PROCESSING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A RAIL TRACK

Abstract

A processing machine for processing a rail track has a power supply unit for providing power and a processing unit which is able to be operated by the power provided by the power supply unit. The power supply unit and the processing unit are configured so as to be separate from one another. On account thereof, the processing unit is able to be operated in a spatially separated manner from the power supply unit, on account of which a user-friendly, flexible and safe processing of the rail track is enabled.

Claims

1. A processing machine for processing a rail track, the machine comprising: a power supply unit for providing power; and a processing unit to be operated by way of the power provided by said power supply unit; said power supply unit and said processing unit being configured so as to be separate from one another.

2. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises a supporting frame and at least one guide roller that is rotatably mounted on said supporting frame.

3. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises a plurality of guide rollers that are disposed along a rail longitudinal direction.

4. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises at least one support element for supporting said power supply unit on the rail track.

5. The processing machine according to claim 4, wherein said at least one support element is able to be repositioned relative to at least one guide roller.

6. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises at least one handle for manually repositioning said power supply unit.

7. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises a mounting for temporarily holding said processing unit.

8. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises an electric power accumulator.

9. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises a first supporting frame, and said processing unit comprises a second supporting frame, said first and second supporting frames being configured so as to be mechanically separate from one another.

10. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises a first handle, and said processing unit comprises a second handle, for manually repositioning independently said power supply unit and said processing unit.

11. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit for manually displacing on a rail of the rail track comprises a plurality of guide rollers.

12. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is configured as a rail grinding unit.

13. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises a supporting frame and at least one wheel which, for repositioning said power supply unit, is rotatably mounted on said supporting frame.

14. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises at least one auxiliary drive for rotatingly driving at least one of at least one guide roller and at least one wheel.

15. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises a transport surface.

16. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises a transport container.

17. A method for processing a rail track, the method comprising the following steps: providing a processing machine according to claim 1; and operating the power supply unit and the processing unit in a spatially separated manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a processing machine having a power supply unit and a processing unit which is connected to the former in a power-transmitting manner and which for processing a rail track is able to be manually displaced independently of the power supply unit;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the power supply unit;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the processing machine in FIG. 1, in a displacement state in which the processing unit is held on the power supply unit;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a lateral view of the processing machine in the displacement state on a rail of the rail track;

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the processing machine in the displacement state while being manually displaced along a rail of the rail track;

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a front view of the power supply unit in an operative state tilted and secured relative to the rail;

[0039] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the power supply unit of a processing machine according to a second exemplary embodiment;

[0040] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the power supply unit of a processing machine according to a third exemplary embodiment;

[0041] FIG. 9 shows a lateral view of the power supply unit in FIG. 8;

[0042] FIG. 10 shows a front view of the power supply unit in FIG. 8;

[0043] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the power supply unit of a processing machine according to a fourth exemplary embodiment;

[0044] FIG. 12 shows a lateral view of the power supply unit in FIG. 11; and

[0045] FIG. 13 shows a front view of the power supply unit in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0046] A first exemplary embodiment of the invention is described hereunder by means of FIGS. 1 to 6. The processing machine 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 serves for processing a rail track 2. The rail track 2 comprises a first rail 3 and a second rail 4 which are fastened to sleepers 5 that are disposed in a ballast bed S, or a track bed, respectively.

[0047] The processing machine 1 comprises a power supply unit 6 for providing electric power and an electrically operable processing unit 7, said power supply unit 6 and said processing unit 7 being configured so as to be mechanically separate from one another and forming separate functional units. In order to be supplied with electric power, the processing unit 7 by means of a power transmission connection in the form of a supply line 8 is connected to the power supply unit 6. To this end, the supply line 8 by means of a first connector terminal 9 is releasably connected to the power supply unit 6, and by means of the second connector terminal 10 releasably connected to the processing unit 7. The power transmission connection has a length L which preferably is: 2 m<L<30 m, in particular 3 m<L<20 m and in particular 4 m<L<10 m.

