EP0337048A1 - Railway machine for vacuum cleaning a track superstructure - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A travelling on-track machine (1; 62) for cleaning permanent way, more especially the ballast surface of a ballast bed situated beneath a track panel formed by sleepers and rails, comprising a machine frame (6; 63) designed to travel on on-track under-carriages (5; 64) and a suction unit (11; 68) consisting of a suction head arrangement (16; 70) which is connected through a suction hose (12; 69) to a collecting container (13) with filter (14) and to a fan (15) and with which at least one pressure nozzle (21, 46; 75, 76) connected to an air compressor by a pressure hose (20; 74) is associated to form a substantially closed-loop pressure-suction system, characterized in that the pressure nozzle (21, 46; 75, 76) is arranged inside the suction mouth opening (17, 73) of the suction head arrangement (16; 70) and is connected by the pressure hose (20; 74) to the exhaust-air port (22) acting as air compressor and the suction head arrangement (16; 70) connected to the suction hose (12) is connected to the intake port (34) of the radial fan (15) connected to the suction head arrangement (16; 70) to form the pressure-suction system.

Description

The invention relates to a track-traveling machine for cleaning a track superstructure, in particular the gravel surface located below a track formed by cross ties and rails track ballast, with a mobile on rail trolleys machine frame and a suction device consisting of a suction via a channel with a container Filter and a fan connected suction head assembly, which is associated with at least one, connected to a compressed air generator via a pressure channel pressure nozzle to form a substantially closed pressure-suction system.

It is now already - according to an advertisement in the magazine "Der Stadtverkehr", 11/12, 1980, page 462 of the same applicant or patentee - a GOR 110 designated track-traveling machine of the type described above for cleaning the track surface with a pressure Suction system known. This consists of two coupled vehicles for cleaning one track half each. The pressure-suction system is described in more detail in accordance with an article in the same journal, Issue 8/1980, page 3 in connection with a respect to the suction device rail cleaning car. This suction device consists according to the sketch shown in a connected via a suction channel with a collecting container with a filter and a fan designed as a radial fan suction head assembly. This referred to as a pressure-suction nozzle suction device is associated with a connected via a pressure channel with the radial fan, bell-shaped pressure nozzle. Within this, the suction nozzle communicating with the suction channel is arranged, through which the dirt-enriched compressed air is to be transported to the collecting container. This track surface cleaning machine is relatively complicated by the two vehicles coupled to each other, the arrangement of the pressure nozzle in the outer region of the suction nozzle requires a significantly higher suction of the suction nozzle to a blowing out of the surface ballast or a Staubaufwirbelung to avoid the lateral, formed between pressure nozzle edge and gravel surface openings.

It is - according to DE-PS 22 17 975 - another track-mounted suction machine for cleaning the gravel surface known, which has a movable on rail trolleys, with a collecting container, a filter and a fan associated machine frame. Between the two rail bogies, a suction device is arranged on a track-movable and via a drawbar connected to the machine frame track, wherein the suction device consists of an over the entire track width reaching suction head assembly. Their suction mouth opening is connected with the exception of the two Schienenendbereiche with height-adjustable end strips, which is formed of several adjacent track width direction and independently height-adjustable, located on both sides of the suction mouth opening air guide element pairs. The suction device is connected via suction channels with the collecting container. Due to the special design with several adjacent in the transverse direction height-adjustable end strips, the air guide elements are largely independent of each other - especially for a procedure in track-switch areas - adjustable. This design is therefore structurally particularly complex and is subject to increased wear in the lower end region of the air guide element pairs. Besides, they are even with such a design particularly stubbornly stuck to the gravel surface impurities not solvable.

According to an article from the magazine "The local traffic", 4/87, pages 14-21, various self-propelled and rail-mounted vacuum cleaner trains are known, which operate mostly on a pressure-suction principle. Such machines are basically used for surface cleaning in local railways as an integral part of entertainment. Due to the increasing pollution of the railway facilities by waste, especially cigarette butt, paper, etc., but also by brake sand, dust and metallic abrasion of the rails, the operators of commuter trains now but increasingly devoted to this problem of surface cleaning, so as not only that To improve the appearance of the railway facilities, but above all to maintain the elasticity of the ballast track by reducing pollution. With these trains, the dusty air is cleaned either by dry or wet filters. Such, relatively complex in construction vacuum cleaner trains but still do not bring a corresponding performance, with stuck or slightly deeper fallen between the ballast impurities are not entrained by the suction flow. These therefore remain in the ballast bedding.

Further, according to AT-PS 384 446 of the same applicant or patentee - a track-traveling machine for sucking the entire ballast from a ballast known, which is cleaned in a screen located on the machine and then dropped back onto the track. A height-adjustable arranged on the machine frame suction device is made of three each have their own flexible suction channel formed with the screen and a compressor connected, suction mouth openings having suction nozzles. These are assigned to detach or loosen the ballast in track level rotatable broaches. However, surface cleaning of the ballast bed is not possible with this machine, which has not yet been produced or tested in practice.

