US20230243108A1 - Link for an excavating chain and associated excavating chain - Google Patents

Link for an excavating chain and associated excavating chain Download PDF

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Publication number
US20230243108A1
US20230243108A1 US17/754,805 US202017754805A US2023243108A1 US 20230243108 A1 US20230243108 A1 US 20230243108A1 US 202017754805 A US202017754805 A US 202017754805A US 2023243108 A1 US2023243108 A1 US 2023243108A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
link
chain
excavating
scoop
guide surface
Prior art date
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Pending
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US17/754,805
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English (en)
Inventor
Vladimir Svitok
Franck MARTINET
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Matisa Materiel Industriel SA
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Matisa Materiel Industriel SA
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Filing date
Publication date
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Assigned to MATISA MATERIEL INDUSTRIEL S.A. reassignment MATISA MATERIEL INDUSTRIEL S.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MARTINET, Franck, SVITOK, VLADIMIR
Publication of US20230243108A1 publication Critical patent/US20230243108A1/en
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B27/00—Placing, renewing, working, cleaning, or taking-up the ballast, with or without concurrent work on the track; Devices therefor; Packing sleepers
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B27/00—Placing, renewing, working, cleaning, or taking-up the ballast, with or without concurrent work on the track; Devices therefor; Packing sleepers
    • E01B27/04—Removing the ballast; Machines therefor, whether or not additionally adapted for taking-up ballast
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
    • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
    • E02F3/08—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging elements on an endless chain
    • E02F3/082—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging elements on an endless chain including a belt-type conveyor for transporting the excavated material
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
    • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
    • E02F3/08—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging elements on an endless chain
    • E02F3/088—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging elements on an endless chain pivotable relative to the frame
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
    • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
    • E02F3/08—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging elements on an endless chain
    • E02F3/10—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging elements on an endless chain with tools that only loosen the material, i.e. with cutter-type chains
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
    • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
    • E02F3/08—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging elements on an endless chain
    • E02F3/12—Component parts, e.g. bucket troughs
    • E02F3/14—Buckets; Chains; Guides for buckets or chains; Drives for chains
    • E02F3/143—Buckets; Chains; Guides for buckets or chains; Drives for chains chains; chain links; scraper chains
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
    • E02F9/28—Small metalwork for digging elements, e.g. teeth scraper bits
    • E02F9/2866—Small metalwork for digging elements, e.g. teeth scraper bits for rotating digging elements
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B2203/00—Devices for working the railway-superstructure
    • E01B2203/02—Removing or re-contouring ballast
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B2203/00—Devices for working the railway-superstructure
    • E01B2203/02—Removing or re-contouring ballast
    • E01B2203/024—Inclined chain
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
    • E02F9/28—Small metalwork for digging elements, e.g. teeth scraper bits

Definitions

  • the invention relates, in general, to the technical field of clearing or excavating chains.
  • the invention relates more specifically to a link for an excavating chain intended to travel on a travel path having a rectilinear excavating portion for a ballast clearing device below a railroad track, and to an excavating chain comprising such links.
  • Such work trains are equipped with excavating chains consisting of a succession of links articulated together, at least part of which being equipped with scoops intended to excavate the ballast.
  • This chain is arranged in a displaceable or height-adjustable manner on the chassis of the railway vehicle.
  • the chain is moved in an endless manner by a drive mechanism.
  • the path of the chain is configured so that it has a straight excavating portion located under the sleepers of the railroad track, the chain working on this excavating portion transversely to the orientation of the rails of the railway by dragging and carrying the ballast with it.
  • Brackets forming return members for the excavating chain are arranged on either side of this rectilinear excavating portion.
  • brackets are located at the ends of the rectilinear excavating portion along which the ballast is removed, and are generally formed of an elbow-shaped attached wall on which the chain links slide successively.
  • the chain travels along a longitudinal inbound path, then over the rectilinear excavating portion after passing through a first elbow-shaped portion formed by one of the brackets.
