addition, individual tamping units can be suspended if there is not enough space for the tamping ax to penetrate.

Brief description of the drawings

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

1 tamping unit with a tamping unit in a front view; FIG. 2 swivel bearings of the tamping unit according to FIG. 1 in detail; FIG. 3 tamping unit in a side view Fig. 4 Tamping tool with swivel mechanism for inner tamping tine holder

Fig. 5 Tamping tool with swivel mechanism for outer tamping tine holder

Fig. 6 Pivoting movement of the inner tampon holder

Fig. 7 Pivoting movement of the outer tamping tine holder

Fig. 8 tamping unit for tamping several sleepers at the same time

Description of the embodiments

[21] The tamping unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an unit frame 2, which is mounted on a machine frame 3 of a track construction machine, not described in more detail, in a laterally displaceable manner. During work, the track construction machine travels a track with sleepers 5 mounted on a ballast bed 4 and rails 6 attached to them. The sleepers 5 are tamped by means of the tamping unit 1.

At least one tamping unit 7 is arranged in the unit frame 2. In a tamping unit 1 for simultaneous tamping under several sleepers 5, several tamping units 7 are arranged one behind the other (FIG. 8). The respective tamping unit 7 comprises a tool carrier 8 which is vertically adjustable and guided in vertical guides of the assembly frame 2. In this case, a lowering or floating movement takes place by means of an associated flea actuator 9. For tamping under a sleeper 5, the tamping unit 1 comprises several unit frames 2 arranged next to one another in the transverse direction of the track with tamping units 7 stored therein to enable positioning over a branching track of a switch.

[23] On the tool carrier 8 of the respective tamping unit 7, two tamping tools 10 opposite one another in relation to a sleeper 5 to be tamped are mounted. Specifically, the respective tamping tool 10 comprises a pivot lever 11 which is mounted on the tool carrier 8 so as to be rotatable about a supply axis 12. The supply axis 12 is usually aligned in the transverse direction of the track. [24] An upper arm of the pivot lever 11 is coupled to a drive 13 in order to produce a positioning movement with a superimposed oscillating movement during a stuffing process. On a lower arm of the pivoting lever 11, an inner tamp mount 14 and an outer tamp mount 15 for fastening tamp 16 are arranged. The designations as inner tampon holder 14 and outer tampon holder 15 refer to the position of two tamping units 7 that can be lowered on both sides of a rail 6. The inner brackets 14 of the two tamping units 7 are directly opposite with respect to rail 6. The tamping tines 16 fastened in the outer tamping tine mounts 15 plunge into the ballast bed 4 at a greater distance from the rail 6.

[25] If there is no space between the sleepers 5 and rails 6 to immerse a tamping pick 16, it can be swiveled up before the tamping unit 7 is lowered. This occurs in particular when tamping switches or crossings, where branching or crossing rail lines and actuating devices represent obstacles.

[26] In order to pivot the outer tampon holder 15 upwards, it is connected to the pivot lever 11 by means of a first pivot joint 17 so that it can rotate about a first pivot axis 18. According to the invention, a second pivot axis 19 is arranged offset for this purpose. If necessary, the inner tampon holder 14 is swiveled up about this second pivot axis 19. For example, a connection between the inner tampon holder 14 and the pivot lever 11 is designed as a second rotary joint 20, which is offset downward and inward relative to the first rotary joint 17. Both pivot axes 18, 19 are aligned parallel to one another and normal to the auxiliary axis 12.

The outer tampon holder 15 is advantageously connected directly to a first pivot drive 21. This is articulated, for example, on the one hand to the outer tampon holder 15 and on the other hand to the pivot lever 11. The inner tine holder 14 is connected to a second swivel drive 23 via a coupling arrangement 22. This is again on Swivel lever 11 articulated. The swivel drives 21, 23 are preferably designed as hydraulic cylinders.

In the example shown, the coupling arrangement 22 comprises a pivot element 24 rotatably mounted on the pivot lever 11 and a connecting element 25 connecting the pivot element 24 to the inner tine holder 14. The pivot element 24 is advantageously rotatable about the first pivot axis 18. The first swivel joint 17 thus also includes the articulation of the pivot element 24 on the pivot lever 11.

