Machine for making rail lines

Abstract

 A machine (1) for making rail lines comprises: a movable supporting frame (2) having at least one first and one second mounting element to move the machine (1) relative to the ground; conveyor means (7) supported by the supporting frame (2) to handle a plurality of rail sleepers (T); at least one transport device (10) supported by the supporting frame (2) at a position included between the mounting elements and acting between the conveyor means (7) and the ground to receive the sleepers (T) from the conveyor means (7) and transfer them to the ground along an inclined path of travel. The inclined transport device (10) fully extends close to one of said mountings and has a first (10a) and a second (10b) stretch inclined to a horizontal plane and at least partly superposed so as to reduce an overall bulkiness of the transport device (10) at least along a direction parallel to an advancing direction of the machine (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine for making rail lines. In particular the present invention advantageously applies to construction of rail lines in a non-stop flow, i.e. following methods involving continuous and non-intermittent moving forward of the machine.

[0002] It is known that in the construction or renewal of rail lines, the first operation involves laying of two rails to be disposed in side by side relationship substantially along a route to be made and subsequently sleepers are to be placed under the rails, in particular by use of dedicated machines. These machines generally comprise a railway vehicle moving forward along the route to be made and partly supported by an already made track portion through one or more railway bogies. In addition, these machines are supported at the front by a generally tracked mounting suitable for direct engagement with the ground or the ballast still devoid of the railway track. The tracked mounting is interchangeable with a traditional railway bogie to enable transfer of the machine to rail lines.

[0003] Between the tracked mounting turned towards the running direction of the machine and the rear railway bogie or bogies, the machine supports means for laying the sleepers. In particular, the latter are fed from a rear end of the machine in the same direction as the advancing direction of the machine itself, by belt conveyors or the like positioned on a transfer plane supported by the supporting frame of the machine. The sleepers thus fed reach said laying means comprising an inclined transport device adapted to progressively cause descent of the sleepers towards the ground while they still being fed in the same direction as the advancing direction of the machine.

[0004] While the machine is moving forward and during the descent step, the sleepers are oriented perpendicular to the advancing direction of the machine itself, i.e. they are already oriented in the direction that they will have when laying on the ground has occurred.

[0005] The machine further comprises means for guidance of the present rails on the ground and in particular rail-supporting rollers carried on the opposite sides of the machine close to the ground and adapted to keep the two rails to a mutual distance greater than the length of the sleepers, because the sleepers are fed from above but must be disposed under the rails and therefore it is necessary to sufficiently space the rails apart from each other during laying of the sleepers.

[0006] It has been found that the machines of the above described type have some important drawbacks.

[0007] The most important of them results from the fact that the sizes of these machines are not adapted to enable observance of the regulations in force as regards the loading gauge defined as the gauge within which the cross section of the rolling stock must be contained under the different working conditions. In the above mentioned machines for sleeper laying, in fact, the value of the pivot pitch, i.e. the distance between the tracked mounting and the closest of the rear bogies, is very important. This pivot pitch cannot be brought under a minimum value because this would cause yield of the rails curved by said supporting rollers to enable introduction and laying of the sleepers between the two rails. On the other hand, the high value of the pivot pitch impairs observance of the loading gauge because it creates an increase in the machine overhang on a bend, towards the inside of the bend, at a mid-line portion of the machine, i.e. an intermediate portion between the front mounting and the rear bogie. In addition, the inclined transport device for descent of the sleepers gives rise to minimum transverse dimensions of importance for the machine that cannot be reduced under a given value connected to the length of the sleepers and the unavoidable presence of members supporting the inclined transport device on the machine's supporting frame. In addition, it is impossible to reduce the length of this inclined transport device, that in known machines begins close to, if not before, the mid-line of said pivot pitch and terminates close to the front mounting, for the purpose of avoiding too steep slopes that would make the sleeper descent unstable, and also the plane of the belt conveyor cannot be lowered too much towards the rail level, due to the necessity to observe the regulations in force.

[0008] A further drawback resides in that known machines, in accordance with the above, do not allow the sleepers to be followed until they rest on the ground because possible members designed to follow the sleepers to the ground, for instance an exit end of the inclined transport device, would interfere with the previously laid last sleeper that would be exactly positioned under the end of the inclined transport device. In fact, it is to be pointed out that in these machines the inclined transport device for descent of the sleepers is turned towards the front mounting, i.e. the sleepers are fed while they move in the same direction as the advancing movement of the machine.

[0009] Therefore, known machines inevitably allow the sleepers to fall when the same have reached a given height relative to the ground, which gives rise to inaccuracies in the sleeper laying and possible permanent damages to the sleepers themselves.

[0010] Accordingly, it is a technical task of the present invention to make available a machine for rail line construction that does not suffer for the above mentioned drawbacks.

[0011] Within the scope of this technical task, it is an important aim of the invention to propose a machine for rail line construction in which the overall dimensions or bulkiness under working conditions are in compliance with the regulations in force as regards the loading gauge.

[0012] In addition, it is an important aim of the invention to make available a machine for rail line construction having a reduced transverse size in a mid-line portion thereof between the mountings.

[0013] Another aim of the invention is to provide a machine for rail line construction capable of reducing the risks of damages or permanent injuries to the sleepers during handling and laying of same.

[0014] It is a further aim of the invention to make available a machine for rail line construction enabling correct positioning of the sleepers on the ground.

[0015] The foregoing and further aims that will become more apparent in the progress of the present description are substantially achieved by a machine for making rail lines having the features recited in claim 1 and/or in one or more of the claims dependent thereon.

