A METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR HANDLING A SWAP BODY

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for transferring a swap body from a truck to a railway goods wagon.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Goods is to an increasing extent transported in standardized load carriers, most often in containers, but also oftentimes in so called swap bodies, which may be defined as load carriers provided with foldable legs for their support above the ground. They are optimized to road vehicle dimensions and fitted with handling devices for transfer between different transport modes, usually road/rail.

[0003] The problem of transferring a swap body between a truck and a railway wagon has so far not got any good solution in spite of several attempts. Prior solutions have often relied on lifting in some form, for example by cranes or industrial trucks. Also known is equipment for transferring swap bodies sideways to and from goods wagons.

[0004] The most relevant prior art known is, however, represented by WO 94/15822. In this publication a technically complicated system for loading swap bodies and the like on railway wagons is revealed. In this complicated system use is made of a kind of turntable on a railway wagon. Such turntables are used in known systems for the handling of ordinary, standardized containers, but in this case the complexity is probably a great obstacle to practical use.

[0005] The main object of the invention is to accomplish a method and arrangement for simple and cheap, but yet effective and safe transfer of a swap body from a truck to a goods wagon, or vice versa.

The Invention

[0006] In a method according to the invention this is accomplished in that the swap body is pushed by the truck in a pushing sequence in more than one stage onto a turntable of the goods wagon, which turntable has been swung out from the wagon into suitable position therefore, and in that forward swap body legs are used to support the swap body on the ground when the truck moves to a new position during the pushing sequence.

[0007] More specifically this method may comprise the steps of

a) putting the swap body in line with a turntable of the goods wagon, swung out from the wagon into suitable position therefore,

b) backing the truck for introducing a slide member, slidably arranged on the turntable, or a front part of the turntable in a tunnel arranged at the underside of the swap body, and in the latter case pushing back the swap body onto slide elements arranged along the turntable,

c) lowering the forward swap body legs - i e the swap body legs remote from the turntable - into supporting contact with the ground,

d) positioning the truck with its end supporting the forward portion of the swap body and raising the previously lowered legs,

e) pushing - by means of the truck - the swap body supported by the slide member or the slide elements onto the turntable, and

f) swinging the turntable back into transport position in line with the longitudinal direction of the wagon.

[0008] In a first embodiment, a further step of releasably connecting the slide member to the swap body is preferably performed between steps b) and c) or c) and d).

[0009] Practically, the connecting step - which is of greater importance for an unloading from the goods wagon - is performed in that lock members on a lock arm assembly attached to the slide member are engaged with lock members in the lower part of the swap body.

[0010] In a second embodiment, a further step of affecting actuators, arranged on the turntable, to lower backing direction indicators when the swap body is pushed onto the turntable, is preferably performed between steps c) and d).

[0011] An arrangement for transferring a swap body from a truck to the wagon for further transport thereon is according to the invention simply characterized by a slide member on a pivotable turntable on the wagon, the slide member being slidable on the turntable and arranged to be introduced in a tunnel at the underside of the swap body, or by slide elements along a pivotable turntable on the wagon, the slide elements being arranged to support the swap body at its movement along the turntable.

[0012] In a first embodiment, the slide member is practically arranged to be introduced in a tunnel, which is a standard arrangement at the underside of the swap body. The turntable may have a forwardly narrowing nose member at its free end for facilitating this introduction.

[0013] Preferably, the slide member has side brims for cooperation with the tunnel of the swap body.

[0014] The internal cross sectional shape of the slide member generally corresponds to the external cross sectional shape of the turntable. Cooperating coatings of for example PTFE can be arranged on the turntable and in the slide member, respectively, for enhancing the mutual slidability.

[0015] A lock arm assembly with lock members for releaseable connection to corresponding lock members on the swap body is attached to the slide member.

[0016] In a second embodiment, the slide elements are rollers provided along the pivotable turntable on the wagon.

[0017] These rollers are arranged to support beams forming a tunnel at the underside of the swap body, and the turntable has guiding means at its free end for facilitating this introduction.

[0018] These guiding means may be wheels for cooperation with the tunnel of the swap body.

