Method and equipment for track renewal

Abstract

 A method and device for quick renewal of preferably a turnout (T), by quickly renewing the ballast bed by using an extendable structure (1,2,3) bearing equipment to operate on the complete width of the ballast bed, this equipment projecting sideways from a processing vehicle at the adjacent track. This vehicle can be easily changed between a wide operating, covering two adjacent tracks, and a slender, covering a single track, transport position and the complete ballast bed renewal is carried out in a single pass of said processing vehicle, wherein the old ballast material is moved sideways.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a novel and innovative method to replace or renew a part or component of a railway track for passenger and/or goods transport. The invention is particularly adapted to replace a ballast formation for a switch and crossing or turnout. However, it is appreciated that the invention is also applicable for replacement of a ballast formation for another part or component of the railway track, e.g. a straight or curved track part. The invention is adapted for ballast comprised from bulk or loose laying material, e.g. pebbles or crushed stone.

[0002] In the following, a turnout is sometimes termed switch; bearers are sometimes termed crossties; adjacent track is sometimes termed neighbour track; digging device is sometimes termed ballast removing means.

[0003] When renewal of a turnout (typically having a length of some 120 meters) is required, according to the method of the prior art first the old rails and sleepers (crossties) are removed as a single unit, possibly in length parts of e.g. 20 meters each, by the aid of a crane or the like. After that the old ballast is dug by an excavator carrying a single spade at the free end of its articulated digging arm. The excavator dumps the dug ballast into a wagon at the adjacent track. As soon as the old ballast is completely removed, new ballast is supplied and finally the new, prefabricated turnout is installed on top of the new ballast. This is a laborious and time consuming method, typically requiring five excavators and two bulldozers to handle the old and new ballast if it concerns a track length between approximately 120 and 180 meters, which is typical for turnout renewal. As such, presently the track needs 50 hours out of service time at a stretch, which means a complete weekend.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a method which requires merely 8 hours out of service time at a stretch for the complete renewal of a turnout of a railway track with overhead power supply. It will be appreciated that the equipment of the overhead power supply (particularly the power supply cables) remains installed during turnout renewal, although the power will be switched off for safety reasons. As such, the overhead power supply provides an interference for the equipment used to carry out the renewal method.

[0005] According to the invention, first the rails and crossties of the turnout are removed and after that the old ballast is removed. In one embodiment, the ballast is removed in several layers. These layers can be at the same level, thus adjacent each other. Or the layers can be below each other. If at the same level, the layers are preferably removed simultaneously. If on top of each other, the layers are removed one after the other, starting from the top layer and each time removing a layer at the next lower level.

[0006] Preferably said ballast is removed by a single passage of a ballast removing device that preferably advances along/runs over/bears onto the adjacent track. Said device preferably comprises ballast removing means which provide a preferably substantially continuously forward moving ballast removing front. If the ballast is removed in several layers, each layer has its own continuously forward moving ballast removing front.

[0007] Preferably the method is carried out such that one or more of the following applies: successive, forward moving, ballast removing fronts are provided, each at a lower level, as viewed in downstream direction, or adjacent each other; which fronts substantially continuously move forward; which fronts keep a substantially constant mutual spacing in forward direction; which fronts cover substantially the complete width of the ballast bed to be removed, either each one (if at different levels) or together (in case of adjacent fronts, each front preferably covers only part of the complete width of the ballast bed).

[0008] In this respect forward direction is parallel to the lengthwise direction of the track.

[0009] The ballast removing fronts preferably extend according to a substantially straight line, possibly inclined relative to the forward direction.

[0010] Preferably the old ballast is first moved sideways, as viewed in forward direction, by the ballast removing means, to be collected at e.g. a side of the ballast bed (chain digger). Alternatively, the old ballast is first elevated by the ballast removing means to be collected at e.g. a conveyor system (drum digger).

[0011] The process of ballast removal is preferably carried out from the co-extensive or neighbour track and the removed ballast is preferably dumped onto a conveyor mechanism at said adjacent track or into a container at said adjacent track.

[0012] Due to ballast removal in layers below each other, a plurality of ballast removing means can act simultaneously such that a large removing capacity is provided, while ramping in and ramping out at the longitudinal ends of the track part to be renewed can also be provided in a simple manner by successively switching on and off the more downstream ballast removing means during ramping in respectively ramping out, such that elevating/lifting the ballast removing means can be avoided.

