Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
The present invention relates to a continuous action
mobile machine ~or tamping ballast under successive ties
fastened to rails of a railroad track. The ballast tamping
machine comprises a first machine frame, two spaced
undercarriages supporting the first machine frame on the
track for mobility in an operating direction, the first
machine frame having a forward end and a rear end in the
operating direction, a tool carrier arranged between the two
undercarriages and vertically adjustably supporting a track
lifting and lining unit and at least one tamping unit
including pairs of reciprocable and vibratory tamping tools
immersible in the ballast, a longitudinal displacement drive
connecting the tool carrier to the first machine frame, a
second machine frame, at least one undercarriage supporting
; the second machine frame on the track, a ballast plow
~` arrangement vertically adjustably mounted on the second
machine frame between two undercarriages, and power drives
for operating the ballast plow arrangement.
German patent application No. 3,819,717, published March
23, 1989, discloses a continuous action track leveling,
lining and tamping machine of this type, with two successive
machine frames supported on undercarriages being coupled to
the rear end of the machine frame of the machine ~he
centrally arranged machine ~rame, which is coupled directly
to the rear end~ carries a vertically adjustable plow
arrangement between two undercarriages, and the trailing
machine frame carries a track stabilization unit between two
undercarriages and a broom arrangement. Furthermore, a
cantilevered forward end of the machine frame of the track
leveling, lining and tamping machine carries a vertically
~1~
adjustable and transversely pivotal small ballas~ plow
associated with each track rail. A respective driver's cab
is mounted at each end of this machine frame and an
operator's cab is mounted thereon within view of the tamping
unit. This machine enables the ties to be cyclically tamped
while the machine advances continuously and, at the same
time r the ballast bed may be suitably shaped and the leveled
and lined track may be stabilized with the trailing track
stabilization unit. ~n a modified embodiment, the third
` 10 machine frame carrying the track stabilization unit is
omitted and only one additional machine frame carrying plow
and broom arrangements trails the machine frame of the track
; levelingt lining and tamping machine. When the ballast is
very irregularly distributed or if there is too little
ballast available for proper tie tamping, it is necessary to
precede the same by a ballast plow which suitably shapes the
ballast bed and thus prepares it for the tie tamping
operation. Both disclosed embodiments provide driver's cabs
at both ends of the machine frame of the track leveling,
lining and tamping machine and all the machine frames reach
up to the level of the driver's cabs.
U. S. patent No. 4,165,694, dated August 28, 1979,
discloses an intermittently advancing track leveling, lining
and tamping machine for the cycllc tamping of track ties, a
respective trailer supported on a single undercarriage being
linked respectively to the forward and rear end of the
`I
machine frame of the intermittently advancing track
leveling~ lining and tamping machine. A telescoping
coupling longitudinally displaceably connects the front
trailer to this machine frame, and the front ~railer carries
: , ~
d,3 ~
a vertically adjustable plow arrangement. An operator's cab
is mounted on the trailer above the plow arrangement and the
machine frame of this trailer has the same height as that of
the track leveling, lining and tamping machine. The rear
trailer carries a vertically adjustable broom arrangement
and track sensing elements for the reference system of the
machine. This machine arrangement has not been built for
commercial use.
A similar machine arrangement has been disclosed in U.
S. patent No~ 4,165,693, dated August 28, 1979, but the
front trailer carrying the plow arrangement is replaced by
an independently continuously advancing, self7propelled
vehicle with its own cab, operating controls and indicator
for surveying the corrected track position.
It is the primary object of this invention to provide a
continuous action mobile machine of the firstdescribed type
for tamping ballast under successive t~es fastened to rails
of a railroad track, which improves the economics and
efficiency of tie tamping and working o~ the ballast bed as
well as the usefulness of the machine under varying
operating conditions.
The above and other objects and advantages are
accomplished according to the invention with a coupling
linking the second machine frame to the forward end of the
first machine frame, the second machine frame preceding the
first machine frame in the opera~ing direction.
