CA1170058A - Rail contouring tool - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
This invention relates to a rail contouring tool which is mounted on a mobile machine which moves continuously along a track to contour rail heads. The machine has a frame to which a rail contouring tool mounting is linked. The mount-ing is adjusted vertically relative to the running surface of the rail head and pressed thereagainst, and guided along the rail head by a guide roller laterally guiding the mounting along a selected side of the rail head and two additional guide rollers vertically guiding the mounting along the running surface of the rail head. The mounting has a rail contouring tool head including a tool holder mounted on it for displacement relative thereto. The rail contouring tool is replaceably mounted in the tool holder and detachably carries a cutting blade having a cutting edge for planning a selected profile of the rail head by the forward thrust of the machine. The tool is selectively arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane passing through the tool holder perpendicularly to the operating direction of the machine.

Description

1 This application is a divisional o~ application serial number 350,833 which was filed April 29, 1980.
The present invention relates to a rail contouring tool which is mounted on a mobile rnachine which moves con~
tinuously in an operating direction on a railroad track. The track including two rails each having a rail head defining a gage side, a field side and a running surface, and the machine is arranged ~or continuously removlng such running surface irregularities as ripples, corrugations and overflow metal during 1~ the continuous movement.
Known machines of this type comprise a frame, a rail contouring tool mounting linked to the frame, drive means fo~
vertically adjusting the mounting relative to the xunning surface of the rail head of a respective rail and ~or pressing the mounting thereagainst, the mounting being guided vertically and l~terally along the sides and the running surface of the rail head, a rail contouring tool head including a tool holder arranged on the mounting and a rail contouring tool mounted on the tool holder. The rail contouring tool may be a rotary grindiny disc or a whetstone and, where i~ was desired to remove the irregularities to a greater dep-th, a planing tool including a cutting blade.
German patent No. 905,984, published March 8, 1954j discloses a vise clamped to a rail at a rail joint and carrying a mechanism irlcluding a tool head mounting a tool for milling the welded joint. The tool head is cranked back and forth along the running surface of the rail head to plane the joint~
This device is only usefu:L locally at respective rail joints and cannot be used for the continuous contouring of a rail of a railroad track. It i5 also complex in construction and use, ~.~!7~3~

1 for all of which reasons it has found no practical application.
Canadian patent No. 1,113,788, dated December 8, 1981, discloses a mobile rail contouring machine with a plurality of mountings vertically ad~ustably connected to the machine frame and vertically and laterally guided along the rail, each mounting carrying a number oE cuttin~ blades or whetstones. The mounting with the cutting blades affixed thereto is vertically adjustable relative to the flanged wheels supporting it on the rail so as to position the cutting blades in relation to the running surface of the rail head for milling it. The mountings associated with each rail are linked together by a hydraulic cylinder-piston unit for spreading the mountings and blocking them in position.
This arrangement made it possible for the first time to obtain the continuous removal of irregularities from the running surface of the rail head with cutting or planing tools at high efficiency but it was not always possible to achieve accurate contouring to the desired profile. In additionl centering of the contouring tools and setting them properly in relation to the surface to be milled was often difficult.

2~ It is the primary object of this invention to provide a rail contourlng tool for a mobile rail contouring machine for continuously removing such running surface irregularities as ripples, corrugations and overflow metal during the continuous movement of the machine along a railroad track. The rail contouring tool mounting is guided with high precision and the contouring tool may be set with high accuracy in relation to the rail head surface ko be milled thereby so as to improve the quality of the contouring work while increasing the efficiency of the work and the useful life of the cutting blades~
With the rail contouring tool of the invention, track rails may ~ ~73i1~
be uniformly restored to their original contours in a continuous operation along long stretches of track.
The above and other objects are accomplished according to one aspect of the invention with a rail contouring tool replaceably mounted in a tool holder carried by a mobile rail contouring machine mounted for continuous movement in an operating direction for continuously planing a rail head during the continuous movement, the tool being selectively arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical center plane passing through the tool holder perpendicularly to the operating direction and detachably carrying a cutting blade having a cutting edge arranged to engage a selected surface of the rail head for planing a selected profile of the rail head.
Surface irregularities as ripples, corrugations and overflow metal are removed from a rail head defining a gage side, a field side and a running surface during, and by the forward thrust of, the mobile rail contouring machine.
This rail contouring machine and tool have made it possible Eor the first time to machine the surface of a rail head of a rail on a laid railroad track, and particularly the running surface of the rail head, in a continuous manner in either operating direction of the machine substantially as accurately as has heretofore been achieved with stationary vises clamped to a rail and holding a planing tool.

