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EP 1 098 801 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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02.06.2004 Bulletin 2004/23 |
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Date of filing: 16.07.1999 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B61F 3/12 |
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International application number: |
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PCT/EP1999/005330 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 2000/003905 (27.01.2000 Gazette 2000/04) |
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RAIL VEHICLE AND RUNNING MECHANISM THEREFOR
SCHIENENFAHRZEUG UND LAUFWERKSANORDNUNG DAFÜR
VEHICULE FERROVIAIRE ET MECANISME DE CIRCULATION POUR CE DERNIER
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
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Priority: |
17.07.1998 NL 1009685
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Date of publication of application: |
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16.05.2001 Bulletin 2001/20 |
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Proprietor: Stork RMO B.V. |
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1018 MP Amsterdam (NL) |
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Inventors: |
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- KEIZER, Cornelis, Pieter
NL-3135 JB Vlaardingen (NL)
- VAN DER STEEN, André
NL-3531 SE Utrecht (NL)
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Representative: Land, Addick Adrianus Gosling et al |
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Arnold & Siedsma,
Advocaten en Octrooigemachtigden,
Sweelinckplein 1 2517 GK Den Haag 2517 GK Den Haag (NL) |
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References cited: :
CH-A- 370 432 FR-A- 2 126 781
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DE-C- 552 538 GB-A- 2 270 663
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] In many city areas the tram is still one of the most efficient means of public transport,
for example due to the fact that in such city areas it is practically almost impossible
to construct an underground rail system.
[0002] Since tram carriages have insufficient capacity during the rush hour in many cities,
there exists the need for longer carriages for trams. However, this entails the problem
that the so called profile of available free area on both sides of the rails is often
limited. With longer carriages, these carriages sway out further than is desirable
in the bends, especially in S-shaped bends, which makes an extension of such carriage,
taken into consideration the available free area, practically impossible.
[0003] A train is known from the French patent publication FR-A-2 126 781 which is provided
with a construction for limiting swaying out in connection with the available free
area. Here, the carriages are supported on a beam which is displaceable against a
spring mechanism in the transverse direction with respect to the chassis.
[0004] The present invention aims to provide a rail vehicle, especially a tram, wherein
the available free area is utilized as optimally as possible and wherein a light construction
requiring little maintenance is utilized.
[0005] The present invention aims to provide a rail vehicle, such as a tram or a train,
wherein the available free area is utilized as optimally as possible.
[0006] The present invention provides a rail vehicle comprising:
- two or more carriage parts;
- a running mechanism having a frame and two or more wheel axles;
- bearing means arranged substantially longitudinally at a distance from the heart of
the frame for supporting the running means on the frame, wherein at least one of the
carriage parts is substantially movable in a longitudinal direction with respect to
the bearing means; and
- coupling means arranged on the carriage parts for rotatably coupling the carriage
parts to one another.
[0007] Since the carriage parts are rotatably coupled to one another and at least one of
the carriage parts is somewhat shiftable with respect to the frame of the bogie, the
point of rotation between the carriages is forced somewhat outwards during passage
through a bend, whereby the available free area for a determined length of carriages
can become smaller, or whereby the carriages can be extended to the same order of
the available free area.
[0008] It is an object of the invention according to Claim 1 to alleviate said drawbacks.
This object is achieved with a rail vehicle according to Claim 1 and with a running
mechanism according to Claim 7.
[0009] A first preferred embodiment comprises a longitudinal beam rotatably arranged near
the heart of the bogie. Although a groove can be arranged in one or both ends of the
longitudinal beam, wherein a downwardly disposed pin, arranged on the carriage parts,
can rest, the equator beam is preferably provided with upstanding pins, along which
a construction part can shift on a carriage part and wherein this is also rotatable.
[0010] By a further developed embodiment, the bearing means, which preferably comprise hingeable
knee parts and hingeable arms secured thereto, are arranged sideways with respect
to the central axis of the rail vehicle. In this way a tram with a relatively low
floor can be realized which provides a large advantage on stepping into the tram.
[0011] The present invention also provides a running mechanism for a rail vehicle, comprising
a frame and two or more wheel axles arranged on the frame, and a rotatable longitudinal
beam arranged near the heart of the frame for supporting carriage parts on the heart
at a longitudinal distance therefrom. With this running mechanism carriages can be
used which can be coupled together, for example rotatably, by means of coupling means.
[0012] Preferably a carriage according to the present invention, is supported near the middle
of the longitudinal sleepers of the bogie by means of standards which are rotatably
or hingeable arranged on both the carriage parts and the running mechanism.
