Track maintenance machinery and method of operating said machinery

Abstract

A track-use maintenance machine (1) for maintaining a superstructure with a track (7) consisting of sleepers (8) laid on a track bed (6) and rails (9) mounted on the sleepers (8) has a track-use maintenance machine (1) for track-use maintenance and a track-use maintenance machine (1) for track-use maintenance and a track-use maintenance machine (1) for track-use maintenance. The track-use maintenance machine (1) for track-use maintenance and a ... and a track-use maintenance and a track-use maintenance and a track-use maintenance and a track

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a track maintenance machine for maintaining an upper structure provided with a track bed composed of sleepers laid on the roadbed and rails mounted on the sleepers, the maintenance machine having a lifting / levelling unit for track lifting / levelling and a tamping unit for track tamping. Further, the present invention relates to a method of operating this machine.

Background Art

[0002] The upper structure of the roadbed is continuously subjected to wear due to use and weather conditions, which requires regular maintenance work. In the case of a ballast track, it is necessary to maintain in particular the track bed, the track composed of sleepers, rails and fastenings, as well as switches and crossings. For this purpose, the condition of the individual track objects and the position of the track in the track bed are inspected at predetermined intervals. The basis for this is the actual data of the track determined by various well-known measuring methods and measuring devices. Work on the roadbed is usually carried out by a track maintenance machine. Such a machine is also called a track construction machine or a railway construction machine.

[0003] Austrian Patent Application Publication No. 518692 discloses a method for detecting track objects and a maintenance system. This maintenance system is used, for example, for track position measurement, track lifting / levelling and track tamping, trolley wire elongation measurement or rail cross-sectional shape measurement. First, the difference between the detected actual state and the set target state is evaluated to provide correction data. Further, these data are used to drive and control the maintenance units of the track maintenance machine, such as the lifting / levelling unit and the tamping unit.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The fundamental problem of this invention is to improve the track maintenance machinery of the type described at the beginning so that maintenance of a predetermined track section can be carried out with high quality within a short track maintenance interval. In particular, it is desirable that the steps of each task to be performed overlap each other optimally. Furthermore, a problem of this invention is to provide a corresponding method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Based on the present invention, this problem is solved by the features described in independent claims 1 and 12. Advantageous configurations of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] In this case, the machine frame of the track maintenance machine is equipped with at least one rail processing unit for continuous rail regrinding. In this way, the machine enables both track position correction and machine-integrated rail regrinding during operation. Removal of rail damage, especially existing rolling contact fatigue damage, contributes to the greater durability of the corrected track position because uninterrupted rail operation is achieved after the processed track section is released. If rail damage remains without this treatment, it can cause vibrations and shocks during operation that could quickly worsen the track position again.

[0007] Another advantage is the optimal working speed resulting from the combination of track raising / leveling, track compaction, and rail regrinding in a single common maintenance machine. The feed rate of the tool for rail regrinding is within a typical speed range for track compaction machines. The normal value is 1000 m / h to 2000 m / h. High-performance compaction machines can achieve working speeds of up to 3000 m / h. This allows all work operations to proceed at the same forward speed without accepting any loss of work performance for each maintenance unit.

[0008] In the advantageous improvement, the rail processing unit is positioned behind the track leveling / straightening unit and compaction unit in one working direction. This ensures that the track bed has uniform support for re-grinding the rails. Track position correction and downward compaction of the sleepers eliminate any hollow areas. As a result, uniformly distributed track bed support forces act against the vertical loads on the rails during re-grinding.

[0009] Advantageously, the rail machining unit has a milling tool, which has a milling cutter head with a rotation axis oriented laterally to the machine's longitudinal direction. The milling tool allows for the removal of a sufficiently large amount of material in a single operation, thereby also removing significant rail damage. In this case, downward compaction of the sleepers, performed immediately beforehand, is particularly advantageous because the milling tool and its supporting sliding shoe are pressed from above against the correspondingly positioned rails. The uniform support of the track leads to high-quality milling results based on stable track resistance in the vertical direction.

