Jack device for track maintenance

Abstract

A conventional jack device as a rescue tool to be used in a narrow disaster site is easy to use if there is a gap that is large enough to allow a fixed claw and a moving claw to be inserted. There arises a problem that such a jack device does not have excellent usability at a track maintenance site where the lower surface of a rail is supported by a track bed.　A jack device 10 for track maintenance according to the present invention comprises: a body 100; a plate-like support part 40 for supporting the body 100; and connection parts 60 for connecting the body 100 and the support part 40. The support part 40 includes a tongue-like section 42 on the side for receiving a rail on the support part 40. The connection parts 60 are provided on both sides of the body 100 and comprise guide sections 62 for guiding the rail received on the support part 40 through the tongue-like section 42 to a placement part 12, thereby improving work efficiency in track maintenance work.

Description

Track maintenance jack device

[0001] The present invention relates to a track maintenance jack device, and more particularly to a track maintenance jack device that improves the efficiency of rail lifting work during track maintenance work.

[0002] A claw jack has been proposed as a compact, easy-to-use rescue tool for use in narrow disaster areas, equipped with a fixed claw and a movable claw that can be moved toward and away from the fixed claw (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-261781

[0004] A jacking device used as a rescue tool in narrow disaster areas is considered easy to use if it has enough clearance to insert the fixed and movable claws. However, in track maintenance work, the object that the jacking device jacks up is a rail laid on a ballast. Since the underside of the rail is supported by the ballast, there is usually not enough clearance to insert the fixed and movable claws. In particular, it is not easy to insert a jacking device used at disaster areas between the compacted ballast and the underside of the rail.

[0005] Furthermore, during track maintenance work, it is sometimes necessary to adjust the height of the raised rails, and with the conventional jacking devices, it is necessary to first lower the rails and then lift them up again.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a track maintenance jack device that improves the work efficiency in track maintenance work.

[0007] The track maintenance jack device of the present invention comprises a main body, a plate-shaped support part that supports the main body, and a connection part that connects the main body and the support part, and the main body part comprises a mounting part on which a rail can be placed, a lever-shaped rotation operating part that can accept a rotation operation, a ratchet mechanism that allows the rotation operation to be input with a unidirectional rotation, a speed reduction mechanism that slows down the unidirectional rotation, and a rack and pinion mechanism that converts the slowed down rotation into an action to raise the mounting part, and the support part has a tongue-shaped part on the side that receives the rail onto the support part, and the connection parts are provided on both sides of the main body and comprise guide parts that guide the rail that the tongue-shaped part has received onto the support part to the mounting part.

[0008] In the track maintenance jack device of the present invention, the tongue-shaped portion has a semicircular arc-shaped tip.

[0009] In the track maintenance jack device of the present invention, the tongue-shaped portion has a trapezoidal tip.

[0010] In addition, in the track maintenance jack device of the present invention, the guide portion consists of a pair of upright walls provided on both sides of the storage portion, and the tapered portion provided on the upright walls guides the rail that the tongue-shaped portion has placed onto the support portion into the storage portion.

[0011] In addition, in the track maintenance jack device of the present invention, the main body is characterized by having a release operation unit that can accept an operation to release the engaged state of the ratchet mechanism and the reduction mechanism, and a biasing unit that assists in returning to the engaged state by biasing.

[0012] In addition, in the track maintenance jack device of the present invention, the main body portion comprises a main body cover that houses the rack and pinion mechanism and a gripping portion, the rack and pinion mechanism has a protrusion that protrudes from the main body cover when the loading portion is raised, and the gripping portion is located at a position where the protrusion protruding from the main body cover will hinder gripping.

[0013] The track maintenance jack device of the present invention comprises a main body with a base on which a rail can be placed and raised, a plate-shaped support portion that supports the main body, and connection portions that connect the main body and support portion from both sides of the main body. The support portion has a tongue-shaped portion on the side that receives the rail, which makes it easy to insert the support portion into the gap between the track bed and the rail and allows the rail to be guided into the base portion. This track maintenance jack device improves the work efficiency of track maintenance work.