It is also - according to DE-Gbm 82 36 650 - a rail-mounted machine for sucking the entire track-ballast for further cleaning and possibly re-introduction known. This machine has a suction device of simple construction, which is connected to a sieve system by means of a suction tube and has a suction head arrangement which can be displaced or pivoted in the transverse and longitudinal direction. Their suction mouth opening is connected to elastic, height-adjustable via elongated closure strips that close the suction mouth opening to a aligned in the direction of the receiving opening. The designed as a nozzle and the machine longitudinally and transversely adjustable suction head assembly is formed with a relatively small, round or rechteckcksförmigem cross-section in order to even record the heavy gravel - for the subsequent cleaning process - in terms of performance. This machine, which is intended to accommodate the ballast of smaller surface areas, in particular of hard-to-reach track areas-for a subsequent cleaning operation-is therefore not suitable for efficient surface cleaning of a ballast bed.

Finally, according to DE-PS 1 244 221 - still attachable to a motor vehicle device only known for cleaning switches and rails. Between the front and rear wheels of the motor vehicle is a Spurräder exhibiting, liftable and lowered track with two each associated with a rail track nozzle boxes provided. In each of these a suction, compressed air, pressurized water and lubricant nozzle is arranged. A surface cleaning of a ballast bedding is not possible with this device.

The object of the invention is to provide a trackable machine of the type described above, with which a more efficient and thorough extraction of adhering to the surface in particular a ballast dirt can be achieved.

The object of the invention is now achieved with a machine described above in a surprisingly simple manner in that the pressure nozzle connected to the pressure nozzle is provided within the suction mouth opening of the suction head assembly.

Due to the arrangement of the pressure nozzle "within" the suction mouth opening a particularly strong Verwirbelungs- and cleaning effect can be achieved in the center of the suction head assembly as a result of there taking place strong reversal of leading to the ballast surface total compressed air flow in a suction channel leading suction flow, as a result of which even strong impurities with high power can be removed or sucked off. It is particularly advantageous that exclusively upwardly directed suction flows occur in the entire edge region of the suction mouth opening, are reliably mitaufsaugbar by the impurities in these edge regions of the suction head assembly. In order for a particular particularly with regard to the environmental impact and the cleaning effect particularly disadvantageous "pushing out" of a portion of the suction air stream together with the impurities from the suction head arrangement is reliably excluded.

By this advantageous combination of a pressure nozzle with the suction mouth opening of a suction head arrangement, the suction flow in a through the inner arrangement of the pressure nozzle with respect to the outer suction mouth opening precisely determinable path substantially amplified, so that on the one hand the compressed air - And on the other hand, exposed to the suction air flow and, for example, also stuck adhesives on the gravel surface dissolved and strongly vortexed and torn off completely. Since now by this special design of a suction - with located in the center of the suction head assembly pressure nozzle - the suction of outside air over the side edges of the suction mouth opening is no longer required or carried out, can in a particularly advantageous manner even with heavy contamination the suction head assembly - in a stepwise Arbeitsvorfahrt the machine from threshold to threshold - centered on the sleeper compartment under the support of the side edges of the suction mouth opening to the two adjacent thresholds are lowered. By such a complete coverage of the sleeper compartment through the suction port connected to the suction mouth, the gravel surface therein is a particularly intense pressure-suction air flow for detachment also particularly bonded or subject to suction also lying between the ballast dirt. It is given by the optional Beaufschlagbarkeit the inner pressure nozzle the possibility, for example, with less contamination - in a continuous Arbeitsvorfahrt and with constant distancing the suction head assembly from the surface to be sucked - sucked without compressed air and limited in larger, but limited to smaller areas Impurities in a kind of "impact" to turn on the pressure nozzle with the highest performance.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is that the internally arranged pressure nozzle via the pressure channel with the - acting as a compressed air generator - exhaust port and the suction channel connected to the suction head assembly with the suction port of the particular with over the entire track width-reaching suction head assembly connected radial fan - to form the pressure-suction system - is connected. With such a relatively simple connection of the inner pressure nozzle, the exhaust air of the radial fan in a closed ring system can be used again as compressed air for the pressure nozzle. In this way occurs - especially in conjunction with a prevailing in the edge region of the suction mouth opening suction air flow - virtually no dust pollution of the environment.

The suction head assembly consists according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention of three transversely juxtaposed to the machine longitudinal direction and height on a support frame via drives and possibly Querverstellbaren, and formed substantially rectangular with Saugmund-opening and each with an inner pressure nozzle combined suction heads. Such a structural design with three juxtaposed suction heads allows complete coverage of the entire track cross-section with the exception of the rails. The suction heads are placed in a particularly advantageous manner to increase the suction power with the edges on the thresholds or the adjacent rail, so that the suction of false air from openings between ballast surface and suction mouth opening is largely excluded.

Another expedient embodiment of the invention is that each pressure nozzle connected to its pressure channel is substantially centric and within its suction Head arranged and preferably at least only coaxially in the lower region thereof. By means of this advantageous solution, the compressed air flow can be supplied centrally to the gravel surface covered by the suction head, in order to coat the subsequent gravel surface after a 180-degree deflection substantially increasing the cleaning effect. By this associated with the coaxial arrangement within the suction head strong deflection of the compressed air flow, it comes in particular in connection with the simultaneous suction in the pressure nozzle surrounding the suction mouth opening to an increased Verwirbelungseffekt by the underlying dirt, eg brake sand od. Like., Is sucked.