  • the chain which continues on its way, then leaves said rectilinear excavating portion to travel on the longitudinal outbound portion after having crossed a second elbow-shaped portion formed by another of the brackets.
  • the scoops arrive unloaded on this rectilinear excavating portion and come out loaded with ballast towards the longitudinal outbound portion.
  • the longitudinal inbound and outbound portions are connected, in an area located overhead relative to the railway vehicle, by a transverse dumping portion where the ballast is dumped onto conveyor belts.
  • the scoops unloaded from the ballast then continue their way towards the inbound longitudinal portion and then repeat these operations.
  • These scoops are designed to meet many problems. In particular, they must be strong enough to ensure a certain number of predetermined cycles in order to ensure the excavating and transport of ballast while requiring a minimum of maintenance. These scoops must also allow the efficient transportation of the ballast towards its dumping point in view of the screening operation so as to improve the performance of the stripper as regards the excavation of the ballast as well as that of the screener as regards the re-use rate of good ballast.
  • the wear of the links is also localized at the return members. Indeed, the shocks undergone in these elbow-shaped zones, taking into account the forces involved, often lead to premature wear at the brackets, and, more generally, at the return members arranged along the path traveled by the chain. The wear is also localized on the inner side of the links, opposite to the outer side from which the scoop projects.
  • the invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing, in particular, an excavating chain allowing to reduce the wear of its links, and also allowing to reduce the wear undergone by the return members.
  • a link for an excavating chain intended to travel on a travel path having an excavating portion for a ballast clearing device below a railroad track
  • the link comprising a body extending longitudinally between a front end and a rear end and being crossed by at least one front through-hole and a rear through-hole configured to receive hinge means with an adjacent link of the chain, the front and rear through-holes extending along axes parallel to each other and contained in a reference plane of the body, the link being characterized in that the body comprises, on an inner side of the body with respect to the reference plane, opposite to the outer side, a concave guide surface extending over an envelope having an axis generator parallel to the axes of the link, the guide surface being configured to, at least locally, match a curvature of a return member of the clearing device.
  • the link can travel on a return member such as brackets on either side of a rectilinear excavating portion, locally following its curvature. In this way, wear both on the inside of the link and on the return member is reduced.
  • the link is stabilized by a surface contact between the guide surface of the body of the link, on the one hand, and the drive surface of the return member, on the other hand, which locally has a substantially complementary shape.
  • a surface contact makes it possible to avoid a rotation of the link around itself during the passage of the drive member, as occurs when a vertical rectilinear line contact takes place between the link and the return member.
  • Such stabilization aims to improve the efficiency of ballast transport by the scoop.
  • Such a configuration also allows to reduce the noise produced by the clearing device.
  • the guide surface extends along a directing curve having, at least locally, the shape of an elliptical arc, and preferably of a circular arc.
  • a directing curve having, at least locally, the shape of an elliptical arc, and preferably of a circular arc.
  • the distance separating two front and rear longitudinal ends of the guide surface is greater than the distance separating the front and rear through-holes, or even greater than the distance between the front and rear through-holes.
  • the guide surface extends between its two front and rear longitudinal ends, the front and rear ends each being located substantially in line with the front and rear through-hole, respectively.
  • this end is positioned in line with an intermediate zone delimited between, on the one hand, a longitudinal end portion of the through-hole located towards the inside of the body and, on the other hand, its central axis.
  • the body of the link comprises, on its inner side, preferably in line with each of the front and rear through-holes, a convex surface extending between the concave guide surface and the associated front or back end of the link body.
  • a convex surface extending between the concave guide surface and the associated front or back end of the link body.
  • the front and rear ends of the body each have a curved convex portion, preferably in the form of a circular arc so as to be free of edges.
  • This configuration provides effective and lasting protection of the joints of the chain links against wear by abrasion by ballast stones with sharp or cutting edges and against the action of dust, thus conferring a longer life of the chain links.
  • This curved portion preferably extends over an envelope having a generator parallel to the axis of the associated through-hole.
  • the link comprises a projecting part extending from an outer side of the body with respect to the reference plane.