This machine arrangement for the first time makes it
possible continuously to shape the ballast bed and
immediately thereafter to tamp the ties with a continuously
advancing ballast tamping machine in a single operating
o3o
r~
stage while ~he machine frames move non~stop along the track
and the plow arrangement distributes the ballast for uniform
tamping under the successive ties. It enables proper
ballast distribution and the resultant uniform tie tamping
to be effected economically with a small operating crew and
a relatively simple machine in a single pass. Furthermore,
since the machine frame carrying the ballast plow
arrangement is linked directly to ~he machine frame carrying
the tamping unit, the plow arrangement may be operated
directly from a cab on the latter machine frame and the
former machine frame may be pushed along the track by the
driven machine frame trailing it under sufficient power to
enable the ballast to be continuously distributed without
any problems by the plow arrangement. This combination of
the two linked machine frames and the driving power
transmission made possible thereby also makes it possible to
make the second machine frame supporting the plow
arrangement substantially flat and low. This has the added
advantage that the cab at the forward end of the first
machine frame provides a clear view of the track in front of
the machine as well as enabling an operator in the cab to
observe and operate the plow arrangement so that it may be
constantly adjusted to prevailing ballast conditions. In
addition, the transmission of high pulling and pushing
forces between the two linked machine frames makes it
possible to incorporate the machine without problems in a
train for moving the machine to another operating site.
The above and other objects, advantages and features of
the present invention will become more apparent from the
following detailed description of certain now preferred
~4= >
embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying, somewhat schematic drawing wherein
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a
continuous action mobile machine for ~amping ballast under
successive ties fas~ened to rails of a railroad track;
FIG~ 2 is a ~op view of the machine of FIG. l;
FIGS. 3 to 5 show diagrammatic side elevations of a
continuous action track leveling, lining and tamping machine
of ~he same type as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but having buffer
couplings at the forward and rear ends of its machine frame,
with the second and third machine frames linked thereto in
different combinations, an unobs~ructed view at the track
ahead and rearwardly of the first machine frame being
afforded in all combinations, FIG. 3 showing the same
combination of the three machine frames as FIG. 1, FIG. 4
showing the use of the track leveling, lining and tamping
machine with a trailing arrangemen~ of the second machine
frame carrying the plow arrangement~ as indicated in
chain~do~ted lines, and FIG. 5 showing this combina~ion with
a fourth machine frame carrying a track stabilization unit;
and
, ,
; FIG. 6 illustrates a continuous action mobile track
~;~ leveling, lining and tamping machine with a leading machine
~: frame carrying a vertically adjustable plow arrangement,
~:~ also in a diagrammatic side elevation.
Referring now to the drawing and first to FIGS~ 1 and 2,
there is shown continuous action mobile machine 1 for
tamping ballast under successive ties ~ fastened to rails 5
of railroad track 6. The illus~rated track leveling, lining
and tamping machine comprises first machine frame 11 and two
5~
~-
- :
~ ' .
~ t~ 2
spaced undercarriages 2 supporting the first machine frame
on the track for mobility in an operating direction under
the power of drive 3~ First machine frame 11 has forward
end 27 and rear end 36 in the operating direction indicated
by arrow 15. In addition to propelling drive 3, first
machine frame 11 also carries operator's cab 9 with central
control panel 10 as well as operator's cabs 7 and 8 at the
forward and rear ends of machine frame 11. Conventional
leveling and lining reference system 12 is also mounted on
the first machine frame to indicate the track position.
Furthermore, the first machine frame supports central power
plant 13. Tool carrier 14 is arranged between the two
widely spaced undercarriages 2, 2 and vertically adjustably
supports track lifting and lining unit 23 and at least one
tamping unit 19 including pairs of reciprocable and
vibratory tamping tools 20 immersible in the ballastO
Longitudinal displacement drive 18 connects tool carrier 14
to first machine ~rame 11 for displacing the tool carrier
relative to the first machine frame during the non~stop
advance of the machine frame~ The rear end of tool carrier
14 is supported and guided on track 6 by undercarriage 16
while its front end is longitudinally displaceably mounted
on guide bracket 17 affixed to first machine frame 11.
Lifting and lining drives 21, 22 link unit 23 to tool
carrier 14 and two flanged rollers are spaced along each
track rail 5 to support the track lifting and lining unit on
the track and to function as lining tools. In addition,
flanged lifting rollers 24 and lifting hooks 25 are mounted
on unit 23 or engagement with each rail to function as
lifting tools. The operation of the lifting and lining
6~
: ' .
drives is under the control of reference system 12 to
correct position errors in the track. In addition to drive
18, tool carrier 14 is propelled by drive 26 ac~ing on the
wheels of undercarriage 16~
Second machine frame 29 of vehicle 30 is supported on
track 6 by single undercarriage 2~ and ballast plow
arrangement 32 is vertically adjustably mounted on the
second machine frame between two undercarriages, i.e forward
undercarriage 2 of first machine frarne 11 and single
undercariage 28. The illustrated ballast plow arrangement
is generally conventional and comprises central plow 34 and
shoulder plows 35 operated, respectively, by power drives 31
and 33. According to the present invention, a coupling
links second machine frame 29 to forward end ~7 of first
machine frame 11 and the second machine frame precedes the
first machine frame in the operating direction.
