EP0416135B1 - Track-mobile machine for distributing and profiling the bedding ballast of a railway track - Google Patents

Abstract

Track-mobile machine (1) for distributing and profiling the bedding ballast of a railway track formed from sleepers and rails, with a machine frame supported on rail-mounted bogies and having a driving gear (10) and a driving cabin. On the machine frame (6), there is provided a levelling arrangement or ballast plough arrangement (21) which is height-adjustable via a drive and which extends from one longitudinal side of the machine to the other or from one sleeper end region to the one lying opposite. There is assigned to the central section, situated between the rails, of the levelling arrangement or ballast plough arrangement (21), or its central plough elements or working elements (22), an additional ballast conveyor (23) provided in the track-centre region. This is formed by at least one sweeping brush (27, 28) with radially projecting flexible sweeping elements (29), which is height-adjustable via a drive (24), designed to be rotatable about an axis (25) running in the longitudinal direction of the machine and connected to a rotary drive (26). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a track-traveling machine for distributing and profiling the ballast ballast of a track formed from cross sleepers and rails with a machine frame supported on rail bogies, having a travel drive and a driving cabin, on which a leveling or ballast plow arrangement which is height-adjustable via a drive is provided, which extends from one to the other long side of the machine or from one to the opposite threshold end region.

A - according to AT-PS 3o9 5o6 from the same applicant or patent owner - track-traveling machine for distributing and profiling the ballast ballast of a track of the type described at the beginning, which has a leveling or ballast plow arrangement that is height-adjustable via a drive , which is essentially formed from two ballast plows assigned to one of the two rail tracks. Each of these ballast plows is slidably supported along a guide on the chassis frame so that the entire leveling or ballast plow arrangement, which extends from one to the other longitudinal side of the machine or from one to the opposite threshold area and is height-adjustable via a drive, with its own Plow or working elements can be adjusted in the area of the individual rails. With this plow or a ballast plow arrangement arranged on the chassis frame of a cleaning machine, a track tamping machine or also a threshold compactor - which also by itself with a drive and a driving cabin on a machine frame can be formed - thus different positions can be achieved, as shown schematically in particular with reference to FIGS. 1 to 17. In all of these positions, the entire arrangement extends continuously across the entire width of the track. This type of leveling and ball plow arrangement, which can be provided both in a cantilevered area of a machine, but also between its undercarriages, has proven its worth in practice.

According to AT-PS 322 6o6 by the same applicant or patent holder, another track-traveling machine for distributing and profiling the ballast ballast of tracks with a leveling and ballast plow arrangement is known. This is self-propelled via its own travel drive on rail bogies connected to a machine frame and has a hydraulically height-adjustable leveling or ballast plow arrangement between the two bogies below a cab. Overall, this is essentially V-shaped, a plow side plate connected to a rail tunnel and a plow side plate located in the flank region of the ballast bed being provided in the region of each rail. In a middle section of the leveling plow located between the two transverse plates or the rails, three deflection plates are arranged which can be rotated about a vertical pivot pin, two of which form the tip of the V-shaped plow and the third deflection plate projects forward in the working direction. The leveling or ballast plow arrangement thus runs from one machine longitudinal side to the other or from one to the opposite sleeper end area for processing or leveling the entire ballast bed cross section. This V-shaped leveling plow arrangement is further, each connected to the associated rail tunnel Upstream of transverse and side plates to form an essentially double-V-shaped leveling or ball plow arrangement, through which the ballast to be transported or leveled can be diverted into the pivoting range of the central, pivotable deflection plates. This ballast plow arrangement is preceded by a flank plow on each longitudinal side of the machine and a sweeping broom with its axis extending transversely to the machine longitudinal direction and extending over the entire sleeper length with elastic hose arms for conveying excess ballast lying on the sleepers into a ballast store. With this ballast plow arrangement, which has been tried and tested in the field, the ballast can easily be diverted to any cross-sectional area of the ballast bed. Such leveling or ballast plow arrangements for processing the entire track width are also known, for example - according to AT-PSs 361 964 and 361 531 by the same applicant or patent owner.

