GB2159560A

GB2159560A - Sleeper adjusting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2159560A
Application number: GB8513210A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Martyn
Original assignee: Permanent Way Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Permanent Way Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 1984-05-29
Filing date: 1985-05-24
Publication date: 1985-12-04
Also published as: GB8413638D0; GB2159560B; GB8513210D0

Abstract

Apparatus for adjusting the position of a rail sleeper relative to a rail comprising a vehicle having rail-engaging wheels, said vehicle being provided with at least one powered adjusting means and rail gripping means, the powered adjusting means comprising means for engaging a sleeper and powered means for moving the sleeper engaging means relative to the rail gripping means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sleeper adjusting apparatus This invention relates to sleeper adjusting apparatus.

Frequently it is necessary for the sleepers of a railway to be adjusted in position relative to the rail. This is a labour intensive operation which requires a considerable length of time in order to effect. Since there is a need to keep the time used in adjusting sleeper positions to a minimum there is a need for a mechanical device which can carry out the operation simply an easily.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for adjusting the position of sleepers on a railway.

According to one aspect of the present invention we provide apparatus for adjusting the position of a rail sleeper relative to a rail comprising a vehicle having rail-engaging wheels, said vehicle being provided with at least one powered adjusting means and rail gripping means, the powered adjusting means comprising means for engaging a sleeper and powered means for moving the sleeper engaging means relative to the rail gripping means.

The rail gripping means can be of any convenient type and may grip the head, the web and/or the flanges of the rail. In one preferred arrangement the rail gripping means is associated with the powered means so that when a force is applied to the sleeper engaging means then an increased gripping force is applied. Alternatively the vehicle itself may be clamped to the rails by means separate from the powered adjusting means and the reaction to the force applied to the sleeper engaging means can be taken by a part of the vehicle.

The vehicle may be provided with one powered adjusting means for adjusting the position of a sleeper or it may be provided with two such means so that the sleeper can be adjusted from a position adjacent both rails.

In a preferred form of the invention however four such powered means are provided.

The means for engaging the sleeper may be a simple abutment which can be used to move the sleeper relative to the rail. This can be done at one end of the sleeper or, alternatively, the means may be provided at each end of the sleeper in order to effect the desired adjustment.

The abutment means may be arranged to push the sleeper relative to the vehicle or may be arranged to pull the sleeper relative to the vehicle. If desired the means may be such as to enable a pushing or pulling operation to be carried out.

Any suitable powered means may be employed but it is preferred to use hydraulic rams. One hydraulic ram may be used in order to move the sleeper engaging means and a second ram may be used to operate the rail gripping means. In a preferred construction the arrangement is such that a ram carries out both functions.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus of the invention can be used not only to adjust the position of a sleeper to make sure that it is perpendicular to the rails but may also be used to ensure that the sleeper spacing is correct.

In order to reduce the forces needed to move a sleeper whilst in position it may be beneficial to raise the sleeper from direct contact with the ballast beneath it. The raising of the sleeper may be facilitated by providing jacking means on the vehicle and also providing means to engage the rail so that when the vehicle is jacked up then the rail is raised.

An alternative way of lifting a rail to facilitate sleeper adjustment is to provide means for gripping and lifting the rail, for example at a position intermediate the rail engaging wheels of the vehicle. By providing the gripping means intermediate the axles of the vehicle then the rail between the wheels could then be lifted without it being necessary to provide jacking means which contact the ballast. Alternatively, jacking means may be used to lift the rail between the wheels.

In one embodiment of the invention the extent to which the sleeper is lifted is limited in order to ensure that adjacent ballast does not fall under the sleeper whilst it is being lifted. A sensing device such as a device incorporating a potentiometer could be located on the ballast or on the sleeper or rail in order to provide a signal when the desired amount of lifting had taken place.

Preferably the vehicle is a self-propelled vehicle and may be a specifically rail-type vehicle or a road/rail vehicle of the type which can operate on a road or a rail by means of the provision of both flanged wheels and tyred road wheels.

The powered adjusting means may be provided with means for lifting them clear of any projections when moving from sleeper to sleeper; also when the vehicle is travelling to a work site it will need to have retracting means which enable it to be retracted to within the appropriate travel gauge in which any obstructions will be cleared. Thus the sleeper engagement means and the rail-gripping means must be retractable to a sufficient extent for travelling.

