A rail maintenance vehicle includes a frame, a workhead, and a vibration unit. The frame includes wheels that travel along rails. The vibration unit includes a rod member having a coil assembly coupled thereto. The vibration unit further includes a core assembly operable to receive the rod member therein. The core assembly includes a plurality of magnet members disposed along the periphery of the core assembly. The coil assembly and magnet members are operable to impart linear motion to the rod member relative to the core assembly.

The invention relates to a machine (1) having a machine frame (2), mobile by means of on-track undercarriages (3) on rails (4) of a track grid (5), and a stabilizing unit (8) which comprises a vibration exciter (15) for generating horizontal vibrations extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine and flanged rollers (10) designed to roll on the rails (4). In this, a camera (11) is mounted on the machine frame (2) for recording a section of the track grid (5) set in vibrations, wherein the camera (11) is connected to an evaluation device (16) in order to derive from the recorded image data a resulting deflection (s.sub.r) of the track grid (5). In this manner, the amplitude (a.sub.r) of the sleeper deflection can be recorded, which is a measure of the actually effective vibration for stabilizing the track.

The invention relates to a machine (1) having a machine frame (2), mobile by means of on-track undercarriages (3) on rails (4) of a track grid (5), and a stabilizing unit (8) which comprises a vibration exciter (15) for generating horizontal vibrations extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine and flanged rollers (10) designed to roll on the rails (4). In this, a camera (11) is mounted on the machine frame (2) for recording a section of the track grid (5) set in vibrations, wherein the camera (11) is connected to an evaluation device (16) in order to derive from the recorded image data a resulting deflection (s.sub.r) of the track grid (5). In this manner, the amplitude (a.sub.r) of the sleeper deflection can be recorded, which is a measure of the actually effective vibration for stabilizing the track.

The invention relates to a machine for stabilizing a track, including a machine frame supported on on-track undercarriages and a vertically adjustable stabilizing unit designed to roll on rails of the track by means of unit rollers, the stabilizing unit comprising a vibration exciter with rotating imbalance masses for generating an impact force (F.sub.S) acting dynamically in a track plane perpendicularly to a track longitudinal direction and a vertical drive for generating a vertical load acting on the track. In this, it is provided that the vibration exciter comprises at least two imbalance masses which are driven applying a variably adjustable phase shift (.sub.1, .sub.2). The invention further relates to a method for operating such a machine.

The invention relates to a machine for stabilizing a track, including a machine frame supported on on-track undercarriages and a vertically adjustable stabilizing unit designed to roll on rails of the track by means of unit rollers, the stabilizing unit comprising a vibration exciter with rotating imbalance masses for generating an impact force (F.sub.S) acting dynamically in a track plane perpendicularly to a track longitudinal direction and a vertical drive for generating a vertical load acting on the track. In this, it is provided that the vibration exciter comprises at least two imbalance masses which are driven applying a variably adjustable phase shift (.sub.1, .sub.2). The invention further relates to a method for operating such a machine.

A track maintenance machine, constructed to be mobile on a track, for consolidation of a ballast bed underneath a track, includes a machine frame supported on an undercarriage and a consolidating device, connected to the machine frame, which includes at least one consolidating element constructed to be lowered. The consolidating element is constructed as a consolidating plate which, in a working position, is larger in a longitudinal direction of the track than a distance between two sleepers of the track, and the consolidating plate is disposed to be rotatable in order to turn the consolidating plate into a passing position for lowering or raising between two sleepers. A method for consolidation of the ballast bed underneath a track by using a track maintenance machine is also provided.

A track maintenance machine, constructed to be mobile on a track, for consolidation of a ballast bed underneath a track, includes a machine frame supported on an undercarriage and a consolidating device, connected to the machine frame, which includes at least one consolidating element constructed to be lowered. The consolidating element is constructed as a consolidating plate which, in a working position, is larger in a longitudinal direction of the track than a distance between two sleepers of the track, and the consolidating plate is disposed to be rotatable in order to turn the consolidating plate into a passing position for lowering or raising between two sleepers. A method for consolidation of the ballast bed underneath a track by using a track maintenance machine is also provided.

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.

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 tamping machine for tamping a track has a lifting-lining unit, connected to lifting and lining drives, for shifting the track into a target position. A vibration generator, which can be set to vibrate, is disposed on the lifting-lining unit. It is thereby possible to tamp a track section in a first working pass and to lower it in a controlled way in an immediately following second working pass with constant impact of vertical load and vibration. Thereafter, the track can be traveled upon with normal speed entirely unhindered.