656

1. Read and remember meanings of the words.

3. Read the text again and write down key words to describe the machines mentioned above.

2. Choose the best title for the text.

•JSC Kirovsky mashzavod 1 Maya

•Roadbed leveling, tamping and alignment machines VPRS-02, VPRS-03

•Road Construction Machines

•Machine Construction Technology

4. The words in the following questions are in the wrong order. Rewrite the questions in the correct word order.

1)the name of the machine what is construction company? Question: _____________________________________________

2)the equipment does company what produce?

Question: _____________________________________________

3) tamping units how work do on the tracks?

Question: _____________________________________________

4)equipped leveling with and tamping are what machines additionally? Question: _____________________________________________

5)is the longitudinal after leveling what inclination?

Question: _____________________________________________

6)the VPRS-03 VPRS-02 and do on what do tracks railroad? Question: _____________________________________________

7)for intended they what are task?

Question: _____________________________________________

5.Read the questions again and look for the answers in the texts.

6.Decide which of these sentences describes the text better.

The VPRS-03 roadbed leveling, tamping and alignment machine is designed to be operated in deserts of Middle Asia.

The VPRS-03 is no longer produced as the plant has closed down.

The machine is used for the construction, repair and routine maintenance of railroad tracks and it performs these operations both on main and switching lines, and at switch assemblies.

The VPRS-02 machines will no longer be used on railroad tracks built to the gauges of 1435 mm and 1520 mm .

The VPRS-02 is a multi-purpose machine which performs alignment, lining and tamping of track simultaneously or one at a time either in semi-automatic or manual-control mode.

7. You are going to read the text which consists of eight sentences. First read their openings. a) Guess how the sentences will continue.

b)Match the openings to the sentences. Example: 6-a)

c)What do you think the text is about?

1.The machine is used for…

2.The machine has two-tie tamping units for…

3.Leveling systems of the machine are controlled by a microprocessor system…

4.Due to the high transportation speed the VPRS-03 can be…

5.The machine is equipped with an additional removable device for…

6.The machine's transmission is on the basis of a hydrodynamic drive…

7.The machine is most effectively used in routine maintenance of tracks…

8.The machine operates within the ambient temperature range…

a)… hoisting a third rail for working on heavy switch assemblies with bars of reinforced concrete.

b)… the construction, repair and routine maintenance of railroad tracks

c)… the drive turns on only in the transportation mode for changing the tractive force in relation to road conditions

d)… tamping one tie from 2 sides and two neighboring ties from the internal side.

e)… after a repair

f)… there is an on-board computer g)… of –10 °C through +40 °C

h) … promptly delivered to a work site

8. With a partner discuss the questions.

1)How are construction machines and ordinary automobiles different?

2)What kinds of modern roadbed leveling, tamping and alignment machines do you know?

3)What operations do roadbed machines perform?

Optional tasks

1. Use a dictionary to complete the chart below and mark the stressed syllable in each word of more than one syllable.

effective

maintenance

longitudinal

deviation

2. Read the text. Compare domestic and foreign machinery works and say where you would like to buy.

Europe’s track maintenance machinery supply firms are on a roll, as the trend towards increased mechanization in track maintenance generates a steady demand for new machines.

Innovation Continues

in Track Maintenance Machinery

As part of the £5.4 billion modernization project, the track on the fast lines all the way from London to Crewe is being renewed.

Europe’s rail infrastructure authorities are under pressure from operators to improve the track bed on which trains run. This factor is pushing infrastructure managers to adopt increasing levels of mechanization, with high-output machinery that will cover a large amount of ground in a short time at a premium. Some prime examples of the trend can be seen on Railtrack’s West Coast main line in the UK, where major renovation work is underway.

On the West Coast route, Railtrack is moving to UIC60 rail, the heavyweight profile used on Europe’s main lines. New rail is dropped by the side of the line ready for the arrival of the track renewal train (TRT). The TRT carries a supply of new sleepers with it. It unclips the old rail and shifts it out to the side, takes out the old sleepers and disposes of them in wagons in the TRT consist, retrieves new sleepers and drops them in position, and finally clips in the new rail.

To work in conjunction with the TRT, Railtrack has purchased two Medium Output Ballast Cleaners (MOBC) from Plasser&Theurer of Austria.

