GB1574203A

GB1574203A - Travelling machine for taking up small fastenings lying on the ballast bed of a railway track

Info

Publication number: GB1574203A
Application number: GB16102/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
Current assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
Priority date: 1977-04-22
Filing date: 1978-04-24
Publication date: 1980-09-03
Also published as: FR2388086A1; FR2388086B1

Description

(54) A TRAVELLING MACHINE FOR TAKING UP SMALL FASTENINGS LYING ON THE BALLAST BED OF A RAILWAY TRACK (71) We, FRANZ PLASSER BAHNBAU MASCHINEN-INDUSTRIEGESELLSCHAFr, m.bH., of 3 Johannesgasse, Vienna I, Austria, an Austrian Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:: This invention relates to a travelling machine for removing, particularly picking up, small ferrous articles e.g. fastenings, particularly rail fastenings, lying on the ballast surface of a railway track by means of magnetic drums rotatable about an axis extending transversely of the track and associated with the regions of ballast on both sides of at least one rail and a conveyor belt arrangement following these magnetic drums.

It is known from British Patent No.

1,344,270 that rail fastenings, such as screws, spring spikes, baseplates, sliding clamps etc., which have been loosened in the course of track renewal work can be picked up by means of magnets which roll or slide along the surface of the ballast bed and delivered by means of an endless conveyor belt to a collecting container arranged on the carrier vehicle. Although this machine enables small fastenings differing in shape and size to be picked up, it is still in need of improvement insofar as the walls of the magnet arrangement which roll or slide along the surface of the ballast bed are subjected to relatively heavy wear and to deformation by projecting ballast stones and bulky rail fastenings.

Finally, it is known in connection with track relaying trains (cf. British Patent No.

1,358,435) that several compartmetns each occupied by an operator can be arranged underneath the chassis of a carrier vehicle,from which the small -fastenings lying on the surface of the ballast bed are taken upby hand and deposited in collecting containers. Apart from the large work force required, fairly frequent interruptions in work are caused by the need to replace full containers by empty containers.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the kind described at the beginning which is distinguished by greater efficiency and by safer collection of the small fastenings, particularly in the event of continuous (not-stop) advance.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the magnetic drums, a rotary drive for the drums, and the conveyor belt arrangement are mounted on a vertically adjustable supporting frame which, is connected to the chassis of an on-track carrier vehicle. Preferably the frame end carrying the magnetic drums is supported on and can travel along the track by means of rollers, and the other frame end is connected to the chassis.

A machine of this type, which may be arranged for example on a carrier vehicle equipped with its own drive motor, is suitable for use both on its own and in conjunction with other track working machines, particularly as part of a high-speed track relaying train. In this connection, it is possible subsequently to equip already existing carrier vehicles with a collecting machine of this type or to convert them from manual to magnetic collection, in either case at relatively low cost. In addition to saving weight and costs, the combination of the magnetic drum arrangement and the conveyor belt arrangement into a single struc- tural unit also affords considerable advantages in regard to assembly work.

Since, in the operating position of the machine, the frame carrying the magnetic drums and the conveyor belt arrangement.

is supported on the rails of the track by therollers, the magnetic drums always remain in a predetermined vertical position relative to the plane of the track and, hence, also remain at substantially the same distance from the surface of the ballast bed so that, providing the magnetic system is correctly gauged, all the small fastenings of different shape and size lying on the surface of the ballast bed are safely picked up.Since, in: addition, the magnetic drums do not come into contact either with the ballast or with the tops of the sleepers and since badly positioned rail fastenings cannot become jammed between the magnetic drums and the upper surface of the ballast bed, the relatively thin walls of the magnetic drums are protected accordingly and the need for repair work necessitated by premature wear is largely avoided, The resulting high opera tional reliability and efficiency of the pick up machine makes it particularly suitable for use in track relaying trains of which the rate of advance is determined by the re liability of all the track working machines integrated into the train formation.

Another contributory factor to the opera tional reliability of the machine is the rotary drive of the magnetic drums which has the advantage over rolling magnets of a com pletely uniform, non-slip rotational move ment of the magnets and which, in addition, enables the particular rotational speed of the drums to be adapted to the rate of advance of the carrier vehicle and to the nature and average quantity of the small fastenings to be picked up.

