A compacting machine for compacting the area under track sleepers

Abstract

The compaction machine (1) compacts the area under the sleepers of a track (2), and comprises a machine frame (14) extending in the longitudinal direction of the compaction machine and capable of running on two rail traveling devices (9), and a satellite (3) disposed between the rail traveling devices (9) and capable of running along the track (2) via traveling devices (10), the satellite (3) being guidably connected to the machine frame (14) via a satellite longitudinal guide (18), and the satellite (3) having a track lifting and straightening unit (7). In order to provide an advantageous positioning state, it is proposed that the satellite (3) is directly connected to the machine frame (14) via a linear drive device (4) having a position detection unit, and the linear drive device (4) accelerates and decelerates the satellite (3) within a predetermined displacement range (A) between the rail traveling devices (9) so that a predetermined traveling standard is maintained, and that two hydraulic cylinders (4) are provided, one of which pushes the satellite (3) when it displaces between the rail traveling devices (9) and the other of which pulls it.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a compactor for compacting under sleepers of a track. The compactor comprises a machine frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the compactor and capable of running on two rail running devices, and a satellite arranged between the rail running devices and capable of running along the track via the running devices, the satellite being guidably coupled to the machine frame via a satellite longitudinal guide, the satellite having a tamping unit and a track lifting and straightening unit between the running device and the satellite longitudinal guide, the satellite being directly coupled to the machine frame via a linear drive having a position detector, the linear drive accelerating and decelerating the satellite within a predetermined displacement range between the rail running devices so that a predetermined running criterion (sleeper pitch or an integer multiple thereof) is maintained. [Background technology]

[0002] A compaction machine of this kind, known, for example, from DE 34 09 846 A1, works continuously with the aid of a working satellite (here satellite for short). The compaction machine travels at a constant speed during operation. During operation, an integrated tamping satellite with a tamping unit, a lifting and levelling device and a measuring car advances discontinuously through the tamping areas, lifting and levelling the track and tamping the area under the sleepers.

[0003] Such a compacting machine, which runs continuously during the working operation, is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 6,705,232. A great advantage of this type of compacting machine is that the main machine, which has a very large mass, does not have to be stopped for each sleeper to be compacted and then accelerated again. This increases the working speed of the machine compared to cyclically working machines and also reduces the acceleration acting on the machine operator. The cyclical advance for each sleeper area is limited to satellites carrying working units that are arranged to be longitudinally displaceable relative to the main frame of the machine. Such a machine is also known from Austrian Patent No. 401,943.

[0004] When the comfort or safety limit of a certain geometric track position defined by the railway administration is exceeded, track compaction operations are planned and carried out in a timely manner.Today, track construction machines are often used to eliminate and straighten this geometric track irregularity.

[0005] Tamping units fix the track position during maintenance measures. This is done via a tamping tool, the so-called tamping pick, which is thrust into the ballast next to the sleepers and compacts the ballast under the sleepers via a linear closing movement superimposed by a compaction vibration.

[0006] There are tampers specialised for the compaction of points (with separable tamping units, so-called split head units, auxiliary lifting devices for branch tracks, swivelling compaction picks etc.) and tampers preferably assembled for the compaction of non-branch tracks. As well as cyclical tampers, continuous operation is also known. There are also single-sleeper and multi-sleeper tampers. Multi-sleeper tampers compact several sleepers at once in one working cycle. Moreover, multi-sleeper tampers can also be used in such a way that only one sleeper is tamped.

[0007] In a known construction, the satellite frame rests on a running gear. The running gear is connected to a braking device and to a drive that acts on the wheels. The disadvantage of such a drive is that it does not operate without delay and has a dead time. Like the braking device, the drive also depends on the friction values ​​between the wheels and the rail and on the mass that rests on the running gear. If the driving or braking force is too high, the drive wheels will spin or lock. If they spin, the rail will be loaded and a lot of time will be lost. If they lock, the satellite will slip beyond the planned forward movement. The satellite then has to be retreated so that the tamping pick can penetrate into the intermediate area between the sleepers. This also means a loss of time and also an interruption in the continuity of work. A continuously working machine works with a constant adjusted tamping time. If the tamping time changes, the forward speed of the main machine has to be constantly adapted to the changing tamping time or, in general, stopped when the satellite's displacement distance is consumed. From AU 515801 a method is known in which the optimum compaction time is automatically determined and set by the machine itself. The method according to AU 515801 shows practical results and leads to extremely long and durable trajectory positions and thus to considerable economic advantages. The use of this method with unpredictable changes in the compaction time makes the use of continuous compaction difficult or impossible.

