METHOD FOR CLEANING A BALLAST BED OF A TRACK

Abstract

A method for cleaning a ballast bed of a track using track-bound machines, includes removing ballast below a track panel with a cleaning machine and ballast removal device. Cleaned and/or new ballast is placed in the track in layers relative to a working direction, by a ballast placement device and ballast train. The placed ballast is compacted by a tamping machine and stabilizing machine. Prior to a first tamping, all layers of new and/or cleaned ballast are placed by the ballast placement device and ballast train. The ballast bed is compacted in different depth layers during first tamping by a deep tamping unit. The track is stabilized by the stabilizing machine. The track panel is immediately tamped in one depth layer by the same or another tamping machine in a second tamping, and the track is stabilized after second tamping by the same or another stabilizing machine.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A method for cleaning a ballast bed of a track by using track-bound machines, the method comprising: using a cleaning machine with a ballast removal device to remove ballast located below a track panel; prior to a first tamping process, using a ballast placement device and a ballast train to place at least one of cleaned or new ballast in a plurality of layers behind in the track relative to a working direction; using a tamping machine and a deep tamping unit to compact the ballast bed in different depth layers during the first tamping process; then using a stabilizing machine to stabilize the track; using the tamping machine to then immediately tamp the track panel in only one depth layer in a second tamping process; and using the stabilizing machine or a further stabilizing machine to stabilize the track after the second tamping process.

10. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises cleaning the ballast bed at least with a removal height of 300 mm.

11. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises using the ballast placement device to place the ballast for a bed height of at least 200 mm.

12. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises using the ballast placement device to place the ballast for a bed height of at least 250 mm.

13. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises lifting the track panel by at least 50 mm in a first lifting process.

14. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises lifting the track panel by at least 70 mm in a first lifting process.

15. The method according to claim 13, which further comprises lifting the track panel during a second lifting process with a lift in a range between 15 mm and 25 mm.

16. The method according to claim 13, which further comprises lifting the track panel during a second lifting process with a lift in a range between 20 mm and 25 mm.

17. The method according to claim 13, which further comprises: after the first lifting process, carrying out the first tamping process in a first depth layer of the ballast bed with vibrating and squeezing tamping tines of the deep tamping unit; and carrying out the second tamping process in a second depth layer of the ballast bed being higher than the first depth later with the tamping tines.

18. The method according to claim 15, which further comprises carrying out the tamping process after the second lifting process by using a multi-sleeper tamping unit.

19. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises carrying out tamping work with a tamping machine integrated into a cleaning train.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In the following, the invention is explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. The following figures show in schematic illustrations:

[0027] FIG. 1 Method according to prior art

[0028] FIG. 2 Method according to the invention

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows the method described at the beginning with a layered placement of the cleaned and or new ballast 1 into a track 2. The ballast 1 located on a formation 3 forms a ballast bed 4 for a track panel 5 consisting of sleepers 6 and rails 7 fixed thereon. A track-bound cleaning machine 8 is used to clean the ballast bed 4. For the sake of clarity, this is only indicated with dashed outlines and comprises several machine frames supported on rail-based running gears. Devices and units for treating the track 2 are arranged on the machine frames.

[0030] By means of lifting devices 9, the track panel 5 is lifted and held in position while a ballast removal device 10 removes the ballast 1 with a removal height h1 (e.g. 300 mm). This defined removal height h1 extends from the formation 3 to be exposed to the lower edges of the sleepers 6 supported in the ballast bed 4. Of course, the ballast 1 located between the sleepers 6 is also picked up. Usually, the ballast removal device 10 comprises a revolving endless excavating chain which continuously picks up the ballast 1 while moving forward and transfers it to a conveyor device for forwarding to a screening unit.

[0031] A further conveyor device delivers the cleaned ballast 1 to a ballast placement device 11. In relation to a working direction 12, a first layer of the cleaned ballast 1 is placed on the exposed formation 3 immediately behind the removal device 10 by means of this ballast placement device 11. A plough 13 is used to distribute the placed ballast 1 with a desired first bed height h2 (e.g. 150 mm) on the formation 3.

[0032] The track panel 5 placed on this newly created ballast bed 4 is set into vibration under load by means of a stabilizing unit 14. This stabilizing process controls settlements of the ballast bed 4 beforehand. The result is a reduced second bed height h3 (e.g. approx. 130 mm).

[0033] In the second work phase, a further layer of ballast is dumped onto the track 2 by means of a ballast train 15. A ballast plough 16, preferably designed as a separate machine, distributes the ballast 1 with adjustable plough blades 17. This means that there is sufficient ballast 1 on and between the sleepers 6 for a first tamping process.

[0034] A tamping machine 18 provided for this purpose comprises a lifting unit 19 and a tamping unit 20. The lifting unit 19 lifts the track panel 5 with a first lift h4 (e.g. 80 mm) to a third bed height h5 (e.g. 210 mm). Then a stabilizing machine 21, also called a Dynamic Track Stabilizer, is used. This stabilizer is either designed as a separate machine or coupled with the tamping machine 18. The effect of the stabilizing unit 14 leads to a compaction of the ballast bed 4 to a fourth bed height h6 (e.g. 205 mm).

[0035] The work steps of the second work phase repeat themselves in a third work phase, with a third layer of ballast being placed in the track 2 by means of a ballast train 15. Subsequently, the track panel 5 is first lifted to a fifth bed height (e.g. 285 mm) with a second lift h7 (e.g. 80 mm). After fixing by means of the tamping unit 20, a slight lowering to a sixth bed height h9 (e.g. 280 mm) is again carried out by means of the stabilizing unit 14.

