Platform for use in a system for placing and/or removing a payload on railway rails and corresponding placing and/or removing method

Abstract

 A platform for use in a system for placing and/or removing a payload (40) on railway tracks (53), in particular a railway signalling balise, which includes a support surface (31) comprising arms (32;132) projecting from said support surface (31) and are configured to be engaged in rails (52) of tracks (53), wherein said arms (32;132) are movable arms to reach an engagement position in said rails (52) at a defined placing position (X,Y,Z) with respect to said track (53), said platform (30,130) comprising means (32c,59;134,141,142) for actuating said movable arms (32;132) for displacement thereof towards and/or from said engagement position.

Description

[0001] The present invention regards a platform for use in a system for placing and/or removing a payload, in particular of a railway signalling balise, comprising a placing platform which includes a balise support surface comprising arms projecting from said balise support surface so as to be engaged in track rails.

[0002] In the railway industry, there frequently arises the need for placing temporary signalling balises on the track, especially with the aim of imposing slowing down, for example in case of problems related to the track geometry, works. Such signalling balises should be removed when the reason that required the placing ceases to exist. It is necessary that the placing and removing be carried out very quickly, minimizing the impact on the traffic and the cost of the operation.

[0003] Known balises use support surfaces usually comprising brackets connected, through screws and bolts, to elements of the track. The balises are placed and removed manually by operators who provide for mounting/dismounting thereof.

[0004] The operation requires relatively long periods of time. Furthermore, the presence of workers on the rails, even with application of security measures, inherently represents a source of hazard for the workers in question.

[0005] The present invention has the object of providing a solution capable of enabling placing and/or removing a balise on tracks more quickly with respect to the known systems.

[0006] According to the present invention there is proposed a platform for use in a system for placing and/or removing a payload, in particular a railway signalling balise, comprising a placing platform, as well as a method for placing/removing a payload, in particular a railway signalling balise, having the characteristics specifically referred to in the claims that follow.

[0007] The invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of nonlimiting example, wherein:

• figure 1 schematically represents a placing vehicle in which the platform for the placing and/or removing system according to the invention operates;
• figure 2 schematically represents a platform according to the invention;
• figure 3 schematically represents a second embodiment of a platform according to the invention;
• figure 4 represents a schematic view of a detail of the embodiment of figure 3.

[0008] In brief, the placing platform for use in a system for placing and/or removing a payload, in particular a railway signalling balise, on railway tracks, comprises a support surface comprising arms projecting from the support surface and they are configured to be engaged in track rails. Such arms are movable arms towards an engagement position in the rails. Thus, the platform comprises actuators for actuating such movable arms in a displacement towards and/or from said engagement position. Such platform further comprises actuators for adjusting the attitude configured for automatically adjusting an attitude of the payload in placing position, completing the placing operation. The actuators of the movable arms are preferably motorized actuators, but such actuators can also operate by converting the energy of a placing member of the platform, mounted on a railway placing vehicle. The actuators generally operate the engagement following the interaction with such placing member, in particular after receiving controls from the placing member.

[0009] Hereinafter, there is illustrated a platform for the installation of a signalling balise representing the payload of such platform on the track. It should be observed that a payload is defined, for the aspects regarding the placing, only by the maximum dimensions thereof, by the maximum weight thereof, and by the position it is required to assume with respect to the track once it is placed.

[0010] The position of the payload on the track is defined in terms of a placing position comprising:

• transverse centring position (coordinate on an axis Y in the plane of the track but orthogonal to the track) and tolerance thereof;
• height with respect to the plane of the track (coordinate on the vertical axis Z) and tolerance thereof,

as well as an attitude assumed at the placing position defined by one or more angles formed by the main plane of the payload with respect to the plane of track (usually such angles are all nominally zero) and tolerance thereof.

[0011] Accurate knowledge of a longitudinal position (coordinate on an axis X parallel to the rails) along the track, at which the placing position is located is not generally fundamental, given that it is solely important for facilitating the placing.

[0012] Any payload with dimensions compatible with the values established for such parameters that define the position can be mounted. The present description mainly addresses a radio signalling balise, since this is the payload that is mainly required to be fixed to the tracks, but the payload can also be represented by other types of loads, for example visual signalling devices.