[0013] On the other hand, ballast removal in layers adjacent each other also allows for simultaneous action of a plurality of ballast removing means such that a large removing capacity is provided. Besides, ramping in and ramping out is provided by lowering and lifting, respectively, the ballast removing means or digging device while advancing the ballast removing device.

[0014] Use is preferably made of some kind of eroding action to remove the old ballast. However a digging action is also contemplated.

[0015] After the old ballast bed is removed, the new ballast bed is installed at the same location. Installing the new ballast bed is preferably carried out during the same passage of the ballast removing device. Preferably the ballast removing device and the device to install the new ballast move and/or operate the one after the other and preferably move simultaneously/together, e.g. are integrated in a single installation/vehicle.

[0016] After the new ballast bed is installed, the turnout is installed on top of the ballast bed. Then the longitudinal ends of the turnout are connected to the track, such that railway traffic can resume.

[0017] According to the invention preferably a vehicle is used that is displaceably carried by the co-extensive or adjacent track. E.g. the vehicle is provided with wheels adapted to run across rails of the track. This vehicle is preferably equipped with sideways projecting processing equipment to carry out the activities to the ballast bed of concern. Said equipment e.g. comprises one or more substantially horizontally extendable ballast moving means adapted to almost completely cover the ballast bed of the turnout to be renewed. The ballast moving means are adapted to move the ballast.

[0018] In the one embodiment (chain digger), the ballast moving means are adapted to move the ballast across the ballast bed, towards a ballast elevating means located at one side of the ballast bed of the turnout to be renewed, preferably the side closest to the vehicle.

[0019] In another embodiment (drum digger), the ballast moving means are adapted to take up the ballast to slightly elevate it and transfer it to a conveyor that moves the ballast towards a ballast elevating means located at the side of the ballast bed of the turnout to be renewed, preferably the side closest to the vehicle.

[0020] This ballast elevating means brings the ballast from substantially the level of the ballast bed to a higher level from where the ballast can be further processed, e.g. be brought to a container, possibly being part of the same vehicle. E.g. the ballast elevating means transfers the ballast to a conveyor at higher level, the output of which ends e.g. above the container.

[0021] Preferably with the one embodiment (chain digger) the design is such that the inlet of the ballast elevating means covers or crosses or overlaps the outlet of a and preferably each ballast moving means, such that a ballast moving means transports ballast directly towards the ballast elevating means that takes up said ballast.

[0022] A ballast moving means preferably comprises one or more movable members engaging the ballast.

[0023] In one embodiment (chain digger) the movement of said movable members causes the ballast to move in a predetermined direction while tumbling across ballast or the substrate underneath. As such, it is not required for the ballast moving means to take up ballast. On the contrary, it is simply required for the ballast moving means to push or draw or otherwise propel the ballast while supported by the underneath ballast or substrate, possibly after loosening said ballast. Preferably, such movable members move according to an endless loop. Preferably, such movable members move in succession, preferably keeping a mutual spacing. Preferably, the movable members move/circulate/orbit in a substantially horizontal (chain digger) or vertical plane (drum digger) or around an upward, preferably substantially vertical axis (chain digger) or around a substantially horizontal axis (drum digger).

[0024] In an embodiment (drum digger) the moving means comprises one or more drums carrying the movable members at the circumferential surface. Said movable members engage the ballast and immediately lift it or take it up to dump it onto a conveyor that moves the removed ballast towards the side of the ballast bed. Said drum preferably rotates around a substantially horizontal axis.

[0025] One or more of the ballast moving means are preferably adapted to move the ballast selectively in any of two opposite directions and/or are preferably adapted to move up and down, e.g. to adapt the level at which the ballast is engaged.

[0026] One or more of the ballast moving means are preferably designed to adapt its attitude horizontally and/or vertically, e.g. by adapting the angle of their extension.

[0027] One or more of the ballast moving means are preferably designed to adapt their magnitude of coverage of the ballast bed, e.g. by being movable or extendable or adapting their angle of extension. Preferably, each ballast moving means has a fixed dimension, e.g. length or width. More preferably, all dimensions of each ballast moving means is fixed. Preferably each ballast moving means is hingedly mounted at its longitudinal end closest to the vehicle (chain digger) . Alternatively, preferably a ballast moving means is movable along a straight line, e.g. in sideways direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the track, such that in an embodiment said ballast moving means can have an adaptable sideways overlap with another ballast moving means to mutually cover an adaptable ballast bed width without gaps (drum digger).

