Tamping machine, system and method for tamping a track

Abstract

The invention relates to a tamping machine (1) for tamping ties (12) of a track (4), having a machine frame (2) that is able to travel on railroad rails (9) of the track (4), and having a tamping assembly (6) which comprises, in a machine transverse direction (15), an inner and an outer tamping tool pair (18, 19) having tamping tools (20) that are each able to be positioned next to one another in a machine longitudinal direction (21) and to be subjected to vibration. Narrow tamping picks (27) are arranged on the outer tamping tool pair (19) in order to move ballast under a tie (12) by means of a particular active portion (38), the extension of which in a vertical direction (41) is greater than in the machine transverse direction (15). The particular narrow tamping pick (27) of the tamping assembly (6) according to the invention remains operational even under very confined space conditions.

Description

[0001] Stuffing machine, system and method for stuffing a

[0002] track

[0003] The invention relates to a tamping machine for tamping sleepers of a track, comprising a machine frame movable on railway rails of the track and a tamping unit comprising, in a transverse machine direction, an inner and an outer pair of tamping tools, each pair of tamping tools being adjustable relative to one another in a longitudinal machine direction and subjected to vibration. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system comprising the corresponding tamping machine and a track, as well as to a method for tamping sleepers of the track using the corresponding tamping machine.

[0004] A tamping machine of this type is known, for example, from EP 0 416 193 A1 and is used to create a desired track position. During a tamping process, a track section, which has been moved into a desired position by means of a lifting and straightening unit, is secured by a tamping unit. To determine the desired position, the tamping machine includes its own measuring system. The lifting and straightening unit and the tamping unit are controlled by a control device to which signals from the measuring system are fed.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of improving a tamping machine of the type mentioned above so that it can be used in a wider range of applications. In particular, the tamping machine should be usable for the maintenance of tracks for urban public transport, such as subways. Further objects relate to a corresponding system, comprising the tamping machine and the track, as well as to a corresponding maintenance method.

[0006] According to the invention, these objects are achieved by the independent claims 1, 9 and 10. Dependent claims specify advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0007] In this case, narrow tamping picks are arranged on the outer pair of tamping tools for moving ballast under a sleeper by means of a respective active section whose extent in the vertical direction is greater than in the cross-machine direction. The respective narrow tamping pick of the tamping unit according to the invention can be used even in very tight spaces. This is particularly the case with a track with two railway rails for steel wheels (railway wheels) and with two additional running rails for rubber wheels. The latter are usually designed as concrete tracks or as I-steel profiles and are used on some underground railways, for example on the Paris Métro. All rails are fastened to common sleepers. In addition, a lateral guide rail is arranged on such track systems, which further restricts the free space for the tamping picks.

[0008] A significant advantage of the invention is that the tamping unit can be used on both rubber-wheeled tracks with running rails for rubber wheels and on conventional steel-wheeled tracks that only have railway tracks for steel wheels. In some urban transport networks, such as in Paris, both types of tracks are used, with the rubber-wheeled track comprising additional railway tracks. The tamping machine according to the invention can therefore travel on both types of tracks with steel wheels and use the tamping unit. On a rubber-wheeled track, the outer pair of tamping tools emerges outside next to the assigned

[0009] A guide rail for rubber wheels is inserted into the ballast bed between the guide rail and the guide rail. A steel-wheeled section without guide rails for rubber wheels is tamped conventionally. The outer and inner pairs of tamping tools are inserted into the ballast bed on either side of the assigned railway track. Adequate compaction of the ballast bed is achieved here, too, despite the narrow shape of the outer tamping tools, because the respective effective section in the vertical direction is correspondingly long.

[0010] In an advantageous further development, the respective narrow tamping pick has a free section protruding from a pick holder, the width of which is at most 80 millimeters, in particular at most 75 millimeters and in particular at most 65 millimeters and at least 50 millimeters, in particular at least 55 millimeters and in particular at least 60 millimeters. This ensures, on the one hand, that the effective section is sufficiently large for compacting the ballast. On the other hand, the consistently narrow design of the tamping pick allows it to be used between closely spaced rails of the track.

