Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
NA 327
ORIGINAL TEXT
Ma/Ke
The invention relates to a tamping machine for tamping a
track, comprising a machine frame supported on on-track
undercarriages and a two-sleeper tamping unit with tamping
tools which are arranged in series in the longitudinal
direction of the machine and are vibratable and squeezable by
means of vibration and squeeze drives, with tamping tines for
simultaneously tamping two adjacent sleepers, the tamping
tools being mounted on a tool carrier which is connected to an
auxiliary frame so as to be vertically adjustable.
It is clear from the article "Innovations in tamping
machines" in the Railway Technical Review 85/86, 27, pages
51-56 that with regard to tamp;ng mach;nes, there is a
difference in principle between machines for track and for
point tamping. Point tampin~ machines are only equipped w;th
so-called single-sleeper tamping units, suitable for tamping a
single sleeper. The tamping tools or tamping tines of such
point tamping machines, moreover9 are also mounted ~or
pivoting or vertical adjustment in a variety of ways by means
of individual drives, to achieve thereby the best possible
adaptation of the individual tamping tines to the irregular
course of the rails in point sections. In order to tamp the
initial region of the diverging rail lengths jointly in
conjunction with the tamping of the main track, the point
tamping units are furthermore alsv mounted on the machine
frame for transverse displacement within a relatively wide
range. In this connection see also US 4,537,135 B. MorPover,
the track lifting and lining unit for lifting the very heavy
point sections is of strengthened con~truction and is provided
with special hook-shaped gripping members for abutment against
the rails. Tampin~l machines with a two-sleeper tamping unit
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are used for particularly efficient tamping of point-free
track sections and have a lighter track lifting and lining
unit compared with point tamping machines.
Already known through GB 2,201,178 A or EP 0 386 398 A1
is a point tamping unit for tamping single sleepers which is
composed of four tamping components, arranged side by side in
the transverse direction of the machine and transversely
displaceable independently of one another by means of drives.
Each of these tamping components has a pair of tamping tools
which may be squeezed together by means of squeeze drives ~or
jointly tamping a single sleeper. It is thereby possible,
with appropriate mutually independent transverse displacement
of the individual tamping components, to achieve more
satisfactory adaptation to tamping obstructions and thus even
more complete point tamping.
With regard to the railway track tamping units provided
for high ta~ping performance, a distinction is made between
single- and two-sleeper tamping units, a particularly high
tamping performance obviously being obtainable with the
latter. However, the sleeper spacing must be even for
frictionless use of a two-sleeper tamping unit. Tha
constructions described in more detail below have already
become known for resolving the problem of uneven sleeper
spacings.
EP 0 208 826 A1 describes a tamping machine with two
two-sleeper tamping units spaced apart from one another in the
~ransverse direction of the machine. Each of these two
two-sleeper tamping units is composed of eight tamping tools
altogether, pivotably mounted on a common tool carrier and
aux;liary frame and each havin~ two tamping tines, tha said
tamping tools being connected by way of squeeze drives to a
common centrally-disposed vibration drive. The total of eight
tamping tools, associated with each auxiliary frame, are
arranged in two rows, extending in the longitudinal direction
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of the machine and arranged side by side in the transverse
direction o~ the machine, of four tamping tools forming two
pairs respectively. Thus the tamping bearing surfaces,
located on either side of a rail, of two sleepers disposed one
behind the other can be conso1idated simultaneously, with a
very high tamping performance being obtained with a single
lowerin~ movement of the two-sleeper tamping unit. To enable,
in particular, track sections with sleepers lying obliquely or
even double sleepers to be tamped as well, the tamping tines
respectively situated at the ends, in relation to the
longitudinal direction of the machine, are mounted on the
corresponding tamping tool for vertical adjustment by means of
individual drives. This enables the appropriate tamping tine
to be lifted into an out-of-service position in the event of a
tamping obstruction impeding the immersion of a tamping tine
and in parallel therewith enables the two-sleeper tamping unit
to be freely lowered for tamping.
