WO2018055349A1

WO2018055349A1 - Apparatus for moving rail ballast

Info

Publication number: WO2018055349A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/052780
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Francis Mcculloch
Original assignee: W & D Mcculloch Ltd.
Priority date: 2016-09-22
Filing date: 2017-09-19
Publication date: 2018-03-29
Also published as: GB201616130D0; EP3516114A1; EP3516114B1

Abstract

A railway maintenance apparatus (10) configured for track side operation comprises an apparatus body (14, 16, 18) supported by first and second ground engaging means comprising chain treads (28) arranged at first and second opposite sides of the apparatus body, each chain tread (28) extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,a rail lifting head (48) arranged below at least part of the apparatus body between the first and second ground engaging means(28), a lifting means (40) adapted to raise or lower the rail lifting head(48), anda plough (106) arranged at the first side of the apparatus body, the plough including a blade (104) arranged to sweep ballast and a plough support structure (150) connecting the blade to the apparatus body. The spacing between the first and second ground engaging means (28) is between 0.7 and 1.5 m so that in operation the apparatus (10) can be used on single track railways, with one ground engaging means between the rails of the single track railway and the other ground engaging means to one side of the rails of the single track railway, on the ballast or area close to the track. The apparatus allows automated ballast removal in areas of restricted access.

Description

APPARATUS FOR MOVING RAIL BALLAST

Field of invention The present invention relates to apparatus for moving rail ballast from the top of railway sleepers during railway maintenance activities, and a method of moving rail ballast using such apparatus.

Background to invention

Railway maintenance may involve replacing railway rails when they are worn. It is known within the railway maintenance industry to use apparatus that runs on an existing railway to lift worn rails and lay replacement rails. Recent years have seen the introduction of trackside rail handling apparatus, which can lift and transpose rails without having to use apparatus which runs on a railway.

EP1733096A discloses a railway rail handling apparatus for lifting and transposing railway rails. A rail moving means depends from a chassis supported on two spaced apart support frames, which are each supported on a continuous chain tread. On the chassis are supported a pneumatic or hydraulic system, a diesel generator and a user control, which provide pneumatic or hydraulic actuation, generation and user control of the railway rail handling apparatus in accordance with known techniques. The diesel generator provides motive power for the railway rail handling apparatus. The rail moving means comprises an elongate telescopic body, the upper part of which is mounted on the chassis by means of a coupling, which provides for swivelling and/or rotation of the rail moving means relative to the chassis. A pin can be inserted by an operator into an upper part of the rail moving means to arrest swivelling and/or rotation relative to the chassis.

At the lower end of the rail moving means there is provided a lifting head for accommodating a rail. The lifting head has two spaced apart side members extending down from a top plate and defining an aperture, and a lower roller spaced from the top plate and extending between the two side members. A rail can be lifted into the aperture with the roller removed, and the roller replaced while the rail is held in the aperture. The rail is then lowered to be supported by the roller and engaged by the lifting head. As the apparatus moves along the ground, the lifting head urges the rail to move laterally to align the rail to the position of the lifting head. The aperture is of sufficient dimensions to accommodate discontinuities and projections encountered on a surface of a rail, as the rail moving means is moved along the rail.

However once a rail has been lifted from its installed position it is often necessary to remove ballast from the tops of the sleepers before further maintenance work can be carried out, such as realigning or replacing sleepers. Such ballast removal is conventionally carried out by hand, which is labour intensive and time consuming.

There is a need for a simple and efficient method of removing ballast from the tops of sleepers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which enables the removal of ballast from the tops of sleepers in a simple, efficient and cost effective manner.

Summary of invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a railway maintenance apparatus configured for track side operation comprising:

an apparatus body supported by first and second ground engaging means comprising chain treads arranged at first and second opposite sides of the apparatus body, each chain tread extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,

a rail lifting head arranged below at least part of the apparatus body between the first and second ground engaging means,

a lifting means adapted to raise or lower the rail lifting head, and

a plough arranged at the first side of the apparatus body, the plough including a blade arranged to sweep ballast and a plough support structure connecting the blade to the apparatus body.

wherein the spacing between the first and second ground engaging means is between 0.7 and 1.5 m so that in operation the apparatus can be used on a single track railway, with one ground engaging means between the rails of the single track railway and the other ground engaging means to one side of the rails of the single track railway, on the ballast or area close to the track.

