RAIL GRINDING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR GRINDING RAILS OF A TRACK

Abstract

A rail grinding machine for grinding rails of a track includes a machine frame, a plurality of guiding rollers rotatably mounted on the machine frame, a cross slide, and at least one grinding unit which is interchangeably disposed at the cross slide. A method for grinding rails of a track is also provided.

Claims

1. A rail grinding machine for grinding rails of a track, the rail grinding machine comprising: a machine frame; a plurality of guiding rollers rotatably mounted on said machine frame for manually shifting the rail grinding machine on rails; a cross slide displaceably mounted on said machine frame in a transverse direction; and at least one grinding unit interchangeably disposed at said cross slide.

2. The rail grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein said at least one grinding unit is mounted on two sides.

3. The rail grinding machine according to claim 1, which further comprises a quick-change device for interchangeably fastening said at least one grinding unit.

4. The rail grinding machine according to claim 3, wherein said quick-change device includes at least one first quick-change element and at least one respectively associated second quick-change element, said first and second quick-change elements being reversibly connectable to one another in at least one of a form-locking or friction-locking manner.

5. The rail grinding machine according to claim 3, wherein said quick-change device includes a first quick-change element, an associated second quick-change element and at least one actuating element for reversibly clamping said first quick-change element and said associated second quick-change element.

6. The rail grinding machine according to claim 3, wherein said quick-change device configures at least one linear guide.

7. The rail grinding machine according to claim 1, which further comprises a guide frame disposed at said cross slide.

8. The rail grinding machine according to claim 1, which further comprises a guide frame swivel-mounted on said cross slide about a swivel axis running parallel to a longitudinal direction.

9. The rail grinding machine according to claim 6, which further comprises a guide frame defining a plane, said at least one linear guide running transversely to said plane defined by said guide frame.

10. The rail grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein said cross slide includes a closed cross slide frame.

11. The rail grinding machine according to claim 10, wherein said closed cross slide frame bounds an inner space in which said at least one grinding unit is at least partially disposed.

12. The rail grinding machine according to claim 1, which further comprises a guide frame, and a grinding unit carrier for interchangeably carrying said at least one grinding unit, said grinding unit carrier being mounted on said guide frame.

13. The rail grinding machine according to claim 7, wherein said guide frame includes two guide elements, and two carrying elements are mounted on said two guide elements for carrying said at least one grinding unit.

14. The rail grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein said at least one grinding unit includes a first grinding unit for profiling a rail and a second grinding unit for deburring a rail.

15. The rail grinding machine according to claim 1, which further comprises a coarse positioning device for coarse positioning and a fine positioning device for fine positioning of said cross slide in the transverse direction.

16. The rail grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein said at least one grinding unit includes a grinding tool drive having a combustion engine.

17. A method for grinding rails of a track, the method comprising: providing a rail grinding machine having a first grinding unit; grinding a rail of a track by using the first grinding unit; exchanging the first grinding unit for a second grinding unit; and grinding a rail by using the second grinding unit.

18. The method according to claim 17, which further comprises: profiling the rail by using the first grinding unit; and deburring the rail by using the second grinding unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0040] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, first side-elevational view of a rail grinding machine according to a first exemplary embodiment having a coarse positioning device and a fine positioning device for positioning an interchangeable first grinding unit;

[0041] FIG. 2 is a top-plan view of the rail grinding machine in FIG. 1;

[0042] FIG. 3 is a sectional and partial cutaway view of the coarse positioning device to illustrate a locking unit;

[0043] FIG. 4 is a second side-elevational view of the rail grinding machine in FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a detail V in FIG. 4, showing a quick-change device for interchangeably fastening the first grinding unit;

[0045] FIG. 6 is a side-elevational view of the rail grinding machine with an interchangeable second grinding unit in place of the first grinding unit; and

[0046] FIG. 7 is a partial side-elevational view of a rail grinding machine according to a second exemplary embodiment for illustrating the coarse positioning device and the fine positioning device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIGS. 1-6 thereof, there is seen a first exemplary embodiment of the invention which is described below. A rail grinding machine 1 serves to grind rails 2 of a track. The rail grinding machine 1 includes a machine frame 3, which is guided on the rails 2 by guiding rollers 4. The machine frame 3 includes two frame components 5, 6, which are connected to one another in a telescopic manner. By shifting the frame components 5, 6 relative to one another, the guiding rollers 4 can be adapted to a distance between the rails 2.