[0011] In a further improvement, the narrow tamping picks of the outer pair of tamping tools have a longer shaft than the tamping picks of the inner pair of tamping tools. The inner pair of tamping tools can be constructed using a conventional design. The outer pair of tamping tools, however, with the narrow tamping picks, is optimized for use next to a higher track guide rail. Thanks to the longer shaft, the tamping picks protrude far enough from an associated pick holder to ensure that the pick holder remains at a distance from the guide rail during the vertical insertion of the tamping picks.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the narrow tamping pick has a rotationally symmetrical cross-section along its effective section. Such a tamping pick combines high load-bearing capacity with a good compaction effect on the ballast.

[0013] For improved transmission of vibrations and setting movement to the ballast, it is advantageous if vertical ribs are arranged along the active section of the respective narrow tamping tine. These vertical ribs have a height protruding from a base body of the tamping tine of no more than 15 millimeters, preferably no more than 10 millimeters and preferably no more than 5 millimeters. The extension of the tamping tine in the cross-machine direction increases only insignificantly as a result. However, ballast grains become wedged along the ribs, resulting in improved dynamic interaction with the active section of the tamping tine.

[0014] For working on tracks with lateral guide rails or along a platform, the tamping unit is advantageously assigned a distance measuring device for measuring a lateral distance from a lateral object, in particular from a guide rail of the track. This improvement means that the narrow tamping picks can be positioned at a constant distance from the lateral object. For example, this enables automated guidance of the narrow tamping picks between a running rail and a guide rail of a track for rubber wheels. Due to the limited space available, purely manual control without distance measurement is very difficult and may only be possible with additional personnel on the track. However, this would negate one advantage of the invention, namely tamping the track without personnel on the track.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the distance measuring device is configured for contactless distance measurement, particularly using optical measuring devices. This allows a wide distance range to be covered with consistent accuracy. Furthermore, such a distance measuring device is wear-free because no contact with the lateral track object, for example, by means of a tactile sensor, is required.

[0016] In a further improvement, the distance measuring device is arranged upstream of the tamping unit in one working direction, with a displacement measuring device being arranged, and with a control device coupled to the measuring devices controlling the tamping unit depending on the distance traveled and the measured lateral distance. This arrangement enables automated lateral positioning of the tamping unit. A further advantage of the upstream distance measuring device is that dust development is lower at a distance from the tamping unit, and no vibrations distort the measurement result.

[0017] The system according to the invention comprises the described tamping machine and a track to be lifted, wherein the track comprises two railway rails for steel wheels and two running rails for rubber wheels and in particular a current-carrying guide rail. In this system, the

[0018] Advantages of the tamping machine according to the invention, especially for

[0019] Wearing . Due to the limited space between the different rails, a conventional

[0020] Tamping unit cannot be used. The narrow tamping tines, however, can also be positioned in the gaps between the different rails. This allows the advantages of the tamping unit to be utilized, such as optimal compaction of the ballast bed using asynchronous constant-pressure tamping. The two opposing tamping tines of a tamping tine pair exert the same pressure on the ballast. The respective adjustment path depends on the counterpressure acting from the ballast on the respective tamping tine.

[0021] In the method according to the invention for tamping sleepers of a track using the described tamping machine, the following process steps are carried out:

[0022] - Measuring a lateral distance of the tamping unit relative to a guide rail of the track;

[0023] - Positioning the tamping unit over a threshold with a specified lateral distance to the guide rail;

[0024] - Lowering of the tamping tools and positioning under vibration.