[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a rail vehicle,
comprising:
- one or more carriages
- a running mechanism with two or more wheel axles
- at least one standard, which on one side is hingeable attached to longitudinal sleeper
of the frame and on the other side is hingeably arranged on the carriage part at a
considerable height with respect to the frame.
[0014] In this way the weight of the carriage is supported as near as possible to the centre
of the running mechanism.
[0015] The bodywork of the carriage is preferably synthetic, which considerably decreases
the weight thereof. Accordingly the energy required for the traction is also limited,
while the amount of maintenance needed is reduced.
[0016] A hingeable transverse beam is preferably arranged on the standard, which is provided
on both ends thereof with hingeable arms, which on the other sides thereof are hingeable
arranged on the carriage parts. Thanks to this construction it is possible, also in
the case of a tram with a low floor, to follow all the movements of the carriages
with respect to each other, wherein the weight thereof remains supported on the middle
piece of the longitudinal sleepers of the chassis.
[0017] Further advantages, characteristics and details of the present invention will be
clarified with respect to the following drawings, which show:
- figure 1 a partially broken away perspective view of a first preferred embodiment
of a rail vehicle and bogie according to the present invention;
- figure 2 an above view to clarify the working of the rail vehicle shown in figure
1;
- figure 3A-D respective, schematic views of the rail vehicle according to figure 1
and 2, which are pulled forward within a profile of available area;
- figure 4a perspective view partly broken away of a further embodiment of a rail vehicle
according to the present invention; and
- figure 5A-C respective views of the further preferred embodiment.
[0018] A preferred embodiment of a rail vehicle 10 with a running mechanism 12 (figure 1
and 2) comprises two schematically shown carriage parts 11 and 13 (for example having
a length of around 6,5 m and a breadth of around 2,3 m) where between a harmonica
structure can extend with which the interior of the vehicle parts 11 and 13 are joined
to one another.
[0019] The running mechanism 12 comprises two wheel axles 15 and 16 of which the wheels
17 can roll over rails R. The wheels are suspended in longitudinal sleepers 18, 19,
where between a transverse beam construction 20 extends. Near the heart of the bogie
a so called equator beam 21 is rotatably arranged on the transverse construction which
is provided on both sides with pins 22 and 23 respectively about which ears 24 and
25 respectively are arranged on the vehicle parts 13 and 11 respectively, which are
rotatable. A grove like hole 26 is arranged in ear 24.
[0020] The vehicle parts 11 and 13 are furthermore rotatably joined to each other via V-shaped
beams 30, 31, which can both turn on a common axle 32.
[0021] By another not shown preferred embodiment, both carriage parts can be shiftably supported
on bearings for forcing the vehicle parts towards and away from each other.
[0022] The vehicle part 13 of the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2 is furthermore provided
with protruding plate parts 40 and 41 on which straight upstanding rods 42, 43 respectively
are hingeably or rotatably arranged which on the other rotatably or hingeably are
arranged near the middle of the longitudinal sleepers 18, 19 respectively. In this
way the weight of the carriage part 13 is supported as well as possible on the running
mechanism 12. Spring elements 44, 45 respectively are preferably associated in or
on the rods 42 in order to compensate for differences in length of the rods, which
can occur during passage around a bend or on a hill.
[0023] As will become especially clear in the view from above of figure 2, on pulling the
carriage parts 13 and 11 through a bend shaped rail part, the hingeable axle 32 is
moved from the heart of the bogie 12, whereby the grove like hole 26 displaces itself
in the ear 24, also somewhat in the direction of the vehicle part 13, whereby swaying
out of the vehicle parts 11 and 13 is restricted with respect to each other. Furthermore
in this manner the walk through area remains well defined between the vehicle parts,
which is advantageous for wheel chair users and passenger with prams and the like.
[0024] It will be clear that the above described running mechanism can be arranged at one
or more locations of different assemblies of trains or trams. In figures 3A-D a configuration
is shown wherein such a running mechanism is arranged between the middle wagons 11
and 13, whilst the front and rear wagons of the tram are provided with a ridged or
rotatable running mechanism. In figures 3A-D an available area having the size of
d is present on both sides of a heart line H shown with a slash-dot line. As is apparent
from figures 3A-D, wherein a somewhat S-shaped bend is shown, the carriage parts 11
and 13 remain within the available free area, defined by the broken lines.