[0013] Within the proposed system and method, it is provided for that such payload be mounted on the platform in the workshop, by fixing using a special screw; the platform-balise unit is then loaded onto a railway placing vehicle, also called placing train, which is provided with an automatic storage apparatus capable of storing for example at least four of such units to be placed. Another automatic storage unit is provided for the removed units, even though, in a variant, the storage units can be combined and a balise programming station can also be provided.

[0014] Thus, so as to illustrate the context of application of the platform according to the invention, in figure 1 there is schematically illustrated the system on board the train. The diagram of figure 1 is purely provided for the purpose of illustrating the functions of the modules comprised on board the train, thus the dimensions and positioning of the components illustrated in figure 1 can be entirely different in the practical implementation. With 10 there is indicated a railway vehicle which rests by means of wheels 51 on rails 52 of a track 53, comprising sleepers 54. The railway vehicle 10 is for example a railcar adapted to circulate on the lines where it shall place and/or remove the balises, at a speed suitable to reach areas far even by tens of kilometres and provided with space sufficient for installing the system, for example 8 square meters. In the frame of the railway vehicle 10 there are provided holes sufficient for the passage of mechanical systems and such frame is sufficiently high to allow the installation of the underframe system and have the underframe sufficiently clear, for the area required to hang the apparatuses.

[0015] The train on-board system is positioned on such railway vehicle 10 and it comprises a pointing module 11, which includes devices for illuminating the tracks and pointing cameras to identify the placing position. The system further comprises optical systems 12 for locating the position of the rails 52 with respect to the vehicle 10 (axes Y and Z), which, in the exemplifying embodiment, comprise two laser/camera pairs, and an optical system 13 for measuring a height dz of the payload with respect to the vehicle. The height Z of the payload with respect to the plane of the track is obtained by the difference with respect to the measurement of the optical system 13. Also the optical system 13 is preferably represented by a laser/camera pair arranged at the front and rear part in the direction X with respect to the placing member 16 and to the platform 30. The front portion comprising the camera is represented in figure 1 solely for the sake of clarity.

[0016] Indicated with 14 is a platform automatic storage unit for automatically loading a platform 30 for automatically placing and storing the platform 30 after removing. The automatic storage unit 14 houses the platforms 30 to be placed on the track 53 and those recovered from such track 53. In various embodiments, there may be provided a single storage unit for the platforms to be placed and recovered or two separate storage units. Such storage unit 14 is configured so as to position the objects accurately, with the aim of simplifying the member 16 for placing and/or removing the platform 30. For the sake of simplicity, the platform 30 carried by the placing and/or removing member 16 is shown in figure 1 without a payload 40, which is instead shown, for example in figure 2, the payload however being constrained thereto during the placing. Such placing and/or removing member 16 substantially corresponds to a carrier, with degrees of freedom along the three axes X, Y, Z, with a gripping member 16a, for example clamps. The placing and/or removing member 16 substantially operates by gripping the platform 30 in the upper portion thereof so that, when released by the clamps, the platform 30 can rest on the track 53. In this manner, the placing and/or removing member 16 is capable of depositing the platforms 30 on the track 53 or lifting them from the track 53. An energy transfer system is also mounted on such placing and/or removing member.

[0017] Indicated with 15 is a command and control pulpit, i.e. preferably a processor associated to a control monitor, for the operator, which receives information from sensor systems, in particular from the pointing system 11, from the locating system 12 and from the optical system 13 for measuring the height dz of the payload, and it allows controlling the actuatable systems. Indicated with 17 are computers for the automation supervision and control for controlling the automatic placing/removing member 16, which can be obtained through microcontrollers which can also be simple PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) or a small digital computer. The automatic control of the placing/removing member 16 can be provided according to the per se known methods.

[0018] The pointing system 11, with the respective illuminators, allows the operator to examine the portion of track beneath the train, i.e. selecting the placing area where the platform 30 is intended to be placed. In this manner, the operator may choose the suitable site, ascertaining that there are no obstacles. The choice of the site can be carried out while the vehicle 10 is moving at a low speed; upon selecting the site, the vehicle stops, but the stop accuracy is usually low. Hence, so as to avoid spending a lot of time moving the vehicle 10 to and fro to reach the position desired for the placing area, the operator instead virtually positions the platform 30. Actually, it is provided to model - by means of a virtual template moved on the monitor of the pulpit 15 which reproduces the images shot by the optical system 11 - the platform 30 and the position thereof on the axes X and Y. Such virtual position on the axes X and Y is controlled by means of an input peripheral in the control pulpit 15, such as for example a joystick or mouse. Upon confirming the selected virtual position, the system acquires it, the coordinates on the monitor being in known position with respect to the vehicle coordinates, and moves, through the placing/removing member 16, the platform 30 on the vertical of such position, before lowering it. The control pulpit 15 in particular can cooperate for this operation exchanging signals and controls with the supervision and automation control computers 17 for controlling the automatic placing/removing member 16. The pulpit 15 and the computers 17 can obviously be integrated in a single processor.

