Track tamper for compacting ballast bed of a railway track

Abstract

A track tamper (100) for tamping a ballast bed of a track is described, the track tamper having a tamper unit with at least two rows of tampering devices (ST) for tamping the track on each track tamper side (R, L), the tampering devices being movable transversely to the longitudinal direction (AR) of the track tamper by means of transverse displacement devices, wherein the tamper unit (V, H) is rotatably mounted on the carrier (18) for rotational adjustment about a vertical axis (A) of the track tamper. In order to provide advantageous design conditions, it is proposed here that at least two tamper units (V, H) are arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction (AR) of the track tamper, the at least two tamper units being rotatably mounted about the vertical axis (A) of the track tamper by means of a common rotation device (2), wherein the tampering devices (ST) of the tamper units (V, H) are independently of one another movable transversely to the longitudinal direction (AR) of the track tamper and are independently of one another raiseable and lowerable relative to the suspension (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a track tamping machine for compacting ballast track beds. The track tamping machine includes a tamping unit with at least two tamping devices arranged in a row for tamping the track on each side of the track tamping machine. The tamping devices are capable of moving laterally to the longitudinal direction of the track tamping machine via a lateral movement device. The outermost tamping devices are capable of moving laterally to the longitudinal direction of the track tamping machine in a suspension via an adjusting drive device connected to the tamping device. The innermost tamping device is capable of moving laterally to the outermost tamping device in the same longitudinal direction via the same guiding device and in the same suspension, independently of the outermost tamping device, via the adjusting drive device. The tamping unit is rotatably supported on a carrier for rotational adjustment about the vertical axis of the track tamping machine. Background Technology

[0002] For example, document AT 516 311 A1 discloses such a track tamping machine. A guide post is guided in a suspension platform, and the tamping devices of the tamping unit, constituting a so-called split device, are fixedly connected to the guide post. The tamping devices located on the inner sides slide on a common sliding rod or tube. This movement is achieved by a lateral movement drive. This design allows the devices located on the inner sides to move laterally until they are restricted by devices located on the outer sides. According to the invention, the sliding rods or tubes of the left and right devices are arranged spatially independently and guided in the suspension, such that the sliding rods or tubes do not obstruct each other, and at least two guide rods or tubes are installed vertically relative to each other not only along the track longitudinal direction but also vertically. This design according to the invention achieves significantly higher vertical rigidity, longitudinal rigidity, and torsional rigidity. It is also specified that the sliding rods or tubes can extend through holes in the device frames of the opposing devices, thus making full use of the allowable clearance of the rails. This design achieves a longer lateral adjustment path.

[0003] Tamping machines that continuously travel during operation are known, for example, by reference US 6,705,232. A significant advantage of this type of tamping machinery is that the much larger main unit does not need to stop and re-accelerate at each sleeper to be tamped. This increases the machine's operating speed compared to machines that operate periodically and also reduces the acceleration acting on the machine operator. The periodic advance from sleeper area to sleeper area is limited only to the satellite trolley carrying the work equipment, which is designed to move longitudinally relative to the main frame of the machine. Such machines are also known by reference AT401943 B.

[0004] Tamping equipment is used to fix the position of the track during maintenance. This is achieved by tamping tools, known as tamping picks, which are inserted into the ballast next to the sleepers and tamped by a linear closed loop of superimposed compaction vibrations. There are tamping machines specifically designed for tamping turnouts (with detachable tamping devices—so-called branching devices, additional lifting devices for branch lines, and pivotable tamping picks, etc.) and tamping machines with preferred designs for tamping sections. Tamping machines that operate periodically are known, but those that operate continuously are also known. In addition, there are single-sleeper tamping machines and multi-sleeper tamping machines. Multi-sleeper tamping machines tamp multiple sleepers at a time during a work cycle. Some multi-sleeper tamping machines can also be used to tamp only one sleeper at a time.

[0005] Document AT 520 267 A1 illustrates a design in which two independently raising and lowering tamping devices are mounted on a tamping device frame that can move together. A major drawback of this design in turnouts is that typically only one pair of devices can be lowered, as the other pair cannot move independently and is therefore obstructed by obstacles such as rails, frogs, switch rails, and wing rails when inserting work tools.

[0006] Common, general-purpose, continuous tamping machines are equipped with four splitting devices (two on each side – one inner splitting device and one outer splitting device). The advantage of these machines is their high flexibility in turnouts. On the other hand, there are also continuous tamping machines with two clamps (Zweischellenstopfmaschine). While these two-clamp tamping machines offer greater efficiency in tamping sections, their disadvantage is that in complex turnout areas (frog / point rail areas), they can only operate with one device or with most of the tamping picks pivoted and raised.

[0007] A well-compacted track must be compacted on both the left and right sides. Therefore, in the first working process, the main track is compacted, and on the branch lines of the turnouts, only the outer track of the branch is compacted on one side. In the second working process, areas that could not be addressed in the first process are compacted. In turnouts, the outer branching device compacts the branch, while the inner branching device partially compacts the inner track. Therefore, in the second working process, the mechanic must remember the locations where he has already compacted along the inner or outer side of the track. Repeated compaction of the same location will lead to irregularities in track geometry. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide a device that has good tamping performance and is also applicable to tamping sections and tamping turnouts.