[0016] A preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a machine for making rail lines in accordance with the present invention is now illustrated hereinafter, by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine for making rail lines in accordance with the invention;
• Fig. 2a is a cross-section view of a first portion of the machine seen in Fig. 1 in a non-operating configuration;
• Fig. 2b is a cross-section view of the machine portion seen in Fig. 2a in a first operating step;
• Fig. 2c is a cross-section view of the machine portion seen in Fig. 2a in a second operating step;
• Fig. 2d is a cross-section view of the machine portion seen in Fig. 2a in a third operating step;
• Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of the machine portion seen in Fig. 2b;
• Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail of the machine portion seen in Fig. 2d;
• Fig. 5 shows a second portion of the machine seen in Fig. 1 with some parts removed for a better view of others;
• Fig. 6 is a partly perspective and partly sectional view of a third portion of the machine in Fig. 1 in an operating configuration;
• Fig. 7 shows the profile of the loading gauge in accordance with the regulations in force concerning the maximum transverse dimension of railway vehicles;
• Fig. 8a is a side view of a fourth portion of the machine seen in Fig. 1 in a first operating configuration;
• Fig. 8b is a front view of the machine portion shown in Fig. 8a in the first operating configuration and with some parts removed for a better view of others;
• Fig. 8c is a side view of the machine portion seen in Fig. 8a in a second operating configuration;
• Fig. 8d is a front view of the machine portion shown in Fig. 8c in the second operating configuration and with some parts removed for a better view of others;
• Fig. 9 shows the machine portion seen in Fig. 2b under working conditions according to a different operating principle.

[0017] As shown in the drawings, a machine for making rail lines in accordance with the present invention has been generally identified by reference numeral 1.

[0018] It is to be pointed out, for the sake of clarity, that the term "rail line" or "track" in the present disclosure means the substructure intended for railway circulation and consisting of a pair of parallel rails, a sequence of sleepers and the attachment members designed to carry out connection between the rails and sleepers. In particular, the function of the present machine 1 is to arrange an orderly sequence of sleepers "T" on the ground or a ballast suitably built in a previous time and to dispose a pair of parallel rails "R" on the laid sleepers "T". It will be understood that said rails "R" can be already present in the vicinity of the track to be made, already disposed at the sides of the track to be made for example, or they can be supplied and arranged in such a position by the machine 1 itself.

[0019] In accordance with the present invention, the machine 1 comprises a supporting frame or chassis 2 preferably made up of longitudinal members and cross members of the tubular type, and associated with two supporting or mounting elements in detail comprising a pair of railway bogies 3. 4. In accordance with the working operation of the machine 1 of the invention, the machine 1 has an advancing direction "A" shown in Fig. 1, differentiating the two bogies 3, 4 in a front bogie 3 and a rear bogie 4, respectively. The two bogies 3, 4 are of the traditional type and therefore will not be described in detail and preferably they are both equipped with respective driving means.

[0020] The supporting frame 2 has a central portion 2a that is raised relative to a front portion 2b and a rear portion 2c of the supporting frame 2, still relating to said advancing direction "A" of the machine 1. This means that the central portion 2a of the supporting frame 2 has a height from the rail level "PF" on which bogies 3, 4 run greater than the height of said front 2b and rear 2c portions of the supporting frame 2 itself. Said central portion 2a therefore defines a wide under-frame space 5 under it which can be advantageously the seat for installation of means not shown that is adapted to generate a temporary deformation of rails "R" present on the ground to enable laying of sleepers "T" under said rails according to an operating principle to be illustrated in detail in the following of the present specification. This under-frame space 5 has a height from the rail level, i.e. the rolling plane of the wheels of bogies 3, 4 greater than 1100 millimetres and preferably of 1300 millimetres. At all events, the under-frame space 5 has a height from the rail level greater than the height reached by the fifth wheels, i.e. the hinging points on the supporting frame 2, of bogies 3, 4 still with reference to the rail level. This values enable observance of the regulations in force because there is a wide manoeuvring space for the working staff who, exactly at this space, act on the grade or railway surface for co-operating with the action of the machine 1.

[0021] Each bogie 3, 4 is connected with the supporting frame 2 at one of said front 2b and rear 2c portions in such a manner that the overall dimensions of bogies 3, 4 do not interfere with said under-frame space 5.

[0022] Provided on the machine 1 is a driver's cab or driver's position 6, located at the front of the machine 1 to enable safe operation of the machine under thrust conditions, in accordance with regulations in force as regards behaviour of the staff driving and/or operating the machine.

[0023] The machine 1 further comprises conveying means 7 associated with the supporting frame 2 and associable with a magazine for sleepers "T" to pick the sleepers "T" up and subsequently support and handle them while they are on the supporting frame 2. In particular, as shown in Fig. 1, the conveying means 7 comprises at least one first conveyor 8 of the belt or chain type, defining a first horizontal feeding path "X1" of sleepers "T" on the supporting frame 2 and aligned with the advancing direction "A" of the machine 1.

[0024] Preferably, the conveying means 7 further comprises a second conveyor 9, of the belt or chain type too, defining a second horizontal feeding path "X2" of sleepers "T", preferably aligned with the above mentioned first feeding path "X1". The second conveyor 9 is at least partly superposed over the first conveyor 8 and it too is aligned with the advancing direction "A" of the machine 1 to enable transfer of a plurality of sleepers "T" between the two conveyors 8, 9 during operation of the machine 1. The two conveyors 8, 9 are advantageously driven in an independent manner so that they define different advancing or feeding speeds thus giving rise to building-up or thinning out of the plurality of sleepers "T" travelling on each of the two conveyors 8, 9. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of said conveyors 8, 9 comprises two belts or chains disposed in side by side relationship and spaced apart in such a manner as to house, between the two belts or chains, part of the other conveyor 8,9 which on the contrary comprises a single belt or central chain. The two conveyors 8, 9 in co-operation with each other define a single horizontal common plane for transfer of sleepers "T".

[0025] The two conveyors 8, 9 are supported on the upper part of the supporting frame 2, at an exposed position relative to the overall dimensions of the supporting frame 2 itself. In this configuration, the transverse dimension or bulkiness of the supporting frame 2 measured along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the advancing direction "A" of the machine 1 can be reduced, because additional bulky elements, represented by closing side walls for example, are not provided.

[0026] The machine 1 further comprises a transport device 10 acting between said conveying means 7 and the ground so as to dispose the sleepers T fed by the conveying means 7 on the ground in an orderly manner, thus defining true laying means for said sleepers "T". The transport device 10 is inclined and defines an inclined descent direction of sleepers "T" from said transfer plane of the conveyor means 7, or more generally from the supporting frame 2, to the ground.

[0027] Advantageously, the inclined transport device 10 fully extends close to and preferably in register with one of said bogies 3, 4, preferably the front bogie 3.

[0028] According with this configuration, the conveying means 7 preferably extends between a rear end of the supporting frame 2 and the inclined transport device 10 to pick up sleepers "T" from said sleeper magazine and send them to the inclined transport device 10. Said sleeper magazine not shown in the figures as known, is associable at the rear with the machine 1, by coupling one or more wagons loaded with sleepers "T" at the rear of the machine.

