阅读说明：本技术 使用红外辐射电灯加热铁路钢轨的移动设备及其相关加热方法 (Mobile device for heating railway rails using infrared radiation electric lamps and related heating method ) 是由 M-A·萨沃亚特 于 2020-01-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于加热铁路(2)钢轨(12)的移动设备包括：加热模块(34),该加热模块(34)包括至少一个加热区(28)和至少一个朝向加热区(28)的辐射热源(46)；以及运输车辆(16),用于运输所述加热模块(34)。加热模块(34)的加热单元(36)包括能够发射集中在近红外中的辐射的红外辐射电灯(42),并配备有主反射器(48),主反射器(48)以将由辐射源(46)发射的红外辐射反射到加热区(28)的方式定向。加热单元(36)还包括副反射器(50),该副反射器(50)具有围绕加热区(28)的凹反射表面,并且能够将由钢轨反射并在红外辐射电灯(42)之间通过的光线返回到加热区(28)。(A mobile apparatus for heating a rail (12) of a railway (2) comprising: a heating module (34), the heating module (34) comprising at least one heating zone (28) and at least one radiant heat source (46) directed towards the heating zone (28); and a transport vehicle (16) for transporting the heating module (34). The heating unit (36) of the heating module (34) comprises an infrared radiation electric lamp (42) capable of emitting radiation concentrated in the near infrared and is equipped with a main reflector (48), the main reflector (48) being oriented in such a way that infrared radiation emitted by the radiation source (46) is reflected to the heating zone (28). The heating unit (36) further comprises a sub-reflector (50), the sub-reflector (50) having a concave reflective surface surrounding the heating zone (28) and being capable of returning light rays reflected by the steel rails and passing between the infrared radiation electric lamps (42) back to the heating zone (28).)

1. A mobile apparatus for heating a rail (12) of a railway track (2), comprising: at least one heating module (34) comprising at least one heating zone (28) and at least one radiant heat source (46) oriented towards the heating zone (28); and a transport vehicle (16) for transporting the heating module (34), which can be driven along the railway track (2) in a laying direction (100) such that at each time a portion of the steel rails (12) of the railway track (2) not fixed to the sleepers (8, 10) of the railway track (2) passes through the heating zone (28) in a forward direction (200); the heating module comprising at least one heating unit (36), characterized in that the heating unit (36) comprises a plurality of electric infrared radiation lamps (42), the plurality of electric infrared radiation lamps (42) being distributed over the periphery of the heating zone (28) and being oriented towards the heating zone (28), each of the electric infrared radiation lamps (42) comprising at least one radiation source (46) and at least one main reflector (48), the radiation source (46) being capable of emitting infrared radiation having a maximum power spectral density for wavelengths smaller than 2 μm, the main reflector (48) being oriented to reflect infrared radiation emitted by the radiation source (46) towards the heating zone (28), the radiation source (46) being arranged between the main reflector (48) and the heating zone (28), directly opposite the heating zone (28), the heating unit (36) further comprises a sub-reflector (50) having a concave reflective surface surrounding the heating zone (28) and capable of returning reflected light passing between the electric infrared radiation lamps (42) to the heating zone (28).

2. Mobile heating device (32) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric infrared radiation lamp is tubular and oriented parallel to the advancement direction (200).

3. A mobile heating device (32) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in a cross section through a plane perpendicular to the advancement direction, the reflecting surface of the sub-reflector (50) has a cross section in the shape of a circular arc with an angle greater than 180 °, preferably greater than 240 °, or is circular.

4. Mobile heating device (32) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in a cross section through a plane perpendicular to the advancement direction, the radius of curvature of the reflecting surface of the sub-reflector (50) is less than 160 mm, preferably less than 120 mm and greater than 70 mm, preferably greater than 100 mm.

5. Mobile heating device (32) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reflecting surface of the sub-reflector (50) is made of polished aluminum, silver or gold.

6. Mobile heating device (32) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the main reflector (48) of each of the electric infrared radiation lamps (42) is made of silver or gold.

7. Mobile heating device (32) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the main reflector (48) of each of the electric infrared radiation lamps (42) is parabolic or elliptical or circular arc-shaped in cross section in a section perpendicular to the advancing direction (200).