Furthermore, according to AT-PS 247 4o5 by the same applicant or patent owner, a device formed from two sweeping brushes with radially projecting and elastic hose pieces for clearing ballast ballast from the track area into the sleeper support area is known. These sweeping brushes are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction of the track and arranged slightly offset to one another in the longitudinal direction of the track, arranged on a height-adjustable support within the two rails of the track, and each can be acted upon by a drive about an axis running in the longitudinal direction of the machine. This device, which can be moved by rail carriages, serves to remove the ballast from the middle of the track in order to avoid disadvantageous support of the sleepers or so-called "riding" of the sleepers on ballast accumulations located in the middle between the track.

According to AT-PS 262 361 by the same applicant or patent owner, a rail-movable device for treating the ballast bedding of rails is known. This device consists of height-adjustable threshold compactors arranged between the rail bogies of a small vehicle and sweeping brushes with elastic hose arms arranged upstream of them. Of these sweeping brushes, which are mounted on a common support frame articulated in height on the front of the vehicle via a drive, one is arranged around an axis running transversely to the machine longitudinal direction and can be rotated via a drive, while the two front sweeping brushes are each one in the machine or track longitudinal direction extending axis are arranged and each can be acted upon by a drive. In this way, the ballast located in the central area of the ballast bed and not required there is brought into the areas of the sleeper supports and at the same time the ballast is kept clear of the top of the sleepers or the sleeper compartments are leveled for the subsequent use of the surface compressors.

Furthermore, according to EP o 228 1o9, a machine for distributing and profiling the ballast ballast which is movable on rail bogies by its own travel drive is known. Between these rail bogies immediately in front of a driving cabin there is a leveling or ballast plow arrangement which is adjustable in height on the machine frame and which has two transverse plates arranged in the area of a rail above a rail tunnel and in the region of the outside of the machine articulated side plates. In the central area between the two cross plates, a height-adjustable support frame is also provided, on which the frame is pivoted connected cross plates are pivoted about a vertical axis. The leveling or ballast plow arrangement now has a ballast conveyor formed as a drum with radially protruding iron plates in the middle area or in its gap, which is mounted on the support frame in a height-adjustable manner by means of a drive and via a rotary drive about an axis running in the machine longitudinal direction is acted upon. This known leveling or ball plow arrangement, which extends from one machine side to the other, is thus composed of the two transverse plates connected to the side plates and this drum. With this arrangement, the ballast conveyed through an inclined plow half from the outside of the track to the middle area is conveyed further via this drum to the other half of the plow, in order to get through it to the opposite side of the track. This leveling or ballast conveying plow arrangement has the disadvantage that the ballast flow introduced via one plow half in the area of the drum is adversely affected, for example, by a speed which is too low or too high. Furthermore, the gravel flow is disrupted by the iron wings when the drum is at a standstill. In addition, the stiff design of the drum blades formed by the iron plate leads to a grinding effect with a correspondingly high level of wear, in particular of the radially projecting plates. Such ballast conveyors with stiff iron wings have not proven themselves in track construction. When the drum connected to the supporting frame is in the raised position, a relatively large gap remains in the center region of this leveling or ballast plow arrangement, so that when the plow arrangement is used independently of the drum, the ballast remains in this center region and with respect to those described Disadvantages leads. It is not possible to use the plow arrangement independently of the drum.

Finally - according to EP o 164 16o - a height-adjustable ballast plow arranged on a supporting frame is known, which has two cross plates attached with ballast tunnels provided for the rails - with laterally articulated swivel plow plates, between the rails or ballast tunnels or between the two cross plates a drum designed as a ballast conveyor is arranged. This height-adjustable drum, which is connected to radially protruding iron plates, is designed to be rotatable via a drive about a vertical or perpendicular axis to the track plane. Such a leveling or ball plow arrangement has essentially all of the same disadvantages as have already been described with the above-described plow arrangement with a drum according to EP o 228 1o9. In addition, even with this arrangement of a drum in the central region of the gap between two halves of a leveling or ballast plow arrangement, the latter cannot be used independently of the drum.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine that can be moved on the track of the type described in the introduction and with which a better distribution or profiling of the ballast of the track can be achieved.

