GB2273515A

GB2273515A - A machine for removing ballast from a railway track by suction

Info

Publication number: GB2273515A
Application number: GB9325444A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Josef Theurer; Herbert Woergoetter
Original assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
Current assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
Priority date: 1992-12-16
Filing date: 1993-12-13
Publication date: 1994-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-13
Also published as: FI935650A0; CN1052771C; FI107820B; DE4341240A1; CZ279013B6; DE4341240C2; SE9303842L; GB9325444D0; CN1088648A; CH687467A5; SK279443B6; FI935650A; FR2699197A1; ITMI932466A1; SK138293A3; FR2699197B1; SE507073C2; IT1265207B1; HU215740B; GB2273515B

Description

2273515 A Machine for Removing Ballast of a Track Ballast Bed by Suction

The invention relates to a suction machine comprising a machine frame, designed for travelling on on-track undercarriages and having a vacuum generator, and a driver's cab arranged on the said machine frame which is preceded by a vertically adjustable suction nozzle attached to the machine frame and connected to the vacuum generator by means of a suction pipe.

A suction machine of this kind is already known from German Utility Model 90 00 529, in which two suction nozzles are attached so as to be vertically adjustable to a lorry designed for travelling on the track by means of auxiliary ontrack undercarriages. The two suction nozzles are arranged at a fixed distance apart in the transverse direction of the machine and during operation are guided at a constant small distance away from the top surface of the track in order to remove rubbish, such as cigarette ends or the like, by suction therefrom.

Removing the ballast of a track bed by suction by means of transversely and vertically adjustable suction nozzles is also already known from British Patent 2 172 326 A. Tools, each of which rotate, for loosening encrusted ballast are associated with these suction nozzles. To enable the machine to advance continuously, the suction nozzles are arranged for longitudinal displacement relative to the machine frame. After being centred Over a sleeper crib, the suction nozzles are lowered into the ballast, the ballast also being removed by suction from underneath the sleeper in the adjoining areas. The ballast of a ballast bed completely removed by suction in this way is conveyed to a cleaning unit and in the cleaned 2 condition is then discharged onto the exposed formation again.

Another suction machine with a vertically adjustable suction nozzle is known from German Utility Model 82 36 650. The ballast stones taken up by this suction nozzle from the track panel or next to the track panel are passed into a collecting container and from this are discharged onto a vibrating deck for cleaning. The lower end of the suction nozzle is connected to a specially shaped rubber skirt.

Other suction machines are also known from US Patent 4 741 072, German Patent 41 08 673 and German Utility Model 89 1.3 731.0.

Another machine, known from German Patent 22 26 612 A, for removing a ballast bed has two excavating members, each attached to one longitudinal side of a machine frame and designed as excavating beams with a circulating endless excavating chain. The excavating beams are rotatable about a pivot axis provided at one of their ends and are vertically displaceable and when inoperative are folded upwards about a horizontal axis extending in the transverse direction of the machine. For ballast excavation, the excavating members are lowered into the track bed shoulder and are then pivoted inwards from either side under the track panel, the ballast conveyed to the track shoulders being delivered to a screening unit for cleaning by a conveyor arrangement running obliquely upwards.

The object of the present invention is now to provide a suction machine of the type described in the introduction, which, with a constructionally simple design, enables the operating performance to be substantially enhanced.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the suction machine specified in the introduction in that a lock chamber with a remotely controllable discharge opening is

3 associated with the vacuum generator and a conveyor belt for transporting away the bulk material drawn up by suction is associated with the said discharge opening. This design particularly advantageously enables the ballast drawn up by suction to be transported away continuously by means of the conveyor belt associated with the lock chamber, without adversely affecting the suction performance. Interruption of the suction operation is thus unnecessary, while the operating performance is substantially enhanced. The use of a cyclone separator ensures efficient separation of the ballast, drawn up by suction, from the suction air.

The further developments according to claims 3, 4 and 5 enable the ballast drawn up by suction to be discharged as desired either onto the ballast bed shoulder or in the longitudinal direction of the machine on a following loading wagon.

The development according to claim 6 enables the ballast drawn up by suction to be discharged without disruption onto the following loading wagon even in track curves and using a transfer conveyor belt which projects a very long way over the machine end.

The variants according to claim 7, 8 and 9 enable the fine dust, filtered during the suction operation, to be easily separated.

The further development according to claims 10 and 11 enables rubbish lying on the surface of the track or the ballast bed also to be removed by suction.

