US3427758A

US3427758A - Motorized grinding machine for grinding rails

Info

Publication number: US3427758A
Application number: US564562A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hans Guntermann
Original assignee: Elektro Thermit GmbH
Current assignee: Goldschmidt ETB GmbH
Priority date: 1965-08-17
Filing date: 1966-07-12
Publication date: 1969-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1986-02-18
Also published as: GB1083378A; DE1274610B; AT256659B

Description

H. GUNTERMANN Feb. 18, 1969 MOTORIZED GRINDING MACHINE FOR GRINDING RAILS 7 Sheet Filed July 12, 1966 INVENTOR.

HANS GUNTERMANN AT RNEY Feb. 18, 1969 H. GUNTERMANN 3,427,753

MOTORIZED GRINDING MACHINE FOB GRINDING RAILS Filed July 12, 1966 Sheet 2 of 2 INVENTOR.

HANS GUNTERMANN United States Patent E 29,907 US. (:1. 51178 4 Claims Int. Cl. B24b 23/00, 7/10, 9/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A frame has rollers thereon for engaging a rail to be ground. A first pair of longitudinally spaced pivot means extend longitudinally of the frame and support a pair of rocker arms. A pair of spaced rocker arms are pivotally suported at one end thereof by the first pair of pivot means, and a second pair of longitudinally spaced pivot means extending longitudinally of the frame are supported at the opposite ends of the rocker arms. A grinding means is pivotally supported by these last-mentioned pivot means such that the grinding means is adapted to swing to either side of vertical with respect to the frame to grind both sides of the rail head of an associated rail.

This invention relates to a motorized grinding machine which is adapted to be manually moved on a rail to be ground and the grinding means of which is pivotally mounted about an axis extending in the longitudinal machine direction. The machine includes a frame having rollers secured thereto which latter are adapted to engage a rail to be ground. The machine can be employed for grinding both the tread and the side surfaces of rail heads.

:In order to eliminate irregularities on rail heads, such as excess welding metal for example, it is known to use motorized grinding machines which are secured and guided at the rail head and include rotating grinding ele ments working at the end face thereof, whereby the weld may be profiled either entirely or partially in conformance to the rail which simultaneously serves as a guide.

In a grinding machine of this known type, a frame sup porting a grinding device and feeler rolls is pivotally mounted about a rigid axle, extending in the longitudinal machine direction, in a machine frame which latter is provided with rollers whereby the frame is supported on a rail to be ground and positioned opposite thereto. The grinding means and feeler rolls are displaceably mounted with respect to the machine frame.

Also known is a motorized grinding machine which is guided on two rails and in which a frame carrying the grinding device and copying rollers is pivotally mounted about an axis extending in the longitudinal machine direction in upwardly open rigid frame or main bearings.

These known motorized grinding machines, whose frames are guided on both rails of the track, have the disadvantage, however, that the weld can be profiled or shaped only partially in conformance with the rail head since the grinding devices are pivotal through a small angle only with respect to the machine frame. A nearly horizontal position of the grinding device, as is necessary for grinding the sides of the rail head, can not be obtained with the known machines because the pivoting axis, i.e., that of the rocker shaft, being rigid in the frame and positioned in the plane of symmetry of the rail to be ground can not be moved transversely to the rail, while the machine frame remains in the vertical position, in

order to displace the pivot axis into a plane parallel to the side of the rail head and outside of the latter for grinding the sides thereof.

3,427,758 Patented Feb. 18, 1969 Also known to the art is a grinding device whose frame carrying the grinding means and the rollers includes on both ends thereof guide and supporting rollers which are pivotal with respect to the frame. While the sides of the rail head are ground, the guide rollers are pivoted outwardly, at which time two of the guide rollers will run on the side of the rail which is opposite to the side on which the work is to be performed, While an additional roller engages under the rail head on the working side of the rail. The supporting rollers run on the rail foot when the machine is pivoted.

This grinding machine also has disadvantages among which is the fact that a proper guide for grinding is effected only when the device has been pivoted into an approximately horizontal working position and, further, inthis case only if the width of the rail head has the theoretical value. In addition, when the machine is pivoted, the guide and supporting rollers come into contact with the rail-securing or rail-connecting means so that these must be removed prior to beginning the grinding operation.