Two-sleeper tamping units of this kind are exclusively
used in point- and crossin~-free track sections. The
possibil;ty of point-use, among other things, is certainly
indicated in Fig. 8, ~ut an operation of this kind would not
produce a satisfactory work result both because of the low
transverse displaceability of the unit and the need to centre
the total of 32 tamping tines.
Finally, according to US 4,282,815 B, a further two-
sleeper tamping unit is known which has single tamping un;ts,
each vertically adjustable by means of an in~ividual drive,
which are respectively arranged on a common auxiliary frame
immediately adjacent to one another in the longitudinal
direction of the machine.
The object underlying the invention is to create a
tamping machine described in the i-ntroduction which may be
used both in plain track and in point sections, achieving a
very high tamping performance and accurate track geometry.
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This object is achieved, according to the invention, in
that a total oF four auxiliary frames are provided,
transversely displaceable independently o~ one another by
means of individual transverse adjustment drives and each
forming an individual tamping component, with, respectivelyJ
four tamping tools arranged in series in the longitudinal
direction of the machine, an individual tool carrier which is
vertically adjustable by means of a vertical adjustment drive
and an individual vibration drive being associated with each
of the four tamping components.
With this construction, the two-sleeper tamping unit,
envisaged since its development in practical application for
plain track sections only, can for the first time be used for
efficient tamping of point sections as well, overcoming the
considerable prejudices prevailing among experts, while
unrestrictedly maintaining its high tamping performance. It
is of particular advantage here that the fundamental
structural concept of the arrangement of the tampir,g tools and
their connection to a vibration drive remains unchangedl on
the one hand, but on the other hand the allocation of the
tamping tools to four auxiliary frames in all which are
transversely displaceable independently of one another makes
very simple and extensive adaptation of the tamping tines to
th~ various tamping obstructions possible. In addition, as a
result of the simultaneous tamping of two sleepersl
particularly in the assymmetrical long sleeper region, more
satisfactory support of the point is ensured and with it the
accuracy of the track geometry is improved. It is of
additional advantage in this case that the simultaneous
tamping of two sleepers also has as a consequence a
considerable reduction in the number of track lifting and
lining operations and also reduced strain on the rail
fastenings which are particularly stressed in the actual point
region by the heavy long sleepers. Furthermore, tamping the
plain track up to the beginnin3 of a point with a plain track
tamping machine and tamping the following point with a point
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s
tamping machine, with the delayed "piecing together" which in
most cases is temporally dependent on organizational
circumstances, is also avoided in a particularly advantageous
manner.
The further development of the tamping machine according
to claim 2 or 3 has the advantage, ir. combination with the
design of four mutually independent tamping components, of
permitting even more extensive adaptation to the irregular
course of the rails or to tamping obstructions. Because of
the specific mounting of the tamping tines situated at the
ends, they can be displaced or li~ted into an out-of-service
position in the event of a tamping obstruction, so that the
tamping component with the remaining tamping tines can be
freely lowered for tamping.
With the further development according to claim 4, it is
possible to achieve the particular advantage that with the
single pressing of a button, the outer tamping tines may be
moved quickly and precisely from a normal working position
into an expanded working position, so that in this position
they can tamp both the left and the right tamping bearing
surface of a rail of a branch track simultaneously. Limiting
the pivoting movement results in reduced control required as
far as the operator is concerned and is of especial advantage
particularly in connectisn with the increased control required
for the total of 32 tamping tines of a two-sleeper tamping
unit.
The vert;cally adjustable mounting of the outermost
tamping tines according to claim 5 enables them to be quickly
transferred into an out-of-service position, so that even in
those cases in which a tamping obstruction is located exactly
underneath an outer tamping tine, the uni~peded operation of
the remaining tamping tines is ensured.
The two-part design of the tool carrier according to
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claim 6 enables only half of the tamping component to be used
operationally if appropriate for tamping a single sleeper in
particularly difficult point sections, such as in frog areas,
for example, while the other half of the tamping component
remains in a raised inoperative position.