  • the projecting part comprises for example a scoop for transporting ballast.
  • the scoop has a stop surface configured to receive a counter-stop from an adjacent rear link of the chain so as to limit a relative rotation between the chain link and the adjacent rear link around the axis of the rear through-hole.
  • a counter-stop is particularly effective on the rectilinear excavating portion along which the scoops work and undergo a force exerted by the ballast, generating a moment on the scoop tending to cause the scoop, and therefore the link body, to pivot backwards.
  • the counter-stop makes it possible to limit the effect of this moment of forces applied to the scoop so that the associated link continues its path in a straight line.
  • At least one of the through-holes configured to receive hinge means with an adjacent link of the chain, has a flat surface so as to block an axis of the hinge means from rotating.
  • the link comprises fingers born by the scoop and projecting outwards from the outer side of the reference plane in the extension of the scoop. These fingers are preferably each oriented along an axis inclined with respect to the reference plane, with an inclination preferably between 65 and 80°, preferably between 70 and 75°. This allows the use of shorter fingers to lighten the scoop without losing performance or losing rigidity.
  • the fingers are all located above a plane perpendicular to the parallel axes of the front and rear through-holes and tangent to a lower end of said scoop. This increases the life of the fingers.
  • the projecting part comprises a counter-stop configured to come into abutment against a stop surface of a scoop of an adjacent front link so as to limit a relative rotation between the link and the adjacent front link around the axis of the front through-hole.
  • the body is unitary, i.e., in one piece, preferably produced by foundry, with or without machining of the front and rear through-holes and/or the guide surface.
  • the invention also relates to a finger for a scoop of a link of an excavating chain intended to travel on a travel path having an excavating portion for a device for clearing ballast below a railroad track, the finger comprising a plurality of grooves configured to receive a blocking member to ensure adjustment of the finger in translation relative to the scoop.
  • the position of the blocking member in one of the grooves determines the axial position of the finger relative to the scoop.
  • Such fingers may equip scoops as described above, but also any other scoop of the prior art whose fingers are attached by such blocking members, independently of the characteristics of the link body.
  • the latter relates to an excavating chain having an excavating portion for a device for clearing ballast below a railroad track, the excavating chain being characterized in that it comprises a succession of chain links comprising all or part of the aforementioned characteristics to form an endless chain.
  • the chain links comprise links of the type having a projecting part, preferably links of the type comprising a scoop and links of the type having a counter-stop, and links of the type without projecting part.
  • the excavating chain comprises a succession of a plurality of chain links forming the same pattern which is repeated successively placed end-to-end along the chain, such a pattern comprising from the front to the rear in the travel direction of the chain: a link of the type comprising a scoop, a link of the type comprising a counter-stop, a link of the type without a projecting part, then a link of the type comprising a counter-stop.
  • the invention also relates to a device for clearing ballast comprising such an excavating chain, the excavating chain preferably being moved in an endless manner by a drive mechanism and being guided on its travel path at least by bevel gears, the body having, on an inner side of the body with respect to the reference plane, opposite to the outer side, a concave guide surface extending over an envelope having an axis generator parallel to the axes of the joints of the link, the guide surface following, at least locally, a curvature of at least one of the return members of the excavating device, preferably at least two return members arranged on either side of the excavating portion.
  • a radius of curvature of the guide surface is equal, at least locally, to a radius of curvature of at least one of the return members, preferably at least of the two return members. arranged on either side of the excavating portion.
