A locking device for coupling containers and the like to railway trucks

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a coupling device-intended for locking, on standard railway-trucks, containers and the like, i.e. standard containers as well as special mobile boxes usually intended to be carried by road-trailer-trucks or conveyors so as to allow the so called "inter- modal" traffic, whereby goods are transported partially by road and partially by rail.

[0002] More particularly the present invention relates to a new special coupling device to be mounted on standard railway-trucks and so realised as to ensure not only the transport of containers and the like having a standard flat bottom, but also the transport of that special mobile boxes of the so called "type or group 4" i.e. having 40 feet of length and presently forseen for being transported by road only by suitable road-trailer-trucks.

[0003] Said special mobile boxes of the type 4 show a larger height and a larger volume of the glove box, thus a larger loading capability.

[0004] They show also supporting structures of the so called "tunnel type" which allow said "type 4" mobile boxes to be transported by road only, by some special trailer-trucks, but do not allow said "type 4" mobile boxes to be transported by rail, by conventional railway-trucks for container carrying.

[0005] The so called "tunnel" bottom is defined by the fact that said special mobile boxes have a main frame structure whereby two longitudinal main frame members protrude from the bottom of said mobile boxes providing a suitable loading and resting surface when said boxes have' to be transported by said road-trailer-trucks.

[0006] Said two longitudinal main frame members define the so called "tunnel" i.e. a longitudinal tunnel-shaped volume on the bottom of said special mobile boxes.

[0007] As it is known the conventional devices for coupling containers and the like on to railway-trucks, also known as locking devices, consist in four stop-pins having a vertical axis, also known as studs or dowels, for each container or the like to be coupled on to said trucks. Said stop-pins are suitably located along the longitudinal edges of the loading platform of the railway-trucks and provide for stopping and retaining the containers on said railway-trucks by cooperating with housings, also having a vertical axis, which are provided along the edges of the bottom surface of said containers having a flat bottom. Such conventional locking devices, usually fixed, necessitate the container or the like to be supported at least along the whole perimetral edge of the loading platform and hence they may and do not have a supporting but only a retaining function.

[0008] It is further known that the level of the loading platform in conventional containers-carrying railway-trucks and in freight-cars in general, is largely dependent upon the height of the bumpers and of the couplers which must be the same for all the railroad-cars, the passenger-cars being included, so as to allow an easy mutual coupling. In the present discussion and in the following of the present specification, for "level" of the loading platform it is meant the vertical distance between the plane where said loading platform lies and the plane of both the rails of the railway-line.

[0009] Displacing the level of said loading platform to a lower level would require radical changes in the present standard criteria for building railroad-cars, with a consequent large rise in the manufacturing prices for said cars and more in general with an unacceptable rise of the costs for transporting goods by rail when said goods have also to be transported by road in the intermodal traffic.

[0010] The displacement of the loading platform to a lower level could in fact be obtained by reducing the diameter of the wheels which would cause for various grounds, and mainly on account of the increased stresses on the rails, a reduction of the van tonnage.

[0011] Alternatively said displacement of said loading platform level might be obtained by means of a longitudinal tank-structure which would not allow to exploit, for supporting purposes, both the regions corresponding to the van's extremities i.e. the regions corresponding to the wheels-axles viz. to the bogies.

[0012] In the present situation, i.e. with the presently conventional means, it is practically impossible to transport by rail said special mobile boxes of the so called "type 4" having the so called "tunnel type" bottom, on account of their height exceeds by 170 mm the height of the traditional containers.

[0013] An inter-modal trafic is consequently impossible with said special boxes.

[0014] The present invention, as it is claimed, has the aim of remediating the hereabove mentioned drawback of the locking devices according to the prior art.

[0015] It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a solution to the problem of transporting by rail said "type 4" mobile boxes having said larger height without having to modify the present conventional level of the loading platform in railway-trucks and hence without having to change the presently standard building parameter for said railway-cars, which parameters so largely depend upon the standard height of bumpers, couplers and anyway of the automatic coupling devices present usually in any railroad-car.

[0016] Simultaneously it is a further object of the present invention to provide a new locking device for railway-trucks having thus a two-levels supporting function, i.e. a supporting function at a lower level for the containers and the like having a "tunnel type" bottom providing a lower level supporting platform for them, and respectively a supporting function at an higher level for the containers and the like having a flat bottom providing a supporting platform for these later at a standard level. Said new locking device is conceived as specially adapted for mounting on the railway-trucks whereby the main frame members, constituting the longitudinal supporting structure, show a transversal floor-space less than the width of the volume of the "tunnel" according to which the bottom of said "type 4" special mobile boxes is shaped.

[0017] Said new locking device is thus such to allow the "tunnel" to be housed when the special mobile box rests on the lower level supporting platform provided by said locking device.

[0018] A preferred embodiment of the locking device object of the present invention will now be described in the following specification taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows an overall sight of the locking device comprising a mobile dowel fastened to a fixed dowel in a position such that said mobile dowel overlaps said fixed dowel;

Fig. 2 shows the locking device deprived of the mobile dowel so as to ensure the locking function only for the mobile boxes with a "tunnel" bottom;

Fig. 3 shows the mobile dowel fastened on a position non-overlapping that of the fixed dowel as well as the details of the fastening means;

Fig. 4 shows the mobile dowel as tilted in a non-working position;

Fig. 5 shows an overall view of a first embodiment for a cylindrical member supporting the locking device, said member being intended to be mounted overhanging at the van's extremities;

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of said supporting cylindrical shaft provided with the mobile dowels only and intended to be mounted overhanging in the middle section of the railway-truck;

Fig. 7 shows an example whereby the locking devices are mounted on a railway-truck specially conceived by the Applicants, whereby the use of said locking devices allows said special railway-truck to ensure the so called intermodal traffic, i.e. whereby the carried containers and/or mobile boxes may be also of the type normally carriable only by road;

Fig. 8 shows a transversal sectional view of a truck whereby the two loading surfaces having different levels are indicated in association with the respective type of carriable containers and/or mobile boxes;

Fig. 9 shows a second embodiment of the mobile plate and the supporting shaft allowing said shaft to be jointed to said plate.