[0019] In the second embodiment, the turntable may further be provided with backing direction indicators for the surveillance of the transfer of the swap body from the truck to the wagon.

[0020] These backing direction indicators may be connected to actuators arranged on the turntable, which are spring biased wheels arranged in slots of the side walls of the turntable.

[0021] Differently speaking, the actuators are slidable wheels that slide into an interior of the turntable to lower the backing direction indicators.

[0022] These backing direction indicators are movable from a first raised position to a second lowered position by the actuation of the actuators.

The Drawings

[0023] The invention will be described in further detail below under reference to the accompanying drawings, showing two embodiments of the invention - a first one in Figs 1-6 and a second one in Figs 7-11 - and in which

Fig 1 is a perspective view of a goods wagon according to the invention together with a truck and a swap body under loading onto the wagon,

Fig 2 is a plan view of the wagon according to the invention,

Fig 3 is a section through a turntable of the goods wagon along the line III-III in Fig 5,

Fig 4 is a perspective view of a slide arrangement for the turntable,

Fig 5 is a similar perspective view of the slide arrangement on the turntable,

Fig 6 is a perspective view of the slide arrangement on the turntable entering a tunnel provided at the underside of a swap body,

Fig 7 is a perspective view of a goods wagon according to the invention together with a truck and a swap body under loading onto the wagon,

Fig 8 is a plan view of the wagon according to the invention,

Fig 9 is a view of one end of a turntable of the goods wagon,

Fig 10 is a perspective view of the turntable according to the invention, and

Fig 11 is a perspective view of the turntable entering a tunnel provided at the underside of a swap body.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

[0024] A swap body 1, shown in its entirety in Fig 1, is a standardized product in the transport industry and is intended for carrying goods primarily by truck but also by train. It is provided with four foldable legs 2 for its support on the ground. In Fig 1, where the swap body is carried by a truck 3 (having here three axles), the front or left legs 2 are shown folded down and the rear or right legs 2 folded up. In the vicinity of the attachment point for each leg 2, the swap body is provided with a standard container lock member 4 of the so called twistlock type. A further standard feature of the swap body - of importance for the present invention - is that on its underside it is provided with a longitudinal tunnel or channel 5 for interaction with corresponding means on a vehicle on which it is transported; this tunnel 5 is shown most clearly in Fig 6.

[0025] A swap body may thus for example be transported by a truck or by train, as appears quite clearly in Fig 1, where such a swap body is under transfer from the truck 3 to a special railway goods wagon 6.

[0026] The goods wagon 6 has a framework 7, in this case carried by two bogies 8. On top of the framework there are arranged horisontally pivotable turntables 9, in the present case two turntables, which in their basic form are per se well known in the industry for transferring mainly containers to and from goods wagons. The goods wagon shown in Figs 1 and 2 is provided with two such turntables 9, of which one is shown in transport position in the longitudinal direction of the wagon, whereas the second one is shown in a transfer position obliquely in relation to the wagon.

[0027] As the turntables 9 basically are known in the industry, they are only described to the extent necessary for providing relevant information about the invention.

[0028] In a first embodiment shown in Figs 1-6, each turntable 9 has a fixed nose member 10 at its free forward end with a forwardly narrowing shape so as to facilitate entering the turntable 9 into the tunnel 5 of the swap body 1, as is depicted perhaps most clearly in Fig 6.

[0029] The turntable 9 is also provided with a slide arrangement generally numbered 11. This slide arrangement 11 is slidable along the turntable 9 from the nose member 10, where it is shown in Figs 1, 2, 5 and 6, to an end stop at the opposite end of the turntable. The slide arrangement 11 basically comprises a slide member 12, having an internal cross-sectional shape generally corresponding to the external cross-sectional shape of the turntable 9, and a lock arm assembly 13 to be described.

[0030] An exemplary design for accomplishing the sliding is shown in section in Fig 3. It appears that the turntable 9 may be provided at its top surface and at its two lateral surfaces with coatings 14 of for example PTFE (such as Teflon®), cooperating with corresponding coatings 15 of the same material provided on the underside and the inner lateral sides of the slide member 12.

[0031] It clearly appears from Fig 3 that the slide member 12 has side brims 12' supportingly cooperating with the underside of the means forming the tunnel 6 of the swap body 1. Also the nose member 10 has side brims 10' for the same purpose.

