Sandblasting system for a railway vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a sand distribution system for railway vehicles comprising a sand container (1), a conveying device (2), and a feeding device (3). The sand container (1) holds sand (SM) and is connected to the conveying device (2), such that the sand (SM) is transferred from the container (1) to the conveying device (2). The conveying device (2) is connected to the feeding device (3), such that the sand (SM) is transferred from the conveying device (2) to the feeding device (3). The feeding device (3) is configured so that the sand (SM) can be precisely introduced into the wheel area (R) and / or the rail area (SCH) of the railway vehicle. According to the invention, the conveying device (2) comprises a motorized screw conveyor (2).5) which rotates about a longitudinal axis and by means of which the sand (SM) passes from the sand container (1) to a transport chamber (2.4). Compressed air can be introduced into the transport chamber to transport the sand from the transport chamber to the feeding device (3).

Description

Sandblasting system for a railway vehicle The present invention relates to a sandblasting system for a railway vehicle. Railway vehicles, in general in the case of wet or foliage-covered rails, are affected because they can apply or transfer their full drive or traction power to the rail only with difficulty. To solve this problem, sandblasting systems are known that contain a material to be spread (for example, quartz sand with a predetermined granulation) and, if necessary and occasionally with the help of compressed air, introduce it into a wheel-rail space to increase traction power on the rail. Thus, it is important to introduce the material to be spread as homogeneously, but also as moderately, as possible into the wheel-rail space in order to, on the one hand, optimize the traction power transmitted to the rail and, on the other hand, to use a limited amount of available material to be spread and a limited amount of stored compressed air in an optimized way in terms of time and quantity. Sandblasting systems that require small amounts of compressed air, while relatively simple to implement, only allow for the application of a limited quantity of material in a series of impacts. The material is thus applied selectively to the rail. More complex sandblasting systems are also known that combine mechanical dosing of the material to be spread with compressed air transport of the material. These allow for a gradual or continuous discharge of the material onto the rail, depending on the speed, but they have the disadvantage of relatively high compressed air consumption. Another disadvantage of these systems is that the material to be spread is discharged in pulses. This results in a reduced transfer of traction power to the rail. Systems that convey or transport sand from a container using a helical tube or spiral are known from patents US 1360627 A, US 1781637 A, GB 328597 A, and CN 107380176 A. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a sandblasting system for a railway vehicle that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and, at the same time, allows for optimized or improved transfer of traction power from the railway vehicle to the rail. This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous improvements are indicated in the dependent claims. The present invention relates to a sandblasting system for a railway vehicle comprising a container for the material to be spread, a conveyor device, and a feeding device. The container for the material to be spread contains the material to be spread and is connected to the conveyor device, such that the material to be spread is delivered from the container to the conveyor device. The conveyor device is connected to the feeding device, such that the material to be spread is delivered from the conveyor device to the feeding device. The feeding device is designed so that the material to be spread can be directed onto an area of ​​the wheel and / or an area of ​​the rail of the railway vehicle. According to the invention, the conveyor device comprises a driven screw conveyor that rotates around a longitudinal axis, by which the material to be spread, from the material container, reaches a transport chamber. Compressed air can be introduced into the transport chamber to transport the material to be spread from the transport chamber to the feeding device. In an advantageous improvement, the conveyor device features an elongated spiral chamber in which the screw conveyor is arranged. The spiral chamber and / or the screw conveyor is preferably oriented horizontally or inclined upwards or downwards from the horizontal plane, to optimize the transport of the material to be spread within the conveyor device. According to the invention, the screw conveyor is connected to an electric motor that rotates or rotates the screw conveyor. According to the invention, the electric motor, in order to control the rotational speed, can be controlled continuously, where this preferably takes place by varying the operating voltage or the operating current of the electric motor. Thus, in the case of a predetermined granule size of the material to be spread, a transported quantity of the material to be spread can be