GB2270943A

GB2270943A - Ballast plough with suction nozzle.

Info

Publication number: GB2270943A
Application number: GB9319676A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Detlef Bugenhagen
Original assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
Current assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
Priority date: 1992-09-28
Filing date: 1993-09-23
Publication date: 1994-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2013-09-23
Also published as: GB2270943B; GB9319676D0; FR2696483A3; FR2696483B3; JPH0646003U; JPH077363Y2; DE9213041U1

Abstract

A ballast plough machine (1) has a machine frame (2) supported on on-track undercarriages (3) and connected to a vertically adjustable plough arrangement (11) and a a suction nozzle (25) connected to a suction device (20) which is associated with a sweeper unit (12) which has a rotatable sweeper brush (14). The suction nozzle (25) is arranged centrally with respect to the transverse width of the machine, for the removal by suction of ballast in the track conductor region, or like controlled area. The suction nozzle is rotatably mounted on a guide frame (28) so as to be movable between positions above and below the upper level of the sleepers (5). <IMAGE>

Description

BALLAST PLOUGH WITH SUCTION NOZZLE The present invention relates to a ballast plough comprising a machine frame supported on on-track undercarriages and connected to a vertically adjustable plough arrangement and a sweeper unit which has a rotatable sweeper brush, there being a suction nozzle connected to a suction device associated with the sweeper unit.

Ballast ploughs of this kind, movable on rails and known through EP 0 418 428 Al for example, are used during or following track maintenance work, such as tamping and aligning work, in order to give the ballast bed of the track the desired profile conforming to railway regulations, or to re-establish the same and thus create the preconditions for a lasting track geometry. During such processes ballast newly introduced into the bed in order to fill up the sleeper cribs, or excess ballast present in places, is graded by means of the vertically adjustable plough arrangement and is distributed in the track profile. A sweeper unit arranged on the machine frame behind the plough in the operating direction serves to sweep the surface of the track panel with a rotatable sweeper brush in order to remove the excess ballast stones deposited on the top of the sleepers or ballast bed.These are thrown on to a conveyor means by way of a sloping baffle and are then discharged towards the track shoulder.

In order to eliminate the dust inevitably raised by the sweeper brush immediately after it is created, there is attached to a casing of the sweeper unit covering the sweeper brush a U-shaped suction nozzle of a suction device which by way of a powerful suction fan supplies the dust-laden air to a filter unit. When such a ballast plough is used for tracks with a track conductor mounted in the centre of the track on the surfaces of the sleepers, or with other so-called controlled areas, the ballast to be removed cannot be picked up with a ballast plough of this kind without leaving a residue. This is because the ballast left beneath the track conductor between the sleepers cannot be picked up by the sweeper brush.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved ballast plough machine with which ballast lying in the region beneath a track conductor can also be removed.

Thus according to the invention there is provided a ballast plough machine comprising a machine frame, supported on on-track undercarriages and connected to a vertically adjustable plough arrangement and a sweeper unit having a rotatable sweeper brush, a suction nozzle connected to a suction device being associated with the sweeper unit, wherein the suction nozzle is arranged following the sweeper brush with respect to the operating direction of the ballast plough and is arranged centrally with respect to the transverse width of the machine, for the removal by suction of ballast in a track conductor region, or like controlled area. Further advantageous developments are described in the sub-claims.

The arrangement of the suction nozzle in relation to the sweeper brush according to the invention advantageously enables complete, final treatment of the surface of the track bed to be carried out following tamping or ballast grading work, for example. From areas which cannot be reached by the sweeper brush, such as beneath the track conductor for instance, the ballast may now be easily picked up or removed by suction via the suction nozzle.

This enables the previously necessary considerable expenditure involved in excavating such areas to be reduced.

Preferably the suction nozzle is designed to be vertically adjustable independently of the sweeper unit and also transversely displaceable, with such an arrangement all locations in the track may be reached without difficulty, even when they are partially covered by obstructions. The transversely adjustable design of the suction nozzle is particularly advantageous when the track conductor does not run in a completely straight line.