[0032] The lock arm assembly 13 has the general purpose of firmly connecting the slide member 12 to the container lock members 4 of the swap body 1.

[0033] Its main member is a tubular cross bar 16 attached to the slide member 12 transverse to the turntable 9.

[0034] Pivotally attached to the cross bar 16 is a control bar 17 operatively connected to stop pins 18, which - by means of handles 19 arranged at the ends of the control bar 17 - may be brought down from their inoperative positions shown in Figs 4 and 5 into engagement with means on the turntable 9. Hereby, the slide member 12 may be locked to the turntable 9 during the introduction of the slide member into the tunnel 5 of the swap body 1.

[0035] Attached with a certain pivotal flexibility to each end of the cross bar 16 (for adjustment purposes) is a lock arm 20, whose length may be changed, for example by a telescoping, lockable design indicated in Figs 4 and 5. The length change feature is necessary in order to allow adaption to swap bodies of different, standardized lengths. Each lock arm 20 is at its free end provided with a pivotable lock member 21 for manually releasable engagement with the corresponding container lock member 4.

[0036] A swap body 1 is transferred from the truck 3 to the goods wagon 6 in the following way. One of the turntables 9 of the wagon 6 is pivoted or swung out into an oblique position, generally as shown in Fig. 1 and 2, the slide arrangement 11 being close to the nose member 10 at its free end. The truck 3 with the swap body 1 thereon is backed up into position with the swap body tunnel 5 in line with the turntable 9, so that the slide member 12 is introduced into the tunnel 5. The front legs 2 of the swap body 1 are folded or swung down to the position, shown in Fig 1, so that the front end of the swap body 1 is supported by the legs and its rear end by the slide member 12. The lock arms 20 are connected to the lock members 4 on the swap body 1, so that the slide member 12 is locked in relation to the swap body 1. The truck 3 is brought forward, until the front end of the swap body 1 can rest on the rear end of the truck 3 and the swap body legs 2 can again be folded up. By backing the truck 3 the swap body will now, resting on the slide member 12, be pushed entirely onto the turntable 9. Finally, the turntable 9 with the swap body 1 thereon may be pivoted back into transport position in the longitudinal direction of the goods wagon 6, in a way known in the art.

[0037] A later transfer of the swap body 1 back onto a truck 3 is accomplished in the reverse manner. As the swap body 1 hereby is pulled from the turntable 9 on the slide member 12 by the truck 3, it is of special importance that the swap body 1 is locked to the slide member 12 by the lock arm assembly 13.

[0038] Modifications are possible within the scope of the enclosed claims. Especially, the term "slide member" is meant to include embodiments where a rolling instead of sliding movement between the turntable and the swap body is accomplished.

[0039] A special modification is to provide the slide member 12 with arm means for connection to the container lock members 4 and hereby not to use the tunnel 5 and the short side of the swap body 1 in the transfer process. Generally speaking, the use of this modification is the same as has been described above

[0040] A second embodiment is shown in Figs 7-11. The swap body 1, shown in its entirety in Fig 7, is provided with four foldable legs 2 for its support on the ground. In Fig 7, where the swap body is carried by the truck 3, the front or left legs 2 and the rear or right legs 2 are shown folded up.

[0041] In the second embodiment each turntable 39 is provided at its free forward end with guiding means in the form of wheels 40 to facilitate entering the turntable 39 into the tunnel 5 of the swap body 1. The guiding wheels 40 run on the inside of the tunnel 5 to laterally guide the swap body 1.

[0042] The turntable 39 is also provided with horisontal rollers 41. The rollers 41 are arranged at intervals along the sides of the turntable 39 from the free forward end of the turntable 39 to the opposite end thereof. The rollers 41 are arranged to receive and support vertical beams 42 arranged on the underside of the swap body 1. The beams 42 form the tunnel 5. The turntable 39 is also provided with a stop member 43 at its rear end as shown in Fig 10. The stop member 43 prevents the swap body 1 from being pushed too far onto the turntable 39. Fig 10 also shows that the rollers 41 are arranged at intervals along the entire length of the turntable 39. As an alternative to the rollers any suitable slide element for reducing the friction between the swap body 1 and the turntable 39 can be provided along the turntable 39.

