Device for applying single-component or multi-component adhesive to a granular mixture, and process for its application

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing one- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail section of a railway track, wherein the container(s) for the adhesive and the elements for conveying the adhesive for dispensing it are mounted on a supply vehicle that can travel on or alongside the railway track, and wherein the adhesive is conveyed from the supply vehicle via at least one hose to at least one spray nozzle (29), wherein the device includes a trolley (1) that can be temporarily coupled to and secured to a rail (16) and is guided on the same at a uniform, selectable speed and can be moved independently of the supply vehicle, wherein the trolley (1) carries a boom (22) on which at least one spray nozzle (29) is mounted.so that, with the aid of the device, a defined penetration depth of the adhesive can be maintained at a uniform travel speed of the trolley (1) and defined flow rates of the adhesive, depending on the nature of the ballast bed and spray pattern.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for dispensing single-component or multi-component adhesive onto a granular mixture, in particular for dispensing single-component or multi-component adhesive onto the ballast of a railway track. For example, in the case of two-component adhesives, the two fluid components are conveyed from storage tanks via two separate supply lines by means of gear pumps at precisely controllable flow rates via a mixer unit, thereby producing a fluid, sprayable adhesive mixture. A spray unit with at least one spray nozzle or with a spray boom with multiple discharge nozzles serves to precisely discharge the adhesive mixture onto the ballast bed. However, single-component adhesives can also be applied and conveyed with such a device, with exactly the same structural features.The invention further relates to a method for inserting this device and its use for applying adhesives, both two-component and one-component, onto the ballast of a railway track.

[0002] Railways are a crucial component of infrastructure for both long-distance and local transport. However, the track superstructure cannot always withstand increasing traffic loads. With rising speeds, heavier traffic loads, or higher usage intensity, the weaknesses of different track designs become apparent. Track renewal, along with regular maintenance, is a necessary measure to meet these increased demands. In long-distance transport, ballasted track is the dominant load-bearing layer. In contrast, urban transport, bridges, and tunnels typically use a slab track. Adhesive bonding systems offer an efficient solution for both types of track and for connecting different track types. In ballasted track, the loosely laid track grid of rails and sleepers rests in this unbound, compacted ballast bed without any lateral fastening.The ballast bed can absorb considerable compressive forces, but can only be shifted within limits under tensile loads. Adhesive systems ensure quick and lasting stability in difficult areas such as rail joints or switches. During reconstruction and track renewal work on multi-track lines, special measures are necessary to secure the position of the ballast bed. Bonding the ballast shoulders with single-component adhesives, or even better, with two-component resin-hardener mixtures, has proven to be an effective method. Compared to conventional shoring measures, the use of a fast-curing adhesive system saves considerable time and money. A particularly challenging area for railway tracks is the integration of different construction types. Transitions between a ballasted superstructure and a slab track are problematic due to their different settlement behavior.Here, the graduated bonding of the ballast has proven to be an effective measure for equalizing different elasticities. Adhesive systems offer particular advantages in this regard, namely short waiting times until load-bearing capacity is reached and excellent environmental compatibility. In urban public transport, it is primarily fixed track surfaces and grassed tracks that define the appearance of the rail network. For these configurations as well, the two-component mixtures offer efficient detailed solutions for stabilizing, sealing, and designing the track systems.

[0003] Bonding granular mixtures is used in a wide variety of applications today. In railway construction, coarse-grained aggregates and gravel are primarily bonded, while in road construction, in addition to coarse-grained aggregates, finer-grained aggregates or crushed stone are also used. Even finer mixtures are used, for example, in bonding decorative surface coverings. Despite the stabilization provided by bonding the covering, its water permeability or seepage capacity can be maintained. Bonding ballast is of particular importance in railway construction. Two-component polyurethane-based adhesives are most commonly used for this purpose. Such multi-component polyurethane-based adhesives are well-established in the art.Two-component mixtures can be adapted to specific situations by varying the mixing ratio of resin and hardener during the curing time, achieving better bond quality than one-component adhesives, which involve a certain compromise. However, one-component adhesives are easier to handle, as no mixer is required and only a single pump and line are needed for dispensing. Devices for the controlled pumping, metering, mixing, and application of such adhesives, whether one- or two-component, are also known in principle, including those using gear pumps.

[0004] Bonding ballast in track construction achieves various positive effects. Among other things, it stabilizes the tracks and reduces impacts at transitions between the ballasted and slab track, for example, at tunnel entrances and exits. For this purpose, the ballast is usually bonded across its entire surface, including under the rails and sleepers. To further reduce impacts at the transitions between ballast and slab track, the bonding depth is gradually increased towards the slab track. Bonding the ballast not only improves ride comfort but also the longevity of the track bed, as it prevents the ballast from shifting.

[0005] Bonding the ballast bed at the edges of a railway track is often crucial when a trench needs to be excavated near the track, or more generally when material needs to be excavated next to the track due to a construction project, such as laying another parallel track, building a structure, constructing a retaining wall, or other construction work. For the construction of a new track alongside an existing one, a trench several meters wide and, for example, 0.5 to 2 meters deep is excavated from the ground. Vehicles such as trucks, dumpers, excavators, and other machinery used in the construction of the new track then operate on the bottom of this trench.Because this so-called construction track runs close to the existing railway line, the ballast bed of the adjacent track is at risk of being weakened, and its load-bearing capacity is threatened. The stability of the ballast bed is of paramount importance for the railway line to remain operational and for trains to continue running on it; otherwise, trains with their considerable weight would no longer be able to pass this point. While deep shoring or a temporary retaining wall could temporarily ensure stability so that the railway line could continue to be used, it proves much simpler to bond the ballast along the side where such structural changes are to be made, changes that would otherwise significantly weaken the ballast bed. By bonding the ballast bed only in a strip to the side of the track, a stable ballast shoulder can be created extremely quickly.This shoulder proves advantageous when laying and maintaining control and signal lines along the tracks, as a trench can easily be excavated outside the bonded area. Thanks to the defined, stable shoulder of the ballast bed, the laid control and signal lines can be easily exposed, and after the lines are replaced, the trench can be backfilled without affecting the basic shape of the ballast bed. The bonded ballast bed shoulder remains capable of withstanding normal loads despite the trench being excavated directly next to the track. With a professionally bonded ballast bed, it can essentially be cut away laterally, allowing for excavation work, for example, directly adjacent to the ballast bed. Thanks to the bonding, the necessary stability of the ballast bed for normal train traffic is maintained, offering significant advantages.Of course, the same equipment can also be used to reinforce the rail line across its entire width by bonding ballast.

