US20240271370A1

US20240271370A1 - Tamping machine for compacting the ballast bed of a track

Info

Publication number: US20240271370A1
Application number: US18/289,879
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernhard Lichtberger
Original assignee: HP3 Real GmbH
Current assignee: HP3 Real GmbH
Priority date: 2021-05-11
Filing date: 2022-04-28
Publication date: 2024-08-15
Also published as: AT525020B1; CN117280094A; AT525020A1; JP2024517933A; WO2022236349A1; EP4337829A1

Abstract

A tamping machine (1) for compacting the ballast bed of a track (9), has tamping units (4) for tamping under a track, with a lifting-straightening device (2) arranged between running gears (8), preferably in front of the tamping units (4) in the working direction (C), for lifting and straightening tracks and railroad switches, having at least one height-adjustable lifting roller (6) and having at least one lifting hook (7) that is height-adjustable independently of the lifting roller (6), the lifting roller (6) and the lifting hook (7) being arranged on a common console (31) that is guided displaceably transversely to the longitudinal axis (L) of the tamping machine by means of an adjusting drive (17). The console (31) is arranged on a guiding slide (10), with which it is displaceable transversely to the longitudinal axis (L) of the tamping machine along a transverse guide (16), and the console (31) is mounted on the guiding slide (10) so as to be pivotally adjustable about a pivot axis (30) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine by means of a swivel drive (12).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a tamping machine for compacting the ballast bed of a track, with tamping units for tamping under a track, with a lifting-straightening device arranged between running gears, preferably in front of the tamping units in the working direction, for lifting and straightening tracks and railroad switches, having at least one height-adjustable lifting roller and having at least one lifting hook which is height-adjustable independently of the lifting roller, the lifting roller and the lifting hook being arranged on a common console which is guided displaceably transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine by means of an adjusting drive.