8. Mobile heating device (32) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a maximum power spectral density is observed for wavelengths larger than 0.7 μm.

9. Mobile heating device (32) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the number of electric infrared radiation lamps (42) is larger than 2, preferably larger than 4.

10. Mobile heating device (32) according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sub-reflector (50) surrounds the electric infrared radiation lamp (42).

11. Mobile heating device (32) according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the secondary reflector (50) extends between the infrared radiating electric lamps (42).

12. A mobile heating apparatus (32) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport vehicle (16) of the heating module (34) comprises means for raising the section of the steel rails (12) located in the heating zone (28) relative to the railway track (2) and means for positioning the section of the track (12) on the sleepers (10) of the railway track (2) and fixing the section of the steel rails (12) on the sleepers (10) after heat input.

13. The mobile heating apparatus (32) according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating module (34) comprises at least two heating units (36) aligned along the advancement direction (200) to define the heating zone (28).

14. Mobile heating device (32) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating modules are provided with guiding means (52) for ensuring the guiding of the rail (12) portion in the heating zones of the guided heating modules, the guiding means preferably comprising rollers rolling on the rail portion.

15. Mobile heating device (32) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radiation source (46) is capable of emitting infrared radiation with a maximum power spectral density at a wavelength of less than 1.4 μm, preferably less than 1.2 μm.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to heating a rail of a railway track with the aim of neutralising or pre-neutralising the rail prior to fixing it to a railway sleeper. The present invention relates to a mobile heating apparatus moving along a track, and to a laying method comprising heating of a rail.

Background

Railway track rails are subject to significant temperature variations based on seasonal and meteorological conditions. The rails tend to stretch under the effect of the temperature increase, whereas they tend to contract under the effect of the temperature decrease.

In the past, expansion joints were provided between successive rails of a section of railroad rail. Nowadays, however, rails are welded end to end over a very significant length and are thus fixed to the rail sleepers. Under the effect of ambient temperatures above the annual average temperature, the rails which cannot be expanded are subjected to compressive forces, while the sleepers are subjected to forces tending to separate them from one another. Conversely, under the influence of ambient temperatures lower than the annual average temperature, the rails which cannot be contracted are subjected to traction forces, while the sleepers are subjected to forces tending to move them towards each other.

If the temperature of the rails is not controlled during the laying process, operations called mechanical "neutralization" must be carried out after the laying and the speed of travel must be limited as long as these operations are not completed. The mechanical neutralization comprises the following steps: cutting a section of rail, the thickness of which depends on the difference between the temperature at intervention and the "neutral" temperature at that location; removing the steel rail; the rail is stretched using a rail stretcher to fill the space left by the cut section before retightening the bolts and re-welding (if applicable) the rail. As long as such neutralization is not performed, the traveling speed on the track must be limited, typically 50 km/h. It will be appreciated that such engineering structures cause significant interruptions to traffic during the neutralization operation and in the previous phase between laying the rails and neutralization.

Directly fixing rails that are continuously heated to near or equal to the "neutral" temperature may achieve better results in terms of minimizing traffic disruption. This operation is called thermoneutralization.

Up to now, the solutions to achieve continuous heating of the rails require induction technology. The method makes it possible to achieve heating that is sufficiently precise to ensure that the rail is laid within the tolerance range required for a "neutral" temperature. Thus, it is possible to refer to direct fine thermal neutralization. However, the material required for this operation is relatively complex, as it requires a generator and cooling of the power supply circuit, generator and inductor.

For sites requiring subsequent ballast stabilization, a thermal "pre-neutralization" process is proposed that brings the rail to a "neutral" temperature close enough to the site before it is secured to the crossties, but does not guarantee that the "neutral" temperature is reached. Such "pre-neutralization" is interesting to allow directly to travel at a speed of 80 km/h instead of 50 km/h while waiting for the completion of the mechanical neutralization operation described above. A method for performing the thermal pre-neutralization comprises spraying the rail with hot water: a simple solution, but with drawbacks in use, in particular in terms of water output, transport and discharge, which makes it less interesting.

