Hand-held tamping machine for compacting track ballast

Abstract

To improve a hand-held tamping machine for compacting track ballast.SOLUTION: A hand-held tamping machine (1) for compacting track ballast (2) comprises a tamping pick (5) for penetrating track ballast (2), a vibration generator for exciting the tamping pick (5), a prime mover (7) connected to the vibration generator via a drive shaft, and a handle device (8) having at least one handle (17a, 17b) for steering the hand-held tamping machine (1) during operation. Along the drive shaft axis (16), at least one handle (17a, 17b) is positioned above a machine center of gravity (SP0) of the hand-held tamping machine (1) by at least 30% of the total height (H) of the hand-held tamping machine (1), and / or is positioned above a prime mover center of gravity (SPM) of the prime mover (7) by at least 15% of the total height (H) of the hand-held tamping machine (1).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This patent application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 102021205469.2, and the content of the same is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a hand-held tamping machine for compacting track ballast.

Background Art

[0003] A hand-held tamping machine for compacting track ballast is known from WO 2012 / 139687. This hand-held tamping machine includes a tamping pick for penetrating the track ballast, a vibration generator, a combustion engine for rotationally driving this vibration generator, and a handle for operating and steering the hand-held tamping machine during operation. A vibration damper acts between the vibration generator and the handle. However, the vibration transmitted to the handle cannot be completely eliminated, which causes stress to the user. The noise and exhaust emissions generated by the combustion engine further burden the user.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to improve a hand-held tamping machine for compacting track ballast, particularly to improve the ease of use of the hand-held tamping machine and reduce the stress imposed on the user by the hand-held tamping machine.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] This objective is achieved by a handheld compaction machine having the features of claim 1. According to the present invention, it has been found that the handheld compaction machine has particularly excellent ease of use if at least one handle for operating the handheld compaction machine is positioned at least 30% of the total height of the handheld compaction machine above the machine's center of gravity and / or at least 15% of the total height of the handheld compaction machine above the motor's center of gravity. Positioning at least one handle above the motor's center of gravity has the effect of keeping the user's head particularly far away from the motor that generates noise and / or pollutants. In fact, because the motor is positioned lower, it is closer to the vibration generator. However, surprisingly, it has been found that this does not necessarily expose the motor to a higher vibration load. Conversely, by positioning it closer to the machine's center of gravity, inertial damping can be further increased, which can even reduce vibrations transmitted to the prime mover.

[0006] A lower center of gravity relative to at least one handle makes it easier to operate a handheld compaction machine. To compact the track ballast on the underside of track sleepers, the handheld compaction machine, which penetrates the track ballast, is rotated around a horizontal axis. In fact, the corresponding rotational motion of a handheld compaction machine from a vertical orientation is supported by a high center of gravity. However, a lower center of gravity reduces the mass that the user must move and, consequently, all the energy the user must apply, which has been found to reduce rapid fatigue in the user. Furthermore, a longer lever arm provides better control over the handheld compaction machine with respect to its center of gravity.

[0007] A special advantage of the handheld compaction machine according to the present invention is that the vibrations generated in at least one handle during operation, and the resulting stress on the user, are particularly low. Because the machine's center of gravity is positioned particularly low relative to at least one handle, the vibration nodes of the rigid body vibrations generated by the vibration generator can be displaced particularly close to at least one handle. This results in a particularly small resulting vibration amplitude in at least one handle. This prevents circulatory disorders and muscle diseases associated with continuous vibration stress.

[0008] In connection with the detailed description of position and dimensions, the primary orientation of the handheld compactor during operation is mentioned, with the drive shaft oriented vertically. In this operating state, the compaction pick is oriented vertically downward. Unless otherwise specified, the distance to at least one handle is measured to the top surface of the handle. The axes are preferably coaxial with the central longitudinal axis and / or vertical axis of the handheld compactor. The machine center of gravity refers in particular to the center of gravity of the handheld compactor when it is ready for use. In this state, for example, the engine's fuel tank is half-filled, and a ballast contact attachment, preferably configured to be replaceable, is attached to the handheld compactor. Operating the handheld compactor during operation means holding and displacing the handheld compactor while compacting track ballast and / or moving the handheld compactor to the position of the track ballast to be processed. The term "upward" specifically refers to the direction toward at least one handle.