[0010] One improvement in this modification is that the rail machining unit has multiple milling tools arranged in sequence, with the front milling tool forming a rough mill and the rear milling tool forming a finish mill. This unit combines large-scale material removal with sufficient smoothing of the rail surface. In a special variant, the multiple milling tools arranged in sequence are positioned to correspond to different sections of the rail head cross-sectional shape. This facilitates the continuous machining of turnouts because the milling tools can be selectively used, taking into account the limited free space in the turnout crossing and guide rail areas.

[0011] In another configuration of the present invention, the rail processing unit has a planing tool, which has a cutting body formed to be movable in particular relative to a base. Based on the geometry of the positive cutting edge of the planing tool, no upward force acts on the rail. The movable cutting body further allows for link-like guidance of the cutting edge along the surface of the rail head. The result of such processing is a substantially uniformly smooth processed surface.

[0012] To further improve the quality of the surface of the rail head being machined, a smoothing device, particularly a grinding tool, is positioned behind the rail machining unit in the direction of operation. Such a smoothing device may remove engagement marks (cutter marks) from the grinding tool.

[0013] In another advantageous improvement to the machine, the lifting / leveling unit and the compaction unit are arranged on separate machine frames, in particular, where at least one of the machine frames is formed as a satellite frame, movable relative to the main frame in the longitudinal direction of the machine by a satellite drive unit. In this case, significantly, each machine frame is supported by at least one rail running device. In this way, optimized load distribution is ensured. Furthermore, structural separation allows the feed speeds of each unit to be matched to each other more effectively.

[0014] Mechanically implementable maintenance measures are further improved if at least one stabilization unit is positioned behind the compaction unit in the direction of work. By anticipating track settlement, the stabilization unit sustainably stabilizes the restored track position. Mechanically integrated rail regrinding provides particularly sustained machining of the superstructure overall.

[0015] One improvement to the machine structure is envisioned in which a first machine section includes a raking / leveling unit and a compaction unit, and a second machine section connected to the first machine section includes a rail processing unit for re-grinding the rails. In this way, a modular system can be realized in which various configurations of the compaction machine section and various configurations of the rail re-grinding machine section can be combined.

[0016] An advantageous improvement of this modification involves providing an energy supply device to one machine section, in which case the other machine section is connected to the energy supply device via a supply line. Furthermore, other system components of one machine section can be used in conjunction with the other machine section. For example, data from a support system provided in the compaction machine section is also used in the rail resurfacing machine section. The commonly used support system is used for the automated or semi-automated control of all units.

[0017] This configuration of the present invention is further improved by having a detachable connector in the supply line between the machine parts, in which case the second machine part is equipped with an energy reservoir, which can be charged via the supply line. In this way, the second machine part for rail regrinding can be operated temporarily, freed from the first machine part. The energy required for the rail processing unit is significantly less than the energy required for the compaction machine part. Therefore, it is possible to supply energy from the energy reservoir for at least one continuous operation period without any problems.

[0018] In the method of operating maintenance machinery according to the present invention, the track structure is raised and straightened in a predetermined track section using a raising / straightening unit, the area under the sleepers of the track structure is compacted using a compaction unit, and the rails of the track structure are re-ground using a rail processing unit. This integrated work method is the first to achieve both track position correction and restoration of the rail head surface without damage in a single work process.

[0019] An advantageous improvement to the method involves advancing the raising / leveling unit and the compaction unit in the working direction during a continuous work cycle, while simultaneously moving the rail processing unit for re-grinding the rails continuously in the working direction at a speed adapted to the duration of the work cycle. In this way, an optimized coordination is achieved between continuous rail processing and periodic downward compaction of the sleepers.

[0020] In another improvement to the method, the raking / leveling unit, the tamping unit, the rail machining unit for rail re-grinding, the machine drive unit, and optionally the satellite drive unit are controlled in conjunction with each other via a single central control unit. The central control unit enables automated or semi-automated operation of the maintenance machinery. In this case, interruptions or changes in the tamping cycle and rail machining are also taken into consideration. As soon as one unit is taken out of normal operation, the drive control of one or more other units is appropriately adapted.

