EP0929479A1

EP0929479A1 - Container for the combined rail-and-road transport of goods, with retractable props

Info

Publication number: EP0929479A1
Application number: EP97943944A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Henri Vallade
Original assignee: Imcg Sarl
Current assignee: Imcg Sarl
Priority date: 1996-10-07
Filing date: 1997-10-06
Publication date: 1999-07-21
Also published as: AU4560397A; FR2754223B1; FR2754223A1; WO1998015475A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a container for the combined rail-and-road transport of goods, comprising a substructure (2) provided with props (4) retractable between a position of rest of the container on the ground, characterised in that the means for tippling/tilting the props (4) comprise a telescopic strut (6) arranged in a longitudinal plane P parallel to the general orientation of the container, said strut (6) being articulated at its respective ends on the prop (4) and on a rigid supporting structure (10), which can be laterally unfolded simultaneously with the lateral unfolding of the prop (4), such that when the container is in a position of rest, the space E between the substructure (2) and the props (4) is completely empty of elements likely to obstruct the passage of the vehicle flat semitrailer under the container, and the lateral space requirement L of the container only differs from this space by the transversal thickness e of the props (4).

Description

"CONTAINER FOR THE COMBINED" RAIL-ROAD "TRANSPORT OF GOODS, WITH RETRACTABLE STANDS."

The invention is in the field of transport, and it relates to a container for the combined transport "rail-road" of goods.

The evolution of techniques tends to develop a mode of transport of goods, called "rail-road" combined transport, which consists of transporting goods alternately by road vehicle and by rail vehicle. To allow quick and easy transshipment of goods from one vehicle to another, they are loaded into a container intended to rest alternately on the bed of a semi-trailer and on the bed of a wagon.

A problem to be solved lies in the transshipment of the container. Among the solutions proposed, one is known which consists in providing the container with deployable crutches laterally, so that the container can rest on the ground, leaving a space under its base sufficient to allow easy passage of the vehicle platform. When the latter is placed under the container, the crutches are laterally retracted to limit the transverse size of the container. Note also that the crutches are also telescopic to allow the passage of the vehicle tray, then the deposition or lifting of the container. We can for example refer to the patent publications FR 2464206 (SAPAM) and FR 2483874 (DRUFIN) which describe containers of the kind.

A disadvantage of this kind of container lies in the fact that the crutches are not fully retracted in the retracted position. A solution has been proposed by patent FR 2677623 (BULLE), which consists in not only deploying / retracting the crutches laterally, but also in tilting / folding them at the level of the base, in the manner of the containers with folding crutches, for example described by patents EP 0706912 (ACKERMANN-FRUEHAUF) and EP 0443456 (SCHULZ). The disadvantage of such a container comes from the necessary bracing of the crutches by means of a support leg. According to FR 2677623 (BULLE), the legs are articulated in a ball joint at their respective ends on the base of the container and on their relative leg, so that the legs can tilt in a plane transverse to the container during the lateral deployment of the crutches.

It follows from these provisions that in the deployed position of the crutches, the space between the base and the crutches is congested by the presence of the legs. This size induces the loss of interest in a lateral deployment of the crutches due to the discomfort caused by the legs for the passage of the vehicle platform, otherwise to considerably increase said lateral deployment to the detriment of the overall dimensions of the container. in the transverse direction, which is not really possible, in particular because of the limited spacing between the railway tracks. The general object of the invention is to provide a container for the combined "rail-road" transport of goods, the structure of which allows both lateral deployment of the crutches with a minimum transverse size of the container, to allow easy passage of the tray of a road or rail vehicle, and a storage of crutches at the base of the container when the latter is loaded on said tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of the aforementioned type, the structure of which allows automated operation of the means of mobility of the crutches and the locking of the container on the platform of the vehicle, such a container having to offer all the guarantees of security. .

