The invention refers to a procedure for laying railway tracks; more specifically to the process of unloading, placement and auxiliary works for railway tracks.
The track laying train is the means by which rails habitually reach the railway track laying area, with the rails needing to be unloaded subsequently from the track laying train.
There are basically two methods for unloading the rails. They are differentiated by the fact that in one of them the track laying train advances over the track already laid while the rail is secured at a fixed point at one of its ends and, in the other method, the track laying train remains stationary while the rail is extracted following the track alignment. If the former method is used, a previously laid track is required, i.e. an auxiliary track, which could be a track to be replaced subsequently.
With the latter method, the track laying train remains stationary on the track, which can be the new track previously placed, and the new rails are progressively extracted to be placed as a continuation to the previously laid track.
The procedure for laying railway tracks which is the purpose of the invention is performed on a trackbed on which sleepers are located and comprises at least the following steps:
The first pair of rails can be joined to a pulling machine which moves on the bed to pull the rails while the track laying train remains stationary. Optionally, before unloading the first pair of rails, an unloading tool is mounted on the sleepers to guide the rails, which comprises roller bearings for sliding them.
Another alternative would be to use an auxiliary track parallel to the track being laid and the track laying train would move along this auxiliary track while the ends of the rails to be unloaded would be joined at a fixed point above the sleepers for the track being laid.
In both alternatives, it would be possible for the first pair of rails to be joined to a rail section using the corresponding tractor plates which would be joined to the rail section at one end and to the first rail at the other end. A rail section is essentially a short section of rail.
The procedure which is the purpose of the invention would be applicable both to unloading rails onto the sleepers or to either side of the sleepers.
To complete the description and in order to provide a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. These drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate example embodiments of the invention.
In the railway track laying procedure, the ballast layer is first spread to a thickness of approximately 15 cm. Next, the sleepers (20) are unloaded from the transport platforms, distributing them, for example, every 0.60 m and aligning them by their heads. Next, the way is opened for the track laying train (30) to unload the rails (1) using the appropriate procedures and tools. The problem for laying the rails (1) in laying a new track starts with the arrival of the track laying trains (30) in the laying area, either on the auxiliary track (60) laid for the purpose or on the already laid track. From this time and with the unloading of the rails (1) itself, a series of operations begin with the purpose of putting these elements in place on the sleepers (20).
In this example embodiment for unloading the rails (1), the end of the first pair of rails (1) is joined to the pulling machine (10). The pulling machine (10) is capable of moving over the bed with the sleepers (20) previously placed without these or the unloaded and positioned rail (1) itself representing an obstacle to its capability to move and work. To do this, the pulling machine (10) can comprise two caterpillar tracks (11) with their internal faces at least the width of a sleeper (20) apart.
Before unloading the first pair of rails (1), an unloading tool (12) is mounted on the sleepers (20) to guide the rails (1), which comprises roller bearings for sliding them (1).
The invention provides a system for unloading rails (1) that comprises at least one pair of unloading tools (12) that are supported on the sleepers (20), one per rail (1), with each of these unloading tools (12) comprising:
In this example embodiment the purpose of the unloading device is to unload the rails (1) from the track laying train (30) running on the auxiliary track (60) by clamping successive rails (1) on the track laying train (30) by means of the tractor plate (200) mentioned previously. The rails (1) from the rear of the track laying train (30) are continuously lowered and moved laterally from the train to the track as the track laying train (30) advances.
This device is coupled to a series of auxiliary wagons (31) located at the rear of the track laying train (30) and is constituted of a series of metal structures secured to these auxiliary wagons (31), which set several fixed guidance points for the rails (1), appropriately distributed longitudinally along these auxiliary wagons (31), so that the rails (1) are positioned progressively transversely and longitudinally from their transport position on the track laying train (30) to their final position on the base plate of the sleepers (20) previously also positioned in their final location on the levelled site for the track.
To do this, it comprises a transverse beam (501) across the running direction, onto which the corresponding windows (502) are fixed, fitted internally with rollers through which the rails (1) are guided. The first transverse beam (501) for the first auxiliary wagon (31) located at the rear of the track laying train (30) has its windows (502) centred on the axis of the track laying train (30) and vertically above the auxiliary wagon (31) and, from there, in the following transverse beams (501), these windows (502) are located moved transversely towards the lateral bed where it is intended to lay the track, with the distance being gradually greater in each transverse beam (501). From the central transverse beams (501) of these auxiliary wagons (31) to those located at the rear of the last auxiliary wagon (31), both windows (502) are located outside the auxiliary wagon (31), on a transverse beam (501) in the form of a lateral bracket, located perpendicular to the auxiliary wagon (31) and therefore to the progress of the track laying train (30), fixed at one end to the side of the auxiliary wagon (31) and supported on the ground at the other end by means of wheels (505) that support outside the track, with these supports located on ever lower planes as the transverse beam (501) is located towards the rear of the convoy.
To be able to compensate for possible differences in height between the auxiliary track (60) along which the track laying train (30) runs and the track being laid, the supports for the transverse beams (501) at the side of the auxiliary wagon (31) and at the wheels (505) have means permitting adjustment of their height.
Furthermore, the two windows (502) in the last transverse beam (501) are anticipated to be located vertically over the same axis as the two rails (1) in their final positions, i.e. on the same axis as the sleeper (20) base plates.
The position of the windows (502) on the transverse beam (501) is variable longitudinally to that transverse beam (501). In this way, it is possible to adjust the separation between the windows (502), making it possible to adapt this to an appropriate separation for depositing the rails (1) at the international gauge or the Iberian gauge, also taking into account for adjusting this separation of windows (502) whether the unloading of the rails (1) occurs above the sleepers (20) or onto the bed at each side of the sleepers (20).
