GB1564466A

GB1564466A - Apparatus for the removal of projecting excess weld material

Info

Publication number: GB1564466A
Application number: GB39819/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Elektro Thermit GmbH
Current assignee: Goldschmidt ETB GmbH
Priority date: 1976-09-25
Filing date: 1977-09-23
Publication date: 1980-04-10
Also published as: DE2643260C2; FR2365658B1; AU2843677A; JPS5366840A; AT353817B; AU510765B2; ATA553877A; DD131905A5; YU39622B; DE2643260B1; YU204977A; FR2365658A1; IN148475B; CH621834A5; ZA775299B; CA1116997A

Abstract

In the device, two cross members (15, 16) and two guide tubes (13, 14) for guiding two hydraulic cylinders (18) form a frame for the acceptance of the reaction forces which occur during the shearing-off process. The hydraulic cylinders are connected to one another by a further cross member (20), on which one (21) of the shearing cutters is arranged, the said cutter being moved towards the other shearing cutter (19), arranged on the cross member (16) of the frame, when the hydraulic cylinders (18) are pressurised. The piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders (18), which cylinders can be moved in the guide tubes (13, 14), are firmly connected to the cross member (15) of the frame. Due to the fact that the reaction forces can be taken up by the frame, the hydraulic cylinders and hence the entire device can be kept small. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR THE REMOVAL OF PROJECTING EXCESS WELD MATERIAL (71) Wo, ELEKTRO-THERMIT GmbH, a German Body Corporate of Gerlingstrasse 65, 4300 Essen, Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for the removal down to profile of projecting excess weld material from welded rail joints of laid track by a hydraulically operated cutting tool, the shearing blades of which are arranged so that they can move towards one another like pincers.

German Patent Specification No. 1,502,758 describes a device for the removal, down to the profile, of projecting excess weld material in rail joint-welding, having a hydraulically operated cutting tool and a pressure fluid accumulator in which removal of the particular projecting excess weld material is effected by the cutting tool as the result of a single release of the loaded pressure fluid accumulator. In this case, the necessary force in the longitudinal direction of the rail can be applied by the pressure cylinders being located parallel to the rail.

For this, the device is supported on wedges on the rail. It is a disadvantage with this dc vice that pressure cylinders with a large stroke are required, since the shearing blades must be pressed completely through the projection excess weld material. A further disadvantage is that specifically because of its shape, the shearing blade is directed on the side of the head of the rail, but not in the vertical direction. Because of this the blade does not cut off the projecting excess weld material on the running surface of the rail in a defined manner, so that too much projecting material can still remain on the head of the rail. In addition, the device must be designed in such a way that it can be fixed onto the rail so that the necessary forces can be transmitted.

As a further development, British Patent Specification No. 1,442,799 describes a device in which the removal of the projecting excess weld material is effected by the pincer-like movement towards each other of two cutting tools. On two cylinders of this device arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail, a cross beam is fastened, with a shearing blade, adapted to the rail profile, fixed to it and at the ends of the piston rods of the two cylinders, which pass through bores in the cross beam, via a further cross beam, a second shearing blade is fastened in the direction of the projecting excess weld material and the first shearing blade.If, in this device, pressure is applied to the hydraulic cylinder, the shearing blade, which is fastened to the cross beam located at the ends of the piston rods of the two cylinders, is pulled in the direction of the weld bead until the shearing blade comes into contact with the weld bead. On further application of pressure to the cylinder, the cross beam connected to the cylinders is now likewise pulled, although in the reverse direction, in the direction of the weld bead until this shearing blade also rests on the weld bead. On further increase of pressure, the two shearing blades cut off the weld bead in a pincer-like manner.

This device has proved useful in operalion on building sites but has shown, in practical use, that a further saving in weight in this device should be aimed for, and in addition that the hydraulically produced pressure needed for the shearing should be kept as low as possible, in order to be able to keep the auxiliary equipment, for the production of the hydraulic pressure, also small. Limits, however, were set to such improvements in that the hydraulic pressure could not act on the whole surface of the pistons sliding in the cylinders but only on the circular ring surface of the pistons, since the pressure acted from that side of the piston on which the piston rod is fastened to the piston. With this construction, however, a reversal of the pressure application was not possible.

