A tamping machine that compacts the track ballast bed

Abstract

The compactor (1) compacts the ballast bed of a track, and includes a compaction unit (4) for compacting under the track (9), a leveling device (2) arranged between the running gear (8) for leveling and leveling the track and the switch (9), at least one leveling roller (6) whose height position is adjustable, and at least one leveling hook (7) whose height position is adjustable independently of the leveling roller (6). The leveling roller (6) and the leveling hook (7) are arranged on a common console (31), and the console (31) is guided by an actuator (17) so as to be slidable laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the compactor. In order to provide advantageous working conditions, the console (31) is arranged on a guide carriage (10) by which the console (31) can slide along the lateral guide (16) transversely to the compactor longitudinal axis (L), and the console (31) is supported on the guide carriage (10) by a swivel drive device (12) so that the console (31) can be swivelled around a swivel axis (30) parallel to the compactor longitudinal axis.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a compaction machine for compacting the ballast bed of a track, comprising: a compaction unit for compacting under the track; a leveling device for leveling and leveling the track and switches, which is arranged between a plurality of traveling devices and preferably downstream of the compaction unit in the working direction; at least one leveling roller whose height position is adjustable; and at least one leveling hook whose height position is adjustable independently of the leveling roller, wherein the leveling roller and the leveling hook are arranged on a common console, and the console is guided by an actuator so as to be slidable laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the compaction machine. [Background technology]

[0002] A switch compactor for turnstiles is a machine that adjusts the track position of turnstiles and tracks. A measuring system is used to determine the track position. During operation, the measuring system measures the actual track height, track direction, and track cant positions and compares them with predetermined target values. A track leveling and leveling unit raises and laterally adjusts the track until the difference between the predetermined target position and the actual position is zero. In this spatial position, the turntile is fixed by compacting the ballast under the sleepers using a tamping unit. The track leveling and leveling are performed via hydraulic leveling and leveling cylinders operated by a proportional or servo control. A turntile has, as its specificity, a continuous track and a branching track. Trains are led to branch tracks or maintained on a continuous reference line via so-called points. The intersection of the continuous track line and the branching line is called a crossing. In crossing areas, the train wheels must be guided on the rails of a line that branches off from the rails of the continuous line. In interruption areas, the wheels must be guided onto the rails of a track that branches off from the rails of the continuous track. Guide rails are provided to ensure that wheels that are not guided in the interruption areas can rotate onto the branch or continuous reference line. To ensure that the work tool of the switch compactor can compact under the switch sleepers at all points, the compaction unit can slide laterally and, due to the presence of diagonally positioned long sleepers, the compaction unit can rotate. The compaction pick may additionally be configured to be at least partially swivelable.

[0003] In pure track compactors, the rail is gripped at the head by roller catches and lifted to the geometric target position. At turnouts, the use of roller catches is often not possible at crossings because the rails intersect. To enable these locations to be processed (leveled), additional lifting hooks or lifting rollers are provided that are laterally movable outward and adjustable in depth and height (WO 2016191776). The lifting hooks and lifting rollers of the compactor disclosed in DE 3738750 A1 can be displaced independently of one another about their respective pivot axes.

[0004] From the cabin, the machine operator controls the position of the compaction unit and, depending on the situation and at his discretion, selects the position of the roller catch or the lifting hook and the engagement point of the lifting hook at the rail head or rail bottom. The lifting device can also slide in the longitudinal direction of the track. This is necessary when the lifting hook engages with the rail bottom (which can only happen in the middle zone) or when an insulator prevents the roller catch or the lifting hook from engaging with the rail head, for example.

[0005] The usual pivotal arrangement of pivotally closing roller catches has the disadvantage that the upturning forces often press the catches open. Another disadvantage of this type of roller catch that closes around a pivot point is that the rollers must be manually readjusted when they are worn or the rail head height is not consistent, and the position of the roller catch is fixed transversely to the track. If the height of the roller catch is not appropriate for the situation, the leveling rollers will lift off the rail by the amount of play that exists. This will cause an undesirable additional upward load on the rail head, making it easy for the leveling rollers to slip off and subsequently cause derailment. A further disadvantage is that the pivoting roller catches often have to be assembled to the upturning and leveling unit in a way that is difficult to access due to spatial constraints. This increases the time required for maintenance or repair work. Vertically readjusting the rollers is correspondingly time-consuming and cost-intensive.

