Tamping unit for tamping a track

Abstract

A tamping unit ( 5 ) for simultaneously tamping three sleepers ( 6 ) of a track ( 3 ) comprises inner, central and outer tamping tools ( 12, 13 ). The pivot axis ( 17 ) of the inner tamping tool ( 12 ) is positioned lower, with respect to the pivot axis ( 17 ) of the central tamping tool ( 13 ), by a vertically extending distance (a). The longitudinal axes ( 18 ) of the two tamping tines ( 19 ) are positioned, with regard to the two pivot axes ( 17 ) of the inner and central tamping tool ( 12, 13 ), off-center and closer to the pivot axis ( 17 ) of the inner tamping tool ( 12 ). With this, it is possible to also tamp without problems sleepers having a small sleeper crib width.

1 . A tamping unit ( 5 ) for simultaneously tamping three sleepers ( 6 ) of a track ( 3 ), comprising a front tool carrier—with regard to a working direction ( 10 )—and an immediately adjoining rear tool carrier ( 11 ), with each of which is associated a respective vibration drive ( 16 ) connected in each case by squeezing drives ( 15 ) to an inner tamping tool ( 12 )—adjoining the adjacent tool carrier ( 11 )—and to an outer tamping tool ( 14 ), spaced from the adjacent tool carrier ( 11 ), as well as to a central tamping tool ( 13 ) positioned between inner and outer tamping tool ( 12 ,  14 ), wherein the tamping tools ( 12 ,  14 ) are mounted on the tool carrier ( 11 ) in each case for pivoting in the working direction ( 10 ) about a pivot axis ( 17 ) and are connected to a tamping tine ( 19 ) having a longitudinal axis ( 18 ), comprising the following features:
 a) the pivot axis ( 17 ) of the inner tamping tool ( 12 ) is positioned lower, with respect to the pivot axis ( 17 ) of the central tamping tool ( 13 ), by a vertically extending distance (a), and   b) the longitudinal axes ( 18 ) of the two tamping tines ( 19 ) are positioned, with regard to the two pivot axes ( 17 ) of the inner and central tamping tool ( 12 ,  13 ), offcenter and closer to the pivot axis ( 17 ) of the inner tamping tool ( 12 ).   
   
   
       2 . A tamping unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the pivot axes ( 17 ) of the inner and central tamping tool ( 12 ,  13 ) are spaced at the same horizontal distance (b) with respect to a vertical line ( 21 ) leading through an axis ( 20 ) of the vibration drive ( 16 ). 
   
   
       3 . A tamping unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the vertical distance (a) corresponds to approximately 30 to 50% of the horizontal distance (b). 
   
   
       4 . A tamping unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a lever part ( 22 ), situated below the pivot axis ( 17 ) and provided for fastening the tamping tine ( 19 ), of the inner tamping tool ( 12 ) is of shorter length than a lever part ( 23 ), situated below the pivot axis ( 17 ), of the central tamping tool ( 13 ).