Tamping machine for tamping sleepers of tracks

Abstract

The invention relates to a tamping machine (1) for tamping sleepers (4) on a track (2), comprising: a machine frame (14) supported on a rail running gear (10); and a follow-up frame (12) located between the rail undercarriages (10), which follow-up frame (12) is supported at the rear with respect to the working direction (11) by its own rail undercarriage (10) and is connected in a longitudinally displaceable manner to the machine frame (14) at the front by means of a frame guide (13), a tamping assembly (7) is positioned on the follow-up frame (12) between its own rail running gear (10) and the frame guide (13), wherein the follow-up frame (12) can be supported relative to the machine frame (14) by means of a support device (17). And the supporting device (17) is positioned right above the tamping assembly (7). In this way, the weight of the host (8) is used to exert a supporting force directly on the tamping assembly (7) by means of the supporting device (17). A leverage effect on damage to the following frame (12) is avoided.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a tamping machine for tamping sleepers of a track, the tamping machine having: a machine frame supported on a rail traveling mechanism; and an accompanying frame arranged between the rail traveling mechanisms, the accompanying frame being supported on its own rail traveling mechanism at the rear with respect to the working direction and being connected to the machine frame in a longitudinally displaceable manner at the front by means of a frame guide, and a tamping assembly being arranged on the accompanying frame between its own rail traveling mechanism and the frame guide, and the accompanying frame being able to be supported relative to the machine frame by means of a support device. Background Art

[0002] A general tamping machine for continuous working operation is known from AT 413 554 B, on which a longitudinally displaceable accompanying device is arranged, the accompanying device including a tamping assembly and a lifting and lining assembly. During operation, the main machine continuously travels along the track to be tamped by means of a rail traveling mechanism. The accompanying device moves periodically between sleepers in the working direction, wherein the accompanying device only stops during the tamping process. In this way, the entire mass of the tamping machine does not need to be decelerated and accelerated again periodically. The accompanying device includes its own rail traveling mechanism, and a support device is arranged above the accompanying device to support the accompanying device relative to the main machine frame. This is intended to prevent the accompanying device from lifting in the region of the rail traveling mechanism when the tamping teeth of the tamping assembly penetrate the ballast bed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to improve a tamping machine of the above type to ensure an optimal tamping process by means of a lightweight accompanying device regardless of the condition of the ballast bed.

[0004] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by the features of independent claim 1. The dependent claims disclose advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

[0005] Here, the support device is arranged directly above the tamping assembly. In this way, the weight of the main machine is used to directly apply a support force on the tamping assembly through the support device. Thereby, the lever effect loading of the accompanying frame relative to the frame guide and its own rail running gear is avoided. However, the support above the rail running gear known from the prior art generates a lever effect and the resulting bending stress on the accompanying frame during the lowering of the tamping assembly. On the one hand, the solution according to the invention enables a particularly lightweight design of the accompanying frame. Thereby, the energy required to accelerate and decelerate the accompanying device during the tamping cycle is minimized. On the other hand, it is ensured that the rail running gear of the lightweight manufactured accompanying device does not lift off the track when the tamping assembly is lowered and the tamping teeth of the tamping assembly penetrate the ballast bed. This ensures an optimal tamping process even in the case of severely caked ballast, and the tamping machine can operate in a particularly energy-saving manner.

[0006] In a further advantageous refinement, the tamping assembly is designed as a series tamping assembly having multiple rows of tamping units whose height can be adjusted individually, the tamping units being used for simultaneously tamping multiple sleepers or for tamping individual sleepers. With each additional row of tamping units, during the simultaneous penetration process, the reaction force acting on the tamping teeth from the ballast bed also increases. In the case of a hard ballast bed, this increase in the reaction force exceeds the increase in the gravitational force due to the additional tamping units. Therefore, it is particularly useful to arrange the support device directly above the series tamping assembly.

[0007] This series tamping assembly is advantageously combined with a further refinement of the support device, which includes at least two pressing units that are spaced apart from each other in the working direction and can be activated individually. Here, each pressing unit has its own support force, wherein the front pressing unit is assigned to the front row of tamping units and the rear pressing unit is assigned to the rear row of tamping units. It is particularly efficient to arrange two pressing units for a three-row arrangement of tamping units. If only the front tamping unit is lowered, only the front pressing unit is activated; if only the rear tamping unit is lowered, only the rear pressing unit is activated. If only the middle tamping unit is lowered, both pressing units are activated. In this way, the application of the support force is always approximately above the currently used tamping unit. An example of the individual lowering of the tamping units of a three-row series tamping assembly is known from AT 524005 A1. It is also useful to individually activate the tamping units in the turnout area or if there are obstacles in the track.

