U.S. patent application number 10/890036 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-20 for ballast excavating chain.
This patent application is currently assigned to Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen -Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.. Invention is credited to Schauer, Adolf, Theurer, Josef.
Application Number | 20050011654 10/890036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28679310 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050011654 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Theurer, Josef ; et
al. |
January 20, 2005 |
BALLAST EXCAVATING CHAIN
Abstract
An arrangement of an excavating chain for conveying ballast of a
track bed comprises a guide comprising a transverse guide section
articulately connected to longitudinal guide sections defining a
guide channel having an end glide track along which the excavating
chain is guided. The longitdunal guide sections are connected to
the ends of the transverse guide section joints arranged below the
second plane extending centrally through the end glide track and
the excavating chain is deflected solely from the transverse to the
longitudinal guide sections by frictional contact with the end
glide track adjacent the joints.
Inventors: |
Theurer, Josef; (Vienna,
AT) ; Schauer, Adolf; (Alkoven, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 Northern Boulevard
Roslyn
NY
11576
US
|
Assignee: |
Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen
-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
|
Family ID: |
28679310 |
Appl. No.: |
10/890036 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
171/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 3/143 20130101;
E01B 2203/024 20130101; E01B 27/04 20130101; E02F 3/142
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
171/016 |
International
Class: |
E01B 027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 18, 2003 |
AT |
GM 514/2003 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An arrangement of an excavating chain for conveying ballast of a
track bed extending in a first plane, the excavating chain being
comprised of a succession of linked chain links and being driven in
a second plane inclined with respect to the first plane in an
operating stage, and a guide wherein the excavating chain is
guided, the guide comprising a transverse guide section positioned
in a line of intersection of the first and second planes, in the
operating stage, and longitudinal guide sections, the longitudinal
guide sections being connected to ends of the transverse guide
section by joints having a vertical axis and the guide sections
defining a guide channel for the excavating chain, the guide
channel being defined by a lower glide track and an upper glide
track extending parallel to the second plane and an end glide track
extending perpendicularly to the second plane, the end glide track
connecting the lower and upper glide tracks, wherein the joints are
arranged below the second plane extending centrally through the end
glide track and the excavating chain is deflected solely from the
transverse to the longitudinal guide sections by frictional contact
with the end glide track adjacent the joints.
2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the glide tracks are of
highly wear-resistant material and are detachably attached to the
guide channel in a transition from the transverse guide section to
the longitudinal guide sections.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an arrangement of an
excavating chain for conveying ballast of a track bed extending in
a first plane, the excavating chain being comprised of a succession
of linked chain links and being driven in a second plane inclined
with respect to the first plane in an operating stage, and a guide
wherein the excavating chain is guided, the guide comprising a
transverse guide section positioned in a line of intersection of
the first and second planes, in the operating stage, and
longitudinal guide sections, the longitudinal guide sections being
connected to ends of the transverse guide section by joints having
a vertical axis and the guide sections defining a guide channel for
the excavating chain, the guide channel being defined by a lower
glide track and an upper glide track extending parallel to the
second plane and an end glide track extending perpendicularly to
the second plane, the end glide track connecting the lower and
upper glide tracks.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,014,389 and 4,614,238 and DE 31 51 652,
whose disclosures are incorporated herein by way of reference,
disclose arrangements of this type, wherein an endless ballast
conveyor chain is revolved around a track to excavate the ballast
supporting the track and to convey the excavated ballast. The chain
is guided by a transverse guide section in contact with the ballast
bed during operation and longitudinal guide sections linked to the
ends of the transverse guide section by joints. Guide rollers
extending coaxially with the axes of the joints deflect the
excavating chain from the transverse to the longitudinal guide
sections. The pivotal connection between the guide sections is
necessary to enable the excavating chain to be slightly displaced
relative to the track. This facilitates work in restricted areas of
the track. It also makes it possible to elongate the transverse
guide section for operation in widened track switches. Since
efficient ballast cleaning machines require the ballast excavating
chain to be subjected to a tensile force of about 100 kilonewton
during excavation, the amply lubricated guide rollers are subject
to extrmely high loads and must be frequently replaced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is the primary object of this invention to provide an
arrangement of the indicated type whose functioning is improved
without interfering with the articulate connection between the
guide sections.
[0006] This and other objects are accomplished in accordance with
the invention if the joints are arranged below the second plane
extending centrally through the end glide track and the excavating
chain is deflected solely from the transverse to the longitudinal
guide sections by frictional contact with the end glide track
adjacent the joints.
[0007] This enables the excavating chain to be deflected from the
transverse to the longitudinal guide sections solely by frictional
contact with the end glide track without the need for guide
rollers. This has the great advantage that the track needs to be
raised less high from the ballast bed for inserting the transverse
guide section therebelow. Accordingly, the stress on the track is
smaller and, due to the fact that the track does not have to be
raised to the extent required heretofore, the wheel base of the
ballast cleaning machine carrying the excavating chain may be
reduced. Also, the very expensive conventionally used guide rollers
may be dispensed with. Without guide rollers, the deflection radius
may be increased so that the loads to which the excavating chain is
subjected may be noticeably reduced.