It is desirable that the vehicle should be provided with a centre turntable which can be lowered to contact the ballast between the rails and allow the vehicle to be turned. The turntable can be of a known hydraulically operated type.

The rail-gripping means may be a simple mechanical clamp which is hand-operated or may be a hydraulically operated.

The rail-gripping means may comprise a clamp. One type of clamp employs two bell crank levers which are secured to the ends of hydraulic rams and these bell crank levers cause clamping heads to engage the flange of the rail under the pressure from the rams. The rams may also serve simultaneously to move the sleeper engaging means.

An alternative form of clamp which can be used grips the rail head and comprises a pair of gripping jaws which engage under the rail head, and a fixed abutment face which engages the top surface of the rail head, the gripping jaws being moved by levers and a hydraulic ram.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagrammatic view in plan of a vehicle having four sleeper adjustment means; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of one of the sleeper adjustment means as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the clamping means of the device shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an end elevation of the clamping means shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a schematic end elevation of an alternative form of clamping means; Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a schematic view of a clamping device which may be used in the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7; Figure 9 is a schematic view of one form of sleeperengaging means; and Figure 10 is a schematic plan view of an apparatus according to the invention adapted for electronic control.

Referring to Figure 1 a rail vehicle (not shown) is provided with a pair of axles 10 each having flanged rail engaging wheels 11.

The vehicle is provided with four sleeper adjusting means 1 2 arranged generally at each corner of the vehicle each adjusting means comprising clamping means indicated generally by the numeral 13, rams 14 and sleeper engaging means 1 5 to which the ends of the rams 1 4 are pivoted.

In Figure 1 the rails are designated 1 6 and the sleepers designated 1 7.

In use, the vehicle is moved to the site where the sleepers are to be adjusted and the clamping means 1 3 is lowered over the rail.

The hydraulic rams 14 are then operated to move the sleeper engaging means 1 5 into engagement with the sleeper and then to push it into the desired position.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 a pair of sleeper engaging means is operated at each corner of the vehicle in order to push one side of the rail and one of the sleepers in one direction and the other side in the opposite direction whereby the sleeper is not only straightened but is also accurately spaced from the adjacent sleeper.

The construction of the adjusting means can be seen more clearly with reference to Figures 2,3 and 4 of the drawings. In Figure 2 it can be seen that at one end the ram 14 is pivoted to the clamping means 1 3 at a pivot 1 8 and at the other end is pivoted at a pivot 19 to an arm 20. The arm 20 is pivoted to the vehicle frame at 21 and at the other end comprises sleeper engaging surface 22. In the position shown the sleeper engaging surface will be used to push the sleeper 1 7 but it will be appreciated that by retracting the ram 14 it could also be used to pull the sleeper 17.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 the clamping means comprises a pair of bell crank levers 23 which are pivoted at 24 to a U-shaped carrier 25 which is secured to the vehicle.

When the rams 14 are pushed against a sleeper, then the reaction at pivot 1 8 causes the bell crank levers 23 to pivot about pivots 24 and cause the clamping heads 26 to grip the rail 16. In the embodiment shown the clamping heads 26 are provided with a hard insert 26a to reduce wear.

It will be appreciated that whilst the powered adjusting means shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 employs two rams 14, it would be possible to achieve a similar result by employing abutment means on one side of the rail and using a single ram 14 on the opposite side of the rail. This would however provide forces which would tend to bend the rail and it is preferable to use a clamp such as that described below with an arrangement as described with reference to Figure 9.

Referring now to the embodiment of clamp shown in Figure 5, the clamp engages the rail head 27 and comprises a yoke member 28 which has an abutment face 29 for engaging the upper edge of the head of the rail. A pair of gripping jaws 30 are mounted on bell crank levers 31 pivoted at 32, the gripping heads 30 being moved into and out of clamping engagement with the head of the rail by means of a hydraulic ram 33 pivoted at 34 to the bell crank levers 31.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 6 and 7 which are schematic views respectively in plan and side elevation and figure 8 which is a schematic view of a suitable clamping arrangement.