  • FIG. 1 a simplified side diagram of a work train equipped with a stripper-screener according to one embodiment
  • FIG. 2 a partial diagram of an excavating or clearing device according to this embodiment, seen from the front without an excavating chain;
  • FIG. 3 a front view of a portion of an excavating chain according to one embodiment, at a return member at one end of a rectilinear excavating portion;
  • FIG. 4 a top view of the excavating chain portion according to the embodiment of FIG. 3 , at a return member at one end of a rectilinear excavating portion;
  • FIG. 5 a detailed profile view of a chain link provided with a scoop according to this same embodiment
  • FIG. 6 a front perspective view of a chain link provided with a scoop according to this same embodiment
  • FIG. 7 a rear perspective view of a chain link provided with a scoop according to this same embodiment
  • FIG. 8 a perspective view of a reinforcing finger of a scoop according to one embodiment
  • FIG. 9 a rear perspective view of a chain link equipped with a scoop according to this embodiment, and equipped with reinforcing fingers in accordance with FIG. 8 ;
  • FIG. 10 a top view of a portion of an excavating chain according to another embodiment
  • FIG. 11 a perspective view of the excavating chain portion according to the embodiment of FIG. 10 .
  • FIG. 1 shows a railway vehicle 1 such as a stripper-screener equipped with a clearing or excavating device 4 to clean the ballast of a railroad track 2 .
  • This clearing or excavating device 4 is arranged between two bogies 3 of train 1 .
  • the ballast clearing device 4 comprises an excavating chain 8 moved in an endless manner by a drive mechanism 9 and guided by ducts including a transverse duct 5 located under the track 2 in the working position, along which the chain travels over a substantially rectilinear excavating portion 8 A.
  • the clearing device 4 further comprises riser and down ducts 6 , 7 connected on either side of the transverse duct 5 to which they are connected by elbow-shaped portions forming return members 40 also called “brackets” (see FIG. 2 ). It is understood that the excavating portion is substantially rectilinear, even if excavating is ensured in a part of the curve of each of the bevel gears.
  • the drive device 9 is arranged overhead relative to the railway vehicle 1 , above the railroad track 2 , on one side longitudinally opposite to the transverse duct 5 , and between the riser duct 6 and the down duct 7 .
  • the drive device 9 is placed on the path of the excavating chain 8 and comprises a drive wheel 9 ′ meshing locally with links 100 of the excavating chain 8 so as to move it.
  • a drive wheel 9 ′ meshing locally with links 100 of the excavating chain 8 so as to move it.
  • Arrows illustrated in FIG. 2 indicate the travel direction of the chain 8 .
  • idler wheels 41 forming return members 40 are provided to ensure the correct travel of the chain 8 at these elbow-shaped zones.
  • ballast is transported overhead in the riser duct 6 , it is unloaded on a conveyor belt 10 and then transported to a screening unit 11 in order to sort the good ballast from the worn ballast.
  • the vehicle 1 further comprises a lifting unit 13 of the railroad track 2 which is connected to a frame 14 of the vehicle 1 and which is located upstream of the device 4 for clearing or excavating with respect to a work direction 12 of the vehicle 1 .
  • a height adjustment device 16 is also provided and connected to the frame 14 of the vehicle 1 , which is configured to move the clearing device 4 , by drive means 15 , from a raised position to a lowered position under the railroad track 2 , said clearing device 4 being optionally connected, for example in a removable manner, to the transverse duct 5 by a connector (not shown in the figures).
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate front and top views, respectively, of part of the excavating chain 8 .
  • This part of the excavating chain 8 is located at a return member 40 connecting one end of a rectilinear excavating portion 8 A of the chain 8 guided by the transverse duct 5 , and the inlet of the outbound longitudinal portion 8 B guided by the riser duct 6 .
  • This return member 40 is formed of an elbow-shaped attached surface at an angle substantially equal to 90° so that it forms a square.
  • the excavating chain 8 is formed of a succession of links 100 articulated in pairs until the two ends of the chain 8 are connected end-to-end to form a closed, endless-type chain 8 .
  • Each of the links 100 comprises a body 101 which extends longitudinally between a front end 110 and a rear end 120 , respectively provided with at least one front hole 111 and a rear hole 121 passing right through the link 100 and configured to receive hinge means with an adjacent link of the chain 8 .
  • the longitudinal direction is understood here as the travel direction of the link 100 .
  • the front 111 and rear 121 through-holes extend along axes parallel to each other and contained in a reference plane P of the body 101 , each link 100 comprising a projection 130 , 140 extending from an outer side 100 A of the body 101 of the link 100 with respect to the reference plane P.
