Device and method for tamping ballast track

Abstract

To enable suppression of crushing and grain refining of ballast on a ballast track.SOLUTION: A device for tamping ballast tracks includes: an excitation unit for generating vibration; a vibration transmission unit for transmitting the vibration generated by the excitation unit to ballast; and a drive unit for supplying driving force to the excitation unit. The vibration transmission unit is a slender member with its root attached to the drive unit and at least its tip capable of being inserted into the ballast, and is a hollow member that can accommodate the excitation unit inside. The excitation unit includes a vibration generating member which is attachable / detachable, and an exchange of the vibration generating member increases or decreases excitation force.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to a ballast track compaction apparatus and method. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, so-called ballasted track has been widely adopted as a railway track, that is, a track, in which a ballast track is provided on a roadbed with crushed stone (ballast) and sleepers and rails laid thereon.

[0003] However, in ballasted track, load fluctuations occur near rail joints, etc., which can cause localized settlement of the ballast supporting the rails and sleepers. Therefore, in ballasted track, track irregularity is periodically inspected, and in areas where track irregularity is large, maintenance work is carried out to level the rails by raising the rails with jacks and using a ballast track compaction device called a tie tamper to compact ballast under the sleepers (compaction work) (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4 and Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Jikko No. 63-32162 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-74689 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-74690 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-74691 [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] Takayuki Onodera, "Confirmation Test of Ballast Compaction Effect by Tie Tampers, etc.", 66th Annual Academic Conference of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers, 2011, pp. 133-134 [Non-patent document 2] Kiyoshi Inui, "Tamping of Track Bed by Tie Tamper", Railway Technical Research Institute Bulletin, 1953, Vol. 10, No. 17, pp. 4-13 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, tamping work breaks down the ballast into smaller particles, and as the ballast continues to break down and become smaller due to repeated tamping work and aging, the strength of the ballast decreases, resulting in greater settlement.

[0007] The object of this invention is to provide a ballasted track compaction device and method that can solve the problems of the conventional techniques and suppress the crushing and pulverization of ballast in a ballasted track. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To this end, the ballast track compaction device is equipped with a vibration generating unit that generates vibrations, a vibration transmission unit that transmits the vibrations generated by the vibration generating unit to the ballast, and a drive unit that supplies driving force to the vibration generating unit, wherein the vibration transmission unit is an elongated member whose base is attached to the drive unit and at least whose tip can be inserted into the ballast, and is a hollow member that houses the vibration generating unit inside, and the vibration generating unit includes a detachable vibration generating member, and the vibration force can be increased or decreased by replacing the vibration generating member.

[0009] In another ballast track compaction device, the vibration generating member is a rotatable eccentric weight.

[0010] In yet another ballast track compaction device, the vibration transmission unit further houses a rotating shaft having one end connected to the drive unit and the other end connected to the vibration excitation unit, and the eccentric weight rotates by the rotational force transmitted from the rotating shaft.

[0011] In yet another ballast track compaction device, the vibration generating unit can further reduce the vibration force from the standard vibration force to a low vibration force by replacing the vibration generating member from the standard vibration force generating member with a low vibration force generating member that is lighter than the standard vibration force generating member.

[0012] In yet another ballast track compaction device, the low excitation force is 50% of the reference excitation force.

[0013] In yet another ballast track compaction device, the vibration generating unit is located near the tip of the vibration transmitting unit.

[0014] The method for compacting a ballast track uses a ballast track compaction device that includes a vibration generating unit that generates vibrations and includes a detachable vibration generating member, a drive unit that supplies driving force to the vibration generating unit, and a vibration transmission unit that is an elongated member with a base attached to the drive unit, containing the vibration generating unit inside, and at least a tip that can be inserted into the ballast, and transmits the vibrations generated by the vibration generating unit to the ballast, and when compacting the ballast track, the vibration force is increased or decreased by replacing the vibration generating member.

