GB2267925A

GB2267925A - A ballest plough.

Info

Publication number: GB2267925A
Application number: GB9312501A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hannes Felber
Original assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
Current assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
Priority date: 1992-06-19
Filing date: 1993-06-17
Publication date: 1993-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-17
Also published as: GB2267925B; GB9312501D0

Abstract

A ballast plough 1 has a machine frame 2 supported on on-track undercarriages and shoulder ploughs 7, 8, each with a plough blade 11 provided on each longitudinal side of the machine. The shoulder ploughs 7, 8 are transversely and vertically adjustable by means of drives 14, 16, and are each secured to a carrier frame 10, pivotably mounted on the machine frame 2, which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the machine. Each plough blade 11 is mounted on its carrier frame 10 for rotation about a vertical axis 19 extending parallel to the plough blade plane by a rotary drive 18, and for rotation about a horizontal axis 17 by drive 22. <IMAGE>

Description

A BALLAST PLOUGH The present invention relates to a ballast plough comprising a machine frame supported on on-track undercarriages and shoulder ploughs, provided on each longitudinal side of the machine and transversely and vertically adjustable by means of drives, with a plough blade which is respectively secured to a carrier frame pivotably mounted on the machine frame and extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the machine.

A ballast plough comprising a machine frame supported on on-track undercarriages is known through US 5,097,608 B. Between the on-track undercarriages this has a vertically adjustable centre plough and shoulder ploughs positioned in front of the said centre plough. Each shoulder plough is joined to the machine frame by means of an articulation point arranged laterally on the machine frame and having an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine, and has a carrier frame which may be extended telescopically in the transverse direction of the machine by means of a drive.

An object of the present invention lies in creating a ballast plough of the type described in the introduction, wherein the shoulder ploughs enable the flow of ballast to be rapidly redirected.

To this end according to the invention with a ballast plough of the type described in the introduction the plough blade is mounted on the carrier frame for rotation about an axis of rotation extending approximately parallel to the plough blade plane and is connected to a rotary drive.

The arrangement according to the invention provides a ballast plough with a relatively simple constructional design and enables the plough blade to be easier to manipulate, in particular for rapidly changing the direction of the flow of ballast. This is particularly advantageous when, in combination with a rapid and efficient operational advancing movement, an equally rapid change of position of the plough blade is necessary. This requirement will arise when sudden large changes in the quantity of the ballast for distributing are required in order ultimately to achieve the best possible grading result without interrupting the operational advancing movement.

In combination with an axis of rotation arranged perpendicularly to a lower plough edge, the plough blade is suitable, in a particularly advantageous manner, for creating a horizontal, temporary ballast bed for the laying of auxiliary rails.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood reference will now be made by way of example to the embodiment illustrated in the accompany drawings in which: Fig 1 shows a side view of a ballast plough with a centre plough arranged between the on-track undercarriages and two shoulder ploughs, Fig 2 shows a cross-section through the ballast plough corresponding to the sectional line II in Fig 1, and Fig 3 shows a plan view of the two shoulder ploughs corresponding to Fig 2.

The ballast plough 1 shown in Fig 1 with a machine frame 2 is supported on on-track undercarriages 3 and is drivable by means of a motive drive 4 on a track 5.

Situated approximately centrally between the two on-track undercarriages 3 is a centre plough 6, which is vertically adjustable by means of drives, for ploughing the ballast in the track area. Located beneath an engine 25 are two shoulder ploughs 7, 8 which are arranged opposite one another with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry of the machine extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine. At the opposite end of the machine to the shoulder ploughs 7, 8 a sweeping broom 9 is provided which may be set rotating and be adjusted vertically by means of drives.

As particularly shown in Fig 2, each shoulder plough 7 or 8, is composed essentially of a carrier frame 10, extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the machine, and a plough blade 11. In Fig 2 the shoulder ploughs are raised for machine transit. The carrier frame 10 is composed of two telescopically engaged frame parts 12 and 13. The length of the carrier frame 10 is variable telescopically perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the machine by means of a longitudinal adjustment drive 14, which is mounted on the machine frame 2 for pivoting about an axis 15 extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine. The carrier frame 10 is vertically adjustable by means of a vertical drive 16.At the free end opposite of the carrier frame 10 opposite the axis 15 the plough blade 11 is connected to the carrier frame 10 so as to be pivotable about an axis 17 extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine.

The pivot axis 17 forms an articulation point 24. Also connected to the carrier frame 10 is a rotary drive 18 with an axis of rotation 19. The plough blade 11, which is substantially laminar, constitutes a plough blade plane 23, and has a lower plough edge 20. The plough blade is rotatable together with an upper guard or limiting plate 21 in relation to the carrier frame 10 by means of the rotary drive 18 about the said axis of rotation 19.

Simulataneously therewith, the rotary drive 18 together with the plough blade 11 and the limiting plate 21 are pivotable about the said axis 17 by means of a further pivot drive 22 so as thereby to enable any shoulder angle to be set in order to create a ballast bed shoulder of the desired inclination.

The plough blade 11 is represented in Fig 3 in a vertical position in contrast to Fig 2. Adjustment by pivoting movement by means of the vertical drive 16 or the pivot drive 22, the longitudinal adjustment of the carrier frame 10 by means of the longitudinal adjustment drive 14 and also the pivoting of the plough blade 11 by the rotary drive 18 may each be performed independently of one another. The axis of rotation 19 is arranged perpendicularly to the lower plough edge 20 and centrally with respect to the length thereof. The articulation point 24 with the axis 17 is arranged asymmetrically or offset in relation to the axis of rotation 19 or the rotary drive 18.

Claims

1. A ballast plough comprising a machine frame supported on on-track undercarriages and shoulder ploughs provided on each longitudinal side of the machine and transversely and vertically adjustable by means of drives each with a plough blade which is respectively secured to a carrier frame pivotably mounted on the machine frame and extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the machine, wherein the plough blade is mounted on the carrier frame for rotation about an axis of rotation extending approximately parallel to the plough blade plane and is connected to a rotary drive.

2. A ballast plough according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation is arranged perpendicularly to a lower plough edge of the plough blade.

3. A ballast plough according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the axis of rotation is arranged centrally with respect to the length of the plough edge.

4. A ballast plough according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the rotary drive is arranged actually on the upper end of the plough blade coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation.

5. A ballast plough according to any preceding claim wherein the plough blade is designed so as to be symmetrical with respect to a plane extending in the longitudinal direction thereof and running through the axis of rotation.

6. A ballast plough according to any preceding claim wherein the plough blade is mounted on the carrier frame together with the rotary drive so as to be pivotable about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine, forming an articulation point and is connected to a pivot drive.

7. A ballast plough according to claim 6, wherein the articulation point is arranged asymmetrically or offset with respect to the axis of rotation or the rotary drive.

8. A ballast plough constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with references to Figures 1, 2 or 3 of the accompanying drawings.