FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a railway track cleaning machine.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Poor environment and littered premises in and around the Railway Track has
been an area of concern for the Indian Railways all over the country. Besides
Litter/Garbage like plastic bags, pet bottles, paper plates, cups and other such
materials littered on the railway track at the platforms and the tracks running
through populated city areas, the Night Soil and other contaminants lying on
the Railway Line are also a matter of concern from the point of view of Hygiene
arid health of the passengers and Railway Staff who are walking on the tracks
for line maintenance. The night soil also corrodes the rail and clamping
arrangement, which poses another serious maintenance problem.
Hence, there is a need to have a provision for cleaning of railway track, to
which the invention is directed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to propose a railway track cleaning machine,
which cleans litter/ garbage littered between and around railway track.
Another object of the invention is to propose a railway track cleaning machine
for dislodging and spreading the night soil and other contaminants on rail
lines.
A further object of the invention is to propose a railway track cleaning machine
for manual suction of litter/garbage lying between rail tracks and platforms.
A still further object of the invention is to propose a railway track cleaning
machine which is reliable and functions efficiently.
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SUMlVtARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided a railway track cleaning machine
comprising of a plurality of suction nozzles connected to a suction head at the
end to supply litter from the track to dust hopper together with a water jetting
cleaning system to clean the rail.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from
the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings and wherein:
Figure 1 shows: Side elevation of railway track cleaning machine according to
present invention;
Figure 2 shows: Connectivity between air compressor and air tank;
Figure 3 shows: Dust hopper of present invention;
Figure 4 shows: Front view of present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION WITH REFERENCE
TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present invention discloses a railway track cleaning machine. Now,
reference may be made to fig. 1-4 indicating cleaning machine to clean
litter/garbage littered between and around railway track.
The machine comprising a plurality of suction nozzles (7) connected to a
suction head (A) at its bottom end as shown. In the exemplary embodiment of
the machine, two nozzles are used for pick up of litter lying between the railway
track and one nozzle on either side of track is provided to cover a distance on
cither side of track for collection of litter in that distance. The litter suctioned
through said suction nozzles is supplied into dust hopper (3) through a
common duct (D).
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The suction head is having multitude of hydraulic cylinders operated by
hydraulic system (5) for lowering the suction head when the track cleaning
machine is operating in the suction mode and lifting up the head when the
machine is in travel mode.
The dust hopper (3) constituting a collector body for storing the suctioned
material is divided into two chambers, one for collecting the material through
cyclonic separation and sieving by dividing the first chamber with the help of a
perforated barrier (B) i.e. a part of collected material remains in compartment
(l1) through cyclonic separation and remaining part remains in compartment
(2') after sieving.
Another chamber (3') is utilized for installation of fabric filter (F) for separation
of fine dust from the filter system.
A number of hydraulic cylinders (H) are provided with the hopper operated by
the hydraulic system (5) for locking/unlocking, lifting/lowering and hydraulic
tipping of discharge door of the hopper for discharging the material. For the
same, the discharge door of the hopper has provision of hydraulically actuated
locking and unlocking arrangement, lifting and lowering of discharge door as
well as hydraulic tipping of the hopper.
Thus^ the track cleaning machine involves three filter stages as follows:
Stage-I:-Separation by cyclonic Separator:- (!')
The debris and heavy particles being suctioned are separated from the air
stream through the cyclonic action and is discharged into the cyclonic chamber
(1') of the machine.
Stage-II:- Separation by Screening:- (2')
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A wire-mesh of suitable size (P) is provided over the roof and between the
cyclonic chamber and the filter chamber fitted inside the collector body. All the
light particles like paper, plastic etc are retained by the wire-mesh in chamber
(2') and, air carrying fine dust particles enters the filter chamber (3').
Stage-HI:-Pleated Fabric Filter
The Filter Chamber (3') accommodates a set of pleated fabric filters (F) within
the collector body. The filters are automatically cleaned by Reverse Air-Jet
Compressed Air Purging System through a system of Solenoid Valves and PLC
controlled Sequential Timer System. The compressed air purging system
includes air compressor (2) operated by hydraulic system and air tank (1)
connected to filter (F). The fine dust particles are separated in filter system
before the air enters the Blower (L). Due to the provision of the filter system in
the Track Cleaning System, the exhaust Air from the Blower (L) is free from
dust and therefore does not pollute the air.
The vacuum blower (L) is driven by diesel engine (E), to which fuel is supplied
from diesel tank (4). The blower (L) provides required suction power for the
track cleaning equipment.
The operating speed and Air Handling Capacity of the Blower are adjusted to
ensure that the flow and vacuum rating of the Blower is such that it lifts only
the Litter Strewed on the track and the adjoining area with very little or no
Ballast.