[0015] In another ballast track compaction method, the vibration generating member is further replaced from the standard vibration force generating member to a low vibration force generating member that is lighter than the standard vibration force generating member, thereby reducing the vibration force below the standard vibration force and performing the ballast track compaction work. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress the fragmentation and granulation of ballast in ballasted track. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a ballast track compaction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of ballast track compaction work using the ballast track compaction device in this embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a first diagram showing the results of a particle size test of the ballast after tamping work on the ballast track has been carried out in this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a first diagram showing the results of a density test of the ballast after tamping work on the ballast track has been carried out in this embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing the results of a particle size test of the ballast after tamping work on the ballast track has been carried out in this embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing the results of a density test of the ballast after tamping work on the ballast track has been carried out in this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0019] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a ballast track compaction device according to this embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of ballast track compaction work using the ballast track compaction device according to this embodiment. In Fig. 2, (a) is a diagram showing a state in which the lower end of the vibration transmission unit is positioned in the center of the ballast between the sleepers on the track bed, (b) is a diagram showing a state in which the lower end of the vibration transmission unit is inserted into the ballast on the track bed, and (c) is a diagram showing a state in which the lower end of the vibration transmission unit is inserted under a sleeper in the ballast on the track bed.

[0020] In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a tie tamper as a ballast track compaction device in this embodiment, and more specifically, it is a type of tie tamper known as a hand tie tamper that can be held and operated by a single operator.

[0021] The tie tamper 10 includes an operating handle 14, a drive unit 11 suspended from the operating handle 14 via a frame member 16, a vibration transmission unit 12 having a base 12d attached to the drive unit 11, and a control unit 13 installed on the operating handle 14 to control the operation of the drive unit 11.

[0022] The drive unit 11 includes an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline engine as a drive source. A fuel tank (not shown) is attached to the drive unit 11 as an energy supply unit that supplies energy to the drive source. Note that an electric motor can be used as the drive source instead of the internal combustion engine. In this case, a battery detachably attached to the drive unit 11 can be used as the energy supply unit, or an external power source such as a generator installed at a location away from the tie tamper 10 can be used, and the external power source can be connected to the drive unit 11 by a power cord.

[0023] The vibration transmission unit 12 is a long, hollow member extending downward from the underside of the drive unit 11. In the example shown in the figure, the vibration transmission unit 12 includes a cylindrical main body 12a extending downward from a base 12d, a cylindrical vibration generator housing 12b attached to the lower end of the main body 12a, and a lower end 12c attached to the lower end of the vibration generator housing 12b. The vibration generator housing 12b houses a vibration generator (not shown). The vibration generator includes a rotatable eccentric weight (unbalanced weight) (not shown) as a vibration generating member. The main body 12a houses a rotating shaft (not shown), one end of which is connected to the drive source of the drive unit 11 and the other end of which is connected to the eccentric weight of the vibration generator. When the drive source is activated, its rotational force is transmitted to the eccentric weight, which rotates and generates vibration. Furthermore, at least the tip of the lower end 12c has a pointed shape such as a cone or pyramid shape that is suitable for insertion into the ballast 31, and transmits the vibrations generated by the vibration generating part to the ballast 31.

[0024] The control unit 13 includes an operating member 13a as a vibration adjustment operating member that can be operated by the operator. The operating member 13a is a member attached to the operating handlebar 14 and may be a member such as a button, stick, or lever, or may be a cylindrical member rotatably attached to the outer periphery of the operating handlebar 14, like a throttle operating grip on a motorcycle.