[0014] In addition, the tip of the tongue of the track maintenance jack of the present invention is semicircular, which makes it easier to insert the support part into the gap between the track bed and the rail. This track maintenance jack also improves the work efficiency of track maintenance work while minimizing the risk of contact with the tongue.

[0015] In addition, in the track maintenance jack of the present invention, the tip of the tongue is trapezoidal, which makes it easier to insert the support part into the gap between the track bed and the rail. This track maintenance jack improves work efficiency while reducing the risk of the tongue coming into contact with the worker. This track maintenance jack also makes it easier to position the track maintenance jack relative to the rail.

[0016] In addition, in the track maintenance jack device of the present invention, the guide portions are upright walls provided in a pair on both sides of the loading portion, and are provided in tapered portions on the upright walls, so that the tongue-shaped portion makes it easy to guide the rail that has been received onto the support portion to the loading portion.

[0017] In addition, the track maintenance jack device of the present invention is equipped with a release operation unit that can accept an operation to release the engaged state of the ratchet mechanism and reduction mechanism provided in the main body unit, and a biasing unit that assists in returning to the engaged state by biasing, thereby making it easy to adjust the height of the raised rail.

[0018] In addition, in the track maintenance jack device of the present invention, the gripping portion that facilitates movement of the track maintenance jack device is located in a position where the rack head of the rack and pinion mechanism that protrudes from the main body cover when the loading portion is raised causes an obstruction to gripping, thereby making it possible to prevent the track maintenance jack device from moving inadvertently when the rail is raised.

[0019] 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a track maintenance jack apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating a track maintenance jack apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a rail receiving process in a rail guiding process using a track maintenance jack apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a rail guiding process to a resting section in a rail guiding process using a track maintenance jack apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a rail placement state on a resting section in a rail guiding process using a track maintenance jack apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a rail lifting state in a rail height adjustment process in a track maintenance jack apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a view (part 1) illustrating a lifted rail lowering process in a rail height adjustment process in a track maintenance jack apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a view (part 2) illustrating a lifted rail lowering process in a rail height adjustment process in a track maintenance jack apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a ratchet mechanism, a reduction mechanism, and a rack and pinion mechanism of a track maintenance jack apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an engaged state of the ratchet mechanism and the reduction mechanism of the track maintenance jack device of one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a disengaged state of the ratchet mechanism and the reduction mechanism of the track maintenance jack device of one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a biasing part that assists the return of the track maintenance jack device of one embodiment of the present invention to an engaged state. Fig. 4 is a bottom view illustrating a track maintenance jack device as another example of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] A track maintenance jack device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used for the same components as in the previous embodiment, and repeated description will be omitted.

[0021] First, an overview of a track maintenance jack apparatus 10 used for track maintenance work will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a front perspective view illustrating the track maintenance jack apparatus 10 of this embodiment. Figure 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating the track maintenance jack apparatus 10 of this embodiment. Note that the up-down direction indicates the height direction of the track maintenance jack apparatus 10, the left-right direction indicates the width direction of the track maintenance jack apparatus 10 when viewed from the side where the worker operates it, and the front-rear direction indicates the depth direction of the track maintenance jack apparatus 10, with the side where the rail is raised being the front.

[0022] The track maintenance jack device 10 is a jack device used for track maintenance work on railway tracks, and is a jack device that can improve the efficiency of jacking up rails on the trackbed. The track maintenance jack device 10 includes a main body 100, a support portion 40, and a connection portion 60. The main body 100 has the main mechanisms of the track maintenance jack device 10. The main mechanisms include a ratchet mechanism 120, a reduction mechanism 140, and a rack and pinion mechanism 180, which will be described later using Figures 5 and 6. The main body 100 is sized so as not to interfere with vehicles even when they pass over the rails during rail jacking up work.

[0023] The support part 40 is a plate-shaped so-called bottom plate on which the main body part 100 is placed and supported. The connection part 60 connects the support part 40 and the main body part 100. The connection part 60 is a pair of angle steels that are located on the top surface of the support part 40 and support the main body part 100 from both sides, connecting the support part 40 and the main body part 100.

