A tamping assembly (1) for a track tamping machine is proposed comprising tamping tool pairs (3), which are arranged on a girder (7) guided vertically adjustable in a tamping assembly frame and are formed as swing arms, and the lower tamping pick ends (10) of which intended for plunging into a ballast bed (4) are drivable using an oscillation drive and are hydraulically closable toward one another, wherein a hydraulic cylinder (11) and possibly a distance sensor (7) for determining the hydraulic cylinder position are associated with each of the tamping tools (3) of a tamping tool pair, and the hydraulic cylinders (11) form both the linear closing drive and also the oscillation drive of the tamping tools (3), and wherein electrohydraulic valves (25) are provided for actuation of the hydraulic cylinders (11), which comprise a mechanical hydraulic cylinder actuation valve part (12) and an associated valve electronic unit (13). To provide advantageous construction conditions, it is proposed that the valve electronic unit (13) is mounted in a vibration-damped manner by means of vibration dampers (D) with respect to the hydraulic cylinder (11) and/or the mechanical hydraulic cylinder actuation valve part (12).

In a method of operating a tamping unit of a track maintenance machine, the track maintenance machine having the tamping unit is first provided on a track bed. The tamping unit is displaced relative to the track bed. A driving force, acting on the tamping unit and required for the displacement, and acceleration acting on the tamping unit are determined. A ballast force acting between the tamping unit and the track bed is determined by way of the driving force and the acceleration, and is evaluated.

The invention relates to a tamping assembly for tamping sleepers (2) of a track (3), comprising a tamping unit (1) having a lowerable tool carrier (4) and oppositely positioned tamping tools (5), wherein each tamping tool (5) is connected via a pivot arm (6) to a squeezing drive (7) for generating a squeezing motion, and wherein a vibration drive (8) is provided for actuation of the tamping tools (5) with a vibratory motion. In this, it is provided that the vibration drive (8) comprises an electromagnetic actuator (11).

The invention relates to a method for load monitoring of a tamping unit of a track maintenance machine, wherein at least one sensor is arranged for recording a load on the tamping unit. In this, measuring data recorded by means of the sensor are stored over a time period (T) in an evaluation device, wherein at least one load-time progression for cyclical penetration operations of the tamping unit into a ballast bed is derived from the stored measuring data. With this, conclusions can be drawn as to the load stress situation of the tamping unit and the condition of the ballast bed.

A method for compaction of a track ballast bed uses a tamping unit including two oppositely positioned tamping tools which are actuated with vibrations and are lowered into the track ballast bed during a tamping operation and moved towards one another with a squeezing motion. A progression of a force acting upon the tamping tool over a path covered by the tamping tool is recorded during a vibration cycle by sensors disposed at the tamping unit for at least one tamping tool. At least one characteristic value is derived therefrom and used to carry out an evaluation of the tamping operation and/or of a quality of the track ballast bed. The tamping unit is thus used as a measuring apparatus during operative use. A device for performing the method is also provided.

The invention relates to a tamping assembly for tamping sleepers of a track, comprising a tamping unit having oppositely positioned tamping tools which are mounted on a lowerable tool carrier and connected in each case to a squeezing drive for generating a squeezing motion, wherein an eccentric drive having an eccentric shaft is provided for generating a vibratory motion. In this, it is provided that each squeezing drive is supported on a console having a ring-shaped housing section which is mounted on an eccentric section, associated with the squeezing drive, of the eccentric shaft.

A method performs compaction of a track ballast bed by use of a tamping unit having two oppositely positioned tamping tools which, actuated with a vibration, are lowered into the track ballast bed during a tamping operation and moved towards one another with a squeezing motion. In this, it is provided that at least one variable vibration parameter is specified in dependence on a duration of penetration into the track ballast bed, until a required penetration depth of the tamping tools has been reached.

A tamping assembly for tamping sleepers of a track has a tamping unit with tamping tools. The tamping tools are located opposite one another, are mounted on a height-adjustable tool support, and, by way of drives, can be caused to vibrate and can be fed relative to each other. Each tamping tool includes a pivot lever, which can be rotated about a feed axis, and an inner and an outer tamping pick retainer. Each tamping pick retainer can be laterally pivoted relative to the pivot lever. The outer tamping pick retainer can be pivoted about a first pivot axis and the inner tamping pick retainer can be pivoted about a second pivot axis. The second pivot axis is arranged at an offset to the first pivot axis. Thus, it is no longer necessary to adjacently arrange elements for pivoting the tamping pick retainers.

The invention relates to a method for tamping sleepers of a track panel, supported in a ballast bed, by means of a tamping unit, comprising two tamping tools opposite one another which, during tamping of the respective sleeper, are lowered into the ballast bed with vibrations being applied, and are moved towards each other with a squeezing movement while the track panel is held in a raised position. In this, an evaluation device is used to monitor a squeezing speed of at least one tamping tool, with a current value of the squeezing speed being compared with a limit value when a predefined squeezing time or a predefined squeezing distance is reached, and with a notification signal indicating whether the current value is above the limit value. This may indicate that a void located below the sleeper has not yet been sufficiently filled.

A tamper cart system for transporting a mechanical tamper includes a mechanical tamper. The mechanical tamper has a handle, a body and a compression plate. A cart is provided and the cart is rolled along a support surface. The mechanical tamper is selectively positioned on the cart. Thus, the mechanical tamper is transportable by an individual. A handle is movably coupled to the cart.