RAIL VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR LAIDING A CABLE OR PIPE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a rail vehicle and a method for laying at least one cable or pipe next to a track lying in a ballast bed and traversed by the rail vehicle in a working direction.

[0002] On the one hand, laying new cables, such as electrical or optical signal or control cables, or electrical power cables, or pipes (including hoses) along existing rail network routes is a viable option, as this eliminates the need to construct new routes. On the other hand, above-ground installation is rarely feasible due to limited space within the rail network, and underground installation is often very complex in practice: rail traffic is interrupted or at least significantly disrupted during installation; laying directly under the tracks is not an option due to poor accessibility and the ongoing operational stress on the track bed; the areas alongside the tracks are often very narrow and / or difficult for construction vehicles to access.

[0003] For tracks with sufficiently wide, easily accessible sides, it is common practice to lay cables or pipes in U-shaped concrete ducts. This involves first excavating or milling a trench alongside the track, for example using an excavator, during overnight track closures, and then filling it with sand. Pre-cast U-shaped concrete blocks are then laid within this trench to form the duct, or alternatively, a U-shaped concrete duct is poured. Since the sides are usually subsequently ballasted, the duct must first be covered and then uncovered again to insert the cable(s) or pipe(s), after which the duct can be finally covered.

[0004] In a simplified method, also known, underground cables or pipes are laid directly in the milled trench, which is then backfilled with sand and / or the excavated material and, if necessary, graveled. For this method, the underground cables must be laid sufficiently deep in the ground to protect them; that is, the trench must be dug to a sufficient depth.

[0005] In any case, the complex, multi-step processes usually have to be carried out over several nights. Furthermore, a wide, easily accessible area next to the track is required for the laying work and machinery. This makes laying the cables or pipes more difficult and often even impossible.

[0006] The previously known US 6,193,440 B1 describes a generic rail vehicle for laying a cable alongside a ballasted track and an associated method.

[0007] The invention aims to create a rail vehicle and a method with which cables and pipes can be laid easily and quickly even on narrow, poorly accessible rail lines and are well protected after laying.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, this objective is achieved with a rail vehicle for laying at least one cable or pipe next to the track lying in the ballast bed and travelled by the rail vehicle in the direction of work, which is characterized by the combination of the following devices mounted on the rail vehicle: A clearing device for removing old ballast from one side of the ballast bed in order to expose a path alongside the track; a laying plow downstream of the clearing device in the direction of work for plowing in at least one cable or pipe into the exposed path; and an application device downstream of the laying plow in the direction of work for applying new ballast to the cleared side and the exposed path.

[0009] By clearing the side of the ballast bed and exposing the verge, a particularly wide lateral area next to the track is not required. Since the entire laying process is carried out from the rail vehicle, separate access to the verge for laying machines is also unnecessary. Consequently, laying becomes possible even along narrow, difficult-to-access rail lines where this was previously impossible. Furthermore, because the entire laying process is carried out continuously in a single forward movement of the rail vehicle in the direction of work, it is significantly more efficient, and disruptions to rail traffic are considerably shorter than with previous methods. During plowing, the laying plow simply cuts a narrow slit in the verge and lays at least one cable or pipe at the bottom of the slit, which then closes again behind the plow.Deep plowing of at least one cable or pipe into the exposed verge is not necessary, as the plowed-in cable or pipe is well protected both in the gap and by the fresh gravel applied to the side. This simplifies construction, increases the service life of the laying plow, and reduces the environmental impact during installation.

[0010] It is advantageous if the track bed equipment is designed to also excavate a top layer of the edge path when removing the old ballast. On the one hand, this ensures that at least one cable or pipe lies deeper than the track at the same plowing depth, thus providing better protection against operational mechanical stresses. On the other hand, ballast often penetrates the top layer during track operation, making uniform plowing difficult and resulting in an uneven gap. After removing the top layer, the edge path is more homogeneous and therefore more evenly split, and the gap behind the laying plow closes more evenly and reliably, thus providing better protection for at least one plowed-in cable or pipe.