Another expedient development of the invention is that the optional connection of the middle, provided for the arrangement between the rails suction head or the two outside of one or the other rail provided suction heads with the exhaust port and the suction port of the fan respectively a in the pressure and suction channel or in the end thereof provided, in particular acted upon by a remote-controlled drive, preferably designed as a flap or slide control device is arranged. With such a connection of the suction heads to a control device, the individual suction heads associated with the threshold head areas or the rail intermediate area can be individually controlled in accordance with the respective degree of soiling of the areas mentioned. Thus, for example, located next to a platform and therefore particularly soiled sleepers head area while continuing to remove the exhaust air from the fan to the pressure nozzle increasingly sucked while being sucked with the other two suction heads without compressed air. Similarly, so that a suction head, if necessary, can be put out of operation.

Furthermore, an expedient development of the invention provides that the suction head arrangement, preferably each suction head in the region above the suction mouth opening, water nozzles, which are connected via lines to a machine frame arranged pump and a water tank and preferably about horizontally through the suction head. Due to the arrangement of water nozzles in the region above the suction mouth opening in the pressure nozzle surrounding area of the formation of the suction air flow water sprayed fine and thus an immediate humidification of the sucked dust achievable, so that this in subsequent to the suction channel Collecting container fails by gravity.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the suction mouth opening of the suction head assembly or the individual suction heads with reaching approximately to the track surface, height-adjustable, in particular elastic end strips - except in the region of the two rails - is connected. With such closure strips in conjunction with a placement of the suction heads on two adjacent sleepers or the rail an extensive seal between the track and suction mouth opening can be achieved, whereby the suction power is significantly amplified.

The width of the suction head arrangement or each suction head of the particular rectangular suction mouth opening according to another advantageous embodiment of the invention in the machine longitudinal direction about an average threshold distance corresponding to or greater than the threshold shed width, preferably about 6o cm, is formed. This design ensures that even at different threshold distances placing the transverse to the machine longitudinal direction side edges of the suction mouth openings on two a threshold compartment limiting thresholds is possible. As a result of this covering of the entire sleeper compartment, the ballast surface in this area is subject to particularly intensive suction cleaning.

After a particularly advantageous expedient development of the machine according to the invention, it is provided that arranged within at least one suction head pressure nozzle on the suction mouth opening above as in cross-section approximately circular or slot-shaped blower tube in the lower, preferably conically shaped Aperture located blowing openings is formed. With the help of this relatively simple in construction, located within the suction blower tube is especially in stepwise labor priority after lowering the suction heads a particularly intense deep-cleaning effect of the pressure-suction flow for suction or the like lying between the ballast stones brake sand. achievable. Due to the above design and arrangement of the blower tube - when lowering the suction head - wherein the blowpipe automatically dips into the gravel - broken by this mechanical action and heavily encrusted gravel. The compressed air emerging from the blast openings eventually leads to a lifting of the broken crusts, which are subsequently entrained with the suction flow.

A particularly advantageous development of the invention provides that the blower tube is connected to the height adjustment with respect to the suction head with a height adjustment drive and a vibrator. This height adjustment allows an optional immersion of the blowpipe, for example, only those track sections in which the ballast is particularly dirty. Advantageously, however, without having to lift the suction nozzle while reducing the suction, a repeated immersion in the ballast feasible to order To clean extremely dirty areas even better and with greater depth. By the vibrator is further achieved a simplified penetration and an improved cleaning effect.

Another expedient embodiment of the invention is that the suction mouth opening of the suction head assembly and the suction head is covered by a grid, the mesh size is smaller than the average size of a gravel ballast bed formed. By this simple measure the closure of the suction mouth opening through a grid is reliably prevents co-absorption of ballast stones, especially at maximum pressure-suction power. After completion, e.g. the sleeper compartment cleaning drops the optionally held on the grid ballast after dropping the suction power automatically again.

The invention further relates to an advantageous method for cleaning heavily soiled ballast bedding. This method is characterized in that the suction nozzles provided with the pressure nozzles are lowered at a short distance to the threshold surface and the machine drives continuously in a first work approach on the track, which removed by the compressed air with reinforced extraction of coarse, superficial dirt is and then the suction head assembly are lowered with the suction heads under conditioning of the side edges of the suction mouth openings down to the threshold upper edges and the machine in a second Arbeitsvorfahrt cyclically vorfährt from one to the next threshold intermediate compartment for a stationary suction. By such a method, a particularly economical ratio between working time and cleaning performance can be achieved because the first Arbeitsvorfahrt for suction less polluted Ballast bed sections is relatively quickly and continuously feasible. In the second stepwise approach, the sleepers are subjected to a particularly intensive, second suction cleaning by the suction heads are placed by placing the suction mouth edges on the thresholds. These are subject to increased suction cleaning subject thresholds advantageously depending on the tenaciousness of the dirt by various additional measures, such as maximum pressure-suction or introduction of a blow pipe with vibrations editable. That is, by the method according to the invention in the second, stepwise operation, it is possible, in individual vote on the nature of the remaining residual impurities to remove them as quickly as possible and as completely as possible.