[0008] Tamping represents a costly operational disruption, so it is important that the tamping machine's work capacity is as high as possible and that the maintenance of correct track alignment is as good as possible.

[0009] The drive device for the traveling device is made up of a power supply source, a control circuit, a transmission device, and a drive motor, and is therefore complicated and costly.

[0010] It is known from EP 1 387 003 that the travel drive of the satellite can be assisted by an acceleration cylinder, which partially compensates for the start-up delay of the travel drive, but the acceleration cylinder does not contribute to the accuracy of the positioning of the satellite. The acceleration cylinder also does not contribute to the braking action of the satellite. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] DE 3409846 A1 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 6,705,232 [Patent Document 3] Austrian Patent No. 401943 [Patent Document 4] Austrian Patent No. 515801 [Patent Document 5] European Patent No. 1387003 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] The problem underlying the present invention is therefore to avoid the mentioned drawbacks and to enable precise and rapid position control of a satellite. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The invention solves the problem posed by providing two hydraulic cylinders, one of which pushes and the other of which pulls or brakes the satellite when it is displaced between the rail running devices.

[0014] The different compaction times are automatically compensated for according to the invention by adapting the starting and braking accelerations via the linear drives. The satellite advances faster if the compaction time is long and slower if the compaction time is short. Three or more hydraulic cylinders may be provided, one part of which pushes the satellite when it is displaced between the rail travelling devices and the other part pulls or brakes it when it reaches the position to which it is desired to move. This allows an effect similar to that when using double rod cylinders. A continuous operation is thus possible by adapting the acceleration and deceleration even when the compaction times are different. Preferably, one cylinder is present in front of and one behind the satellite in the working direction. Particularly advantageously, the rear cylinder is a push cylinder which pushes the satellite forward in the working direction and the front cylinder is a brake cylinder which brakes the satellite exactly at the position to which it is desired to move it. A distance sensor is assigned to both cylinders for controlling the adjustment position.

[0015] The invention allows the satellite to achieve an improved starting and braking acceleration, since the pushing hydraulic cylinder provides a high forward force and the pulling brake cylinder provides not only a pulling force but also a high braking force, which is necessary when the satellite is pushed forward strongly in the working direction and has to be braked strongly again in the working position. Furthermore, a large oil reservoir can be omitted, since the oil required for the drive only needs to be circulated between both cylinders.

[0016] Furthermore, the main advantages of the present invention are that it is possible to dispense with travelling drives and braking devices for the satellite travelling devices, that the satellite can be positioned very accurately between the two rail travelling devices and that its position on the track can be quickly corrected in case of deviations, since due to the travelling devices the dead times and response delays due to, for example, slippage between the wheels and the rail are very short in comparison with travelling drives and braking devices.

[0017] The satellite is rigidly connected to the machine frame of the compactor via at least two linear drives. In effect, the linear drives act on the machine frame at one end and on the satellite at the other end. The linear drives can be configured as hydraulic cylinders with position sensors. They are used for both accelerating and decelerating the satellite when positioning the compactor between the rail-running devices. The course of the starting and braking gradients can be set precisely via proportional or servo valves and corresponding control electronics. The mass of the satellite comprises only 10% to 15% of the mass of the main machine. Thus, during starting and braking, the shock effects on the operator located on the continuously running main machine are correspondingly small. Furthermore, the reactions (acceleration shock reaction and braking shock reaction) can be selected by selecting corresponding acceleration and braking gradients. The linear drives accelerate and decelerate the satellite within a defined displacement range between the rail-running devices such that a defined running criterion is maintained. Depending on the cycle time of the tamping unit and the track lifting and straightening unit, the travel speed of the compactor and the displacement range of the satellite, a certain travel criterion must be maintained, which must be located within the permissible displacement range and constitutes the basis of the displacement of the satellite relative to the machine frame along the track. Furthermore, for auxiliary purposes, travel drives and braking devices can of course be installed. The advantage is the redundancy and auxiliary possibilities of the hydraulic cylinder, which can be constructed smaller. It is also possible to use two linear drives, one pulling and one pushing when advancing in the working direction and working in the opposite direction when braking. The advantage is that the same forces act both when accelerating and when braking. With one hydraulic cylinder as linear drive, the force action is different depending on the direction of action due to the piston and ring surfaces.

