EP4245636A1 - Method for vegetation management, railway vehicle and train therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

For vegetation control in the track area of a rail transport network, the invention proposes that detection and decision steps and, if decided in the decision step, also a processing step be carried out during the same journey when driving on a section of route. Furthermore, the invention proposes a rail vehicle suitable for carrying out the method and a train suitable for this purpose.

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1.

Vegetation control in the track area is necessary to ensure that the track can be used by rail vehicles. On the one hand, this concerns undesirable vegetation, which is referred to as weeds in the context of the present proposal, and which can, for example, impair the functionality of switches or the functionality or visibility of signaling systems. On the other hand, this concerns vegetation that is fundamentally desirable, but which, due to its growth, can either lead to the impairments mentioned, or which, due to its growth, offers an undesirably large area exposed to wind and can therefore lead to a blockage of the track if it falls onto the track during strong wind events. In addition, due to age, the vegetation, especially large trees, can be completely or only partially weakened in the form of individual branches, so that for safety reasons the weakened elements of the vegetation must be removed. Regardless of whether the plants are described as weeds or as fundamentally desirable vegetation according to the above definitions, this must be guaranteed ensure that the clearance space required for the rail vehicles is safely provided.

The generic method is carried out in practice in such a way that an inspection trip is first carried out, during which the status of the vegetation in the track area is recorded, so that this procedural step is referred to as a recording step in the context of the present proposal. In a second procedural step, referred to as a decision step, a decision is made as to whether processing is necessary for certain areas of the recorded vegetation and in what form this processing is to be carried out. This decision step can be carried out during the inspection trip. However, it can also be carried out as a step downstream of the inspection trip, for example if the status of the vegetation is saved in the form of images and these images are evaluated later, possibly at a different location. As a third step of the method, in a so-called processing step and at a time interval of at least several days from the recording step, the processing of the vegetation decided in the decision-making step takes place with the work measures decided on for certain elements of the vegetation, for example a 6 m wide strip next to the track regarding.

In many cases, the processing step is carried out from the “land side” by bringing the necessary tools from outside the track. Especially in poorly accessible areas such as on slopes, in cuts and the like, slow special tools are required, for example in the form of walking excavators or the like.

The invention is based on the object of improving a generic method in such a way that it can be carried out within a short time and with little effort. Furthermore, the invention is based on the object, to specify a suitable rail vehicle and train to carry out this procedure.

This object is achieved by a method with the features of claim 1, by a rail vehicle according to claim 5 and by a train according to claim 13. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

In other words, the invention proposes to carry out the three method steps mentioned at the beginning in the form of the detection, decision and processing step while driving on the route section. The fact that at least the recording and the decision step and possibly also, depending on the decision, the processing step are carried out during the same journey means that the rail vehicle does not remain in constant motion during this journey, but also pauses so that the work can be carried out during the breaks can be carried out. According to the proposal, the vegetation is processed from the rail vehicle or from a vehicle connected to it, i.e. from the track and not from the land side mentioned above. The proposed procedure makes it possible to respond to damage to vegetation that could pose a risk to rail operations in the shortest possible time, as the necessary work is carried out while the route is still traveling over the section. The planning and personnel effort can be reduced compared to the traditional process. In areas that are difficult to access, the necessary tools can easily be brought along the track. In order to carry out the procedure within a short time, this can be done, for example: B. take place during a break in rail traffic, for example at night.

