TRACK PROCESSING MACHINE, IN PARTICULAR IMPACT WRENCH MACHINE, AND PROCESS FOR TRACK PROCESSING BY A TRACK PROCESSING MACHINE

Abstract

A track processing machine, in particular an impact wrench machine for track processing, contains at least one handle for manually guiding the track processing machine, a first structural unit with a processing head, which can be driven in rotation for track processing about an axis of rotation, a second structural unit, and a linking unit for mechanically connecting the first structural unit to the second structural unit and for reducing a longitudinal dimension of the track processing machine along the axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A track processing machine for track processing, comprising: at least one handle for manually guiding the track processing machine; a first structural unit with a processing head being drivable in rotation about an axis of rotation; a second structural unit; and a linking unit for mechanically connecting said first structural unit to said second structural unit and for reducing a longitudinal dimension of the track processing machine along the axis of rotation.

2. The track processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the track processing machine is an impact wrench machine.

3. The track processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said linking unit connects said first structural unit with said second structural unit such that these are displaceable relative to each other between a first processing position and a second processing position.

4. The track processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the track processing machine has a first longitudinal dimension along the axis of rotation in a first processing position and a second longitudinal dimension in a second processing position, wherein the second longitudinal dimension is smaller than the first longitudinal dimension by at least 25%.

5. The track processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said linking unit has a linking joint for pivoting said first structural unit relative to said second structural unit.

6. The track processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said linking unit is construed for tool-free displacement of said first structural unit relative to said second structural unit.

7. The track processing machine according to claim 1, further comprising an impact wrench for driving said processing head in rotation about the axis of rotation.

8. The track processing machine according to claim 7, wherein said processing head providing a drive torque about the axis of rotation of at least 150 Nm.

9. The track processing machine according to claim 7, wherein said first structural unit has a motor for rotatably driving said processing head.

10. The track processing machine according to claim 7, further comprising an energy storage device for providing a drive power transmitted to said processing head.

11. The track processing machine according to claim 10, wherein said energy storage device has an accumulator.

12. The track processing machine according to claim 10, wherein said second structural unit contains said energy storage device.

13. The track processing machine according to claim 7, further comprising a controller to control a drive power transmitted to said processing head.

14. The track processing machine according to claim 13, wherein said controller is construed to detect a configuration of the track processing machine in at least one processing position.

15. The track processing machine according to claim 7, further comprising a vibration decoupler acting between said processing head and said at least one handle.

16. A process for track processing, which comprises the steps of: providing a track processing machine according to claim 1; and performing the track processing via the track processing machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0037] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a track processing machine, in particular an impact wrench machine, for track processing, and contains a first structural unit, a second structural unit and a linking unit for mechanically connecting the first structural unit to the second structural unit, wherein the track processing machine is arranged in a first processing position;

[0038] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the track processing machine shown in FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a side view of the track processing machine shown in FIG. 1, wherein a socket wrench is attached to a processing head of the first structural unit, and wherein the track processing machine is used to loosen a screw connection with a vertically oriented screw axis;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a front view of the track processing machine shown in FIG. 1 without the socket wrench;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the track processing machine shown in FIG. 1, wherein the track processing machine is arranged in a second processing position in which the second structural unit is pivoted about the first structural unit by use of the linking unit;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the track processing machine shown in FIG. 5; and

[0043] FIG. 7 is a side view of the track processing machine shown in FIG. 5, in particular when loosening a screw connection with the screw axis oriented horizontally.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIGS. 1-7 thereof, there is shown a track processing machine 1, in particular an impact wrench machine for track processing. The track processing machine 1 contains a first structural unit 2 and a second structural unit 3. The first structural unit 2 and the second structural unit 3 are mechanically connected to each other by a linking unit 4. The linking unit 4 has a linking joint 5 for pivoting the second structural unit 3 relative to the first structural unit 2.

[0045] The first structural unit 2 has a processing head 6 which can be driven in rotation about an axis of rotation 7. For driving a processing tool 8 in rotation, the processing head 6 has a tool connector 9 in the form of an external square connection. A processing tool 8 construed as a socket wrench is reversibly detachably attached to the tool connector 9.

[0046] The processing head 6 is a component of an impact wrench 10 of the track processing machine 1. The impact wrench 10 is rotatably connected to an electric motor 11 of the track processing machine 1. The first structural unit 2 contains the electric motor 11 and the impact wrench 10 with the processing head 6.

[0047] The track processing machine 1 has an accumulator receptacle 12. An accumulator 13 is attached to the accumulator receptacle 12 in a reversibly detachable manner. The accumulator 13 is construed as a lithium-polymer accumulator. In particular, the accumulator 13 is construed to supply the electric motor 11 with electrical power.

