US3604358A

US3604358A - Maintenance apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3604358A
Application number: US849406A
Authority: US
Inventors: Franz Plasser; Josef Theurer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
Priority date: 1968-09-05
Filing date: 1969-08-12
Publication date: 1971-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-14
Also published as: NL161215C; YU226169A; SU426377A3; SE363142B; DE1904126A1; ES371247A1; JPS4817161B1; GB1278522A; NL6913522A; HU164304B; DE1904126B2; YU31585B; CH512637A; AT308796B; FR2017414A1; NL161215B; PL72682B1

Abstract

In an apparatus for taking up old ties and/or laying new ties, an elongated conveyor is supported between a tie transport car and a device for moving the ties from a first position extending in the direction of track elongation, in which they are transported on the conveyor, and a second position transverse thereto. The unit is movable partly on the ballast and partly on the track rails.

Description

United States Patent Franz Plasser;

Josef Theurer. both of Johannesgasse 3 1010, Vienna, Austria Appl. No. 849,406

Filed Aug. 12, 1969 Patented Sept. 14, 1971 Priority Sept. 5, 1968 Austria lnventors MAINTENANCE APPARATUS 19 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 104/6 1nt.Cl E01b29/l0 Field ofSearch 104/2, 3,4,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1903 Cunningham 3/1914 Bell 8/1961 Scheuchzer 7/1967 Plasser et al.

Primary Examiner-Arthur L La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Attorney- Kurt Kelman ABSTRACT: In an apparatus for taking up old ties and/or laying new ties, an elongated conveyor is supported between a tie transport car and a device for moving the ties from a first position extending in the direction of track elongation, in which they are transported on the conveyor, and a second position transverse thereto. The unit is movable partly on the ballast and partly on the track rails.

MAINTENANCE APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a mobile track maintenance apparatus for receiving or laying ties on ballast at a working station. Such apparatus is particularly useful in methods and apparatus for replacing an old track by a new track, such as disclosed and claimed, for instance, in U.S. Pats. No. 3,330,219 and No. 3,521,565 and our application Ser. No. 785,477, filed Dec. 20, 1968.

In apparatus of this type, an elongated conveyor extending in the direction of track elongation conveys ties between a tie transport car and the working station. Successive ties are placed on the car in a position transverse to the track elongation and transported by the elongated conveyor in this position between the track rails which are raised at the working station. This means that the conveyor must be rather wide to support the ties in this position and the the raised track rails must be spread apart sufficiently to permit the transversely extending ties to pass therebetween. This makes the apparatus cumbersome.

In another known apparatus of this general type, the elongated conveyor transports the ties in a position extending in the direction of track elongation above the level of the raised track rails, at which point the point are gripped and lowered below this level, whereupon they are turned 90 into the transverse position. This procedure is time-consuming and considerably slows the working pace. Furthermore, it is rather difficult to hold the ties exactly at a point in the small space between the raised rails and the ballast where they may be turned. For instance, if the ties are not gripped exactly at their point of gravity and, therefore, tilt out of a horizontal plane, turning in the confined space becomes impossible. In addition, this conventional apparatus was necessarily heavy and difficult to operate.

It is the primary object of the present invention to avoid these disadvantages and to provide a relatively compact apparatus which operates with a minimum of structural parts at high speed, particularly during a continuous track renewal operation.

This and other objects are accomplished by conveying ties positioned on the elongated conveyor substantially parallel to the track elongation between a first support for one end of the conveyor and a second support for the other end of the conveyor, the first support being a car, and the second support in accordance with the invention including a device for supporting the ties and moving the supported ties through an angle of 90 between a first position extending in the direction of track elongation and a second position transverse to this direction. The second support is at the working station, and one support, such as the second support, being mounted for mobility on the ballast and the other support, such as the car, being mounted for mobility on the track rails. The tie supporting and moving device is associated with the other conveyor end, and means is provided for coupling the other conveyor end to the second support to constitute a mobile unit of the conveyor and tie moving device adapted to move partly on the ballast and partly on the rails.

The conveyor is obliquely inclined to rise from the second to the first support. It may be an endless conveyor band or an inclined roller conveyor, or even a chute whereon the ties glide downwardly by gravity.

At any rate, the tie supporting and moving device at the other end of the elongated conveyor forms a compact unit with the conveyor, the entire unit having the operating speed of the conveyor which is adapted continuously to receive, transport and turn successive ties. It may be operated with conventional track renewal systems wherein the track rails are raised and supported at a level above the level of the ties at the working station without spreading the rails apart, in which case the device for supporting and moving the ties extend from the other conveyor end to below the level of the raised rails. If the rails are spread, it is not absolutely necessary to locate this device below the level of the raised rails, with the conveyor extending between the raised rails, although such location is preferred.

