Description

MOBILE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING TEMPORARY SECTIONS OF TRACK

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mobile device for producing temporary sections of track and a method for end-on laying of railway points and spans which uses said device to produce temporary sections of track.

Hereinafter reference is made to the railway sector, but the present invention is in general applicable to all types of transport on rails (light railways, trams, etc.).

Background Art

The present invention is the result of the need to make operations relative to the laying of railway points and spans simpler and less expensive. It involves portions of track (with or without switching depending on each case) in which the rails are already fixed to the sleepers and which must normally be inserted at the end of a track under construction or in place of old portions of track previously demolished and removed.

Such portions of track may conventionally be laid either end-on or transversally to the existing track. However, the present invention is for end-on laying.

At present, end-on laying is performed with various methods, each using different types of machinery/equipped railway wagons.

A first type involves the use of an apparatus consisting of a structure able to hook from above the points or span to be laid, having a plurality of side telescopic columns whose bases have crawler tracks allowing them to move forward on the ground. The columns and crawler tracks are positioned on the outside of the structure so as to leave enough free space between them to hold the points or span. Consequently, to perform the laying operation, the beam

apparatus simply has to be moved over the laying zone and deposit the points or span.

However, said method is not without disadvantages.

On one hand, the apparatus used is very expensive, and on the other hand, during the laying step, it occupies not just the track on which portions are to be laid, but also any adjacent tracks, since it has a side dimension (due to the presence of the columns and crawler tracks) much greater than the dimensions of the single track. In contrast, a second laying method involves the use of a railway crane which picks up the points or span and places them in the final position.

However, again, on one hand the cost of the apparatus used (the railway crane) is very high, and on the other hand, the entire railway line must be interrupted because the crane requires significant room for manoeuvre.

Another known method involves firstly producing a temporary track at the zone in which the points (or span) must be laid. The temporary track is normally produced by burying two rails in the ballast and connecting them to the rails of the existing track. Then, the points or span are moved forward on the temporary track resting on a plurality of bogies.

The points/span are also fitted with a plurality of hydraulic lifters rigidly hooked to them. When the piece of track is over the zone in which it must be laid, the hydraulic lifters are activated so that they lift the piece off the bogies below which may be removed.

Finally, the points or span are rested on the ground.

However, although this method allows laying without involving particularly large dimensions (it is particularly recommended for laying in tunnels), and without using very expensive apparatuses, it is not without disadvantages.

Firstly, production of the temporary track requires lengthy preparation, taking up a considerable amount of time. Moreover, the temporary track must also be removed. This may be done before laying the points/span, when the latter are held in the lifted position by the hydraulic lifters, or after they have

been laid, by extracting the temporary track from, the ballast.

The former is a risky operation, since workers must work under the lifted points, which could drop on them either due to mechanical failure of the lifters or due to the ballast on which the hydraulic lifters are placed giving way.

The latter is a long, difficult and therefore onerous operation.

Disclosure of the Invention In this situation the technical need which forms the basis of the present invention is to provide a mobile device for producing temporary sections of track and prepare a method for end-on laying of railway points and spans which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, the technical need of the present invention is to provide a mobile device which allows the production and dismantling of a temporary railway track in a simple, inexpensive way.

Another technical need of the present invention is to prepare a method for end-on laying of railway points and spans which, as well as allowing any tracks adjacent to that worked on not to be occupied, can be implemented rapidly, without risks and with minimised costs.