[0021] In a favorable variation of the method, one machine section, equipped with a rail resurfacing unit, is disconnected from the other machine section, equipped with a raking / leveling unit and a compaction unit, during operation and driven by a dedicated traction unit. In this case, the rail resurfacing machine section temporarily functions as a drone. During this disconnected operation phase, the drone continues to use the control data of the compaction machine section. In some cases, to eliminate the need for an energy reservoir, the drone remains connected to the compaction machine section via a flexible supply line.

[0022] The present invention will be described illustratively below with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0023] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing maintenance machinery used for track elevation, leveling, and compaction, as well as rail regrinding. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing a maintenance machine equipped with multiple milling tools. [Figure 3]It is a schematic diagram showing maintenance machines for rail elevation, alignment, tamping and stabilization as well as rail reprofiling. [Figure 4] It is a schematic diagram showing a maintenance machine equipped with a detachable mechanical part for rail reprofiling. [Figure 5] It is a schematic diagram showing the machine shown in Fig. 4 in a detached state. [Figure 6] It is a schematic diagram showing a maintenance machine equipped with a rail processing unit for rail reprofiling on a satellite frame.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Each maintenance machine 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 6 is movable on the track 3 by a rail traveling device 2 and has a lifting / aligning unit 4 for rail lifting and alignment and a tamping unit 5 for rail tamping. The superstructure of the track 3 includes a track bed 7 provided with rails 9 attached to sleepers 8 laid on the ballast 6. A rail processing unit 11 for continuously reprofiling the rails 9 of the running track 3 is arranged on the machine frame 10. The machine frame 10 is, in the simplest case, a longitudinal support supported by the rail traveling device 2 at the end side. The machine frame 10 in the sense of the present invention also means, in some cases, a self-supporting vehicle body.

[0025] Figs. 1 to 5 each show a maintenance machine 1 moving continuously forward in the working direction 12 during work. In this case, the lifting / aligning unit 4 and the tamping unit 5 are arranged movably with respect to the main frame 13 in the machine longitudinal direction 33. For example, a separate machine frame 14 is formed as a so-called satellite frame. This satellite frame is supported by a dedicated rail traveling device 2 at the rear end and is supported movably along the main frame 13 at the front end. By means of a satellite drive device, the satellite moves relative to the main frame 13 together with the lifting / aligning unit 4 and the tamping unit 5.

[0026] During operation, the compaction unit 5 performs periodic compaction. At this time, the track bed 7 is restrained by the track leveling / alignment unit 4 and brought to the set track position via an actuator. This position is fixed by the compaction unit 5, in which case the vibrating compaction pickaxe penetrates into the track bed 6 between the sleepers 8 and tightens against each other. In this way, the ballast grains are moved and pushed under the sleepers 8.

[0027] During the compaction cycle, the satellite remains positioned above the sleeper 8 that is currently being compacted on its underside, along with the compaction unit 5. The main machine supporting the satellite continuously moves forward in the working direction 12 during this time. As soon as the compaction operation is completed, the satellite overtakes the main machine and stops above the next sleeper 8 that is to be compacted on its underside. In this way, the maintenance machine 1 continues to move forward together with the rail processing unit 11 for rail resurfacing.

[0028] The illustrated embodiment has machine frames 10, 13, and 14 consisting of multiple parts. In a simpler embodiment (not shown), the machine frame 10 to which the rail processing unit 11 is attached forms the main frame 13 of the maintenance machine 1.

[0029] Advantageously, the maintenance machine 1 has a support system disclosed in Austrian Patent Application Publication No. 519739. In this case, a sensor device 15 is positioned on the front end face of the maintenance machine 1 when viewed in the working direction 12. This sensor device 15 includes, for example, a laser rotary scanner 16, a color camera 17, and a plurality of laser line scanners 18. The laser rotary scanner 16 provides a three-dimensional scatter plot of the track 3, including the surrounding environment, while moving forward. The laser line scanners 18 are directed towards the rails 9. The color camera 17 continuously detects photographs of the track 3.

