WO2023131652A1 - Conditioning apparatus for cleaning and/or drying a track bed formed from ballast stones, and conditioning method using said conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a conditioning apparatus (KV) for cleaning and/or drying a track bed (GB) formed from ballast stones (ST), comprising: - a hood device (HE) for housing a volume (VO), wherein the volume (VO) includes at least a partial volume (TV) of the track bed (GB), - a vacuum device (VE) for generating a negative pressure in the volume (VO) and/or a blower device (GE) for generating an air flow in the volume (VO), and/or an acoustic device (SE) for emitting acoustic waves into the volume (VO). The invention also relates to a conditioning method and a device.

Description

CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND/OR DRYING A RAIL BED MADE OF GRAVEL AND CONDITIONING METHOD USING SUCH CONDITIONING APPARATUS

The invention relates to a conditioning device, a conditioning method and a device for cleaning and/or drying a track bed formed from ballast stones.

The ballast stones in the track bed serve to distribute and absorb dynamic loads from rail vehicles. The effects of the weather, such as rain, as well as changes in load, result in abrasion or wear of sharp-edged ballast stones and the formation of dirt. The abrasion or crushed ballast stones can remain in the track bed and penetrate deep into the track bed.

It is common for cavities in the track bed to be filled with materials such as polyurethane foam, thus permanently protecting the ballast from the wear and tear described, since this makes it more difficult or impossible for the ballast grains to be relocated. In addition, the track bed can better distribute and cushion loads when it is foam-filled. In order to be able to foam a track bed evenly and with high quality, it is necessary to prepare it accordingly for foaming. To this end, it is desirable for the track bed to be cleaned of dirt and appropriately dried and/or pre-tempered in order to set a moisture level that is as well-defined as possible within the track bed and thus the best possible distribution of the foam to be introduced.

A heating bell is known from EP 1 619 305 B1, which is lowered onto a corresponding segment of the track bed before foaming in order to dry the segment with hot air. With this measure, the heated air escapes laterally from the track bed. Since the measure requires a targeted lowering of the heating bell on the corresponding segment, the heating bell has to be moved several times (raising and lowering the heating bell) to dry several segments of a track bed, which considerably slows down the conditioning process. Furthermore, pre-tempered air can escape during the conversion process, also due to the raising and lowering of the heating bell, but untempered air can also flow in from outside, which makes the entire process energetically inefficient. Further devices for conditioning a track bed formed from ballast stones are known, for example, from EP 0 337 048 A1 or DE 41 08673 A1. It is described there that a suction funnel which is arranged on a rail vehicle and is positioned over a track bed is moved. A fan is connected to the suction funnel via a filter system in order to suck up and filter dirt. Compressed air nozzles are arranged inside the suction funnel to whirl up dirt particles from the ballast bed.

Due to the design, such solutions do not allow for thorough cleaning of the ballast bed without destroying the deep structure in the track bed.

The technical problem arises of creating a conditioning device, a conditioning method and a device which enable effective cleaning and/or temperature control/and/or drying of a track bed over the entire depth of a track bed and which overcome the disadvantages known from the prior art not have.

The technical problem is solved by the subject matter having the characteristics of the independent claims. Further advantageous configurations of the invention result from the dependent claims.

A basic idea of the invention is to enclose and thus define a partial volume of a track bed with the aid of a hood device. Furthermore, the partial volume is processed with the help of negative pressure and/or an air flow and/or by emitting sound waves in such a way that gravel, in particular crushed gravel (fine dust, etc.) and loose (undersized) gravel, which are therefore not in an orderly manner , tamped ballast structure arranged or associated with it, as well as removing dirt or moisture from the track bed. By loosening, in particular crushed ballast, dirt or moisture can be removed from the track bed quickly and easily, with the track bed being effectively cleaned and/or dried by this process and thus being conditioned accordingly.

A conditioning device for cleaning and/or is therefore proposed

Drying a track bed formed from ballast comprising: a hood device for enclosing a volume, the volume comprising at least a partial volume of the track bed, a vacuum device for generating a negative pressure in the volume and/or a fan device for generating an air flow in the volume and/or a sound device for emitting sound waves into the volume .

One or more of the following devices is therefore present: vacuum device, blower device, sound device. A vacuum device and a blower device are preferably present, and optionally the sound device is also present.

The track bed consists at least in part of ballast stones, which are preferably compacted. The track bed serves in particular to absorb and distribute forces in the ground. The track bed usually has an upper side, an underside and side flanks. The spacing between the top and bottom is called the depth of the track bed. In this case, a vertical axis of a Cartesian coordinate system can be oriented normal to the top and bottom of the track bed. Rails and sleepers in the form of a track grid, which is held in position by the track bed, usually rest on the upper side of the track bed. The rails specify a direction of travel for rail vehicles, with a longitudinal axis of the coordinate system being oriented parallel to this direction of travel. A longitudinal extent of the sleepers is preferably oriented parallel to a transverse axis. The window/compartment created between the sleepers and rails on the upper side of the track body is also referred to as a sleeper window or sleeper compartment. The ties are typically spaced a repetitive distance from each other along the longitudinal axis.

Directions and locations such as “back” and “front” given below are based on the longitudinal axis described above. Statements of direction or location such as "below" and "above" are oriented along the vertical axis and statements of direction or location such as "sideways", in particular "right" and "left", are oriented along the transverse axis. The track bed usually has a trapezoidal cross section, the cross section being oriented in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the shorter parallel side being arranged on the upper side of the track bed. The non-parallel sides of the trapezium are preferably arranged on or form the side flanks of the track bed. The side flanks thus delimit the track bed laterally. The track bed can be separated from the ground or so-called substructure on the underside by a base course. The base course is also referred to as formation protection course and usually consists of a compacted mixture of sand and gravel.

The conditioning device preferably has a frame, which can have beams and/or walls, and which serves as the static basic structure of the conditioning device. The hood, vacuum and/or blower and/or sound device or other parts of the conditioning device can thus advantageously be fastened to the frame. The frame may be in addition to the hood assembly. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the hood device forms the frame.

More preferably, the conditioning device can also have a lifting device for raising and lowering at least the hood device. The lifting device can include hydraulic and/or pneumatic actuators for lifting and lowering. Of course, it is also possible that other parts of the conditioning device, such as the vacuum and/or blower and/or sound device, can also be raised and lowered by means of the lifting device. In this way, the conditioning device can advantageously be protected against damage during travel, in particular during transport from one track bed section to another track bed section.

The hood device serves to enclose and define a working area, that is to say the volume which is processed or conditioned by means of the conditioning device. At least the volume has a first volume section that includes the sub-volume of the track bed that is conditioned. The partial volume preferably corresponds to a track bed section along the longitudinal axis or direction of travel, with a length and/or width of the volume being limited by a longitudinal and transverse dimension of the at least one cover element of the hood device. At the bottom, the volume is limited in particular by the base course. In particular, it can Partial volumes are cleaned and/or dried or conditioned by means of the conditioning device over the entire depth of the track bed. Furthermore, the volume can have a further volume section for arranging the vacuum and/or blower and/or sound device, in particular for arranging inlets and/or outlets of these devices. This further volume section can be located above and/or to the side of the track bed. Thus, a partial volume of the track bed can advantageously be enclosed quickly and effectively with the hood device, with ballast stones and/or dirt and/or moisture being removed from the partial volume.

The hood device preferably has at least one cover element, which can be designed as a wall and which delimits the volume, in particular at the front, rear, top and/or side, ie encloses the volume. The hood device can be formed from the cover elements.

The hood device preferably has one, several or all of the following cover elements: a front cover element, a rear cover element, two side cover elements and a top cover element.

A front cover member means a cover member located forward in the direction of movement of the conditioning device when it is moved along a roadbed. A rear cover member means a cover member located rearward in the direction of movement of the conditioning device when it is moved along a roadbed. The designation can reverse if the direction of movement is reversed. In any case, when the conditioning device is used, a front and a rear cover element are aligned transversely to the longitudinal course of the track bed.

A side cover element is arranged to the side of the track bed when the conditioning device is used when it is moved along a track bed. An upper cover element closes off the hood device at the top, ie it delimits the space enclosed by the hood device at the top.

If a covering element is mentioned below, the features described therein can apply to one, several or each of the covering elements. A cover element can be designed as a wall.

The cover member can be made of metal. If possible, the hood device has several cover elements, which are preferably arranged close to the track bed, in particular on the track panel. The cover elements preferably also enclose the side flanks of the track bed. The covering elements therefore preferably cover the side flanks of the track bed. Furthermore, the cover elements can have seals between the hood device and the track bed. Strip brushes in particular are suitable as a seal. Their fibers combine to form a sealing curtain that adapts flexibly to the shape of the track bed or track panel, in particular to a surface of the track bed and track panel. The cover elements and/or seals can be arranged in several rows one behind the other in order to increase a sealing function. The cover elements and/or seals can also have recesses that adapt to the shape of the track bed or the track panel, for example through recesses for rails. In this way, the ballast stones, dirt and/or moisture that are loosened from the track bed during the conditioning can advantageously not get into the environment either upwards, forwards, backwards or laterally.

The hood device, in particular the at least one upper and/or the two lateral cover elements, preferably has a longitudinal dimension in a range of at least 2.40 m to at most 6.0 m along the longitudinal axis. In particular, the length of the hood device extends over at least four and at most ten threshold windows. More preferably, the hood device, in particular the at least one front, top and/or rear cover element, has a transverse dimension in a range of at least 2.0 m to at most 3.5 m along the transverse axis, in particular the hood device extends over the maximum width of the track bed. The transverse dimension depends in particular on the standard width (narrow gauge/ standard gauge DB/ various broad gauges). More preferably, the at least one top cover element is in a range of at least 0.2 m spaced at most 2.0 m from a surface of the track bed or from the track panel in the vertical direction. The hood device particularly preferably extends over the entire depth of the track bed. The proposed ranges of dimensions have proven to be particularly advantageous for the hood device in tests, in particular for a standard gauge with a transverse dimension of 1435 mm. In addition, there are various transverse dimensions for standard widths between 600 mm and 3000 mm.

