US-12618200-B2 - Apparatus and method for applying single-component or multi-component adhesive to a ballast bed and use

US12618200B2US 12618200 B2US12618200 B2US 12618200B2US-12618200-B2

Abstract

An apparatus for applying a single-component or multi-component adhesive to a ballast bed of a stretch of rails in a rail path, includes a container for the adhesive and elements for conveying the adhesive for application are mounted on a supply vehicle which can be driven on, or adjacent to, the rail path. The adhesive is guided from the supply vehicle with a hose having a one nozzle. The apparatus further includes a trolley that can be temporarily coupled and secured to a rail, and can be moved in a rail-bound manner at a desired and uniform speed independently of the supply vehicle. The trolley supports a boom on which the nozzle is mounted, so that a defined depth of penetration of the adhesive can be maintained by the apparatus at a uniform running speed of the trolley and defined flow rates of the adhesive depending upon the characteristics of the ballast bed and spray pattern.

Inventors

Adrian Hürlimann

Assignees

Hürlimann Railtec AG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20211214
Priority Date: 20201214

Claims (16)

1 . An apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line, said apparatus comprising: a container for a single- or multi-component adhesive from which said single- or multi-component adhesive is discharged; a supply vehicle for supporting said container; and, a rail wagon or a trolley for moving along a single rail, or on both rails of the railway that is able to be manually placed, or assembled, on the single rail or both said rails of the railway that is able to be supplied with the single- or multi-component adhesive from said supply vehicle via a hose line having at least one spray nozzle and being mounted on said rail wagon or said trolley for providing a defined penetration depth of the single- or multi-component adhesive into a ballast bed able to be maintained via a uniform travel speed of said rail wagon or said trolley or via uniform movement of said at least one spray nozzle mounted on said rail wagon or said trolley by defined flow rates of the single- or multi-component adhesive by said supply vehicle, as dependent upon the ballast bed and a desired spray pattern, wherein said trolley includes a boom projecting laterally therefrom with respect to a direction of travel of said trolley, and a tube mounted thereon and a spray bar extending transversely to said tube with said spray bar having said at least one spray nozzle with said spray bar being rotatable on said tube and is vertically adjustable in height and mounted to be horizontally displaceable in width.
2 . The apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 1 , wherein said trolley is rail-guided on the railway and independently movable of said supply vehicle, said trolley having its own drive movable at a uniform and selectable speed, said trolley further comprising a boom on which said at least one spray nozzle is mounted to be horizontally and vertically displaceable and pivotable in all directions, so that the defined penetration depth of the single- or multi-component adhesive is maintained by a uniform travel speed of said trolley and defined flow rates of the single- and multi-component adhesive depending on the ballast bed and the desired spray pattern.
3 . The apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 2 , further comprising an electronic control unit in said boom with a display having an associated keypad for inputs to said electronic control unit.
4 . The apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 1 , further comprising a boom having a spray bar mounted on said rail wagon, said boom being displaceable horizontally and vertically via a motor drive and is mounted to be pivotable in all directions and having a plurality of said spray nozzles for producing different spray patterns.
5 . The apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 4 , further comprising an electronic control unit in said boom with a display having an associated keypad for inputs to said electronic control unit.
6 . The apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 1 , wherein said rail wagon or said trolley is drivable via an electric motor mounted thereon and movable along the railway via remote control operable by a portable electronic device, and further comprising a spray bar mounted on said rail wagon or said trolley and adjustable vertically and horizontally in all directions via the remote control.
7 . The apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 1 , wherein said trolley or said rail wagon is configured to be mounted on the railway and securable against rotation in all directions when on the railway.
8 . The apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 1 , wherein said trolley includes handles on said boom for facilitating lifting.
9 . The apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 1 , wherein said trolley or said rail wagon includes an accumulator for autonomously driving said trolley or said rail wagon.