[0011] For flexible use even in varying terrain, the laying plow is preferably mounted on a movable side arm of the rail vehicle. It is particularly advantageous if the arm is hydraulically swiveling. This allows the laying plow to be pivoted, using standard hydraulic equipment, between a space-saving, retracted driving position and various swiveled working positions adapted to the requirements, in order to adjust its working position to the width of the field. It is also advantageous if the arm is hydraulically height-adjustable. This enables particularly quick and flexible adaptation of the laying plow to the shape of the roadside and the terrain.

[0012] In a favorable embodiment, the arm has a mounting plate at its outer end for the laying plow, on which the laying plow can be mounted in different positions. The laying plow can thus be pivoted relative to the arm on the mounting plate and / or offset vertically or laterally from a central position. This allows the laying plow to be flexibly adapted to very different conditions.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment, the rail vehicle comprises a supply for the at least one cable or pipe and a feed device for supplying the at least one cable or pipe from the supply to the laying plow. Even long cable or pipe sections can be laid in a single operation in this way.

[0014] It is particularly advantageous if the feed device is mounted on lateral outriggers of the rail vehicle. This allows, for example, an existing rail-mounted flank profiling machine to be quickly converted into a rail vehicle according to the invention with minimal modifications, whereby the feed device is arranged in a space-saving manner.

[0015] It is advantageous if the rail vehicle includes a compactor positioned between the laying plow and the application device for compacting the edge path above the plowed-in area containing at least one cable or pipe. The compactor helps to securely close the gap cut into the edge path by the laying plow above the at least one plowed-in cable or pipe, thereby better protecting the cable or pipe and preparing the edge path for the application of new ballast.

[0016] To avoid the need for costly separate removal of the excavated old ballast, the rail vehicle preferably includes a storage unit for the old ballast removed by the removal equipment. The rail vehicle also preferably includes a storage unit for new ballast to be applied by the application equipment, thus avoiding the need for costly separate supply of the new ballast. It is particularly advantageous if the rail vehicle includes a ballast recycling system designed to return at least some of the old ballast removed by the removal equipment to the application equipment. This eliminates the need to remove, temporarily store, or dispose of at least some of the old ballast, and also eliminates the need to keep at least some of the new ballast on hand. This helps conserve resources and extends the rail vehicle's operating range during track laying without increasing the size of the storage units for the old ballast or new ballast.

[0017] In a second aspect, the invention provides a method for laying at least one cable or pipe next to a track lying in a ballast bed, which is characterized by the following continuously performed steps: Removing old ballast from one side of the ballast bed to expose a path alongside the track using a clearing device on a rail vehicle traveling along the track in one direction; plowing in at least one cable or pipe into the exposed path using a laying plow on the rail vehicle; and applying new ballast to the cleared side and the exposed path using an application device on the rail vehicle.

[0018] All process steps are executed continuously and thus occur simultaneously and spatially sequentially in the direction of work. Regarding the advantages and further embodiments of the process, reference is made to the preceding descriptions of the rail vehicle according to the invention.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment, the method comprises an additional step, carried out between plowing and the application of the new ballast, of applying fine-grained subgrade material to the edge path above the plowed-in at least one cable or pipe. This provides additional protection to the edge path and, in particular, the gap, e.g., against the intrusion of particularly sharp-edged new ballast.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: the Fig. 1a and 1ba rail vehicle according to the invention ( Fig. 1a ) for carrying out a method according to the invention or an enlarged section ( Fig. 1b ) of the rail vehicle in a schematic side view; the Fig. 2a bis 2d one side of a track lying in a ballast bed before carrying out the procedure ( Fig. 2a ) of the rail vehicle Fig. 1a , after performing a first ( Fig. 2b ) and a second procedural step ( Fig. 2c ) and after the conclusion of the procedure ( Fig. 2d ) each in cross-section; the Fig. 3a und 3b a laying plow of the rail vehicle of the Fig. 1a and 1b in a partially cut-off side view ( Fig. 3a ) and a rear view ( Fig. 3b ); and the Fig. 4a und 4b the laying plow of the Fig. 3a und 3b with one of the arms of the rail vehicle that supports this Fig. 1a and 1b in a side view ( Fig. 4a ) and a rear view ( Fig. 4b ).