[0025] This method advantageously allows for tamping tracks with narrow clearances in the rail area. The method is particularly suitable for tracks with rails for steel wheels and running rails for rubber wheels, especially with an additional current-carrying guide rail. The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. They show a schematic representation:

[0026] Fig. 1: Side view of a stuffing machine;

[0027] Fig. 2 Tamping unit and track in a view from above;

[0028] Fig. 3 Tamping unit in a front view and track cross-section;

[0029] Fig. 4 Tamping unit, measuring carriage and track in a side view;

[0030] Fig. 5 Measuring car with distance measuring device in a front view and track cross-section;

[0031] Fig. 6 narrow darning pick in an oblique view.

[0032] The tamping machine 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a machine frame 2 which is supported on rail carriages 3 and can be moved along a track 4. The rail carriages 3 are equipped with steel wheels. A lifting and straightening unit 7 is arranged on the machine frame 2 in front of a tamping unit 6 in the working direction 5. A machine-internal measuring system 8 measures the current actual track position, while a track grid consisting of rails 9, 10, 11 and sleepers 12 is lifted out of a ballast bed 13 and laterally straightened by means of the lifting and straightening unit 7. By means of a control device 14, the lifting and straightening unit 7 and the

[0033] Tamping unit 6 is activated. After adjusting the actual position of track 4 to a predetermined target position, the track grid is fixed in the ballast bed 13 by means of tamping unit 6.

[0034] The tamping machine 1 according to the invention is preferably intended for the maintenance of a track 4 for urban passenger transport, in particular for track systems of an underground railway. Space is usually limited in this case. This applies in particular to tracks 4 that, in addition to railway rails 9 for steel wheels, also comprise guide rails 10 and guide rails 11 for rubber wheels. Such tracks 4 with combined rails 9, 10, 11 are used in urban rail transport.

[0035] The rail vehicles running on them in regular service have bogies with steel wheels and rubber wheels. The steel wheels have high flanges and are guided just above the railway tracks 9. The load is carried by the rubber wheels. The rail vehicle is generally supplied with power via the guide rail 11 by means of a lateral receiving shoe. The current flow is closed by means of a return shoe on one of the railway tracks 9. The steel wheels are normally used for track guidance in switches and crossings. Only in emergencies with damaged rubber wheels do the steel wheels sink onto the railway tracks 9 so that the rail vehicle remains functional.

[0036] The tamping machine 1 for tamping the track 4 travels with the rail bogies 3 on the railway tracks 9. Figures 2 and 3 show the tamping unit 6 for one half of the track 4. Two tamping units 16 are arranged next to one another in a cross-machine direction 15. A mirror-inverted arrangement (not shown) is provided symmetrical to a track center axis 17. The tamping unit 16 arranged on the inside on each side of the machine, i.e. closer to the track center axis 17, comprises an inner tamping tool pair 18. And the tamping unit 16 arranged on the outside in each case comprises an outer tamping tool pair 19. Each tamping tool pair 18, 19 has two tamping tools 20 which can be adjusted relative to one another in a machine longitudinal direction 21 and can be subjected to vibration.

[0037] In the example shown, each tamping tool 20 comprises a rocker arm 22 mounted on a tool carrier 23. An upper lever arm of the respective rocker arm 22 is coupled to a vibration drive 25 via an auxiliary cylinder 24. The vibration is generated by mounting the respective auxiliary cylinder 24 on a rotating eccentric shaft. In another embodiment, instead of the vibration drive 25, the respective auxiliary cylinder 24 is equipped with a vibration function. By appropriately controlling servo or proportional valves, a vibration movement is superimposed on a piston movement.

[0038] The differences between the inner and outer tamping tool pairs 18, 19 are shown in Fig. 3. An arrangement which is mirrored with respect to a machine centre plane 26 is not shown for the sake of clarity. According to the invention, the respective outer tamping tool pair 19 comprises narrow tamping picks 27. The respective narrow tamping pick 27 is fastened in a rigid pick holder 28 on the lower lever arm of the associated rocking lever 22. This means that an area outside the railway tracks 9 can be machined. Specifically, the narrow tamping pick 27 can be used in a free space between the running rail 10 for rubber wheels and the guide rail 11. Up to now, hand tamping machines were used for this purpose.