[0006] Furthermore, due to the different operating methods of the roller catch and the lifting hook, the operation of the command device by the operator is different.

[0007] According to WO 2016 / 191776, the tamping roller and the tamping hook can be guided vertically and horizontally, i.e., transversely to the longitudinal axis of the compactor. The tamping hook and the tamping roller are arranged on a common console and are displaceable together along a lateral guide along the console. The tamping roller, like the tamping hook, is hydraulically guided, lowered, or raised vertically using a cylinder. The console is moved horizontally inward toward the center of the track to grip the rail head with the tamping roller or the rail with the tamping hook. Subsequently, the tamping roller is moved upward until it abuts against the underside of the rail head. This avoids roller wear or dependency on different rail head heights. Roller readjustment is no longer necessary. Operation, according to the embodiment of the present invention, is performed in a similar manner to that of the tamping hook. The geometric connection between the tamping roller, the rail head, and the leveling roller prevents the tamping roller from being pressed or split open. In a compaction machine known from Swiss Patent Application No. 705271, the lifting roller and the lifting hook are likewise arranged on a common console, which is supported so as to be slidable transversely to the longitudinal axis of the machine. The lifting hook is configured to be height-adjustable for basic height adjustment, and the lifting roller is guided so as to be movable about a pivot axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine. The lifting roller and the lifting hook can be raised together with the lifting leveling device.

[0008] The disadvantage of this configuration is that the tamping roller and tamping hook can only move vertically and horizontally. Speed ​​is important when tamping the main track. If a roller guided in this way remains in contact with the rail when advancing at high speed, it will collide with the rail fastening means, insulators, or rail weld beads, which may be located high. A purely horizontal guide for the roller would prevent it from being pushed up quickly enough, which could cause damage to the roller, the tamping leveling unit, or the rail fastener. Therefore, when the hardware is located high, the roller must move outward to the side before advancing, far enough to avoid damage, and then move inward again after the machine has stopped. This takes time. If the hardware is configured low enough to avoid a collision with it, the roller catch can only be moved outward to the width of the rail head before advancing and then closed again upon stopping. This also takes time and adversely affects machine performance, especially when tamping the main track. A further disadvantage is that the tamping collar of the tamping roller is sometimes configured with a reduced thickness to reduce the adjustment distance. This makes the upper ring portion more susceptible to breakage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016 / 191776 [Patent Document 2] DE 3738750 [Patent Document 3] Swiss Patent Application Publication No. 705271 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] Therefore, the problem underlying the present invention is to provide a form of a ramp leveling unit that allows the ramp roller to be retracted quickly enough when moving forward at a rapid speed to avoid damage to the roller, the ramp leveling unit or the rail fasteners. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The invention solves this problem in that the console is arranged on a guide carriage by means of which it can slide along a transverse guide transversely to the longitudinal axis of the compactor, and the console is supported on the guide carriage by means of a swivel drive so that it can be swiveled about a swivel axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compactor. Advantageous developments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0012] The lifting hook and the lifting roller are supported on a common console and can be adjusted in height by a lifting drive. It is important for the present invention that this console be rotatable relative to the guide carriage, i.e., pivotally adjustable around a pivot axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compactor. This maintains the advantages of vertical and horizontal positioning of the lifting roller and the lifting hook. This makes the console perfectly suitable for use on turnouts. For rapid mainline compaction, the drive operates in a floating or lightly force-applied manner to pivot the lifting tool console. At rail joints or when weld beads appear, the lifting roller can be easily pushed up. The roller's tilted position also prevents collisions with rail fasteners. Another advantage is that the lifting collar of the lifting roller can be made thicker due to the pivoting capability and is therefore no longer prone to breakage.

