Rail Fastening Machine with Dynamic Engine Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for applying and removing connecting fasteners in railway tracks face issues with high fuel consumption, noise pollution, overheating hydraulic oil, and cumbersome design, leading to increased costs and operator safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The machine incorporates an adjustable engine speed control, a two-stage oleo-dynamic pump, and a simplified hydraulic circuit without a radiator, along with a thrust assembly that allows for both insertion and extraction with a single oleo-dynamic actuator and a counter frame for balanced support, enhancing ergonomics and reducing weight and volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the internal combustion engine runs at maximum revolutions continuously to ensure proper functioning of the oleo-dynamic pump, then the pump operates reliably, but fuel consumption increases and noise and air pollution exposure increases for operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the engine speed variable rather than fixed. The engine operates at maximum revolutions only during actuation phases when the oleo-dynamic actuator is being operated, and at reduced idle revolutions during non-actuation intervals. This dynamic speed adjustment ensures pump reliability when needed while minimizing fuel consumption and pollution during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by cycling the engine between high-speed operation during actuation phases and low-speed idle operation during non-actuation phases. The control system automatically switches between these two operational states based on whether the oleo-dynamic actuator is being actuated, creating a periodic pattern that balances reliability with energy efficiency.
2Productivity
If the internal combustion engine runs continuously at maximum revolutions, then the oleo-dynamic actuator can be operated without interruption, but noise and air pollution exposure for operators increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engine speed is dynamically adjusted based on operational needs. During actuation phases when productivity is required, the engine runs at maximum revolutions. During non-actuation intervals when no work is being performed, the engine reduces to idle revolutions, thereby maintaining productivity capability while minimizing noise and pollution exposure to operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic action by alternating between high-productivity phases (engine at maximum speed during actuation) and low-impact phases (engine at idle speed during non-actuation). This periodic cycling ensures that the engine operates at full power only when necessary for productivity, reducing harmful emissions and noise during idle periods.
3Temperature
If the volume of hydraulic oil is increased to serve as a radiant mass for dissipating heat, then overheating risks are reduced, but the dimensions and manufacturing and operating costs of the application machine increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat dissipation function from the hydraulic oil volume itself and transfers it to a dedicated cooling system. Instead of relying on a large volume of oil to act as a thermal mass, the system uses a separate radiator or cooling apparatus to remove heat from the hydraulic oil, thereby maintaining effective heat dissipation while keeping the oil volume and machine dimensions compact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a radiator or cooling system as an intermediary component between the hydraulic oil and the environment. This intermediary device facilitates heat transfer from the hydraulic oil to the surrounding air or cooling medium, enabling efficient heat dissipation without requiring a large volume of hydraulic oil to serve as the primary heat sink.
4Temperature
If a radiator is added to the hydraulic circuit for cooling the oil, then overheating risks are reduced, but the pressure drops of the hydraulic system and the complexity, dimensions, and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function with existing hydraulic circuit components rather than adding a completely separate radiator system. The cooling apparatus is integrated into the hydraulic circuit in a way that combines heat dissipation with the existing fluid flow paths, thereby achieving effective cooling while minimizing increases in system complexity, dimensions, and maintenance requirements.
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
This design reduces fuel consumption, noise, and overheating risks while simplifying the hydraulic system, improving ergonomics, and reducing the machine's weight and volume, thereby lowering operational costs and enhancing operator safety.
Implementation Method 1
an oleo-dynamic actuator (10) arranged to be able to move the thrust member (9) in an insertion (11) and/or extraction direction (12)
Implementation Method 2
an oleo-dynamic pump (16) connected with the engine (15)
Implementation Method 3
The control device (19) comprises an adjusting device (20) of an accelerator (21) of the engine (15), which (automatically) adjusts the number of revolutions of the engine (15)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 2A~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A machine (1) for the application of connecting fasteners (2) of a rail (3) to a railway tie (4) comprising a thrust assembly (8) with a thrust member (9) to engage the connecting fastener (2) and an oleo-dynamic actuator (10) for moving the thrust member (9), an actuating assembly (14) with an internal combustion engine (15) and an oleo-dynamic pump (16) to actuate the oleo-dynamic actuator (10), an adjusting device (20) of an accelerator (21) of the engine (15), which automatically adjusts the number of revolutions of the engine (15) depending on the actuation of the oleo-dynamic actuator (10).