[0009] The technical problem is solved according to the present invention as follows: at least two tamping units are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction of the track tamping machine, and the at least two tamping units are rotatably supported around the vertical axis of the track tamping machine by a common rotating device, wherein the tamping equipment of these tamping units can move independently laterally to the longitudinal direction of the track tamping machine and can be raised and lowered independently relative to the suspension.

[0010] Therefore, at least two left and at least two right tamping devices of the two tamping units can move independently laterally to the longitudinal direction of the track tamping machinery and can be raised and lowered independently relative to the suspension. Furthermore, the tamping devices of the tamping units are rotatably supported about the vertical axis of the track tamping machinery via a common rotating device. This measure allows the system to provide equally good tamping performance for tamping sections and tamping switches. If the tamping devices are pushed together relative to the suspension and moved to an intermediate position via the rotating device, the machinery is adjusted for tamping sections, wherein the tamping performance can be adjusted by the number of tamping units. Each tamping unit tamps one sleeper in one work cycle.

[0011] In turnouts, the position of the tamping equipment can be adjusted due to its lateral mobility to allow all tamping equipment to tamp simultaneously. If there is an obstruction below the tamping equipment, it can simply be positioned in an unobstructed area, or if tamping is not possible at that location, the tamping equipment can be left unlowered. Another significant advantage is that, for example, the preceding tamping unit can completely tamp the continuous main line, while the following tamping units handle the branch lines, or vice versa. Between tamping cycles, for example, only one sleeper is fed to the next, instead of feeding across two or more sleepers depending on the number of tamping units, as is done in tamping sections. Therefore, on branch lines, only a small number of sleepers remain to be tamped for the second work cycle, i.e., only those sleepers outside the range of lateral movement. This improves work efficiency and significantly improves turnout positioning and work quality. Because the tamping units can rotate together via a rotating device, the tamping equipment in the turnout area can be oriented in such a way that it can move laterally parallel to the inclined long sleepers. The device according to the invention can be used in general-purpose tamping machinery that operates periodically, as well as in tamping machinery that operates continuously with double or multiple sleepers.

[0012] According to an advantageous extension of the invention, the tamping unit located between the track tamping machinery's traveling mechanisms can move within a predetermined range of motion along the longitudinal direction of the track tamping machinery within the traveling mechanisms by adjusting the drive device. This enables the tamping unit to be accurately positioned along the longitudinal direction of the track tamping machinery or allows for continuous operation of the track tamping machinery. A satellite trolley, equipped with a rotating device and suspension, is particularly capable of moving between the tamping machine's traveling mechanisms. The satellite trolley carries the tamping unit and, if necessary, track lifting and straightening equipment. This versatile tamping machinery can be used for tamping sections with high tamping efficiency or specifically for turnout tamping.

[0013] At least three tamping units are arranged longitudinally along the track tamping machinery, which allows more than two sleepers to be tamped in one work cycle.

[0014] To improve stiffness and achieve a compact design, at least two guide devices can be supported in the suspension for each tamping unit and on each side of the track tamping machine. These guide devices are offset from each other along the longitudinal direction and the vertical axis of the track tamping machine. A suspension can be provided for each tamping unit, or multiple tamping units can be accommodated via a common suspension.

[0015] In order to advantageously avoid potential obstacles, the tamping equipment used for tamping turnouts is equipped with a tamping pick that can pivot around the longitudinal axis of the track tamping machinery. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The technical solution of the present invention is illustrated in the figures. In the figures:

[0017] Figure 1 The image shows a side view of two tamping units arranged on a track tamping machine.

[0018] Figure 2 A right-side view of the tamping unit arranged on the track tamping machinery is shown, and

[0019] Figure 3 A side view of a track tamping machine with two tamping units in continuous operation is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The track tamping machine 100 for compacting the ballast track includes at least two tamping units V and H, each tamping unit having at least two tamping devices ST arranged in a row for tamping the track on the sides R and L of each track tamping machine. The tamping devices are capable of moving laterally to the longitudinal direction AR of the track tamping machine via a lateral moving device. The tamping devices located on the outer side are capable of moving laterally to the longitudinal direction AR of the track tamping machine in the suspension via a guide device associated with the tamping device and by means of an adjusting drive device 21.

[0021] The inner tamping device, independently of the outer tamping device, can be moved laterally to the outer tamping device ST via the adjustment drive device, transversely to the longitudinal direction AR of the track tamping machine, on the same guide device and in the same suspension 3. The tamping units V and H are rotatably supported on the carrier 18 so as to be adjusted for rotation around the vertical axis A of the track tamping machine.

[0022] At least two tamping units V and H are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction AR of the track tamping machine and are supported rotatably about the vertical axis of the track tamping machine via a common rotating device 2. Furthermore, each individual tamping device of the tamping unit can move laterally to the longitudinal direction AR of the track tamping machine and can be raised and lowered independently relative to the suspension 3.

