U.S. patent application number 09/824384 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-11 for tamping machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen- Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.. Invention is credited to Lichtberger, Bernhard, Theurer, Josef.
Application Number | 20010027732 09/824384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3486113 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010027732 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Theurer, Josef ; et
al. |
October 11, 2001 |
Tamping Machine
Abstract
A mobile tamping machine for tamping ballast under a main track
comprises a machine frame supported on undercarriages running on
the main track for moving the machine frame in an operating
direction, the main track defining a track plane, a ballast tamping
unit mounted on the machine frame between the undercarriages, a
main track lifting and lining unit vertically and transversely
adjustably mounted on the machine frame immediately ahead of the
ballast tamping unit in the operating direction, a drive for
vertically and transversely adjusting the main track lifting and
lining unit, an auxiliary lifting unit mounted on the machine frame
for lifting a branch track branching off the main track at a track
switch, and a common measuring system for controlling lifting of
the track switch, the common measuring system including an emitter
of a light beam forming a reference line extending parallel to the
track plane, the light beam emitter being positioned at a fixed
distance from the main track, and a receiver of the light beam
recording the reference line, the light beam receiver being
positioned at a fixed distance from the branch track.
Inventors: |
Theurer, Josef; (Vienna,
AT) ; Lichtberger, Bernhard; (Leonding, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 Northern Boulevard
Roslyn
NY
11576
US
|
Assignee: |
Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-
Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
|
Family ID: |
3486113 |
Appl. No.: |
09/824384 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
104/12 ;
104/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01B 35/04 20130101;
E01B 27/17 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
104/12 ;
104/10 |
International
Class: |
E01B 027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 7, 2000 |
AT |
GM 272/2000 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mobile tamping machine for tamping ballast under a main track,
which comprises (a) a machine frame supported on undercarriages
running on the main track for moving the machine frame in an
operating direction, the main track defining a track plane, (b) a
ballast tamping unit mounted on the machine frame between the
undercarriages, (c) a main track lifting and lining unit vertically
and transversely adjustably mounted on the machine frame
immediately ahead of the ballast tamping unit in the operating
direction, (d) drive means for vertically and transversely
adjusting the main track lifting and lining unit, (e) an auxiliary
lifting unit mounted on the machine frame for lifting a branch
track branching off the main track at a track switch, and (f) a
common measuring system for controlling lifting of the track
switch, the common measuring system including (1) an emitter of a
light beam forming a reference line extending parallel to the track
plane, the light beam emitter being positioned at a fixed distance
from the main track, and (2) a receiver of the light beam recording
the reference line, the light beam receiver being positioned at a
fixed distance from the branch track.
2. The tamping machine of claim 1, wherein the light beam emitter
is rotational and emits a sweeping laser beam forming a measuring
plane defined by the reference line and extending parallel to the
track plane, and the light beam receiver is a sensor of laser
beams.
3. The tamping machine of claim 1, wherein the light beam emitter
is mounted on the main track lifting and lining unit, and the light
beam receiver is mounted on the auxiliary lifting unit.
4. The tamping machine of claim 1, further comprising a measuring
axle supported on the main track by flanged rollers between the
ballast tamping unit and the main track lifting and lining unit,
the light beam emitter being arranged on the measuring axle.
5. The tamping machine of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary lifting
unit includes a branch track lifting drive, and further comprising
a control connected to the light beam receiver for operating the
lifting drive.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a mobile tamping machine
for tamping ballast under a main track, which comprises a machine
frame supported on undercarriages running on the main track for
moving the machine frame in an operating direction, the main track
defining a track plane, a ballast tamping unit mounted on the
machine frame between the undercarriages, a main track lifting and
lining unit vertically and transversely adjustably mounted on the
machine frame immediately ahead of the ballast tamping unit in the
operating direction, drive means for vertically and transversely
adjusting the main track lifting and lining unit, an auxiliary
lifting unit mounted on the machine frame for lifting a branch
track branching off the main track at a track switch, and a
measuring system for controlling lifting of the track switch.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,604 discloses a machine of this type.
According to the patent, a special reference system is required to
control the lifting of the branch track. The references system
comprises a measuring axle running on the main track and a
measuring axle running of the branch track. The two measuring axles
are coupled together by a rod carrying a cross level. This enables
an operator remote-controlling the auxiliary branch track lifting
unit to conform the lifting of the branch track accurately to that
of the main track by monitoring the cross level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is the primary object of this invention to provide a
tamping machine of the indicated type which enables an exact
conformity between the lifting of the main and branch tracks at a
switch to be effected in a simple manner.
[0005] This and other objects are accomplished in a machine of the
first-described structure according to the invention by providing a
common measuring system including an emitter of a light beam
forming a reference line extending parallel to the track plane, the
light beam emitter being positioned at a fixed distance from the
main track, and a receiver of the light beam recording the
reference line, the light beam receiver being positioned at a fixed
distance from the branch track.
[0006] The fixed distance may be zero, if desired, i.e. the light
beam emitter and receiver may contact the main and branch tracks,
respectively.