The at least one cover element is preferably pivotably mounted. One or more of the cover elements can be movably mounted, in particular via hinges, in particular on an aforementioned frame. Mentioned side cover elements are preferably pivotable about the longitudinal axis. Mentioned front and/or rear cover elements can preferably be pivoted about the transverse axis, so that the cover elements can be folded up during a transfer journey (manually/mechanically/hydraulically/pneumatically) and thus damage during the journey can be avoided. Alternatively, the cover elements can also be detachably fastened to the frame, for example via screw connections or also plug-in connections. Folding it up or removing it also improves the portability of the conditioning device and enables it to be arranged more easily in a means of transport, in particular in a standardized transport container, of course given the appropriate dimensions of the conditioning device.

The vacuum device serves to remove ballast stones and/or dirt and/or moisture from the track bed or from the partial volume of the track bed. The removal of ballast stones and/or dirt by means of the vacuum device preferably precedes the use of the blower device in terms of time and/or location. For this purpose, the vacuum device can generate a negative pressure, in particular a pressure gradient, in a part of the volume. For this purpose, the vacuum device can have a ventilator, which can in particular be driven electrically. The pressure gradient is preferably oriented in such a way that an air flow is created in the volume, which causes the gravel to be removed, the dirt and/or moisture to move. The vacuum device may have one or more inlets for extracting the air stream and the gravel and/or the dirt and/or the moisture. The vacuum device can also be in several parts, for example in order to expand the possibilities for arranging inlets. An inlet is preferably on the side of the track bed, in particular on the side flanks, arranged. The track bed can advantageously be penetrated quickly and effectively with an air stream, so that ballast stones and/or dirt and/or moisture can be removed from the track bed.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the blower device generates an air flow in the volume. Ballast stones and/or dirt and/or moisture to be removed from the track bed or from the partial volume of the track bed are set in motion by the air flow. For this purpose, the blower device can also have one or more fans, which can be driven, in particular, electrically. The fan device can consequently generate an overpressure, in particular a pressure drop, in part of the volume. The pressure drop is preferably oriented in such a way that the air flow penetrates the partial volume, in particular penetrates deeply, and can exit at the side flanks. The fan device can have one or more outlets for introducing the air flow into the volume. The fan device can also be in several parts, for example in order to expand the options for arranging outlets. An outlet can be arranged in particular on an upper side of the track bed. The track bed can advantageously be penetrated quickly and effectively with an air stream, so that ballast stones and/or dirt and/or moisture can be removed from the track bed.

A volume flow generated by the vacuum and/or fan device preferably has a value in a range from 10,000 m ³ /h to 20,000 m ³ /h, particularly preferably a value in a range from 14,000 m ³ /h to 16,000 m ³ /h , on. These ranges of values have proven to be particularly advantageous in tests for the volume flow depending on the size of the ballast found.

Alternatively or cumulatively, a sound device emits sound waves into the volume, in particular into the sub-volume of the track bed. The sound device can have a sound generator for generating the sound waves. The sound waves are, in particular, ultrasonic waves, with the sound waves being in a frequency range of 30,000 Hertz to 50,000 Hertz. In particular, one or more piezo elements in the sound generator can be used to generate the sound waves. The sound waves penetrate into the partial volume of the track bed and cause the ballast stones and/or dirt and/or moisture to vibrate. With the help of the vibrations, dirt and/or moisture can be detached from the bulkheads become. In particular, a cavitation effect can occur, with the sound waves, in particular ultrasonic waves, forming bubbles, in particular air bubbles, which suddenly dissolve, in particular implode, when they hit a solid surface, and thus generate so-called microjets that dirt and/or Remove moisture from the track bed.

The vacuum and/or blower device and the sound device are preferably designed as an active device. The sound device can then, in particular prior to cleaning and/or drying by means of the vacuum and/or blower device, loosen dirt and/or moisture from the ballast and the vacuum and/or blower device then, as explained above, removes the ballast and the dirt loosened by the sound device and/or the moisture from the track bed.

It is also conceivable that the conditioning device has a separating device for separating metal, such as a metal separator, which separates dirt etc. from the metal and thus advantageously reduces damage to components of the conditioning device caused by metal parts being thrown up. The separated metal can be received in a container, which can also be part of the conditioning device.

The hood means preferably has a longitudinal dimension that is greater than a transverse dimension. In operation of the conditioning device, the longitudinal dimension of the hood means extends longitudinally, i. H. Course direction, the track bed. The longitudinal direction of the track bed is the direction in which the traffic route formed with the help of the track bed runs.

The sound device and the vacuum and/or the blower device are preferably arranged one behind the other along a longitudinal axis of the hood device, in particular centrally, with the longitudinal axis preferably being an axis that runs parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the hood device, with preferably the longitudinal dimension in this case is greater than a transverse dimension of the hood assembly. A central arrangement within the meaning of this disclosure denotes that in particular the facilities along a transverse and / or longitudinal dimension of the Conditioning device are arranged in the middle. The sound device is particularly preferably arranged in such a way that the sound waves penetrate the partial volume in time and/or location before an air flow.

Furthermore, the conditioning device can comprise at least one positioning device for setting and/or monitoring a position of the conditioning device or parts thereof. In particular, the positioning device can have sensors that enable a current position, speed and/or acceleration of the conditioning device or parts thereof. These sensors serve in particular to align the conditioning device relative to the track bed and/or track panel. For example, the conditioning device can have a position sensor and/or an environment sensor, which makes it possible to position a guide element to be explained in more detail below in such a way that an air flow is guided through at least one threshold window/compartment. In particular, the guide element can be positioned over a threshold by means of the positioning device. The positioning and/or environment sensor can be designed as an image acquisition device, laser scanner or the like.

Of course, the conditioning device can also have other sensors, such as a temperature, humidity, pressure, mass and/or volume flow sensor. This is particularly advantageous for automated cleaning and/or drying of the partial volume.

The track bed, in particular the partial volume, is preferably considered to be cleaned when a predetermined quantity of ballast stones and/or dirt has been removed from the partial volume of the track bed. The predetermined amount of mass can be determined with the help of preliminary tests. The predetermined amount of mass can be measured quickly and effectively, for example, by a mass sensor. A current degree of contamination of the volume flow can also be measured using a contamination sensor, with the partial volume being considered cleaned if the measured degree of contamination is less than a predetermined threshold value. The threshold can be determined with the help of preliminary tests. Furthermore, the track bed is preferably considered to be dried when a predetermined amount of moisture has been removed from at least a partial volume of the track bed or a predetermined amount of moisture is measured in a current volume flow. The predetermined amount of moisture can be determined with the help of preliminary tests. The predetermined amount of moisture can be measured quickly and effectively by a moisture sensor, for example.

The conditioning device according to the invention is particularly suitable for subsequent foaming of cavities between the ballast remaining in the track bed, since the track bed can be cleaned and/or dried quickly and effectively. It is also conceivable for a foaming device to be part of the conditioning device, so that the steps required for conditioning, such as cleaning and/or drying the track bed, can be carried out (directly) before foaming. A time interval between conditioning and foaming of the track bed can of course depend on boundary conditions such as drying times.

It is also conceivable that the foaming device and the conditioning device are part of a tamping unit, so that the steps required for conditioning, such as cleaning and/or drying the track bed, are carried out directly after the tamping process (directly) before the foaming.

In a further embodiment, the vacuum and fan device are designed as a circulation device, with an air flow generated by means of the fan device being able to be discharged, in particular steered, preferably sucked off, by means of a negative pressure generated by means of the vacuum device. The blower device is preferably arranged centrally in the conditioning device, with the blower device generating an air flow which penetrates into the partial volume, in particular on an upper side of the track bed. The vacuum device sucks off the air flow penetrating the partial volume when it exits via inlets from the partial volume, in particular on the side flanks or via one or more threshold windows. For this purpose, the vacuum device can be arranged around a fan device, which is arranged in particular centrally. Thus, through the described interaction of blower and vacuum device, a targeted circulation of the air flow can be generated within the volume, which loosens the gravel stones and/or dirt and/or moisture to be removed from the partial volume and sets them in motion. If the hood device has the cover elements mentioned above, there is also the advantage that a pressure drop within the volume can be set particularly precisely, since the cover elements cover the volume, in particular the Separate partial volume from the environment and thus from the pressure present in the environment or almost seal it.

In a further embodiment, the conditioning device has a heat source for introducing heat into the volume, with the heat source being formed in particular by at least one infrared radiator. The heat source can be arranged on the hood device. It is also conceivable for the heat source to be part of the vacuum and/or blower device or for heat to be supplied to the blower device from the heat source via a transport line, for example by means of a heated air flow. If heat is introduced into the volume by means of the heat source, more moisture can advantageously be absorbed from the air present in the track bed and moisture can thus evaporate more quickly or the partial volume can be dried more quickly. An air flow, in particular an air flow generated by the vacuum and/or blower device, can preferably be heated by means of the heat source. An air stream is particularly preferably heated to a temperature in a range from 40°C to 90°C by means of the heat source. The temperature of the air flow can be determined, for example, with a temperature sensor arranged in the blower device. The heat source can be designed as a convector heater.

The heat source is preferably formed by at least one infrared radiator. An infrared emitter emits infrared waves into the volume. In this case, the part of the volume located between the partial volume and the infrared radiator is not heated, so that the radiant power is almost completely available for heating the partial volume and the heat can penetrate particularly deeply into the partial volume. It is also advantageous that a surface of the track bed is heated directly and not by convection, as a result of which the track bed also heats up more quickly at depth and possibly with less power than by means of an air flow. In this way, the heat can be transported quickly and energetically effectively over the entire depth of the track bed, also due to the thermal conductivity of the ballast stones and/or supported by moisture present in the track bed. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a heavily soiled track bed, since the clogged cavities mean that an air flow cannot penetrate there as effectively as in a track bed that is not soiled or is less soiled. Furthermore, an infrared radiator introduces the heat into the partial volume with little noise. In a further embodiment, the blower device has at least one guiding element for introducing the air flow into the partial volume and/or the vacuum device has at least one guiding element for guiding the air flow out of the partial volume. A guide element can in particular be part of an inlet and/or outlet. The at least one guide element can be made of metal. If the guide element is designed at least as a nozzle or diffuser, a speed of the air flow and/or the pressure drop in the volume can be advantageously influenced. The guide element is preferably arranged in such a way that it guides the air flow on the track panel directly through a sleeper window into the track bed. The air, which has been cleaned and cleaned of materials but still warm after being discharged, can be fed back into the discharge process. This increases energy efficiency and speeds up the air heating process.

