WO2004007841A2

WO2004007841A2 - Apparatus for laying metallic railway sleepers

Info

Publication number: WO2004007841A2
Application number: PCT/GB2003/003020
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Farrington
Original assignee: Corus UK Ltd
Current assignee: Corus UK Ltd
Priority date: 2002-07-15
Filing date: 2003-07-15
Publication date: 2004-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2005-01-15
Also published as: GB0216283D0; AU2003250403A8; WO2004007841A3; AU2003250403A1

Abstract

Apparatus for laying metallic railway sleepers at regular intervals onto a prepared track bed while progressing along or parallel to the track bed comprises a frame from which a vertical stack of sleepers is supported. Means are provided for moving the sleeper stack downwardly within the frame and for depositing the lowermost sleeper of the stack onto the track bed from a position at or close to the bed surface.

Description

RAILWAY SLEEPER HANDLING APPARATUS

This invention relates to railway sleeper handling apparatus and more especially to apparatus for laying metallic (e.g. steel) railway sleepers at regular intervals onto a prepared track bed. The invention embraces vehicle mounted apparatus for discharging railway sleepers at regular intervals onto a prepared track bed, railway sleeper stacking apparatus and robotic railway sleeper handling apparatus inter alia for use therewith.

Existing methods of laying steel railway sleepers onto track beds suffer from many disadvantages, these including sleeper misalignment which occurs, inter alia, because of the way in which sleepers are initially laid onto a bed and which requires subsequent correction; and the employment of excessive dynamic forces during sleeper handling which can result in damage to the handling apparatus and/or one or more sleepers thereby creating delays in the laying process.

These and other disadvantages arise because of the adoption of handling apparatus used previously for concrete sleepers with no or little adaptation.

Mechanical handling apparatus has been proposed and is already in use. These are, however, relatively slow to operate essentially because they can only handle and lay one sleeper at a time; also, they rely on the operator's skill in deciding their positioning of a track bed.

The present invention sets out to overcome, or at least alleviate, many of the disadvantages of existing sleeper handling methods and apparatus. Additionally, the invention sets out to provide sleeper handling apparatus capable of laying steel sleepers such that they will require minimal or no correction for misalignment after discharge from the handling apparatus. In one aspect, the invention provides apparatus for laving metallic railway sleepers at regular intervals onto a prepared track bed while progressing along or parallel to the track bed, the apparatus comprising a frame from which a vertical stack of sleepers is supported, means for moving the sleeper stack downwardly within the frame, and means for depositing the lowermost sleeper of the stack onto the track bed from a position at or close to the bed surface.

Preferably, the frame includes a first pair of upright pillars, a column connected through a pivot to each pillar and suspended therefrom a ledge extending inwardly from the lower end of each column for the supporting the sleeper stack, a second pair of upright pillars, a column connected through a pivot to each pillar of the second pair and suspended therefrom, a ledge extending inwardly from the lower end of each column for supporting the lowermost sleeper of the stack, means for selectively moving the first pair of columns apart about their pivot connections to the pillars to allow the lowermost sleeper to move downwardly from the stack onto the ledges of the second pair of columns and to be supported thereby, means for moving the second pair of columns downwardly away from the sleeper stack and means for selectively moving the second pair of columns apart whereby side faces of the lowermost sleeper are engaged by contact surfaces of the second pair of columns as the lowermost sleeper approaches the track bed.

The means for moving the first pair of columns may comprise a piston- operated member connected between the lower end of each pillar and column, and operable to cause the columns to pivot to move the ledges out of contact with the contacting surface of the lowermost sleeper.

The contact surfaces of the second pair of columns may comprise chamfered side faces of the ledges of the columns.

The apparatus may further comprise a continuous conveyor positioned below the sleeper stack supported by the frame, the conveyor including a horizontal section onto which the lowermost sleeper is deposited and an inclined section for moving the sleeper downwardly onto the track bed.

The apparatus may also further comprise a vertically movable stand movable between positions immediately below the lowermost sleeper of the stack and the upper surface of the horizontal section of the conveyor.

