Installation and method for cleaning ballast of a track

Abstract

An installation for cleaning ballast of a track includes a plurality of vehicles having machine frames supported on on-track undercarriages. Two shoulder clearing chains, positioned opposite one another relative to a transverse direction of the track, take up ballast located in a shoulder area adjoining sleeper ends, an endless clearing chain follows the shoulder clearing chains relative to a working direction of the installation and is to be guided around the track for taking up ballast underneath the track. A screening installation, conveying devices for transporting ballast, and a ballast introduction device are also provided. A first conveying device transporting ballast to the screening installation is associated with the shoulder clearing chains. A second conveying device transporting ballast to a processing unit is associated with the endless clearing chain. A third conveying device transporting ballast to the screening installation is associated with the processing unit.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An installation for cleaning ballast of a track, the installation comprising:
 a plurality of vehicles including on-track undercarriages and machine frames supported on said on-track undercarriages;   two shoulder clearing chains positioned opposite one another relative to a transverse direction of the track for taking up the ballast located in a shoulder area adjoining sleeper ends;   an endless clearing chain following said shoulder clearing chains relative a working direction of the installation, said endless clearing chain configured to be guided around the track for taking up the ballast located underneath the track;   a screening installation;   a ballast introduction device;   a processing unit; and   conveying devices for transporting the ballast, said conveying devices including:
 a) a first conveying device associated with said shoulder clearing chains for transporting the ballast to said screening installation; 
 b) a second conveying device associated with said endless clearing chain for transporting the ballast to said processing unit; and 
 c) a third conveying device associated with said processing unit for transporting the ballast to said screening installation. 
   
     
     
         10 . The installation according to  claim 9 , wherein said processing unit includes a pre-separator and a crusher following said pre-separator. 
     
     
         11 . The installation according to  claim 10 , which further comprises a separate processing vehicle including on-track undercarriages and a machine frame supported on said on-track undercarriages, said processing unit being disposed on said separate processing vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The installation according to  claim 11 , wherein said processing vehicle is disposed between said shoulder clearing chains and said endless clearing chain, relative to said working direction. 
     
     
         13 . The installation according to  claim 11 , wherein said processing vehicle is disposed in front of said shoulder clearing chains and said endless clearing chain and behind said screening installation, relative to said working direction. 
     
     
         14 . The installation according to  claim 11 , wherein said processing vehicle and said screening installation are disposed between said shoulder clearing chains and said endless clearing chain, relative to said working direction. 
     
     
         15 . A method for cleaning ballast of a track, the method comprising the following steps:
 providing an installation according to  claim 9 ;   removing the ballast in the shoulder area adjoining sleeper ends prior to removing the ballast located underneath the track;   feeding the ballast located underneath the track to the processing unit and then transporting the ballast to the screening installation; and   subsequently introducing the ballast into the track again.   
     
     
         16 . The method for cleaning ballast of a track according to  claim 15 , which further comprises transporting the ballast located underneath the track to a pre-separator and then feeding the ballast from the pre-separator to a crusher.