Finally, there is a further advantageous method is that the associated with the blowpipe pressure nozzles of the suction heads are lowered in the cyclic Arbeitsvorfahrt the machine during stationary suction under vibration in the ballast between the sleepers for intensive deep cleaning. By dipping the blow tube with simultaneous vibration exposure on the one hand existing incrustations of the surface much better mechanically broken or loosened and on the other hand lifted by the midst of the ballast escaping from the Blasrohrspitze compressed air deeper impurities to the surface and finally sucked.

In the following the invention will be described with reference to two illustrated in the drawings embodiments.

• Fig.1 eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäß ausge­bildeten gleisfahrbaren Maschine zum Reinigen der Schotteroberfläche,
• Fig.2 eine Teil-Draufsicht auf die Maschine nach Fig.1,
• Fig.3 einen Querschnitt durch die Maschine gemäß der Linie III-III in Fig.2,
• Fig.4 eine schematische Seitenansicht des in den Fig. 1 bis 3 dargestellten Saug-Kopfes mit einem anschlies­senden Saug-Kanal und Auffangbehälter,
• Fig.5 eine schematische Seitenansicht des Saug-Kopfes, des Saug-Kanals und des anschließenden Auffangbehäl­ters, wobei die beim Saugen gebildete Abluft in dem geschlossenen Druck-Saug-System einer Druck-Düse zuge­führt wird,
• Fig.6 eine stark vergrößerte schematische Seitenan­sicht des Saug-Kopfes, wobei mit vollen Linien die Ar­beitsposition bei kontinuierlicher Arbeitsvorfahrt und mit strichpunktierten Linien die Arbeitsposition bei schrittweiser Arbeitsvorfahrt angedeutet ist,
• Fig.7 einen Querschnitt durch den Auffangbehälter ge­mäß der Linie VII in Fig.1 mit einer Ansicht der fernbetätigbaren Schieber zum wahlweisen Verschluß oder wahlweisen Öffnen der Saug-Kanäle,
• Fig.8 einen Querschnitt durch eine Regelvorrichtung gemäß der Linie VIII in Fig.1 mit einer Ansicht der fernbetätigbaren Schieber zum wahlweisen Abschluß bzw. wahlweisen Öffnung der Druck-Kanäle,
• Fig.9 eine halbschematische Teil-Seitenansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispieles einer erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Maschine mit einem höhenverstellbaren Blasrohr und
• Fig.10 einen Querschnitt durch die in Fig.9 darge­stellte Saugmaschine gemäß der Linie X-X in Fig.9.

Show it:

• 1 shows a side view of a track-traveling machine designed according to the invention for cleaning the ballast surface,
• 2 is a partial plan view of the machine of Figure 1,
• 3 shows a cross section through the machine according to the line III-III in Figure 2,
• 4 is a schematic side view of the suction head shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with a subsequent suction channel and collecting container,
• 5 is a schematic side view of the suction head, the suction channel and the subsequent collection container, wherein the exhaust air formed during suction is fed in the closed pressure-suction system of a pressure nozzle,
• 6 is a greatly enlarged schematic side view of the suction head, wherein with full lines the working position with continuous Arbeitsvorfahrt and with dash-dotted lines the working position is indicated with gradual Arbeitsvorfahrt,
• 7 shows a cross section through the collecting container according to the line VII in Figure 1 with a view of the remote-controlled slide for selectively closing or selectively opening the suction channels,
• 8 shows a cross section through a control device according to the line VIII in Figure 1 with a view of the remotely operated slide for selectively completing or optional opening of the pressure channels,
• 9 is a semi-schematic partial side view of another embodiment of an invention trained machine with a height adjustable blowpipe and
• 10 shows a cross section through the suction machine shown in Figure 9 along the line XX in Figure 9.

A suction machine 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 for cleaning the ballast surface of a ballast bed located below a track 4 formed by sleepers 2 and rails 3 has a machine frame 6 supported on rail carriages 5. For the Eigenverfahrbarkeit a drive 7 is provided, which is supplied as well as the other drives from a central power source 8. In a driving cab 9 located at the end on the machine frame 6, a central control device 10 is arranged. Between the two rail bogies 5 is a suction device 11, which consists of a via a suction channel 12 with a dirt collecting container 13 with a filter 14 and a radial fan 15 connected over the entire track width reaching suction head assembly 16 , Its suction mouth 17 is connected to elastic end strips 18. In the region of the suction mouth opening 17, the suction head arrangement 16 is assigned a pressure nozzle 21 which is connected to a compressed air generator 19 formed by the fan 15 via a pressure channel 20 and which is located within the suction mouth opening 17 of the suction head arrangement 16 is provided.

