AU2012239075A1

AU2012239075A1 - Maintenance vehicle

Info

Publication number: AU2012239075A1
Application number: AU2012239075A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Hechenberger
Original assignee: Robel Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH
Current assignee: Robel Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH
Priority date: 2011-04-02
Filing date: 2012-03-10
Publication date: 2013-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-10
Also published as: AU2012239075B2; CN103534159A; DE202011004799U1; HUE028231T2; PL2694346T3; EP2694346B1; SI2694346T1; ES2587843T3; JP6038118B2; CN103534159B; EP2694346A1; DK2694346T3; JP2014514473A; WO2012136301A1

Abstract

A maintenance vehicle has a vehicle frame (8) which extends in a longitudinal direction (5) of the vehicle and has, in each case at one frame end (6), a rail bogie (4) which can be moved on rails (2) of a track (3). A working space, which is open towards the track (3), is provided in a region located between the two rail bogies (4) which are spaced apart from one another. A clamping device (13) which is designed to connect the vehicle frame (8) to the rails (2) in a frictionally locking fashion, is respectively arranged at each frame end (6). At least one of the clamping devices (13) is designed to be adjustable in the longitudinal direction (5) of the vehicle relative to the vehicle frame (8) by means of a drive (17).

Description

1/7 1193 Maintenance vehicle [001] The invention relates to a maintenance vehicle, including a vehicle frame which extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and has, at a frame end in each case, an on-track undercarriage mobile on rails of a track, wherein a work space open towards the track is provided in an area situated between the two on-track undercarriages spaced from one another. [002] A vehicle of this type is already known from EP 1 789 299. Underneath the vehicle frame, which is designed with an upwardly extending recess, this vehicle has a work space which is delimited or protected on the two longitudinal sides of the vehicle by side walls adjustable in the transverse direction of the track, and which is equipped with displaceable lifting and working devices for carrying out various track maintenance activities. When exchanging fitting rail plugs, a rail tensioning device is additionally employed in a manner known per se, in order to maintain the longitudinal tensions in the severed rail. [003] According to JP 2555508, an on-track device for correcting the butt joint gap of rails is known. To that end, two rail clamping devices are suspended on a machine frame aproximately centrally between the on track undercarriages, said rail clamping devices being adjustable by 2/7 means of drives in the longitudinal direction of the track both with respect to each other as well as relative to the machine frame. [004] It is the object of the present invention to provide a vehicle of the kind mentioned at the beginning which can be employed in an optimal way for exchanging rails. [005] According to the invention, this object is achieved with a vehicle of the afore-mentioned type in that at each frame end there is arranged a respective clamping device designed for force-locking connection of the vehicle frame to the rails, and that at least one of the two clamping devices is designed to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle relative to the vehicle frame by means of a drive. [006] With a vehicle comprising these features, it is possible in an advantageous way to carry out an exchange of fitting rail plugs in a quicker and more simple manner since, as a result of the invention, the relatively complex work step of employing a separate rail tensioning device can be omitted entirely. The longitudinal tensions in the rail, which must be maintained after cutting out a piece of the rail, can now be absorbed simply by the sturdy vehicle frame through which the force flow is guided via the clamping devices. By means of the drive for longitudinal adjustment of the clamping device, the required tensile or compressive pre-stressing force can be applied to the rail in an ergonomically advantageous and safe manner.