[0025] In a further preferred embodiment (figure 4A-C), a rail vehicle 50 comprises two
carriages parts 51 and 52 which are rotatably joined together and where between a
gangway 53 is created above a rotation disk 54. On both sides of the gangway 53 bellow
parts 55, 56, 57 and 58 are to be found.
[0026] The carriage parts are preferably light in weight and for example constructed of
synthetic material, which can lead to a saving in weight with respect to existing
rail carriages of around 20%, whereby a considerable saving in energy is provided.
The underside of the synthetic bodywork of the carriage parts is preferably arranged
as close as possible to the ground in which the rails are arranged, to thus provide
easy entrance and exit to and from such a tram, in the present embodiment at a height
h of roughly 320 mm. At the entry doors of the carriages the floor can be locally
lowered to for example 240 mm above the road, so that the aged and wheel chair bound
can easily access the tram.
[0027] In order to support the weight of the bodywork of the carriages 51 and 52 on the
chassis 60, tree like support constructions 61 and 62 are arranged on both sides of
the gangway 53 between the bellow parts, which also have to be guided, or secured,
underneath the bodywork, which each comprise a standard 63, which is secured via a
spring element 64 to the chassis 60. Furthermore a transverse arm 66 is secured via
a ball hinge 65 to the end of the standard 63 whilst downwardly directed arms 69,
70 respectively are arranged on the ends of the transverse arms 66 via ball hinges
67 and 68, which arms 69, 70 are in turn via the ball hinges 71 and 72 secured to
the ears 73, 74 respectively on the carriages 51 and 52 respectively. This support
construction enable the desired movements of the carriage parts with respect to each
other in S-bends, on inclines and leanings possible, wherein the weight of the carriages
is supported on the chassis and wherein the underside of the carriage parts is prevented
from contacting the ground in practically occurring inclines.
[0028] Just as with respect to the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the swaying out
of the carriages outside of the available free area is prevented by a construction
which reduces swaying out of the carriages through bends.
[0029] Since the area below the gangway 53 is limited in the described preferred embodiment,
this construction is arranged on one side, in the present case, between the bellow
parts 57 and 58. This construction comprises two knee parts hingeably arranged on
the chassis and arms 83 and 84 hingeably secured thereto, which are hingeably arranged
on the other side to the carriage 51, 52 respectively. These components form together
the same working as an equator beam provided with a grove as shown in figures 1 and
2, i.e. that the carriages 51 and 52 are forced towards one another in a bend.
[0030] The present invention is not limited to the above described preferred embodiment
thereof; the requested rights are determined by the following claims, within the range
of which many modifications are conceivable.
1. Rail vehicle (10,50), comprising:
- two or more carriage parts (11,13; 51,52);
- a running mechanism (12) having a frame and two or more wheel axles (15,16);
- bearing means (21-23; 81-84) arranged substantially at a longitudinal distance from
the heart of the frame for supporting the carriage parts (11,13) on the frame, wherein
at least one of the carriage parts is substantially movable in a longitudinal direction
with respect to the bearing means; and
- coupling means (30,31) arranged on the carriage parts for rotatably coupling the
carriage parts to one another.
2. Rail vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises longitudinal sleepers
(18,19) and a transverse beam construction (20) and the bearing means comprise a longitudinal
beam (21) rotatably arranged on the transverse beam construction.
3. Rail vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal beam (21) is formed by
an equator beam having two upstanding pins (22,23), wherein the first pin (23) is
rotatably connected to the first carriage part, whilst a second pin (22) is rotatably
and shiftably joined with the second carriage part.
4. Rail vehicle according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the coupling means comprise a first
beam (30) being substantially V-shaped when viewed from above on a first carriage
part and a second V-shaped beam (31) being substantially V-shaped when viewed from
above, wherein both V-shaped beams are arranged on a common rotation axle (32).
5. Rail vehicle according to any of the preceeding claims, provided with at least one
standard (42,43), which on one side is hingeably arranged on a longitudinal sleeper
of the frame and on the other side is arranged on a carriage part at a considerable
height with respect to the frame.
6. Rail vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the standard is provided with a spring
element (44,45).
7. Rail vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bearing means comprise two angular
arms (81,82) hingeably arranged on the chassis as well as two hingeable arms (83,84)
arranged thereon, which are arranged on the other sides of the respective carriage
parts.
8. A running mechanism (12) for a rail vehicle comprising a frame and two or more wheel
axles arranged on the frame, and bearing means comprising a longitudinal beam (21),
hingeably arranged near the heart of the frame for supporting carriage parts on the
heart at a longitudinal distance therefrom.