[0009] The steering device preferably has at least two, in particular exactly two, handles, or at least three, in particular at least four handles. Preferably, the positional detail made in relation to at least one handle applies to all handles. At least one handle may be formed by a transport structure and / or attached to this transport structure. Preferably, each handle contains vibration damping material, in particular plastic material and / or rubber elastic material. At least one handle may be provided with a force adjustment element, in particular a throttle lever, for adjusting the output from the prime mover, in particular so that the user does not need to take their hands off the handle to operate the force adjustment element.

[0010] Preferably, the compaction pick comprises an attachment support and a ballast contact attachment that can be removably attached to the attachment support. This allows for easy replacement of the ballast contact attachment, which is subjected to high stress as a result of contact with the track ballast.

[0011] The compaction pick, and especially the attachment support, is preferably configured to be hollow, and especially tubular. The attachment support may be configured as a compaction pick tube. According to one aspect of the present invention, a vibration generator is at least partially located inside a compaction pick tube or a tubular compaction pick. The unbalanced mass of this vibration generator may be located entirely inside the compaction pick tube and / or may be completely superimposed by the compaction pick tube along a direction perpendicular to the axis.

[0012] The vibration generator is preferably configured such that the force generated for the excitation of the compaction pick acts perpendicular to the axis, particularly horizontally. The transmission of vibrations perpendicular to the axis to at least one handle and / or prime mover is particularly strongly suppressed in the handheld compaction machine according to the present invention.

[0013] The handheld compaction machine preferably comprises at least one handle, a center of gravity of the prime mover, a center of gravity of the machine, and the tip of the compaction pick, arranged in succession in the vertical direction. This allows the vibration nodes to be positioned particularly close to at least one handle along the axis.

[0014] Preferably, the total height of the handheld compaction machine and / or the distance between at least one handle and the underside of the compaction pick is in the range of 850mm to 1250mm, particularly 950mm to 1150mm, and particularly 1000mm to 1100mm.

[0015] The handheld compaction machine described in claim 2 is particularly easy for the operator to use. The vibrational motion transmitted to at least one handle is further reduced. The handheld compaction machine is even easier to maneuver during operation. In particular, the center of gravity of the machine along the axis of the drive shaft is preferably located below at least one handle, and especially below all handles, within the range of 30% to 70%, particularly 35% to 65%, particularly 40% to 60%, and particularly 45% to 55% of the total height of the handheld compaction machine.

[0016] The handheld compaction machine described in claim 3 has particularly excellent ease of use. The machine's center of gravity is positioned below at least one handle at up to 60% of the handheld compaction machine's total height, so that vibrations transmitted to at least one handle are particularly reduced due to inertial damping by the machine's mass. Along the axis of the drive shaft, at least one handle is preferably positioned above the machine's center of gravity at up to 65% of the handheld compaction machine's total height, particularly up to 60%, particularly up to 55%, particularly up to 50%, and particularly up to 45%. Along the drive shaft, at least one handle is preferably positioned above the motor's center of gravity at up to 50%, particularly up to 45%, particularly up to 40%, particularly up to 35%, particularly up to 30%, and particularly up to 25%. As a result, particularly excellent ease of use can be achieved.

[0017] The handheld compaction machine described in claim 4 is particularly easy to use for the operator. The user is not exposed to noise and / or exhaust emissions as much because the center of gravity of the prime mover is positioned away from at least one handle. Vibrations generated from the prime mover are not transmitted as strongly to at least one handle because the center of gravity of the machine is closer and the resulting inertial damping is greater. Preferably, the center of gravity of the prime mover is positioned along the axis below at least one, particularly all, handles, within the range of 15% to 50%, particularly 20% to 40%, and particularly 25% to 30% of the total height of the handheld compaction machine.

