Abstract: The invention relates to an excavating finger of a bucket that is designed to be fitted to an excavating chain for a device for excavating ballast beneath a railroad track, the finger being in one piece and comprising: a retention portion that is rotationally symmetric about a reference axis of the finger, the retention portion being designed to be accommodated in a cylindrical cavity of the bucket; and a tip designed to project out of the cylindrical cavity of the bucket, the excavating finger (132) wherein the retention portion comprises at least one annular channel that is configured to receive at least part of an immobilizing rod, designed to provide axial retention of the retention portion in the cylindrical cavity in such a way that the finger is free to rotate about its reference axis.

Abstract: A link for an excavating chain for a ballast excavating device below a railroad track, the link comprising a body extending longitudinally between a front end and a rear end and being crossed by at least one front through-hole and a rear through-hole configured to receive hinge means with an adjacent link of the chain, the front and rear through-holes extending along axes parallel to each other and contained in a reference plane of the body, the link further comprising, on an inner side of the body with respect to the reference plane opposite to the outer side, a concave guide surface extending over an envelope having an axis generator parallel to the axes of the link joints, the guide surface being configured to at least locally match a curvature of a return member of the excavating device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an articulated assembly of two links for a ballast removal chain, a first of the two links comprising a single-piece member having two flanges which are parallel to one another and each of which has a through-hole, a second of the two links comprising a single-piece member comprising a guide flange that is inserted between the two parallel flanges of the first link, the guide flange being penetrated by a guide hole, the articulated assembly further comprising a hinge pin that is inserted into the guide hole and the through-hole in each of the two parallel flanges. The guide hole is reinforced by a bushing designed to receive the hinge pin and rotatingly guide the hinge pin relative to the single-piece member of the second link. The through-hole in one of the two parallel flanges comprises a flat portion cooperating with a flat section of the hinge pin so as to prevent the hinge pin from rotating relative to the single-piece member of the first link.

Abstract: A method puts into operation a clearing apparatus suitable for picking up ballast and is disposed in an endless configuration during employment so as to encircle a railroad track. The clearing apparatus has a horizontal cross-duct which, prior to a start of the employment, is intended to be positioned below the railroad track and connected, on the one hand, to a rising duct and, on the other hand, to a return duct of the clearing apparatus. The method includes displacing ties of the railroad track in a longitudinal direction of the railroad track to create a tie gap; lowering the cross-duct through the tie gap between two rails of the railroad track and transferred, below the ties, into a working position extending crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the railroad track; and connecting the cross-duct to the rising duct and to the return duct.

Abstract: A method puts into operation a clearing apparatus suitable for picking up ballast and is disposed in an endless configuration during employment so as to encircle a railroad track. The clearing apparatus has a horizontal cross-duct which, prior to a start of the employment, is intended to be positioned below the railroad track and connected, on the one hand, to a rising duct and, on the other hand, to a return duct of the clearing apparatus. The method includes displacing ties of the railroad track in a longitudinal direction of the railroad track to create a tie gap; lowering the cross-duct through the tie gap between two rails of the railroad track and transferred, below the ties, into a working position extending crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the railroad track; and connecting the cross-duct to the rising duct and to the return duct.