A tamping unit for tamping a track has tamping tines which are designed for immersion into a ballast bed and which can be set in vibrations by a vibration drive. The vibration drive includes a housing in which a shaft including an eccentric is arranged for rotation about a shaft axis. A transmission element for transmitting a vibratory motion is mounted on the eccentric. The eccentric is connected to the shaft in a rotation-locked and radially displaceable manner, wherein the position of the eccentric relative to the shaft is adjustable in radial direction by an adjustment device. Thus, while retaining the advantages of an eccentric drive, it is possible to adjust vibration parameters during operation.

A tamping unit for tamping a track has tamping tines which are designed for immersion into a ballast bed and which can be set in vibrations by a vibration drive. The vibration drive includes a housing in which a shaft including an eccentric is arranged for rotation about a shaft axis. A transmission element for transmitting a vibratory motion is mounted on the eccentric. The eccentric is connected to the shaft in a rotation-locked and radially displaceable manner, wherein the position of the eccentric relative to the shaft is adjustable in radial direction by an adjustment device. Thus, while retaining the advantages of an eccentric drive, it is possible to adjust vibration parameters during operation.

The invention relates to a tamping machine (1) for compacting the ballast bed of a track (9), comprising tamping units (4) for tamping a track (9), a lifting and lining device (2) for lifting and lining tracks and switches (9), said device being arranged between the running gears (8), preferably in front of the tamping units (4) in the working direction (C), and comprising lifting rollers (6) and lifting hooks (7). In order to provide advantageous conditions it is proposed that the lifting roller (6) with its associated vertical guide (18) and the lifting hook (7) with its associated vertical guide are displaceably mounted along a common transverse guide (16) extending transversely to the longitudinal axis (L) of the tamping machine.

The invention relates to a tamping machine (1) for compacting the ballast bed of a track (9), comprising tamping units (4) for tamping a track (9), a lifting and lining device (2) for lifting and lining tracks and switches (9), said device being arranged between the running gears (8), preferably in front of the tamping units (4) in the working direction (C), and comprising lifting rollers (6) and lifting hooks (7). In order to provide advantageous conditions it is proposed that the lifting roller (6) with its associated vertical guide (18) and the lifting hook (7) with its associated vertical guide are displaceably mounted along a common transverse guide (16) extending transversely to the longitudinal axis (L) of the tamping machine.

The present disclosure generally relates to a road rail stoneblower vehicle for carrying out rail maintenance operations near fixed structures such as bridges and overpasses. The road rail stoneblower includes a hi-rail chassis having a first set of wheels configured to engage a road surface and a second set of wheels configured to engage surfaces of substantially parallel rails of a railroad track. The road rail stoneblower further includes a plurality of workheads that are capable of dispensing ballast stones into a bed of ballast underlying the railroad track to adjust the height of the rails. The road rail stoneblower further includes a leveling system detachedly coupled to the hi-rail chassis that is configured to transmit a detectable signal that defines a reference plane with which the rails are to be aligned. Related methods of operation of the road rail stoneblower vehicle and associated maintenance of ballast beds underlying railroad tracks are also described.

A track maintenance machine for compaction of ballast under sleepers of a track includes a machine frame movable by undercarriages on the track and a tamping unit which includes an electric vibration drive for vibratory actuation of tamping tools. An electric intermediate circuit has an electric energy store or storage device. An electric machine is associated with at least one undercarriage and coupled for generator operation to the intermediate circuit. The electric vibration drive is coupled to the intermediate circuit for supply. In this way, braking energy is used in an optimal manner for supplying the vibration drive. A method for operation of a track maintenance machine is also provided.

A track maintenance machine for compaction of ballast under sleepers of a track includes a machine frame movable by undercarriages on the track and a tamping unit which includes an electric vibration drive for vibratory actuation of tamping tools. An electric intermediate circuit has an electric energy store or storage device. An electric machine is associated with at least one undercarriage and coupled for generator operation to the intermediate circuit. The electric vibration drive is coupled to the intermediate circuit for supply. In this way, braking energy is used in an optimal manner for supplying the vibration drive. A method for operation of a track maintenance machine is also provided.

A track maintenance machine includes a combustion engine mechanically connected by a drive shaft to an electric generator/motor unit. The electric generator/motor unit is connected by a mechanical drive unit to a hydraulic pump. A power accumulator is connected by an electrical supply line to the generator/motor unit and to drives which can be actuated electrically. It is thus possible to mainly electrically supply all of the drives.

A track maintenance machine includes a combustion engine mechanically connected by a drive shaft to an electric generator/motor unit. The electric generator/motor unit is connected by a mechanical drive unit to a hydraulic pump. A power accumulator is connected by an electrical supply line to the generator/motor unit and to drives which can be actuated electrically. It is thus possible to mainly electrically supply all of the drives.

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.