If the suction nozzles according to a further advantageous variant of the invention are respectively mounted at the end of the suction pipe for rotation about an axis coaxial to the suction pipe, any track obstacles can thereby be avoided more easily and the working width can be varied as 4 desi red.

Another advantageous development according to claim 13 enbles the suction nozzle to be adjusted relative to the machine frame to the greatest possible extent so that the accumulations of ballast can be removed by suction irrespective of the position of a track conductor, for example, in relation to the rails.

The invention is described in more detail in the following with the aid of embodiments represented in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a side view of a suction machine comprising a suction nozzle attached to the end of a machine frame, Fig. 2 shows a view of the soction machine in the direction of arrow II, the suction nozzle being lowered for operation, Fig. 3 shows a view of the suction machine as shown in Fig. 2, but with the suction nozzle raised in a locked position for the transfer journey, and Fig. 4, 5 and 6 respectively show other embodiments of a suction machine.

The suction machine 1 shown in Fig. 1 has a machine frame 4 designed for travelling on on-track underearriages 2 and having a vacuum generator 3. The said machine frame has driver's cabs 5 arranged at each end with a central control unit 6. The suction machine 1 is also provided with an engine 7 for supplying power and a motive drive 8.

Provided at one end of the machine frame 4 is a suction nozzle 10, designed for vertical adjustment by means of a drive 9. This suction nozzle 10, which has a maximum diameter of 40 cm, is fixed to a vertically adjustable parallelogram linkage 11 which is itself connected to a support body 12 for pivoting about a vertical axis 13. The support body 12 is transversely adjustable by means of a drive 15 on guides 14 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the machine and horizontally. The parallelogram linkage 11 is pivoted about the vertical axis 13 by means of a drive 16. As a result of the parallelogram linkage 11, the suction nozzle 10 projects over the front end of the machine frame 4 - with respect to the operating direction represented by an arrow 35 in such a way that an operator in the front driver's cab 5 has an unobstructed view of the suction nozzle 10 lowered for operation onto,a ballast accumulation 17. The suction machine 1 is also capable, however, of travelling in the opposite direction during operation.

The suction nozzle 10 is connected by a flexible suction pipe 18 to a cyclone separator 19. The outlet opening 20 thereof, located in its bottom end region, is followed by a lock chamber 21 with a remotely controllable discharge opening 22. Underneath the discharge opening 22 a conveyor belt 23 is mounted on the machine frame 4 for pivoting about a vertical axis by means of a drive 24.

The suction pipe 18 is also connected to a fine dust filter unit 2 as well as to the said cyclone separator 19. Arranged beneath this filter unit is a V-shaped hopper 26, the bottom end region of which has a screw conveyor 27. This extends in the longitudinal direction of the machine and its free end is arranged above the conveyor belt 23.

Provided between the front on-track undercarriage 2 and the suction nozzle 10 projecting over the longitudinal end of the machine frame 4 are other vertically adjustable suction nozzles 28, 29, 30. These suction nozzles 28, 29, 30 are each connected via an individual suction pipe 31 to the cyclone separator 19 and the fine dust filter unit 25.

6 Represented in Fig. 2 is the suction nozzle 10 in the working positi on lowered for operation, in which the ballast accumulations 17 lying in the region of a track conductor 32 are continuously removed by suction. The length of the two guides 14 for the transverse displacement of the support body 12 or of the suction nozzle 10 is somewhat longer t han the gauge of a track 33. This enables the suction nozzle 10 also to be used, if necessary, for the suction-removal of ballast accumulations lying in the sleeper end region.

In Fig. 3, the suction nozzle 10 is raised into a locked position and pivoted into a lateral position which nevertheless does not exceed the clearance gauge. The three suction nozzles 28, 29, 30 are provided for the suctionremoval of surface fouling and are vertically adjustable independently of one another by means of separate drives which are not represented specifically. Also, each suction nozzle 28, 29, 30 is mounted for rotation about an axis 34 coaxial to the suction pipe 31. This enables the operating width of a suction nozzle 28, 29, 30 to be varied in the longitudinal direction of the sleeper in the event of an obstruction, e.g. a platform edge.

Other embodiments of a suction machine 1 are represented in Fig. 4, 5 and 6, parts which serve the same function having the same reference numerals as the suction machine 1 described in Fig. 1 to 3, in order to avoid repetition.