[0029] The necessity to make sleepers "T" move along and pass the supporting frame 2, i.e. the necessity to bring sleepers "T" from a plane overlying the supporting frame 2 to a lower level such as the ground, makes it necessary to contemplate the presence of a passage opening 11 in the supporting frame 2. This causes the transverse dimension or bulkiness of the supporting frame 2 in a portion thereof linked to the inclined transport device 10 to be greater than a transverse dimension of sleepers "T" above all due to a minimum thickness of the longitudinal members of the supporting frame 2 laterally delimiting opening 11 and in addition determining the overall strength and stiffness of the supporting frame 2. It is possible to deduce therefrom that this gives rise to the minimum transverse bulkiness of the supporting frame 2 at its portion linked to the inclined transport device 10. Moreover, since the central portion 2a of the supporting frame 2 is the critical region of the machine 1 in terms of observance of the regulations in force as regards the loading gauge during the step of negotiating a bend, it appears immediately clear that a great advantage is achieved if the inclined transport device 10 is located at a region of the machine 1 much less affected by problems relative to observance of the loading gauge in the railway field, which critical region appears to be located close to the mountings and therefore bogies 3, 4. The central portion 2a of the supporting frame 2 has been therefore the object of a reduction in the transverse bulkiness relative to the portion linked to the inclined transport device 10, which has led to positive effects among which, essentially, the observance of the Italian regulations in force concerning the loading gauge, which is represented in detail in Fig. 7 in which a maximum permissible transverse dimension of the machine under working conditions has been denoted at "L", said value being measured perpendicularly to the advancing direction "A" of the machine 1. It is to be pointed out that, to the aims of bulkiness reduction on a bend, one of the main variables causing overhang on a bend is given by the value of the pivot pitch "I" of the machine 1, i.e. the distance between the rotation pivots of bogies 3, 4 relative to the supporting frame 2. However, although a reduction in the pivot pitch "I" were able to cause an important reduction in the overhang on a bend, this reduction would have caused too great a reduction in the longitudinal extension of the under-frame space 5 and, as a result, less useful space for deformation of rails "R". The rails would have been submitted to too many bending actions involving heavy risks of rail yield. It will be recognised from the above that the pivot pitch "I" too cannot be reduced arbitrarily without encountering serious drawbacks.

[0030] The conformation of the present machine 1 allows full observance of the regulations in force as to the loading gauge when negotiating a bend, and this takes place both under working conditions of the machine 1, i.e. during operation of same, and under transfer conditions of the machine 1, i.e. when the same travels on a generic railway route under ordinary running conditions.

[0031] In order to further reduce bulkiness of the inclined transport device 10, the latter has a first stretch 10a and a second stretch 10b consecutive to each other relative to a feeding path of sleepers "T" towards the ground and at least partly and preferably fully superposed, as shown in Figs. 2a to 2d. In addition, the two stretches 10a, 10b are both inclined to a horizontal plane.

[0032] The first stretch 10a is immediately downstream of the second conveyor 9 relative to said second feeding path "X2" of sleepers "T", and preferably has an entry portion 12 facing the second conveyor 9 and defining a respective substantially horizontal feeding path of sleepers "T". In addition, this entry portion 12 is at least partly superposed over a corresponding end portion of the second conveyor 9, so as to define a uniform and regular transfer of sleepers from the second conveyor 9 towards said first stretch 10a of the inclined transport device 10. Note that the entry portion 12 of said first stretch 10a does not pass through the supporting frame 2 but is supported thereby and therefore does not interfere with said passage opening 11 of the supporting frame being consequently associated with the supporting frame portion of lower transverse bulkiness. As a result, the longitudinal sizes of said entry portion 12 do not adversely affect the maximum overhang produced by the machine 1 on a bend.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment of the machine 1 herein illustrated, the first stretch 10a of the inclined transport device 10 defines a third feeding direction "X3" of sleepers "T" which is in the same direction as the advancing direction "A" of machine 1, while the second stretch 10b defines a fourth feeding direction "X4" of sleepers "T" which is opposite to the advancing direction "A" of machine 1 and gives rise to a movement of sleepers "T" that, under given operating conditions, is a true moving back of sleepers "T" that therefore move towards the rear portion 2c of the supporting frame 2.

[0034] According to Figs. 2a to 2d, the first stretch of the inclined transport device 10 comprises an endless conveyor preferably of the chain type and having a plurality of rollers 13 adapted to support and handle a plurality of sleepers "T" which at the lower part thereof have a substantially flat surface. Said first stretch 10a, in addition, has a steady conformation which therefore does not vary on passing from an operating configuration to a transfer configuration of machine 1.

[0035] The second stretch lOb of the inclined transport device 10, on the contrary, is movable between an operating condition at which an exit section 14 of said second stretch 10b is placed close to the ground for positioning sleepers "T", and a transfer position at which the second stretch 10b is in a compact configuration and raised from the ground to enable transfer of the machine 1 under safety conditions on a railway route. In particular, the second stretch 10b comprises a stiff roller bed 15 having a pair of side walls 15a supporting a plurality of rollers 15b preferably in an idle manner, which rollers define said fourth feeding path "X4". Preferably, said fourth path "X4" has a curved extension the concavity of which faces away from the ground, to impart a substantially horizontal motion to sleepers "T" passing on the roller bed 15, when said sleepers reach the exit section 14 of the second stretch 10b.

[0036] Advantageously, the exit section 14 of the second stretch 10b faces away from the advancing direction "A" of machine 1. In other words, sleepers "T" passing on the roller bed 15 close to said exit section 14 have a motion along a direction opposite to the advancing direction "A" of machine 1 and, therefore, turned towards the last sleeper "T" previously laid on the ground. In this way the exit section 14 can be maintained in close proximity to the ground without any part of the second stretch 10b interfering with sleepers "T" previously laid on the ground and without sleepers "T" being allowed to fall from a great height, thus achieving advantages in terms of integrity of the sleepers "T" themselves.

[0037] Advantageously, the inclined transport device 10 comprises transfer means 16 acting on the first 10a and second 10b stretches of the inclined transport device 10 to pick up at least one sleeper "T" moving forward on the first stretch 10a and transfer it onto the second stretch 10b according to a backward motion substantially opposite with respect to the first stretch 10a.

