Machine and method for transporting track switches

Abstract

A machine for transporting and laying track switches has a switch carrier that can be supported on a track or a ballast bed, on the end thereof, by a rail or track-laying gear. The switch carrier has a central carrier section connected with winches, and two end carrier sections that are mounted on the gear carrier and are respectively connected to the central carrier section in an articulated manner by a carrier joint. The two end carrier sections can be pivoted about a gear axis, which is parallel to a carrier axis of the carrier joint and at a distance from the same, in relation to the gear carrier, by way of a rotational drive.

1 . A machine for the transport of track switches and the laying thereof upon a ballast bed, the machine comprising: 
 a switch carrier having cable winches and fastening devices for connection to the track switch;    an on-track undercarriage and a crawler track disposed to support said switch carrier on a track and on a ballast bed, respectively;    a common undercarriage frame connecting said on-track undercarriage and said crawler track to one another;    said switch carrier having a carrier mid-section, connected with said cable winches, and two carrier end-sections each articulated at one end of said carrier mid-section by way of a respective carrier joint each defining a carrier axis;    each of said two carrier end-sections being pivotable relative to said undercarriage frame about an undercarriage axis, extending parallel to and spaced from said carrier axis defined by said carrier joint, by way of a rotation drive.    
   
   
       2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein each said carrier end-section, for pivoting relative to said undercarriage frame about a pivot axis extending in a longitudinal direction of said carrier, is connected to a pivot drive.  
   
   
       3 . The machine according to  claim 2 , wherein said pivot axis is disposed centrally with respect to an undercarriage axis of said on-track undercarriage.  
   
   
       4 . The machine according to  claim 2 , wherein each carrier end-section is mounted on a pivot support connected to said undercarriage frame for rotation about said undercarriage axis, and said pivot drive is fastened, on the one hand, to said carrier section and, on the other hand, to said pivot support.  
   
   
       5 . The machine according to  claim 4 , wherein said carrier end-section is pivotable about the pivot axis by a pivot angle α of substantially 60°.  
   
   
       6 . The machine according to  claim 1 , which comprises a telescopic drive mounted in said carrier end-section and configured to distance said carrier joint relative to said undercarriage axis in the longitudinal direction of said carrier.  
   
   
       7 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance between said carrier axis and said undercarriage axis of said carrier end-section is greater than a distance between said undercarriage axis and a bogie pivot axis of said on-track undercarriage.  
   
   
       8 . The machine according to  claim 1 , which comprises a counterweight section elongating said carrier end-section in a direction from said carrier axis and beyond said undercarriage axis.  
   
   
       9 . The machine according to  claim 8 , which comprises a drive disposed to distance said counterweight section from said undercarriage axis.  
   
   
       10 . The machine according to  claim 1 , which comprises a plurality of fastening devices, one following another in the longitudinal direction of said carrier, each connected to a pair of cable winches, and wherein said cable winches in each case are formed with an opening for receiving a centering pin projecting from said carrier mid-section.  
   
   
       11 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein each said fastening device is provided with fixing clamps, mounted for displacement in a transverse direction extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of said carrier and including a hook configured to be pushed under a rail of said track switch.  
   
   
       12 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said crawler track is disposed between two on-track undercarriages.  
   
   
       13 . The machine according to  claim 1 , which comprises a drive for vertically adjusting said on-track undercarriage relative to said undercarriage frame.  
   
   
       14 . The machine according to  claim 1 , which comprises a vertically adjustable lifting ram for fixing a distance between said carrier end-section and said undercarriage frame.  
   
   
       15 . A machine for the transport of track switches and the laying thereof upon a ballast bed, the machine comprising: 
 a switch carrier having fastening devices for connection to the track switch;    an on-track undercarriage and a crawler track disposed to support each end of said switch carrier on a track and on a ballast bed, respectively;    a common undercarriage frame connecting said on-track undercarriage and said crawler track to one another;    said switch carrier having a carrier mid-section, connected with said track switch, and two carrier end-sections each articulated at one end of said carrier mid-section by way of a respective carrier joint each defining a carrier axis;    each of said two carrier end-sections, for common pivoting with the carrier mid-section and the track switch, being mounted on said undercarriage frame for pivoting about a pivot axis extending in a longitudinal direction of said carrier and connected to a pivot drive.    
   
   
       16 . The machine according to  claim 15 , wherein said pivot axis is disposed centrally with respect to an undercarriage axis of said on-track undercarriage.  
   
   
       17 . The machine according to  claim 16 , wherein each carrier end-section is mounted on a pivot support connected to said undercarriage frame for rotation about said undercarriage axis, and said pivot drive is fastened, on the one hand, to said carrier section and, on the other hand, to said pivot support.  
   
   
       18 . The machine according to  claim 17 , wherein said carrier end-section is pivotable about the pivot axis by a pivot angle α of substantially 60°.  
   
   
       19 . The machine according to  claim 15 , which comprises a telescopic drive mounted in said carrier end-section and configured to distance said carrier joint relative to said undercarriage axis in the longitudinal direction of said carrier.  
   
   
       20 . The machine according to  claim 15 , wherein a distance between said carrier axis and said undercarriage axis of said carrier end-section is greater than a distance between said undercarriage axis and a bogie pivot axis of said on-track undercarriage.  
   
   
       21 . The machine according to  claim 15 , which comprises a counterweight section elongating said carrier end-section in a direction from said carrier axis and beyond said undercarriage axis.  
   
   
       22 . The machine according to  claim 21 , which comprises a drive disposed to distance said counterweight section from said undercarriage axis.  
   
   
       23 . The machine according to  claim 15 , which comprises a plurality of fastening devices, one following another in the longitudinal direction of said carrier, each connected to a pair of cable winches, and wherein said cable winches in each case are formed with an opening for receiving a centering pin projecting from said carrier mid-section.  
   
   
       24 . The machine according to  claim 23 , wherein each said fastening device is provided with fixing clamps, mounted for displacement in a transverse direction extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of said carrier and including a hook configured to be pushed under a rail of said track switch.  
   
   
       25 . The machine according to  claim 15 , wherein said crawler track is disposed between two on-track undercarriages.  
   
   
       26 . The machine according to  claim 15 , which comprises a drive for vertically adjusting said on-track undercarriage relative to said undercarriage frame.  
   
   
       27 . The machine according to  claim 15 , which comprises a vertically adjustable lifting ram for fixing a distance between said carrier end-section and said undercarriage frame.  
   
   
       28 . A method of transporting and laying a track switch, which comprises: 
 loading the track switch onto on-track undercarriages into a transport position wherein the track switch is tilted, with respect to a horizontal plane, about a longitudinal axis, and form-fittingly connected to a switch carrier supported at respective ends on the on-track undercarriages;    transporting the track switch to a construction site on the on-track undercarriages;    pivoting the track switch into a horizontal laying position at the construction site;    distancing the switch carrier positioned above the track switch, together with the track switch, relative to the on-track undercarriages in a transverse displacement substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction; and    subsequently lowering the track switch upon a ballast bed with vertical distancing from the switch carrier for laying the track switch.