The means for moving the sleepers downwardly may comprise a pair of spaced vertically disposed continuous chains, each continuous chain including downwardly extending ledges for supporting a sleeper of the stack.

In another aspect, the invention provides apparatus for laying metallic railway sleepers at regular intervals onto a prepared track bed while progressing along or parallel to the track bed, the apparatus comprising a robotic handling arm for moving individual sleepers of a stack onto the track bed and laser means for controlling the spacing between laid sleepers.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:-

Figures 1 to 3 schematically illustrate steel railway sleeper handling apparatus in accordance with the invention shown in three different operating positions;

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative sleeper handling apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate further alternative sleeper laying apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 8 illustrates still further sleeper laying apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are end, side and plan views schematically illustrating alternative sleeper laying apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figures 12, 13 and 14 illustrate still further steel sleeper handling apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 15 illustrates yet further sleeper laying apparatus in accordance with invention;

Figures 16, 17 and 18 illustrate still further apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figures 19 and 20 illustrate alternative apparatus in accordance with the invention; and

Figures 21 and 22 illustrate still further alternative apparatus in accordance with the invention.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a dispenser for enabling steel railway sleepers to be laid at regular intervals onto a track bed with no or very limited down-force which would otherwise disturb the bed surface and possibly cause misalignment of the sleeper from its intended position. Conventionally, sleepers are discharged from dispensing equipment at a height above the track bed.

The illustrated apparatus is supported on a vehicle (not shown) movable in the direction of arrow A. The speed of the vehicle is preferably such that the residence time of the vehicle at the position at which a sleeper is to be laid is minimised. The apparatus comprises a main frame 1 including a pair of uprights pillar 2 each including a generally horizontal upper support arm 3 from which are suspended two swinging arms 4 movable about pivots 5 by which the swinging arms are connected to the frame. Sideways movements of the swinging arms 4 is effected and controlled through hydraulic, pneumatic or like cylinders 6 whose pistons 7 are connected by rods 8 to linkages 9 positioned at the lower ends of the swinging arms 4. Each arm 4 is formed with an inwardly extending lower ridge 11. These ridges together provide support for a vertical stack of railways sleepers 12 separated by spacers 13 and positioned between side guides 10. The spacers 13 are not secured to the sleepers and merely act to space a sleeper from neighbouring sleepers to prevent damage to rail clip devices carried by the sleepers.

The apparatus includes a lifting frame 14 comprising a pair of pillars movable vertically by means of a hydraulic, pneumatic or like cylinder and connection rod 19, 20 respectively. Lifting arms 17 are mounted for pivotal movement from brackets 18 secured to inwardly facing upper surfaces of the frame members 14. The lifting arms are movable towards and away from the lifting frame by hydraulic, pneumatic or like cylinders 15 and interconnecting rods 16. Each lifting arm 17 is formed at its lower end with inwardly extending support ledges 21.

In the position shown in Figure 1, the swinging arms 4 have been moved away from one another to enable the lowermost steel railway sleeper to move from ledges 11 downwardly onto the ledges 21 of the lifting arms 17.

To assist a relatively even progression from one ledge to the other, the side faces of the ledges are chamfered.

As will be seen from Figure 2, once a sleeper is loaded onto the ledges 21, the lifting arms are moved downwardly to a position close to the track bed surface. When positioned immediately above the track surface, the arms are moved outwardly to enable the sleeper walls to enter the space defined between the lifting arms and to be engaged by the chamfered side surfaces of the arms. This position is shown in Figure 3. As better illustrated in this Figure, the ledges 21 include vacuum or magnetic gripper pads 23. The sleeper is then gently moved into contact with the surface of the track bed in its required position. The handling apparatus is then moved by the support vehicle to the next location immediately above the intended site of the next sleeper. The process described above is then repeated. Once laid (or prior thereto) a magnetic sweeper 24 may be passed over the upper surface of a steel sleeper to remove any debris and/or the spacer 13.