The advantageous further developments according to cla;ms
7 and 8 enable both the rapid adaptation of the tamping tines
to the obliquely-lying long sleepers and the simultaneous
tamping of all the tamping bearing surfaces of a long sleeper
to take place, as the transverse displacement range of the
tamping components is considerably increased.
According to a particularly advantageous further
development according to claim 9, the four tamping csmponents
can be used with a particularly high tamping performance in
conjunction with the continuous advancing of the tamping
machine. The tamping machine is thus optimally suitable both
for track- and for point-use.
The specific mounting of the two ou-ter tamping components
according to claim 10 makes an extended working area possible,
more particularly by way of the support by an individual
t21escopically extendable support frame, with the result that
the rail lengths of the branch track in the long sleeper area
can also be tamped in a single working pass at the same time
as the main track.
The auxiliary lifting device according to claim 11 is of
great advantage, particularly in connection with the complete
tamping of a point, in order to achieve permanent track
geometry correction. In addition, the removal of stress on
the track lifting and linin~ unit and thus the lighter
construction thereof is made possible.
With the features according to claims 12 and 13, it is
possible to combine the two tamping components, each
associated with one rail length, quickly and simply into a
single component for working use in plain track sections.
With the particular further development according to
claim 14, the vibration drive may be arranged such that the
two inner tamping components with their respective tamping
tines may be positioned immediately adjacent to one another in
order to achieve an enlarged area of use.
Finally, in combination with a lifting hook as the
gripping member according to claim 15 for the track lifting
and lining unit, the problem-free operational use of the
tamping machine in the point region is ensured.
The invention is described in more detail below with the
aid of embodiments represented in the drawing, in which
Fig. 1 shows a simpl;fied side view of a tamping machine,
designed in accordance with the invention, comprising a
two-sleeper tamping unit formed ~rom four tamping
components which are transversely displaceable
independently of one another,
Fig. 2 shows a simplifed perspective representation of
the two-sleeper tamping unit,
Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of a two-sleeper
tamping unit in side view, one of the two tamping tines
of a tamping tool in each case being designed for
pivoting by means of an individual drive about an axis
extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine,
Fig. 4 shows a view of a part of the tamping unit
according to Fig. 3 tarrow IV) in the longitudinal
direction of the machine,
Fig. ~ shows a partial side view of a further two-sleeper
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tamping unit, in which the respective outer tamping
tines, in relation to the longitudinal ~irection of the
machine, are mounted for vertical adjust~ent,
Fig. 6 shows a further two-sleeper tamping unit in
side view, composed of two separate tamping
arrangements per tamping component which are arranged in
series in the longitudinal direc:tion of the machine and
which are vertically adjustable independently of one
another,
Fi9. 7 shows a further embodiment in a simplified cross-
section through a tamping machine with ~our tamping
components which are transversely displaceable
independently of one another and form a two-sleeper
tamping unit7 the transverse guideways of which are
mounted on a machine frame also for transverse
displacement ;n order to increase the transverse
displacement path J and
Fig. 8 shows a very simplified, partial side view, in
schematic form, of a further embodiment in which the two
outer tamping components are secured to a telescopically
extendable support frame.
A tamping machine 43J evident in Fig. 1, with a machine
frame 45 supported on on-track undercarriages 44 has a central
power plant 46 for supplying power and also a motiv~ drive 47.
All four tamping components 3 of a two-sleeper tamping unit 1
are secured to a tool carrier 48 which is connected at one
longitudinal end to the track 18 by means of an on-track
undercarriage 49 and is supported with its o~posite end on the
machine frame 45 so as to be displaceable longitudinally and
is connected to a longitudinal displacement drive 50.- Lifting
hooks 53 and lifting rollers 54 which are vertically and
transversely adjustable by means of drives are provided on
each longitudinal side of the machine for a track lifting and
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lining unit 52 which has lif-ting and 1ining drives, is
arranged immediately in front of the tamping unit 1 in the
working direction (arrow 51) and is connected to the tool
frame 48. Furthermore, on each longitudinal side of the
machine there is provided an auxiliary lifting device 55,
connected to a lifting drive, for picking up a rail length of
a branch line running laterally adjacent to the machine 43. A
reference system 56 serves to detèrmine the track geometry
errors, a working cab is e~uipped w;th a central control means
57.