The present invention has been designed to provide a shearing device which makes it possible to work with pressure cylinders of the smallest possible dimensions and to enable pressure to be applied to the whole piston surface without having to abandon the principle of pincer-like shearing (i.e.

two blades co-operating together to effect the shearing).

The present invention provides apparatus for the removal, down to profile, of projecting excess weld material from weld rail joints of laid track, the apparatus including a cutting tool having co-operating opposed shearing blades which, in use, can be urged towards one another under hydraulic pres surs, the apparatus having a closed and rigid frame which can take up the reaction forces arising during the shearing operation.

The frame in the apparatus of this invention will normally have two longitudinal members and two cross beams, the whole frame being of a rectangular configuration.

The hydraulic pressure will normally be generated from cylinders and either the cylinder itself or the piston rod will be attached to the frame and hence fixed with respect to the frame.

The reaction forces act in particular on the cross beams of the frame, and, depending on the embodiment involved, either the cylinders can be connected to the cross beams, and the pistons with the piston rods move with respect to the cross beam or, in a different embodiment, the piston rods can be connected to the cross beams, and the cylinders move with respect to this cross beam.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is therefore one having two hydraulic devices opposite each other and each equipped with a shearing blade on a movable portion.

To achieve better guiding of the shearing blade, it is recommended that each of the two hydraulic devices be equipped with two cylinders, the pistons sliding in the cylinders being rigidly connected, via their piston rods, to a cross beam which, relative to the cross beam of the frame, is smaller.

This device can accordingly be constructed in such a way that two hydraulic cylinders are located opposite each other on each of the two cross beams of the rigid frame, the piston rods of the two cylinders lying adjacent to each other being connected by means of a cross beam. The cylinders on their part are frictionally connected in each case to one of the two cross beams of the frame, The two shearing blades are fastened opposite each other on the short cross beams which connect the piston rods together. If pressure is now applied to the cylinders, the cross beams located on the piston rods, together with the shearing blades, move towards each other and shear off the projecting excess weld material. The hydraulic pressure acts in this case on the whole surface of the particular hydraulic piston in the cylinders.By using four cylinders, the hydraulic pressure needed in each cylinder for the shearing-off is reduced to 1. In the apparatus of the invention, the reaction forces arising during the shearing operation are taken up by the frame, on which the pressure cylinders are supported against the two cross beams, and which pass the reaction forces into the two longitudinal members connecting the two cross beams.

For a further saving in weight, it is also possible to manage with a lower number of pressure cylinders by fastening one of the two shearing blades to the cross beam, opposite the other shearing blade, which, itself is located on one of the cross beams connecting the two piston rods of the two pressure cylinders. This apparatus corresponds to the one described above, but has half the number of pressure cylinders. The mode of action of this apparatus differs from that of the one described above to the extent that, on application of pressure to the two cylinders, the cutting edge of the shearing blade, which is connected to the hydraulic device, is first guided into the weld bead.On further application of pressure, the force needed to pull the whole frame, with the shearing blade located on the cross beam of the frame, towards the weld bead, is now less than the force needed for the shearing With the shearing blade joined to the piston rods of the hydraulic device now in contact with the weld bead, the shearing blade located on the cross beam of the frame is pulled towards the opposite side of the weld bead. The pressure needed for the shearing now builds up on the cutting edges of the two shearing blades which then shear off the weld bead in a pincer-like counter movement.