10 . An apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line, said apparatus comprising: a container for a single- or multi-component adhesive from which said single- or multi-component adhesive is discharged; a supply vehicle for supporting said container; and, a rail wagon or a trolley for moving along a single rail, or on both rails of the railway that is able to be manually placed, or assembled, on the single rail or both said rails of the railway that is able to be supplied with the single- or multi-component adhesive from said supply vehicle via a hose line having at least one spray nozzle and being mounted on said rail wagon or said trolley for providing a defined penetration depth of the single- or multi-component adhesive into a ballast bed able to be maintained via a uniform travel speed of said rail wagon or said trolley or via uniform movement of said at least one spray nozzle mounted on said rail wagon or said trolley by defined flow rates of the single- or multi-component adhesive by said supply vehicle, as dependent upon the ballast bed and a desired spray pattern, wherein said trolley includes an extension arm that extends to an opposing rail of the railway and is able to be supported on the opposing rail via at least one support wheel for allowing said trolley to bear weight of said trolley and to roll on top of a rail head.
11 . The apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 10 , wherein said at least one support wheel includes at least one drive wheel which bears the weight of said trolley and rolls on top of the rail head.
12 . The apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 10 , wherein said trolley includes a frame on which guide wheels are directed obliquely to the railway for rolling between the rail head and a rail web of the railway, and on an opposing side of said frame there is at least one additional guide mounted for allowing said trolley to roll laterally of the rail head and, further, at least one drive wheel is mounted on said frame of said trolley for driving said trolley when said trolley is mounted on the railway.
13 . An apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line, said apparatus comprising: a container for a single- or multi-component adhesive from which said single- or multi-component adhesive is discharged; a supply vehicle for supporting said container; and, a rail wagon or a trolley for moving along a single rail, or on both rails of the railway that is able to be manually placed, or assembled, on the single rail or both said rails of the railway that is able to be supplied with the single- or multi-component adhesive from said supply vehicle via a hose line having at least one spray nozzle and being mounted on said rail wagon or said trolley for providing a defined penetration depth of the single- or multi-component adhesive into a ballast bed able to be maintained via a uniform travel speed of said rail wagon or said trolley or via uniform movement of said at least one spray nozzle mounted on said rail wagon or said trolley by defined flow rates of the single- or multi-component adhesive by said supply vehicle, as dependent upon the ballast bed and a desired spray pattern, wherein said trolley or said rail wagon includes an accumulator for autonomously driving said trolley or said rail wagon, and said trolley or said rail wagon further includes a measuring wheel mounted on a swivel arm that is articulated about a horizontal axis on said trolley or said rail wagon, and is intended to roll on the railway when said trolley or said rail wagon is placed thereon.
14 . The apparatus for discharging single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 13 , wherein said trolley or said rail wagon includes a control unit for controlling travel speed along the railway with the travel speed being controllable via feedback from said measuring wheel.
15 . A method for discharging a single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line utilizing an apparatus, comprising: a container for a single or multi-component adhesive from which said single- or multi-component adhesive is discharged; a supply vehicle for supporting said container; and, a rail wagon or a trolley for moving along a railway that is able to be supplied with the single- or multi-component adhesive from said supply vehicle via a hose line having at least one spray nozzle and being mounted on said rail wagon or said trolley for providing a defined penetration depth of the single- or multi-component adhesive into a ballast bed able to be maintained via a uniform travel speed of said rail wagon or said trolley or via uniform movement of said at least one spray nozzle mounted on said rail wagon or said trolley by defined flow rates of the single- or multi-component adhesive by said supply vehicle, as dependent upon the ballast bed and a desired spray pattern, wherein said trolley includes a boom projecting laterally therefrom with respect to a direction of travel of said trolley, and a tube mounted thereon and a spray bar extending transversely to said tube with said spray bar having said at least one spray nozzle with said spray bar being rotatable on said tube and is vertically adjustable in height and mounted to be horizontally displaceable in width, said method comprising the steps of: arranging said supply vehicle adjacent the railway; placing said trolley manually on a single rail of the railway or on two rail of the railway or placing said rail wagon manually on the railway or assembling said railway wagon on the railway; applying adhesive to the ballast bed, wherein said supply vehicle travels alongside the railway within reach of the hose line, so that said at least one spray nozzle is supplied with said single- or multi-component adhesive from said supply vehicle the hose line with the defined penetration depth of the single- or multi-component adhesive being maintained via the uniform travel speed of said trolley or said rail wagon, or by uniform movement of said at least one spray nozzle when said trolley or said rail wagon is either moving or stationary, the defined flow rates depending on the condition of the ballast bed and the desired spray pattern; and, removing the said trolley manually from the single rail or from railway or removing said rail wagon manually from the railway or disassembling said railway wagon manually on the railway and remove it manually whenever a train approaches for letting said train pass by, and then again placing said trolley manually on a single rail of the railway or on the two rails of the railway or placing said rail wagon manually on the railway or assembling said railway wagon manually on the railway for continuing the applying of adhesive to the ballast bed.