[0018] The handheld compaction machine described in claim 5 has particularly excellent ease of use. The stress on the user caused by vibrations transmitted to at least one handle is particularly low. The vibration node is preferably one vibration node, particularly just one vibration node, of the rigid body motion of the handheld compaction machine caused by the excitation of a vibration generator. Alternatively, this vibration node may be a vibration node resulting from the elastic deformation of the handheld compaction machine and / or an intrinsic vibration mode of the handheld compaction machine. At least one handle is positioned along the axis, preferably at a maximum distance of 15%, particularly 10%, and particularly 5% of the total height of the handheld compaction machine from the vibration node.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, the center of gravity of the prime mover is positioned along the axis at a maximum distance of 15%, particularly 10%, and particularly 5%, of the total height of the handheld compaction machine from the vibration nodes of the handheld compaction machine, due to excitation by a vibration generator. As a result, the vibration load transmitted to the prime mover can be reduced.

[0020] The handheld compaction machine described in claim 6 has particularly excellent ease of use. The stress on the user caused by vibrations transmitted to at least one handle is particularly low. In particular, the vibration amplitude occurring in the area of ​​at least one handle during operation of the handheld compaction machine is particularly small. Vibration nodes are preferably detected when the handheld compaction machine is in operation and no external force is acting on it and / or when the compaction pick is penetrating the track ballast and / or when the compaction pick, particularly the tip of the compaction pick, is fixed, particularly in position and / or orientation.

[0021] The handheld compaction machine described in claim 7 has particularly excellent ease of use. The first vibration isolator preferably comprises a vibration damper. The first vibration isolator may have at least one insulating element, particularly an elastic element and / or a damping element, particularly a rubber elastic body, in particular for connecting the handle device and / or prime mover to the compaction pick and / or vibration generator. Preferably, the first vibration isolator acts between the handle device and / or prime mover and the compaction pick and / or vibration generator and / or between the handle device and the prime mover. According to one aspect of the present invention, the first vibration isolator allows limited relative movement between the handle device and / or prime mover and the compaction pick and / or vibration generator and / or between the handle device and the prime mover in the horizontal and / or vertical directions. This makes it possible to isolate at least one handle and / or prime mover from vibrations of the compaction pick and / or vibration generator.

[0022] The handheld compaction machine described in claim 8 has particularly excellent ease of use. The handle-side connection point and / or compaction pick-side connection point of the first vibration isolator are positioned above the machine's center of gravity, thereby keeping the connection points away from the critical vibration source, particularly the compaction pick, especially the handheld compaction device. Furthermore, the connection points are positioned on the opposite side of the compaction pick with respect to the center of mass, thereby reducing vibration in at least one handle particularly completely due to particularly strong inertial damping in the region of the machine's center of gravity. The damping effect is enhanced, and the vibration load acting on the user is reduced.

[0023] The handheld compaction machine described in claim 9 ensures particularly excellent ease of use. The center of gravity of the prime mover and the handle-side connection point of the first vibration isolator are preferably located along the axis between at least one handle and the center of gravity of the machine. This reduces vibrations transmitted to the prime mover and / or handle device. The vibrations occurring in at least one handle are particularly low when the ratio of the distance of at least one handle from the center of gravity of the prime mover to the distance of the center of gravity of the prime mover from the handle-side connection point of the first vibration isolator is in the range of 1:1 to 4:1, particularly 1.5:1 to 3.5:1, and particularly 2:1 to 3:1. This arrangement advantageously achieves a particularly high inertial damping effect of the prime mover's mass on the handle device.

[0024] The handheld compaction machine described in claim 10 has particularly excellent ease of use. The compaction pick-side connection point of the first vibration isolator may be positioned above or below the machine's center of gravity. The distance between the compaction pick-side connection point of the first vibration isolator and the machine's center of gravity is preferably a maximum of 15%, particularly a maximum of 10%, and particularly a maximum of 5% of the total height of the handheld compaction machine. In the region of the machine's center of gravity, the handheld compaction machine experiences particularly high inertial damping. Such an arrangement makes it possible to achieve particularly sufficient reduction in vibrations transmitted to the handle device and / or prime mover via the compaction pick-side connection point of the first vibration isolator.