Whereas, with the above-mentioned apparatus with only two hydraulic cylinders, the design in which the two cylinders are frictionally connected to a cross beam of the frame has been described, a technically equivalent arrangement is possible in a design where the two piston rods are connected to the cross beams of the frame, and the application of pressure to the cylinder surfaces is effected in such a manner that the two cylinders, which are joined together by a cross member having a shearing blade, are moved in the direction of the other shearing blade, The closed, rigid frame, which takes up the reaction forces can, as already discussed, consist of two cross beams and two longitudinal members rigidly joining these cross beams. It is also possible, however, especially for saving weight, to include hydraulic cylinder walls in the frame.The frame for example, in apparatus which has four cylinders and in which two cylinders in each case lie opposite each other, then comprises the outer walls of the four cylinders, the two cylinders which lie opposite each other being rigidly connected to one another by two longitudinal members, and the two adjacent cylinders each being rigidly connected to one another by short cross beams. With apparatus having only two pressure cylinders, the frame can consist of a U-shaped frame member, the two ends of the U being rigidly fastened to the cylinder walls and the two adjacent cylinders being likewise joined rigidly together by a short cross beam.

A particularly preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the invention is one where two or four hydraulic cylinders are mounted, so that they can slide, in the longitudinal members connecting the cross beams. In this arrangement, the two piston rods are rigidly fastened to the cross beam.

The shearing blade is moved by a relative movement, with respect to the frame of the two cylinders joined together, in the direction of the second shearing blade. The two longitudinal members of the frame therefore not only have the function of taking up the reaction forces but the additional task of guiding the two cylinders which can be moved relative to the frame. For this the longitudinal members must have an appropriate profile, and, to achieve a perfect guiding, it is preferred that these longitudinal members are constructed as sliding tubes. The sliding distance of the cylinder in these sliding tubes can be limited by dogs which are guided in guide slots in the sliding tubes.

The longitudinal members of the frame can take the form of carrying brackets and it is preferred that the longitudinal members on each side of the frame be formed in this way so that the frame has a carrying handle on each side.

A machine for shearing off beads on rails joined by welding is described in United States Patent Specification No. 3,597,958.

This device has two frames which can be slid into one another and can be coupled together. The main object of this device consists in reducing, by compression, the expansion, relative to the longitudinal direc tion of the rails, of the highly heated weld points in the rail by the application of com pressive forces, and only then to shear off the weld bead. This compression is effected by coupling together the two frames which can move relative to one another so that no relative movement is possible. In the rigid frame produced in this manner, two com pression members engage with each other in a pincer-like manner and reduce the cross section of the weld point in the rail, as well as the thickness of the weld bead. In a second operation, the two frames are now uncoupled and the outer of the two frames is clamped against the rail.In the shearing off of the weld bead which now follows, there is no pincer-like movement but supported against the rail a cutting through of the weld bead in one direction with a shearing blade.

The device is not suitable for use in shearing off weld beads on laid track. It is a large and relatively expensive device. Because of the mutual engagement of the two frames and the releasable clamping mechanisms, the device requires an extensive controlling means. It has the additional disadvantage that no pincer-like cuts are made in the actual shearing operation, but again the cut is a sliding cut in a single direction, which results in tensional stresses being introduced in the weld point and a danger of cracks forming in the clamping area because the entire device is clamped to the rail.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1--7 of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figures 1-5 show various embodiments in section of a device according to the invention, but not all details of the construction are shown; they serve rather to explain the principle on which the invention is based. Figure 6 shows a side elevation, partly in section and Figure 7 shows a plan view of the device of Figure 3. In each of Figures 1-5, the place where the pressure is applied is indicated in each case by F.

Figure 1 shows apparatus having four hydraulic cylinders 5, 6, 7 and 8 which are arranged in a rectangular frame, consisting of two longitudinal members 1 and 2, and two cross beams 3 and 4 joining longitudinal members 1 and 2. Two hydraulic cylinders 5 and 6 are fastened to cross beam 3 and two hydraulic cylinders 7 and 8 are fastened to cross beam 4. Pistons 5a and 6a, with piston rods sliding in cylinders 5, 6, respectively, are joined together by cross beam 9 while pistons 7a and 8a, with piston rods sliding in cylinders 7 and 8 respectively are joined together by cross beam 10. Shearing blades 11 and 12 are located opposite each other on cross beams 9 and 10 respectively.On application of pressure to the four hydraulic cylinders 5, 6 7 and 8, the pistons 5a, 6a, 7a and 8a are moved in the cylinders in the direction of the centre of the frame, the shearing blades 11 and 12 slide towards each other and shear off the projecting excess weld material.