Where the suction nozzle is arranged on an individual guide frame which is movable on the track, reliable guiding in operation is ensured. Preferably the guide frame is longitudinally adjustable thus allowing the ballast plough to be moved continuously in order to produce the desired uniform ballast surface. Independently thereof and with the aid of the sleeper sensing means, the guide frame may be moved intermittently from one sleeper crib to the next.

Advantageously the suction nozzle is designed to be pivotable about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine. This offers the advantage of possible further speeding up of the procedure.

The presence of a ballast transfer chamber associated with the suction device prevents the container in the suction area of the suction device from filling up entirely with ballast and avoids the said suction device then having to be switched off in order to empty or replace the container. The ballast drawn up by suction may thus be continuously deposited in the most simple manner. This is effected by the rotating transfer chamber compartments and with tPe assistance of gravity, in the lower area of the transfer chamber. The ballast can and then be conveyed onwards by the conveyor means and either stored in the ballast store or reintroduced into the track by way of discharge openings as required. The amount of ballast conveyed may in this case be controlled by the speed of rotation of the rotating transfer chamber.The transfer of ballast to the conveyor means is made substantially easier and quicker by the sloping position of the ballast transfer chamber.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood reference will now be made by way of example to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a ballast plough machine with a suction device comprising a suction nozzle and a ballast transfer chamber, Fig. 2 shows an enlarged partial transverse view of the ballast plough machine showing the suction nozzle, Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of the ballast transfer chamber in the direction of arrow III in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 shows a transverse view of another variant of the suction nozzle according to the invention, Fig. 5 shows a further greatly simplified view of an embodiment of a sweeper unit combined with a suction nozzle.

A ballast plough 1 represented in Fig. 1 has a machine frame 2 which is movable by way of on-track undercarriages 3 on a track 6 composed of rails 4 and sleepers 5. The ballast plough 1, the operating direction of which is indicated with an arrow 7, is equipped with a driver's or operator's cab 8 and also with a power supply unit 9. Between the undercarriages 3, a plough arrangement 11 designed for vertical adjustment by means of a drive 10 is connected to the machine frame 2. Also between the undercarriages 3 is a sweeper unit 12 with a sweeper brush 14 which is rotatable about an axis extending in the transverse direction of the machine and which is vertically adjustable by means of a drive 13. The sweeper unit 12 is arranged following the said plough arrangement in the operating direction.A baffle 15 is provided between the sweeper brush 14 and a conveyor means 16 which is also connected to the machine frame 2 and which leads obliquely upwards in the operating direction. The discharge end 17 of the conveyor means is positioned above a ballast store 18 which has discharge openings 19 arranged just above the track 6.

Visible at the rear end of the ballast plough 1, in the operating direction, is a suction device 20 for generating a vacuum. The said suction device is associated with a drum-shaped ballast transfer chamber 21 or is secured thereto. This ballast transfer chamber shown in greater detail in Fig. 3) is designed for rotation about an axis 22 by means of a rotary drive 23 and is mounted on the machine frame 2 in such a way that the axis 22 forms an angle with the plane of the track 6. Connected to the elevated end region of the ballast transfer chamber 21 is a suction hose 24, the other end of which is designed as the suction nozzle 25 associated with the sweeper unit 12.

Located at the opposite lower end, along the axis 22, of the ballast transfer chamber 21 is a ballast outlet opening 26 which is connected via a channel 27, to the conveyor means 16 and is connected by means of the said conveyor means to che ballast store 18. The channel 27 is inclined at an angle to the track plane and runs obliquely downwards towards the conveyor means 16.

The design of the suction nozzle 25 may now be seen in detail in Fig. 2. The said suction nozzle is arranged following the sweeper brush 14 in the operating direction of the ballast plough 1 and is also being arranged centrally with respect to the length thereof extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine.