[0039] The inner tamping tool pairs 18 comprise conventional

[0040] Tamping picks 29, which are preferably mounted in an upwardly pivoting pick holder 30, are used to tame the area between the railway tracks 9. If necessary, collisions with obstacles or with elements of a switch or crossing are avoided by pivoting the respective tamping pick 29 upwards.

[0041] The respective tool carrier 23 is guided in an associated unit frame 31 so that its height can be adjusted. The respective tool carrier 23, together with the tamping tools 20, is lowered and raised by means of a height adjustment drive 32. The tamping picks 27, 29 immerse themselves in the ballast bed 13 during a lowering process and are moved towards one another by extending the associated positioning cylinders 24. The tamping picks 27, 29 are then reset, with the tool carrier 23 being raised back to its starting position. As soon as the tamping picks 27, 29 have been pulled out of the ballast bed 13, the tamping unit 6 is moved forward by one sleeper pitch, with the tamping unit 6 preferably being positioned automatically over the next sleeper 12. For this purpose, a sensor for sleeper detection is installed on the tamping machine 1. Then, another tamping process begins to tame the next sleeper 12.

[0042] The unit frames 31 are mounted on transverse guides 33 so as to be laterally displaceable. In particular, the unit frames 31 are separately laterally displaceable so that the respective tamping unit 16 can follow a branching rail line in a switch. The lateral displaceability also ensures that the outer tamping tool pair 19 can be positioned at a constant distance from the guide rail 11, even in curves. A distance measuring device 34 is arranged for the precise lateral guidance of the outer tamping tool pair 19. Preferably, the distance measuring device 34 is fastened to a measuring carriage 35 of the measuring system 8 immediately in front of the tamping unit 6. In particular, the distance measuring device 34 comprises an optical measuring means for contactless measurement, for example a laser distance sensor.

[0043] The measuring carriage 35, attached to the machine frame 2, is lowered onto the track 4 during operation and guided along the railway tracks 9 by means of flanged rollers. The position of the measuring carriage 35 relative to the machine frame 2 and thus also relative to the tamping unit 6 is continuously recorded by sensors arranged on the tamping machine 1. In this way, a measured distance a relative to the guide rail 11 can be mathematically transferred to a lateral distance of the outer tamping tool pair 19 relative to the guide rail.

[0044] For this purpose, measurement signals from the sensors are fed to a computer unit, which is preferably coupled to the control device 14. In addition, the geometric arrangement of the tamping unit 6 and the measuring carriage 35 is stored in the computer unit. Furthermore, a distance measuring device 36 coupled to the control device 14 is arranged on the tamping machine 1. This records the distance covered by the tamping machine 1. The tamping unit 6 is then controlled depending on the distance covered and the distance a previously measured at the current location of the tamping unit 6.

[0045] In this case, a target value for the lateral distance is specified to the control device 14 so that the narrow tamping tines 27 are positioned exactly between the running rail 10 and the guide rail 11 during a lowering process. The specified lateral distance depends on a maximum width b of the narrow tamping tine 27 and a known distance c between the running rail 10 and the guide rail 11. Preferably, the tamping unit 6 is automatically positioned laterally by means of the control device 14. In addition, position values ​​are displayed to an operator so that the automatic control can be intervened in if necessary.

[0046] A preferred embodiment of the narrow tamping pick 27 is shown in Fig. 6. The narrow tamping pick 27 essentially consists of a shaft 37 and an active section 38 which mobilizes the ballast during a tamping process. The shaft 37 has a clamping section 39 at the upper end. This fastens the narrow tamping pick 27 in the rigid pick holder 28. Below this clamping section 39, a free section 40 of the narrow tamping pick 27 projects from the pick holder 28. The active section 38 is located at the lower end of this free section 40. In order to achieve the narrow design, according to the invention the extent h of the active section 38 in the vertical direction 41 is greater than the extent b in the cross-machine direction 15.