The elongated conveyor need not be inclined between the raised rails and its other end may be located above the level of the raised rails as long as this other conveyor end is associated directly with the device for supporting and moving the ties so that the ties may move continuously from the conveyor to the device, or vice versa, the conveyor and the device constituting a true mechanical unit.

When used in conjunction with a track renewal system of the indicated type, this invention provides two like mobile units, the second supports of these units being adjacently arranged at the working station, with a suitable space therebetween. The conveyors of these units extend from the second supports in opposite direction, with one of the units serving to receive old ties and the other units serving to receive old ties and the other unit serving to lay new ties.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING The above and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of certain now preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view of one embodiment; FIG. 2 is a top view taken in the direction of arrow II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a similar top view of a different embodiment of the tie supporting and moving device, with an associated elongated conveyor;

FIG. 4 is a side view similar to that of FIG. I of two mobile units working simultaneously during track renewal;

FIG. 5 is a top view taken in the direction of arrow V of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal side view of a track renewal apparatus for replacing track rails and ties.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a working station during a track renewal operation, where the

track rails

2, 2 have been raised above the level of ties 3 resting on ballast. The illustrated apparatus comprises an elongated endless conveyor band 1 extending in the direction of track elongation for conveying ties 3 positioned on the conveyor substantially parallel to the track elongation, as seen in FIG. 2. One end of the conveyor is on a first support constituted by tie transport car 4 which is mounted for mobility on

track rails

2, 2 by means of running gear 11. A second support is provided for the other end of the conveyor which is mounted for mobility on the ballast by means of wheels with pneumatic tires 9. A schematically shown tie gripper 5 is vertically adjustably mounted on the second support for successively taking up or putting down ties as the apparatus advances in either direction indicated by the horizontal arrows in either direction indicated by the horizontal arrows in FIGS. 1 and 2. Suitable tie-gripping means for this purpose are described, for instance, in British Pat. No. 935,677, but any such suitable means may be used.

The endless conveyor band 1 is obliquely inclined to rise from the second to the first support and is supported on a series of rollers 6 mounted on a carrier frame 7. As shown in FIG. 1, located below the level of the raised

rails

2, 2 in association with the other end of the elongated conveyor 1 is a device for supporting and moving the ties through an angle of this device being illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a turnable 8 having a series of adjacent rollers 8a for conveying the ties while they are turned. The turnable is rotatable about a pivot 8b extending vertically to track and extending through the track axis. Thus, when the apparatus is used to pick up old ties by gripper 5, the turnable will receive the ties in their transverse position, turn them 90 while moving them towards the other conveyor end, whereupon the conveyor will transport them in the turned position to the tie transport car 4. When used to lay new ties, the conveyor will transport the ties from the car to the other conveyor end which deposits them on turntable 8 which turns the ties into their transverse position while moving them towards the gripper 5 for laying the new ties on the ballast, the gripper being vertically movable.

As indicated by the small curved arrows in FIG. 1, the transfer of the ties between the conveyor 1 and the turnable 8 may be facilitated by making the turntable adjustable between a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the track and an oblique plane substantially aligned with the plane of the conveyor 1. In other words, the turntable is tiltable about a horizontally extending pivot axis perpendicular to the track elongation.

As shown, the turntable 8 and the elongated conveyor 1 constitute a mechanical unit which moves partly on the track rails and partly on the ballast, the carrier frame 7 including the second support for the turntable, which support runs on wheels 9.

The one end of the conveyor carrier frame 7 is pivotally mounted on a turntable 10 so that the frame and the conveyor may be swung transversely about a vertical pivot and vertically about a horizontal pivot.

As best seen in F IG. 2, a conveyor means 12, 13 is mounted on the second support for transporting successive ties to or from the turntable 8 from or to tie gripper 5, the successive ties being arranged on the conveyor means transversely of the direction of track elongation. In the illustrated embodiment, this conveyor means includes-a first pair of endless conveyor bands l2, 12 arranged symmetrically in respect of the track axis and extending in the direction of track elongation alongside the turntable. The distance between these conveyor bands is approximately the same as the length of the ties whereby the conveyor bands receive and support the ties when they are moved by the turntable into the transverse position. Another pair of shorter

endless conveyor bands

13, 13 is associated with the first pair of conveyor bands and is vertically adjustable between a first position in a plane with the first pair of

conveyor bands

12, 12 wherein the first pair of conveyor bands is adapted to receive from, or deliver to, the second pair of

conveyor bands

13, 13 successive, transversely positioned ties and a second position adjacent the gripper 5.