In one preferred embodiment of the in vention, the supporting frame on the chassis of the carrier vehicle is mounted to pivot about an axis extending parallel to the plane of the track and transversely of the track and can be pivoted about this axis by means of a vertical adjustment drive pivot ally connected to the supporting frame and the chassis. By virtue of this arrangement, which is distinguished by its particular structural simplicity, the pick-up machine which is raised for in-transit journeys can be lowered very quickly into its working posi tion at the work site and can be raised just as easily into its rest position at the end of the section of track to be worked, at level crossings and, to an extent, at track switches and crossings.Since for the most part only the pivot bearings and the vertical adjustment drive for the supporting frame have to be accommodated on the carrier vehicle, this embodiment of the machine is particularly suitable for subsequent installation in existing track working machines.

According to the invention, it is also of particular advantage for the magnetic drums to be equipped with a fixed core and to be provided on their upper side with a mag vertically neutral ejection zone situated at the receiving end of the conveyor belt arrangement. Compared with magnetic drum Mmngements comprising co-rotating electro tets distributed over the surface of the this arrangement not only saves but also considerably reduces the energy required by the magnets.

bus small fastenings carried into the Z'hwse falI off the magnetic drum aeir own weight and drop directly - reyor belt arrangement, there is no need for separate strippers to be provided.

In - one advantageous further development of the invention, the conveyor belt arrangement comprises at least one endless transverse conveyor belt extending adjacent the magnetic drums substantially parallel to the axis thereof and delivering towards the middle of the vehicle, and an endless main conveyor belt which is loaded by the transverse conveyor belt and which extends longitudinally of the vehicle, delivering up a slope to the chassis and optionally being followed by an ejection chute. This arrangement provides for the rapid, continuous transport of all the small fastenings picked up by the magnetic drums to the end of the carrier vehicle from which the small fastenings can be distributed, for example by means of further transportable conveyors, onto the loading surfaces of transport vehicles coupled to the carrier vehicle.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the magnetic drums are preceded and followed, in the working direction of the carrier vehicle, by units optionally arranged on the carrier vehicle itself for loosening and fixing rail fastenings. In this way, the tools required for treating the rail fastenings in the course of track renewal work, for example spring spike pullers, loosening units for sliding clamps, pick-up units for the dismantled fastenings and, optionally, fixing units for new rail fastenings may be combined to form an operational unit on a carrier vehicle or a group of vehicles, enabling work to be carried out more rationally and with greater visual supervision.

In a further development of the invention which is particularly advantageous for track relaying trains, units for loosening and fixing rail fastenings are associated witht the magnetic drums in a number adapted to the pick-up capacity of the magnetic drums, these units optionally being distributed over several vehicles of a track relaying train.

By virtue of this measure, it is possible to co-ordinate the working rates of all these units with one another in such a way that their respective capacities are fully utilised and a corresponding increase in the rate of advance is obtained.

In special cases it can also be of advantage to arrange several magnetic drum assemblies, preferably with a common conveyor belt arrangement one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the track.

This arrangement is particularly suitable for use on sections of track comprising sleepers laid very close together and multicomponent rail fastenings. At the same time, however, this arrangement also affords the advantageous possibility of staggering the magnetic field intensities of the magnetic drums arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the track for example in such a way that the leading magnetic drums (looking in the working direction) only take up the relatively light and small rail fastenings, such as screws, spring spikes and ths like, whereas the following magnetic drums having a greater magnetic field intensity, are used for taking up the heavier rail fastenings, such as base-plates and the like. In this way, the rail fastenings are actually sorted during their collection.

In one particularly favourable embodi ment of the machine according to the invention, the carrier vehicle is provided with its own varibale drive motor which acts on an axle, for example through a gear unit, and with energy-generating units for supplying pressure medium and/or cur rent to the drives of the magnetic drums, the conveyor belt arrangement and, optionally, to other following conveyor belts, all these units being centrally controllable or switchable, in particular from the operator's compartment of the carrier vehicle. In this way, the machine can be freely used completely independently of other track vehicles.

In addition, its capacity can be fully utilised, particularly for independent duty cycles, and by virtue of the fact that it is provided with its own drive motor the machine can be driven very rapidly from one work site to the next. The fact that all the drive and energy supply units can be centrally controlled and switched enables the machine to be operated by one man which considerably reduces costs.

It is also of advantage for the rotary drives of the magnetic drums and/or the conveyor belt arrangement to be controllable, preferably automatically, in dependence upon the rate of travel of the carrier vehicle advancing continuously under its own power or within the train formation.

This arrangement affords both operational and also significant economic advantages.