The technical need specified and the aims indicated are substantially achieved by a mobile device for producing temporary sections of track and a method for end-on laying of railway points and spans as described in the claims herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings Other features and advantages of the invention are more evident in the detailed description which follows, of several preferred, non-restricting embodiments of a mobile device for producing temporary sections of track, and for implementing a method for end-on laying of railway points and spans, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a transparent schematic side view of the mobile device in accordance with the present invention in a first

operating condition;

Figure 2 is a view of the mobile device illustrated in Figure 1 in a second operating condition;

Figure 3 is a view of the mobile device illustrated in Figure 1 in a third operating condition;

Figure 4 is a view of the mobile device illustrated in Figure 1 in a fourth operating condition;

Figure 5 is a transparent top view of one end of the mobile device illustrated in Figure 1 in a first operating configuration; Figure 6 is a transparent top view of the end of the mobile device illustrated in Figure 5 in a second operating configuration;

Figure 7 is a transparent top view of the end of the mobile device illustrated in Figure 5 in a third operating configuration; and

Figures 8 to 21 illustrate the various steps relative to the method for end-on laying of railway points and spans in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes as a whole a mobile device for producing temporary tracks . The mobile device 1 comprises a chassis 2 on which a track 3 is mounted which, depending on the embodiments, may consist of two rails (railway, tramway, for light railways, etc.) or of other guide elements. For example, in one embodiment the track 3 consists of two tubular section bars with a cross-section substantially corresponding to that of an end of a rail.

The section of track 3 positioned on the chassis 2 preferably extends substantially over the entire length of the mobile device 1.

Also mounted on the chassis 2 there are first forward movement means 4, designed to allow the mobile device 1 to be moved forward on a railway track (or the like) , and second forward movement means 5 designed to allow the mobile device 1 to be moved forward on the ground.

The first forward movement means 4 comprise at least a first

and a second pair of first railway wheels 6 distanced from one another. In the embodiment illustrated the two pairs of first wheels 6 are positioned symmetrically relative to the centre of the mobile device 1 (Figure 1) . Moreover, in the preferred embodiment, the first forward movement means 4 also comprise at least one first and second pair of second railway wheels 7 distanced from one another and from the first wheels 6. In the embodiment illustrated, the second wheels 7 consist of rollers pivoting directly at the chassis 2 at the two ends of the mobile device 1. The function of the first wheels and the second wheels 7 is more evident in the operating description below.

In the embodiment illustrated, the second forward movement means 5 also comprise at least two motor-powered tracked carriages 8, each equipped with two crawler tracks 9 (Figures 5 - 7) . Advantageously, one of the carriages 8 is mounted on the chassis 2 at an intermediate position between the first pair of first wheels 6 and the first pair of second wheels 7, whilst the other carriage 8 is mounted on the chassis 2 at an intermediate position between the second pair of first wheels 6 and the second pair of second wheels 7.

Advantageously, the mobile device 1 also comprises first drive means 10 mounted on the chassis 2 designed to drive the second forward movement means 5 between a lowered position in which they can engage with the ground (Figure 3) and a raised position (Figures 1 and 4) .

In the embodiment illustrated, the first drive means 10 comprise a supporting structure 11 with a first end pivoting at the chassis 2 and a second end pivoting at the second forward movement means 5, and at least a first actuator 12 (hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, etc.) mounted between the chassis 2 and the supporting structure 11 to cause rotation of the supporting structure 11. In particular, the supporting structure 11 consists of a rectangular frame 13 with an intermediate cross-member 14 on which the first actuator 12 acts. The connection to the chassis 2 is at the two corners of one side of the rectangular frame 13.

In other embodiments (not illustrated) , the first drive

means 10 may consist of one or more actuators (in particular hydraulic) mounted on the chassis 2 and directly supporting the second forward movement means 5, or they may consist of mechanical drive means . The first drive means 10 can preferably act independently on each independent unit of the second forward movement means 5 (therefore, in the embodiment illustrated, on each carriage 8).

The mobile device 1 illustrated in the accompanying drawings also comprises second drive means 15 mounted on the chassis 2 and designed to drive the first forward movement means 4. In particular, they act on the first wheels 6, varying their position at least vertically.

