Hybrid continuous indexing tamper vehicle
AssigneeHarsco Technologies LLC
InventorPeter Robert Maurice
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to an improved tamping operation where a rail tamping machine advances at different speeds during different stages of tamping and workhead assembly operation. The workhead assembly is also capable of moving longitudinally relative to the rail tamping machine frame when it is detected that the rail tamping machine is at an appropriate distance from a reference point. Related methods of tamping are also described.
Claims17
A method for operating a tamping machine in a rail application, comprising
- moving the tamping machine towards a rail tie at a constant speed;
- reducing the speed of the tamping machine and actuating a workhead assembly to lower one or more tamping components to a predetermined depth when the tamping machine is at a reduced speed relative to the constant speed;
- stopping movement of the tamping machine and operating the one or more tamping components when the tamping machine is stopped;
- and
- increasing the speed of the tamping machine and raising the one or more tamping components from the predetermined depth when the tamping machine is increasing speed.
The method of claim 6, wherein operating the tamping components further includes moving the tamping components to squeeze the ballast.
A method for operating a tamping machine in a rail application, comprising
- moving the tamping machine towards a rail tie during an indexing phase;
- stopping the tamping machine when the indexing phase and a tamping phase overlap at an overlap phase;
- actuating a workhead assembly to lower one or more tamping components to a predetermined depth during an end of the indexing phase and the overlap phase;
- operating the one or more tamping components during the tamping phase;
- and
- raising the one or more tamping components from the predetermined depth when the tamping phase overlaps with a subsequent indexing phase at a subsequent overlap phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.