At least one air passage opening, through which the air flow is introduced into the partial volume, is preferably formed or arranged between two or more guiding elements for introducing the air flow. The at least one air passage opening can in particular be formed by the intermediate space between two adjacent guide elements.

Such an air passage opening is preferably arranged at a height of 0.1% to a maximum of 30% of the total height of the hood device, viewed from the bottom up and measured from the lowest point of the hood device. The air passage opening is preferably arranged on an underside and/or an upper side of the two or more guide elements. This underside of the guide elements is preferably arranged at a height of 0.1% of the overall height of the hood device and an upper side at a maximum height of 30% of the overall height of the hood device. Alternatively or cumulatively, the air passage opening can be at a distance of 0.0 cm to a maximum of 60 cm from a lower edge of the hood device. The bottom edge referred to means the lowest bottom edge if the hood device has bottom edges at different heights. What is achieved with this embodiment is that when the conditioning device is used, the air passage opening can be arranged at the lowest possible height above the track bed in order to introduce air in a targeted manner. At least one air passage opening, through which the air flow is discharged from the partial volume, is preferably formed or arranged between two or more guiding elements for discharging the air flow. The at least one air passage opening can in particular be formed by the intermediate space between two adjacent guide elements. In particular, an air passage opening in the vacuum device should be at a smaller distance from the track bed than an air passage opening in the blower device. The distance between the track bed and the air passage opening of the vacuum device is preferably 0.0 cm, particularly preferably in a range between 0.1 cm and 0.5 cm, with an exchange with the ambient air being avoided as far as possible. Such an air passage opening is preferably arranged at a height of 0.0% to a maximum of 5% of the total height of the hood device, viewed from the bottom up and measured from the lowest point of the hood device. Alternatively or additionally, the air passage opening can be at a distance of 0.0 cm to a maximum of 15 cm from a lower edge of the hood device. The bottom edge referred to means the lowest bottom edge if the hood device has bottom edges at different heights. What is achieved with this embodiment is that when the conditioning device is used, the air passage opening can be arranged at the lowest possible height above the track bed in order to discharge air in a targeted manner.

The at least one guide element is particularly preferably arranged in such a way that the air flow is guided through one or more sleeper windows into the track bed and/or the air flow is guided out of the track bed from the side flanks or from one or more sleeper windows. The at least one guide element particularly preferably guides the air flow through at least four threshold windows simultaneously into and/or out of the track bed. A guide element can also have the same properties as the cover elements described above. In this way, the effectiveness of the conditioning device can advantageously be increased, since the guided air flow is not swirled by an unguided flow around the track panel, but can penetrate into the partial volume in a targeted manner, in particular without being swirled. The guide elements and the cover elements explained above can also be used to protect the track panel from heating up, since heating up the track panel would generate high voltages in the rails. Furthermore, the heat can here be introduced energetically more efficiently directly into the partial volume. This arrangement of the guide elements is particularly advantageous since the rails are compared to Ballast has a thermal conductivity that is several orders of magnitude better and the rails cannot dissipate the heat supplied to the track bed unhindered due to the conducting elements or heat is not transferred to the rails in an energetically inefficient manner.

Furthermore, the at least one guide element can be V-shaped, saddle-roof-shaped or triangular-shaped. In particular, a cross-sectional area of the at least one guide element is V-shaped or triangular, with the cross-sectional area being arranged in a plane which is e.g. oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis and/or orthogonal to a transverse axis of the conditioning device. The air flow can be diverted particularly effectively by means of the described shape of the guide element, in particular guided past a threshold. When the invention is used as intended, the at least one guide element can be arranged in such a way that an upper side of the described V or triangular shape faces a sleeper of the track grid, while the tapered side of the V or triangular shape faces away from the sleeper. In other words: The at least one guide element is in particular V-shaped with the tip pointing upwards (upside-down V, so that the tip of the V-shape points upwards). In this way, the sleeper can be covered particularly effectively by the at least one guide element, or the air flow can be guided past the sleeper through a sleeper window into the track bed.

In a further embodiment, the guide element of the blower device and/or the guide element of the vacuum device is/are displaceable relative to the hood device, in particular to an outer part of the hood device. Displaceable means that the guide element can be moved in a translatory manner, preferably along or parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hood device. Thus, the guiding elements, in particular the air passage openings mentioned, can advantageously be positioned in relation to a threshold window or over a rail so that an air flow does not have to flow around the track grid in order to penetrate into the partial volume of the track bed.

This is particularly advantageous when the conditioning device is arranged on a means of transport and the hood device, in particular an outer part of the hood device, moves with the means of transport, in particular along the long axis. The guide elements can then be displaced in such a way that a movement of the hood device, in particular of the outer part, can be compensated for in such a way that the guide elements are stationary relative to one or more threshold windows. This is explained in more detail below.

Preferably, the conditioning device has a filter for filtering gravel and/or dirt and/or moisture. When removing gravel and dirt in particular, dust can be thrown up from the track bed. Dust can also be stirred up when an air flow is introduced. On the one hand, this whirled-up dust can be hazardous to health if it is inhaled by people in the vicinity of the track bed. In particular, the dust can be respirable. On the other hand, the dust can also adversely affect the function of the conditioning device, for example because a fan of the vacuum and/or blower device becomes dirty. The filter can be part of the vacuum and/or fan device and can be used to filter an air flow. In particular, the filter can filter air withdrawn from the volume before it escapes into the environment. The conditioning device preferably comprises a large number of filters, it being possible for the filters to have different degrees of filtration. For example, a first filter can be designed as a metal grid for filtering gravel, with gravel only being able to pass through the filter up to a predetermined grain size. The metal grid may be arranged in front of an inlet of the vacuum device for removing the ballast. Alternatively or cumulatively, a filter designed as a grate can be arranged on one or more sleeper windows, which prevents ballast stones that exceed a minimum grain size, eg 5 cm, from being removed from the track bed. This can be an advantage, for example, if the track has already been deep-swept, since this means that additional ballast stones that are already lying on the surface of the track bed, for example, are not removed. The grid can adapt to the geometry of the deep sweep, whereby guideline 820.2010A08 can apply to the deep sweep. In this way, it can advantageously be ensured that only ballast stones with a predetermined grain size are removed from the track bed, with, for example, precisely those ballast stones which do not comply with the guidelines of the infrastructure operator being removed from the track bed. Another filter can be used to filter dirt down to a dirt particle size of 10 μm micrometers and can be designed as a fabric filter. In this way, dirt and in particular the aforementioned dust can be effectively and safely filtered out of the air. If it should be necessary to comply with clean air regulations, a filter designed as a fabric filter can also be used, which effectively and safely separates fine dust particles, for example in a collection device.

In a further embodiment, the conditioning device additionally has one or more of the following devices: a receiving device for receiving ballast stones, dirt and/or moisture removed from the track bed, a removal device for removing ballast stones, dirt and/or moisture removed from the track bed.

The receiving device can be designed as a container or tank and can be arranged on the frame of the conditioning device. In particular, the receiving device is arranged outside the volume. An inlet of the vacuum device is preferably connected to the receiving device, for example via a transport line. In this way, gravel stones and/or dirt and/or moisture removed from the volume can be transported into the receiving device. A pressure gradient in the transport lines can be sufficient for this purpose. In particular, a transport line can be arranged on or in the cover element explained above, or can be formed by it. In this way, ballast, dirt and/or moisture can be transported away from the volume, in particular via a side flank of the track bed. With the aid of the recording device, a quantity of ballast stones and/or dirt and/or moisture removed from the track bed can advantageously be temporarily stored and in particular determined, for example via the weight of the recorded quantity of mass. In addition, the mass removed from the volume does not get into the environment in an uncontrolled manner due to the receiving device. A capacity of the receiving device can be in a range from 1 cubic meter to 100 cubic meters. A collecting device for respirable dust or fine dust can be arranged separately from the receiving device, for example as part of a filter for filtering the air flow, in which case the capacity of the collecting device can be less, preferably significantly less, than the capacity of the receiving device, for example 0.1 cubic meters . Alternatively or cumulatively, the conditioning device has a discharge device. The discharge device preferably serves to connect the volume enclosed by the hood device to the environment. For this purpose, the removal device can conduct removed ballast stones, dirt and/or moisture out of the volume into the environment in a controlled manner. For example, the discharge device can serve as an outlet for the vacuum device and, in particular, direct a previously filtered air flow into the environment in a controlled manner. The removal device is preferably oriented laterally or longitudinally to the track bed, in the case of a longitudinal orientation in particular in front of or behind the hood device, viewed along the longitudinal axis or longitudinal direction of the hood device, so that removed ballast stones, dirt and/or moisture are removed transversely or longitudinally to the direction of travel. In particular, an outlet of the discharge device is arranged in such a way that it cannot protrude into the transverse dimension of another vehicle. It is also conceivable that the discharge device is used for the controlled emptying of the receiving device. For this purpose, the removal device can be connected to the receiving device, for example via transport lines. This results in the technical advantage that the conditioning device can continue cleaning and/or drying a track bed, regardless of the capacity of the receiving device.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the conditioning device can have a separating device. The separating device can, for example, use a magnet to separate metal parts, such as tension clamps, rail screws, etc., from the air flow. This advantageously protects components of the conditioning device from damage and people in the vicinity of the conditioning device from sharp-edged metal parts in particular.

In a further embodiment, the volume enclosed by the hood device includes the side flanks up to the base layer of the track bed. The side flanks of the track bed can extend from the top of the track bed to the bottom of the track bed and thus to the base layer. The volume can be enclosed, for example, via the cover elements explained above up to the base layer of the track bed. An angle of attack of the cover elements relative to the surface of the side flank can in particular be adjustable, for example via the aforementioned hinges. The enclosed volume is separated from the environment over the entire depth of the track bed by the covering elements, which is particularly important for setting the previously explained pressure drop within the volume is advantageous. In particular, the partial volume can thus be cleaned and/or dried faster and more effectively to remove gravel, dirt and/or moisture.