[0024] The main body 100 has a main body cover 22, which houses the main mechanisms. The main body cover 22 protects the main mechanisms and ensures the safety of the operator. The main body 100 also has a speed reduction mechanism cover 26 that protrudes from the left side of the main body cover 22 and houses a part of the speed reduction mechanism 140. The speed reduction mechanism cover 26 protects the speed reduction mechanism 140 and ensures the safety of the operator. The speed reduction mechanism cover 26 protrudes from the main body 100, thereby contributing to making the main body 100 more compact.

[0025] The main body 100 also has a ratchet mechanism cover 24 that protrudes from the right side of the main body cover 22 and houses the ratchet mechanism 120. The ratchet mechanism cover 24 protects the ratchet mechanism 120 and ensures the safety of the operator. Protruding from the main body 100 also contributes to the compactness of the main body 100. The ratchet mechanism cover 24 is connected to the rotation shaft of the ratchet mechanism 120 and is rotatable. The ratchet mechanism cover 24 is inclined toward the rear side of the main body 100, i.e., the side where the operator is positioned, allowing the rotation operating lever 18 to be inserted and removed from the socket in the vertical direction. The ratchet mechanism cover 24 facilitates the lifting operation of the rail when the rotation operating lever 18 is attached. The ratchet mechanism cover 24 also facilitates the manual rotation operation when the rotation operating lever 18 is detached. Such a ratchet mechanism cover 24 facilitates lifting operation using the rotation operation lever 18 when a load is applied, and facilitates quick manual positioning operation when no load is applied.

[0026] The main body 100 also houses the lifting nail 28. The lifting nail 28 is generally J-shaped. The lifting nail 28 is integrally formed with the support portion 12 and the rack gear 183. The support portion 12 is located on the front side of the main body cover 22. The support portion 12 is provided at the tip of the lifting nail 28 and allows a heavy object to be lifted, such as a rail, to be placed on it. The support portion 12 has a non-slip surface, such as a twill pattern, on which the object to be lifted is placed. The lifting nail 28, together with the support portion 12, can move up and down while being guided by a lift guide 30 provided on the main body 100. The vertical movement of the lifting nail 28, in other words, the upward movement of the support portion 12, is limited by a stopper roller 32. The rack gear 183 is one of the components of the rack and pinion mechanism 180. The stopper roller fixing portion 16 is rotatably fixed to the main body portion 100 by a bolt that passes through the main body portion 100. The stopper roller fixing portion 16 also holds the main body cover 22 from both sides of the main body portion 100.

[0027] The heads of the lifting nails 28 protrude from the top surface of the main body cover 22 as the base 12 rises. That is, the heads of the lifting nails 28 function as protrusions protruding from the top surface of the main body cover 22. The heads of the lifting nails 28 are visible from the top surface of the main body cover 22 even when the base 12 is at its lowest position. This allows the track maintenance jack device 10 to check the degree of elevation of the base 12, which cannot be directly seen by the operator during a lifting operation, from the degree of elevation of the heads of the lifting nails 28. The heads of the lifting nails 28 can also serve as a support surface for the object to be lifted, and the grooves in the left-right direction allow the object to be favorably supported. Furthermore, the heads of the lifting nails 28 are offset in the height direction relative to the base 12, allowing them to cover a range of use that cannot be covered by the base 12.

[0028] The main body 100 also has a gripping portion 14, which is a U-shaped rod, on the top of the main body cover 22, making it easy to carry the track maintenance jack apparatus 10. The gripping portion 14 is located close to the heads of the lifting nails 28 that protrude from the top of the main body cover 22 when the base 12 is raised by lifting. In other words, the gripping portion 14 is located in a position where the protruding heads of the lifting nails 28 would obstruct the gripping. This allows the track maintenance jack apparatus 10 to prevent workers from moving the track maintenance jack apparatus 10 when the base 12 is raised, contributing to a safer working environment.