[0038] According to the preferred embodiment of the invention and as seen in detail in Fig. 3, the transfer means 16 comprises a tipping support 17 having a plurality of idle rollers 18 disposed in such a manner that they define a substantially flat rest surface for supporting one sleeper "T". In addition, the first stretch 10a of the inclined transport device 10 has an exit end portion 20 which is placed substantially above an entry end portion 21 of the second stretch 10b of the inclined transport device 10 itself, so that the tipping support 17 can be disposed close to said exit 20 and entry 21 portions and act thereon to carry out transfer of sleepers "T" between the two stretches 10a, 10b of the inclined transport device 10.

[0039] Advantageously, the tipping support 17 is oscillatable relative to a fulcrum 19 preferably positioned on the opposite side from said exit portion 20 of the first stretch 10 and entry portion 21 of the second stretch 10b, between at least a first position at which it is disposed in a location substantially aligned with said exit end portion 20 of the first stretch 10a to receive a sleeper "T" therefrom, and at least one second position substantially aligned with said entry end portion 21 of the second stretch 10b to transfer the sleeper "T" thereon. In particular, the transfer support has a shaped element 22 extending away from the surface defined by rollers 18 of the tipping support 17 to define an end-of-stroke member for sleeper "T" to be received. Preferably, in addition, the shaped element 22 has an upper portion 23 which is disposed substantially parallel to the surface defined by said rollers 18 of the tipping support 17, so that said rollers 18 and shaped element 22 define a seat 24 for steadily receiving sleeper "T". In addition, the shaped element 23 preferably has a lead-in end portion 25 diverging from said surface of rollers 18 to facilitate entry of sleeper "T" into seat 24.

[0040] Oscillation of the tipping support 17 is controlled by respective actuator means 26, in particular a fluid-operated piston.

[0041] To control movement of sleepers "T" during transfer of same between the first stretch 10a and second stretch 10b of the transport device 10, first retaining means 27 acting on the tipping support 17 is provided; this means is preferably supported by the latter and is movable between a first position at which a sleeper "T" is kept on the tipping support 17 and in particular within said seat 24, and a second position at which sleeper "T" is released and transfer of same is allowed. Preferably, the first retaining means 27 comprises a disappearing locator which emerges from the surface of rollers 18 of the tipping support 17 at said first position of the first retaining means 27 to generate a locking action for sleeper "T" during overturning of same while it is housed in said seat 24. In the absence of this disappearing locator, the sleeper would tend to come out of seat 24 by gravity, because said sleeper rests on said bed of idle rollers 18.

[0042] On the other hand, also provided is second retaining means 28 acting at the exit end portion 20 of the first stretch 10a of the inclined transport device 10 to stop feeding of sleepers "T" from the first stretch 10a to the tipping support 17 during operation of the latter. Said second retaining means 28 is movable between a first position at which it prevents said feeding of sleepers "T" towards the tipping support 17 and a second position at which it allows at least one sleeper "T" and in particular the one which is the closest to the tipping support 17, to be transferred onto the tipping support 17 itself. Preferably, the second retaining means 28 comprises a first retractable locking element emerging from a feeding surface of sleepers "T" located on the first stretch 10a to prevent normal flow of same towards the transfer means 16.

[0043] The second retaining means 28 further comprises a second retractable locking element 30 designed to retain sleepers "T" on the first stretch 10a of the inclined transport device 10 and co-operating with the first retractable locking element 29. In detail, the second retractable locking element 30 acts on sleepers "T" located on the first stretch 10a to prevent feeding of same towards the tipping support 17 when the first retractable locking element 29 is in its second position and therefore has released sleeper "T" which is the closest to the tipping support 17. Under this circumstance, should not the second retractable locking element 30 be present, a plurality of sleepers "T" in succession would tend to reach the tipping support 17 thus preventing correct operation of same and consequently causing stopping of the machine 1.

[0044] Preferably, the second retractable locking element 30 acts on an upper portion of sleepers "T" which at their upper part have a smaller size than at their lower part. Therefore, when sleepers "T" are disposed in side by side relationship and in abutment against each other, they are in mutual contact at their lower portion, while their upper portions remain spaced apart enabling intervention of the second retractable locking element 30. The latter preferably consists of a swinging arm 30a one end 30b of which is adapted to be introduced between two sleepers "T", and in particular between two upper portions of the latter, to prevent advancing of one of the two sleepers "T" while enabling the other to move forward. The swinging arm 30a is movable between a first position, at which it places its end 30a between the two sleepers "T" which are the closest to the tipping support 17 so that the one of said two sleepers that is located downstream can be released by the first retractable locking element 29 towards the tipping support 17, and a second position at which it does not interfere with sleepers "T" enabling the latter to move forward and abut against the first retractable locking element 29, so that repetition of a new cycle is allowed.

[0045] As regards the second stretch 10b of the inclined transport device 10, the machine 1 comprises a chain 31, operatively associated with the roller bed 15 and delimiting, in co-operation therewith, a channel 32 for descent of sleepers "T" which preferably has a constant width measured in terms of minimum distance between chain 31 and roller bed 15. In particular, chain 31 faces rollers 15b of the roller bed 15 intended for movement of sleepers "T" and has at least one tailpiece 33 jutting out away from chain 31 and extending within channel 32 during at least part of a rotation movement of chain 31. This tailpiece 33 can be engaged with a corresponding sleeper "T" which, descending by gravity through channel 32, is intercepted by the tailpiece 33 and accompanied towards the exit section 14 of the second stretch 10b at a predetermined speed. To this aim, chain 31 is connected to respective actuator means not shown, adapted to regulate at least one rotation movement thereof.

[0046] Preferably, chain 31 has a plurality of tailpieces 33 disposed along the whole peripheral extension of chain 31 and spaced apart the same distance in such a manner that each tailpiece 33 selectively engages a respective sleeper "T" during subsequent rotation cycles of chain 31. In this manner, channel 32 can be advantageously simultaneously engaged by two or more sleepers "T" which are fed towards the exit section 14 in a rhythmic manner.

