Mobile apparatus for non-stop track leveling and ballast tamping

In a mobile apparatus for continuously leveling a track and compacting ballast of a ballast bed supporting the track consisting of two rails fastened to ties resting on the ballast, which comprises a frame mounted on the track for continuous advancement therealong during the leveling and ballast compaction, a reference system controlling the track leveling, a roller unit mounted on the frame for lifting a section of the track, plow means mounted on the frame for moving ballast onto the ballast bed below the lifted track section and for leveling the said ballast, and a ballast compacting means mounted rearwardly of the plow means in the direction of advancement, the ballast compacting means comprising means for imparting vibrations to the track and hydraulic load means associated therewith for simultaneously exerting pressure to both rails of the track section in the direction of the leveled ballast bed whereupon the track section rests, the combination of

• 1. the plow means comprising plow elements for moving the ballast so that there are formed two elongated raised ballast strips below the track rails for support of the ties in the region of the rails and an elongated intermediate strips between the two raised ballast strips, the intermediate strip being recessed, and
• 2. the ballast compacting means comprising a chassis supporting a means for generating at least approximately horizontal vibrations and the hydraulic load means, the chassis having
• a. rail engaging and guiding means associated with each of the rails and mounting the chassis for mobility on the track, the vibration generating and load means being associated with the rail engaging and guiding means for simultaneously laterally vibrating and vertically loading each of the rail engaging and guiding means, and
• b. pressure fluid operated means for continuously laterally pressing the rail engaging and guiding means without play with respect to the chassis and against the rail with which it is associated.