Track-conditioning unit with device for rail drying

Abstract

A combined track conditioning unit includes a dispensing apparatus with an outflow opening integrated in the front region of the dispensing apparatus which is suitable for applying a gaseous drying medium to a rail. A gritting material outlet unit which is integrated in the rear region of the dispensing apparatus and is suitable for applying a gritting agent to the rail also forms part of the dispensing apparatus. A rail vehicle is also provided. Additionally, a method for increasing a coefficient of friction between a rail and a wheel of a rail vehicle with the aid of a track conditioning unit is provided.

Claims

1. A combined track conditioning unit for a rail vehicle, the combined track conditioning unit comprising: a combined dispensing apparatus having a front region, a rear region, at least one outlet opening disposed centrally relative to a transverse direction of the rail vehicle and two outlet openings disposed laterally relative to the transverse direction of the rail vehicle, said two laterally-disposed outlet openings disposed upstream of said at least one centrally-disposed outlet opening in a travel direction of the rail vehicle and all of said outlet openings having a location in said front region for applying a gaseous drying medium to a rail, and a gritting material outlet unit having a location in said rear region for applying a gritting material to the rail; said at least one centrally disposed outflow opening being configured for drying when traveling straight ahead, and said at least one centrally-disposed outlet opening including a plurality of centrally disposed outflow openings disposed on a rotary plate for drying when traveling straight ahead; said two laterally-disposed outlet openings and said at least one centrally-disposed outlet opening being simultaneously and separately operable in dependence on conditions of the rail; said locations of said outflow opening and said gritting material outlet unit causing a portion of a track being traveled over to be initially dried, to then have the gritting material applied to it and to finally be traveled over by a wheel of the rail vehicle with an increased adhesion value between the wheel and the rail.

2. The combined track conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein said outflow opening and said gritting material outlet unit are integrated fixedly in said combined dispensing apparatus.

3. The combined track conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein said outflow opening and said gritting material outlet unit have an adjustable and fixable position and orientation in a test phase.

4. The combined track conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein said two laterally disposed outflow openings are configured for drying the rail when traveling around a bend.

5. The combined track conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one centrally disposed outflow opening has a slider with a plurality of outlets, said slider being displaceable in a transverse direction permitting a position of a drying jet to be displaceable in a transverse direction.

6. The combined track conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein said outflow openings for applying a gaseous drying medium are configured to apply compressed air as the gaseous drying medium to the rail.

7. The combined track conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein said combined dispensing apparatus is configured to be heated.

8. The combined track conditioning unit according to claim 1, wherein said outlet openings dispense a reduced amount of drying medium upon operating said two laterally-disposed outlet openings separately from said at least one centrally-disposed outlet opening.

9. A rail vehicle, comprising: a plurality of trucks; and a combined track conditioning unit according to claim 1 disposed on one of said trucks in front of a wheel of said one truck.

10. A combined track conditioning unit for a rail vehicle, the combined track conditioning unit comprising: a combined dispensing apparatus having a front region, a rear region, an outflow opening having a location in said front region for applying a gaseous drying medium to a rail, and a gritting material outlet unit having a location in said rear region for applying a gritting material to the rail; said locations of said outflow opening and said gritting material outlet unit causing a portion of a track being traveled over to be initially dried, to then have the gritting material applied to it and to finally be traveled over by a wheel of the rail vehicle with an increased adhesion value between the wheel and the rail; and said combined dispensing apparatus having a plurality of centrally disposed outflow openings disposed on a rotary plate for drying when traveling straight ahead.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional track conditioning unit, which is arranged in front of a wheel of a rail vehicle,

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a combined track conditioning unit according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention,

(3) FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a combined track conditioning unit according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention,

(4) FIG. 4 shows a flowchart, which illustrates a method for increasing a coefficient of friction between a rail and a wheel of a rail vehicle with the aid of a track conditioning unit according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view 10 of a conventional track conditioning unit 1. The track conditioning unit 1 is arranged in front of a wheel 2 of a truck of a rail vehicle (not shown), as viewed in the direction of travel (symbolized by an arrow). The track conditioning unit comprises a sandbox 1a, which is used as a reservoir for the gritting material M employed. Located on the outer side of the bottom region of the sandbox 1a is a sand system 3, with which the flowrate of the gritting material is regulated. Attached to the sand system 3 is a sand hose 4, which delivers the gritting material M to a sand outlet tube 5. In front of the sand outlet tube 5, the gritting material is distributed over an effective region, i.e. on a surface of a rail head of a rail 6 on which the rail vehicle is traveling.