[0047] Preferably, the cross-sections of the narrow tamping tine 27 are rotationally symmetrical on all sections 38, 39, 40. A plurality of vertical ribs 42 are arranged along the circumference of the active section 38. Two opposing vertical ribs 42 are larger and, when installed, determine the maximum width b in the cross-machine direction 15. These larger vertical ribs 42 exert the greatest effect on the ballast during a setting process. Overall, the vertical ribs 42 serve to better wedge the ballast on the narrow tamping tine 27.

[0048] In addition to the width b, which is preferably 80 millimeters, a length 1 of the free section 40 is also important. This length 1 depends on the position of an upper edge 43 of the guide rail 11 and a desired tamping depth. Care must be taken to ensure that a lower edge 44 of the respective pick holder 28 has a sufficient distance from the guide rail 11 when the outer tamping tool pair 19 is lowered to its maximum. The rigid pick holders 28 of the outer tamping tool pair 19 are preferably arranged higher than the pick holders 30 of the inner tamping tool pairs 18. The length 1 of the free section 40 of the narrow tamping picks 27 is significantly greater than that of the conventional tamping picks 29. In particular, the length of the shaft 37 is greater in the narrow tamping picks 27. In the conventional tamping pick, a pick plate acting as an active section is arranged at the lower end of the shorter shaft.

[0049] In addition, the respective narrow tamping pick 27 is aligned vertically so that the lateral distance to the guide rail 11 remains essentially the same during a lowering process.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Tamping machine (1) for tamping sleepers (12) of a track (4), with a machine frame (2) which can be moved on railway rails (9) of the track (4) and with a tamping unit (6) which comprises, in a machine transverse direction (15), an inner and an outer pair of tamping tools (18, 19) with tamping tools (20) which can be positioned relative to one another in a machine longitudinal direction (21) and can be subjected to vibration, characterized in that narrow tamping picks (27) are arranged for displacing ballast under a sleeper (12) by means of a respective active section (38) whose extent in the vertical direction (41) is greater than in the cross-machine direction (15).

2. Tamping machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective narrow tamping pick (27) has a free protruding from a pick holder (28) Section (40) whose width (b) is at most 80 millimetres, in particular at most 75 millimetres and in particular at most 65 millimetres and at least 50 millimetres, in particular at least 55 millimetres and in particular at least 60 millimetres.

3. Tamping machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the narrow tamping picks (27) of the outer tamping tool pair (19) have a longer shaft (37) than the tamping picks (29) of the inner tamping tool pair (18).

4. Stuffing machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the respective narrow The tamping pick (27) has a rotationally symmetrical cross-section along the active section (38).

5. Tamping machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that vertical ribs (42) are arranged on the respective narrow tamping pick (27) along the active section (38).

6. Tamping machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the tamping unit (6) is assigned a distance measuring device (34) for measuring a lateral distance (a) relative to a lateral object, in particular relative to a guide rail (11) of the track (4).

7. Tamping machine (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the distance measuring device (34) is designed for contactless distance measurement, in particular by means of optical measuring means.

8. Tamping machine (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the distance measuring device (34) is arranged in a working direction (5) in front of the tamping unit (6), that a path measuring device (36) is arranged and that a control device (14) coupled to the measuring devices (34, 36) controls the tamping unit (6) depending on a path covered and the measured lateral distance (a).

9. System with a tamping machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and with a track (4) to be lifted, characterized in that the track (4) has two railway rails (9) for steel wheels and two running rails (10) for rubber wheels and a particularly current-carrying guide rail (11).

10. Method for tamping sleepers (12) of a track (4) by means of a tamping machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the following method steps: - Measuring a lateral distance (a) of the tamping unit (6) relative to a guide rail (11) of the track (4); - Positioning the tamping unit (6) over a sleeper (12) with a predetermined lateral distance from the guide rail (11); - Lowering the tamping tools (20) and positioning them under vibration.

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