As can be seen in particular in Figure 1, this pressure nozzle 21 via the pressure channel 20 with a - effective as a compressed air generator - exhaust port 22 of the suction head assembly 16 connected to the radial fan 15 - to form a closed pressure Suction system - connected. The suction head assembly 16 consists of three arranged transversely to the machine longitudinal direction side by side and on a support frame 23 via drives 24,25 height and transversely adjustable suction heads 26,27,28 (Figures 2 and 3) each having a substantially rectangular suction mouth 17. For height-adjustable mounting of the support frame 23rd provided guide columns 29 are connected to an aggregate frame 30 which is mounted on transverse to the machine longitudinal direction and connected to the machine frame 6 transverse guides 31.

In the transition region between the pressure channels 20 and the fan 15 and the suction channels 12 and the collecting container 13, a control device 32 and 33 is respectively provided, which are described in more detail in Figures 7 and 8 respectively. An intake opening 34 of the fan 15 is connected via a channel 35 to an opening 36 of the collecting container 13. In this is still a wide, umbrella-like nozzle 37 is arranged, which connects the suction channels 12 in the region of the collecting container 13 with each other. The hydraulically loadable fan 15 is supported on a vertical support 38, which is connected in its lower end region via a connecting plate 39 to the machine frame 6. In addition to the collecting container 13 is a water tank 40 with a pump 41 which is connected via lines 42 with located in the region above the suction mouth openings 17 at the suction heads 26,27,28 water nozzles 43.

As shown in Figure 2, the two outer suction heads 26,28 are each associated with a threshold head portion 44 of the track 4, while the middle and wider suction head 27 includes the track area between the two rails 3. For independent height adjustment of the individual suction heads 26,27,28 are only the two outer suction heads 26,28 connected to the support frame 23, while the inner suction head 27 is connected at its two longitudinal sides each with its own support frame 45. The cylinder-side connected to the machine frame 6 transverse displacement drive 25 is connected on the piston side with one of the two unit frame 30. While provided within the suction mouth opening 17 pressure nozzles 21 of the two outer suction heads 26,28 are cylindrical, has a located within the suction mouth 17 of the central suction head 27 pressure nozzle 46 has a slot-shaped, transversely to the machine longitudinal direction extending training. For easy cross and height adjustment of the suction heads 26,27,28 the suction and pressure channels 12,20 and the water lines 42 are flexible.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, the suction head arrangement 16 consists of three suction heads 26, 27, 28 arranged side by side transversely to the machine longitudinal direction, each with a suction nozzle 21, 46 provided inside the suction mouth opening 17. The two inner, connected to the central suction head 27 support frame 45 are each connected via a vertical dovetail guide vertically displaceable with the two outer support frame 23. For independent height adjustment of the inner suction head 27, these two inner support frame 45 are each connected to its own height adjustment drive 47. These are fastened with their cylinder-side end to a respectively connected to the unit frame 30 support plate 48. The two pressure nozzles 21 located within the outer suction heads 26, 28 are respectively guided through the longitudinal outer side of the suction head 26 and 28 to the suction mouth opening 17 and to the pressure channel 20. The control device 32 for controlling the supply of compressed air the pressure channels 20 has a further exhaust port 49, which is selectively and remotely operated closed by means of a drive 51 connected to a slider 51. With a dot-dash line the control clearance profile is indicated.

In the suction device 11 shown schematically in Figure 4, the exhaust port 49 of the control device 32 is opened by pushing up the slider 51. The suction heads 26, 27, 28 are arranged at a slight distance from a running surface 52 formed, for example, from concrete slabs.

The suction device 11 shown schematically in Figure 5 shows the gradual cleaning of the ballast surface of the track 4, wherein the suction heads 26,27,28 on two adjacent and a threshold pocket 53 limiting sleepers 2 are attached. To generate a pressure-suction system, the exhaust port 49 is closed by means of the slider 51, so that the exhaust air generated in the fan 15 is forwarded into the pressure channels 20.

The suction head 26 or 27, 28, which is greatly enlarged in FIG. 6, is continuously moved in the working direction shown by an arrow 54 in accordance with the full lines, while being distanced from the sleepers 2. In contrast, a particularly advantageous stepwise Arbeitsvorfahrt the suction machine with a cyclic lowering of the suction heads 26,27,28 is shown with dotted arrows 55, in which a particularly high performance is achieved.

The control device 33 shown in FIG. 7 has, in the connection region of the suction channels 12 with the collecting container 13, three each connected to a drive 56 Slider 57, which are mounted vertically displaceable in connected to the side wall of the collecting container 13 guides 58. In the illustrated embodiment, the central suction channel 12 is shut off by the pushed-up slider 57. In this way, the central suction head 27 is put out of operation, while the two outer suction heads 26 and 28 suck unhindered the dirt from the ballast surface.

The illustrated in Figure 8 control device 32 for selectively blocking the pressure channels 20 has three independently adjustable in guides 59 by means of remotely controllable actuators 60 slide 61. Also in this control device 32, the central pressure channel 20 is blocked, so that in the central suction head 27, neither a compressed air supply via the pressure nozzle 46 nor an extraction via the suction mouth 17 takes place.

In the following, the mode of operation of the suction machine 1 designed according to the invention will be described in more detail in various advantageous variants of the method with reference to FIGS.