[0023] In addition, the tamping units V and H located between the track tamping machinery traveling mechanisms can move within a specified range b along the longitudinal direction of the track tamping machinery between the track tamping machinery traveling mechanisms by adjusting the drive device 99.

[0024] In suspension 3, for each tamping device, LHA and LHI, RHA and RHI, LVA and LVI, RVA and RVI are supported, and at least two guide devices 6, 20 are supported on each side of each track tamping machine. These guide devices 6, 20 are offset from each other along the longitudinal direction and vertical axis of the track tamping machine. These tamping devices ST are equipped with tamping picks 11 that are pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the track tamping machine for tamping turnouts.

[0025] Figure 1 Show, from one side of the track along the longitudinal direction, two tamping units H (rear) and V (front), arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction AR of the track tamping machinery, as well as tamping equipment I (inner) and A (outer). Figure 2 A schematic diagram is shown along the longitudinal direction AR of the track tamping machine, in which only the two right-side tamping devices I and A of the rear tamping unit H are shown.

[0026] A crossbeam 18 is fixed to the frame of the satellite trolley 1, and the crossbeam carries the rotating ring of the rotating device 2. The rotating device is connected to the suspension 3 of the column for the guide devices 6, 20. The guide device 20 of the tamping device pair, for example, consisting of the rear inner tamping devices H, I and the rear outer tamping devices H, A, is connected to the equipment frame 4, 5 of the outer tamping device in region 7. The inner tamping devices HI, VI can move on the guide device 20. The tamping devices can move laterally relative to the longitudinal direction of the track independently of each other by adjusting the drive device 21. The guide devices 20 are arranged such that they are opposite each other in pairs. To make full use of the clearance, recesses are provided in the equipment frames 4, 5, into which the guide devices of the other side of the equipment pair L or R can be freely moved.

[0027] The tamping device consists of a tamping arm 10, in which a tamping pick 11 is fixed. The tamping arm 10 is rotatably supported on a tamping box 15 about an axis 16. A tamping drive 14 engages at the other end of the tamping arm. The tamping drive 14 has one or more engagement points 17 in the tamping box 15. The tamping drive can be designed as a purely linear drive or as an eccentric shaft drive with a feed cylinder. For clarity, a tamping device with a laterally pivotable tamping pick 11 is not shown. The tamping box moves up and down on vertical guides 13, 19, which are mounted in the tamping box frame 9. This allows the tamping devices to be raised and lowered relative to the suspension 3 individually and independently of each other. The tamping devices can be raised and lowered independently of each other via a drive 8. Two sleepers 12 are shown, which can be processed in a single operation. The entire tamping device can be adjusted parallel to the inclined long sleeper by a drive device installed on the rotating ring 2.

Claims

1. A track tamping machine (100) for compacting a ballast track bed, the track tamping machine having a tamping unit having at least two tamping devices (ST) arranged in a row for tamping the track on each side (R, L) of the track tamping machine, the tamping devices being capable of moving laterally to the longitudinal direction (AR) of the track tamping machine via a lateral moving device, wherein the outer tamping device (ST) is capable of moving laterally to the longitudinal direction (AR) of the track tamping machine in a suspension (3) via a guide device (20) associated with the tamping device and by means of an adjusting drive device (21), and the inner tamping device is capable of moving laterally to the outer tamping device in the longitudinal direction of the track tamping machine independently of the outer tamping device via the adjusting drive device in the same guide device and in the same suspension (3), wherein, The tamping units (V, H) are rotatably supported on a carrier (18) for rotational adjustment about the vertical axis (A) of the track tamping machinery. The feature is that at least two tamping units (V, H) are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction (AR) of the track tamping machinery. The at least two tamping units are rotatably supported about the vertical axis (A) of the track tamping machinery by a common rotating device (2). The tamping devices (ST) of these tamping units (V, H) are capable of moving independently laterally to the longitudinal direction (AR) of the track tamping machinery and are capable of raising and lowering independently relative to the suspension (3).

2. The track tamping machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tamping unit (V, H) located between the track tamping machinery traveling mechanisms is able to move within a specified range of movement (b) along the longitudinal direction (AR) of the track tamping machinery between the track tamping machinery traveling mechanisms by adjusting the drive device (99).

3. The track tamping machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, At least three tamping units (V, H) are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction (AR) of the track tamping machinery to tamp more than two sleepers in one work cycle (12).

4. The track tamping machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, In the suspension (3), for each tamping device pair (LHA and LHI, RHA and RHI, LVA and LVI, RVA and RVI), at least two guide devices (6, 20) are supported on each side of the track tamping machine, the guide devices (6, 20) being offset from each other along the longitudinal direction (AR) and the vertical axis (A) of the track tamping machine.

5. The track tamping machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The tamping equipment (ST) used for tamping turnouts is equipped with a tamping pick (11) that can pivot around the longitudinal axis of the track tamping machinery.

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