[0043] In Fig 9 the free forward end of the turntable 39 with the horisontal rollers 41 and the guiding wheels 40 is shown. Additionally, backing direction indicators 44 are shown together with actuators 45 for activating the backing direction indicators 44. Each backing direction indicator 44 comprises a horisontal bar 46 extending perpendicularly from the turntable and a vertical bar 47 extending from a free end of the horisontal bar 46. The actuators 45, which are slidable wheels biased by a spring arrangement (not shown) and arranged in slots of the turntable 39, are connected to the backing direction indicators 44. When the wheels 45 are pushed inwards, a link mechanism (not shown) lowers the backing direction indicators 44, so that the vertical bars 47 will be substantially parallel with the turntable 39. The actuators or wheels 45 also function as guiding wheels to guide the swap body 1 along the turntable 39.

[0044] A swap body 1 is transferred from the truck 3 to the goods wagon 6 in the following way. One of the turntables 39 of the wagon 6 is pivoted or swung out into an oblique position, generally as shown in Figs 7 and 8. The truck 3 with the swap body 1 thereon is backed up into position with the swap body tunnel 5 in line with the turntable 39, so that the free forward end of the turntable 39 is introduced into the tunnel 5. The guiding wheels 40 guide the swap body 1 into position, and the beams 42 of the swap body 1 get in contact with the rollers 41. The truck 3 continues backing so that the swap body 1 gets further and further onto the turntable 39. When the swap body 1 gets in line with the wheels 45, the beams 42 of the swap body 1 will press the actuators or wheels 45 inwards, and the backing direction indicators 44 are lowered to be substantially parallel with the turntable 39. This informs the driver of the truck 3 that the swap body 1 is positioned on the turntable.

[0045] The front legs 2 of the swap body 1 are folded or swung down to such a position, that the front end of the swap body 1 is supported by the legs and its rear end by the turntable 39. The truck 3 is brought forward, until the front end of the swap body 1 can rest on the rear end of the truck 3 and the swap body front legs 2 again can be folded up. By backing the truck 3 the swap body, now resting on the rollers 41, will be pushed entirely onto the turntable 39. Finally, the turntable 39 with the swap body 1 thereon may be pivoted back into transport position in the longitudinal direction of the goods wagon 6, in a way known in the art.

[0046] A later transfer of the swap body 1 back onto a truck 3 is accomplished in the reverse manner. The backing direction indicators 44 are raised when the the swap body 1 is pulled past the actuators or wheels 45.

[0047] Modifications to the second embodiment are possible within the scope of the enclosed claims.

[0048] The term "swap body" has been used throughout this specification, but the invention may also be applicable to other types of containers and goods carrying means to be transferred to and from railway goods wagons.

Claims

1. A method of transferring a swap body (1) from a truck (3) to a railway goods wagon (6), characterized in that the swap body (1) is pushed by the truck (3) in a pushing sequence in more than one stage onto a turntable (9; 39) of the goods wagon (6), which turntable has been swung out from the wagon into suitable position therefore, and in that forward swap body legs (2) are used to support the swap body on the ground when the truck moves to a new position during the pushing sequence.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of

a) putting the swap body (1) in line with a turntable (9; 39) of the goods wagon (6), swung out from the wagon into suitable position therefore,

b) backing the truck (3) for introducing a slide member (12), slidably arranged on the turntable (9), or a front part of the turntable (39) in a tunnel (5) arranged at the underside of the swap body (1), and in the latter case pushing back the swap body onto slide elements (41) arranged along the turntable (39),

c) lowering the forward swap body legs (2) - i e the swap body legs remote from the turntable (9; 39) - into supporting contact with the ground,

d) positioning the truck (3) with its end supporting the forward portion of the swap body (1) and raising the previously lowered legs (2),

e) pushing - by means of the truck (3) - the swap body (1) supported by the slide member (12) or the slide elements (41) onto the turntable (9; 39), and

f) swinging the turntable (9; 39) back into transport position in line with the longitudinal direction of the wagon (6).