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 a now preferred embodiment thereof, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a conventional ballast
cleaning machine with a ballast excavating chain;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the ballast excavating
chain;
[0011] FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary views showing the
deflection of the ballast excavating chain between the guide
sections;
[0012] FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views showing top and side
views, respectively, of a conventional arrangement for deflecting
the ballast excavating chain; and
[0013] FIG. 7 is a view of the deflection area, showing the
position of the joint, and the guide channel in section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates ballast
cleaning machine 2 with arrangement 1 of an excavating chain for
conveying ballast 5 of track bed 3 extending in first plane 8.
During operation, the endless excavating chain is guided around
raised track 4, excavates dirty or encrusted ballast 5, conveys it
to screening apparatus 6 for cleaning, whence the cleaned ballast
is returned to the track in a known manner.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ballast excavating chain is
comprised of a succession of chain links 15 linked to each other by
bolts 14 and is driven in a second plane 7 inclined with respect to
first plane 8 in an operating stage. The excavating chain is guided
in a guide comprising a transverse guide section 9 positioned in a
line of intersection of the first and second planes 7, 8, in the
operating stage, and longitudinal guide sections 12. The
longitudinal guide sections are connected to ends of the transverse
guide section by joints 10 having vertical axis 21. The guide
sections define guide channel 13 (see FIG. 5) for the excavating
chain. The guide channel is defined by lower and upper glide tracks
17, 17 extending parallel to second plane 7 and end glide track 18
extending perpendicularly to the second plane, the end glide track
18 connecting the lower and upper glide tracks 17, 17. The glide
tracks are of a highly wear-resistant material and are replaceably
attached to guide channel 13.
[0016] As indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 2, transverse guide
section 9 may be elongated for work in widened track switches,
which changes the angular relationship between transverse guide
section 9 and longitudinal guide sections 12.
[0017] As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end glide track 18
of transverse guide section 9 is arcuately curved at 19 around
joints 10 connecting the ends of the transverse guide section to
adjoining longitudinal guide sections 12, 12. Curved end glide
track 18 of the transverse guide section encloses an acute dihedral
angle .alpha., preferably about 45.degree., with an imaginary plane
of elongation of the end glide track of a respective one of the
longitudinal guide sections (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 4)
whereby the excavating chain is deflected solely from the
transverse to the longitudinal guide sections by contact with end
glide track 18. In other words, transverse guide section ends 20
are so curved that the excavating chain comes into contact with end
glide track 18 only when the angle between transverse guide section
9 and longitudinal guide sections 12 changes. This is shown in FIG.
2 in phantom lines.
[0018] As shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, end glide
track 18 of transverse guide section 9 is arcuately curved about a
center defined by vertical axis 21 of joints 10 around which the
end guide track is curved.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a distance a extending
perpendicularly to end glide track 18 of longitudinal guide section
12 adjoining joints 10 is identical to radius r of arcuately curved
end glide track 19 of transverse guide section 9. The arcuately
curved end glide track of the transverse guide section forms a
circular segment with an angle .beta. of 60.degree.. The arcuately
curved end glide track comprises a second arcuately curved end
glide track 24 between linear portion 23 of transverse guide
section 9 and arcuately curved end glide track 20, and the second
arcuately curved end glide track is arcuately curved about a center
positioned on line 26 extending parallel to linear transverse guide
section portion 23 and passing through vertical axis 21 of joints
10.
[0020] This special configuration of the curved end glide track
enables the ballast excavating chain to be deflected solely by
frictional contact with the curved end glide track and without the
need for a guide roller. In an efficient ballast cleaning machine,
the excavating chain is driven, for example, with a tensile force
of 110 kilonewton in the direction of the downwardly pointing arrow
in FIG. 3.
[0021] This differs from the prior art arrangement 1 shown in FIGS.
6 and 7, in which the excavating chain is deflected by guide roller
27 rotatable about vertical axis 21 of the joint linking the ends
of transverse guide section 9 to longitudinaly guide sections 12.
The guide roller projects through an opening of the end glide track
18 beyond the glide plane. This has the above-noted disadvantages
and, in addition, subjects chain bolts 14 to extreme loads.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 7, joints 10 are offset in relation to
lower glide track 17 of guide channel 13 so that the joints are
arranged below second plane 7 extending centrally through end glide
track 18, in a direction perpendicular to the second plane, and the
excavating chain is deflected solely from the transverse to the
longitudinal guide sections by frictional contact with the end
glide track adjacent the joints. Because of the lowered positioning
of joints 10, which connect the longitudinal guide sections to the
ends of the transverse guide section, the track may be in such a
lower raised position that an underside of a track tie, indicated
by phantom line 16, extends immediately above the joints. If
desired, joints 10 may be arranged fully on underside 22 of guide
channel 13.
[0023] The glide tracks 17, 18 are of highly wear-resistant
material and are detachably attached to the guide channel 13 in a
transition from the transverse guide section 9 to the longitudinal
guide sections 12.
* * * * *