EP0241099B1

EP0241099B1 - Railway train, bogie, storage van and trailer

Info

Publication number: EP0241099B1
Application number: EP87200664A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frans Oudendal; Thomas Ter Schegget
Original assignee: Bv Alpha Engineering Ingenieurs- En Projectenbureau
Current assignee: BIMODAAL DISTRIBUTIE SYSTEEM B.V.
Priority date: 1986-04-07
Filing date: 1987-04-07
Publication date: 1990-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-07
Also published as: NL8600877A; EP0241099A1; ATE49733T1; DE3761478D1

Abstract

The ends of two trailers (4) normally used for road transport, are borne on a bogie (3) of a railway train by means of a rotatable coupling table (22). A trailer can lie on two bogies in accordance with a three point bearing. The end of the trailer which lies on two supports (11) of the coupling table (22) then rotates together with the table (22) relative to the rotary table frame, while the other end, which lies on only one rotary support (10), can rotate on its one rotary support (10) relative to the bogie (3). As a result the one end can be connected firmly with the coupling table (22), while the other end grips firmly (27, 77), and especially stably, on the part-spherical shaped rotary support (10).

Description

The invention relates to a railway system as mentioned in the preamble of claim 1.
Such a railway system is disclosed in US-A 2 963 986. The trailer is coupled by means of its so called king-pin with an adapted coupling table of a bogie, which coupling table can swivel relatively to the frame of the bogies about a horizontal axis. The coupling table is provided with two spaced apart supports for connection of the end of another trailer. The coupling table is an intermediate coupling member permitting swivel motion of one of two trailers with respect to a bogie but preventing the swivel motion of the other trailer with respect to said bogie.
The invention has for its object a better arrangement of trailers on railway carriages. To this end the railway system according to the invention is characterized as stated in claim 1.
A trailer can lie on two railway carriages in accordance with a three point bearing. The end of the trailer which lies on two supports of the coupling table then rotates together with the table relative to the frame of the belonging railway carriage, while the other end, which lies on only one rotary support, can rotate on its one rotary support relative to the belonging railway carriage. As a result the one end can be connected firmly with the coupling table, while the other end grips firmly, and especially stably, on the part-spherical shaped rotary support. The configuration of the supports is such that when slopes are negotiated the trailers grip well on the bogies.
The invention also relates to and provides a railway carriage mainly consisting of a bogie as claimed in claim 2.
The invention also relates to and provides a trailer as designated in claim 8.
In addition the invention relates to and provides a railway carriage mainly consisting of a storage van as designated in claim 5.
A railway system equipped with two storage vans in accordance with claim 6 can accomodate between these vans a series of trailers which can face as required in the one or other of both opposite directions of arrangement. The free choice of direction of arrangement of the trailers can facilitate the loading and unloading of trailers especially on shunting stations of restricted dimensions. On the other end facing away from the trailer the storage van can be provided with the normal coupling and buffing gear for connection to a normal train part.
US-A 2 709 969 discloses a railway system, wherein two trailers can each turn relative to the bogie on a swivel pin occupying a position in the central longitudinal plane of the bogie so that a train of bogies and trailers can adjust to bends in the rail. The trailers are thereby supported by horizontal bearing surfaces. There is much uncontrolled movement possible in bends and on variable slopes between bogies and trailers, which leads to much wear of this railway and trailer material, particularly because the high tractive forces of a train are not transferred well between bogie and trailer.
US-A 4 385 857 discloses a railway system including a bogie supporting a trailer on a swivel table swiveling about a horizontal axis, a coupling between swivel table and trailer being made by means of a pin having its upper end part spherical shaped; said pin engaging a receptacle of the trailer. The trailer does not support on the part-spherical shaped top of the pin but on the swivel table. The trailer can not swivel relatively to said pin.
Mentioned and other characteristics of the invention will be elucidated in the hereafter following description with reference to a drawing.
In the drawing in diagrammatic form:

- figure 1 shows a partially broken away side view of a railway system according to the invention,
- figure 2 shows on a large scale the fraction II from figure 1 in another position,
- figure 3 is a section through the line III-III from figure 2,
- figure 4 shows on a larger scale a partly broken away side view of detail IV from figure 1,
- figures 5 and 6 show respectively a broken away side view and a perspective exploded view of detail V from figure 4 on a larger scale,
- figure 7 is a work plan for assembly of a railway system with storage van according to the invention,
- figure 8 shows a plan corresponding. with line e of figure 7 of a railway system assembled in the opposite direction,
- figures 9 and 10 each show on a large scale a different cut away view of detail IX from figure 1,
- figure 11 is a side view corresponding with figure 10 in another position,
- figures 12 and 13 show on a large scale broken away side views of details XII and XIII respectively from figure 10,
- figure 14 is a section through the line XIV-XIV from figure 13, figure 15 is a section through the line XV-XV from figure 12, figure 16 is a section through the line XVI-XVI from figure 9, figures 17 and 18 show on a large scale a partially broken away, perspective view of details XVII and XVIII respectively in assembled position, and figure 19 shows on a large scale an exploded, partly broken away, perspective view of details XVII and XVIII in disassembled position.

The railway system according to the invention which is indicated schematically in figure 1, comprises a train of two storage vans 1 and 2 which can each transport a number of, for example three, seperate bogies 3 when they are not functioning in the train. Of the six bogies 3 present per train, one bogie 3 is arranged in operative position in figure 1, whereby it supports two trailers 4. Each of the trailers 4 normally used for road transport is provided with a set of wheels 5 spring mounted by means of air springs 59 with pneumatic tyres for road transport, and is itself not provided with rail wheels. The trailer 4 has an auxiliary support 6 adjustable in height and the normal coupling pin 7 for connection to a tractive unit 8 (figure 1), this coupling pin 7 not being used for the coupling of rolling stock to the trailer. The trailer 4 according to the invention (see figure 4) has at its rear end two cups 9 arranged on either side of its central longitudinal plane 52 and on its front part one such cup 10 arranged in the central longitudinal plane 52 for bearing respectively on two supports 11 and one support 12 of a bogie 3. The trailer 4 according to the invention further has an air line 13 which can be connected by means of a flexible pipe 14 to a brake device 15 indicated schematically which has an actuating cylinder 56 for brakes 21 of bogies 3. In this way a brake line can be formed which runs over the length of a train, air lines 13 being located at repeated intervals in this line. The chassis of the trailer 4 is so robust that between the cups 9 and 10 it can absorb the high tractive and pressure forces which occur in a train.
Each bogie 3 comprises a frame 16 having two wheel sets 18 spring mounted therein by means of springs 17, each set consisting of an axle 19 having two rail wheels 20 connected firmly to it. Frame 16 carries a coupling table 22 mounted centrally on it for rotation on a vertical axis 113. For this purpose the frame 16 robust upright bus 23 around which grips a tubular casing 120 of coupling table 22 with interpositioning of bearing bushes 121. Coupling table 22 rests by means of bearing plates 130 on slide plates 131. The tubular casing 120 is held in position in axial direction on bush 23 by means of a retaining plate 133. The coupling table 22 comprises two supports 11 having semi-cylindrical transversely positioned supporting heads 60 and a support 12 provided with a semi-spherical head 61. A trailer 4 can thus swivel with its rear end together with the coupling table 22 relative to the frame 16 of bogie 3, while the same trailer 4 can swivel with its front end on the support 12 relative to the coupling table 22 of another bogie 3.
Arranged in the head and end beams 29 of trailer 4 are recesses 28 beneath which lie edges 63 which form gripper elements for locking hooks 27, 77 which are arranged for pivoting on the carrying table 22. In their locking position as drawn in full lines in fig. 5 the locking hooks 27, 77 are held in place by a set of links 64 forced through their dead centre (figure 6). When a locking hook 27 pivots back on axis 66 in arrow direction 65 it strikes against the short end 62 of a link 64, which prevents further pivoting back. When during activation the locking hooks 27 are released a gripping shaft 69 is rotated with a key 68 on its axis 70 in arrow direction 72, whereby each set of links 64 is pivoted with the locking hooks 27 that are connected to it in arrow direction 65. An arm 71 also pivots with the shaft 69 in arrow direction 72, as a result of which an angle lever 73 pivots locking hook 77 back in arrow direction 76. Locking hook 77 is guarded against undesired release because a pin 79 of angle lever 73 then stops against arm 71.
The storage vans 1 and 2 have at one of their both ends a console 35 and 36 respectively protruding axially outside the body work 37, this console being intended for carrying of the end of a trailer 4.