16 . The method for discharging a single- or multi-component adhesive onto a ballast bed of a rail track of a rail line according to claim 15 , wherein said trolley or said rail wagon is configured to be mounted on the railway and securable against rotation in all directions when on the railway.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The invention relates to a device for discharging single-component or multi-component adhesive onto a granular mixture, in particular for discharging single-component or multi-component adhesive onto the ballast of a rail track. In the case of two-component adhesives, for example, the two fluid components are conveyed in a controlled manner from storage tanks via two separate feed lines by means of gear pumps in precisely controllable flow rates via a mixing unit, thus producing a fluid sprayable adhesive mixture. A spray unit with at least one spray nozzle or with a spray bar with several discharge nozzles is used for the targeted discharge of the adhesive mixture onto the ballast bed. However, single-component adhesives can just as well be used and conveyed with such a device, with exactly the same structural features of the device. The invention further relates to a method of using this device and its use for discharging adhesives, both two-component and single-component, onto the ballast of a rail track. Description of the Prior Art Today, rail tracks are an important component of both mainline and mass transit infrastructure. Not in every case can the rail superstructure cope with the increasing traffic load. With increasing speed, greater traffic loads or higher intensity of use, weaknesses of the different types of construction become apparent. In addition to regular maintenance, track renewal is a necessary measure to cope with the increased load. In mainline traffic, ballasted track is the dominant base layer. In urban traffic, on bridges or in tunnels, on the other hand, a solid track is used. Adhesive systems offer an efficient solution for both types of track and for joining different tracks. In ballasted track systems, the loosely laid track grid of rails and sleepers lies in this unbound, compacted ballast bed without any lateral fastening. The ballast bed can absorb considerable compressive forces, but can only be displaced within limits under tensile load. In difficult areas such as rail joints or switches, adhesive systems ensure positional stability quickly and permanently. In the case of reconstruction work and track renewal on multi-track lines, special measures are required to secure the position of the ballast bed. Bonding the ballast shoulders with single-component adhesives or, even better, with two-component resin-hardener mixtures has proven to be an effective method for this purpose. Compared with conventional shoring measures, the use of a fast-curing adhesive system saves time and costs to a large extent. A particularly difficult area for rail tracks is the integration of different types of construction. Transitions between a ballasted track and a slab track are problematic because of the different settlement behavior. Here, graded bonding of the ballast has proven to be an effective measure for equalizing different elasticities. Adhesive systems also offer particular advantages for this purpose, namely, short waiting times until load-bearing capacity is reached and very good environmental compatibility of the adhesive system. In inner-city mass transit, it is mainly slab tracks and grass tracks that determine the appearance of rail tracks. For these designs, too, the two-component compounds offer efficient detailed solutions for stabilizing, sealing and designing the track systems. Today, the bonding of granular mixtures is used in a wide variety of applications. In track construction, mainly coarse-grained stone fills and gravel are bonded, while in road construction, in addition to coarse-grained stone fills, smaller-grained stone fills or chippings are also bonded. Even finer mixtures are used, for example, in the bonding of decorative top floor coverings. Despite stabilization by bonding the covering, its water permeability or seepage capacity can be maintained. The bonding of ballast is of particular importance in track construction. For this purpose, two-component adhesives based on polyurethane are mostly used today. Such polyurethane-based multicomponent adhesives are known in the state of the art. Two-component mixtures can be adapted to the respective situation by varying the mixing ratio of resin and hardener in the curing time and achieve a better bonding quality than one-component adhesives, with which a certain compromise is made. Single-component adhesives are easier to handle, however, because no mixer is required and only a single pump and line are needed for delivery. Devices for the controlled pumping, metering, mixing and dispensing of such adhesives, be they one- or two-component adhesives, using gear pumps, among other things, are also known in principle. Various positive effects are achieved by bonding ballast in track construction. Among other things, it enables stabilization of the tracks and reduction of impacts at transitions from the ballasted track to the ballastless track, for example at