EP0775780A1 - Method for renewing railway tracks - Google Patents

Abstract

The train has a series of trucks, including three with pallets of new sleepers. One is for removing old sleepers, and one with two conveyors for old and new sleepers. It has a system for lifting the old rails and depositing them on either side of the track. A lower conveyor (13) is used for removing old sleepers (4) and an upper conveyor (15) for delivering new ones. It has an excavator for lifting part of the old ballast, and a system (18) for laying the new rails on the new sleepers (3). The layer (16) for the new sleepers is situated behind the lower section of the ballast excavator, so that the new sleepers are positioned across the track and laid on a remaining bed of ballast. The new rails are then fixed to the sleepers and the excavated ballast is redistributed between them.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of railway track renewal.

Renewal consists of replacing the track material (rails and sleepers) as well as the ballast which ensures the track is held on its platform.

During the life of a railway, both the equipment and the ballast are subjected to stresses, erosions and pollution which reduce its quality and eventually require replacement.

Given the commercial requirements of the railway operator, it is not conceivable to interrupt traffic on a track being renewed for the duration of the renewal site.

This is why the constraints imposed on the companies which carry out these renewal works include a limitation of the duration of the interruptions of traffic with a daily surrender of the track at the end of the shift, the convoys being able to circulate on the track being renewed at a lower speed than during normal operation until the track has been fully consolidated at the end of the renewal operation.

Currently, during the daily surrender, the commercial speed authorized on a renewal track is of the order of 40 to 60 km / h maximum.

• le dégarnissage, criblage du ballast et l'évacuation des produits de dégarnissage, par bandes transporteuses sur wagons destinés à la décharge ou jet direct au remblai,
• la substitution de la voie renouvelée (rails et traverses),
• le ballastage et le relevage de la voie, le nivellement et le dressage,
• le soudage des rails, la libération des contraintes, un nouveau nivellement-dressage, le réglage des banqiuettes et le nettoyage des accotements.

A typical renewal operation uses specialized trains comprising machines capable of operating the following operations in sequence:

• the stripping, screening of the ballast and the evacuation of the stripping products, by conveyor belts on wagons intended for the discharge or direct jet at the embankment,
• the substitution of the renewed track (rails and sleepers),
• ballasting and raising of the track, leveling and dressing,
• the welding of the rails, the release of constraints, a new leveling-dressing, the adjustment of the benches and the cleaning of the shoulders.

(Cf Jean ALIAS, THE RAILWAY, Librairie EYROLLES, Paris 1984, page 368 and following).

EP 255 564 PLASSER discloses a track renewal process in which the ballast of the track to be renovated is partially stripped using an excavator chain with a triangular path, so that the sleepers and rails new ones are deposited on the stabilized seat, the previously excavated ballast being immediately re-used to stabilize the new rails and sleepers just removed.

However, the machine described in this patent for the implementation of this process is extremely complex and therefore expensive to build and difficult to use.

Indeed, this machine comprises a chassis in two parts adjustable in spacing, resting on the track by three undercarriages (8, 9 and 15), the intermediate undercarriage being retractable so as not to be in contact with the ground when used above the working cut (space between the old track and the renewed track).

For this reason, the machine in the renewal configuration (retracted intermediate train) rests at its front end on a pivot carried by the last wagon of the head train preceding the renewal machine proper in the renewal train.

In addition, in the PLASSER machine, the excavation of the excavated ballast takes place immediately behind the last undercarriage (9) of the renewal machine, which requires that the machine has specific arrangements to fulfill this function.

Last but not least, in the PLASSER machine, the new sleepers (6) are provided by a transporter (26) to a layer (49) disposed behind the intermediate undercarriage (15).

To this end, the conveyor (26) is arranged to pass through the excavator chain (29) in its upper part. As a result, the sleepers must pass longitudinally through the excavator chain (29) and then be pivoted on themselves by a turning device integrated in the layer (49) so that the sleepers are deposited transversely to the track.

The present invention relates to a track renewal machine allowing the partial excavation of the ballast and its resetting after the laying of new rails and sleepers very simplified compared to the machine described in EP PLASSER Patent 255 564.

According to the invention, the train for renewing the railway track of the type comprising means for removing the sleepers and worn rails, means making it possible to partially excavate the ballast, means for resting the new sleepers and the new rails, and means for total redistribution of the ballast excavated on the new rails and sleepers, a train of the type in which the means for excavating the ballast are constituted by an endless excavating chain with a triangular path is characterized in that the device for laying the new sleepers (16) is arranged in the lower part of the excavator (5) so that the new sleepers (3) are oriented transversely to the track when they pass through the excavator.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description below of the renewal train for implementing the method described above.