This object is achieved with a track-traveling machine of the type described in the introduction in that an additional ballast conveyor, which is provided in the middle of the track area, is assigned to the central section of the leveling or ballast plow arrangement or its central plow or working elements located between the rails by at least one sweeping brush, which is height-adjustable via a drive and rotatable about an axis running in the longitudinal direction of the machine, and is connected to a rotary drive radially projecting flexible sweeping elements is formed.

Such a combination of a ballast plow according to the invention with a sweeping brush which can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the machine enables, in particular, plow-compatible profiling and ballast conveyance with simultaneous increased removal of the ballast from the center of the track in a single operation. Overall, a significant increase in the performance of the leveling or ballast plow arrangement can thus be achieved, the additional ballast conveyor designed as a sweeping brush advantageously also being able to be subsequently installed in machines that are already in use. Another advantage is that the height adjustment of the sweeping brush, which is independent of the plow, means that it can be used in combination with the ballast plow - in adaptation to widely differing amounts of ballast - so that it can still be used - especially with largely evenly cleared or profiled Threshold compartments in the area between the rails - in places the ballast plow can also be used alone, for example for profiling the track side area or the ballast bed flanks.

A particularly advantageous development of the machine according to the invention consists in that the ballast conveyor, which is designed as a sweeping brush and is independently height-adjustable for the leveling or ballast plow arrangement, is arranged on the machine frame and is arranged directly upstream of the middle plow or working elements in the working direction. This pre-arrangement of the sweeping brush has the particular advantage that the ballast transverse movements introduced by the plow or working elements can be supported by the driven sweeping brush - in connection with the middle plow plates - and at Removal of the ballast amounts located in the middle of the track can be achieved in total a completely profiled ballast bed. The upstream gravel conveyor supports the plowing and leveling work particularly effectively while increasing the work output. Due to the relatively simple and solid arrangement of the sweeping brush on the machine frame, it can also be used in a particularly advantageous manner, if necessary, independently of the plow.

According to a further expedient embodiment of the invention, the sweeping brush has a diameter approximately the same size as the height of the middle plow or working elements of the leveling or ballast plow arrangement provided immediately behind it in the working direction. A sweeping brush with this design has a relatively wide effective or sweeping area for a particularly efficient transverse transport of the ballast located in the track center area to one of the two rail areas. Since this size of the sweeping brush is approximately the same as the usual known sweeping brush design, there are further advantages with regard to the same type or construction.

An advantageous development of the invention is also that the sweeping brush is mounted with its rotary and height adjustment drives on a support frame which is arranged on guide columns connected to the machine frame in the longitudinal direction of the machine and is connected to a longitudinal displacement drive. With this simple arrangement on a longitudinally displaceable support frame, the sweeping brush can be moved longitudinally - also during work - according to the respective ballast conditions, e.g. with too much ballast greater distance, with little ballast smaller distance. It also means that Plow plates of the ballast plow arrangement can be swiveled freely into the various working positions, the sweeping brush being able to be moved as close as possible to the center plow plates.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rotary drive of the sweeping brush arranged upstream of the leveling or ballast plow is designed for optional loading in the two opposite directions. As a result, a rapid changeover when working with the sweeping brush in one or the other transverse direction for the rapid transport of the ballast in connection with the ballast plow arrangement from one to the opposite ballast bed flank or vice versa can be achieved.

A particularly preferred development of the machine according to the invention consists in that the leveling or ball plow arrangement is preceded by at least two sweeping brushes arranged one behind the other in the machine longitudinal direction, each with its own rotary drive and rotatable about an axis running in the machine longitudinal direction in the working direction. This arrangement, which is relatively simple in construction, is particularly advantageous since, when a large middle area of the track is detected, the two sweeping brushes can be acted upon by their own rotary drives with increased work output even in the opposite direction of rotation. This means that the ballast that is too much in the area of the middle of the track can be simultaneously divided by the sweeping brushes onto the left and right half of the track or can only be conveyed to one side of the track. There is also the advantageous possibility of using only one of the two sweeping brushes when there is little ballast.