  • the projections of the links 100 may comprise a scoop 130 for transporting ballast, or a counter-stop 140 configured to abut against a stop surface 131 of a scoop 130 of an adjacent front link 100 so as to limit a relative rotation between the link 100 of chain 8 and the adjacent front link around the axis of the front through-hole 111 .
  • the excavating chain 8 is composed of an even number of links 100 , the links 100 of the type comprising a scoop 130 and the links 100 of the type comprising a counter-stop 140 being arranged successively in an alternating manner along the chain 8 .
  • each link 100 comprising a scoop 130 has a stop surface 131 located at the back of the scoop 130 and is configured to receive a counter-stop 140 from an adjacent rear link of the chain 8 so as to limit a relative rotation between the link 100 of chain 8 and the adjacent rear link around the axis of the rear through-hole 121 .
  • a stop position of the scoop 130 against the counter-stop 140 of the associated rear link 100 is shown in FIG. 4 , at the link 100 located on the rectilinear excavating portion 8 A.
  • the scoops 130 undergo a force when driving the ballast which generates a moment on the scoop 130 which tends to tilt the link 100 backwards, this tilting resulting in a pivoting of the scoop 130 around the axis A 2 of the rear through-hole 121 configured to receive hinge means 160 .
  • at least one of the through-holes 111 , 121 has a flat surface 105 so as to block the axis A 1 , A 2 of the associated hinge means 160 in rotation.
  • the flat surface 105 of each axis is oriented so as to be contained in a plane perpendicular to the reference plane P and parallel to an axis A 1 , A 2 of the associated through-hole 111 , 121 .
  • Such an orientation of the flat surface 105 of the axes makes it possible to improve blocking in rotation of the axis in question, the force being on the flat surface of the axis.
  • the hinge means 160 are formed in this embodiment by axes passing through a rear through-hole 121 of a link 100 and front through-hole 111 of another link 100 , the axis being blocked in translation by a circlip positioned in an inner groove of the through-hole.
  • the circlip groove is machined into the scoop 130 to allow it to be held in place in its housing.
  • the links 100 comprising scoops 130 are outer links of the chain 8 or female links in that they have a body 101 comprising a front end 110 and a rear end 120 each provided with two side plates of predetermined thickness between which is inserted a centered plate of a front 110 or rear 120 end of a body 101 of a link 100 comprising a counter-stop 140 , thus forming inner link 100 or a male link.
  • the axis of the hinge means 160 is configured to be housed in the corresponding through-hole formed by the alignment of through-hole portions of each of these three plates.
  • the links 100 run transversely relative to the railroad track 2 which corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the bodies 101 of the links 100 on this portion.
  • the links 100 are oriented so that the axes A 1 , A 2 of the through-holes 111 , 121 are substantially vertical with respect to the ground, the reference plane P then being vertical, and the scoop 130 or the counter-stop 140 extending substantially radially outward 100 A of the body 101 of the link 100 .
  • the links 100 are made, for example, of manganese steel and made in one piece.
  • An example of a process for manufacturing this link 100 , produced by foundry, comprises at least one step of injecting metal, and in particular a step of molding in a mold formed, for example, of a form and an associated counter-form.
  • each link 100 comprises, on an inner side 100 B of the body 8 of the link 100 with respect to the reference plane P, opposite to the outer side 100 A, a concave guide surface 150 extending over an envelope 155 having an axis generator G (see FIG. 7 ) parallel to the axes of the joints A 1 , A 2 of the link 100 .
  • This guide surface 150 is configured to match, at least locally, a curvature C of a return member 40 of the clearing device 4 (see FIG. 4 ).
  • the bevel of the return member 40 has a convex rounded surface connecting two surfaces arranged at 90° relative to each other.
  • the guide surface 150 extends along a guiding curve Cd having the shape of a circular arc. In the plane of FIG. 5 , the guiding curve Cd follows the envelope 155 .