To do this, in an example embodiment, the transverse beams (501) are telescopic such that their (501) extension position can be adjusted by means of preset positions, regulating the position in the transverse direction by means of a mechanism and, therefore, regulating the separation between the windows (502).
Similarly, the position of the windows (502) with respect to the transverse beams (501) can be variable as these (501) comprise preset positions, hence the distance between the windows (502) can be varied.
The windows (502) can also be moved vertically, as the transverse beams (501) have preset positions with respect to a vertical bar (503). Additionally, the windows (502) are located on mounts (504) of different thicknesses, which also enable their height to be varied with respect to the transverse beam (501).
Where the internal cavities (230) comprise an inclined surface (250) such that each internal cavity (230) reduces in depth longitudinally towards the end of the tractor plate (200) intended to house the end of the rail (1), with the gripping elements (240) and the internal cavities (230) configured in such a way that, on moving the gripping element (240) along the inclined surface (250) of the internal cavity (230) in the direction of pull of the rail (1), the gripping element (240) clamps onto the rail (1) web (3). More specifically, the internal cavity (230) is longer than the gripping element (240).
In order to minimise the slippage between the rail (1) web (3) and the gripping element (240), the surface (260) of the latter (240) intended to be in contact with the rail (1) web (3) comprises knurling.
In the example embodiment shown, the first part (210) and the second part (220) of the support element are independent symmetrical parts, each of which is located on one face of the rail (1) and these are fastened together by means of a bolt (221).
In the example embodiment the gripping element (260) is made from metal. Additionally, the tractor plate (200) comprises the corresponding magnetic elements (290) joined to the first (210) and the second (220) parts of the support element to retain the gripping elements (260) to attract them (260) to the support element, but at the same time to allow the gripping element (260) to slide with respect to the support element.
In addition to the above and with the purpose of providing greater clamping of the rail (1), as well as a larger contact area, also preventing tilting of the rail (1), the first (210) and second (220) parts of the support element comprise a recess (270) to house the rail (1) head (2) that, in the example shown in the figure, comprises knurling in part of its surface adapted to be in contact with the rail (1). More specifically, the surface (280) adapted to be in contact with the base of the rail (1) head (2) is the knurled surface.
The example embodiment shown in
Similarly, a tractor plate (200) such as the one disclosed in
Also represented in
The clamping element (140) comprises an extension that clasps the rail (1) foot (4) and, therefore, surrounds it (4). Alternatively, the clamping element (140) may have an extension that clasps the rail (1) head (2).
In the example embodiment shown in
More specifically,
The positioning elements (310) are located parallel to the direction of the rail (1), i.e. perpendicular to the sleepers (20), and extend in that direction. More specifically, the positioning elements (310) included in the example embodiment comprise hydraulic cylinders.
The frame (340) shown in the figures can be raised such that the positioning elements (310) are inserted between the sleepers (20) by raising and lowering it. Other configurations would be possible, for example, that the positioning elements (310) are inserted in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleepers (20) by means of articulated arms.
In the example embodiment shown in
Also represented in
In the squaring operation, one of the stops (360) is located in contact with the first sleeper (320). To do this, this first sleeper (20) must be aligned manually, as it is the reference for locating the device. The other stop (370) can be extended and in the example embodiment comprises a hydraulic cylinder. Manual alignment of the first sleeper (20) is performed solely with the first group of six sleepers (20), as in subsequent phases the last sleeper (21) will be the first sleeper (20) in the following phase.
The positioning elements (310) are arranged joined to the first frame (340) by means of extensions (312) for each one joined at their top ends to that frame (340) and at their bottom ends to the ends of the positioning elements (310), such that in the extended position of these positioning elements (310), this bottom end is located between the positioning elements (310) and the sleepers (20).
In order to cause the minimum possible damage to the sleepers (20), the extensions (312) comprise a shock absorbing element (311) on their face facing the sleepers (20), which can also be made available on the internal face of the stops (360, 370).
Also represented in
The device also has an additional support element (315) which provides the assembly with stability.
The second frame (350) comprises means for coupling (330) it to a self-propelled machine that also has a hydraulic or pneumatic system that supplies the hydraulic (314) or pneumatic system referred to above. The self-propelled machine can be any machine capable of moving in the vicinity of the track and, therefore, there is no need for a device which necessarily needs to move along the track, which makes squaring operations more difficult and causes delays in them. Therefore, one of the steps in the track laying procedure which is the purpose of the invention can be the introduction of a self-propelled machine that comprises a squaring device as mentioned and the performing of this squaring.
The frame (420) comprises a transverse profile (412) that extends between the two ends of the ploughing element (410), a central longitudinal profile (411) that extends between the transverse profile (412) and the centre of the ploughing element (410) and the U-profiles (470), which also define the apertures (460) which extend between the ploughing element (410) and the transverse profile (412).
The transverse profile (412) would be joined to the loader (421) of the earthmoving machine (40) represented in
In order to be able to adjust the height and inclination of the ploughing element (410), the profiling device also comprises the extensible fixing element (430) that is joined by one of its ends to the frame (420), more specifically to the central longitudinal profile (411), and by its other end is joined to the earthmoving machine (40). The extensible fixing element (430) can regulate its length so as to make it possible to regulate the height and inclination of the ploughing element (410) and, therefore, enable regulation of the height of the apertures (460) above the rail (1).
The apertures (460) can comprise a rolling element, for example a set of rollers, to prevent scraping the rails (1).
In addition, the frame (420) comprises the corresponding wheels (440) adapted to run on the track rails (1).
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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P201430549 | Apr 2014 | ES | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/ES2015/070279 | 4/9/2015 | WO | 00 |