The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic general view of the profile of a renewal train according to the invention during work on a portion of railway.

Figure 2 is a schematic top view illustrating channel substitution.

Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the substitution unit at the crossing point between the laying of new sleepers and the stripping chain of the ballast.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the supply and evacuation unit for sleepers of the renewal train shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the substitution and lowering unit of the track profile of the renewal train shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5bis is a schematic top view of the channel corresponding to FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged detail view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the track assembly unit of the renewal train shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the unit for distributing and leveling the ballast of the renewal train shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 9a to 9f are a series of sectional views of the track as the renewal train according to the invention progresses, either successively:

Figure 9a: track before renewal (used sleepers and rails),

Figure 9b: ballasted platform after removal of used equipment,

Figure 9c: enclosure made in the ballast by the excavator to receive new track material,

Figure 9d: new equipment placed in its enclosure,

Figure 9e: distribution of the excavated ballast on the new equipment,

Figure 9f: track profile after leveling and getting back into shape.

The PR altitude marks on these sectional views show that the profile along the line is restored using the method according to the invention as soon as the new equipment without the need to replace the ballast.

It is specified here that by renewal train is meant not only the devices mechanically linked together to form a train but also individual devices, such as the grader tamper represented in FIG. 8, which without necessarily being mechanically linked to the train, operate on the same portion of track in the same work pass.

In Figure 2 is shown schematically the principle of substitution of the rails during the advancement of the renewal train.

The new rails, 1a and 1b, have been previously deposited on two rows on either side of the track to be renewed, the rails of which are represented by the references 2a and 2b.

The axis of the track is represented under the reference A. The direction of movement of the renewal train, from right to left in the drawings, is represented by the arrow F.

The new sleepers are represented by the reference 3, the worn sleepers by the reference 4, the stripping device by the reference 5. These various elements are shown in more detail in FIG. 5a.

• une unité d'approvisionnement et d'évacuation des traverses T, qui sera décrite plus en détail en relation avec la figure 4,
• une unité de substitution, d'encoffrement et d'abaissement du profil, S, qui sera décrite plus en détail en relation avec les figures 3, 5, 5bis et 6,
• une unité d'assemblage de voie, V, qui sera décrite plus en détail en relation avec la figure 7,
• une unité de répartition du ballast, R, qui sera décrite plus en détail en relation avec la figure 8.

In FIG. 1, it can be seen that the renewal trains for implementing the invention are divided into four successive functional units in the direction of advancement F, namely:

• a supply and evacuation unit for sleepers T, which will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4,
• a unit for substitution, encasement and lowering of the profile, S, which will be described in more detail in relation to FIGS. 3, 5, 5bis and 6,
• a track assembly unit, V, which will be described in more detail in relation to FIG. 7,
• a ballast distribution unit, R, which will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 8.

The unit T (FIG. 4) comprises, in the example shown, three wagons of pallet sleepers 6, 7, 8, a wagon for removing used sleepers 9 and a wagon 10 with a double conveyor, one for new sleepers, the other for used sleepers.

On this set of wagons is arranged a continuous raceway for a gantry 11 which during its back-and-forth movements takes and turns the new sleepers in their pallets, deposits them on the upper carpet of wagon 10, resumes at return the used sleepers accumulated on the wagon 9 and will deposit them in a pallet released on one of the wagons 6, 7 or 8.

• des moyens 12 pour soulever et écarter latéralement les rails uses 2 et les déposer de part et d'autre de la voie,
• un transporteur inférieur 13 qui évacue vers le wagon 10 les traverses usagées 4 prélevées sur la voie libérée des rails usés 2 par un dispositif de dépose 14,
• un transporteur supérieur 15 qui alimente une pondeuse 16 en traverses neuves 3 en provenance du wagon 10,
• un dispositif excavateur 5 qui prélève le ballast dans la coupe réalisée entre la voie ancienne et la voie renouvelée et qui le dépose sur une pluralité de transporteurs bande 17, 17', 17" s'étendant au-dessus de l'unité V jusqu'au wagon à trémie de l'unité R (figures 7 et 8),
• et des moyens 18 pour soulever et déposer les rails neufs 1 sur les traverses neuves.

The unit S (FIG. 5) schematically comprises:

• means 12 for lifting and spreading laterally the used rails 2 and depositing them on either side of the track,
• a lower conveyor 13 which evacuates towards the wagon 10 the used sleepers 4 taken from the track freed from the worn rails 2 by a removal device 14,
• an upper conveyor 15 which supplies a layer 16 with new sleepers 3 coming from wagon 10,
• an excavator device 5 which takes the ballast from the cut made between the old track and the renewed track and which deposits it on a plurality of conveyor belts 17, 17 ', 17 "extending above the unit V up to to the hopper wagon of unit R (Figures 7 and 8),
• and means 18 for lifting and depositing the new rails 1 on the new sleepers.