[0025] The vibration generator housing 12b has an openable / closable structure, and the eccentric weight, which is the vibration generating member of the vibration generator, has a detachable structure. Therefore, an operator can open or close the vibration generator housing 12b as needed to change the eccentric weight to a heavier or lighter one, thereby increasing or decreasing the force with which the vibration generator generates vibration, i.e., the excitation force. Furthermore, since the vibration generator is housed in the vibration generator housing 12b adjacent to the lower end 12c and is located near the tip of the vibration transmission unit 12, the excitation force is effectively transmitted to the ballast 31 via the tip of the vibration transmission unit 12.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows how ballast track compaction work is performed using the tie tamper 10 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the lower end 12c of the vibration transmission unit 12 is positioned above the center of the ballast 31 between adjacent sleepers 32 on the trackbed. Then, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the lower end 12c of the vibration transmission unit 12 is pushed into the ballast 31 to compact the ballast 31. Next, when the operator tilts the tie tamper 10, the lower end 12c of the vibration transmission unit 12 is inserted under the sleeper 32, as shown in FIG. 2(c), and the area under the sleeper 32 can be compacted.

[0027] The ballast 31 is a granular material such as crushed stone that constitutes the track bed of a ballasted track as shown in FIG. 2, and is, for example, a hard rock such as granite, quartzite, basalt, or andesite, crushed into a size of about 15 to 70 mm by a crusher, and has a specific gravity of 2.5 to 33.0 g / cm 3 ] and the particle size is 19.1 to 63.5 [mm].

[0028] Furthermore, when carrying out ballast track compaction work, the operator can increase or decrease the excitation force by replacing the eccentric weight, which increases or decreases the excitation force of the vibration transmitted from the excitation unit housing portion 12b, which houses the excitation unit, to the ballast 31 via the lower end portion 12c of the vibration transmission portion 12.

[0029] Specifically, by replacing the eccentric weight, which is the vibration generating member, from a reference excitation force generating member to a heavier eccentric weight, which is a high excitation force generating member, the excitation force can be increased from the reference excitation force to a high excitation force. Furthermore, by replacing the eccentric weight, which is the vibration generating member, from a reference excitation force generating member to a lighter eccentric weight, which is a low excitation force generating member, the excitation force can be decreased from the reference excitation force to a low excitation force. For the sake of convenience, the following description will be given assuming that the low excitation force is 50% of the reference excitation force.

[0030] When ballasted track compaction work is carried out, the ballast 31 is crushed and broken down into fine particles. However, the inventors of the present invention have discovered that by reducing the vibration force of the vibration generator during ballasted track compaction work, the crushing and breaking down of the ballast 31 can be suppressed.

[0031] Therefore, in this embodiment, before starting tamping work on the ballast track, the operator opens and closes the vibration generator housing 12b and replaces the eccentric weight of the vibration generator from the standard vibration force generating member to a lighter eccentric weight, which is a low vibration force generating member, to reduce the vibration force of the vibration generator from the standard vibration force to a low vibration force, and then performs tamping work on the ballast track in this state. Note that the weight of the low vibration force generating member is preferably half the weight of the standard vibration force generating member, i.e., 50%, and the low vibration force is preferably 50% of the standard vibration force.

[0032] Next, an evaluation based on increasing or decreasing the excitation force of the excitation unit will be described.

[0033] Figure 3 is the first figure showing the results of the ballast particle size test after ballasted track compaction work in this embodiment, Figure 4 is the first figure showing the results of the ballast density test after ballasted track compaction work in this embodiment, Figure 5 is the second figure showing the results of the ballast particle size test after ballasted track compaction work in this embodiment, and Figure 6 is the second figure showing the results of the ballast density test after ballasted track compaction work in this embodiment.

[0034] Figure 3 shows the results of a particle size test on the ballast 31 after tamping the ballast track under two conditions: first, when the excitation force generated by the excitation unit was set to the standard excitation force, and second, when the excitation force was reduced by changing the eccentric weight from the standard standard excitation force generating member to a lighter low excitation force generating member (with a weight half that of the standard excitation force generating member). In these cases, the frequency of the vibration generated by the excitation unit was the standard frequency of 155 Hz.

