Abstract:
A machine for transporting and laying track switches has a switch carrier that can be supported on a track or a ballast bed, on the end thereof, by a rail or track-laying gear. The switch carrier has a central carrier section connected with winches, and two end carrier sections that are mounted on the gear carrier and are respectively connected to the central carrier section in an articulated manner by a carrier joint. The two end carrier sections can be pivoted about a gear axis, which is parallel to a carrier axis of the carrier joint and at a distance from the same, in relation to the gear carrier, by way of a rotational drive.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This is a continuing application, under 35 U.S.C. §120, of copending international application PCT/EP2005/050167, filed Jan. 17, 2005, which designated the United States; this application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of Austrian patent application No. A 610/2004, filed Apr. 7, 2004; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     Field of the Invention  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a machine for transporting and laying track switches on a ballast bed. The machine has a switch carrier with cable winches and fastening devices for connection to the track switch, and the switch carrier is supportable at each end by way of a respective on-track undercarriage and crawler track on a track or a ballast bed. The invention also pertains to a related method.  
         [0003]     A machine for the transport of track switches and the laying thereof upon a ballast bed is known from the commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,467. At each end of a switch carrier supporting the track switch, two on-track undercarriages and a crawler track are connected to the switch beam.  
         [0004]     Further machines of a similar type are also known from German published patent applications DE 23 13 055, DE 34 19 205, French published patent application FR 2 325 765 and German published patent application DE 34 19 240.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a machine and a method for transporting track switches which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which provides for a machine of the specified kind with which more versatile working operations are possible while taking into account different construction site conditions.  
         [0006]     With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a machine for the transport of track switches and the laying thereof upon a ballast bed. The novel machine comprises:  
         [0007]     a switch carrier having cable winches and fastening devices for connection to the track switch;  
         [0008]     an on-track undercarriage and a crawler track disposed to support the switch carrier on a track and on a ballast bed, respectively;  
         [0009]     a common undercarriage frame connecting the on-track undercarriage and the crawler track to one another;  
         [0010]     the switch carrier having a carrier mid-section, connected with the cable winches, and two carrier end-sections each articulated at one end of the carrier mid-section by way of a respective carrier joint each defining a carrier axis;  
         [0011]     each of the two carrier end-sections being pivotable relative to the undercarriage frame about an undercarriage axis, extending parallel to and spaced from the carrier axis defined by the carrier joint, by way of a rotation drive.  
         [0012]     With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a machine for the transport of track switches and the laying thereof upon a ballast bed, wherein the machine comprises:  
         [0013]     a switch carrier having fastening devices for connection to the track switch;  
         [0014]     an on-track undercarriage and a crawler track disposed to support each end of the switch carrier on a track and on a ballast bed, respectively;  
         [0015]     a common undercarriage frame connecting the on-track undercarriage and the crawler track to one another;  
         [0016]     the switch carrier having a carrier mid-section, connected with the track switch, and two carrier end-sections each articulated at one end of the carrier mid-section by way of a respective carrier joint each defining a carrier axis;  
         [0017]     each of the two carrier end-sections, for common pivoting with the carrier mid-section and the track switch, being mounted on the undercarriage frame for pivoting about a pivot axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the carrier and connected to a pivot drive.  
         [0018]     In an advantageous manner, a configuration of this kind enables both a transporting of the switch from the manufacturing plant to the construction site and the laying of the switch upon the ballast bed, without requiring the use of special gantry cranes or the like. Owing to the three-part design of the switch carrier and the possibility of swinging the end parts thereof outwardly, a problem-free laying down of switches is assured even on construction sites where space is constrained, for example in tunnels.  
         [0019]     In accordance with an added feature of the invention, each the carrier end-section, for pivoting relative to the undercarriage frame about a pivot axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the carrier, is connected to a pivot drive. Preferably, the pivot axis is disposed centrally with respect to an undercarriage axis of the on-track undercarriage.  
         [0020]     In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, each carrier end-section is mounted on a pivot support connected to the undercarriage frame for rotation about the undercarriage axis, and the pivot drive is fastened, on the one hand, to the carrier section and, on the other hand, to the pivot support. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier end-section is pivotable about the pivot axis by a pivot angle α of substantially 60°.  
         [0021]     In accordance with another feature of the invention, a telescopic drive is mounted in the carrier end-section and configured to distance the carrier joint relative to the undercarriage axis in the longitudinal direction of the carrier.  
         [0022]     In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a distance between the carrier axis and the undercarriage axis of the carrier end-section is greater than a distance between the undercarriage axis and a bogie pivot axis of the on-track undercarriage.  
         [0023]     In accordance with a preferred implementation of the invention, there is provided a counterweight section elongating the carrier end-section in a direction from the carrier axis and beyond the undercarriage axis. Preferably, there is provided a drive disposed to distance the counterweight section from the undercarriage axis.  
