Technical and economic analysis of universal equipment application for servicing rail fastenings

Abstract

One of the important operational peculiarities of the continuously welded rail track is the need for a large amount of work on the transfer of intermediate rail fastenings from the working position to the installation position and vice versa. At the moment the transfer of fastenings is carried out mainly manually or with the use of small mechanization means, which require large labour inputs of track fitters and can negatively, affect the productivity of track works. Large volumes of laying, repair and maintenance of the track and variety of used intermediate fastenings require creation and introduction of high-tech machines capable to work with different types of fastenings. The aim of the research is to evaluate the possibility of using universal mechanisms for transferring intermediate rail fastenings of various types from the working position to the mounting position and vice versa.

The analysis of existing devices and machines for maintenance of intermediate rail fastenings is presented; their advantages and disadvantages are revealed. The current Instructions for assembly, laying and operation of track with different types of fastenings are analyzed, on the basis of which transfer schemes by types of fastenings are developed. On the basis of similar kinematics of movements of fastenings elements during their transfer, a variant of realization of universal working equipment for work with fastenings of different types installed on a single module of fastenings mounting-dismounting is proposed. The economic efficiency of intermediate rail fastenings transfer by fully manual method, partial automation of the process by PMG machine and automation of the process with the proposed module of fastening mounting and dismounting has been evaluated by the criterion of unit cost of work. It has been established that the economically feasible productivity of the module should exceed 1.2 km/h It is expedient to use PMG when the work front exceeds 3.2 km, and when the scope of work is less than 3.2 km it is more efficient to transfer fastenings with the use of mechanized tools.