The conveyor belt 23 located in Fig. 4 between the ontrack undercarriages 2 is mounted on the machine frame 4 in the area of the discharge opening 22 for pivoting by means of the drive 24 about a vertical axis 36. The conveyor belt 23 is thus pivotable from a transfer position, represented in Fig. 4 and extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine - for transporting the bulk material drawn up by suction on to a loading wagon 37 - into a discharge position extending transversely at an angle of 900 to the longitudinal 7 direction of the machine. A discharge end 38, distanced from the vertical axis 36, of the conveyor belt 23 is arranged over an intake end 39 of a transfer conveyor belt 40 extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine. This transfer conveyor belt has a discharge end 42 which is elevated in comparison with the intake end 39 and which projects over a machine end 41 situated further away from the suction nozzle 10. The transfer conveyor belt 40 is mounted in the region of its intake end 39 on the machine frame 4 for pivoting about a vertical axis 43. This enables the discharge end 42 to be pivoted slightly in track bends. The pivotable conveyor belt 23 enables the ballast drawn up by suction to be transported away both in the longitudinal direction of the machine by means of the transfer conveyor belt 40 onto a loading wagon 37 and, by being pivoted through approximately 900, into the shoulder region of the track bed.

The ballast is drawn up by suction as the suction machine 1 advances continuously. The ballast drawn up by suction is separated in the cyclone separator 19 from the suction air stream fed in tangentially by the action of centrifugal force and is collected. As soon as the cyclone separator 19 has reached a maximum filling level, the outlet opening 20 is opened by remote control, causing the accumulated ballast to fall into the lock chamber 21, located beneath and with flow in the area of the discharge opening 22. As soon as the cyclone separator 19 is emptied, the discharge opening 20 is closed by remote control and the discharge opening 22 is similarly opened by remote control, so that the ballast in the lock chamber 21 falls onto the conveyor belt 23. When emptying has been accomplished, the discharge opening 22 is closed again and the procedure for emptying the cyclone separator 19, just described, is repeated. This cyclical emptying procedure is performed without interrupting the continuous working advance of the suction machine 1.

Shown in Figures 5 and 6 is another suction machine 1 for 8 removing a ballast bed 44 of a track 33, which has a bridgeshaped machine frame 4 supported at its two longitudinal ends on on-track undercarriages 2 and which is designed for continuously travelling on the track 33 in an operating direction indicated by an arrow 35. In order to remove ballast 45 by suction from the ballast bed 44, the suction machine 1 is equipped with a suction arrangement 46 which is provided in the front region of the machine frame 4 with respect to the operating direction and which will be described in more detail below. Associated with the suction arrangement 46 on-the intake side are two excavating members 48 for supplying ballast, these being attached approximately in the longitudinal centre of the machine frame 4 within visual range of an operator's cab 47- --A conveyor belt 23 situated beneath the suction arrangement 46 serves to carcy away the ballast 45 removed by suction, the said conveyor belt having a transfer conveyor belt 40 projecting over the front end of the machine frame 4 and pivotable laterally. With this the ballast 45 can be loaded, for example, into a preceding loading wagon 37 connected to the suction machine 1". By way of another loading wagon 37 coupled to the other end of the suction machine 1, new ballast 50 is introduced by means of a ballast discharge arrangement 52 at a point situated following the excavating members 48 in the operating direction into the track 33 which is held in its position in this region by a track lifting device 51. The newly introduced new ballast 50 is immediately consolidated by means of a track tamping unit 53 arranged so as to be vertically adjustable immediately preceding the rear on-track undercarriage 2. Power is supplied to all the drives, units and a motive drive 8 of the suction machine 1 by way of a central engine 7. - i The suction arrangement 46 essentially consists of a compressor or vacuum generator 3 arranged on the machine frame 4 and a flexible suction pipe 18, connected to the said vacuum generator, which bifurcates in the region above the excavating members 48 and ends in two suction pipe connections 54. These 9 are respectively associated in the sleeper end region with one of the excavating members 48 and have a suction opening 55 for removing the ballast 45 by suction from the ballast bed 44. The air stream conveying the ballast is passed - as in the embodiments described in Fig. 1 to 4 - through a cyclone separator 19 integrated in the suction pipe 18 between the suction pipe connections 54 and the vacuum generator 3, the ballast 45 being separated in the said cyclone separator from the suction air stream fed in tangentially by the action of centrifugal force and dropping to the bottom. The lower end of the cyclone separator 19 or an outlet opening may be covered air-tight by a sealing flap 56. A further cyclone separator arranged directly beneath and also having a sealing flap or discharge opening 22 forms an air lock or lock chamber 21 via which the ballast 45, drawn up by suction, then passes onto the conveyor belt 23 for transporting away. The ballast drawn up by suction is dropped cyclically into the lock chamber 21 with the remotely controlled opening of the sealing flap 56. After closure of the sealing flap 56, the discharge opening 22 is similarly opened by remote control and the ballast passed onto the conveyor belt 23. At the same time, ballast is again drawn up by suction and temporarily stored in the cyclone separator 19 until, after the emptying of the lock chamber 21 and the closing thereof by the discharge opening 22, the sealing flap 56 is opened in order to empty the cyclone separator 19. The suction air is then passed through an air filter unit or fine dust filter unit 25 in which the dust particles contained in the air are filtered out by means of a dust filter 49 and are collected in the lower area of the unit. The dust collected in a storage container is transferred cyclically onto the conveyor belt 23 while the suction machine 1 is stationary by means of a discharge device 57 designed as a screw conveyor 27 and is transported away together with the ballast 45 by way of the transfer conveyor belt 40.

