EP0250332B1 - Device for opening, closing and locking hopper doors of railway carriages - Google Patents

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 hang the pendulum freely after the emptied wagon.

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 the closing dead center 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 subject of the present invention is a device such that, after opening, there is, automatically, a separation of the rotary control member and of the rods controlling 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 swan neck lever coupled to a rotary control member so that said rotary control member when it is rotated exerts on the rod a jitter movement - lion or thrust pivoting the hatches, the rotational 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 lever at the neck of swan to the rotary control member is made via a notch, located at the end of a lever of said rotary control member, in which vi ent engage a roller located at the end of the swan neck lever, the chassis of the wagon carrying a fixed part having 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 struggle freely after opening.

• - l'organe rotatif de commande est commandé hy- drauliquement,
• - l'organe rotatif de commande comporte deux bras symétriques pour commander simultanément deux portes situées symétriquement de chaque côté du dos d'âne,
• - chaque porte est munie à sa base d'un mécanisme de verrouillage auxiliaire en position fermée.

The device according to the invention preferably includes the following arrangements:

• - the rotary control member is hydraulically controlled,
• the rotary control member 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 figure 1 à 3 illustrant un mécanisme double commandant deux trappes symétriques, celles-ci étant représentées 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 trémie;
• 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.
• La figure 1 représente un wagon-trémie à déchargement bi-latéral de type connu comportant une trémie 1 munie à la base de ses deux côtés latéraux de trappes 2; le wagon circulant au moyen de roues 3 sur une voie ferrée 4.

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 hatch opening and closing mechanisms, 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 doors, 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, 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 Figure 2, the wagon has two pairs of rods 6, 7, each pair, located at one end of the wagon, simultaneously opening four doors 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 ( 11 a, 11 b) 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 lever 15a of the rotary control member 15 carried 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 lever 15b of the member of control 15 carried by said shaft 16 of which it is integral. 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 21 a and 21 b which are fixed; the part 21 a having a groove 22a and the part 21 b a groove 22b. In the example shown the part 21a, located above the assembly formed by the shaft 16 and the two levers 15a and 15b of the rotary control member 15 is fixed below the inclined plane 5a of the back of donkey 5, while the part 21 b, 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 we want to empty the wagon, we first unlock the hatches 2. For this (Figure 5) by means of the jack 32, the rocking lever 29 is tilted which pushes the two rods 28 simultaneously, which makes pivot the levers 26 around the axes 25, which has the result that the pushers 27 push the ends of the latches 23 and release them from the strips 33: the hatches 2 are then unlocked but they cannot be opened. 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 of the rotary control member 15 and tends to make it rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow "f". However, any rotation of the levers (15a, 15b) in the "f" direction 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 15a and 15b have pivoted in the opposite direction to the arrow "f", by approximately 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 levers of the rotary control member 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 of the rotary control member 15, this device being actuated by the jack 20 and an independent and complementary locking device, actuated by the jack 32. But it is quite obvious that the first device being self-stable the second is not essential and is only provided for. as an auxiliary, to provide 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 by way of example that in the above description, it is indicated that these 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 be in accordance with the hydraulic pump described in French patent application 8 600 480 filed on 15 January 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). The hydraulic fluid in the cylinder 20 is then discharged by the accumulator 39 and returns to the reservoir 41 through 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 tank 41, via the line 40, the liquid delivered by the pump 43. The journeys made by the wagon being relatively short, the hydraulic fluid does not have 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. A control device for opening and closing discharge panels or hatches arranged in the sidewalls of hopper-type railcars, by means of a central control unit of the type wherein said hatches (2) are swivelled from their topmost side about a horizontal axis (11) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the railcar, each hatch being controlled by means of a rod (6), one end of which is connected to a curvilinear lever (12) having the shape of a swan neck coupled to a rotary control member (15) so that when said rotary control member (15) is rotatably driven, it will exert on the rod (6) a pulling action or a pushing action causing the hatches to swivel, the rotary motion for closing the hatches continuing beyond the closing dead center position, so that the position of the rods (6) is self-stabilizing, characterized in that the coupling of the swan neck shaped lever (12) with the rotary control member (15) takes place through the intermediary of a notch (14) formed on the end of a lever forming part of said rotary control member (15), said notch (14) being engaged by a roller (13) located on the end of the swan neck shaped lever (12) while the railcar frame carries a fixed part (21) having a groove (22) located in the circular path described by the notch (14) during the closing motion, so that said roller (13) will move out of the notch (14) for engaging. the groove (22), thereby allowing the hatches (2) to hang freely after having been opened.

2. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the aperture of said groove (22) is located in the location where the notch (14) will find itself upon completion of the rotation of the lever of the rotary control member (15), said groove (22) having a profile such that the roller (13) will be driven back into said notch (14) when, upon the railcar being emptied, the hatch (2) hangs freely in a substantially vertical position.

3. A control device according to claim 2, wherein the shaft (16) of the rotary control member (15) is bound up with a crank arm (17) coupled to the rod (19) of a jack (20) which may be mechanical, electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic.

4. A control device according to claim 3, wherein the shaft (16) is additionally provided on one of its ends with means for adapting a manually actuated crank for rotating the shaft (16) in the event of a failure of the automatic system provided for actuating the crank arm (17) by means of the jack (20).

5. A control device according to any of the above claims, wherein the shaft (16) carries a rotary control member (15) which presents two levers (15a, 15b) respectively actuating two rods (6a, 6b) for simultaneously controlling two hatches (2a, 2b) arranged symmetrically on either side of the railcar.

6. A control device according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that each hatch (2) is provided at its base with an auxiliary locking mechanism for locking it in its closed position.

7. A control device according to claim 6, wherein each hatch (2) is provided on its base with a latch (23) which will be caused, by its own weight, to engage a retaining strip (33) and may be released by a pusher (27) carried on a lever (26) actuated by a rod (28), said rod (28) being actuated through a jack (32) which may be mechanical, electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic.

8. A control device according to any of the above claims, wherein the jacks (20 and 32) are single-effect hydraulic cylinders, each cylinder being provided with an accumulator (29) for returning the piston rod (19,31) of each cylinder into its initial position, said cylinders being supplied with pressurized liquid through an accumulator (36) pressurized by an hydraulic pump (43) driven by a wheel (3) of the railcar.

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