AU2009238293B2 - Cargo train wagon for the transportation of bulk material - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed a cargo wagon to transport bulk material in different conditions which allows the load not to attach itself to the surface of the wagon, speeding up the unloading process, wherein said cargo wagon is formed by a defined structure which vertebral frame is conformed by a longitudinal beam, where in a transversal way to such beam ribs have been configured in a semi-rectangular shape which give the volume configuration to the wagon's load; in the Terminal ends of such ribs there are lateral beams that give firmness to the structures that define the ribs; said lateral beams have on their interior end steel plates along their whole longitude that conform an upper lateral end of the wagon; where in said steel plates and in suspended form there are a series of ropes over which there is rubber carpet in suspended form that defines the structure to receive the load. m 4Lr

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990 - Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title Cargo train wagon for the transportation of bulk material The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: P/00/0 I I C i A CARGO TRAIN WAGON FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF BULK MATERIAL The present invention relates to a cargo train wagon for the transportation of bulk material. Historically, train cargo wagons comprise steel structures defining a box open at its upper end to receive the material to be transported. Wagons of such type are used in the mining industry, for the transportation of minerals, including for the purposes of delivering the minerals to a treatment plant, such as hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical treatment plant. Train wagons are conformed in such way that the load can be collected basically in three ways. The most common is for the wagon to be a static box in which by means of shovels or loaders the material is removed from its interior. There is also another modality in which the cart, on one of its sides, is incorporated with a mobile lockgate that allows the material to leave the box by gravity. The last modality is of wagons with pivoting mechanisms that by means of hydraulic devices lift an end of the wagon to effect overturning out of the contents contained therewithin. The problems evidenced in the abovementioned alternatives have the inconvenience of being very rigid structures and of great tare, which leads to a decrease in the load capacity or having to count with engines of great power to move the same number of carts. Additionally, when removing the load from the wagons, a "carryback" effect is often produced, which consists in that part of the load does not completely leave the box, remaining attached to an interior surface thereof. This is problem is significant, since operator intervention is required to remove residual load. The previously described phenomenon can be exacerbated in cold conditions where material of which the load is comprised may freeze. 1 The most recent developments to solve the abovementioned problems point towards the development of train wagons comprising metal box structures provided with a rubber carpet attached over a floor of the structure. DE202005002765U describes a chassis with a superstructure in the form of a box for bulk solids with a mobile access side, i.e. a lockgate to load and unload. Its loading floor is angled, and elements are provided which vibrate during the unloading step, there being one or more attached plastic or rubber layers. W09950162 discloses a wagon for mineral transportation with a load supporting surface in the shape of a receiving rubber layer secured by fixed elements to the floor of the wagon. The fixed elements are arranged around the walls. The layer is not configured around the wagon in the intersection of the walls and floor, but rather only supported over two thirds of the floor in the first stage of the empty wagon. When the wagon is loaded with mineral, the layer is adjusted inside a second stage with stronger energy potential and acquiring the shape of the wagon. The wagon thus comprises a metal box and a carpet therein which stretches upon receiving the load and contracts when unloaded. The invention provides a cargo train wagon for transporting bulk material, the wagon comprising: a frame which comprises transversely extending ribs and defines a load-containing volume of the wagon; rail track-engaging wheels over which the frame is supported; longitudinally spaced apart flexible elongate members each of which hangs from upper ends of the frame lateral sides so as to extend transversely between the lateral sides; a rubber carpet suspended over the flexible members; and opposed end walls, wherein the rubber carpet and end walls define a load volume of the wagon for holding the bulk material, the wagon being configured such that when it is loaded with said bulk material, the carpet and flexible elongate members are disposed on the frame 2 whereby the weight of the load is distributed on the flexible members as well as on the structure of the wagon and tension in the wagon is thus lightened. The weight of the wagon can be substantially less than that of prior art wagons. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wagon includes a chassis, supported on said wheels, from which the frame is supported and with which the frame is pivotably interconnected, the wagon further comprising means for pivoting the frame with respect to the chassis about a longitudinal axis whereby to empty the wagon of said material held within the load volume. Preferably, said frame is pivotably interconnected with the chassis at a position adjacent a lower end of one of said opposed lateral sides. Preferably, the chassis comprises a longitudinally extending central beam which underlies the frame to support it from below. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame is steel. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible elongate members comprise a series of straps placed transversal to a longitudinal axis of the wagon, over which the rubber carpet is disposed in a suspended form to receive the load that the wagon will transport. This configuration can have the advantage of, besides reduced weight, having a low center of gravity and better stability since when the wagon is loaded the carpet can exert pressure over the straps and may tend to concentrate the center of gravity in the zone under the structural frame, achieving not only an increase in useful load but also improved stability. Additionally, the suspended carpet may allow for the bulk material to move slightly during transportation, reducing a tendency of the material to adhere to wagon and thus the incidence of carryback upon unloading and thus hastening unloading. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wagon has a vertebral frame configured in a generally semi-rectangular form which contains the wagon's load-containing volume. The frame may comprise ribs and laterally arranged, longitudinally extending beams interconnecting ends of the ribs to impart 3 firmness to the frame structure. The beams may have on interior sides thereof steel plates along their whole lengths that define an upper lateral end of the wagon, from which plates a series of ropes, defining said flexible elongate members, may be hung. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a support structure of the wagon which is made of steel and the loading volume is defined by suspended rubber over flexible elements attached to the support structure whereby a floor of the wagon may have a flexibility to absorb impacts during loading. The suspended floor may provide for reduced impact loads, exerted both on the floor itself and on the frame. The configuration of the wagon according to preferred embodiments of the invention provides also for reduced wear due to elevated abrasion. Preferably, the wagon includes a chassis, supported on said wheels, from which the frame is supported and with which the frame is pivotably interconnected, and further comprises means for pivoting the frame with respect to the chassis about a longitudinal axis whereby to empty the wagon of said material held within the load volume. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said ribs are pivotably coupled to said beam through a pivoting connection disposed on a bottom part of the ribs towards a side thereof, at which connection they are connected to supporting lateral structures secured to a side of the beam, so that the ribs can be tilted about the connection such that said load volume is overturned to be emptied of the bulk material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivoting means comprises a pivoting mechanism having an arm attached at a bottom end thereof to the central longitudinal beam through a clevis connection, whereby it may articulate relative to the central longitudinal beam, and a central element that pivotably connects to the other end of the rear arm to effect lifting of one side of the frame when the mechanism is activated, whereby the wagon is emptied. Preferably, 4 the mechanism includes a further arm connected at one end to said one side of the frame of the walls through an articulated connection and connected at its other end to the central element. The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation view in elevation of a cargo train wagon embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a partially exploded view of the wagon; Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the wagon; Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the wagon; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of an articulated arm of a pivoting mechanism operable to unload the wagon. A cargo train wagon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a chassis, comprising a rectangular or double T beam (1), and a frame, to which the beam (1) is a backbone, comprising ribs (2) which extend transverse to the beam (1), the ribs (2) defining a semi-rectangular form that will finally give shape to a loading volume of the wagon. On the terminal ends of said ribs laterally disposed longitudinal beams (3) extend, the beams (3) stiffening the structure defined by the ribs (2). The beams (3) have plates (4) at interior sides thereof, which extend along the entire lengths of the beams (3) and define upper lateral edge sections of the wagon. The beam (1), which is centrally disposed, is placed over bogies disposed over the railway. The ribs (2) are connected to one side of the beam (1) via a pivoting connection (19) disposed on a lower part of the frame towards one side thereof. In turn, the pivoting connection (19) is connected to lateral support structures (20) secured to said one side, allowing for the ribs (2) allowing for the ribs to be tilted about the connection (19), thus producing the action of overturning frame to empty the wagon. The rubber carpet (5), which receives the load, is suspended over a series of flexible elongate members (6), in the form of ropes or straps, that hang from the 5 plates (4). Those members (6) are secured to the plates (4) by means of binding clips with bolts (not shown in the drawings), received by holes (7) in the plates (3) which secure the binding clips of the bolts for the members (6). Even though the members (6) hang from the steel plates (4), as thus does the rubber carpet (5), when the wagon is loaded, the weight of the load is such that the carpet (5) and flexible members (6) slightly pose themselves of the structural ribs (2) whereby the weight of the load is distributed on the flexible members (6) as well as on the structure of the wagon, thus lightening tension within the wagon. On the ends of the beam (1), two lateral ribs (8) support an interior and rear wall of the wagon. End walls (9) of the wagon together with the suspended carpet (5) define the wagon's load volume. In turn, on the upper ends of said walls (9), visors (10) are mounted to form a type of funnel in the load volume, whereby the load does not slip towards the front or rear end of the wagon. The visors (10) are installed in an angular form over the walls (9) by means of a set of squares (11) that rest over the top part of the respective wall (9). The walls (9) are duly tightened by two sets of squares (12) which give firmness to such parts and thus support the compression to which they are subjected. Additionally, on the exterior surface of each wall (9), a pivoting device (13) of the wagon is arranged, comprising a mechanism on the bottom end attached to the longitudinal beam (1) by a perforated plate (14) or clevis connection that allows the articulation of a rear arm (15) of the pivoting mechanism. The pivoting device has a rear arm (15), an upper arm (17) and a central element (16) that connects the rear arm (15) with the upper arm (17) whereby, when the device is articulated, side of the structure is lifted and wagon is emptied of material. For such purposes, the upper arm (15) on a front end thereof is connected to one of the sides of the walls (9) by means of the articulated connection (18) and on a rear end thereof to the central element (16). When the pivoting device is activated, the ribs (2) are lifted at one side thereof, as is the suspended carpet (5), whereby unloading of the material is effected. 6 The visors (10) can be composed of any polymeric material, though rubber is preferable, and preferably such rubber has the same material characteristics as the suspended carpet (5), since this material is resistant to abrasion, especially when the transported material comprises concentrated mineral material. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. 7