• Ein größeres Gehölz kann gefällt werden, beispielsweise wenn es einen Stamm mit einem Durchmesser von 10 cm oder mehr aufweist und seine Standsicherheit gefährdet ist.
• Das gefällte Gehölz kann zur weiteren wirtschaftlichen Verwertung auf dem Gleis abtransportiert werden, wobei z.B. die Äste von einem Stamm des Gehölzes entfernt werden und der Stamm auf einen dafür geeigneten Transportwagen, z.B. Rungenwagen, geladen wird.
• Das vollständige gefällte Gehölz oder auch nur ein Anteil davon, z.B. das vom Stamm entfernte Astwerk, kann gehäckselt werden.
• Das Häckselgut kann zum Mulchen verwendet werden, indem es neben dem Gleis auf dem Untergrund verteilt wird, beispielsweise um eine Lichtabdeckung zu bewirken und das Wachstum von unerwünschter Vegetation zu behindern.
• Das Häckselgut kann aber auch über das Gleis abtransportiert werden, beispielsweise um als Heizmaterial oder auf andere Weise weiterverwertet zu werden.
• Gras oder kleinere Gehölze können geschnitten werden.
• Auch in diesem Fall kann das Schnittgut entweder zum Mulchen an Ort und Stelle verwendet werden, oder ...
• ... es kann über das Gleis abtransportiert werden, um beispielsweise an anderer Stelle kompostiert zu werden.
• An Stellen, an denen keine Vegetation gewünscht ist, kann eine vorhandene, als Unkraut angesehene Vegetation geschnitten oder vernichtet werden, oder es kann vorbereitend das Aufkommen einer möglichen Vegetation verhindert werden, was beides im Rahmen des vorliegenden Vorschlags als Unkrautbekämpfung bezeichnet wird. Die Unkrautbekämpfung kann beispielsweise chemisch durch das Versprühen flüssiger oder das Ausbringen körniger Mittel erfolgen, oder sie kann beispielsweise physikalisch durch das Einwirken von Hitze erfolgen.
• Die Bearbeitung der Vegetation kann allerdings auch darin liegen, die Vegetation zu fördern, beispielsweise um an Böschungen deren Oberfläche zu befestigen. Daher kann der Bearbeitungsschritt beispielsweise auch eine Bewässerung von Pflanzen einschließen. Die Bewässerung kann direkt erfolgen, indem vom Gleis aus ein Bewässerungsmittel auf die Pflanzen oder auf den Boden gesprüht oder gespritzt wird. Die Bewässerung kann jedoch auch indirekt erfolgen, indem vom Gleis aus ein oberirdisch oder unterirdisch angeordneter, als Zisterne bezeichneter Wassertank befüllt wird, der dann seinerseits zur Versorgung von Pflanzen dient, beispielsweise zur Versorgung des Wurzelwerks von Großpflanzen. Als Bewässerungsmittel kann Wasser verwendet werden, dass Bewässerungsmittel kann jedoch auch zusätzliche Stoffe enthalten, zum Beispiel in Form von Nährstoffen.

The processing of the vegetation as part of the processing step can include the following work, depending on what was decided in the previously carried out decision-making step has been carried out, either none or some or all of these works can be carried out on the section of route traveled and inspected in the recording step:

• A larger tree can be felled, for example if it has a trunk with a diameter of 10 cm or more and its stability is at risk.
• The felled wood can be transported on the track for further economic use, for example the branches are removed from a trunk of the tree and the trunk is loaded onto a suitable transport vehicle, such as a stake wagon.
• The entire felled tree or just a portion of it, e.g. the branches removed from the trunk, can be chopped.
• The chopped material can be used for mulching by spreading it on the ground next to the track, for example to provide light coverage and to hinder the growth of unwanted vegetation.
• The chopped material can also be transported away via the track, for example to be used as heating material or in another way.
• Grass or smaller trees can be cut.
• Also in this case, the clippings can either be used for mulching on site, or...
• ... it can be transported over the track to be composted elsewhere, for example.
• In places where vegetation is not desired, existing vegetation considered to be weeds can be cut or destroyed, or possible vegetation can be preemptively prevented from appearing, both of which are referred to as weed control in the present proposal. Weed control can, for example, be carried out chemically by spraying liquid or applying granular agents, or it can for example, physically through the action of heat.
• However, processing the vegetation can also involve promoting the vegetation, for example to fix the surface of embankments. Therefore, the processing step can also include, for example, watering plants. Irrigation can be done directly by spraying or spraying an irrigation agent onto the plants or onto the ground from the track. However, irrigation can also be done indirectly by filling an above-ground or underground water tank called a cistern from the track, which in turn is used to supply plants, for example to supply the roots of large plants. Water can be used as the irrigation agent, but the irrigation agent can also contain additional substances, for example in the form of nutrients.