regulated by varying the rotation speed. In an advantageous improvement, the transport chamber is arranged between the conveying device and the feeding device. This chamber is configured as hollow and can be filled with compressed air. The material to be spread, which is transported from an inlet zone of the conveyor, over the entire spiral chamber, to an outlet zone of the conveyor, preferably falls vertically into the transport chamber. At the lowest point of the transport chamber, the introduced compressed air acts on the material to be spread, which, with the aid of the compressed air, is transported toward the feeding device. In an advantageous improvement, the transport chamber, in a lateral area, is connected to a compressed air nozzle. In a preferred embodiment, the compressed air is controlled in such a way that - In the case of an active conveying device, compressed air captures the material to be spread that falls into the transport chamber and transports it to the feeding device, or - In the case of an inactive conveying device, compressed air, through the conveying chamber, is introduced into the feeding device to clean or dry it. This control of compressed air reduces or prevents agglomeration of the material to be spread in the feeding device, or eliminates blockages or jams there. Preferably, for this purpose, compressed air is blown into the feeding device at set time intervals. In a preferred embodiment, the screw conveyor is designed such that the conveying device mechanically closes the system upwards during cleaning or drying. In an advantageous embodiment, a passage from the conveying chamber to the feeding device is designed according to the Venturi principle, for example, as a Venturi nozzle or a De Laval nozzle, to further accelerate the mixing of the material to be spread with compressed air. In an advantageous improvement, the transport chamber or conveyor device, at its lowest point, features an inspection opening for cleaning purposes. This allows for simplified access to the entire system for cleaning purposes. Larger debris (such as cigarette butts, leaves, etc.) from the spreading material can be easily removed through the inspection opening without having to disassemble system components. The inspection opening also enables cleaner replacement of system components. In the present invention, the inspection opening allows for clean, purpose-oriented removal of the spreading material, for example, into a container located beneath the opening. The system components can then be disassembled in the resulting cleaner environment without requiring further complex protective measures on surrounding components. This eliminates the problem encountered in systems with a conventional, state-of-the-art construction: defective components are disassembled when the material containers are full, causing the material to spill uncontrollably onto adjacent system components. This results in additional soiling of sealing surfaces and supply lines, which then require significant cleaning effort. In an advantageous improvement, the feeding device is configured so that the material to be spread is precisely introduced into a wheel-rail space of the railway vehicle. In an advantageous improvement, the container for spreading material, at its lowest point, features a flange with a passage opening, which is connected to a funnel-shaped flange, also with a passage opening, on the conveyor device. These are shaped so that the material to be spread, solely under the effect of gravity, reaches the conveyor device or the spiral chamber directly. The sandblasting system according to the invention enables a uniform, as well as moderate, discharge of the material to be spread. The sandblasting system according to the invention operates with an extremely low consumption of compressed air; the amount of air required is reduced to a minimum while still allowing operation. The sandblasting system according to the invention advantageously combines two operating principles: - a first operating principle that acts in a first partial section of the sandblasting system and in which the material to be spread is carried or transported by means of a mechanical system, and - a second operating principle that acts in a second partial section of the sandblasting system and in which the material to be spread is transported by means of simply structured components, with the help of compressed air, and is finally applied on the rail. By combining the two operating principles, precise application of the material to be spread is achieved while simultaneously reducing resource consumption (compressed air, material to be spread). The sandblasting system according to the invention reduces the amount of fine dust released into the environment. This is achieved through individual, speed-dependent conveying of the material to be spread, which is regulated by the rotational speed of the screw conveyor. This reduces the amount of material to be spread, benefiting the environment and saving costs for the customer. Additionally, the maintenance intervals for the sandblasting system, which were previously required, are extended, and the necessary refills of the sandblasting system with material to be spread are reduced. The present invention is then explained in greater detail in an illustrative