[0030] The data detected by the sensor device 15 is processed by the computing unit 19 and stored in the appropriate storage unit. First, a three-dimensional model of the track 3, including the surrounding environment, is calculated from the scatter plot and color diagram. In this model, the sleepers 8, the sleeper spacing, and the rails 9 are identified, along with rail damage and obstacles, by the object identification means disclosed in Austrian Patent Application No. 518692.

[0031] Typically, the movement of the rail 9 over time results in creaking cracks (head checks), shelling (squats), streaks or slippage, or wavy wear. Camera imaging identifies such rolling contact fatigue damage to the rail 9. In some cases, eddy current, ultrasonic, or magnetic resonance methods are also used in conjunction with their respective sensor systems to detect various types of rail damage. In this case, the extent of the detected damage determines the amount of material to be removed by the rail processing unit 11.

[0032] Next, the applicability of units 4, 5, and 11 is checked for each track section where the work process should be carried out. For example, for compaction unit 5, the approachable sleeper spacing is determined. For rafter / leveling unit 4, the best possible rail gripping position is determined. For rail processing unit 11, the engagement depth of the cutting tool to be used is determined based on the identified rail damage. In some cases, the working positions of units 4, 5, and 11 are automatically changed to avoid collisions with recognized obstacles. For example, the individual tools of rail processing unit 11 are lifted while forming an engagement gradient and then re-engaged with the corresponding rail 9 after the obstacle.

[0033] A central control unit 21 is advantageously positioned to control the machine drive unit 20, the satellite drive unit, and the various work drive units of units 4, 5, and 11. The central control unit 21 continuously receives data from the computing unit 19 and adjusts the control of units 4, 5, and 11, as well as the travel speed of the main machine and satellites, to match the conditions of track 3. If an interruption of work is required in one unit 4, 5, or 11, the central control unit 21 immediately intervenes in the control flow of the other units 4, 5, and 11 according to a preset control scenario.

[0034] Advantageously, each drive control device 22 converts the settings of the central control device 21 into specific control signals for operating the work drive devices. Advantageously, an additional camera 17 is provided for remote control and monitoring of units 4, 5, and 11.

[0035] The trajectory position correction is performed by a so-called master computer 23. During trajectory position correction, trajectory deviations are continuously measured by a measuring system 24 equipped with measuring strings and / or optical measuring devices, located in machine 1. To obtain the desired trajectory position, the master computer 23 sets a pre-determined target value. The working drive mechanism of the trajectory lifting / correction unit 4 is controlled accordingly to adapt the measured trajectory deviation to the desired trajectory position.

[0036] Furthermore, maintenance machine 1 has an energy supply device 25. In one simple embodiment, a diesel engine supplies the necessary energy to the traction drive 20 and work drive of units 4, 5, and 11 via a generator and / or pump distribution transmission device. Advantageously, a hybrid configuration is provided in which the internal combustion engine is used only when there are no overhead lines supplying electrical energy. When operating overhead lines are present, power is supplied to the electric motors via a current collector 26, a high-voltage module, a transformer, and a rectifier. The pump distribution transmission device is connected to both the internal combustion engine and the electric motors. A connected hydraulic pump is a component of the hydraulic system for supplying power to the hydrostatic traction drive 20 and the hydraulic work drive.

[0037] The present invention enables particularly efficient energy management because only one energy supply device 25 is required for multiple combined track maintenance operations. In this case, the position of the energy supply device 25 in the maintenance machine 1 can be adapted to the specific configuration of the individual units 4, 5, and 11.

[0038] In the machine 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2, the energy supply device 25 is located within the first machine section 27. This front machine section 27 comprises a raking / leveling unit 4 and a compaction unit 5, thereby forming the compaction machine section. The compaction machine section is connected to the second machine section 28. The second machine section 28 comprises a rail processing unit 11, which is connected to the energy supply device 25 via a supply line 29. In the simplest case, the rail processing unit 11 is a machining unit comprising multiple machining bodies, preferably arranged in sequence. However, such multiple machining bodies are necessary to ensure sufficient material removal in a single work pass.