[0021] The Fig. 1a and 1b show a rail vehicle 1 ( Fig. 1a ) or an enlarged section 1' of the rail vehicle 1 ( Fig. 1b ), which travels on a track 3 lying in a ballast bed 2 in a working direction 4. Auxiliary equipment of the rail vehicle 1, e.g. drive units, control stations, lifting devices, etc., are not shown in detail. The track 3 consists of two parallel rails 5 (in Fig. 2a : one of the two rails 5), which are anchored in a known manner to sleepers 6, which connect the rails 5. The sleepers 6 lie in the ballast bed 2, which is applied, for example, to a leveled track substructure 7.

[0022] Based on the Fig. 1a , 1b and 2a bis 2d The following describes a procedure performed by the rail vehicle 1 to lay at least one cable or pipe 8 next to track 3, which the rail vehicle 1 travels on in working direction 4. For this purpose, the rail vehicle 1 includes the following equipment: At the very front in working direction 4, a clearing device 9 is mounted on the rail vehicle 1, which in a first step removes old ballast A stored on one side 10 of the ballast bed 10 in order to clear a path 11 next to track 3.

[0023] Compared to the gravel bed 2 before clearing ( Fig. 2a ) shows Fig. 2b The result of this first process step: ballast on flank 10 has been removed, thus making flank 10 significantly closer to the track and steeper, and exposing the edge path 11. In the example shown, the clearing unit 9, while removing the old ballast A, also excavated a (hatched) top layer 11' of the edge path 11, as is optionally possible. Ballast typically penetrates the top layer 11' during track 3 operation, so the top layer 11' is usually inhomogeneous. A homogeneous edge path 11 resulting from the excavation of the inhomogeneous top layer 11' simplifies the subsequent process steps, but is not a mandatory requirement of the process.

[0024] A laying plow 12 is subordinate to the room equipment 9 in working direction 4. As further below with reference to the Fig. 3a und 3b As explained in more detail, in a second process step the laying plow 12 plows at least one cable or pipe 8 into the exposed edge path 11.

[0025] Fig. 2c The figure shows the result of the second process step. During plowing, the laying plow 12 cuts a gap 13 into the edge path 11 and lays the (here: single) cable (alternatively: several cables and / or pipe(s)) 8 on the bottom of the gap 13; behind the laying plow 12, the gap 13 closes at least largely over the cable(s) or pipe(s) 8.

[0026] In a third step, an application device 14, which is subordinate to the laying plow 12 in the working direction 4 on the rail vehicle 1, applies new ballast N to the cleared flank 10 of the ballast bed 2 and the exposed edge path 11.

[0027] The applied new ballast N secures, as in Fig. 2d shown, the gravel bed 2 laterally and covers the edge path 11, the gap 13 and the cable or pipe 8 plowed into the edge path 11 for its increased protection.

[0028] A comparison of the representations of the Fig. 2c und 2d shows that as a result of the application of the new ballast N, the cable or pipe 8 is at a greater depth d 2 ( Fig. 2d ) and is therefore better protected than at that depth d 1 into which it was plowed by the laying plow 12 in the second process step into the edge path 11 ( Fig. 2c ). The safely protected installation can thus be achieved without the need for complex, deeper plowing of at least one cable (or pipe) 8.

[0029] Between the two steps of plowing in the at least one cable or pipe 8 and applying the new ballast N, optional fine-grained subsoil (not shown) is applied to the edge path 11 - especially in the area above the plowed-in at least one cable or pipe 8, which additionally protects the gap 13 and the edge path 11, e.g. from the penetration of particularly sharp-edged new ballast N.

[0030] All process steps for laying at least one cable or pipe 8 next to track 3 are carried out continuously by the rail vehicle 1, namely simultaneously but one after the other in working direction 4, so that track 3 and its ballast bed 2 are fully restored and ready for use after just one passage in working direction 4 by the rail vehicle 1 while carrying out the process.

