EP0250332A1 - Device for opening, closing and locking hopper doors of railway carriages - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the simultaneous closing of two hopper doors (2) of a hopper wagon by means of two rods (6) with a swan neck (12) actuated by a rotating lever (15), passing from a neutral position in order to obtain a self-stable closing position. <IMAGE>

Description

The subject of the present invention is a device for locking hoppers for unloading hoppers, in particular hoppers for railway wagons.

Hoppers intended to contain powdery bulk products such as ores, coke, coal, cereals, etc. are generally provided along their median longitudinal plane with two symmetrical inclined planes directed outwards; which form what is called a "donkey", these inclined planes opening into orifices which are closed by panels which are called hatches which are in oblique planes. These hatches can be sliding or articulated so that they can be opened to let the product flow out of the wagon on both sides of the speed bump. It is known to articulate these hatches on a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wagon so that they open and close by a pendulum movement being controlled by any appropriate linkage, and in this case, it is advantageous, when they are in oblique planes, that they can, once the wagon emptied hang pendulum and freely.

It is known, in particular from French patents 1,424,100 and 2,387,151, as well as from German patent 1,206,005 to control such side doors by a rotary central control, acting on two rods provided at their end with a lever bent in swan neck coupled to said rotary central control so that by rotating this control member, the latter exerts on the doors a pulling (closing) or pushing (opening) action. It is also known to ensure that, during closing, the rotational movement of the control member extends beyond neutral so that the position of the rods is freestanding.

However, in all these known prior devices, the rods controlling the hatches remain permanently coupled to the control device so that they cannot hang freely on their hinges after closing. The present invention relates to a device such that, after opening, there is, automatically, a separation of the rotary control member and rods control the hatches; so that the latter can fight freely.

The present invention relates to a mechanism allowing the opening and closing of this type of hatches, the closed position being freestanding by passing the linkage past a neutral point.

The present invention relates to a device for controlling the opening and closing of side doors of hopper wagons by a central control of the type in which said doors are articulated by their upper side around a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wagon and each controlled by a rod connected at its end to a curved gooseneck lever coupled to a rotary control member so that said control lever when it is rotated exerts on the rod a pulling movement or of thrust pivoting the hatches, the rotary movement for closing extending beyond the closing dead center so that the position of the rods is freestanding, characterized in that the coupling of the swan neck lever to the the rotary control member is made by means of a notch, located at the end of a rotary lever, in which a roller located at the end of the neck lever engages swan, the wagon chassis carrying a fixed part comprising a groove placed on the circular path traversed by the notch during the closing movement so that said roller leaves the notch to engage in the groove, which allows the hatches to freely struggle after opening.

The device according to the invention preferably includes the following arrangements:
- the rotary lever is hydraulically controlled,
- the rotary lever comprises two symmetrical arms for simultaneously controlling two doors located symmetrically on each side of the speed bump,
- each door is provided at its base with an auxiliary locking mechanism in the closed position.

• Figure 1, une vue schématique en élévation latérale d'un wagon trémie comportant huit trappes de déchargement et une seule commande ;
• Figure 2, une vue schématique en plan d'un wagon selon la figure 1 comprenant deux mécanismes d'ouverture et fermeture de trappes, chaque mécanisme ouvrant quatre trappes.
• Figure 3, une vue schématique en plan d'un wagon selon la figure 1 comprenant quatre mécanismes selon l'invention, chaque mécanisme ouvrant deux trappes.
• Figure 4, une vue schématique en coupe transversale d'un wagon selon les figures 1 à 3 illustrant un mécanisme double commandant deux trappes symétriques, celles-ci étant représentée en position fermée et étant verrouillées.
• Figure 5, une vue correspondant à la figure 4 dans laquelle le dispositif auxiliaire de verrouillage est représenté en position déverrouillée.
• Figure 6, une vue correspondant aux figures 4 et 5 dans laquelle les trappes sont en position d'ouverture maximum pour l'écoulement de la matière se trouvant dans le wagon.
• Figure 7, une vue schématique, correspondant aux figures 4 à 6, dans laquelle les trappes pendent librement en position sensiblement verticale après vidage de la trèmie.
• Figure 8, une vue schématique représentant le circuit hydraulique de commande du dispositif.
• Figure 9, une vue de détail d'une première variante du circuit de la figure 8, avec gros débit de la pompe.
• Figure 10, une vue de détail d'une deuxième variante du circuit de la figure 8, avec débit réduit de la pompe.