[0048] The machine frame 3 includes longitudinal members 7, 8, 9 and transverse members 10, 11. The longitudinal members 7, 8, 9 extend in an x-direction and are spaced apart from one another in a y-direction running perpendicular to the x-direction. The x-direction is hereinafter referred to as the longitudinal direction, whereas the y-direction is hereinafter also referred to as the transverse direction. The longitudinal direction corresponds to a longitudinal rail direction. The transverse members 10, 11 run in the y-direction and are spaced apart in the x-direction. The transverse members 10, 11 are fastened at the ends to the longitudinal members 7, 8 so that the machine frame 3 has a rectangular shape. The transverse members 10, 11 can be telescoped to adapt to a distance between the rails 2. The longitudinal member 9 is connected with the transverse members 10, 11 for stiffening the machine frame 3 in such a way that the frame component 5 substantially has a rectangular shape. Through the use of the telescopic transverse beams 10, 11, the guiding rollers 4 disposed at the frame component 5 and the guiding rollers 4 disposed at the frame component 6 are variably spaced apart from one another in the y-direction.

[0049] The rail grinding machine 1 can be shifted manually on the rails 2. The guiding rollers 4 define a shifting direction of the rail grinding machine 1 which corresponds to the longitudinal direction. Handles 12 are fastened to the machine frame 3 for manually lifting and/or carrying the rail grinding machine 1. The guiding rollers 4 are mounted on the machine frame 3 so that they can rotate about axes of rotation. The axes of rotation run parallel to the y-direction.

[0050] A cross slide 13 is mounted on the machine frame 3. The cross slide 13 has a closed cross slide frame 14, which is formed by cross slide longitudinal members 15, 16 and by cross slide transverse members 17, 18. The cross slide longitudinal members 15, 16 extend in the x-direction and are spaced apart from one another in the y-direction. The cross slide longitudinal members 15, 16 are connected with each other at the ends by the cross slide transverse members 17, 18 so that the cross slide frame 14 has a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The cross slide transverse members 17, 18 extend in the y-direction and are spaced apart from one another in the x-direction. The cross slide frame 14 bounds an inner space 19 when viewed from above.

[0051] The cross slide 13 includes cross slide guiding rollers 20, 21 which are rotatably mounted on the cross slide transverse members 17, 18. The cross slide guiding rollers 20 are mounted at a distance from the cross slide guiding rollers 21 in a vertical z-direction, so that the cross slide guiding rollers 20 rest against an upper side of the machine frame 3, whereas the cross slide guiding rollers 21 rest against a lower side of the machine frame 3. The cross slide guiding rollers 20, 21 serve to displace the cross slide 13 in the y-direction or the transverse direction. For this purpose, the cross slide guiding rollers 20, 21 are mounted on the cross slide frame 14 so as to be rotatable about axes of rotation. The axes of rotation run parallel to the x-direction. The z-direction is also referred to below as the vertical direction. The x-, y- and z-directions run as perpendicular pairs to one another and thus form a Cartesian coordinate system.

[0052] For positioning the cross slide 13, the rail grinding machine 1 includes a coarse positioning device 22 and a fine positioning device 23. The coarse positioning device 22 serves for coarse positioning of the cross slide 13 in the y-direction or the transverse direction, whereas the fine positioning device 23 serves for fine positioning of the cross slide 13 in the transverse direction. Fine positioning enables more precise positioning than coarse positioning.