manner, by means of a drawing. It shows: Figure 1: the arrangement according to the invention in an overview view, and Figures 2 to 4: referring to Figure 1, details of the arrangement according to the invention. Figure 1 shows the arrangement according to the invention in an overview view. The sandblasting system for a railway vehicle comprises a container of material to be spread 1, a conveyor device 2 and a feeding device 3. The spreading material container 1 contains a spreading material SM and is connected to the conveyor device 2, so that the spreading material SM, from the spreading material container 1, reaches the conveyor device 2. The connection of the material container to be spread 1 to the conveyor device 2 is provided at the lowest point of the material container to be spread 1. The conveyor device 2 is connected to the feeding device 3, so that the material to be spread SM, from the conveyor device 2, reaches the feeding device 3. The feeding device 3 is designed so that the material to be spread SM can be precisely introduced into an area of ​​the wheel R and / or into an area of ​​the rail or into a wheel-rail space RSCHS of the railway vehicle. Figure 2 and Figure 3 show details of the conveyor device 2 and the feeding device 3. The conveyor device 2 contains a driven screw conveyor 2.5 that rotates about a longitudinal axis, by which the material to be spread SM, from the material to be spread container 1, is transported to the feeding device 3. The conveyor device 2 features an elongated spiral chamber 2.2, in which the screw conveyor 2.5 is arranged. Here, the spiral chamber 2.2 and the screw conveyor 2.5 are oriented horizontally. The screw conveyor 2.5 is connected to an electric motor 2.1 that rotates or rotates the screw conveyor 2.5. The electric motor 2.1 can be controlled to regulate the rotation speed, so that a transported quantity of the material to be spread SM, in the case of a predetermined granule size of the material to be spread SM, can be regulated by modifying the rotation speed. By gradually modifying an electrical voltage or current intensity, the electric motor 2.1 rotates more slowly or more quickly, so that the amount of material to be spread SM that must be transported can be regulated with great precision. The rotation speed of the 2.5 screw conveyor is therefore modified or adapted according to the granule size of the material to be spread (SM). This achieves a highly precise conveyed quantity. Between the conveyor device 2 and the feeding device 3 there is a hollow transport chamber 2.4, so that the material to be spread SM that is transported from an inlet zone EZ of the conveyor device 2, over the entire spiral chamber 2.2, towards an outlet zone AZ of the conveyor device 2, falls vertically into the transport chamber 2.4, reaching there a lower point of the transport chamber 2.4. A compressed air supply 2.3 is provided in the transport chamber 2.4. This compressed air supply, for example, can be designed as a flexible compressed air tube to supply compressed air to the transport chamber 2.4 by means of a controllable compressed air nozzle 2.6. The material to be spread container 1, at its lowest point, has a flange with a passage opening, which is connected to a flange, with a passage opening, of the conveyor device 2. Together they form a funnel, so that the material to be spread SM, exclusively under the effect of gravity, reaches directly to the conveyor device 2 or to the spiral chamber 2.2. In this way, the material to be spread SM, through the effect of gravity, can fall or reach directly, i.e., without elements to decompact, agitators, etc., the spiral chamber 2.2. Due to the selected interface between the material to be spread container 1 and conveyor device 2, bridging of the material to be spread in that area is prevented. The 2.5 screw conveyor also contributes to this effect, promoting a movement of the material to be spread SM due to the (agitation) movement carried out by it. With this arrangement, every last granule of the material to be spread is extracted from the spreading material container 1; old spreading material is prevented from being retained. The conveyor device 2 or the spiral chamber 2.2, at its lowest point, features a WOE inspection opening for cleaning purposes. This provides simplified access to the entire system for cleaning. Larger debris (e.g., cigarette butts, leaves, etc.) from the material to be spread (SM) can be easily removed through the WOE inspection opening without disassembling system components. Figure 4 shows details of transport chamber 2.4. The transport chamber 2.4, in its lateral area, is connected to a compressed air nozzle 2.6. It is controlled in such a way that - Compressed air, in the case of an active conveying device 2 or an active screw conveyor 2.5, captures the material to be spread SM falling into the transport chamber 2.4 and, with the help of compressed air, transports it to the feeding device 3, or - In the case of an inactive conveyor device 2 or an inactive screw conveyor 2.5, compressed air, via the transport chamber 2.4, is introduced into the feeding device 3, to clean or dry it. A passage from the transport chamber 2.4 to the feeding device 3, preferably as shown here, is designed as a Venturi nozzle VT or as a de Laval nozzle.

