Cleaning vehicle for cleaning track rails

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning vehicle (1) by means of which the two track rails (2) of a track (3) for rail vehicles can be cleaned by removal of dirt. The cleaning vehicle (1) has a plurality of rail wheels (14) by means of which the cleaning vehicle can move along a track (3) in order to perform a cleaning journey (13a) in which a surface treatment of the track rails (2) can be carried out by means of the laser radiation (33) of an on-board laser cleaning device (31a), said surface treatment causing the removal of dirt. The laser cleaning device (31a) has a plurality of cleaning units (36) which are each assigned to one track rail (2) to be cleaned and which have a laser-beam exit region (42) in which the laser radiation (33) that can be generated by a laser (32) of the laser cleaning device (31a) can exit.

Description

[0001] Glatt Limited Liability Company,

[0002] Werner-Glatt - Street 1 , 79589 Binzen

[0003] Cleaning vehicle for cleaning railway tracks

[0004] The invention relates to a cleaning vehicle for cleaning the two track rails of a track for rail vehicles,

[0005] - with several rail wheels, via which the cleaning vehicle can be placed on the two track rails of a track, assuming a use position, whereby the cleaning vehicle can, in its use position, carry out a travel movement on the two track rails along the track, which can be caused by an associated drive device,

[0006] - and with a rail cleaning device which has a cleaning unit for each of the two track rails of a track to be cleaned, which cleaning unit can be positioned or is positioned near a track rail to be cleaned at least during a cleaning run of the cleaning vehicle which can be carried out by the travel movement, in order to carry out a surface treatment on this track rail which causes the removal of contaminants during a cleaning process.

[0007] Depending on use and environmental influences, the track rails for rail vehicles can become dirty, resulting in increased slippage during the transmission of drive power between the driven rail wheels of rail vehicles and the track rails, and can cause wear to both the rail wheels and the track rails. To improve the coefficient of friction and reduce slippage, some traction vehicles are equipped with automatic sanding devices, although their use usually results in even greater wear. To address this problem, the track rails in the affected areas have previously been cleaned chemically or using abrasive technologies. However, chemical cleaning has the disadvantage of contaminating the ballast beds and the subsurface of the tracks, which is particularly problematic with repeated cleaning.According to the applicant's internal knowledge, abrasive cleaning is carried out, for example, using rail vehicles equipped with cleaning units in the form of rotating grinding attachments or wire brushes to achieve mechanical removal of contaminants. However, this abrasive cleaning method only inadequately removes residues such as grease or oil, and there is a risk that repeated cleaning will impair the rail geometry.

[0008] A cleaning vehicle designed according to the features mentioned above is described, for example, in the AMT Group's company information "Track Construction Trailer 20T" (page 10). It can be positioned on a track while assuming a working position to carry out a cleaning run along the track initiated by an assigned drive device. The cleaning vehicle is equipped with a rail cleaning device that can be used to spray water onto the track rails to remove contaminants.

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a cleaning vehicle for cleaning track rails, with which contaminants, including corrosion, can be removed from track rails effectively and in a time-saving manner, without changing the rail geometry or other mechanical characteristics of the track rails.

[0010] To solve this problem, the invention relates to a cleaning vehicle in conjunction with the features mentioned above.

[0011] 5, it is provided that the rail cleaning device is designed as a laser cleaning device which has a laser located on board the cleaning vehicle, wherein each cleaning unit has a laser beam exit area for the exit of a laser radiation which can be generated by the laser and directed onto the track to be cleaned in order to remove contaminants.

[0012] The cleaning vehicle according to the invention enables mobile laser beam cleaning of track rails, which is characterized by time-saving application, high effectiveness, and gentle treatment of the track rails. Like a conventional rail vehicle, the cleaning vehicle has a suitable number of rail wheels, via which it can be positioned on the two track rails of a track while assuming a use position. In a cleaning run, laser technology is used to thoroughly remove contaminants adhering to track rails or those that have otherwise occurred, such as dirt, oil, grease, or corrosion, using laser radiation. Existing contaminants such as layers of dirt and signs of corrosion can be gently removed by evaporation, without the need for mechanical blasting media such as sand or glass, or additional cleaning agents.The cleaning process is therefore environmentally friendly and cost-effective. The intensity of the surface treatment can be individually adjusted depending on the rail material by selecting a suitable radiation energy and / or the laser beam shape in order to achieve the best possible cleaning result. The laser irradiation can be pulsed or continuous, depending in particular on the degree of soiling and the driving speed of the cleaning vehicle. The laser cleaning system has a laser on board the cleaning vehicle, which therefore always directly follows the driving movement of the cleaning vehicle, so that no additional logistical measures are required to provide the laser.For each track rail to be cleaned, there is a cleaning unit which has a laser beam exit area for the laser radiation generated by the laser and which is arranged so that the emerging laser beam hits the track rail to be cleaned at a desired angle. Several cleaning units can easily be provided for each track rail to be cleaned, particularly ones arranged one behind the other in the direction of travel. As the laser treatment is very gentle on the material despite its high effectiveness, there is great potential for savings in terms of maintenance costs for track rails and the rail vehicles that usually travel on the tracks compared to conventional cleaning measures. As the laser operates without the use of media, contamination of the track area by cleaning agents can also be avoided.