         [0024]     In accordance with again an added feature of the invention, a plurality of fastening devices, one following another in the longitudinal direction of the carrier, are each connected to a pair of cable winches. The cable winches are thereby in each case formed with an opening for receiving a centering pin projecting from the carrier mid-section. Preferably, each fastening device is provided with fixing clamps, mounted for displacement in a transverse direction extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the carrier and including a hook configured to be pushed under a rail of the track switch.  
         [0025]     In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the crawler track is disposed between two on-track undercarriages.  
         [0026]     In accordance with again another feature of the invention, there is provided a drive for vertically adjusting the on-track undercarriage relative to the undercarriage frame.  
         [0027]     In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, there is provided a vertically adjustable lifting ram for fixing a distance between the carrier end-section and the undercarriage frame.  
         [0028]     With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of transporting and laying a track switch. The novel method comprises the following steps:  
         [0029]     loading the track switch onto on-track undercarriages into a transport position wherein the track switch is tilted, with respect to a horizontal plane, about a longitudinal axis, and form-fittingly connected to a switch carrier supported at respective ends on the on-track undercarriages;  
         [0030]     transporting the track switch to a construction site on the on-track undercarriages;  
         [0031]     pivoting the track switch into a horizontal laying position at the construction site;  
         [0032]     distancing the switch carrier positioned above the track switch, together with the track switch, relative to the on-track undercarriages in a transverse displacement substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction; and  
         [0033]     subsequently lowering the track switch upon a ballast bed with vertical distancing from the switch carrier for laying the track switch.  
         [0034]     Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0035]     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a machine for the transport of track switches, and method, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.  
         [0036]     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0037]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are side elevational views of a respective half of a machine for transporting and laying a track switch;  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section taken along the section line III-III in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section taken along the section line IV-IV in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a top view showing a part of the machine; and  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a further variant of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]     Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to  FIGS. 1 and 2  thereof, a machine  1  according to the invention comprises a longitudinally extending beam-like switch carrier  3  for transporting a track switch  2 . The switch carrier  3  is composed of a carrier mid-section  4 , supporting the track switch  2 , and two carrier end-sections  6 , each of the latter being connected to the carrier mid-section  4  by means of a carrier joint  5 . Each of the carrier end-sections  6  is mounted on an undercarriage frame  9  which is connected to two on-track undercarriages  7  and a crawler track  8  positioned centrally between these. The crawler track  8  is rotatable by means of a rotation drive  10  about an undercarriage axis  11  and equipped with a motive drive  13  actuatable by a motor  12 . Each on-track undercarriage  7  is vertically adjustable relative to the undercarriage frame  9  along a bogie pivot axis  15  by means of drive  14 . A respective vertically adjustable lifting ram  36  is fastened to the undercarriage frame  9  in each case between the on-track undercarriage  7  and the crawler track  8 .  
         [0043]     As visible also in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , cable winches  16  are arranged—one following the other in a longitudinal direction of the carrier or longitudinal axis  20 —on the carrier mid-section  4 , the cable winches  16  being connected in pairs by means of a cable  19  to a fastening device  17  having the shape of a crossbeam  18 . Each crossbeam  18  has a centrally arranged opening  21  (see  FIG. 4 ) for receiving a centering pin  22  which is connected to and projects from the carrier mid-section  4 . Fixing clamps  23  connected to the crossbeam  18  have a hook  25  which can be pushed under a rail  24  of the track switch  2  in a transverse direction extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction  20  of the carrier.  
         [0044]     As can be seen in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  5 , the carrier end-section  6  is mounted for pivoting about a pivot axis  26 , extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier end-section, on a pivot support  27  connected to the undercarriage frame  9 . For pivoting, a pivot drive  28  is provided with the carrier section  6  and the pivot support  27 . The pivot axis  26  is positioned centrally with respect to an undercarriage axis  29  of the crawler track  8 . A pivoting angle α (see  FIG. 4 ) is delimited, on the one hand, by the transport position—indicated in dash-and-dot lines—and, on the other hand, by the laying position of the carrier end-section  6 . The carrier joint  5  (in the laying position) has a carrier axis  30  extending parallel to the undercarriage axis  11  ( FIGS. 1, 2 ). The distance between the carrier axis  30  and the undercarriage axis  11  is greater than the distance of the latter from the bogie pivot axis  15 .  
         [0045]     As indicated in  FIG. 6 , the carrier joint  5  may alternatively be distanced relative to the undercarriage axis  11  in the longitudinal direction  20  of the carrier by means of a telescopic drive  31  mounted in the carrier end-section  6 . By means of a counterweight section  32 , the carrier end-section  6  is extended in the direction from the carrier axis  30  to the undercarriage axis  11  beyond the latter. For improved effectiveness as a counterweight, the counterweight section  32  can be distanced from the pivot axis  26  by means of a drive  33 .  
         [0046]     The mode of functioning of the machine  1  will now be described in more detail.  