The plough support structure may include one or more support arms arranged to pivot at an end distal from the plough blade about a substantially horizontal pivot axis. The plough support structure may include a hydraulic ram adapted to control raising and lowering of the blade.

The blade may have a lower edge which is substantially horizontal. The apparatus may include blade adjustment means to adjust the height of the blade.

The apparatus may include a first conveyor arranged at the first side of the apparatus body and arranged to transport ballast from the plough. The plough and first conveyor may be removably attachable to the apparatus body.

Preferably the first conveyor is arranged to transport ballast from the plough to a ballast distribution tool arranged at the first side of the apparatus body behind the plough.

Preferably the first conveyor is an inclined conveyor. The first end of the conveyor may be a lower end adjacent to the plough. The second end may be a higher end adjacent to the ballast distribution tool. The ballast distribution tool may comprise a second conveyor adapted to transport ballast from the first conveyor to a ballast deposition location on the ground. The ballast deposition location may be between the rails of a railway track, or in the cess adjacent to a railway track, or between adjacent railway tracks. Preferably the second conveyor is a lateral conveyor.

Alternatively the ballast distribution tool may comprise a container for collecting the ballast.

The second conveyor may comprise a first end adjacent to the second end of the first conveyor and a second end selectively positionable adjacent to a ballast deposition location on the ground. The second conveyor may be steerably mounted on the apparatus body.

Preferably the first and/or second conveyors are hydraulically driven.

Instead of chain treads, the first and second ground engaging means may each comprise front and rear wheels, the front and rear wheels of each ground engaging means being arranged on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The first conveyor may include means for adjusting the height of the first end of the first conveyor.

The first end of the first conveyor may be connected to the plough, so that raising or lowering of the plough blade causes corresponding raising or lowering of the first end of the first conveyor.

The first conveyor may include a pair of opposed brush members, each being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis adjacent to the first end of the first conveyor.

The first conveyor may include a cylindrical rotor having rigid tines of metal, mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis at the first end of the first conveyor.

The first conveyor may include a fixed plate at the first end of the first conveyor below the opposed brush members and/or cylindrical rotor for collecting ballast and feeding ballast onto the first conveyor.

The lifting means adapted to raise or lower the rail lifting head may be electric, hydraulic or pneumatic, for example an electric motor or hydraulic cylinder.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of removing ballast from a rail side location, such as the top of railway sleepers, using a railway maintenance apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the method comprising the steps of:

setting the blade of the plough at a required level to remove ballast, moving the railway maintenance apparatus forward,

removing ballast with the blade, and

conveying said ballast for disposal and/or redistribution. The method may include the further steps of:

attaching a first conveyor to the first side of the apparatus body behind the plough,

urging said ballast onto a first end of the first conveyor, and

conveying said ballast to a second end of said first conveyor for disposal and/or redistribution.

The method may include the step of conveying the ballast to a ballast deposition location on the ground. The ballast deposition location may be between the rails of a railway track, or in the cess adjacent to a railway track, or between adjacent railway tracks.

The step of conveying the ballast to a ballast deposition location on the ground may be accomplished using a second conveyor adapted to transport ballast from the first conveyor. The second conveyor may be a lateral conveyor.

The method may include the step of selectively positioning the second conveyor adjacent to a ballast deposition location on the ground.

Alternatively the method may include the step of conveying the ballast to a ballast distribution tool or container for collecting the ballast.

The step of setting a blade of the plough at a required level to remove ballast may include raising and/or lowering the plough blade using a plough support structure. The first end of the first conveyor may be connected to the plough, so that raising or lowering of the plough blade causes corresponding raising or lowering of the first end of the first conveyor.

The method may include the step of rotating a pair of opposed brush members in opposite directions to direct ballast towards the first end of the first conveyor. The method may include the step of rotating a cylindrical rotor having rigid tines about a horizontal axis to urge ballast onto the first conveyor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a prior art railway handling apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the railway handling apparatus of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a conveyor of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the conveyor of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention attached to the side of a railway rail handling apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of the apparatus of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention attached to the side of a railway rail handling apparatus, with the conveyor removed;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a conveyor of an apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention with the conveyor belt removed; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the lower end of the conveyor of Fig. 8.