As shown in the drawing, the illustrated embodiment
further comprises third machine frame 38 of vehicle 39
supported on track 6 by single undercarriage 37. sroom
arrangement 43 is vertically adjustably mounted on the ~hird
machine frame, and power drive 40 vertically adjusts the
.
broom arrangement on the third machine frame~ Another
coupling links the third machine frame to rear end 36 of
first machine frame 11 and the third machine frame trails
the first machine frame in the operating direction. In the
preferred illustrated embodiment, the continuous action
mobile ballast tamping machine further comprises
transversely extending conveyor band 42 associated with the
broom arrangement and driven by drive 41.
This preferred arrangement of a leading and trailing
.
~,
3 2
vehicle respectively deslgned to shape the ballast bed and
to sweep ballast into the cribs makes it possible to bring
sufficient hallast for the tie tamping operation to the
tamping sites immediately before tamping and to provide a
finished track immediately thereafter whereby a uniform
compacting of the ballast under the ties is assured and a
longlasting corrected track position is obtained without
the usual use of separate ballast plows before and/or after
the tie tamping operation.
As shown, second and third machine frames 29 and 38 are
trailers supported on track 6 by a single undercarriage 28
and 37, the plow and broom arrangements 32 and 43 being
mounted, respectively, between the single undercarriage and
a respective one of undercarriages 2, 2 supporting first
machine frame 11 on the track. These simple trailers
carrying the plow and broom arrangements enable power to be
effectively transmitted from self-propelled track leveling,
lining and tamping machine 1 so that these trailers are
pushed and pulled under sufficient force to enable the
ballast plow and sweeping arrangements to function
properly, In addition~ existing track leveling, lining and
tamping machines may be readily retrofitted by coupling the
; trailers to their forward and rear ends.
The two widely spaced undercarriages 2, 2 support first
; machine frame 11 on track 6 adjacent forward and rear ends
27, 36 thereof, and the second and third machine frames
comprise substantially centered carriers 45, 46 projecting
therefrom towards the forward and rear ends, respectively,
and the couplings are universal pivots 47, 48 connecting
second and third machine frames 29, 38 ~o respective ends
o8o
:
27, 36 of the first machine frame adjacent the spaced
undercarriages. ~his type of coupling is simple and robust,
assuring proper movement of the second and third machine
frames on the track rails even in sharp curves while
; dependably transmitting the propelling power from the track
leveling, lining and tamping machine to the ballast plow
arrangement and the broom arrangement sweeping excess
ballast into the cribs. Each vehicle 30, 39 has buffer
couplings 49, 53 at the ends thereof opposite to universal
pivots 47, 48.
Respective operator's cab 7 r 8 mounted on forward and
rear ends 27, 36 of ~irst machine frame 11 within view of
the plow and broom arrangements 32 and 43, respectively,
(see viewing field indicated in broken lines) provide
control points 44 for operation of the plow and broom
arrangements so that the second and third machine frames
need to carry no operator's cabs, these machine frames
extending in a plane just above undercarriages 28, 37
supporting the same on the track. This construction
provides very simple vehicles ~or support of the plow and
broom arrangements, the lowslung machine frames of the
vehicles giving the operators in the cabs on the track
leveling, lining and tamping machines an unobstructed view
o~ the track so that they may readily operate and control
the ballast plow and broom.
In operation, track leveling, lining and tamping machine
l, together with trail~r vehicles 30, 39, advances
continuously in the operating direction indicated by arrow
15 while tool carrier 14 with tamping units l9 and track
lifting and lining unit 23 intermittently advances
e~9o
intermittently from tie to tie. The drives of center plow
32 and/or shoulder plows 35 of ballast plow arrangement 32
may be readily operated from control point 44 in cab 7
because the operator can clearly observe the ballast
conditions. This is very important Eor the expeditious and
continuous advance of the machine during the tamping
operation because ballast conditions often change suddenly
and a prompt repositioning of the ballast plows may then be
needed to assure a continuous and uniform flow ~f ballast to
10 the tamping sites a'c which tamping tools 20 tamp ballast
under ties 4. In the same manner, it is easy to control the
finishing operation by broom arrangement 43 from control
point ~L4 in cab 8.