[0047] Advantageously, the machine 1 further comprises locator means 34 acting on sleepers "T" when the latter have reached the exit section 14 under the braking and regulating action of the respective tailpieces 33 and, therefore, immediately before laying of said sleepers on the ground. In detail, in accordance with views in Figs. 2a to 2d, said locator means 34 comprises a pusher arm 35 acting on a side surface of a sleeper "T" to determine, in co-operation with the tailpiece 33 in engagement with the sleeper "T" itself, correct positioning of the latter, i.e. abutment of sleeper "T" on said tailpiece 33.

[0048] In accordance with the view in Fig. 4, the pusher arm 35 is hinged at an intermediate portion thereof, on a portion of machine 1 integral with chain 31 and at an end thereof has a pad 36 to be engaged against a sleeper "T", being connected at the other end with actuator means 37 such as in particular a fluid-operated actuator. The pusher arm 35 is therefore swinging between an inactive position at which it enables a sleeper "T" to reach the exit section 14 of the second stretch 10b under the counter-action of the respective tailpiece 33 of chain 31, and an active position at which it abuts against sleeper "T" through pad 36 to push said sleeper against said tailpiece 33. During operation, this tailpiece 33 acts as an abutment element co-operating with the pusher arm 35 to promote correct positioning of sleeper "T".

[0049] According to an alternative embodiment, also provided at the exit section 14 is a pair of stop elements 46, movable between an operating configuration shown in Figs. 8a and 8b, at which they interfere with normal descent of sleepers "T" along the inclined transport device 10 to stop feeding of sleepers "T", and a second non-operating configuration shown in Figs. 8c and 8d, at which the stop elements are retracted so that they do not interfere with the exit section 14. The stop elements 46 act as an abutment for sleepers "T" coming down along the second stretch 10b of the inclined transport device 10, i.e. towards the exit section 14, to stop sleepers "T" to a position substantially above a corresponding release position of same on the ground. In other words, the two stop elements 46 perform the same function as that performed by tailpieces 33 in the embodiment previously described.

[0050] Advantageously, in the just described embodiment, chain 31 can be provided with a continuous movement and has no intermittent advancing, because the abutment function of sleepers "T" is assigned to the stop elements 46 that are not integral with chain 31. Therefore the latter can move forward in a continuous manner, while movement of sleepers "T" is stopped at the exit section 14.

[0051] In fact, in accordance with views in Figs. 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, the stop elements 46 comprise two adjustable arms 46a supported by attachment portions 47 integral with the supporting frame 2 of machine 1 and hinged on the attachment portions 47 for rotation between said operating configuration and non-operating configuration. In more detail, the adjustable arms 46a extend vertically and downwards, towards the ground, when they are in the operating configuration, while they are disposed horizontally and in a raised position when they are in a non-operating configuration. Rotation of the adjustable arms 46a between the respective two configurations takes place around respective horizontal axes "Y" which are preferably fixed relative to machine 1. Movement of the adjustable arms between said two configurations takes place by means of respective fluid-operated actuators 48 and, preferably, each adjustable arm is associated with a respective fluid-operated actuator 48. In accordance with figs. 8a to 8d, the two stop elements 46 rotate in the same transverse plane, preferably perpendicular to the advancing direction of machine 1 and, in more detail, their rotation takes place in a plane substantially perpendicular to the fourth feeding direction "X4" of sleepers "T".

[0052] Preferably, chain 31 comprises at least two closed branches parallel to each other that are disposed along the advancing direction "A" of machine 1. The two branches are spaced apart from each other to enable housing of stop elements 46 and the respective fluid-operated actuators 48 in a space portion included between the branches themselves. The two branches are identical with each other and act on opposite portions of sleepers "T". In addition, the tipping support 17 acts in the space portion included between the two branches of chain 15, although at a position far from the stop elements 46, so that said tipping support does not interfere with the two branches of chain 15.

[0053] Advantageously, machine 1 further comprises a retractable support 38 positioned at the exit section 14 of the second stretch 10b and movable between an active position at which it supports at least one sleeper "T" over the ground at said exit section 14, and an inactive position at which it is retracted enabling said previously supported sleeper "T" to reach the ground falling under gravity. The retractable support 38 is driven between said two positions by respective actuator means 39 preferably comprising a fluid-operated actuator. Displacement of the retractable support 38 takes place along a direction substantially parallel to the advancing direction of machine 1, i.e. substantially horizontal. In addition, the tipping support 38 is moved in a portion of said space included between the two branches of chain 15, and in more detail under the latter.

[0054] The retractable support 38, at its active position, is placed under said locator means 34 so as to co-operate with the latter and define correct positioning of sleepers "T" immediately before they are laid on the ground.

[0055] Advantageously, switching of said stretch 10b of the inclined transport device 10 between said operating and transfer positions is obtained by oscillation of chain 31 and roller bed 15 between a lowered position, corresponding to the operating configuration of the second stretch 10b, and a raised position, corresponding to the transfer configuration of the second stretch 10b. Said oscillation of chain 31 and roller bed 15 is obtained by hinging them at an upper portion thereof, preferably a portion which is the closest to the transfer means 16. Preferably, in addition, chain 31 and roller bed 15 are oscillatable around non-coincident axes.

[0056] In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 2a to 2d, chain 31 and roller bed 15 are kinematically connected, preferably by a stiff rod 40, to enable simultaneous lifting of chain 31 and roller bed 15 by a single lifter 41 in particular comprising a fluid-operated piston acting between the supporting frame 2 and chain 31.

[0057] Preferably, use of a tie-rod 48 is provided to keep roller bed 15 steadily in place. The tie-rod 48 has a first end 48a associated with said upper portion of the roller bed 15, preferably above a fulcrum point of the roller bed 15 itself, and an opposite end, not shown, connected to the supporting frame 2 of machine 1 by respective actuator means, not shown as well. The tie-rod 48, in co-operation with the stiff rod 40 and lifter 41, gives more stabilisation to the second stretch 10b of the inclined transport device 10 at least when the latter is in an operating position.

[0058] Shown in Fig. 6 is an auxiliary mounting 42, to be associated in a removable manner with one of bogies 3, 4 of machine 1 and preferably with the front bogie 3, to support the same in the absence of the track. This auxiliary mounting 42 comprises a tracked support adapted to produce an efficient grip action on the ground to generate an adhesion and pulling action relative to the ground itself. In particular, as shown in the portions of the sectional view in Fig. 6, the tracked support is adapted to be put under said railway bogie 3, 4 of the machine 1, and in this connection the tracked support has at least one rest surface 43 to be engaged with the bogie 3 wheels of machine 1. The rest surface 43 has a pair of raised portions 44, only one of which is shown in Fig. 6, each of them abutting against a wheel of bogie 3, 4 and the shape of which preferably matches a portion of the wheel to enable steady support of bogie 3, 4 the of machine 1.