[0019] The locking device shown in Fig. 1, comprises a cylindrical supporting member (1).

[0020] Said cylindrical supporting member (1) may be either a steel pipe or a massive steel shaft having a suitable mechanical strength.

[0021] Said cylindrical supporting element (1), as well as the supporting shaft (10) described hereafter, are intended to be overhanging connected and fastened parallel to the longitudinal framework of a standard railway-truck by means of means of supporting brackets (12).

[0022] A fixed plate (2) supporting a fixed dowel (3), which is integral part of said fixed plate (2), is made integral part of said cylindrical supporting member (1) e.g. by welding.

[0023] Said fixed supporting plate (2) is provided with fastening means which allow a mobile plate (4), carrying a dowel (5) which is integral part of said mobile plate (4), to be fastened in a position where said mobile plate (4), and consequently said mobile dowel (5), overlap said fixed plate (2) and consequently said fixed dowel (3).

[0024] The surface (2a) of the plate (2) supporting the fixed dowel 3 (Fig. 1c.) is at a lower level than the surface (4a) of the mobile plate (4) supporting the dowel (5).

[0025] Said surfaces (2a) and (4a) provide respectively the surfaces of the two loading platforms whose levels differ, from each other, by nearly 170 mm.

[0026] The loading platform defined by the surfaces (2a) of the fixed plates (2) is intended for carrying the special boxes with a "tunnel" bottom and has a lower level (see Fig. 8) while the loading platform defined by the surfaces (4a) of the mobile plates (4) is intended for carrying the standard flat bottom containers and has an higher level over the plane where both the rails of the railway-line lie.

[0027] The reciprocal interlocking of the mobile plate (4) on the fixed plate (2) is obtained, on one side, by means of a protruding nose (6a) making integral part of a handle (6) which is hinged to the mobile plate (4) by means of a hinge-pin or bolt (6b) (Fig. 1c).

[0028] Said protruding nose (6a) is intended to cooperate with an opening (2C) (Figs. 1 d-2b) forseen for this purpose in the body of said fixed plate (2).

[0029] The reciprocal interlocking of the mobile plate (4) on the fixed plate (2) is completed, on the other side, by means of a gib (7) (Figs. 1c and 1d) against which abouts a stop-peg (4c) at the opposite end of said same mobile plate (4). The fixed plate (2) further shows a horizontal edge (2d), contacting said supporting shaft (1), which is so shaped as:

a) to cooperate to the reciprocal interlocking of plates (2) and (4);

b) to provide support and housing for stiffening webs (4e), provided on said mobile plate (4), when said mobile plate (4) is mounted on said shaft (1) in a working position where it overlaps said fixed plate (2).

[0030] When not mounted in said working position where it overlaps said fixed plate (2), said mobile plate (4) is sliding fitted to said supporting cylindrical shaft (1) as described hereafter.

[0031] Hence the mobile plate (4), when unclamped from the fixed supporting plate (2), may slide on the shaft (1) and assume a new working position non-overlapping that of the fixed plate (2) (Figs. 3a and 3c) and may be there fastened by means of a first gib (7) similar to hereabove mentioned one, against which abouts the same stop-peg (4c), and of a second gib (9) so shaped as to have simultaneously a supporting function for the stiffening webs (4e) of said mobile plate (4) and a locking function when cooperating with the protruding nose (6a) of the handle (6).

[0032] The gib (7) has a length d such that it may be inserted between the laterally extending bosses (4f) of the stop-peg (4c) (Fig. 3d).

[0033] In the middle section of the railway-truck the overhanging connected supporting shaft (1) (Fig. 5) is replaced by a differently embodied supporting shaft (10) (Fig. 6) because in said middle section of the railway-truck the locking device is used without the fixed supporting plate (2) for the fixed dowel 3: in fact in said middle section of the locking device is not forseen for the transport of the mobile boxes with a "tunnel" bottom and having the conventional length less of 40 feets (group 4) (see Fig. 7).

[0034] In opposition to the embodiment for the supporting shaft 1, said shaft (10) is provided with suitable means to allow the supporting mobile plates (4) of the mobile dowels (5) to be tilted (Figs. 4a and 4c), avoiding thus that said supporting plates (4) may prevent the containers to rest upon, as well the flat bottom containers as the containers both with flat bottom or with "tunnel" bottom, but having a length exceeding one half ofthe length of the truck, i.e. a length exceeding 20 feets and anyway a maximum length of 40 feets. Said means for allowing the supporting plates (4) of the mobile dowels (5) to be tilted by pivoting around said supporting shaft (10) consist in the gibs (11) against which abouts the edge (4g) of the mobile plate (4) when this later is pivoted around said supporting shaft (10) into the tilted position.

[0035] A cam-like piece (8), pivotably hinged at the end (4d) of the mobile plate (4) on a hinge-pin or bolt (8a) (Figs. 3c and 3d), has the function of allowing said mobile plate 4 and said cylindrical supporting shaft 1 or 10 to be received and housed within each other and simultaneously of ensuring a stable sliding-fitting of said mobile plate (4) on said shaft (1 or 10), once they are housed within each other.

[0036] Said mobile plate (4) (Figs. 1c and 3c) in fact forms forthis purpose a collar (4b) having the form of a nearly half-cylindrical housing in which, between the closest points, there is a distance C1 exceeding the external diameter 01 of the shaft or pipe (1 or 10) so as to allow it to be received and housed inside said nearly half-cylindrical housing (4b).