The body work 37 has a body part 81 permanently connected to the chassis 80 of storage van 1, 2 and a body part 82 which can be moved in lengthwise direction relative to the fixed body part 81, the part 82 having rails 83 on either side which support on guide rollers 84 while supporting rollers 85 of body part 82 support on rails 86 of body part 81. In addition guide rollers 87 of body part 82 roll along the underside of roller tracks 88 of body part 81. Because of these guide means body part 82 can be displaced axially in considerable measure relative to body part 81 so that a bogie 3 which is suspended via a hook 89 from a travelling runner 42 movable over rails 41 of body part 82 can be taken from the storage van 1, 2 and placed onto railway lines 46. For displacement of body part 82 practicable endless chains 91 are guided round chain wheels 92 of body part 81 and fastened to attachment members 93 of body part 82. These chains 91 are driven either manually or by motor power. The displacing of body part 82 can be locked with locking means 90, comprising on at least one side a swivel handle 94 which can be held in place by a locking hook 95 and which has a cam 96 that cooperates with a sliding rod 97 which grips in its locking position in recesses 98 and 99 of respective body parts 81 and 82 (figure 13).
The consoles 35 and 36 are arranged in the same way and provided with two carrying devices 101 and 102, so that only console 35 is described with reference to figure 19.
Console 35 has a swivel ring 103, in which can be accommodated a rotating bush 104 of carrying device 101, 102 and which can be locked against axial shifting by means of a retaining ring 105 with bolts 106. Carrying device 101, 102 has a frame 107, 108 which can support by means of bearing layers 109, 110 on bearing blocks 111. Carrying device 101 has two supports 11 which have the same configuration and the same arrangement relative to the vertical axis of rotation 112 of carrying device 101 of console 35 as the supports 11 of bogies 3 relative to the vertical axis of rotation 113 of the carrying table 22. The carrying device 102 has a support 10 with a part-spherical shaped head 61.
Like the bogies 3 the carrying devices 101, 102 have locking hooks 27, 77 with associated sets of links 64. Should it be wished to arrange the trailers 4 with their front ends facing as required either the storage van 1 or 2, storage van 1 will carry a carrying device 102 or 101 and storage van 2 a carrying device 101 or 102 (figure 7e and 8).
At the location of a trailer train forming station use can be made of a lifting device for placing trailer 4 onto bogies 3. Instead of a lifting device a set of ramps 48 can suffice which can be moved by means of a fork lift truck 100. For this purpose they are provided with recesses 49. Ramps 48 which can be adjusted in height have a stop with which they run against a bogie 3, a detachable stop 50 with which they run up against the supports 11 of a storage van, and stops 51 against which trailer wheels 5 can strike, in order to carry the cups 9 of a trailer 4 driven backwards up the ramps 48 sufficiently accurately above supports 11. The air pressure is then removed from the air springs 59. The trailer 4 sinks down under its own mass onto the rubber spring stops in the air springs after which the axles with pneumatic tyres 5 are locked mechanically. The lifting device for the ramps 48 is then set to the lower position, whereby the trailer 4 will first come to rest on support points 11 and the pneumatic tyres 5 are then released from ramps 48. After the auxiliary support 6 is extended and the front end of trailer 4 is lifted up the tractive unit 8 is driven away. By applying underpressure to the air springs 59 of trailer 4 the latter is coupled to a bogie 3 driven underneath its front end. The ramps 48 are then moved with a fork lift truck 100 which grips into recesses 49 thereof to bogie 3 to add a following trailer 4 to the train 45. Ramps 48 can be carried in a storage van 1, 2, so that no loading and unloading means - apart from a fork lift truck that can be used for other purposes - need remain behind at the location of a trailer train forming station. A trailer train forming station only requires rails 46 sunk into a traffic road 47.
It is possible as a result of this to include a large number of trailer train forming stations in a railway network at little cost.
The trailer 4 according to the invention is provided with a fold-away bumper 53 which is folded up during rail transport (see figure 4) in order not to impede the coupling of the trailer 4 to a bogie 3.
The bearing supports 11, 12 and cups 9, 10 have a robust structure such that they can withstand a force in longitudinal direction of the train of for example 800 kN.
Storage vans 1 and 2 are provided at their ends 54 facing away from the trailers 4 with conventional draw and buffer means 58 for coupling to conventional rolling stock.
In the shunting diagram shown in figure 7 for assembling a train with five trailers 4: four of the six bogies 3 are unloaded from the storage vans 1, 2 (line a);

a ramp 48 is placed at the console 36,
a trailer 4 is driven with a tractive unit 8 onto ramp 48 and thus above a carrying device 101 fitted on console 36 of storage van 2 (line b); trailer 4 is let down onto the supports 11 of carrying device 102 by raising the wheels 5 of trailer 4, trailer 4 is positioned on its support 6 and the uncoupled tractive unit 8 is driven away (line ^g); and a bogie 3 is arranged beneath trailer 4 and trailer 4 is lowered onto bogie 3 and locked to it, after which cup 9 grips onto support 12 of this bogie 3 (line d).