In another known rail grinding apparatus, with which the rail head may be ground within the entire range of the vertical to the horizontal position of the apparatus the grinding device is pivotally mounted about an axis extending in the longitudinal machine direction, with respect to a machine frame provided with guide means. Roller spindles, constituting the guide means, enclose therebetween an acute angle, the apex of which is positioned above the rail in the traveling position. In order to achieve, in this particular machine, the required oblique position of the grinding device for grinding the radii of the rail head and the sides thereof, the machine frame is pivoted out of the vertical position thereof and also the grinding device is pivoted about a rigid frame axis extending in the longitudinal machine direction with respect to the pivoted machine frame. The pivot axis for the grinding device, about which the machine frame is pivotal simultaneously, is positioned in this case outside of the plane of symmetry of the rail to be ground and is rigidly connected to the machine frame.

The disadvantage of this motorized grinding machine is that during the grinding of the sides of the rail head, the machine frame must assume a slanted position in order to shift the pivot axis into a plane parallel to the side of the rail and positioned outside of the rail head since grinding of these surfaces at a horizontal position of the grinding device would not be possible otherwise. A further adverse effect is that the entire motorized grinding machine must be reversed for grinding the opposite side of the rail head so that the pivot axis, being rigid at the frame, will be positioned also on that side in a plane parallel to the side of the rail head and positioned outside of the latter.

The present invention provides a motorized grinding machine which is manually movable on a rail and is guided on either one or both rails of a track. The machine includes a grinding device which is pivotally mounted in a machine frame about an axis extending in the longitudinal machine direction. The machine frame remains in the vertical position independently of the degree of pivoting of the grinding device and this permits, without reversal of the machine, the profiling of a weld, in conformance to the rail serving as a guide, within the area of both sides of a rail head, of the transition radii, and of the tread in one working operation. The grinding device is so mounted within the frame and guided and secured at the rail head in a manner such that no machine parts will come into contact with the conventional rail-securing or rail-connecting means while the sides of the rail head are being ground.

The foregoing grinding operation can be performed by the grinding machine of the invention because the axis about which the grinding device is pivotal is mounted about a parallel fixed frame axis extending in the longitudinal machine direction.

In one embodiment of the motorized grinding machine of the present invention, the pivotal axis of the grinding device is connected with the frame to which the rollers are attached by means of rocker arms and the construction is such that the ends of the rocker arms pivot about an axis which is rigid with the frame and extends in the longitudinal machine direction. The other end of the rocker arms are rotatably secured to pivot pins carrying the grinding device so that when the latter are pivoted about the rigid frame axis, the pivot pins carrying the grinding device describe a cylindrical surface about the generatrices of which, being parallel to the frame axis, the grinding device is simultaneously pivotal.

A further feature of the motorized grinding machine of the invention is that the rollers, mounted at both ends of the machine frame, are mounted for transverse displacement with respect to the frame.

The invention will be further illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of one embodiment of a motorized grinding machine according to the invention shown in position for grinding a rail tread,

FIGURE 2 is an end view in elevation of the grinding machine of FIGURE 1,-

FIGURE 3 is an end view in elevation of the grinding machine in the position it occupies for grinding one side of a rail head, and

FIGURE 4 illustrates the grinding machine in a posi tion pivoted through 180 from the position shown in FIGURE 3 and in the position it occupies for grinding the other side of the rail head.