[0048] The power supply unit 6 comprises a supporting frame 11 on which two guide rollers 12, 13 are mounted so as to be rotatable about associated rotation axes 14, 15. The guide rollers 12, 13 are disposed on the supporting frame 11 in such a manner that said guide rollers 12, 13 are mutually aligned along a rail longitudinal direction 16, or a displacement direction, respectively, and the rotation axes 14, 15 are spaced apart along the rail longitudinal direction 16 such that the power supply unit 6 is able to be manually displaced selectively on one of the rails 3 or 4.

[0049] A handle 17 for the manual displacement is fastened to the supporting frame 11. The handle 17 is fastened, for example, so as to be fixed on the supporting frame 11 or so as to be able to be folded out on the latter. Additionally, the power supply unit 6 for transportation has handles 18 and a fastening eyelet 19, said handle 18 and said fastening eyelet 19 being fastened to the supporting frame 11. The handles 18 are, for example, disposed laterally so as to be fixed on the supporting frame 11 or so as to be able to be folded out on the latter.

[0050] In order to be supported and secured, the power supply unit 6 has two first support elements 20 and two second support elements 21. The first support elements 20 are disposed on a first side of the guide rollers 12, 13, whereas the second support elements 21 are disposed on an opposite second side of the guide rollers 12, 13. The first support elements 20 are mutually spaced apart along the rail longitudinal direction 16. Accordingly, the second support elements 21 are mutually spaced apart along the rail longitudinal direction 16. The support elements 20, 21 are configured as support brackets.

[0051] The support elements 20, 21 are fastened to the supporting frame 11 so as to be able to be repositioned perpendicularly to a plane E defined by the rotation axes 14, 15. The repositionable fastening takes place, for example, by way of a slot-and-screw connection which is not illustrated in more detail. On account of the repositionable fastening of the support elements 20, 21, the latter are height-adjustable relative to the guide rollers 12, 13, or relative to the plane E defined by the rotation axes 14, 15, respectively. In other words, a spacing A between the plane E defined by the rotation axes 14, 15 and a respective support face F of the support elements 20, 21 is adjustable.

[0052] The power supply unit 6 furthermore comprises a mounting 22 for temporarily holding the processing unit 7. The mounting 22 comprises two first holding elements 23 and a second holding element 24, said holding elements 23 and 24 being disposed on the supporting frame 11. The mounting 22 is disposed so as to be substantially centric relative to the guide rollers 12, 13. The mounting 22 is preferably disposed on a side of the supporting frame 11 that is opposite the handle 17. The first holding elements 23 are disposed so as to be laterally beside one another, whereas the second holding element is disposed so as to be centric in relation to the first holding elements 23 and below the latter, such that a three-point mounting is configured.

[0053] For providing electric power, the power supply unit 6 comprises an electric power generator 25 which comprises an internal combustion engine 26, an electric generator 27, and a charging installation 28. The generator 27 is mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine 26, on the one hand, and electrically connected to the charging installation 28 which at the output side provides a charging voltage, or a DC voltage, respectively, on the other hand. An electric power accumulator 29 of the power supply unit 6 is charged by means of the charging voltage. The electric power accumulator 29 is in particular a capacitor, or a capacitor circuit, respectively, and/or a rechargeable battery. In terms of the design of the circuit, reference is made to DE 20 2016 005 841 U1.

[0054] The processing unit 7 is configured as a rail grinding unit. The processing unit 7 comprises a supporting frame 30 on which guide rollers 31, 32 are rotatably mounted. The guide rollers 31, 32 are disposed on the supporting frame 30 in such a manner that the processing unit 7 is able to be manually displaced selectively on the first rail 3 or the second rail 4. The first supporting frame 11 of the power supply unit 6 and the second supporting frame 30 of the processing unit 7 are configured so as to be mechanically separate from one another such that the processing unit 7 is able to be repositioned independently of the power supply unit 6. To this end, a handle 33 is disposed on the supporting frame 30.

[0055] A grinding apparatus 34 is fastened to the supporting frame 30 so as to be approximately centric between the guide rollers 31, 32. The grinding apparatus 34 comprises a grinding tool 35 that by means of an electric drive motor 36 is able to be rotatingly driven about a rotation axis 37. The grinding tool 35 is manually height-adjustable in the direction of the rotation axis 37. The construction of the grinding apparatus 34 is known and commonplace.

[0056] The processing machine 1 has an illumination having a plurality of light elements 38, 39 which are disposed on the power supply unit 6, on the one hand, and on the processing unit 7, on the other hand.