Another expedient development of the invention consists in that the sweeping brushes arranged upstream of the leveling or ball plow arrangement, with their rotating axes running in the machine longitudinal direction and arranged one behind the other, are offset from one another in the working position transversely to the machine longitudinal direction or are arranged at a distance from one another. With this rotation axis offset, a broadening of the effective range of the two upstream sweeping brushes can be achieved in a simple manner. By arranging the sweeping brushes one behind the other, a continuous ballast movement can be achieved over the entire longitudinal area of the two upstream ballast conveyors for a particularly effective and full ballast clearing of the middle track area.

An advantageous and expedient embodiment of the invention provides that the two sweeping brushes with their rotary drives for independent height adjustment are each connected to a separate, preferably hydraulic drive attached to the longitudinally displaceable support frame. With this design, with a simple arrangement of the drives and unrestricted longitudinal displacement of the sweeping brushes, a remotely controllable height adjustment is possible for a need that may be independent of one another.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sweeping brush is arranged upstream of a middle section of the leveling or ball plow arrangement, which consists of two in each case about a vertical axis - from a closed V-plow-shaped to an open, at least approximately perpendicular to the machine longitudinal direction - Swivel-mounted middle plow plates is formed. With this formation of the middle section of the gravel plow downstream of the sweeping brush are - especially in connection with the above-mentioned advantages of the sweeping brush arrangement - versatile application possibilities of a ballast transport from areas with excess ballast to areas with a lack of ballast can be carried out.

Another expedient development of the invention consists in that at least one sweeping brush is arranged in the working direction directly in front of central plow plates, each of which in the region of the vertical swivel axis with a rail tunnel running transversely to the machine longitudinal direction and having a rail tunnel to cover the rails and with a side tunnel. Plow plate are connected in connection transverse plow plate, which is preferably assigned a pivotable side plow in the area of the machine longitudinal side. This assignment of at least one sweeping brush to such a plow design with rail tunnels ensures, in conjunction with the sweeping brush, an essentially trouble-free working, in that an undesired deposition of ballast stones by the leveling or clearing process in the area of the rail fastenings or on the rails and thus and associated impairment of the plow work or the plow right of way is reliably excluded.

Furthermore, an expedient development of the invention provides that at least one sweeping brush is arranged upstream of a leveling or ball plow arrangement in the working direction, which in the upper end region of its transverse and central plow plates has a substantially horizontal and projecting direction towards the sweeping brush and with the cross plow plates connected cover plate. With such a cover plate, which is easy to connect to the plow plates, with simultaneous stiffening, in particular, of the transverse plow plates, overflow of ballast in the event of a larger ballast accumulation reliably avoided. In addition, the cover plate also serves to quickly and easily fix the swiveling side and center plow plates in the desired angular position - also in connection with the connection of one or both sweeping brushes.

Finally, a further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that at least one sweeping brush extends with its front end in its foremost longitudinal displacement position to the front end region of the rail tunnels connected to the cross plow plates and preferably formed with guide rollers that can be supported on the rails. This arrangement of one or more sweeping brushes within the area of the rail tunnels ensures problem-free and trouble-free use of the ballast plow within the entire longitudinal displacement area of the sweeping brushes, while avoiding the accumulation of ballast stones in the area of the rails, which disrupts the machine's right of way.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing.

• Fig. 1 eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten gleisverfahrbaren Maschine zum Verteilen und Profilieren des Bettungsschotters eines Gleises mit einer Planier- bzw. Schotterpflug-Anordnung und einem dieser vorgeordneten und als um eine in Maschinenlängsrichtung drehbare Kehrbürste ausgebildeten Schotterförderer,
• Fig. 2 eine 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 verkleinerte schematische Ansicht auf die Schotterpflug-Anordnung in Gleislängsrichtung und die beiden dahinter ersichtlichen vorgeordneten Kehrbürsten,
• Fig. 5 eine schematische Draufsicht auf die in Fig.4 dargestellte Schotterpflug-Anordnung mit den zwei vorgeordneten, in Querrichtung zueinander versetzten und in Gleislängsrichtung hintereinander angeordneten Kehrbürsten,
• Fig. 6 bis 8 jeweils eine stark schematische Draufsicht-Darstellung der aus den einzelnen Pflug- bzw. Arbeitselementen bzw. Pflugplatten zusammengesetzten Planier- bzw. Schotterpflug-Anordnung und der beiden in Arbeitsrichtung vorgeordneten Kehrbürsten in verschiedenen Arbeitsstellungen und
• Fig. 9 eine stark schematische Draufsicht-Darstellung in ähnlicher Ausführungsform einer Planier- bzw. Schotterpflug-Anordnung gemäß der Erfindung mit jeweils einer dieser vor- bzw. nachgeordneten Kehrbürste als Schotterförderer.

