Ballast Plow With Reversible Transverse Belts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ballast plows struggle to adapt efficiently to irregular ballast amounts and varying ballasting requirements, such as those encountered on platform edges, due to limited flexibility in conveying capacity and direction.
Innovation Solution
The ballast plow features two transverse conveyor belts arranged one behind the other, with the ability to reverse their direction of rotation, allowing for simultaneous discharge onto both ballast bed flanks and doubling the transport volume when rotating in the same direction, enabling quick adjustments to convey different amounts of ballast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single conveyor belt is used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different ballast requirements and flanks is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The single conveyor belt is divided into two separate transverse conveyor belts (12a, 12b), each capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows each belt to be independently controlled for different ballast discharge requirements, enabling the system to adapt to varying ballast amounts and flank-specific needs while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor belts are equipped with reversible drives (11a, 11b) that allow the direction of rotation to be changed dynamically. This dynamic capability enables the system to switch between different operating modes (e.g., both belts rotating in the same direction for doubled transport volume, or opposite directions for simultaneous flank discharge) to adapt to different ballasting conditions without requiring physical reconfiguration.
2Productivity
If the conveyor belts operate in the same direction, then the transport volume is doubled, but the ability to discharge onto different flanks simultaneously is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The reversible drive mechanism allows the system to dynamically switch between operating modes. When both conveyor belts rotate in the same direction, the transport volume is maximized (doubled). When different directions are selected, the system can simultaneously discharge ballast onto different flanks. This dynamic controllability enables optimization of either productivity or adaptability based on real-time ballasting requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters (direction of rotation) of the conveyor belts to achieve different functional outcomes. By reversing the rotation direction of one or both belts, the system can switch between high-volume transport mode and differentiated flank discharge mode, allowing flexible adaptation to varying work conditions without hardware changes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the direction of rotation is fixed, then the device complexity is low, but the flexibility to accommodate varying ballast amounts is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drives (11a, 11b) of the conveyor belts are designed with reversible capability, allowing the direction of rotation to be changed during operation. This dynamic feature provides flexibility to accommodate varying ballast amounts and discharge requirements. The reversibility is achieved through standard reversible motor connections or clutch mechanisms, adding minimal complexity while significantly enhancing operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The reversible drive mechanism enables the conveyor belts to perform multiple functions: discharging ballast onto the same flank, discharging onto different flanks, operating at different volumes, and adapting to various ballasting conditions. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single control mechanism (direction reversal) rather than requiring multiple specialized belts, thereby maintaining relatively low device complexity while achieving high adaptability.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a ballast plow (1) for applying ballast to a track, comprising two transverse conveyor belts (12) positioned directly in front of a sweeping brush. Said belts each comprise a drive (11) and are disposed parallel to each other relative to a transport direction (13) and one directly behind the other relative to a longitudinal direction of the machine (17). A cover strip (19) is provided for bridging a gap (18) between the two transverse conveyor belts (12).