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(11) | EP 0 241 099 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Railway train, bogie, storage van and trailer |
| (57) The ends of two trailers (4) normally used for road transport, are borne on a bogie
(3) of a railway train by means of a rotatable coupling table (22). A trailer can
lie on two bogies in accordance with a three point bearing. The end of the trailer
which lies on two supports (11) of the coupling table (22) then rotates together with
the table (22) relative to the rotary table frame, while the other end, which lies
on only one rotary support (10), can rotate on its one rotary support (10) relative
to the bogie (3). As a result the one end can be connected firmly with the coupling
table (22), while the other end grips firmly (27, 77), and especially stably, on the
part-spherical shaped rotary support (10). |
[0001] The invention relates in the first place to a bogie for a railway train which is arranged to bear the ends of two trailers normally used for road transport.
[0002] Such a bogie is known from the American patent specification 2.709.969. Two trailers can here each turn relative to the bogie on a swivel pin occupying a position in the central longitudinal plane of the bogie so that a train of bogies and trailers can adjust to bends in the rail. The trailers are thereby supported by horizontal bearing surfaces. There is much uncontrolled movement possible in bends and on variable slopes between bogies and trailers, which leads to much wear of this railway and trailer material, particularly because the high tractive forces of a train are not transferred well between bogie and trailer.
[0005] A trailer can lie on two bogies in accordance with a three point bearing. The end of the trailer which lies on two supports of the coupling table then rotates together with the table relative to the rotary table frame, while the other end, which lies on only one rotary support, can rotate on its one rotary support relative to the bogie. As a result the one end can be connected firmly with the coupling table, while the other end grips firmly, and especially stably, on the part-spherical shaped rotary support. The configuration of the supports is such that when slopes are negotiated the trailers grip well on the bogies.
[0008] A train equipped with two storage vans in accordance with claim 5 can accommodate between these vans a series of trailers which can face as required in the one or other of both opposite directions of arrangement. The free choice of direction of arrangement of the trailers can facilitate the loading and unloading of trailers especially on shunting stations of restricted dimensions. On the other end facing away from the trailer the storage van can be provided with the normal coupling and buffing gear for connecting to a normal train part.
[0009] Mentioned and other characteristics of the invention will be elucidated in the hereafter following description with reference to a drawing.
[0010] In the drawing in diagrammatic form:
Figure 1 shows a partially broken away side view of rolling stock with trailers according to the invention,
figure 2 shows on a large scale the fraction II from figure 1 in another position,
figure 3 is a section through the line III-III from figure 2,
figure 4 shows on a larger scale a partly broken away side view of detail IV from figure 1,
figures 5 and 6 show respectively a broken away side view and a perspective exploded view of detail V from figure 4 on a larger scale,
figure 7 is a work plan for assembly of a train with storage van according to the invention,
figure 8 shows a plan corresponding with line e of figure 7 of a train assembled in the opposite direction,
figures 9 and 10 each show on a large scale a different cut away side view of detail IX from figure 1,
figure 11 is a side view corresponding with figure 10 in another position,
figures 12 and 13 show on a large scale broken away side views of details XII and XIII respectively from figure 10,
figure 14 is a section through the line XIV-XIV from figure 13,
figure 15 is a section through the line XV-XV from figure 12,
figure 16 is a section through the line XVI-XVI from figure 9,
figures 17 and 18 show on a large scale a partially broken away, perspective view of details XVII and XVIII respectively in assembled position, and
figure 19 shows on a large scale an exploded, partly broken away, perspective view of details XVII and XVIII in disassembled position.
[0011] The rolling stock according to the invention which is indicated schematically in figure 1, comprises a train of two storage vans 1 and 2 which can each transport a number of, for example three, separate bogies 3 when they are not functioning in the train. Of the six bogies 3 present per train, one bogie 3 is arranged in operative position in figure 1, whereby it supports two trailers 4. Each of the trailers 4 normally used for road transport is provided with a set of wheels 5 spring mounted by means of air springs 59 with pneumatic tyres for road transport, and is itself not provided with rail wheels. The trailer 4 has an auxiliary support 6 adjustable in height and the normal coupling pin 7 for connection to a tractive unit 8 (figure 1), this coupling pin 7 not being used for the coupling of rolling stock to the trailer. The trailer 4 according to the invention (see figure 4) has at its rear end two cups 9 arranged on either side of its central longitudinal plane 52 and on its front part one such cup 10 arranged in the central longitudinal plane 52 for bearing respectively on two supports 11 and one support 12 of a bogie 3. The trailer 4 according to the invention further has an air line 13 which can be connected by means of a flexible pipe 14 to a brake device 15 indicated schematically which has an actuating cylinder 56 for brakes 21 of bogies 3. In this way a brake line can be formed which runs over the length of a train, air lines 13 being located at repeated intervals in this line. The chassis of the trailer 4 is so robust that between the cups 9 and 10 it can absorb the high tractive and pressure forces which occur in a train.