In operational use, a tamping rnachine 43 of this kind is
continuously mobile with its machine frame 45, while the tool
frame 48 together with the four tamping components 3 and the
track lifting and lining un;t 52 is moved forwards
progressively at intervals of two sleepers.
The two-sleeper tamping unit 1, represented only in part
in Fig. 2, is composed of a total oF four tamping components
3, arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the
machine and transversely displaceable independently of one
another by means of individual transverse adjustment drives 2,
of which, for the sake of greater clarity, only one tamping
component 3, the outer one in relation to the transverse
direction of the machine, has ~een represented in its entirety
and the adjacent, inner, tamping component 3 has only been
represented partially. Each of these four tamping components
3 in all has four tamping tools 6 to 9, arranged in series in
the longitudinal direction of the machine and each connected
to squeeze drives 4 and a vibration drive 5. The said tamping
tools are mounted on a tool carrier 11 for pivoting in each
case about an axis 10 extending perpendicularly to the
longitudinal direction of the machine. Each of the total of
four tool carriers 11 of the two-sleeper tamping unit 1 is
connected by means of an individual vertical adjustment drive
12 to an auxiliary ~rame 14 mounted for transverse
displacement on transverse guideways 13. Each of these
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auxiliary frames ~4 has two vertical guideways 15, extending
vertically and parallel to one another, for mounting the
respective tool carrier 11. Each of the four tamping tools 6
to 9 of a tamping component 3 is connected to two tamping
tines 16 arranged side by side transversely to the
longitudinal direction of the machine. The transverse
~uideways 13 are mounted on the tool frame 48 (or in another
possible construction, on the machine frame 45) of the tamping
machine 43. A lock;ng device 19 is provided for the optional
connection of the respective outer auxiliary frame 14, in the
transverse direction of the machine, to the adjacent inner
auxiliary frame 14. This locking device has a bolt which is
connected to a drive 20 and is mounted for displacement from a
closing into an open position.
The two-sleeper tamping unit 1 represented in Fig. 2 is
situated in the precise position for treating a point section
with a main and branch track 21 and 22 respectively. After
the opening of the locking device 19, the adjacent tamping
components 3 respectively associated with one longitudinal
rail side have been moved far enough apart From one another by
operation of the two transver~e adjustment drives 2 to enable
the tamping tines 16 of the respective tamping tools 6 to 9,
notw;thstanding the branch track 22, to be ~reely immersible
in the ballast for the simultaneous tamping of two sl~epers 17
arranged one immediately behind the other in the longitud;nal
direction of the machine. When maintenance work on the point
section has been completed, the two adjacent inner and outer
tamping components 3, provided in each case for tamping a rail
length, are joined by means of the locking device 19 in
practical terms into a combined tamping component again,
forming a structural unitJ for efficient tamping of a plain
track section.
