Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6546876
-
Patent Number
6,546,876
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Date Filed
Monday, June 4, 200123 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, April 15, 200321 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Morano; S. Joseph
- Jules; Frantz F.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 104 72
- 104 71
- 104 10
- 104 12
- 104 2
- 033 287
- 073 862637
- 073 862638
- 073 862639
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A mobile tamping machine for tamping ballast under a railroad track includes a machine frame supported on undercarriages running on a main track for moving the machine in an operating direction. A tamping unit is mounted on the machine frame between the undercarriages, and a track lifting and lining unit for leveling and lining the main track is vertically and transversely adjustably mounted on the machine frame immediately ahead of the tamping unit in the operating direction, with drives being provided for vertically and transversely adjusting the track lifting and lining unit. An auxiliary lifting unit is mounted on the machine frame for lifting a branch track branching off the main track at a track switch. A common measuring system associated with the track lifting and lining unit and the auxiliary lifting unit is provided for controlling the lifting of the track switch. The common measuring system includes a mechanical measuring device, which connects the track lifting and lining unit to the auxiliary lifting device and is telescopically extensible transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine frame, and a measuring sensor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority of Austrian Patent Application Serial No. GM 434/2000, filed Jun. 9, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to a track maintenance machine, and more particularly to a mobile tamping machine for tamping ballast under a railroad track.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,604 describes a tamping machine for tamping straight and switch sections of a railroad track. The tamping machine includes a machine frame which is supported on undercarriages for travel on a main track in an operating direction. A tamping unit is mounted on the machine frame between the undercarriages, and a track lifting and lining unit is vertically and transversely adjustably mounted on the machine frame immediately ahead of the tamping unit in the operating direction for leveling and lining the main track. In addition, the tamping machine includes an auxiliary lifting unit which is mounted on the machine frame for lifting a branch track branching off the main track at a track switch. A special measuring system is provided to control the lifting of the branch track by the auxiliary lifting unit, and includes a measuring axle running on the main track and another measuring axle running on the branch track. The two measuring axles are coupled together by a rod carrying a cross level indicator. In this manner, an operator is able to lift the branch track by remote-controlled operation of the auxiliary lifting unit to accurately conform a lifting of the branch track to a lifting of the main track by closely monitoring the cross level indicator.
It would be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved tamping machine which is simple in structure and yet ensures an exact conformity between the vertical positions of the main and branch tracks at a switch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, a tamping machine includes a machine frame supported on undercarriages for travel on a main track in an operating direction; a tamping unit mounted on the machine frame between the undercarriages; a track lifting and lining unit, vertically and transversely adjustably mounted on the machine frame immediately ahead of the tamping unit in the operating direction, for leveling and lining the main track; drive means for vertically and transversely adjusting the track lifting and lining unit; an auxiliary lifting unit, mounted on the machine frame, for lifting a branch track branching off the main track at a track switch; and a measuring system, operatively connected to both the track lifting and lining unit and the auxiliary lifting unit, for controlling a lifting of the track switch, wherein the measuring system includes a mechanical measuring device, which connects the track lifting and lining unit to the auxiliary lifting device and is telescopically extendible in a direction transversely to the longitudinal axis of the machine frame, and a measuring sensor.
Such a common measuring system has a simple configuration and is yet able to realize an automatic and accurate coordination of both the track lifting and lining unit and the auxiliary lifting unit. In this way, an accurate and swift track position correction can be accomplished without any problems, even when track switches are involved which have long ties with an elastic joint. As a consequence of the simplicity of the measuring system, the correction of the track position is not impaired in any way and the operator's view of the track remains unobstructed.
According to another feature of the present invention, the mechanical measuring device may be a cable and the measuring sensor may be a rotary potentiometer operatively connected to the cable. Another option may include the configuration of the measuring device as a measuring beam and the configuration of the measuring sensor as a goniometer operatively connected to the measuring beam. Suitably, the measuring beam is configured so as to be telescopically extendible.