[0037] Then, by applying the camlike piece (8), the length of the arc of circle on the external surface of the shaft (1 or 10) embraced by said collar (4b), is increased up to a length exceeding the length of the half circumference of said shaft (1 or 10) and consequently a distance C2' is obtained between the closest points of the collar's mouth, which is less than the diameter 01 of the pipe or shaft (1 or 10).

[0038] By means of this structure the suppporting mobile plate 4, on account of its nearly half-cylindrical housing (4b), may either be housed around said supporting shaft (1 or 10) and there fastened when said cam-like piece (8) is in active position, or withdrawn from said shaft (1 or 10) when said cam-like piece (8) is in non-active position. By means of said structure the mobile plate (4) will be, in any case, fastened and even not fastened in that tilted, retained around said supporting shaft (1 or 10).

[0039] From the preceding disclosure it is to be appreciated that, for the transport of the "type 4" mobile boxes with a "tunnel" bottom, if between the two main frame members constituting the supporting frame of the railway-truck the transversal distance is less than the "tunnel's" width, i.e. if said distance is such that the mains frame members and the brackets (12) supporting the shaft (1 or 10) (see Figs. 7 and 8) may find place inside the "tunnel" itself, then the mobile boxes with a "tunnel" bottom may support themselves with their two longitudinal side frame members, constituting the frame of the "tunnel", into the fixed plates (2) supporting the fixed dowels (3).

[0040] In this situation said mobile boxes with a "tunnel" bottom may support themselves on a loading platform formed by the surfaces (2a) of said fixed plates (2) and which is located at a level, over the plane where the rails lie, which is reduced by 170 mm over the standard known level in railway traffic and which is thus nearly at a distance of 1000 mm from the surface of the rails instead of 1170 mm.

[0041] In Fig. 8 the difference between the supporting levels H1 of the fixed dowels and H of the mobile dowels is clearly pointed out, i.e. the difference between the level H of the loading surface where the containers with a flat bottom have to lie and the level H1 of the loading surface where the containers with a tunnel bottom have to lie in order to be both inside the maximum allowed standard height in the railway traffic.

[0042] By way of example in Fig. 7, which is to be read according to the explaining table there joined, there are shown the transport facilities of one of the modules of a multipletruck having (5) modules and (6) bogies, said truck being particularly specialized and optimized for transporting mobile boxes and containers in the inter-modal trafic.

[0043] On said truck the complete locking devices i.e. having a fixed (2) and a mobile plate (4) with the corresponding dowels, are mounted per pairs only on both the extremities of the truck so as to allow the transport of mobile boxes with a "tunnel" bottom or with a flat bottom both of the type 4: the distance (marked with a D) between the fixed plates (2), i.e. between the corresponding dowels, is of 11.985±5 m.

[0044] The position of the locking device on the supporting cylindrical shaft (1) must be such that the fixed plate (2) and the corresponding dowel will be on that side which is the nearest to the middle of the truck so as to al low, when necessary, the mobile plate (4) and the corresponding dowel to be glided only towards the corresponding extremities of the truck.

[0045] This avoids the necessity of tilting the mobile plates 4 and the corresponding dowels at the van's extremities when whatever container either with a flat bottom or with a "tunnel" bottom has to be loaded on the truck.

[0046] Said tilting of said mobile plate (4) and dowel (5) is, on the contrary, necessary when considering the mobile plates (4) mounted on the cylindrical shaft or pipe (10) which is overhanging connected by brackets (12) on the middle section of the truck and when mobile boxes or container have to be loaded whose length exceeds the half length of the truck.

[0047] In any case the pairs of shafts (1) supporting the complete locking devices showing both the fixed and the mobile plates and dowels have to be mounted at a distance from each other such as required by the length of the mobile boxes with a "tunnel" bottom.

[0048] The new locking device provides for further economical and technical advantages when used with the modular railway-truck expressly developed by the Applicants for the intermodal trafic.

[0049] In fact by means of four complete locking devices, showing both the mobile and the fixed plates and dowels, and by means of only four mobile plates and dowels, it is possible to lock on to the truck alternatively:

special containers (mobile boxes) of the group 4 with a "tunnel" bottom, or-with a flat bottom, or

a 40 feet long container (as marked with a 0 on Fig. 7), or

two 20 feet long containers simultaneously, or

two mobile boxes either of the group 1 or 2 (as marked with a A on Fig. 7), or

a single container of the group (3) (as marked with a 0 on Fig. 7).

[0050] The sliding fitting between the mobile plate (4) and the cylindrical supporting shaft (1 or 10) may be realised also when the nearly half-cylindrical housing 4b surrounds the external surface of said cylindrical shaft (1 or 10) along a sector of circle subtended by an angle at the center exceeding 180°.

[0051] In this case, in order to allow said half-cylindrical housing (4b) to receive and house inside itself said supporting shaft (1 or 10), it is necessary that on the external surface of said supporting shaft (1 or 10) a cylindrical sector 13 is taken-off whose length exceeds the maximum width 1 of the mobile plate (4) (Fig. 3d) and whose transversal section is a segment of a circle of suitable dimensions i.e. of suitable height, so as to suitably reduce the diameter 01 of said shaft (1 or 10) to a length C2' corresponding to the dimension of the mouth of the half-cylindrical housing (4b) of said mobile plate (4) whereby this later may receive and house within itself said supporting shaft (1 or 10) or may be withdrawn when for any reason necessary. Once the supporting shaft is received and housed within the half-cylindrical housing (4b), the previously taken-off cylindrical sector (13) may be reinserted in its seat and there fastened by means of screws or any other suitable fastening means.