In FIG. 2, the raised rails have been shown spread apart during the renewal operation but, as indicated hereinabove, this is not absolutely necessary with the apparatus of the present invention.

The pivotal mounting of the one end of conveyor 1 is arranged on a support frame 18 which is movable on flat car 4 so that the conveyor and turntable unit may be adjusted in the direction of track elongation in dependence on the location of the working station simply by moving the unit towards the end of the flat car (as shown) or farther inwardly. It is also possible to support the entire unit on the car and off the track bed by moving the frame 18 towards the other end of car 4 (not shown), for which purpose the conveyor carrier frame 7 has small rollers or wheels In which rolling support the carrier frame on the flat car while the apparatus is moved from one track renewal site to another.

The support frame 18 also carries conveying means associated with the one end of conveyor 1 for transporting successive ties from or to the conveyor end in a position substantially parallel to the track elongation. This conveying means includes a roller conveyor 15 which may be positioned in alignment with the one end of conveyor 1 and is transversely movable in respect of the conveyor end on a transverse runner 14. Furthermore, a first conveyor consisting of a pair of

endless bands

16, 16 is arranged adjacent the roller conveyor 15 for moving successive ties in a direction transverse of the track elongation, and another conveyor 17 is associated with the first conveyor for receiving from or delivering to the one end of conveyor 1 successive ties in the direction of track elongation. The endless conveyor bands are vertically adjustable in relation to the conveyor 17. Thus, when old ties are picked up and transported by conveyor 1 to roller conveyor 15, the latter moves the ties onto the conveyor 17, the

endless conveyor bands

16, 16 are raised into the plane of conveyor 17, and the old ties are removed in a transverse direction by the endless conveyor bands l6, 16. When new ties are to be laid, the

endless conveyor bands

16, 16 are lowered, the new ties are transported by conveyors 17, 1S and I to the turntable 8, turned, and then moved by

conveyors

12, 13 to gripper 5 which lays the ties transversely on the ballast. The conveyor 17 is also transversely movable on frame 18 so that it may be in alignment with the transversely adjustable roller conveyor 15 and the equally transversely adjustable one end of conveyor 1.

Another embodiment of the device for supporting and moving the ties at the other end of conveyor 1 is shown in FIG. 3, this embodiment being particularly useful in laying ties. This device consists of a platform having two radially extending edges enclosing an angle of One of the edges is in alignment with the conveyor 1 and the other platform edge extends transversely of he track elongation. The platform is downwardly inclined to facilitate the movement of the ties from the one to the other edge through an angle of 90. While a smooth gliding surface may suffice, the tie movement will be facilitated by the provision of series of concentrically mounted rollers 19. A stop 21 is mounted at one end of the one radially extending platform edge in alignment with the conveyor 1 for positioning successive ties on the platform along the one edge. A push rod 22 is mounted at this edge to push successive ties and thus to initiate their movement to the other platform edge. A guide rail 23 is mounted on the one end of conveyor 1 to assure that each tie is properly positioned along the one edge of platform 20 at the beginning of the turning movement.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two associated mobile units of the type described hereinabove for continuously taking up old ties 3' and laying new ties 3, the working direction of this apparatus being indicated by the horizontal arrow. The operation of this apparatus will be obvious from the above description, like reference numerals being used for like parts operating in a like manner, the numerals designating the parts in the unit designed to pick up old ties 3 being primed. Thus, successive old ties 3 are taken up by gripper 5' as the apparatus advances from tie to tie, the gripper deposits the tie in the transverse position on conveyors 12', 12 which move it unto turntable 8 where they are turned by 90 and moved off by elongated conveyor 1 to roller conveyor 15' whence they are taken over by conveyor 17.

The transverse conveyor pair 16 is raised to the level of conveyor 17' so that the ties are transversely moved away (FIG. 5). As soon as a group of, say, six ties has been formed, a crane grips the group of old ties 3' and moves it to one of the flat tie transport cars forming part of the train.

Similarly, a crane places a group of new ties 3 on the conveyor pair 16 and, in the reverse manner, successive new ties are moved down continuously to gripper 5 which lays them one by one on the ballast as the apparatus advances in the working direction.

A ballast plow 24 may be operated at the working station between the two units to level the ballast, If desired, ballast surface tampers and/or other ballast treating apparatus may be operated at this station while the ballast is free of ties.

