MACHINE WITH A BALLAST RECEIVIING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine with a ballast receiving device for receiving ballast located under a track by means of an endless excavating chain guided in a chain channel, with the chain channel being composed of a transverse channel which can be positioned under the track, an empty channel, and a transport channel provided for ballast transport. A conveyor device for transporting ballast in the direction of the transport channel is arranged along a top edge of the transverse channel. This additional device increases the movement of the ballast so that it completely enters the transport channel.

Claims

1. A machine with a ballast receiving device for receiving ballast located under a track by means of an endless excavating chain guided in a chain channel, with the chain channel being composed of a transverse channel which can be positioned under the track, an empty channel, and a transport channel provided for ballast transport, wherein a conveyor device for transporting ballast in the direction of the transport channel is arranged along a top edge of the transverse channel.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein a transport direction of the conveyor device runs parallel to a direction of rotation of the excavating chain in the transverse channel.

3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein a ballast guide blade that can be slewed about a slewing axis is arranged at the outer edge of a bottom opening of the transport channel.

4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor device comprises a hydraulic motor or an electric motor as a drive unit.

5. The machine according to claim 4, wherein a sensor for detecting piled-up ballast is arranged above the conveyor device and that the sensor is coupled with the drive unit of the conveyor device.

6. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor device comprises a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain with revolving pushers.

7. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor device is a screw conveyor with an axis of rotation that runs, in particular, parallel to the transverse channel.

8. The machine according to claim 7, wherein the screw conveyor is arranged along a subsection of the transverse channel adjoining the transport channel.

9. The machine according to claim 7, wherein the screw conveyor is arranged along the entire transverse channel.

10. The machine according to claim 9, wherein the transverse channel comprises two transverse channel sections that are connected with a joint and that the screw conveyor comprises two conveying screws that are connected in the area of the joint by means of a coupling.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In the following, the invention is explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. The following figures show in schematic illustrations:

[0018] FIG. 1 Machine on a track in a side view

[0019] FIG. 2 Top view of a ballast receiving device with a conveyor device along a transverse channel area

[0020] FIG. 3 Front view of the ballast receiving device according to FIG. 2

[0021] FIG. 4 Top view of an alternative ballast receiving device with a conveyor device along the entire transverse channel

[0022] FIG. 5 Front view of the ballast receiving device according to FIG. 4

[0023] FIG. 6 Side view of a ballast receiving device in the area under the track

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a cleaning machine for ballast 3, in which the track 2 is supported, that can be moved on a track 2. The machine 1 can also be designed as a complete track renewal train or as a formation rehabilitation machine. In any case, the machine 1 comprises a ballast receiving device 4 with a chain channel 5 in which an endless excavating chain 6 is guided. The excavating chain 6 consists of articulately connected chain links with scraper fingers and is driven at an upper deflection point 7 by means of a Turas drive 8.

[0025] During work operation, the excavating chain 6 surrounds the track 2 formed of sleepers 9 and rails 10 attached thereon. The excavating chain 6 is guided from the upper deflection point 7 in an empty channel 11 to a second deflection point 12 located under the track 2. Here, an end of a transverse channel 13 connects to the empty channel 11 with an articulated connection. The excavating chain 6 runs under track 2 in this transverse channel 13, which is open to the front. The excavating chain 6 loosens ballast grains from the ballast bed 3 while the machine 1 is moving forwards in the direction of travel 14.

[0026] A third deflection point 15 of the excavating chain 6 is located at the other end of the transverse channel 13. At this point 15, a transport channel 16 which leads back in the direction of the Turas drive 8 connects to the transverse channel 13 with an articulated connection. When the respective chain link enters a bottom opening 17 of the transport channel 16, the ballast 3 enters this transport channel 16. By means of the revolving excavating chain 6, the ballast 3 is conveyed in the transport channel 16 to the upper deflection point 7 and fed to a screening unit 18. The screened ballast 3 is conveyed back under the track 2 via a placement device 19, where it in turn forms a support for the sleepers 9. Spoil separated from the cleaned ballast 3 is transported via a conveyor belt 20 to the end of the machine 1, where it is transferred to a storage wagon.

[0027] Ballast guide blades 22 at the sides are advantageously arranged to extend an excavating width 21. In particular, such a ballast guide blade 22 is arranged to slew about a vertical slewing axis 23 on the outer edge of the bottom opening 17 of the transport channel 16. This ballast guide blade 22 prevents ballast 3 loosened by the excavating chain 6 from flowing past the bottom opening 17 of the transport channel 16 when the ballast 3 accumulates/piles up on the outside. The position of the respective ballast guide blade 22 is changed by means of an assigned actuating drive 24.