Furthermore, US6308635 suggests heating rails already laid on the ground using an electrically radiating heating module comprising silicon carbide electric heating elements, each associated with a dedicated parabolic reflector. However, the performance of such devices has not been documented.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to overcome the defects of the prior art and provides a heating mode which has strong function, accurate heat transmission and strong reactivity in the transition period of laying speed change or environmental temperature change.

To achieve this, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a mobile apparatus for heating a rail of a railway track is proposed, comprising: at least one heating module comprising at least one heating zone and at least one radiant heat source directed toward the heating zone; and a transport vehicle for transporting the heating module, which transport vehicle can be driven along the railway track in the laying direction such that at each time a portion of the railway track rail that is not fixed to a sleeper of the railway track passes through the heating zone in the advancing direction. In a unique way, the heating module comprises at least one heating unit comprising a plurality of electric infrared radiation lamps distributed around and towards the heating zone, each of the electric infrared radiation lamps comprising at least one radiation source, the radiation source being capable of emitting infrared radiation with a maximum power spectral density for wavelengths smaller than 2 μm, preferably smaller than 1.4 μm, very preferably smaller than 1.2 μm, the main reflector being oriented to reflect infrared radiation emitted by the radiation source to the heating zone, the radiation source being arranged between the main reflector and the heating zone, directly opposite the heating zone, the heating unit further comprising a sub-reflector, the sub-reflector has a concave reflecting surface surrounding the heating zone and is capable of returning the reflected light passing between the infrared radiation lamps to the heating zone.

The absorption of the rail increases with decreasing wavelength, at least for wavelengths greater than 0.5 μm. Infrared lamps with radiation peaks in the near infrared range (particularly I R-a or NI R) are chosen to obtain better absorption than lamps emitting mid or far infrared.

The presence of a single main reflector and a common sub-reflector makes it possible to increase the output significantly, so as to return said radiation reflected thereby onto the rail.

In fact, a portion of the radiation incident on the rail is reflected. The reflective steel rail is particularly suitable for the lower part of the steel rail, which is bright and has a reflectivity of 65 percent. The primary reflector integrated in each infrared lamp is primarily used to direct radiation emitted by the lamp towards the rail, but it also serves as a secondary reflector to redirect radiation previously reflected by the rail towards the rail. The common sub-reflector performs the function of the main reflector to redirect unabsorbed radiation towards the rail. This provision makes it possible to achieve very good outputs using lamps without connections.

The electric near-infrared radiation lamp has an extremely fast response time compared with the propulsion speed of the railway laying work, which makes it possible to envisage not only pre-neutralization operations but also fine neutralization operations.

According to one embodiment, at least one point of the heating zone is located less than 160 mm, preferably less than 120 mm, from said radiation source of each of the infrared radiation electric lamps.

According to one embodiment, at least one point of the heating zone is located less than 160 mm, preferably less than 120 mm, from any point of the reflecting surface of the sub-reflector.

According to one embodiment, at least some of the lamps are distributed in a spaced apart manner from each other over the circumference of the heating zone. According to one embodiment, at least some of the infrared radiation electric lamps are connected in pairs.

To limit losses, the secondary reflector must preferably surround the rail in the center of the heating zone to the maximum extent possible. It may thus be provided that, in a cross section through a plane perpendicular to the direction of advance, the reflecting surface of the sub-reflector has a circular-arc-shaped cross section or a circular cross section with an angle greater than 180 °, preferably greater than 240 °. In a cross section through a plane perpendicular to the direction of advance, the reflecting surface of the sub-reflector preferably has a radius of curvature of less than 160 mm, preferably less than 120 mm and more than 70 mm, preferably more than 100 mm.

The reflecting surface of the sub-reflector must preferably exhibit a significant reflectivity in the spectral region under consideration. In practice, it is preferred to select a reflective surface having a reflectivity of more than 80% in the spectral range from 0.5 μm to 2 μm, which can be achieved at reasonable cost, in particular in the case of surfaces made of polished aluminum or, if applicable, silver or gold surfaces.