[0028] During operation, preferably the one ballast moving means extends forward and another backwards, e.g. inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the track or vehicle.

[0029] A ballast elevating means preferably comprises one or more elevating members engaging the ballast. Such elevating member e.g. comprises a bin like container (chain digger) or a conveyor belt. The elevating member preferably automatically fills with ballast by forward movement at lowest level, e.g. at the location where the ballast exits the ballast moving means or the conveyor that received the ballast directly from the ballast moving means (drum digger). Preferably, such elevating members move according to an endless loop, preferably elongated. Preferably, such elevating members move in succession, preferably keeping a mutual spacing. Preferably, the endless loop extends in a substantially vertical or horizontal plane. Preferably the endless loop turns around a substantially horizontal axis.

[0030] In one embodiment (chain digger), during operation, the ballast moving means remove the ballast in successive layers, moving the ballast towards the elevating means which takes the ballast up for transfer towards e.g. a container. A first ballast moving means is preferably present or operates at a higher level relative to a second ballast moving means such that the first ballast moving means removes a first layer and the second ballast moving means removes a second layer at lower level. Preferably, all ballast moving means are present or operate at a subsequent lower level. Preferably the first ballast moving means, viewed in forward moving direction of the vehicle, is present or operates at highest level.

[0031] Preferably, the old ballast is moved by members/means/elements of the vehicle sideways or transverse during one stage and longitudinally during another stage relative to the vehicle/track.

[0032] The vehicle is possibly provided with a member (elephant tooth), separate from the ballast moving means, to loosen the ballast upstream from the ballast moving means. In that case, it is not required that the ballast moving means loosen the ballast, such that its design is less complicated.

[0033] To be able to remove local, e.g. unexpected, obstacles, e.g. a tie left from an earlier renewal, buried in the ballast, it is advantageous to provide the vehicle with a gripping means, e.g. mounted to the free end of an articulated arm.

[0034] Downstream from the ballast moving means and/or ballast elevating means, the vehicle is provided with means to install a new ballast bed where the old ballast bed has been removed by the same vehicle. These installation means preferably comprise one or more of: web laying means to coat the bottom of the ballast bed with e.g. geo textile; ballast pouring means; ballast spreading means; ballast compacting means.

[0035] The web laying means are preferably designed to lay a web of varying width. This is e.g. provided by supplying a first web and a second web of smaller width that partly overlaps the first web and that is moved in width wise direction in dependence of the width variety. E.g. the first web is wrapped onto a width wise fixed spool and the second onto a width wise movable spool.

[0036] The ballast spreading means are e.g. provided by one or more worm wheels, known as such.

[0037] The ballast compacting means are preferably designed to cover a varying width. Preferably the ballast compacting means comprise a plurality of compacting members arranged in two or more rows behind each other, as viewed in forward direction of the vehicle. The compacting members are preferably staggered or offset, as viewed between the rows, to offer coverage of the complete width of the ballast bed while simultaneously the ballast compacting means can be easily adapted to a different width of the ballast bed.

[0038] Preferably two or more subsequent sets of one or more of ballast pouring means, ballast spreading means and ballast compacting means are present, as viewed in forward direction of the vehicle.

[0039] One or more of the above mentioned features of the vehicle, such as ballast moving means, worm wheels, are mounted to the vehicle in one or more of the following manners: in cantilevered fashion; movable between an extended position to project sideways from the vehicle and a retracted position within the transport profile of the vehicle such that in said position the vehicle can move anywhere along a railway track. To move between the extended and retracted position, said feature is preferably mounted to move horizontally and/or vertically by e.g. translation and/or rotation.

[0040] The accompanying drawing shows diagrammatically preferred embodiments of the invention during operation at an existing track of which a turnout is removed.

Fig. 1 (covering two pages) shows a complete first embodiment in top view (chain digger);

Fig. 2 (covering two pages) shows the embodiment of fig. 1 in side view.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative to a part of fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a part of a second embodiment in top view (drum digger);

Fig. 5 shows the embodiment of fig. 4 in side view.

Fig. 6 shows the embodiment of fig. 5 in front view. Arrow A indicates the forward moving direction.

[0041] Fig. 1 shows a complete vehicle for removing the old ballast bed and applying a new ballast bed. The track is indicated T.