On the one hand, the pick-up capacities of the magnetic drums and the conveyor belt arrangement are adapted to the particular rate of advance of the carrier vehicle in such a way that all the small fastenings lying on the ballast bed are taken up irrespective of the rate of advance. On the other hand, however, the power required for driving the magnetic drums and the conveyor belts also varies with the rate of advance, which leads to considerable savings of energy, above all at Iow rates of travel, and to greater efficiency of the machine.

Finally, it is of particular advantage according to another aspect of the invention for the vertical position of the magnetic drums relative to the surface of the ballast bed to be variable, preferably by mounting the rollers for vertical adjustment on the supporting frame. This vertical ad justability enables the distance between the magnetic drums and the surface of the ballast bed required for safe collection of all the small fastenings to be adjusted irrespective of the particular profile level of the rails of the track. Alternatively, it is also possible to vary the vertical position of the magnetic drums by replacing the rollers by rollers having a larger or smaller diameter.

According to a further feature of the invention and endless conveyor belt equipped with entraining elements is additionally provided on each magnetic drum mounted on a vertically adjustable supporting frame and connected to a rotary drive.

With a machine constructed thus, it is possible for the first time simultaneously to obtain an almost double superimposed delivery and collection - on the one hand by the magnetic drums themselves and on the other hand by the entraining elements of the conveyor belt - both in the region of the side facing the ballast bed and also in particular in the other regions during the upward movement and further movement of the entraining elements. The entraining elements prevent the individual fastenings from dropping back onto the ballast bed, particularly during the upward movement of the individual fastenings immediately after they have been picked up by the magnetic drums, so that this combination provides for extremely safe collection and delivery, even when the fastenings in question are relatively heavy or lie close to one another in large numbers.

In particular, the machine prevents the small fastenings moving upwards along the magnetic drums and along the endless conveyor belt from being pulled or torn back from this zone, in which the effect of the magnets abates, by the strong magnetic forces prevailing in the collection and elevation zone facing the track. This prevented in particular by the entraining elements. In addition, however, the entraining elements of the endless conveyor belt effect a certain preliminary grouping or arrangement of the fastenings to be picked up and-also entrain them in the longitudinal direction of the track in the actuaI collection zone itself.

In addition, the eiection of the small fastenings is also supported with advantage towards the region of the conveyor belt arrangement associated with the magnetic drums.

Since, in addition, the magnetic drums do not come into contact either with the ballast or with the tops of the sleepers and since badly positioned rail fastening cannot become iammed between the magnetic drums and the upper surface of the ballast bed and since the endless convevor belts are provided around the magnetic drums, the rela- tively thin walls of the magnetic drums are protected accordingly and the need for repair work necessitated by premature wear is largely avoided. The resulting high opera tional reliability and efficiency of the pick up machine makes it particularly suitable for use in track relaying trains of which the rate of advance is determined by the reliability of all the track working machines integrated into the train formation.

In another particularly advantageous em bodiment of the invention, the entraining elements are in the form of transverse de livery elements which are distributed at sub stantially equal intervals around the peri phery of the conveyor belt and which are preferably arranged at an angle of less than 90" to the peripheral plane in the delivery direction. These transverse delivery ele ments form a continuous delivery zone ex tending over the entire width and the periphery of the conveyor belt, the inclined position of these transverse delivery ele ments providing for particularly safe en trainment of the small fastenings immedi ately they are picked up in the region of the underneath of the drum.In practice, an inclination of the transverse delivery ele ments of from about 45 to 50 relative to the peripheral surface of the conveyor belt has proved to be particularly favourable.

According to another aspect of the inven tion, the transverse delivery elements form pocket-like entraining boxes with peripheral boundary webs provided laterally on the endless conveyor belt. This arrangement safely prevents small fastenings which have already been take up, particularly bulky or heavy small fastenmgs, from laterally dropping down in the region of the endless conveyor belt. In addition, the lateral boundary webs considerably increase both the tensile strength and also the service life of the conveyor belt.

According to another particularly advan tageous embodiment of the invention, the endless conveyor belt which is preferably made of an elastic material is provided with a substantially triangular peripheral cross- section, another supporting drum arranged parallel to the axis of the magnetic drum and rigidly relative thereto preferably being provided for supporting the endless con veyor belt, this supporting drum having a- considerably smaller diameter and being associated with the following conveyor belt arrangement. This arrangement provides particularly favourable conditions for the further transport of the small fastenings taken up and for their transfer to the follow- iw conveyor belt arrangement.The relatively sin*fl diameter of the supporting drum en 8*t - to be arranged in the immediate vitity of and at the most favourable dis I - -$oye the following -conveyor - belt arrangement, so that the small fastenings delivered drop directly onto this transverse conveyor belt and possible interruptions in transport by interpased guides or the like are safely avoided.