[0028] According to the invention, a conveyor device 26 for transporting ballast 3 in the direction of the transport channel 16 is arranged along a top edge 25 of the transverse channel 13. Advantageously, a transport direction 27 of this conveyor device 26 runs parallel to a direction of rotation 28 of the excavating chain 6 in the transverse channel 13. This optimizes the conveying of the ballast 3 into the bottom opening 17 of the transport channel 16. In particular, the conveyor device 26 prevents an unfavourable accumulation of the ballast 3 in front of the transverse channel 13 and, subsequently, an overflowing of the transverse channel 13.

[0029] In an embodiment not shown, the conveyor device 26 comprises a conveyor chain or a conveyor belt with two deflections. On one front side, the conveying direction runs parallel to the transverse channel 13 in the direction of the bottom opening 17 of the transport channel 16. The deflections are made by means of horizontally aligned deflection pulleys, with one deflection pulley being coupled to a drive. Pushers (shovels) for the individual ballast grains are arranged on an outside of the conveyor chain or the conveyor belt.

[0030] An improved variant comprises a screw conveyor 29 with an axis of rotation 30 which preferably runs parallel to the transverse channel 13. A conveying screw 31 rotating about the axis of rotation 30 picks up the ballast 3 travelling over the transverse channel 13 and conveys it towards the bottom opening 17 of the transport channel 16. Ballast conglomerates, which occur when the ballast bed 3 is heavily fouled, are broken up by the rotating conveying screw 31, making it easier to transport and clean the ballast 3.

[0031] FIGS. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of a generally usable ballast receiving device 4. The screw conveyor 29 is arranged parallel to a subsection 32 of the transverse channel 13 adjoining the third deflection point 15. A free end of the conveying screw 31 is positioned directly in front of the bottom opening 17 of the transport channel 16. A drive unit 33 is arranged on the other end of the conveying screw 31. This drive unit 33 comprises, for example, a hydraulic motor that is connected to a hydraulic system of the machine 1. In an alternative embodiment, an electric motor is provided. This is particularly suitable for retrofitting an existing ballast receiving device 4, as an electrically driven screw conveyor 29 is easier to integrate into an existing system.

[0032] Advantageously, a sensor 34 is arranged on the conveyor device 26, which recognizes a ballast jam. This is done using a mechanical or optical transducer, for example. This sensor 34 monitors the area in front of the transverse channel 13. As soon as too much ballast 3 accumulates, which is no longer sufficiently transported in the direction of the transport channel 16 by the excavating chain 6, the sensor 34 signals a ballast jam. The conveyor device 26 is automatically activated through this notification signal. This ensures that the conveyor device 26 only runs when it is actually needed.

[0033] In a variant suitable for heavily fouled ballast, the conveyor device 26 extends over the entire length of the transverse channel 13 (FIGS. 5, 6). In this, the effect of the conveyor device 26 extends over the entire excavating width 21. The resulting increased output ensures that the entire ballast material is conveyed above the excavating chain 6 in the direction of the transport channel 16, in particular when excavating depths are great. Additionally, plate-shaped conglomerates are broken, which form in very heavily contaminated subsoil (e.g. clay). In a conventional ballast receiving device 4, these plates can move over the transverse channel 13 due to the propulsion of the machine 1 and break behind it and fall onto the formation.

[0034] In an embodiment in the form of a screw conveyor 29, two conveying screws 31 are preferably coupled by means of a flexible quick coupling 35. For example, one of the two conveying screws 31 is connected directly to a drive unit 33, and the second conveying screw 31 is connected to the first conveying screw 31 via a claw coupling 35. In this way, a torque generated by the drive unit 33 is transmitted to both conveying screws 31, with the flexible coupling 35 enabling a variable angular position of the two conveying screws 31 towards each other.

[0035] Such a screw conveyor 29, like the screw conveyor 29 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is also suitable for a ballast receiving device 4 with a split transverse channel 13. In this, two transverse channel sections 36 are connected by means of a joint 37. The transverse channel 13 is bendable at the point where the joint 37 is, allowing the effective excavating width 21 to be adjusted. The lifted transverse channel 13 is also bent for transfer travels to remain within a permissible structure gauge. With two conveying screws 31, the divisible coupling 35 enables the screw conveyor 29 to be bent accordingly.

[0036] The cross-section in FIG. 6 refers to both variants and shows the position of the screw conveyor 29 in relation to the excavating chain 6. The outline of a chain link is drawn with a dot-dashed line and filled in with hatching. The conveying screw 31 is located above it. While the machine 1 is moved forwards in the direction of travel 14, the excavating chain 6 loosens ballast 3 from the ballast bed. The excavating chain 6 and the rotating conveying screw 31 have the same conveying direction. The arrangement ensures that the entire ballast 3 is conveyed to the bottom opening 17 of the transport channel 16. In this, large quantities of ballast can also be managed, with the adjustable ballast blade 22 preventing the moved ballast 3 from travelling past the outside of the opening 17.