Autonomous Track Maintenance Vehicle with Anchor Adjustor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current track maintenance operations require multiple operators and involve inefficient acceleration and deceleration of maintenance equipment, leading to slow progress, increased energy usage, and wear on equipment components.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous track maintenance vehicle equipped with work heads and an anchor adjustor system that allows for autonomous operation, reducing the need for manual intervention and enabling continuous motion while performing maintenance tasks, such as ballast tamping and anchor adjustment, by using a controller and actuator-driven jaws to position and adjust anchors without stopping the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If track maintenance equipment accelerates and decelerates repeatedly to move from tie to tie, then the equipment can reach each tie location, but progress is slow and energy usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance equipment is designed to move continuously from tie to tie without stopping. The work head performs maintenance operations while the equipment is in motion, eliminating the need to accelerate and decelerate repeatedly. This continuous operation maintains steady speed, reduces energy consumption, and improves overall work progress.
2Ease of operation
If multiple operators ride on or control maintenance equipment, then track maintenance operations can be performed, but the number of operators increases
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance equipment is designed to perform track maintenance operations autonomously without requiring multiple operators. The equipment self-positions, self-operates the work head, and completes maintenance tasks independently, significantly reducing the number of operators needed while maintaining full operational capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If equipment stops to perform maintenance operations, then precise work can be done, but repeated acceleration and deceleration causes wear on parts
Solution Approach 1:
The work head is designed to perform precise maintenance operations while the equipment moves continuously at a steady speed. This eliminates repeated acceleration and deceleration cycles that cause wear on equipment parts, while maintaining the precision needed for track maintenance through controlled work head positioning and operation during motion.
Data Source
AI summary
In an aspect, a track maintenance vehicle includes a body, a work head, and a controller. The work head performs track maintenance and is coupled to the body. The controller is configured to operate the vehicle in an autonomous mode. In another aspect, an anchor adjustor includes first and second jaws and an actuator. The jaws pivot about a single axis. The actuator causes the jaws to rotate about the axis. In another aspect, an anchor adjustor assembly includes a first pair of jaws, a second pair of jaws and an actuator. The first and second pairs of jaws open and close about a rail in a track. The actuator causes the closed first pair of jaws to translate towards the closed second pair of jaws along a longitudinal direction of the rail.