[0025] The hand-held impact tool according to claim 11 has particularly excellent usability during operation. Preferably, the distance along the axis between the handle-side connection point of the first vibration insulator and the center of gravity of the machine is at most 20%, particularly at most 15%, particularly at most 10%, particularly at most 5% of the overall height of the hand-held impact tool. The handle-side connection point of the first vibration insulator is arranged along the axis, preferably between at least one handle and the center of gravity of the machine and / or above the fastening pick-side connection point of the first vibration insulator. Thereby, the inertial damping due to the mass of the hand-held impact tool has a particularly strong effect on reducing the vibration at at least one handle.

[0026] The hand-held impact tool according to claim 12 is particularly suitable for operation. Due to the fact that the first vibration insulator and / or the second vibration insulator is arranged on the side opposite to the fastening pick and / or the vibration generator with reference to the center of gravity of the machine, the vibration transmitted to the first vibration insulator and / or the second vibration insulator is reduced particularly by a particularly strong inertial damping in the region of the center of gravity of the machine. Accordingly, the vibration transmitted to the prime mover and / or at least one handle is reduced.

[0027] The handheld compaction machine described in claim 13 even ensures a further reduction in vibration in at least one handle. The handheld compaction machine may have a first vibration isolator and / or a second vibration isolator. The second vibration isolator may be positioned above or below the first vibration isolator, or superimposed on the first vibration isolator along its axis. The second vibration isolator may be substantially configured to correspond to the first vibration isolator. Preferably, the second vibration isolator is connected to the second vibration isolator via a rigid head support structure, particularly a support plate. Preferably, the second vibration isolator acts between the handle device and / or prime mover and the compaction pick and / or vibration generator and / or between the handle device and the prime mover. The second vibration isolator can release restricted relative motion between at least one handle and the compaction pick and / or vibration generator and / or prime mover, and / or between the prime mover and the compaction pick and / or vibration generator, particularly in any horizontal and / or vertical direction. The second vibration isolator may have at least one insulating element, particularly a spring element and / or a damping element, particularly a rubber elastic element. Preferably, the first and / or second vibration isolator has a plurality of insulating elements.

[0028] The handheld compaction machine described in claim 14 is particularly adaptable in terms of use. Preferably, the handheld compaction machine is equipped with an energy source, in particular a fuel tank for supplying fuel to a combustion engine or a battery for supplying power to an electric motor.

[0029] The hand-held tamping machine according to claim 15 enables the compaction of track ballast, particularly in a time- and energy-efficient manner. The vibration generator may have an unbalanced mass body that is eccentric with respect to the axis and is particularly arranged inside the tamping pick, especially inside the tamping pick tube. Thereby, excitation can be carried out particularly near the track ballast. This means that the applied kinetic energy can be fully consumed by the track ballast without loss. On the other hand, the excitation of at least one handle and the prime mover is reduced.

[0030] Further features, details, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments based on the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] [Figure 1] It is a front view of a hand-held tamping machine for compacting track ballast, having a tamping pick for penetrating the track ballast, a vibration generator, a prime mover for rotationally driving this vibration generator, and a handle device for operating the hand-held tamping machine during operation. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held tamping machine shown in FIG. 1 passing through the axis of rotation of the drive shaft that torque-transmissionally connects the prime mover to the vibration generator.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hand-held tamping machine 1 for compacting track ballast 2 will be described. The track rail 3 is attached to the track sleeper 4 located on the track ballast 2. In FIG. 1, the hand-held tamping machine 1 is shown in the operating state. The hand-held tamping machine 1 penetrates the track ballast 2 in a vertical direction to a depth below the track sleeper 4 in order to compact the track ballast 2.

[0033] The handheld compaction machine 1 comprises a compaction pick 5, a vibration generator 6, a prime mover 7, and a handle device 8. The compaction pick 5 includes a compaction pick tube 9 and a ballast contact attachment 10 that at least partially surrounds the compaction pick tube 9. The ballast contact attachment 10, which is subject to wear, is attached to the compaction pick tube 9 in a replaceable manner.