[0039] In Figure 1, the rail machining unit 11 provided in the second machine section 28 has a tool 30 for outer perimeter milling or outer perimeter planing. In the case of outer perimeter milling, the surface of the rail head is machined by a cutting edge working on the outer perimeter side of the tool 30. The outer perimeter of the tool determines the surface. The present invention also includes a rail machining unit 11 for face milling or contour milling. In the case of face milling, the surface of the rail head is machined by a cutting edge positioned on the front side of the tool. Contour milling is a combination of outer perimeter milling and face milling. In this case, the transition from the outer cutting edge to the face cutting edge is smooth. Face milling and contour milling are particularly suitable for smoothing the rail surface after outer perimeter milling.

[0040] Each tool 30 has a base to which multiple replaceable cutting edges are mounted. Advantageously, the base has multiple separately removable sectors on its circumferential surface. In the assembled state, these sectors are coupled to the base via precise centering. In this way, new or turned cutting inserts can be fitted to the additional sectors when they are removed. As soon as the cutting edges on the tool 30 wear out, the entire sector is simply replaced in the replacement device 31. This significantly reduces the time required because it is not necessary to directly replace the cutting insert in the tool 30.

[0041] Rail surfaces are typically milled with cutting edges having a negative cutting angle. For perimeter milling or contour milling, jointed tools with centered cutting surfaces are advantageously used. The so-called joint allows for uniform protrusion of all cutting edges positioned on the perimeter side. Concentricity errors are eliminated. This makes it possible to achieve a particularly uniform machined surface.

[0042] In the example shown in Figure 1, a large milling tool 30, for example, with an outer diameter of approximately 1500 mm, is positioned corresponding to each rail 9. This results in extremely flat engagement marks, which in some cases may necessitate no further smoothing. Each milling tool 30 has a milling cutter head 32 with a rotation axis 34 oriented laterally to the machine's longitudinal direction 33. The housing of the milling cutter head 32 is supported on the machine frame 10 so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis 35 parallel to the rotation axis 34. About this pivot axis 35, the housing, together with the milling cutter head 32, is rotatable relative to the correspondingly positioned rails 9 via an actuator 36. To machine the rails 9, each milling cutter head 32 is lowered toward the corresponding rail 9 by downward rotation.

[0043] The feed of each milling cutter head 32 relative to the rail 9 is performed by sliding shoes 37. The sliding shoes 37 are positioned in front of and behind the milling cutter head 32 in the working direction 12 and support the housing together with the milling cutter head 32 on the corresponding rail 9. The milling cutter head 32 can be displaced relative to the sliding shoes 37 via another actuator 38, thereby allowing adjustment of the desired engagement depth.

[0044] When machining in the reverse direction, the front sliding shoe 37 is formed hollow to receive material chips. Through a suction device connected to the sliding shoe 37, the material chips are sent into a collection container 39. The collection container 39 is advantageously located in the second machine part 28. The collection container 39 is emptied through a lateral opening after the completion of the work.

[0045] To remove engagement marks generated during outer circumference milling, a smoothing device 40 is positioned behind the rail milling unit 11 in the working direction 12. This is, for example, a grinding tool equipped with a slider 41 that is periodically reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the rail. Alternatively or supplementally, another grinding tool, such as a belt sander 42, can be used. The smoothing device 40 may have grinding bodies for outer circumference grinding, contour grinding, or face grinding. Another alternative is a unit for face milling or contour milling. The corresponding milling technique does not leave problematic engagement marks.

[0046] The same unit is also used for outer perimeter planing. In this case, the cutter head 32 is equipped with multiple cutting edges having a positive cutting angle. In a preferred configuration, the cutting edges are mounted on plungers supported radially on a base. During the planing operation, the engaged cutting edges are guided approximately along the longitudinal direction of the rail by a link control device located inside the cutter head 32. This modified outer perimeter planing tool effectively avoids engagement marks.