[0008] In an advantageous variant of the invention, the respective pressing unit includes a first sliding element, which can be arranged against a second sliding element. The contacting sliding surfaces are in particular horizontally aligned, which also enables a lateral sliding movement. For example, the first sliding element on the accompanying frame can be lowered, or the second sliding element on the machine frame is arranged to be raised. This enables the support effect of the respective pressing unit to be switched off during the transfer stroke of the tamping machine, so that all the spring travel of the rail running gear can be utilized. In addition, adjustable setting means can be used to vary the respective support force.

[0009] The respective pressing unit in another preferred variant of the invention includes at least one rotatable rolling element, which can in particular roll on a longitudinal guide aligned with the working direction. When the accompanying device moves relative to the main machine itself, the rolling element assigned to the accompanying frame rolls on the opposing surface arranged on the machine frame and directly transmits the support force to the assigned tamping unit. Alternatively, the respective pressing unit is arranged on the machine frame, while its opposing surface is located on the accompanying frame.

[0010] Advantageously, the at least one rolling element is arranged in the assigned pressing unit so as to be height-adjustable by means of a drive. On the one hand, this height-adjustability enables the respective pressing unit to be temporarily deactivated. This is useful during the transfer stroke of the tamping machine in order to be able to utilize the spring travel of the rail running gear without any obstacles. On the other hand, by adjusting the height of the at least one rolling element, the support effect of the support device can be adjusted.

[0011] In a further refinement, the at least one rolling element is guided in a guide rail arranged on the machine frame. This means that the movements of the elements in contact with each other can be precisely coordinated with each other, thus minimizing signs of wear.

[0012] In a further refinement, the respective pressing unit is arranged on a carriage, where the carriage is arranged on the accompanying frame. The carriage is arranged such that the relative movement between the accompanying device and the main machine is unimpeded and the support force is directly transmitted to the tamping unit.

[0013] Advantageously, the carriage is arranged on a transverse load-bearing member of the accompanying frame. This also enables the support device to be centrally arranged directly above the tamping assembly in the transverse direction of the track. In an alternative embodiment, a split pressing unit is provided, where a part of the respective pressing unit is arranged on each of the two lateral longitudinal load-bearing members of the accompanying frame.

[0014] In a preferred further refinement, the carriage is supported on a transverse load-bearing member of the frame, such that the carriage can be displaced transversely. This enables a particularly stable arrangement of the support device in a tamping machine with a centrally arranged machine frame. Alternatively, the reaction element of the respective pressing unit is supported on the machine frame for transverse displacement. The ability to displace transversely enables the accompanying device to swing outwards relative to the main machine when traveling along a curve. Description of the Drawings

[0015] The present invention will hereinafter be described by way of example with reference to the drawings. The following drawings are shown in schematic form: Figure 1 A tamping machine on a track; Figure 2 For Figure 1 the accompanying device of the tamping machine; Figure 3 The front view of the support device; Figure 4 The side view of the support device; Figure 5 The perspective view of the support device; Figure 6 The accompanying device with an alternative support device. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0016] The tamping machine 1 is used for tamping the track 2. By means of the lifting and lining assembly 3, the track panel consisting of the sleeper 4 and the rail 5 fixed to the sleeper 4 is lifted out of the ballast bed 6 and aligned laterally. The ballast is pushed under the sleeper 4 and compacted by the tamping assembly 7, thereby fixing the new track position. The shown tamping machine 1 is designed for a continuous operation mode. For this purpose, the tamping machine 1 mainly consists of two parts, namely the main machine 8 and the accompanying device 9.

[0017] In the working mode, the main machine 8 moves continuously on the rail traveling mechanism 10 in the working direction 11 along the track 2 to be tamped. Only the accompanying device 9 moves periodically between the sleepers 4. The lifting and lining assembly 3 and the tamping assembly 7 are arranged on the frame 12 of the accompanying device 9. The accompanying frame 12 is supported on its own rail traveling mechanism 10 at the rear end relative to the working direction 11, and is connected to the machine frame 14 of the main machine 8 in a longitudinally displaceable manner at the front end through the frame guide 13.