[0031] In the example of the Fig. 1a and 1bThe rail vehicle 1 has an optional supply 15 for at least one cable or pipe 8, here: a coupled supply wagon 15', from which the at least one cable or pipe 8 is held, e.g., wound onto drums 15", in order to be fed from the supply 15 to the laying plow 12 by means of a feed device 16, e.g., a conveyor belt or one or more sliding pieces. The feed device 16 is one or more parts and is located either inside the rail vehicle 1 or, as in the example shown, is mounted on lateral outriggers 17 of the rail vehicle 1.

[0032] As an alternative to the supply 15, at least one cable or pipe 8 could be laid on the ground next to track 3 or its ballast bed 2 and picked up by the laying plow 12 and plowed into the edge path 11; or at least one cable or pipe 8 could be kept on a separate wagon (not shown) and fed from there to the laying plow 12.

[0033] In a further optional embodiment of the rail vehicle 1, it also has a compactor (not shown) arranged between the laying plow 12 and the application device 14, which performs a compaction step of the edge path 11 above the plowed-in at least one cable or pipe 8 – also continuously – between the plowing and the application of the new ballast N. In the optional case where undersize material is applied to the edge path 11 behind the laying plow 12, the compaction step in the working direction 4 can be performed after the application of the undersize material, and the previously applied undersize material can be compacted along with it, or it can be performed before it.It is understood that instead of a single compressor, several compressors could be mounted on the rail vehicle 1, of which at least one could optionally be subordinate to the application device 14 in the working direction 4, or even just one compressor 18 subordinate to the application device 14 in the working direction 4, which compacts the new ballast N applied to the edge path 11.

[0034] In the example of the Fig. 1a The rail vehicle 1 further includes an optional waste storage unit 19 for old ballast A (including impurities) removed by the clearing unit 9. In this example, the rail vehicle 1 also includes an optional new ballast storage unit 20 for new ballast N to be applied by the application unit 14. Finally, the rail vehicle 1 shown has an optional ballast recycling unit 21, which is designed to return at least a portion of the old ballast A removed by the clearing unit 9 to the application unit 14. The ballast recycling unit 21 processes the removed old ballast A by cleaning, screening, and / or sharpening it to make it reusable for the application unit 14. Optionally, material suitable as undersize material can be separately screened out, stored, or kept ready for application.

[0035] In the example shown, the rail vehicle 1 also includes several cabins 22 for operating personnel, measuring cells 23, conveying units 24, etc., as is known to those skilled in the art.

[0036] According to the Fig. 3a und 3b The laying plow 12 has a flat chisel 25 at its front with a substantially straight underside 25' and an optional curved front cutting edge 25". With its cutting edge 25", the chisel 25 of the laying plow 12 cuts the gap 13 into the edge path 11 as a result of the movement of the rail vehicle 1 in the working direction 4. Immediately at the rear of the chisel 25 and approximately flush with its underside 25', the housing 26 of a curved feed channel 27 connects and thus keeps the gap 13 open against the lateral pressure of the surrounding soil. Along its curvature, the feed channel 27 guides the at least one cable or pipe 8 during plowing at the same speed as the rail vehicle 1 moves in the working direction 4, to the bottom of the gap 13. For this purpose, the feed channel 27 is optionally widened in a funnel shape at its inlet 27' to facilitate the insertion of the at least one cable or pipe 8, and opens into the gap 13.near the bottom and at an acute angle to the bottom of the gap 13. Behind the laying plow 12, the gap 13 closes again largely or completely due to the lateral soil pressure.

[0037] In the example shown, the laying plow 12 also has an optional plow blade 28 ( Fig. 3b ) for setting and simple visual monitoring of the plowing depth t1. It is understood that the laying plow 12 can plow several parallel cables or pipes 8 instead of a single cable or pipe 8, and likewise one or more cables 8 with one or more pipes 8 simultaneously via the feed channel 27 into the gap 13 of the edge path 11, provided that the feed channel 27 is sufficiently large and the cables and / or pipes 8 are sufficiently flexible. In this context, the term "pipe" means any elongated hollow body that is sufficiently flexible for plowing, i.e., in particular a hose or the like.