[0053] The coarse positioning device 22 includes an actuating mechanism 24. The actuating mechanism 24 has an actuating element 25 and a linking element 26. The actuating element 25 is configured as an actuation lever. The actuating element 25 is fastened to the machine frame 3 and can be swiveled relative to the machine frame 3 about a swivel axis 27. The swivel axis 27 runs parallel to the x-direction. The linking element 26 is configured as a connection rod. The linking element 26 is fastened to the actuating element 25 so as to be swivelable about a swivel axis 28. The swivel axis 28 runs parallel to the x-direction and is spaced apart from the swivel axis 27. By swiveling the actuating element 25 about the swivel axis 27, an angle α between the actuating element 25 and the linking element 26 can be varied. The actuating mechanism 24 or the linking element 26 is connected with the fine positioning device 23 in a manner described in more detail below.

[0054] The coarse positioning device 22 further includes a locking unit 29. The locking unit 29 serves to lock and release or reversibly lock a coarse position. The locking unit 29 includes a locking element 30 and a counter-locking element 31. The counter-locking element 31 is configured as a curved toothed strip or a toothed arch. The counter-locking element 31 is fastened to the machine frame 3. The counter-locking element 31 includes a plurality of teeth 32 which are disposed along a partial circular arc around the swivel axis 27. The locking element 30 interacts with the counter-locking element 31 in a form-locking and friction-locking manner. For this purpose, the locking element 30 is configured in the form of a pin. The locking element 30 is configured with a tooth-shaped tip which can be positioned between two teeth 32 of the counter-locking element 31. The locking element 30 is integrated in the actuating element 25. The actuating element 25 is configured to be tubular and the locking element 30 is disposed in an inner space of the actuating element 25.

[0055] The locking unit 29 is configured as a dead-man locking unit. In an unactuated state, the locking unit 29 is locked, whereas in an actuated state, the locking unit 29 is released. The locking unit 29 has a locking actuating element 33 for actuating the locking element 30. The locking actuating element 33 is configured as a pivoted lever. The locking actuating element 33 is connected with the locking element 30 via a locking actuating mechanism. The locking actuating mechanism includes a tensile element 34, stops 35, 36, and a spring element 37. A first stop 35 is connected with the actuating element 25. The first stop 35 is disposed between the locking element 30 and the locking actuating element 33 and has a passage opening through which the tensile element 34 is routed. The locking element 30 configures a second stop 36 on a side facing away from the counter-locking element 31. A spring element 37 is disposed between the first stop 35 and the second stop 36 to configure the dead man function.

[0056] The fine positioning device 23 includes a spindle unit 38 with a threaded spindle 39 and a spindle nut 40. The threaded spindle 39 configures a first component and the spindle nut 40 a second component, which components can be linearly displaced relative to one another in the direction of a spindle axis 41 by a relative rotation. The threaded spindle 39 is fastened to the cross slide frame 14 by bearings 42, 43. The spindle axis 41 runs parallel to the y-direction. The threaded spindle 39 can thus be rotated about the spindle axis 41 relative to the cross slide 13, but is stationary in the direction of the spindle axis 41 relative to the cross slide 13. The spindle nut 40 is disposed between the bearings 42, 43 on the threaded spindle 39. The spindle nut 40 is connected with the linking element 26 of the actuating mechanism 24. An end of the linking element 26 facing away from the actuating element 25 is connected with the spindle nut 40 so as to be swivelable about a swivel axis 44. The swivel axis 44 runs parallel to the x-direction and compensates for variations in the angle α.