J ~

The rail contouring tools of the present inventlon enable the rail head profile to be restored with the use of a relatively short reference basis and ripples or un-dulations to be removed from the running surface with the use of a relatively long reference basis, while permittiny any surface irregularities due to manufacturing errors or wear to be removed with cutting blades of selected con-figurat.ions.

The above and other objects, advantages and features 10 of this invention will become more apparent from the following ., detailed description of certain now preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying partly sGhematic drawing wherein FI~. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of the mobile rail contouring machine;
FIG. 2 is a like but enlarged view of the rail contouring tool mounting in one operating mode;
FIG. 3 shows the same view of-the mounting in another operating mode;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the mountings of FIGS. 2 and 3;
FIGS. 5 to 11 show enlarged end views of different embodiments of rail contouring tools according to the present invention for producing different profiling operations;

_ ~ _ 5~

1 FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of another embodi-ment of a mobile rail contouring machine;
FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic side view of a train of rail contouring machines according to yet another embodiment, ~ IGS. 14 to 16 are diagra~natic sections along lines XIV-XIV, XV-XV and XVI-XVI, respectively, of FIG. 12; and FIG. 17 is a like section of a tool arranyement set for working on the rail heads of a superelevated trac~ cur~e.
Referring now to the drawing and first to FIG 1, ~ there is shown mobile rail contouring machine 1 mounted on rallroad track 7 for continuous movement in an operating direction indicated by arrow 9 ~see FIGS. 2 and 3). The track includes ties 6 to which are fastened rails 4 and 5 each haviny a rail head 42 (see FIGS~ 5~ defining gage side 43, field side ~ and running surface 53. The machine is arranged for continuously removing such running sur~ace irregularities as ripples or undulations, corrugations and overflo~ metal 34 during the continuous movement in the operating direction.

Rail contouring machine 1 comprises frame 2, rail contouring tool mounting 10, 11 linked to the frame, and drive means constituted by hydraulic cylinder-piston motors 12 for vertically adju~ting each mounting relative to the running surface of the rail head of an associated one of the rails and ~or pressing the mounting thereagainst. Machine frame 2 has couplings 8~ 8 at respective ends thereof to enable the frame to be incorporated into a train for movement between working sites over long distances and/or for coupling together a plurality of the machine frarnes to constitute a work train for contouring the rails of a track. The machine also pre-