In a similar manner, it is desirable that the reflectivity of the main reflector is very high, preferably greater than 90%, in the spectral range of 0.5 μm to 2 μm. The main reflector of each of the infrared radiation electric lamps is preferably made of silver or gold.

In order to achieve an optimal redirection of the flux emitted by each radiation source towards the heating zone, the main reflector of each of the infrared radiation electric lamps is parabolic or elliptical or circular in cross section of a sectional plane perpendicular to the advancing direction. The radiation source is preferably located in the focal region in the center of the parabola or ellipse or said arc.

In practice, maximum power spectral density is observed when the wavelength is greater than 0.7 μm. It is particularly possible to select incandescent lamps emitting in the near infrared as radiation sources.

The number of infrared radiation electric lamps is preferably more than 2, preferably more than 4.

According to a particularly easy to implement embodiment, the sub-reflector surrounds the electric infrared radiation lamp. Thus, the sub-reflector may be formed of a single piece without a cut.

Alternatively, a secondary reflector may be provided extending between the infrared radiating electric lamps. In this case, it is necessary to provide a cut-out or stamping on the secondary deflector to accommodate the infrared radiation lamp.

The transport vehicle of the heating module preferably comprises means for raising the rail section located in the heating zone relative to the railway track, and means for positioning the rail section on a sleeper of the railway track after the heat input and fixing the rail section on said sleeper.

The transport vehicle of the heating module preferably comprises means for raising the rail section located in the heating zone relative to the track, and means for positioning the rail section on the sleepers after the heat input, before fixing the rail section on the sleepers. As described above, the elevation of the rail section in the heating zone makes it possible to better surround the rail not only from above, but also from the side and, if applicable, from below, in order to even out the heat input over the circumference of this rail section and to minimize losses. In fact, the heating zone is far from the rails, in particular the sleepers, which makes it possible to use increased heating power (if applicable) without any risk to the rails.

According to one embodiment, the heating module comprises at least two heating units, the heating units being aligned in the advancing direction to define a heating zone. The heating modules are preferably provided with guide means for ensuring the guiding of the rail portions in the heating zones of the guided heating modules, which guide means preferably comprise rollers rolling on the rail portions.

Of course, the heating power must be modulated according to the external conditions to achieve the desired set temperature of the rail.

According to one embodiment, the plurality of electric infrared radiation lamps comprises at least two electric infrared radiation lamps, preferably at least four electric infrared radiation lamps, particularly preferably more electric infrared radiation lamps.

The number of activated ir-radiation lamps can be adjusted, if applicable, in dependence on one or more control parameters.

The one or more control parameters preferably include one or more of the following measured or estimated parameters: the temperature of the rail portion before heating, the temperature of the rail portion after heating, the temperature of the rail portion during heating, an external ambient temperature, a moving speed of a transport vehicle of the heating module, a moving speed of the rail relative to the heating device, a heating duration, a deviation between a set temperature and a measured temperature of the rail portion before heating, a deviation between a set temperature and a measured temperature of the rail portion after heating, a deviation between a set temperature and a measured temperature of the rail portion during heat input, an ambient humidity, or a wind speed. In particular, one or more of the following programs may be provided:

after the heat input, measuring at least one temperature of the rail section by means of a temperature sensor arranged in the region of the heating zone outlet zone or behind the heating zone in the laying direction;

-measuring at least one temperature of the rail section prior to heat input by means of a temperature sensor arranged in the region of the entry zone of the heating zone or in front of the heating zone in the laying direction;

during the heat input, at least one temperature of the rail section is measured by means of a temperature sensor arranged inside the heating zone.

In order to achieve a repeatable positioning of the rail section to be fixed through the heating zone, one or more of the following procedures may be provided:

the rail portions are guided relative to a chassis frame of the transport vehicle of the heating module such that the rail portions pass through the heating zones during movement of the transport vehicle of the heating module.

The heating module is guided relative to a chassis frame of a transport vehicle of the heating module such that the rail portions pass through the heating zones during movement of the transport vehicle of the heating module.

The heating modules are guided relative to the rail sections, preferably such that the heating modules roll on the rail sections such that the rail sections pass through the heating zones during movement of the transport vehicle of the heating modules.