[0018] During the tamping process, the tamping unit 15 of the tamping assembly 7 is located above the respective sleeper 4 and is lowered. During this process, the tamping teeth 16 of the respective tamping unit 15 set to vibrate penetrate the ballast bed 6. During this penetration process, the ballast bed 6 exerts a reaction force on the tamping teeth 16, and these reaction forces may be very high if the ballast bed 6 is severely contaminated.

[0019] According to the invention, a support device 17 is thus arranged directly above the tamping assembly 7. Above the tamping assembly 7 means arranged within the longitudinal region 18 between the external fixings 19 on the accompanying frame 12 of the tamping assembly 7. In this way, the stress on the accompanying frame 12 caused by the bending moment can be greatly avoided. Ideally, the position of the support device 17 results in a support force acting downward in the region of the central vertical axis 20 of the tamping assembly 7. This support force, together with the weight of the accompanying device 9, cancels out the reaction force generated by the ballast bed 6 during the penetration process of the tamping assembly 7.

[0020] Figure 2 An accompanying device 9 with a series tamping assembly 7 is shown, which is used to tamp three sleepers 4 positioned immediately one after the other in front and behind at the same time. For this purpose, the series tamping assembly 7 includes three rows of tamping units 15 arranged one behind the other, and each tamping unit 15 can be individually laterally displaced and height-adjusted. Each row includes four tamping units 15, and two tamping units 15 are allocated to each rail 5 of the track 2. During the tamping process, the tamping teeth 16 of the tamping units 15 penetrate the ballast bed 6 on both sides of the corresponding rail 5. The sum of the reaction forces generated during this process is approximately three times that when tamping a single sleeper 4 using a simple tamping assembly 7.

[0021] Under such reaction forces, the weight of the accompanying device 9 may not be sufficient to hold the rail running gear 10 of the accompanying device 9 on the track 2 as a reaction force. Therefore, the weight of the main machine 8 is also utilized through the support device 17, which means that the accompanying frame 12 can be constructed with a lightweight design. In the accompanying frame 12 with this design, the operator's cab 21 is not arranged on the accompanying device 9 in particular, but on the main machine 8. The lightweight design of the accompanying frame 12 is based on detailed strength calculations, such as the openings 22 in the frame plates, so that weight reduction can be achieved. Overall, the lower weight helps to permit the tamping machine 1 to be used for track classes with low allowable axle loads. In addition, during the periodic forward movement from sleeper 4 to sleeper 4, the energy required to accelerate and decelerate the mass is lower.

[0022] Figures 2 to 5An embodiment of the support device 17 is shown, which has an exemplary rolling bearing structure. Here, the accompanying frame 12 includes a transverse load-bearing member 23, which connects the longitudinal load-bearing members 24 of the accompanying frame 12, and a laterally displaceable carriage 25 is supported on the transverse load-bearing member 23. Specifically, the carriage 25 is supported on two guide rods 26 arranged above and below the transverse load-bearing member 23. Here, the range of the lateral displacement is measured such that the accompanying device 9 can swing outwards (ausschwenken) relative to the main machine 8 when traveling through a curve with a minimum allowable radius of curvature. For example, the corresponding secant offsets on both sides are 250 mm each.

[0023] A front pressing unit 27 and a rear pressing unit 27 are arranged on the carriage 25 relative to the working direction 11. The supporting force of the front pressing unit 27 acts on the front tamping unit 15 from above, and the supporting force of the rear pressing unit 27 acts on the rear tamping unit 15 from above. In this way, the pressing units 27 are assigned to each row of series-connected tamping assemblies 7. During the tamping process, the corresponding pressing units 27 are activated according to the activation of the assigned tamping units 15. This largely prevents bending moments in the accompanying frame 12.