[0047] If the tamping machine section 27 needs to be interrupted, the central control unit 21 intervenes in the control of the milling tool 30. The same applies, for example, when it is necessary to tamp under a single sleeper 8 multiple times until optimal ballast compaction is achieved, and the preset tamping cycle time is exceeded. Advantageously, a method for automatically inspecting ballast compaction, as described in Austrian Patent Application Publication No. 520056, is used. This makes it possible to automatically predict longer tamping cycles. As a result, a timely response is possible with an adapted rail processing feed rate.

[0048] During relatively long interruptions or delays in the compaction operation, the milling tool 30 is moved out of engagement, and the exact location of the interruption is memorized. In this case, a safety buffer is used to move the satellite relative to the main machine in order to guide the milling tool 30 away from the material engagement portion along a predetermined gradient. The satellite, or optionally the entire machine 1, is then retracted, and rail machining is continued at the memorized location with the predetermined engagement gradient.

[0049] The machine 1 shown in Figure 2 is roughly equivalent to the machine 1 shown in Figure 1, and is equipped with another rail machining unit 11 for rail re-machining. Instead of a large milling or planing tool 30, here, for each rail 9, there are three smaller milling tools 30 for outer circumference milling, each having, for example, an outer diameter of about 600 mm. Various types of milling tools 30 can be combined with each other in different variations. In the first variation, all the milling tools 30 arranged corresponding to one rail 9 cover the cross-sectional shape division of the rail head to be machined. In this case, the frontmost milling cutter head 32 is formed as a roughing cutter, and the following two milling cutter heads 32 are formed as finishing cutters. This combination allows for particularly large material removal in a single work process.

[0050] In an alternative configuration, multiple milling cutter heads 32, arranged in sequence, are positioned to correspond to different cross-sectional shape divisions of the rail head cross-section to be machined. This combination enables a variety of machining operations by engaging all or just one of the milling cutter heads 32 with the correspondingly positioned rails 9. This allows for rapid adaptation to various rail cross-sectional shapes, for example. In turnout or crossing areas, individual milling cutter heads 32 can be lifted to avoid collision with the turnout crossing or intersecting rails 9.

[0051] The suspension of individual milling tools 30 on the machine frame 10 substantially corresponds to the configuration for the large milling tool 30 shown in Figure 1. A smoothing device 40 is similarly located behind the rail machining unit 11. A separate replacement device 31 is provided for replacing milling tools 30 with worn blades. Here, the entire milling cutter head 32 is replaced and fitted with a new or inverted cutting insert. Based on smaller sizes, in this case multiple replacement milling cutter heads 32 can also be carried together. This also enables rapid tool changes to accommodate various rail head cross-sectional shapes.

[0052] The maintenance machine 1 shown in Figure 3 has an extension section for stabilizing the track. For this purpose, a third machine section 43 is positioned between a first machine section 27 for track elevation / leveling and track compaction and a second machine section 28 for rail re-grinding. The third machine section 43 is coupled to the first machine section 27 via a pivot joint and is equipped with an energy supply device 25. Two stabilization units 44 are attached to a correspondingly positioned machine frame 10. These stabilization units 44 are lowered onto the rails 9 when in operation. Vibrations are transmitted to the track structure 7 via expanded flanged wheels and rail catches, thereby stabilizing the track structure 7 on the track bed 6 after track compaction.

[0053] The stabilization unit 44 further densifies the ballast structure. This stabilization action anticipates the settlement of the track 7, which might otherwise occur uncontrolled due to subsequent rail traffic. This provides an optimal prerequisite for rail re-grinding. The stabilized support of the track 7 results in perfectly uniform back pressure during rail milling. This also allows for a greater engagement depth with the correspondingly increased pressure on the rail 9 without compromising the quality of the milling results.

[0054] In an advantageous modification, the stabilization unit 44 is used to inspect the rail fasteners of the track section being machined. In this case, a modified expanding drive unit within each unit 44 is used. Specifically, each expanding drive unit is configured to apply a modified expanding force to the rail 9. Thus, the expanding drive units are not used solely to press flanged wheels against the inner surface of each rail head without play. Rather, a variable expanding force is preset, which is set with respect to the gauge or gauge difference that is subsequently measured. The gauge or gauge difference is measured by a suitable measuring device, which includes, for example, an electromechanical distance sensor coupled to the expanding shaft. The change in gauge induced by the change in expanding force then provides information about the state of each rail fastener. This improves the quality of rail machining because loose rail fasteners are identified in a timely manner. In some cases, the feed rate of the milling tool 30 is adjusted to accommodate the reduced fastening stability of the rail section.