In a further embodiment, the conditioning device is arranged in or on a means of transport and/or vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, or forms this. Since a track bed to be conditioned can have a length of several kilometers, it makes sense to arrange the conditioning device on a means of transport. Such a means of transport can, for example, be a chassis on which the conditioning device can be placed in a modular manner. In particular, such a chassis can be suitable for moving on rails. The conditioning device can rest in particular by means of a crane on transverse and longitudinal beams of the means of transport and/or can be fastened to the means of transport by means of screw connections.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the conditioning device is arranged on a vehicle. The invention thus also provides an arrangement comprising: the conditioning device and furthermore a vehicle or a means of transport, the conditioning device being arranged on the vehicle or the means of transport, in particular being attached thereto. The vehicle can differ from the means of transport in particular in that the vehicle includes an independent drive for locomotion. Otherwise, what was said above about the means of transport applies to the vehicle. Arranged on a vehicle, the conditioning device can be moved independently, i.e. without a railcar. The means of transport and/or vehicle is designed in particular as a rail vehicle for locomotion on rails. The means of transport and/or vehicle can therefore be moved on rails. In this way, the means of transport and/or vehicle can be guided directly by the rails along the track bed. Of course, the conditioning device can also include or form the described means of transport and/or the vehicle.

The conditioning device is preferably arranged in a modular manner on the means of transport and/or vehicle. In particular, modular designates that several conditioning devices can be arranged one behind the other on the means of transport. In this way, a larger number of track bed sections can be transported in a shorter time be conditioned, whereby the individual modules could alternatively carry out the originally integral functions of the conditioning device separately (suction, heating, drying, sound waves, ...). It is also conceivable that a conditioning device, for example with a foaming device for foaming, is arranged in a modular manner on a means of transport and/or vehicle. For this purpose, the conditioning device can have a predetermined longitudinal and width dimension. In this way, the use of the conditioning device can advantageously be scaled and/or combined.

In a further embodiment, the conditioning device has a guide element for moving at least one inner part of the hood device relative to an outer part of the hood device. If the conditioning device is arranged, for example, on a means of transport, the means of transport can

Move conditioning device along a track bed. In order to increase efficiency, it is advantageous if the means of transport moves continuously along the track bed, in order to avoid repeated braking and starting of the means of transport. For effective cleaning and/or drying of the track bed, however, it is advantageous if at least part of the conditioning device remains over a track section or partial volume for a predetermined minimum period. The inventors have recognized this conflict of objectives and therefore propose a guide element which allows such a relative movement between an inner part of the hood device and an outer part of the hood device, whereby the movement of the means of transport and/or vehicle is compensated and it is relatively stationary for a minimum period between Track bed section and at least the hood device can come. In particular, there is a standstill between a track bed section and the inner part of the hood device. A length of the guide element can be selected so that the relative standstill between the track bed section and the hood device, in particular between a track bed section and the inner part of the hood device, is made possible for the entire minimum duration. The guide element is designed in particular as a linear guide element. The guide element can have a servomotor, which enables the movement, in particular of the inner part, along the guide element. Preferably, the servomotor can move at least the inner part at a speed that is a Corresponds to the speed of movement of the outdoor part or the means of transport and/or vehicle.

In particular, the movement of the inner part relative to the outer part is oriented along a longitudinal axis of the hood device.

The vacuum and/or blower and/or sound device can be arranged in or on the inner part. The inner part can be designed as guide elements or can include them. The outer part can be designed as cover elements or include them. It is also conceivable that the inner and outer part are designed as a frame or have a frame, with the outer part enclosing the inner part, ie in particular framing it.

In a further embodiment, the conditioning device has a guide element for moving at least the hood device relative to a means of transport and/or vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle. In this case, a guide element is proposed which allows a relative movement between the means of transport and/or vehicle and at least the hood device, whereby the movement of the means of transport and/or vehicle is compensated for and there is a relative standstill between the track bed section and at least the hood device for a minimum period of time comes. A length of the guide element can be selected in such a way that the relative standstill between the track bed section and the hood device is made possible for the entire minimum period. The guide element is designed in particular as a linear guide element. The guide element can have a servomotor, which enables the movement, in particular of the hood device, along the guide element. The servomotor can preferably move at least the hood device at a speed which, in terms of absolute value, corresponds to a speed of movement of the means of transport and/or vehicle.

More preferably, other parts of the conditioning device, such as the vacuum, blower and/or sound device, can also be moved along the guide element. The guide element is arranged in particular on the frame of the conditioning device or fastened in a displaceable manner. In a further embodiment, the conditioning device has a length in a range from 2.4 m to 8.0 m and/or a width in a range from 2.0 m to 3.5 m and/or a height in a range from 0, 5m to 2.5m. The ranges mentioned for the length and/or width and/or height of the conditioning device have proven to be particularly advantageous in the development of the prototype. In particular, the areas mentioned enable a modular arrangement of the conditioning device on a means of transport and/or vehicle, preferably on a control track (1435 mm) in accordance with the EBO regulation.

In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning device has a device for introducing a surfactant-containing fluid into the volume. In particular, the fluid is introduced into the track bed before a negative pressure is generated or before an air flow is introduced. The fluid can in particular be water enriched with surfactants. The device can comprise a tank for receiving the fluid and a pump for conveying the fluid from the tank into the volume. The fluid can be introduced into the partial volume via injection nozzles, in particular on an upper side of the track bed. This results in the technical advantage that when cleaning the track bed, water-insoluble dirt, such as lipid-containing or greasy dirt particles, can be quickly and effectively detached from the surfaces of the ballast by means of the surfactant-containing fluid. The fluid introduced into the partial volume can in particular be removed from the partial volume again by the air flow. The surfactants used can be biodegradable.

In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning device has a transport line, the transport line fluidically connecting an inlet to the vacuum device. In particular, the transport line can guide an air flow from the inlet to the vacuum device. The transport line can be designed to be flexible, that is to say flexible or limp. For this purpose, the transport line can be made of polyethylene, for example, and be designed as a bellows tube. As a result, the transport line can be arranged flexibly in different positions. In particular, the inlet of the vacuum device can be positioned relative to the track bed. For example, the inlet can be positioned on a side flank of the track bed in order to suck in particular respirable dust from an area of the track bed, as a result of which this area of the track bed is cleaned particularly intensively. The entrance should not protrude into oncoming traffic, ie it is inside a given clearance profile. A filter is preferably arranged at or in front of an outlet of the vacuum device, which filter filters dust out of the air flow, so that dust, in particular respirable dust, does not get into the environment.

In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum device is detachably fastened to the conditioning device, with a blower of the vacuum device preferably also being able to generate a negative pressure outside of the hood device. In particular, this makes the vacuum device self-sufficient. For example, an inlet of the vacuum device, preferably via the flexible transport line explained above, can be arranged on a track bed section in such a way that this track bed section can be cleaned particularly intensively. This is advantageous, for example, in order to post-treat a section of the conditioned track bed after conditioning. For example, dirt remaining in an area of the track bed, in particular dust, can be removed from the area without having to position the entire conditioning device over the area of the track bed to be reworked.

In a preferred embodiment, the positioning device has a sensor and/or feeler element, the sensor and/or feeler element being suitable for determining the position of at least one threshold. In particular, the position of the at least one sill is used to arrange the hood device over at least one sill window. This can be done, for example, by the positioning device, based on the position, outputting a control signal to a servomotor, which arranges the hood device over at least one threshold window.

Such a button element can in particular have at least one contact switch, wherein the contact switch can detect a contact of the button element with at least one threshold. At least one first contact switch is preferably moved into a lowered position by means of a lever, while another contact switch remains in a raised position. The lowered position is below a horizontal plane defined by the top of the sleepers and the raised position is above that horizontal plane. When the first contact switch comes into contact with a first side of the threshold, the further contact switch is also moved into a lowered position by means of a further lever method, whereby this is positioned on the sill side of the sill opposite the first sill side. As a result, the first and further contact switches together with the levers form a gripper which encompasses the at least one sleeper. For example, a guide element can be positioned over a threshold and held in this position by the gripper.

A conditioning method with a conditioning device according to one of the embodiments described in this disclosure is also proposed. In particular, the conditioning method has the following steps: enclosing a volume by means of a hood device, the volume comprising at least a partial volume of the track bed,

generating a negative pressure by means of a vacuum device in the volume and/or generating an air flow by means of a fan device in the volume and/or emitting sound waves into the volume by means of a sound device,

Removing gravel and/or dirt and/or moisture from the volume by means of the negative pressure and/or air flow and/or the sound waves.

All of the embodiments of a conditioning device described in this disclosure are suitable for carrying out the conditioning method. The technical effects and advantages resulting for the conditioning device can be transferred to the conditioning method.

The device and/or the conditioning device according to an embodiment described in this disclosure is/are particularly suitable for carrying out one, several or all steps of a conditioning method according to an embodiment described in this disclosure. All the embodiments of a conditioning device and/or a device described in this disclosure are suitable for carrying out the conditioning method.

In a further embodiment of the conditioning method, the conditioning device is arranged in a moving means of transport, the conditioning device being guided in a counter-movement relative to the means of transport with the aid of a guide element, with a relative movement between the track bed and the conditioning device by means of the counter-movement is reduced and/or the conditioning device is moved continuously relative to the track bed by means of the guide element. The counter-movement serves to compensate for the speed of movement of the means of transport and/or vehicle, as a result of which the relative movement is at least reduced.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the conditioning device can also be moved continuously relative to the track bed by means of the guide element. It is also conceivable that the means of transport performs a continuous movement. As previously explained, the relative movement can advantageously speed up the conditioning of a track bed, since frequent braking and starting of the means of transport is not necessary. In particular, the precise alignment of the conditioning device over the threshold window does not have to be carried out with the aid of the means of transport.

In a further embodiment of the conditioning method, the conditioning device is arranged on or in a moving means of transport and/or vehicle, with an inner part of the hood device being guided in a counter-movement relative to the means of transport and/or vehicle, in particular with the aid of a guide element a relative movement between the track bed and the at least one inner part of the hood device is reduced or prevented by means of the counter-movement and/or the at least one inner part is moved relative to the track bed, in particular by means of the guide element. The means of transport and/or vehicle preferably moves continuously.

In a further embodiment of the conditioning method, the at least one inner part has a plurality of guiding elements for guiding the air flow through a plurality of sleeper windows into the track bed, with method a) in a first method period the guiding elements being positioned over sleepers of a first set of adjacent sleepers and a relative movement between the track bed and the at least one inner part of the hood device is prevented by means of the counter-movement, so that the air flow is guided through several sleeper windows which are formed between the sleepers of the first set of adjacent sleepers, b) after the first period of the procedure, the at least one inner part, in particular by means of the Guide element moves relative to the track bed is that the guide elements are positioned over sleepers of a second set of adjacent sleepers, wherein the second set of adjacent sleepers contains at least one sleeper which is not contained in the first set of adjacent sleepers, c) in a second process period, a relative movement between the track bed and the at least an interior portion of the hood means is prevented by means of the reverse movement and the air flow is directed through a plurality of sill windows formed between the sills of the second set of adjacent sills.