Claims

1. A locking device for coupling standard and/or special containers and/or mobile boxes on to standard railway-trucks whereby said special containers and/or mobile boxes, presently forseen for being transported by road only, may also be transported by rail alone or together with said standard containers and/or mobile boxes, said locking device being provided with a fixed dowel (3), a mobile dowel (5) and a cylindrical supporting element (1, 10) which overhangs and is arranged parallel to the longitudinal framework of said trucks; said fixed dowel (3) being supported by a fixed plate (2) made integral with said cylindrical supporting element (1, 10); said mobile dowel (5) being supported by a mobile plate (4) adapted to be slidingly fitted to said cylindrical supporting element (1, 10) either in a position overlapping the position of said fixed dowel (3) or in another working and/or non-working position; said cylindrical supporting element (1, 10) being for this purpose provided with clamping means for clamping said mobile plate (4) in other working and/or non-working positions; said fixed plate (2) being so shaped as to provide a loading surface located at a level which is lower than the level of the loading surface provided by said mobile plate (4) supporting said mobile dowel (5); said fixed dowel (3) being intended for providing a suitable loading surface whereupon said special containers and/or mobile boxes having a "tunnel" bottom and a larger than standard height may be locked on to said railway-trucks, while said mobile dowel (5) is intended for providing a suitable loading surface whereupon said containers and/or mobile boxes having both standard flat bottom and standard height may be locked on to said railway-trucks.

2. A locking device according to Claim 1 whereby said fixed plate (2) supporting said fixed dowel (3) and having been made integral part of said cylindrical supporting shaft (1, 10) is provided with fastening means allowing that said mobile dowel (5) is jointed to said supporting shaft (1, 10) in a position overlapping the position of said fixed dowel (3); said fastening means consisting in the shape of a horizontal edge (2d) of said fixed plate (2) contacting said supporting shaft (1, 10); said horizontal edge (2d) being so shaped as to provide support and housing for stiffening webs (4e) provided on said mobile plate (4); said fastening means further comprising an opening (2c) whereby a protruding nose (6a), making integral part of a handle (6), may be inserted; said handle (6) being pivotably hinged to said mobile plate (4) on a hinge-pin 6b; the fastening action is completed by the provision of a gib (7), located nearly diametrally opposed to said horizontal edge (2d) of said fixed plate (2), having been made integral part of the surface of said supporting shaft (1, 10), extending parallel to the axis of said supporting shaft (1, 10) and having such a length d as to allow said gib (7) to be inserted in a housing formed by a stop-peg (4c) and by lateral extending bosses (4f) of the extremity of said mobile plate (4) nearly diametrally opposed to the point of said mobile plate (4) where said handle (6) is pivotably hinged on said hinge-pin (6b).

3. A locking device according to Claim 1 whereby said mobile plate (4) comprises a nearly half-cylindrical housing (4b) for receiving and housing said supporting shaft (1, 10); the minimum distance (C1) between two opposed generating lines of the internal cylindrical surface of said half-cylindrical housing (4b) exceeding the diameter (01) of said supporting shaft (1, 10) in order to allow said supporting shaft (1, 10) to be inserted and withdrawn from said half-cylindrical housing (4b).

4. A locking device according to Claim 3 whereby said mobile plate (4) is sliding fitted to said supporting shaft (1, 10) by means of a cam- like piece (8) pivotably hinged on a hingepin to said mobile plate (4) at its extremity (4d) nearly diametrally opposed to the point of said mobile plate (4) where said handle (6) is pivotably hinged on said hinge-pin (6b); said cam-like piece (8) is so shaped as to increase the length of the sector of circle embraced by said half-cylindrical housing (4b) on said cylindrical supporting shaft whereby the length (C2) of the subtended chord is less than the diameter (01) of said supporting shaft.

5. A locking device according to Claim 3 whereby said mobile plate (4) is sliding fitted to said supporting shaft by means of a cam-like piece (8) pivotably hinged on a hinge-pin to said mobile plate (4) at its extremity (4d) nearly diametrally opposed to the point of said mobile plate (4) where said handle (6) is pivotably hinged on said hinge-pin (6b); said cam-like piece (8) is so shaped as to increase the length of the sector of circle embraced by said half-cylindrical housing (4b) on said cylindrical supporting shaft whereby the length of said sector of circle so embraced and defined by a chord (C2) exceeds one-half of the circumference of said supporting shaft.

6. A locking device according to Claim 1 whereby said mobile plate (4) comprises a nearly half-cylindrical housing (4b) for receiving and housing said supporting shaft, said nearly half-cylindrical housing (4b) embracing a sector of circle on the external surface of said supporting shaftwhich is subtended by an angle of the center exceeding 180°.

7. A locking device according to Claim 6 whereby:

a) in order to allow said supporting shaft to be received and housed within said nearly half-cylindrical housing (4b), a cylindrical sector (13) is taken off in the external wall of said cylindrical supporting shaft, said cylindrical sector (13) having a cross section which is a segment of circle having an height such as to suitably reduce the diameter (01) of said cylindrical supporting shaft to a length (C2') corresponding to the dimension of the mouth of said half-cylindrical housing (4b) and a length exceeding the maximum width of said mobile plate (4) when measured parallel to the axis of said cylindrical supporting shaft, and

b) in order to ensure that said nearly half-cylindrical housing (4b) is sliding fitted and retained on said supporting shaft once said shaft is received and housed within said nearly half-cylindrical housing (4b), said cylindrical sector (13), previously taken off, is reinserted at its place and there fastened by means of screws or other suitable fastening means once said cylindrical supporting shaft and said nearly half-cylindrical housing (4b) are housed within each other.