[0007] Such a common measuring system automatically and accurately
coordinates the lifting of the main and branch tracks at the
switch. In this way, an accurate and swift track position
correction can be effected without any problems even in track
switches which have long ties with elastic joints.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0008] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description of certain now preferred embodiments thereof,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein
[0009] FIG. 1 is a somewhat simplified side elevational view of a
tamping machine according to this invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view along line II of
FIG. 1; and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a simplified fragmentary end view of a modified
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] Referring now to the drawing and first to FIGS. 1 and 2,
there is shown mobile tamping machine 1 for tamping ballast under
track 4 comprised of rails 2 fastened to ties 3. The illustrated
tamping machine comprises machine frame 6 supported on
undercarriages 5, 5 running on track 4 for moving machine frame 6
by drive 8 actuated by motor 7 in an operating direction indicated
by arrow 9. The track defines track plane 39. Operator's cab 10
houses control 11 for operating the operating devices of the
machine.
[0013] Ballast tamping unit 12 is mounted on machine frame 6
between undercarriages 5, 5. The ballast tamping unit is a special
and conventional ballast tamping unit adapted for use in track
switches, and is vertically and transversely adjustable on the
machine frame by drives 13. The ballast tamping unit comprises
tamping tools 14 which may be moved back and forth in the direction
of track 4 by reciprocating drives 15.
[0014] Main track lifting and lining unit 17 for leveling main
track 32 is vertically and transversely adjustably mounted on
machine frame 6 immediately ahead of ballast tamping unit 12 in the
operating direction, and drive means 16 vertically and transversely
adjust the main track lifting and lining unit. The main track
lifting and lining unit runs on the main track and is comprised
essentially of flanged rollers 37 running on rails 2 of main track
32 of switch 28 and lifting rollers 33 which are actuated by drives
24 to engage rails 2. Drive means 16 are controlled by main track
position reference system 43 which is indicated in FIG. 1 by
reference chord 21 engaged by measuring axle 22 running on the main
track. All of the heretofore described structure and operation
being entirely conventional, they have been only illustrated in a
simplified manner.
[0015] Two like auxiliary lifting units 18 are mounted on machine
frame 6 adjacent main track lifting and lining unit 17 for lifting
branch track 27 branching off main track 4 at track switch 28. A
respective one of the auxiliary lifting units is mounted on each
side of the machine frame for operation on respective branch tracks
branching off the main track on respective sides and, for the sake
of simplicity, the two auxiliary lifting units are only
diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, one end of each auxiliary lifting unit
is linked to machine frame 6 by joint 24 whose axis extends in the
direction of the longitudinal extension of the machine frame. The
auxiliary lifting unit extends transversely to the longitudinal
extension of the machine frame. It is vertically adjustable by
drive 19 and is extensible by drive 25. Branch track lifting device
26 is mounted on an end of auxiliary lifting unit 18 opposite to
the one end at which joint 24 links the auxiliary lifting unit to
machine frame 6. The branch track lifting device is comprised
essentially of double-flanged roller 29 rolling along a rail of
branch track 27 and lifting roller 31 which engages the branch
track rail by operation of drive 30. Such auxiliary lifting units
also are conventional.
[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, long tie 3 in switch 28,
which connects the main and branch tracks, is comprised of two
parts, and elastic joint 42 connects the two tie parts to each
other.
[0018] Measuring system 20 common to main track lifting and lining
unit 17 and a respective one of auxiliary lifting units 18 for
controlled lifting of track switch 28 includes emitter 23 of a
light beam forming reference line 38 extending parallel to track
plane 39, and receiver 35 of the light beam recording the reference
line. The light beam emitter and receiver are positioned at a fixed
distance from the main track and the branch track, respectively, a
respective one of light beam emitters 23 being mounted at each side
of the machine frame for cooperation with a respective one of the
auxiliary lifting units.
[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, light beam emitter 23 is
rotationally arranged and consists of rotational emitter 36
emitting a sweeping laser beam forming measuring plane 40 defined
by reference line 38 and extending parallel to track plane 39, and
light beam receiver 35 is a sensor 41 of laser beams.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, light beam emitter 23 is mounted on main
track lifting and lining unit 17, and light beam receiver 35 is
mounted on auxiliary lifting unit 18.
[0021] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, light beam emitter
23 is arranged on measuring axle 22 forming part of reference
system 43 and supported on rails 2 of main track 32 by flanged
rollers 44 between ballast tamping unit 12 and main track lifting
and lining unit 17.
[0022] The above-described tamping machine is operated in the
following manner:
[0023] As the tamping machine is moved in the operation direction
along track 4, the track position is corrected under the control of
reference system 43 to level and/or line the track by actuating
leveling and lining unit 17 and by tamping ballast under the
corrected track by actuating tamping unit 12. When switch 28 is
reached by the machine, a respective one of auxiliary lifting units
18 is extended by actuating drive 25, and lifting device 26 is
engaged with a rail of branch track 27. The subsequent correction
of the position of track switch 28 follows automatically as drives
16 adjust main track lifting and leveling unit 17, with light beam
emitter 23, until the desired track position has been reached.
[0024] As the track position correction proceeds by the adjustment
of main track leveling and lining unit 17, light beam emitter 23
generates a reference plane 40 parallel to track plane 39, and the
emitted light beam activates light beam receiver 35 of reference
system 20. This is illustrated in FIG. 2, showing a deviation "a"
of reference plane 40 from a zero position, which is registered on
receiver 35. Subsequently, control 11 connected to light beam
receiver 35 operates branch track lifting drive 19 until reference
plane 40 has reached the zero position. At that point, branch track
27 of track switch 28 is positioned exactly in track plane 39 of
the main track.
* * * * *