Finally, in another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the magnetic drums around which the endless conveyor belts are arranged are situated at a distance from the surface of the ballast bed, that end of the vertically adjustable supporting frame which carries the magnetic drums being supported on the track by means of optionally vertically adjustable rollers adapted to travel along the track and the other end of the supporting frame being connected to the chassis of an on-track carrier vehicle. It is thus possible to maintain between the magnetic drums and the ballast bed that distance which, on the one hand, is required for the free passage of the entraining elements to avoid jamming and which, on the other hand, guarantees satisfactory entrainment, even of relatively heavy small fastenings, by the magnetic forces.In addition, the vertical adjustability of the supporting frame provides for very simple adaptation to the particular profile height of the rails of the track.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a carrier vehicle equipped with the machine according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of this arrangement on the line II--II in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the machine on a larger scale on the line III III in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a carrier vehicle equipped with a second machine according to the invention.

Figure 5 shows the pick-up and delivery units of the machine shown in Figure 4 in the direction of the arrow IV.

The carrier vehicle 1 diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing is adapted to travel along the rails 3 of a track resting on sleepers 4 by means of two undercarriages 2. The chassis 6 of the carrier vehicle 1 which, at both ends, is equipped with pull and buff couplings 5 is provided on its upDer side with a platform 7 surmounted by an operator's compartment 8.

The drive and energy-generating units 9 of the carrier vehicle 1 are arranged on the underneath of the chassis 6, comprising a drive motor acting on the rear axle 11 of the vehicle through a gear unit 10 and, optionally, a hydraulic pressure generator and a current generator. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to supply the carrier vehicle 1 with energy from outside. i.e.

from a vehicle equipped with the necessary units- which is coupled to the carrier vehicle 1.

A machine generally- denoted by the refer ence 12 for taking up and carrying away rail fastenings which have been dismantled in the course of track renewal or track maintenance work and deposited on the surface of the ballast bed is arranged on the carrier vehicle 1. This machine 12 consists essentially of a magnetic drum arrangement 13 and a following conveyor belt arrangement 14 which are mounted together on a vertically adjustable supporting frame 15 which, at one end 16, is mounted on supports 17 projecting upwards from the chassis 6 to pivot about a shaft 18 extending transversely of the track.

In the embodiment illustrated, the magnetic drum arrangement 13 consists of a total of four magnetic drums 20 which are rotatable about a shaft 19 extending transversely of the track and of which the outer two are associated with the region of ballast outside the rails 3 and the inner two with the middle region of the ballast bed situated between the two rails 3. The magnetic drums are adapted to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows by means of a variable-speed drive.

The magnetic drums 20 equipped with a fixed core, indicated by chain lines in Figure 1, and a relatively thin-walled casing 21 of non-magnetic material have a magnetically neutral zone 22 on their upper side.

This zone 22 is adjoined by a baffle plate 23 which extends substantially tangentially to the surface of the magnetic drums 20 and which extends over the entire width of the magnetic drum arrangement 13, sloping downwards towards the front in the working direction 24 of the carrier vehicle 1.

That end 25 of the supporting frame 15 which carries the magnetic drum arrangement 13 can be supported on and can travel along the two rails 3 of the track by means of two vertically adjustable rollers 26. The supporting frame 15 can be pivoted from its working position shown in solid lines into its rest position shown in chain lines, for example for in-transit journeys (Figure 1), by means of a vertical adjustment drive 27 which consists of hydraulic cylinder-andpiston units 28 arranged on both sides of the supporting frame 15 and pivotally connected at one end to the chassis 6 and at their other end to the centre of the support frame 15.

The conveyor belt arrangement 14, which has only been diagrammatically illustrated, consists essentially of two transverse convevor belts 29 co-operating directly with magnetic drum arrangement 13 and of a central main conveyor belt 30 which is loaded by the transverse conveyor belts 29.