[0013] Advantageous further developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0014] In principle, the two cleaning units can be combined into a single structural unit. However, it is considered more advantageous if the cleaning units are arranged at a distance from one another transversely to the direction of travel of the cleaning vehicle. This facilitates individual alignment where necessary. The cleaning vehicle is expediently equipped with a seat that can be used by the operating personnel on board the cleaning vehicle during travel. In particular, the seat includes at least one vehicle seat. The seat allows fatigue-free cleaning work over a very long period of time.

[0015] In general, lasers are classified into different laser classes based on their hazard potential. Class 1 lasers pose the lowest hazard potential. Class 4 lasers emit extremely dangerous laser radiation due to their high intensity. However, for effective rail cleaning, a laser with an intensity equivalent to Class 4 is recommended. To ensure that such a Class 4 laser can be used without restrictions even in heavily used areas, it is advantageous if the laser cleaning device is equipped with a Class 4 laser. However, each cleaning unit must have a laser beam shielding device to shield the laser radiation. This means that the laser cleaning device as a whole can only be assigned to the unproblematic Laser Class 1.

[0016] It is considered advantageous if each cleaning unit has a laser beam shielding device which has a shielding housing which encloses a working chamber in an opaque manner, i.e. without any possibility of exit for laser radiation, with the laser beam exit area being located within the working chamber. To enable the cleaning measures, the shielding housing has a working opening which, during a cleaning process, faces or can be faced exclusively towards the track rail to be cleaned, through which the laser radiation emerging from the laser beam exit area within the working chamber can irradiate the associated track rail without damaging the immediate or wider surroundings.

[0017] Preferably, each cleaning unit has a beam output head having the laser beam exit region, with laser optics being associated with the laser beam exit region. The laser optics can have lenses and / or mirrors to configure the laser beam as needed.

[0018] Each jet output head is preferably located inside the working chamber of the associated cleaning unit.

[0019] It is advantageous if each cleaning unit is assigned an adjustment device to enable positioning at different heights. For example, the adjustment device can be designed to move the respective cleaning unit selectively into at least one lowered operating position for performing laser cleaning operations or into at least one raised standby position for travel movements outside of cleaning operations.

[0020] Preferably, the laser cleaning device is additionally equipped with an extraction system that allows the removal of ablation media generated in the area of ​​the cleaning units during a cleaning process. Since the ablation media are at least predominantly gaseous, environmental pollution can be effectively prevented by extraction.

[0021] The extraction device is designed in particular so that the removal media can be extracted in the immediate vicinity of their origin. For this purpose, the extraction device expediently has at least one extraction opening in the area of ​​each cleaning unit that communicates with an extraction unit of the extraction device. If the cleaning units have a laser beam shielding device, it is expedient if the extraction opening is located inside the working chamber of the associated cleaning unit. In principle, however, the extraction opening can also be placed outside a cleaning unit, in particular behind the cleaning unit, opposite the direction of travel of the cleaning vehicle.

[0022] The drive mechanism designed to generate the travel movement and, accordingly, the cleaning run is expediently an integral part of the cleaning vehicle. The cleaning vehicle is thus self-propelled, eliminating the need for an additional traction or pusher vehicle. The drive mechanism is connected to one or more of the rail wheels and thus enables direct propulsion of the cleaning vehicle along a track. The drive mechanism can be used both for a cleaning run and for a movement run without an active rail cleaning system to cover distances between track sections to be cleaned.

[0023] In principle, the cleaning vehicle can be designed without its own drive device and can have at least one coupling device which allows the preferably detachable coupling of a drive vehicle having the drive device.

[0024] The drive device is preferably an electric drive device which obtains its drive energy, for example, from an on-board accumulator and / or via a power collector system from a current-carrying conductor system laid along the track.

[0025] The electrical energy required to operate the laser cleaning system is conveniently provided by a power generator located on board the cleaning vehicle. Such a power generator is conveniently powered by an internal combustion engine, allowing for easy cleaning of non-electrified track sections.

[0026] In principle, the electrical energy required to operate the laser cleaning system can be provided additionally or alternatively by a power storage unit or accumulator. For use on electrified tracks, the cleaning vehicle can be equipped with a pantograph system.

[0027] For example, one and the same power generator can be designed to generate electrical energy for both the drive device and the laser cleaning device.