According to the above-mentioned work that can be carried out as part of the processing step, it can be provided that the rail vehicle is not used individually, but rather that a train is put together by connecting the rail vehicle to at least one other vehicle. For example, a device for felling a tree or a device that is then used to handle a felled trunk can be arranged on the rail vehicle itself, for example in the form of a crane that carries the respective tool at the end of a crane boom, which is a saw or a tree grab or the like can be designed. Alternatively, however, provision can also be made for the tool in question not to be provided on the rail vehicle, but rather on a correspondingly equipped additional vehicle which is coupled to the rail vehicle to form a train. A device for cutting grass and/or small trees can be arranged in the train, as well as, if necessary, a device for further shredding felled plants or cuttings, and a device for controlling weeds can be provided and, if necessary, a device for watering plants. Apart from these tools, the train can also be used to transport materials, for example by having a transport trolley for the felled logs, a transport trolley for the chopped material or the clippings, or the train can have a tank with weed killer and / or a tank with irrigation liquid.

The recording step can be carried out when driving on the section of the route in such a way that the staff present on the rail vehicle looks at the track area and records the status of the vegetation. Alternatively or in addition to this personal recording, an automatic recording of the vegetation status can be provided. For example, the vegetation can be recorded optically using cameras. The cameras can work with visible light or with invisible radiation, e.g. in the IR or UV range or the like, to collect information about the status of the vegetation. The subsequent evaluation of this automatically recorded material can also be carried out either by personnel or automatically, for example using suitable image evaluation software.

• eine Vorrichtung zum Fällen eines Gehölzes, wobei dieses Werkzeug beispielsweise eine Kettensäge aufweisen kann,
• eine Vorrichtung zur Handhabung eines gefällten Stammes, wobei dieses Werkzeug beispielsweise einen zangenartigen, sogenannten Baumgreifer aufweisen kann,
• eine Vorrichtung zum Schneiden von Gras und / oder kleinerem Gehölz, wobei dieses Werkzeug beispielsweise einen Mähbalken oder Schlegelmulcher aufweisen kann der je nach Ausgestaltung ausschließlich zum Schneiden von Gras, oder ausschließlich zum Schneiden kleinerer Gehölze mit einem Durchmesser bis zu 10 cm geeignet sein kann, wobei der Mähbalken ggf. aber auch als Kombinationsbalken das Schneiden von Gras und auch von kleineren Gehölzen ermöglicht,
• eine Vorrichtung zur Zerkleinerung des Schnittguts, wobei die Gräser, insbesondere aber die geschnittenen kleineren Gehölze weiter zerkleinert werden können, indem das Werkzeug beispielsweise als Häcksler ausgestaltet ist,
• eine Vorrichtung zur Zerkleinerung eines gefällten Gehölzes, wobei das Werkzeug beispielsweise als Häcksler ausgestaltet sein kann. Dabei kann entweder mit der Vorrichtung, die zum Fällen des Gehölzes verwendet worden ist, beispielsweise mit einer Kettensäge, das Astwerk vom Stamm des gefällten Gehölzes entfernt werden, so dass der Stamm wirtschaftlich weiterverwendet werden kann und das Astwerk gehäckselt werden kann. Oder es kann vorgesehen sein das nach dem Fällen des Gehölzes das gesamte gefällte Gehölz einschließlich Stamm zerkleinert wird, beispielsweise gehäckselt wird,
• eine Vorrichtung zur Bekämpfung von Unkraut, wobei das Werkzeug beispielsweise eine Sprühlanze mit einer einzigen Sprühdüse oder einen Sprühbalken mit mehreren Sprühdüsen aufweisen kann,
• eine Vorrichtung zur Bewässerung von Pflanzen, wobei das Werkzeug eine Spritz- oder Sprüheinrichtung aufweisen kann, die zur Verteilung einer Bewässerungsflüssigkeit dient und beispielsweise an einem Ausleger montiert sein kann, oder wobei das Werkzeug eine Füllleitung aufweisen kann, z.B. in Form eines Schlauchs, um einen im Gleisbereich stationär installierten Bewässerungstank zu befüllen. Auch die Füllleitung kann an einem Ausleger gehalten sein, so dass sie mit geringem Einsatz von Körperkraft an den Bewässerungstank herangeführt werden kann.
• als Werkzeug kann in diesem Zusammenhang auch ein Tank bezeichnet werden, der Unkrautvernichtungsmittel oder Bewässerungsflüssigkeit enthalten kann.