[0006] Applying the adhesives to create such a stable bond requires that the adhesive penetrates the ballast bed to a precisely defined depth everywhere, and that the amount of adhesive applied is exactly consistent per linear meter at a defined spray width. With multi-component adhesives, these must always be applied in the correct mixing ratio of the compound adhesive. Furthermore, such a bond should be achievable quickly and reliably not just over a few meters, but over larger sections.All necessary boundary conditions must be adhered to with extreme precision. For multi-component adhesives, this includes, for example, the temperatures of the adhesive components and an absolutely consistent, continuously monitored mixing ratio. Furthermore, the adhesive must be applied uniformly across the treatment area at a constant spray speed over the ballast to ensure a consistent penetration depth into the ballast bed. Only in this way can it be guaranteed that the ballast is bonded to a defined depth with a precisely defined quantity of adhesive per volume of ballast, depending also on the size of the ballast stones and the desired penetration depth.Only if these requirements are strictly adhered to can such a bond be certified in the sense that a railway train of a certain weight may continue to travel on a section of track, even if construction measures are being carried out alongside it as mentioned above, i.e. trenches for pipelines or retaining walls or excavation pits of all kinds.

[0007] According to current technology, the application of adhesives can be carried out very professionally, as comprehensively described in document WO 2018 / 010860 A1, published on January 18, 2018. The equipment shown therein allows the application of adhesives in a dosage that ensures a precise amount of adhesive is sprayed onto the ballast bed per linear meter, thus guaranteeing a specific, pre-calculated penetration depth. For this reason, the process carried out with this equipment is now even certified by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). This means that its application guarantees that the track bed subsequently offers a specific desired load-bearing capacity and can therefore be used as usual by trains weighing several hundred tons. This is not the case if the application is carried out manually, as was previously practiced, using watering cans or hand lances, with hand-operated or motorized pumps.For such manual application, the two basic components of a two-component adhesive are transported, for example, on a railway wagon and mixed there. The mixture is then filled into watering cans or fed directly to hand-held lances via a pipe. Fifteen liters of adhesive mixture are required to bond one cubic meter of ballast. When applying with a watering can, only about four cubic meters of ballast can be treated per hour. Furthermore, the application quality is highly uneven, as it depends on the skill of the person pouring the adhesive into the watering can or operating the hand-held lance while walking along the railway line.When applying adhesive manually, interruptions are inevitable to refill a watering can or to advance the supply – that is, the containers and machinery for pumping the adhesive to the lance – in stages. These containers and equipment are either transported on a railway wagon or brought in by road and set up alongside the track. If a malfunction occurs for any reason, for example, a pump fails or malfunctions, a single, inherently toxic component could be sprayed in large quantities, which could have disastrous consequences for the groundwater. The components of multi-component adhesives must be thoroughly mixed and applied only in the prescribed mixing ratio. Only then will the mixture harden reliably, and no single component can escape into the soil in isolation.

[0008] These problems were successfully overcome with the setup and procedure according to WO 2018 / 010860 A1. However, the following limitation remains for the setup according to WO 2018 / 010860 A1 and the associated procedure: For the bonding of the ballast bed, a rail vehicle or at least an optionally rail-compatible road vehicle must always be operating on the track whose ballast bed is being bonded. This requires a closure of this track section, and all work must therefore be closely coordinated with the control center. The setup is therefore only suitable for operations where it is worthwhile to temporarily close a section of track to train traffic.

[0009] The bonding process must always be carried out quickly and directly influences the penetration depth, as the applied adhesive runs down through the gravel. By bonding and hardening rapidly, the penetration depth is limited. Currently, the application work generally has to be carried out outside of traffic hours and often at night. Furthermore, dry weather is a prerequisite for applying the adhesive. It is clear that there are many constraints, resulting in the requirement that a uniform application, carried out reliably and very quickly on-site using precisely defined mechanical methods.

[0010] If bonding is required somewhere along a section of track, such as in a station, or in hard-to-reach places like bridges, underpasses, or overpasses, or generally in locations where the track is not accessible from the side by vehicles, it is a particular challenge to achieve a uniform application quickly, ideally in one go, without any interruptions. Assuming approximately 15 liters of adhesive mixture per cubic meter of track ballast to be treated, this is sufficient for 4 linear meters with a bed depth of half a meter and a bed width of half a meter to be bonded laterally to the rail. Two 200-liter drums are then sufficient for little more than 100 meters of track, because 3.75 liters per linear meter are required. If the bonding is to be carried out across the full width of the ballast bed, approximately 4 meters, only a section of about 13.3 meters can be bonded in one go.The formula is: factor x depth x width, for example 1.5 x 5 mx 0.5 m = 3.75 liters / linear meter, or 1.5 x 5 mx 4 m = 30 liters / linear meter.

[0011] A particular challenge for the rapid and controlled dispensing of adhesive – with a perfect mix of components in the case of a multi-component adhesive – and with consistent penetration depth over long distances in a flash is the fact that the necessary machinery and storage containers require large quantities. Powerful pumps, for example, are essential. Furthermore, an independent power supply is required, both for the pumps and, depending on the situation, for tempering the adhesive to be dispensed or its components, which must be kept in stock in large quantities. Furthermore, all of this equipment should be movable along a track. It is possible to transport this equipment along a railway line on a truck, but this cannot be moved along the track so uniformly that a spray boom attached to it could reliably dispense the correct amount of adhesive per linear meter.Alternatively, a railway carriage could separately carry the adhesives and the equipment for their temperature control, mixing and pumping, but the uniform application of the adhesives directly from a railway carriage is difficult to achieve because it is unpowered and has a large weight.