[0036] Subsequently, in a third tamping process, the track panel 5 is brought into a predefined track geometry with a third lift h10 (e.g. 20 mm to 25 mm). The final track position is set after a final stabilization by means of the stabilizing unit 14. The ballast bed 4 renewed in this way has approximately the same height as before the cleaning process. The disadvantage of this known method is the large number of work steps that are necessary due to the layered ballast placement including ballast compaction.

[0037] The method according to the invention reduces the work steps without decreasing the quality of the cleaned ballast bed 4. The new sequence of work steps is explained with reference to FIG. 2.

[0038] As before, the cleaning of a ballast bed 4 starts with a cleaning machine 8. A lifting unit 9 of the cleaning machine 8 lifts a section of the track panel 5 to be treated. For this purpose, the lifting unit 9 comprises roller clamps which clasp the respective rail head of the rails 7 and roll along the rails 7 while the cleaning machine 8 moves forward.

[0039] A ballast removal device 10 with a crossbeam running below the lifted track panel section picks up the ballast 1 with a predefined removal height h1 (e.g. 300 mm). Specifically, the ballast is picked up by means of an endless excavating chain that surrounds the track panel 5. Via a lateral channel, the excavating chain conveys the removed ballast 1 upwards to a first conveyor device not shown. In this way, the ballast 1 is fed to a screening unit arranged on the cleaning machine 8.

[0040] The ballast 1 is cleaned in the screening unit. If necessary, the edges are then sharpened in an impact mill. The cleaned ballast 1 is conveyed to the ballast placement device 11 by means of a further conveyor device. If there is not enough treated ballast 1, it is supplemented with new ballast 1. This is carried along, for example, in a storage unit of the cleaning machine 1. New ballast 1 can also be carried along with so-called material conveyor and hopper units (MFS). These units are rail vehicles coupled to the cleaning machine 8 and are used to pick up spoil produced during ballast cleaning.

[0041] According to the invention, the ballast placement device 11 of the cleaning machine 8 places considerably more ballast 1 in the track 2 than before. The ballast layer smoothed by the plough 13 of the cleaning machine 8 advantageously has a first bed height h2 of 250 mm, measured from the exposed formation 3 to the lower edges of the sleepers 6. A stabilizing unit 14 integrated into the cleaning machine 8 compacts the ballast bed 4 to a second bed height h3 (approx. 230 mm).

[0042] In a second work phase, new ballast 1 is discharged onto the track 2 by means of a ballast train 15. A ballast plough 16 distributes this ballast 1 for a subsequent tamping process. In this, a lifting unit 19 of a tamping machine 18 lifts the track panel 5 with a first lift h4 by advantageously 70 mm. This achieves a third bed height h5 of approx. 300 mm.

[0043] According to the present invention, the fixing of the track panel 5 in this lifted position is carried out in two steps by means of a deep tamping unit 22. Such a unit 22 is disclosed in AT 522237 A1 of the same applicant. Compared to a conventional tamping unit 20, the deep tamping unit 22 has a larger vertical range of movement of the tamping tool carrier. Additionally, longer tamping tines 23 are used.

[0044] In a first step, the tamping tines 23 of the deep tamping unit 22 penetrate a lower depth layer of the ballast bed 4 and are squeezed there in a vibrating manner. In this case, the upper edges of the tine plates located at the tamping tine ends are at least 100 mm below the lower edges of the sleepers 6. Advantageously, the vibration is generated by means of a rotating eccentric shaft to which hydraulic squeezing cylinders are connected. The squeezing movement and vibration can also be superimposed in the respective hydraulic cylinder; a corresponding actuation with integrated displacement measuring is to be provided.

[0045] To achieve the predefined squeezing forces and squeezing times, it must be ensured that the pressure applied by the squeezing cylinders is adjusted during deep tamping. The pressure setting must be adjusted so that the same forces and times are reached during deep tamping as during subsequent normal tamping. If necessary, the overall compaction result is positively influenced if the tamping tines 23 are only set into vibration during the first compaction step. A squeezing process is eliminated.

[0046] This is immediately followed by a second compaction step in which the tamping tines 23 are lowered into an upper depth layer of the ballast bed 4. There, a squeezing process is carried out under application of vibration. This upper depth layer lies between the previously compacted lower depth layer and the lower edges of the sleepers 6. In this way, the ballast bed 4 is compacted over the entire bed height h5 by means of the deep tamping unit 22. This is followed by a stabilizing process using a stabilizing machine 21, which results in a slightly reduced bed height h6 (approx. 295 mm).

[0047] The final geometry of the track 2 will be produced in a final work phase. In the process, the track 2 is treated with the same or a further tamping machine 18. A lifting and lining unit 19 lifts the track panel 5 with a slight overlifting compared to the predefined track geometry. This takes into account the subsequent track settlement during stabilization. This second lift h7 is in the range of 20 mm to 25 mm and is thus significantly lower than the first lift h4. Additionally, the track panel 5 is laterally lined.

[0048] A tamping unit 20 for the simultaneous tamping of several sleepers 6 reduces the maintenance time in this work phase. This tamping unit 20 is arranged either in addition to the deep tamping unit 22 on the same tamping machine 18 or on a separate tamping machine 18. In the first case, the same lifting and lining unit 19 is advantageously used for all lifting steps. Finally, a stabilizing process takes place by means of a stabilizing unit 14. This is arranged either in a separate stabilizing machine 21 or on a machine frame coupled with the tamping machine 18.

[0049] The new method of work is not limited to the exemplary plain-line cleaning method shown. In particular, the method according to the invention is applicable to cleaning trains with integrated tamping machines 18 and stabilizing machines 21 and, if necessary, plough blades 17. The method can also be used for cleaning turnouts or replacing turnouts. Here too, ballast up to a bed height h2 of 250 mm is placed at once and then compacted in one pass with deep tamping, normal tamping, and stabilizing.