[0055] The second machine section 28, equipped with the rail processing unit 11, as shown in Figure 3, substantially corresponds to the second machine section 28 shown in Figure 1. One large milling tool 30 is positioned for each rail 9. A belt sander 42 is used here as the final smoothing device 40.

[0056] Similarly, Figures 4 and 5 also show the maintenance machine 1 equipped with a stabilization unit 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the second machine part 28 can be temporarily detached from the third machine part 43. During operation, the second machine part 28 functions as a drone. For this purpose, the second machine part 28 has a dedicated drive unit 20 and a dedicated control unit 45. Energy is supplied to the drone by an energy supply device 25 via a supply line 29.

[0057] In one variant, the drone remains connected to other mechanical parts 27, 43 via a supply line 29 while performing its work. In this case, the supply line 29 is retractably located, for example, in a cable drum 46. Control data is transmitted via an air interface, advantageously by a wireless module 47. Control data, particularly speed settings and data regarding rail damage and obstacles in the track 3, is transmitted to the drone via a central control unit 21.

[0058] Another drone variant includes an electrical energy storage device 48 that can be charged via a supply line 29 by an energy supply device 25. During operation, the supply line 29 is temporarily disconnected via a plug-in device, and the drone is supplied with energy from the energy storage device 48. In this case, the capacity of the energy storage device 48 is designed to allow for consistent rail regrinding to be performed during track maintenance intervals.

[0059] During operation, the plugging device of the supply line 29 and the coupling device 49 are automatically disconnected and connected. In this way, no personnel on the track 3 are required to uncouple or couple the drone. In the uncoupled state, the hazardous area around the drone is monitored by the camera 17. Additionally, optical and acoustic warning devices 50 are mounted on the drone.

[0060] Figure 6 shows another variation of the maintenance machine 1. This vehicle complex periodically moves forward in the working direction 12 while engaged in work. During the compaction cycle, machine 1 stops to continue the compaction operation. In this case, the first machine part 27 includes an auxiliary compaction unit 51 in addition to the compaction / leveling unit 4. This grips the branching rail 9 in the turnout area and lifts it together. The compaction unit 5 is equipped with a swivelable compaction pickaxe for turnout compaction.

[0061] The second machine section 28 houses an energy supply device 25 and a rail processing unit 11 for rail re-grinding. The energy supply device 25 also supplies energy to the compaction machine section 27. The rail processing unit 11 has two milling tools 30 arranged one behind the other for each rail 9, each having a large outer diameter (approximately 1500 mm) for outer circumference milling or contour milling. Preferably, the front milling tool 30 is formed as a roughing cutter. The rear milling tool 30 is a finishing cutter that works with a small engagement depth. This achieves high surface quality with negligible machining marks. Smoothing by a dedicated smoothing device 40 can be omitted.

[0062] To enable continuous machining of the rail 9 despite the periodic forward movement of machine 1, the rail machining unit 11 is mounted on a dedicated machine frame 10. This unit is supported at the rear by the rail running device 2 and movably supported at the front by the main frame 13, forming a satellite. During operation, this satellite is continuously moved along the track 3 at a constant feed rate by a dedicated drive device 20. The feed rates between the main machine and the satellite, the duration of each compaction cycle, and the relative movement are synchronized by a central control device 21.

[0063] During rail processing, the support mechanism of the rail running device 2 is activated. At this time, spring deflection between the rail wheels and the running device frame, and between the rail running device 2 and the machine frames 10, 13, and 14 is blocked. For example, as support members, one hydraulic cylinder is provided for each wheel suspension section on each running device frame, and another hydraulic cylinder is provided on the correspondingly positioned spring receiver or axle box. By blocking the flow of hydraulic pressure, the support mechanism is activated, thereby uniquely positioning the processing tool 30 relative to the rail 9.