[0012] Various devices for the controlled mixing of components to form a defined mixture are known in the prior art, and the method and device according to WO 2018 / 010860 A1 solves many problems convincingly and enables the controlled and precise application of adhesives for the purpose of bonding ballast beds along rail lines over many hundreds of meters in a flash, as long as the vehicle can stand on both rails and be driven on them for application.

[0013] In view of this prior art, the object of the present invention is to create a device and a method that is even faster and more flexible in its application, so that ballast bonding along a track can be carried out as needed without blocking the track in question, i.e., that the time intervals between passing trains can be utilized and regular train traffic can continue without disruption.

[0014] The solution to the problem is defined by a device having the features of claim 1, as well as by the method of claim 12 and by the use of the device of claim 15. This complete device can be transported by road or brought to the site by rail. In one embodiment, the vehicle with the entire device for supplying and pumping the adhesive or adhesive components for the adhesive mixture travels essentially parallel to the track, independent of train traffic or in such a way that regular train traffic is not obstructed. For the regular application of adhesive, a trolley or a light railcar is placed on the rails within a very short time, approximately within seconds. This trolley or railcar carries a boom with at least one spray nozzle.The trolley or lightweight railcar can be electrically driven and travel along the rail at a selectable, constant speed. The boom, mounted or molded onto the trolley or railcar and equipped with at least one spray nozzle, travels along the rail at precisely the same constant speed. This ensures that an adjustable amount of adhesive with a defined spray pattern can be applied per meter of travel, thus maintaining a predefined penetration depth. In practice, the trolley or lightweight railcar can be quickly placed on a rail and put into operation within seconds, and just as quickly removed from the rail to clear the way for a train. The rail trolley or railcar is preferably controlled by a remote control.The travel speeds and GPS coordinates can also be recorded or transmitted live and stored in a cloud. This, in conjunction with a state-of-the-art conveying and mixing system with data recording, enables verifiable and thus predictable and reliable ballast bonding. As an alternative, this trolley or light rail car can be supplied not by a truck traveling alongside the track, but also by a railway car traveling on a parallel track or the same track. The car is then gradually pulled or pushed along with the spraying system by a light locomotive or handcar.Only the trolley or this light rail vehicle ensures the even application of the adhesive. A defined quantity of adhesive is dispensed, precisely depending on the speed of the nozzles, thus guaranteeing a precisely defined penetration depth. Either a separate light rail vehicle or trolley travels uniformly forward on the track as a spray carriage, or the spray nozzles can be moved uniformly back and forth on this rail vehicle or spray carriage, ultimately maintaining a predefined penetration depth.

[0015] This device for bonding a granular mixture is presented and described with the aid of the drawings, and its functions are explained. The process that can be performed with it and the use of the device are then described and explained in more detail. The drawings show an example embodiment of the device, and the task and purpose of the invention are also illustrated and explained with the aid of the illustrations.

[0016] It shows: Figure 1: A cut-off, stabilized ballast track, stabilized by prior bonding, with a train passing by; Figure 2: A cut-off, stabilized ballast track along a rail in front of a tunnel portal; Figure 3: The trolley of the device according to the invention for applying adhesive to an area next to a rail, viewed from a slightly oblique angle and mounted on a single rail; Figure 4: The trolley of the device according to the invention in a front view and mounted on a single rail; Figures 5a-d: Four snapshots of the trolley being quickly placed on the rail; Figure 6: The trolley of the device with the boom and spray bar mounted on it; Figure 7: A self-contained trolley of the device with an electronic control unit, display and keypad integrated into the boom, and a battery in the trolley housing;Figure 8: The complete system with an associated, for example, supply vehicle, on which all elements for the electrical power supply and control of the pumping, for the mixing of adhesive components (if applicable), and for the controlled dispensing of the adhesive or the components of a multi-component adhesive via a hose connection to the boom are located; Figure 9: The complete system with an associated, for example, rail-mounted supply vehicle, on which all elements for mixing and controlled dispensing of the adhesive or the components of a multi-component adhesive via a hose connection to the boom are located; Figure 10: A trolley in the form of a light rail vehicle on one rail, with a boom for support on the other rail, shown in an elevation view, wherein this trolley does not have wheels rolling down the rail from below;Figure 11:The trolley or light rail carriage on one rail, with a boom for support on the other rail according to ; Figure 10 shown in perspective view; Figure 12: The trolley or the light rail carriage on one rail, with a boom for support on the other rail according to Figure 10 in an enlarged view; Figure 13: A trolley for mounting on a single rail in an enlarged view; Figure 14: The trolley according to Figures 10 to 12 shown in an enlarged elevation; Figure 15: The trolley after Figures 10 to 12 alone, in elevation and enlarged; Figure 16: The trolley after Figures 10 to 12 alone, shown in a perspective view.

[0017] In Figure 1The image shows a bonded ballast bed layer, specifically a section of ballast cut close to the outer edge of a track. This section was previously bonded by spraying on a two-component synthetic resin, forming a virtually monolithic block. In this state, the ballast bed to be removed can be cut with an excavator bucket, as shown here, and the bonded ballast shoulder remains stable. This allows vertical walls to be exposed without significantly compromising the load-bearing capacity and stability of the track. Whenever cables or pipes need to be laid along such a track, maintaining the stability of the track is a major challenge if it is to remain in service with trains, i.e., during the installation work for the cables and pipes.Without the possibility of stabilizing the route according to the present invention, the railway line would have to be closed to rail traffic, which would mean major restrictions and expensive downtimes for the railway operators.