Claims

1. Sandblasting system for a railway vehicle, with a container of material to be spread (1), with a conveyor device (2), with a feeding device (3) and with an electric motor (2).1) , - wherein the spreading material container (1) contains a spreading material (SM) and is connected to the conveyor device (2) , so that the spreading material (SM) , from the spreading material container (1) , reaches the conveyor device (2) , - wherein the conveyor device (2) is connected to the feeding device (3) , so that the spreading material (SM) , from the conveyor device (2) , reaches the feeding device (3) , - wherein the feeding device (3) is designed in such a way that the spreading material (SM) can be introduced in a directed manner into an area of ​​the wheel (R) and / or into an area of ​​the rail (SCH) of a railway vehicle, - wherein the conveyor device (2) contains a driven screw conveyor (2.5) rotating around a longitudinal axis, with which the material to be spread (SM), from the material to be spread container (1), reaches a transport chamber (2.4), - in which the screw conveyor (2.5), for drive, is connected to the electric motor (2.1), to rotate the screw conveyor (2.5), - in which the electric motor (2.1) is configured as a drive controlled by the rotation speed continuously, - in which the electric motor (2.1), to control the rotation speed of the screw conveyor (2.5), by means of a sandblasting system controller, is continuously controlled in such a way that - the rotation speed of the screw conveyor (2.5) is modified in each case according to the granule size of the material to be spread (SM), to spread the material uniformly and moderately, - in the case of a predetermined granule size of the material to be spread (SM), a transported quantity of the material to be spread (SM) is regulated by varying the rotation speed, - wherein compressed air can be introduced into the transport chamber to transport the material to be spread from the transport chamber to the feeding device (3).

2. Sandblasting system according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device (2) has an elongated spiral chamber (2.2), in which the screw conveyor (2.5) is arranged, wherein the spiral chamber (2.2) and / or the screw conveyor (2.5) is oriented horizontally or inclined upwards or downwards from the horizontal plane. 3.A sandblasting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, between the conveying device (2) and the feeding device (3), the transport chamber (2.4) is arranged in a hollow configuration, such that the material to be spread (SM), which is transported from an inlet area of ​​the conveying device (2), over the entire spiral chamber (2.2), towards an outlet area of ​​the conveying device (2), falls vertically into the transport chamber (2.4).

4. A sandblasting system according to claim 3, wherein the transport chamber (2.4) is connected to a compressed air nozzle (2.6), which is preferably arranged in a lateral area of ​​the transport chamber (2.4).

5. A sandblasting system according to claim 4, wherein the compressed air nozzle (2.6) is controlled such that - compressed air, in the case of an active conveying device (2), captures the material to be spread (SM) falling into the transport chamber (2.4) and transports it to the feeding device (3), or - in the case of an inactive conveying device (2), compressed air, via the transport chamber (2.4), is introduced into the feeding device (3) for cleaning or drying.

6. Sandblasting system according to claim 1, wherein a passage from the transport chamber (2.4) to the feeding device (3) is configured as a Venturi nozzle (VT) or a De Laval nozzle.

7. Sandblasting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying device (2) or the spiral chamber (2.2), preferably at its lowest point, has an inspection opening (WOE) for cleaning and / or emptying the material to be spread. 8.A sandblasting system according to claim 1, wherein the feeding device (3) is configured so that the material to be spread (SM) is precisely introduced into a wheel-rail space (RSCHS) of the railway vehicle.

9. A sandblasting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container of material to be spread (1), at its lowest point, has a flange with a passage opening, which is connected to a flange with a passage opening of the conveyor device (2), and these are shaped so that the material to be spread (SM), under the effect of gravity, reaches directly the conveyor device (2) or the spiral chamber (2.2).

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