NL1031217C2 - Sandblasting method for rails on railway track, involves moving nozzle along length of rail while collecting particles for reuse on same rail section - Google Patents

Abstract

At least one sandblasting nozzle (9) is moved along the length of at least one rail (5) whilst directing the jet (14) of particles (6) against at least part of one or both rail flanks. The particles are collected and reused again for sandblasting the same rail section. An independent claim is also included for the sandblasting machine, comprising at least one nozzle; a feed for delivering particles to the nozzle; a means (12) for collecting the spent particles and material (13) removed from the rail; a means (15) for removing the collected particles and removed material; and at least two wheels for moving the machine along the rail. The collection means extends beneath the wheels. The jet is directed towards a plane extending parallel to the travelling direction (18) of the machine and is located underneath the wheel trajectory (55).

Description

Title: Device and method for blasting rails

The invention relates to a device and method for blasting rails.

For thorough cleaning of rails, they can be blasted with, for example, sand or grit. Rail tracks should, for example, be blasted when rubber blocks are to be placed on the side of rail tracks in order to reduce noise pollution from trains, so that these blocks can be mounted on a clean, radiated surface. The rails are often still vacuumed before blasting. Even when other purposes are at the basis, it can be advantageous to radiate rails.

It is possible to blast rail tracks, whereby the rails must be loosely passed through a blasting device. If the rails to be blasted already form part of a railway network, this means that the rails must first be detached from the sleepers and after the blasting must again be attached, which requires very many man-hours.

Another known method of blasting makes use of manually directing a nozzle on a surface of rails to be blasted, wherein the blasting device is carried towards the rails. With such a method, the rail surface is blasted at a speed of approximately 20 meters per hour. It will be clear that the blasting of the already installed railway network, or at least a part thereof, requires much man-hours and time with such a method. In addition, expensive abrasive (for example grit, sand, water, etc.) is lost as it cannot be efficiently collected. This is financially disadvantageous and moreover bad for the environment, while moreover a particularly large supply of abrasive material must be included. A further disadvantage is that the material released by blasting also ends up in the environment.

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It is an object of the invention to solve at least some of the above problems, preferably while retaining the advantages of existing devices and methods.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device and / or method for blasting rails that reuse abrasive.

The invention also has for its object to provide a device and / or method for blasting rail tracks, wherein the blasting device can be displaced efficiently.

In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and / or method 10 for blasting rails which, compared to known methods, can radiate more rails in a shorter time without compromising on quality.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device and / or method for blasting rails that requires fewer man-hours than known methods.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and / or method for blasting rails that can easily be integrated into a process for applying noise-reducing blocks to the rails.

In a first embodiment, the method according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 1.

With such a method, at least one nozzle is displaced relative to a rail, in a longitudinal direction thereof. Therefore, at least one side of at least one rail can be blasted in one pass, preferably continuously. In this method, the abrasive is trapped so that it is practically not wasted and subsequently reused. Since said blasting, collection and reuse takes place during the displacement, the course of the blasting process does not have to be interrupted, which has a very favorable effect on the efficiency of the blasting process. Rail tracks can be blasted at high speed with the aid of a method 3 according to the present invention. Testing was carried out at a speed of, for example, around 400 meters per hour, about a factor of 40 faster than known methods.

An advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention is characterized by the features according to claim 2 or 3.

In this advantageous embodiment of a method according to the present invention, the blasted blasting agent and material removed from the rails are collected, after which they are separated from each other. The abrasive can hereby be reused and the material removed can be disposed of as waste. For reusing the blasting means, an embodiment of a method according to the present invention provides for supplying the blasting means to the nozzle. The collection, separation, supply and blasting preferably takes place without interruption, so that the embodiment of a method according to the present invention does not or hardly need to be provided with new abrasive during continuous blasting. Man hours and time are saved in this way. Moreover, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, no or almost no waste is left behind.

In a further embodiment, a method according to the invention is characterized by the features according to claim 4 or 5.

In this advantageous embodiment of a method according to the present invention, the rails to be irradiated are first stripped of dust and already irradiated rails are provided with sound-damping blocks, for example of rubber. By removing dust from rails, for example by vacuuming, sweeping or blowing, it is then possible to blast dust-free, which benefits the quality of the blasted product. Dust removal is done efficiently at the same time as blasting.

The already cleaned and irradiated part of the rails can be provided with blocks of rubber. Just like dust removal, this can be done advantageously at the same time as the nozzle 4 is moved along the rails. This means that vacuuming and blasting and applying blocks can in principle be done in one go and without interruption. The entire process required to achieve noise reduction with the aid of rubber blocks is thus accomplished in a very efficient manner.