[0064] To enable localized positioning, the maintenance machine 1 is advantageously equipped with a position detection system. This position detection system includes, for example, a fixed-point detection device disclosed in Austrian Patent Application Publication No. 518579. This enables the determination of absolute trajectory position. Other components of the position detection system include, for example, an odometer, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a GNSS receiver 52. The accurate local and spatial detection of the maintenance machine 1 allows for comparison with previously collected trajectory data, as well as recording of location-related work results.

[0065] All illustrated maintenance machines 1 are exemplary combinations of individual system components or machine parts 27, 28, 43. The present invention also includes other combinations. In particular, illustrated units 4, 5, 11, 40, 44, 51 may be arranged in different orders, configurations, and combinations.

Claims

1. A track maintenance machine (1) for maintaining a superstructure having a track structure (7) consisting of sleepers (8) and rails (9) mounted on the sleepers (8), the maintenance machine (1) having a track leveling / leveling unit (4) for leveling / straightening the track and a track compaction unit (5) for compacting the track, A machine frame (10) is provided with at least one rail processing unit (11) for continuously re-machining the rail (9). Maintenance machine (1), characterized in that a first machine part (27) includes the raking / leveling unit (4) and the compaction unit (5), and a second machine part (28) connected to the first machine part (27) includes the rail processing unit (11) for re-grinding the rail (9).

2. The maintenance machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the rail processing unit (11) is positioned behind the shaping / leveling unit (4) and the compaction unit (5) in the working direction (12).

3. The maintenance machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rail processing unit (11) has a milling tool (30), and the milling tool (30) has a milling cutter head (32) having a rotation axis (34) oriented laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction (33) of the machine.

4. The maintenance machine (1) according to claim 3, wherein the rail processing unit (11) has a plurality of milling tools (30) arranged in a front-to-back configuration, the front milling tool (30) is formed as a roughing cutter, and the rear milling tool (30) is formed as a finishing cutter.

5. The maintenance machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rail processing unit (11) has a planing tool (30), and the planing tool (30) has a cutting body that is movable relative to a base.

6. A maintenance machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a smoothing device (40) is arranged behind the rail processing unit (11) in the working direction (12).

7. The maintenance machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the shaping / leveling unit (4) and the compaction unit (5) are arranged on separate machine frames (14), and at least one of the machine frames (10, 14) is formed as a satellite frame and is movable relative to the main frame (13) in the longitudinal direction (33) of the machine by a satellite drive device.

8. Maintenance machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a stabilization unit (44) is positioned behind the compaction unit (5) in the working direction (12).

9. Maintenance machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an energy supply device (25) is provided on one of the machine parts (27, 28), and the other machine part (27, 28) is connected to the energy supply device (25) via a supply line (29).

10. The maintenance machine (1) according to claim 9, wherein the supply line (29) between the mechanical parts (27, 28) has a removable connector, and the second mechanical part (28) is equipped with an energy storage device (48) which can be charged via the supply line (29).

11. A method for operating the maintenance machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, A method characterized by raising and aligning the track structure (7) in a predetermined track section using the raising / aligning unit (4), compacting the area under the sleepers (8) of the track structure (7) using the compaction unit (5), and re-grinding the rails (9) of the track structure (7) using the rail processing unit (11).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the shaping / straightening unit (4) and the compaction unit (5) are advanced in the working direction (12) during a continuous work cycle, and the rail processing unit (11) for re-grinding the rail (9) is continuously moved in the working direction (12) at a speed that is adapted to the duration of the work cycle.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the shaping / straightening unit (4), the compaction unit (5), the rail processing unit (11) for re-grinding the rail (9), the machine travel drive unit (20), and optionally the satellite drive unit are controlled in coordination with each other via a single central control unit (21).

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein one machine part (28) equipped with the rail processing unit (11) for re-grinding the rail (9) is disconnected from the other machine part (27) equipped with the shaping / straightening unit (4) and the compaction unit (5) during operation, and is driven by a dedicated traveling drive device (20).

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