[0028] The rail wheels are each conveniently equipped with at least one flange, which provides transverse support on a track rail for guidance during travel. The flange technology can be similar to that of conventional rail vehicles.

[0029] In addition to the rail wheels, the cleaning vehicle can be equipped with conventional traction wheels, which enable trackless movement of the cleaning vehicle on normal surfaces such as roads or other terrain. These additional traction wheels preferably have pneumatic tires. The traction wheels allow the cleaning vehicle to be easily moved between different locations, regardless of track structures. The cleaning vehicle is expediently equipped so that either the rail wheels or the traction wheels can be used to move the cleaning vehicle, while the other wheels are currently in a deactivated, ready position.

[0030] The cleaning vehicle expediently has a chassis on which the rail wheels are arranged. The chassis is, for example, frame-like and / or plate-shaped. The cleaning units are preferably arranged on the chassis, in particular in a height-adjustable manner, so that a variable adjustment of the working distance between the laser beam exit area and the track to be cleaned is possible. The height adjustability can, in particular, also be designed such that the cleaning units can be brought into a raised or pivoted-up standby position when not in use.

[0031] It is considered advantageous if not only the rail wheels but also the optional propulsion wheels are arranged on the chassis. The arrangement is in particular such that the rail wheels and the propulsion wheels are adjustable in a height direction relative to one another in order to position either the rail wheels or the propulsion wheels in a lowered, activated position in which they can be used to move the cleaning vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning vehicle contains two individual vehicles which are rigidly linked to one another in a shear and tension-resistant manner and each have their own rail wheels for placement on a track. To make them easier to distinguish, these two vehicles are referred to as the main vehicle and the additional vehicle. The main vehicle contains the cleaning units, the additional vehicle the laser.Flexible optical connecting cables enable the transmission of the generated laser radiation between the laser and the cleaning units. Such a vehicle setup allows for rapid conversion between different lasers as needed, for example, to equip the system with lasers of different power levels or to save time during maintenance work. For example, several additional vehicles equipped with a laser can be provided, which can be alternatively coupled to the same main vehicle.

[0032] The main vehicle is expediently equipped with a drive system for the traction drive. The main vehicle expediently functions as a towing vehicle for an additional vehicle coupled to the main vehicle as a trailer.

[0033] If the cleaning vehicle is equipped with an extraction system, the extraction openings are conveniently located on the main vehicle, and an extraction unit responsible for generating the extraction flow is located on the auxiliary vehicle. Flexible suction lines, which allow damage-free cornering, ensure a flow connection between the extraction unit and the extraction openings to enable the extraction flow. The optional power generator for generating the laser's operating power is located on board the auxiliary vehicle.

[0034] Another advantageous design is a single-unit cleaning vehicle that incorporates all the components required to operate the laser cleaning system. This design allows for a particularly compact cleaning vehicle and facilitates transport between different locations using a separate transport vehicle.

[0035] There is also the advantageous option of designing the cleaning vehicle as a so-called standard railway vehicle. Certain rail vehicles of German railways are referred to as standard vehicles, including, for example, traction units, passenger cars or freight cars. This design can be achieved, for example, by installing the laser cleaning device and all other components intended for the cleaning vehicle directly into a standard railway vehicle. It is considered particularly advantageous if the cleaning vehicle is a traction unit, for example a locomotive. Such designs enable cleaning processes to be carried out during normal railway traffic and can therefore be carried out in a time- and cost-saving manner without interrupting railway traffic and without temporarily shutting down sections of track.

[0036] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing. It shows:

[0037] Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a preferred embodiment of the cleaning vehicle according to the invention in a use position placed on a track, wherein the sleepers of the track and the track bed are not shown for the sake of clarity,

[0038] Figure 2 is a side view of the arrangement of Figure 1, viewed in the direction of arrow II of Figure 1, wherein a section framed by a dot-dash line is shown in an additional enlarged manner to illustrate the structure of a preferred cleaning unit, and

[0039] Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the cleaning vehicle according to the invention in a schematic representation in a side view analogous to Figure 2, wherein a possible embodiment as a traction vehicle is also illustrated in dash-dotted lines.

[0040] Unless otherwise stated in individual cases, the following statements refer to all embodiments of the invention.

[0041] The drawing shows a cleaning vehicle according to the invention, designated overall by reference number 1, in various advantageous equipment variants.

[0042] The cleaning vehicle 1 is used for mobile laser beam cleaning of the two rails, referred to as track rails 2, of a track 3 which is used for the movement of any rail vehicle and whose main application is the field of railways, which in this case also includes light rail systems, trams, subways, etc.

[0043] The track 3 extends in a track longitudinal direction 4 indicated by a dash-dotted line and has two track rails 2 which are parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another transversely to the track longitudinal direction 4.

[0044] The track rails 2 are fastened in a manner known per se to railway sleepers 6 which are fixed in a track bed 7 consisting, for example, of ballast.