[0018] The Figure 2Figure 1 shows another ballasted track, stabilized by bonding and then cut along a railway line in front of a tunnel portal. As can be seen, a trench often has to be excavated over considerable distances, and this presents a particular challenge: how can a ballasted track be reliably and safely stabilized over longer distances so that it can be certified for use by trains with normal loads? When applying the ballast by hand, no one can guarantee the homogeneity of the bond. Moreover, manual bonding is far too slow, labor-intensive, inaccurate, and correspondingly expensive. This is where the present invention comes in, enabling the bonding of ballasted tracks on a completely different scale: much faster and more efficiently, with complete homogeneity, a precisely selectable bond width, and a precisely definable penetration depth of the adhesive across the entire bond.Only such a mechanical application of the adhesive can be carried out with such precision that the bonding and stabilization can be certified, so that a railway operator can be certain that trains can travel on this bonded route without any problems and are also permitted to do so from an insurance perspective.

[0019] The Figure 3Figure 1 shows a rail-mounted trolley 1 of the device according to the invention for mounting on a single rail and for dispensing adhesive onto an area next to the rail. It is shown here in perspective from a slightly oblique angle and mounted on a single rail 16, thus in a rail-coupled or rail-bound state. The trolley 1 forms a frame 40 or box, inside of which wheels 2, 3, 4 are mounted. Initially, two wheels 2 are arranged on the frame 40 or box such that they point towards the corner 7 between the rail head 8 and the rail web 9. In the example shown, the wheels 2 are mounted on a flange 5 on one side of the frame 40. On the opposite side of the frame 40, at least one guide wheel 3 projects at right angles to the vertical frame part 6 towards the rail web 9 and rolls on this other side or flank of the rail head 8.Preferably, two guide wheels 3 are arranged opposite the wheels 2 on this side of the rail head 8. At least one driven wheel 4 presses down on the rail head 8 from above in the frame 40. For this purpose, the wheel 4 can be pivotally mounted on the frame 40, for example, by being mounted between two pivot arms 10 as shown here. These pivot arms are themselves pivotable on the frame 40 about a horizontal axis and are spring-loaded, pressing downwards and thus pressing the wheel 4 onto the top of the rail head 8 when the trolley 1 is mounted on it. An electric motor 11 is arranged on top of the frame 40 of the trolley 1. Its output shaft 12 drives a toothed ring 13 for a roller chain 14 or a gear for a toothed belt. The roller chain 14 or the toothed belt then drives a corresponding toothed ring 15 or a gear next to the wheel 4, which is rigidly connected to it.This allows the trolley 1 to be pushed upwards by the bearing force of the drive wheel 4, against the restraining force of the two guide wheels 2, while at least one outer guide wheel 3 runs on the side of the rail head 8 and, together with the guide wheels 2, secures the trolley 1 against pivoting in any direction. In the example shown, this trolley 1 is designed with two such guide wheels 3 for rolling on the side of the rail head 8. Its only degree of freedom of movement is displacement in the direction of the rail 16 on which its wheels 2-4 roll. With electronic control of the electric motor 11, it is possible to ensure a selectable uniform movement of this trolley 1 on a rail 16.

[0020] The Figure 4Figure 1 shows this trolley 1 of the device according to the invention in a front view, mounted on a single rail 16. It is clearly visible how the wheels 2, 3, 4 roll on different surfaces of the rail 16. The wheels 2 point towards the corner 7 between the rail head 8 and the rail web 9. They are mounted on the flange 5 of the frame 40, which is oriented inwards and obliquely upwards, with the wheels 2 mounted at the bottom of the flange 5. On the opposite side of the rail 16, at least one guide wheel 3 is guided on an axle 19 between two lugs 17, 18. This guide wheel 3 rolls on one side of the rail head 8.For fine-tuning this guide wheel 3, which acts as a support wheel, the two ears 17, 18 are adjustable here by means of the adjusting screws 42, as indicated by the double arrows, so that the guide wheel 3 can be adapted to any varying track head widths. At least one further wheel, which serves as the drive wheel 4, acts from above and here rests and rolls on the upper surface of the rail head 8 under spring tension. In the example shown, it is held on the axis 20b between two pivot arms 10 attached to the frame 40, which are pivotally connected to a mounting 21 on the horizontal axis 20. On one side of the wheel 4, it is equipped with a toothed ring 15 or a gear. A roller chain 14 runs over this toothed ring 15, which in turn runs over another toothed ring 13, which is driven by the output shaft 12 of the electric motor 11.Instead of a roller chain 14, a toothed belt or a gear transmission can be used to transmit the power of the electric motor 11 to the drive wheel 4. This illustration shows that this trolley 1, that is, its frame 40 or its housing, can be very quickly placed on or lifted off a rail 16. From the position shown here, it can be lifted off the rail 16 and removed by lifting it on the left side and then unhooking the two wheels 2 by moving the flange 5 or the frame 40 downwards and outwards. Conversely, the trolley 1 with its guide wheels 2 can be quickly hooked onto the rail 16 and positioned. First, the two wheels 2 are positioned in an inclined position of the frame 40 relative to the rail 16, and then the frame 40 is pivoted counterclockwise in the image shown until the drive wheel 4 rests on the top of the rail head 8.Then wheel 3 rests against the other side of the rail head 8, and the trolley 1 is guided stably along the rail. All described wheels can be adapted in position, type, and shape to different rail profile types. The number of wheels 2, 3, 4 can also vary, as long as they fulfill the described function. Likewise, one or more crawler tracks can be used in addition to or instead of wheels 2, 3, 4, thus ensuring that the trolley 1 is securely held and can be driven along the rail 9.