[0048] The track processing machine 1 is construed to be portable and can be manually guided for track processing. For this purpose, the track processing machine 1 has a first handle 14, a second handle 15a and a third handle 15b. The first handle 14 is fixedly connected to the accumulator receptacle 12. The second handle 15a is attached to the accumulator 13. The third handle 15b is hingedly attached to the linking unit 4. The third handle 15b is a component of the first structural unit 2.

[0049] The accumulator 13 is attached to the accumulator receptacle 12 by means of a latching connection 16. The latching connection 16 contains a pivotably mounted latching lever 17 and a latching engagement 18. The latching lever 17 is connected to the accumulator receptacle 12 and is biased by means of a spring element, which is not shown, into a latching position in which the latching connection 16 is closed. In an open position of the latching lever 17, the accumulator 13 can be removed from the accumulator receptacle 12.

[0050] A control unit 19 of the track processing machine 1 is connected to the accumulator 13 via the accumulator receptacle 12 in a signal-transmitting, in particular power-transmitting, manner. The control unit 19 is construed to control the electrical power provided by the accumulator 13 and supplied to the electric motor 11. For this purpose, the control unit 19 contains an electronic control element, which is not shown, in particular a programmable controller, and a power component, which is not shown and is in signal connection with the electronic control element, for switching the electrical power supplied to the electric motor 11.

[0051] An operating unit 20 of the track processing machine 1 is construed to activate the track processing machine 1 based on a corresponding input from the operator. The control unit 19 and the operating unit 20 are construed to control, in particular regulate, the power transmitted to the electric motor 11 depending on an operator input. The operating unit 20 is in signal connection with the control unit 19 for this purpose.

[0052] The second structural unit 3 has the first handle 14, the accumulator receptacle 12, the accumulator 13 with the second handle 15a, the control unit 19 and the operating unit 20.

[0053] The linking unit 4 connects the first structural unit 2 to the second structural unit 3 such that they can be displaced, in particular pivoted, relative to one another between a first processing position and a second processing position. In both processing positions, the track processing machine 1 can be used for processing a track 21. The linking joint 5 is construed such that the first structural unit 2 and the second structural unit 3 can be fixed in two predetermined linking angles α1, α2 oriented relative to each other. The linking angles α1, α2 are dimensioned around a pivot axis 22 of the linking joint 5, between the axis of rotation 7 and a main extension direction 23 of the second structural unit 3 oriented radially to the pivot axis 22. The first linking angle α1 prevails in the first processing position and is 180°. The second linking angle α2, prevailing in the second processing position, is 90°.

[0054] A swivel angle Δα, by which the first structural unit 2 can be swiveled relative to the second structural unit 3 when shifting between the first processing position and the second processing position, is 90°.

[0055] The linking joint 5 has first joint parts 24 and second joint parts 25, the respective first joint part 24 being pivotable relative to the respective second joint part 25. The first joint parts 24 and the second joint parts 25 are components of the linking unit 4. The linking unit 4 is connected to the first structural unit 2 on two sides by means of the first joint parts 24. By means of the second joint parts 25, the linking unit 4 is connected on two sides to the accumulator receptacle 12.

[0056] The linking unit 4 has a pivot locking device, not shown, for reversibly releasably fixing the track processing machine 1 in the first processing position or in the second processing position, in particular in each of the predetermined linking angles α1, α2. For this purpose, the pivot locking device comprises a spring bolt which acts in particular between one of the first joint parts 24 and the associated second joint part 25. The pivot locking device is manually displaceable between a locking position and a release position by an operator for displacing the track processing machine 1 between the first and second processing positions.

[0057] The control unit 19 is construed to detect whether the linking unit 4, in particular the pivot locking device, is arranged in the locking position. An activation of the electric motor 11 is enabled by means of the control unit 19 only if the linking unit 4 is arranged in the locking position. For this purpose, the control unit 19 can be in signal connection with a switch connected to the pivot locking device.

[0058] A vibration decoupler 26 acts between the processing head 6 and the handles 14, 15a, 15b. Via the vibration decoupler 26, the first structural unit 2 is connected to the linking unit 4, in particular to the first joint parts 24. The electric motor 11 is attached to the first joint parts 24 by means of the vibration decoupler 26. The vibration decoupler 26 contains four damping elements 27 for damping vibration movements between the first structural unit 2 and the linking unit 4. The damping elements 27 are construed as rubber-elastic bodies, in particular with a rotationally symmetrical, in particular hourglass-shaped, form. One screw bolt 28 each fixes a damping element 27 between the first structural unit 2 and the linking unit 4 and limits their vibration movement relative to each other. The vibration decoupler 26 reduces the transmission of vibrations generated at the impact wrench 10 to the linking unit 4 and via the handles 14, 15a, 15b to the operator.