According to another feature of the present invention, the tamping machine may further include a lifting drive, connected to the auxiliary lifting unit, for lifting the branch track, and a control device, connected to the measuring sensor, for actuating the lifting drive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1
is a simplified side elevational view of one embodiment of a tamping machine according to this invention;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged cross sectional view of the tamping machine taken along the line II in
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 3
is an enlarged cross sectional view of another embodiment of a tamping machine according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements are generally indicated by same reference numerals.
Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to
FIG. 1
, there is shown a simplified side elevation of one embodiment of a mobile tamping machine according to the invention, generally designated by reference numeral
1
, for tamping ballast under a track
4
which defines a track plane
39
(
FIG. 2
) and is comprised of rails
2
fastened to ties
3
. The illustrated tamping machine
1
includes a machine frame
6
which is supported on undercarriages
5
for travel on the track
4
by means of a motive drive
8
actuated by a motor
7
in an operating direction indicated by arrow
9
. An operator's cab
10
houses a control device
11
for operating the various operating devices and drives of the machine.
A tamping unit
12
for tamping ballast of the track
4
is mounted on the machine frame
6
between the undercarriages
5
and vertically and transversely adjustable by drives
13
. The tamping unit
12
, involved here, is of conventional design and suitable in particular for use in track switches. An exemplified track switch
28
is shown in FIG.
2
and has a long tie
3
which connects a main track
32
to a branch track
27
, branching off the main track
32
, and is comprised of two tie parts linked together by an elastic joint
42
. The tamping unit
12
includes tamping tines
14
which are immersible into the ballast and may be moved relative to one another in longitudinal direction of the machine frame
6
by reciprocating drives
15
. Structure and operation of a tamping unit of this type is generally known and not described in more detail for sake of simplicity.
A track lifting and lining unit
17
for leveling and lining the track
4
, i.e. a main track
32
(FIG.
2
), is mounted on the machine frame
6
immediately ahead of the tamping unit
12
in the operating direction and configured for movement in vertical and transverse directions by drives
16
. The track lifting and lining unit
17
travels on the main track
32
and includes flanged rollers
35
, which run on the rails
2
of the main track
32
, and lifting rollers
33
, which are actuated by drives
34
so as to be engageable under the head of the rails
2
. The drives
16
for lifting the track
4
are controlled by a track position measuring system
23
which is indicated in
FIG. 1
by a reference chord
21
engaged by a measuring axle
22
running on the track
4
. All of the heretofore described structure and operation is entirely conventional and are illustrated only schematically for sake of simplicity.
A pair of identical auxiliary lifting units
18
, shown here only schematically, are mounted on the machine frame
6
adjacent to the track lifting and lining unit
17
for lifting the branch track
27
which branches off the main track
32
at the track switch
28
. The auxiliary lifting units
18
are so mounted to the machine frame
6
as to allow optional lifting of a branch track
27
on either side of the main track
32
, i.e. one auxiliary lifting unit
18
is provided to lift a branch track
27
on one side of the main track
32
and the other auxiliary lifting unit
18
is provided to lift a branch track
27
on the other side of the main track
32
.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, one end of each auxiliary lifting unit
18
is linked to the machine frame
6
by a joint
24
defined by an axis which extends in a longitudinal direction of the machine frame
6
, whereby the auxiliary lifting units
18
extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine frame
6
. Each auxiliary lifting unit
18
is vertically adjustable by a drive
19
and extendible transversely to the machine frame
6
by a drive
25
. A lifting device
26
is mounted to the joint-distal end of each auxiliary lifting unit
18
and essentially includes a double-flanged roller
29
, which rolls along a rail of the branch track
27
, and a lifting roller
31
, which is adjustable by a drive
30
for engagement under the head of the rail of the branch track
27
.
A measuring system
20
is operatively connected to both the track lifting and lining unit
17
and a one of the auxiliary lifting units
18
for controlling the lifting of the track switch
28
and includes a mechanical measuring device
36
which is configured for extension transversely to the direction of longitudinal direction of the machine frame
6
and links the track lifting and lining unit
17
to the auxiliary lifting unit
18
. Although not shown in detail, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that an analogous measuring system is provided to operatively connect the track lifting and lining unit
17
with the other one of the auxiliary lifting units
18
, shown only by dash-dot line in FIG.