[0045] During conventional use of track 3, a non-illustrated rail vehicle can support itself vertically on the two track rails 2 with rail vehicle wheels, whereby the rail vehicle wheels can roll on the respective assigned track rail 2 as the rail vehicle moves.

[0046] The cleaning vehicle 1 has a vehicle longitudinal axis 8 which, in its position of use, is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the track 4, a vehicle transverse axis 11 which is orthogonal thereto and runs in the spacing direction of the two track rails 2, and a vehicle vertical axis 12 which is orthogonal to the vehicle longitudinal axis 8 and to the vehicle transverse axis 11 and usually runs vertically.

[0047] The cleaning vehicle 1 can perform a movement 13, illustrated by an arrow, along the track 3. During this movement 13, it rolls on the track rails 2 with rail wheels 14. The movement 13 is possible, in particular, both as a forward movement and as a reverse movement.

[0048] The cleaning vehicle 1 has at least two pairs of rail wheels 14, wherein rail wheels 14 belonging to the same rail wheel pair are opposite one another in the axial direction of the vehicle's transverse axis 11. In the use position of the cleaning vehicle 1, each rail wheel 14 rests on one of the track rails 2. The cleaning vehicle 1 is supported on each track rail 2 with at least two rail wheels 14 spaced apart from one another in the axial direction of the vehicle's longitudinal axis 8.

[0049] The cleaning vehicle 1 expediently has a single-part or multi-part chassis 15, which is only indicated schematically, on which the rail wheels 14 are rotatably arranged via suitable suspension measures.

[0050] The travel movement 13 can be brought about by a drive device 16. In all illustrated embodiments, the drive device 16 is a direct component of the cleaning vehicle 1. By way of example, it is attached to the chassis 15. The drive device 16 is drive-connected to at least one and in particular to several of the rail wheels 14 via at least one drive train 17. The at least one drive train 17 can transmit a drive torque generated by the drive device 16 to the associated rail wheel 14 acting as a drive wheel in order to generate the travel movement 13.

[0051] The drive device 16 is preferably an electric drive device which receives its drive energy from an on-board accumulator 18 and / or via a current collector system 21, only indicated in Figure 3, from a current-carrying conductor system laid along the track 3, for example an overhead line.

[0052] To ensure that the cleaning vehicle 1 remains safely on track during the travel movement 13, the rail wheels 14 are each expediently equipped with a flange 22, which can bear against one of the two lateral rail flanks 2a, 2b of the associated track 2 for transverse support. The cleaning vehicle 1 is thus guided safely through the track 3 during the travel movement 13.

[0053] The cleaning vehicle 1 expediently has at least one seat 23 , which is formed by a vehicle seat for example, which allows an operator of the cleaning vehicle 1 to take a seat while operating the cleaning vehicle 1 .

[0054] An operating device 24 located in the area of ​​the seating 23 can be grasped by the operating personnel as needed to command the travel movement 13 or the stoppage of the cleaning vehicle 1. The operating device 24 allows control-related access to the drive device 16.

[0055] The cleaning vehicle 1 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and shown in solid lines in Figure 3 is specially designed for the laser cleaning of the track rails 2, which will be explained later, and serves no other purpose. However, there is the option, indicated by dash-dotted lines in Figure 3, of designing the cleaning vehicle 1 simultaneously as a traction vehicle 25 or as another so-called standard railway vehicle. In this case, there is a rail vehicle with dual function as a traction vehicle 25 and at the same time as a cleaning vehicle 1, which can be used both for regular railway operation and, in particular, simultaneously for cleaning track rails 2. For example, a rail cleaning process can be carried out during a rail journey for the transport of passengers and / or goods.

[0056] According to an embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cleaning vehicle 1 is composed of several, and in particular two, vehicles 26, 27, which are coupled to one another via a mechanical coupling device 28 and, for ease of differentiation, are referred to as the main vehicle 26 and the additional vehicle 27. The coupling device 28 is designed, in particular, for a detachable coupling, so that the two vehicles 26, 27 can be separated from one another if necessary.

[0057] The coupling device 28 connects the two vehicles 26, 27 in a shear- and tensile-resistant manner and at the same time in an articulated manner. The main vehicle 26 is preferably designed as a towing vehicle and the additional vehicle 27 as a trailer of the main vehicle 26. During the travel movement 13, the main vehicle 26 travels ahead and pulls the additional vehicle 27 behind it. The drive device 16 and the at least one rail wheel 14 functioning as a drive wheel are preferably components of the main vehicle 26.

[0058] Both the main vehicle 26 and the additional vehicle 27 have their own rail wheels 14. For example, each of the two vehicles 26, 27 has two pairs of rail wheels 14 arranged consecutively in the axial direction of the vehicle's longitudinal axis 8.