[0019] Indicated with 18 is a first portion, in particular a winding, of a system for transferring energy from on board the vehicle to the platform 30, which shall be better illustrated with reference to Figure 2, and which is positioned in the illustrated example on the placing/removing member 16, connected for example through cables to a power supply module and auxiliary systems 19, which supply the systems on board the train. For the sake of simplicity, only the connection to the first portion of the energy transfer system 18 is illustrated in figure 1. A servo-controlled brush system 20, for the quick clearing of the sleepers, should the operator deem it necessary, for example for removing gravel before placing is also shown in figure 1.

[0020] Indicated with 21 is a radio transceiver module on board the train with antenna, which comprises the corresponding reception and transmission circuits, for communicating with the platform 30 or with the payload 40 after the placing, in particular to allow intervening from on board the train in the correct positioning and adjustment of the attitude of the platform 30, as detailed hereinafter, and read the signalling balise so as to verify appropriate operation thereof. The wireless reading is actually preferable, with respect to the use of connectors connecting the platform 30 with the vehicle 10, due to the difficulties of disconnecting such connectors when the platform 30 is left on the site, and even more the difficulty of reconnecting them when such platform 30 is required to be recovered. Such platform 30, as better illustrated in figure 2, may thus comprise a processor module capable of receiving the controls and information required by the placing vehicle 10 through wireless network. The information transmitted through the wireless system includes the position data of the rails 52 and of the platform 30 with respect to the vehicle 10, measured by the sensors on board the vehicle 10 itself, such as the sensor 13 and the location sensors 12. However, it should be observed that the platform 30 can also be used in cases in which the accurate positioning is not required and thus such systems for enabling accurate positioning may also not be present. Such data is used for adjusting the position of the platform 30, using actuators on board such platform 30.

[0021] Actually, accurately positioning the platform 30 with respect to the rails 52 requires knowing the position of the rails 52 and of the platform 30 in a single reference system, which - for the sake of simplicity - can be selected integral with the railway vehicle 10. The information of a sensor system comprising the optical location sensors 12 for measuring the rails profile, by means of laser/camera triangulation, the sensor 13 for detecting the height of the payload on the platform 30 and an inclinometer 23, for measuring the superelevation of the track 53, as well as the sensors which provide information regarding the static roll of the vehicle, can be used for this purpose.

[0022] The placing operation can be carried out in a bend, where the frame of the host vehicle 10 is off-centred with respect to the track 53, and furthermore, the plane of the track, which is the placing reference plane, is neither horizontal nor parallel to the plane XY of the vehicle 10. The two optical location sensors 12 allow overcoming the drawbacks related to placing in a bend, and moving the placing member 16 in direction Y, i.e. transverse to the train, up to reaching the centre of the track 53.

[0023] The other information is used by the system for controlling attitude on-board the platform, which receives the measurements through a wireless network, for example from the radio transceiver module on board the train 21.

[0024] Shown in figure 2 is a platform 30 according to the invention which comprises a support frame 31, i.e. a support surface which in the example is substantially parallelepiped forming a support frame on the crosspiece 54, through feet 31a, for example four feet for resting two by two on a pair of sleepers 54. Such support frame 31 comprises locking arms 32, projecting therefrom, motorized to extend and/or retract in a direction transverse to the track 53, i.e. in direction Y, in particular towards and from a use position on the rails 52, in this case the use position being on the rail 52, in particular on the web of the rail 52, at the same height as the arm 32. The arms 32 thus comprise a portion movable longitudinally with respect to the arm 32 to extend and/or retract said arm 32, in particular comprising a jacket 32a in which there slides a stem 32b. Indicated with 32c are actuation motors, in particular to extend the jacket 32a and the stem 32b telescopically from the platform 30. Indicated in its entirety with 33 is a payload support, comprising a frame interface 38, i.e. a parallelepiped on whose upper surface there rests the payload 40, i.e. the signalling balise. The interface frame 38 rests on the support frame 31 through actuators 34, for example four actuators arranged as height adjustable feet at the corners of the parallelepiped represented by the frame 38, equipped with motors for controlling the attitude of the interface frame 38 and of the payload 40.