Cleaning of ballastless superstructure:
In such a method variant shown schematically in FIG. 4, the impurities lying on the running surface 52 formed by concrete slabs are in most cases relatively easily absorbable. For this purpose, the suction heads 26,27,28 are lowered under continuous slight distancing to the running surface 52 in a continuous Arbeitsvorfahrt the suction machine 1 and the dirt sucked through the suction air flow through the suction mouth openings 17 in the suction channels 12 and finally in the collecting container 13th deposited. In this case, the exhaust port 49 of the control device 32 (Figure 8) is opened by applying the drive 50, while All pressure channels 20 are shut off by moving the slider 61 by means of the drives 60. In this way, the sucked by the fan 15 and freed by the filter 14 from the dirt exhaust air is released into the open air. In the event that the operator particularly heavily soiled driving surfaces are sighted, located within the suction mouth opening pressure nozzles 21,46 can be easily switched to support the suction power by the exhaust port 49 is closed, while the openings of the Pressure channels 20 are opened in the control device 32.

Cleaning of gravel superstructure:

In this process variant, the soil solution is pneumatically by using blown air, which emerges from the provided within the suction heads 26,27,28 pressure nozzles 21,46, impinges on the surface of the ballast to be cleaned and thereby solves the dirt (see Fig.5 or Fig.6). In this case, by the located within the suction port 17 pressure nozzles 21,46 formed from the center of the suction heads 26,27,28 each outwardly leading suction. With this, the entire surface - especially at standstill of the machine - the appropriate threshold compartment section taking entrainment in the subsequent suction channel 12 bestreichbar. Subsequently, the dissolved dirt in the suction head 26,27,28 is absorbed by the suction air stream and conveyed via the suction channels 12 into the collecting container 13. For this purpose, all slide 57.61 of the two control devices 32,33 are pushed away from the openings of the suction and pressure channels 12,20. The exhaust port 49 of the control device 32 is closed by the slider 51. As a result, the exhaust air formed by the fan 15 in a closed system in the pressure channels 20 and the subsequent pressure Nozzles 21,46 forwarded to finally sucked after the dirt solution under deflection by 180 °, together with the dirt in the suction channels 12.

When cleaning only slightly soiled ballast surface, the suction machine 1 travels in a continuous working approach represented by the arrow 54 in FIG. 6 with suction heads 26, 27, 28 lowered as far as possible over the track 4.

Cleaning heavily soiled gravel superstructure: The cleaning of particularly soiled tracks 4 takes place in two different operations. In a first operation, the suction machine 1 is moved continuously according to the aforementioned manner, wherein the suction heads 26,27,28 are lowered a short distance to the threshold surface under the action of the drives 24,47. In this case, the exhaust air opening 49 is closed by actuation of the drive 50 of the control device 32, so that the entire exhaust air generated by the fan 15 is supplied to the open pressure channels 20. In the pressure-suction thus formed, the blowing air emerging from the pressure nozzles 21, 46 located inside the suction-mouth openings 17 strikes the surface of the ballast to be cleaned, thereby dissolving the dirt (FIG. 6). Subsequently, the dissolved dirt in the suction mouth 17 of the suction heads 26,27,28 is absorbed by the suction air stream and fed via the suction channels 12 to the collecting container 13. As a result of the distancing of the suction heads 26, 27, 28 to the surface of the ballast to be cleaned, air is also laterally drawn in from the environment to a small extent. During this suction process, water can be injected via the water nozzles 43, optionally for binding dust. Upon entry of enriched with dirt and water suction flow into the collecting container 13th the air velocity in the wide, umbrella-like nozzle 37 is reduced such that the dirt is deposited on the bottom surface of the collecting container 13. The filling capacity of the collecting container 13 is expediently about ten cubic meters. The emptying takes place by means of slide valves down.

In a second operation, which preferably follows directly to this continuously performed first operation, the suction machine 1, for example, without commissioning of the suction device 11 to the exit point or process started in the course of the return trip to the second operation. This operation begins with a gradual or cyclical Arbeitsvorfahrt the suction machine 1 from sleeper to sleeper compartment according to the arrows 55 in Figure 6. In each case, the three suction heads 26,27,28 are lowered under the action of the drives 24,47 and placed with the elastic end strips 18 on the thresholds 2 (see dash-dotted lines in Fig. 6). By this cover of the sleeper compartment 53 with the suction heads 26,27,28 the efficiency compared to the continuous operation is substantially increased, wherein the emerging from the central pressure nozzles 21,46 compressed air and the non-sucked with the continuous Arbeitsvorfahrt, glued impurities loslöst and finally sucks in connection with the suction flow to the collecting container 13. As indicated by corresponding arrows, in particular in Figure 5, the emerging from the central pressure nozzle 21,46 compressed air is subjected after striking the ballast surface of a 180 ° deflection, to finally tearing away even stubborn contaminants by the pressure nozzle 21,46 enclosing suction mouth 17 and the subsequent suction channel 12 to be sucked. This will also affect the fringe areas each suction head 26,27,28 thoroughly sucked, with a "pushing out" of contaminated air through openings between the end strip 18 and the track in conjunction with the suction flow is reliably avoided. After completion of the threshold compartment cleaning the suction heads are 26,27,28 again briefly raised by means of the drives 24 and 47 and lowered after gradual right of way of the suction machine 1 to the next following threshold compartment for its subsequent cleaning.