The two endless transverse conveyor belts 29 which extend adjacent and parallel to the guide plate 23 are driven in opnosite directions towards the middle of the vehicle, as indicated by the arrows. Together they deliver onto the underlying endless central main conveyor belt 30 which is substantially L-shaped in outline and which, at the ends 16 and 25 of the supporting frame 15, is guided over rollers 31 and 32 of which one acts as a drive roller. At its centre, the main conveyor belt 30 is guided over guide rollers 33 and 34. The main conveyor belt 30 delivers in the working direction 24. In the region of the transverse conveyor belts 29, it initially extends substantially parallel to the plane of the track and then passes through the platform 7 of the carrier vehicle 1 in its section sloping upwards towards the end of the vehicle.In the vicinity of the roller 31 there is an ejection chute 35 of which the lower opening 36 is offset towards one side 37 of the vehicle. On the same side of the vehicle there is another endless conveyor belt 38 which is adapted to travel on rollers 39 along the platform 7 of the carrier vehicle 1 in the longitudinal direction thereof. Before the machine 12 is put into operation, the conveyor belt 38 which is shown in its rest position is advanced in the working direction 24 to such an extent that its front end rests on a flat waggon coupled with the carrier vehicle 1 whilst its rear end is still situated below the outlet openings 36 of the ejection chute 35.If necessary, several such conveyor belts 38 may also be arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the track in order to enable several flat waggons to be loaded with the rail fastenings picked up and, hence, to provide for continuous operation of the machine, even over long sections of track.

As clearly shown in Figure 3, the magnetic drums 20 situated in their working position on both sides of the rail 3 extend below the plane of the track as defined by the upper surfaces of the rails 3. In order to be able to vary the relative vertical position of the magnetic drums 20 relative to the plane of the track, the rollers 26 or the magnetic drums 20 themselves merely have to be mounted for vertical adjustment The rollers 26 ensure that the magnetic drums 20 always remain at an average predetermined vertical distance from the upper surface of the ballast bed.This vertical interval and the magnetic field intensity of the magnetic drums 20 determine whether all the rail fastenings deposited on the ballast bed, for example base plRtes 40, sleeper screws 41, sliding clamps 42, shims 43 etc., are picked up by the magnetic drum arrangement 13.

In operation, the machine functions as follows: The carrier vehicle 1 advances continuouslv or in steps in the working direction 24, depending on whether it is used as an individual vehicle or as part of a group of vehicles, particularly a track relaying train.

The magnetic drum arrangement 13 and the conveyor belt arrangement 14 are driven at rotational speeds adapted to one another and optionally dependent upon the rate of advance. The supporting frame 15 is in its lowered working position and the magnets of the magnetic drum arrangement 13 are energised. The rail fastenings 40 to 43 lying on the surface of the ballast bed are lifted by the magnetic drums 20 and carried into the magnetically neutral zone 22 where they leave the drum 21 and, under their own weight, travel via the guide plate 23 onto the associated transverse conveyor belt 29 and then onto the central main conveyor belt 30. The small fastenings are further conveyed through the ejection chute 35 and the underlying conveyor belt 38 to the flat waggons coupled to the carrier vehicle 1.

Since the most important parts of the machine 12 can clearly be seen from the operator's compartment 8, which is best provided with glass inspection windows at its ends and underneath, it is possible at any time to check the machine for satisfactory operation.

By virtue in particular of the construction and exact vertical guiding of the magnetic drum arrangement 13, the machine 12 is suitable for use along sections of track with a variety of different permanent way installations and different rail fastenings. It may be subsequently fitted to already existing carrier vehicles or may be combined with other track working units, particularly with units for loosening old rail fastenings, and may be arranged, for example together with these units, on a common carrier vehicle which has facilities for supplying energy and for controlling all these units.

The carrier vehicle 1, of which only part is diagrammatically shown in Figs. 4 and 5, may be a twin-axle vehicle which has its own drive motor and of which the chassis may optionally carrying a hydraulic pressure-generating unit and a current generator.

A machine generally denoted by the reference 12 for taking up rail fastenings, such as clamping plates 40, screws 41, spring rings or shims 43 and sliding clamps 42 and the like, which have been dismantled in the course of track renewal or track mainten ance work and deposited on the surface of the ballast bed, is arranged underneath the chassis 6 of the carrier vehicle 1. This machine consists essentially of a magnetic drum arrangement 13 and a following con Ircyor belt arrangement 14 which are niounted together on a vertically adjustable supporting frame 15 which, at its front end ark own), is mounted on the chassis to t bout a shaft extending transversely he track.

he magnetic drum arrangement consists of a total of four magnetic drums 20 which are rotatable about a shaft 19 extending transversely of the track and of which the outer two are associated with the region of ballast outside the rails 3 and the inner two with the middle region of the ballast bed situated between the rails 3. The two magnetic drums 20 respectively associated with one rail 3 are adapted to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows by means of a common, in particular hydraulic variable-speed drive 44. Alternatively, all four magnetic drums 20 could even be arranged on a common shaft and connected, optionally through V-belts, to a single rotary drive.