[0029] The main body 100 also has a release operation unit 20 on the rear side of the main body 100, i.e., the side where the operator is located, that can accept an operation to release the raised state of the mounting unit 12. The release operation unit 20 is pedal-shaped and can accept an operation, for example, a push-down operation by the operator's foot. When pushed down, the release operation unit 20 releases the engagement between the ratchet mechanism 120 and the speed reduction mechanism 140, thereby releasing the raised state of the mounting unit 12. The main body 100 also has a guide hole 23 that guides the movement of the ratchet mechanism 120 in response to the release operation of the release operation unit 20. The main body 100 also has a reinforcing plate 34. The reinforcing plate 34 is plate-shaped and reinforces the lower end of the rear surface of the main body cover 22. The release operation unit 20 can return to its initial position when no release operation is performed, returning the ratchet mechanism 120 and the speed reduction mechanism 140 to their engaged state.

[0030] The support portion 40 is formed like a rectangular steel plate with a semicircular tongue portion 42 added to one side where the resting portion 12 is located. The tongue portion 42 makes it easy to insert the support portion 40 into the gap between the rail and the ballast that constitutes the track bed, and allows the rail to be placed on top of the support portion 40. Furthermore, since the tongue portion 42 of this track maintenance jack device 10 does not have any sharp corners, it is possible to reduce the danger of the tongue portion 42 coming into contact with an operator.

[0031] The connecting portion 60 is a pair of angle steels, fastened to the support portion 40 at each of the horizontal surfaces of the two angle steels and fastened to the main body portion 100 at each of the vertical surfaces of the angle steels that form upright walls relative to the horizontal surfaces. Thus, the connecting portion 60 connects the support portion 40 and the main body portion 100 by sandwiching the main body portion 100 between the vertical surfaces of the two angle steels. The connecting portion 60 has a tapered portion 62 that rises toward the rear on the front side of the vertical surfaces of the angle steels. The tapered portion 62 functions as a guide that can guide the rail received from the tongue portion 42 to the mounting portion 12. In the track maintenance jack device 10, the lateral protrusions of the ratchet mechanism cover 24 and the reduction mechanism cover 26 contribute to reducing the width of the main body portion 100 near the vertical surfaces of the angle steels.

[0032] Next, the process of guiding the rail to the resting part 12 of the track maintenance jack 10 during track maintenance work will be described using Figure 3. Figure 3A shows the track maintenance jack 10 inserting the tongue 42 below the rail 200 on the track bed. Since the track bed is often formed of ballast, the track maintenance jack 10 inserts the tongue 42 into the gap between the ballast and the rail 200, and pushes the support part 40 aside to move below the rail 200.

[0033] 3B shows how the tapered portion 62 guides the rail 200 onto the mounting portion 12 after the track maintenance jack 10 has moved the support portion 40 below the rail 200. After the support portion 40 of the track maintenance jack 10 has moved below the rail 200, the lower portion of the rail 200 comes into contact with the tapered portion 62. By being pushed in the direction of the rail 200, the track maintenance jack 10 can easily move below the rail 200 along the tapered portion 62.

[0034] 3C shows how the track maintenance jack 10 places the rail 200, guided by the tapered portion 62, on the placing portion 12. The track maintenance jack 10 is further pushed toward the rail 200, thereby placing the rail 200 that has entered along the tapered portion 62 on the placing portion 12. In this way, the track maintenance jack 10 makes it easy to place the rail 200 on the placing portion 12 in accordance with the installation environment of the rail 200 to be lifted. Such a track maintenance jack 10 improves work efficiency in track maintenance work. Note that the rail 200 to be lifted by the track maintenance jack 10 is not limited to a rail 200 on a track bed made of ballast, but may also be a rail 200 on a track bed made of concrete or other materials.

[0035] Next, the process of adjusting the height of the rail 200 on the support portion 12 of the track maintenance jack 10 during track maintenance work will be described using Figure 4. Figure 4A shows the track maintenance jack 10 lifting the rail 200. The track maintenance jack 10 raises the support portion 12 by rotating the ratchet mechanism cover 24, thereby lifting the rail 200. At this time, the heads of the lifting nails 28 approach the gripping portion 14 and obstruct the gripping of the gripping portion 14. The release operating portion 20 is in a position where it does not accept an operation to release the lifted state of the support portion 12, and the ratchet mechanism 120 and the reduction mechanism 140 are engaged to restrict the lowering movement of the support portion 12. When it does not accept an operation to release the lifted state of the support portion 12, the release operating portion 20 is biased to the position shown in Figure 4A.