8. A locking device according to Claim 1 whereby said cylindrical supporting shaft (1,10) is further provided with additional fastening means to fasten said mobile plate (4) supporting said mobile dowel (5) in other working positions not overlapping the position of said fixed plate (2) supporting said fixed dowel (3); said additional fastening means comprising first gibs (7) and second gibs (9) also having been made integral part of said supporting shaft (1, 10) but aligned along a generating line of the external surface of said supporting shaft (1, 10) diametrally opposed to the generating line along which said first gibs (7) are aligned; said second gibs (9) being so shaped as to provide:

a stable support and housing for stiffening webs (4e) provided on said mobile plate (4), and

a slot-like locking-up point intended to cooperate with a protruding nose (6a), making integral part of a handle (6) which is pivotably hinged to said mobile plate 4 on a hinge-pin (6b) whereby said handle (6) ensures the correct fastening of said mobile plate (4) supporting said mobile dowel (5) on said supporting shaft (1, 10) in working positions not overlapping the position of said fixed plate (2) supporting said fixed dowel (3).

9. A locking device according to Claim 8 whereby said cylindrical supporting shaft (1,10) is further provided with third gibs (11) and whereby said mobile plate 4 may be tilted by pivoting around said supporting shaft (1, 10); said third gibs (11) being nearly aligned with said second gibs (9) and so shaped as to provide a stable resting and housing abutment for said mobile plate (4) when tilted by having pivoted around said supporting shaft (1, 10).

10. Use of locking devices according to any preceding claim on railway-trucks for carrying standard containers and/or special mobile boxes with a "tunnel" bottom and of the group 4, said railway-trucks being either with bogies or with two axles; whereby said looking devices are mounted per pairs and whereby said pairs of locking devices mounted at the extremities of said trucks comprise both the fixed plate (2) and the mobile plate (4), while said pairs of locking devices mounted in correspondence of the middle-section of said trucks comprise said supporting shaft (10) deprived of said fixed plate (2) in order to allow said trucks to carry alternatively:

containers having a length of 20 and 40 feets,

mobile boxes of the groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, and even,

mobile boxes with a "tunnel" bottom of the group 4 (Fig. 7).

11. Use of locking devices according to Claim 10 whereby the level (H) of the loading platform, measured with reference to the level of the rails surface, may be reduced by 170 mm whereby, when said mobile boxes with a "tunnel" bottom have to be carried, the level (H1) of said loading platform, measured with reference to said level of said rails surface, may be made nearly equal to 1 meter (Fig. 8).

Ansprüche

1. Verriegelungsvorrichtung, um Standard-und/oder Spezialbehälter oder ähnliche auf Eisenbahnflachwagen zu befestigen, so daß die nur zum Transport auf der Straße vorgesehenen Spezialbehälter und/oder mobilen Gehäuse auch auf dem Schienenweg transportiert werden können, wobei die Verriegelungsvorrichtung besteht aus einem festen (3) und einem mobilen (5) Zapfen und zylindrischen Unterstützungsspindeln (1, 10), die herausragen und parallel zur Rahmenkonstruktion des obengenannten Wagens montiert sind, wobei der feste Zapfen (3) auf einer mit den zylindrischen Unterstützungsspindeln (1) fest verbundenen festen Platte (2) montiert ist; der o.g. mobile Zapfen (5) wird von einer beweglichen Platte (4) getragen, die so beweglich an die oben genannten zylinderförmigen Unterstützungsspindeln (1, 10) montiert ist, daß der mobile Zapfen (5) entweder in eine die besagten festen Zapfen (3) überragende oder in eine andere Arbeits- oder Ruhestellung gebracht werden kann; die besagten zylindrischen Unterstützungsspindeln (1/10) sind zu diesem Zweck mit Blockierungsvorrichtungen versehen, um die besagte mobile Platte (4) in verschiedenen Arbeits- und/oder Ruhepositionen zu halten; die feste Platte (2) ist vorgesehen zur Bildung einer Ladefläche unterhalb derjenigen Ladefläche, die durch die mobile Platte (4) mit dem mobilen Zapfen (5) gebildet wird; mittels des festen Zapfens (3) entsteht eine Ladefläche, auf der die Behälter und/oder mobilen Gehäuse mit Tunnelboden und Überhöhe auf den Eisenbahnflachwagen befestigt werden, während mittels des mobilen Zapfens (5) eine geeignete Ladefläche entsteht, auf der Behälter und/oder mobile Gehäuse mit ebenem Boden und Standardhöhe auf dem Wagen befestigt werden können.

2. Verriegelungsvorrichtung gemäß Patentanspruch 1, wobei die den genannten festen Zapfen (3) tragende und in der genannten Unterstützungsspindel (1, 10) fest verankerte feste Platte (2) ausgestattet ist mit Haltevorrichtungen, die den beweglichen Zapfen (5) mit den oben genannten Unterstützungsspindeln (1, 10) in einer die den festen Zapfen (3) überragenden Position verbinden; die Haltevorrichtungen haben die Form einer horizontalen Kante (2d) der festen Platte (2), die die genannten Unterstützungsspindeln (1, 10) berührt, wobei die horizontale Kante (2d) so geformt ist, daß sie Aufnahme und Lager für Verstärkungsrippen (4e) der genannten mobilen Platte (4) bildet; die Verstärkungsvorrichtungen umfassen außerdem eine Öffnung (2c), in die ein vorspringender Haken (6a) eingeführt werden kann, der zu einem Griff (6) gehört; der Griff (6) ist mit einem Scharnier und einem Stift (6b) an der mobilen Platte (4) befestigt; die Blockierung erfolgt mittels einer Leiste (7), die achsenparallel genau gegenüber der horizontalen Kante (2b) der festen Platte als integraler Bestandteil der Unterstützungsspindeln montiert ist und eine Länge d hat, so daß die genannte Leiste (7) selbst in die Öffnung, gebildet aus einem Blockierungsstift (4c) und 2 Leisten (4f) am Rand der mobilen Platte (4), genau gegenüber der Stelle der mobilen Platte (4) eingeführt werden kann, an der der besagte Griff (6) mit einem Scharnier und einem Stift (6b) befestigt ist.