In the two-sleeper tamping unit 1 evident in Fig. 3 and
4, for the sake of simplicity and greater clarity, components
perform;ng the same function are given the same reference
numerals as in Fig. 1 and 2, as they are in the subsequent
Figures. Of the two tamping tines 16 connected in each case
to one tamping tool 6 to 9, those which are further away from
the associated auxiliary frame 14 are mounted on the
corresponding tamping tool 6 to 9 for pivoting about a
respective axis 23 extending in the longitudinal direction of
the machine, and are in each case connected to an indlvidual
pivot drive 24. Two end stops 25, 26 are provided to limit
the pivoting movement of each pivotably mounted tamping tine
16 between two tamping positions. The pivota~le tamp1ng tines
16 are respectively adjustable by means of the said pivot
drive 24 from a first working pos;tion (see Fig. 4, r;ght-hand
tamping component 3), extending with respect to their
longitudinal direction approximately parallel to the tamping
tine 16 adjacent to them in the transverse direction of the
machine, into a second working position (see left-hand tamping
component 3 in Fig. 4), suitable for the immersion of the two
tampiny tines 16 on either side of a rail 27. Since these two
working positions are respectively defined by the said end
stops 25, 26, the adjustment of the tamping tines 16 required
for tamping a specific point section can be effected
relatively easily and quickly as the operator merely has to
choose between two ~ossible positions. Each vibration drive 5
is arranged immediately beneath the tran verse guideways 13 or
above an eccentric shaft 28 and is connected by a chain 29 to
the eccentric shaft 28 supporting the squee~e drives 4.
As is evident in Fig. 5, the foremost and the rearmost
tamping tines 16 (the latter not represented) of each tamping
component 3, in the longitudinal direction of the machine or
track, are mounted on the corresponding foremost and rearmost
tamping tools 6 and 9 respectively, for vertical adjustment
independently of one another by means of respective individual
drives 58. This enables the tamping component 3 to be lowered
into the working position for tamping despite a tamping
obstruction (e.g. an obliquely-lyin9 sleeper 173 located
exactly under a vertically adjustable tamping tine 16.
3j'l3 ~3
12
The two-sleeper tamping unit 1 ev;dent in Fig. 6 is
similarly composed of four tamping components 3, transversely
d;splaceable independently of one another in the transverse
direction of the machine or track and of identical design,
each of which has two tool carriers :30, 31, arranged in series
in the longitudinal direction of the machine and vertically
adjustable independently of one another by means of respective
individual vertical adjustment drives 12. Each of these two
tool carriers 30, 31 is connected to an individual vibration
drive 5 and the latter is connected to two squeeze drives 4,
and thus forms a tamping arrangement for tamping a single
sleeper. The two tool carriers 30, 31 are each mounted for
vertical adjustment independently of one another on two
vertical guideways 15 extending vertically and parallel to one
another, the four vertical guideways 15 altogether being
secured to a common auxiliary frame 14. As a result o~ the
specific design of this two-sleeper tamping unit 1, the two
tamping tool pairs 6, 7 or 8, 9 may be optionally lowered for
tamping subject to possible tamping obstructions.
The four tamping components 3 of the two-sleeper tamping
unit 1 evident in Fig. 7 are arranged for displacement on
transverse guideways 13 and mounted on an intermediate frame
34 for rotation about a vertical axis 33 by means of a dr;ve
32. The said intermediate fram0 is itself connected to an
additional frame 35 which is mounted for displacement on
further additional 9uideways 37 connected to a machine frame
36, and which is connected to an individual transverse
displacement drive 38. This enables the range of transverse
displacement of the four tamping components 3 to be
substantially increased by the fact that the transverse
guideways 13 serving to support the tamping components 3 are
similarly displaced transversely in relation to the machine
frame 36~ The tamping components 3 may be pivoted about the
said axis 33 entirlely independently of this transverse
displacement, for adaptation to obli~uely-lying long sleepers
in the point region.
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According to Fig. 8, the outer tamping components 3, ;n
relation to ~he transverse direction of the machine, are each
mounted for rotation about a vertical axis 39 on a support
frame 40 which is telescopically extendable and is supported
on a machine frame 45. The said support frame is mounted with
its opposite end to the said axis 39 on the machine frame 45
similarly for rotation about a vertical axis 41 and is
connected to a corresponding drive 42. As depicted in Fig. 7,
the two inner tamping components 3 are mounted for transverse
displacement on an additional frame which is itself connected
to the machine frame 45 For ro-tation about a vertical axis.
Thus, in the course of tamping a point, it is also possible to
tamp the rail lengths of the diverging track at the same time
so that all the bearing surfaces of the long sleepers can be
consolidated in a single working pass of the tamping machine.