3~ ferably has its own drive to ~e self-propelled in a selected , ~ 7~

1 operating direction along the track, running on ~o under-- carriages 3, 3 which are shown as double-axled swivel trucks.
Connecting rod 13 extending in the direction of track 7 links one end of each mounting to machine fra~e 2 and the cylinder-piston motors 12 are capable of vertically adjusting the mounting and to exert a vertical loading force thereon.
Central power plant 14 is mounted on the machine frame, the power plant including, for example, a fluid pressure generator and an electric generator coupled to a Diesel motor.
Furthermore, operating connec-tion 15 connects the central power plant to control 16 for remote control of the various machine operations, conduits 18 and 21 connec-ting the cylinder chambers of motors 12 to th3 control and further conduits 19, 20 and 22 connecting the control to.other mechanisms to be descr:lbed hereinafter.
As indicated in full lines in FIG. 1, mobile machine 1 is e~uipped with a single rail contou.ring tool mounting associated with each one of the rails or a pair of such mount-.ings each associated with each one of the rails, as shown in broken lines, if the machine frame is heavy enough, the two mountings being symmetrically arranged with respect to the longîtudinal center of the machine.
FIG. 2 shows mounting 10 which is visible in the side elevation of FIG. 1 and is associated with rail. 4 while FIG. 3 shows mounting 11 associated with rail 5. As shown ~.n FIGS. 2 and 3, guide roller means for vertically and laterally guiding each mounting along one of the rails includes a guide roller 26, 27, 28, 29 laterally guiding the mounting along a selected side 43, 44 of rail head 42 and two additional guide rollers 23 vertically guidlny the rnounting along running surface S3 6 - .

I?~S8 1 of the rail head, the additional guide rollers each having an axis extending substan-tially parallel to the track plane transversely o~ the track. In the illustrated embodiment, two guide rollers 26, 27 and 28, 29 laterally guide each mounting 10 and 11.
The two additional guide rollers in the illustrated guide roller means are spaced apart in the direction of the track by a distance not exceeding about half the gage of the track and a respective guide roller 26, 27, 28, 29 is associated with each additional guide roller 23. In this arrangement, the guide rollers cooperate to constitute a riyid reference for planing overflow metal 34 (see FIG. 5~ at a side 43 of the rail head opposite selected side 44 which is engaged by gu~de roller 26, 27 for laterally guiding the mounting along the selected side. Rail contouring tool head 30 is mounted on the mounting 10, 11 substantially centrally between the two additiona] guide rollers 23. This very simple structure provides a very rigid vise for the rail contouring tool and ma~ be subjected to relatively high loads for effective operation of the planing tool. The centering of the tool head between the relatively closely spaced guide rollers enables the cutting ~lade to be applied to the rail accurately and wikhout play, the cutting blade being rigidly held on the mounting by the taol head in whose holder the blade is mounted. II~ this manner, the original rail head profile may be accurately restored by first planing the overflow metal and then suitably machining the rail head to assume the original profile. In view of the shortness and rigidity of the reference basis provided by the guide rollers, this construction has the additional advantage of making i~

1 possible to provide recesses in the mounting to make the tool holder readily accessible for replacement of the tools and cut-ting blades. Generally, the spacing ~etween the guide rollers wh~rebetween the -tool head is mounted will be abou-t 700 mm~
As shown, a respective pair of guide rollers 26, 28 and 27, 29 is associa-ted with each additional guide roller 23, one of the guide rollers of each pair being arranged for laterally guiding the mounting along a respec-tive rail head side 44 and 43 so that the arrangement may be used in opposite operating directions for working on the rail head side opposite the side along which the mounting is guided.
In the preferred illustrated embodiment, the guide roller means comprises further additional guide rollers 24 spaced from each of one additional guide rollers 23 and including two outermost further additlonal guide rollers, outerrr;ost further additional guide rollers 24 being spaced apart in the direction of the track by a distance not exceeding about the length of track ties 6. The further additional guide rollers are mount~d for selected posikioning retlacted from, and in engagement with, the running surface. In FIG. 2, - furkher additional guide rollers 24 are shown in the retrac~ed position while FIG. 3 shows them in the engaged position where-in the guide rollers cooperate to constikute an elongated rigid reference -Eor planing ripples or corrugations. As shown, the axles of rollers 24 are mounted in elongated slots 25 in mounting 10, 11 to enable them to be selectively positioned in relakion to running surface 53 o-f the rail head.