STATE OF THE ART

Railroad switch tamping machines are machines for correcting the track position of railroad switches and tracks. To determine the track position, measuring systems are used which measure the actual position of the track height, the actual position of the track direction and the actual position of the cant of the track during work and compare it with specified target values. With the aid of a track lifting-straightening unit, the track grid is lifted and laterally aligned until the difference between the specified target position and the actual position is zero. In this spatial position, the railroad switches are fixed by compacting the ballast under the sleepers with the aid of a tamping unit. Lifting and straightening of the track grid is performed by hydraulic lifting and straightening cylinders with proportional or servo control. Railroad switches feature a continuous track and a branching track. Trains are guided into the branch via so-called tongues or held on the continuous main track. At the intersection of the continuous track and the branching track is the so-called frog. In the area of the frog, the rail wheel must be guided from the rail of the continuous track to the rail of the branching track. Guide rails are provided to ensure that the wheel not guided in the interruption area rolls safely into the branch or into the continuous main track. In order to ensure that the working tools of the switch tamping machine can tamp the switch sleepers at all points, the tamping units can be moved laterally and, because of the inclined long sleepers, the tamping units can be rotated. The tamping tines can also be at least partially swivelled.
In pure line tamping machines, the rail is gripped at the head with roller tongs and lifted into the geometric nominal position. In railroad switches, it is often not possible to use the rolling gripper because of the crossing rails and in the frog. To ensure that these points can also be machined (adjusted), additional laterally extendable lifting hooks or lifting rollers with adjustable depth are provided (WO2016191776A1). Lifting hooks and lifting rollers of a tamping machine disclosed in DE 3738750 A1 can be moved independently of one another about respective pivot axes.
From the cab, the machine operator controls the position of the tamping unit and selects the roller tongs or the lifting hook or the position of the lifting hook and the point of application of the same at the rail head or at the rail foot, depending on the conditions and discretion. The lifting device can also be moved in the longitudinal direction of the track. This is necessary if the lifting hook engages the rail foot—this is only possible in the area of the intermediate compartment—or if, due to an insulated joint, e.g. the roller tongs or the lifting hook cannot engage the rail head.
The usual articulated arrangement of the roller tongs, which are closed in a rotating manner, has the disadvantage that the lifting forces often force the tongs open and cause them to tear out. Another disadvantage of this design of the roller tongs closing around a pivot point is that the roller has to be readjusted manually in the event of corresponding wear or different rail head heights and that the roller tongs are fixed in their position transverse to the track. If the height of the roller tongs is not adjusted to the conditions, the resulting play will cause the straightening roller to lift off the rail. This leads to undesirable stress on the rail head further up the track and easily causes the straightening roller to slip with subsequent derailment. Another disadvantage is that rotatable roller tongs often have to be integrated into the lifting-straightening unit in such a way that accessibility is impeded because of the space available. This increases the time required for maintenance or repair work. Readjusting the roller in the height direction requires a correspondingly large amount of time and money.
In addition, due to the different operation of the roller tongs and the lifting hook, there is a different operation of the command devices by the operator.
According to WO2016191776A1, the lifting roller and lifting hook can be guided vertically and horizontally, i.e. transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine. The lifting hook and lifting roller are arranged on a common console and can be displaced together with the console along a transverse guide. Like the lifting hook, the lifting roller is lowered or raised hydraulically by means of cylinders guided vertically. To grip a rail head with the lifting roller or to grip the rail with the lifting hook, the console is moved horizontally inwards towards the center of the track. The lifting roller is then moved upwards until it rests against the underside of the rail head. This avoids dependence on wear of the roller or different rail head heights. Readjustment of the roller is no longer necessary. The operation of the invention is analogous to that of the lifting hook. The form-fit between the lifting roller, rail head and guide roller prevents the lifting roller from being forced open and torn out. In a tamping machine known from CH 705271 A2, the lifting rollers and lifting hooks are also arranged on a common console, which is mounted so that it can be displaced transversely to the longitudinal axis of the machine. The lifting hooks can be adjusted in height for basic height adjustment, and the lifting rollers are guided for movement about a pivot axis running in the longitudinal direction of the machine. Lifting rollers and lifting hooks can be lifted together with the lifting-straightening device.
The disadvantage of this design is that the lifting roller and lifting hook can only be moved vertically and horizontally. When tamping mainline tracks, speed is of the essence. If the roller guided in this way remains in contact with the rail during fast forward travel, it may hit upstanding rail fasteners, insulated joints or rail weld beads. Because the roller is guided only horizontally, it cannot be forced open as quickly, which can cause damage to the roller, the lifting-straightening unit or the rail fasteners. For this reason, the roller is extended sideways far enough to avoid damage before starting forward movement on a track with protruding small fittings, and then retracted again after the machine has come to a standstill. This costs time. If there is no conflict with the small fittings because they are low, then the roller tongs are only extended to the rail head width before the forward movement and then closed again when the machine comes to a standstill. This also costs time, which has a detrimental effect on machine performance, especially when line tamping. Another disadvantage is that in order to reduce the travel distance, the lifting roller's lifting rim may be of reduced thickness. As a result, the lifting rim tends to break.

REPRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is thus based on the task of finding a design of the lifting-straightening unit in which, during rapid forward travel, the lifting roller can make way so quickly that damage to the roller, the lifting-straightening unit or the rail fastenings is avoided.
The invention solves the problem in that the console is arranged on a guiding slide, with which it is displaceable transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine along a transverse guide, and in that the console is mounted on the guiding slide so as to be pivotally adjustable about a pivot axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine by means of a swivel drive. Advantageous further embodiments of the invention are shown in the subclaims.
The lifting hook and lifting roller are mounted on the common console and can each be adjusted in height by means of a lifting drive. An essential feature of the invention is that this console can be rotated with respect to the guiding slide, i.e. it can be pivoted about a pivot axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine. This retains the advantages of the vertical and horizontal positionability of the lifting roller and lifting hook. This makes it perfect for use in railroad switches. For fast track tamping, the drive for rotating the lifting tool console is floated or pressed on with low force. In the event of a rail joint or weld beads occurring, the lifting roller is simply forced open. Due to the inclined position of the roller, there is also no conflict with the rail fastenings. Another advantage is that the lifting roller's lifting rim can be made stronger due to the pivoting capability and therefore no longer tends to break.
The guiding slide can be moved along the transverse guide transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine. The piston rods or cylinders of two hydraulic cylinders are supported on the console, which is mounted on the guiding slide so that it can be swiveled around the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine. One hydraulic cylinder with a shorter stroke is used for vertical adjustment of the lifting roller. The other hydraulic cylinder with a longer stroke is intended for the lifting hook. The longer stroke is necessary so that the lifting hook can engage both the rail head and the rail foot. The hydraulic cylinders are connected to the lifting hook and the lifting roller, respectively, which lifting hook and lifting roller can in turn be moved up and down along vertical guides (in the console). The guiding slide with the console with the lifting roller or the lifting hook are brought into the respective position (engagement of the lifting roller or the lifting hook) by means of a hydraulic cylinder lying transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine and supported on the lifting-straightening unit. The console can be swiveled via the swivel drive. This allows the lifting roller to be swiveled in when driving forward and/or to remain closed with reduced pressure as overload protection to limit the swiveling force. If an obstacle is encountered, the lifting roller can be easily pushed open by the obstacle when the set closing pressure is exceeded. When working in railroad switches, the purely vertical position, which is not swiveled from a vertical zero position, or a correspondingly more favorable swiveled console position can be selected. This allows the hook or roller to be vertically fed from above to save space. Then the lifting tool is moved inwards with the shifting console until the lifting tool is in contact with the rail. In the subsequent process, it is lifted until a form-fit is achieved between the lifting tool and the rail.
If the lifting-straightening device is now subjected to the lifting force, the straightening roller cannot lift off the track because there is a form-fit between the lifting tool and the rail.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention results when the adjusting drive is a transverse displacement cylinder with a displacement travel sensor, when the lifting roller is height-adjustable with a vertical lifting cylinder with a stroke path sensor, and when the lifting hook is height-adjustable with a vertical lifting cylinder with a stroke path sensor. In addition, a rotation angle sensor can be assigned to the swivel drive and/or a stroke path sensor to a swivel cylinder of the swivel drive.
With the help of these sensors, the entire closing and working process of the lifting tools can be automated. For this purpose, the laterally required displacements, the vertical stroke values and the twist setting are specified as set values and compared with the measured actual values. This further reduces the operator's workload. If the displacement travel sensor of the displacement cylinder, the stroke path sensor of the vertical lifting cylinder for the lifting roller, and the stroke path sensor of the vertical lifting cylinder for the lifting hook and the stroke path sensor for the swivel cylinder are each integrated in the associated cylinder, this results in a particularly robust design that is less susceptible to faults and is tidy.
The lifting roller in contact with the rail provides a clear reference to the rail. Since the lifting roller is connected to the lifting-straightening device, there is also a clear reference to the movements of the lifting tools in relation to the rail.
A further advantage of the design according to the invention with displacement sensors is that the unambiguous closing of the lifting tools and the associated positive locking can be measured and monitored.
If the lifting hook or the lifting roller cannot be brought under the rail head, for example, because an insulated or welded joint mechanically prevents closing, this can be measured by the corresponding insufficient closing travel. In this case, for example, the lifting hook can be automatically lowered to grip the rail foot. Another possibility is to move the lifting-straightening unit longitudinally parallel to the track until the lifting roller or the lifting hook can clearly grip again.
According to the invention, the use of a common console and a common use of the transverse guide and the swivel drive for the lifting roller and the lifting hook results in a simplification of the system, which simplification is accompanied by consistent operating steps and wherein the use can be automated.
According to the invention, the lifting roller can remain closed and in contact with the rail during line tamping due to the possibilities of swiveling in the lifting roller. This reduces the activation time of the lifting roller and increases the operating speed of the tamping machine. In addition, possible damage is avoided.
The design according to the invention makes the lifting devices easily accessible and facilitates maintenance and repair. Swiveling the lifting devices facilitates inspection of the lifting devices.
Since the lifting roller in the embodiment according to the invention is brought into a form-fit with the rail head by horizontal, vertical and rotating movements, and this occurs independently of the amount of wear on the lifting roller or the height of the rail head, the need for height adjustment of the lifting roller is eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawing, the object of the invention is shown, for example. It shows

FIG. 1 a side view of a track-mounted track tamping machine,

FIG. 2 a view of a roller tong according to the state of the art,

FIG. 3 a view of a lifting-straightening unit according to the state of the art,

FIG. 4 a lifting roller engaging on both sides of the rail,

FIG. 5 a highly simplified pivoting lifting roller to illustrate the engagement situation at a rail head, and

FIG. 6 a view of a console that can be swiveled according to the invention using a lifting roller with lifting hook.

WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

A tamping machine 1 (FIG. 1 ) has a tamping unit 4 and a track lifting-straightening unit 2 with a lifting cylinder 5, with a roller tong with lifting roller 6 and with a lifting hook 7. The lifting-straightening unit can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the track by means of a hydraulic cylinder 11. The switch tamping machine can be moved along the track via running gears 8. The tamping machine 1 is controlled from the working cab 28 arranged in front of the tamping unit 4 in the working direction C. The tamping machine 1 can be moved along the track in the longitudinal direction. The working cab 28 and the driver's cab can be accessed via side doors 29.
The view according to FIG. 2 of a known (state of the art) embodiment of a lifting-straightening unit 2 shows the roller gripper 6, the roller gripper locking cylinder 12, the lifting cylinder 5 with the lifting force FH, the rail 9 and the guide straightening wheel 14.
An embodiment according to the state of the art of the lifting-straightening unit 2 is shown in FIG. 3 , in particular the common support console 10, the vertical guide cylinders of the lifting roller 3 and the lifting hook 13 with stroke movement V with stroke path sensors 20, 21, the common transverse guide 16, the displacement cylinder 17 with displacement movement H and displacement travel sensor 22, the guide straightening wheel 14, the lifting roller 6, the lifting hook 7 in the position closed at the rail head and in the position closed at the rail foot 19, the rail 9, the lifting cylinder 5 with the lifting force FH.
The view according to FIG. 4 shows the roller tongs with lifting roller 6, whereby the transverse displacement path H of the transverse guide 16 and the swivel range of the swivel drive 12 are extended in such a way that a rail 9 with the lifting roller 6 can be gripped both from the outside of the track and from the inside of the track. If the guiding slide 10 is sufficiently displaced by the console 31, the lifting roller 33 can also engage the inside of the rail at the rail head. A straightening wheel 14 guides the lifting-straightening device on the rail 9.
FIG. 5 shows a highly simplified roller tong once in the closed and once in the open state 15. In designs of rail fasteners that build very high 26, a horizontally adjusted roller tong 23 would lead to conflicts 25. If this horizontally added roller tong 23 remained closed during the run-up, then it would damage the fasteners 26. If an insulated joint 24 comes up then the closed roller tongs 23 would suddenly be jerked open, which would lead to high forces and damage.
FIG. 6 shows the lifting-straightening unit 2 of a tamping machine according to the invention, with the transverse guides The lifting-straightening device 2 for lifting and straightening tracks and railroad switches of the tamping machine for compacting the ballast bed of a track is equipped with at least one height-adjustable lifting roller 6 and with at least one lifting hook 7 which is height-adjustable independently thereof, wherein the lifting roller 6 and the lifting hook 7 are arranged on a common console 31 which is displaceably guided by an adjusting drive 17 transversely to the longitudinal axis L of the tamping machine. The console 31 is arranged on a guiding slide 10 with which it can be displaced transversely to the longitudinal axis L of the tamping machine along a transverse guide 16. In addition, the console 31 can be swivelled by a swivel drive (12), in this case a hydraulic cylinder, about a pivot axis 30 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine.
The adjusting drive 17 is a transverse displacement cylinder with a displacement travel sensor 22, the lifting roller 6 is height-adjustable by means of a vertical lifting cylinder 3 with stroke path sensor 20, and the lifting hook 7 is height-adjustable by means of a vertical lifting cylinder 13 with stroke path sensor 21. A stroke path sensor 32 is assigned to the swivel drive 12, in this case the swivel cylinder.
The console 31 is mounted with the swivel drive 12 on the guiding slide 10 so that it can be swiveled about the pivot axis 30 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine.
The displacement travel sensor 22 of the displacement cylinder 17, the stroke path sensor 20 of the vertical lifting cylinder 3 for the lifting roller 6 and the stroke path sensor 21 of the vertical lifting cylinder 13 for the lifting hook 7 and the stroke path sensor 32 for the swivel cylinder 12 are each integrated in the associated cylinder.