In addition, an endless conveyor belt 45 is provided on each magnetic drum 20. In the embodiment illustrated, this endless conveyor belt is guided over a supporting drum 46 which precedes the magnetic drum in the working direction 24 of the machine and which is mounted about another shaft 47 extending parallel to the shaft 19 of the magnetic drum, its diameter being considerably smaller than that of the magnetic drum 20. In the interests of clarity, the two drums 20 and 46 and the endless conveyor belt 45 are shown in section in Figure 1.

Each magnetic drum has a relatively thinwalled casing 21 of non-magnetic material and is provided with a fixed core 48 which extends substantially over that peripheral zone of the magnetic drum on the endless conveyor belt 45 lies.

The endless conveyor belt 45, which is preferably made of an elastic material, is provided on its outside with entraining elements which, in the embodiment illustrated, are in the form of transverse delivery element 49 distributed at substantially equal intervals from one another around the periphery of the conveyor belt. These transverse delivery elements, which preferably include an acute angle, for example from 45" to 50 , with the peripheral plane of the conveyor belt 45 in the delivery direction, form substantially pocket-shaped entraining boxes 50 with peripheral boundary webs 51 provided laterally on the endless conveyor belt 45 for receiving the small fastenings. The conveyor belt arrangement 14 further comprises two transverse conveyor belts 29 which respectively extend over the entire width of the two magnetic drums 20 associated with one rail and which are arranged on the supporting frame 15 immediately in front of and below that section of the endless conveyor belts 45 which is guided over the supporting drums 46. This section of the endless conveyor belts 45 forms the ejection zone in which the small fastenings accommodated in the pocket-line entraining boxes 50 are ejected onto the transverse conveyor belt 29 pro vided with inclined guide plates 52 at their two longitudinal sides.The two transverse conveyor belts 29 transport the small fastenings to the middle of the vehicle where they are ejected onto an endless central conveyor belt 30 which carries them to collecting containers which are arranged either on the carrier vehicle 1 or on separate small fastening transport vehicles.

By means of a vertical adjustment drive, consisting of hydraulic piston-and-cylinder units 28 which are arranged on both sides of the supporting frame and which, at one end, are pivotally connected to the chassis 5, and, at their other end, to the supporting frame 15, the supporting frame 15 can be raised in the direction of the arrow 53 from the working position shown in the drawing into a rest position which is required for example for journeys in transit. The rear end of the supporting frame 15 which carries the magnetic drum arrangement is adapted to be supported on and to travel along both rails 3 of the track by means of two vertically adjustable rollers 26.The vertical adjustment drive 54 of the rollers 26, which consists for example of a spindle arrangement, makes it possible to maintain between the magnetic drums 20 and the ballast bed that distance which, on the one hand, is required for the free passage of the entraining elements 49 of the conveyor belt to avoid jamming and which, on the other hand, provides for satisfactory entrainment, even of relatively heavy small fastenings, for example clamping plates 40, by the magnetic forces of the cores 48. In addition the vertical adjustment drive 54 provides for very simple adaptation to the particular profile height of the rails 3 of the track.

In operation, the machine functions as follows: The carrier vehicle 1 advances continuously or in steps in the working direction 24, depending on whether it is used as an individual vehicle or as part of a group of vehicles, particularly a track relaying train. The magnetic drums 20 together with the endless conveyor belts 45 and the transverse conveyor belts 29 and the main conveyor belt 30 are driven at rotational speeds adapted to one another and optionally dependent upon the rate of advance. The supporting frame 15 is in its lowered working position and the cores 48 of the magnetic drums 20 are energised. The fail fastenings which have already been loosened along a preceding section of the track, for example for subsequent replacement of the rails, are deposited, generally more or less at random, on the surface of the ballast bed.As soon as they enter the working range of the endless conveyor belts 45, they are taken up by the transverse delivery elements 49 and, supported by the attractive force of the magnetic drums 20, are received into the pocket-like entraining boxes 50 of the endless conveyor belts 45. The transverse delivery elements 49 and their angular position relative to the delivery direction safely prevent the small fastenings take up from sliding back or dropping down as they ascend to the upper side of the magnetic drums. From the magnetically neutral zone 22 on the upper side of the magnetic drums, the small fastening travel on the substantially horizontal upper flight 6f the endless conveyor belt 45 to the ejection done in the region of the supporting drums 46.From there, they are carried off by the transverse conveyor belts 29 and the main conveyor belt 30, as already described.