A rail vehicle suitable for carrying out the proposed method has two chassis with two axles spaced apart from one another, with one chassis each having at least one axle, e.g. B. can be designed in the form of a single axle, and in an embodiment considered advantageous can be designed as a bogie. The rail vehicle is propelled via driven wheels which are arranged on at least one of the two running gears. Apart from the travel drive, the rail vehicle can have another drive for a tool, unless the respective tool is designed to be self-sufficient, with its own drive. One of the tools listed below is arranged on and/or under the vehicle frame - for example between the two chassis:

• a device for felling a tree, which tool can have a chainsaw, for example,
• a device for handling a felled trunk, whereby this tool can have, for example, a pliers-like, so-called tree gripper,
• a device for cutting grass and / or smaller trees, this tool can have, for example, a cutter bar or flail mulcher which, depending on the design, can be suitable exclusively for cutting grass or exclusively for cutting smaller trees with a diameter of up to 10 cm, whereby the cutter bar can also be used as a combination bar to cut grass and smaller trees,
• a device for shredding the clippings, whereby the grasses, but in particular the cut smaller trees, can be further shredded by the tool being designed, for example, as a shredder,
• a device for shredding a felled tree, the tool being able to be designed, for example, as a shredder. The branches can be removed from the trunk of the felled tree either with the device that was used to fell the tree, for example with a chainsaw, so that the trunk can be used economically and the branches can be chopped. Or it can be provided that after the tree has been felled, the entire felled tree including the trunk is shredded, for example chopped,
• a device for controlling weeds, the tool being, for example, a spray lance with a single Can have a spray nozzle or a spray bar with several spray nozzles,
• a device for watering plants, wherein the tool can have a spray or spray device which is used to distribute an irrigation liquid and can be mounted on a boom, for example, or wherein the tool can have a filling line, for example in the form of a hose, in order to provide a to fill the stationary irrigation tank installed in the track area. The filling line can also be held on a boom so that it can be brought to the irrigation tank with little use of physical strength.
• In this context, a tool can also be referred to as a tank that can contain weed killer or irrigation liquid.

The rail vehicle can have a single one of the above-mentioned tools, for example exclusively a device for felling or cutting vegetation, or the rail vehicle can have two or more of the tools, for example a device for weed control or for irrigation and the associated tank, which contains substances necessary for weed control or irrigation.

Depending on the intended use, the rail vehicle can be equipped with different tools. Therefore, the rail vehicle can have fastening means which are used to fasten either one of a group of several tools. The tools in this group have fastening elements that can interact with the fastening means of the rail vehicle, so that the tools can be replaced in a modular manner and the tool used in each case can be attached to the same fastening means of the rail vehicle as a previously used tool. On the one hand, this makes it possible Use of the rail vehicles means an uncomplicated and quick adaptation of the rail vehicle to the intended purpose. But even if such a conversion is not planned by the user, such a design of the rail vehicle is advantageous because it enables the rail vehicles to be provided to be quickly adapted to the respective order situation in the manufacturer's factory, in that the rail vehicles can basically be designed in the same way and depending on Can only be equipped with the desired tool at the customer's request.

In an economically advantageous, inexpensive embodiment, the rail vehicle can be equipped without a driving cabin or with only one driving cabin. If the rail vehicle does not have a cabin but has a drive, it is not allowed to drive alone during normal route travel, but could be put into "work travel" within a "construction site". In this context, a driving cabin is a cabin that contains a control position that is intended for controlling the rail vehicle. The driving cabin therefore does not serve as a passenger cabin for transporting people or as a break room, toilet room or the like. The rail vehicle can be equipped with an additional lounge, break room, toilet room or similar room. This space can be housed in the same structure as the driving cabin, but can also be designed as an additional module.