The dispensing apparatus illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 differs from that described above essentially in relation to the way in which the sleepers are conveyed from the vertical stack to the track bed. In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the lowermost sleeper of the stack is placed by the swinging arms 4 onto a vertically movable stand 30 which is then lowered by a hydraulic ram 31 to be received by a continuous chain conveyor 32 whose movement is linked to forward motion of the supporting vehicle. Figure 4 shows the position of the apparatus as a sleeper is loaded onto the stand 30 and Figure 5 shows the position of the apparatus with the stand retracted. As will be seen from Figures 4 and 5, sleepers loaded onto the chain conveyor are sequentially moved by the conveyor to their required sites on the track bed. The height of the sleeper above ground level at the point at which sleepers leave the conveyer is minimal.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 is similar to that described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In this embodiment, the inwardly protruding ledges 21 of the lifting arms 17 are mounted for pivotal movement through operation of a hydraulic, pneumatic or like cylinder 33 and about a pivot point 34 positioned at the lowermost end of the respective lifting arm 17. Figure 6 shows the position of the apparatus with the lowermost steel sleeper supported by the ledges 21 and Figure 7 shows the position of the apparatus with the lifting arms 17 in their lowered positions. Downward pivotal movement of the ledges 21 enables a steel sleeper to be gently lowered onto the track bed in the required position.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 8, downward movement of the vertical stack of steel railway sleepers within the handling apparatus is achieved by means of a pair of spaced vertically disposed continuous chains 35. Support ledges 36 carried by links of the chains cooperate to support the steel sleepers. In this embodiment, the lowermost ends of the chains are positioned just above ground level to minimise the height at which the sleepers are released onto the track bed.

The handling apparatus illustrated in Figures 9 to 11 comprises a vehicle mounted robotic arm 40 programmed to remove railway sleepers from vertical stacks carried by the vehicle 41 and to lay successive sleepers onto the track bed at discrete intervals determined by a laser setting unit 42, 43. The sleeper handling arm 44 of the robot carries a magnet 45 for lifting and laying successive sleepers. As will be apparent from Figure 9, the vehicle 41 runs alongside the track bed 46 and the robotic arm 40 and laser setting unit ensure that succeeding sleepers are accurately spaced from one another with a minimum or no misalignment. Typically, the vehicle is supported on caterpillar tracks 47. In Figure 11, the vehicle is in line with but in front of the track bed 46.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 12 to 14, the sleeper carrying vehicle comprises a plurality of aligned grab devices 50 supported from a frame 51 which spans the track bed. At required intervals, lifting cylinders 52 connected to the grabs are operated at the same time to enable a plurality of railway sleepers to be laid simultaneously onto the track bed in their correct positions. As shown, eight sleepers are laid simultaneously. As for the vehicle of Figures 9 to 11, the vehicle 41 is supported on caterpillar tracks 47. As shown in Figure 14, the grab devices are reloaded from sleeper stacks positioned remote from the sleeper laying activity.

In Figure 15 the vertical stacks of steel sleepers are located on a continuous chain or belt system 55 for subsequent loading into one of the sleeper handling apparatus described previously.

In all of the embodiments previously described, the sleepers are stacked in a vertical sense. In an alternative arrangement, the sleepers are stacked horizontally on their sides as shown in Figures 16 to 18, In this embodiment, the end sleeper is removed from the horizontal stack by means of a separating dog 56 and then laid onto the track bed using a robotic arm or chain conveyor as discussed previously.

Thus, steel sleepers may be moved from a sideways (on side) alignment to a Afoot down@ (on bead) alignment by:

(a) the action of dogs;

(b) the action of a hinged robotic arm with or without a vacuum, magnet or other device;

(c) the act of gravity and a guidance mechanism which causes a sleeper to be separated naturally due to the path followed.

Sleepers may be positioned into a distribution rack or may be laid directly onto the track bed using any of the methods discussed above, either from their original sideways positions or the horizontal positions attained by the alignment method discussed above.