[0034] The vibration generator 6 is configured to excite and vibrate the compaction pick 5. The prime mover 7 and the vibration generator 6 are configured to produce vibration frequencies in the range of 20Hz to 100Hz, particularly 30Hz to 60Hz. The vibration generator 6 has an eccentric shaft 11 that is rotatably assembled around an eccentric axis 12 by two tubular bearings 13a and 13b inside the compaction pick tube 9. An unbalanced mass 14 is attached to this eccentric shaft 11. This unbalanced mass 14 is completely superimposed on the compaction pick tube 9 and the ballast contact attachment 10 in a direction perpendicular to the eccentric axis 12.

[0035] The engine 7 is an internal combustion engine, particularly a gasoline engine. Alternatively, the prime mover 7 may be configured as an electric motor. To rotationally drive the vibration generator 6, the prime mover 7 is connected to the vibration generator 6 via a drive shaft 15. The drive shaft 15 is assembled to be rotatable about an axis 16. The drive shaft 15 is connected to the eccentric shaft 11 in a reversibly detachable and torque-transmitting manner. Alternatively, the drive shaft 15 may be permanently connected to the eccentric shaft 11, and in particular may be configured integrally with the eccentric shaft 11. The eccentric shaft 11 and the drive shaft 15 are configured coaxially.

[0036] The steering device 8 has two handles 17a and 17b. These handles 17a and 17b contain plastic material and are configured as rubber handles in particular. The prime mover 7 has a force adjustment element 18, in particular a throttle lever, for adjusting the output. This force adjustment element 18 is positioned on the first handle 17a so that the user does not take their hands off the handle 17a to adjust the prime mover force.

[0037] The handles 17a and 17b are connected to the prime mover 7 and the compaction pick 5 via a support structure 19. The support structure 19 is a tubular structure made substantially of metal.

[0038] The handheld compaction machine 1 has a first vibration isolator 20 and a second vibration isolator 21. The first vibration isolator 20 acts between the compaction pick 5 and the handle device 8 and the prime mover 7. For this purpose, the first vibration isolator 20 is connected to the compaction pick 5 via a compaction pick-side connection point 22. The handle-side connection point 23 of the first vibration isolator 20 is connected to the handle device 8 and the prime mover 7. In particular, the first vibration isolator 20 is attached to the pick support structure 24 via the compaction pick-side connection point 22. The first vibration isolator 20 is attached to the head support structure 25 via the handle-side connection point 23. This head support structure 25 is configured as a support plate. The prime mover 7 is particularly firmly attached to the head support structure 25.

[0039] The second vibration isolator 21 acts between the handle device 8 and the compaction pick 5 and prime mover 7, particularly the head support structure 25. For this purpose, the second vibration isolator 21 is connected to the compaction pick 5 via the compaction pick side connection point 26 and is particularly attached to the head support structure 25. The second vibration isolator 21 is connected to the handle device 8 via the handle side connection point 27 and is particularly attached to the support structure 10.

[0040] The first vibration isolator 20 and the second vibration isolator 21 each comprise four insulating elements 28a and 28b made of rubber elastic material. The insulating elements 28a and 28b of each vibration isolator 20 and 21 are connected in parallel to each other. The second vibration isolator 21 is connected in series to the first vibration isolator 20.

[0041] The two vibration isolators 20 and 21 each allow limited relative motion of the tamping pick-side connection points 22 and 26 with respect to the handle-side connection points 23 and 27 in all spatial directions.

[0042] The drive shaft 15 is composed of two parts in order to transmit force while allowing a corresponding relative motion between the prime mover 5 and the vibration generator 6. A third vibration isolator 31 acts between the first drive shaft portion 29 and the second drive shaft portion 30. The first drive shaft portion 29 is torque-transmitting connected to the second drive shaft portion 30 via the third vibration isolator 31. The third vibration isolator 31 allows for a limited displacement of the first drive shaft portion 29 relative to the second drive shaft portion 30 along the axis 16, and limited relative rotational motion about any axis perpendicular to the axis 16.

[0043] The handheld compaction machine 1 has a total height H of 1060 mm, which corresponds to the total dimensions of the handheld compaction machine 1 along the axis 16. The machine's center of gravity SP0 is located at the center of the handheld compaction machine 1 along the axis 16. The machine's center of gravity SP0 is located at a distance hG0 of 530 mm from the handles 17a and 17b.

