Plasser Dynamic Track Stabiliser DGS 62-N is a heavy duty, dynamic stabiliser machine. Stabilizers are used after the tamping machines have finished tamping and straightening the track. The stabilizers are surface vibration devices that compact and stiffen the track-bearing ballast bed, thereby securing the track more firmly in the ballast and improving the resistance. After using a stabilizer the ballast bed will settle less in the future because of passing trains. The DGS 62 N stabilizer has a measurement station for the lateral resistance of the ballast bed. There is one powered bogie for travel drive and both bogie serves as powered bogie for working drive. These machines have two stabilizing units. Each stabilizing unit consist of a frame with 4 running rollers with flange inside, a horizontal running guide rollers per rail and the vibration drive unit. The running rollers are pressed against the railhead from inside during the vibration process and the horizontal guide rollers from outside. The stabilizing units are designed that only horizontal vibration occurs by means of a cardan shaft.
Heavy dynamic consolidating units are pressed firmly against both rails by hydraulic pressure. Flywheels produce a horizontal oscillations (some of machines use vertical oscillations also) directed laterally to the track, which together with a vertical load is transmitted onto the track and subsequently to the ballast bed. The dynamic effect of directional oscillation causes the sleepers to be rubbed into the ballast bed and produces a flowing movement of the ballast which get denser by filling of the voids. This compaction causes not only a controlled and uniform settlement of the track but also an enhanced friction between sleeper and compacted ballast bed, thus increasing lateral track resistance. The oscillation frequency is adjustable. The impact by the dynamic force and simultaneously applied static force are important aspects of functioning of DTS. Hydraulic cylinders attached between the machine frame and the consolidating units apply vertical static loads on both rails. The vertical load helps in maintaining firm contact between the consolidating units and the track for transmitting the oscillation. The vertical static pressure is also adjustable.
DTS is equipped with a levelling system, which prevents the longitudinal, and cross level values from varying appreciably due to differential settlement of various segments of track during operation of DTS. The transducers of the longitudinal level and the cross level measuring system recognize the tendencies towards formation of faults of this kind and influence the load control with their measuring signal via the automatic governor, thus counteracting the tendency of propagation of the faults.
The speed of working can be controlled by an adjustable hydrostatic drive. If the track geometry is corrected by several passes of the tamping machine, then a low speed of working of 0.5 kmph to 1.0 kmph is selected for first and second passes of the machine. For subsequent passes, higher working speed is selected. It is possible to permit speed of 40 kmph on freshly deep-screened tack, if ballast is adequate and Dynamic track stabilizer has been used behind the tamping machine.