By way of nonlimiting example and to facilitate understanding of the invention:

• Figure 1, a schematic side elevational view of a hopper car with eight unloading hatches and a single control;
• Figure 2, a schematic plan view of a wagon according to Figure 1 comprising two mechanisms for opening and closing doors, each mechanism opening four doors.
• Figure 3, a schematic plan view of a wagon according to Figure 1 comprising four mechanisms according to the invention, each mechanism opening two doors.
• Figure 4, a schematic cross-sectional view of a wagon according to Figures 1 to 3 illustrating a double mechanism controlling two symmetrical hatches, these being shown in the closed position and being locked.
• Figure 5, a view corresponding to Figure 4 in which the auxiliary locking device is shown in the unlocked position.
• Figure 6, a view corresponding to Figures 4 and 5 in which the doors are in the maximum open position for the flow of material in the wagon.
• Figure 7 is a schematic view, corresponding to Figures 4 to 6, in which the hatches hang freely in a substantially vertical position after emptying the hopper.
• Figure 8, a schematic view showing the hydraulic control circuit of the device.
• Figure 9, a detail view of a first variant of the circuit of Figure 8, with high pump flow.
• Figure 10, a detailed view of a second variant of the circuit of Figure 8, with reduced pump flow.

FIG. 1 represents a hopper wagon with bi-lateral unloading of known type comprising a hopper 1 provided at the base of its two lateral sides with hatches 2; the wagon traveling by means of wheels 3 on a railway track 4.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, we see that this wagon has along its median longitudinal axis a donkey 5, consisting of two symmetrical inclined planes 5a, 5b which guide the material, contained in the hopper 1, doors 2 which are eight in number, in the example shown; they can be four.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the wagon comprises two pairs of rods 6, 7, each pair, located at one end of the wagon, simultaneously opening four hatches 2 (two on each side).

In the example shown in Figure 3, the wagon has four pairs of rods 6, 7, 8, 9, two pairs 6, 7 being located at the ends of the wagon and two pairs 8, 9 in the center, each pair simultaneously opening two 2 opposite hatches (one on each side).

The door 2 closing mechanism is shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 where it is designated by the general reference 10.

Referring to these figures, it can be seen that each of the hatches 2 is controlled by a rod 6 (the hatch 2a by the rod 6a and the hatch 2b by the rod 6b) each hatch 2 being mounted with free pivoting on an axis 11 ( 11a, 11b) horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wagon.

The rod 6a, pivotally connected to the hatch 2a, is provided, at its other end, with a curved piece 12a, in the form of a swan neck at the end of which is a roller 13a. In Figure 4, this roller 13a is housed in a notch 14a disposed at the end of a rotary lever 15a by a shaft 16 of which it is integral. The curved part 12a bypasses said shaft 16 by passing over it.

Similarly, the rod 6b, pivotally connected to the hatch 2b, is provided with a curved part 12b comprising a roller 13b, housed in a notch 14b, disposed at the end of a rotary lever 15b carried by said shaft 16 with which he is attached. The curved part 12b bypasses the shaft 16 from below.

The shaft 16 is integral with a crank 17 articulated by a pin 18 at the end of the rod 19 of a hydraulic cylinder 20.

The chassis of the wagon carries two parts 21a and 21b which are fixed; the part 21a having a groove 22a and the part 21b a groove 22b. In the example shown, the part 21a, located above the assembly formed by the shaft 16 and the two levers 15 (15a and 15b) is fixed below the inclined plane 5a of the speed bump 5, while the part 21b, located below said assembly 16-15, is carried by the chassis of the wagon (but this provision is in no way limiting).

The grooves 22 (22a and 22b) are open at one of their ends and have a configuration such that their opening intercepts the path of the rollers 13 (13a and 13b).

Each hatch 2 (2a, 2b) has at its base a latch 23 (23a, 23b) freely mounted to pivot on an axis 24 (24a, 24b). At the base of the opening closed by each hatch 2 is disposed an axis 25 (25a, 25b) carried by the structure of the wagon. On this axis 25 is pivotally mounted a lever 26 (26a, 26b) carrying a pusher 27 (27a, 27b), each lever 26 being coupled to a rod 28 (28a, 28b). The two rods 28 (28a, 28b) are articulated to a lever 29 rocking around a fixed axis 30, each at one end of said lever. This rocking lever 29 is coupled to the rod 31 of a hydraulic cylinder 32.