[0044] The distance relating to at least one handle 17a, 17b is measured toward the upper surface of the handle 17a, 17b. Typically, when determining the mass and dimensions of the handheld compaction machine 1, it is assumed that the handheld compaction machine 1 is in operation. In this operating state, in particular, the ballast contact attachment 10 is attached to the compaction pick tube 9 and / or the fuel tank 32 of the prime mover 7 is filled with fuel, for example, halfway.

[0045] The engine's center of gravity SPM is located below the handles 17a and 17b, at a distance hGM of 240 mm from these handles. Therefore, the distance h0M between the machine's center of gravity SP0 and the engine's center of gravity SPM is 290 mm.

[0046] The handle-side connection point 23 of the first vibration isolator 20 is positioned at a distance hT0 of 120 mm from the machine's center of gravity SP0. Therefore, the distance hMT between the prime mover's center of gravity SPM and the handle-side connection point 23 is 170 mm, and the distance hGM between the prime mover's center of gravity SPM and the handles 17a and 17b is 240 mm. The distance ht0 between the machine's center of gravity SP0 and the compaction-side connection point 22 of the first vibration isolator 20 is 60 mm.

[0047] The distance h0F between the machine's center of gravity SP0 and the point of application KP of the combined eccentric force F provided by the vibration generator 6 is 383 mm.

[0048] The operating modes of the handheld compaction machine 1 are as follows:

[0049] The handheld compaction machine 1 is operational with its fuel tank 32 half-filled and the ballast contact attachment 10 attached to the compaction pick tube 9. The user grasps the handles 17a and 17b of the handheld compaction machine 1 and moves it to the position of the track ballast 2 to be compacted. The prime mover 7 is started and drives the vibration generator 6 according to the force set by the force adjustment element 18. This vibration generator 6 causes the compaction pick 5 to vibrate. The user steers the handheld compaction machine 1 through the handles 17a and 17b, under the influence of its weight, and the compaction pick 5 penetrates the track ballast 2.

[0050] The compaction pick 5 transmits vibrational motion to the track ballast 2, resulting in the compaction of the track ballast 2. To assist in compacting the track sleepers 4, the user may rotate the handheld compaction machine 1 around a horizontal axis that is parallel to each track sleeper 4. As a result, compaction of the track ballast 2 beneath the track sleepers 4 can be achieved particularly efficiently and reliably.

[0051] The vibrations occurring in handles 17a and 17b arise, at least in part, from the rigid body motion of the handheld compaction machine 1. In Figure 1, axis 16 is shown in the vertical orientation of the handheld compaction machine 1. Axis 16', shown obliquely to the vertical direction, symbolically represents the rigid body motion of the track compaction machine 1 arising from the eccentric force F. In Figure 1, the resulting vibration amplitude is greatly exaggerated. The limited stiffness of the handheld compaction machine 1, particularly the vibration isolators 20 and 21, is not considered in the rigid body vibrations. At vibration node SKP, whose position depends on the mass distribution of the handheld compaction machine 1, the vibration amplitude is minimal, and in fact zero. Along axis 16, the distance hGP between handles 17a and 17b and vibration node SKP is 60 mm. Because handles 17a and 17b are close to the vibration node SKP, the vibration amplitudes generated in each of the handles 17a and 17b are particularly small.

[0052] The vibration isolators 20, 21, and 31 reduce vibrations transmitted from the compaction pick 5 and / or vibration generator 6 to the handle device 8, particularly the handles 17a and 17b, and to the prime mover 7. As a result, stress is reduced, which can extend the life of the prime mover 7. Furthermore, it provides sufficient peace of mind for the user.

[0053] In particular, the large distance hGM between the handles 17a, 17b and the engine's center of gravity SPM, with respect to height H, has a particularly advantageous effect on usability. This keeps the source of noise and / or exhaust emissions generated by the engine 7 away, especially from the user's head. Furthermore, the engine 7 is positioned particularly close to the machine's center of gravity SP0, and as a result, the engine 7 is exposed to particularly low vibration loads due to the increased inertial damping that occurs there.