~ e long rigid reference basis enables the machine to plane elongate~ undulations or ripples in the rail head 1 running surface and to remove the same in the form of con-tinuous chip or sh~ving 37 as the machine moves alony the track, the ra.il head being preferably restored to its original profile at the same time. The usual distance between the two outermost further additional guide rollers 2~ will be about 2 m. This enables the length of the reference to be adjusted widely to the length of the ripples to be removed by selectively positioning respective further additional guide rollers 24.
Guide rollers 26 to 29 are disc-shaped rollers rotating ahout vertical axes As shown in the drawing, rail contouring tool head 30 including downwardly projecting tool holder 31 is mounted on mounting 10, 11 for displacement in relation thereto in planes parallel to the track plane and to a vertical plane passing through the associated rail. For this purpose, hydraulic cylinder-piston drive motor 33 vertically movably connects tool head 30 to the mounting and conduits 19 connect the cylinder chambers of the drive.motor to control 16 ~or displacing the tool head vertically, limit stop means 59 limiting the vertical stroke of the tool h~ad. Tool head 30 is laterally displaceable in relat.ion to the mounting by hydraulic cylinder-piston drive motor 60 whose c~linder chambers are connected to control 16 by conduits 20~ Any suitable guide means, such as guide columns, dove-tailed guide tracks and the li.ke, may mount the tool head on the mounting for vertical and horizontal displacement thereof. The specific displacement means are not part of the present invention as long as the tool head may be displaced in relation to the mounting to assume a desired operating position assuring the de~ired cu-t-ting depth of the cutting blade. Rail contouring 9 _ g tool 32 is replaceably mounted in tool holder 31 and the tool detachably carries cutting blade 48, 54, 56 (FIGS. 5 to 11) having a cutting edge for planing a selected profile of rail head 42.
In the retracted position of further additional guide rollers 24 shown in FIG 2, the machine is adapted for removal of overflow metal 34 produced by prolonged train traffic and for machining gage sicle 43 of the rail head, which require only short reference 35 provided by the two engaged additional ~uide rollers 23 while all the further additional guide rollers 24 are out of contact with the running surface o~ the rail head. Distance 36 between the vertical axes of guide roller p~irs 26, 28 and 27, 29 is also relatively small, averaging maybe about ? mm. With this arrangement, irregularities having a wavelength of up to about 30 cm can be readily removed.
As is shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, rail contouring tool 32 is positioned opposlte the rail head side engaged by the lateral guide rollers sc~ that the latter serve as a support for absorbing the lateral cutting forces. As the machine advances continuously; the cutting blade Will machine a continuous chip or shaving 37 off the rail~head, the mounting being conti.nuously moved alonc~ the rail by the machine with a sufficient thrust to plane the rail head while the mounting is pressed there-against.
When the machine is used to remove relatively short ripples 38, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the mounting is laterally guided by guide rollers 28, 29 along gage side 43 of rail head 42 and a longer reference basis is provided by lowering further additional guide rollers 24 into engagement with the running surface of the rail head. Obviously, a Jr~,s~

1 larger number of vertical guidance rollers could be provided and any selected number of guide rollers 24 may be retracted to adapt the length of the reference to the length of the ripples or other irregulari-ties to be removecl and to avoid copying such surface irregularities in case the wheel base of the mounting accidentally coincides in length with the length of such irregularities. While undulations 38 are planed, other rail head profiling may be produced by the cutting blades.
Whether such simultaneous profiling work may be produced with a suitable cutting blade arrangement will depend primarily on the degree of wear of the rail head.
FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of rail contouring machine 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 in a track curve and in opposite operating directions, advancing to the left with the arrangement of FIG. 3 and to the right with the arrangement o~ FIG. 2.
As schematically indic,ated in FIG. 4, a mounting 10, 11 is linked to the mac~ine frame in association with each rail 4, 5. A
tool head 30 is arranged on each mounting and a single tool 32 carrying a single cutting blade is mounted in each tool holder 2~ 31. Mountings 10, 11 are in substantial alignment in a direction extending transversely to the rails and transversely extending spacing members 39 continuously adjustable to the track gage by hydraulic cylinder-piston drive motors 40 link the mountings to each others preferably by means of universal joints. Double-acting drive motors 40 are connected by conduits 17 and 22 to control 16 for operation. These motors enable the operator of the machine, depending on the selected rail contouring opPration, to apply hydraulic pressure to a selected cylinder chamber of the drive motor to 3Q press guide xollers 26, 27 of mountings 10, 11 against fleld . ~