Claims (18)

1. A cargo train wagon for transporting bulk material, the wagon comprising: a frame which comprises transversely extending ribs and defines a load-containing volume of the wagon; rail track-engaging wheels over which the frame is supported; longitudinally spaced apart flexible elongate members each of which hangs from upper ends of opposed lateral sides of the frame so as to extend transversely between the lateral sides; a rubber carpet suspended over the flexible members; and opposed end walls, wherein the rubber carpet and end walls define a load volume of the wagon for holding the bulk material, the wagon being configured such that when it is loaded with said bulk material, the carpet and flexible elongate members are disposed on the frame whereby the weight of the load is distributed on the flexible members as well as on the structure of the wagon and tension in the wagon is thus lightened.

2. A wagon according to claim 1, including a chassis, supported on said wheels, from which the frame is supported and with which the frame is pivotably interconnected, the wagon further comprising means for pivoting the frame with respect to the chassis about a longitudinal axis whereby to empty the wagon of said material held within the load volume.

3. A wagon according to claim 2, wherein said frame is pivotably interconnected with the chassis at a position adjacent a lower end of one of said opposed lateral sides.

4. A wagon according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the chassis comprises a longitudinally extending central beam which underlies the frame to support it from below. 8

5. A wagon according to claim 4 as appended to claim 3, wherein the chassis includes a support extending laterally from said central beam to said position and said frame is pivotally connected to said support.

6. A wagon according to claim 4 or 5, including bogies on which the beam is supported, the bogies including said wheels,

7. A wagon according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the beam has an upper flange and a lower flange and includes an upright web interconnecting the flanges.

8. A wagon according to claim 7, wherein the beam comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart webs interconnecting the flanges.

9. A wagon according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame comprises longitudinally spaced apart generally U-shaped members defining said ribs and said opposed lateral sides comprise upwardly projecting legs of the U-shaped members.

10. A wagon according to claim 9, wherein the frame includes opposed longitudinal beams each of which interconnects upper ends of the legs at a respective lateral side of the frame, to which beams opposite ends of the flexible elongate members are attached.

11. A wagon according to claim 10, wherein the opposite ends of the flexible elongate members are attached to laterally inner plate portions of the opposed longitudinal beams.

12. A wagon according to claim 11, wherein said elongate flexible members are secured to said plate portions by binding clips with bolts extending through holes in said plate portions. 9

13. A wagon according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising upwardly divergent panel sections arranged at a mouth of the load volume to act as a funnel.

14. A wagon according to claim 13, wherein said panel sections are made of polymeric material.

15. A wagon according to claim 14, wherein said polymeric material comprises rubber.

16. A wagon according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible elongate members comprise ropes or straps.

17. A wagon according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is vertebral.

18. A cargo train wagon substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10