[0054] It was found that the reaction force acting on the user via the handles 17a and 17b depends on the aforementioned distance, particularly the arrangement of the machine's center of gravity SP0, the prime mover's center of gravity SPM, the force application point KP, and the handles 17a and 17b along the axis 16. By appropriately selecting the distance, the handles 17a and 17b are positioned particularly close to the vibration node SKP. In a superior handheld compaction machine 1, the reaction force acting on the user or the vibration generated in the handles 17a and 17b is particularly small. This makes the handheld compaction machine 1 easy to use during operation.

Claims

Claim 1 A hand-held tamping machine (1) for compacting track ballast, comprising a tamping pick (5) for penetrating the track ballast (2), a vibration generator (6) for exciting the tamping pick (5), a prime mover (7) connected to the vibration generator (6) via a drive shaft (15), a handle device (8) having at least one handle (17a, 17b) for maneuvering the hand-held tamping machine (1) during operation, wherein in the hand-held tamping machine (1), along the axis (16) of the drive shaft (15), the at least one handle (17a, 17b) is arranged above the mechanical center of gravity (SP0) of the hand-held tamping machine (1) by at least 30% of the overall height (H) of the hand-held tamping machine (1), and / or arranged above the center of gravity (SPM) of the prime mover (7) by at least 15% of the overall height (H) of the hand-held tamping machine (1). A hand-held tamping machine (1), characterized by the above. Claim 2 The hand-held tamping machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that along the axis (16), the at least one handle (17a, 17b) is arranged above the mechanical center of gravity (SP0) of the hand-held tamping machine (1) by at least 40% of the overall height (H) of the hand-held tamping machine (1). Claim 3 The hand-held tamping machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that along the axis (16), the mechanical center of gravity (SP0) is arranged below the at least one handle (17a, 17b) at a maximum of 60% of the overall height (H) of the hand-held tamping machine (1). Claim 4 The hand-held tamping machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that along the axis (16), the at least one handle (17a, 17b) is arranged above the center of gravity (SPM) of the prime mover (7) by at least 20% of the overall height (H) of the hand-held tamping machine (1). Claim 5 The hand-held tamping machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that along the axis (16), the distance between the at least one handle (17a, 17b) and the vibration node (SKP) of the hand-held tamping machine (1) due to the excitation by the vibration generator (6) is at a maximum of 15% of the overall height (H) of the hand-held tamping machine (1). Claim 6 The handheld impact compactor (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the vibration node (SKP) is caused by the rigid body movement and / or elastic deformation of the handheld impact compactor (1).

7. The handheld impact compactor (1) according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a first vibration insulator (20) acting between the impact pick (5) and the handle device (8) and / or the prime mover (7).

8. The handheld impact compactor (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the handle-side connection point (23) and / or the impact-pick-side connection point (22) of the first vibration insulator (20) are arranged above the machine center of gravity (SP0).

9. The handheld impact compactor (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the ratio of the distance (hGM) of at least one handle (17a, 17b) from the prime mover center of gravity (SPM) to the distance (hMT) of the prime mover center of gravity (SPM) from the handle-side connection point (23) of the first vibration insulator (20) is in the range of 1:1 to 4:

1.

10. The handheld impact compactor (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the distance (ht0) between the impact-pick-side connection point (22) of the first vibration insulator (20) and the machine center of gravity (SP0) along the axis (16) is at most 15% of the overall height (H) of the handheld impact compactor (1).

11. The handheld impact compactor (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the distance (hT0) between the handle-side connection point (23) of the first vibration insulator (20) and the machine center of gravity (SP0) along the axis (16) is at most 20% of the overall height (H) of the handheld impact compactor (1).

12. The handheld impact compactor (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the first vibration insulator (20) and / or the second vibration insulator (21) are arranged completely above the machine center of gravity (SP0).

13. The handheld impact compactor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising a second vibration insulator (21) acting between the handle device (8) and the impact pick (5) and / or the prime mover (7).

14. The handheld impact compactor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the prime mover (7) is a combustion engine or an electric motor.

15. The portable stapling machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vibration generator (6) is at least partially arranged in the clinching pick tube (9).

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