This apparatus comprises a beam 60 having a centrally disposed clamping device 61. The drawings show a preferred arrangement in which two such beams 60 are employed with two clamping devices 61. The clamping devices 61 in this arrangement can, of course, be interconnected and possibly operated by a single ram.

Beam 60 can be raised and lowered by means of the rams 62 and each beam carries two powered adjusting means, one at each end. Each means comprises a pair of rams but these can be replaced by a single ram as described below with reference to Figure 9.

As can be seen from Figure 7 the rams 14 act through a linkage 1 4a pivoted to the frame to push the sleepers into position. The linkage 1 4a enables the sleepers to be cleared when the rams are retracted in order that the vehicle can move from one sleeper to the next.

The rams 62 acting upon the beams 60 are able to retract the beams 60 and associated equipment to the position shown in dashed lines in Figure 7, and this enables the vehicle to have sufficient clearance to be driven along the track to a suitable work site.

Figure 8 shows a particular form of clamping device which may be used in conjunction with the apparatus shown in Figures 6 and 7.

The clamping device may be operated by a single ram interconnecting the two clamping devices and as can be seen, is operated so that the clamping jaws 63 clamp beneath the head of the rail.

This clamping arrangement serves not only to provide a reaction for the forces involved in moving the sleepers, but also serves to clamp the rails between the wheels and by means of the rams 64 the rail can be lifted between the wheel centres to facilitate movement of the sleepers.

The powered adjusting means may comprise a pair of rams one on each side of the rail to give a balanced force along the rail.

Alternatively, a single ram can be employed and the sleeper engaging means can be bifurcated to engage the sleeper at each side of the rail thereby achieving a balanced force along the rail. Such an arrangement is shown schematically in Figure 9 in which the arm 20 has two legs 20a which bridge the rail 1 6.

The end of the sleeper engaging means may also be bifurcated to engage either side of a sleeper. If this alternative is adopted in conjuction with the single ram arrangement referred to above then the arm 20 will have four legs such as legs 20a depending therefrom.

The operator of the apparatus will normally travel on the vehicle and in order that he can see the orientation of the sleepers it is envisaged that the vehicle will have an opening in the base thereof. The opening may be provided with a transparent window and if desired sighting marks may also be provided in order that the operator can assess when a sleeper is in the correct orientation.

The sleeper adjusting apparatus according to the present invention can be controlled electronically, for example, by means of electronic processing means responsive to distance measuring means and/or the position of a preselected sleeper.

In one method of operating a microprocessor controlled apparatus the vehicle is positioned accurately over a preselected datum sleeper. A distance measuring device comprising one or more wheels of high friction material is lowered onto the rail head and urged into contact therewith by a loading device, such as a spring loading device to maintain good contact with the rail head and eliminate slip. The wheels are arranged to drive an electronic revolution counter providing an output signal to a microprocessor which converts the signal to one representing linear distance.

In use an operator selects the required sleeper spacing as a linear dimension and a function of that dimension is fed into the vehicle in motion and it moves forward a distance equal to the required sleeper spacing when it is stopped under control of the microprocessor.

The powered sleeper adjusting means are then operated, either under the control of the operator or the microprocessor, to move the sleeper adjacent to the datum sleeper into its required position. The process is then repeated using the last positioned sleeper as a datum sleeper until the sleepers have been repositioned to the required spacing.

In an alternative method of operating a microprocessor controlled apparatus the vehicle is provided with one or more fixed proximity devices and one or more movable proximity devices. The spacing between the fixed and movable devices can be made adjustable by mounting the movable devices on a lead screw or linear activator.

The operator selects the required sleeper spacing and feeds a function of that spacing into a microprocessor. The microprocessor provides an output signal to the lead screw or linear activator to adjust the distance apart of the fixed and movable proximity devices to that of the required sleeper spacing. The operator sets the vehicle in motion and it moves forward until the fixed proximity device contacts the datum sleeper or an associated element such as the rail clip housing. or the rail clip itself. The vehicle is then stopped by a signal from the microprocessor.

The powered sleeper adjusting means are then operated to move the sleeper adjacent to the datum sleeper into its requried position, the sleeper adjusting means being stopped the movable proximity device contacts the sleeper, rail clip housing or rail clip whichever has been selected as the reference point. The process is then repeated using the last positioned sleeper as a datum sleeper until all the sleepers have been repositioned to the required spacing.