In the event that e.g. the area between the rails 3 has been thoroughly cleaned already in the first operation due to less contamination, only the two outer suction heads 26 and 28 are lowered by means of the drives 24 in the second operation. In this case, in each case the central pressure channel 20 or suction channel 12 is blocked according to the embodiments shown in Figures 7 and 8 in a relative displacement of the two interconnected via a longitudinal guide support frame. This can also save energy or the suction air flow of the two operating suction cups 26 and 28 are amplified.

The inventive method for cleaning a ballast bedding is thus carried out in such a way that the provided with the pressure nozzles 21,46 suction heads 26,27,28 are lowered at a small distance to the threshold surface and the machine in a first work approach continuously on the track moves, which is removed by the compressed air reinforced suction of the coarse, superficial dirt and whereupon the suction head assembly 16 are lowered with the suction heads 26,27,28 under the side edges of the suction mouth openings 17 to the threshold upper edges and the Machine 1 cyclically in a second Arbeitsvorfahrt from one to the next following threshold intermediate compartment for a stationary suction.

A suction machine 62 with a machine frame 63, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, can be moved via rail carriages 64 on a track formed by sleepers 65 and rails 66. For cleaning the ballast surface of a ballast bed 67, a suction device 68 is provided which consists of a connected via a suction channel 69 with a collecting container with a filter and a fan, over the entire track width reaching suction head assembly 70. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 10, the suction head arrangement 70 is composed of two suction heads 71, each of which is assigned to the threshold pre-head area, of which only the left one is shown, and a central suction head 72, which is assigned to the track area between the rails 66 , Each suction head 71, 72 of the suction head arrangement 70 is assigned, in the region of a suction mouth opening 73, a pressure nozzle 75, 76 connected to a compressed-air generator designed as a ventilator via a pressure channel 74. The pressure nozzles 75, 76 arranged inside the suction heads 71, 72 are formed above the suction mouth opening 73 in the form of a blow-molding tube 77, 78 of circular or slot-shaped design with blow openings 79 located in the lower, conically shaped end region , Each blowpipe 77 or 78 is connected to the height adjustment with respect to the associated suction head 71,72 with a height adjustment drive 80 and a vibrator 81. For height adjustment, the blower tube 77 is guided with its upper, cylindrical end portion longitudinally displaceable in the cylindrical pressure channel 74. The connection between the height-adjustable blowpipe 77 and the vibrator 81 is in each case via a rod 82 which passes through a slot shaped opening in the side wall of the suction head assembly 70 is passed. This is sealed by a rubber seal to prevent air intake. The associated with the vibrators 81 Höhenverstell drives 80 are connected on the cylinder side with a support frame 83 which is mounted vertically displaceable in vertical guide columns 84 and connected to a height adjustment drive 85. Both guide columns 84 and the height adjustment drive 85 are mounted on an aggregate frame 86 which is mounted transversely displaceable by means of a transverse displacement drive 87 on transverse guides 88 connected to the machine frame 63. The suction mouth 73 of the suction head 71,72 is each covered by a grid 89 whose mesh size is smaller than the average ballast size of the ballast bed 67 is formed. In the region of the suction mouth 73, water nozzles 90 are provided inside the suction head 71 and communicate with a water pump and a water container via corresponding flexible lines.

As shown in particular in Fig.10, the unit frame 86 is connected to the rail inside with another unit frame 91 and vertical guide columns 92. On this another support frame 93 is mounted vertically displaceable, which is connected to the suction head 72 and a separate height adjustment drive 94. In this way, the suction heads 71,72 independently adjustable in height. The suction mouth 73 of each suction head 71, 72 is enclosed by elastic closure strips 95.

In the following, the operation of the present invention designed suction machine 62 will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10 in more detail.

To clean a particularly heavily soiled and encrusted gravel surface, the suction machine 62 is moved stepwise from one to the next sleeper compartment, each lowered the suction heads 71,72 under the action of the height adjustment drives 85,94 to the conditioning of the elastic end strips 95 on the threshold top become. At the same time the drives 80 and the vibrators 81 are applied. Thus, the blowing tube 77 provided centrally inside the suction mouth opening 73 is lowered into the crusted ballast bed 67 under vibrations, wherein the blown air coming from the blowing openings 79 through the pressure channel 74 from the fan removes the dirt from the greater depth of the ballast bed 67 high blows. It is of particular advantage that 77 particularly hard hard incrustations are broken by the mechanical introduction of the blower tube. The lifted by the blowing air impurities are finally sucked under humidification by the water nozzles 90 from the fan via the suction channel 69 and stored in the collecting container. As in the case of the suction machine 1 described in FIGS. 1 to 8, the exhaust air generated by the fan is supplied to the pressure channels 74 and the blower pipes 77, 78 during suction in a sealed pressure-suction system. After completion of the sleeper compartment cleaning, the suction heads 71, 72 are raised and the machine 62 is advanced to the next threshold compartment. If the encrustation and soiling of the ballast bed 67 should be weaker in stretches, then a lowering of the blower tube 77, 78 above the suction mouth opening 73 and its vibration is unnecessary. In this case, as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the blowing air emerging from the blowing openings 79 impinges on the ballast surface of the ballast bed 67, where it swirls up the impurities deflected by 180 ° and finally sucked through the suction channel 69 again with the impurities. On the other hand, however, an increased cleaning effect can be achieved in the case of particularly strong contaminants by the blowpipe 77, 78 being repeatedly lowered into the ballast bed 67.

