Railways – Track layers – Track raising car
Patent
1993-12-27
1995-11-14
Le, Mark T.
Railways
Track layers
Track raising car
104 71, E01B 2700
Patent
active
054656664
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for changing railway sleepers, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for simultaneously lifting rails and unfastening sleepers, removing the sleepers, and installing replacement sleepers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sleepers used to support rails are usually made of wood or concrete. Wooden sleepers must be replaced typically at regular intervals. Conventionally, rails first have to be unfastened from the sleepers, and thereafter, the sleepers are pulled out from under the rails. Then, new sleepers are pushed forcibly under the rails by using a machine for changing sleepers and then are fastened to the rails. Concrete sleepers are changed when basic repairs done to the railway line are completed or when track gauge is changed. When the sleepers are replaced by conventional methods, however, sections of a railway network must be closed to traffic. Moreover, conventional replacement equipment is large, complex, and cumbersome. Also, even when working with small scale equipment trains cannot run on the line, and thus, the equipment must be removed to let the trains run. This process takes a lot of time moving the machines away from the lines and putting them back on again.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for changing railway sleepers, such that, upon implementation of the method or upon use of the apparatus, disadvantages connected with conventional methods can be avoided. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus wherein sleepers can be replaced more quickly with less manpower than conventionally possible. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for changing sleepers that allow associated equipment to be quickly and efficiently placed upon and removed from the line. Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus easy to configure for use.
To achieve these objections in accordance with the present invention, a plough is used as a foundation base on which rails rest during the work and which can be left under the railway section under repair when work has to be interrupted so that trains can pass. In this way, the plough does not need to be removed from under the rails until the work is completed nor does it need to be repositioned under the rails each time work is started. This capability speeds up work considerably as actual replacement work can be started faster than conventionally possible. During the replacement process, the ground under the line is levelled by using the plough pulled below the rails as the rails are lifted up. Once the ground has been levelled, new sleepers can be placed on an even foundation. In this way, the sleepers are always against a level foundation even if the sleepers are placed in new positions.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, new sleepers are placed under rails with the help of a working machine equipped with supporting stands. The working machine lies over the railway line and lifts the rails up. Rails can be simply and securely lifted and sleepers can be replaced easily by using the same working machine. This working machine is positioned at a distance from a lifting device so that a chosen length of the line can be lifted. The working machine is situated preferably behind the plough and/or partly on top of it. The plough is pulled between the lifting device and the working machine by a pulling device fastened to another working machine. The second working machine is situated at some distance from the other devices.
Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention as well as the methods of operation of related elements will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers designate corresponding parts in the va
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