         [0047]     For picking up the track switch  2  lying adjacent to the track  34  in the manufacturing plant, the machine  1  is moved in the transverse direction of the track with the aid of the crawler tracks  8 , rotated by 90° while the on-track undercarriages  7  are raised, until the switch carrier  3  comes to lie above the track switch  2 . Parallel thereto, with the aid of the rotation drives  10 —and the pivoting of the carrier end-sections  6 , induced thereby—changes in position of the carrier mid-section  4  are always possible for the precise centering of the same above the track switch  2 . With actuation of the cable winches  16 , the fastening devices  17  or crossbeams  18  are lowered, and the hooks  25  are pushed under the rails  24  and anchored down. Now, the track switch  2  is raised with the aid of the cable winches  16  until the centering pins  22  automatically enter into the openings  21  of each crossbeam  18 , and the latter are pressed to an underside of the carrier mid-section  4 .  
         [0048]     The track switch  2 , having thus been braced form-fittingly against the switch carrier  3  in a very simple manner and without any auxiliary operations, is subsequently moved in the transverse direction of the track onto the track  34  by means of the crawler tracks  8  (with the help of suitable ramps). After lowering the on-track undercarriages  7  with the aid of the drives  14 , the on-track undercarriages  7  are set upon the track  34  while the crawler tracks  8  are raised. With actuation of the two pivot drives  28 , the track switch  2  is pivoted, together with the switch carrier  3 , into a transport position inclined by 60° to the horizontal (see  FIG. 3 ). With this, even the very long sleepers of the track switch  2  are still positioned within the clearance gauge. Particularly in the case of tight track curves or interfering obstacles, a transverse displaceability between undercarriage frame  9  and carrier end-section  6  by means of a drive  37  makes an adaptation to tight spots possible.  
         [0049]     As soon as the construction site intended for placement and installation of the track switch  2  has been reached, the track switch  2  together with the switch carrier  3  is pivoted back into the horizontal laying position ( FIG. 4 ). If the track switch  2  is to be deposited directly adjacent to the track  34 , the carrier end-sections  6  are swiveled about the undercarriage axis  11  with actuation of the rotation drives  10 . As a consequence, the carrier mid-section  4  is also shifted in the transverse direction of the track together with the track switch  2 , until the track switch  2  is positioned in its entirety adjacent to the track  34  ( FIG. 5 ).  
         [0050]     With actuation of the cable winches  16 , the track switch  2  is deposited upon a ballast bed  35 , wherein it is still possible at any time to carry out precise position adjustments by means of the rotation drives  10 . As soon as the track switch  2  is lying on the ballast bed  35 , the hooks  25  are released, displaced transversely on the crossbeam  18  and lifted for insertion of the centering pins  22 .  
         [0051]     If the final position of the track switch  2  is not directly adjacent to the track  34 , the machine  1  can be set down upon the two crawler tracks  8 , rotated by 90° while the on-track undercarriages  7  are lifted, and moved in the transverse direction of the track by means of the motive drives  13  until the unloading position has been reached. Parallel thereto, the correct positioning of the track switch  2 , particularly in constrained tunnel conditions, can be made significantly easier by suitable actuation of the rotation drives  10 .  
         [0052]     In order to facilitate the transfer of the machine  1  from the ballast bed  35  to the track  34 , the lifting rams  36  are pressed against the carrier end-section  6  ( FIG. 2 ). With this, the on-track undercarriage  7 —preceding in the direction of travel—can be set on the track  34  without problems and without the use of ramps. After activation of the drive  14 , the on-track undercarriage  7  is lowered and, as a result, the crawler track  8  is raised.  
         [0053]     With the machine  1  according to the invention, an unhindered transport of the switch on a regular track as well as a problem-free laying down of the track switch  2  in its installation position is possible in a particularly advantageous manner, wherein—for changing over from the transporting function to the laying function—no extensive retooling operations or additional auxiliary devices are required. The advantageous use of cable winches  16  notwithstanding, it is possible by means of the centering pins  22  to achieve a very simple, quick and effective connection between the switch carrier  3  and the track switch  2  for the safe transport thereof in an inclined position. At the construction site, the track switch  2  can be lowered immediately, while retooling operations are entirely avoided which are made more difficult and dangerous by the heavy load. During the lowering movement, precise positional corrections for an accurate switch installation are possible at any time by slightly swiveling the carrier end-sections  6 . As a result of the simple, form-fitting bracing between the switch carrier  3  and the track switch  2 —while avoiding rocking motions that stress the switch and are dangerous due to the heavy load—a problem-free transverse transport from the track  34  to the installation site is assured.  
         [0054]     As indicated in  FIG. 6 , it is optionally possible to elongate the carrier end-section  6  with the aid of the drive  31 . Also, the counterweight section  32  could be distanced from the undercarriage axis  11  by means of the drive  33  in order to increase the counterweight. Alternatively, the carrier joint  5  may also be configured as a cross joint for universal mobility and movability of the carrier sections  4 ,  6  connected to one another.