[0035] 3 also shows the results of a grain size test of the ballast 31 after tamping the ballast track with the frequency of the vibration generated by the vibrator set to 120 Hz, which is lower than the reference frequency of 155 Hz. In this case, the vibratory force generated by the vibrator is the reference vibratory force.

[0036] In Figure 3, the horizontal axis represents the number of tamping cycles (cycles), and the vertical axis represents the deterioration index (FI) (%). The FI (Fouling Index) is a deterioration index commonly used overseas to quantitatively evaluate the deterioration state of ballast (see, for example, Non-Patent Documents 3 and 4). The FI is the sum of the mass ratio of particles with a particle size of 4.75 mm or less and the mass ratio of particles with a particle size of 0.075 mm or less to the total mass. According to the research described in Non-Patent Documents 3 and 4, when the FI is 20% or more, it is judged to be "deteriorated," meaning that ballast settlement is likely to increase. In this case, settlement countermeasures such as ballast replacement are necessary to reduce the amount of maintenance required.

[0037] [Non-patent document 3] Masayuki Takaura, Takahisa Nakamura, Takahiro Kageyama, "Method for evaluating the soundness of ballast containing sediment," 2nd National Symposium on Transportation Geotechnical Engineering, 2022, 1-1, 031 [Non-patent document 4] Selig, ET: Ballast for heavy duty track, In: Track Technology, Proceedings of a Conference organized by the Institute of Engineers (ICE), Nottingham, 1985, pp.245-252

[0038] Figure 3 shows that when the excitation force generated by the vibrator during tamping of the ballast track is reduced from the standard excitation force to a low excitation force, the deterioration index FI of the ballast 31 decreases, as indicated by the arrow, regardless of whether the tamping cycle is 100, 200, or 400 times. It was confirmed that the deterioration index FI decreased by 20% or more, and up to approximately 50%. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed even when the frequency of the vibration generated by the vibrator was reduced to a low frequency of 120 Hz, which is lower than the standard frequency of 155 Hz.

[0039] In this way, it was confirmed that reducing the vibration force generated by the vibrator during tamping of the ballast track can suppress the crushing and pulverization of the ballast 31.

[0040] Figure 4 shows the results of a density test of the ballast 31 after tamping the ballast track in two states: one in which the vibration force generated by the vibrator was set to the standard vibration force, which is the reference vibration force; and the other in which the vibration force was reduced to a lower vibration force by changing the eccentric weight, i.e., the weight, from the standard standard vibration force generating member to a lighter eccentric weight, a low vibration force generating member (with a weight half that of the reference vibration force generating member).

[0041] 4 also shows the results of a density test of the ballast 31 after tamping the ballasted track with the frequency of the vibration generated by the vibrator set to 120 Hz, which is lower than the reference frequency of 155 Hz. In this case, the vibrating force generated by the vibrator is the reference vibrating force.

[0042] In Figure 4, the horizontal axis represents the vibration frequencies generated by the vibrator, 120 [Hz] and 155 [Hz], and the vertical axis represents the dry ballast density [g / cm 3 ] is shown.

[0043] From Figure 4, it can be seen that even if the vibration force generated by the vibrator during ballast track compaction work is reduced from the standard vibration force to a low vibration force, and even if the frequency of the vibration generated by the vibrator is reduced from 155 Hz to 120 Hz, there is no significant change in the dry ballast density, which is an index showing the degree of compaction of the ballast 31.

[0044] In this way, it was confirmed that even if the vibration force generated by the vibrator during the ballast track compaction work is reduced, there is no significant change in the degree of compaction of the ballast 31.

[0045] Figure 5 shows the results of a particle size test of the ballast 31 after tamping the ballast track under two conditions: first, when the excitation force generated by the excitation unit was set to the standard excitation force, and second, when the excitation force was reduced by changing the eccentric weight from the standard standard excitation force generating member to a lighter low excitation force generating member (with a weight half that of the standard excitation force generating member). In these cases, the frequency of the vibration generated by the excitation unit was the standard frequency of 155 Hz.