[0024] Each pressing unit 27 includes a vertical guide 28 for the corresponding roller bracket 29. A pressing roller is installed in each roller bracket 29 as a rotatable rolling element 30. In addition, each roller bracket 29 is coupled to a drive member 31 for height adjustment of the assigned rolling element 30. Therefore, the corresponding rolling element 30 can be set against the longitudinal guide 32 fixed to the machine frame 14 to achieve the working operation of the tamping machine 1. It is also beneficial to keep the supporting force of the assigned pressing unit 27 constant by the corresponding drive member 31. For example, the drive member 31 is a hydraulic cylinder, which is activated under a constant system pressure. In this way, when processing the track 2 in an area with a gradient change (longitudinal gradient change of the track 2), the vertical relative movement of the accompanying device 9 relative to the main machine 8 is compensated.

[0025] The corresponding rolling element 30 is laterally guided by a lateral sliding bar 33. Here, the longitudinal guide 32 and the sliding bar 33 together form a guide rail. Advantageously, the corresponding rolling element 30 rolls on the replaceable wear plate 34 of the longitudinal guide 32.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the corresponding rolling element 30 is set against the longitudinal guide 32 of the machine frame 14 by a spring guide, and the spring action can be locked. In the working mode, the corresponding locking is performed so that the accompanying frame 12 is supported on the machine frame 14. During the transfer stroke, the locking is released so that relative movement can occur between the accompanying frame 12 and the machine frame 14.

[0027] The required length of the longitudinal guide 32 depends on the maximum travel distance of the accompanying device 9 relative to the main machine 8 in the operating mode. This depends on various factors, such as the expected operating speed of the main machine 8, the expected duration of a complete tamping cycle, and the maximum number of sleepers 4 to be tamped simultaneously.

[0028] Figure 6 An alternative design of the accompanying device 9 is shown. Here, the support device 17 comprises two clamping units 27, where a first sliding element 35 is mounted on the accompanying frame 12 and a second sliding element 36 is respectively mounted on the machine frame 14. The sliding surface of the corresponding second sliding element 36 is smaller than that of the first sliding element 35 and can be positioned on the first sliding element 35 by the assigned drive 31. For example, the drive 31 and its associated sliding element 35 are designed as a piston cylinder connected to the hydraulic system of the tamping machine 1.

[0029] In the operating mode, the second sliding element 36 slides on the first sliding element 35 in the longitudinal and transverse directions, so that the support is still maintained during the relative movement of the accompanying device 9 relative to the main machine 8. Preferably, both sliding elements 35, 36 have replaceable wear plates 34.

Claims

1. A tamping machine (1) for tamping sleepers (4) of a track (2), the tamping machine comprising: A machine frame (14) supported on a rail traveling mechanism (10); And an accompanying frame (12) arranged between the rail traveling mechanisms (10), the accompanying frame (12) being supported on its own rail traveling mechanism (10) at the rear relative to the working direction (11) and being longitudinally displaceably connected to the machine frame (14) at the front by a frame guide (13), and a tamping assembly (7) being arranged on the accompanying frame (12) between its own rail traveling mechanism (10) and the frame guide (13), wherein the accompanying frame (12) can be supported relative to the machine frame (14) by a support device (17), characterized in that the support device (17) is arranged directly above the tamping assembly (7).

2. The tamping machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tamping assembly (7) is designed as a series tamping assembly having multiple rows of tamping units (15) whose heights can be individually adjusted, the tamping units being used for simultaneously tamping multiple sleepers (4) or for tamping a single sleeper (4).

3. The tamping machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The support device (17) includes at least two pressing units (27), these pressing units being spaced apart from each other in the working direction (11) and being individually activatable.

4. The tamping machine (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that, A corresponding pressing unit (27) includes a first sliding element (35) that can be set against a second sliding element (36).

5. The tamping machine (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that, A corresponding pressing unit (27) includes at least one rotatable rolling element (30) that can particularly roll on a longitudinal guide (32) aligned with the working direction (11).

6. The tamping machine (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The at least one rolling element (30) is arranged in the assigned pressing unit (27) so as to be height-adjustable by a drive (31).

7. The tamping machine (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, A corresponding rolling element (30) is guided in guide rails (32, 33) arranged on the machine frame (14).

8. The tamping machine (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, A corresponding pressing unit (27) is arranged on a bracket (25), and the bracket (25) is arranged on the accompanying frame (12).

9. The tamping machine (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The bracket (25) is arranged on a lateral load-bearing member (23) of the accompanying frame (12).

10. The tamping machine (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The bracket (25) is supported on the lateral load-bearing member (23) of the accompanying frame (12) such that the bracket can be laterally displaced.

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