1 sides 44 of rails 4 and 5 (right side of FIG~ 4) or to press guide rollers 2~, 29 against gage sides 43 oE the rails (left side of FIG. 4). In both selected positions, the mountings are pressed without play against the track rails to follow the curve and, at the same time, their transverse spacing is adjusted to a changing track gage in the curve.
With a given machine weight, such a tool arrangement produces a very high rail planing force and efficiency, the adjustab].e spacing members linked universally to the mountings assuring at the same time that, despite the very high operating stresses, the tools are always held in a rigid vise during the cutting operati.on~ When the weight of the machine is, for example, about 40 tons, a sufficient thrust can be re~ched to produce cutting forces for removing a continuous chip or shaving of a gage of the magnitude of about 0.5 mm and more as the cutting blade planes the rail head during the continuous a~ ance of the machine along the track.
The right side of ~IG. 4 shows the arrangement and operation according to FIG. 2 and planing tools 32 are mounted a-t the front of tool holder 31, as seen in the operating direction indicated by arrow 9. At the left side, the arrange-ment and operation accordin~ to FIG. 3 is illustrated or opexating in the opposite direction. This change is accomplished very simply by proceedin~ in the manner indicated by arrows 41 to reposition tools 32~ motors 40 being operated in the opposite direction to engage guide roll~rs 28, 29 instead of rollers 26, 27.
As shown, tool holder 31 is symmetricall~v constructed with respect to a plane extending vertically to the track and perpendicularly to the rail whereby a respective -tool may p,r~

