Track maintenance machine and method for consolidation of a ballast bed

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A track maintenance machine configured to be mobile on a track for consolidation of a ballast bed underneath the track, the track maintenance machine comprising: an undercarriage; a machine frame supported on said undercarriage; and a consolidating device connected to said machine frame for applying a vertical static load to the ballast bed, said consolidating device including at least one consolidating element configured to be lowered; said at least one consolidating element being constructed as a flat and rigid consolidating plate having a working position being larger in a longitudinal direction of the track than a distance between two sleepers of the track; and a rotation device for rotating said at least one consolidating plate to cause a rotary motion for turning said at least one consolidating plate into a passing position for lowering or raising said at least one consolidating plate between two sleepers of the track.

2. The track maintenance machine according to claim 1, wherein said consolidating device is displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the sleepers.

3. The track maintenance machine according to claim 1, wherein said consolidating device connected to said machine frame includes a lever mounted on said consolidating device and said rotation device includes a drive acting upon said lever and causing the rotary motion of said consolidating plate.

4. The track maintenance machine according to claim 3, wherein said drive causing said rotary motion is a hydraulic drive.

5. The track maintenance machine according to claim 1, wherein said rotation device includes an electrical actuating drive causing the rotary motion of said consolidating plate.

6. The track maintenance machine according to claim 1, wherein said consolidating device includes vibration generators for improving consolidation of the ballast bed.

7. A method for consolidation of the ballast bed underneath a track, the method comprising the following steps: providing a track maintenance machine including: an undercarriage, a machine frame supported on the undercarriage, and a consolidating device connected to the machine frame, the consolidating device including at least one consolidating element configured to be lowered; the at least one consolidating element being constructed as a flat and rigid consolidating plate having a working position being larger in a longitudinal direction of the track than a distance between two sleepers of the track; and a rotation device for rotating the at least one consolidating plate to cause a rotary motion for turning the at least one consolidating plate into a passing position for lowering or raising the at least one consolidating plate between two sleepers of the track; applying a vertical static load to the ballast bed until achieving a desired ballast density condition; and lowering the consolidating plate between the sleepers, then using the rotation device to cause the rotary motion for turning the consolidating plate into the working position and then shifting the consolidating plate in a longitudinal direction of the sleepers in a hollow space between the sleepers and the ballast bed.

8. The method according to claim 7, which further comprises applying the rotary motion to the consolidating plate lowered between the sleepers to grade the ballast bed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained below by way of example with reference to the attached figures. There is shown in schematic representation in:

(2) FIG. 1 a track maintenance machine having a consolidating device,

(3) FIG. 2 a consolidating device having consolidating plates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) The track maintenance machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a machine for consolidating the ballast bed 2, including a machine frame 4 which is supported on an undercarriage 3 and has several adjustable devices, such as a consolidating device 5 and a gripping device 6 for lifting and/or lining a track 7. The consolidating device 5 consists essentially of a main frame 8, at least one support frame 9, a lowering device 10 and, for turning a consolidating plate 12, a rotation device 11 which comprises a hydraulic or electric drive 13. For example, a hydraulic cylinder is connected to a lever 14 to cause the rotary motion 15. In FIG. 1, the consolidating plate 12 is shown in the working position 16.

(5) In working operations, the track maintenance machine 1 moves with a prescribed speed in the working direction 17. The gripping device 6 encompasses two roller tongs per rail 18, arranged one following the other in the working direction 17.

(6) The consolidating device 5 represented in FIG. 2 shows the main frame 8 in which two guide devices 20 are arranged in the longitudinal direction 19 of the sleepers for displaceable reception of four support frames 9. Two consolidating plates 12 are shown in the passing position 21 and in the working position 16, respectively. The working position is obtained by means of the lowering device 10 and the rotation device 11. The working position 16 has been reached when the longer side of the rectangular designed consolidating plate 12 is aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction 22 of the track. By means of vibration generators 23, an even better consolidation of the ballast bed 2 is achieved.

(7) In an embodiment not shown, the passing position 21 is attained in that the consolidating plate 12 is mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, extending in the longitudinal direction 19 of the sleepers, and is angled by means of an adjustment device in order to be able to lower it between the sleepers 24.

(8) As a rule, the consolidation underneath the sleepers 24 takes place during cleaning or renewing the ballast bed 2 with a track maintenance machine 1 configured as a cleaning machine. First, old ballast is removed underneath the sleepers 24 by means of a clearing chain or a suction device. During this, the rails 18 and sleepers 24 are held in position by means of the gripping device 6. A newly introduced first ballast layer is consolidated by means of the machine 1 according to the invention, before the new ballast bed 2 is finished by introduction and tamping of a further ballast layer.