Figure 2 shows a simplified device according to the invention having only two hydraulic cylinders 17 and 18 arranged to each other in a rectangular frame, consisting of longitudinal members 13 and 14 and two cross beams 15 and 16 joining the longi tudinal members. The two hydraulic cylinders 17 and 18 are fastened to a cross beam 15, and a shearing blade 19 is fastened to cross beam 16. The two pistons with piston rods 17a and 18a are joined at their ends to a cross beam 20 which has a shearing blade 21.

As with the device described in Figure 1, on application of pressure to the cylinders the shearing blade 21 first moves until it makes contact with the projecting excess weld material. Then shearing blade 19 is moved in the direction of the projecting excess weld material until it makes contact.

The pressure needed to shear off the projecting material is then built up and the projecting excess weld material is sheared off.

Figure 3 shows a device similar to that in Figure 2 but, in this case, the ends of piston rods 17a and 18a in hydraulic cylinders 17 and 18 are joined to cross beam 15 and cylinders 17 and 18 are joined to cross beam 20 carrying shearing blade 21. The relative movement of the frame to the cylinders occurs in an analogous manner to that in the device shown in Figure 2.

It is, of course, also possible to provide, in place of two hydraulic cylinders 17 and 18, only one hydraulic cylinder which is then arranged above the rail, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail. If such a cylinder is rigidly joined to cross beam 15, shearing blade 21 is then driven by the piston rod of the cylinder as in the Figure 2 arrangement, or, shearing blade 21 can be fastened to the base of the cylinder if, as in the Figure 3 arrangement, the piston rod is firmly connected to cross beam 15. This device has the advantage of reducing weight to the greatest possible extent. Driving the shearing blade with two pistons is, however. to be preferred on grounds of more accurate guiding and because the necessary pressure is reduced as a result of the increase in the piston surface area.However, it is also possible to use the converse method of construction and to provide the device with, for example, four cylinders, two cylinders in each case being arranged parallel, adjacent to one another and above one another, and the piston rods forming the corner points, for example, of a rectangle.

The four piston rods in the design of Figure 2 or the four cylinder bases in the design of Figure 3 can then be rigidly joined to cross beam 20 and drive shearing blade 21.

This device is to be preferred in particular when only hydraulic units which can develop a relatively low pressure are available, or also when the entire projecting excess weld material on the head and web as well as at the base is to be sheared off.

and when greater forces are required for this.

Figures 4 and 5 show devices according to the invention in which the cylinder walls of the hydraulic cylinders are an integral part of the frame. In the device of Figure 4, this frame is formed by two longitudinal members 22 and 23, cylinder walls 24, 25, 26 and 27 and cross beams 28 and 29 each joining two cylinders 24 and 25 and 26 and 27 respectively. The further construction and mode of action of the device corresponds to that in Figure 1.

In the device of Figure 5, the frame is formed from the U-shaped part of the frame, consisting of longitudinal members 30 and 31, cross beam 32, cylinder walls 33 and 34 and cross beam 35 joining the bases of the two cylinders 33 and 34. The mode of action of the Figure 5 device corresponds to the mode of action of the Figure 2 device.

Figure 6 shows the side view and Figure 7 a plan view of the design of Figure 3, in which longitudinal members 13 and 14 are constructed as tubular guide members for cylinders 17 and 18. The two cross beams 15 and 16 are joined to guide tubes 13 and 14. The two cylinders 17 and 18, joined to cross beam 20, slide in guide tubes 13 and 14. The ends of piston rods 17a, 18a, of hydraulic cylinders 17 and 18 respectively are bolted to cross beam 15. The two shearing blades 19 and 21 are fastened to cross beams 16 and 20 respectively.

