Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machine for
continuously collecting detached rail fastening elements from
a track on which they lie, either on the ballast bed or the
ties, and for storing the collected rail fastening elements.
2. Description of the Rrior Art
U. S. patent No. 3,731,455, dated May 8, 1973, discloses
a machine fox collecting and storing detached rail fastening
elements. The machine is incorporated into a track renewal
train including a series of coupled machine frames and
comprises an elongated machine frame and a succession of
receptacles mounted on the underside thereof. A conveyor band
extends thereabove in the direction of the longitudinal
extension of the machine frame and deflecting elements are
mounted in the range of the receptacles and are operable to
deflect rail fastening elements from the conveyor band into
selected receptacles. An inclined conveyor is arranged at one
end of the elongated machine frame and has a lower input end
below two transverse conveyor bands arranged at the two rails,
respectively. Each transverse conveyor band carries a magnet
to attract the rail fastening elements lying on the track
adjacent the rails whereby the elements are conveyed to the
input end of the inclined conveyor which conveys them to the
longitudinally extending conveyor band. A crane is mounted on
rails extending along the machine frame for removing .full
receptacles and replacing them with empty receptacles. Since
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the storage capacity of the receptacles mounted on the
underside of the machine frame is small, a frequent and time-
consuming replacement of receptacles is required.
U. S. patent No. 4,576,538, dated March 18, 1986,
discloses a box car for storing bulk material and comprising a
container having two side walls and a bottom constituted by a
conveyor band extending in the direction of the longitudinal
extension of the container. An inclined delivery conveyor is
associated with the bottom conveyor band at an end thereof
leading in the conveying direction. A train of such box cars
may be coupled to a ballast cleaning machine, for example, to
collect and store the waste separated from the cleaned
ballast, the higher discharge end of each inclined delivery
container being arranged above each succeeding box car. This
arrangement makes it possible to convey the waste accumulating
in the rearmost box car by means of the bottom conveyor band
and the inclined delivery container forwardly from car to car
to the leading box car.
SUMI~fARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of this invention to provide a
machine for continuously collecting and storing detached rail
fastening elements with a high storage capacity for the
elements so as to avoid frequent and time-consuming
manipulation of storage containers.
The above and other objects are accomplished according to
the invention with a machine which comprises a machine frame
supported on undercarriages for mobility along the track and
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extending longitudinally in 'the direction of the track, a
device for continuously collecting the rail fastening elements
from the track, the device being vertically adjustably mounted
on the machine frame, drive means for vertically adjusting the
collecting device, an inclined conveyor arrangement mounted on
the machine frame and extending in the direction of the
longitudinal extension of the machine frame, the conveyor
arrangement having a lower input end adjacent the collecting
device and arranged to receive the collected rail. fastening
elements therefrom, and a higher discharge end, and a
container mounted on the machine frame below the higher
discharge end and arranged to receive the discharged rail
fastening elements, the container having two side walls
extending in the direction of the longitudinal extension of
the machine frame and a bottom constituted by a conveyor band
extending in the direction of the longitudinal extension of
the machine frame and being driven by an adjustable~speed
drive.
6~lith such a machine it has become possible for the first
time to store the detached rail fastening elements collected
during a whole day of operations without any interruption due
to the required manipulation of storage containers. It is
particularly advantageous that no retrofitting work is needed
for conveying the rail fastening elements discharged into the
container at one end thereof to the opposite end so that the
container may be completely filled. The discharge end of the
conveyor arrangement remains stationary at the one container
end, which simplifies the structure of the conveyor
arrangement. This multiplies the storage capacity of the
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machine and does away with the manipulation and transport of
the small receptacles used heretofore.
According to a preferred feature of the present
invention, the machine further comprises a damping device
mounted between the discharge end of the conveyor arrangement
and the bottom conveyor band for absorbing the impact of the
discharged rail fastening elements on the bottom conveyor
band. Such a structurally simple device will protect the
bottom conveyor band from the damaging impact of the rail
fastening elements while enabling the discharge end of the
conveyor arrangement to be arranged higher above 'the bottom
conveyor band to enable a higher filling level of the
container to be achieved.