Such a driving cabin is also referred to as a one-way cabin, because the maximum route speed is only permitted in a first direction of travel. In this embodiment, as a single vehicle, the rail vehicle may only be moved in the opposite second direction of travel at working speed. To travel at full speed in the second direction of travel, a second rail vehicle must be coupled to a corresponding driving cabin. Especially if a train is put together anyway which has two rail vehicles, these two rail vehicles can be put together in different orientations in the train, so that the train can be moved at maximum route speed in both directions, even if both rail vehicles are each equipped with only one driving cabin.

Alternatively, the rail vehicle can be designed as a bi-directional vehicle in which it has two oppositely aligned driving cabins. In this way, the rail vehicle can also be driven individually in both directions at the maximum route speed.

In one embodiment, the rail vehicle can have a slewing ring, so that at a later point in time, for example at the customer's, a crane can be mounted, which is pivotally arranged on the rail vehicle by means of the slewing ring and can be equipped with a tool at the end of its crane boom.

If the rail vehicle is equipped with a tool including a boom, a counterweight can advantageously be assigned to the boom, so that the reach of the boom that can be used in use and thus the working area that can be reached by the tool is as large as possible. In particular, provision can also be made to ballast the rail vehicle as much as is permissible in order to ensure particularly good stability of the rail vehicle even when the boom is extended far.

Alternatively or in addition to the maximum permissible ballasting, the maximum reach of the boom can also be achieved by not only supporting the rail vehicle on the ground, namely on the track, via its running gear, but also by providing the rail vehicle with additional support. The rail vehicle can For example, have supports that extend laterally outwards beyond the track and support the rail vehicle on the ground there.

As described above, the rail vehicle is a powered vehicle. The rail vehicle can be put together to form a train with at least one, but possibly also with two or more other vehicles. For example, a further powered rail vehicle with its driving cabin aligned in opposite directions can be provided to enable the train to travel quickly, e.g. B. to enable travel at the maximum permissible line speed in both directions on the track. However, the train can also contain only a single powered rail vehicle as well as one or more other non-powered cars, e.g. a tanker that contains means for weed control or for watering plants, or a transport car that picks up clippings from grass or smaller trees, or a transport trolley that holds shredded, for example chopped, wood, or a transport trolley that can be designed as a stake trolley and is used to transport entire tree trunks.

The train's non-powered cars do not have their own drive to be able to travel on the rails. However, they can have a drive for the respective tool in the form of an internal combustion engine or electric motor or the like, for example if such a non-driven cart is designed to go beyond the pure transport function and has a device for felling, cutting, shredding or handling plants or a pump for applying a weed killer or irrigation agent.

In an advantageous embodiment it can be provided that the tools that require a drive are not on one driven carriages are arranged, but rather on a rail vehicle that already has a traction drive. The travel drive can be used to drive the tool by means of a switching gear either, for example when the rail vehicle is moving slowly, or exclusively, for example when the rail vehicle is stationary. In this way, a separate, dedicated drive can be saved that would be intended exclusively for the tool.

In one embodiment, the train can contain tools in such a combination that all work associated with the felling of large plants can be carried out: the train includes a first rail vehicle which is used to drive on the route section and to inspect the vegetation, i.e. to carry out the capture step. This train also includes a rail vehicle that is intended for felling a tree. This can be the same rail vehicle that is also used for the detection step, or a second rail vehicle. The train also has a rail vehicle that is designed to handle a felled trunk and, for example, has a corresponding gripper. Finally, this train also has a transport wagon that can be used to transport the felled logs.

If the branches are removed from the felled trees as part of the felling operation and only the trunks are loaded onto the transport wagon, it can be provided that the train also has a device for shredding the branches, for example in the form of a chipper. The chopped material can be distributed on the ground next to the track for mulching purposes, or the train can have another transport trolley that is suitable for transporting bulk material, so that the chopped material can be transported away using this transport trolley. Alternatively, it can be provided that the branches removed from the felled trees are not shredded, but rather be loaded separately from the logs onto another transport wagon on the train and transported away without being shredded.