As shown in the drawings, a grinding device 4 is mounted in an outer machine frame 2 which latter is movable on the rail 1 and is supported by the rollers 3. The grinding device includes a grinding wheel 5, operating at the end face thereof, a driving motor 6, a frame member 7, a frame member 8, a worm feed 9, and two or more copying and feeler rolls mounted on the frame member 7. Using the worm feed 9, the grinding wheel, together with the motor 6 and the frame part 8, may be raised and lowered with respect to the frame member 7 and also with respect to the outer machine frame 2. Mounted at the end faces of the frame member 7 about the pivot pins 11 are the rocker arms 12 which are rotatably connected to the pivot pins 13 in the machine frame 2. The rocker arms 12 are subject to the spring pressure of the sidemounted springs 14 and are retained in the normal position by means of conventional locking detents 15 provided in the machine frame 2. The grinding device 4 is connected with the frame 2 in the vertical position by means of a latch 16 mounted on the machine frame 2. The rollers 3, mounted at both ends of the machine frame 2, are mounted in the bifurcated roller supports 17. The roller supports 17 are provided with threaded bolts 18 which pass through slots in the frame brackets 19, the slots ex tending transversely to the longitudinal plane of the frame. The roller supports 17 are secured in position against twisting by means of the guide bars 20. The bolts 18 also pass through holes in the adjusting levers 22, which levers are rotatably mounted about the studs 21, the latter being connected to the frame brackets 19. By loosening and tightening the adjusting nuts 23, the roller supports 17, together with the rollers 3, may be displaced transversely with respect to the longitudinal plane of the frame 2, using the adjusting levers 22, and may be clamped to the frame in the desired adjusted position.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the grinding device 4 for grinding the tread of the rail is in the vertical position and this position is maintained for grinding the entire tread unless the tread is curved. If the tread is curved, this position constitutes the starting position. The axis A, with which the pins 13 are coaxial, is rigid with the frame and the axis B, with which the pins 11 are coaxial, both are positioned in a plane which is parallel to the plane of symmetry of the rail and the distance of this plane from the latter plane is determined by the degree of displacement of the rollers 3 with respect to the frame 2. As shown in FIGURES 2 to 4, the rollers are suitably so displaced, in the starting position thereof, with respect to the frame that the axes A and B are positioned above a running edge of the rail. For the purpose of grinding the head curvatures and the side surfaces of the rail head, according to FIGURES 2 and 3, the grinding device 4, after the latch 16 has been disengaged, is pivoted about the axis B with respect to the machine frame 2, which latter remains in the vertical position at which time the copying and feeler rolls 10, as well as the flanges of the rollers 3 are supported against the rail, while the axis B, with which the supporting pins 11 are coaxial, is displaced, due to the simultaneous pivoting action about the rigid frame axis A and depending upon the degree of the pivoting action, into planes which are parallel to the plane of symmetry of the rail and farther removed therefrom, whereby a lifting of the grinding device is simultaneously effected. In order to grind the side of the rail head as shown in FIGURE 4, and after the grinding device 4 has been pivoted into the initial position thereof, the rollers 3 are displaced or shifted with the aid of the levers 22, after loosening the adjusting nuts 23, with respect to the frame 2 in a manner such that the axes A and B will be positioned above the running edge of the side of the rail head. After tightening the nuts 23, pivoting of the grinding device about the axes A and B for the purpose of grinding the side of the rail head may be accomplished in the manner described above. The length of the rocker arms 12 and the diameter of the grinding wheel 5 are so proportioned that, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, with the grinding device being pivoted, no machine parts will be lowered to such an extent that they contact the conventional rail-securing and rail-connecting means.

Due to the fact that the machine frame 2 can remain in the vertical position in all of the positions of the grinding device 4 on the rail to be ground and since a reversal of the machine for grinding both sides of a rail head is not required, it is also possible, in accordance with the present invention, to provide the machine with a cantilever which is supported, with a treadless roller, on the rail which is positioned opposite to the rail to be ground so that the motorized grinding machine of the present invention may be selectively moved on either one or both rails of a track without adversely affecting the other advantages thereof.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

What is claimed is:

1. A motorized grinding machine for grinding rails which comprises a frame having rollers thereon adapted to engage a rail to be ground, a first pair of longitudinally spaced pivot means supported by said frame and defining a first pivot axis extending longitudinally of said frame, a pair of spaced rocker arms each of which is pivotally connected to one of said first pivot means, a second pair of longitudinally spaced pivot means each of which is supported by one of said rocker arms and defining a second pivot axis extending longitudinally of said frame, and grinding means pivotally connected to each of said second pivot means, said rocker arms being freely swingable to either side of a vertical plane passing through said first pivot axis and said grinding means being freely swingable to either side of a vertical plane passing through said second pivot axis so that the grinding means is adapted to readily grind both sides of a rail head of an associated rail.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein when the grinding means is disposed in vertical position, said first and second pivot axes are positioned in a vertical plane 'which is parallel to the plane of symmetry of an associated rail.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said rocker arms are offset longitudinally from the adjacent frame portions so as to be freely swingable with respect to the frame, said grinding means being offset longitudinally with respect to the adjacent rocker arms so as to be freely swingable with respect to the rocker arms.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim '1 wherein said rollers are displaceable transversely of said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,651,888 9/1953 Comstock.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,254,605 1/1961 France.

800,766 9/ 1958 Great Britain.

JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 51-47