In each operating condition the first wheels 6 and the second wheels 7 respectively form a first and a second possible resting plane for the mobile device 1 on a railway track. Depending on the embodiments, the first and second planes may coincide (solution not illustrated which does not involve the second drive means 15) or may not coincide (solution illustrated in the accompanying drawings) . In the latter case, the second drive means 15 drive the first wheels 6 from a first position in which the first resting plane is located below the second resting plane (Figure 1), and a second position in which the first resting plane is located above the second resting plane (Figures 2 - 4). Therefore, when the first wheels 6 are in the first position, the mobile device 1 can rest on a railway track at the first resting plane, whilst when the first wheels 6 are in the second position, the mobile device 1 can rest on a railway track at the second resting plane (for the moment disregarding the position of the second forward movement means 5) .

In contrast, when the second drive means 15 are not present, the first and second resting planes coincide and the first and second wheels 6, 7 always all rest on the rails.

In the embodiment illustrated, the second drive means 15 comprise, for each pair of first wheels 6, two linkages 35 supporting the axle 36 of said pair of first wheels 6 and two actuators 37 connected between the chassis 2 and the linkages 35.

The mobile device 1 disclosed may also comprise means 16 for transversal translation of the mobile device 1 relative to the second forward movement means 5.

As illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, the translation means 16 comprise, for each independent unit of the second forward movement means 5, at least one transversal guide 17 connected to the chassis 2 on which the second forward movement means are slidably mounted. A second actuator 18 is mounted between the chassis 2 and the second forward movement means 5 to drive the second forward movement means 5 and the guide 17 reciprocally. In the embodiment illustrated, the guide 17 consists of one side of the rectangular frame 13 which forms the supporting structure 11 of the first drive means 10. A slide 19 is slidably mounted on it and is in turn connected to the relative carriage 8. In the accompanying drawings, the second actuator 18 consists of a double-rod cylinder mounted between the frame 13 and the slide 19.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the second forward movement means 5 in three separate positions: a central position (Figure 5), a first side end position (Figure 6) and a second side end position opposite the first (Figure 7) .

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the mobile device 1 may also comprise, at least at one end, hooking means 20 which allow it to be hooked to an existing track or to other mobile devices. In the example illustrated, the hooking means 20 comprise a pair of levers 21 pivoting at the two sides of the end of the chassis 2 and having a first end 22 pivoting at the chassis 2 and a second end 23 projecting longitudinally from the chassis 2 and equipped with a hooking tooth 24 designed to hook onto, for example, a seat 25 made in another mobile device. A third actuator 26 drives each lever 21 between a closed position (Figures 5 - 7) and an open position (not illustrated) in which each lever 21 is rotated towards the outside of the mobile device 1.

In the preferred embodiment, the mobile device 1 also has a control unit (not illustrated) operating on one or more of the first and second forward movement means 4,- 5 (if motor-powexed) , the first and second drive means 10, 15, the translation means 16 and the hooking means 20, as well as on the relative electrical

and hydraulic operating circuits.

Moreover, said control unit is preferably remote controlled so that the mobile device 1 can be controlled completely from a distance . Depending on requirements (described below) , the mobile device 1 may have different minimum heights (corresponding to positioning of the first and second forward movement means 4, 5 respectively in the second position and in the raised position) .

In particular, the mobile device 1 may have a minimum height substantially corresponding to that of the points or span to be laid, or to that of the points or span to be laid plus that of a predetermined layer of crushed stone.

Operation of the mobile device 1 disclosed derives directly from the following description of the method for end-on laying of railway points and spans which also forms the subject matter of the present invention, and which uses the mobile device 1.

Figure 8 illustrates the starting condition for the laying procedures: a first existing section of track 27 is followed by a zone 28 in which the points or span must be positioned. For the sake of simplicity, hereinafter reference is made to a case involving points, but the same considerations also apply to spans. In the specific case illustrated the zone 28 for the points extends between the first existing section of track 27 and a second existing section of track 29 (which in other applications may not be present) .

The first step of the laying method involves the production, at the zone 28 in which the points must be laid, of a temporary section of track 30 which constitutes a continuation of the first existing section of track 27. In accordance with the present invention, the temporary track 30 is produced using one or more mobile devices 1 of the type described above.

