Patent GB-902914-A (GB)
Title: Mobile track packing machine
IPC: E01B27/12
Filed: 1959-10-14
Abstract: 902,914. Track-packing machines. PLASSER, F., and THEURER, J. Oct. 14, 1959 [Oct. 30, 1958], No. 34829/59. Class 104 (2). [Also in Group XXXII] A mobile track packing machine for railway tracks has front packing tools, for consolidating ballast below the sleepers, on one chassis, and additional rear packing tools, for consolidating ballast between the sleepers, the two chassis being connected by a variable-length connecting device. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the machine comprises a front chassis 1 on which the front packing tools 6 are mounted on a vertically adjustable carrier 4, are vibrated by an eccentric shaft 7 and moved towards and away from each other by pressure fluid operated device 8, and the rear chassis 2 on which vertically movable additional packing tools 13 are mounted. The additional packing tools 13 are moved vertically through a pivoted arm 15 and piston 16 by applying a pressure medium to a cylinder 17. An adjustable-length device 3 is provided between the chassis 1, 2 to vary the distance therebetween. The adjustable-length device may comprise a rope or chain interconnecting the chassis 1, 2 and wound around a drum 19, Fig. 2, not shown, mounted on the chassis 2 which drum can be locked in any desired position to which it is rotated. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the chassis 2 and hence the additional packing tools 13 are positioned between sleepers 11 by means of a twoarmed lever 22 engaging at its lower end a part of the sleeper or rail fastening 23; the lever 22 and its associated parts are mounted on a slide 26. The apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4 operates in the following manner. Assuming the additional packing tools 13 are moved to a working position between sleepers 11 the lower end of the lever 22 contacts the rail fastening 23 to close a switch 25 and complete a circuit from a battery 33 to operate an electromagnet 37 of a valve 38 to enable compressed air to be supplied to a cylinder 42 which operates a brake 29 and stops the chassis 2. A spring 32 in draw-gear between chassis 1, 2 enables the chassis 2 to stop independently of the chassis 1. The additional packing-tools are now lowered and close contacts 27, 28 which complete a holding circuit for electromagnet 37 after a time switch 36 opens the circuit through the switch 25. After the additional packing tools 13 have completed their operation and are raised the current to the electromagnet 37 through contacts 27, 28 is broken. However, the machine is unable to move forward until the packing tools 6 mounted on the carrier 4 are raised since the circuit to the electromagnet 37 is maintained through contacts 48, 49 and lines 47, 50; the machine together with the chassis 2 can therefore only be moved if both the tools 13 and the tool carrier 4 are raised. If the tool 13 is lowered and the tool carrier 4 raised the chassis 1 is braked by the completion of a circuit through contacts 27, 28 and the line 63 to an electromagnet 51 which enables pressure fluid to be supplied to a cylinder 56 which actuates a brake 61 on the chassis 1. In a further modification, Fig. 5 (not shown), the spring 32 is replaced by a cylinder to which a pressure medium is supplied to move a spring-biased piston in order to adjust the distance between the chassis 1, 2.