Method for operating a tamping machine

Abstract

A method operates a tamping machine on a track. The tamping machine contains a tamping unit, a lifting and lining unit, a measuring system with a measuring value transducer, and a control/regulating device. The lifting and lining unit being actuated by the control/regulating device as a function of a track position recorded by the measuring system in such a way that a treated track section is lifted to a target level during a lifting time. At least two controllers set up in the control/regulating device are selected in such a way that the first controller is activated in a first lifting mode for standard operation and that the second controller is activated in a second lifting mode for turnouts. The respective controller is optimized for the assigned controlled line.

1 - 15  (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for operating a tamping machine on a track, the tamping machine containing a tamping unit, a lifting and lining unit, a measuring system with a measuring value transducer, and a control/regulating device, which comprises the steps of:
 actuating the lifting and lining unit via the control/regulating device in dependence on a track position recorded by means of the measuring system such that a treated track section is lifted to a target level during a lifting time; and   selecting at least two controllers set up in the control/regulating device such that a first controller of the controllers is activated in a first lifting mode for standard operation and that a second controller of the controllers is activated in a second lifting mode for turnouts.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first controller is activated as a proportional controller; and   the second controller is activated as a proportional-derivative controller, a proportional integral controller, or a proportional-integral-derivative controller.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , which further comprises comparing a lifting of the track recorded with the measuring value transducer with a predefined threshold value, and in that an enable for lowering the tamping unit into a ballast bed of the track is generated as soon as the lifting reaches the predefined threshold value. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , which further comprises enabling a lowering of the tamping unit by signaling to an operator by means of an enable signal, and in that a height drive of the tamping unit is activated by the operator. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , which further comprises automatically activating a height drive of the tamping unit as soon as enable conditions for lowering the tamping unit have taken place. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , which further comprises generating a warning signal shortly before the tamping unit is lowered. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , which further comprises activating the first lifting mode or the second lifting mode by means of an operating element. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 , which further comprises recording a lifting force and/or a lifting duration acting on the track from the lifting and lining unit and automatically switching between the first and second lifting modes when a threshold value is reached. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , which further comprises comparing a recorded lifting force with a lifting force limit by means of a comparator, with an output of the comparator producing a selection signal when a predefined lifting force is reached such that the first lifting mode is activated when a lifting force measuring value is less than or equal to the lifting force limit, and the second lifting mode is activated when the lifting force limit is exceeded. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 16 , which further comprises providing the control/regulating device with position data of the track for switching between the first and second lifting modes. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein a sensor disposed on the tamping machine is used to recognize a start or an end of a turnout, and in that a corresponding signal is forwarded to the control/regulating device. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 16 , which further comprises recording a lifting force and/or a lifting duration acting on the track from the lifting and lining unit and, from an additional lifting unit, and automatically switching between the first and second lifting modes when a threshold value is reached. 
     
     
         28 . A tamping machine, comprising:
 a tamping unit;   a lifting and lining unit;   a measuring system with a measuring value transducer;   a control/regulating device having at least two controllers including a first controller assigned to a first lifting mode for a standard operation, and a second controller assigned to a second lifting mode for turnouts; and   the tamping machine configured for carrying out the method according to  claim 16 .   
     
     
         29 . The tamping machine according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 said first controller of said control/regulating device is a proportional controller; and   said second controller is a proportional-derivative controller, a proportional integral controller, or a proportional-integral-derivative controller.   
     
     
         30 . The tamping machine according to  claim 29 , wherein said second controller includes a parallel connection of a proportional element, an integral element, and a derivative element. 
     
     
         31 . The tamping machine according to  claim 28 , further comprising a sensor, and/or a 2D laser scanner, and/or a 3D laser scanner for recognizing the turnouts. 
     
     
         32 . The tamping machine according to  claim 31 , wherein said sensor is a camera.