This enables the suction nozzle to remove by suction ballast from the region beneath a track conductor 28. The track conductor 28 is generally fixed approximately centrally between the rails 4, to the surfaces of the sleepers 5 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the track. The suction nozzle 25 is mounted by means of a holder 30 on a guide frame 29 for vertical adjustment independently of the sweeper unit 12. The holder 30 pivots about an axis 31 extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine, and is connected to a drive 32 linked to the guide frame 29. In this way the suction nozzle 25 is vertically and rotatably adjustable from an inoperative position located above the sleeper plane, defined by the upper surfaces of the sleepers, (see position shown in dot and dash lines), into a suction position located partially beneath the sleeper plane.

The guide frame 29 is able to roll on the track 6 by means of flanged wheels 33 and is linked to the machine frame 2 by means of vertical adjustment drives 34 by means of which the guide frame 29 can be lifted off the track in order to be taken out of service. Clamping jaws 36 cooperating with the flanged wheels 33 and operable by way of drives 35 serve to fix the guide frame 29 temporarily in position on the track 6 while the suction nozzle 25 is lowered into its operating position between two sleepers 5.

The guide frame 29 is also designed for adjustment in the longitudinal direction of the machine with respect to the machine frame by means of a drive 37 linked to the machine frame 2. Sleeper sensing means 38 are secured to the underside of the guide frame 29 which sensing means are provided for the non-contact detection of the position of a sleeper 5 relative to the guide frame 29.

As may be seen in Fig. 3, the ballast transfer chamber 21 is composed of a drum-shaped housing 39 in which there is an arrangement of six transfer chamber compartments 40 which are rotatable about the axis 22. The rotary drive 23 is mounted coaxially on the opposite end surface of the ballast transfer chamber 21 to the suction hose 24. The ballast outlet opening 26 is arranged at the lowest point of the said ballast transfer chamber. Both the attachment of the suction hose 24 and the suction device 20 are provided in the upper region of the ballast transfer chamber 21. The ballast transfer chamber 21 may also be used in combination with other or with different kinds of suction nozzles, instead of with the central suction nozzle 25 for example, these reaching or covering the entire transverse area of the ballast bed.

In operation, the ballast plough 1, with the plough arrangement 11 lowered by means of the drive 10, is moved continuously along the track 6 in order to grade the surface of the ballast bed as evenly as possible. Ballast left on the sleepers 5 or excessive ballast in the sleeper cribs is conveyed by the sweeper unit 12 by means of the sweeper brush 14 and via the baffle 15 on to the conveyor means 16. The ballast then travels onwards into the ballast store 18, from where the ballast can be reintroduced into the track 6 if required by means of the discharge openings 19. If a track conductor 28 is present, the guide frame 29 together with the suction nozzle 25 is also lowered or placed onto the track by means of the vertical adjustment drives 34. Thereafter the suction device 20 and also the rotary drive 23 of the ballast transfer chamber 21 are set in operation.In order to enable the suction nozzle 25 to be lowered with the aid of the drive 32 for use in a sleeper crib during the continuous advance of the ballast plough 1, the guide frame 29 (with the drives 34 and 37 controlled without pressure so as to be freely movable) is temporarily clamped to the rails 4 by means of the drives 35 and the clamping jaws 36 respectively. When the suction nozzle 25 has been raised again, the guide frame 29 is rapidly advanced by the drive 37 in the operating direction with respect to the machine frame 2, to be lowered for suction again in the next sleeper crib (see small arrows in Fig. 1, bottom left).

This operation is assisted by the sleeper sensing means 38.

The ballast drawn up via the suction hose 24 passes into the transfer chamber compartment 40 of the ballast transfer chamber 21 which is right in the top position and by means of the rotation thereof about the axis 22 and as a result of the effect of gravity, it is moved to the ballast outlet opening 26 from where the ballast is transported via the channel 27 and the conveyor means 16 into the ballast store 18 and is there deposited.