[0038] The Fig. 4a und 4bFigure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a movable lateral arm 29 of the rail vehicle 1, on which the laying plow 12 is optionally mounted. The arm 29 can be swung out laterally on the rail vehicle and / or adjusted in height, e.g. hydraulically. In the illustrated example, the arm 29 is mounted on a support frame 30 of the rail vehicle 1 via one horizontal and one vertical pivot bearing 31, 32, and can be pivoted by one horizontal and one vertical hydraulic cylinder 33, 34.

[0039] In this example, the laying plow 12 is mounted at the outer end 35 of the arm 29, the end furthest from the support frame 30. Optionally, the arm 29 has a mounting plate 36 at its outer end 35, on which the laying plow 12 can be mounted in different positions, i.e., at different heights, with different lateral offsets, and / or at different angles of inclination to the vertical.

[0040] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but includes all variants, modifications and combinations thereof that fall within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

1. A rail vehicle for laying at least one cable or pipe (8) beside a track (3) travelled on by the rail vehicle (1) in a working direction (4) and lying in a ballast bed (2), characterised by the combination of the following devices mounted on the rail vehicle (1): a clearing device (9) for clearing old ballast (A) on a flank (10) of the ballast bed (2) in order to expose a side path (11) beside the track (3); a laying plough (12) arranged downstream of the clearing device (9) in the working direction (4) for ploughing-in the at least one cable or pipe (8) into the exposed side path (11); and an application device (14) arranged downstream of the laying plough (12) in the working direction (4) for applying new ballast (N) onto the cleared flank (10) and the exposed side path (11).

2. The rail vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that the clearing device (9) is configured, when clearing the old ballast (A), to further dig-off a cover layer (11') of the side path (11).

3. The rail vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the laying plough (12) is mounted on a movable lateral arm (29) of the rail vehicle (1).

4. The rail vehicle according to claim 3, characterised in that the arm (29) can be swung out hydraulically.

5. The rail vehicle according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the arm (29) can be height-adjusted hydraulically.

6. The rail vehicle according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the arm (29) has, at its outer end (35), a mounting plate (36) for the laying plough (12), on which mounting plate the laying plough (12) can be mounted in different positions.

7. The rail vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the rail vehicle (1) comprises a supply (15) for the at least one cable or pipe (8) and a feed device (16) for feeding the at least one cable or pipe (8) from the supply (15) to the laying plough (12).

8. The rail vehicle according to claim 7, characterised in that the feed device (16) is mounted on lateral booms (17) of the rail vehicle (1).

9. The rail vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the rail vehicle (1) comprises a compactor arranged between the laying plough (12) and the application device (14) for compacting the side path (11) above the ploughed-in at least one cable or pipe (8).

10. The rail vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the rail vehicle (1) comprises a clearing storage (19) for old ballast (A) cleared by the clearing device (9).

11. The rail vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the rail vehicle (1) comprises a new ballast storage (20) for new ballast (N) to be applied by the application device (14).

12. The rail vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the rail vehicle (1) comprises a ballast recycling device (21) which is configured to return at least a part of the old ballast (A) cleared by the clearing device (9) to the application device (14).

13. A method for laying at least one cable or pipe (8) beside a track (3) lying in a ballast bed (2), characterised by the steps carried out continuously: clearing old ballast (A) on a flank (10) of the ballast bed (2) for exposing a side path (11) beside the track (3) by means of a clearing device (9) of a rail vehicle (1) travelling on the track (3) in a working direction (4); ploughing-in the at least one cable or pipe (8) into the exposed side path (11) by means of a laying plough (12) of the rail vehicle (1); and applying new ballast (N) to the cleared flank (10) and the exposed side path (11) by means of an application device (14) of the rail vehicle (1).

14. The method according to claim 13, characterised by further digging-off a cover layer (11') of the side path (11) by means of the clearing device (9) in said clearing step.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterised by the further step, carried out between the ploughing-in and the application of the new ballast (N), of applying fine-grained sub-grain to the side path (11) above the ploughed-in at least one cable or pipe (8).

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterised by the further step, carried out between the ploughing-in and the application, of compacting the side path (11) above the ploughed-in at least one cable or pipe (8) with a compactor.