Claims

1. A tamping machine for compacting the ballast bed of a track, said tamping machine comprising:

tamping units configured to tamp under the track;

a lifting-straightening device arranged between running gears configured to lift and straighten tracks and railroad switches;

the lifting-straightening device having at least one height-adjustable lifting roller and at least one lifting hook that is height-adjustable independently of the lifting roller;

the lifting roller and the lifting hook being arranged on a common console that is guided displaceably transversely to a longitudinal axis of the tamping machine by an adjusting drive;

wherein the console is arranged on a guiding slide, with which the console is displaceable transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine along a transverse guide; and

wherein the console is mounted on the guiding slide so as to be pivotally adjustable about a pivot axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tamping machine by a swivel drive.

2. The tamping machine according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting drive is a transverse displacement cylinder with a displacement travel sensor, the lifting roller is height-adjustable by a vertical lifting cylinder with a stroke path sensor, and the lifting hook is height-adjustable by a vertical lifting cylinder with a stroke path sensor.

3. The tamping machine according to claim 1, wherein a rotation angle sensor is operatively associated with the swivel drive and/or a stroke path sensor is operatively associated with a swivel cylinder of the swivel drive.

4. The tamping machine according to claim 2, wherein the displacement travel sensor of the displacement cylinder, the stroke path sensor of the vertical lifting cylinder for the lifting roller, and the stroke path sensor of the vertical lifting cylinder for the lifting hook are each integrated in the associated cylinder.

5. The tamping machine according to claim 1, wherein a transverse displacement path of the transverse guide and a swivel range of the swivel drive are extended so that a rail can be gripped with the lifting roller both from the outside of the track and from the inside of the track.

6. The tamping machine according to claim 1, wherein a swivel force limiter is operatively associated with the swivel drive so as to provide overload protection.

7. The tamping machine according to claim 1, wherein the lifting-straightening device is arranged between the running gears and in front of the tamping units in a working direction.

8. The tamping machine according to claim 2, wherein a rotation angle sensor is operatively associated with the swivel drive and/or a stroke path sensor is operatively associated with a swivel cylinder of the swivel drive.

9. The tamping machine according to claim 8, wherein the displacement travel sensor of the displacement cylinder, the stroke path sensor of the vertical lifting cylinder for the lifting roller, the stroke path sensor of the vertical lifting cylinder for the lifting hook, and the stroke path sensor for the swivel cylinder are each integrated in the associated cylinder.

10. The tamping machine according to claim 5, wherein, the rail can be gripped with a lifting hook having a T-shaped foot.

11. The tamping machine according to claim 2, wherein a transverse displacement path of the transverse guide and a swivel range of the swivel drive are extended so that a rail can be gripped with the lifting roller—both from the outside of the track and from the inside of the track.

12. The tamping machine according to claim 3, wherein a transverse displacement path of the transverse guide and a swivel range of the swivel drive are extended so that a rail can be gripped with the lifting roller—both from the outside of the track and from the inside of the track.

13. The tamping machine according to claim 4, wherein a transverse displacement path of the transverse guide and a swivel range of the swivel drive are extended so that a rail can be gripped with the lifting roller—both from the outside of the track and from the inside of the track.

14. The tamping machine according to claim 2, wherein a swivel force limiter is operatively associated with the swivel drive so as to provide overload protection.

15. The tamping machine according to claim 3, wherein a swivel force limiter is operatively associated with the swivel drive so as to provide overload protection.

16. The tamping machine according to claim 4, wherein a swivel force limiter is operatively associated with the swivel drive so as to provide overload protection.

17. The tamping machine according to claim 5, wherein a swivel force limiter is operatively associated with the swivel drive so as to provide overload protection.