Such operations are repeated for assembly of a train 45 as in line e, whereby the console 35 with a carrying device 101 of storage van 1 is finally arranged under the last trailer 4 and locked to it.
The disassembly of a train takes place in principle in reverse sequence. The assembling of a train 45 can if required also be carried out from the other end as according to figure 8. Storage vans 1 and 2 can be provided with an air unit 38 for brake air.
It is possible according to the invention to add a trailer 4 to a train part or to remove an intermediate trailer 4 at choice.
It is possible to place one and the same trailer 4 on consoles 35 and 36 of storage vans 101 and 102 when there is only one trailer for transportation.

Claims

1. Railway system at least comprising a trailer (4) and two railway carriages (1, 2, 3); a first one of said two railway carriages (1, 2, 3) comprising at least first carrying means, by which the one end of the trailer can-be coupled for rotation about vertical axis with respect to the frame of said one railway carriage; said first carrying means including a support (12) positioned in the central longitudinal plane; a second one of said two carriages (1, 2, 3) comprising at least second carrying means for supporting the other end of said trailer (4), said carrying means including at least two supports (11) spaced from each other - seen transversely of the direction of movement -, said first and said secnd carrying means permitting the trailer to swivel relatively to both said railway carriages, characterized in that said support (12) arranged in the central longitudinal plane is part-spherical shaped and cooperates with a part-spherical shaped cup (10) arranged in the central longitudinal plane of the one end of the trailer (4), the at least two supports (11) being arranged on a coupling table (22) which can rotate relatively to the frame of said second railway carriage; the at least two supports (11) cooperating with cups (9) arranged at the other end of said trailer (4), said supports (11) and said cups (9) being so shaped that the trailer (4) is permitted to swivel relatively to said coupling table (22) in a vertical longitudinal plane.

2. Railway carriage (3) of the railway system of claim 1, mainly consisting of a bogie (3) comprising a frame with carrying means for carrying trailers normally used for road transport, characterized by a coupling table (22) which can rotate relatively to said frame on a vertical axis, said table having - seen transversely of the direction of movement - two supports (11) at an interval from each other for supporting an end of a trailer (4) and by a support (12) arranged in the central longitudinal plane (52) of the bogie (3) for rotatable support of the end of another trailer (4), whereby said support (12) arranged in the central longitudinal plane (52) is part-spherical shaped and the two supports (11) at an interval from each other are formed such that they permit swivelling of said trailer relative to said coupling table (22) in the vertical longitudinal plane.

3. Railway carriage (3) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the supports (11, 12) each grip in a specially adapted cup (9) of a trailer (4) such that a considerable tractive force can be transferred between support (11) and cup.

4. Railway carriage (3) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the coupling table (22) is provided with locking members (27, 77) which can grip on a locking element (63) of a trailer (4) and are held in place in their locking position by means of a set of links forced through their dead centre.

5. Railway carriage (3) of the railway system of claim 1, mainly consisting of a storage van (1, 2) provided with carrying means for carrying an end of a trailer (4), characterized by a console (35, 36) which is provided with at least one of two carrying devices (101, 102), one of which carrying devices can be coupled for rotation on a vertical axis with said console (35, 36), and which comprises two supports (11) at an interval from each other - seen transversely of the direction of movement - for supporting an end of a trailer (4), and the other of which comprises a support (12) arranged in the central longitudinal plane (52) for-supporting-the other end of such a trailer (4).

6. Storage van (1, 2) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the console (35, 36) is provided with both carrying devices (101, 102) which can be connected to it so as to be interchangeable.

7. Storage van (1, 2) as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the body work (37) comprises at least one body part (81) permanently connected to the chassis (80) and at least one body part which can be displaced in longitudinal direction relative to said fixed body part and which is provided with lifting means.

8. Trailer of the railway system of claim 1, characterized by

- a part-sherical shaped cup (10) arranged at its one end in the central longitudinal plane;

- two cups (9) at an interval from each other - seen transversely of the direction of movement - at its other end which allow pivoting of the trailer in the vertical longitudinal plane relative to a coupling table of a bogie; and

- locking elements (63) arranged at the supports for locking co-operation with locking members (27, 77) of a bogie.