Abstract: In a self-propelled ballast cleaning machine which comprises a ballast excavating chain having an output, a hydraulic drive for moving the ballast excavating chain, a ballast screening and storing device arranged to receive the excavated ballast from the output for separating the excavated ballast into waste and cleaned ballast and for storing the cleaned ballast, and a hydraulic vibrating drive for imparting vibrations to the ballast screening and storing device, a control arrangement operates the hydraulic drives, the control arrangement including a control element having an input and an output, the input of the control element being connected to the chain moving drive and the output of the control element being connected to the vibrating drive for changing the frequency of the vibrations imparted to the ballast screening and storing device analogously to a respective setting of the control element for storing the ballast in the device.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine comprising an endless ballast conveying chain movable in a conveying direction, the chain having arranged sequentially in the conveying direction a transverse chain section for excavating the ballast, an upwardly extending elongated chain section for conveying the excavated ballast, the upwardly extending elongated chain section being supported in a guide of channel-shaped cross section and having a bottom defining a plurality of ports for pre-screening the conveyed ballast to separate waste therefrom falling through the ports in the bottom, and a descending elongated chain section leading to the transverse chain section. A vibratory screen is arranged to receive the pre-screened ballast from the upwardly extending elongated chain section to separate residual waste therefrom, a cleaned ballast component remaining on the screening means and the residual waste falling therethrough. A conveyor conveys the waste away.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine comprising a frame mounted on two undercarriages for mobility along a track supported on the ballast resting on a subgrade, a ballast excavating means mounted on the frame between the track to expose the subgrade, a ballast screening means arranged on the frame to receive the removed ballast from the ballast excavating means and to discharge cleaned ballast and waste, conveyor band means for carrying away the waste and for redistributing the cleaned ballast, the ballast redistributing conveyor band means having a discharge end and a zone being defined between the ballast excavating means and the discharge end for laying a succession of rigid foam plates on the exposed subgrade, and apparatus for handling the rigid foam plates, the apparatus including a plate receiving and transfer station, an elongated plate conveying path extending from the station to the zone and a plate turning and laying mechanism receiving successive ones of the rigid foam plates from the conveying path

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine mounted on a track for movement in an operating direction incorporates apparatus for continuously measuring parameters indicating the track position and any changes therein with respect to a reference system caused by ballast excavation, and for recording the measured parameters. This apparatus comprises hydrostatic level measuring devices mounted in the region of the front and rear undercarriages at the laterally extending sides of the machine frame, two further hydrostatic level measuring devices transversely spaced apart and mounted in the laterally outermost regions of the endless ballast excavating chain, an additional hydrostatic level measuring device mounted in the region of a track sensing element arranged on the frame forwardly of the front undercarriage, and a conduit connected to the hydrostatic level measuring devices for delivering a liquid thereto.

Abstract: A ballast leveling apparatus mounted on a mobile ballast cleaning machine comprises a pair of endless ballast leveling chains, a vertical pivot in each ballast bed shoulder and supporting a respective chain for pivoting in a plane underneath the track, a rotary drive for driving each ballast leveling chain and a power drive linking each chain to the machine frame for vertically adjusting the chain. In the automatic ballast leveling method using this apparatus, ballast is removed from a surface layer of uneven ballast distribution to a predetermined, controlled depth and simultaneously conveyed to two paths from the center of the ballast bed towards the shoulders while filling any depressions in the ballast bed in the paths of the conveyed ballast with the conveyed ballast to level the ballast bed.