[0013] The guide carriage is movable along a lateral guide transversely to the longitudinal axis of the compactor. The cylinders or piston rods of two hydraulic cylinders are supported on a console supported on the guide carriage so that its pivot position can be adjusted, particularly around the longitudinal axis of the compactor. One hydraulic cylinder with a relatively small stroke is used for vertical adjustment of the lifting roller. The other hydraulic cylinder with a relatively long stroke is provided for the lifting hook. The relatively long stroke is necessary so that the lifting hook can engage both the top and bottom of the rail. The hydraulic cylinder is connected to the lifting hook or the lifting roller, and the lifting hook or the lifting roller itself can move up and down along a vertical guide (within the console). The guide carriage, which includes a console with the lifting roller or the lifting hook, is positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the compactor and is brought to the respective positions (engagement, lifting roller, or lifting hook) via a hydraulic cylinder supported on a lifting adjustment unit. The console can be pivoted via a pivot drive. This allows the lifting rollers to remain pivoted inward during forward movement and / or closed with reduced pressure as an overload protection measure limiting the pivoting force. When an obstacle occurs, the lifting rollers can be easily pushed up by the obstacle if the set closing pressure is exceeded. When working on a turnout, a purely vertical position that is not pivoted from the vertical zero position or a correspondingly more preferable pivoted console position can be selected. This allows the hook or roller to be fed vertically from above in a space-saving manner. The lifting tool, together with the sliding console, is then slid inward until it contacts the rail. In a subsequent step, the lifting tool is raised until a geometric connection is established between the lifting tool and the rail.

[0014] In this case, even if a lifting force is applied to the lifting and levelling device, the levelling roller is not lifted off the track, since there is a positive connection between the lifting tool and the rail.

[0015] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is achieved when the actuator is a transverse sliding cylinder with a sliding distance sensor, the lifting roller is height-adjustable by a vertical stroke cylinder with a stroke distance sensor, and the lifting hook is height-adjustable by a vertical stroke cylinder with a stroke distance sensor. Furthermore, a rotation angle sensor may be assigned to the swivel drive and / or a stroke distance sensor may be assigned to the swivel cylinder of the swivel drive.

[0016] These sensors allow the closing and entire working process of the lifting tool to be automated. For this purpose, the required lateral sliding, vertical stroke and torsional adjustment are set as target values ​​and compared with the measured actual values. This further reduces the burden on the operator. If the sliding distance sensors of the sliding cylinder, the stroke distance sensors of the vertical stroke cylinder for the lifting roller, the stroke distance sensors of the vertical stroke cylinder for the lifting hook and the stroke distance sensor for the swivel cylinder are integrated into the respective assigned cylinders, a particularly robust, fault-resistant and neat design is obtained.

[0017] The lifting rollers that bear against the rail are given a clear relationship to the rail, and since the lifting rollers are connected to the lifting levelling device, this also gives a clear relationship to the movement of the lifting tool relative to the rail.

[0018] Another advantage of the configuration according to the invention with distance sensors is that it allows measuring and monitoring positive closure of the build-up tool and the resulting geometric connection.

[0019] If the lifting hook or lifting roller cannot be brought, for example, under the rail head because an insulator or weld seam mechanically prevents closure, this can be detected via a corresponding insufficient closure distance. In this case, the lifting hook can be lowered further, for example automatically, to engage the rail head. Furthermore, the lifting leveling unit can be moved longitudinally parallel to the track until the lifting roller or lifting hook can be clearly engaged again.

[0020] According to the present invention, the use of a common console and common lateral guides and swivel drives for the lifting rollers and lifting hooks results in a simplification of the system with unchanged operating steps and which can be automated.

[0021] Due to the inward pivoting of the lifting rollers, the present invention allows them to remain closed and abut the rail during main line compaction, thereby reducing the operating time of the lifting rollers and increasing the working speed of the compactor, and also avoiding possible damage.

[0022] The configuration according to the invention allows the lifting device to be easily accessible for maintenance and repair. The pivoting of the lifting tool allows for easy inspection of the lifting tool.

[0023] In the embodiment according to the present invention, the lifting roller is brought into a shape-based connection with the rail head by horizontal, vertical and rotational movements, and this occurs regardless of the degree of wear of the lifting roller or the height of the rail head, so that there is no need to readjust the lifting roller for height.