[0025] According to an aspect of the invention, the platform 30 comprises payload attitude sensors 35 mounted on said interface frame 38, for example inclinometers. The payload, i.e. the balise 40, is mounted on the support 31 through the frame interface 38 which is configured to adapt the fixing holes and allow the coarse adjustment of the height along the axis Z in the factory, which is then fine adjusted, preferably automatically, by the attitude control actuators 34 once the platform 30 is placed in placing position on the placing area and constrained to the rails 52.

[0026] Thus, the platform 30 further comprises a control computer 36, which can also be a simple processor, and a respective second portion 37 of the system for transferring energy from onboard the vehicle to the platform 30, which cooperates with the corresponding portion 18 of the transfer system on the vehicle 10 to energise the modules of the platform 30. The processor 36 is preferably a microcontroller comprising the required input peripherals, such as for example drivers for motors and other actuators, and output peripherals in the least space possible.

[0027] On the platform 30, as described, there are mounted sensors and actuators. In order to prevent the previously described drawbacks of connection to the vehicle through cables, on the platform 30 there is installed an autonomous system, capable of performing all tasks given that it is connected to the railway vehicle 10 only through a wireless connection. Regarding this, indicated with 39 is a wireless transceiver module in the platform 30, which operates supervised by the processor 36 for exchanging data and controls with the corresponding wireless module 21 on board the train.

[0028] The payload attitude sensors 35 operate as follows. The position of a body in the three-dimensional space is defined by six values: three position coordinates and three angles. The position coordinates of the platform 30, in particular the transverse centring position Y, height Z and possibly longitudinal position X are provided, through wireless transmission, by systems on board the railway vehicle 10, for example by the pulpit computer 15 which is used for identifying the point for consequently placing and positioning the placing and/or removing member 16. The angles defining the attitude are defined in the example described herein by roll and pitch angles of the payload 40, while the rotation with respect to the vertical axis can be defined sufficiently accurately by the fact that the railway vehicle 10 is arranged on the track 53, and thus the axis thereof along the axis X is tangent to the track 53, particularly when the placing member 16 is mounted at the centre of the railway vehicle 10. The load attitude sensors 35 on board the platform 30 are thus preferably inclinometers, for providing only the attitude angles, preferably of small dimensions and adapted to resist to the vibrations caused by passing trains. Furthermore, such inclinometers should be capable of operating at an extremely wide range of temperatures (-20°C to + 60°C).

[0029] In brief, the placing position comprises at least the transverse centering position Y and the height Z; the attitude of the payload comprises at least the roll angles (around the axis Y) and pitch angles (around the axis Z). Optionally, also the longitudinal position X and the yaw angle around the axis Z can be respectively adjusted.

[0030] The data measured by such attitude sensors 35 is used by the control system (processor 36) on board the platform, alongside the position data X, Y, Z received from the vehicle 10 in a wireless mode, and also transmitted to the vehicle 10, to verify the correct operation of the platform 30.

[0031] Regarding the motorisation for locking/unlocking the platform, it is provided for that the platform 30 be fixed on the track 53 engaging, in particular by force-coupling, the locking arms 32 motorised on the rails 52. In order for this force to remain, also in presence of deformations (thermal, weight of the passing train, etc) the arms 32 comprise springs 59 preloaded during installation. A motor which should exert high force, though being small in size, for example applying it by means of a worm screw is used for loading such springs 59. For example the force exerted by the arms 32 may vary between 100 and 200 N per arm. The dimensions of the motor are limited by the maximum height of the platform 30, which preferably does not exceed 100 mm. The motor of the arm 32 is actuated and controlled, by using required feedbacks according to the per se known automatic control, by the processor 36.