[0057] The fine positioning device 23 includes an actuating element 45 and a transmission mechanism 46. The actuating element 45 is configured as a handwheel. The actuating element 45 is disposed at a handle 48 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation 47. The handle 48 is configured in a U-shape and fastened to the transverse members 10, 11. The axis of rotation 47 runs parallel to the y-direction. The transmission mechanism 46 transmits a rotary motion of the actuating element 45 about the axis of rotation 47 to the threaded spindle 39, so that the threaded spindle 39 is rotated about the spindle axis 41. The transmission mechanism 46 includes transmission wheels 49, 50 and a transmission belt 51. The transmission wheel 49 is connected with the actuating element 45 in a torque-transmitting manner, whereas the transmission wheel 50 is connected with the threaded spindle 39 in a torque-transmitting manner. The transmission belt 51 transmits a rotary motion of the transmission wheel 49 to the transmission wheel 50.

[0058] In order to protect the threaded spindle 39, the fine positioning device 23 includes bellows 52, 53 disposed between the bearing 42 and the spindle nut 40 as well as between the bearing 43 and the spindle nut 40 above the threaded spindle 39.

[0059] The rail grinding machine 1 further includes a guide frame 54, which is fastened to the cross slide frame 14 so as to be swivelable about a swivel axis 55. The swivel axis 55 runs parallel to the x-direction. The guide frame 54 is configured in a U-shape. The guide frame 54 includes guide elements 56, which are fastened at a respective first end by swivel bearings 57 to a respective associated cross slide transverse member 17, 18. The guide elements 56 are connected to one another at a respective second end by a linking element 58. Viewed from above, the guide frame 54 is disposed in the inner space 19 of the cross slide 13.

[0060] The rail grinding machine 1 includes a swiveling device 59 for swiveling the guide frame 54. The swiveling device 59 is fastened to the cross slide 13 and the guide frame 54. Through the use of the swiveling device 59, the guide frame 54 can be swiveled relative to the cross slide 13 about the swivel axis 55. The swiveling device 59 includes an actuating element 60. The actuating element 60 is configured as a handwheel. For swiveling, the swiveling device 59 includes a toothed wheel, which is not shown in greater detail, and an associated toothed rack. The toothed wheel is rotatably mounted on the cross slide 13 and connected with the actuating element 60. The toothed rack is mounted on the guide frame 54 and interacts with the toothed wheel for swiveling.

[0061] The rail grinding machine 1 includes a grinding unit carrier 63 for the interchangeable arrangement of a first grinding unit 61 or a second grinding unit 62. The grinding unit carrier 63 is mounted on the guide frame 54. The grinding unit carrier 63 includes tubular carrying elements 64, which are linearly guided on the guide elements 56. The carrying elements 64 are connected to one another at an end facing away from the machine frame 3 by a linking element 65, so that the grinding unit carrier 63 is configured in a U-shape.

[0062] The grinding unit carrier 63 is linearly displaceable on the guide frame 54 by using a vertical positioning device 66. The vertical positioning device 66 includes a threaded spindle 67, which is rotatably mounted on the linking element 58 of the guide frame 54. The threaded spindle 67 is connected with an actuating element 68. The actuating element 68 is configured as a handwheel. The vertical positioning device 66 further includes a spindle nut 69 which is firmly connected with the linking element 65 of the grinding unit carrier 63. By rotating the actuating element 68, the grinding unit carrier 63 can be linearly displaced upwards or downwards, i.e. in the z-direction, depending on the direction of rotation.

[0063] The rail grinding machine 1 has a quick-change device 70 for interchangeably fastening the first grinding unit 61 or the second grinding unit 62. Through the use of the quick-change device 70—as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5—the first grinding unit 61 is fastened to the grinding unit carrier 63 and thus to the cross slide 13. The first grinding unit 61 is fastened to the carrying elements 64 by using the quick-change device 70. The first grinding unit 61 can thus be displaced in the x-direction by using the guiding rollers 4, displaced in the y-direction by using the cross slide 13, swiveled about the swivel axis 55 by using the guide frame 54 and/or displaced in the z-direction by using the grinding unit carrier 63.