[0021] In the Figures 5a to 5d The sequence of placing trolley 1 onto rail 16 is shown in four consecutive sequence images. Trolley 1 is positioned according to Figure 5aThe trolley is tilted about its longitudinal axis by approximately 30-40° and guided over the rail 16. Finally, the guide wheels 2 must be hooked from this position below the rail head 8, as indicated by the arrow, which shows their intended path. For this purpose, the trolley 1 is moved in this tilted position, as shown in Figure 5b shown, lowered until the guide wheels 2 are below the rail head 8. Then the wheels 2 are moved with their free side, facing the inside of the frame 40 or box, into the corner 7 between the rail head 8 and the rail web 9, as indicated by the arrow. In the next step, the trolley 1 is pivoted about its longitudinal axis, as shown in Figure 5cshown and indicated with an arrow, until the drive wheel 4 finds a bearing on the top of the rail head 8 and is then pressed onto the rail head 8 by force of the spring acting on its pivot arms 10. In this state, with the drive wheel 4 resting upright on the rail head 8, the guide wheel 3 or – depending on the design – the guide wheels 3 – rest firmly against the side of the rail head 8, and the trolley 1 is held securely and firmly on the rail 16 in every direction, as shown in Figure 5dAs shown, trolley 1 can now only roll back and forth along rail 16. Removing trolley 1 from rail 16 is done in the exact reverse order. Coupling and securing trolley 1 can therefore be carried out without requiring any special adjustment of trolley 1 to rail 16. Rather, trolley 1 is secured against rotation in any direction on rail 16 simply by being placed on it as described, and can then be moved along the rail. Likewise, dismantling the rail-bound and thus secured trolley 1 requires only lifting it off rail 16, in the reverse order of its placement. This placement of trolley 1 on rail 16 or lifting it off rail 16 takes only a few seconds and usually no more than 5 seconds.It can preferably be performed by two workers, thus keeping the personnel requirements for commissioning the device according to the invention very low. Immediately after being set up, the trolley 1 is ready to travel on the rail 16, either forward or backward. These features are now utilized for the application of adhesive, as described below.

[0022] In the Figure 6the trolley 1 is placed on the rail 16 and, to a certain extent, locked thereto, so that it can only be moved along the rail 16 by its guide wheels 2, 3 and the drive wheel 4 rolling on it. A boom 22 with a spray bar 28 and a swivel arm 23 extending in the direction of the rail 16 are now hinged to the trolley 1. A measuring wheel 24 with a rubber tread is mounted on the front end of this swivel arm 23. This measuring wheel 24 rests snugly on the upper side of the rail head 8 and with every movement of the trolley 1 on the rail 16, this running wheel 24 rolls precisely on the rail 16, so that it can serve as a measuring wheel. Using this measuring wheel 24, every displacement of the trolley 1 on the rail 16 can be measured or recorded precisely, to the millimeter. Wheels 2, 3 and 4 can also serve as measuring wheels by attaching a tachometer.In this case, a separate measuring wheel 24 can be dispensed with.

[0023] The Figure 7Figure 1 shows an alternative embodiment of the trolley 1 with a boom 22. This is a self-contained trolley 1, as it has its own, preferably rechargeable, battery 42. In the example shown, this battery is mounted on a battery holder 43 within the frame 40 or housing of the trolley 1 and inserted into the same. The electronic control unit is also housed within the boom 22. This unit controls the drive of the trolley 1, the pump delivery of the adhesive, and, in the case of a mixed-component adhesive, the mixing of its components. The mixing of the adhesive components can also take place at the spray bar 28, where the mixing units are integrated.To operate the electronic control unit, a display 44 is built into the boom 22, with an associated keypad 45 for entering the desired values ​​for the travel speed, the travel path, and in the case of adhesives, also the mixing ratio, and the start and stop of travel and pumping. Furthermore, a portable electronic device, such as a laptop, a tablet, or a smartphone, can be connected to the electronic control unit, preferably wirelessly. In this case, a display 44 and a keypad 45 are provided by the portable electronic device, and inputs can be made via these, thus achieving remote control and remote monitoring. Finally, the trolley 1 and its boom 22 are preferably equipped with handles 46, 47 so that the trolley 1 can be quickly placed on a rail 16 by just two workers, for example, and just as quickly removed from the rail 16 if necessary.These are the movements shown in the illustrations in . Figure 5a to 5d to perform.

[0024] The boom 22, with two legs, is mounted on the outer side of the trolley 1. It extends diagonally upwards from the trolley 1 and carries a tube 27 in a bracket 26 at its end 25. This tube 27 is rotatable within the bracket 26 relative to the end 25 of the boom 22. At its bottom, this tube 27 carries a single spray nozzle 29 or, as shown here, a spray bar 28 that rotates about the tube's axis. Ideally, the spray bar 28 is mounted to be moved horizontally and vertically by a motor and pivotable in all directions. The spray bar 28 is equipped with one or more spray nozzles 29-31. Optimally, a multitude of nozzles are arranged on the spray bar 28 to produce different spray patterns. In the example shown, the spray bar 28 contains three spray nozzles 29-31. Depending on its rotational position, it can spray the ballast bed 32 with adhesive over a more or less large selected width, with the adhesive being supplied via one or more hoses 35 ( Figures 8, 9) is supplied to the spray nozzles 29-31. This one hose or these several hoses 35 come from the supply vehicle, which travels essentially parallel to the track for the operation of the trolley 1. This ballast bed 32 must be bonded to the side of the rails 16 to make it stable so that the terrain 38 outside the bonded ballast bed 32 can be vertically cut and removed in order to excavate a trench there, erect a structure, or lay another rail line, etc.

[0025] The Figure 8This shows the overall situation from a greater distance. During the construction of a structure next to the track or a new parallel track alongside the existing track, the subsoil 33 of the resulting trench, shown here, is often used as a construction access road after excavation. Trucks, dumpers, excavators, and other machinery then operate on this access road for the construction of the track bed. The supply vehicle 34, as shown here in action, can be used to bond the ballast bed 32 in its left-hand edge area. Such supply vehicles 34, equipped with all the necessary equipment for carrying, precisely mixing, and pumping adhesives or adhesive components, are already known. In the case of multi-component adhesives, mixing is preferably carried out using static mixers with gear pumps, and the quantity is metered using mass flow meters.This entire setup, as installed on such a vehicle, is exhaustively described and shown in WO 2018 / 010860 A1. Single-component adhesives can also be used with the same setup without any modifications.