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein a further step of releasably connecting the slide member (12) to the swap body (1) is performed between steps b) and c) or c) and d).

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the connecting step is performed in that lock members (21) on a lock arm assembly (13) attached to the slide member (12) are engaged with lock members (4) in the lower part of the swap body (1).

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein a further step of affecting actuators (45), arranged on the turntable (39), to lower backing direction indicators (44) when the swap body (1) is pushed onto the turntable, is performed between steps c) and d).

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the actuators (45) partially slide into the interior of the turntable (39), pushed by the swap body (1), when the swap body (1) gets into contact with the actuators (45).

7. An arrangement at a railway goods wagon (6) for transferring by a method according to claim 1 a swap body (1) from and by a truck (3) to the wagon for further transport thereon, characterized by a slide member (12) on a pivotable turntable (9) on the wagon (6), the slide member being slidable on the turntable and arranged to be introduced in a tunnel at the underside of the swap body (1), or by slide elements (41) along a pivotable turntable (39) on the wagon (6), the slide elements being arranged to support the swap body (1) at its movement along the turntable.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the turntable (9) has a forwardly narrowing nose member (10) at its free end for facilitating this introduction.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the slide member (12) has side brims (12') for cooperation with the tunnel (5) of the swap body (1).

10. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the internal cross sectional shape of the slide member (12) generally corresponds to the external cross sectional shape of the turntable (9).

11. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein cooperating coatings (14, 15) of for example PTFE are arranged on the turntable (9) and in the slide member (12), respectively, for enhancing the mutual slidability.

12. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein a lock arm assembly (13) with lock members (21) for releaseable connection to corresponding lock members (4) on the swap body (1) is attached to the slide member (12).

13. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the slide elements are rollers (41) provided along the pivotable turntable (39) on the wagon (6).

14. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the rollers (41) are arranged to support beams (42) forming a tunnel (5) at the underside of the swap body (1) and the turntable (39) has guiding means (40) at its free end for facilitating this introduction.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the guiding means are wheels (40) for cooperation with the tunnel (5) of the swap body (1).

16. An arrangement according to any of claims 7 and 13-15, wherein the turntable (39) is provided with backing direction indicators (44) for the surveillance of the transfer of the swap body (1) from the truck (3) to the wagon (6).

17. An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the backing direction indicators (44) are connected to actuators (45) arranged on the turntable (39).

18. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the actuators (45) are spring biased wheels arranged in slots of the side walls of the turntable (39).

19. An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the actuators (45) are slidable wheels that slide into an interior of the turntable (39) to lower the backing direction indicators (44).

20. An arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the backing direction indicators (44) are movable from a first raised position to a second lowered position by the actuation of the actuators (45).

21. An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the actuators (45) are arranged for cooperation with the tunnel (5) of the swap body (1) to actuate the actuators (45).

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zum Übertragen eines Wechselaufbaus (1) von einem Lastwagen (3) zu einem Eisenbahn-Güterwaggon (6), dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
der Wechselaufbau (1) in einer Schiebeabfolge von mehr als einem Schritt vom Lastwagen (3) auf einen Drehtisch (9; 39) des Güterwaggons (6) geschoben wird, wobei der Drehtisch vom Waggon in eine dazu geeignete Position herausgeschwenkt ist, und dass vordere Wechselaufbaustützen (2) verwendet werden, um den Wechselaufbau abzustützen, wenn sich der Lastwagen (3) während der Schiebeabfolge in eine neue Position bewegt.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, umfassend die Schritte:

a) Ausrichten des Wechselaufbaus (1) in Übereinstimmung zu einem vom Waggon in eine dazu geeignete Position herausgeschwenkten Drehtisch (9; 39) des Güterwaggons (6),

b) Zurücksetzen des Lastkraftwagens (3) zum Einführen eines Gleitteils (12), das auf dem Drehtisch (9) verschiebbar angeordnet ist, oder eines Vorderteils des Drehtisches (39) in einen Tunnel (5), der an der Unterseite des Wechselaufbaus (1) angeordnet ist, wobei im letzteren Fall der Wechselaufbau auf Gleitelementen (41) zurückgeschoben wird, die entlang dem Drehtisch (39) angeordnet sind,