A further advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention is further characterized by the features according to one of claims 6-9.

With the aid of such an advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention, the sides of the rails of a railroad can be blasted simultaneously. With the aid of wheels, preferably train wheels or flanged wheels, and drive, the nozzle is advantageously moved along the railroad. With these measures, the blasting process and thus also the process for applying blocks 15 to the rail network can be completed faster and more continuously with less manpower than with methods already known.

The invention furthermore relates to a device characterized by the features of claim 10.

A blasting device according to the invention comprises feed means 20 which provide the nozzle with blasting means. Collecting means are also provided for collecting blasting means and with which it is also prevented that the blasting means comes out of the blasting device. During blasting, discharge means contribute to the removal of removed material and abrasive.

For the purpose of displacing the at least one nozzle along the rails, wheels are provided at the device, the running surface of which is the part that is in contact with the rails. The wheels also enable relative positioning of different parts of the device, such as the collecting means and one or more nozzles, relative to the rail tracks, so that the side of the rail rails 5 can be blasted in an advantageous manner and blasting means can also be collected. The blasting device can thus be placed on rails and put into operation immediately.

According to further elaborations of a device according to the invention, the blasting device comprises separating means, discharge means and / or collecting means for the blasting means that are configured such that within the blasting device a cycle takes place of blasting means supplying, blasting, collecting, draining, separating and supplying, etc. practically without blasting agent from the device.

In further elaborations of a device according to the invention, the nozzles of the device are positioned and directed such that they are directed to the side of the rails, for example in a direction downwards, so that a rail can be blasted and the blasting means in an advantageous manner. together with removed material can then be collected within the device. The correct position and direction of the nozzle contribute to the irradiation of a larger surface of the rails and efficient and easy removal of abrasive and removed material. Thus, blasting is also carried out in an efficient manner near and possibly behind fasteners for rails and rails.

The fixing means make it difficult to catch abrasive at the side of rails since the space between the fixing means and the rails is relatively narrow. The invention is nevertheless advantageously provided here with collecting means so that the part can be blasted at the bottom of the side of the rails and the blasting means can be collected or kept within the blasting direction.

In still further elaborations of a device according to the invention, the blasting device is adapted to blast all sides of already known double rails, since attachment of blocks on both sides of both rails of rails has the most effect.

6

In still further elaborations of a device according to the invention, the blasting device is adapted to be able to be coupled to devices such as, for example, a block grinder or rail vacuum cleaner. To advance the blasting device, an advantageous embodiment of the blasting device according to the invention is provided with a drive.

To clarify the invention, exemplary embodiments thereof will be described with reference to the drawing. Therein: FIG. 1 schematically shows an arrangement in side view of a blasting device, including intermediate parts for mounting sound-damping blocks according to the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-section in front view of an embodiment of a part of a blasting device for blasting rails;

FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically in side view a part of a blasting device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic front view of a blasting device according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5A shows diagrammatically in front view a rail, wheel and positions of a nozzle with jet direction according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5B shows diagrammatically in side view a rail, wheel and positions of a nozzle with jet direction according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5C shows diagrammatically in plan view a rail, wheel and positions of a nozzle with jet direction according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 schematically in front view a rail with blocks arranged on it.

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These embodiments shown should not be construed as limiting in any way. In this description, the same or corresponding parts have the same or corresponding reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of a blasting device 1 according to the invention, wherein blasting device 1 is provided with certain intermediate parts 52, in this embodiment shown a grit emitter 40, a vacuum cleaner 2, a block grinder 3, a compressor device 4 and a drive 50 such as for example a locomotive. The intermediate parts 52 are herein coupled by means of coupling means 51, which will not be further elaborated here. At least a number of the intermediate parts 52 are provided with wheels 10 for displacement over rail tracks 5. A different order of the intermediate parts 52 is of course also possible, just like integration, addition and / or omission of at least one intermediate part 52. (Under rail tracks , rails and rods, or in singular: rail, rail and rod, should be understood at least the same in this description. The drive 50 can for instance also be coupled to another location or be integrated with one of the coupled intermediate parts 52 Of course, in another embodiment, grit radiator 40 can be replaced by a sand blaster 40 or another type of radiator 40.

In the blasting device 1 shown in Figure 1, the grit radiator 40 is arranged behind the vacuum cleaner 2, whereby vacuum cleaner 2 makes it possible for grit radiator 40 to radiate dust-free rail tracks 5 to a large extent. To this end, vacuum cleaner 2 is coupled in a direction of displacement 18 in front of blast-radiator 40.