[0026] In Figure 8The illustration shows the supply vehicle 34 traveling along the track 33 on the construction runway and supplying the trolley 1 with the boom 22 and the spray nozzles 29-31 via one or more hoses 35. Cables 36 for the electrical supply and control of the electric motor 11 of the drive wheel 4 inside the frame 40 or housing of the trolley 1 also run from the supply vehicle 34 to the trolley 1. Further cables 37 run from the optionally attached measuring wheel 24, or – if designed as measuring wheels – also from the wheels 2, 3, 4, to the electronic control unit, which is preferably carried on board the supply vehicle 34 or provided by a portable electronic device. The hose connection 35 and the cables 36, 37 are routed here along a swiveling boom 39, which is removable and hinged to the front of the supply vehicle 34. The measuring wheel 24 can be seen trailing behind the trolley 1.Depending on the design, the wheel 2, 3, or 4 acts as a measuring wheel, providing reliable data on the travel speed of the trolley 1 to the electronic control unit on the supply vehicle 34 or on the portable electronic device. The measuring wheel 24 could also be pushed in front of the trolley 1 instead of being towed. Based on this uniform speed, the previously calculated flow rates of the adhesive or adhesive components are determined, and the pumps are then controlled accordingly using feedback from the mass flow meters. This makes it possible to apply a very precise amount of adhesive per linear meter and thus ensure a predetermined penetration depth into the ballast bed 32 – so reliably that this process is even certifiable, with the aim of ensuring that a ballast bed shoulder 32 bonded in this way offers sufficient load-bearing capacity for trains weighing up to several hundred tons, depending on requirements.After this bonding of the ballast bed shoulder 32, the material 38 along the track can be excavated and removed. This area can therefore be safely exposed while the adjacent rail 16 remains passable. The bonding of the ballast bed shoulder should ultimately make it possible to cut away and remove the hatched area 38 of the track, while maintaining the necessary stability of the track for train passage.

[0027] It is obvious that the trolley 1 together with its boom 22 can be placed on a single rail 16 within a few seconds and then put into operation, and conversely, when a train is due, this trolley 1 can be taken off the rail 16 and removed just as quickly so that a train can pass the work site unhindered.

[0028] The pumping equipment and spray material, as well as the power supply, etc.—in other words, everything necessary to transport the adhesive or multi-component adhesive, cleanly mixed and in a controlled manner, via hose lines 35 to the rail trolley 1—can be transported not only on a vehicle 34 traveling parallel to the track. If there is no rush and the bonding does not have to be done in just a short time window, usually a few minutes in this case—i.e., if a rail is closed specifically for the bonding work—a railway carriage standing on the track and traveling alongside it can just as easily transport these equipment for supplying the rail trolley 1. This railway carriage can then be pushed behind or pulled ahead of the rail trolley 1 by a locomotive, a handcar, or a track excavator at a more or less constant distance from it.It is also understood that the transport of these devices can be carried out by a self-propelled dual-mode vehicle, i.e., a vehicle that can travel on both road and rail. This vehicle then supplies the trolley device 1 with the already mixed adhesive or the adhesive components to be mixed via cables 36, 37 and hoses 35 in the same way as a road or off-road vehicle 34 traveling alongside the rail line.

[0029] Such a rail-mounted vehicle 48, here with hydraulically lowerable rail wheels 49, is in Figure 9As an example, it can follow behind trolley 1 or, alternatively, follow ahead of trolley 1. Similarly, a railway car can replace such a vehicle 48, on which the entire system for temperature control, pumping, and mixing the adhesive components is mounted. This railway car also carries the power supply components, for example, an internal combustion engine with a generator and batteries for operating the electric pumps and for heating the adhesive to the ideal temperature. Alternatively, railway power can be drawn from the overhead line and made available for operating the system.Such a railway car can then travel on a parallel track to the track on which the trolley is mounted. The trolley is supplied with conditioned adhesive via pump hoses 35 and connected to the trolley via cables 36 and 37 for control and power supply. It is gradually pushed or pulled along behind the trolley by a draisine or a light locomotive and therefore does not have to move in exactly the same direction as the trolley 1. If conditions permit, this railway car can also operate on the same track on which the trolley 1 is mounted. The rail-mounted road vehicle in . Figure 9 is then simply replaced by such a railway carriage.

[0030] The controlled mixing of the several adhesive components can optionally also take place on the trolley 1. For this purpose, the mixer, preferably a static mixer, in which the spray material is mixed, is attached directly to the trolley 1.

[0031] In the Figures 10 to 16 An alternative design of the device is shown, which can also operate without wheels that roll from below on the rail head. This then involves a lightweight rail carriage that can be placed onto a track by hand. This offers the advantage that the trolley 1 is not suspended from the rail, but can be lifted vertically upwards away from it. To improve stability, it can have a further boom 50 opposite its boom 22 with the spraying device, which extends towards the opposite rail, on which the boom 50 rests with one or more support wheels 55, thus forming a lightweight rail carriage.

[0032] The Figure 10Figure 1 shows such a trolley 1 in the form of a lightweight railcar on one rail, with a boom 50 for support on the other rail, in an elevation view. This trolley 1, or railcar, has no wheels that roll down the rail from below and can therefore be lifted vertically upwards from the rail at any time. A further advantage of this trolley 1, or railcar, is that it can also traverse switches by briefly lifting the wheels 51, 52, which roll laterally on the railhead, upwards, for example pneumatically or electrically, and then lowering them back to their initial position for rolling down both sides of the railhead after passing the switch. The boom 22 is equipped with a device 53 for extending or shortening the boom 22, as well as with a device 54 for adjusting the height of the spray bar 28.These devices 53, 54 can be adjusted by electric motor, pneumatically, or hydraulically. At the outer end of the boom 50, a support wheel 55 can be seen, with which the boom 50 is supported on this opposite rail.