Show it:

• 1 is a side view of a machine which can be moved according to the invention for distributing and profiling the ballast ballast of a track with a leveling or ballast plow arrangement and one upstream of it and as a ballast conveyor which is designed to be rotatable in the machine longitudinal direction,
• 2 shows a plan view of the machine according to FIG. 1,
• 3 shows a cross section through the machine along the line III-III in FIG. 2,
• 4 shows a reduced schematic view of the ballast plow arrangement in the longitudinal direction of the track and the two upstream sweeping brushes visible behind it,
• 5 shows a schematic top view of the ballast plow arrangement shown in FIG. 4 with the two upstream sweeping brushes offset in the transverse direction and arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the track,
• 6 to 8 each show a highly schematic plan view of the leveling or ball plow arrangement composed of the individual plow or working elements or plow plates and the two upstream sweeping brushes in different working positions and
• Fig. 9 is a highly schematic plan view representation in a similar embodiment of a leveling or ballast plow arrangement according to the invention, each with one of these upstream or downstream sweeping brush as a ballast conveyor.

A track-traveling machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 for distributing and profiling the ballast ballast of a track 4 formed from cross sleepers 2 and rails 3 consists of a machine frame 6 supported on track trolleys 5. The front end of the machine frame 6, shown by an arrow 7, in the working direction is with a cab 8 and an energy center 9 - in particular for all described below and drives designed as hydraulic piston-cylinders - connected. In the area of the rear rail undercarriage 5, a travel drive 10 and a work cabin 13 connected to an excavator-shaped, height and length adjustable boom 11 and a central control device 12 are provided. Provided in the rear end region of the machine 1 is a sweeping brush arrangement 15 which is height-adjustable via a drive 14, with a sweeping brush 16 which can be rotated via a drive about an axis of rotation running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine, and a transverse conveyor belt 17 arranged directly upstream thereof. In the area of each machine longitudinal side, a side plow 20 that can be swiveled and inserted about an axis 18 running in the machine longitudinal direction with the aid of drives 19 is arranged on the machine frame 6. As shown in particular in FIGS. 1 and 2, a leveling or ball plow arrangement 21 is provided on the machine frame 6 between the two spaced-apart rail undercarriages and the two side plows 20 in the working direction, the central portion or section of which is located between the rails 3 whose middle plow or working elements 22 is associated with an additional ballast conveyor 23 provided in the middle of the track. This ballast conveyor 23 is formed by two sweeping brushes 27, 28 with radially projecting, flexible sweeping elements 29, which are height-adjustable via drives 24 and rotatable about an axis 25 running in the longitudinal direction of the machine and are each connected to a rotary drive 26. The ballast conveyor 23, which is designed as a sweeping brush 27, 28 and is independently height-adjustable for the leveling or ballast plow arrangement 21, is arranged on the machine frame 6 and is arranged directly upstream of the middle plow or working elements 22 in the working direction. The sweeping brushes 27, 28 with their rotary and height adjustment drives 26, 24 are mounted on a support frame 30 which is connected to the machine frame 6 Guide columns 31 slidably arranged in the longitudinal direction of the machine and connected to longitudinal displacement drives 32. The two rotary drives 26, each associated with a sweeping brush 27 and 28, are each designed to be optionally acted upon in their two opposite directions of rotation. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, the sweeping brushes 27, 28 arranged upstream of the leveling or ball plow arrangement 21, with their rotary axes 25 running in the machine longitudinal direction and arranged one behind the other, are offset in the working position transversely to the machine longitudinal direction or at a distance from one another and arranged one behind the other in the machine longitudinal direction. The sweeping brushes 27, 28 are arranged in front of a central section 33 of the leveling or ball plow arrangement 21, which is pivotably mounted from two in each case about a vertical axis 34 from a closed V-plow-shaped to an open, at least approximately perpendicular to the machine longitudinal direction Middle plow plates 35 is formed. The central plow plates 35 are, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, each in the region of the vertical swivel axis 34 with a rail tunnel 36 which runs transversely to the machine longitudinal direction and has rail tunnels 36 to cover the rails 3 and are connected to a side plow plate 37 Cross plow plate 38 connected. The leveling or ball plow arrangement 21 has in the upper end region of its transverse and central plow plates 35, 38 a cover plate 39 which extends essentially horizontally and projects in the direction of the sweeping brushes 27, 28 and is connected to the transverse plow plates 38. This cover plate 39 is provided in the area of the side and middle plow plates 37, 35 with holes through which bolts for fixing the plow plates mentioned can be inserted. Each side plow plate 37 points as Extension with an adjustable or swiveling side plow blade to create the required slope of the ballast bed flank. The entire leveling or ball plow arrangement 21, as can be seen in FIG. 1, is vertically displaceably mounted in vertical guides 40 connected to the machine frame 6 and connected to height adjustment drives 41 and extends at least from one to the other longitudinal side of the machine or from one to the opposite threshold end range.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the sweeping brushes 27, 28 are of approximately the same size in diameter as the height of the middle plow or working elements 22 of the leveling or ball plow arrangement 21 provided immediately behind in the working direction. For independent height adjustment, the two sweeping brushes 27, 28 with their rotary drives 26 are each connected to their own hydraulic drive 24 fastened to the longitudinally displaceable support frame 30. To support the leveling or ballast plow arrangement 21 on the track 4, rollable guide rollers 42 are connected to the rail tunnels 36 on the rails 3. To fasten the guide columns 31 running in the machine longitudinal direction, downwardly projecting supports 43 are connected to the machine frame 6. A separate sweeping brush housing 44 is provided for mounting the sweeping brushes 27, 28, each of which is connected to a swivel frame 45 which is mounted on the guide column 31 so as to be longitudinally displaceable. At the end opposite the respective guide column 31, the sweeping brush housing 44 is connected to the piston rod of the corresponding drive 24 for height adjustment.