9. A running mechanism according to claim 8, destined for a rail vehicle according to
any of the claims 1 - 7.
10. Rail vehicle as in any of claims 1-7 comprising:
- one or more carriage parts (51,52);
- a running mechanism with a frame and two or more wheel axles;
- at least one standard (63) which is hingeably arranged on one side on the frame
and on the other side is hingeably arranged on a carriage part on a considerable height
with respect to the frame.
11. Rail vehicle according to claim 1, 5, 6, 7 or 10, wherein the bearing means are arranged
obliquely with respect to the heart line of the rail vehicle.
12. Rail vehicle according to any of the preceeding claims 1-7, 10 or 11, wherein the
carriage parts comprise a synthetic bodywork.
13. Rail vehicle according to claims 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 or 12, wherein a hingeable transverse
beam is arranged on the standard, which is provided at both extremities thereof with
hingeable arms, which are hingeably arranged on the carriage parts.
1. Schienenfahrzeug (10, 50) mit:
- zwei oder mehr Wagenteilen (11, 13; 51, 52),
- einem Laufmechanismus (12) mit einem Rahmen und zwei oder mehr Radachsen (15, 16),
- Lagermitteln (21 - 23; 81 - 84), die im Wesentlichen in einem Längsabstand vom Herzen
des Rahmens angeordnet sind, zum Tragen der Wagenteile (11, 13) auf dem Rahmen, wobei
zumindest einer der Wagenteile im Wesentlichen in einer Längsrichtung bezüglich der
Lagermittel bewegbar ist, und
- Kupplungsmitteln (30, 31), die auf den Wagenteilen angeordnet sind, zum drehbaren
Kuppeln der Wagenteile aneinander.
2. Schienenfahrzeug nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Rahmen Längslagerbalken (18, 19) aufweist
und eine Querbalkenstruktur (20) und wobei die Lagermittel einen Längsbalken (21)
aufweisen, der drehbar auf der Querbalkenstruktur angeordnet ist.
3. Schienenfahrzeug nach Anspruch 2, wobei der Längsbalken (21) durch einen Äquatorbalken
mit zwei hochstehenden Stiften (22, 23) gebildet ist, wobei der erste Stift (23) drehbar
mit dem ersten Wagenteil verbunden ist während der zweite Stift (22) drehbar und verschiebbar
mit dem zweiten Wagenteil verbunden ist.
4. Schienenfahrzeug nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, wobei die Kupplungsmittel einen ersten
Balken (30) auf dem ersten Wagenteil aufweisen, der von oben gesehen im Wesentlichen
V-förmig ist, und einen zweiten V-förmigen Balken (31), der von oben gesehen im Wesentlichen
V-förmig ist, wobei beide V-förmige Balken auf einer gemeinsamen Drehachse (32) angeordnet
sind.
5. Schienenfahrzeug nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche mit einem Stab (42, 43), der
auf einer Seite schwenkbar auf einem Längsträgerbalken des Rahmens angeordnet ist
und auf der anderen Seite auf einem Wagenteil in einer deutlichen Höhe mit Bezug auf
den Rahmen angeordnet ist.
6. Schienenfahrzeug nach Anspruch 5, wobei der Stab mit einem Federelement (44, 45) versehen
ist.
7. Schienenfahrzeug nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2, wobei das Lagermittel zwei Winkelarme
(81, 82) aufweist, die schwenkbar auf dem Chassis angeordnet sind, sowie zwei schwenkbare
Arme (83, 84), die darauf angeordnet sind, die auf der anderen Seite des jeweiligen
Wagenteils angeordnet sind.
8. Laufmechanismus (12) für ein Schienenfahrzeug mit einem Rahmen und zwei oder mehr
Radachsen, die auf dem Rahmen angeordnet sind, und Lagermitteln mit einem Längsbalken
(21), der schwenkbar nahe des Herzens des Rahmens angeordnet ist, zum Tragen von Wagenteilen
auf dem Herzen in einem Längsabstand davon.
9. Laufmechanismus nach Anspruch 8, die für ein Schienenfahrzeug nach einem der Ansprüche
1 bis 7 bestimmt ist.
10. Schienenfahrzeug nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7 mit:
- einem oder mehreren Wagenteilen (51, 52),
- einem Laufmechanismus mit einem Rahmen und zwei oder mehr Radachsen,
- zumindest einem Stab (63), der schwenkbar an einer Seite des Rahmens angelenkt ist
und auf der anderen Seite schwenkbar auf einem Wagenteil in einer deutlichen Höhe
mit Bezug auf den Rahmen angeordnet ist.