be operative in a respective operating directlon of the machine. This makes it possible to use the same tool on the machine for operation in both directions along the track, requiring merely the repositioning of the tool in the holder. A few typical embodiments of rail contouring tools useful for the machine to remove surface irregularities from rail heads in a continuous planing operation are illustrated in FIGS. 5 ~o 11.
Referring to FIG. 5, tool holder 31 is shown to define guide 45 which is a recess of dove-tailed cross section extending in the direction of the track. Tool part 46 is replaceably received by dove-tailed guide recess 45 and clamping plate 47 holds tool part 46 attached to the guide.
This provides a very simple construction for the rapid replacemenk of the planing tool while, at the same time, assuring a very rigid and secure mounting of the tool in the holder. Furthermore, after the tool holder has been suitably centered, for example with respect to the center line of the track, the tool may be replaced without the need for reposi-tioning the tool holder. Even if the tool is not preciselyset in longitudinally extending guide 45, this has no effect on the accuracy of the planing operation since the latter depends solely on the accuracy of the lateral positioning of the cutting edge in relation to the rail head.
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 11, planing tool 32 is arranged symmetrically with respect to vertical center plane 55 passing through rail head 42 and detachably carries cutting blade 48, 54, 56 having cutting edge 51, 57 arranged to engage a selected surface of rail head 42 for planing a selected profile of the rail head. Such a tool can be used for the successive and complete restoration of the original profile of a rail head O, 1 and all that is required is to replace respective tools in the tool holder for successive planing operations as described hereinbelow.
FIG. 5 shows a tool arrangement for planing overflow metal 34 from gage side 43 of rail head 42. In this case, guide rollers 26, 27 are engaged with field side ~4 of the rail head for guiding tool holder 31 without play along the rail. Cutting blade 48 is made of a highly resistant material, such as carbide steel, and is replaceably mounted in the,tool holder, being held in tool 32 by wedge 49 and clamping shoes 50 to enable the cutting blade to be readily replaced in the tool. Cu~ting edge 51 of.cutting blade 48 is arranged to extend at an angle of 45 with respect to vertical center plane 55 and plane 52 extending parallel to -the plane of the track. The cutting edge is substantially rectilinear. This arrangement permits the removal of relatively much overflow metal and rectilinear cutting edges' can be readily sharpened. As will be appreciated from the drawing, the removal of overflow metal 34'will produce a sharp edge in the transition between runniny surface 53 and gage side 43 of rail head 42. This will be properly contoured in a subsequent planing operation, as will be described hereinafter.
In khe embodiment shown in partial longitudinal section in FIG. 6, cu~.ting blade 48 .is detachably affixed to planing tool 32 by screws and is comprised of a carbide metal platelet, having two edges 51 at respective ends thereof, the platelet extending in the direction of rail head 42 and cutting edges 51 extending transversely thereto. As shown, the tool is sl.ightly inclined with respect to running surface 53 of the rail 1 head so that only -the front cutting edge enyages the running surface to remove continuous chip or shaving 37 therefrom during operation of the machine. When this cutting edge is worn, the cutting blade is simply reversed in the tool so that the sharp edge engages the running surface. This in practice doubles the life of the blade when the two cutting edges 51 are of -the same configuration. On the other hand, if they are of different configurations, reversal of the cutting blade makes it possible to use the same blade for two machining :
~ operations producing different configurations~
FIG. 7 shows an embodiment wherein plani.ng tool 32 carries two cut.ting blades 48 at one side of vertical center plane 55. Cutting edge 51 of one cutting blade is arranged to extend at an angle of about 22.5 and the cutting edge :
of the other blade is arranged to extend at an angle of about 67.5 with respect to the.vertical center plane, cutting edges 51, 51 enclosing an angle of about 135 and being substantially rectilinear. This tool is preferably used after overflow metal 34 has been removed with the tool illustrated in FIG. S so that any edges remaining after the preceding planing operation are machined by the deeper milling of the surface regions adjacent the overflow metal. At the same time, gage side 43 and half of running surface 53 of rail head 42 are planed.
Cutting blade 54 of tool 32 of FIG. 8 has a cutting edg~ with a curvature substantially corresponding to the origi.nal profile oE a respective side of rail head 42 including an arcuate transition region between the rail head side and the running surface of the ra:il head as well as an adjacent portion of the running surface. When this tool is used subsequently to the tools of FIGS. 5 and 7, the original profile of one half of the rail head is fully restored.
According to a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, mounting 10, 11 is continuously moved along a section of associated rail 4, 5 in three successive operating stages. Tool head 30 is displaced at the beginning of each operating stage into engagement with the rail head surface and the operating stages successively comprises a first stage for rem~ving overflow metal 34 at gage side 43 1~ of rail head 42 opposite field side 44 against which the mounting is pressedO Cutting blade 48 of FIG. 5 is used in this first stage and its cutting edge 51 removes the overflow metal in a continuous chip or shaving. ~n a second stage, ripples or corruga^tions are removed from the surface and gage side 43 during a continuous return movement along this rail section with two cuttiny blades at this side of vertical center plane 55, arranged in the manner shown in FIG. 7. In a third stage, contouring of one half of the rail head surface is finished with cutting blade 54 shown in FIG. 8.
This three-stage contouring method enables the surface of a rail head of a laid rail to be restored to an excellent operating contour in a relatively short time, the cutting blades being changed between the opera-ting stages one of which is effected during the return movement over the track secti~n at which the overflow metal has been removed from the rail heads. If both rails of the track are contoured at the same time in each operating stage, the contoured rails may be removed after the planing operation has been completad and these contoured rails may be exchanged in the track whereby the contoured field sides of the rails become the gage .!3 ~