[0018] The main advantages of the invention are the omission of the travelling drive and the brake of the satellite travelling gear, the precise positioning of the satellite between the two rail travelling gears and the rapid correction of the position in case of misalignment, because due to the travelling gears, the dead times and the response delays due to slippage between the wheels and the rail are extremely small in comparison with the travelling drive and the brake. Furthermore, independence from the friction values ​​between the wheels and the rail is obtained. In autumn, for example (due to fallen leaves on the rail), the speed of the compactor has to be adapted to the presence of poor friction values, which leads to a reduction in the operating speed. This is avoided in the embodiment according to the invention. In single-sleeper compactors, the predetermined advance distance is the sleeper pitch (typically 60 cm) or in multi-sleeper compactors a suitable multiple thereof. The invention has the advantage that the varying compaction times can be compensated for by automatically adapted acceleration and braking delays of the linear drives, thus maintaining the guarantee of continuous advance of the main machine. Overall, the working speed of the compactor can be increased by eliminating the dead times of the satellite travel drives. A further advantage of the invention is that the starting and braking accelerations are adapted automatically when the continuous forward speed of the compactor is increased or decreased, which allows even higher working speeds to be obtained.

[0019] The linear drive preferably comprises at least two hydraulic cylinders, in particular double rod cylinders with position detection. In particular, a control circuit may be provided which sets the starting acceleration and the braking acceleration of the satellites depending on the in particular constant compactor travel speed by the linear drive in order to achieve a given permissible travel criterion.

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates the subject matter of the present invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic side view of a continuously operating compactor 1 having satellites 3 and a linear drive 4. [Diagram 2] 4 shows a distance time graph. [Diagram 3] Similarly, a distance-time graph is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The compactor 1, which compacts the area under the sleepers of the track 2, has a machine frame 14 extending in the longitudinal direction of the compactor and capable of running on two rail running gears 9, and a satellite 3 arranged between the rail running gears 9 and capable of running along the track 2 via a running gear 10, the satellite 3 being guidably connected to the machine frame 14 via a satellite longitudinal guide 18, and the satellite 3 has, between the running gear 10 and the satellite longitudinal guide 18, a tamping unit 5 which is height adjustable relative to the satellite 3, and a track raising and straightening unit 7.

[0023] The satellite 3 is directly connected to the machine frame 14 via a linear drive 4 having a position detection unit, which accelerates and decelerates the satellite 3 within a predetermined displacement range A between the rail running units 9 so that a predetermined running criterion is maintained.

[0024] In the machine frame 14 of the machine, a longitudinally displaceable satellite 3 rests on a running gear 10. The satellite 3 is guided in the main frame 14 in the form of a wheelbarrow with the running gear at one end and with a guide arm at the other end by a satellite longitudinal guide 18 so as to be longitudinally displaceable. The machine 1 with the tamping cabin 15 can be moved on the track 2 via bogies 9, 10. The machine has a track measuring system 6, 11, 12 for controlling a lifting and levelling unit 7 assembled on the satellite 3. In the satellite 3, a liftable tamping unit 5 is located, which can be rotated around a vertical axis by an angle α via a swivel ring 19 and can also be displaced laterally via a displacement device 20 located transversely to the working direction. The lifting and levelling unit can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the track via a linear drive 8 connected to the satellite frame 13. The track lifting and straightening unit 7 is assigned at least one lifting cylinder H and at least one straightening cylinder R.

[0025] The machine works in a working direction AR. The satellites 3 are movable relative to the main frame 14 through a displacement range A, within which there are travel criteria that depend on the work (levelling and / or compaction, roadbed quality). Via a linear drive 4, which in particular has an integrated distance measuring system, the satellites 3 are guided in or below the machine frame 14, accelerated forward in the travel direction and braked again in time to reach exactly the required advance distance.

[0026] The graph in FIG. 2 shows the distance s recorded vertically and the time axis t recorded horizontally. M is given by a straight line. Additionally, the distance-time course of satellite 3 is shown. T st corresponds to the tamping time, and t T is the dead time of the driving device, a is the forward distance (sleeper pitch), and t F is the advance time. In ST, the tamping time t st‘Since the satellite's forward distance is consumed, the main machine will continue to operate for a time t Mst It has to stop for a long time and can only resume moving after Satellite 3 has moved forward.