When the wagon is filled with material, the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 4, the hooks of the latches 23 being engaged on a strip 33 (33a, 33b) integral with the wagon.

When you want to empty the wagon, you first unlock the hatches 2. For this (Figure 5) at by means of the jack 32, the rocking lever 29 is tilted which simultaneously pushes the two rods 28, which makes the levers 26 pivot around the axes 25, which results in the pushers 27 pushing the ends of the latches 23 and releasing them strips 33: the hatches 2 are then unlocked but they cannot open. Indeed, under the effect of the weight of the material contained in the hopper 1, each hatch 2 exerts traction on its connecting rod 6; this traction acts by the effect of the roller 13 on the corresponding lever 15 and tends to rotate it in the direction indicated by the arrow "f". However, any rotation of the levers 15 in the direction "f" is impossible, the crank 17 being blocked because the rod 19 of the jack 20 is at the bottom of the travel. The hatches 2 are therefore in the self-supporting closed position because the position of the roller 13a is below the line joining on the one hand the coupling point of the connecting rod 6a to the hatch 2 and on the other hand the axis geometric of the tree 16; while the roller 13b is above the corresponding line of the hatch system 2b.

To open one and the other hatch, the shaft 16 must be rotated by means of the jack 20 and the crank 17 so that the two rollers 13 pass beyond the two neutral positions defined by the two lines above mentioned. As soon as these two points have passed, the weight of the material contained in the hopper 1 pushes on the doors 2 to open them and they take the maximum open position shown in FIG. 6. In this position, the rod 19 cylinder 20 is in the fully extended position; the levers 15 have pivoted in the opposite direction of the arrow "f", by about 110 °, until the notches 14 are opposite the openings in the grooves 22 and the rollers 13 have left said notches to go into said grooves 22 and this until it stops at the bottom of these grooves, thus limiting the opening movement of the doors 2.

When the hopper 1 is empty, the hatches 2 no longer undergo the thrust of the material and then come to hang in a practically vertical position below their axes 11, as shown in FIG. 7. The respective dimensions of the connecting rods 6, of the parts 12 and grooves 22, as well as the layout of said grooves 22 (which has a slight bend) are determined so that the rollers 13 are brought back into the notches 14 of the rotary levers 15.

It then suffices to actuate the jack 20 in the opposite direction so that its rod 19 makes the shaft pivot in the direction of the arrow "f", which brings the parts back to the closed, freestanding position, of FIG. 4.

By actuating the jack 32 in the opposite direction also, its rod 31 causes the lever 29 to tilt, which drives the levers 26, which erase the pushers 27, which allows the latches 23 to engage on the strips 33.

In the embodiment described above in relation to FIGS. 4 to 7, there is a device for the self-closing closure of the hatches 2 by means of the curved parts 12 and of the levers 15, this device being actuated by the jack 20 and an independent and completely locking device, actuated by the jack 32. But it is obvious that the first device being self-stable the second is not essential and is only provided as an auxiliary, to constitute additional security . The invention is therefore not limited to the simultaneous presence of the two devices, but mainly concerns the first.

The cylinders 20 and 32 can also be of any suitable type: mechanical, electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic. It is only as an example that in the description above, it is indicated that they are hydraulic cylinders.

These hydraulic cylinders can be supplied by any known means, but are preferably supplied by a particular hydraulic circuit illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10.

Referring to these figures, it can be seen that at least one of the wheels 3 of the wagon drives a hydraulic pump 43 which can, advantageously conform to the hydraulic pump described in French patent application 86.00480 filed on January 15, 1986 , said pump being used on all types of axles and not driving special axles.

The flow, supplied by this pump 43, passes through a pressure regulating device 34 and, via a pipe 35, connected to an accumulator 36 supplies two distributors 37 and 38, one (37) supplying the actuator 20 and the other ( 38) supplying the jack 32. The two jacks 20 and 32 are single-acting jacks comprising an accumulator 39. The two distributors 37 and 38 are connected by a pipe 40 to a reservoir 41 itself connected by a pipe 42 to the pump 43.