1 sides engaged by the ~langes of the wheels of railroad cars traveling thereover.
In track curves, extensive and expensive restoration work is avoided according to another preferred aspect of the method according to this invention by pressing one of the rnountings of the machine against the gage side of one of the rails with which it is associated while the other mounting is pressed against the field side of the other rail for simultaneously removing the surface irregularities at the field side of the one rail and the gage side of the other rails, as shown in FIG. 4.
In the tool of FIG. 9, cutting edge 51 of blade 48 is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to the vertical center plane of the rail head and is substantially bisected thereby, the cutting edge being substantially rectilinear. This tool will be parti.cularly useful in removing such runn.ing surface irregularities as r.ipples or undulations. .
FIG. 10 shows a tool carrying two cutting blades 48, 48 arranged symmetrically with respect to vertical center plane 55 and the plane passing centrally therebetween.
Cutting edyes 51 of the cutting bl~des ar~ arranged to extend at an angle of about 15 with respect to the vertical center plane and are su~stantially rectilinear. This tool enables the enti.re running surface 53 of the rail head to be planed as a stage before the full restoration of the original rail head configuration which may be accomplished with the tool illustrated in FIG. 11. With this tool, the original rail head configuration is restored after the rail head has been machined with one or more of the tools described hereinabove, cutting blade 56 having cutting edge 57 substantially 1 corresponding to the profile of rail head 42 including the running surface and the sides thereof as well as the transition regions between the running surface and the sides. In this final operating stage and as shown in broken lines, yuide rollers 26, 27 as well as guide rollers 28, 29 may be engayed ~ith the sides of the rail head. This produces a particularly exact guidance and centering of cutting blades 56 with respect to vertical center plane 55 of rail head 42.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a rail con-tourin~ machine 1 with frame 2 having a weight of the order of magnitude of the weight of a mobile track surfacing machine, for instance in excess of 45 tons. ~he machine is self-propelledr being e~uipped with drive 58 capable of a substantial thrust to move the machine along the track during ~the planing operation. The machine is substantially similar to tha-t of FIG. 1 ~ut comprises a plurality of mountings 10, 11 linked to the machine frame in association with each ra~l 4, 5, three suc~ mountings being used in the preferred illus-trated embodiments. ~Respective pairs of mountings 10, 11 2~ are in substantial ali~nment in a direction extending trans-- versely to the rails and transversely extending spacing members, as shown in FIG. 4, link the mountings of each pair to each other. The spacing members are continuousl~ adjustable to the track gage. As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, all the drives on'the mountings are connected to central control 16 for remote control thereof. ~he operation of this machine ~ill be described hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 14 to 17. ~Jith a heavy machine of this type, it is possible to obtain hiyh machining efficiencies while the mountings are clamped to the track rails as rigid vises in tight engagement 1 with the track rails at any track gage. Continuous chips or shavings of 0.5 mm gage and more have been obtained with such machines. The configuration of the rail heads of a track may be fully restored with this machine in one or two passes.
FIG. 13 shows a train of three mobile rail contouriny machines 1 coupled together by couplings 8 for common continuous movement. The frame of each machine is relatively heavy, having a weight of the oxder of magnitude of the weight of mobile track surfaciny machines. Each machine has a single moun-ting 10, 11 linked to the machine frame in association with each rail 4, 5, substantially as shown in full lines in FIG. 1 and fully described hereinabove. The rail contouring tool of each machine carries a different one of the cutting blades, such as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 11, respectively designed fox contouring the rail head or planing corxugations in a single pass of the train.
As shown at 55 in FIGS. 2 and 3, adjustable stop means is provided on each of the mountings of the machines of ~IGS. 12 and 13 for limiting the displacement of the tool ~ heads in a ver-tical direction whereby the cutting depth of each cutting blades may be adjusted. The embodiments of FIGS~ 12 and 13 will operate in a similar manner, making it possible to complete rail configuration operations rapidly so as to minimize dead track times and also reducing the number of operating personnel and operational planning requiring for such operations. When the rail contouring tools oE each pair of mountings carry different cut-ting blades respectively designed for contouring the rail heads or planing corrugations in a single pass o the machine, the cutting blades may be optimally selected for cooperating so as 3~