3/7 [007] A further advantage according to the invention consists in the fact that the track - restrained and fixated in its longitudinal direction - is additionally and simultaneously loaded down vertically by the own weight of the maintenance vehicle via the on-track undercarriages and thus held fast even more firmly with regard to its position, in particular its lateral position. This proves to be immensely helpful especially when working in a track curve, since in this case it is necessary to take into account or compensate also horizontally acting forces. [008] Additional advantages of the invention become apparent from the dependent claims and the drawing description. [009] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to embodiments represented in the drawing in which [010] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a maintenance vehicle designed according to the invention, Figs. 2 and 3 each show a detail view of a clamping device, and Fig. 4 shows a further variant of an embodiment of the invention. In this, parts having the same function are labelled with the same reference numerals, [011] A vehicle 1, shown in a simplified manner in Fig. 1, serves for maintenance of a track 3 having rails 2 and is mobile on the latter by means of two on-track undercarriages 4. These are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction 5 of the vehicle and are each arranged at one frame end 6, 7 of a vehicle frame 8. Provided 4/7 underneath the vehicle frame 8 in an area 9 located between the two on-track undercarriages 4 is a work space 10 which is open in the direction towards the track 3 and delimited by two side walls 11 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In a manner known per se, the side walls 11 are adjustable in the transverse direction of the track by means of drives in order to be able to expand the work space 10, as required. [012] Also arranged on the vehicle frame 8 at each frame end 6, 7 is a respective clamping device 13. It is particularly practical if two clamping devices 13 spaced from one another in the transverse direction are arranged at each frame end 6, 7. As can be seen better also in Fig. 2, the clamping device 13 consists of vertically adjustable rail tongs 14 which may be force-locking connected to a rail head 16 of the rail 2 by means of a (preferably hydraulic) clamping drive 15. Additionally, at least one of the two clamping devices 13 is designed to be adjustable in the longitudinal direction 5 of the vehicle relative to the vehicle frame 8 by means of a further drive 17. Provided for that purpose on the vehicle frame 8 is a longitudinal guide 18 in which a mount 19 is supported, designed resistant to bending and twisting, on which the rail tongs 14 are mounted for vertical adjustment and which, in turn, is connected for longitudinal adjustment to the drive 17 designed as a hydraulic cylinder 20.

5/7 [013] Alternatively, it is also possible to arrange the clamping device 13 or the rail tongs 14 not directly on the vehicle frame 8 but instead on the on-track undercarriage 4, as shown in Fig. 3 (or in Fig. 1 in dash-and dot lines). Expediently in this case, the on-track undercarriage 4 is mounted on the vehicle frame 8 for adjustment in the longitudinal direction 5 of the vehicle and connected to the drive 17 for longitudinal adjustment in a longitudinal guide 18. [014] Fig. 4 shows in a very schematic way a further embodiment of the invention in which the vehicle frame 8 - in the region between the two on-track undercarriages 4 - is formed by the transversely adjustable side walls 11 delimiting the work space 10, with the side walls being configured especially massive and robust for this purpose. The clamping devices 13 are connected for vertical adjustment to the side walls 11 in the lower end region thereof and are at the same time designed for adjustment relative to said side walls (i.e. to the vehicle frame 8) in the longitudinal direction 5 of the vehicle by means of the drive 17. Expediently, the two clamping devices 13 are arranged at a maximum distance from one another, so that, during working operations, fitting rail plugs of the maximum possible length can be removed between the two rail tongs 14. [015] In working operations of the vehicle 1, the respective rail 2 is fixated by means of the two clamping devices 13 prior to cutting off a fitting rail 6/7 plug. During this, it is possible by means of the drive 17 to maintain the required rail stress (tension or compression) or to apply a desired tensile force to the rail 2 in dependence upon the ambient temperature and other relevant factors.

Claims

1. A maintenance vehicle (1), including a vehicle frame (8) which extends in a longitudinal direction (5) of the vehicle and has, at a frame end (6, 7) in each case, an on-track undercarriage (4) mobile on rails (2) of a track (3), wherein a work space (10) open towards the track (3) is provided in an area (9) situated between the two on-track undercarriages (4) spaced from one another, characterized in that at each frame end (6, 7) there is arranged a respective clamping device (13) designed for force-locking connection of the vehicle frame (8) to the rails (2), and that at least one of the two clamping devices (13) is designed to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction (5) of the vehicle relative to the vehicle frame (8) by means of a drive (17).

2. A maintenance vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive (17) is designed as a hydraulic cylinder (20).

3. A maintenance vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clamping device (13) is connected to the on-track undercarriage (4), and the latter is connected via the drive (17) to the vehicle frame (8) for longitudinal displacement.