  • the guide surface 150 extends between two front 151 and rear 152 longitudinal ends of said guide surface 150 , the distance d which separates them being greater than the distance D 1 separating the front 111 and rear 121 through-holes. This distance d may also be greater than the center distance D 2 between the through-holes (not shown).
  • the front 151 and rear 152 longitudinal ends of the guide surface 150 are each located substantially in line with an intermediate zone Zi (see FIG. 5 ) delimited between the central axis A 1 , A 2 of the associated through-hole 111 , 121 and the inner edge of the corresponding through-hole 111 , 121 , this intermediate zone Zi extending longitudinally over a distance corresponding to a radius of the associated through-hole 111 , 121 .
  • the inner edge of the through-hole 111 , 121 is understood to mean a longitudinal end portion of the through-hole 111 , 121 located towards the inside of the body 101 of the link 100 .
  • the link 100 also comprises, on the inner side 100 B of its body 101 , in line with each of the axes A 1 , A 2 of the front 111 and rear 121 through-holes, a convex surface 153 , 154 extending between the concave guide surface 150 and the associated front 110 or rear 120 end of the body 101 of the link 100 .
  • This allows a better passage of the return members 40 arriving on them.
  • the combination of these convex surfaces 153 , 154 bordering longitudinally on either side of the concave surface 150 is particularly reliable for limiting the wear of the bodies 101 of the links 100 and of the return members 40 while limiting the noise caused by the movement of the chain 8 .
  • these convex surfaces 153 , 154 each extend over an envelope having an axis generator parallel to that of the concave guide surface 150 .
  • the links 100 are guided by the corresponding ducts, resting on the path by two bearing zones of the link 100 which are located on these convex surfaces 153 , 154 , namely at the outside of the concave part delimited by the guide surface 150 and in longitudinal overlap of the front 111 and rear 121 through-holes.
  • Such a location of these bearing surfaces formed by these convex surfaces 153 , 154 also makes it possible to avoid a rearward tilting of the scoop 130 in the bevel of the return members due to changes in direction.
  • the front 110 and rear 120 ends of the link 100 each have a curved convex portion 112 , 122 , for example in a circular arc, so as to be free of edges.
  • Each curved portion 112 , 122 preferably extends over an envelope having a generator parallel to the axis of the associated through-hole.
  • the guide surface 150 is preferably chamfered on its side edges 156 .
  • Each link 100 provided with a scoop 130 for excavating and transporting ballast comprises fingers 132 born by the scoop 130 and projecting outward from the outer side 100 A of the reference plane P, in the extension of the scoop 130 .
  • these fingers 132 there are three of these fingers 132 : a central finger, a lower finger and an upper finger.
  • the fingers 132 are made of high-strength steel, for example, and one end 132 a is arranged projecting in the extension of the scoop 130 .
  • Each finger 132 has a cylindrical body 132 b configured to cooperate in a tubular receptacle 134 provided for this purpose and at least one radial groove 132 c on its cylindrical body 132 b.
  • the groove 132 c is dimensioned so as to receive a blocking member 135 such as a screw penetrating substantially orthogonally with respect to the finger 132 in the tubular receptacle 134 and penetrating at least partially in the groove 132 c.
  • the blocking member 135 is configured to block the cylindrical body 132 b in translation relative to the tubular receptacle 134 of the scoop 130 , the blocking member 135 extending tangentially with respect to a bottom of the groove 132 c.
  • the fingers 132 make it possible to protect the scoop 130 from wear, in particular at its end and in the lower part of the scoop 130 where the wear is generally greater. As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the fingers 132 may include a plurality of grooves 132 c to allow adjusting the finger 132 in translation and thus causing it to translate in its tubular receptacle 134 to assume predetermined positions depending on its wear.
  • the fingers 132 are removably attached relative to the scoop 130 , the removal of the blocking means 135 , for example by unscrewing it, making it possible to unlock the finger 132 concerned and remove it from its tubular receptacle 134 by translating it.
  • the blocking means 135 may also be secured by any suitable means such as a pin (not shown in the figures).