This procedure can be continued indefinitely. The sequence of steps (b) and c)) can be repeated, with the set of adjacent thresholds being changed with each repetition and a further method period following in each case.

A first repetition is as follows: b2) after the second method period, the at least one inner part is moved relative to the track bed in such a way that the guide elements are positioned over sleepers of a third set of adjacent sleepers, with the third set of adjacent sleepers containing at least one sleeper which in is not included in the second set of adjacent sleepers,

C2) in a third method period, relative movement between the track bed and the at least one inner part of the hood device is prevented by means of the counter-movement and the air flow is directed through a plurality of sleeper windows formed between the sleepers of the third set of adjacent sleepers.

In general, the repetition can be expressed as follows: b _x )after the nth process period, at least one inner part is moved relative to the track bed in such a way that the guide elements are positioned over sleepers of a (m)th set of adjacent sleepers, with the (m) -th set of adjacent thresholds contains at least one threshold that is in the nth set adjacent sleepers is not included, c _x ) in a (m)-th process period, a relative movement between the track bed and the at least one inner part of the hood device is prevented by means of the counter-movement and the air flow is guided through several sleeper windows, which are between the sleepers of the (m) -th set of adjacent thresholds are formed.

The variables n and m are integers, preferably m=n+1.

X denotes a run of steps (b) and c)) and for each subsequent run the number n and m is increased by at least 1 compared to the previous run.

The means of transport and/or vehicle moves continuously in particular over the entire period of the method, in particular continuously relative to the track bed. The entire method period includes at least the first method period, the intermediate period after the first method period (ie the period in which the above method step b) is carried out) and the second method period. The means of transport and/or vehicle preferably moves at a constant speed, in particular in the direction of travel. It is also possible for the means of transport and/or vehicle to move or be moved discontinuously. In particular, the means of transport and/or vehicle can stand still or almost stand still relative to the track bed. This is particularly advantageous if, for example, the means of transport and/or vehicle is to linger over a track bed section in order to achieve particularly thorough cleaning and/or drying.

The inner part or the guide elements, on the other hand, can move or be moved discontinuously, i.e. the relative movement of the inner part and/or the guide elements is discontinuous—when viewed over the entire process period—especially relative to the track bed. In other words: the relative movement between the inner part and/or guide elements and the track bed is prevented in the first and second method period due to the positioning over the first or second set of sleepers.

Ie the relative speed between the inner part and/or guide elements and the track bed is zero or nearly zero in the first and second procedural periods. However, after the first method period, in the intervening period between the first and the second method period, the relative movement is not prevented. This is because the inner part and/or the guide elements is/are displaced after the first method period from the first set of adjacent sleepers to the second set of adjacent sleepers, for example in an offset movement. This means that the relative speed between the inner part and/or guide elements and the track bed is between the first and the second process period, in the intermediate period, for example equal to or greater than the speed of movement of the means of transport and/or vehicle. In an interaction with the described, continuous movement of the means of transport and/or vehicle, a particularly effective and thorough drying and/or cleaning of the track bed results, with no starting and/or braking of the means of transport and/or vehicle being necessary. This is particularly advantageous if the means of transport and/or vehicle is part of a means of transport and/or a combination of vehicles, for example a train with several cars.

In particular, the first set of adjacent thresholds includes at least one threshold that is not included in the second set.

Preferably, the first set of adjacent thresholds and the second set of adjacent thresholds comprise an intersection of adjacent thresholds, i.e. at least one threshold encompassed by both the first set and the second set of adjacent thresholds. As a result, in particular the track bed sections to be conditioned overlap in the first and second method period, as a result of which a particularly thorough cleaning and/or drying of the track bed is achieved. However, it is also possible that the first set of adjacent thresholds and the second set of adjacent thresholds are disjoint, i.e. have no common thresholds. This is particularly advantageous if, for example, a particularly time-effective drying and/or cleaning is desired, for example because the level of dirt on the track bed has been determined to be low. The inner part is particularly preferably offset by exactly one threshold, in particular in the direction of travel, in particular after the first method period.

The positioning of the guide elements over the sills of the first and/or second

Set of adjacent thresholds includes in particular that the guide elements Obscure or substantially obscure sills of the respective set of adjacent sills when viewed from above.

In a preferred embodiment, a counter-movement of the hood device is generated, in particular during a continuous movement of the means of transport, with the hood device remaining stationary over at least one threshold window for a predetermined period of time. Subsequently, the hood device can again be set in a relative movement opposite to the counter-movement in order to be moved relative to at least one further threshold window.

In a preferred embodiment, sound waves are sent out into the volume by means of a sound device, the sound waves being sent out temporally and/or locally before the generation of a negative pressure and/or air flow. The sound waves can advantageously be used to loosen dirt and/or moisture from the ballast in the track bed in terms of time and/or location before the ballast and/or dirt and/or moisture can be removed from the track bed by means of negative pressure and/or by means of the air flow from the Partial volumes are removed.

If the vacuum and fan device are designed as a circulation device, the vacuum and fan device can be connected to one another within the conditioning device via transport lines, with an air flow circulating at least partially within the conditioning device. The result of this is that a circulation of the air flow that is at least partially closed to the environment inside the conditioning device is distorted. Of course, a receiving and/or discharge device can also be part of the circulation device; in particular, the transport lines can guide gravel, dirt and/or moisture as well as the air flow within the conditioning device. In addition, the pressure gradient in the volume can be set precisely and efficiently in terms of energy, since the air flow does not exit directly from the volume into the environment. If additional heat is introduced into the volume by means of a heat source, this additional heat is not removed from the conditioning device in an energetically inefficient manner when the air flow exits into the environment, but can be reused due to the at least partial circulation. In such a circulation system, vacuum and blower devices can also share a fan for generating the air flow in an energy-efficient manner. In a further embodiment, the conditioning device is arranged in a moving means of transport and/or vehicle, with at least one inner part of the hood device being designed to be guided in such a way, in particular with the aid of the at least one guide element, in a counter-movement relative to the means of transport and/or vehicle that a relative movement, in particular a relative speed, between the track bed and the at least one inner part of the hood device is reduced or prevented by means of the counter-movement and/or the at least one inner part of the hood device can be moved relative to the track bed.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the at least one inner part of the hood device is designed to be guided in an offset movement relative to the means of transport and/or vehicle, in particular with the aid of the at least one guide element, with a relative movement, in particular a relative speed, between the track bed and the at least an inner part is raised by the offset movement.

In particular, the previously explained outer part of the hood device is arranged in a stationary manner on the means of transport and/or vehicle, while the inner part of the hood device can be moved relative to the means of transport and/or vehicle or can be guided by means of the guide element.

The counter-movement can include the at least one feeler element positioning the inner part of the hood device or the at least one guide element in the at least one position explained above, with the relative movement between the inner part and the outer part being produced, for example, by a forward movement of the outer part, with the inner part, e.g. along a linear guide, the guide element is displaced relative to the outer part. It is also possible for the counter-movement to include the inner part being actively displaced by means of the guide element, with the force required for this being applied, for example, by a servomotor or actuator.

A relative movement between the inner and outer part can thus be generated by the counter-movement, with the inner part moving more slowly than the outer part relative to the track bed or not at all. In particular, a movement of the outer part, eg due to a journey of the means of transport and / or by the counter-movement Vehicle in the direction of travel to be compensated. In particular, the counter-movement is oriented against the direction of travel. Furthermore, the inner part of the hood device can be positioned over one or more threshold windows, in particular stationary to a track bed section, by the counter-movement. In particular, for example, a guide element of the inner part can be arranged over a threshold, while the outer part moves with the means of transport and/or vehicle, for example. This enables, for example, a targeted introduction of an air flow through the sleeper window into the track bed.

The displacement movement can include the inner part of the hood device being displaced, in particular by means of the at least one guide element, e.g. by at least an integral number of thresholds or threshold windows along a longitudinal axis of the hood device. The offset movement can therefore include an additional movement to a movement of the outer part, which is oriented, for example, in the direction of travel of the means of transport and/or vehicle. In particular, the displacement movement is oriented in the direction of travel. The offset movement can therefore produce a relative movement between the outer and inner parts, with the inner part moving faster than the outer part relative to the track bed, for example. This enables the inner part to be positioned over a second track bed section, for example while the means of transport and/or vehicle is in motion, which is adjacent to a first, previously conditioned, track bed section in the direction of travel. The offset movement can cause guide elements that are positioned over ties of a first set of adjacent ties to be positioned by the offset movement over ties of a second set of adjacent ties, as described above with reference to a method according to the invention. For example, a location, particularly a longitudinal dimension, of the first track bed section may be defined by a first set of adjacent sleepers. A position, in particular a longitudinal dimension, of the second track bed section can be defined, for example, by a second set of adjacent sleepers.

Both during the counter-movement and during the offset movement, the means of transport and/or the vehicle does not necessarily have to be braked and/or restarted, so that a continuous movement of the means of transport and/or vehicle is possible. The outdoor part and/or the means of transport and/or the However, the vehicle can also stop, for example to carry out the offset movement.

In particular, the conditioning device can be designed to carry out the counter-movement and the offset movement in an alternating manner. In the counter-movement, the inner part can be arranged stationary over one or more threshold windows, e.g. for a particularly predetermined period of time, while the outer part moves, e.g. In the offset movement, the inner part can then be offset almost immediately, e.g. in the direction of travel, with the counter-movement starting again after the offset movement.

In a further embodiment, the conditioning device and/or the device has at least one actuator for an inner part of the hood device. The actuator is provided in particular for moving the inner part of the hood device. The actuator is further preferably provided for movement, counter-movement and/or offset movement of the inner part relative to the means of transport and/or vehicle. In particular, the actuator is provided for movement, counter-movement and/or offset movement relative to an outer part of the hood device. The actuator can in particular be configured pneumatically, electrically and/or hydraulically. The actuator can be designed as a motor, in particular a servomotor. The movement generated by the actuator can also be or include a movement of the inner part relative to the track bed.

