Multi-Section Brush Shaft with Adjustable Axis for Rail Track Sweeping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sweeping devices for rail tracks lack flexibility in adapting to different threshold shapes and suffer from reduced sweeping performance and economic efficiency, leading to suboptimal cleaning results, especially on high-speed routes where deep sweeping is required.
Innovation Solution
A multi-part brush shaft with adjustable axis sections via a control shaft and cardan joints, driven by a hydraulic system and worm gear, allowing for precise adjustment and robust power transmission, along with a compact design that accommodates various sleeper shapes and prevents wear on sweeping elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex shaft-in-shaft design with internal eccentric bearing is used to adjust brush shaft inclination, then adaptability to different threshold shapes is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The brush shaft is divided into multiple shaft sections (at least three sections) that can be independently adjusted. Each shaft section can be inclined relative to the others, allowing the brush shaft to adapt to different threshold shapes without requiring a complex internal eccentric bearing mechanism. This segmentation enables flexible adaptation while simplifying the overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft sections are designed to be dynamically adjustable during operation. The inclination of each shaft section can be changed to match different track conditions, transforming a static complex mechanism into a dynamic, adaptable structure that achieves versatility through motion and reconfiguration rather than fixed complex geometry.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple shaft sections with independent adjustment are implemented, then adaptability to different sleeper shapes is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanism is designed with universal components that can adjust multiple shaft sections using similar adjustment principles. The control elements and linkages are configured to provide multi-functional capability, where a single control system can manage the inclination of several shaft sections, reducing overall complexity while maintaining adaptability to various sleeper shapes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If control elements are positioned to enable precise adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but risk of contact with sweeping elements increases causing wear
Solution Approach 1:
The control elements are extracted from positions where they would contact the sweeping elements. The adjustment mechanism is designed so that control elements act on the shaft sections from a distance or through intermediate linkages that prevent direct contact between control components and sweeping elements, thereby eliminating wear caused by unwanted contact while preserving precise adjustment capability.
4Productivity
If a multi-part brush shaft design is used to cover the center of sleeper, then sweeping performance is improved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brush shaft is segmented into multiple shaft sections that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This segmentation allows each section to be produced using standard manufacturing processes, and the modular design simplifies assembly by enabling sequential attachment of sections to the carrier frame, reducing overall manufacturing and assembly complexity despite the multi-part configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances adaptability and sweeping performance, ensuring thorough and efficient cleaning of rail tracks, particularly on high-speed routes, by allowing deeper sweeping and uniform power transmission, reducing wear and improving the quality of the sweeping pattern.
Implementation Method 1
The individual shaft sections of the brush shaft are connected to one another via cardan joints
Implementation Method 2
at least one gear, in particular as a self-locking worm gear
Implementation Method 3
The actuator is designed as a double-acting hydraulic cylinder
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a sweeping device (8) for working a track (5) which is formed of rails (3) and sleepers (4), which sweeping device comprises a brush shaft (10) that consists of a plurality of shaft portions (11), is in the form of a hollow shaft, and has resilient sweeping elements (12) radially protruding from the shaft, the sweeping device being fastenable, via at least one adjustable vertical drive (23), to a vehicle (1) that can be driven on rails (3). According to the invention, at least one axis of rotation (24) of a shaft portion (11) can be adjusted via a control shaft (16) comprising control elements (17) that act externally on the shaft portion (11). This ensures an increase in sweeping power and thus economic efficiency of the machine together with an improvement in relation to the prior art in terms of quality of the sweeping pattern.