Numerous modifications of the machine differing from the embodiment illustrated and described are possible within the scope -of the invention. For example, the magnetic drums may be completely circularly surrounded by the conveyor belts equipped with entraining elements. Further possibilities for variation concern the configuration, distribution and angular position of the entraining elements.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A travelling machine for picking up small ferrous articles lying on the ballast surface of a railway track, comprising magnetic drums which are rotatable about an axis extending transversely of the track and are associated with the regions of the ballast on both sides of at least one rail, and a conveyor belt arrangement arranged to receive the said articles picked up by the magnetic drums, the magnetic drums and a rotary drive for the drums being mounted on a vertically adjustable supporting frame connected to the chassis of an on-track carrier vehicle.

2. A travelling machine for removing, in particular picking up, small fastenings, particularly rail fastenings, lying on the ballast surface of a railway track, comprising magnetic drums rotatable about an axis extending transversely of the track and associated with the region of ballast on both sides of at least one rail, and a conveyor belt arrangement arranged to receive the fastenings picked up by these magentic drums, the magnetic drums, a rotary drive for the drums, and the conveyor belt arranment, being mounted on a vertically adjustable supporting frame which, at one end, is connected to the chassis of an on-track carrier vehicle and, at its other end, which carries the magnetic drums, is supported on and can travel along the track by means of rollers.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the supporting frame is mounted to pivot on the chassis about an

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. two longitudinal sides. The two transverse conveyor belts 29 transport the small fastenings to the middle of the vehicle where they are ejected onto an endless central conveyor belt 30 which carries them to collecting containers which are arranged either on the carrier vehicle 1 or on separate small fastening transport vehicles. By means of a vertical adjustment drive, consisting of hydraulic piston-and-cylinder units 28 which are arranged on both sides of the supporting frame and which, at one end, are pivotally connected to the chassis 5, and, at their other end, to the supporting frame 15, the supporting frame 15 can be raised in the direction of the arrow 53 from the working position shown in the drawing into a rest position which is required for example for journeys in transit. The rear end of the supporting frame 15 which carries the magnetic drum arrangement is adapted to be supported on and to travel along both rails 3 of the track by means of two vertically adjustable rollers 26.The vertical adjustment drive 54 of the rollers 26, which consists for example of a spindle arrangement, makes it possible to maintain between the magnetic drums 20 and the ballast bed that distance which, on the one hand, is required for the free passage of the entraining elements 49 of the conveyor belt to avoid jamming and which, on the other hand, provides for satisfactory entrainment, even of relatively heavy small fastenings, for example clamping plates 40, by the magnetic forces of the cores 48. In addition the vertical adjustment drive 54 provides for very simple adaptation to the particular profile height of the rails 3 of the track. In operation, the machine functions as follows: The carrier vehicle 1 advances continuously or in steps in the working direction 24, depending on whether it is used as an individual vehicle or as part of a group of vehicles, particularly a track relaying train. The magnetic drums 20 together with the endless conveyor belts 45 and the transverse conveyor belts 29 and the main conveyor belt 30 are driven at rotational speeds adapted to one another and optionally dependent upon the rate of advance. The supporting frame 15 is in its lowered working position and the cores 48 of the magnetic drums 20 are energised. The fail fastenings which have already been loosened along a preceding section of the track, for example for subsequent replacement of the rails, are deposited, generally more or less at random, on the surface of the ballast bed.As soon as they enter the working range of the endless conveyor belts 45, they are taken up by the transverse delivery elements 49 and, supported by the attractive force of the magnetic drums 20, are received into the pocket-like entraining boxes 50 of the endless conveyor belts 45. The transverse delivery elements 49 and their angular position relative to the delivery direction safely prevent the small fastenings take up from sliding back or dropping down as they ascend to the upper side of the magnetic drums. From the magnetically neutral zone 22 on the upper side of the magnetic drums, the small fastening travel on the substantially horizontal upper flight 6f the endless conveyor belt 45 to the ejection done in the region of the supporting drums 46.From there, they are carried off by the transverse conveyor belts 29 and the main conveyor belt 30, as already described. Numerous modifications of the machine differing from the embodiment illustrated and described are possible within the scope -of the invention. For example, the magnetic drums may be completely circularly surrounded by the conveyor belts equipped with entraining elements. Further possibilities for variation concern the configuration, distribution and angular position of the entraining elements. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A travelling machine for picking up small ferrous articles lying on the ballast surface of a railway track, comprising magnetic drums which are rotatable about an axis extending transversely of the track and are associated with the regions of the ballast on both sides of at least one rail, and a conveyor belt arrangement arranged to receive the said articles picked up by the magnetic drums, the magnetic drums and a rotary drive for the drums being mounted on a vertically adjustable supporting frame connected to the chassis of an on-track carrier vehicle.