[0042] First, removing the old ballast is discussed. The front part of the vehicle of fig. 1 comprises the corresponding means, provided by three ballast moving means 1, 2, 3 and a single ballast elevating means 4. The two upstream means 1, 2 are inclined forward, the downstream means 3 is inclined backward during operation. This forward/backward inclination can be adapted (indicated by arrow E). For transport, these means can be pivoted around an upward axis close to the vehicle to decrease the width of the vehicle running across the adjacent track 5.

[0043] Each means 1-3 comprises mutually spaced, substantially horizontally projecting teeth (not shown) moving according to an elongate endless loop 6 in the horizontal plane. These teeth engage a superficial ballast layer. The direction of movement of the teeth is indicated by the arrows B-D. As arrow D indicates, the teeth of means 3 can be moved in both opposite directions.

[0044] As such, each means 1-3 provides some kind of a chain saw of which the blade is held horizontally and of which the cutters are replaced by the teeth.

[0045] The ballast elevating means 4 comprises a succession of bins 20 moving according to an elongate endless loop in the vertical plane according to the direction of arrow H (viz. fig. 2). The bins take up the ballast supplied by the means 1-3 and discharge the ballast onto a conveyor belt 19 transporting the ballast in longitudinal direction of the vehicle/track T. During operation, the vehicle continuously moves forward such that the ballast removing fronts provided by the means 1-3 continuously move forward.

[0046] Downstream from the means 1-4, the vehicle comprises means to apply the new ballast bed. These means comprise a spool 7 of fixed location and a spool 8 of smaller width which is displaceable in widthwise direction (indicated by arrow F). Both spools 7, 8 supply a respective web to cover the bottom of the ballast bed.

[0047] Downstream from spools 7, 8 the vehicle is provided with, successively as viewed in downstream direction, a first ballast supply means 9, a first worm wheel 10, a first set of compactors 11, a second ballast supply means 12, a second worm wheel 13 and a second set of compactors 14. The compactors of each set are provided in two rows, and the compactors of the one row are offset compared to the compactors of the other row of the same set.

[0048] Fig. 3 shows only the part of the vehicle where the means 1-4 are present.

[0049] In the embodiment of fig. 3, there are merely two ballast moving means 1, 2, both acting more or less like a chain saw as according to the means 1-3 of fig. 1. In this embodiment, the means 2 is pivotably mounted at 15 to means 1 and pivots below means 1 in the horizontal plane. If means 1 is pivoted around its mounting 16, means 2 simultaneously pivots around pivot 16. Means 1 and 2 move ballast towards ballast elevating means 4 which in this embodiment is provided by a conveyor belt moving in an endless loop in the vertical plane. The top part of this means 4 (conveying the ballast) starts at low level near the means 1, 2 (near pivot 16) to take up ballast and is inclined upwards to end at high level at its opposite longitudinal end 17, below which e.g. a container (not shown) can be located to receive the ballast falling from the end 17.

[0050] Fig. 4-6 show only the part where means to remove the old ballast are present. This part can be followed by the part according to fig. 1 where the means are present to apply the new ballast bed.

[0051] In fig. 4-6, two ballast moving means 1, 2 are shown, each provided by a rotating drum. The one drum 1 has a larger width. The other drum 2 can move sideways (see arrows G) to change its overlap in the direction A with the one drum 1, to accommodate a different ballast bed width.

[0052] Each means 1-2 comprises at the circumference mutually spaced, substantially radially projecting cutting teeth. These teeth at the lower side of the drum engage a superficial ballast layer. While the drum 1, 2 is lowered onto the ballast bed and rotates around its horizontal axis (according to the direction of arrow H shown in fig. 5 or in opposite direction) and the vehicle moves forward, the teeth at the lower side of the drum penetrate the ballast bed and take up the ballast material. As such, the drums 1, 2 act more or less like a milling means, somewhat comparable to the milling equipment used to remove an asphalt layer from a road surface.

[0053] After taking up the ballast material, the drums 1, 2 dump or discharge the ballast material onto a respective conveyor belt 18 which moves the ballast material sideways towards the vehicle, simultaneously taking the ballast material to a higher level. At the vehicle, the belts 18 dump or discharge the ballast material onto a further conveyor belt 19. Belts 18, 19 move in an endless loop in the vertical plane. The top part of these means 18, 19 (conveying the ballast) starts at low level to take up ballast and are inclined upwards to end at high level at its opposite longitudinal end, below which the start of the top part of means 19 or (at end 17 of means 19) e.g. a container (not shown) can be located to receive the ballast falling from the end 17.