All of these means are well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in more detail in their constitution and operation.

However, according to the invention, the particular arrangement of the laying machine 10 and the excavator 5 is a characteristic element allowing the implementation of the new process, this is why this arrangement is described in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 6.

We see in these figures that the excavator 5 is constituted by a chain symbolized by the arrows 19 in Figure 3, driven by a motor 20 (Figure 6) and circulating in two corridors, including an elevator, 21, 22 forming a compass to give the chain 19 a substantially triangular path, the lower open part connecting the two lanes 21 and 22 constituting the leading edge 23 of the chain.

It can also be seen in this figure that the laying machine 16 extends through the excavator 5 in the lower part of the corridors 21 and 22, and that the crosspieces are oriented transversely to the axis of the track.

This arrangement considerably simplifies the installation mechanisms of new sleepers compared to those of the currently known renewal trains.

Indeed in these trains, the new sleepers also pass through the excavator but, since they pass in the upper part of the compass formed by the corridors of the excavator, it is necessary to provide in front and behind the excavator turning devices which orient the sleepers one by one parallel to the axis of the track to allow them to pass through the excavator, then orient them transversely to deposit them on the descent device which places them on the platform.

Thanks to the arrangement illustrated in Figures 3 and 6, the laying machine can be a simple inclined plane on which the sleepers slide by gravity. The lower end is mounted on the machine chassis by means of an alignment and tilt adjustment balance shown diagrammatically by reference 24 in FIG. 6.

Unit V (FIG. 7), carries the means for assembling the renewal track and consists of a wagon 25 for supplying small equipment (fasteners, lag bolts, etc.) and a wagon 26 carrying mechanical spanners 27.

Each of the wagons 25 and 27 carries in the upper part conveyors 17 ', 17 "which transfer the excavated ballast to the distribution and leveling unit R.

Unit R (FIG. 8) essentially consisting of a distribution system such as the hopper wagon 28 into which the ballast excavated by unit S is poured and a grader tamper 29, independent of the rest of the renewal train .

Using the material which has just been described, the procedure according to the invention is as follows:
As the substitution train advances, the worn rails are moved aside on the side of the track while the worn sleepers are removed and stored on the wagons provided for this purpose from the T unit, partially removed the ballast using the excavator over a height sufficient to compensate for the height differences between the old equipment and the new equipment, while leaving on the platform a ballast seat constituting the bed for laying new sleepers ( Fig. 9c). The excavated ballast is transported as it is and poured into the hopper wagon of station R. The new sleepers are deposited immediately behind the excavator, and the new rails are brought back to the sleepers and then fixed using the means carried by the train V (Fig. 9d). The excavated ballast is then redistributed on the new track (Fig. 9e) and distributed and leveled by the action of the tamping machine 29 (Fig. 9f).

Thus the equipment is placed on a compacted base and the immediate reuse of the excavated ballast ensures in combination with the work of the tamping machine sufficient stabilization of the track to temporarily allow a commercial circulation of about 120 km / h during periods of surrender of the way.

The complete replacement of the ballast and its final stabilization is ensured during an additional work station using conventional equipment working in masked time along the length of the renewal site.

In addition to the advantage of providing a renewed temporary track capable of supporting a commercial speed of the order of 120 km / h during surrender periods, the method according to the invention makes it possible to treat partial renewal sites in which only the material of track is to be replaced without affecting the initial longitudinal profile of the line, an essential condition for connections to fixed points (quay area switch, structure), the ballast being renewed during a prior or subsequent operation.

Claims (2)

Railroad renewal train of the type comprising means for removing used sleepers and rails, means making it possible to partially excavate the ballast, means for resting new sleepers and new rails, and means for total redistribution ballast excavated on new rails and sleepers, a train of the type in which the means for excavating the ballast are constituted by an endless excavating chain with a triangular path, characterized in that the device for laying new sleepers (16) is arranged in the lower part of the excavator (5) so that the new sleepers (3) are oriented transversely to the track when they pass through the excavator. Renewal train according to claim characterized in that it comprises a unit (T) for supplying new sleepers and for evacuating used sleepers, a track substitution and profile lowering unit (S), a unit (V) track assembly and a unit (R) for distributing and leveling the ballast and in that it comprises conveyors (17, 17 ', 17 ") transferring the excavated ballast from the substitution unit S to a hopper system of the distribution and leveling unit (R).

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