[0059] Preferably, there are two rest surfaces 43, each of them being associated with the wheels of each side of bogie 3, 4, relative to the advancing direction "A" of machine 1. Consequently, each rest surface 43 has a pair of opposite raised portions 44.

[0060] Advantageously, the auxiliary mounting 42 has an anchoring element 45, preferably positioned at a central position and adapted to be mechanically associated with the supporting frame 2 of machine 1 to transmit a pulling action to the machine 1 itself. To this aim, the auxiliary mounting 42 is equipped with driving means of its own, preferably one or more hydraulic motors not shown, receiving a motive power, preferably a hydraulic power, from machine 1. Suitable control means not shown therefore regulates distribution of a simultaneous pulling action given by the auxiliary mounting 42 and that bogie 3, 4 which is not coupled to the auxiliary mounting 42. Under operating conditions, the bogie 3, 4 uncoupled to the auxiliary mounting 42, i.e. the rear bogie 4, rests on the track made by the machine 1 itself.

[0061] In addition, advantageously, the tracked support comprises two tracked mountings each of which supports both wheels of bogie 3, 4 located on the same side of machine 1. In this way driving of bogie 3, 4 and therefore of machine 1 is very simple, since steering of the tracked mounting can take place in a very simple manner by adopting different advancing speeds for the two tracked mountings.

[0062] Operation of the machine is described hereinafter.

[0063] Machine 1 is disposed on the ground in such a manner that the front bogie 3 rests on the tracked mounting while the rear bogie 4 is supported by an initial stretch of the track the continuation of which is to be constructed by use of machine 1.

[0064] At the rear of machine 1 one or more wagons loaded with a plurality of sleepers "T" are provided, which sleepers are transferred to machine 1 through said conveyor means 7. Rails "R" can be arranged on the ground longitudinally of the advancing direction "A" of machine 1 and spaced apart by a greater distance than a transverse direction of the tracked mounting, so that the latter can move forward between the two rails "R". Alternatively, rails "R" are disposed on the ground by machine 1 which in this case is associated with one or more arrays of wagons intended for rail transfer, and further has transfer means for rails "R" in the form of rollers supported on side portions of the supporting frame 2 of the machine 1 and adapted to make rails "R" slide relative to machine 1 until they rest on the ground. The transfer means for rails "R" is of known type and therefore not shown in the accompanying figures.

[0065] Machine 1, by use of suitable guides not shown as known, causes spacing apart of the two rails "R" at the under-frame 5 region, so as to enable arrangement of sleepers "T" under the rails "R" themselves. Rails "R" are subsequently brought to a mutual distance corresponding to the gauge of the track to be made to enable rails "R" to engage with respective housing seats provided in the sleepers and therefore to be fastened thereto by intervention of further machines, discussion of which is not concerned with the present disclosure.

[0066] During a standard cycle for laying sleepers "T", the latter are fed to the inclined transport device 10 which is designed to arrange them on the ground. To enable this to take place correctly, the first retractable locking element 29 is disposed at a locking position, while the second retractable locking element 30 is in an inactive position so that it does not interfere with sleepers "T" stored on the first stretch 10a of the inclined transport device 10, as shown in the view in Fig. 2b. During this step, the roller bed 15 and chain 31 are lowered until the exit section 14 of the second stretch 10b is positioned to a level close to the ground.

[0067] In addition, in order to enable sleepers "T" to be transferred to the second stretch 10b, the tipping support 17 is aligned with the first stretch 10a and the first retaining means 27 is switched to an inactive position. The second retractable locking element 30 is then brought to a locking position, at which the end of the swinging arm 30a is located between sleeper "T" which is the closest to the tipping support 17 and the immediately upstream sleeper "T" relative to a feeding direction of sleepers "T" on the first stretch 10a. The first retractable locking element 29 is then released to enable said sleeper "T" that is the closest to the tipping support 17 to reach the latter, in accordance with the view in Fig. 2c. At this point the first retaining means 27 is switched to the locking position to keep said sleeper "T" steady in the seat 24 of the tipping support 17.

[0068] Subsequently, as shown in Fig. 2d, the tipping support 17 is rotated for alignment with the roller bed 15, and the first retaining means is switched to a release position to enable the previously supported sleeper "T" to slide along channel 32 under the regulating action of the jutting-out tailpieces 33 of chain 31.

[0069] Meanwhile, the first retractable locking element 29 has been switched to the locking position while the second retractable locking element 30 has been switched to the inactive position, to enable sleepers "T" to move forward and take again a configuration identical with the starting configuration. The tipping support 17 is brought back to the position in alignment with the first stretch 10a and the cycle starts again following the just described modalities.

[0070] Once sleeper "T" passing through channel 32 has reached the exit section 14, it is arranged on the retractable support 38 and is correctly positioned by the pusher arm 35 that, in co-operation with the jutting-out tailpiece 18 associated with sleeper "T", determines a correct position of sleeper "T" substantially in vertical alignment with the position that said sleeper "T" will have to take on the ground. The retractable support 38 is then retracted simultaneously with switching of the pusher arm 35 to the inactive position, so that sleeper "T" falls under gravity reaching the ground in a correct manner. It will be recognised that, being the exit section 14 to a level close to the ground, falling under gravity does not cause any damage to sleeper "T" because this fall does not involve any important impact and in addition wrong positioning of sleeper "T" on the ground does not occur, which wrong positioning would damage subsequent coupling of the sleeper itself with rails "R".

[0071] A machine 1 in accordance with the above description can be advantageously used for removal of pre-existing tracks and in more detail for removal of sleepers "T" from the railway ballast and conveying of same to suitable collecting and transfer units.

[0072] In detail, to carry out removal of a pre-existing track, machine 1 is moved forward in a direction "A1" as shown in Fig. 9, opposite to the advancing direction "A" associated with laying of sleepers "T".