FIG. 3 illustrates generally similar continuous action
track leveling, lining and tamping machine 51 wherein track
lifting and lining unit 57 precedes tamping unit 56 in the
operating direction indicated by arrow 60, first machine
frame 54 constituting a standard railroad vehicle having
buffer couplings 58, 59 at ~he forward and rear ends o~ the
20 first machine frame, and second and third machine frames 61
and 66 having buffex couplings 71r 72 at opposite ends
~ thereof for readily detachable linking to each other and to
; a selected end of the first machine Erame, respectively.
The opposite ends of first machine frame 54 are supported by
undercarriages 52~ 52 on track 53. Longitudinally
displaceable tool carrier 55 carries tamping unit 56 and
track lifting and lining unit 57. Machine frame 61 of
trailer vehicle 63 is supported on the track by single
undercarriage 62 and carries vertically adjustable ballast
30 plow arrangement 64 comprised of central and shoulder plows
,, .
, ~,
'~10~
65. Machine frame 66 of trailer vehicle 70 is also
supported on the track by a single undercarriage 67 and
carries vertically adjustable broom arrangement 68 equipped
with transverse conveyor band 69. The trailer vehicles are
linked by the buffer couplings 71, 72 to buffer couplings
58, 59 of first machine frame 54, the operation of the
machine being the same as that of FIGS. 1 and 2, The buffer
couplings at the ends of the machine frames enable the three
machine frames to be readily coupled together and detached
from each other while all three vehicles can be incorporated
into a train of standard railroad cars for quick and secure
movement to another operating site.
FIGS. 4 and 5 diagramma~ically show different
possibilities for the use of continuous action track
leveling, lining and tamping machine 51 with trailer
vehicles 63 and 70. AS shown in FIG. 4, ballast plow
vehicle 63 may be detached from forward coupling 58 of
machine frame 54 and, as shown in chain~dotted lines~ may be
coupled to rear coupling 59 thereof. In this case, ballast
sweeping vehicle 70 is simply coupled to the rear end o:E
- vehicle 630 As shown in broken lines, plow arrrangement 64
as well as broom arrangement 63 may still be viewed from the
rear cab on machine frame 54 and may, therefore, be operated
from this control point in this arrangement, tooO This
arrangement of the three machine frames may be used when
sufficient ballast is available at the tamping sltes and no
additional ballast flow thereto is required while it is
desired to provide a predetermined shape to the ballast bed
after tamping, with the finishing operation being provided
by the broom.
~lle
~'
In the arrangement of FIG. 5, track stabilizer 73 is
incorporated in the machine combination of this invention.
As shown, the track stabilizer comprises a low~slung machine
frame supported on the track by undercarriages 74 at the
ends thereof and carrying two track stabilization units 75
therebetween. As conventional, each track stabilization
unit is locked to the track rails by railengaging rollers
to apply high vertical forces thereto while subjecting them
to substantially horizontal vibrations. Leveling reference
system 76 controls the extent to which these forces embed
the track in the ballast bed~ End buffer couplings 77
enable track stablizer 73 to be linked to vehicle 70 and to
the rear buffer coupling of either vehicle 63 or machine
frame 54 of the track leveling, lining and tamping machine,
depending on the prevailing ballast conditions.
FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates track leveling,
lining and tamping machine 78 whose machine frame 79 is
supported at its opposite ends by widely spaced
undercarriages 80 for non~stop advance along track 81 in an
operating direction indicated by arrow 82. I,ongitudinally
displaceable tamping units 83 and track lifting and lining
unit 84 are arranged between the undercarriages. Buffer
couplings 85, 86 are provided at both ends of machine frame
79. Buffer coupling 86 at forwar~ end 87 of the machine
frame is linked to buffer coupling 89 of vehicle 90 whose
machine frame 93 also is equipped at both ends with buffer
couplings 88, 89. Machine frame 93 is supported on track 81
by two spaced undercarriages 91, 91 wherebetween vertically
adjustable plow arrangement 92 is mounted on the machine
frame. A cantilevered forward end of machine frame 93
~12~
carries vertically adjustable broom arrangement 94
comprising a rotatable ballast broom. The machine framè of
vehicle 90 also is low and provides an unobst~uc~ed view of
the plow and broom arrangements for an operator in driver's
and opera~or's cab 95 at forward end 87 of machine frame
790 This simple combination of a flat ballast plow and
broom suppor~ing vehicle with a continuous ac~ion ~rack
leveling, lining and ~amping machine provides a very
economical system for shaping the ballast bed and assuring a
constant flow of sufficien~ ballast to the tie ~amping sites
in a single pass during which the ~ies are tamped.
,:
-
,
:
, ~
;'
~13~
.