[0032] The transfer of the power supply electrical energy from the railway vehicle 10 to the platform 30 preferably occurs without using fixed connectors. Actually a connector would give rise to problems related to disconnecting the power supply when the vehicle 10 leaves the platform on the track 53, and reconnecting it when the host vehicle is present in the platform 30 again to release it from the track 52 and load it on board again. A connection through conventional connectors requires precise positioning; hence, according to a further aspect of the invention it is provided to adopt an energy transmission without ohmic contact, obtained through an "openable core", and generally through an inductive coupling capable of allowing a corresponding positioning between a winding 18, first portion of the energy transfer system, and a corresponding winding 37 on the platform 30, second portion of the energy transfer system, with a tolerance, for example of at least 10 mm, on the two horizontal axes, while such windings 18 and 37 can be vertically at contact and thus the positioning corresponding to the vertical axis is extremely accurate. The power transmitted is for example of about 300-600 W. Alternatively, a mechanical positioning system for physical contacts can be used.

[0033] The actuator drivers 32c of the arms 32 and the interface for conditioning the sensors 35 are installed on board the platform 30 besides the microcontroller 36.

[0034] The method for placing and/or removing the platform 30 operates as follows.

[0035] The railway vehicle 10 moves to the designated site at a transfer speed, usually relatively high. Upon reaching the designated site, which is identified through per se known instruments and which are not part of the present description, the vehicle stops at a approximate position deemed suitable by the operator on board the train. The operator assesses the area associated to such approximate position through the cameras of the pointing module 11, which is configured to allow the vision of the track 53 beneath the railway vehicle 10, with the contribution of illuminators which help to provide a good vision. The field framed by such cameras is greater than the area required for placing; as previously mentioned, there is created on the monitor a virtual image of the payload 40 to be placed, it being possible for the operator to move such image on the track 53 by means of a joystick or mouse. This allows the operator to assign a placing position (essentially the coordinate X, i.e. longitudinal) along the track 53, independent from the stop position of the railway vehicle 10. The main criteria for choosing the placing area comprise for example that there may not be too much gravel on the sleepers 54 and/or that the arms 32 for fixing the platform 30 do not interfere with sleeper screws of the tracks 52. The advantage of this solution lies in the fact that the railway vehicle 10 does not require to be positioned accurately, such operation being difficult and requiring a lot of time, but it provides that a placing system 16 moves, with respect to the railway vehicle 10, so as to perform the centring on the selected or ideal position, performing a sort of fine adjustment of the position on the horizontal plane or plane of the track with respect to the coarse adjustment which solely provides for stopping the vehicle 10 at an area approximately corresponding to the designated site.

[0036] Subsequently, with the railway vehicle 10 standstill, the operator controls the beginning of the actual placing cycle.

[0037] The placing cycle is automatic and consists in the following steps:

a) descent of the platform 30, which is lowered on the track by the placing system 16 serving in this case as a carrier mounted on the vehicle 10 and provided with means 16a for gripping the platform 30, which are actuatable under remote control for clamping the platform 30 when it is lowered and release it when the placing height is reached;

b) connecting the power supply, through the portions 18 and 37 of the system for transferring energy from on board the vehicle to the platform 30,

c) initialising communication with the electronic system on board, i.e. between the transceiver modules 39 and 21;

d) engaging to the track 53 of the platform 30; the placing member 16 allows movements along the longitudinal X and transverse Y axis, while it keeps the platform 30 at a fixed height along the vertical axis Z, so that the platform 30 rests on the sleepers 54, preferably on a pair of sleepers.

e) disengaging from the placing member 16 of the platform 30, by opening the clamps for example, which rises in direction Z;

f) controlling the attitude of the platform 30, which comprises verifying and adjusting the height along the axis Z and the angles, for example the roll and pitch angles, on which the payload 40, i.e. the balise, is positioned.

g) disconnecting the power supply, by de-energising the portion 18 of the energy transfer system

h) restarting the railway vehicle 10.

[0038] The steps b) and g) which respectively provide for connecting and disconnecting the power supply through the energy transfer system, can be possibly omitted, for example in cases where the signalling balise comprises self-supplying systems.

[0039] The removal cycle is very similar to the placing cycle, obviously reversing the sequence a)-h) described previously and eliminating the step f) for adjusting the attitude. Regarding the evaluation of the position through the cameras of the pointing module 11 the corresponding image in the monitor is used in this case not for selecting the location for placing, but for defining with suitable accuracy the position of the platform/load to be removed. In this manner, the mechanical system is simpler, given that it is not required to be adapted to very different positions.