When the wagon is traveling on track 4, the pump 43 flows into the accumulator 36 through the pressure regulator 34.

To unload the wagon, we first act on the distributor 38 which feeds the jack 32 which switches the rocking lever 29; then we act on the distributor 37 which supplies the jack 20 which pivots the axis 16. When the wagon is empty, the hatches 2 being in the position illustrated in FIG. 7, we act on the distributor 37 to bring it back to its original position (figure 8). Hydraulic fluid being in the cylinder 20 is then driven by the accumulator 39 and returns to the tank 41 by the pipe 40; the hatches 2 are then closed. Then, one acts on the distributor 38 to return it to its original position (FIG. 8). The hydraulic fluid in the cylinder 32 is then discharged by the accumulator 39 of said cylinder and returns to the reservoir 41 through the pipe 40; the hatches 2 are then locked by the latches 23.

Some wagons are intended to travel only on private railways in the domain of a company (steelworks, factory or thermoelectric power station), while others are intended to travel on the public network and therefore over great distances. In the first case, the pressure regulator 34 (FIG. 9) simply comprises a non-return valve and a pressure relief valve; when the maximum pressure is reached, the pressure relief valve 44 opens and returns to the reservoir 41, via the pipe 40, the liquid delivered by the pump 43. The journeys made by the wagon being relatively short, the hydraulic liquid has no time to heat up excessively. In the second case (long journeys), it is necessary to have a contactor-circuit breaker (Figure 10) so that when the maximum pressure is reached, the pumped liquid is directly diverted to the return line 42 without undergoing any rolling, this bypass being cut off and the supply of the pipe 35 restored as soon as this pressure drops below a predetermined value. The contactor-circuit breaker being a hydraulic component known per se is not described in detail.

On the other hand, one can have on one or the other of the ends of the shaft 16 a square making it possible to place a removable crank to manually rotate the shaft 16 in the event of failure of the hydraulic circuit.

Claims (8)

1. Device for controlling the opening and closing of side doors of hopper wagons by a central control of the type in which said doors (2) are articulated by their upper side around a horizontal axis (11) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wagon and each controlled by a rod (6) connected at its end to a curved lever (12) in swan neck coupled to a rotary control member (15) so that said control lever (15) when '' it is rotated exerts on the rod a pulling or pushing movement pivoting the hatches, the rotary movement for closing extending beyond the closing dead center so that the position of the rods (6) is freestanding, characterized in that the coupling of the swan neck lever (12) to the rotary control member (15) is effected by means of a notch (14), located at the end of a rotary lever (15), into which engages a roller (13) located outside remitted from the gooseneck lever (12), the chassis of the wagon carrying a fixed part (21) comprising a groove (22) placed on the circular path traversed by the notch (14) during the closing movement so that said roller (13) leaves the notch (14) to engage in the groove (22), which allows the hatches (2) to freely struggle after opening. 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the opening of said groove (22) is located where the notch (14) is located at the end of the rotation of the lever (15), said groove (22) having a profile such that the roller (13) is brought back into said notch (14) when, the wagon being empty, the hatch (2) hangs freely in a substantially vertical position. 3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the shaft (16) of the lever (15) is integral with a crank (17) coupled to the rod (19) of a jack (20), this jack being mechanical, electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic. 4. Device according to claim 3, in which the shaft (16) comprises, in addition, at one of its ends a means making it possible to set up a crank operated manually to pivot the shaft (16) in the event failure of the automatic system acting on the crank (17) by the jack (20). 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the shaft (16) carries two levers (15a, 15b) acting on two rods (6a, 6b) for simultaneously controlling two hatches (2a, 2b), located symmetrically on each side of the wagon. 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each hatch (2) is provided at its base with an auxiliary locking mechanism in the closed position. 7. Device according to claim 6, wherein each hatch (2) is provided at its base with a latch (23) engaging by its own weight on a strip (33) and being released by a pusher (27) carried by a lever (26) actuated by a rod (28) itself controlled by means of a jack (32), this jack (32) being mechanical, electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic. 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the jacks (20 and 32) are single-acting hydraulic jacks each provided with an accumulator (29) for bringing back the rod (19, 31) of each jack in original position; said cylinders (20,32) being supplied with liquid under pressure by by means of an accumulator (36) pressurized by a hydraulic pump (43) actuated by the wheel (3) of the wagon.

Images