The Blower is driven by the diesel engine through specially designed centrifugal
clutch and pulley drive arrangement to ensure that the maintenance and
testing of the diesel engine can be carried out easily.
The suction blower driven by a diesel engine provides the suction power for the
machine. With the start of the suction blower, the collector body (hopper) of the
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machine and the suction nozzles and suction head are under vacuum. With the
lowering of the suction head onto the track, the litter/garbage, lying on the
track is suctioned into the nozzle and enters the collector body. The air
carrying litter/garbage undergoes a cyclone where heavier material is separated
and discharged into the cyclonic chamber of the collector body. Air carrying
light material then passes through a screen where it is separated and
thereafter the air through the pleated filters where fine particle and dust are
separated and clean air is finally exhausted into the atmosphere through the
blower.
The filter system is provided with a reverse air jet cleaning system and the
filters are cleaned continuously during suction to ensure that the suction
efficiency of the machine is maintained and the exhaust from the blower is free
from dust.
In addition to suction head, the collector body has atleast two suction outlet
valves (V) one on either side for connection of a manually operated suction
hose, which can be used for the suctioning of litter outside the cleaning path of
the suction head.
Each of the suction nozzles is provided with pneumatically actuated slide gate
and valves which can be closed while using the manual suction hose for
suctioning the litter lying outside the cleaning path of the suction head.
There is provision of a water jetting system comprising the following:
Water Tank;- A water tank (6) with manhole for filling water, valves for
drainage and cleaning of tank, valves for supplying water to the water pump
overflow line etc. A level indicator is also available in the tank for the operator
to view the level of water inside the tank.
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High*Pressure Jetting Pump:-
The pump is fitted with suitable safety cum pressure regulating unloader valve
in the high-pressure line to protect from excess pressure, particularly when
operating under blocked jet condition. A suitable water filter is provided
between the water tank and high-pressure pump to prevent sand and dirt
entering into the high-pressure pump.
High Pressure Jetting System:- High pressure jetting system is provided
towards the tail end of the machine to direct a high pressure jet on both sides
of the rail to dislodge and spread the night soil and other contaminants lying
on the sides of the rails.
Hose Reel Drum (R):- A hose reel is available for jetting with hand gun for
washing the area outside the track, railway platform and for cleaning and
washing the collector body of the yard cleaning system and the working area
around the equipment.
Operator's Cabin:- The machine is provided with an all weather operator's
cabin fitted with control and operating panel of the machine. The control and
operation of the hydraulic system is carried out through electro-pneumatic
controls using push button for carrying-out the various hydraulic functions.
The whole assembly as discussed hereinabove is mounted on a flat wagon (W)
with a tipping frame therebetween.
It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications,
adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments
employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within
the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the
following claims:-

« *Vfi ^ V <&&*" • a A ^ 1^'
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WE CLAIM:
1&M16
1. A railway track cleaning machine comprising of a plurality of suction
nozzles connected to a suction head at the end to supply litter from
the track to dust hopper together with a water jetting cleaning system
to clean the rail.
2. A railway track cleaning machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
plurality of nozzles are employed to pick up litter lying between the
railway track and from the track.
3. A railway track cleaning machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein
the suction head is provided with multitude of hydraulic cylinders for
lowering the suction head when the track cleaning machine is
operating in the suction mode and lifting up the head when the
machine is in travel mode.
4. A railway track cleaning machine as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein the dust hopper comprises atleast two chambers, one
* for collecting debris and heavy particles through cyclonic separation
and light particles by sieving and another one for installation of fabric
filter for separation of fine dust.
5. A railway track cleaning machine as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein said hopper is provided with multitude of hydraulic
cylinders for locking/unlocking, lifting/lowering and hydraulic tipping
of discharge door of the hopper for discharging collected material.
0 ^ *
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A railway track cleaning machine as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, comprising of a vacuum blower to dissipate clean air from the
filter of hopper is driven by engine, wherein the blower provides
required suction power for the track cleaning machine.
A railway track cleaning machine as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, comprising of a water jetting system such as herein described
is installed towards tail end of the machine so as to direct high
pressure jet on both sides of the rail to dislodge and spread thejiight
soil and other contaminants on the sides of rails.
A railway track cleaning machine as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, comprising a hose reel with the jetting system for jetting with
hand gun for washing the area outside the track, railway platform and
for cleaning and washing the hopper and the working area around the
machine.
A railway track cleaning machine as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, comprising atleast one suction outlet valve on each side in the
front for connection of a manually operated suction hose for the
suctioning of litter outside the cleaning path of the suction head.
A railway track cleaning machine as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein each of said suction nozzles is having pneumatically
actuated slide gate and valves for opening/closing of the nozzle.
Dated this 25t h day of August, V 2014
(SOMA RANIMISHRA)
OF L.S.DAVAR & CO,
APPLICANT'S AGENT