The mode of operation of the machine 1 designed according to the invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and the various working positions shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 are described in more detail.

The machine 1 is moved to the place of use with the leveling or ballast plow arrangement 21 and the sweeping brushes 27, 28 also raised and the flanked plows 20 (see FIG. 1) raised. There, the ballast plow arrangement 21 is lowered onto the track 4 with the sweeping brushes 27, 28 while the drives 41 and 24 are acted upon. This results in the two guide rollers 42 resting on the rails 3. The center plow plates 35 are pivoted into the desired working position when the hydraulic cylinder-piston drives 46 are shown, for the sake of clarity only in FIGS. 4 and 5 . In the first example, this consists of the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in which the two central plow plates 35 are set to run essentially parallel to one another and also with respect to the transverse plow plates 38. The central and transverse plow plates 35, 38 thus form a baffle that runs transversely to the machine longitudinal direction. The side plow plate 37 on the left in the working direction is pivoted forwards in the working direction (according to arrow 7 and FIG. 5) and locked in this position by inserting a bolt into the holes in the cover plate 39. The opposite side plow plate 37 is pivoted to the rear and also locked. The left side plow 20 upstream in the working direction is lowered onto the ballast bed, while the opposite side plow 20 remains in the transfer position. Of the two sweeping brushes 27, 28, only the rear one is lowered and rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow. The rear sweeping brush arrangement 15 is also lowered into the working position when the drives 14 are acted on.

When the travel drive 10 is started up, the machine 1 is now continuously set in motion in the direction of the arrow 7 in order to carry out the leveling and plowing work. With this work approach of machine 1, the ballast that is too much in the left end area of the ballast bed is moved over track 4 to the right end area of the ballast bed (see long arrow in FIG. 5). The rotating sweeping brush 28 reinforces the removal of the ballast from the area of the track or supports the transverse ballast flow while avoiding congestion. In order to adapt to the different amounts of ballast, in particular in the area of the middle plow plates 35, the sweeping brush 28 can optionally be longitudinally displaced without interrupting the right of way by loading the drives 32. Likewise, of course - depending on the existing ballast volume or the unevenness of the ballast - the second sweeping brush 27 can also be lowered into the working position by applying the associated drive 24.