In order to avoid uneven loads on the swivel joints 17, 20 during a provision process, the tampon holders 14, 15 are positively connected in the downwardly pivoted state via additional contact elements 26, 27. As shown in FIG. 1, a first contact element 26 is arranged on an outer side of the inner tine holder 14. A second contact element 27 is arranged on the facing inner side of the outer tampon holder 15. The two contact elements 26, 27 are designed so that they can interlock. For example, the first contact element 26 comprises a wedge which fits into a wedge-shaped recess of the second contact element 27.

By means of the swivel drives 21, 23, first the outer tamping tine holder 15 including tamping tine 16 and then the inner tamping tine holder 14 including tamping tine 16 can be swiveled up. With a further development shown in FIG. 2, both tamping tine mountings 14, 15 can be swiveled up at the same time by means of the second swivel drive 23. The first swivel drive 21 is depressurized.

For synchronous swiveling up, a link element 28 is attached to a location of the outer tampon holder 15 located next to the connecting element 25. A driver 29 is attached to the connecting element 25 as a counter element. This driver 29 rests on the link element 28. When pivoting up, the driver 29 slides along the link element 28 and thus causes the outer tampon holder 15 to pivot with it. The shape and position of the link element 28 and the driver 29 determine the pivoting movement of the outer tampon holder 15. [32] In Fig. 3 it can be seen that the outer tampon holder 15 has a fork towards the top. In this way, the outer tampon holder 15 is connected to the pivot lever 11 at two bearing points spaced apart in the pivot axis direction 30. In between there is a recess 31 through which the coupling arrangement 22 is passed. The inner tampon holder 14 also has two bearing points spaced apart in the direction of the pivot axis 30. In between, the connecting element 25 engages the inner tine holder 14. In spite of the narrow design, a robust mounting of the tamping tine mounts 14, 15 is ensured.

In this example, the pivot levers 11 are connected to hydraulic cylinders as drives 13. The respective hydraulic cylinder is designed to generate a stand-by movement with a superimposed oscillating movement. A narrow design in the direction of the pivot axis 30 is achieved by the hydraulic cylinders arranged one below the other. The strokes and pressures of the hydraulic cylinders are coordinated with the respective lever ratio of the pivoting lever 11, so that the same setting forces and vibration amplitudes are set at the ends of the tamping tines 16. It can be useful to arrange the auxiliary axes 12 offset in the vertical direction.

In an arrangement not shown, the drives 13 are designed as auxiliary cylinders and eccentric drives. The respective pivot lever 11 is coupled to the eccentric drive via an associated auxiliary cylinder. Specifically, each auxiliary cylinder is connected to an eccentric shaft in order to generate the oscillating movement when the eccentric shaft rotates. In addition, the tamping tines 16 are provided with one another when the auxiliary cylinders are activated. For a narrow design, it is advantageous if the auxiliary cylinders are arranged next to one another. The eccentric drive is arranged above or below it. On the eccentric shaft, brackets aligned upwards or downwards are mounted, with which the auxiliary cylinders are connected.

[35] A pivoting up process of the inner tamping pick 16 is explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6. The associated second pivot drive 23 is as Hydraulic cylinder formed. One end of the cylinder is rotatably linked to the upper arm of the pivot lever 11. The piston rod is articulated to the pivot element 24. The swivel element 24, which can be rotated about the first swivel axis 18, and the inner tampon holder 14, which can rotate about the second swivel axis 19, form a double rocker with the connecting element 25 as a coupling. An actuation of the double rocker by activating the second swivel drive 23 is shown in FIG. 6. The starting position according to FIG. 4 is shown on the left. The illustration on the right shows the arrangement with the inner tamping tine holder 14 pivoted up, including tamping tine 16.