axis extending parallel to the plane of the track and transversely of the track and can be pivoted about this axis by means of a vertical adjustment drive pivotally connected to the supporting frame and to the chassis.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the magnetic drums are quipped with a fixed core and are provided on their upper sides with a magnetically neutral ejection zone situated at the receiving end of the conveyor belt arrangement.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the conveyor belt arrangement comprises at least one transverse endless conveyor belt extending to adjacent the magnetic drums substantially parallel to the axis thereof and arranged to deliver the fastenings towards the middle of the vehicle, and an endless main conveyor belt which is supplied by the trans verse conveyor belt and which extends longitudinally of the vehicle, arranged to deliver the fastenings up a slope to the chassis and optionally being followed by an ejection chute.

6. A machine as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the vertical position of the magnetic drums relative to the surface of the ballast bed is capable of variation, preferably by mounting the rollers for vertical adjustment on the supporting frame.

7. A machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the magnetic drums are preceded and followed, in the working direction of the vehicle, by units optionally arranged on the vehicle itself for loosening and fixing rail fastenings.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 7, particularly for use in track relaying trains, characterised in that units for loosening and fixing rail fastenings are associated with the magnetic drums in a number adapted to the pick-up capacity of the magnetic drums, these units optionally being distributed over several vehicles of a track relaying train.

9. A machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that several magnetic drum assemblies, preferably with a common conveyor belt arrangement, are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the track.

10. A machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the carrier vehicle is provided with its own variable drive motor which acts on an axle, for example through a ~ gear unit, and with energy-generating units for supplying pressure medium and/or current to the drives of the magnetic drums, the conveyor belt arrangement and. optionally, to other following conveyor belts, and in that all these units are adapted to be centrally controlled or switched, in particular from an operator's compartment of the vehicle.

11. A machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the rotary drives of the magnetic drums and/ or the conveyor belt arrangement are adapted to be controlled, preferably automatically, in dependence upon the rate of travel of the vehicle advancing continuously under its own power or within a train formation.

12. A machine according to any of claims 1 to 11, in which an endless conveyor belt provided with entraining elements is provided on each drum, for delivering the said articles or fastenings to the said conveyer belt arrangement.

13. A travelling machine for taking up small fastenings, such as clamping plates, screws or similar rail fastenings, lying loosely on the ballast bed of a railway track, comprsing magnetic drums rotatable about an axis extending transversely of the track and associated with the regions of ballast on both sides of at least one rail for taking up said fastenings, an endless conveyor belt equipped with entraining elements being provided on each magnetic drum, each drum and a rotary drive therefor being mounted on a vertically adjustable supporting frame, and a conveyor belt arrangement arranged to receive fastenings picked up by the magnetic drums.

14. A machine as claimed in claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the entraining elements are transverse delivery elements which are distributed at substantially equal intervals around the periphery of the said endless conveyor belt, and which are -preferably arranged at an angle of less than 90" to the peripheral plane of the belt in the delivery direction.

15. A machine as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the transverse delivery elements form pocket-shaped entraining boxes with peripheral boundary webs provided laterally on the endless conveyor belt.

16. A machine as claimed in any of claims 12 to 15, characterised in that the endless conveyor belt, which is preferably made of an elastic material, has a substantially triangular peripheral cross-section, another supporting drum arranged parallel to the axis of the magnetic drum and rigidly relative thereto preferably being provided for supporting the endless conveyor belt, this supporting drum having a considerably smaller diameter than the magnetic drum and being associated with the said conveyor belt arrangement.

17. A machine for picking up rail fastenings, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A railway vehicle provided with means for picking up rail fastenings, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.