Description of Specific Embodiments

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 respectively provide side and front views of a known railway rail handling apparatus 10 of the sort which may be used in the present invention. The apparatus 10 comprises rail moving means 12, which is located approximately half way between and depends between two spaced apart apparatus support frame members 14, 16, which extend from ground engaging wheel means 28, such as tracks. The rail moving means 12 depends from a chassis 18, which is supported on the two spaced apart apparatus support frame members 14, 16. The chassis 18 and support frame members 14, 16 together form a support frame or apparatus body. However the invention is not limited to this arrangement of a support frame. Any structure which is capable of supporting a rail moving means 12 between the ground engaging wheel means 28 may be used. The apparatus body may comprise any components of the structure.

On the chassis 18 are supported a pneumatic or hydraulic system 20, a diesel generator 22 and a user control 24, which provide pneumatic or hydraulic actuation, generation and user control of the railway rail handling apparatus in accordance with known techniques.

The diesel generator provides motive power for the railway rail handling apparatus. In addition, a block and tackle arrangement 26 is mounted on the front of the chassis 18. The block and tackle arrangement can be moved to one of several positions between the spaced apart support members 14, 16. A continuous chain tread 28 (which constitutes ground engaging wheel means) is provided at the end of each of the two spaced apart apparatus support members 14, 16. Although the invention is described with respect to continuous chain treads 28, it is to be understood that the invention covers other ground engaging wheel means, including for example a pair of wheels provided at the end of each of the two spaced apart apparatus support members 14, 16. The chain treads 28 extend in a direction parallel to the

longitudinal axis of the apparatus 10, which is located equidistant between the left and right hand side chain treads 28.

The rail moving means 12 comprises a lifting means 40. In the illustrated example the lifting means 40 comprises an elongate telescopic body, having a first part 42 that is telescopically received in a second part 44. However any suitable lifting means may be used. The upper end of the lifting means 40 is mounted on the chassis 18, which is part of the apparatus body, by means of a coupling 46, which provides for swivelling and/or rotation of the rail moving means 12 in relation to the chassis 16. A pin (not shown and which constitutes arresting means) is inserted by an operator into an upper part of the rail moving means 12 to arrest swivelling and/or rotation in relation to the chassis 16.

At the lower end of the rail moving means 12 there is a lifting head 48 comprising an aperture defined by two spaced apart side members 50, 52, a plate 54 substantially perpendicular to the spaced apart side members 50, 52 and a roller 56 (which constitutes a gate means) spaced apart from the plate. In use the rail moving means 12 can be moved along a rail which is supported on the roller 56.

Structural parts of the railway rail handling apparatus, such as the chassis 18, the support members 14, 16, the block and tackle arrangement 26, the rail moving means 12 and the rail lifting head 48 are largely formed of a metal, such as steel. The continuous chain tread 28 may be formed of rubber, plastics or similar such material. The height of the railway rail handling apparatus 10 from the ground to the chassis 18, when the apparatus is standing on the continuous chain tread 28, may be between 0.8 and 1.2 m, preferably about 1 m. A width of the chassis 18 between the ground engaging wheel means 28 may be between 0.7 and 1.5 m, more preferably between 0.8 and 1.2 m, most preferably between 0.9 m and 1.1 m or about 1 m. The width is measured as the clear horizontal distance between the ground engaging wheel means on the ground, which will be less than the centreline to centreline distance.

The relatively small spacing between the ground engaging wheel means enables the apparatus to be used in locations which would otherwise be difficult to access. The apparatus can be used in trackside operation, for example with one chain tread 28 in the "four foot", i.e. the area between two rails of a railway track, and the other wheel in the "six foot", i.e. the area between two adjacent railway tracks, or the other wheel in the cess, i.e. the area to the side of a railway track, either on or off the ballast.

A length of the apparatus from the front of the continuous chain tread to its rear may be between 1.2 and 2.2 m, preferably about 1.7m, and the length of the chassis may be between 0.8 and 1.2 m, preferably about 1 m. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a conveyor apparatus 100 is attached to the support members 14, 16 of the railway moving apparatus 10, for example using U-bolts 102. As shown in Fig. 5, the conveyor is mounted behind a blade 104 of a plough 106. Behind the blade, which is not shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is a pair of opposed brush members 108, each being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis 110. Each brush member 108 has a plurality of blades or fingers 1 12 of rubber or other resilient material extending from the lower surface of a brush head 114. In use the brush members 108 are driven, for example by a hydraulic motor, to rotate in opposite directions as shown by arrows A. The fingers 1 12 urge ballast material into the conveyor apparatus 100.

Behind the brush members 108 is a cylindrical rotor 116 having rigid spikes or tines 1 18 of metal or similar. The rotor 116 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow B about a horizontal axis, to push the ballast material over a plate 120 and onto the belt 122 of an inclined conveyor 124 of the conveyor apparatus 100.