[0027] The graph in FIG. 3 shows the distance s recorded vertically and the time axis t recorded horizontally. M is given by a straight line. Additionally, the distance-time course of satellite 3 is shown. T st1 is the tamping time of the first tamping, and t F1 is the corresponding advance time. The linear drive according to the present invention has a dead time f T Since there is no time t provided for advancement F is the working speed V M The starting acceleration and braking acceleration of satellite 3 can be performed more smoothly. The second tamping, for example, takes longer time t st2 Advance time t F2 is correspondingly shortened, and the starting and braking accelerations are automatically adapted and increased. The third tamping is performed at time t st3 with starting and braking accelerations adjusted accordingly, t F3 and so on. In this way the compactor 1 can work at a continuous speed with varying tamping times. This application relates to the invention described in the claims, but also includes the following as other aspects. 1. A compactor (1) for compacting the area under sleepers of a track (2), The compactor includes a machine frame (14) extending in the longitudinal direction of the compactor and capable of running on two rail running devices (9), and a satellite (3) disposed between the rail running devices (9) and capable of running along a track (2) via a running device (10), A compaction machine in which a satellite (3) is guidably connected to a machine frame (14) via a satellite longitudinal guide (18), and the satellite (3) has a tamping unit (5) and a track raising and lowering adjustment unit (7) between a traveling device (10) and the satellite longitudinal guide (18) that are height adjustable with respect to the satellite (3), and the satellite (3) is directly connected to the machine frame (14) via a linear drive device (4) having a position detection unit, and the linear drive device (4) accelerates and decelerates the satellite (3) within a predetermined displacement range (A) between the rail traveling devices (9) so that a predetermined traveling standard is maintained, A compactor characterized in that it is provided with two hydraulic cylinders (4), one of which pushes and the other of which pulls the satellite (3) when it is displaced between the rail running devices (9). 2. The compactor according to claim 1, wherein the linear drive device (4) is a hydraulic cylinder having a position detection unit, in particular a double rod cylinder. 3. 3. The compactor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a control circuit is provided which sets the starting acceleration and the braking acceleration of the satellite (3) by the linear drive (4) in such a way that a certain permissible running criterion is obtained, in particular as a function of a constant compactor running speed. 4. A control circuit is provided, which controls the starting acceleration and braking acceleration of the satellite (3) by the linear drive (4) to have different tamping times (t Fi 4. The compactor according to claim 1, wherein the tamping speed is set in dependence on a constant compactor running speed. 5. 5. The compactor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in addition to the linear drive (4) a travelling drive (16) is provided on the travelling device (19) of the satellite (3). 6. 6. The compactor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in addition to the linear drive (4) a braking device (17) is provided on the running device (19) of the satellite (3). 7. 7. Any one of the compaction machines according to 1 to 6 above, characterized in that the rear hydraulic cylinder (4) is a push cylinder that pushes the satellite (3) forward in the working direction, and the front hydraulic cylinder (4) is a brake cylinder that brakes the satellite at the position to which it is desired to move.

Claims

1. A compactor (1) for compacting the area under sleepers of a track (2), The compactor includes a machine frame (14) extending in the longitudinal direction of the compactor and capable of running on two rail running devices (9), and a satellite (3) disposed between the rail running devices (9) and capable of running along a track (2) via a running device (10), A compaction machine in which a satellite (3) is guidably connected to a machine frame (14) via a satellite longitudinal guide (18), the satellite (3) has a tamping unit (5) and a track raising and lowering unit (7) between the running device (10) and the satellite longitudinal guide (18) that are height adjustable with respect to the satellite (3), and the satellite (3) is directly connected to the machine frame (14) via a linear drive device (4), the linear drive device (4) accelerates and decelerates the satellite (3) within a predetermined displacement range (A) between the rail running devices (9) so that a predetermined running standard is maintained, The linear drive device (4) is configured as a hydraulic cylinder having a position detection unit, and two hydraulic cylinders are provided, one of which pushes the satellite (3) when it is displaced between the rail running devices (9), and the other of which pulls the satellite (3).

2. 2. A compactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the linear drive (4) is a double rod cylinder with position detection.

3. 3. A compactor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a control circuit is provided, which sets the starting and braking acceleration of the satellites (3) by the linear drives (4) as a function of a constant compactor travel speed in such a way that a predefined permissible travel criterion is obtained.

4. A control circuit is provided, which controls the starting acceleration and braking acceleration of the satellite (3) by the linear drive (4) with different tamping times (t Ｆｉ 4. The compactor according to claim 1, wherein the tamping speed is set as a function of a constant compactor travel speed.

5. 5. A compactor according to claim 1, characterized in that in addition to the linear drive (4), a travel drive (16) is provided on the travel device (19) of the satellite (3).

6. 6. A compactor according to claim 1, characterized in that in addition to the linear drive (4), a braking device (17) is provided on the running device (19) of the satellite (3).

7. 7. A compactor according to claim 1, wherein the rear hydraulic cylinder is a push cylinder which pushes the satellite (3) forward in the working direction, and the front hydraulic cylinder is a brake cylinder which brakes the satellite at the position to which it is desired to move it.

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