# US 12,760,474 B2 · Machine and method for stabilizing a track > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,474 B2 - Document ID: US12760474B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/637,770 - Filed: 2020-08-12 - Published: 2022-10-06 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-18 - Assignees: Plaser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. - Applicants: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. - Inventors: Josef Hofstaetter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760474B2 ## CPC - E01B 27/20: Compacting the material of the track-carrying ballastway, e.g. by vibrating the track, by surface vibrators (of trackless ballastway E01B27/02; for packing sleepers E01B27/12) - B06B 1/164: {the amount of eccentricity being automatically variable as a function of the running condition, e.g. speed, direction (B06B1/165 takes precedence)} - B06B 1/186: {operating with rotary unbalanced masses} - E01B 2203/127: vibrating the track surface - E01B: PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS (derailing or rerailing blocks on track, track brakes or retarders B61K) - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) ## Abstract A track-stabilizing machine has a frame with rail-mounted running gears and at least one height-adjustable stabilizing unit that runs on the rails via work-unit rollers. It includes a vibration exciter with rotating unbalanced masses to generate an impact force that acts dynamically in a plane normal to the track's longitudinal direction, and a linear drive to apply a load to the track. A main and a secondary unbalanced mass generate different centrifugal forces at the same rotational speed, depending on the direction of rotation. These masses have a first phase shift relative to each other; when rotated in the opposite direction, they have a second, different phase shift. This change in phase shift alters both the direction and the magnitude of the impact force. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine for stabilizing a track, with a machine frame supported on rail-based running gears and at least one height-adjustable stabilizing unit which can be rolled on rails of the track via work unit rollers, comprising: a vibration exciter for generating an impact force acting dynamically in a track plane normal to a longitudinal direction of the track, and a linear drive for generating a load acting on the track, said linear drive comprising: at least one rotation shaft; a main unbalanced mass coupled to said at least one rotation shaft; and a secondary unbalanced mass rotatably coupled to said at least one rotation shaft and rotatable within a pre-defined angular range and configured to produce different centrifugal forces depending on the direction of rotation, wherein said main unbalanced mass and said secondary unbalanced mass form two unbalanced masses being coupled together wherein, during rotation in one direction of rotation, said main unbalanced mass and said secondary unbalanced mass are positioned on said at least one rotation shaft at a first position to have a first phase shift with respect to one another, and that, when rotating in the opposite direction of rotation, said main unbalanced mass and said secondary unbalanced mass are positioned at a second position on said at least one rotation shaft to have a second phase shift with respect to each other which differs from the first phase shift; and a plurality of constructive elements comprising catches, said plurality of constructive elements coupled to at least one of said main unbalanced mass and said secondary unbalanced mass and configured to limit a rotation of said secondary unbalanced mass relative to said main unbalanced mass on said at least one rotation shaft; wherein said main unbalanced mass and said secondary unbalanced mass comprise a pair of unbalanced masses and depending on the direction of rotation of each of said main unbalanced mass and said secondary unbalanced mass, one of two predetermined phase shifts results therefrom. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of gearwheels and wherein said at least one rotation shaft comprises at least two counter-rotating rotation shafts which are coupled via said plurality of gearwheels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said main unbalanced mass and said secondary unbalanced mass is arranged on the at least one height-adjustable stabilizing unit with an axis of rotation aligned in the longitudinal direction of the track. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, wherein said main unbalanced mass and said secondary unbalanced mass form at least one pair of unbalanced masses that are coupled to a rotation shaft, the at least one pair of unbalanced masses each comprising a main unbalanced mass and a secondary unbalanced mass on a same axis of rotation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of drives and further comprising at least one additional height adjustable stabilizing unit, wherein each stabilizing unit is driven by a separate drive of said plurality of drives. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The machine according to claim 5, further comprising a shared control device wherein said plurality of drives are actuated via said shared control device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The machine according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional stabilizing unit, wherein at least one drive of said plurality of drives is coupled to an overall arrangement of at least one height-adjustable stabilizing unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The machine according to claim 5, wherein at least one drive of said plurality of drives comprises a hydraulic actuator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The machine according to claim 5, wherein at least one drive of said plurality of drives comprises an electric actuator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The machine as in claim 1, wherein said secondary unbalanced mass has a direction of rotation that is dependent on said main unbalanced mass. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) A method for operating a machine according to claim 2, comprising the steps of: setting down said at least one height adjustable stabilizing unit on the track via a linear drive, that has a load applied to said linear drive, and driving said at least one rotation shaft of said at least two counter-rotating rotation shafts by an assigned drive of said plurality of drives with a reversible direction of rotation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of: increasing a driving power of a drive of the at least one height adjustable stabilizing unit that is controlled via a soft start, wherein a predefined, increasing ramp is stored in a higher-level control system, which enables a targeted increase within a defined period of time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of: changing an engine speed of a drive to enable a variable adjustment of an impact force in a range between predefined impact force levels.