According to one embodiment, the movement of the transport vehicle of the heating module in the laying direction is performed without stopping.

The invention is particularly useful for the first laying of new tracks, or for renovation or renovation. In particular, and in accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic view of a site for laying a railway track rail using a heating apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic detail view of the locus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the heating of a rail to be secured using the heating apparatus of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic view from below of a heating module of the heating device according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the heating module shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating control of the heating modules shown in FIGS. 3 and 4;

fig. 6 is a schematic front view of an infrared radiation lamp of a heating module according to a first modification;

fig. 7 is a schematic front view of a heating module according to a second variant; and

fig. 8 is a schematic front view of a heating module according to a third variant.

For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a global view of a field of replacement railway tracks 2, wherein, by means of a work train 4 (partially shown), old rails 6 (front sector) and old sleepers 8 are stored and replaced by new sleepers 10 and new rails 12, all of which are continuously ongoing as the train progresses in a work direction 100. The work train 4 includes a truck 16 resting on bogies 18, 20, the bogies 18, 20 rolling on the old rail 6 at the front of the work train 4 and the new rail 12 at the rear of the work train 4. While the middle portion of the work train 4 rests on the tracks 22, the tracks 22 roll directly on the sleepers 8 before they are stored, in the absence of rails on the track 2 of this portion of the field.

At the front of the field, the tools make it possible to separate the old rails 6 from the sleepers 8. Gradually, during the removal process, the old rail 6 is lifted and placed on the ballast 24 on both sides of the track. At the front of the site, the old sleeper 8 is exposed, which allows the stacking to continue by means of a set of stacking tools and to be replaced by a new sleeper 10 by means of a set of laying tools. Before the work train 4 passes, the new rails 12 arranged on the ground on both sides of the track 2 are lifted and positioned in conformity with the desired geometry of the track 2 before being laid on the new sleepers 10. After the work train 4 has passed, the new rail 12 is finally fixed using the tie rod.

In order to prevent or limit the risk of rail deterioration that may be caused by dimensional changes of the rails 12 under the influence of more severe weather or meteorological conditions, new or repaired rails 12 are provided with an average temperature, called "pre-neutralization" or "neutralization", that is obtained by bringing said metal profiles to the laying position, and are finally fixed on the sleepers.

For this purpose, a portion of the rail 12 laid new or repaired is brought to a set temperature at a thermal conditioning zone 28 located upstream and near a fixing zone 30 of that portion of the rail on one or more sleepers 10. When the intervention on the site occurs at a time when the ambient temperature is below a set temperature called "pre-neutralization" or "neutralization", this regulation involves heating of the rail, the thermal conditioning zone 28 thus becoming a heating zone.

For this purpose, according to the invention, it is proposed to use a heating device 32, as schematically shown in fig. 2 to 4, which acts mainly by near-infrared thermal radiation. The heating device 32 includes at least one heating module 34 carried by one of the trucks 16 of the work train 4. Each heating module comprises at least one, and preferably, as shown in fig. 3, at least two heating units 36 defining one elongated heating zone 28 located at a distance from the track and oriented in a direction of advance 200, preferably parallel to the laying direction 100 of the work train 4. The heating zone 28 is open at the forward end 38 and at the rearward end 40 to allow portions of the rail 12 to pass through one end 38 and reappear through the other end 40. Two heating units 36 are arranged one after the other along the heating zone and each surround (at least partially) the heating zone 28.

Each heating unit 36 includes a plurality of infrared radiation electric lamps 42 distributed around the periphery of heating zone 28 and directed toward heating zone 28. Each electric lamp 42 comprises a lamp vessel 44 which is oriented parallel to the direction of advance 200 and encloses at least one filament 46. The filament 46 constitutes a radiation source capable of emitting near infrared radiation, having a maximum power spectral density for wavelengths smaller than 2 μm, preferably smaller than 1.4 μm, very preferably smaller than 1.2 μm. The inner concave surface of the tube is covered with a highly reflective material to form a first reflector 48 oriented to reflect radiation emitted by radiation source 46 toward heating zone 28, with one or more filaments 46 disposed between primary reflector 48 and heating zone 28, the filaments being disposed directly opposite heating zone 28. The main reflector may have a constant radius of curvature in a cross section through a plane perpendicular to the direction of advance. However, according to different embodiments, reflectors having a parabolic, elliptical or multifocal profile in a cross section through a plane perpendicular to the advancing direction 200 may be used. The filament 46 thus preferably passes through the focus of a parabola or ellipse.