[0073] In addition, suitable expedients are advantageously provided for optimising operation of machine 1 following this operating principle. In particular, the roller bed 15 is provided with a plurality of forks 50 preferably parallel and preferably needle-shaped, which project from the end of the roller bed 15 facing the exit section 14. Forks 50 therefore extend away from the roller bed 15 along a direction turned towards the advancing direction "A1" and, in the operating position of the inclined transport device 10, are inclined downwards moving from one end of forks 50 associated with the roller bed 15 to an opposite free end of same. Forks 50, that in the operating position of the inclined transport device 10 are at least partly buried in the ballast stones, during moving forward of machine 1 are inserted under sleepers "T" and generate a lifting action of said sleepers "T" that are therefore decoupled from the stones and are conveyed towards rollers 15a of the roller bed 15 under the advancing action of machine 1. It will be recognised that, to all effects, the exit section 14 during track removal becomes an entry section of sleepers "T", that are conveyed into channel 32 following an ascent movement towards the tipping support 17. Chain 31 is driven in the opposite direction relative to its operation for sleeper laying, i.e. in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 9. Therefore, sleepers "T" picked up from the ballast are guided upwards inside the channel under the thrust action of tailpieces 33 of said chain 15. During this operation, the stop elements 46 are switched to a non-operating position so that they do not interfere with feeding of sleepers "T" from ballast to roller bed 15. In addition, the pusher arm 35 is maintained to its inactive position.

[0074] To enable transfer of sleepers "T" from the tipping support 17 to the first stretch 10a of the inclined transport device 10, when the tipping support 17 is already in a position aligned with the latter, a pusher member is provided, not shown in the drawings, which acts on sleeper "T" supported by the tipping support 17 to push it onto said first stretch 10a against the action of the gravity force that would tend to keep sleeper "T" on the tipping support 17. The pusher member is therefore movable between an inactive position at which it is retracted to enable the tipping support 17 and the respective sleeper "T" to become aligned with the first stretch 10a, and an active position at which it interferes with sleeper "T" pushing it on the first stretch lOa. Preferably, the pusher member is a fluid-operated piston, which is extendible and retractable between said two positions.

[0075] Sleepers "T" pushed on the first stretch 10a of the inclined transport device 10, are conveyed towards the first 8 and second 9 conveyors in order to be stored, preferably at a different advancing speed of said conveyors, thus giving rise to compacting of the stored sleepers "T".

[0076] The present invention achieves the intended purposes overcoming the drawbacks complained in the known art.

[0077] The compact configuration of the inclined transport device, and positioning of same close to or even at one of the bogies allows the portion of the machine supporting frame associated with the inclined transport device to be limited, thus limiting the machine regions subjected to a fixed minimum size that, as already said, is physiologically determined by the maximum size of the sleepers and by unavoidable thicknesses of the supporting frame itself. Therefore, as a result, overhanging parts on a bend are advantageously reduced since they are mainly linked to the transverse dimension or bulkiness of the supporting frame portion positioned in the mid-line between the mountings; as a result, observance of the loading gauge imposed by the regulations in force can be obtained both under working conditions of the machine and under transfer conditions of the machine itself.

[0078] The superposed conformation of the inclined transport device allows bulkiness to be reduced above all in a longitudinal direction and this is obtained without greatly increasing slope of same which would involve the risks of turning the sleepers over during moving forward of the latter on the inclined transport device. In addition, the raised conformation of the central portion of the supporting frame allows observance of the regulations concerning the minimum distance of the under-frame members relative to the rail level. This is also facilitated by the kinematic movement of the roller bed and chain which can be lifted under transfer conditions so as to make the inclined transport device more compact and observe the minimum height relative to the rail level. Furthermore, the great height of the central portion of the supporting frame relative to the rail level allows observance of the regulations in force concerning interaction of the machine with the working staff that acting on the railway surface close to the machine co-operate with the machine itself while positioning and/or fastening the attachment members of the rails to the just laid sleepers for example, in order to generate a steady support surface for the rear bogie.

[0079] It will be also appreciated that the pitch pivot of the machine has been maintained to a sufficient value to avoid too much bending of the rails during the step of coupling them to the sleepers.

[0080] The particular conformation of the supporting frame that is defined by a single box-shaped body extending along the whole machine forms an important resistance to impacts allowing full observance of the regulations in force also as regards energy absorption in case of collisions or strong impacts.

[0081] Advantageously, the machine of the invention can be also used for removal of pre-existing tracks, and in this case operation of same takes place by moving forward the machine in a direction opposite to the above described one so that the exit section becomes the entry section for sleepers which are caused to move up being pushed by the jutting-out tailpieces of the chain, and then stored on the conveyor means. Due to the presence of the forks partly buried in the ground, sleepers can be easily picked up from the ballast and conveyed to the roller bed being then sent to the tipping support through the chain tailpieces.

[0082] Furthermore, an important advantage of the invention consists in that uncoupling of one of the bogies, and in particular the front one, is not required in order to enable the tracked mounting to be mounted. In fact, the latter can be easily introduced under the bogie, which will save time and will make construction and operation less complicated.

Claims

1. A machine for making rail lines, comprising:

- a movable supporting frame (2) having at least one first (3) and one second (4) mounting element to move the machine (1) relative to the ground;

- conveyor means (7) supported by said supporting frame (2) to move a plurality of rail sleepers (T);

- at least one transport device (10) to move the rail sleepers (T) along an inclined path (X3, X4), said transport device (10) being supported by said supporting frame (2) at a position included between said mounting elements (3, 4) and acting between said conveyor means (7) and the ground to receive the sleepers (T) from the conveyor means (7) and transfer them to the ground;

characterised in that at least one inclined transport device (10) fully extends close to one of said supporting elements (3, 4).

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least one first portion of the supporting frame (2), included between said mounting elements and not associated with said inclined transport device (10) has a maximum transverse bulkiness smaller than a maximum transverse bulkiness of a second portion of the supporting frame (2) to which said inclined transport device (10) is linked, said transverse bulkiness being measured in a horizontal direction perpendicular to an advancing direction (A) of the machine (1).

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said supporting frame (2) has a central portion (2a) included between said mounting elements (3, 4) having a height greater than 1100 millimetres and preferably greater than 1300 millimetres to enable intervention of working staff designed to co-operate with the action of said machine (1), said height being measured from a rolling plane of wheels of said mounting elements (3, 4).