[0036] The ratchet mechanism cover 24 can be easily rotated by attaching the rotation operating lever 18 to the socket of the ratchet mechanism cover 24 when the ratchet mechanism cover 24 is under load, supporting the weight of the rail 200. The ratchet mechanism cover 24 can also be rotated by detaching the rotation operating lever 18 from the socket of the ratchet mechanism cover 24 when the ratchet mechanism cover 24 is not under load, not supporting the weight of the rail 200, thereby facilitating quick alignment. For example, multiple track maintenance jack devices 10 may be used to lift one rail 200. In such a usage scenario, when another track maintenance jack device 10 has previously lifted the rail 200, a track maintenance jack device 10 that later joins the lifting operation can respond to quick alignment without a load.

[0037] 4B shows how the track maintenance jack device 10 adjusts the raised position of the rail 200. The track maintenance jack device 10 accepts a release operation in the release operation unit 20 and releases the engagement between the ratchet mechanism 120 and the speed reduction mechanism 140. The release operation in the release operation unit 20 is an operation in which the worker applies tread pressure to the release operation unit 20, which is an operation to lower the mounting unit 12. As a result, the mounting unit 12 on which the rail 200 is placed is released from the descent restriction imposed by the ratchet mechanism 120 and lowers.

[0038] Furthermore, the track maintenance jack device 10 can cancel the release operation of the release operating unit 20. The release operating unit 20 returns to the position shown in Figure 4A depending on the amount of pressure the worker applies against the biasing force, and the ratchet mechanism 120 functions to limit its descent. The track maintenance jack device 10 limits the amount of release operation of the release operating unit 20 to the range of the guide hole 23.

[0039] 4C shows a state in which the track maintenance jack device 10 has lowered the rail 200 to its lowest limit. The track maintenance jack device 10 can lower the placing unit 12 to its lowest limit by continuing the release operation in the release operation unit 20.

[0040] In this way, the track maintenance jack device 10 can adjust its height in the downward direction depending on whether or not the release operating unit 20 restricts its downward movement. Note that the track maintenance jack device 10 can adjust its height in the upward direction by rotating the ratchet mechanism cover 24 if the placing unit 12 has been lowered too far.

[0041] Next, the ratchet mechanism 120, the speed reduction mechanism 140, and the rack and pinion mechanism 180 that constitute the main mechanisms of the track maintenance jack device 10 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. The ratchet mechanism 120 restricts the rotation of the ratchet mechanism cover 24 to rotation in one direction and transmits the rotation to the speed reduction mechanism 140. In other words, the ratchet mechanism 120 allows rotational operation to be input in one direction. The speed reduction mechanism 140 reduces the rotation in one direction transmitted from the ratchet mechanism 120 and transmits it to the rack and pinion mechanism 180. The rack and pinion mechanism 180 converts the rotation transmitted from the speed reduction mechanism 140 into a lifting motion of the lifting nail 28. In other words, the rack and pinion mechanism 180 converts the reduced rotation into a motion to raise the mounting part 12.

[0042] The ratchet mechanism 120 includes support plates 121 and 122, an external pawl 123, an external gear 124, an internal gear 125, an internal pawl 126, a release operation pivot shaft 127, an internal pawl pivot shaft 128, a fixed pin 129, a first gear 141, and a first reduction pin 142 as components.