[0040] In figure 3 there is shown a second embodiment of the platform, indicated with 130, which analogously comprises the support frame 31 comprising the four feet 31a and the support of the payload 33 equipped with the interface frame 38. The support frame 31 comprises in this case locking arms 132, which are provided oriented with upwards inclination, with respect to the plane of the track. Such arms 132, as detailed in the enlarged schematic view of figure 4, are thus articulated through an articulation 134, which rotatably articulates - in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the track - an end of the arm 132 with respect to the support frame 31, while an angular end stop 133 holds the arm 132 to form an orientation angle α with respect to the plane of the track greater than zero, the single orientation angle corresponding to the horizontal position of the arms 32 of figure 2. The locking arms 132 can be telescopically extended along the main axis of the arm 132, also being made up of a jacket 132a in which there slides a stem 132b, under the action of an extension spring 141. At the free end of the stem 132a of the arm 132 there is arranged a wheel 142 for enabling the arm 132 to slide along the profile of the rail 53 during placing.

[0041] The locking arms 132 are thus arranged inclined, the movement allowed by the articulation 134 being limited downwards by the angular end stop 133, for example a wedge or rubber buffer. The angular end stop 133 is arranged at a position such that the arm 132 when the platform 130 rests on the sleepers, is inclined, for example by an angle of orientation α of 30 degrees or 45 degrees, so as to point towards a point below the use position, which in this case is located in the undercut of the rail 52 below the head of the rail 52. Stop elements 136 which keep the springs 141 pressed during the descent of the platform 130, so that it can pass between the rails are provided for. In figure 4 such stop elements 136 are shown as linear actuators, for example a solenoid which moves the stem, controlled by microswitches 138 provided for arranged beneath the platform 130, which are actuated by the contact with the sleeper 54 at the end of the descent and they actuate the stop means 136 in the unlocking position, allowing the arms 132 to extend in the direction of correct use position, in the undercut. Regarding this, in figure 3 there are also indicated - dashed line - the arms 132 at a retracted position during descent. The articulations 134 allow the arms 132 to adjust the position thereof under the thrust of the springs 141, which push the undercut upwards, and due to the wheels 142. Regarding this, also provided for is a second angular end stop 135 for limiting the rotation of the arm 132 upwards and preventing it from extending, for example due to a sudden movement during placing, beyond the head of the rail 52.

[0042] The use position beneath the head of the rail 52 is very stable, both due to the constraint properties of the undercut and due to the fact that the components of the force applied by the arms 132 and by the springs 141 are oblique in the direction of the plane of the track on which the feet 31a rest, which are preferably four, approximately resting on two sleepers. Thus, instead of being carried out by the motors, the actuation in this case is essentially carried out through the springs 141 which are released by unlocking the stop elements. The embodiment assembly also comprises the articulation 134 and the wheel 142 so that the arm 132 is engaged correctly in the use position provided for. The extension springs 141 obviously operate also to keep the wheels 142 at position to compensate movements and dilatations, just like in the case of the preloaded springs 59 of figure 2.

[0043] The step elements 135 can be unlocked in various manners, they can simply be hooks unlocked by linear actuators controlled by microswithces 137, or they can be controlled by electromagnets on the placing member, or even controlled by means of a transmission from on board the train through a shaft which engages a groove on board the platform; this shaft is then retracted and it is not required for the removal operations. According to a preferred version, also the angular end stops are actuated with variable geometry, to determine different end stop positions, and the same actuator can also unlock the springs and remove the hindrance to the angular movement of the end stop 133 during installation.

[0044] According to a further variant form of the platform 130 of figure 3, the rotation around the articulation 134 can be assisted by actuators which perform the rotation, in both directions, controlled by the processor 36 and/or from on board the train, so as to obtain a three-point fixing like in figure 3, but directly controlling the movement of the arms 132.

[0045] The previously described solutions allow attaining considerable advantages with respect to the known solutions.

[0046] Advantageously, the described apparatus enables allowing placing and/or removing a balise on the tracks more quickly with respect to the known systems by using a platform that is fixed to the track automatically or semi-automatically, and it is provided with means for adjusting the attitude.

[0047] Furthermore, advantageously provided for is a power supply system of the balise/platform that does not require connecting and disconnecting cables, thus allowing saving time and simpler use.

