Machine for laterally displacing a track

#(1) Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a machine for laterally displacing a track consisting of rails fastened to ties positioned in a common plane, which comprises a machine frame, undercarriages supporting the machine frame on the track rails, at least one vertically adjustable tamping head having reciprocable vibratory tools for tamping ballast under the ties, a vertically and laterally adjustable device for lifting and laterally displacing the track, which includes rail engaging roller tools, and a vertically and longitudinally adjustable device for orienting obliquely positioned ties to assume an orientation extending substantially perpendicularly to the track in the common plane, the tie orienting device including a tie engaging tool.

#(2) Description of the Prior Art

#The above and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a now preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine for laterally displacing a track embodying the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a reduced and schematic top view of the machine of FIG. 1 on a partially laterally displaced track;

#FIG. 1 shows machine 1 for laterally displacing track 27 consisting of rails 2 fastened to ties 3 positioned in a common plane. The machine comprises machine frame 5 and undercarriages 4, which consist of swivel trucks, supporting machine frame 5 on track rails 2. Drive 6 for advancing the machine along the track is connected to hydraulic power source 7 whose hydraulic pump supplies power to all the operating drives. Tamping head 22 is vertically adjustably mounted on machine frame 5 and has reciprocable vibratory tamping tools 25 for tamping ballast under the ties. Vertical adjustment drive 24 links the tamping head to the machine frame for vertical adjustment of the tamping head.

#According to the invention, machine 1 comprises compact operating unit 17 comprising common carrier frame 18, vertically and laterally adjustable device 13 for lifting and laterally displacing the track mounted on common carrier frame 18 and including rail engaging roller tools 14, 15, and vertically and longitudinally adjustable device 16 for orienting obliquely positioned ties 3 to assume an orientation extending substantially perpendicularly to the track in the common plane, tie orienting device 16 being mounted on common carrier frame 18 and including tie engaging tool 15. Power-actuated, i.e. hydraulic, drives 11, 12 link the common carrier frame of operating unit 17 to machine frame 5 for vertically and laterally adjusting the carrier frame. The machine frame carries a first operator's cab 10 associated with the operating unit and housing central operating control panel 9, tamping head 22 and device 13 for lifting and laterally displacing the track being in view of cab 10, and second operator's cab 10 mounted on the machine frame between swivel trucks 4 and above common carrier frame 18 of the operating unit. The arrangement of the second operator's cab brings the tie orienting device within ready view of an operator so that obliquely positioned ties may be readily and rapidly oriented after the track has been laterally displaced.

#In the preferred embodiment illustrated best in FIGS. 5 to 7, carrier frame 18 of operating unit 17 is substantially T-shaped and comprises cross carrier beam 21 extending transversely to the track and elongated carrier beam 19 extending in the direction of the track substantially centrally between rails 2 thereof (see FIG. 4). The elongated carrier beam has a free end and universal joint 20 connects the free carrier beam end to machine frame 5 whereby elongated carrier beam 19 may be pivoted vertically and laterally about the universal joint. Two hydraulic drives 11 for vertically adjusting carrier frame 18 are linked to the carrier frame in alignment with respective end regions of cross carrier beam 21 and two hydraulic drives 12 for laterally adjusting the carrier frame are linked to respective sides of elongated carrier beam 19. This construction is simple and provides a robust operating unit to which drives 11, 12 may transmit considerable lifting and lateral displacement forces for moving heavy tracks along relatively long displacement paths. The hydraulic drives are capable of transmitting vertical and lateral forces simultaneously.