In a further embodiment, the at least one inner part has at least one guide element for guiding the air flow through one or more sleeper windows into the track bed, wherein the at least one guide element can be guided along a longitudinal axis of the hood device.

The at least one guide element can be arranged in a stationary manner on the inner part, so that the inner part is stationary relative to the at least one guide element. The longitudinal axis of the hood device can be a longitudinal axis of the coordinate system explained above and can be oriented, for example, parallel to a direction of travel of a means of transport and/or vehicle and/or parallel to the rails of the track panel. In a further embodiment, the at least one guide element can be arranged in a position above a sleeper of a track panel. As a result, an air flow generated by the blower device can be guided around the threshold by means of the guide element. In this way, unnecessary heating of the threshold can at least be reduced.

Arrangable includes, in particular, that the at least one guide element can be positioned in the position above the threshold.

In a further embodiment, the at least one guiding element is designed in such a way that it covers or can essentially cover the sleeper in the position seen from above, preferably there are several guiding elements which are designed in such a way that they cover adjacent sleepers seen from above or in the Essentially able to hide. As a result, an air flow generated by the blower device can be guided around the threshold by means of the guide element. In this way, unnecessary heating of the threshold can at least be reduced.

In a further embodiment, there are a plurality of guide elements, with a spacing between two adjacent guide elements corresponding to an extension of a threshold window in the longitudinal direction.

In a further embodiment, the conditioning device, in particular the hood device, specifically the inner part mentioned, has a plurality of guide elements, with a spacing between two adjacent guide elements corresponding to an extension of a threshold window in the longitudinal direction. In this way, an air flow can be guided directly into the sill window, while the guide elements cover the sills when viewed from above and thus at least reduce the flow of air onto the sills.

The spacing is in particular oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hood device. The spacing between two adjacent guide elements preferably has a value of 20 cm to 150 cm, preferably 30 cm to 120 cm, particularly preferably 50 cm to 100 cm. The spacing between two adjacent guide elements preferably corresponds to the spacing between two sleepers. Particularly preferably, the spacing can be adapted to a sleeper spacing of the track panel.

Alternatively or cumulatively, a spacing between two adjacent guide elements corresponds to a sill spacing between two adjacent sills. The objection to the threshold is in particular limited by the inner flanks of two adjacent thresholds and/or is oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hood device. Alternatively or cumulatively, a spacing corresponds to the shortest distance between adjacent guide elements, preferably in the longitudinal direction or along the longitudinal axis.

In a further embodiment, the at least one inner part has a positioning device with at least one feeler element, wherein the at least one feeler element is designed to position the at least one guide element in the position above the sleeper of the track panel and/or the at least one inner part has a positioning device with at least one position sensor for positioning the at least one guide element in the position above the threshold.

The at least one probe element can also be referred to as a holding brake. The at least one button element has already been explained at the outset. The button element can comprise a contact switch designed as a cantilever and/or a lever designed as an actuator. The actuator or lever can be operatively connected to the contact switch. The at least one probe element is designed to contact a threshold and thus to position the at least one guide element over a threshold and to hold it in the position over the threshold at least for a period of time, in particular a predetermined one.

The positioning device, in particular the feeler element and/or the position sensor, is preferably designed to position a plurality of guide elements, in particular simultaneously, in the position above a threshold, in particular above a set of thresholds. In other words: a positioning device, in particular a feeler element and/or a position sensor, is/are sufficient to position a plurality of guide elements over the respective sleepers to be covered. The For this purpose, guide elements can be rigidly connected to one another, for example via a frame, preferably a frame of the inner part.

In a further embodiment, the conditioning device has at least one seal. The at least one seal can be designed as a strip brush. The at least one seal can be arranged on an underside of the at least one guide element. If there are several guide elements, several of the guide elements, preferably all of them, can have a seal. The seal can be designed to at least partially seal a gap between the underside of the guide element and an upper side of a sill against air flowing through. It is thereby achieved that inflowing air is guided essentially or completely into the threshold window or windows. The sealing effect against air flowing through does not have to be complete, i.e. 100% of the air flow does not have to be held back by the seal. In particular, the seal has a recess for arranging a rail.

Also proposed is a device for cleaning and/or drying a track bed formed from ballast stones, comprising: a conditioning device according to an embodiment described in this disclosure, a means of transport and/or vehicle that can be moved over the track bed, the conditioning device on or in the means of transport and/or or vehicle is arranged, wherein at least one inner part of the hood device is movable relative to the means of transport and/or vehicle along a longitudinal axis of the means of transport and/or vehicle.

Movable within the meaning of this disclosure can include that the moved or guided part of the conditioning device or device can be moved actively or passively. Actively movable can include that the moving part is actively stimulated to move, for example by means of an actuator. Passively moveable can include that the moved part is mounted on another part of the conditioning device or device and is moved passively, eg by a relative movement of the other part. The moving part is in particular the inner part of the hood device. The other part can be, for example, the outer part of the hood device. Within the meaning of this disclosure, this can also apply to the terms guidable or movable. Movable along a longitudinal axis can include that the at least one inner part is movable according to the counter-movement explained above and/or according to the offset movement explained. The longitudinal axis of the means of transport and/or vehicle corresponds in particular to a longitudinal axis of the hood device.

The device for cleaning and/or drying is particularly suitable for carrying out one, several or all steps of a conditioning method according to an embodiment described in this disclosure. The technical effects and advantages explained for the conditioning device also apply to the device.

In a further embodiment, when the means of transport and/or vehicle is moved along the track bed, the inner part can be moved in a counter-movement relative to the means of transport and/or vehicle, with a relative movement between the track bed and the at least one inner part being able to be reduced or prevented by means of the counter-movement .

A relative movement between the track bed and the at least one guide element can preferably be reduced or prevented by means of the counter-movement

In a further embodiment, the inner part can be moved in a direction of travel of the means of transport and/or vehicle along the track bed relative to the means of transport and/or vehicle.

The invention is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments. The figures show:

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one according to the invention

embodiment of a conditioning device,

2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention

embodiment of a conditioning device, 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention

embodiment of a conditioning device,

4 shows a schematic flow chart of a system according to the invention

conditioning process,

5-A to 5-D longitudinal sectional views of a further embodiment of a conditioning device according to the invention,

Fig. 6 Longitudinal sectional view of another according to the invention

Embodiment of a conditioning device and

7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention

Embodiment of a conditioning device.

In the following, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same or similar technical features.

1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of a conditioning device KV according to the invention. The conditioning device KV is arranged on a means of transport TM designed as a rail vehicle. The means of transport TM can move along the longitudinal axis X (represented by an arrow) on rails SH. The rails SH, in conjunction with a plurality of sleepers SL, form a track grid which rests on a track bed GB formed from ballast stones ST. The sleepers SL are spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis X, with a free space that arises in this way between two sleepers SL being referred to as a sleeper window SF. The track bed GB is bounded at the bottom by a base course TS. A depth of the track bed GB can be measured along the vertical axis Z (represented by an arrow). The vertical axis Z is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X.

The conditioning device KV includes a hood device HE. The hood device HE has a frame on which a vacuum device VE, a blower device GE, a sound device SE and parts of the conditioning device KV to be explained in more detail below are arranged one behind the other along the longitudinal axis X. One task of the hood device HE is to enclose a volume VO with at least one cover element AB. For this purpose, the hood device HE also has cover elements AB, which separate the volume VO above the track bed GB from the environment 100 to the front, rear and sides. The covering elements AB are designed to be pivotable (see FIGS. 2 and 3) and have seals designed as strip brushes (not shown), which make it difficult for air, gravel, dirt or moisture in particular to escape into the environment 100.

The volume VO includes a partial volume TV, which corresponds to a track bed section to be cleaned and/or dried (indicated by waves). The volume VO also includes a further volume section VA, in which an inlet EL of the vacuum device VE, an outlet AL of the blower device GE and the sound device SE are arranged.

The sound device SE emits sound waves (represented by several partial circles) into the volume VO. The sound waves cause the ballast stones ST in the track bed GB to oscillate in such a way that dirt and moisture (not shown) are detached from the ballast stones ST. The sound waves are preferably emitted temporally and/or locally before an air flow is generated, since an air flow then more easily removes the dirt loosened with the aid of the sound waves from the track bed.

The vacuum and blower devices VE, GE are designed as a pressure gradient device, with the two devices VE, GE being connected to one another via transport lines TL in such a way that an air flow can circulate within the conditioning device KV. The air flow is shown in Fig. 1 by corresponding arrows.

A fan VT generates the air flow in the fan device GE. The fan VT can have a heat source designed as a heating convector, which additionally heats the air flow. The heated air flow emerges from the fan device GE at the outlet AL. The air flow is then introduced into the partial volume LE via guide elements LE. An arrangement of the guide elements LE at the outlet AL forms two nozzles, so that when the air flow is introduced into the partial volume TV, an overpressure is generated. The guide elements LE are positioned in such a way that the air flow can penetrate through the threshold windows SF directly into the partial volume TV without disadvantageous turbulence arising in the volume VO due to flow around the thresholds SL. In this way, the air flow can penetrate deep into the sub-volume TV and set crushed gravel, dirt and moisture in the sub-volume TV in motion.

A negative pressure prevails at the inlet EL of the vacuum device VE, with the air flow being directed from the partial volume TV in the direction of the inlet EL due to the pressure drop thus generated. Further guide elements LE are arranged in front of the inlet EL, so that the air flow is guided through the threshold windows SF directly to the inlet EL of the vacuum device VE. The air flow emerging from the sub-volume TV carries with it removed gravel stones, dirt and moisture. The air flow is then sucked out via the vacuum device VE together with the ballast stones, dirt and moisture (this is represented by black dots).

The extracted air flow is fed via transport lines TL to a receiving device AE designed as a container, in which the gravel, dirt and moisture removed from the track bed GB are received. The air flow circulating in the conditioning device KV is then routed from the receiving device AE through a filter Fl back to the blower device GE. Because of the filter Fl, dirt and dust in particular can be removed from the circulating air flow. In particular, the filter Fl can filter respirable dust from the air flow. The air flow filtered in this way can then be fed back to the volume VO via the fan VT.