[0024] The subject matter of the invention is illustrated in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] A side view of a track-traveling track compactor is shown. [Figure 2] 1 shows a roller catch according to the prior art; [Figure 3] 1 shows a prior art slope leveling unit. [Figure 4] Shown are ramp rollers engaging on either side of the rail. [Figure 5] 1 shows a highly simplified swivelable ramp roller to illustrate the engagement situation at the rail head. [Figure 6]1 shows a console according to the present invention that can be pivotally adjusted by means of a lifting roll having a lifting hook. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The compaction machine 1 (Fig. 1) comprises a compaction unit 4 and a track grade alignment unit 2. The track grade alignment unit 2 has a grade cylinder 5, a roller catch equipped with a grade roller 6, and a grade hook 7. The grade alignment unit can slide in the longitudinal direction of the track via a hydraulic cylinder 11. The switch grade compaction machine can travel on the track via a running device 8. The compaction machine 1 is controlled from a work cabin 28, which is arranged upstream of the compaction unit 4 in the working direction C. Access to the work cabin 28 and the driver's cabin is possible via a side door 29.

[0027] In the representation of the known (SdT) form of the lifting and levelling unit 2 according to FIG. 2, the roller catch 6, the roller catch closing cylinder 12, the lifting cylinder 5 with the lifting force FH, the rail 9 and the guide and levelling wheel 14 are shown.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows one prior art form of a lifting and levelling unit 2, in particular the common support console 10, the vertical guide cylinders of the lifting roller 3 and lifting hook 13 with travel sensors 20, 21 and having a travel movement V, the common lateral guide 16, the sliding cylinder 17 with a sliding distance H and with a sliding distance sensor 22, the guide levelling wheel 14, the lifting roller 6, the lifting hook 7 in a closed position at the rail head and a closed position 19 at the rail bottom, the rail 9, and the lifting cylinder 5 with a lifting force FH.

[0029] 4 shows a roller catch with a lifting roller 6, in which the lateral sliding distance H of the lateral guide 16 and the swivel range of the swivel drive 12 are extended so that the rail 9 can be engaged by the lifting roller 6 from both the outside and inside of the track. When the sliding of the guide carriage 10 with the console 31 is large enough, the lifting roller 33 can engage with the rail head even from the inside of the rail. The leveling wheels 14 guide the lifting leveling device on the rail 9.

[0030] Figure 5 shows a highly simplified roller catch in one closed and one open state 15. In an embodiment with a very high formed rail fastener 26, the horizontally fed roller catch 23 would collide 25. If this roller catch 23, which is squeezed horizontally during advancement, remained closed, it would damage the fastening means 26. In this case, the emergence of the insulator 24 would cause a sudden and unexpected upward thrust of the closed roller catch 23, which would generate high forces and cause damage.

[0031] 6 shows a compactor leveling unit 2 according to the present invention, which has a lateral guide. The leveling device 2 for leveling and leveling the track and switches of a compactor for compacting the ballast bed of the track is equipped with at least one height-adjustable leveling roller 6 and at least one leveling hook 7 whose height can be adjusted independently of the leveling roller 6, whereby the leveling roller 6 and the leveling hook 7 are arranged on a common console 31. The console 31 is guided by an actuator 17 so as to be slidable transversely to the longitudinal axis L of the compactor. The console 31 is arranged on a guide carriage 10, which allows the console 31 to slide along a lateral guide 16 transversely to the longitudinal axis L of the compactor. Furthermore, the console 31 can be swiveled about a swivel axis 30 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compactor by a swivel drive 12, here a hydraulic cylinder.

[0032] The actuator 17 is a transverse sliding cylinder with a sliding distance sensor 22, the lifting roller 6 is height adjustable by a vertical stroke cylinder 3 with a stroke distance sensor 20, and the lifting hook 7 is height adjustable by a vertical stroke cylinder 13 with a stroke distance sensor 21. A stroke distance sensor 32 is assigned to the swivel drive 12, i.e. the swivel cylinder in this case.

[0033] The console 31 is supported by the swivel drive 12 on the guide carriage 10 so that its swivel position can be adjusted about a swivel axis 30 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compactor.

