Ballast separating device for ballast cleaning machine

In combination with a mobile ballast cleaning machine advancing continuously in an operating direction along a railroad track comprised of two rails fastened to upper surfaces of a succession of ties supported on a ballast bed and comprising a machine frame and a ballast excavating chain mounted on the machine frame, the chain including a transverse course extending under the track and driven to excavate a transversely extending portion of the ballast bed during the continuous advancement of the machine:

• a device connected to the machine for continuous advancement therewith and arranged to receive ballast deposited on the ballast bed and the ties ahead of the transverse ballast excavating chain course in the operating direction and to discharge the received ballast in the transversely extending excavated ballast bed portion, the device comprising
• (a) a ballast receiving and discharging element extending substantially parallel to the track, and
• (b) a vertical adjustment drive means linking the ballast receiving and discharging element to the machine frame and arranged to lower the element onto the upper surfaces of the ties between the rails whereby the ballast deposited on the ballast bed and the ties is separated from a portion of the ballast bed underlying the deposited ballast and is received on the element during the continuous advancement of the machine and the element connected thereto,
• (c) the ballast receiving and discharging element having a discharge end above the transverse ballast excavating chain course for discharging the received ballast in the excavated ballast bed portion immediately therebehind in the operating direction.