[0059] According to the embodiments illustrated in Figure 3, the cleaning vehicle 1 can consist of a single vehicle, be it a cleaning vehicle 1 serving only for cleaning purposes or a cleaning vehicle 1 simultaneously functioning as a traction vehicle 25.

[0060] The cleaning vehicle 1 is equipped with a rail cleaning device, designated overall by reference numeral 31, which is designed as a laser cleaning device 31a. The terms rail cleaning device 31 and laser cleaning device 31a thus refer to one and the same device. The laser cleaning device 31a is designed to treat the surface 34 of the track rails 2 to remove contaminants using laser radiation 33 generated by a laser 32. Due to the laser beam treatment, contaminants are removed thermally, in particular in that the contaminants are vaporized by the energy of the laser radiation 33.

[0061] The laser beam cleaning takes place during a travel movement 13 of the cleaning vehicle 1, referred to as a cleaning movement 13a. During the cleaning movement 13a, the cleaning vehicle 1 moves, in particular, with the front end 35 facing forward. However, the cleaning movement 13a can also expediently take place during a reverse movement.

[0062] The laser cleaning device 31 contains the aforementioned laser 32, which is located on board the cleaning vehicle 1 and is mounted in a suitable manner on or at the chassis 15. Preferably, the laser 32 is mounted behind the seating 23, relative to forward travel, opposite the direction of travel.

[0063] In the two-part design of the cleaning vehicle 1 according to Figures 1 and 2, the laser 32 is expediently located on board the additional vehicle 27.

[0064] The laser cleaning device 31a includes two cleaning units 36, which, in the operating position of the cleaning vehicle 1, can be positioned or are positioned in the area of ​​one of the two track rails 2 to be cleaned. The two cleaning units 36 are arranged, for example, in the area of ​​the front side 35 of the cleaning vehicle 1, and are expediently attached to the chassis 15 via a suitable interface device 37.

[0065] The two cleaning units 36 are expediently arranged at a distance from one another in the axial direction of the vehicle's transverse axis 11, wherein they are located, in particular, at the same height in the axial direction of the vehicle's longitudinal axis 8. The mutual distance between the two cleaning units 36 preferably corresponds at least substantially to the mutual distance between the two track rails 2 to be cleaned. Preferably, the mutual distance between the two cleaning units 36 is variably adjustable.

[0066] The arrangement of the operational cleaning units 36 is particularly such that each cleaning unit 36 ​​is arranged in the use position of the cleaning vehicle 1 in the axial direction of the vehicle's vertical axis 12 above one of the two track rails 2. The surface 34 of each track rail 2 has an upward-facing rail surface, referred to below as a rolling surface 38, on which the rail wheels 14 roll during the travel movement 13 and to which one of the two cleaning units 36 is located vertically opposite at a height difference.

[0067] The arrangement and orientation of the cleaning units 36 explained above applies accordingly to a laser beam exit area 42 of a respective cleaning unit 36. The laser beam exit area 42 allows the exit of the laser radiation 33 that can be generated or is generated by the laser 32 and, in an operating position of the respective cleaning unit 36 ​​that can be seen in all figures, is aligned such that it faces the track 2 to be cleaned and in particular its rolling surface 38.

[0068] The laser beam exit region 42 is optically connected to the laser 32 via at least one optical connecting line 43, indicated only schematically. The laser radiation generated by the laser 32 can pass through the optical connecting line 43 to the laser beam exit region 42 and exit there for energetic irradiation of the associated track rail 2.

[0069] In the exemplary embodiment with a two-part cleaning vehicle 1 according to Figures 1 and 2, the cleaning units 36 are arranged on the main vehicle 26, wherein the at least one optical connecting line 43 preferably has flexible properties so that it is not damaged when cornering due to the cleaning vehicle 1 then bending in the area of ​​the coupling device 28. It is understood that the optical connecting line 43 can also have bend-flexible properties in a cleaning vehicle 1 according to Figure 3 consisting of only a single vehicle.

[0070] To provide the electrical energy required to operate the laser 32, the laser cleaning device 31a is expediently equipped with a power generator 44. The power generator 44 is, for example, a diesel generator. The power generator 44 is located on board the cleaning vehicle 1, so that it always accompanies its driving movement 13.

[0071] In a cleaning vehicle 1 comprising a main vehicle 26 and an auxiliary vehicle 27, the power generator 44 is expediently a component of the auxiliary vehicle 27, which applies to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. The power generator 44 is expediently located near the laser 32, independent of the vehicle body, so that the power supply lines 45 can be as short as possible.

[0072] In a non-illustrated embodiment, the power supply of the laser 32 is provided from the same energy source as for the drive device 16, for example via an accumulator or via a current collector system 21, as is illustrated in the embodiments of Figure 3 in connection with the traction vehicle 25.