Yet a further alternative method of operation utilises the first of the above two methods as a positioning control for the vehicle. and the second method is used as a check control that the sleeper positioning is accurate.

Where sleepers are correctly spaced but are not perpendicular to the rails. the proximity devices can be used to control the operation, via the microprocessor, of the sleeper adjust ing means. In this case it is preferred to use two sets of proximity devices one set on each side of the vehicle. Contact of the first one of a set of proximity devices would indicate that the sleeper is not parallel to the datum sleeper whereas simultaneous contact by one of both sets of proximity devices would indicate a parallel relationship between the sleepers.

A schematic arrangement for an electronically controlled vehicle is shown in Figure 10.

In this embodiment detail of the mechanical components of the apparatus have been omitted for clarity, only the rail engaging wheels and the sleeper engaging means 105 being shown. A microprocessor 104 is connected to receive signals from a rev. counter 103 driven by high friction wheels 102 engaging the rails.

Each side of the apparatus is provided with a respective fixed proximity device 106 which is shown in a position adjacent a datum sleeper 101. Movable proximity devices 107 are also provided on each side of the vehicle these devices being adjustable in position relative to the devices 107a by means of a lead screw 108.

It will be apparent that the present invention provides an extremely convenient means for adjusting the position of sleepers without affecting the rail, and with a minimum occupation time so that as small an amount as possible of disruption to normal rail operation is achieved. Since the vehicle can be selfpowered it can be rapidly moved to the desired work site.

Claims

1. Apparatus for adjusting the position of a rail sleeper relative to a rail comprising a vehicle having rail-engaging wheels, said vehicle being provided with at least one powered adjusting means and rail gripping means, the powered adjusting means comprising means for engaging a sleeper and powered means for moving the sleeper engaging means relative to the rail gripping means.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 in which the rail gripping means is adapted to grip the head, the web and/or the flanges of the rail.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the rail gripping means is associated with the powered adjusting means so that when a force is applied to the sleeper engaging means it increases the applied gripping force.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the vehicle is arranged to be clamped to the rails by means separate from the powered adjusting means.

5. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which the vehicle is provided with two powered adjusting means.

6. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which the vehicle is provided with four powered adjustment means.

7. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 in which the sleeper engaging means is an abutment.

8. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 in which the powered means comprises at least one hydraulic ram.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8 in which the sleeper engaging means is powered by at least one hydraulic ram and the rail gripping means is powered by at least one separate hydraulic ram.

1 0. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 in which the vehicle is provided with jacking means.

11. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 in which the vehicle is provided with rail gripping means movable relative to the vehicle to enable a rail to be lifted relative to the vehicle wheels.

1 2. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 in which the rail gripping means and the powered adjusting means are provided with retracting means whereby they may be retracted for travelling.

1 3. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 1 2 in which the vehicle is provided with a centre turntable.

1 4. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 1 3 in which the rail gripping means comprising clamping means.

1 5. Apparatus according to Claim 14 in which the clamping means is hand operated.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 14 in which the clamping means is hydraulically operated.

1 7. Apparatus according to Claim 1 6 in which the clamping means comprises a pair of bell crank levers which are secured to the ends of hydraulic rams and which cause clamping heads to engage the flange of a rail under pressure from the rams.

1 8. Apparatus according to Claim 1 6 in which the clamping means comprises a pair of gripping jaws which engage under a rail head and a fixed abutment face for engaging the top surface of the rail head.

1 9. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 1 8 including means to measure the distance travelled by the vehicle and provide an electrical output representative of said distance.

20. Apparatus according to Claim 1 9 provided with electronic processing means which is responsive to the output from said distance measuring means and an operator selected sleeper spacing requirement.

21. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 1 8 in which at least one proximity device is provided to detect a sleeper or a component associated with a sleeper.

22. Apparatus according to Claim 21 in which the proximity device is linearly adjust able.

23. Apparatus according to Claim 22 provided with electronic processing means re sponsive to the output from said at least one said proximity device to stop or start the vehicle and/or to initiate or terminate operation of the powered adjusting means and/or the rail gripping means.

24. Apparatus for adjusting the position of a rail sleeper relative to a rail substantially as described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.