FIG. 6 shows the apparatus in use in conjunction with a track renewal system off the type disclosed and claimed in our U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 738,475, wherein not only the ties are replaced but the old rails 2' are exchanged for new rails 2. As shown, the rails 2 and 2' are received in lateral guides on the

tie transport cars

4 and 4, respectively, while the apparatus moves continuously along the right of way, the manner of this track renewal being fully described in our prior application and forming no part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile track maintenance apparatus for receiving or laying ties on ballast at a working station, comprising I. an elongated conveyor extending in the direction of track elongation for conveying the ties positioned on the conveyor substantially parallel to the track elongation;

. a first support for one end of the conveyor, the first support being a car mounted for mobility on the track rails;

3. a second support for the other end of the conveyor, the second support being mounted for mobility on the ballast and including a device associated with the other conveyor end for supporting the ties and moving the supported ties through an angle of 90 between a first position extending in the direction of track elongation and a second position transverse of said direction,

a. the second support being at said working station and b. the second support and the tie moving device constituting a mobile unit adapted to move partly on the ballast and partly on the track rails; and

. means for raising the track rails to a level above the level of the ties at the working station,

a. the conveyor extending between the raised track rails,

and

b. the device for supporting and moving the ties extending from the other conveyor end to below the level of the raised rails.

2. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveyor is obliquely inclined to raise from the second to the first support, and means is provided for adjusting the tie supporting and moving device between a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the track and an oblique plane substantially aligned with the plane of the conveyor.

3. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a carrier frame for said conveyor, the first support being a tie transport car including a running gear moving on the track rails, one end of the conveyor carrier frame being pivotally mounted on the tie transport car, the second support including a running gear moving on the ballast, the other end of the conveyor carrier frame being supported on the second support, and the conveyor being obliquely arranged to rise from the second to the first support.

4. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 3, wherein the conveyor carrier frame is movable transversely of the direction of track elongation.

5. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising conveyor means mounted on the second support below the level of the raised track rails for transporting successive ties to or from the tie supporting and moving device from or to a position on the ballast, the successive ties being arranged on the conveyor means transversely of the direction of track elongation.

6. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 5, wherein the conveyor means includes at least one pair of conveyor bands arranged symmetrically in respect of the track axis and extending in the direction of track elongation.

7. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 6, wherein the conveyor means further includes vertically adjustable means for raising or lowering the successive ties between the conveyor bands and the ballast.

8. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tie supporting and moving device is a turntable rotatable about a pivot extending vertically to the track.

9. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pivot of the turntable extends through the track axis.

10. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a first pair of conveyor bands arranged symmetrically in respect of the track axis alongside the turntable, the distance between the conveyor bands being approximately the same as the length of the ties whereby the conveyor bands receive and support the ties when they are moved by the turntable from the first to he second position.

11. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 10, further comprising another pair of conveyor bands associated with the first pair of conveyor bands, the other pair of conveyor bands being vertically adjustable between a first position in a plane with the first pair of conveyor bands wherein the first pair of conveyor bands is adapted to receive from, or deliver to, the second pair of conveyor bands successive ones of the transversely positioned ties, and a second position adjacent the ballast.

12. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising conveying means associated with the one conveyor end on said car for transporting successive ones of said ties in the first position from or to the one conveyor end.

13. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 12, wherein said conveying means comprises a conveyor transversely movable in respect to the one conveyor end.

14. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a frame movably mounted on the car and supporting the one conveyor end for moving said conveyor end from an end of the car inwardly whereby the conveyor and the tie moving device unit may be pulled onto and supported on the car.

15. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 1, comprising two like ones of said mobile units, the second supports of said units being adjacently arranged at the working station, with the conveyors extending therefrom in opposite directions, one of the units serving to receive old ties and the other unit serving to lay new ties.

16. A mobile track maintenance apparatus for receiving or laying ties on ballast at a working station, comprising 1. an elongated conveyor extending in a direction of track elongation for conveying ties positioned on the conveyor substantially parallel to the track elongation.

2. a first support for one end of the conveyor, said support being a car,

. a second support for the other end of the conveyor, said second support including a platform having two radially extending edges enclosing an angle of one of the radially extending edges of the platform being at least in approximate alignment with the conveyor and the other radially extending platform edge extending transversely of the track elongation, the platform being downwardly inclined from the one radially extending edge,

a. the second support being at said working station,

b. one of said supports being mounted for mobility on the ballast and the other support being mounted for mobility on the track rails, and

c. the tie supporting and moving device being associated with the other conveyor end, and

. means for coupling the other conveyor end to said second support to constitute a mobile unit of the conveyor and tie moving device adapted to move partly on the ballast and partly on the rails.

17. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a series of rollers mounted on the platform for moving successive ones of the ties from the one edge to the other edge through an angle of 90.

18. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 16, comprising a stop at one end of the one radially extending edge for positioning successive ones of said ties in the first position in relation to the conveyor, and a pushing device mounted at said one edge adapted to push the successive ties and thus to initiate their movement to the other edge on said platform.

19. A mobile track maintenance apparatus for receiving or laying ties on ballast at a working station, comprising 1. an elongated conveyor extending in the direction of track elongation for conveying ties positioned on the conveyor substantially parallel to the track elongation,

2. a first support for one end of the conveyor, said support being a car,

3. a second support for the other end of the conveyor, said second support including a device for supporting the ties and moving the supported ties through an angle of 90 between a first position extending in the direction of track elongation and a second position transverse of said direction,

a. the second support being at said working station,

verse of the track elongation, and another conveyor associated with the first conveyor for receiving from or delivering to the one conveyor end successive ones of said ties, the conveyors of the conveying means being vertically adjustable in relation to each other, and 5. means for coupling the other conveyor and to said second support to constitute a mobile unit of the conveyor and tie moving device adapted to move partly on the ballast and partly on the rails.

Claims

1. A mobile track maintenance apparatus for receiving or laying ties on ballast at a working station, comprising 1. an elongated conveyor extending in the direction of track elongation for conveying the ties positioned on the conveyor substantially parallel to the track elongation; 2. a first support for one end of the conveyor, the first support being a car mounted for mobility on the track rails; 3. a second support for the other end of the conveyor, the second support being mounted for mobility on the ballast and including a device associated with the other conveyor end for supporting the ties and moving the supported ties through an angle of 90* between a first position extending in the direction of track elongation and a second position transverse of said direction, a. the second support being at said working station and b. the second support and the tie moving device constituting a mobile unit adapted to move partly on the ballast and partly on the track rails; and 4. means for raising the track rails to a level above the level of the ties at the working station, a. the conveyor extending between the raised track rails, and b. the device for supporting and moving the ties extending from the other conveyor end to below the level of the raised rails.

2. a first support for one end of the conveyor, the first support being a car mounted for mobility on the track rails;

2. a first support for one end of the conveyor, said support being a car,

3. a second support for the other end of the conveyor, said second support including a platform having two radially extending edges enclosing an angle of 90*, one of the radially extending edges of the platform being at least in approximate alignment with the conveyor and the other radially extending platform edge extending transversely of the track elongation, the platform being downwardly inclined from the one radially extending edge, a. the second support being at said working station, b. one of said supports being mounted for mobility on the ballast and the other support being mounted for moBility on the track rails, and c. the tie supporting and moving device being associated with the other conveyor end, and

3. a second support for the other end of the conveyor, said second support including a device for supporting the ties and moving the supported ties through an angle of 90* between a first position extending in the direction of track elongation and a second position transverse of said direction, a. the second support being at said working station, b. one of said supports being mounted for mobility on the ballast and the other support being mounted for mobility on the track rails, and c. the tie supporting and moving device being associated with the other conveyor end,

3. a second support for the other end of the conveyor, the second support being mounted for mobility on the ballast and including a device associated with the other conveyor end for supporting the ties and moving the supported ties through an angle of 90* between a first position extending in the direction of track elongation and a second position transverse of said direction, a. the second support being at said working station and b. the second support and the tie moving device constituting a mobile unit adapted to move partly on the ballast and partly on the track rails; and

4. means for raising the track rails to a level above the level of the ties at the working station, a. the conveyor extending between the raised track rails, and b. the device for supporting and moving the ties extending from the other conveyor end to below the level of the raised rails.

4. conveying means associated with the one conveyor end on said car for transporting successive ones of said ties in the first position from or to the one conveyor end, a. the conveying means comprising a first conveyor for moving successive ones of the ties in a direction transverse of the track elongation, and another conveyor associated with the first conveyor for receiving from or delivering to the one conveyor end successive ones of said ties, the conveyors of the conveying means being vertically adjustable in relation to each other, and

4. means for coupling the other conveyor end to said second support to constitute a mobile unit of the conveyor and tie moving device adapted to move partly on the ballast and partly on the rails.

5. means for coupling the other conveyor end to said second support to constitute a mobile unit of the conveyor and tie moving device adapted to move partly on the ballast and partly on the rails.

16. A mobile track maintenance apparatus for receiving or laying ties on ballast at a working station, comprising

17. The mobile track maintenance apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a series of rollers mounted on the platform for moving successive ones of the ties from the one edge to the other edge through an angle of 90*.

19. A mobile track maintenance apparatus for receiving or laying ties on ballast at a working station, comprising