Sleepers may also feed directly from their sideways positions into their correctly laid positions by transport on elongated dogs which cause rotation to a horizontal position at the end of the feed system. For example, by rotation on a chain around an end guide wheel.

Bundles of sleepers may be held between vertical stays, having been supplied originally as vertical or horizontal packs, to then be transferred by a "pick and place" robot.

Trailers or systems may be moved forward by either motor devices on the same carriage or moved by external vehicle.

Turning now to Figures 19 and 20, the apparatus comprises a dispenser 60 for a stack of steel sleepers. In this embodiment, the dispenser includes swinging side walls 61 formed with inwardly protruding lips 62 which open to deposit the entire sleeper stack onto the track bed. The dispenser is then lifted and the side walls closed to lift from the lowermost sleeper the stack of other sleepers. The dispenser is then indexed a distance equal to the desired sleeper separation and the operation repeated.

The release mechanism may operate at or close to the surface of the track bed, or at a height above the track bed.

The arrangement shown in Figures 21 and 22 is similar to that described above but in this arrangement retractable arms 63 or another like gripping mechanism support the sleeper stack. The arms may carry magnets or may apply vacuum to grip and release the entire sleeper stack or a part of this stack.

An important feature of the described invention is to retain control of the sleeper throughout its passage through the system thereby eliminating either uncontrolled dropping of sleepers or support systems which act on the sleeper underside and cannot control sleepers as they move onto track bed without disturbing the ballast content of the bed. As described the motive force applied to the or each sleeper which controls passage or descent of the sleepers' positions onto the track bed through motorised elements which may be driven electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically or through the use of stored mechanical energy.

The former system may comprise simple elements with rudimentary control over motion or may consist of the use of highly sophisticated mechanical robots which takes sleepers from one of a number of locations and places directly or indirectly at the correct locations on the track bed.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of sleeper handling apparatus in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Apparatus for laying metallic railway sleepers at regular intervals onto a prepared track bed while progressing along or parallel to the track bed, the apparatus comprising a frame from which a vertical stack of sleepers is supported, means for moving the sleeper stack downwardly within the frame, and means for depositing the lowermost sleeper of the stack onto the track bed from a position at or close to the bed surface.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame includes a first pair of upright pillars, a column connected through a pivot to each pillar and suspended therefrom, a ledge extending inwardly from the lower end of each column for supporting the sleeper stack, a second pair of upright pillars, a column connected through a pivot to each pillar of the second pair and suspended therefrom, a ledge extending inwardly from the lower end of each column for supporting the lowermost sleeper of the stack, means for selectively moving the first pair of columns apart about their pivot connections to the pillars to allow the lowermost sleeper to move downwardly from the stack onto the ledges of the second pair of columns and to be supported thereby, means for moving the second pair of columns downwardly away from the sleeper stack and means for selectively moving the second pair of columns apart whereby side faces of the lowermost sleeper are engaged by contact surfaces of the second pair of columns as the lowermost sleeper approaches the track bed.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for moving the first pair of columns comprises a piston-operated member connected between the lower end of each pillar and column, and operable to cause the columns to pivot to move the ledges out of contact with the contacting surface of the lowermost sleeper.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the contact surfaces of the second pair of columns comprise chamfered side faces of the ledges of the columns.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a continuous conveyor positioned below the sleeper stack supported by the frame, the conveyor including a horizontal section onto which the lowermost sleeper is deposited and an inclined section for moving the sleeper downwardly onto the track bed.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a vertically movable stand movable between positions immediately below the lowermost sleeper of the stack and the upper surface of the horizontal section of the conveyor.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for moving the sleepers downwardly comprises a pair of spaced vertically disposed continuous chains, each continuous chain including inwardly extending ledges for supporting a sleeper of the stack.

8. Apparatus for laying metallic railway sleepers at regular intervals onto a prepared track bed while progressing along or parallel to the track bed, the apparatus comprising a robotic handling arm for moving individual sleepers of a stack onto the track bed and laser means for controlling the spacing between laid sleepers.