1 to be best adapted for removal of the prevalent rail surface irregularities in a given track section. Each one of machines 1 may be used alone or a plurality of the machines may be coupled together into a work train.
The schematic illustrations of FIGS. 14 to 16 show machine 1 of FIG. 12 or the work train of FIG. 13 (which is functionally equivalent thereto) in operation when moved along track 7. A front pair of mountings, as seen in the operating direction~ carries cutting blades 48 in an arrange-~ ment designed to plane overflow metal 34 at field sides 44of rails 4 and 5, such a tool arrangement being illustrated in FIG. 5 (as applied to gage side 43). The succeeding pair of mountings carries pairs of cutting blades 48, 48 ~see FIG. 7) for working in the manner of FIG. 15 while FIG. 16 shows the last pair of mountings with cutting blades 54 according to FIG. 8. In this manner, a single pass will produce not only removal of the overflow metal on the field sides of both rails but will also restore the outer half of the rails to their original profile. A second pass will then produce the same result on the other half of the rail heads.
FIG. 17 shows the work in a curve whose superelevation is illustrated in exaggerated form. Cutting blades 48 are so arranged with respect to respective rail heads 42 o~ rails 4 and 5 that the overflow metal at the inside of the curve of both rails ils removed (see FIG. 5~.
Remote control of all operations is possible by the provision o~ central power plant 14 and control 16 connected to the various drive means for vertically adjusting the mountings, for displaciny the tool head in relation to the mounting and for laterall~ pressing the mountings against the r3 ~ ~
rail heads. This enables rapid adjustments by a single operator and no further monitoring personnel need be used.
Those skilled in the art wi:Ll appreciate that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments herein described and illustrated. ~hus, the structure of the tool holder and the detachable mounting of the tool in the holder may take any suitable form.

~,~

Claims (9)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A rail contouring tool replaceably mounted in a tool holder carried by a mobile rail contouring machine mounted for continuous movement in an operating direction for con-tinuously planing a rail head during the continuous movement, the tool being selectively arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical center plane passing through the tool holder perpendicularly to said direction and detachably carrying a cutting blade having a cutting edge arranged to engage a selected surface of the rail head for planing a selected profile of the rail head.

2. The rail contouring tool of claim 1, wherein the cutting edge is arranged to extend at an angle of about 45° with respect to a vertical center plane passing through the rail head and is substantially rectilinear.

3. The rail contouring tool of claim 1, wherein the cutting edge is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to a vertical center plane passing through the rail head and is substantially bisected thereby, the cutting edge being sub-stantially rectilinear.

4. The rail contouring tool of claim 1, carrying two of said cutting blades at one side of a vertical center plane passing through the rail head, the cutting edge of one of the cutting blades being arranged to extend at an angle of about 22.5° and the cutting edge of the other cutting blade being arranged to extend at an angle of about 67.5° with respect to a vertical center plane passing through the rail head, the cutting edges enclosing an angle of about 135° and being substantially rectilinear.
5. The rail contouring tool of claim 1, carrying two of said cutting blades arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical center plane passing through the rail head and the plane passing centrally therebetween, the cutting edges of the cutting blades being

Claim 5 continued...

arranged to extend at an angle of about 10° to 15° with respect to the vertical center plane and being substantially rectilinear.

6. The rail contouring tool of claim 1, wherein the cutting edge has a curvature substantially corresponding to the profile of a respective half of the rail head including a transition region between the rail head side and the running surface of the rail head.

7. The rail contouring tool of claim 1, wherein the cutting edge has a curvature substantially corresponding to the profile of the rail head including the running surface thereof, the gage and field sides thereof and the transition regions between the running surface and the sides.

8. The rail contouring tool of claim 1, wherein the cutting blade is a carbide metal platelet having two of said cutting edges at respective ends thereof, the platelet extending in the direction of the rail head and the cutting edges extending transversely thereto.

9. The rail contouring tool of claim 8, wherein the two cutting edges are of the same configuration.