In one embodiment, the train can contain tools in such a combination that all work associated with cutting plants can be carried out: the train includes a first rail vehicle which is used to drive on the route section and to inspect the vegetation, i.e. to carry out the capture step. This train also includes a rail vehicle that is intended for cutting grass and/or small trees. This can be the same rail vehicle that is also used for the detection step, or a second rail vehicle. The train also has a rail vehicle that is equipped to shred the clippings and a transport trolley that can hold the clippings and is used to transport the clippings away.

Claims (14)

Methods for controlling vegetation in the track area of a rail transport network, wherein a section of the rail transport network is traveled by a rail vehicle, and in a first step, referred to as a detection step, the vegetation status in the track area of the route section being traveled is recorded, and in a second step, known as the decision-making step, the recorded vegetation status is evaluated and a decision is made as to whether and which measures should be taken to treat the vegetation, and in a third step, referred to as the processing step, the vegetation in the section of the route is processed, provided that processing of the vegetation was decided in the decision step, characterized, that when driving on the route section, the detection and decision steps and, if decided in the decision step, also the processing step are carried out during the same journey, with the vegetation being processed from the rail vehicle or a vehicle connected to it. Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
that processing step includes processing the vegetation in one of the following ways: • Felling a tree
and loading a felled log onto a transport truck, • Cutting grass and/or small trees and leaving the clippings in the track area, • Cutting grass and/or small trees and shredding the clippings and whereabouts of the shredded cuttings in the track area, • Cutting grass and/or small trees and shredding the clippings and loading the shredded clippings onto a transport cart • Weed control • Watering plants. Method according to claim 2,
characterized, that the rail vehicle is connected to at least one other vehicle to form a train, wherein one, all or more of the following facilities • a device for felling a tree, • a device for handling a felled trunk, • a device for cutting grass and/or small trees, • a device for shredding the cuttings, • a transport truck for felled logs, • a transport trolley for the cuttings, • a device for controlling weeds, • a device for watering plants, • a tank intended to hold weedkiller or irrigation liquid, forms part of the train. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the vegetation status is automatically recorded in the recording step. Rail vehicle for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized, that the rail vehicle has two chassis, each with at least one axle, of which at least one axle has driven wheels as part of the travel drive of the rail vehicle, and that one of the following tools is arranged between the two chassis: • a device for felling a tree, • a device for handling a felled trunk, • a device for shredding the felled wood or parts thereof, • a device for cutting grass and/or small trees, • a device for shredding the cuttings, • a device for controlling weeds, • a device for watering plants, • a tank for weedkiller or irrigation liquid. Rail vehicle according to claim 5,
characterized, that fastening means are arranged between the two chassis and are designed to enable the assembly of at least one of the tools, wherein at least two different tools are designed to be modularly interchangeable in such a way that either one of these tools can be attached to the rail vehicle using the same fastening means. Rail vehicle according to claim 5 or 6,
characterized,
that one of the tools is arranged between the two chassis. Rail vehicle according to one of claims 5 to 7,
characterized,
that the two chassis are each designed as a bogie. Rail vehicle according to one of claims 5 to 8,
characterized,
that the rail vehicle is designed as a bi-directional vehicle and has two driving cabins. Rail vehicle according to one of claims 5 to 9,
characterized,
that the rail vehicle has a slewing ring that enables the inclusion of a crane. Rail vehicle according to one of claims 5 to 10,
characterized,
that the rail vehicle has a tool equipped with a boom and a counterweight, and the rail vehicle is ballasted to the extent permitted. Rail vehicle according to one of claims 5 to 11,
characterized, that the rail vehicle has a tool equipped with a boom, and in addition to its running gear, has additional support in such a way that the rail vehicle can be supported on the ground to increase the reach of the boom. Train for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized, that the train has a rail vehicle that is used for Implementation of the acquisition step is determined, as well as • has a rail vehicle intended for felling a tree, • a rail vehicle designed to handle a felled log, • and a transport truck for felled logs. Train for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized, that the train has a rail vehicle that is intended to carry out the detection step, as well as • has a rail vehicle intended for cutting grass and/or small trees, • a rail vehicle intended for shredding the cuttings, • and a transport trolley for the clippings.