Instead of or at the vacuum cleaner 2, for example, a sweeper could also be provided. In principle, any device is suitable for this that contributes to the rail 5 becoming virtually dust-free without affecting it. Vacuum cleaner 2 here also comprises discharge means and / or collection means for removal and / or collection of the collected waste.

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As soon as rails 5 have been made sufficiently dust-free by vacuum cleaner 2, the blast radiator 40 will start irradiating rails 5. In this description, blasting or irradiation should at least be understood to mean that blasting agent 6 is blown against a surface at high speed via a nozzle 9 (see Figure 2). Because the abrasive 6 abuts against a less binding or looser outer layer composed differently from a lower layer, this outer layer will be inclined to release, so that the lower layer is cleaned, rendered grease-free, sanded and / or smoothed, etc. A For example, a layer of grease, sticky material or corroded material can be removed from the outside of a metal bar. In this description, abrasive means 6 is to be understood to mean at least any means that can be transported at high speed via a nozzle 9 and that is therewith suitable for irradiating and thus cleaning, greasing, etc. of a certain substrate. Examples of known abrasives are sand and grit.

Rubber blocks 53 against the rails 5 are shown schematically in Figure 6. One of the advantages of a radiated surface for applying blocks 53, for example, is that they remain attached to the rails 5 for longer. For this purpose, block grinder 3 is arranged behind 20 grit-blaster 40. In this description, a block grinder 3 is understood to mean a device with which blocks 53 can be fitted against the side 23 of rails 5, for example with the aid of glues.

It is also conceivable that a similar configuration as in figure 1 occurs with a different process in which it is favorable to radiate rails 5. It may, for example, be advantageous to attach a device other than a block grinder 3 to a grit radiator 40 or, for example, to deploy no more than a grit radiator 40, or another type of radiator, with drive 50 for merely (clean) blasting rails 5.

9

With a device 1 as shown in figure 1, the railway can be made sound-damping in an efficient manner. During the tests, the device 1 was able to form a fully irradiated and / or sound-damping rail 5 moving at a speed of approximately 400 meters per hour. However, depending on the quality of the product to be left behind, or making some changes to the device 1 within the framework of the invention, the speed can vary greatly. Previously the (grit / sand) radiator 40 was the retarding factor within blasting device 1, while now one of the other intermediate parts 52 is the retarding factor, for example 10 block shredder 3.

Figure 2 schematically shows the cycle of the blasting means 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It can be seen in this that blasting means 6 is blasted with the aid of nozzle 9, is discharged with the aid of discharge means 15, 16, is separated with separation means 17 and is fed back to the nozzle 9 via supply means 21, 7, 8.

Rail 5 is blasted with blasting means 6, shown here schematically by crosses. This blasting medium 6 is supplied from blasting medium storage 7 via line 8 to the nozzle 9. Compressors 4 coupled or integrated to the device 1 ensure that the blasting medium 6 is blasted against the rails 5 under sufficient pressure from nozzle 9. The blast is mainly on a side or flank 23 of rail 5. With a rail 5 in this description the side or flank 23 thereof is approximately the outside of that rod 5 between a 'head' 5A and a 'shoe' 5B. As shown, the nozzle 9 is oriented such that substantially the entire side of the rod 5 can be blasted, also a part of the side 23 behind or next to a fastening means 11. This fastening means 11 connects rail tracks 5 to sleepers 57 via the shoe 5B of a rail 5. Collecting means 12 extend between fastening means 11 and the rails 5, so that virtually no blasting means 6 will escape from the blasting device 1. To this end, collecting means 12 comprise end walls 12B. It may of course also be that it is not necessary to irradiate an entire side 23 of the rod 5, in which case the collecting means do not have to extend up to or behind the fixing means 11, so that perhaps, for example, an end wall 12 B is missing. If the blasting means 6 has touched the rails 5, this will rebound and removed material 13 (shown here as dots) will be released as a result of the blasting. The collected material 6, 13 will be driven away from jet 14, at least by the pressure of jet 14 and compressed air. Therefore, material 6, 13 will be carried away at a high speed in a direction upwards along discharge means 15. The discharge means 15 forms a curvature or bend so that material 6, 13 follows a path at high speed and ends up on discharge means 16 which the material 6, 13 removal to separating means 17. A first curvature 15A allows material 6, 13 to be discharged in an upward direction away from end wall 12B, and then a second curvature 15B contributes to draining the material 6, 13 away 16 and / or separating means 17. Road transport means 16 can be arranged in the form of a conveyor belt, a tray, a 'slide', etc. An embodiment 20 of the invention can also be arranged in such a way that materials 6, 13 end up directly via discharge means 15 at separation means 17, without intervention of removal means 16.