3. Verriegelungsvorrichtung gemäß Patentanspruch 1, wobei die mobile Platte (4) ein halbzylinderförmiges Lager (4b) zur Aufnahme der Unterstützungsspindeln (1, 10) umfasst; die Mindestentfernung (C1) zwischen den einander gegenüberliegenden Erzeugenden der zylinderförmigen inneren Oberfläche des genannten Lagers (4b) ist größer als der Durchmesser (D1) der Unterstützungsspindeln (1, 10), so daß die genannten Spindeln (1, 10) in das halbzylinderförmige Lager (4b) eingeführt und wieder herausgenommen werden können.

4. Verriegelungsvorrichtung gemäß Patentanspruch 3, bei der die mobile Platte (4) so geformt ist, daß sie auf den Unterstützungsspindeln (1/10) bewegt werden kann mittels einer Art Nockenvorrichtung (8) mit Scharnieren zum Drehen um einen Stift am äußeren Rand (4d) der mobilen Platte (4), genau gegenüber dem mit einem Scharnier und einem Stift (6b) befestigten Griff (6); die Nockenvorrichtung (8) wird gebildet zur Vergrößerung des Umfangs des von dem halbzylinderförmigen Lager (4b) auf der Unterstützungsspindel umfassten Kreissektors, wobei die Länge (C2) der gespannten Sehne kleiner ist als der Durchmesser (01) der Unterstützungsspindel.

5. Verriegelungsvorrichtung gemäß Patentanspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die mobile Platte (4) mittels einer Art Nockenvorrichtung (8), die am Rand (4b) der mobilen Platte (4) genau gegenüber dem mit Scharnier und einem Stift (6b) befestigten Griff (6) montiert ist, beweglich auf der Spindel angebracht ist; die Nockenvorrichtung (8) ist so geformt, daß sich der Umfang des von dem halbzylinderförmigen, von dem Lager (4b) auf der Unterstützungsspindel umfaßtten Kreisausschnitts verlängert, wobei die Länge des genannten Kreisausschnitts, verzahnt und begrenzt durch die Sehne (C2) die Hälfte des Umfangs der Unterstützungsspindel überschreitet.

6. Verriegelungsvorrichtung gemäß Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die mobile Platte (4) ein quasi halbzylinderförmiges Lager (4b) umfaßt zur Aufnahme und Lagerung der Unterstützungsspindel, wobei das halbzylinderförmige Lager (4b) einen Kreisausschnitt umfaßt, der von einem Zentriwinkel von 180° untergespannt wird.

7. Verriegelungsvorrichtung gemäß Patentanspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß

a. zur Einführung und Lagerung der Unterstützungsspindel im halbzylinderförmigen Lager (4b) aus der äußeren Oberfläche der Unterstützungsspindel ein halbzylinderförmiger Kreissektor (13) mit einem kreissegmentförmigen Querschnitt, mit einer Höhe zur Reduzierung des Durchmessers (01) der zylinderförmigen Unterstützungsspindel auf eine Länge (C2), entsprechend der Öffnung des halbzylinderförmigen Lagers (4b), und mit einer Länge, die die maximale, parallel zur Achse der zylinderförmigen Unterstützungsspindel gemessene Breite der mobilen Platte (4) überschreitet, entfernt wird, und daß

b. zur Sicherstellung der gleitenden und festen Verbindung des halbzylinderförmigen Lagers (4b) mit der Unterstützungsspindel der vorher entfernte zylinderförmige Kreissektor (13) nach der Einführung und Lagerung der Unterstützungsspindel in das quasi halbzylinderförmige Lager (4b) wieder an seinen alten Platz gebracht und mit Schrauben oder ähnlichem fixiert wird, so daß die zylinderförmige Spindel und das halbzylinderförmige Lager (4b) wechselseitig miteinander verbunden sind.

8. Verriegelungsvorrichtung gemäß Patentanspruch 1, wobei die zylinderförmigen Unterstützungsspindeln mit weiteren Vorrichtungen zur Blockierung der mobilen Platte (4) mit dem mobilen Zapfen (5) in anderen Arbeitspositionen ausgestattet sind, ohne daß sie die feste Platte (2) mit dem festen Zapfen (3) Übertragt; diese zusätzlichen Blockierungsvorrichtungen umfassen eine erste Leiste (7) und eine zweite Leiste (9), die zu den Unterstützungsspindeln (1, 10) gehören, wobei die zweite Leiste (9) an einer Erzeugenden der äußeren zylindrischen Oberfläche der Unterstützungsspindeln (1, 10) ausgerichtet ist, genau gegenüber der erzeugenden Linie, entlang derer die erste Leiste (7) ausgerichtet ist; die zweite Leiste (9) bildet folglich

eine stabile Stütze und Lagerung für die Verstärkungsrippen (4e) der mobilen Platte (4) und

einen mit Nuten versehenen Verriegelungspunkt zum Zusammenspiel mit dem herausragenden Haken (6a) des mit Scharnier und Stift (6b) auf der mobilen Platte befestigten Griffs (6), wobei der Griff (6) die korrekte Verriegelung der den mobilen Zapfen (5) tragenden mobilen Platte (4) auf den Unterstützungsspindeln (1,10) in einer die Position der festen Platte (2) mit dem festen Zapfen (3) auf der Spindel (1) nicht überragenden Arbeitsposition sicherstellt.

