# US 5,706,734 A · Ballast tamping machine, and method of tamping ballast under a track > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,734 A - Document ID: US5706734A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/747,461 - Filed: 1996-11-12 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1995-11-22 - Assignees: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H. - Inventors: Josef Theuerer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706734A ## CPC - E01B 27/17: combined with means for lifting, levelling or slewing the track - E01B: PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS (derailing or rerailing blocks on track, track brakes or retarders B61K) ## Abstract A tamping assembly for use in a tamping machine for compacting ballast under a group of neighboring ties of a track, includes tool carriers in spaced-apart relationship in direction of the track and vertically adjustable independently from one another, with one tool carrier including three tamping tools spaced from each other in direction of the track, and with a second tool carrier including two tamping tools spaced from each other in direction of the track wherein each of the tamping tools of the first and second tool carriers is formed with a tamping pick for immersion into the ballast. At least one of the tamping tools of the second tool carrier which neighbors the first tool carrier is adapted for movement along a first tamping direction for enabling the tamping tools of the second tool carrier to travel toward each other in direction of the axis and to tamp ballast under one tie, and along a second tamping direction for enabling the tamping tools of the second tool carrier to travel away from each other and tamp ballast under another tie in conjunction with a tamping tool of the neighboring tool carrier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tamping assembly for use in a track tamping machine for tamping ballast under a group of neighboring ties of a track; said tamping assembly comprising: frame defining an axis; first and second tool carriers secured to the frame in spaced-apart relationship in direction of the axis and vertically adjustable independently from one another, with the first tool carrier including three tamping tools spaced from each other in direction of the axis, and with the second tool carrier including two tamping tools spaced from each other in direction of the axis, wherein each of the tamping tools of the first and second tool carriers includes a tamping pick for immersion into the ballast; and drive means for moving the tamping tools of the first and second tool carriers in axial direction toward at least three ties to effect a compaction of ballast under the ties, said drive means including: a first drive mechanism moving two individual ones of the three tamping tools of the first tool carrier towards a first one of the ties, and moving the third one of the three tamping tools towards a second one of the ties, and a second drive mechanism for moving the two tamping tools of the second tool carrier in such a manner that at least one of the two tamping tools moves in a first tamping direction for compacting ballast under the second one of the ties and in a second tamping direction for compacting ballast under a third tie. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tamping assembly of claim 1, and further comprising a third tool carrier spaced from the first and second tool carriers in longitudinal direction of the track and vertically adjustable independently therefrom, said third tool carrier including three tamping tools spaced from each other in direction of the axis and each formed with a tamping pick for immersion into the ballast, wherein the second tool carrier is positioned between the first and third tool carriers in direction of the axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tamping assembly of claim 2 wherein the tamping tools of the tool carriers are disposed symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry extending perpendicular to the axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The tamping assembly of claim 2 wherein both tamping tools of the second tool carrier are operated by the second drive mechanism for movement along two tamping directions, thereby enabling the other one of the two tamping tools to move in a tamping direction for allowing compaction of ballast under a fourth tie. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tamping assembly of claim 1 wherein the tamping picks of the tamping tools of the second tool carrier are formed with tamping plates exhibiting two work areas facing away from each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tamping assembly of claim 1, and further comprising an auxiliary lifting unit secured to the frame in an area of the second tool carrier and including a lifting member for grasping and lifting of the track in a form-fitting manner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tamping assembly of claim 1 wherein two of the three tamping tools of the first tool carrier neighbor each other for immersion in a same crib. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tamping assembly of claim 7 wherein the two of the three tamping tools are movable in opposite tamping directions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tamping assembly of claim 1 wherein the two individual ones of the three tamping tools oppose each other to form a first pair for compaction of ballast under the first tie. ### Claim 10 A mobile ballast tamping machine movable in an operating direction along a track comprised of two rails fastened to a succession of ties, said tamping assembly comprising: a frame defining an axis; and a tool carrier assembly secured to the frame for tamping ballast under the ties, said tool carrier assembly including a vertically adjustable first tool carrier including three tamping tools positioned on a side of the rail; a second tool carrier vertically adjustable independently from the first tool carrier and positioned in spaced-apart relationship thereto in direction of the axis, said second tool carrier including two tamping tools positioned on the side of the rail; first drive means acting upon the tamping tools of the first tool carrier for moving two tamping tools towards each other for tamping ballast under a first tie and for moving the third tamping tool in direction towards the second tool carrier for tamping ballast under a second tie; and second drive means acting upon the tamping tools of the second tool carrier for moving the tamping tools towards each other for tamping ballast under a third tie, and for moving at least one of the two tamping tools of the second tool carrier in a direction towards the third tamping tool for tamping ballast under the second tie. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tamping machine of claim 10 wherein the tamping tools of the second tool carrier have each a tamping pick formed with tamping plates exhibiting two work areas facing away from one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The tamping machine of claim 10 wherein the third tamping tool and one of the two tamping tools of the first tool carrier slightly overlap each other in transverse direction of the axis for immersion in a same crib. ### Claim 13 A method for tamping ballast under a succession of ties of a track, comprising the steps of: lowering at least two neighboring tool carriers for immersion of tamping tools into a ballast bed; moving two of three tamping tools of one tool carrier towards each other for tamping ballast under a first tie, and moving the third tamping tool of the one tool carrier and one of two tamping tools of the other tool carrier toward each other for tamping ballast under a second neighboring tie; elevating the tool carriers to remove the tamping tools from the ballast bed; lowering the other tool carrier for immersion of the two tamping tools into the ballast bed; and moving the two tamping tools of the other tool carrier towards each other for tamping ballast under a third tie.