[0057] The functional mode of the processing machine 1 is as follows:

[0058] An operating state of the processing machine 1 at a first rail track position is visualized in FIG. 1. The processing unit 7 in the operating state is connected to the power supply unit 6 by means of the supply line 8. The power supply unit 6 is disposed on one of the rails 3 or 4, for example on rail 3, as is illustrated in FIG. 1. The power supply unit 6 in the operating state is in a tilted position such that the support elements 20 are supported in one of the sleepers 5 and/or the ballast bed 8, for example. This is visualized in FIG. 6. On account thereof, the power supply unit 6 is secured against any undesirable repositioning, for example in the case of a steep rail track 2, so that a dead man's brake is not required. The support elements 20 are able to be repositioned relative to the supporting frame 11, when required, such that the spacing A between the plane E and the support faces F is adjustable. The tilting angle can be set on account thereof.

[0059] The processing of the rail track 2 by means of the processing unit 7 takes place so as to be spatially distanced from the power supply unit 6. The processing radius is restricted only by the length of the supply line 8. The rail 3 or the rail 4 can selectively be rectified when grinding. On account of the relatively low weight of the processing unit 7, the latter can be manually repositioned from the one rail to the other rail 3 or 4, respectively, in a simple manner The grinding takes place by manually displacing the processing unit 7 on the respective rail 3 or 4. Grinding of the rail 4 is visualized in FIG. 1, for example. When required, the light elements 38 and/or 39 can be switched on during the processing.

[0060] Once the processing of the rail 2 in the processing radius has been completed, the processing machine 1 has to be manually displaced. To this end, the processing machine 1 is moved from the operating state illustrated in FIG. 1 to a displacement state visualized in FIGS. 3 to 5. The supply line 8 in the displacement state is released from the power supply unit 6 and from the processing unit 7 and disposed in a secured state on the power supply unit 6. The processing unit 7 is disposed in the mounting 22 such that said processing unit 7 is temporarily held on the power supply unit 6. The processing machine 1, or the power supply unit 6, respectively, is subsequently tilted to a horizontal position such that the support faces F no longer bear on a sleeper 5 and/or on the ballast bed S. The horizontal position is visualized in FIGS. 4 and 5. When required, the spacing A can be reduced by repositioning the support elements 20 or 21, respectively, such that the processing machine 1, or the power supply unit 6, respectively, in the displacement state has an enlarged clearance in relation to the sleepers 5 or to the ballast bed S, respectively. This is visualized for the support elements 20 in FIG. 5.

[0061] The processing machine 1 by means of the handle 17 can now be manually displaced on the rail 3 in a simple manner until a desired second rail track position is reached. At the latter, the processing machine 1 is converted from the displacement state back to the operative state in the reverse order.

[0062] Transporting the processing machine 1 to the rail track 2 and away from the latter takes place by means of the handles 18 which enable the processing machine 1 or only the power supply unit 6 to be repositioned by a plurality of operators. Alternatively, the processing machine 1 can be repositioned by means of a lifting installation that engages on the fastening eyelet 19. For transporting to and from the site, the processing machine 1 is preferably in the displacement state visualized in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the power supply unit 6 and the processing unit 7 can be transported separately from one another to and from the site.

[0063] A second exemplary embodiment of the invention is described hereunder by means of FIG. 7. As opposed to the preceding exemplary embodiment, the support elements 20, 21 are able to be pivoted about associated pivot axes 20′ and 21′ such that the support faces F can be repositioned across the plane E. In other words, the support elements 20, 21 can be pivoted in such a manner that the spacing A is zero, or less than zero, respectively. The guide rollers 12, 13 in this displacement state thus no longer lie above the support faces F such that the power supply unit 6, or the processing machine 1, respectively, is able to be manually repositioned on firm ground, for example beside the rail track 2. The flexibility is increased on account thereof. Furthermore, the handle 17 is configured so as to be telescopic and able to be folded out. On account thereof, the processing machine 1 can be converted to a compact state when transported to and from the site. In terms of the further construction and the further functional mode of the processing machine 1, reference is made to the preceding exemplary embodiment.

