Rail vehicle having stabilizer workhead with powered axles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10787771-B2
Application number	US-201715666872-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2017
Priority date	Aug 5, 2016
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a rail vehicle having a track stabilization unit for use in stabilizing rails into ballast. The rail vehicle comprises a frame and a track stabilization unit coupled to the frame. The track stabilization unit includes a base and a plurality of wheels disposed about the base. The wheels are configured to bias against rails of a railroad track. At least one of the wheels is coupled to a motor through a drive shaft such that rotation of the drive shaft drives rotation of the wheel. Related methods are described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track stabilization unit, comprising:
a base;
a one or more wheel assemblies coupled to the base, at least one wheel assembly comprising:
a frame member;
a plurality of wheels coupled to a first side of the frame member, the wheels configured to bias against rails of a railroad track; and
a plurality of motors coupled to a second side of the frame member, each motor coupled to a respective wheel of the plurality of wheels via a drive shaft that extends through the frame member such that rotation of the drive shaft drives rotation of the wheel.

2. The track stabilization unit of claim 1 , wherein the base is coupled to a rail vehicle, the rail vehicle being configured to travel along rails of a railroad track.

3. The track stabilization unit of claim 2 , wherein the rail vehicle includes a frame and a plurality of vertical hydraulic cylinders coupled to the base and configured to impart a downward force on the base.

4. The track stabilization unit of claim 3 , wherein the base comprises one or more flywheels, each flywheel coupled to a respective hydraulic cylinder of the respective hydraulic cylinders.

5. The track stabilization unit of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one wheel assembly includes a first motor of the plurality of motors that is coupled to a first wheel of the plurality of wheels,
the at least one wheel assembly comprises a bearing housing interposed between the second side of the frame member and the first motor; and
the drive shaft extends through the bearing housing.

6. The track stabilization unit of claim 5 , wherein the at least one wheel assembly further comprises a stub axle coupled to the bearing housing and surrounding the drive shaft, the stub axle extending through the frame member.

7. The track stabilization unit of claim 6 , wherein the at least one wheel assembly further comprises a drive flange coupled to the stub axle and the first wheel.

8. The track stabilization unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a biasing arm coupled to each of the one or more wheel assemblies, each biasing arm coupled to the base; and
a bias cylinder disposed between a pair of wheel assemblies;
wherein:
a first end of the bias cylinder is coupled to the biasing arm of a first wheel assembly of the pair of wheel assemblies; and
a second end of the bias cylinder is coupled to the biasing arm of a second wheel assembly of the pair of wheel assemblies.

9. The track stabilization unit of claim 2 , wherein the rail vehicle comprises a drone vehicle.

10. A rail vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
a track stabilization unit coupled to the frame, the track stabilization unit comprising:
a base;
a plurality of first wheel assemblies coupled to the base, each first wheel assembly comprising:
a frame member;
a plurality of wheels coupled to a first side of the frame member, the wheels configured to bias against rails of a railroad track; and
a plurality of motors coupled to a second side of the frame member, each motor coupled to a respective wheel of the plurality of wheels via a drive shaft that extends through the frame member such that rotation of the drive shaft drives rotation of the wheel.

11. The rail vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the rail vehicle includes a plurality of vertical hydraulic cylinders coupled between the frame and the track stabilization unit.

12. The rail vehicle of claim 11 , wherein at least one first wheel assembly of the plurality of first wheel assemblies is coupled to a first side of the base and at least one other first wheel assembly of the plurality of first wheel assemblies is coupled to a second side of the base, the second side of the base opposing the first side of the base.

13. The rail vehicle of claim 10 , wherein each first wheel assembly comprises a bearing housing coupled to each motor of the plurality of motors, each bearing housing surrounding the drive shaft.

14. The rail vehicle of claim 13 , wherein each first wheel assembly further comprises a stub axle surrounding the drive shaft, the stub axle extending from a first end, coupled to the bearing housing, through the frame member to a second end.

15. The rail vehicle of claim 14 , wherein each first wheel assembly further comprises a drive flange coupled to the second end of the stub axle.

16. The rail vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising:
a bias cylinder disposed between a one first wheel assembly of the plurality of first wheel assemblies and a second wheel assembly that is disposed on an opposing side of the base as the one first wheel assembly.

17. The rail vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the rail vehicle comprises a drone vehicle.

18. A method for stabilizing railroad track, comprising:
moving a track stabilization unit relative to a frame of a rail vehicle, the track stabilization unit having a base and a plurality of first wheel assemblies coupled to the base, each first wheel assembly comprising a frame member, a plurality of wheels coupled to a first side of the frame member, and a plurality of motors coupled to a second side of the frame member, each motor coupled to a respective wheel of the plurality of wheels via a drive shaft that extends through the frame member;
applying downward force to the track stabilization unit via a plurality of hydraulic cylinders extending between the frame and the track stabilization unit; and
rotating, via the plurality of motors, the plurality of wheels of each of the first wheel assemblies to provide power assist to the track stabilization unit when traveling along the railroad track.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the power assist is provided during operation of the track stabilization unit over high grade railroad track.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising lifting the track stabilization unit off of the railroad track via the hydraulic cylinders.

Assignees

• Harsco Technologies LLC

Inventors

• Vargas Victor
• Sami Syed Reza
• Carter Eric

Classifications

• E01B27/20 Primary

  Compacting the material of the track-carrying ballastway, e.g. by vibrating the track, by surface vibrators (of trackless ballastway E01B27/02; for packing sleepers E01B27/12) · CPC title

• E01B33/02

  for slewing, i.e. transversely shifting, in steps · CPC title

• E01B2203/127

  vibrating the track surface · CPC title