[0046] 5 also shows the results of a particle size test of the ballast 31 after tamping the ballast track with the vibration frequencies generated by the vibrator set to low frequencies of 140 Hz and 120 Hz, which are lower than the reference frequency of 155 Hz. In this case, the vibratory force generated by the vibrator is the reference vibratory force.

[0047] In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis indicates the number of tamping times (times), and the vertical axis indicates the deterioration index FI (%).

[0048] From Figure 5, it can be seen that when the excitation force generated by the vibrator during tamping work of the ballast track is reduced from the standard excitation force to a low excitation force, the deterioration index FI of the ballast 31 decreases regardless of whether the number of tamping cycles is 100, 200, or 400. Furthermore, no significant difference occurred even when the frequency of the vibration generated by the vibrator was set to low frequencies of 140 Hz and 120 Hz, which are lower than the standard frequency of 155 Hz.

[0049] In this way, it was confirmed that reducing the vibration force generated by the vibrator during tamping of the ballast track can suppress the crushing and pulverization of the ballast 31.

[0050] Figure 6 shows the results of density tests on the ballast 31 after tamping the ballasted track under the following conditions: when the excitation force generated by the vibrator is set to the standard excitation force, and the vibration frequency generated by the vibrator is set to the standard reference frequency of 155 Hz; when the excitation force generated by the vibrator is reduced by using a lighter weight and the vibration frequency generated by the vibrator is set to the standard reference frequency of 155 Hz; when the excitation force generated by the vibrator is reduced by using a lighter weight and the vibration frequency generated by the vibrator is set to a lower frequency of 140 Hz; when the excitation force generated by the vibrator is reduced by using a lighter weight and the vibration frequency generated by the vibrator is set to an even lower frequency of 120 Hz; and when the excitation force generated by the vibrator is set to the standard excitation force, and the vibration frequency generated by the vibrator is set to the even lower frequency of 120 Hz. In Figure 6, the horizontal axis shows the vibration frequency generated by the vibrator: 120 [Hz], 120 [Hz] (weight of the weight is half), 140 [Hz] (weight of the weight is half), 155 [Hz] and 155 [Hz] (weight of the weight is half), and the vertical axis shows the dry ballast density [g / cm 3 ] is shown.

[0051] From Figure 6, it can be seen that even if the vibration force generated by the vibrator during the ballast track compaction work is reduced from the standard vibration force to a low vibration force, and even if the frequency of the vibration generated by the vibrator is reduced from 155 Hz to 140 Hz and 120 Hz, there is no significant change in the dry ballast density, which is an index showing the degree of compaction of the ballast 31.

[0052] In this way, it was confirmed that even if the vibration force generated by the vibrating unit during ballasted track compaction work is reduced from the standard vibration force to a low vibration force, there is no significant change in the degree of compaction of the ballast 31, and that even if the frequency of the vibration generated by the vibrating unit during ballasted track compaction work is lowered, there is no significant change in the degree of compaction of the ballast 31.

[0053] Thus, the tie tamper 10 in this embodiment comprises a vibration generating unit that generates vibrations, a vibration transmission unit 12 that transmits the vibrations generated by the vibration generating unit to the ballast 31, and a drive unit 11 that supplies driving force to the vibration generating unit. The vibration transmission unit 12 is a long, thin member with a base 12d attached to the drive unit 11 and at least a tip that can be inserted into the ballast 31, and is a hollow member that houses the vibration generating unit inside. The vibration generating unit includes a detachable vibration generating member, and the excitation force can be increased or decreased by replacing the vibration generating member.

[0054] This makes it possible to suppress the ballast 31 in the ballasted track from being crushed and broken down into fine particles.