In the working position shown in FIG. 6, the two center plow plates 35 are arranged at an angle to one another to form a V plow. This is of advantage if large amounts of gravel are present, in order to form a V-plow-shaped approach for a better gravel flow, especially at the beginning. Both sweeping brushes 27, 28 are used in the same direction of rotation, indicated by small arrows. This means that too much existing ballast in the left longitudinal area of the ballast bedding and also in the middle area of the track - during the machine approach - is transported into the two sleeper support zones in the area of the two transverse plow plates 38. The two rotating sweeping brushes 27, 28 move the ballast present in the central area into the right area of the ballast bed relocated and to relieve the right-hand central or transverse plow plate 35, 38 already partially transported via the right rail tunnel 36. As indicated by dashed lines, a corresponding mirror image reversal of the ballast transport, indicated by a dashed arrow, is possible at any time by appropriate adjustment of the two side plow plates 37 and the right side plow 20. In both cases, as in the working position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the leveling or ball plow arrangement 21 extends from one to the other side of the machine or from one to the opposite threshold end region.

In the working position shown in FIG. 7 - for example for a track section with relatively little ballast - both sweeping brushes 27, 28 are used in opposite directions of rotation, the ballast located in the area of the track center being cleared of the sleeper compartments in accordance with regulations or also below the upper edge of the sleeper is transported in the middle area to the sleeper support areas. Through the side plows 20 and the side plow plates 37, ballast is also transported up from the side area of the bedding to the sleeper support area. The two center plow plates 35 were pivoted about their vertical axes 34 into a position running in the machine longitudinal direction while the drives 46 were being acted upon. In this way they form a boundary for the ballast accumulated in the area of the cross plow plates 38, so that it cannot fall into the track area already cleared by the sweeping brushes 27, 28. This position of the plow plates, like the positions already described, can be quickly established without interrupting the right of way by loading the hydraulic drives 46 via the control device 12.

In the position shown in FIG. 8 of the plow plates or plow and working elements 22, the two sweeping brushes 27, 28 and the side plows 20, the ballast that is present in the entire track area is conveyed to both side areas of the ballast bed. For this purpose, the two center plow plates 35 are V-shaped to one another and the two side plow plates 37 are pivoted to the rear. Both sweeping brushes 27, 28 are working in the opposite direction of rotation. As a result, the ballast present in the track center area is largely relocated laterally in front of the ballast plow arrangement 21, relieving in particular the center plow plates 35, from where the ballast is easily transported through the inclined side plow plate 37 into the desired side area of the ballast bed .

A leveling or ball plow arrangement 47, shown schematically in FIG. 9, of a machine of the same type as in FIGS. 1 and 2 is composed essentially of transverse, side and central plow plates 48, 49, 50. The side and middle plow plates 49, 50 are articulated on the cross plow plates 48 fastened with the rail tunnels 51. The middle plow plates 50 are mounted with an end region displaceable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine in the cross plow plate 48 and each connected to a hydraulic drive 52 (dash-dotted line) to carry out the displacement and pivoting movement. As a result, the central plow plates 50 can be pivoted from the working position shown with full lines and running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine into a substantially V-shaped working position shown in broken lines. This V-plow-shaped position of the middle plow plates 50 can be carried out both in and against the working direction shown by an arrow 53 are so that the leveling and ballast plow arrangement 47 can be used in both directions for a work trip. Immediately in front of the middle plow plates 50, a sweeping brush 54 of the same type as described in FIGS. 1 to 8 is provided which is connected to a rotary drive and has a rotating axis running in the longitudinal direction of the machine. As shown with dashed lines, a second sweeping brush 55 is likewise arranged behind the central plow plates 50 in the working direction indicated by the arrow 53. Following the side plow plates, a height-adjustable side plow 56 is also provided on both longitudinal sides of the machine, as indicated schematically. The two rails of a track are designated by 57. This leveling or ball plow arrangement 47 with an upstream and a downstream sweeping brush 54, 55 has the advantage that work can be carried out both in the working direction shown by arrow 53 and in the opposite direction. 1 to 8, the leveling or ball plow arrangement 47 can be used in one or the other direction without lowering the sweeping brushes 54, 55 and also one or both sweeping brushes 54, 55 can also be used independently of the leveling or ballast plow arrangement 47 in the central region of the ballast bed.

