Ballast suction machine

A machine for aspirating ballast from a bed supporting a track, which comprises

• (a) a machine frame,
• (b) undercarriages supporting the machine frame on the track for mobility therealong,
• (c) a vacuum generator on the machine frame,
• (d) a ballast storage receptacle on the machine frame,
• (e) a suction tube connected to the vacuum generator,
• (1) the suction tube terminating in a substantially vertical tubular end section having a longitudinal axis and defining a suction opening at one end thereof for aspirating the ballast, an upper portion of the suction opening defining a suction plane extending obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis while a lower portion of the suction opening defines a plane extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, and
• (2) a section of the suction tube adjoining an end opposite to the one end of the tubular end section being flexible,
• (f) a bearing at the opposite end of the tubular end section for rotatably connecting the tubular end section to the adjoining flexible suction tube section for rotation of the tubular end section about the longitudinal axis,
• (g) a displacement mechanism attaching the suction tube to the machine frame for vertically and transversely displacing the tubular suction tube end section, the displacement mechanism comprising
• (1) drive means for vertically and transversely displacing the tubular suction tube end section, and
• (h) a drive on the bearing for rotating the tubular suction tube end section about the longitudinal axis.

A machine for aspirating ballast from a bed supporting a track, which comprises

• (a) a machine frame,
• (b) undercarriages supporting the machine frame on the track for mobility therealong,
• (c) a vacuum generator on the machine frame,
• (d) a ballast storage receptacle on the machine frame,
• (e) a suction tube connected to the vacuum generator,
• (1) the suction tube terminating in a substantially vertical tubular end section having a longitudinal axis and defining a suction opening at one end thereof for aspirating the ballast, an upper portion of the suction opening defining a suction plane extending obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis, and
• (2) a section of the suction tube adjoining an end opposite to the one end of the tubular end section being flexible,
• (f) a slidable tube vertically adjustably mounted on the tubular end section and extending coaxially about the longitudinal axis thereof, the slidable tube having a lower end defining another suction opening whose suction plane extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis,
• (g) a bearing at the opposite end of the tubular end section for rotatably connecting the tubular end section to the adjoining flexible suction tube section for rotation of the tubular end section about the longitudinal axis,
• (h) a displacement mechanism attaching the suction tube to the machine frame for vertically and transversely displacing the tubular suction tube end section, the displacement mechanism comprising
• (1) drive means for vertically and transversely displacing the tubular suction tube end section, and
• (i) a drive on the bearing for rotating the tubular suction tube end section about the longitudinal axis.