Figures 8 to 13 illustrate the sequence of steps which result in the positioning of a first mobile device 1 as a continuation of the first existing section of track 27. The same steps can then be repeated for each additional mobile device 1. In this case, each mobile device 1 will form the continuation of the

temporary section of track 30 formed by the mobile device 1 positioned during the previous step. Therefore, only the positioning of the first mobile device 1 is described in detail.

First of all, the mobile device 1 is moved forward, by means of the first wheels 6, along the first existing section of track 27 until a tracked carriage 8 is positioned cantilever-style above the zone 28 where the points are to be laid. This forward movement may be driven by an external locomotive, or by an engine on the mobile device 1 itself, operatively connected to the first wheels 6.

At this point, the carriage 8 positioned cantilever-style is lowered until it makes contact with the ground by the first drive means 10.

The mobile device 1 is then moved forward by first and/or second forward movement means 4, 5 until the second carriage 8 is also positioned cantilever-style. Therefore, in this condition, the mobile device 1 will rest on the carriage 8 already lowered and on the second wheels 7 connected to the other end of the chassis 2 (Figure 11) . If the second drive means 15 are present and the first and second wheels 6, 7 are positioned in positioning planes at different heights, before the second carriage 8 is also moved to the cantilever-style position the second drive means 15 must be activated to bring the first wheels 6 to the second position (passing from the condition in Figure 9 to the condition in Figure 10) . Otherwise, the first and second wheels 6, 7 will always be substantially in the same positioning plane.

At this point the second carriage 8 is also lowered and the mobile device 1 is moved forward on the ground by the second forward movement means 5 (Figure 12) until it is in the correct position.

Finally, the second forward movement means 5 are all returned to the raised position so that the chassis 2 rests directly on the ground, aligned with the first existing section of track 27. The transversal translation means 16 may be used to guarantee correct alignment between the mobile device 1 and the existing track (or any other mobile devices 1 already positioned) .

Once all of the mobile devices 1 necessary have been positioned, the points 31 are moved forward, first along the first existing section of track 27, then along the temporary track 30, to the installation zone 28. For this purpose, the points 31 rest on a plurality of bogies 32.

Moreover, a plurality of railway lifters 33 hooked to the points 31 in the known way are installed on the points 31.

Once the points 31 are in position, the railway lifters 33 are activated and the relative (known) telescopic columns 38 extend so as to lift the points 31 off the bogies 32.

At this point, first the bogies 32 are moved (Figure 17), then, in the opposite way to that in which they were positioned, the mobile devices 1 are removed (Figure 18).

Finally, once the positioning zone 28 is clear (Figure 19) the railway lifters 33 are activated again to effectively lay the points 31 (Figure 20) . When the points have been laid, the lifters 33 are detached from the points 31 and moved away along the track 27.

When the points 31 are laid in a zone in which the ballast 34 has not yet been prepared, before lowering the points 31 several bags of crushed stone designed to precisely define their final level may be positioned underneath them. The ballast 34 will subsequently be created by unloading the crushed stone under the points 31 (for example using railway wagons with a hopper moved forward along the points 31) and compacting it with one or more ballast tampers .

If, during the laying step the transversal positioning of the points 31 is not optimum, it may be corrected by activating both the translation means 16 on the mobile devices and similar means with which the railway lifters 33 are normally equipped.

The present invention brings important advantages.

Firstly, the mobile device disclosed allows a temporary railway track to be produced and dismantled in a simple and inexpensive way. On one hand, the cost of the work is reduced to a minimum since no form of construction work is required, and on the other hand, the cost of the mobile devices is also very limited compared with any other apparatus currently used for laying

railway points or spans.

Secondly, the laying method disclosed may be implemented without interfering with tracks adjacent to the track being worked on. Moreover, it can be implemented rapidly with minimal costs. In addition, using the remote controlled version of the mobile devices, risks for the operators can be avoided, since operators can control all operations from a safe distance.

The invention described may be modified and adapted without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. All details of the invention may be substituted by other technically equivalent elements and, in practice, all of the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various components, may be any according to requirements.