Claims (12)

1. A travelling on-track machine for distributing and shaping the bedding ballast of a railway track consisting of sleepers and rails, comprising a machine frame supported by on-track undercarriages which is provided with an axle drive and with a driver's cabin and on which is mounted a planing and ballast plough arrangement designed for vertical displacement under the power of a drive and extending from one to the other longitudinal side of the machine or from one to the opposite sleeper end zone, characterized in that an additional ballast transporter (23) situated in the middle of the track is associated with the central section - situated between the rails - of the planing and ballast plough arrangement (21;47) or its central plough or working elements (22), this additional ballast transporter (23) being formed by at least one brush (27,28;54,55) with radially projecting flexible sweeping elements (29) which is mounted for vertical displacement under the power of a drive (24) and which is designed for rotation about an axis (25) extending longitudinally of the machine, being connected to a rotary drive (26).

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ballast transporter (23) in the form of a brush (27,28) designed for vertical displacement independently of the planing and ballast plough arrangement (21) is arranged on the machine frame (6) immediately preceding the central plough or working elements (22) in the working direction.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the brush (27,28) substantially corresponds in diameter to the height of the central plough and working elements (22) of the planing and ballast plough arrangement (21) by which it is immediately followed in the working direction.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the brush (27,28) is mounted with its rotary and vertical displacement drives (24,26) on a support frame (30) which is arranged for displacement longitudinally of the machine on guide columns (31) connected to the machine frame (6) and is connected to a longitudinal displacement drive (32).

5. A machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rotary drive (26) of the brush (27,28) preceding the planing and ballast plough (21) is designed to be operated as required in the two opposite directions.

6. A machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the planing and ballast plough arrangement (21) is preceded in the working direction by at least two brushes (27,28) arranged one behind the other longitudinally of the machine which are each connected to their own rotary drive (26) and are designed for rotation about an axis (25) extending longitudinally of the machine.

7. A machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, in the working position, the brushes (27,28) preceding the planing and ballast plough arrangement (21), with their axes of rotation (25) arranged one behind the other longitudinally of the machine, are offset from one another or are arranged offset at a distance from one another transversely of the longitudinal axis of the machine.

8. A machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the two brushes (27,28) with their rotary drives (26) are each connected to their own, preferably hydraulic, drive (24) fixed to the longitudinally displaceable support frame (30) for vertical displacement independently of one another.

9. A machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the brush (27,28) is arranged in front of a centre section (33) of the planing and ballast plough arrangement (21) which is formed by two centre plough plates (35) each mounted for rotation about a vertical axis (34) from a closed, V-plough-like working position into an open working position extending at least substantially perpendicularly of the longitudinal axis of the machine.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that at least one brush (27,28) is arranged immediately in front - in the working direction - of centre plough plates (35) which are each connected in the region of the vertical pivot axis (34) to a cross plough plate (38) which extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the machine, comprises rail tunnels (36) for covering the rails and is connected to a side plough plate (37) and with which a pivotal shoulder plough (20) is associated, preferably at the side of the machine.

11. A machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one brush (27,28) is arranged in the working direction in front of a planing or ballast plough arrangement (21) which, at the upper end of its cross and centre plough plates (38,35), comprises a substantially horizontally extending cover plate (39) which projects towards the brush (27,28) and which is connected to the cross plough plates (38).

12. A machine as claimed in claims 10 and 11, characterized in that that, displaced longitudinally into its frontmost position, at least one brush (27,28) projects at its front end to the front end of the rail tunnels (36) connected to the cross plough plates (38) and preferably equipped with guide rollers (42) designed to run along the rails.

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