c) Absenken der vorderen Wechselaufbaustützen (2) - d.h. der vom Drehtisch (9; 39) entfernten Wechselaufbaustützen - in abstützenden Kontakt mit dem Boden,

d) Positionieren des Lastwagens (3) mit seinem den vorderen Abschnitt des Wechselaufbaus (1) tragenden Ende und des Anhebens der vorher abgesenkten Stützen (2),

e) Verschieben des Wechselaufbaus (1) - mittels des Lastwagens (3) - gestützt durch das Gleitteil (12) oder die Gleitelemente (41) auf die Drehtisch (9; 39), und

f) Schwenken des Drehtischs (9; 39) zurück in Transportposition in Übereinstimmung mit der Längsrichtung des Waggons (6).

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, wobei ein weiterer Schritt einer lösbaren Verbindung des Gleitteils (12) an den Wechselaufbau (1) zwischen den Schritten b) und c) oder c) und d) ausgeführt wird.

4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 3, wobei der Verbindungsschritt dadurch ausgeführt wird, dass Verriegelungsteile (21) auf einer am Gleitteil (12) angebrachten Schließarmanordnung (13) in Verriegelungselemente (4) am unteren Teil des Wechselaufbaus (1) eingreifen.

5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, wobei ein weiterer Schritt des Betätigens von auf dem Drehtisch (39) angeordneten Stellgliedern (45) zwischen den Schritten c) und d) ausgeführt wird, um Rücksetz-Richtungsindikatoren (44) abzusenken, wenn der Wechselaufbau (1) auf den Drehtisch geschoben wird.

6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Stellglieder (45) teilweise in das Innere des Drehtisches (39) gleiten, verschoben durch den Wechselaufbau (1), wenn der Wechselaufbau (1) in Kontakt mit den Stellgliedern (45) gelangt.

7. Anordnung an einem Eisenbahn-Güterwaggon (6) zum Übertragen eines Wechselaufbaus (1) von und mit einem Lastwagen (3) zum Waggon entsprechend dem Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 für den weiteren Transport darauf, gekennzeichnet durch ein Gleitteil (12) auf einem schwenkbaren Drehtisch (9) auf dem Waggon (6), wobei das Gleitteil auf dem Drehtisch verschiebbar angeordnet ist, um in einem Tunnel an der Unterseite des Wechselaufbaus (1) eingeleitet zu werden, oder
durch Gleitelemente (41) entlang einem schwenkbaren Drehtisch (39) auf dem Waggon (6) wobei die Gleitelemente geordnet sind, um den Wechselaufbau (1) bei seiner Bewegung entlang dem Drehtisch abzustützen.

8. Anordnung nach Anspruch 7, wobei der Drehtisch (9) an seinem freien Ende zur Erleichterung dieser Einleitung ein sich vorwärts verengendes Nasenteil (10) aufweist.

9. Anordnung nach Anspruch 8, wobei das Gleitteil (12) Seitenränder (12') zum Zusammenwirken mit dem Tunnel (5) des Wechselaufbaus (1) aufweist.

10. Anordnung nach Anspruch 7, wobei die innere Querschnittsform des Gleitelements (12) im Allgemeinen der äußeren Querschnittsgestaltung des Drehtisches (9) entspricht.

11. Anordnung nach Anspruch 10, wobei zusammenwirkende Beschichtungen (14, 15), zum Beispiel PTFE auf dem Drehtisch (9) bzw. am Gleitteil (12) vorgesehen sind, um die gegenseitige Verschiebbarkeit zu verbessern.

12. Anordnung nach Anspruch 7, wobei ein Schließarm (13) mit Verriegelungsteilen (21) zur lösbaren Verbindung mit entsprechenden Verriegelungselementen (4) auf dem Wechselaufbau (1) am Gleitteil (12) angebracht ist.

13. Anordnung nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Gleitelemente Rollen (41) sind, die entlang dem schwenkbaren Drehtisch (39) auf dem Waggon (6) vorgesehen sind.