[0043] The support plates 121, 122 support the release operation rotation shaft 127, the internal pawl rotation shaft 128, the fixing pin 129, and the first reduction pin 142, and are capable of integrally supporting the ratchet mechanism 120. The support plate 121 is located on the right side of the main body 100, i.e., on the side where the ratchet mechanism cover 24 is located, and the support plate 122 is located on the left side of the main body 100, i.e., on the side where the reduction mechanism cover 26 is located. The release operation rotation shaft 127 of the support plates 121, 122 is inserted into the release operation rotation shaft through holes 121A, 122A, and can be rotated around the release operation rotation shaft 127 based on operation of the release operation unit 20 formed integrally with the release operation rotation shaft 127. This allows the ratchet mechanism 120 to switch between engagement and disengagement with the reduction mechanism 140 based on operation of the release operation unit 20. The fixing pin 130 is formed integrally with the release operation rotation shaft 127 in parallel to the release operation rotation shaft 127 and reinforces the release operation portion 20 .

[0044] The support plates 121 and 122 have first reduction pins 142 inserted into the ratchet gear rotary shaft through holes 121B and 122B. The first reduction pin 142 supports the external gear 124 on the outer side of the support plate 121, i.e., on the side where the ratchet mechanism cover 24 is located, and supports the internal gear 125 on the inner side of the support plate 121, i.e., on the side where the support plate 122 is located. The first reduction pin 142 is inserted into the ratchet gear rotary shaft through hole 121B via a bushing 148 on the shaft end 151 side. The first reduction pin 142 is also inserted into the ratchet gear rotary shaft through hole 122B via a bushing 149 on the shaft end 152 side. This allows the first reduction pin 142 to rotate smoothly while being supported by the support plates 121 and 122. The rotation direction of the external gear 124 is restricted by the external pawl 123. The rotation direction of the internal gear 125 is restricted by an internal tooth stop 126 .

[0045] The support plates 121 and 122 have an internal pawl rotation shaft 128 inserted through the internal pawl rotation shaft through-holes 121C and 122C. Both ends of the internal pawl rotation shaft 128 protrude from the support plates 121 and 122. Both ends of the internal pawl rotation shaft 128 fit into the arc-shaped guide holes 23 provided in the main body cover 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , and are slidable along the guide holes 23. The internal pawl rotation shaft 128 rotatably supports the internal pawl 126. The support plates 121 and 122 have fixing pins 129 inserted through the fixing pin through-holes 121D and 122D. This allows the internal pawl 126 to engage with the internal gear 125 from the top side of the main body 100. The external pawl 123 allows the external gear 124 to engage with the front side of the main body 100. The ratchet mechanism 120 can restrict rotation by an inner pawl 126 and an outer pawl 123 .

[0046] The first reduction pin 142 supports the first gear 141 coaxially with the external gear 124 and the internal gear 125. The first gear 141 is a spur gear that transmits the rotation restricted in one direction by the ratchet mechanism 120 to the reduction mechanism 140.

[0047] The reduction mechanism 140 includes as its components a second gear 143, a third gear 144, a second reduction pin 145, a fourth gear 146, and a third reduction pin 147. The second gear 143 is a spur gear journaled on the second reduction pin 145, which is supported by the main body 100. The second gear 143 meshes with the first gear 141, and transmits the rotation of the first reduction pin 142 to the second reduction pin 145 after reducing the speed.

[0048] The second reduction pin 145 supports a third gear 144 coaxially with the second gear 143. The third gear 144 is a helical gear and meshes with a fourth gear 146, which is also a helical gear. The fourth gear 146 is supported by a third reduction pin 147, whose axis is parallel to that of the second reduction pin 145. The third gear 144 meshes with the fourth gear 146, and transmits the rotation of the second reduction pin 145 to the third reduction pin 147 at a reduced speed.

[0049] The rack and pinion mechanism 180 includes a pinion gear 181 and a rack gear 183. The pinion gear 181 is journaled on the third reduction pin 147 and engages with the rack gear 183, converting the rotation reduced by the reduction mechanism 140 into vertical movement of the rack gear 183. The rack gear 183 is provided on the rear side of the lifting nail 28. Therefore, the vertical movement of the rack gear 183 allows the lifting nail 28, including the mounting portion 12, to move vertically.