[0059] The track processing machine 1 has a first longitudinal dimension L.sub.1 along the axis of rotation 7 in the first processing position and a second longitudinal dimension L.sub.2 in the second processing position. The longitudinal dimensions L.sub.1, L.sub.2 are dimensioned starting from the processing head 6, in particular the tool connector 9, along the axis of rotation 7. The processing tool 8 is not considered in the dimensioning of the longitudinal dimensions L.sub.1, L.sub.2. The second longitudinal dimension L.sub.2 is, for example, approximately 37% smaller than the first longitudinal dimension L.sub.1.

[0060] The track processing machine 1 is construed, in particular the electric motor 11 and the impact wrench 10 are construed, to provide a drive torque M about the axis of rotation 7 of 500 Nm at the processing head 6, in particular at the processing tool 8.

[0061] The mode of operation of the track processing machine 1 is as follows.

[0062] The track processing machine 1 is initially deactivated. The accumulator 13 is charged and attached to the accumulator receptacle 12. The processing tool 8 is attached to the tool connector 9. The processing machine 1 is in the first processing position, in which the axis of rotation 7 is oriented substantially parallel to the main extension direction 23 of the second structural unit 3.

[0063] The processing machine 1 can be used for tightening and/or loosening various track screw connections 29. Track screw connections 29 with a vertical screw axis 30 are used, for example, for fastening rails 31 to track sleepers 32. Track screw connections 29 with a horizontal screw axis 30 are used, for example, on emergency lug connectors 33.

[0064] In FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the track processing machine 1 is shown in the first processing position. For actuating the track screw connections 29 with the vertical screw axis 30, the processing machine 1 is arranged in the first processing position. Due to its large longitudinal dimension L.sub.1 in the vertical direction, the track processing machine 1 can be easily gripped and guided by the operator and, due to its small transverse dimensions in the horizontal direction, it can be used in a particularly space-saving manner.

[0065] By means of the operating unit 20, an operator command is transmitted to the control unit 19 for activating the track processing machine 1. On the basis of a further operator command detected via the operating unit 20, the control unit 19 regulates the electrical power provided at the electric motor 11. By means of the control unit 19, the electrical power is switched from the accumulator 13 to the electric motor via the power component. The track screw connection 29 is either tightened or loosened in accordance with the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation 7 specified by the operator.

[0066] In order to actuate the track screw connections 29 of the emergency lug connector 33 with the respective horizontal screw axis 30, the track processing machine 1 is shifted from the first processing position to the second processing position. For this purpose, the pivot locking device is loosened manually by the operator, in particular the spring bolt is displaced from a locking position to a release position. The second structural unit 3 can be swiveled manually relative to the first structural unit 2 by a swivel angle Δα of 90°. The location of the pivot locking device in the release position is detected by the control unit 19. The operation of the track processing machine 1, in particular a power transfer between the accumulator 13 and the electric motor 11, is prevented by the control unit 19.

[0067] In the second processing position, the pivot locking device returns to the locking position, in particular the spring bolt engages in a corresponding bore for fixing the linking unit 4 in the second processing position. The control unit 19 detects the arrangement of the pivot locking device in the locking position and allows the track processing machine 1 to be activated.

[0068] In FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, the track processing machine 1 is shown in the second processing position. The track processing machine 1 or the processing tool 8 can be moved by the operator to one of the track screw connections 29 with the horizontal screw axis 30 by means of the handles 14, 15a, 15b and engaged with the latter. Due to the reduced longitudinal dimension L.sub.2, the installation space requirement of the track processing machine 1 in the horizontal direction is particularly small. Due to the fact that the second structural unit 3 is pivoted upwardly about the pivot axis 22 by means of the handles 14, 15a, the latter maintains its orientation with respect to the vertical axis, and the track processing machine 1 is particularly easy to handle.

[0069] The mode of operation of the track processing machine 1 in the second processing position corresponds to the mode of operation of the track processing machine 1 in the first processing position.

[0070] The arrangement of the vibration decoupler 26 between the processing head 6 and the handles 14, 15a, 15b, ensures that the intensity of the vibrations acting on the operator is reduced. Due to the fact that the vibration decoupler 26 is arranged between the first structural unit 2 and the linking unit 4, the vibration stress on the linking unit 4 is also reduced. Furthermore, the stress on sensitive electronic components such as the accumulator 13 and the control unit 19, which are part of the second structural unit 3, is reduced.

[0071] Due to the arrangement of the entire drive train, in particular the electric motor 11 and the impact wrench 10, on the vibration side of the vibration decoupler 26, a constructively complex and wear-prone vibration decoupling across a drive shaft can be dispensed with. The arrangement of the mass-intensive accumulator 13 on the operator side of the vibration decoupler 26 provides additional vibration damping due to mass inertia.

[0072] Due to the fact that the impact wrench 10 is provided for driving the processing head 6 in rotation, the housing torques to be borne by the operator are significantly reduced. The track processing machine 1 is particularly operator-friendly in use.