[0033] The Figure 11 shows this railcar Figure 10 on a rail, with a boom 50 for support on the opposite rail with, in the example shown, two support wheels 55 for the outer end of the boom 50. The

[0034] Figure 12Figure 1 shows an enlarged view of the railcar with its two outriggers 22 and 50. The two wheels 51 and 52, which roll on either side of the railhead 8, are visible, thus stabilizing the railcar around its vertical axis and preventing rotation. Stabilization around the axis along the rail is provided by the outrigger 50, which rests on the opposite rail 57. In one variant, the spray bar 28 on the railcar can also be mounted in a movable position. For example, it can be mounted on an outrigger that extends across the entire width of the railcar, with the spray bar 28 being motor-driven and thus movable on this outrigger, for example, by means of an electric drive.In this case, with the railcar stationary or moving, the spray boom 28 can move uniformly back and forth across the entire width of the ballast bed of a rail line, ensuring a uniform penetration depth of the adhesive into the ballast bed. This boom can also be designed to pivot about a vertical axis, so that, for example, it no longer extends transversely across the rail line, but rather longitudinally, along the rail. With the railcar stationary, the spray boom 28 can then move uniformly back and forth along the boom, thus bonding a longitudinal section of the lateral ballast bed, i.e., a ballast bed shoulder, with a consistent penetration depth of the adhesive.

[0035] The Figure 13Figure 1 shows the drive mechanism of the railcar, specifically its trolley 1, in a separate, enlarged, and perspective view. Inside the trolley are the drive wheels 56, which rest on the rail, ensuring good adhesion by providing their full weight. Between the two drive wheels 56, which can also function as measuring wheels, is the electric motor 11 that powers them.

[0036] The Figure 14 This trolley shows after the Figure 11 and 12 shown in an elevation view. The electric motor 11 and, to its left, the front drive wheel 56, as well as the two guide wheels 51 and 52, which roll on both sides of the rail head 8, are visible. Figure 15 is all of this shown in a larger format, and in Figure 16shown in a perspective view. Here, you can see the drive belts or roller chains 14, via which the electric motor 11 drives the drive wheels 56. The drive wheels are equipped with a rubber tread 57 to ensure good adhesion.

[0037] Overall, the facility presented here and the procedure carried out with it allow the following: The controllable, traceable, real-time documented and adjustable dispensing speed, dependent on all parameters; the controllable, traceable, real-time documented and adjustable adhesive dispensing quantity per area, dependent on all parameters; the controllable, traceable, real-time documented and adjustable application width, dependent on all parameters; in addition, the mixing accuracy is traceable, documented in real time, and environmental damage can be ruled out at all times. Number directory

[0038] 1 Trolley 2 Guide wheels for the corner rail head / rail web 7 3 Guide wheels on the rail web 9 4 Trolley drive wheel 1 5 Wheel flange 2 6 Vertical frame part 7 Corner rail head 8 / rail web 9 8 Rail head 9 Rail web 10 Swivel arms for drive wheel 4 11 Electric motor 12 Output shaft of the electric motor 11 13 Toothed ring on output shaft 12 14 Roller chain 15 Toothed ring on drive wheel 4 16 Rail 17 Ear for axle 19 of guide wheel 3 18 Ear for axle 19 of guide wheel 3 19 Axle for guide wheel 3 20a Axle through swivel arm 10 20b Axle through swivel arm 10 and drive wheel 4 21 Attachment for swivel arms 10 22 Cantilever 23 Swivel arm for measuring wheel 24 24 Measuring wheel 25 End of boom 22 26 Pipe bracket 27 27 Vertical pipe for spray nozzle / swivel beam 28 Spray beam 29 Spray nozzle 30 Spray nozzle 31 Spray nozzle 32 Gravel bed 33 Subgrade / construction runway 34 Supply vehicle 35 Hoses for adhesive orAdhesive components 36 Cable for electric motor 11 37 Cable from measuring wheel 24 to control unit 38 Area to be cut off and removed 39 Boom on supply vehicle 34 40 Frame, box, housing of trolley 1 41 Adjusting screws for adjusting the guide wheel 3 42 Accumulator 43 Accumulator holder in the trolley 1 44 Display on boom 22 45 Keypad for electronic unit and display 44 46 Handles for carrying the trolley 1 47 Handles on boom 22 for lifting it 48 Vehicle movable on rails 16 49 Hydraulically lowerable rail wheels 16 50 Boom on the trolley towards the opposite rail 51 Wheel rolling laterally on the outside of the rail head 52 Wheel rolling laterally on the inside of the rail head 53 Adjustment unit for boom length 22 54Adjustment unit for the height of the spray bar 28 55Support wheel on the boom 50 for the opposite rail 56Drive wheel 57Rubber running surface of the drive wheels 56.

Claims

1. Device for dispensing single-component or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed (32) of a rail track of a railway line, wherein the container(s) for the adhesive and the elements for conveying the adhesive for dispensing are installed on a supply vehicle (34, 48) movable on or alongside the railway line, and wherein the device further includes either a trolley (1) which can be temporarily coupled to and secured on a single rail (16), or a rail carriage which can be manually placed on the rails or assembled thereon, and which can be supplied with adhesive from the supply vehicle (34, 48) via hose lines (35), wherein at least one spray nozzle (29-31) is mounted on the trolley (1) or on the rail carriage,so that by uniform travel speed of the trolley (1) or the rail car or by uniform movement of the spray nozzle (29-31) on the trolley (1) or on the rail car through defined flow rates of the adhesive delivered by the supply vehicle, a defined penetration depth of the adhesive into the ballast bed can be maintained depending on the nature of the ballast bed (32) and the spray pattern.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by thatthe trolley (1) is guided on rails and can be moved independently of the supply vehicle (34, 48) with its own drive at a uniform, selectable speed on the same (16), the trolley (1) carrying a boom (22) on which at least one spray nozzle (29-31) is mounted, and which is mounted so as to be horizontally and vertically displaceable and pivotable in all directions, so that by means of the device, at a uniform travel speed of the trolley (1) and defined flow rates of the adhesive, depending on the nature of the ballast bed (32) and spray pattern, a defined penetration depth of the adhesive can be maintained.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized by that a boom (22) with a spray bar (28) is mounted on the rail carriage, which is motor-driven and can be moved horizontally and vertically and pivoted in all directions and which has a plurality of spray nozzles (29-31) for producing different spray patterns.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the trolley (1) or the rail carriage is driven by an electric motor (11) mounted thereon and can be moved on the rail (16) by remote control via a portable electronic device and the spray bar (28) can be adjusted vertically and horizontally and pivoted in all directions by remote control.

