Method of cleaning ballast

A method of cleaning encrusted ballast comprises the steps of screening the encrusted ballast to separate detritus from the ballast, washing the screened ballast with water while removing the separated detritus on a conveyor belt unit, clarifying the washing water to produce a clarified water portion and washing water sludge, and disposing of the washing water sludge by moving it to the detritus on the conveyor belt unit for common removal with the detritus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of cleaning encrusted ballast supporting a track, which comprises the steps of screening the encrusted ballast to separate detritus from the ballast, and washing the screened ballast with water while removing the separated detritus on a conveyor belt unit.

2. Description of the Prior Art

British patent No. 1,519,316 discloses such a method. In this method, the washing water flows onto the track so that a very large amount of water is consumed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary object of this invention to improve a method of cleaning ballast by screening and washing with water.

This is accomplished according to the invention by screening the encrusted ballast to separate detritus from the ballast, washing the screened ballast with water while removing the separated detritus on a conveyor belt unit, clarifying the washing water to produce a clarified water portion and washing water sludge, and disposing of the washing water sludge by moving it to the detritus on the conveyor belt unit for common removal with the detritus.

Depositing the washing water sludge on the detritus for common removal therewith has the advantage that the more or less liquid sludge forms a viscous mass with the detritus whereby the detritus serves as a carrier material for the sludge so that the sludge will not flow off but will be removed with the detritus to a storage car. This does away with costly conveying and storing units for the washing weater sludge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawing, there is shown the portion of ballast cleaning machine1which involves the method of the present invention. The machine is comprised of a number of cars2coupled to each other and supported by undercarriages3for movement on track4in an operating direction indicated by arrow5. As is well known, encrusted ballast6supporting track4is removed from underneath the track by an endless excavating chain (not shown), and the excavated encrusted ballast is conveyed by conveyor belt7to screening unit8, which is vibrated by vibrator9, and where the encrusted ballast6is screened to separate detritus13from the ballast.

The mechanically screened ballast is conveyed by conveyor belt10to wash installation11where it is washed with water12sprayed onto the screened ballast. The doubly-cleaned ballast6is then returned to the track in a manner well known and not illustrated herein.

At the same time and while the screened ballast is washed, the separated detritus13is removed from screening unit8on conveyor belt unit14, which conveys the detritus to a storage car15. Washing water12is pumped from wash installation11through conduit16to water clarifying installation17where the washing water is clarified to produce a clarified water portion and washing water sludge18. This washing water sludge is disposed by pumping it by pump19to detritus13on conveyor belt unit14where it is removed with the detritus to storage car15. The detritus serves as a carrier material for the liquid washing water sludge during the conveyance on conveyor belt unit14. Flow-off of washing water sludge18from conveyor belt unit14can be avoided by properly metering the pumped amount of washing water sludge in dependence on the consistency of detritus13.