(6) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view 20 of a combined track conditioning unit 21 according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. The track conditioning unit 21 is arranged in front of a wheel 2 of a truck of a rail vehicle (not shown), as viewed in the direction of travel (symbolized by an arrow). The combined track conditioning unit 21 comprises, as part of a dispensing apparatus 21a, in its rear region, a fixedly installed gritting material device 22 with a gritting material outlet tube 22a. An apparatus 23 for drying the rail 6 on which the rail vehicle is traveling is also a part of the combined track conditioning unit 21. The apparatus 23 for drying the rail 6 has a plurality of outflow openings 23a, 23b, which are set up to emit an air flow L onto the rail 6. The outflow openings for drying the rail 6 are directed vertically downward in the direction of the rail 6 and are arranged in front of the gritting material outlet tube 22a of the gritting material device 22. The gritting material outlet tube 22a is directed diagonally downward onto the rail 6 such that the dispensed gritting material M is applied to the rail 6, directly in front of the wheel 2 of the rail vehicle, in an effective region WB. The air flow L of the outflow openings 23a, 23b is directed onto a region TB in front of the effective region WB of the gritting material device 22, such that the gritting material M drops onto a region of the rail 6 that has already been dried.

(7) The at least one centrally arranged outflow opening has sliders 24a, 24b with a plurality of outlets, which are displaceable in a transverse direction such that a position of a drying jet is displaceable in a transverse direction.

(8) The combined track conditioning unit is embodied in a heated manner for transitional and winter operation, in order that the outflow openings and the gritting material outlet unit do not freeze. The heating can be effected for example with the aid of a heating rod, a heating coil or a heating foil 25.

(9) FIG. 3 shows a view 30 from below of the combined track conditioning unit 21 shown in FIG. 2. The track conditioning device 21 has a dispensing apparatus 21a. The dispensing apparatus 21a has, in its rear portion, i.e. in the portion facing the wheel 2 of the rail vehicle in question, a gritting material outlet tube 22a, which serves as a discharging point for a gritting material, in this case sand. Formed in a central portion of the dispensing apparatus 21a is a region with three drying outflow openings 23a. The centered arrangement of the drying outflow openings 23a allows an air jet to be directed onto the rail 6 that is being traveled on when traveling straight ahead. In this case, either exactly one outflow opening 23a is positioned above the middle of the rail or two outflow openings are arranged in a manner offset slightly to the right and the left above the middle of the rail. Furthermore, the dispensing apparatus 21a also comprises two outflow openings 23b in the front region, which are positioned in order to dry the rail 6 when traveling around a left-hand bend or a right-hand bend. These two outflow openings 23b are each arranged in a laterally offset manner, to be more precise in a manner offset to the right and to the left relative to the middle. The three outflow openings can be actuated simultaneously or separately, depending on the operating condition. In the case of separate actuation, the required amount of drying medium is reduced.

(10) FIG. 4 shows a flowchart 400, which illustrates a method for increasing a coefficient of friction between the rail and wheel of a rail vehicle with the aid of a track conditioning unit. In step 4.1, a gaseous drying medium L is applied to a rail 6 by an outflow opening integrated in the front region of a dispensing apparatus of the track conditioning unit. Furthermore, in step 4.2, a gritting material M is applied to the rail 6 through a gritting material outlet tube integrated in the rear region of the dispensing apparatus.

(11) Finally, it is noted once again that the above-described method and apparatuses are merely preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention and that the invention can be varied by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, to the extent that it is specified by the claims. For the sake of completeness, it is also noted that the use of the indefinite article a or an does not preclude the features in question also being present in a plurality. Likewise, the term unit does not preclude the latter from consisting of a plurality of components that may also be distributed spatially, if appropriate.