[36] The pivoting arrangement of the outer tampon holder 15 is shown in FIGS. The associated first swivel drive 21 is articulated on the one hand on the swivel lever 11 and on the other hand directly on the outer tampon holder 15. When the first pivot drive 21 is actuated, the eccentric articulation causes the tamping tine mount 15 to pivot. A simultaneous swiveling up of both tamping tine mounts 14, 15 can also be carried out by means of the link element 28 and the driver 29. The first swivel drive 21, which is designed as a hydraulic cylinder, is depressurized.

The different pivot arrangements allow a particularly narrow design in the pivot axis direction 30. This creates the possibility of arranging several tamping units 7 one behind the other in a common unit frame 2. 8 shows a corresponding arrangement for tamping three sleepers 5 at the same time. Each tamping unit 7 is advantageously assigned its own height adjustment drive 9 in order to be able to lower individual tamping units 7 separately in the event of obstacles in the track. In addition to being able to be lowered separately, there is the advantage that all tamping units 7 are structurally identical. This simplifies the manufacture and maintenance of the tamping unit 1.

[38] In addition, successive tamping of a threshold 5 in different depth zones is possible. For example, the foremost stuffing unit 7 is lowered deeper than the middle stuffing unit 7. The rearmost stuffing unit 7 is lowered less deeply than the middle stuffing unit 7 In this way, as the tamping unit 1 advances threshold by threshold, each threshold is tamped three times with decreasing penetration depth. In particular with a large layer thickness of the ballast bed 4, such multiple tamping leads to improved ballast compaction.

Claims

1. Tamping unit (1) for tamping under sleepers (5) of a track, comprising a tamping unit (7) with opposite tamping tools (10) which are mounted on a height-adjustable tool carrier (8) and which can be set in vibration via drives (13) and can be ordered with one another Each tamping tool (10) comprises a swiveling lever (11) rotatable about a supply axis (12) and an inner and an outer tamping tine holder (14, 15), and each tamping tine holder (14, 15) is laterally pivotable with respect to the swiveling lever (11) is, characterized in that the outer tampon holder (15) is pivotable about a first pivot axis (18) and that the inner tampon holder (14) is pivotable about a second pivot axis (19) offset from the first pivot axis (18).

2. tamping unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a first contact element (26) is arranged on an outer side of the inner tamping tine holder (14), that on an inner side of the outer tamping tine holder (15) a second contact element (27) is arranged and that the two contact elements (26, 27) mesh with one another when the tampon holders (14, 15) are pivoted downward.

3. tamping unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outer tamping tine holder (15) is connected directly to a first swivel drive (21) and that the inner tamping tine holder (14) via a coupling arrangement mounted on the associated swivel lever (11) (22) is connected to a second swivel drive (23).

4. tamping unit (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the coupling arrangement (22) has a pivoting element (24) rotatably mounted on the pivoting lever (11) and a connecting element (25) connecting the pivoting element (24) to the inner tamping tine holder (14) includes.

5. tamping unit (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the pivot element (24) is arranged pivotably about the first pivot axis (18).

6. tamping unit (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a driver (29) is arranged on the connecting element (25) and that the driver (29) when pivoting up the inner tamping bracket (14) on a link element (28) of the outer tampon holder (15) is in contact.

7. tamping unit (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the outer tamping tine holder (15) has a recess (31) through which the coupling arrangement (22) is passed.

8. tamping unit (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each tamping tool (10) is assigned a hydraulic cylinder as a drive (13) for providing and for applying vibrations.

9. tamping unit (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the hydraulic cylinders of the two opposite tamping tools (10) are arranged one below the other.

10. tamping unit (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each tamping tool (10) is assigned an additional cylinder and that each additional cylinder is coupled to an eccentric drive for the application of vibrations.

11. tamping unit (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that several tamping units (7) are arranged one behind the other in a track longitudinal direction for the simultaneous tamping of several sleepers (5).

12. tamping unit (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the tamping units (7) are of identical construction.

13. tamping unit (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the tool carriers (8) of the tamping units (7) arranged one behind the other are mounted in a height-adjustable manner in a common unit frame (2).

14. tamping unit (1) according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that each tool carrier (8) of the tamping units (7) arranged one behind the other is separately height adjustable by means of its own actuator (9).