5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that an electronic control unit is housed in the boom (22), as well as a display (44) with associated keypad (45) for inputs to the electronic control unit.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the trolley (1) or the rail carriage are configured in such a way that they can be placed on the rail (16) and, when placed on the rail (16), are secured against rotation on the rail (16) in any direction without further adjustment.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the trolley (1) has a boom (5) which, when the trolley (1) is placed on a rail, extends to the respective opposite rail (57) and can be supported there by means of at least one support wheel (55), so that a rail carriage is formed, and in that the trolley has wheels (51, 52) which, when placed on a rail, roll on both sides of the rail head (8), and includes at least one drive wheel (56) which carries the weight of the trolley and its supports (22, 50) and rolls on top of the rail head (8).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatthe trolley (1) includes a frame (40) or a housing, to which, when the trolley (1) is placed on the rail (16), guide wheels (2) are mounted on one underside thereof, which are directed obliquely to the rail (16) and are intended to roll in a corner (7) between the rail head (8) and the rail web (9) of the rail (16), while at least one guide wheel (3) is mounted on the opposite side of the frame (40) or housing, which is intended to roll to the side of the rail head (8) when the trolley (1) is placed on the rail (16), and at least one drive wheel (4) is mounted between the above-mentioned guide wheels (2, 3) on the frame (40) or housing, which drive wheel is intended to roll on the rail head (8) and drive the trolley (1) when the trolley (1) is placed on the rail (16).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatWhen the trolley (1) or the rail carriage is coupled to the rail (16), the boom (22) projects laterally to the direction of travel of the trolley (1) and a pipe (27) attached thereto and a spray bar (28) running transversely to the pipe (27) at the bottom are arranged, which spray bar is equipped with one or more spray nozzles (29-31) and is rotatable on the pipe (27), is vertically adjustable in height and is mounted so as to be horizontally displaceable in width, and wherein handles (46, 47) are formed on the boom (22) and / or on the frame (40) or housing of the trolley (1) to facilitate lifting.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatthe trolley (1) or the rail carriage has its own battery (42) so that it can be moved independently by remote control, and that the trolley (1) or the rail carriage is equipped with a measuring wheel (24) which is attached to a pivoting arm (23) hinged about a horizontal axis on the trolley (1) or the rail carriage or is integrated in the frame (40) or housing of the trolley (1) or the rail carriage and which is intended to roll on the rail (16) when the trolley (1) or the rail carriage is placed thereon, and the measurement data recorded by the measuring wheel (24) can be transmitted electronically.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized by thatthe trolley (1) or the rail carriage have an electronic control unit which is attached to them or can be controlled via a separate portable electronic device, by means of which control unit the travel speed for the movement along the rail (16) can be controlled on the basis of feedback from the measuring wheel (24).

12. A method for dispensing single-component or multi-component adhesive with a device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the supply vehicle (34) is positioned next to the rail line on a railway track or a rail line, then the trolley (1) or the rail car is placed on the parallel rail (16) and is moved along the rails to dispense adhesive onto the ballast bed (32), wherein the supply vehicle (34) travels next to the rail line within reach of the hose line (35), so that the at least one spray nozzle is supplied with adhesive from the supply vehicle (34) via the at least one hose line (35),whereby a defined penetration depth of the adhesive is maintained by means of the uniform travel speed of the trolley (1) or the rail carriage or by means of the uniform movement of the spray nozzles on the moving or stationary trolley (1) or the moving or stationary rail carriage and the defined flow rates depending on the nature of the ballast bed (32) and the spray pattern, and when a train approaches on the rail line, the travel of the trolley (1) or the rail carriage is stopped and removed from the rail (16) within such short periods of time, thus clearing the rail (16) for the train to pass through, so that regular train traffic can continue uninterrupted.

13. A method for dispensing single-component or multi-component adhesive using a device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the supply vehicle (48) is set up on a closed-off rail track, then the trolley (1) or the rail carriage is placed on the same rail (16) and is moved along the rails to apply adhesive to the ballast bed (32), wherein the supply vehicle (48) on the one hand and the trolley (1) or the rail carriage are moved one behind the other within reach of the hose line (35), so that the at least one spray nozzle is supplied with adhesive from the supply vehicle (48) via the at least one hose line (35), wherein a defined penetration depth of the adhesive is maintained by means of the uniform travel speed of the trolley (1) or the rail carriage and defined flow rates depending on the nature of the ballast bed (32) and spray pattern.

14. Method according to claim 12, wherein the trolley (1) is moved on the rail (16) by having previously been placed on the rail (16) by means of opposing guide wheels (2, 3) so that it is secured thereon in any direction against rotation on the rail (16).

15. Use of a device according to one of claims 1 to 11 for bonding sections of the ballast bed (32) of a rail line as an additional module to existing systems which are mounted on trailing or pushed, track-bound or self-propelled, rail-bound vehicles and / or road-rail vehicles which can be driven on rails and roads or on rail vehicles, for the controlled application of a single-component or multi-component adhesive in order to produce a predictable and resilient ballast bond.

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