[0048] Furthermore, advantageously, the fact that the placing and removing occurs through a placing member controlled from on board the railway vehicle allows eliminating the problem related to the inherent danger a possible installation worker may be exposed to, leading to a safer procedure.

[0049] Obviously, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the construction details and the embodiments may widely vary with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of example, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0050] According to a possible variant, the payload attitude sensors 35 are positioned in the clamp of the placing system 16 instead of being positioned in the frame, thus overcoming the need of using inclinometers for each balise to be placed.

Claims

1. Platform for use in a system for placing and/or removing a payload (40) on railway tracks (53), in particular a railway signalling balise, which includes a support surface (31) comprising arms (32; 132) projecting from said support surface (31) and are configured to be engaged in rails (52) of tracks (53), characterised in that said arms (32; 132) are movable arms to reach an engagement position in said rails (52) at a defined placing position (X, Y, Z) with respect to said track (53), said platform (30, 130) comprising means (32c, 59; 134, 141, 142) for actuating said movable arms (32; 132) for displacement thereof towards and/or from said engagement position.

2. Platform according to claim 1, characterised in that said platform (30; 130) further comprises actuators for adjusting the attitude (34, 35) configured for adjusting, in particular automatically, an attitude of said payload (40) in placing position (X, Y, Z).

3. Platform according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said movable arms (32; 132) comprise at least one portion (32b) movable longitudinally with respect to the arm (32; 132) to extend and/or retract said arm (32; 132).

4. Platform according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterised in that it comprises means (133, 134) for articulating arms (132) adapted to rotate said arms (132) towards a use position and in that said actuator means (141) comprise springs unlockable to extend said arms (132) towards said use position.

5. Platform according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that it comprises attitude sensors (35) adapted to provide attitude quantity values, in particular attitude angles, for controlling said actuators for adjusting the attitude (34).

6. Platform according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises wireless transmission means (39), adapted to exchange data and/or controls with the placing vehicle (10).

7. Platform according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises means (37) for performing an inductive energy coupling with energy generators arranged separate from the platform (30), in particular arranged on said placing vehicle (10).

8. Platform according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said actuation means (32c, 59; 134, 141, 142) comprise actuation motors (32c).

9. Platform according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said actuation means (32c, 59; 134, 141, 142) comprise preloaded springs (59; 141).

10. Platform according to one or more of the preceding claims 2 to 9, characterised in that said support surface (31) comprises an interface frame (38) adapted to support said payload (40), said interface frame (40) comprising said actuators for adjusting the attitude (34) and said attitude sensors (35).

11. Method for placing and/or removing a payload (40) on railway tracks (53), in particular a railway signalling balise, comprising engaging and/or disengaging a placing platform (30) including a support surface (31) comprising arms (32; 132) projecting from said support surface (31), engaging said arms (32; 132) in rails (52) of tracks (53)
characterized in that it comprises automatically placing and/or removing (32; 132) through said placing platform (30) said payload (40) in a placing area, by actuating (32c, 59; 134, 141, 142) arms (32; 132) movable to reach or move away from an engagement position in said rails (52) at a defined placing position (X, Y, Z) with respect to said track (53).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that said placing operation, subsequently to placing comprises the operation of automatically adjusting an attitude of said payload (40).

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that said placing operation comprises the steps of

- stopping a railway vehicle (10) in proximity of a placing area,

- descending (16) a platform (30; 130) to a determined placing height (Z);

- initialising a communication between transceiver modules (39, 21) arranged on the platform (30) and on the railway vehicle (10);

- automatically placing (32; 132) said placing platform (30) by displacing the movable arms to the use position;

- releasing said platform (30; 130) from the placing member (16);

controlling an attitude of the platform (30), verifying and adjusting a vertical height (Z) and angles, in particular pitch and roll angles, on which the payload (40) is positioned.

14. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that it comprises, subsequently to said descent step (16), connecting (18, 37) to the power supply(19), providing cooperation for energy exchange means (18, 37) for performing an inductive energy coupling arranged on the platform (30) and on the vehicle (10) and, subsequently to said step for controlling an attitude of the platform (30) disconnecting the power supply, de-energising the portion (18) of the energy transfer system on the platform (30).

15. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that said removal operation comprises engaging said platform (30; 130) through the placing member (16), after actuating (32c, 59; 134, 141, 142) said arms (32; 132) movable to move away from said engagement position in said rails (52).

Drawing