4. A machine as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said inclined transport device (10) has an exit section (14) for the rail sleepers (T) located close to the ground and turned to the rear relative to a working advancing direction (A) of the machine (1).

5. A machine as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said inclined transport device (10) has a first upper stretch (10a) operatively acting for defining a feeding direction (X3) of the sleepers (T) in the same way as the working advancing direction (A) of the machine (1), and a second lower stretch (10b) operatively acting for defining a feeding direction (X4) of the sleepers (T) opposite to said working advancing direction (A) of the machine (1), said first (10a) and second (10b) stretches being at least partly superposed and being both inclined relative to a horizontal plane.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said first stretch (10a) of the inclined transport device (10) is positioned immediately downstream of said conveyor means (7), said second stretch (10b) of the inclined transport device (10) being located downstream of the first stretch (10a) of the inclined transport device (10) relative to a feeding path of the sleepers (T).

7. A machine as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterised in that said inclined transport device (10) comprises transfer means (16) acting on said first (10a) and second (10b) stretches of the inclined transport device (10) to pick up from said first stretch (10a), sleepers (T) having an advancing motion on said first stretch itself (10a), and place said sleepers (T) according to a backward motion on said second stretch (10b).

8. A machine as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said transfer means (16) comprises a tipping support (17) oscillatable between at least one first position at which it is disposed substantially in alignment with an exit portion (20) of the first stretch (10a) of the inclined transport device (10) for receiving a sleeper (10) therefrom, and at least one second position substantially in alignment with an entry portion (21) of the second stretch (10b) of the inclined transport device (10) for transferring said sleeper (T) thereon.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said tipping support (17) comprises a member provided with idle rollers (18) defining a substantially flat rest surface, said tipping support (17) having a housing seat (24) for a rail sleeper (T).

10. A machine as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterised in that said tipping support (17) has first retaining means (27) movable between a first position at which said means keeps a sleeper (T) steadily in place on the tipping support (17), and a second position at which said means releases said sleeper (T) enabling transfer of same at least under gravity onto the second stretch (10b) of the inclined transport device (10), preferably said inclined transport device (10) comprising second retaining means (28) associated with the first stretch (10a) of the inclined transport device (10) and movable between a first position at which it prevents flowing of sleepers (T) from the first stretch (10a) of the inclined transport device (10) to the tipping support (17), and a second position at which it allows at least one sleeper (T) present on the first stretch (10a) of the inclined transport device (10) to reach the tipping support (17).

11. A machine as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said second retaining means (28) comprises a first retractable locking element (29) acting on a first sleeper (T) positioned on the first stretch (10a) of the inclined transport device (10) and being the closest to the tipping support (17) in order to block a sleeper flow towards the tipping support (17) in an orderly and regular manner, and a second retractable locking element (30) acting on a second sleeper (T) located immediately upstream of said first sleeper (T) relative to a feeding direction (X3) of the sleepers (T) on said first stretch (10a) in order to block said second sleeper (T) at least when said first sleeper 8T) is being transferred to the tipping support (17).

12. A machine as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that it comprises a retractable support (38) located at a lower exit section (14) of the second stretch (10b) of the inclined transport device (10) and movable between an active position at which it supports at least one sleeper (T) over the ground at said exit section (14), and an inactive position at which it is retracted enabling the previously supported sleeper (14) to reach the ground by fall under gravity.

13. A machine as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises locator means (34) of the position of the sleepers (T), said locator means (34) being associated with a lower exit section (14) of the inclined transport device (10) to correctly define the position of the sleeper (T) immediately before positioning of same on the ground.

14. A machine as claimed in claims 5 and 13,
characterised in that said locator means (34) further comprises a pusher arm (35) and an abutment element positioned at said exit section (14) to define correct positioning of the sleeper (T), said pusher arm (35) being movable between an inactive position at which it allows a sleeper (T) coming from the second stretch (10b) of the inclined transport device (10) to be seated close to the abutment element, and an active position at which it abuts against said sleeper (T) and pushes it against the abutment element to ensure correct positioning of the sleeper (T) itself.

15. A machine as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that it comprises at least one continuous chain (31) linked to the supporting frame (2) and acting on the second stretch (10b) of the inclined transport device (10) to regulate feeding of the sleepers (T) towards the ground.

16. A machine as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that said second stretch (10b) of the inclined transport device (10) comprises a roller bed (15) that, in co-operation with said chain (31) delimits a channel (32) for descent of the sleepers (T), said chain (31) preferably having at least one jutting-out tailpiece (33) adapted to engage a sleeper (T) passing through said channel (329 to adjust a feeding speed of the sleeper (T) and give a regular rhythm to a flow of sleepers (T) towards the ground.

17. A machine as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that at least the second stretch (10b) of said inclined transport device (10) is movable between an operating position, at which an exit section (14) of said second stretch (10b) is seated close to the ground for positioning the sleepers (T) on the ground, and a transfer position at which said second stretch (10b) is in a compact configuration, and raised from the ground to enable safe transfer of the machine (1) on a railway route.

18. A machine as claimed in claims 16 and 17,
characterised in that said roller bed (15) and chain (31) are oscillatable between said operating position and transfer position under the action of respective actuator means, said roller bed (15) and chain (31) preferably being kinematically connected to allow simultaneous movement of same between said two positions.

19. A machine as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said mounting elements are railway bogies (3, 4), said machine (1) further comprising an auxiliary removable mounting (42) to be steadily engaged with one of said bogies (3, 4) and equipped with coupling means adapted to support one of said bogies (3, 4) on the upper part to enable the machine 1 to be borne in the absence of a railway route.

20. A machine as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said machine (1) has a transverse bulkiness measured perpendicular to an advancing direction (A) of the machine (1) that is lower than the loading gauge of railway vehicles both under work conditions and under transfer conditions on railway routes.

21. A machine as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said conveyor means (7) comprises at least two consecutive conveyors (8, 9) adapted to receive and transfer from each other a plurality of sleepers (T) along a common horizontal plane, one of said conveyors (8, 9) being in communication with an end of the first stretch (10a) of the inclined transport device (10) to transfer a plurality of sleepers (T) towards the inclined transport device (10), preferably said conveyors (8, 9) being drivable in an independent manner from each other to transfer the sleepers (T) at different speeds enabling building-up or thinning out of same on passing from one of the two conveyors (8, 9) to the other.

Drawing