2
. However, as the measuring systems
20
are of an identical construction, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that a description of one of the measuring systems
20
is equally applicable to the other measuring system.
The measuring device
36
includes a cable
37
which defines a reference line of the measuring system
20
. The reference line coincides with a measuring plane
43
and extends parallel to the track plane
39
when the track switch
28
is properly positioned. The cable
37
of the measuring device
36
is wound on a spool
38
, attached on the track lifting and lining unit
17
, and is secured to the lifting device
26
of the auxiliary lifting unit
18
. The cable
37
has a length sufficient to follow an extension of the auxiliary lifting unit
18
, when the auxiliary lifting unit
18
is extended transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine frame
6
to the distal rail of the branch track
27
. The measuring system
20
further includes a measuring sensor
41
which sends signals to the control device
11
in response to a disposition of the cable
37
with respect to the track plane
39
, for corresponding operation of the drive
19
for the auxiliary lifting unit
18
. In the nonlimiting example of
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the measuring sensor
41
is designed as a rotary potentiometer
40
.
The tamping machine
1
according to the present invention is operated as follows: As the tamping machine
1
advances along the track
4
to the track switch
28
, the track position of the main track
32
is corrected under the control of the track position measuring system
23
to level and/or line the main track
32
through actuation of the track lifting and lining unit
17
and by tamping the ballast under the ties
3
of the corrected track through actuation of the tamping unit
12
. As soon as the tamping machine
1
reaches the track switch
28
, a respective one of the auxiliary lifting units
18
is laterally extended on the side of the branch track
27
by actuating the drive
25
, and the lifting device
26
is engaged with a rail of the branch track
27
. The subsequent correction of the position of the track switch
28
follows automatically as drives
16
adjust the track lifting and lining unit
17
for lifting the track lifting and lining unit
17
together with the measuring device
36
to the desired position.
As the track position correction proceeds by the adjustment of the track lifting and lining unit
17
, the cable
37
forms the measuring plane
43
, and the drive
19
of the auxiliary lifting unit
18
is actuated to lift the branch track
27
, engaged by the lifting device
26
, until the switch
28
is aligned in the correct position. This is the case when the track plane
39
and the measuring plane
43
extend parallel to one another. As soon as the parallel relationship is realized, the rotary potentiometer
40
emits a signal to the control device
11
, and the actuation of the drive
19
of the auxiliary lifting unit
18
ceases. As a result, the branch track
27
of the switch
28
is positioned precisely in the track plane
39
of the main track
32
.
FIG. 3
illustrates another embodiment of a tamping machine
1
according to the invention. Parts corresponding with those in
FIG. 1
are denoted by identical reference numerals and not explained again. In this embodiment, the measuring device
36
includes a measuring beam
44
which is telescopically extendible transversely to the machine frame
6
. The measuring sensor
41
associated with the measuring beam
44
and fastened to the track lifting and lining unit
17
is hereby designed as a goniometer
45
. The goniometer
45
is adjusted in such a way that a signal is emitted to the control device
11
, when the track plane
39
and the measuring plane
43
extend parallel to one another. Actuation of the drive
19
is then stopped, since the accurate position of the branch track
27
has been reached.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a tamping machine, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Claims
- 1. A mobile tamping machine for tamping ballast under a railroad, comprising:(a) a machine frame defining a longitudinal axis and supported on undercarriages for travel on a main track in an operating direction; (b) a tamping unit mounted on the machine frame between the undercarriages; (c) a track lifting and lining unit, vertically and transversely adjustably mounted on the machine frame immediately ahead of the tamping unit in the operating direction, for leveling and lining the main track; (d) drive means for vertically and transversely adjusting the track lifting and lining unit; (e) an auxiliary lifting unit, mounted on the machine frame, for lifting a branch track branching off the main track at a track switch; and (f) a measuring system, operatively connected to both the track lifting and lining unit and the auxiliary lifting unit, for controlling a lifting of the track switch, said measuring system including a mechanical measuring device, which connects the track lifting and lining unit to the auxiliary lifting device and is extendible in a direction transversely to the longitudinal axis of the machine frame, and a measuring sensor, wherein the mechanical measuring device is a cable, and the measuring sensor is a rotary potentiometer operatively connected to the cable.