Both the cylindrical rotor 116 and the belt 122 may be driven by a hydraulic motor or any other suitable drive means. Ballast which is collected by the blade 104 of the plough 106 passes over the top of the blade 104 and is collected by the brush members 108, which sweep the excess ballast towards the cylindrical rotor 1 16 and the conveyor belt 122. The excess ballast is then carried on the belt 122 from the lower end 126 of the inclined conveyor 124 to the upper end 128, where it can either be collected by a suitable receptacle (not shown) or transferred to a lateral conveyor 130. The lateral conveyor 130 can be operated in either direction, either to transport the excess ballast to a receptacle near the centre of the railway moving apparatus 10, or to transport the excess ballast to a position away from the sleepers, for example to the "four foot" cess, which is the area between the two rails of a railway track, or to the "six foot" cess, which is the area between the inner rails of an up railway track and an adjacent down railway track. A removable guard 132 (omitted for clarity in Fig. 3) can be provided over the lower end 126 of the inclined conveyor 124, the brush members 108 and the cylindrical rotor 1 16, to prevent ballast being thrown by the action of the brushes and rotor.

Any suitable support frame 134 may be used to support the conveyor on the support members 14, 16 of the railway moving apparatus 10. The support frame is shown schematically in Figs. 3 and 4, and may include one or more telescopic members 136 to allow adjustment in height of one or both of the lower end 126 and upper end 128 of the inclined conveyor 124. The plate 120 may be connected to the support frame 134 in any suitable manner, or may be connected to the blade 104 of the plough 106.

The plough 106 can be seen in Fig. 6. The blade 104 of the plough 106 is connected to the support members 14, 16 of the railway moving apparatus 10 by a support structure 150 including a hydraulic ram 152 and a linkage member 154, so that the blade 104 can be raised and lowered through operation of levers (not shown) at the front of the machine which control operation of the ram 152. The support frame 134 which supports the conveyor 100 is omitted for clarity in Fig. 6.

Although in the illustrated embodiment the plate 120 is shown as separate from the blade 104, in a modified embodiment the blade 104 can be integral with the plate 120. The brush members 108 may be omitted, or may be positioned in front of the blade 104.

In another variation the substantially vertical portion of the blade 104a may have a gap beneath it so that ballast can pass between the vertical portion 104a and the substantially horizontal portion of the blade 104b straight onto the plate 120, which is connected to or is continuous with the horizontal portion.

In another variation the lower end 126 of the inclined conveyor 124 is connected directly or indirectly to the blade 104, so that as the blade 104 is raised or lowered, so is the lower end 126 of the inclined conveyor 124. In the embodiment of Fig. 6 the conveyor 100 is arranged above the track member 28 of the rail moving apparatus 10. In another variation the conveyor 100 may be positioned laterally to the side of the track member 28 of the rail moving apparatus 10. Fig. 7 shows the support structure 150 of the plough 106, with the conveyor 100 removed for clarity. The apparatus can be operated with or without the conveyor. The support structure 150 includes a lateral frame 156 extending from the support members 14, 16 of the railway moving apparatus 10. The lateral frame 156 may include bracing members 158 to provide the required stiffness. The hydraulic ram 152 and linkage member 154 connect the blade 104 to the lateral frame 156. The invention is not limited to such a support structure 150, and any suitable method of fixing the plough 106 to the railway moving apparatus 10 may be used. The position of the blade laterally may be fixed, or one or more additional hydraulic rams (not shown) may be provided, to allow variation in lateral position of the blade 104.

Figs. 8 and 9 show the components of the conveyor 100 in exploded view. Rotary brush members 108 are driven by hydraulic moors 170. The cylindrical rotor 116 is driven by a gear drive (not shown) which connects the drive wheel 172 on the axis of the rotor 116 to the drive 174 of the inclined conveyor 124. The inclined conveyor 125 includes a belt 122 (not shown in Figs. 8 and 9 for clarity) supported on rollers 176. Two side walls 178 keep the ballast on the belt 122. Hydraulic motors 180 and corresponding drives 174 are provided at the top and bottom of the inclined conveyor 124. The lateral conveyor 130 may be similar in structure to the inclined conveyor 124, and may have its own hydraulic drive (not shown). The conveyor 100 is not limited to the structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and any suitable structure may be used.