[0012] Each bogie 3 comprises a frame 16 having two wheel sets 18 spring mounted therein by means of springs 17, each set consisting of an axle 19 having two rail wheels 20 connected firmly to it. Frame 16 carries a coupling table 22 mounted centrally on it for rotation on a vertical axis 113. For this purpose the frame 16 robust upright bus 23 around which grips a tubular casing 120 of coupling table 22 with interpositioning of bearing bushes 121. Coupling table 22 rests by means of bearing plates 130 on slide plates 131. The tubular casing 120 is held in position in axial direction on bush 23 by means of a retaining plate 133. The coupling table 22 comprises two supports 11 having semi-cylindrical transversely positioned supporting heads 60 and a support 12 provided with a semi-spherical head 61. A trailer 4 can thus swivel with its rear end together with the coupling table 22 relative to the frame 16 of bogie 3, while the same trailer 4 can swivel with its front end on the support 12 relative to the coupling table 22 of another bogie 3.
[0013] Arranged in the head and end beams 29 of trailer 4 are recesses 28 beneath which lie edges 63 which form gripper elements for locking hooks 27, 77 which are arranged for pivoting on the carrying table 22. In their locking position as drawn in full lines in fig. 5 the locking hooks 27, 77 are held in place by a set of links 64 forced through their dead centre (figure 6). When a locking hook 27 pivots back on axis 66 in arrow direction 65 it strikes against the short end 62 of a link 64, which prevents further pivoting back. When during activation the locking hooks 27 are released a gripping shaft 69 is rotated with a key 68 on its axis 70 in arrow direction 72, whereby each set of links 64 is pivoted with the locking hooks 27 that are connected to it in arrow direction 65. An arm 71 also pivots with the shaft 69 in arrow direction 72, as a result of which an angle lever 73 pivots locking hook 77 back in arrow direction 76. Locking hook 77 is guarded against undesired release because a pin 79 of angle lever 73 then stops against arm 71.
[0014] The storage vans 1 and 2 have at one of their both ends a console 35 and 36 respectively protruding axially outside the body work 37, this console being intended for carrying of the end of a trailer 4.
[0015] The body work 37 has a body part 81 permanently connected to the chassis 80 of storage van 1, 2 and a body part 82 which can be moved in lengthwise direction relative to the fixed body part 81, the part 82 having rails 83 on either side which support on guide rollers 84 while supporting rollers 85 of body part 82 support on rails 86 of body part 81. In addition guide rollers 87 of body part 82 roll along the underside of roller tracks 88 of body part 81. Because of these guide means body part 82 can be displaced axially in considerable measure relative to body part 81 so that a bogie 3 which is suspended via a hook 89 from a travelling runner 42 movable over rails 41 of body part 82 can be taken from the storage van 1, 2 and placed onto railway lines 46. For displacement of body part 82 practicable endless chains 91 are guided round chain wheels 92 of body part 81 and fastened to attachment members 93 of body part 82. These chains 91 are driven either manually or by motor power. The displacing of body part 82 can be locked with locking means 90, comprising on at least one side a swivel handle 94 which can be held in place by a locking hook 95 and which has a cam 96 that cooperates with a sliding rod 97 which grips in its locking position in recesses 98 and 99 of respective body parts 81 and 82 (figure 13).
[0016] The consoles 35 and 36 are arranged in the same way and provided with two carrying devices 101 and 102, so that only console 35 is described with reference to figure 19.
[0017] Console 35 has a swivel ring 103, in which can be accommodated a rotating bush 104 of carrying device 101, 102 and which can be locked against axial shifting by means of a retaining ring 105 with bolts 106. Carrying device 101, 102 has a frame 107, 108 which can support by means of bearing layers 109, 110 on bearing blocks 111. Carrying device 101 has two supports 11 which have the same configuration and the same arrangement relative to the vertical axis of rotation 112 of carrying device 101 of console 35 as the supports 11 of bogies 3 relative to the vertical axis of rotation 113 of the carrying table 22. The carrying device 102 has a support 10 with a part-spherical shaped head 61.
[0018] Like the bogies 3 the carrying devices 101, 102 have locking hooks 27, 77 with associated sets of links 64. Should it be wished to arrange the trailers 4 with their front ends facing as required either the storage van 1 or 2, storage van 1 will carry a carrying device 102 or 101 and storage van 2 a carrying device 101 or 102 (figure 7e and 8).