9. Verriegelungsvorrichtung gemäß Patentanspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Unterstützungsspindel (10) außerdem mit einer dritten Leiste (11) versehen ist, mittels derer die mobile Platte (4) durch Drehen um die Unterstützungsspindel (10) umgedreht werden kann; die dritte Leiste (11) ist ausgerichtet an der zweiten Leiste (9) und so geformt, daß sie die stabile Stütze und Lagerung der mobilen Platte (4) nach der Drehung um die Unterstützungsspindel (10) erlaubt.

10. Bei der Benutzung der Verriegelungsvorrichtung gemäß den vorausgegangenen Patentansprüchen auf Eisenbahnflächwagen zum Transport von Standardbehältern und/oder mobilen Gehäusen mit Tunnelboden der Gruppe 4 ist der Eisenbahnflachwagen zu versehen entweder mit Untergestellen oder mit 2 Achsen; dabei werden die Verriegelungsvorrichtungen paarweise an den Rändern des Wagens montiert und umfassen sowohl die feste Platte (2) als auch die mobile Platte (4), während die paarweisen Verriegelungsvorrichtungen, die auf der Mittellinie des Wagens montiert werden, die Unterstützungsspindel (10) ohne die feste Platte (2) um fassend, um auf den Wagen abwechselnd den Transport von

Behältern mit einer Länge von 20 und 40 Fuß,

mobilen Gehäusen der Gruppe 1, 2 und 3 und

mobilen Gehäusen mit Tunnelboden der Gruppe 4 (Fig. 7) zu erlauben.

11. Benutzung der Verriegelungsvorrichtungen gemäß Patentanspruch 10, wobei das Niveau H der Ladeplattform, gemessen bezüglich des Gleisniveaus, um 170 mm reduziert werden kann, so daß die Höhe H1 der Ladefläche, gemessen bezüglich des Gleisniveaus, auf ungefähr 1 m reduziert werden kann, wenn mobile Gehäuse mit Tunnelboden geladen werden.

Revendications

1. "Dispositif de verrouillage pour fixer des porteurs de charge tels que des conteneurs sur des wagons standard" sur lesquels les conteneurs et/ou les caisses mobiles spéciales, pouvant à l'heure actuelle être transportés uniquement par route, peuvent être transportés par chemin de fer, seuls ou avec les conteneurs susmentionnés de type standard et/ou les caisses mobiles; en effet, ce dispositif de verrouillage est constitué d'une cheville fixe (3), d'une cheville mobile (5) et d'arbres de support cylindriques (1, 10) qui ressortent et sont montés parallèlement au chassis longitudinal du wagon en question; la cheville fixe (3) est maintenue par une plaque fixe (2) solidaire des autres éléments de support cylindriques (1); la cheville mobile (5) est maintenue par une plaque mobile (4) montée de manière à ce que elle puisse coulisser sur les supports cylindriques (1, 10), soit dans une position surmontant celle de la cheville fixe (3), soit dans une autre position de travail et/ou de non travail. C'est dans ce but que les éléments du support cylindrique (1, 10) sont dotés de moyens de blocage pour fixer la plaque mobile (4) dans une autre position de travail et/ou de non travail; la plaque fixe (2) est projetée de manière à fournir une superficie d'appui placée à un niveau inférieur au niveau de la superficie de charge fournie par la plaque mobile (4) munie de cheville mobile (5); la cheville fixe (3) a pour but de fournir une superficie de charge sur laquellé les conteneurs spéciaux et/ ou les caisses mobiles ayant un fond en tunnel et une hauteur supérieure à la hauteur normale, peuvent être fixés sur le wagon, tandis que la cheville mobile (5) a pour but de fournir une superficie d'appui appropriée pour que les conteneurs et/ou caisses mobiles ayant un fond plat de type standard et une hauteur standard puissent être fixés sur le wagon en question.

2. Un dispositif de verrouillage selon la revendication 1 dans lequel la plaque fixe (2) supportant la cheville fixe (3) et faisant partie intégrante des arbres de support cylindriques est purvue de systèmes de fixation qui permettent à la cheville mobile (5) d'être placée sur les arbres de support (1,10) dans une position qui surmonte la cheville fixe (3); les systèmes de fixation sont formés d'un bord horizontal (2d) de la plaque fixe (2) au contact des arbres de support (1); ce bord horizontal (2d) est fait de manière à former un support et un logement par bourrelets de renforcement (4e) de la plaque mobile (4); les moyens de renforcement comprennent en outre une fenêtre (2c) dans laquelle peut être inséré un crochet saillant (6a) faisant partie de la manille (6); cette manille (6) est reliée à la plaque mobile (4) par un pivot (6b); le verrouillage est réalisé par un lardon (7) appliqué dans une position presque diamétrale opposée à celle du bord horizontal (2b) de la plaque fixe (2d) de manière à faire partie intégrante des arbres de support (1, 10) avec son axe parallèle aux axes de support (1, 10) et d'une longueur permettant au lardon (7) d'être inséré dans la cavité formée par un tasseau de fixation (4c) et par deux butées (4f) aux extrémités de la plaque mobile (4) presque diamétralement opposée à la zone des plaques mobiles (4) auxquelles la manille est reliée de manière à pouvoir tourner avec le pivot (6b).

3. Un dispositif de verrouillage selon la revendication 1 dans lequel la plaque mobile (4) comprend un logement semi-cylindrique (4b) pour recevoir et contenir les arbres de support (1, 10); la distance minimale (C1) entre les deux génératrices opposées de la superficie cylindrique interne du logement (4b) est plus grande que le diamètre (D1) des arbres de support (1, 10) de manière à permettre aux arbres (1, 10) d'être insérés et désinsérés du logement semi-cylindrique (4b).