In the variant represented in Fig. 4, a guide frame 41 is linked via vertical adjustment drives 42 to a machine frame 43 of a ballast plough 44 and is movable by means of flanged wheels 45 on a track 46. In order to remove by suction ballast from areas beneath a track conductor 47 extending in the longitudinal direction of the track, a suction nozzle 48 is arranged in the centre of the track above the track conductor and is connected via a suction hose 49 to a suction device (not shown). The suction nozzle 48 is mounted on the guide frame 41 for transverse displacement by means of a drive 50 and for vertical adjustment by means of a further drive 51 and may thus be adjusted to the particular circumstances prevailing in the track 46 or to the position of the track conductor 47. A sleeper sensing means 52 and rail clamping devices 53 serve to position the guide frame 41 in operation.The operation proceeds substantially in the same way as in the embodiment of the invention already described.

Finally, a further example of a development according to the invention may be seen in Fig. 5, in which a sweeper unit 54 is connected for vertical adjustment by means of a drive 55 to the machine frame of a ballast plough which is not shown in detail. The sweeper unit 54 has a rotatable sweeper brush 56 with an axis extending in the transverse direction of the machine and is represented in the lowered operative position for removing excess ballast from a track 57. A baffle 59 immediately preceding the sweeper brush 56 with respect to an operating direction 58 leads to a lateral conveyor belt 60 by means of which the ballast which has been swept up can be selectively discharged on either side of the track 57.A U-shaped casing 61 which is open at the bottom covers the sweeper brush 56 and lateral conveyor belt 60 on all sides and upwardly and in its upper region is connected to a suction hose 62 which is associated with a suction device provided on the ballast plough and which serves to remove by suction the dust raised by the sweeper brush 56. A suction nozzle 63 arranged following the sweeper brush 56 in the operating direction 58 is arranged centrally with respect to the length thereof extending in the transverse direction of the machine, or in the centre of the track within the casing 61, and by means of a further suction hose 64 is also connected to the suction device. This suction nozzle 63 is designed for vertical adjustment in relation to the sweeper unit 54 by means of a drive 65 and is lowered in operation in order to remove excess ballast from the region beneath a track conductor 67 (extending in the longitudinal direction of the track along the surfaces of the sleepers 66) by suction from the track 57.

Claims

1. A ballast plough machine comprising a machine frame, supported on on-track undercarriages and connected to a vertically adjustable plough arrangement and a sweeper unit having a rotatable sweeper brush, a suction nozzle connected to a suction device being associated with the sweeper unit, wherein the suction nozzle is arranged following the sweeper brush with respect to the operating direction of the ballast plough and is arranged centrally with respect to the transverse width of the machine, for the removal by suction of ballast in a track conductor region, or like controlled area.

2. A ballast plough machine according to claim 1, wherein the suction nozzle is designed for vertical adjustment by means of an individual drive independently of the sweeper unit.

3. A ballast plough machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the suction nozzle is mounted for vertical adjustment on a guide frame which is able to roll on the track.

4. A ballast plough machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the suction nozzle is designed for transverse displacement by means of a drive.

5. A ballast plough machine according to claim 3, wherein the guide frame is designed for adjustment by means of a drive in the longitudinal direction of the machine with respect to the machine frame and is connected to a sleeper sensing means.

6. A ballast plough machine according to any preceding claim wherein the suction nozzle is mounted on the guide frame for pivoting about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine from an inoperative position located above the sleeper plane - defined by the upper surfaces of the sleepers - into a suction position located at least partially beneath the sleeper plane.

7. A ballast plough machine according to any preceding claim wherein a ballast transfer chamber which is connected to the suction nozzle by way of a suction hose is associated with the suction device.

8. A ballast plough machine according to claim 7, wherein the ballast transfer chamber has a number of transfer chamber compartments which are designed for rotation about an axis by means of a rotary drive.

9. A ballast plough machine according to claim 8, wherein the axis is arranged so as to be inclined at an angle to the track plane, the suction hose being connected to an elevated end region of the ballast transfer chamber.

10. A ballast plough machine according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a ballast outlet opening is provided at the lower end region of the ballast transfer chamber, which ballast outlet opening is connected via a conveyor means to a ballast store arranged on the machine frame and including discharge openings.

11. A ballast plough machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the accompanying drawings.