[0073] The laser cleaning device 31a expediently has, for each cleaning unit 36, a beam output head 46, which is designed as a component of the respective cleaning unit 36 ​​and on which the laser beam exit region 42 is located. The beam output head 46 is preferably equipped with laser optics 47, which is responsible for the beam geometry of the exiting laser radiation 33 and ensures, for example, that the laser radiation impinges on the surface 34 to be cleaned in a point-like or linear manner.

[0074] Preferably, the laser optics 47 are designed or adjustable in such a way that the laser radiation 33 impinges on the entire width of the rolling surface 38, so that the laser cleaning process can take place without periodic transverse movements of the laser radiation 33 in the axial direction of the vehicle transverse axis 11.

[0075] Preferably, each of the two cleaning units 36 is equipped with a laser beam shielding device 48, which in particular prevents harmful laser radiation 33 from escaping in a manner that could endanger people. By way of example, the laser beam shielding device 48 contains a shielding housing 51, which is clearly visible in the enlarged detail view in Figure 2 and which has an opaque housing wall 51a. The shielding housing 51 encloses a housing chamber referred to as the working chamber 52, in which the laser beam exit region 42 is located. By way of example and preferably, the entire beam output head 46 is accommodated in the working chamber 52, wherein it is expediently fastened directly or indirectly to the housing wall 51a.

[0076] The housing wall 51a encloses the working chamber 52, in particular on an upper side oriented in the axial direction of the vehicle's vertical axis 12, and further all around the sides. On an underside facing a track 2 in the use position of the cleaning vehicle 1, the shielding housing 51 has a working opening 53 framed by the housing wall 51a, through which the laser radiation 33 emerging from the laser beam exit region 42 within the working chamber 52 can exit the shielding housing 51 according to the arrow representation in the drawing to irradiate the adjacent track 2.

[0077] At least during a cleaning run 13a, the working opening 53 is positioned very close to the track 2, that is to say at a very small height distance from the rolling surface 38, so that reflective laser radiation is at least largely reflected back into the working chamber 52 and is not radiated into the surroundings of the cleaning unit 36.

[0078] In particular, to enable the setting of an optimally small height distance between the cleaning unit 36 ​​and the track rail 2 to be cleaned, each cleaning unit 36 ​​can be designed to be height-adjustable. By way of example, each cleaning unit 36 ​​is attached to the chassis 15 via an adjusting device 54 (only schematically indicated) such that it can be adjusted in the axial direction of the vehicle's vertical axis 12 and positioned at different heights by executing a height-adjusting movement 55 indicated by a double arrow relative to the chassis 15. The adjusting device 54 is, for example, a component of the interface device 37 or forms this interface device 37.

[0079] The adjustment device 54 can, in particular, also be designed such that the associated cleaning unit 36 ​​can be positioned either in an operating position corresponding to the arrangement described above or in a standby position remote from the operating position. In the standby position, the distance to the track rails 2 is greater than in the operating position. Each cleaning unit 36 ​​is expediently moved into the standby position outside of cleaning runs and, for example, for shunting the cleaning vehicle 1 in order to avoid damage.

[0080] Preferably, the laser cleaning device 31a is equipped with a laser 32 that falls into laser class 4. However, due to the described encapsulation of the laser beam exit area 42 by means of a laser beam shielding device 48, membership in laser class 1 is achieved with regard to the operational state. In this way, cleaning measures can be carried out with high laser energy and a correspondingly high level of thoroughness, without having to take into account that cleaning operations are also carried out, for example, in public or in heavily frequented areas.In order to exclude or minimize pollution-related impairments of the environment, it is advantageous if the laser cleaning device 31a is equipped with a suction device 56 in accordance with all illustrated embodiments, which enables the suction of removal media that arise during a cleaning process in the area of ​​the cleaning units due to the laser treatment.

[0081] The suction device 56 includes, by way of example, a suction unit 57 located on board the cleaning vehicle 1. In the case of a cleaning vehicle 1 having a main vehicle 26 and an additional vehicle 27, it is expediently designed as a component of the additional vehicle 27. The latter is the case in the illustrated embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

[0082] The suction unit 57 is expediently equipped in a manner known per se with a filter device and has at least one receiving space in which sucked-off particles are collected for later disposal.

[0083] The suction device 56 includes a plurality of suction openings 58, at least one of which is arranged in the area of ​​each cleaning unit 36. Each suction opening 56 is fluidly connected to the suction unit 57 via a suction line 61 (only schematically indicated), so that, during operation of the suction device 56, a suction flow can develop between the area of ​​the suction opening 58 and the suction unit 57. The suction process taking place in the area of ​​the track rails 2 is indicated by an arrow at 50.

[0084] The suction line 61 expediently has flexible properties and is implemented, for example, by means of one or more suction hoses. The suction opening 58 associated with a respective cleaning unit 36 ​​is preferably arranged inside the working chamber 52 of the laser beam shielding device 48. The resulting ablation media, which are predominantly gaseous in nature, can thus be extracted extremely effectively in the immediate vicinity of their source, as indicated by arrow 50.