  • the fingers 132 are each oriented along an axis inclined with respect to the reference plane P, with an inclination a of between 65 and 80°, preferably between 70 and 75°.
  • the fingers 132 are also oriented in a plane P 132 inclined relative to a mean plane P 130 of the scoop 130 extending substantially vertically (see FIG. 4 ), the inclination a being preferably between 20 and 35°, and being equal to approximately 30° in this embodiment.
  • the useful working surface of the scoop 130 is understood here as the surface swept by the scoop 130 during its travel.
  • the fingers 132 are all located above a Pinf plane perpendicular to the parallel axes of the front 111 and rear 121 through-holes and tangent to a lower end of said scoop 130 , in particular in this embodiment, also below a plane Psup tangent to an upper end of the scoop 130 (see FIG. 9 ).
  • the planes Pinf and Psup are generally horizontal. This lower end is sensitive in that it is extremely stressed in terms of wear by abrasion against the ballast so that if the wear becomes too severe, this can harm the correct attachment of the fingers 132 to the back of the scoop 130 .
  • the hardness of the lower surface of the scoop 130 is increased by adding chromium/manganese and vanadium by welding, or by adding tungsten carbide plates, for example.
  • FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an excavating chain according to another embodiment.
  • the excavating chain 8 is formed of a succession of links 100 articulated two by two until the two ends of the chain 8 are connected end-to-end to form a closed, endless-type chain 8 .
  • each link 100 comprises, on an inner side 100 B of the body 8 of the link 100 with respect to the reference plane P, opposite to an outer side 100 A, a guide surface 150 which is configured to match, at least locally, a curvature C of a return member 40 of the clearing device 4 .
  • the excavating chain 8 is composed of a succession of links 100 among which the links are of three different types: the links 100 of the type comprising a scoop 130 , the links 100 of the type comprising a counter-stop 140 and the links 100 of the type without a projecting part, i.e., formed essentially of their body 101 .
  • the function of such links 100 without a projecting part is mainly to lighten the excavating chain 8 .
  • Another function is to better adapt the volume of excavated ballast to the maximum capacity of the screen without losing too much of its own capacity, which is reduced by approximately 20%, and not 50% as a person skilled in the art might think, because of the substantially doubled spacing between two scoops 130 in such a configuration. This is possible, in particular, thanks to the geometry of the scoop 130 similar to that described above, and in particular its inclination.
  • each of the links 100 of the type comprising a scoop 130 is located between two links 100 of the type comprising a counter-stop 140 .
  • each link 100 of the type without a projecting part is also located between two links of the type comprising a counter-stop 140 . Therefore, every other link is provided with a counter-stop 140 , the other links being alternately a link of the type comprising a scoop 130 and a link of the type without a projecting part.
  • a pattern of the chain is formed by a link 100 of the type without a projecting part interposed between two links of the type comprising a counter-stop 140 , and a link 100 of the type comprising a scoop 130 at a front or back end of this set of three links: these four links 100 form together, and in this order, a pattern which is repeated successively along the chain 8 .
  • Each link 100 comprising a scoop 130 comes directly in front of a link comprising a counter-stop 140 so as to limit, as already described, a relative rotation of the link carrying the scoop 130 .
  • the attachment interfaces between their bodies 101 , at their front 110 and rear 120 ends are identical for a link 100 of the same type: the links comprising a scoop 130 and the so-called “intermediate” links without a projecting part are so-called “female” links for their connection in chain 8 , and the links 100 comprising a counter-stop 140 are so-called “male” links for their connection in chain 8 .
  • the female links have a body 101 whose front 110 and rear 120 ends are each provided with two side plates or flanges of predetermined thickness between which is inserted a centered plate of a front 110 or rear 120 end of a body 101 of another adjacent link 100 .
  • the axis of the hinge means 160 is configured to be housed in the associated through-hole formed by the alignment of through-hole portions of each of these three plates of the two links, nested one inside the other so as to form a hinge.
  • this link 100 has a convex surface on an outer side 100 A of the body 101 with respect to the reference plane P, opposite to the inner side 100 B.