[0034] The sliding distance sensor 22 of the sliding cylinder 17, the stroke distance sensor 20 of the vertical stroke cylinder 3 for the lifting roller 6, the stroke distance sensor 21 of the vertical stroke cylinder 13 for the lifting hook 7, and the stroke distance sensor 32 for the swivel cylinder 12 are each integrated into the assigned cylinder. The present application relates to the invention described in the claims, but also includes the following as other aspects. 1. A compactor (1) for compacting the ballast bed of a track, a tamping unit (4) for tamping under the track; a leveling and straightening device (2) for leveling and straightening the track and the turnout, which is disposed between the plurality of traveling devices (8) and preferably downstream of the compaction unit (4) in the working direction (C); At least one height-adjustable lifting roller (6); and at least one lifting hook (7) whose height position can be adjusted independently from the lifting roller (6), In a compaction machine (1), the lifting roller (6) and the lifting hook (7) are arranged on a common console (31), and the console (31) is guided by an actuator (17) so as to be slidable laterally relative to the longitudinal axis (L) of the compaction machine, The compactor (1), characterized in that the console (31) is arranged on a guide carriage (10), and the guide carriage (10) allows the console (31) to slide along a lateral guide (16) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (L) of the compactor, and the console (31) is supported on the guide carriage (10) by a swivel drive device (12) so that its swivel position can be adjusted around a swivel axis (30) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compactor. 2. The compactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator (17) is a horizontally sliding cylinder having a sliding distance sensor (22), the height position of the lifting roller (6) can be adjusted by a vertically stroked cylinder (3) having a stroke distance sensor (20), and the height position of the lifting hook (7) can be adjusted by a vertically stroked cylinder (13) having a stroke distance sensor (21). 3. 3. The compactor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a rotation angle sensor is assigned to the swivel drive (12) and / or a stroke distance sensor (32) is assigned to the swivel cylinder of the swivel drive (12). 4. 4. The compactor according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the sliding distance sensor (22) of the sliding cylinder (17), the stroke distance sensor (20) of the vertical stroke cylinder (3) for the ramp roller (6), the stroke distance sensor (21) of the vertical stroke cylinder (13) for the ramp hook (7), and the stroke distance sensor (32) for the swivel cylinder (12) are respectively incorporated in the cylinders to which they are assigned. 5. 5. The compactor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lateral sliding distance (H) of the lateral guide (16) and the swivel range of the swivel drive device (12) are extended so that the rail (9) can be engaged from both the outside and the inside of the track by the ramp roller (6) and, if necessary, the ramp hook (7) having a T-shaped leg. 6. 6. The compactor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the swivel drive (12) is assigned a swivel force limiting device to prevent overloading.

Claims

1. A compactor (1) for compacting the ballast bed of a track, comprising: a compaction unit (4) for compacting the track below; a leveling and straightening device (2) for leveling and straightening the track and the turnout, which is arranged between the plurality of traveling devices (8) and preferably downstream of the compaction unit (4) in the working direction (C); At least one height-adjustable ascending roller (6); and at least one lifting hook (7) whose height position can be adjusted independently from the lifting roller (6), The compaction machine (1) in which the ramp roller (6) and the ramp hook (7) are arranged on a common console (31), and the console (31) is guided by an actuator (17) so as to be slidable transversely relative to the longitudinal axis (L) of the compaction machine, The compactor (1) is characterized in that the console (31) is arranged on a guide carriage (10), and the guide carriage (10) allows the console (31) to slide along a lateral guide (16) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (L) of the compactor, and the console (31) is supported on the guide carriage (10) by a swivel drive device (12) so that its swivel position can be adjusted around a swivel axis (30) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compactor.

2. 2. The compactor according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (17) is a transverse sliding cylinder having a sliding distance sensor (22), the height position of the lifting roller (6) can be adjusted by a vertical stroke cylinder (3) having a stroke distance sensor (20), and the height position of the lifting hook (7) can be adjusted by a vertical stroke cylinder (13) having a stroke distance sensor (21).

3. 3. A compaction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the swivel drive (12) is assigned a rotation angle sensor and / or the swivel cylinder of the swivel drive (12) is assigned a stroke distance sensor (32).

4. 3. A compactor according to claim 2, characterized in that the sliding distance sensor (22) of the transverse sliding cylinder (17), the stroke distance sensor (20) of the vertical stroke cylinder (3) for the lifting roller (6), the stroke distance sensor (21) of the vertical stroke cylinder (13) for the lifting hook (7) and the stroke distance sensor (32) for the swiveling cylinder (12) are respectively integrated into the assigned cylinders.

5. 2. A compactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral sliding distance (H) of the lateral guide (16) and the swivel range of the swivel drive (12) are extended so that the rail (9) can be engaged from both the outside and the inside of the track by the ramp roller (6) and, if necessary, the ramp hook (7) having a T-shaped leg.

6. 2. A compactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the swivel drive (12) is assigned a swivel force limiting device to prevent overloading.

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