The inventive further process variant for cleaning heavily soiled ballast bedding is thus carried out in such a way that connected to the blowpipe 77.78 pressure nozzles 75,76 of the suction heads 71, 72 in the cyclical Arbeitsvorfahrt the machine 62 during the stationary suction under vibration in Lower the gravel between the sleepers for intensive deep cleansing.

Claims (13)

1. Track-traveling machine for cleaning a track superstructure, in particular the gravel surface located below a track formed by cross ties and rails track ballast, with a mobile on rail trolleys machine frame and a suction device consisting of a suction via a channel with a collecting container with filter and a fan-connected suction head assembly is associated with at least one, connected to a compressed air generator via a pressure channel pressure nozzle to form a substantially closed pressure-suction system, characterized in that the pressure with the channel (20 74) is provided within the suction mouth (17, 73) of the suction head assembly (16, 70). 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the internally disposed pressure nozzle (21,46; 75,76) via the pressure channel (20; 74) with the - acting as a compressed air generator - exhaust port (22) and with the suction channel (12) connected to the suction head assembly (16) with the suction port (34) of the particular to over the entire track width reaching suction head assembly (16) connected radial fan (15) - to form the pressure Suction system - is connected. 3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the suction head arrangement (16; 70) of three arranged transversely to the machine longitudinal direction side by side and on a support frame (23,45; 83,93) over Actuators (24, 47; 85, 94) which are height-adjustable and optionally also transversely adjustable, and which are constructed essentially with a rectangular suction opening (17, 73) and each with an internally arranged pressure nozzle (21, 46; 75, 76) Suction heads (26,27,28; 71,72). 4. Machine according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each pressure nozzle (21, 46; 75, 76) connected to its pressure channel (20, 74) is substantially centric and within its suction head (26, 27,28; 71, 72) and preferably at least only coaxially in the lower region thereof. 5. Machine according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the optional connection of the middle, to the arrangement between the rails (3) provided suction head (27) or the two outside of one or the other rail (3 ) provided suction heads (26,28) with the exhaust port (22) and the suction port (34) of the fan (15) each one in the pressure and suction channel (20,12) or in the end thereof provided, in particular via a remote-controlled drive (50,60) acted upon, preferably as a flap or slide (51,61) formed control device (32) is arranged. 6. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the suction head arrangement (16; 70), preferably each suction head (26,27,28; 71,72) in the region above the suction mouth opening (17 , 73), water nozzles (43, 90) which are connected via lines (14) to a machine frame (6) arranged pump (41) and a water tank (40) and preferably approximately horizontally through the suction head ( 26, 27, 28, 71, 72). 7. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the suction mouth opening (17,73) of the suction head arrangement (16,70) or the individual suction heads (26,27,28; 71,72) with approximately up to the track surface reaching, höhenbeweglichen , In particular elastic end strips (18,95) - except in the region of the two rails (3,66) - is connected. 8. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the width of the suction head arrangement (16; 70) or each suction head (26,27,28; 71,72) of the particular rectangular-shaped suction mouth opening (17; 73) in the machine longitudinal direction about an average threshold distance corresponding to or greater than the threshold shed width, preferably about 6o cm, is formed. 9. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that within at least one suction head (71,72) arranged pressure nozzle (75,76) on the suction mouth opening (73) above as in cross section approximately circle - or slit-shaped blower tube (77,78) is formed with located in the lower, preferably conically shaped end portion blowing openings (79). 10. Machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the blower tube (77,78) for height adjustment with respect to the suction head (71,72) with a height adjustment drive (80) and a vibrator (81) is connected. 11. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the suction mouth (73) of the suction head arrangement or the suction head (71,72) by a grid (89) is covered, the mesh size smaller than the average gravel size of a ballast bed is formed. 12. A method for cleaning particularly heavily contaminated ballast bedding with a machine according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the suction with the pressure nozzles (21,46; 75,76) provided suction heads (26,27,28; 71 , 72) are lowered at a short distance to the threshold surface and the machine runs continuously in a first working approach on the track, whereby the coarse, superficial dirt is removed by the compressed air with reinforced suction and whereupon the suction head arrangement (16; Suction heads (26, 27, 28, 71, 72) are lowered down to the upper edges of the sleepers by abutment with the side edges of the suction mouth openings (17, 73) and the machine (1.62) cycles cyclically from one to the next in a second operating approach Threshold compartment for a stationary suction vorfährt. 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the with the blowpipe (77,78) connected pressure nozzles (21,46; 75,76) of the suction heads (26,27,28; 71, 72) in the cyclic Arbeitsvorfahrt the machine (1, 62) are lowered during the stationary suction under vibration in the ballast between the thresholds for intensive deep cleaning.

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