[0085] In a non-illustrated embodiment, the suction openings 58 are located outside the working chamber 52, but preferably in the immediate vicinity of the cleaning units 36 and expediently in an area which is located downstream of the cleaning units 36 opposite to the direction of travel of the cleaning run 13a.

[0086] The suction device 56 is designed, in particular, to be electrically actuated. The above-described power generator 44 also expediently serves to supply power to the suction device 56. For example, it is connected to the electrically actuated suction unit 57 via additional power supply lines 59.

[0087] In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in solid lines in Figure 3, the cleaning vehicle 1 can have, in addition to the rail wheels 14, a plurality of propulsion wheels 62, which allow trackless propulsion of the cleaning vehicle 1 without the involvement of the rail wheels 14. In this way, the cleaning vehicle 1 can be transported between different locations independently of tracks, for example by traveling on public or non-public paths, roads or other traffic areas. The propulsion wheels 62 are in particular pneumatic tires, so that smaller obstacles can be easily driven over. The cleaning vehicle 1 is in particular equipped with four propulsion wheels 62, which, analogous to the rail wheels 14, are each arranged in pairs opposite one another in the axial direction of the vehicle's transverse axis 11.

[0088] In Figure 3, only the propulsion wheels 62 assigned to one of the two long sides of the cleaning vehicle 1 are visible.

[0089] According to the embodiment of Figure 3, both the rail wheels 14 and the propulsion wheels 62 are expediently arranged on the chassis 15.

[0090] An advantageous embodiment is one in which the rail wheels 14 or the movement wheels 62 are adjustable in an axial direction of the vehicle vertical axis 12 relative to the chassis 15 in order to be able to set different height positions.

[0091] By way of example, the height adjustment refers to the propulsion wheels 62. These are pivotally mounted on the chassis 15, for example, via pivot arms 63 and can be driven by an associated actuating device 64 to perform an adjustment movement 65 indicated by a double arrow, which is, for example, a pivoting movement. Within the scope of the adjustment movement 65, each propulsion wheel 62 can be positioned either in a raised position relative to the rail wheels 14 (illustrated in solid lines) or in a lowered position relative to the rail wheels 14 (illustrated in dot-dash lines).

[0092] The raised position of the propulsion wheels 62 results in the rail wheels 14 being in a lowered, activated position relative thereto, projecting downwards beyond the propulsion wheels 62, in which the cleaning vehicle 1 can assume a use position, as can be seen in Figure 3. In contrast, the lowered position of the propulsion wheels 62, indicated by dash-dotted lines, is accompanied by a relatively raised, deactivated position of the rail wheels 14, in which the cleaning vehicle 1 can be moved independently of the rails by means of the propulsion wheels 62, which are then ready for use.

[0093] In another embodiment not illustrated, the movement wheels 62 always maintain a constant height position with respect to the chassis 15 and the switching of the rail wheels 14 between the activated and deactivated positions takes place by means of an adjusting movement between the rail wheels 14 and the chassis 15.

[0094] Preferably, the cleaning vehicle 1 is equipped with an electronic control device 66, indicated only schematically, which is designed, in particular, to control the components of the laser cleaning device 31a during operation. For the sake of clarity, the electrical control lines provided for this purpose are not shown in the drawing. The electronic control device 66 is preferably designed as a component of the operating device 24.

[0095] By way of example, the electronic control device 66 also allows the control of the adjustment movements 65 for the purpose of reconfiguring the cleaning vehicle 1 between a cleaning mode using the rail wheels 14 and a standby mode using the propulsion wheels 62.

Claims

Claims 1. Cleaning vehicle for cleaning the two track rails (2) of a track (3) for rail vehicles, - with several rail wheels (14) via which the cleaning vehicle (1) can be placed on the two track rails (2) of a track (3) while assuming a use position, wherein the cleaning vehicle (1) in its use position can carry out a travel movement (13) on the two track rails (2) along the track (3) which can be brought about by an associated drive device (16), - and with a rail cleaning device (31) which has a cleaning unit (36) for each of the two track rails (2) of a track (3) to be cleaned, which cleaning unit can be positioned or is positioned in the vicinity of a track rail (2) to be cleaned at least during a cleaning run (13a) of the cleaning vehicle (1) which can be carried out by the travel movement (13), in order to carry out a surface treatment on this track rail (2) which causes the removal of contaminants during a cleaning process, characterized in that the rail cleaning device (31) is designed as a laser cleaning device (31a) which has a laser (32) located on board the cleaning vehicle (1), wherein each cleaning unit (36) has a laser beam exit region (42) for the exit of a laser radiation (33) which can be generated by the laser (32 and can be directed onto the track rail (2) to be cleaned in order to remove contaminants.