[0054] The means 1, 2 and 18 are mounted to a common frame that is mounted to the vehicle through pivot 16. Starting from the extended position of the frame as shown in fig. 4-6, the frame is first lifted by telescopingly extending pivot 16, after which the frame is pivoted around pivot 16 over 90 degrees in the direction of arrow K such that the means 1, 2 and 18 are retracted into a position above the vehicle and the vehicle width is decreased to remain within the profile for free train traffic.

[0055] A disclosure is provided of a method and device for quick renewal of a track, particularly a turnout, by quickly renewing the ballast bed. Preferably use is made of an extendable structure bearing equipment to operate on the complete width of the ballast bed and sideways projecting from a processing vehicle at the adjacent track, such that said vehicle can be easily changed between a wide operating (covering two adjacent tracks) and a slender (covering a single track) transport position. Preferably complete ballast bed renewal is carried out in a single pass of a processing vehicle. Preferably the old ballast material to be removed is moved sideways. Preferably use is made of elements engaging the ballast material and sideways moving it while supported by the underlying substrate (chain digger) or elements engaging the ballast material and immediately taking it up (drum digger). These elements preferably move according to an endless loop, e.g. in the substantial horizontal or vertical plane.

[0056] Many modifications and changes to the above embodiments and also different embodiments are possible without going beyond the scope of the invention. For example the number of parts can be changed. It should be appreciated that all features from the specification or drawing in isolation or arbitrary combination provide the subject matter of this invention, irrespective of their assembly in the specification, drawing or claims or their referral.

Claims

1. A method or device for quick renewal of a part of a railway, preferably a turnout, by quickly renewing the ballast bed by using an extendable structure bearing equipment to operate on the complete width of the ballast bed and sideways projecting from a processing vehicle at the adjacent track, such that said vehicle can be easily changed between a wide operating (covering two adjacent tracks) and a slender (covering a single track) transport position and designed such that complete ballast bed renewal is carried out in a single pass of said processing vehicle wherein the old ballast material to be removed is moved sideways and use is made of elements (e.g. ballast moving means) engaging the ballast material and sideways moving it while supported by the underlying substrate (chain digger) or elements (e.g. ballast moving means) engaging the ballast material and immediately taking it up (drum digger) which elements move according to an endless loop, e.g. in the substantial horizontal or vertical plane.

2. A method or device according to claim 1, wherein after the old ballast bed is removed, the new ballast bed is installed at the same location and installing the new ballast bed is preferably carried out during the same passage of the ballast removing device wherein preferably the ballast removing device and the device to install the new ballast move and/or operate the one after the other and preferably move simultaneously/together, e.g. are integrated in a single installation/vehicle, while after the new ballast bed is installed, the part of the railway is installed on top of the ballast bed and then the longitudinal ends of the new part of the railway are connected to the track, such that railway traffic can resume.

3. A method or device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more of the ballast moving means are designed to adapt their magnitude of coverage of the ballast bed while having a fixed dimension.

4. A method or device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein during operation the one ballast moving means extends forward and another backwards.

5. A method or device according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the ballast moving means remove the ballast in successive layers, such that a ballast moving means removes a relative layer at a level different from the level at which an other ballast moving means removes its layer.

6. A method or device according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the means to install a new ballast bed where the old ballast bed has been removed by the same vehicle comprise one or more of: web laying means to coat the bottom of the ballast bed with e.g. geo textile; ballast pouring means; ballast spreading means; ballast compacting means.

7. A method or device according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the web laying means are designed to lay a web of varying width.

8. A method or device according to any of claims 1-7, wherein two or more subsequent sets of one or more of ballast pouring means, ballast spreading means and ballast compacting means are present, as viewed in forward direction of the vehicle.

9. A method or device for quick renewal of a part of a railway, preferably a turnout, by quickly renewing the ballast bed by using an extendable structure bearing equipment to operate on the ballast bed and sideways projecting from a processing vehicle at the adjacent track, such that said vehicle can be easily changed between a wide operating (covering two adjacent tracks) and a slender (covering a single track) transport position and designed such that removing of the complete ballast bed is carried out in a single pass of said processing vehicle.

10. A method or device according to claim 9 having the additional features according to one or more of claims 1-8.

Drawing