The infrared radiation electric lamps 42 are connected or arranged at a distance from each other and each extend parallel to the advancing direction 200. Each heating unit 36 also includes a sub-reflector 50 having a concave cylindrical reflective surface made of polished aluminum that surrounds heating zone 28 and electric infrared radiation lamp 42. Sub-reflector 50 may be a complete cylinder that completely surrounds heating zone 28. Alternatively, if it is desired to maintain proximity to the rail to guide it, the reflector may be a cylindrical portion covering an angle φ greater than 180 °, preferably greater than 240 °, in a cross-section perpendicular to the direction of travel 200. The radius of curvature of the sub-reflector 50 in a cross section perpendicular to the advancing direction is preferably between 70 mm and 160 mm. The length of the electric infrared radiation lamp 42 and the sub-reflector 50, measured parallel to the proceeding direction 200, is preferably greater than 80 cm.

Guide means 52 are provided at the inlet 38 and at the outlet 40 of the heating zone 28 of the heating apparatus to ensure guidance of the rail 12 in the heating zone 28. In the preferred embodiment, the section of rail 12 passing through the heating zone 28 is raised, i.e. vertically at a distance above its final position at the end of the laying process. The heating module 34 itself can be provided with one or more actuators 54 or passive positioning mechanisms to ensure its correct positioning relative to the rail 12 and to compensate for variations in the positioning of the transport vehicle 16 of the heating unit 36 relative to the desired trajectory of the track. The guide means 52 preferably comprise rollers that roll on the rails 12 and, if applicable, support the heating modules 34.

Temperature sensors 56 are located at inlet 38 of heating zone 28, inside heating zone 28, and at outlet 40 of heating zone 28, and, if applicable, directly adjacent to fixed zone 30. As shown in fig. 5, the temperature sensor 56 is connected to a control unit 58 which receives signals from other sensors 60, such as: a speed sensor of the transport vehicle 16 of the heating unit 36, a speed sensor of the rail to be fixed, an ambient temperature sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, and/or an ambient humidity sensor. The control unit 58 is thus able to measure, estimate or calculate one or more of the following parameters: the temperature of the rail portion to be secured before heating, the temperature of the rail portion to be secured after heating, the temperature of the rail portion to be secured during heating, the outside ambient temperature, the speed of movement of the transport vehicle of the heating unit 16, the speed of movement of the rail relative to the heating apparatus, the amount of heat transferred by the heating apparatus to the rail portion.

Furthermore, the control unit 58 contains in the memory a set temperature which may have been acquired or programmed and which represents a "pre-neutralization" of the "neutralization" temperature sought in the fixing zone 30, it being possible, if applicable, to determine a deviation between the set temperature and the measured temperature of the rail portion to be fixed before heating, a deviation between the set temperature and the measured temperature of the rail portion to be fixed after heating or a deviation between the set temperature and the measured temperature of the rail portion to be fixed during heating.

Finally, the control unit 58 is connected to a power supply (voltage source or alternating or continuous current source) 62 associated with a modulation device 64 for modulating the power supply power of the infrared radiation electric lamp 42.

The electrical power of each ir lamp 42 can thus be modulated in a relatively continuous manner in a range around the nominal value, for example between 10% and 100% of the maximum value, so as to vary the amplitude and/or the frequency of the current and/or the supply voltage in the region of the modulation device 58. Outside this modulation range, a larger variation can be obtained by completely extinguishing some of the lamps 42 or even one complete heating device 36.