The damping device preferably comprises a damping plate
connected to the container and having an elastic impact
surface, the damping plate having two parts enclosing an angle
with each other and extending symmetrically with respect to a
vertical plane extending in the direction of the longitudinal
extension of the machine frame, or a plurality of damping
devices extending parallel to each other. This will provide
not only effective damping but will also transversely
distribute the discharged rail fastening elements in the
container so that it will be filled uniformly across its
width. This beneficial effect will be further enhanced with
at least two damping devices, the damping devices extending in
the direction of the longitudinal extension of the machine
frame adjacent each other in a direction transverse to the
longitudinal extension, and the adjacent damping devices being
so spaced from each other and the container side walls,
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respectively, as to define openings therebetween to permit
free passage of the discharged rail fastenings therethrough.
The storage capacity of the container will be optimally
utilized and a constant filling level will be assured if the
machine further comprises a substantially vertical leveling
element connected to the container adjacent the discharge end
of the conveyor arrangement and extending transversely to the
longitudinal extension of the machine frame, the leveling
element having a lower edge spaced from the bottom conveyor
band a distance corresponding to a desired level of the rail
fastening elements stored in the container.
The container may be readily and completely emptied and
the stored rail fastening elements may be removed to another
car, for example, if the machine further comprises another
inclined conveyor band mounted on the machine frame, the other
inclined conveyor band having a lower input end below an
output end of the bottom conveyor band at an end thereof
opposite the discharge end of the conveyor arrangement.
A large capacity will be obtained with a machine frame
comprised of two parts, the two parts being linked together,
one of the machine frame parts supporting the collecting
device, the conveyor arrangement and an operator's cab, and
the other machine frame part supporting the container. The
link between the two machine parts will enable such a long
machine to travel in sharp curves. If the one machine frame
part has a drive to constitute a self-propelled machine, and
the other machine frame part constitutes a box car coupled
thereto, the box car may be uncoupled when full and replaced
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by an empty box car. The full box cax may be moved to another
site.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
The above and other objects, advantages and feature of
the invention will become more apparent from the following
description of certain now preferred embodiments thereof,
taken with the accompanying, somewhat schematic drawing
wherein
FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing one embodiment of a
machine for collecting and storing detached rail fastening
elements;
FIG. 2 is a like view of another embodiment of the
machine, wherein the container for storing the collected rail
fastening elements constitutes an independent box car which
may be uncoupled;
FTG. 3 is a cross section along line III of FIG. 1,
illustrating the damping devices in the container; and
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section along line IV of FIG. 3,
showing the damping devices and leveling element in the
container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawing and first to FIG. 1, there
is shown machine 1 for continuously collecting and storing
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detached rail fastening elements 43 lying on railroad track 5,
i.e. either on the ballast bed supporting the track or on the
track ties. The machine comprises elongated machine frame 2
supported on undercarriages 4 for mobility along track 5 and
extending longitudinally in the direction of the track. The
illustrated machine frame is comprised of two parts, the two
parts being linked together at pivot 3. Machine frame 2
carries central power plant 7 ~>roviding energy to drive 6
propelling the machine along tree track and to the other
operating drives of the machine. One of the machine frame
parts supports operator's cab 8 and device 9 for continuously
collecting rail fastening elements 43, the collecting device
being arranged between the operator's cab and coupling pivot
3. It further supports inclined conveyor arrangement 12
extending in the direction of the longitudinal extension of
machine frame 2. Cab 8 holds a central control panel enabling
an operator in the cab to operate the machine. Collecting
device 9 is vertically adjustably mounted on the machine frame
and comprises magnetic drums 10 mounted at the lower end of
the collecting device and rotatable about axes extending
transversely to the direction of the longitudinal extension of
the machine frame, and respective conveyor bands 11 associated
with each rotatable magnetic drum. The collecting device is
vertically adjustable by suitable drive means. Conveyor
arrangement 12 has a lower input end adjacent collecting
device 9 and arranged to receive the collected rail fastening
elements therefrom, and higher discharge end 13. The other
machine frame part supports container 14 having an end beloGv
higher discharge end 13 and arranged to receive the discharged
rail fastening elements from conveyor arrangement 12.
