Mobile rail grinding machine and method

A mobile rail grinding machine for continuously grinding irregularities off surface areas of track rails while the machine advances continuously along the track, which comprises

• (a) a machine frame,
• (b) undercarriages mounting the machine frame on the track rails,
• (c) means for continuously moving the machine frame on the undercarriages in the direction of, and along, the track,
• (d) a tool carrier frame,
• (e) a group of rail grinding tools mounted on the tool carrier frame successively in the track direction, the tools being adapted to grind the surface irregularities when pressed against the rails,
• (f) means for vertically adjustably mounting the tool carrier frame on the machine frame,
• (g) means for vertically adjusting each rail grinding tool for pressing the tool against the surface areas of the rails to be ground, and
• (h) a drive operating independently of the means for continuously moving the machine frame for imparting to the tool carrier frame a reciprocatory working movement in the track direction additional to the movement simultaneously imparted to it by the continuous movement of the machine frame, the drive comprising
• (1) a drive mechanism and
• (2) a push-and-pull connecting element linking the carrier frame to the drive mechanism, respective pivotal connections linking the connecting element to the carrier frame and to the drive mechanism, the pivotal connections having about the same distance from the plane of the track and at least a portion of the connecting element adjacent the tool carrier frame extending in a plane extending perpendicularly to the track plane and defined by the reciprocatory movements.

A mobile rail grinding machine for continuously grinding irregularities off surface areas of track rails while the machine advances continuously along the track, which comprises

• (a) a machine frame,
• (b) undercarriages mounting the machine frame on the track rails,
• (c) means for continuously moving the machine frame on the undercarriages in the direction of, and along, the track,
• (d) a tool carrier frame,
• (e) a group of rail grinding tools mounted on the tool carrier frame successively in the track direction, the tools being adapted to grind the surface irregularities when pressed against the rails,
• (f) means for vertically adjustably mounting the tool carrier frame on the machine frame and for pressing the tools against the srface areas of the rails to be ground, and
• (g) a drive connected to the tool carrier frame and operating independently of the means for continuously moving the machine frame for imparting to the tool carrier frame a reciprocatory working movement in the track direction additional to the movement simultaneously imparted to it by the continuous movement of the machine frame, the drive comprising
• (1) a drive mechanism,
• (2) a push-and-pull connecting element linking the carrier frame to the drive mechanism,
• (3) respective pivotal connections linking the connecting element to the carrier frame and the drive mechanism, the connecting element having a point of articulation between the pivotal connections, and
• (4) a guide member extending substantially parallel to the plane of the track and glidingly holding the point of articulation of the connecting element, the guide member and the pivotal connection to the carrier having about the same distance from the plane of the track.

A mobile rail grinding machine for continuously grinding irregularities off surface areas of track rails while the machine advances continuously along the track, which comprises

• (a) a machine frame,
• (b) undercarriages mounting the machine frame on the track rails,
• (c) means for continuously moving the machine frame on the undercarriages in the direction of, and along, the track,
• (d) a tool carrier frame associated with each of the rails and mounted symmetrically with respect to a central plane of symmetry,
• (e) two cylinder-and-piston devices interconnecting the two tool carrier frames for lateral adjustment with respect to each other,
• (f) a group of rail grinding tools mounted on each of the tool carrier frames, each of the tools being adapted to grind irregularities off surface areas of the rails when pressed thereagainst in a direction vertical to the machine frame,
• (g) means for vertically adjusting the tools for pressing the tools against surface areas of the rails to be ground, and
• (h) a drive connected to the tool carrier frame and operating independently of the means for continuously moving the machine frame for imparting to the tool carrier frame a reciprocatory working movement in the track direction additional to the movement simultaneously imparted to it by the continuous movement of the machine frame, the drive comprising
• (1) a drive mechanism and
• (2) a push-and-pull connecting element linking each carrier frame to the drive mechanism, respective pivotal connections linking the connecting element to the carrier frame and to the drive mechanism, the pivotal connections having about the same distance from the plane of the track and at least a portion of the connecting element adjacent the tool carrier frame extending in a plane extending perpendicularly to the track plane and defined by the working movement.