The two excavating members 48 for supplying the ballast to the associated suction pipe connection 54 are respectively designed as an endless excavating chain 58 which is guided around an excavating beam 59 extending approximately horizontally with guide rollers 60 provided at its two ends. The two excavating beams 59 are disposed on the suction machine 1 in mirror-inverted arrangement with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine, but are mutually staggered or distanced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the machine. Each excavating beam 59 is provided at one end situated in the sleeper end region with a rotation drive 61 for the excavating chain 58 and is connected to a support frame 62.

In operation, the excavating chains 58 are set rotating and thus the ballast moved to the suction openings 55 is drawn up by suction into the suction openings 55. While the ballast is being removed by suction, the suction machine 1 continuously advances operationally, with operation of the motive drive 8. The combination of a suction arrangement with an excavating beam can obviously also be employed in conjunction with the continuous cleaning of the sucked-up ballast by means of a screening unit.

T 1 1

Claims

1. A suction machine comprising a machine frame, designed for travelling on on-track undercarriages and having a vacuum generator and a driver's cab arranged on the said machine frame which is preceded by a vertically adjustable suction nozzle attached to the machine frame and connected to the vacuum generator by means of a suction pipe characterized in that a lock chamber with a remotely controllable discharge opening is associated with the vacuum generator and a conveyor belt for transporting away the bulk material drawn up by suction is associated with the said discharge opening.

2. A suction machine according to claim 1, characterized in that a cyclone separator is arranged preceding the lock chamber.

3. A suction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveyor belt is mounted on the machine frame for pivoting by means of a drive about a vertical axis.

4. A suction machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the conveyor belt is mounted between the on-track undercarriages and is pivotable about the vertical axis situated in the region of the discharge opening from a transfer position extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine into a discharge position extending at an angle to the-longitudinal direction of the machine.

5. A suction machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a discharge end situated at a distance from the vertical axis of the conveyor belt extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine is 12 arranged above an intake end of a transfer conveyor belt extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine, which has a discharge end which is elevated in comparison with the intake end and which projects overa machine end situated further away from the suction nozzle.

6. A suction machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the transfer conveyor belt is mounted in the region of the intake end for pivoting about a vertical axis.

7. A suction machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the suction nozzle is connected by the suction pipe to a fine dust filter unit.

8. A suction machine according to claim 7, characterized in that associated with the fine dust filter unit is a hopper the bottom end region of which has a screw conveyor.

9. A suction machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the free end of the screw conveyor is arranged above the conveyor belt of the lock chamber.

10. A suction machine according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one other vertically adjustable suction nozzle is provided, the width of which is designed to correspond approximately to the length of a sleeper for the suction-removal of surface fouling on the track.

11. A suction machine according to claim 10, characterized in that three suction nozzles vertically adjustable independently of one another and arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the machine, are provided for surface suction-removal, the said nozzles having in total approximately a length which corresponds to the length of the 13 sleeper.

12. A suction machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the suction nozzles are each mounted at the end of the suction pipe for rotation about an axis coaxial to the suction pipe.

13. A suction machine according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the suction nozzle is fixed to a vertically adjustable parallelogram linkage which is connected to a support body for pivoting about a vertical axis, the support body being transversely adjustable by means of a drive perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the machine and horizontally.

14. A suction machine substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3,.or any of Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the Drawings.