4. Un dispositif de verrouillage selon la revendication 3 dans lequel la plaque mobile (4) est conçue de manière à pouvoir pivoter sur les arbres de support (1, 10) grâce à un dispositif semblable à une came (8) fixée par des charnières pour pouvoir tourner autour d'un pivot de la plaque mobile (4) inséré dans son extrémité (4d) presque diametralement opposée au point de la plaque mobile (4) où la manille est articulée par le pivot (6b). La came (8) est conçue de manière à augmenter la longueur circonférencielle du secteur circulaire entouré par le logement semi- cylindrique (4b) sur l'arbre de support dans lequel la longueur (C2) de la corde sous-tendue est inférieure au diamètre de l'arbre de support.

5. Un dispositif de support selon la revendication 3 dans lequel la plaque mobile (4) est montée de manière à pouvoir glisser sur l'arbre grâce à un dispositif (8) semblable à une came articulée à un pivot de la plaque mobile (4) à son extrémité (4d) presque diamétralement opposée au point de la plaque mobile (4) où la manille (6) est articulée par le pivot (6b); ce dispositif à came (8) est conçu pour augmenter la longueur circonférencielle du secteur circulaire entourant le semilogement (4b) sur l'arbre cylindrique de support dans lequel la longueur du secteur de cercle, emboîté et défini par la corde (C2) dépasse la moitié de la circonférence de l'arbre de support.

6. Un dispositif de verrouillage selon la revendication 1 dans lequel la plaque mobile (4) comprend un logement presque semicylindrique (4b) pour recevoir et loger l'arbre de support; le logement semi-cylindrique (4b) recouvre un secteur circulaire des arbres de support, qui est sous- tendu par un angle au centre de 180°.

7. Un dispositif de verrouillage selon la revendication 6 dans lequel:

a) pour permettre à l'arbre de support d'être reçu et logé dans le logement cylindrique (4b), on enlève un secteur semi-cylindrique (13) de la superficie externe de l'arbre de support; le secteur cylindrique a une section transversale qui est un segment de cercle d'une hauteur réduisant le diamètre de l'arbre de support cylindrique et d'une longueur (C2) correspondant à la bouche du logement semi-cylindrique (4b) et d'une longueur dépassant la largeur maximale de la plaque mobile (4) mesurée parallèlement à l'axe de l'arbre cylindrique, pour faire en sorte que le logement semi-cylindrique (4b) soit enclenché de manière à glisser, et aussujetti à l'arbre de support.

b) pour assurer que le logement presque semi- cylindrique (4b) soit enclenché de manière à pouvoir pivoter et soit assujetti à l'arbre de support une fois que l'arbre en question est introduit et logé dans le logement presque semi- cylindrique (4b), le secteur cylindrique (13), précédemment extirpé, est inséré à sa place et relié par des vis ou d'autres moyens de fixation, une fois que le support cylindrique et le logement presque semi-cylindrique (4b) sont réciproquement enclenchés.

8. Un dispositif de verrouillage selon la revendication 1 où les arbres semi-cylindriques de support sont dotés d'autres moyens pour bloquer la plaque mobile (4) munie de la cheville mobile (5) dans d'autres positions de travail sans qu'elle se superpose à la plaque fixe (2) munie de la cheville fixe (3); les moyens de fixation additionnels comprenant un premier lardon (7) et un second lardon (9) faisant corps avec les arbres de support (1,10) et aligné avec une génératrice de la superficie cylindrique externe des arbres de support (1, 10), diamétralement opposé à la ligne génératrice le long de laquelle sont alignés les premiers lardons. Le deuxième lardon (9) est conçu de manière à fournir:

un support stable et un logement pour les bourrelets de renforcement (4e) de la plaque mobile (4)

un point de blocage cannelé pour coopérer avec le crochet saillant (6a) faisant partie de la manille (6), laquelle est articulée avec la plaque mobile (4) par un pivot (6b); la manille (6) assure le verrouillage correct de la plaque mobile (4) supportant la cheville mobile (5) sur les arbres de support (1, 10) en position de travail, sans se superposer à la position de la plaque fixe (2) supportant la cheville fixe (3) sur l'arbre (1).

9. Un dispositif de verrouillage selon la revendication 8 dans lequel l'arbre de support (10) est, en outre, doté d'un troisième lardon (11) grâce auquel la plaque mobile (4) peut être renversée en la faisant pivoter autour de l'arbre de support (10); ce troisième lardon (11) est aligné avec le deuxieme lardon (9) et conçu de manière à fournir un appui stable et un logement de la plaque mobile (4) quand celle-ci est renversée en pivotant autour de l'arbre de support (10).

10. Utilisation des dispositifs de verrouillage selon la revendication précédente sur des wagons pour transporter des conteneurs de type standard et/ou des caisses mobiles spéciales ayant un fond en tunnel et du groupe 4; ce wagon est doté soit de chariots, soit de deux axes; ses dispositifs de verrouillage sont montés par paires et ces paires de dispositifs de verrouillage sont montés aux extrémités du wagon; ils comprennent la plaque fixe (2) et la plaque mobile (4); les paires de dispositifs de verrouillage sont montés en direction de la section médiane des wagons, et comprennent l'arbre de support (10) dépourvu de la plaque fixe (2) pour permettre aux wagons de transporter alternativement:

des conteneurs ayant une longueur de 20 à 40 pieds,

des caisses mobiles des groupes (1, 2, 3, 4) et enfin

des caisses mobiles ayant un fond en tunnel du groupe 4 (Fig. 7).

11. Utilisation des dispositifs de verrouillage selon la revendication 10 avec lesquels le niveau H de la plate-forme de chargement mesurée en référence au niveau de la superficie des rails peut être réduit de 170 mm, de manière à ce que, quand sont chargées des caisses mobiles ayant un fond en tunnel, le niveau H1 de la plate-forme de chargement mesurée en référence au niveau de la superficie des rails, peut être réduite de presque un metre (Fig. 8).

Drawing