[0064] The first grinding unit 61 serves to profile a rail 2. The first grinding unit 61 includes a grinding tool drive 71 which drives a first grinding tool 72 in rotation about a first axis of rotation 73. The grinding tool 72 is configured as a cup wheel. The axis of rotation 73 runs parallel to a plane E spanned by the guide frame 54. The axis of rotation 73 runs obliquely to the z-direction. This configures a grinding clearance angle.

[0065] In contrast, the second grinding unit 62 serves to deburr a rail 2. As shown in FIG. 6, the second grinding unit 62 is fastened to the grinding unit carrier 63 and thus to the cross slide 13. The second grinding unit 62 includes a grinding tool drive 74 which drives a second grinding tool 75 in rotation about a second axis of rotation 76. The second grinding tool 75 is configured as a grinding wheel. The axis of rotation 76 runs transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to a plane E spanned by the guide frame 54.

[0066] The respective grinding tool drive 71, 74 includes a combustion engine. The respective grinding unit 61, 62 is mounted on the grinding unit carrier 63 on two sides. This ensures that the respective grinding unit 61, 62 is fastened exactly and reliably. The U-shaped grinding unit carrier 63 is stiffened by the two-sided mounting of the respective grinding unit 61, 62.

[0067] The quick-change device 70 includes first quick-change elements 77 and associated second quick-change elements 78. The first quick-change elements 77 are fastened to facing sides of the carrying elements 64. Associated second quick-change elements 78 are fastened to respective grinding units 61, 62. The distance and position of the first quick-change elements 77 correspond to the distance and position of the second quick-change elements 78. A respective first quick-change element 77 configures a linear guide L with the associated second quick-change element 78. For this purpose, the respective first quick-change element 77 includes a groove, for example, whereas the associated second quick-change element 78 includes a corresponding projection. The respective linear guide L is configured to be dovetail-shaped in cross-section, for example. The linear guides L configured by the quick-change elements 77, 78 run transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to a plane E spanned by the guide frame 54. The second quick-change elements 78 can be displaced by using associated actuating elements 79. The actuating elements 79 are configured, for example, as pivoted levers. By actuating the actuating elements 79, the first quick-change elements 77 are clamped against the associated second quick-change elements 78. The respective grinding unit 61, 62 is thus fastened to the grinding unit carrier 63 by using the quick-change device 70 in a form-locking and friction-locking manner.

[0068] The mode of operation of the rail grinding machine 1 is described below:

[0069] The rail grinding machine 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 serves, for example, to profile a rail 2. The first grinding unit 61 is coarsely positioned in the transverse direction or in the y-direction by using the coarse positioning device 22 and finely positioned in the transverse direction or y-direction by using the fine positioning device 23. For coarse positioning, an operator releases the locking unit 29 by using the locking actuating element 33 and swivels the actuating element 25 in a desired swiveling direction about the swivel axis 27. By swiveling, the angle α is varied and the linking element 26 is swiveled about the swivel axis 28. Due to the fact that the linking element 26 is connected with the spindle nut 40 of the fine positioning device 23, the cross slide 13 is moved linearly in the y-direction or parallel to the y-direction on the machine frame 3. The spindle unit 38 is configured to be self-locking, so that the motion of the spindle nut 40 caused by the linking element 26 does not result in a rotary motion of the threaded spindle 39, but in a linear motion of the cross slide 13.

[0070] For fine positioning of the cross slide 13, the coarse positioning device 22 is first locked in a desired coarse position. For this purpose, the operator does not actuate the locking actuating element 33 any further. The locking element 30 is displaced towards the counter-locking element 31 due to the pretensioning force of the spring element 37, so that the locking element 30 engages between two teeth 32 of the counter-locking element 31 and locks the coarse positioning device 22.