2. Cleaning vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the two cleaning units (36) each assigned to one of two track rails (2) to be cleaned are arranged transversely are arranged at a distance from one another in the direction of travel of the cleaning vehicle (1).

3. Cleaning vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is equipped with a seat (23) for operating personnel on board the cleaning vehicle (1) during the driving movement (13).

4. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the laser (32) belongs to laser class 4 with regard to the intensity of the laser radiation (33) that can be generated thereby, wherein each cleaning unit (36) has a laser beam shielding device (48), due to which the laser cleaning device (31a) as a whole is assigned to laser class 1.

5. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each cleaning unit (36) has a laser beam shielding device (48) which has a shielding housing (51) which opaquely encloses a working chamber (52), in which the laser beam exit region (42) is located and which has a working opening (53) which, during a cleaning process, exclusively faces or can be faced towards the track rail (2) to be cleaned, through which the laser radiation (33) emerging from the laser beam exit region (42) within the working chamber (52) can irradiate the associated track rail (2).

6. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each laser beam exit region (42) is assigned to a laser optics (47) of a beam output head (46) of the laser cleaning device (31a).

7. Cleaning vehicle according to claim 6 in conjunction with claim 5, characterized in that each jet output head (46) is accommodated inside the working chamber (52) of the associated cleaning unit (36).

8. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each cleaning unit (36) is assigned an adjusting device (54) by means of which the cleaning unit (36) can be positioned in different height positions, in particular in at least one lowered operating position for carrying out laser cleaning processes and in at least one raised standby position for travel movements (13) outside of cleaning runs (13a).

9. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the laser cleaning device (31a) is equipped with a suction device (56) for sucking off removal media produced in the region of the cleaning units (36) during a cleaning process.

10. Cleaning vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the suction device (56) in the area of ​​each cleaning unit (36) comprises at least one suction unit (57) the suction device (56) communicating suction opening (58).

11. Cleaning vehicle according to claim 10 in conjunction with claim 5, characterized in that each suction opening (58) is arranged in the interior of the working chamber (52) of the associated cleaning unit (36).

12. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the device used to cause the drive device (16) designed for the travel movement (13) is an electric drive device (16).

13. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the drive device (16) designed to cause the travel movement (13) is a direct component of the cleaning vehicle (1).

14. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it is equipped with a power generator (44) for generating the electrical energy required for the operation of the laser cleaning device (31a).

15. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the rail wheels (14) each have at least one flange (22) for transverse support on a track rail (2) for the purpose of guidance during the travel movement (13).

16. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that in addition to the rail wheels (14) it has a plurality of propulsion wheels (62), in particular pneumatic tires, which enable trackless movement of the cleaning vehicle (1) without the involvement of the rail wheels (14).

17. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it has a chassis (15) on which the rail wheels (14) are arranged.

18. Cleaning vehicle according to claim 17, characterized in that the cleaning units (36) are arranged on the chassis (15), in particular in an adjustable manner.

19. Cleaning vehicle according to claim 17 or 18 in conjunction with claim 16, characterized in that both the rail wheels (14) and the propulsion wheels (62) are arranged on the chassis (15), wherein the rail wheels (14) or the propulsion wheels (62) are adjustable in a height direction relative to the chassis (15), so that the rail wheels (14) can be positioned selectively in order to assume the use position in a lowered, activated position projecting downwards over the propulsion wheels (62) or in a deactivated position raised with respect to the propulsion wheels (62) and enabling a rail-free travel movement (13) by means of the propulsion wheels (62).

20. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that it has two vehicles (26, 27) which are coupled to one another in a shear and tensile manner and at the same time are articulated, each having its own rail wheels (14) and which are a main vehicle (26) and an additional vehicle (27), the main vehicle (26) having the cleaning units (36) and the additional vehicle (27) having the laser (32), an optical connection serving to transmit the generated laser radiation (33) being formed between the laser (32) and the cleaning units (36) by means of flexible optical connecting lines (43).

21. Cleaning vehicle according to claim 20 in conjunction with claim 13, characterized in that the main vehicle (26) has the drive device (16).

22. Cleaning vehicle according to claim 20 or 21 in conjunction with claim 10, characterized in that the main vehicle (26) has the suction openings (58) and the additional vehicle (27) has the suction unit (57), wherein by at least a flexible suction line (61) is formed as a flow connection between the suction unit (57) and the suction openings (58) enabling a suction flow.

23. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 20 to 22 in conjunction with claim 14, characterized in that the power generator (44) is located on board the additional vehicle (27).

24. Cleaning vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that it consists of a single vehicle which has all the components required for the operation of the laser cleaning device (31a).

25. Cleaning vehicle according to claim 24, characterized in that the cleaning vehicle (1) is designed as a standard railway vehicle, in particular as a traction vehicle (25).

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