[0050] Next, the engaged and disengaged states of the ratchet mechanism 120 and the reduction mechanism 140 will be described using Figure 7. Figures 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of the track maintenance jack device 10 in the front-to-rear direction, passing between the support plate 122 and the release operation unit 20. The track maintenance jack device 10 shown in Figure 7A is in an engaged state in which the ratchet mechanism 120 and the reduction mechanism 140 are engaged. The release operation unit 20 is in the initial position, and the first gear 141 and the second gear 143 are meshed. By engaging with the reduction mechanism 140, the ratchet mechanism 120 limits the rotation direction of the reduction mechanism 140, making it possible to maintain the height of the mounting unit 12 when raised.

[0051] The track maintenance jack device 10 shown in Figure 7B is in a disengaged state in which the ratchet mechanism 120 and the reduction gear mechanism 140 are not engaged. The release operation unit 20 rotates the support plates 121, 122 clockwise as shown in the figure, using the release operation rotation shaft 127 as a rotation shaft. The support plates 121, 122 rotate with the internal pawl rotation shaft 128 guided by the guide hole 23. The support plates 121, 122 rotate together with the internal gear 125, internal pawl 126, internal pawl rotation shaft 128, fixing pin 129, first gear 141, first reduction gear pin 142, and the external pawl 123 and external gear 124 (not shown). This allows the track maintenance jack device 10 to release the engagement between the ratchet mechanism 120 and the reduction mechanism 140 while the internal pawl 126 and the external pawl 123 still regulate the rotation direction of the internal gear 125 and the external gear 124 .

[0052] Next, the biasing of the release operation unit 20 and the internal pawl 126 will be described with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the track maintenance jack device 10 in the front-to-rear direction, passing through the lifting nail 28. The ratchet mechanism 120 has a torsion coil spring 132. The torsion coil spring 132 uses the release operation rotation shaft 127 as a guide rod for the coil, with one arm engaged with the fixing pin 130 and the other arm abutting against the support part 40. As a result, the torsion coil spring 132 biases the release operation unit 20 in the direction in which the ratchet mechanism 120 and the reduction mechanism 140 are engaged. In other words, the torsion coil spring 132 functions as a biasing part that assists the ratchet mechanism 120 and the reduction mechanism 140 in returning to the engaged state when they are in the disengaged state. As a result, the track maintenance jack device 10 can quickly restore the engaged state between the ratchet mechanism 120 and the reduction mechanism 140 by releasing the operation of the release operating part 20. Such a track maintenance jack device 10 can easily adjust the height of the mounting part 12.

[0053] The ratchet mechanism 120 also has a torsion coil spring 131. The torsion coil spring 131 uses the internal pawl rotation shaft 128 as a guide rod for the coil, with one arm engaged with the fixed pin 129 and the other arm abutting against the internal pawl 126. This causes the torsion coil spring 131 to urge the internal pawl 126 toward the internal gear 125. Although not shown, the ratchet mechanism 120 similarly urges the external pawl 123 toward the external gear 124. The function of the urging section is not limited to that achieved by the torsion coil springs 131, 132, and may be achieved by other elastic bodies such as leaf springs or rubber.

[0054] Here, referring to FIG. 8 , the restriction of movement of the lifting nail 28 will be described. The lifting nail 28 is restricted from moving forward and backward by the lift guide 30 and is movable up and down by the rack and pinion mechanism 180. The lifting nail 28 is restricted from moving forward by the stopper roller 32, and the rotation of the stopper roller 32 allows smooth movement up and down. The bottom surface 37 of the lifting nail 28 abuts against the support portion 40, defining the lower limit of its downward movement. The bottom surface 37 abuts against the support portion 40 with an area exceeding the mounting surface of the mounting portion 12, enabling the load before lifting to be distributed to the support portion 40. The engagement recess 36 of the lifting nail 28 is engaged with the stopper roller 32, defining the upper limit of its upward movement. The engagement recess 36 engages with the stopper roller 32, preventing the lifting nail 28 from tipping forward and backward at the upper limit of its movement.

[0055] Next, a track maintenance jack 11, which is another example of the track maintenance jack 10, will be described with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 is a bottom view of the track maintenance jack 11. The track maintenance jack 11 differs from the track maintenance jack 10 in that it has a support part 41 instead of the support part 40, but is the same in other respects.