The UK is at present proving to be one of the most productive territories for the permanent way machinery manufacturers. Sale of tampers, for example, is running at a brisk pace. Balfour Beatty has taken delivery of two 08 Unimats from Plasser&Theurer, with an 09-3X coming this spring. The’X’ in the designation stands for ‘Express’: new features of the 09-3X are two three-sleeper track tamping units which enable three sleepers to be tamped in one operation. Each tamping unit consists of two separate parts to be able to work on tracks with irregular sleepers spacing, if required.

Stoneblower machines are also sold well. The Stoneblower works by measuring the alignment of the track to an accuracy of 0.5 mm and injecting stones to fill any space beneath sleepers, so as to provide a smooth surface. Traditional tamping methods tend to destroy the ballast, but Stoneblower leaves the ballast largely unharmed and therefore maintenance is more long lasting. An allied advantage is that the track does not tend to ‘remember’ the same poor top and line as it had before treatment, as can happen with conventional tamping.

The Stoneblower works with a crew of three. First, a pass is made over the work area at a speed of up to 15 km/h while the machine assesses the state of the track and calculates where stone needs to be injected. Then the machine reverses over the stretch to do the work, normally tackling two sleepers at a time. The output rate is about 350 m/hr.

From Manual Labour to Full Mechanization

The evolution of the tamping machine

1953 Construction of the first hydraulic tamping machine, HGL

1955 First tamping machine, VKR 01, in cantilever design

1960 First leveling and tamping machine, VKR 04

1962 First switch tamping machine, WE 75

1965 First two-sleeper tamping machine —Duomatic

1971 First leveling and tamping machine 07 in standard railway

The function of a crane is…

Mobile cranes have a wide range of uses…

At present rope-operated mobile cranes are being superseded by…

Kirow’s KRC 810 UK crane (Germany) is used for…

Kirow’s track maintenance cranes are…

In order not to obstruct traffic on adjacent tracks…

Kirow even makes cranes without…

2.Guess how the openings will continue.

3.What would be the best title for this text?

•Earth-moving machinery

•Excavators

•Road construction machines

•Mobile cranes

4. Read the text and decide which sentence describes it best.

•Cranes are being destroyed at Kirow’s.

•Cranes are no more on production as Kirow has closed down.

•Hundreds of unnecessary mobile cranes were found at Kirow which had been recently closed down.

•Kirow produces various kinds of mobile cranes.

The function of a crane is to hoist or lower a load suspended from its jib. Various types of cranes are available, the type and size best suited for a specific operation being influenced by the following factors:

1.The nature of the work on which it is to operate.

2.The weight of load it has to handle.

Mobile cranes have a wide range of uses on building and civil engineering works of construction. Cranes of this type usually take the form of a frame carrying a jib, a winch, and other necessary hoisting and controlling equipment, the whole being mounted on a cast-iron bed plate fitted with road wheels of the pneumatic type. One may also have them mounted on caterpillar tracks or on a lorry chassis if desired.

At present rope-operated mobile cranes are being superseded by hydraulically operated ones in which all working operations but traveling are performed with the help of hydraulic rams. The jib of the mobile crane can be of the solid or latticed type, the latter being preferred now because of its lower weight.

Kirow’s KRC 810 UK crane (Germany) is used for moving track panels and bridge sections: its high capacity allows heavier loads to be carried than has been the case so far, upping productivity and making better use of possessions.

Kirow’s track maintenance cranes are multi-purpose machines. When it comes to bridge work they handle structures up to 120 tonnes in weight. Working below rail level as well as working at boom heights beyond 15 m give them useful versatility. In bridge work typical applications are regirdering installation of prefabricated concrete structures and footbridges, as well as of steel beams.

In order not to obstruct traffic on adjacent tracks, special attention has been paid by Kirow to the design of the counterweight on its cranes. Telescopic arrangements allow the reduction of the tail radius of the crane to about 2 m. However, a short tail radius also results in a reduced capacity. Where high lifting capacities have to be available over a large slewing range, the counterweight has to be slewed independently from the boom. While working up to 15 m to the side, the counterweight of such a crane is kept within 2 m from the centerline of the track.

Kirow even makes cranes without a separate counterweight. They work with a reversible boom, which means the boom can be telescoped in or out to either end of the crane. The working

direction can be changed without slewing the superstructure. This renders the unit extremely useful in areas with limited space such as tunnels. Furthermore, signaling and power masts, walls and other obstructions no longer pose a problem when changing the working direction of the crane.

5. Read and remember the meanings of the words.

6. Read the texts again and write down key words to describe the machines mentioned above.

7. With a partner discuss the question.

How are Kirow’s track maintenance cranes different from other types of cranes?

Write down some sentences which describe what they are like. Compare what you have written.