When the transport vehicle 16 of the heating unit 36 advances in the laying direction 100, the rail 12 to be fixed is moved in the opposite direction with respect to the heating device 28 and is guided such that the raised portion of the rail 12 to be fixed passes through the heating zone 28 at all times. The positioning of the heating module 34 is adjusted, if applicable, by the actuator 54 or positioning mechanism. The infrared radiation lamp 42 is secured close to the portion of the rail 12 to be secured, preferably less than 20 cm, preferably less than 10 cm, but not touching.

It is thus ensured that at each moment and according to the advance of the transport vehicle 16 of the heating unit 36, the portion of rail 12 to be fixed passes through the heating zone 28, where it is heated by the heating unit 36 and transferred to the fixing zone 30, where it is laid onto the sleepers 10 of the railway track, before reappearing in the heating zone 28.

The control unit 54 determines the number of infrared radiation lamps 42 and/or the power required to heat the rail 12 to be secured by a computational algorithm based on all or some of the parameters discussed above.

The output of the apparatus is significantly increased by concentrating the infrared radiation in the near infrared so as to be located in a region of high absorption of the radiation by the rail, and providing a sub-reflector so as to reflect at least 50% of the unabsorbed radiation into the heating region. By arranging the infrared radiation lamp at a position closer to the central axis of the heating area and arranging the infrared radiation lamp around the heating area, the convection heat transfer is limited.

The movement of the transport vehicle of the heating unit in the laying direction is preferably carried out without stopping, the speed of which is in practice greater than 30mm/s, preferably greater than 100 mm/s.

Of course, the examples shown in the drawings and discussed above are given by way of example only and are not limiting.

Each lamp may comprise more than one filament. As shown in fig. 6, in particular an infrared radiation electric lamp known as twin can be used, comprising two adjacent lamp vessels and a common main reflector.

The secondary reflector may be located at the same distance from the central axis of the heating zone as the lamps and extend between the lamps to form, together with the primary deflector, a quasi-continuous reflecting surface from which radiation cannot escape. For this purpose, as shown in fig. 7, a sub-reflector 50 may be provided, the wall of which has a cutout 150 for mounting the infrared radiation electric lamp 42. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 8, a secondary deflector 50 may be provided, the wall of which is provided with a recess 250, for example formed by stamping, and intended to receive the infrared radiation lamp 42.

The number of infrared radiation lamps 42 and their positioning in each heating unit 36 may vary. As shown in fig. 7 and 8, it is possible in particular to use the projection of a portion of rail 12 through heating zone 28 in order to direct at least a portion of the heat radiation to reach the lower surface of the rail. In this respect, provision is made. In order to allow heating in a plurality of stages, or to achieve greater heating power, it is also advantageous to have a plurality of heating units 36 (as shown in fig. 3) aligned in a row in the longitudinal direction of advance of the vehicle, or even a plurality of heating modules 34 (as shown in fig. 2). The heating modules 34 in a row may be directly adjacent or separated by an isothermally isolated portion. These heating modules may also be separated by portions that are exposed to the sky.

The transport vehicle of the heating module may be formed by a truck 16 of the work train 4. The transport vehicle may also be an autonomous vehicle on wheels or a track advancing on a track.

If applicable, only part of the infrared radiation electric lamp 42 may be provided with the modulation device 64.

A modulation device 64 may also be provided, which modulation device 64 is not arranged to scale, but functions in an "all or nothing" operation to switch off or on a number of infrared radiation lamps 42 corresponding to the requirements. A pulsed mode of operation may also be provided in which some of the infrared radiation lamps 42 are illuminated intermittently. Articulated heating units 36 may also be provided to enable them to be quickly removed from heating zone 28 when it is desired to reduce the amount of heat transferred to rail 12 to be laid.

Due to the very fast response time of the infrared radiation lamp 42, the method according to the invention can be used not only for thermal pre-neutralization but also for direct fine thermal neutralization.

Heating zone 28 the direction of advancement 200 of rail 12 may be slightly inclined relative to laying direction 100 while remaining substantially parallel to the vertical longitudinal plane.

In a variant, the heating operation for the rail 12 to be fixed may take place while the rail 12 to be fixed has been laid on the sleepers.

The rail heating mode for renewing railway rails and replacing steel rails is also suitable for renewing rails or laying old steel rails for the first time.