[0064] A third exemplary embodiment of the invention is described hereunder by means of FIGS. 8 to 10. As opposed to the preceding exemplary embodiments, the power supply unit 6, in addition to the guide rollers 12, 13, has two wheels 40, 41 which are mounted so as to be rotatable on the supporting frame 11. The wheels 40, 41 are rotatable about a rotation axis 42. The wheels 40, 41 are disposed on a side of the supporting frame 11 that faces the handle 17 so that the power supply unit 6 by means of the handle 17 is able to be tilted about the rotation axis 42 and is able to be freely repositioned on the wheels 40, 41. In order to be set down, the power supply unit 6 on a side of the supporting frame 11 that is opposite the wheels 40, 41 has support feet 43. The wheels 40, 41 comprise in each case one rim 44 and a tyre 45 disposed thereon.

[0065] The electric power accumulator 29 is disposed on the supporting frame 11. In particular, the power supply unit 6 does not have any internal combustion engine nor any generator. The electric power accumulator 29 provides an electric connector V for connecting the electric supply line 8. The electric power accumulator 29 furthermore supplies a DC voltage socket G and, by way of a converter 46, an AC voltage socket W. To this end, the converter 46 is configured as an inverter. A control unit 47 disposed on the supporting frame 11 monitors the electric power accumulator 29 and controls the converter 46 for providing the voltages. The control unit 47 comprises a USB socket B.

[0066] In order for the manual repositioning to be supported, the power supply unit 6 has a first auxiliary drive 48 for driving the guide roller 12, and a second auxiliary drive 49 for driving the wheel 41. The auxiliary drives 48, 49 are configured as electric drive motors.

[0067] The power supply unit 6 comprises a transport container 50. The transport container 50 is disposed on an upper side of the supporting frame 11 that faces away from the guide rollers 12, 13, or the wheels 40, 41, respectively. The transport container 50 comprises a transport surface 51 which is surrounded by lateral walls 52. In terms of the further construction and the further functional mode of the processing machine 1, reference is made to the preceding exemplary embodiments.

[0068] A fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention is described hereunder by means of FIGS. 11 to 13. As opposed to the preceding exemplary embodiments, four guide rollers 12, 13, 12′, and 13′ are mounted so as to be rotatable on the supporting frame 11. The guide rollers 12, 13, in the manner already described, are disposed so as to be mutually aligned in the rail longitudinal direction 16, wherein the associated rotation axes 14, 15 are disposed so as to be mutually spaced apart in the rail longitudinal direction 16. Accordingly, the guide rollers 12′, 13′ are disposed so as to be mutually aligned along the rail longitudinal direction 16, wherein the associated rotation axes 14′, 15′ are disposed so as to be mutually spaced apart in the rail longitudinal direction 16. The rotation axes 14 and 14′, and the rotation axes 15 and 15′ are mutually aligned. The spacing of the guide rollers 12, 13 from the guide rollers 12′, 13′ corresponds to the spacing of the rails 3, 4 such that the power supply unit 6 by means of the guide rollers 12, 13 is able to be repositioned on the first rail 3, and by means of the guide rollers 12′, 13′ is able to be repositioned on the second rail 4. The guide roller 12 is able to be driven by means of the auxiliary drive 48, for example, such that the manual displacement of the power supply unit 6 is supported. The auxiliary drive 48 drives the guide roller 12 by way of a transmission mechanism which is not illustrated in more detail, for example. In order for the power supply unit 6 to be secured against self-acting repositioning, said power supply unit 6 has a brake 53 for blocking at least one of the guide rollers 12, 13, 12′, 13′. In terms of the further construction and the further functional mode of the processing machine 1, reference is made to the preceding exemplary embodiments.

[0069] The processing unit 7 can be configured as a grinding unit, an assembling unit, or a compactor unit. The power supply unit 6 is able to be selectively operated with different processing units 7.

[0070] In general, the power supply unit can be configured for providing electric power, hydraulic power, and/or mechanical power. The power supply unit is connected to the processing unit by means of a power transmission connection. The power transmission connection is configured for transmitting electric power, hydraulic power and/or mechanical power. The power transmission connection is configured, for example, as an electric supply line, hydraulic supply line, and/or as a flexible mechanical transmission shaft. The processing unit is able to be operated by means of electric power, hydraulic power and/or mechanical power.