11. Schienenfahrzeug nach Anspruch 1, 5, 6, 7 oder 10, wobei die Lagermittel schräg mit
Bezug auf eine Herzlinie des Schienenfahrzeugs angeordnet sind.
12. Schienenfahrzeug nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 7, 10 oder 11, wobei
die Wagenteile eine synthetische Karosserie aufweisen.
13. Schienenfahrzeug nach Anspruch 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 oder 12, wobei ein schwenkbarer Querbalken
auf einem Stab angeordnet ist, der an seinen beiden Enden mit schwenkbaren Armen versehen
ist, die schwenkbar auf den Wagenteilen angeordnet sind.
1. Véhicule sur rail (10, 50), comprenant :
deux ou plusieurs parties voiture (11, 13 ; 51, 52) ;
un mécanisme de roulage (12) ayant un châssis et deux ou plusieurs essieux de roue
(15, 16) ;
des moyens d'appui (21-23 ; 81-84) disposés sensiblement à une distance longitudinale
du coeur du châssis pour soutenir les parties voiture (11, 13) sur le châssis, dans
lesquels au moins une des parties voiture est sensiblement mobile dans une direction
longitudinale par rapport aux moyens d'appui ; et
des moyens d'accouplement (30, 31) disposés sur les parties voiture pour accoupler
l'une à l'autre de manière rotative les parties voiture.
2. Véhicule sur rail selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le châssis comprend des traverses
longitudinales (18, 19) et une construction de poutre transversale (20) et les moyens
d'appui comprennent une poutre longitudinale (21) disposée de manière rotative sur
la construction de poutre transversale.
3. Véhicule sur rail selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la poutre longitudinale (21)
est formée d'une poutre égalisatrice ayant deux gonds verticaux (22, 23), dans laquelle
le premier gond (23) est relié de manière rotative à la première partie voiture, tandis
que le second gond (22) est relié de manière rotative et déplaçable à la seconde partie
voiture.
4. Véhicule sur rail selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, dans lequel les moyens d'accouplement
comprennent, sur la première partie voiture, une première poutre (30) avec une forme
sensiblement en V vue de dessus et, sur la seconde partie voiture, une seconde poutre
(31) avec une forme sensiblement en V vue de dessus, dans lesquels les deux poutres
en forme de V sont disposées sur un axe de rotation commun (32).
5. Véhicule sur rail selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, pourvu d'au
moins un mât (42, 43) qui sur un côté est disposé de manière articulée sur la traverse
longitudinale du châssis et sur l'autre côté est disposé sur une partie voiture, à
une hauteur considérable par rapport au châssis.
6. Véhicule sur rail selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le mât est pourvu d'un élément
de ressort (44, 45).
7. Véhicule sur rail selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel les moyens d'appui comprennent
deux bras angulaires (81, 82) s'articulant sur le châssis ainsi que deux bras (83,
84) s'articulant sur ces derniers, sont disposés sur les autres côtés des parties
voiture respectives.
8. Mécanisme de roulage (12) pour un véhicule sur rail comprenant un châssis et au moins
deux essieux de roues disposés sur le châssis, et des moyens d'appui comprenant une
poutre longitudinale (21), disposée près du coeur du châssis et s'articulant sur celui-ci,
pour soutenir les parties voiture sur le coeur du châssis à une distance longitudinale
de celui-ci.
9. Mécanisme de roulage selon la revendication 8, destiné à un véhicule sur rail selon
l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7.
10. Véhicule sur rail selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7 comprenant :
une ou plusieurs parties voiture (51, 52) ;
un mécanisme de roulage avec un châssis et deux ou plusieurs essieux de roues ;
au moins un mât (63) qui est disposé de manière articulée sur un côté sur le châssis
et disposé de manière articulée sur l'autre côté sur une partie voiture à une hauteur
considérable par rapport au châssis.
11. Véhicule sur rail selon la revendication 1, 5, 6, 7 ou 10, dans lequel les moyens
d'appui sont disposés obliquement par rapport à la ligne centrale du véhicule sur
rail.
12. Véhicule sur rail selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, 10 ou 11, dans
lequel les parties voiture comprennent une carrosserie en matière synthétique.
13. Véhicule sur rail selon les revendications 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 ou 12, dans lequel une
poutre transversale s'articule sur le mât et est munie au niveau de ses deux extrémités
de bras articulés, qui viennent ensuite s'articuler sur les parties voiture.