8. Match the words and word combinations with opposite meanings.

9. Complete the sentences with the words and phrases from the text.

a)Rope-operated mobile cranes are being superseded by hydraulically operated ones in which all working operations but … are performed with the help of hydraulic rams.

b)Kirow’s KRC 810 UK crane (Germany) is used for moving track panels and bridge sections: its high capacity allows heavier loads to be carried than has been … … so far.

c)When it comes to bridge work they … structures up to 120 tonnes in weight.

d)In bridge work, typical applications are regirdering, installation of prefabricated concrete structures and footbridges, as well as of steel … .

e)Telescopic arrangements allow the reduction … … … … of the crane to about 2 m.

f)Where high lifting capacities have to be available over a large slewing range, the counterweight has to be slewed … … the boom.

g)Kirow even makes … without a separate counterweight.

h)The working direction can be changed without slewing the … .

i)Furthermore, signaling and power masts, walls and other obstructions no longer pose a problem when changing the working direction … .

10. With a partner discuss these questions.

1)Where and when do people use cranes?

2)Why are cranes so important?

11. Work with a partner.

You’re a journalist and your partner is General Manager for the Kirow machinery plant. You’re going

Монтаж мостовых кранов общего назначения независимо от их размеров, массы и места установки сводится к следующим операциям:

to interview him. Make a list of questions to ask him.

12. Read the Russian text and render it in English.

Наибольшее применение имеют краны общего назначения грузоподъемностью до 50 т, на долю которых приходится 98 % выпуска. Их монтируют в закрытых цехах промышленных зданий, реже

— на открытых эстакадах. Краны поступают на монтаж расчлененными на составные части. Мосты кранов грузоподъемностью 5–50 т поставляют в виде двух полумостов в сборе с площадками или в виде двух пролетных и двух концевых балок. Отдельно поставляют собранные главные и вспомогательные тележки, кабины, грузозахватные устройства и канаты. Мосты кранов грузоподъемностью свыше 50 т по условиям перевозки железнодорожным транспортом расчленяют при поставке на большее число элементов.

•разгрузка элементов крана и раскладка их вблизи места монтажа (или монтаж с колес);

•сборка моста;

•проверка механизма передвижения крана;

•подъем моста в собранном виде или отдельными полумостами;

•проверка механизмов тележки; подъем тележки и установка ее на мост;

•установка электроаппаратуры в кабине; подъем и закрепление кабины, электромонтажные работы, регулирование тормозов и устройств безопасности, запас канатов, опробование и сдача крана.

Use the words and phrases given below:

Optional tasks

1. Put these machines in the appropriate place in the table.

Car, excavator, lorry, fire-engine, crane, bulldozer

2. Answer the questions.

1)What kinds of cranes do you know?

2)What operations do they perform?

3. Lots of machines are used for different purposes. For example, drilling units help people

to drill oil wells, shovels are used for mining...

Can you think of a ‘dream job’ for any of heavy construction machines? Or can you think of any machine that is terribly needed and might be very useful but still does not exist? Share your answer with the rest of the class.

Test 12

I. Match these explanations with their definitions.

II. Decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F).

a)Kirow makes cranes without a separate counterweight.

b)Telescopic arrangements allow the reduction of the tail radius of the crane to about 20 m.

c)Track maintenance cranes handle structures up to 120 tonnes in weight.

d)At present rope-operated mobile cranes are being superseded by hydraulically operated ones.

e)Signaling and power masts, walls and other obstructions pose a problem when changing the working direction of the mobile crane.

III. Match Russian and English words and phrases.

IV. Choose the appropriate word combination in B and put it into the gap in A.

V. Read three possible ways to complete the sentences and choose the only one correct.

A.Mobile cranes may be mounted on ……

a)a brick base

b)a foundation

c)a lorry chassis.

B.Working below rail level, as well as working at boom heights beyond 15m, give track maintenance cranes useful ……

a)versatility

b)capacity

c)leveling.

C.While working up to 15m to the side, the counterweight of such a crane is kept within 2m from ……

a)work object

b)the centerline of the track

c)the crane itself.

Unit 13

Mainframes

Read the texts and analyze the tables.

Ballast Cleaners

This heavy duty Plasser and Theurer RM74 machine cleans the ballast at a rate of up to 300 cubic metres per hour, depending on site and ground conditions. It can be used not only on plain line track but also switch and crossings, using an extended cutting bar. It is self propelling and can travel at speeds of up to 56km per hour to and from the worksite.

Machine Technical Data