It is possible that a part of the material 6, 13 during the path along discharge means 15 will, for example, lose speed or bounce off and path means 16 and / or separating means 17 will not immediately reach. This means that the material 6, 13, shown in Figure 3 as material 19, will fall back into collecting means 12, in particular end wall 12B. Since material 6, 13 is partly blown in the direction of movement 18, material 19, viewed in the direction of movement 18, will end up again in front of nozzle 9. It will be clear, incidentally, that it may also be advantageous to use a plurality of 11 nozzles 9 and / or that the at least one nozzle 9 can for instance be adjusted in terms of jet direction. The nozzle 9 can also be adjustable such that, for example, it 'pulls up' when the blasting device 1 passes switches and / or crossings, etc. Thus, through the direction of movement 18 of the nozzle 9, material 6, 13, 19 again comes into the range of jet 14 and will again be led past discharge means 15 by the pressure of jet 14. Due to this continuous process, the material 6, 13 will ultimately always end up in or on road means 16 and / or separating means 17. To that end, nozzle 9, viewed in the direction of movement 18, is positioned relatively at the rear 10 relative to collecting means 12 and / or discharge means 15. With relative rear, a rear half of collecting means 12 and / or discharge means 15, in particular in a rear part 54 of the aforementioned back half. This ultimately contributes significantly to a favorable cycle of blasting, collecting, blowing away, discharging and separating abrasive 6 and / or removed material 13. It is also possible that a nozzle 9 extends beyond the collecting means 12 and / or discharge means 15. is placed.

Separating means 17 separate the blasting means 6 from the removed material 13. This separation is done in an embodiment 20 according to the invention with the aid of a screen (not shown). However, other separating means 17 are also suitable, such as for example a cyclone. After this, the removed material 13 is, for example, carried away to a refuse bin of vacuum cleaner 2. After separation, blasting means 6 is carried by hauling means 21, which for instance comprise a conveyor belt 25, to blasting means reservoir 7 in order to be supplied again via guide 8 to nozzle 9.

Nozzle 9 radiates under a tread 55 of the nearest wheels 10 of the blasting device, as can be seen in figures 3 and 4. With the tread 55 it is to be understood in this description at least about the lower tangent to the circular surfaces on two 12 closest rear wheels 10 arranged one on the other, which circular surfaces run approximately parallel to an associated respective axes of those wheels 10. If the blasting device 1 were situated on substantially horizontal rails 5, running surface 55 would lie substantially against a part of the upper surface 56 of rail 5 .

The nozzle 9 is oriented such that a side 23 of rails 10 can be blasted from bottom to top. In an advantageous embodiment, the nozzle as shown in Figure 4 is directed obliquely downwards. It is also possible that nozzle 9A, as shown in figure 5A, is directed perpendicular to the side 23, at an angle α1 of approximately 90 ° with respect to an imaginary y-axis, or that nozzle 9B is directed even more sharply downwards for example at an angle α 2 of about 5 ° with respect to an imaginary y-axis. The axis system is shown in Figure 5, wherein the x-axis in Figure 5 is parallel to an axis of a nearest wheel 10 and the y-axis is a line parallel to a plane along the side of the wheels 10, approximately perpendicular to the tread 55. With this, the jet direction of the nozzle 9, viewed from the direction of movement 18, makes an angle α between 5 ° and 90 °, for example approximately 30 °, with respect to the side 25 of the nearest wheel 10. This direction provides the advantage that blasting can be done beyond the fastening means 11. This direction also contributes to guiding, via collecting means 12, along discharge means 15, the blasting means 6 and material 13 removed from the rails.

In order to radiate the blasting means 6 in front of it and to contribute to the discharge of blasting means 6 and removed material 13, the nozzle 9 is preferably directed obliquely in the (second) direction of the direction of movement 18, as schematically shown in Figure 3 and 5B. The jet direction of nozzle 9 then, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the side 25 of the wheels 10, makes an angle 6 respectively between an angle B1 of 0 ° and an angle 62 of 90 ° with respect to the direction of movement 18. This is shown in Figure 5B with nozzles 9C and 9D. As schematically shown in Figure 5C, viewed from a (third) direction perpendicular to the direction of displacement 18 in the plane along the side of the nearest wheel, the jet direction 5 of nozzle 9 makes an angle γ between an angle γΐ of 5 ° and an angle γ2 of 90 °, for example approximately 45 °, relative to the direction of movement 18. This is shown in Figure 5C with nozzles 9E and 9F.