- 2. The tamping machine of claim 1, further comprising a lifting drive, connected to the auxiliary lifting unit, for lifting the branch track, and a control device, connected to the measuring sensor, for actuating the lifting drive.
- 3. A mobile tamping machine for tamping ballast under a railroad, comprising:(a) a machine frame defining a longitudinal axis and supported on undercarriages for travel on a main track in an operating direction; (b) a tamping unit mounted on the machine frame between the undercarriages; (c) a track lifting and lining unit, vertically arid transversely adjustably mounted on the machine frame immediately ahead of the tamping unit in the operating direction, for leveling and lining the main track; (d) drive means for vertically and transversely adjusting the track lifting and lining unit; (e) an auxiliary lifting unit, mounted on the machine frame, for lifting a branch track branching off the main track at a track switch; and (f) a measuring system, operatively connected to both the track lifting and lining unit and the auxiliary lifting unit, for controlling a lifting of the track switch, said measuring system including a mechanical measuring device, which connects the track lifting and lining unit to the auxiliary lifting device and is extendible in a direction transversely to the longitudinal axis of the machine frame, and a measuring sensor, wherein the mechanical measuring device is a measuring beam, and the measuring sensor is a goniometer operatively connected to the measuring beam, wherein the measuring beam is configured so as to be telescopically extendible.
- 4. The tamping machine of claim 3, and further comprising a lifting drive, connected to the auxiliary lifting unit, for lifting the branch track, and a control device, connected to the measuring sensor, for actuating the lifting drive.
- 5. A track maintenance machine for proper positioning of a track switch comprised of a main track and a branch track, comprising:a machine frame defining a longitudinal axis and supported on undercarriages for travel on the main track; a first unit, mounted to the machine frame, for lifting the main track; a second unit, mounted to the machine frame, for lifting the branch track, said second unit configured for extension in a direction transversely to the longitudinal axis; and a measuring system including an extendible measuring device, which has one end connected to the first unit and another end connected to the second unit, and a measuring sensor, which monitors a disposition of the measuring device with respect to a track plane as defined by the main track to thereby control a lifting operation of the second unit, and generates a stop signal to terminate the lifting operation, when the measuring device extends in parallel relationship to the track plane, wherein the measuring system has a spool secured to the first unit, said measuring device being a cable which is wound onto the spool.
- 6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the measuring sensor is a rotary potentiometer.
- 7. The machine of claim 5, and further comprising a control device operatively connected to the measuring sensor for controlling the lifting operation of the second unit.
- 8. A track maintenance machine for proper positioning of a track switch comprised of a main track and a branch track, comprising:a machine frame defining a longitudinal axis and supported on undercarriages for travel on the main track; a first unit, mounted to the machine frame, for lifting the main track; a second unit, mounted to the machine frame, for lifting the branch track, said second unit configured for extension in a direction transversely to the longitudinal axis; and a measuring system including an extendible measuring device, which has one end connected to the first unit and another end connected to the second unit, and a measuring sensor, which monitors a disposition of the measuring device with respect to a track plane as defined by the main track to thereby control a lifting operation of the second unit, and generates a stop signal to terminate the lifting operation, when the measuring device extends in parallel relationship to the track plane, wherein the measuring device is a measuring beam, and the measuring sensor is a goniometer, wherein the measuring beam is configured so as to be telescopically extendible.
- 9. The machine of claim 8, and further comprising a control device operatively connected to the measuring sensor for controlling the lifting operation of the second unit.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
GM 434/2000 |
Jun 2000 |
AT |
|
US Referenced Citations (7)