The means of transport TM preferably moves at a constant speed along the longitudinal axis X. In order to be able to clean or dry a certain section of track for a predetermined minimum period despite the means of transport TM moving, the conditioning device KV has a guide element FE designed as a linear guide, with whose Help the hood device HE and all arranged on the hood device HE parts of the conditioning device KV can be moved relative to the transport along the longitudinal axis X. The relative movement performed in this way compensates for the movement of the means of transport TM in such a way that the hood device HE is stationary relative to the track bed GB. In this way, a specific track bed section or the partial volume TV can be conditioned for the minimum duration. The hood device HE preferably has a positioning device (not shown) with at least one sensor designed as a scanning element, which detects the position of a threshold SL, this position being used to align the hood direction HE. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor has two contact switches which touch a threshold SL, as a result of which the hood device HE can be positioned particularly precisely over a threshold window SF. The contact switches can be designed as feeler rollers.

2 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a conditioning device KV according to the invention. The cross-sectional view is oriented in a Y-Z plane spanned by the transverse and vertical Y,Z axes.

A frame RH of the conditioning device KV is arranged on a means of transport TM designed as a rail vehicle. A fan device GE and a multi-part vacuum device VE are arranged on the frame RH.

Furthermore, a hood device HE is arranged on the frame RH. The hood device HE has cover elements AB that can be pivoted via hinges SR.

According to FIG. 2, the covering elements AB are positioned over the side flanks SK of a track bed GB in such a way that the covering elements AB separate a volume VO, in particular a partial volume TV, from the surroundings 100. The sub-volume TV (represented by waves) corresponds to a track bed section of the track bed GB. Transport lines TL are also arranged on the cover elements AB.

The fan device GE arranged on the frame RH uses a fan VT to generate an air flow which is introduced via an outlet AL into the volume VO, in particular the partial volume TV. The course of the air flow from the fan device GE into the volume VO and through the partial volume TV is shown by arrows.

The transport lines TL connect the inlets EL arranged on each side flank SK to the vacuum device VE. In the volume VO there is a pressure drop between the outlet AL and the inlets EL, which is particularly advantageous for gravel, dirt and/or moisture (not shown) by means of the through the Suction vacuum device VE generated negative pressure from the track bed GB. An inlet EL can in particular extend over the entire depth of the track bed GB. Removal of gravel, dirt and/or moisture via the air flow sucked out of the sub-volume TV is shown by arrows and black dots. A receiving device AE or a removal device are not shown.

At least one transport line TL is particularly preferably designed to be flexible and pivotable on the frame RH or on the vacuum device VE (not shown). In this way, the inlet EL of the vacuum device VE can be positioned in different positions on the track bed, in particular outside of the partial volume.

The inlet EL can be positioned, for example, by means of the positioning device. However, manual positioning of the flexible transport line TL or the inlet EL is also conceivable, for example in order to particularly intensively clean dust from an additional area of the track bed. This can also be done independently of the conditioning process in a separate process.

A filter Fl is particularly preferably arranged at an outlet of the vacuum device VE, in particular respirable dust, which is transported to the vacuum device VE by means of the flexible transport line TL, being filtered out of the air flow and separated into a collecting device (not shown). This can also be done independently of the conditioning process in a separate process.

3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a conditioning device KV according to the invention. Pivoting cover elements AB are arranged on a frame RH of the conditioning device KV. In addition to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, however, the cover elements AB in FIG. 3 have several rows of seals DI designed as strip brushes. In this way, a sealing function, ie a separation of a volume VO from the environment 100, can advantageously be increased. A vacuum, blower and/or sound device VE GE, SE is not shown in FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity.

3 also shows four actuators of a lifting device HU, designed as pneumatic cylinders, which can raise and/or lower an inner part IN of the hood device HE, which includes guide elements LE. The pneumatic cylinders of the lifting device HU connect an outer part AU of the hood device HE, for example the frame RH, to the inner part IN of the hood device HE. A position of the inner part IN along the vertical axis Z can be changed relative to the outer part, for example to compensate for differences in height between the inner part IN and the sleepers SL or the track bed GB.

3 also shows a guide element FE, which can move the inner part IN of the hood device HE relative to the outer part AU of the hood device HE along the longitudinal axis X, ie in the longitudinal direction. This is explained in more detail below.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic flow chart of a conditioning method according to the invention with a conditioning device KV according to one of the embodiments described in this disclosure.

In a first step S1 of the conditioning method, a volume VO is enclosed by means of a hood device HE. In this case, the volume VO encompasses at least a partial volume TV of a track bed GB formed from ballast (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

In a further step S2, a negative pressure is generated in the volume VO by means of a vacuum device VE. Alternatively or cumulatively, an air flow is generated in the volume VO by means of a fan device GE. Further alternatively or cumulatively, sound waves are emitted into the volume VO by means of a sound device SE.

In a further step S3, ballast stones ST and/or dirt and/or moisture are removed from the volume VO by means of the negative pressure and/or the air flow and/or the sound waves. Thus, the partial volume TV, in particular the track bed GB, can be cleaned and/or dried quickly and effectively with a conditioning device KV according to the invention.

FIGS. 5-A to 5-D show longitudinal sectional views of a conditioning device KV according to the invention with a hood device HE and guide elements LE. In Figs. 5-A to 5-C, the vanes LE are positioned over a first set SL1 of adjacent sills such that an air flow at the sills SL of the first set SL1 passed directly into the threshold windows SF arranged between the thresholds SL.

The hood device HE comprises, in particular, cover elements AB and encloses a volume VO. The hood device HE, in particular an outer part AU of the hood device HE, can be stationarily connected to a means of transport TM, in particular a rail vehicle, with the means of transport TM being able to move along the longitudinal axis X.

In particular, the four guide elements LE shown in FIGS. 5-A to 5-D are part of an inner part IN of the hood device HE. The cover elements AB are part of the outer part AU of the hood device HE. The inner part IN can by means of a

Guide element FE (cf. FIG. 3) can be moved relative to the outer part AU, in particular along the longitudinal axis X. The outdoor part AU can e.g. with a

Transport means TM, in particular along the longitudinal axis X, move.

Sensor elements (not shown) determine the position of four sleepers SW on the track bed GB. As a result, the guide elements LE can be positioned over the four sleepers SL in such a way that an air flow is directed via air passage openings in the four guide elements LE directly onto the three sleeper windows SF extending between the sleepers SL and into the track bed GB, without the sleepers SL or the rails to flow around SH.

Fig. 5-A shows how the outer part AU of the hood device HE moves at a constant speed along the longitudinal axis X, e.g. with a transport means TM, the four guide elements LE being positioned over the four sleepers SL of the first set SL1 of neighboring sleepers SL .

In FIGS. 5-B and 5-C, the guide elements LE are then moved by a counter-movement relative to the outer part AU of the hood device HE and counter to the movement of the means of transport TM. The speed of the counter-movement is selected in such a way that the guide elements LE remain above the four sleepers SL or stand still relative to the sleepers SL. Accordingly, the speed of movement of the outer part AU of the hood device HE is compensated. The locomotion speed of the outdoor part AU der Hood device HE and a length of the outer part AU of the hood device HE and/or a length of the inner part IN are also selected such that the guide elements LE remain over the four sleepers SL at least until the track bed section of the track bed GB over which the guide elements LE is positioned , is fully conditioned. The length of the hood device HE, in particular of the outer part AU and/or the inner part IN of the hood device HE, can, for example, be a function of the speed of movement of the outer part AU of the hood device HE or of the means of transport TM, a predetermined distance between the sleepers SL and/or or a predetermined period of time for conditioning the track bed section to be conditioned.

In Fig. 5-D it is then shown that the guide elements LE, for example after conditioning the track bed section, are moved relative to the hood device HE along the longitudinal axis X (dashed arrow), with the four guide elements LE moving at least one sleeper SL be moved to the front. This corresponds to an offset movement in the direction of travel in order to position the guide elements LE over a second set of SL2 sleepers SL. As a result, the entire track bed GB can be conditioned in sections without the outer part AU of the hood device HE, in particular the means of transport TM, having to be braked or restarted. It is particularly advantageous that the outer part AU of the hood device HE does not have to be raised or lowered in order to condition the track bed GB in sections and that the outer part AU of the hood device HE or part of the conditioning device KV can be moved continuously.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the conditioning device KV. For the sake of clarity, only an inner part IN with a feeler element TE and an outer part AU of a hood device HE of the conditioning device KV are shown. The inner part IN has four guide elements LE, which are arranged on a frame RH of the inner part IN. The inner part IN can be moved relative to the outer part AU of the hood device HE along a longitudinal axis X (cf. FIG. 3 and 5A to 5D).

The excerpt shown enlarged in FIG. 6 shows that the pushbutton element TE is arranged on the inner part IN. The probe element TE can also be referred to as a holding brake and is used to position the inner part IN along the longitudinal axis X a track bed section to be conditioned, in particular for positioning the guide element LE shown in the enlargement above the sleeper SL.

The button element TE has two contact switches KS designed as a cantilever. Furthermore, the pushbutton element TE has two actuators AK designed as pneumatic cylinders, with one actuator AK each being operatively connected to one contact switch KS and the respective contact switch KS being able to be rotated about the transverse axis Y by means of the respective actuator AK (indicated by arrows). Thus, the respective contact switch KS can be arranged on the one hand (not shown in FIG. 6) above an upper side OB of a sill SL and on the other hand below the upper side OB of the sill SL. The free ends of the contact switches KS can each be arranged on an outer side AS of a sleeper SL or contact them in such a way that the contact switches encompass the sleeper SL and the inner part IN is held in a position above the sleeper SL.

The guide element LE shown in FIG. 6 can be positioned directly over a threshold SL by means of the pushbutton element TE and can be held in this position due to the mechanical contacting by means of the contact switch KS. Such a position can also be referred to as a holding position. In the holding position, the inner part IN is, for example, stationary relative to a track section, in particular relative to one or more sleepers SL, while the outer part AU of the hood device HE, which is arranged on a means of transport TM, can move along the longitudinal axis X, in particular continuously.

The inner part IN can be guided along the longitudinal axis X in a linear guide of the guide element FE (not shown) relative to the outer part AU. In the stopping position described, a flow of warm air can be directed around the sleepers SL by means of the guide elements LE in order to condition the track bed section. In this way, unnecessary heating of the sleepers can at least be reduced.