Figure 4 also shows that both sides 23 of rail 5 are simultaneously irradiated, wherein for each side also receiving means 12, discharge means 15 and discharge means 16 are provided. Since most rail tracks 5 have double rails 5, in a very advantageous embodiment according to the invention, means are provided per rail 5 as schematically shown in Figure 4. Herewith both edges 23 can be irradiated from both rails 5 simultaneously. The advantage of this is that it is not necessary to drive back and forth, which saves time. The blocks 53 can also be glued directly to both flanks 23 of the rails 5. By the above-mentioned treatment of both flanks 23 of both rails 5, the rail rails 5 are directly brought into function.

It will be clear that wheels 5 do not in principle have to be directly connected to grit blasting device 40 or blasting device 1. It may also be that wheels 10 form part of one or more other devices 2, 3, 4, for example, so that grit radiator 40 is carried indirectly, for example with the aid of couplings 51. The relative height of the wheels 10 relative to the nozzle 9 and the collection means 12 will in principle be retained.

The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments shown or described. Many variations are possible. These variations will be immediately recognized by those skilled in the art and are understood to fall within the scope of the invention.

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Claims (25)

1. Method for blasting rails in which at least one nozzle is displaced relative to at least one rail, in a longitudinal direction thereof, wherein blasting means is blasted against at least a part of at least one side of the at least one rail and is collected and reused while traveling along the at least one rail. Method according to claim 1, wherein the blasting means and material removed from the at least one rail are separated after collection. 3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the abrasive is returned to the at least one nozzle after separation. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during or after blasting blocks are arranged against already irradiated parts of the at least one rail. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein parts of the at least one rail are to be de-dusted, preferably vacuumed, before or during the blasting. 6. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein simultaneously two substantially parallel rails are irradiated. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at the same time two sides are irradiated per rail. 8. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the device is propelled and carried on the rails with the aid of wheels. 9. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the device is advanced with the aid of a drive device. 1031217 10. Blasting device for blasting at least a part of at least one side of a rail, provided with at least one nozzle, supply means for supplying blasting means to said at least one nozzle, collecting means for collecting blasting means and removed material and discharge means for discharging the blasting means and the removed material from the collecting means, wherein the device is provided with at least two supporting wheels for moving the device in a direction of movement, wherein the collecting means extend below the wheels and wherein the nozzle 10 has a radius direction directed at a plane parallel to said direction of movement, below the running surface of the bearing wheels. 11. Blasting device as claimed in claim 10, wherein separating means are provided for separating the blasting means and the removed material from one another while the device is moving. 12. Blasting device according to one of claims 10-11, wherein the discharge means are adapted to discharge the blasting means and the removed material from the collecting means upwards. Blasting device according to one of claims 10 - 12, wherein the discharge means comprise a guideway for guiding the blasting means and the removed material in the direction of separating means. 14. Blasting device as claimed in any of the claims 10-13, wherein, if the device is positioned on rails, the collecting means closely connect to the rails, such that during blasting the blasting device and the material removed virtually do not escape from the device. Blasting device according to one of claims 10-14, wherein, if the device is positioned on rails, the collecting means extend between fastening means and rail for rails and sleepers. Blasting device according to any of claims 10-15, wherein the jet direction of the nozzle, viewed from a direction parallel to the direction of movement, makes an angle of 5 ° to 90 ° with respect to the side of the nearest wheel. A blasting device according to any of claims 10-16, wherein the jet direction of the nozzle, viewed from a direction perpendicular to a plane along a side of the nearest wheel, makes an angle of 5 ° to 90 ° with respect to the direction of movement. 18. Blasting device as claimed in any of the claims 10-17, wherein the jet direction of the nozzle, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, makes an angle of 5 ° to 90 ° in the plane along a side of the nearest wheel of the direction of movement. 19. Blasting device as claimed in any of the claims 10-18, wherein the nozzle is positioned relatively in the rear relative to the collecting and / or discharge means in the direction of movement. 20. Blasting device for rails, wherein for each side of a rail, nozzles, collection and discharge means are provided according to any one of the preceding claims 10-19. 21. Blasting device wherein means according to one of the preceding claims 10-20 are included on two opposite sides thereof, for simultaneously blasting two rail tracks. 22. Blasting device as claimed in any of the claims 10-21, provided with coupling means for coupling the device to at least one vehicle, for example a device for mounting blocks on rails for the purpose of damping noise. A blasting device according to any one of claims 10 - 22, provided with means for removing dust, for example blowing, suction and / or sweeping means. A blasting device according to any one of claims 10 - 23, provided with drive means for moving the device. 25. A blasting device assembly according to any of claims 10-24 and rails, wherein the device is placed on the rails for blasting the rails. 1031217