The apparatus may be used without a conveyor 100, whereby the blade 104 is positioned to push ballast sideways, for example into the cess, or to remove ballast from the tops of sleepers and push it longitudinally onto the ballast located in the gaps between the sleepers of a railway track.

The invention provides an efficient apparatus for removing ballast from the tops of sleepers adjacent to the rails of a railway, and moving it so that it will not return to the sleepers. The invention can be used in conjunction with a rail moving apparatus, so does not require a separate wheeled or tracked machine. The invention makes it unnecessary to manually remove surplus ballast when carrying out rail maintenance or rail replacement operations. The apparatus allows automated ballast removal using a small machine which can be used in areas of restricted access, because it can operate with one ground engaging means in the "four foot" and another ground engaging means in the "six foot" or cess.

Claims

1. Railway maintenance apparatus configured for track side operation comprising:

a lifting means adapted to raise or lower the rail lifting head, and

2. Railway maintenance apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plough support structure includes one or more support arms arranged to pivot at an end distal from the plough blade about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.

3. Railway maintenance apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the plough support structure includes a hydraulic ram adapted to control raising and lowering of the blade.

4. Railway maintenance apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the blade has a lower edge which is substantially horizontal, and wherein the apparatus includes blade adjustment means to adjust the height of the blade.

5. Railway maintenance apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a first conveyor arranged at the first side of the apparatus body and arranged to transport ballast from the plough.

6. Railway maintenance apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plough and first conveyor are removably attachable to the apparatus body.

7. Railway maintenance apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first conveyor is an inclined conveyor having a first lower end adjacent to the plough.

8. Railway maintenance apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a ballast distribution tool arranged at the first side of the apparatus body behind the plough, wherein the first conveyor has a second upper end adjacent to the ballast distribution tool, and wherein the first conveyor is arranged to transport ballast from the plough to the ballast distribution tool.

9. Railway maintenance apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ballast distribution tool comprises a second conveyor adapted to transport ballast from the first conveyor to a ballast deposition location on the ground.

10. Railway maintenance apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second conveyor comprises a first end adjacent to the second end of the first conveyor and a second end selectively positionable adjacent to a ballast deposition location on the ground, and wherein the second conveyor is steerably mounted on the apparatus body.

1 1. Railway maintenance apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the first conveyor includes means for adjusting the height of the first end of the first conveyor.

12. Railway maintenance apparatus according to claim 1 1 , wherein the first end of the first conveyor is connected to the plough, so that raising or lowering of the plough blade causes corresponding raising or lowering of the first end of the first conveyor.

13. Railway maintenance apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 12, wherein the first conveyor includes a pair of opposed brush members, each being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis adjacent to a first end of the first conveyor.

14. Railway maintenance apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 13, wherein the first conveyor includes a cylindrical rotor having rigid tines of metal, mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis at a first end of the first conveyor.

15. Railway maintenance apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the conveyor includes a fixed plate at the first end of the conveyor below the opposed brush members and/or cylindrical rotor for collecting ballast and feeding ballast onto the conveyor.

16. Method of removing ballast from a rail side location, such as the top of railway sleepers, using a railway maintenance apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 15, the method comprising the steps of:

removing ballast with the blade, and

conveying said ballast for disposal and/or redistribution.

17. Method according to claim 16, including the further steps of:

urging said ballast onto a first end of the first conveyor, and

18. Method according to claim 17, including the further step of conveying the ballast to a ballast deposition location on the ground.

19. Method according to claim 18, wherein the ballast deposition location is between the rails of a railway track, or in the cess adjacent to a railway track, or between adjacent railway tracks.

20. Method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the step of conveying the ballast to a ballast deposition location on the ground is accomplished using a second conveyor adapted to transport ballast from the first conveyor.

21. Method according to any of claims 17 to 20, wherein the step of setting a blade of the plough at a required level to remove ballast includes raising and/or lowering the plough blade using a plough support structure.

22. Method according to claim 21 , wherein the first end of the first conveyor is connected to the plough, so that raising or lowering of the plough blade causes corresponding raising or lowering of the first end of the first conveyor.

23. Method according to any of claims 17 to 22, wherein the method includes the step of rotating a pair of opposed brush members in opposite directions to direct ballast towards the first end of the first conveyor.

24. Method according to any of claims 17 to 23, wherein the method includes the step of rotating a cylindrical rotor having rigid tines about a horizontal axis to urge ballast onto the first conveyor.