Mobile track bed cleaning machine and method

A mobile machine for cleaning a bed supporting a track consisting of two rails fastened to ties, which comprises

• (a) a machine frame,
• (b) undercarriages supporting the machine frame on the track rails for mobility in an operating direction,
• (c) a suction arrangement on the machine frame, the suction arrangement extending substantially over the entire width of the track and comprising
• (1) a suction head means having inlet port means,
• (2) a suction conduit means,
• (3) a ventilator having a suction port connected to the suction head means by the suction conduit means for producing suction at the inlet port means and an exhaust port, and
• (4) a receptacle incorporating a filter connected to the suction conduit means, and
• (d) a compressed air generating arrangement associated with the suction arrangement, the compressed air generating arrangement comprising
• (1) a compressed air discharging nozzle means comprised of blow pipe means having a conical end defining compressed air blow openings, the nozzle means being arranged within the inlet port means of the suction head means, the inlet port means completely surrounding the blow pipe means and the conical end projecting from the inlet port means,
• (2) a compressed air conduit means, and
• (3) compressed air generator means constituted by the exhaust port of the ventilator, the exhaust port being connected to the nozzle means by the compressed air conduit means, the suction and compressed air generating arrangements forming a substantially closed pressure-suction system.

A mobile machine for cleaning a bed supporting a track consisting of two rails fastened to ties, which comprises

• (a) a machine frame,
• (b) undercarriages supporting the machine frame on the track rails for mobility in an operating direction,
• (c) a suction arrangement on the machine frame, the suction arrangement extending substantially over the entire width of the track and comprising
• (1) a suction head means having inlet port means,
• (2) a screen covering the inlet port means, the screen having meshes of a smaller size than that of the average ballast stone,
• (3) a suction conduit means,
• (4) a ventilator having a suction port connected to the suction head means by the suction conduit means for producing suction at the inlet port means and an exhaust port, and
• (5) a receptacle incorporating a filter connected to the suction conduit means, and
• (d) a compressed air generating arrangement associated with the suction arrangement, the compressed air generating arrangement comprising
• (1) a compressed air discharging nozzle means arranged within the inlet port means of the suction head means,
• (2) a compressed air conduit means, and
• (3) compressed air generator means constituted by the exhaust port of the ventilator, the exhaust port being connected to the nozzle means by the compressed air conduit means, the inlet port means completely surrounding the compressed air discharging nozzle means whereby the suction and compressed air generating arrangements form a substantially closed pressure-suction system.

A method of cleaning a bed containing a large amount of dirt with a mobile machine, the bed supporting a track consisting of two rails fastened to ties, and the machine comprising a machine frame, undercarriages supporting the machine frame on the track rails for mobility in an operating direction, a suction arrangement on the machine frame, the suction arrangement extending substantially over the entire width of the track and comprising a suction head means having an inlet port means, suction conduit means, a ventilator having a suction port connected to the suction head means by the suction conduit means for producing suction at the inlet port means and an exhaust port, and a receptacle incorporating a filter connected to the suction conduit means, and a compressed air generating arrangement associated with the suction arrangement, the compressed air generating arrangement comprising a compressed air discharging nozzle means arranged within the inlet port means of the suction head means, a compressed air conduit means, and a compressed air generator means constituted by the exhaust port of the ventilator, the exhaust port being connected to the nozzle means by the compressed air conduit means, the inlet port means completely surrounding the compressed air discharging nozzle means whereby the suction and compressed air generating arrangements form a substantially closed pressure-suction system, which track bed cleaning method comprises the steps of

• (a) lowering the suction head means until there is only a small gap between the surface of the ties and the suction head means while the machine is continuously advanced in the operating direction in a first operating stage, the suction applied to the inlet port means and reinforced by the compressed air discharged from the nozzle means removing coarse superficial dirt from the track bed, and
• (b) subsequently lowering the suction head until the rim defining the inlet port means is in engagement with the surface of the ties while the machine is intermittently advanced from crib to crib in the operating direction in a second operating stage and is retained stationary at each crib, the suction applied to the inlet port means and reinforced by the compressed air discharged from the nozzle means removing further dirt from the track bed at each crib.