Track Renewal Vehicle Simultaneous Rail Removal and Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for track renewal require multiple track closures and additional vehicles for removing old rails and delivering new ones, making the process complex and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a series of track maintenance vehicles with on-track and crawler undercarriages for simultaneous removal and replacement of old rails, accompanied by a ballast cleaning process, eliminating the need for lateral deposition of new rails and reducing the number of required track closures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If old rails are removed and new rails are delivered using separate vehicles and processes, then the track renewal can be completed thoroughly, but the number of track closures increases and the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of old rail removal and new rail delivery into a single integrated track maintenance vehicle. The vehicle includes a removal device at the front for extracting old rails and a delivery device at the rear for installing new rails, allowing both operations to occur simultaneously during one track closure event.
Solution Approach 2:
The track maintenance vehicle is designed as a multi-functional platform that performs multiple operations: removing old rails, delivering new rails, and potentially other track maintenance tasks. This universal vehicle replaces the need for separate specialized vehicles for each function.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate vehicles are used for rail removal and delivery, then each function can be specialized, but the coordination complexity and time required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple specialized functions into one vehicle platform, eliminating the coordination overhead between separate vehicles. The removal and delivery operations are synchronized within the same vehicle system, reducing waiting time and coordination complexity.
3Ease of operation
If new rails are pre-deposited laterally next to the track, then delivery is simplified, but additional track closure is required for retrieval and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle's delivery device is designed to handle new rails directly from storage positions and install them onto the track. The same vehicle that removes old rails also delivers and installs new rails, eliminating the need for a second closure event for rail replacement.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for renewing a track (2) and cleaning a ballast bed (3), the old track (2) is lifted off the ballast bed in sections as a track panel (15), transported forward in a working direction (4) and deposited on track panel wagons (8). The exposed ballast bed (3), forming a renewal gap (17), is cleaned by a cleaning machine (11), spoil (32) accruing in the process is transported forward underneath the track panels (15) deposited on the track panel wagons (8), and stored in hopper cars (10). New rails (29), pre-deposited underneath new sleepers (27) positioned on sleeper wagons (14), are pulled forward into the renewal gap (17) by the cleaning machine (11) and deposited on the cleaned ballast bed (3). The new sleepers (27) are laid down on the cleaned ballast bed and connected to the new rails (29) lifted off the ballast bed (3).