Abstract: A self-propelled track working machine comprises a frame, track working equipment carried by the frame and subjecting the frame to a load and an undercarriage arrangement with two main undercarriages supporting the frame for mobility on the track and an auxiliary undercarriage associated with each main undercarriage and arranged adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine comprises a ballast redistribution monitoring and control arrangement for controlling the amount of redistributed ballast, which includes an adjustment circuit responsive to output signals produced by monitoring devices for the speed of the forward drive of the machine, the speed of the ballast excavating and conveying chain drive, and the amount of cleaned ballast conveyed by the ballast redistributing conveyor.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine comprises a frame running on two undercarriages a rear one of which is supported on a track section resting on cleaned ballast. A ballast excavating and conveying chain is mounted on the frame in front of this track section and a ballast screening mechanism on the frame receives the excavated ballast from the chain, cleans it and discharges the cleaned ballast to a storage receptacle arranged on the frame between the undercarriages. The storage receptacle has sufficient capacity to hold a volume of the cleaned ballast corresponding to that of the excavated ballast and a rising ballast conveyor is mounted in the storage receptacle for distributing the cleaned ballast therein. The cleaned ballast is discharged from the storage receptacle for redistribution by a ballast conveyor system and devices for regulating the flow of the cleaned ballast and for guiding the same between the discharge from the receptacle and the ballast conveyor system.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine comprises a ballast excavating chain, a screening apparatus including a series of screens arranged to receive the excavated ballast and to clean it, a storage receptacle for the cleaned ballast, the storage receptacle having ballast outlets, and hinged covers over the outlets for selectively closing the same by means of jacks, and a ballast conveyor arrangement for controllably redistributing the cleaned ballast to the ballast bed, the ballast redistributing conveyor arrangement being arranged to receive the cleaned ballast from the outlets upon adjustment of the hinged covers.

Abstract: A self-propelled ballast cleaning machine useful for work in track switch and other widening track sections comprises selectively operable on- and off-track undercarriages supporting the machine frame for selected on- or off-track operation. A ballast excavation chain adjustable in width for operation in widening track sections delivers excavated ballast to a screen for cleaning the ballast and the excavated ballast is stored immediately adjacent a ballast excavating chain portion when it may be discharged in controlled amounts. A vertically movable plow levels the discharged ballast and includes plowshares adjustable for leveling ballast in widening track sections.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine useful for work in track switches and crossings comprises an endless ballast excavation chain including a chain stringer mounted in a transversely extending guide for excavating ballast underneath the track. The guide is adjustable to selected lengths for a corresponding change in the width of the ballast excavation. The excavated ballast is received on a ballast cleaning screen separating the ballast from fines to produce clean ballast, and cleaned ballast distributing conveyors and/or chutes are adjustably mounted for enabling the cleaned ballast to be distributed over the entire width of ballast excavation for selectively distributing the ballast within this width. The excavation chain and/or the distributing conveyors are mounted on mobile supports.

Abstract: The chain tensioning device for an endless ballast conveyor chain comprises a first, transverse chain guide for a stringer arranged to extend transversely of the track and therebelow and two longitudinally extending, pivotal chain guides rising from the transverse chain guide for two stringers arranged laterally of the machine frame and extending from respective ends of the first stringer, guide rollers being mounted at the ends for guiding the stringers in a polygonal path. One of the chain guides comprises an upper and a lower part movable in relation to each other in the direction of chain elongation. A power drive moves the two chain guide parts to adjust the effective length of the chain guide and thus selectively shortens or lengthens the effective circumference of the endless chain.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine which comprises a ballast excavating bucket chain and a ballast cleaning screen has a ballast leveling apparatus mounted behind the bucket chain to level cleaned ballast returned to the track bed from the screen. This ballast leveling apparatus consists of an arrangement of bars extending transversely of the track over the entire length of the track ties. The arrangement includes a plurality of transversely arranged rods having adjacent, pivotally joined ends attached to the bucket chain by guide rods or ropes which permit free movement of the leveling rods.

Abstract: In a ballast cleaning apparatus, wherein ballast is removed from underneath a track section, cleaned and returned, clean ballast is stored so that additional amounts of clean ballast may be selectively delivered under the track/or to the cribs.

Abstract: In a ballast cleaning method and apparatus, wherein ballast is removed from underneath a track section, cleaned and returned, clean ballast is stored so that additional amounts of clean ballast may be selectively delivered under the track and/or to the cribs.