  • Such a surface aims to increase the distance separating the surfaces of the inner 100 B and outer 100 A sides of the body 101 , i.e., to increase the thickness of the body 101 of the links to make them more resistant.
  • the guide surface 150 is, for its part, always configured to match, at least locally, a curvature C of a return member 4 of the excavating device 4 .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Machines For Laying And Maintaining Railways (AREA)
US17/754,805 2019-10-14 2020-10-14 Link for an excavating chain and associated excavating chain Pending US20230243108A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1911422A FR3101891B1 (fr) 2019-10-14 2019-10-14 maillon pour une chaîne d’excavation et chaine d’excavation associée
FR1911422 2019-10-14
PCT/EP2020/078943 WO2021074242A1 (fr) 2019-10-14 2020-10-14 Maillon pour une chaine d'excavation et chaine d'excavation associee

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20230243108A1 true US20230243108A1 (en) 2023-08-03

Family

ID=69630391

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US17/754,805 Pending US20230243108A1 (en) 2019-10-14 2020-10-14 Link for an excavating chain and associated excavating chain

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US20230243108A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4045714B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN114599836A (fr)
AU (1) AU2020367381A1 (fr)
BR (1) BR112022006995A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA3153816A1 (fr)
ES (1) ES2962628T3 (fr)
FR (1) FR3101891B1 (fr)
PL (1) PL4045714T3 (fr)
WO (1) WO2021074242A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1030117A (fr) * 1950-12-26 1953-06-10 Outil pour machines à dégarnir le ballast sous les voies de chemins de fer
US3864851A (en) * 1973-09-04 1975-02-11 Ronald M Guntert Dredge chain, sprocket, and combination
CN2075671U (zh) * 1990-04-29 1991-04-24 唐山市链轮链条厂 枕底清筛机扒链
CZ286498B6 (en) * 1995-04-12 2000-04-12 Plasser Bahnbaumasch Franz Pull-through and transportation chain for transporting gravel of track ballastway
AT5766U3 (de) * 2002-08-02 2003-09-25 Plasser Bahnbaumasch Franz Räumkette zum entfernen von schotter
JP3716990B2 (ja) * 2003-05-12 2005-11-16 株式会社椿本チエイン ケーブル類保護案内装置
AT6487U3 (de) * 2003-07-15 2004-10-25 Plasser Bahnbaumasch Franz Räumkette zum transport von schotter einer gleisbettung
FI121783B (fi) * 2008-09-22 2011-04-15 Kone Corp Henkilökuljetin
AT512242B1 (de) * 2008-12-17 2014-11-15 Maruma Tractor & Equip Endloskette und mit dieser versehene ballasträumeinrichtung
GB201107334D0 (en) * 2011-05-04 2011-06-15 Hydra Mining Tools Internat Ltd Cutting chain etc
CN105421168A (zh) * 2015-12-11 2016-03-23 中国神华能源股份有限公司 刮铲以及扒齿链
CN105442397B (zh) * 2015-12-17 2017-03-22 南车戚墅堰机车车辆工艺研究所有限公司 一种清筛机挖掘链
CN205368908U (zh) * 2015-12-17 2016-07-06 南车戚墅堰机车车辆工艺研究所有限公司 一种清筛机挖掘链
CN109554970B (zh) * 2019-01-18 2024-05-07 唐山昆铁科技有限公司 扒板装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP4045714A1 (fr) 2022-08-24
PL4045714T3 (pl) 2023-12-04
FR3101891A1 (fr) 2021-04-16
AU2020367381A1 (en) 2022-04-28
CA3153816A1 (fr) 2021-04-22
ES2962628T3 (es) 2024-03-20
WO2021074242A1 (fr) 2021-04-22
BR112022006995A2 (pt) 2022-07-05
EP4045714B1 (fr) 2023-08-30
CN114599836A (zh) 2022-06-07
FR3101891B1 (fr) 2021-10-08
EP4045714C0 (fr) 2023-08-30

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