[0019] At the location of a trailer train forming station use can be made of a lifting device for placing trailer 4 onto bogies 3. Instead of a lifting device a set of ramps 48 can suffice which can be moved by means of a fork lift truck 100. For this purpose they are provided with recesses 49. Ramps 48 which can be adjusted in height have a stop with which they run against a bogie 3, a detachable stop 50 with which they run up against the supports 11 of a storage van, and stops 51 against which trailer wheels 5 can strike, in order to carry the cups 9 of a trailer 4 driven backwards up the ramps 48 sufficiently accurately above supports 11. The air pressure is then removed from the air springs 59. The trailer 4 sinks down under its own mass onto the rubber spring stops in the air springs after which the axles with pneumatic tyres 5 are locked mechanically. The lifting device for the ramps 48 is then set to the lower position, whereby the trailer 4 will first come to rest on support points 11 and the pneumatic tyres 5 are then released from ramps 48. After the auxiliary support 6 is extended and the front end of trailer 4 is lifted up the tractive unit 8 is driven away. By applying underpressure to the air springs 59 of trailer 4 the latter is coupled to a bogie 3 driven underneath its front end. The ramps 48 are then moved with a fork lift truck 100 which grips into recesses 49 thereof to bogie 3 to add a following trailer 4 to the train 45. Ramps 48 can be carried in a storage van 1, 2, so that no loading and unloading means - apart from a fork lift truck that can be used for other purposes - need remain behind at the location of a trailer train forming station. A trailer train forming station only requires rails 46 sunk into a traffic road 47.
[0020] It is possible as a result of this to include a large number of trailer train forming stations in a railway network at little cost.
[0021] The trailer 4 according to the invention is provided with a fold-away bumper 53 which is folded up during rail transport (see figure 4) in order not to impede the coupling of the trailer 4 to a bogie 3.
[0022] The bearing supports 11, 12 and cups 9, 10 have a robust structure such that they can withstand a force in longitudinal direction of the train of for example 800 kN.
[0023] Storage vans 1 and 2 are provided at their ends 54 facing away from the trailers 4 with conventional draw and buffer means 58 for coupling to conventional rolling stock.
[0024] In the shunting diagram shown in figure 7 for assembling a train with five trailers 4:
four of the six bogies 3 are unloaded from the storage vans 1, 2 (line a);
a ramp 48 is placed at the console 36,
a trailer 4 is driven with a tractive unit 8 onto ramp 48 and thus above a carrying device 101 fitted on console 36 of storage van 2 (line b);
trailer 4 is let down onto the supports 11 of carrying device 102 by raising the wheels 5 of trailer 4, trailer 4 is positioned on its support 6 and the uncoupled tractive unit 8 is driven away (line c); and
a bogie 3 is arranged beneath trailer 4 and trailer 4 is lowered onto bogie 3 and locked to it, after which cup 9 grips onto support 12 of this bogie 3 (line d).
[0025] Such operations are repeated for assembly of a train 45 as in line e, whereby the console 35 with a carrying device 101 of storage van 1 is finally arranged under the last trailer 4 and locked to it.
[0026] The disassembly of a train takes place in principle in reverse sequence. The assembling of a train 45 can if required also be carried out from the other end as according to figure 8. Storage vans 1 and 2 can be provided with an air unit 38 for brake air.
1. Bogie (3) comprising a frame with carrying means for carrying trailers normally
used for road transport, characterized by a coupling table (22) which can rotate
relative to said frame on a vertical axis, said table having - seen transversely
of the direction of movement - two supports (11) at an interval from each other for
supporting an end of a trailer (4) and by a support (12) arranged in the central
longitudinal plane (52) of the bogie (3) for rotatable support of the end of another
trailer (4), whereby said support (12) arranged in the central longitudinal plane
is part-spherical shaped and the two supports at an interval from each other are formed
such that they permit swivelling of said trailer relative to said coupling table (22)
in the vertical longitudinal plane.
2. Bogie (3) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the supports (11, 12) each
grip in a specially adapted cup of a trailer (4) such that a considerable tractive
force can be transferred between support (11) and cup.
3. Bogie (3) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the coupling table (22)
is provided with locking members (27, 77) which can each grip on a locking element
of a trailer (4) and are held in place in their locking position by means of a set
of links forced through their dead centre.
4. Storage van (1, 2) provided with carrying means (35, 36) for carrying an end of
a trailer (4), characterized by a console which is provided with at least one of two
carrying devices, one of which carrying devices can be coupled for rotation on a vertical
axis with said console, and which comprises two supports (11) at an interval from
each other - seen transversely of the direction of movement - for supporting an end
of a trailer (4), and the other of which comprises a support (12) arranged in the
central longitudinal plane (52) for supporting the other end of such a trailer (4).
5. Storage van (1, 2) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the console is
provided with both carrying devices which can be connected to it so as to be interchangeable.
6. Storage van (1, 2) as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the body work
(37) comprises at least one body part (81) permanently connected to the chassis (80)
and at least one body part which can be displaced in longitudinal direction relative
to said fixed body part and which is provided with lifting means.
7. Trailer which is arranged for placing on railway bogies, characterized by
- a part-spherical shaped cup arranged at its one end in the central longitudinal plane;
- two supports at an interval from each other - seen transversely of the direction of movement - at its other end which allow pivoting of the trailer in the vertical longitudinal plane relative to a coupling table of a bogie; and
- locking elements arranged at the supports for locking co-operation with locking members of a bogie.
- a part-spherical shaped cup arranged at its one end in the central longitudinal plane;
- two supports at an interval from each other - seen transversely of the direction of movement - at its other end which allow pivoting of the trailer in the vertical longitudinal plane relative to a coupling table of a bogie; and
- locking elements arranged at the supports for locking co-operation with locking members of a bogie.