[0055] The vibration generating member is a rotatable eccentric weight. The vibration transmitting unit 12 houses a rotating shaft, one end of which is connected to the driving unit 11 and the other end of which is connected to the vibrating unit, and the eccentric weight rotates by the rotational force transmitted from the rotating shaft. The vibrating unit can reduce the vibrating force from the standard vibrating force to a low vibrating force by replacing the vibration generating member of the vibrating unit with a low vibrating force generating member that is lighter than the standard vibrating force generating member. The low vibrating force is 50% of the standard vibrating force. The vibrating unit is located near the tip of the vibration transmitting unit 12.

[0056] In the ballast track compaction method of this embodiment, tamping of the ballast track is performed using a tie tamper 10, which includes a vibration generating unit that generates vibrations and includes a detachable vibration generating member, a drive unit 11 that supplies driving force to the vibration generating unit, and a vibration transmission unit 12, which is an elongated member with a base 12d attached to the drive unit 11, housing the vibration generating unit, and at least a tip that can be inserted into the ballast 31, transmitting the vibrations generated by the vibration generating unit to the ballast 31. When tamping of the ballast track is performed, the vibration generating member can be replaced to increase or decrease the excitation force.

[0057] This makes it possible to suppress the ballast 31 in the ballasted track from being crushed and broken down into fine particles.

[0058] In addition, by replacing the vibration generating member from the standard vibration force generating member with a low vibration force generating member that is lighter than the standard vibration force generating member, the vibration force is reduced from the standard vibration force and ballast track compaction work is performed.

[0059] It should be noted that the disclosure herein describes features of preferred and exemplary embodiments, and that various other embodiments, modifications, and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosure herein. [Industrial Applicability]

[0060] The present disclosure is applicable to ballast track compaction apparatus and methods. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10 Thai Tampa 11 Drive unit 12 Vibration transmission unit 12d root 31 Ballast

Claims

1. A ballast track compaction device comprising: a vibration generating unit that generates vibrations; a vibration transmitting unit that transmits the vibrations generated by the vibration generating unit to the ballast; and a driving unit that supplies a driving force to the vibration generating unit, the vibration transmission unit is a hollow member that is an elongated member having a base attached to the drive unit and at least a tip that can be inserted into ballast, and that accommodates the vibration excitation unit therein; The vibration generating unit includes a detachable vibration generating member, and the vibration force can be increased or decreased by replacing the vibration generating member.

2. 2. The ballast track compaction device according to claim 1, wherein said vibration generating member is a rotatable eccentric weight.

3. The ballast track compaction device described in claim 2, wherein the vibration transmission unit houses a rotating shaft having one end connected to the drive unit and the other end connected to the vibration excitation unit, and the eccentric weight rotates by the rotational force transmitted from the rotating shaft.

4. The ballast track compaction device described in claim 1, wherein the vibration generating unit can reduce the vibration force from a standard vibration force to a low vibration force by replacing the vibration generating member from a standard vibration force generating member with a low vibration force generating member that is lighter than the standard vibration force generating member.

5. 5. The ballast track compaction device according to claim 4, wherein the low excitation force is 50% of the reference excitation force.

6. 2. The ballast track compaction device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating section is located near the tip of the vibration transmitting section.

7. A method for compacting a ballast track using a ballast track compaction device comprising: a vibration generating unit including a detachable vibration generating member and generating vibrations; a drive unit that supplies driving force to the vibration generating unit; and a vibration transmitting unit that is an elongated member having a base attached to the drive unit, containing the vibration generating unit therein, and at least a tip that can be inserted into the ballast, and transmitting the vibrations generated by the vibration generating unit to the ballast, A ballast track compaction method, characterized in that, when performing the ballast track compaction work, the vibration generating member is replaced to increase or decrease the vibration force.

8. 8. A ballast track compaction method as described in claim 7, wherein the vibration generating member is replaced from a standard vibration force generating member to a low vibration force generating member that is lighter than the standard vibration force generating member, thereby reducing the vibration force to less than the standard vibration force and performing the ballast track compaction work.

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