14. Anordnung nach Anspruch 13, wobei die Rollen (41) angeordnet sind, um Stege (42) abzustützen, die einen Tunnel (5) an der Unterseite des Wechselaufbaus (1) bilden, und der Drehtisch (39) an seinem freien Ende zur erleichterten Einleitung Führungen (40) aufweist.

15. Anordnung nach Anspruch 14, wobei die Führungen Räder (40) sind, um mit dem Tunnel (5) des Wechselaufbaus (1) zusammenzuwirken.

16. Anordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 7 und 13-15, wobei der Drehtisch (39) mit Rücksetz-Richtungsindikatoren (44) zur Überwachung der Überführung des Wechselaufbaus (1) vom Lastwagen (3) zum Waggon (6) ausgestattet ist.

17. Anordnung nach Anspruch 16, wobei die Rücksetz-Richtungsindikatoren (44) an Stellglieder (45) angeschlossen sind, die auf dem Drehtisch (39) angeordnet sind.

18. Anordnung nach Anspruch 17, wobei die Stellglieder (45) federbeaufschlagte Räder sind, die in Schlitzen der Seitenwände des Drehtisches (39) angeordnet sind.

19. Anordnung nach Anspruch 18, wobei die Stellglieder (45) verschiebbare Räder sind, die ins Innere des Drehtisches (39) gleiten, um die Rücksetz-Richtungsindikatoren (44) abzusenken.

20. Anordnung nach Anspruch 19, wobei die Rücksetz-Richtungsindikatoren (44) durch die Betätigung der Stellglieder (45) von einer ersten, angehobenen Position in eine zweite, abgesenkte Position beweglich sind.

21. Anordnung nach Anspruch 20, wobei die Stellglieder (45) zum Zusammenwirken mit dem Tunnel (5) des Wechselaufbaus (1) angeordnet sind, um die Stellglieder (45) zu betätigen.

Revendications

1. Procédé de transfert d'une caisse mobile (1) d'un camion (3) à un wagon à marchandises (6), caractérisé en ce que la caisse mobile (1) est poussée par le camion (3), dans une séquence de poussée comportant plus d'un stade, sur une plaque tournante (9 ; 39) du wagon à marchandises (6), laquelle plaque tournante a pivoté vers l'extérieur du wagon dans une position appropriée pour cette opération, et en ce que des pieds de caisse mobile avant (2) sont utilisés pour supporter la caisse mobile sur le sol lorsque le camion se déplace jusqu'à une nouvelle position au cours de la séquence de poussée.

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant les étapes consistant à :

a) mettre la caisse mobile (1) en ligne avec une plaque tournante (9 ; 39) du wagon à marchandises (6), ayant pivoté vers l'extérieur du wagon dans une position appropriée pour cette opération,

b) faire reculer le camion (3) pour introduire un organe coulissant (12), agencé de façon coulissante sur la plaque tournante (9), ou une partie avant de la plaque tournante (39) dans un tunnel (5) agencé sur la sous-face de la caisse mobile (1), et, dans ce dernier cas, repousser la caisse mobile sur des éléments coulissants (41) agencés le long de la plaque tournante (39),

c) abaisser les pieds de caisse mobile avant (2) - à savoir les pieds de caisse mobile éloignés de la plaque tournante (9 ; 39) - pour obtenir un contact de support avec le sol,

d) positionner le camion (3) avec son extrémité supportant la partie avant de la caisse mobile (1) et relever les pieds auparavant abaissés (2),

e) pousser - au moyen du camion (3) - la caisse mobile (1) supportée par l'organe coulissant (12) ou les éléments coulissants (41) sur la plaque tournante (9 ; 39), et

f) faire pivoter la plaque tournante (9 ; 39) pour la remettre dans la position de transport en ligne avec la direction longitudinale du wagon (6).

3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel une étape supplémentaire consistant à relier de façon libérable l'organe coulissant (12) à la caisse mobile (1) est réalisée entre les étapes b) et c) ou c) et d).

4. Procédé selon la revendication 3, dans lequel l'étape consistant à relier est réalisée en ce que des organes de verrouillage (21) sur un ensemble de bras de verrouillage (13) fixé à l'organe coulissant (12) sont mis en prise avec des organes de verrouillage (4) dans la partie inférieure de la caisse mobile (1).

5. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel une étape supplémentaire consistant à actionner des actionneurs (45), agencés sur la plaque tournante (39), pour abaisser des indicateurs de marche arrière (44) lorsque la caisse mobile (1) est poussée sur la plaque tournante, est réalisée entre les étapes c) et d).

6. Procédé selon la revendication 5, dans lequel les actionneurs (45) coulissent partiellement dans la partie intérieure de la plaque tournante (39), poussés par la caisse mobile (1), lorsque la caisse mobile (1) entre en contact avec les actionneurs (45).

7. Agencement sur un wagon à marchandises (6) pour transférer, par l'intermédiaire d'un procédé selon la revendication 1, une caisse mobile (1) d'un et par un camion (3) au wagon pour un transport supplémentaire sur celui-ci, caractérisé par un organe coulissant (12) sur une plaque tournante pivotante (9) sur le wagon (6), l'organe coulissant pouvant coulisser sur la plaque tournante et étant agencé pour être introduit dans un tunnel sur la sous-face de la caisse mobile (1), ou par des éléments coulissants (41) le long d'une plaque tournante pivotante (39) sur le wagon (6), les éléments coulissants étant agencés pour supporter la caisse mobile (1) lors de son mouvement le long de la plaque tournante.

8. Agencement selon la revendication 7, dans lequel la plaque tournante (9) comporte un organe de nez rétrécissant vers l'avant (10) à son extrémité libre pour faciliter cette introduction.

9. Agencement selon la revendication 8, dans lequel l'organe coulissant (12) comporte des rebords latéraux (12') pour une coopération avec le tunnel (5) de la caisse mobile (1).

10. Agencement selon la revendication 7, dans lequel la forme de section transversale interne de l'organe coulissant (12) correspond généralement à la forme de section transversale externe de la plaque tournante (9).

11. Agencement selon la revendication 10, dans lequel des revêtements coopérants (14, 15), par exemple de PTFE, sont agencés sur la plaque tournante (9) et dans l'organe coulissant (12), respectivement, pour améliorer l'aptitude au coulissement mutuelle.

12. Agencement selon la revendication 7, dans lequel un ensemble de bras de verrouillage (13) avec des organes de verrouillage (21) pour une liaison libérable à des organes de verrouillage correspondants (4) sur la caisse mobile (1) est fixé à l'organe coulissant (12).

13. Agencement selon la revendication 7, dans lequel les éléments coulissants sont des rouleaux (41) prévus le long de la plaque tournante pivotante (39) sur le wagon (6).

14. Agencement selon la revendication 13, dans lequel les rouleaux (41) sont agencés pour supporter des longerons (42) formant un tunnel (5) sur la sous-face de la caisse mobile (1) et la plaque tournante (39) comporte des moyens de guidage (40) à son extrémité libre pour faciliter cette introduction.

15. Agencement selon la revendication 14, dans lequel les moyens de guidage sont des roues (40) pour une coopération avec le tunnel (5) de la caisse mobile (1).

16. Agencement selon une quelconque des revendications 7 et 13 à 15, dans lequel la plaque tournante (39) est pourvue d'indicateurs de marche arrière (44) pour la surveillance du transfert de la caisse mobile (1) du camion (3) au wagon (6).

17. Agencement selon la revendication 16, dans lequel les indicateurs de marche arrière (44) sont connectés à des actionneurs (45) agencés sur la plaque tournante (39).

18. Agencement selon la revendication 17, dans lequel les actionneurs (45) sont des roues sollicitées par ressort agencées dans des fentes des parois latérales de la plaque tournante (39).

19. Agencement selon la revendication 18, dans lequel les actionneurs (45) sont des roues coulissantes qui coulissent dans une partie intérieure de la plaque tournante (39) pour abaisser les indicateurs de marche arrière (44).

20. Agencement selon la revendication 19, dans lequel les indicateurs de marche arrière (44) sont mobiles d'une première position relevée à une seconde position abaissée par l'intermédiaire de l'actionnement des actionneurs (45).

21. Agencement selon la revendication 20, dans lequel les actionneurs (45) sont agencés pour une coopération avec le tunnel (5) de la caisse mobile (1) pour actionner les actionneurs (45).

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