[0056] The support portion 41 is configured like a rectangular steel plate with a trapezoidal tongue 43 tapered at one side where the support portion 12 is located. Like the tongue 42, the tongue 43 facilitates insertion of the support portion 41 into the gap between the rail and the ballast constituting the trackbed, allowing the rail to be placed on top of the support portion 41. The tip of the tongue 43 is parallel to the left-right direction of the track maintenance jack 11, i.e., perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction of the track maintenance jack 11. This type of track maintenance jack 11 is easily positioned relative to the rail to be lifted. For example, by abutting the tip of the tongue 43 against the rail to be lifted, the track maintenance jack 11 can be easily installed perpendicular to the rail. Furthermore, since the tongue 43 of this type of track maintenance jack 11 does not have any sharp corners, it is possible to reduce the risk of the tongue 43 coming into contact with an operator.

[0057] It should be noted that the disclosed embodiments are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered limiting. Furthermore, the configurations of the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined and applied. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0058] 10, 11 Track maintenance jack device 12 Placement portion 14 Grip portion 16 Stopper roller fixing portion 18 Rotation operation lever 20 Release operation portion 22 Main body cover 23 Guide hole 24 Ratchet mechanism cover 26 Reduction mechanism cover 28 Lifting nail 30 Lift guide 32 Stopper roller 34 Reinforcement plate 36 Fitting recess 40, 41 Support portion 42, 43 Tongue-shaped portion 60 Connection portion 62 Tapered portion 100 Main body portion 120 Ratchet mechanism 121, 122 Support plate 121A, 122A Release operation rotation shaft through hole 121B, 122B Ratchet gear rotation shaft through hole 121C, 122C Internal pawl rotation shaft through hole 121D, 122D Fixing pin through hole 123 External pawl 124 External gear 125 Internal gear 126 Internal tooth stopper 127 Release operation pivot shaft 128 Internal tooth stopper pivot shaft 129 Fixing pin 130 Fixing pin 131 Torsion coil spring 132 Torsion coil spring 140 Reduction mechanism 141 First gear 142 First reduction pin 143 Second gear 144 Third gear 145 Second reduction pin 146 Fourth gear 147 Third reduction pin 148, 149 Bushings 151, 152 Shaft end 180 Rack and pinion mechanism 181 Pinion gear 183 Rack gear

Claims

1. A track maintenance jack device comprising: a main body; a plate-shaped support portion that supports the main body; and a connection portion that connects the main body and the support portion, wherein the main body portion comprises: a mounting portion on which a rail can be placed; a lever-shaped rotation operation portion that can receive a rotation operation; a ratchet mechanism that allows the rotation operation to be input with a rotation in one direction; a speed reduction mechanism that slows down the rotation in one direction; and a rack and pinion mechanism that converts the slowed down rotation into an action to raise the mounting portion, wherein the support portion has a tongue-shaped portion on the side that receives the rail onto the support portion, and the connection portions are provided on both sides of the main body portion and have guide portions that guide the rail that the tongue-shaped portion has received onto the support portion to the mounting portion.

2. A track maintenance jack device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the tip of the tongue-shaped portion is semicircular arc-shaped.

3. A track maintenance jack device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tip of the tongue-shaped portion is trapezoidal.

4. The track maintenance jack device described in claim 1, characterized in that the guide portion consists of a pair of upright walls provided on both sides of the storage portion, and the tapered portion provided on the upright walls guides the rail that the tongue-shaped portion has placed onto the support portion into the storage portion.

5. The track maintenance jack device according to claim 1, characterized in that the main body comprises: a release operation unit capable of receiving an operation to release the mated state of the ratchet mechanism and the reduction mechanism; and a biasing unit that assists in returning to the mated state by biasing.

6. A track maintenance jack device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the main body comprises a main body cover that houses the rack and pinion mechanism and a gripping part, the rack and pinion mechanism has a protrusion that protrudes from the main body cover when the loading part is raised, and the gripping part is located in a position where the protrusion protruding from the main body cover will cause an obstruction to gripping.

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