The two guide tubes 13 and 14 have openings 36 and 37 in which tube connections 38 and 29, for the feed of hydraulic fluid, move. Located on cross-beams 15 and 16 are movable holding-down clamps 40, provided with handles 41, which hold down and guide the device during the shearing operation. The handles 41 of the holding-down clamp 40 also serve for transporting, as well as for setting up and removing, the whole device.

After setting up the device on the rail, with shearing blades 19 and 21 separated from each other, and the projecting excess weld material located between the blades, and after sliding holdindown clamp 40 under the head of the rail, hydraulic fluid can then be applied to the cylinders 17 and 18 via tube connections 38. As a result of this, the cylinders 17 and 18 and hence cross beam 20 carrying shearing blade 21, is pushed sufficiently far for shearing blade 21 to make contact with the projecting excess weld material. With further build-up of pressure, the whole frame is now pulled in the opposite direction so that shearing blade 19 is now brought up to the other side of the projecting excess weld material.

With further increase of pressure in cylinders 17 and 18, the pincer-like shearing-off of the projecting excess weld material now occurs. with or without limitation of the stroke. On completion of the shearing-off operation, pressure is applied, via tube con nections 39, to the piston surfaces which are effectively decreased by the cross-section of the piston rods, so that the cutting blades are moved back to their initial position.

After holding down clamp 40 has been pulled back, the device is now lifted from the rail and can be immediatelv used for shearing off the next projecting excess weld material. Shearing off projecting excess weld material with such a device, from the setting up of the device to its removal, can take place in less than one minute. The device according to the invention ensures easy handling and rapid resetting with quick, and at the same time reliable, shearing off of the projecting excess weld material.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Apparatus for the removal, down to profile, of projecting excess weld material from welded rail joints of laid track, the apparatus including a cutting tool having co-operating opposed shearing blades which, in use, can be urged towards one another under hydraulic pressure, the apparatus having a closed and rigid frame which can take up the reaction forces arising during the shearing operation.

2. Apparatus according to claim I wherein the frame consists of two longitudinal members and two cross-beams, at least one pair of hydraulic devices are arranged opposite each other, each having a non-movable portion attached to a crossbeam and a movable portion carrying a shearing blade so that the shearing blades can move towards one another when hydraulic pressure is applied.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the frame consists of two longitudinal members and two cross-beams, a first shearing blade is attached to the first cross-beam, and at least one hydraulic device is provided having a non-movable portion attached to the second cross-beam and a movable portion carrying a second shearing blade which can move towards the first shearing blade when hydraulic pressure is applied.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hydraulic pressure derives from a cylinder and part of the frame is formed by the cylinder wall or several cylinder walls and the cross beams joining them.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the hydraulic pressure derives from at least two cylinders, the bases of which are joined together by a cross-beam which carries a shearing blade and the cylinders are guided so that, when hydraulic pressure is released, they can slide between longitudinal members of the frame.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, where the longitudinal members are constructed as sliding tubes.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, where the sliding tubes have openings through which can pass tubes to supply hydraulic fluid to the cylinders 8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, having holding-down clamps for clamping the apparatus to a rail from which excess weld material is to be removed.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the holding-down clamps include handles constructed as carrying handles for the whole apparatus.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. nections 39, to the piston surfaces which are effectively decreased by the cross-section of the piston rods, so that the cutting blades are moved back to their initial position. After holding down clamp 40 has been pulled back, the device is now lifted from the rail and can be immediatelv used for shearing off the next projecting excess weld material. Shearing off projecting excess weld material with such a device, from the setting up of the device to its removal, can take place in less than one minute. The device according to the invention ensures easy handling and rapid resetting with quick, and at the same time reliable, shearing off of the projecting excess weld material. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. Apparatus for the removal, down to profile, of projecting excess weld material from welded rail joints of laid track, the apparatus including a cutting tool having co-operating opposed shearing blades which, in use, can be urged towards one another under hydraulic pressure, the apparatus having a closed and rigid frame which can take up the reaction forces arising during the shearing operation.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, where the sliding tubes have openings through which can pass tubes to supply hydraulic fluid to the cylinders

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, having holding-down clamps for clamping the apparatus to a rail from which excess weld material is to be removed.