Container 14 has two side walls extending in the direction of
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the longitudinal extension of the machine frame and a bottom
constituted by conveyor band 15 extending substantially across
the entire width of the container and in the direction of the
longitudinal extension of the machine frame and being driven
by steplessly adjustable-speed drive 16. The machine further
comprises damping device 17 mounted between discharge end 13
of conveyor arrangement 12 and bottom conveyor band 15 fox
absorbing the impact of discharged rail fastening elements 43
on the bottom conveyor band. A preferred damping device will
be described in detail hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 3
and 4. Magnetic crane 18 is mounted at an end of container 14
opposite to discharge end 13 of conveyor arrangement 12. The
crane is rotatable about, and vertically adjustable along, a
vertical axis for picking up and removing stored fastening
elements from container 14.
In the machine illustrated in FIG. 2, the one machine
frame part has drive 25 to constitute self-propelled machine
21, and the other machine frame part constitutes box car 22
coupled thereto. Machine 21 supports collecting device 19
(similar to device 9), conveyor arrangement 20 having
discharge end 37 (similar to arrangement 12), operatar~s cab
23 (similar to cab 8) and central power plant 24 (similar to
power plant 7). Undercarriages 26 support the machine frame
parts for mobility along track 36. The box car has container
27 whose bottom is constituted by conveyor band 28 driven by
drive 29 (similar to container 14, bottom conveyor band 15 and
drive 16). As shown, the machine further comprises another
inclined conveyor band 30 mounted on machine frame 31 of box
car 22, the other inclined conveyor band having a lower input
end below an output end of the bottom conveyor band at an end
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thereof opposite discharge end 37 of conveyor arrangement 20.
Conveyor band 30 is pivotal about a vertical axis on machine
frame 31 and is driven by drive 32. Flat--bed car 33 is
coupled to box car 22 and supports a series of spike pulling
machines 34 which are arranged sequentially on track 35
extending in a longitudinal direction far mobility along track
35 on car 33 and may be lowered onto track 36 by a vertically
adjustable ramp hinged to an end of car 33.
As shown in FIG. 3, the preferred damping device
comprises a plurality of damping plates 17 (designated 38 in
the embodiment of FIG. 2) extending parallel to each other.
The damping plates have an elastic impact surface and are
shaped like peaked roofs, with two parts enclosing an angle
with each other and extending symmetrically with respect to a
vertical plane extending in the direction of the longitudinal
extension of the machine frame. The damping plates extend in
the direction of the longitudinal extension of the machine
frame adjacent each other in a direction transverse to the
longitudinal extension, and lower edges 41 of adjacent damping
plates 17 are so spaced from each other and the container side
walls, respectively, as to define openings 42 therebetween to
permit free passage of the discharged rail fastenings
therethrough. The illustrated machine further comprises
substantially vertical leveling element 39 connected to the
container by the damping plates adjacent the discharge end of
the conveyor arrangement and extending transversely to the
longitudinal extension of the machine frame, one end of the
damping plates being affixed to an end wall of the container
and an opposite end thereof to the leveling element. The
leveling element has lower edge 40 spaced from the bottom
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conveyor band a distance corresponding to a desired level of
the rail fastening elements stored in the container. This is
best shown in FIG. 4 showing .Lower edge 40 of leveling element
39 to extend to a lower level than lower edges 41 of damping
plates 17. The elastic surface of the damping plates may be
constituted by a rubber layer which will absorb the shock of
rail fastening elements 43 thrown off discharge end 13 of
conveyor arrangement 12 and thus soften their fall into
container 14.
In operation, machine 1 will be propelled continuously
along track 5 and rotating magnetic drums 10 will continuously
pick up detached ferrous rail fastening elements lying on the
track in the path of the magnetic drums, and conveyor bands 11
will convey the collected fastening elements to conveyor
arrangement 12. The rail fastening elements will be thrown
off discharge end 13 of the conveyor arrangement into
container 14, falling first on damping plates 17 and then
through openings 42 onto bottom conveyor band 15, which is
held at rest. When the upper level of the fastening elements
in the container lies a little above lower edge 40 of leveling
element 39 (see FIG. 4), drive 1s is actuated briefly to drive
bottom conveyor band 15 so that the collected conical mound of
fastening elements is leveled and moved a short distance
downstream to make room for additional rail fastening elements
being discharged into the container. This intermittent
movement of the collected rail fastening elements in the
direction of magnetic crane 18 is continued until container 14
has been filled. The stored rail fastening elements,
including spikes, tie anchors, tie plates and the like, may be
loaded into cars by crane 18, if desired.
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The machine of FIG. 2 operates in the same manner, except
that the unloading of the stored rail fastening elements from
container 27 is effected by conveyor band 30.
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