[0071] In the set coarse position, the cross slide 13 is exactly positioned by using the fine positioning device 23. For this purpose, the operator rotates the actuating element 45 in a desired direction of rotation about the axis of rotation 47. The rotary motion is transmitted via the transmission mechanism 46 to the threaded spindle 39, which rotates about the spindle axis 41. Due to the fact that the spindle nut 40 is stationary in the transverse direction or y-direction because of the locked coarse positioning device 22, the cross slide 13 is linearly displaced and exactly positioned in the transverse direction or y-direction by a linear relative movement of the threaded spindle 39 to the spindle nut 40. The coarse positioning device 22 and the fine positioning device 23 thus act upon one and the same cross slide 13 via the spindle unit 38.

[0072] For further positioning of the first grinding unit 61, the guide frame 54 can be swiveled about the swivel axis 55 by using the swiveling device 59. The first grinding unit 61 can be linearly displaced in the z-direction by using the vertical positioning device 66 and thus fed to the rail 2 or adjusted in height. Furthermore, the rail grinding machine 1 can be manually displaced in the x-direction by using the guiding rollers 4. The profiling of the rail 2 by using the first grinding tool 72 is performed in the usual manner.

[0073] In order to exchange the first grinding unit 61, the cross slide 13 is displaced between the rails 2 by using the coarse positioning device 22. The actuating elements 79 of the quick-change device 70 are then released so that the clamping of the first grinding unit 61 to the grinding unit carrier 63 is released. The first grinding unit 61 can now be removed manually from the grinding unit carrier 63. For this purpose, the first grinding unit 61 is displaced linearly transversely to the plane E spanned by the guide frame 54, so that the second quick-change elements 78 are removed from the associated first quick-change elements 77.

[0074] In order to fasten the second grinding unit 62 to the grinding unit carrier 63, the second grinding unit 62 is inserted with the second quick-change elements 78 into the first quick-change elements 77. The actuating elements 79 are then actuated so that the second grinding unit 62 is clamped in the grinding unit carrier 63. The second grinding unit 62 is now connected with the grinding unit carrier 63 by using the quick-change device 70 in a form-locking and friction-locking manner. The rail grinding machine 1 with the second grinding unit 62 is illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0075] By using the second grinding tool 75, which is configured as a grinding wheel, a rail 2 can be deburred, for example. Deburring is necessary, for example, for branching rails 2 of a switch. The second grinding unit 62 can be positioned in the transverse direction or y-direction for deburring a branching rail 2 in a simple manner by using the coarse positioning device 22. For this purpose, the rail grinding machine 1 is located on the straight running rails 2. The locking unit 29 is released by using the locking actuating element 33. The locking actuating element 33 actuates the tensile element 34 which displaces the locking element 30 from the counter-locking element 31 against the force of the spring element 37. The cross slide 13 and thus the second grinding unit 62 can be positioned easily and quickly in the transverse direction or y-direction by swiveling the actuating element 25 about the swivel axis 27. Further positioning of the second grinding unit 62 is performed in the manner already described. The second grinding unit 62 is exchanged and the first grinding unit 61 is fastened as already described above.

[0076] A second exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to FIG. 7. For better illustration of the coarse positioning device 22 and the fine positioning device 23, the guide frame 54, the swiveling device 59, the first grinding unit 61 or the second grinding unit 62, the grinding unit carrier 63 and the vertical positioning device 66 are not shown in FIG. 7. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the actuating element 25 of the coarse positioning device 22 is linearly displaceable relative to the machine frame 3 in the transverse direction or y-direction by using a linear guide 80. The actuating element 25 is connected with the spindle nut 40. Thus, in contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the actuating mechanism 24 does not include a linking element. In comparison, the actuating mechanism 24 includes the actuating element 25 and the linear guide 80. The locking element 30 of the locking unit 29 interacts directly with the machine frame 3. The locking element 30 is configured as a brake block, for example. The locking element 30 locks the coarse positioning device 22 frictionally relative to the machine frame 3. The actuating element 25 of the fine positioning device 23 is fastened directly to the threaded spindle 39. With regard to the further structure and the further mode of operation, reference is made to the description of the preceding exemplary embodiment.

[0077] The features of the exemplary embodiments may be combined in any desired manner.