The pushbutton element TE can thus be used to achieve precise alignment on the sleeper SL and positive fixing of the inner part IN on both sides of the sleeper SL. In particular, the positioning is achieved by means of a mechanical contact, which the control or regulation effort, for example compared to a contactless positioning, reduced. In particular, the need for sensors and/or actuators can be reduced by the mechanical contact.

If necessary, the contact switch KS can use the actuators AK to release the contacting described on the threshold SL and to move from the holding position to a position above the threshold. Such an arrangement can be referred to as an offset arrangement of the contact switch KS. In the offset arrangement, the inner part IN can be offset by a threshold, for example by means of an offset movement along the longitudinal axis X, without the contact switches coming into contact with the thresholds SL.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the conditioning device KV. For the sake of clarity, only an inner part IN with a feeler element TE and a lifting device HU and a guide element FE are shown. It goes without saying that a plurality of pushbutton elements TE can also be arranged on the inner part IN, e.g. two pushbutton elements TE spaced apart from one another, in particular along a transverse axis Y (not shown). The inner part IN is arranged over a track grid in such a way that the guide elements LE are each arranged directly over the sleepers SL and warm air can be routed directly into a track bed section to be conditioned. The resulting advantages have already been explained above.

Also shown in FIG. 7 are excerpts A, B, C, D, and E shown enlarged.

Section A of FIG. 7 shows the pushbutton element TE in a side or transverse view. The pushbutton element TE or the contact switches KS are arranged in a holding position on a threshold SL (cf. FIG. 6).

Section B of FIG. 7 shows a guide element LE with a seal DI formed from strip brushes. The seal DI has a recess in which a rail SH is arranged. The seal DI also closes flush with an upper side OB of the threshold SL. The seal DI thus seals a gap between the inner part IN and a threshold SL. An unintended escape of hot air, eg into the environment 100, can be reduced by the seal DI. Section C of FIG. 7 shows a seal DI formed from strip brushes, which covers and thus seals the inner and outer flanks of a rail SH, in particular along the longitudinal axis X. The DI seal can prevent the SH rail from being unnecessarily heated by hot air.

One or more of the described seals DI can be arranged on the inner part IN, in particular on an underside of a guide element LE.

Section D of FIG. 7 shows a guide element FE with a pneumatic cylinder. The guide element FE effectively connects the inner part IN to an outer part AU of the hood device HE. The inner part IN can be moved relative to the outer part AU, in particular along a longitudinal axis X, by the guide element FE. Section E of FIG. 7 shows a lifting device HU with a pneumatic cylinder. The lifting device HU also functionally connects the inner part IN to an outer part AU of the hood device HE. The inner part IN can be moved relative to the outer part AU, in particular along a vertical axis Z, by the lifting device HU.

Reference List

100 environment

A cutout

AB cover element

AE recording device

AK actuator

AL outlet

AS Outside of a sill

AU external part of a hood device

B cutout

C cutout

D cutout

DI seal

E cutout

EL inlet

FE guide element

fl filters

HE hood device

HU lifting device

IN Inner part of a hood device

GB track bed

GE blower device

KS contact switch

KV conditioning device

LE guiding element

OB top of a sill

RH frame

51 first step

52 further step

53 further step

SE sound device

SF threshold window

SH rail

SK side flank SL threshold

SL1 first set of adjacent sleepers

SL2 second set of adjacent sleepers

SR hinge

ST gravel stones

TE tactile element

TL transport line

TM means of transport

TS base layer

TV partial volume

VA volume section

VE vacuum device

VO volume

VT fan

X longitudinal axis

Y transverse axis

Z vertical axis

Claims

Claims Conditioning device (KV) for cleaning and/or drying a track bed (GB) formed from ballast stones (ST), comprising: a hood device (HE) for enclosing a volume (VO), the volume (VO) being at least a partial volume (TV) of the Track bed (GB), a vacuum device (VE) for generating a negative pressure in the volume (VO) and/or a fan device (GE) for generating an air flow in the volume (VO) and/or a sound device (SE) for emitting Sound waves in the volume (VO). Conditioning device (KV) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the conditioning device (KV) is arranged in or on a moving means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle, with at least one inner part (IN) of the hood device (HE) being designed to to be guided in a counter-movement relative to the means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle in such a way that a relative movement between the track bed (GB) and the at least one inner part (IN) of the hood device (HE) is reduced or prevented by means of the counter-movement and/ or the at least one inner part (IN) of the hood device (HE) can be moved relative to the track bed (GB). Conditioning device (KV) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conditioning device (KV) has a guide element (FE) for moving at least one inner part (IN) of the hood device (HE) relative to an outer part (AU) of the hood device (HE). . Conditioning device (KV) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one inner part (IN) has at least one guide element (LE) for conducting the air flow through one or more threshold windows into the track bed, the at least one guide element (LE) along a longitudinal axis (X) of the hood device (HE) can be guided. Conditioning device (KV) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the at least one guide element (LE) can be arranged in a position above a sleeper (SL) of a track panel. Conditioning device (KV) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the at least one guide element (LE) is designed in such a way that it covers or can substantially cover the threshold (SL) in the position seen from above, preferably a plurality of guide elements (LE) are present which are designed in such a way that they can cover or substantially cover adjacent sleepers (SL) when viewed from above. Conditioning device (KV) according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that a plurality of guide elements (LE) are present, a spacing between two adjacent guide elements (LE) corresponding to an extension of a threshold window (SF) in the longitudinal direction. Conditioning device (KV) according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the at least one inner part (IN) has a positioning device with at least one feeler element (TE), the at least one feeler element (LE) being designed to move the at least one guide element (LE) in the position above the sleeper (SL) of the track grid and/or the at least one inner part (IN) has a positioning device with at least one position sensor for positioning the at least one guide element (LE) in the position above the sleeper (SL) having. Conditioning device (KV) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vacuum device (VE) and the blower device (GE) are present and the vacuum and blower device (VE, GE) are designed as a circulation device, with a means of the blower device ( GE) air flow generated by means of the vacuum device (VE) generated negative pressure can be discharged. Conditioning device (KV) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conditioning device (KV) a Heat source for introducing heat into the volume (VO), wherein the heat source (VO) is formed in particular by at least one infrared radiator. Conditioning device (KV) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blower device (GE) has at least one guide element (LE) for introducing the air flow into the partial volume (TV) and/or the vacuum device (VE) has at least one guide element (LE) for discharging the air flow from the partial volume (TV). Conditioning device (KV) according to Claim 11, characterized in that the guide element (LE) of the blower device (GE) and/or the guide element (LE) of the vacuum device (VE) is/are displaceable relative to the hood device (HE). Conditioning device (KV) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conditioning device (KV) additionally has one or more of the following devices: a receiving device (AE) for receiving ballast stones (ST), dirt and debris removed from the track bed (GB). /or moisture, a removal device for removing ballast stones (ST), dirt and/or moisture removed from the track bed (GB). Conditioning device (KV) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the volume (VO) enclosed by the hood device (HE) comprises the side flanks (SK) up to the base layer (TS) of the track bed (GB). Conditioning device (KV) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conditioning device (KV) is arranged in or on a means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, or forms this. Conditioning device (KV) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conditioning device (KV). Guide element (FE) for moving at least the hood device (HE) relative to a means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle. Conditioning device (KV) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hood device (HE) has a length in a range from 2.4 m to 8.0 m and/or a width in a range from 2.0 m to 3. 5 m and/or height in a range from 0.5 m to 2.5 m. Device for cleaning and/or drying a track bed (GB) formed from ballast stones (ST), having: a conditioning device (KV) according to one of Claims 1 to 17, a means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle that can be moved over the track bed (GB). , characterized in that the conditioning device (KV) is arranged on or in the means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle, with at least one inner part (IN) of the hood device (HE) relative to the means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle along a Longitudinal axis of the means of transport (TM) and / or vehicle is movable. Device according to Claim 18, characterized in that when the means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle is moved along the track bed (GB), the inner part (IN) can be moved in a counter-movement relative to the means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle, wherein a relative movement between the track bed (GB) and the at least one inner part (IN) can be reduced or prevented by means of the counter-movement. Device according to Claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the inner part (IN) can be moved in a direction of travel of the means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle along the track bed (GB) relative to the means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle. Conditioning method with a conditioning device (KV) according to one of Claims 1 to 17 or with a device according to one of Claims 18 to 20, having:

Enclosing (S1) a volume (VO) of a hood device (HE), the volume (VO) comprising at least a partial volume (TV) of the track bed (GB),

Generating (S2) a negative pressure using a vacuum device (VE) in the volume (VO) and/or generating an air flow using a fan device (GE) in the volume (VO) and/or emitting sound waves into the volume (VO) using a Sound device (SE), removal (S3) of gravel (ST) and/or dirt and/or moisture from the volume (VO) by means of the negative pressure and/or air flow and/or the sound waves. Conditioning method according to Claim 21, characterized in that the conditioning device (KV) is arranged on or in a moving means of transport (TM) and/or vehicle, with an inner part (IN) of the hood device (HE) in a counter-movement relative to the means of transport ( TM) and/or vehicle, with a relative movement between the track bed (GB) and the at least one inner part (IN) of the hood device (HE) being reduced or prevented by means of the counter-movement and/or the at least one inner part (IN) relative to the Track bed (GB) is moved. Conditioning method according to Claim 22, characterized in that the at least one inner part (IN) has a plurality of guiding elements (LE) for guiding the air flow through a plurality of sleeper windows into the track bed (GB), and in method a) in a first method period the guiding elements (LE ) are positioned over sleepers (SL) of a first set (SL1) of adjacent sleepers and a relative movement between the track bed (GB) and the at least one inner part (IN) of the hood device (HE) is prevented by means of the counter-movement, so that the air flow through several sleeper windows (SF) formed between the sills (SL) of the first set (SL1) of adjacent sills, b) after the first method period, the at least one inner part (IN) is moved relative to the track bed (GB) in such a way that the guide elements (LE) are positioned over sleepers (SL) of a second set (SL2) of adjacent sleepers, the second set ( SL2) of adjacent sleepers contains at least one sleeper (SL) that is not contained in the first set (SL1) of adjacent sleepers, c) in a second process period, a relative movement between the track bed (GB) and the at least one inner part (IN) of the hood device (HE) is prevented by means of the counter-movement and the air flow is directed through a plurality of sill windows (SF) formed between the sills (SL) of the second set (SL2) of adjacent sills.