The inventive step consisted in proposing a container of the kind referred to above, the structure of which is such that in the rest position of the container on the ground, the space between the base and the crutches is completely empty of elements liable to hinder the passage of the platform of a vehicle under the container, and that the lateral dimensions of the container differ from this space only in the transverse thickness of the crutches. In other words, the difference between the lateral overall of the container and the space available under the base is minimal, whereby the overall bulk of the container in the transverse direction is minimal. Thus, according to the invention, a container for the combined "rail-road" transport of goods is of the type of container intended to rest alternately on the platform of a road vehicle and / or on the platform of a rail vehicle. This container comprises a base equipped with retractable crutches between a rest position of the container on the ground, in which the crutches are deployed laterally and tilted towards the ground, and a container transport position, in which the crutches are retracted and folded down longitudinally at the level of the base. The container of the invention is mainly characterized in that, for each of the crutches, the means for tilting / folding thereof comprises a telescopic leg arranged in a longitudinal plane parallel to the general orientation of the container, said leg being articulated at its respective ends on the stand and on a rigid support structure, which can be deployed laterally concomitantly with the lateral deployment of the stand, thanks to which the bracing offered by the leg is not troublesome for the passage of the platform of the vehicle , and the overall size of the container in the rest position on the ground differs from the space available under the container, between the crutches, only in the thickness of the latter in the transverse direction.

It will be noted that according to a simple embodiment, the telescopic leg may itself be constituted by an operating member with mechanical or hydraulic control of its extension, but that according to a form preferred embodiment, the leg is maneuverable by a telescopic arm, advantageously constituted by a jack, said first, which bears in an articulated manner both on the stand and on the telescopic leg, the retracted position of the arm and of the corresponding leg in the rest position of the container in which the crutches are deployed. In the deployed position, the crutches are longitudinally oriented towards the ends of the container, so that in the container rest position, the crutches on the same side define a naturally undeformable parallelogram, due to the weight of the container which exerts vertical pressure and thanks to the passive resistance of the leg and arm.

It results from these so-called natural and passive resistances against the spontaneous retraction of the crutches, a safety and a reliability of the container for its stability, and a faculty of this one to support important frontal pushes during its loading, especially in logs. It will be noted that these provisions make it possible to compensate for the loss of bracing of the crutches in the transverse direction, loss of bracing resulting from the fact that we wanted to leave available the space between the crutches for the passage of the platform of the vehicle.

Said rigid structure is for example constituted by a plate with a substantially longitudinal extension. This plate is supported at its respective ends by the lateral deployment means (second cylinder, rotating ring, stops) of the stand and by a telescopic transverse support member supported by the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the container being preferably equipped with telescopic crutches, each of the crutches is equipped with hydraulic power members for respectively their lateral deployment / retraction (second cylinder), their deployment telescopic retraction / retraction (third cylinder), and their tilting / folding (first cylinder). Said hydraulic power units are supplied from a self-contained hydraulic power plant specific to the container. Furthermore, the crutches are equipped with stop means (retaining finger and housing) against their natural fall in the retracted and folded position, so that they are spontaneously maintained in the transport position without intervention of said organs hydraulic power, otherwise the crutches could be spontaneously deployed / tilted in the event of a malfunction of the hydraulic members, which ultimately results in safety against an unexpected tilting of the crutches during transport of the container. Preferably, each of the crutches further constitutes a member for operating a member (rod) for securing the container to the platform of the vehicle. This securing member is provided with spontaneous holding means (spring) in the position for dissolving the container and the vehicle platform, so that the lateral deployment of the crutches spontaneously induces the separation of the container and the vehicle platform, and conversely, the retraction of the crutches spontaneously induces their joining together. It will be noted that thanks to the structure, first of all means of mobility and support for the crutches, and more particularly the arrangement between them of the means (legs and telescopic arms) of tilting / folding of the crutches, both in the retracted position of the underbody in the deployed position, and secondly of the means of attachment (rod, spring and strike) of the container to the vehicle platform, the container can be loaded and unloaded safely by autonomous hydraulic power means from the simple command by a loading / unloading operator, and that said power means are only active during said loading / unloading operations, and are passive, that is to say free from any constraint, when the container rests both on its crutches and on the vehicle platform.

The present invention will be better understood, and details will become apparent from the description which will be made of a preferred embodiment, in connection with the figures of the appended plates, in which: fig.l is a view in perspective of the base of a container of the invention in the rest position on the ground, fig.2 is a side view of the same container in the same position, fig.3 to 6 are partial perspective views of the base of the same container, successively illustrating the deployment of a crutch, FIGS. 7 to 9 are partial side views of the same base, successively illustrating the retraction of a crutch, FIG. 10 is a view partial top view of the same base representing a crutch in the retracted position, fig.ll is a partial view in longitudinal section of the same base illustrating the articulation of a crutch thereon, fig. 12 and 13 are party views they in perspective of the same base, which illustrate the means of securing the container on the platform of a vehicle, respectively in the uncoupling and securing position.

In the figures, the base 2 of a "rail-road" container is equipped with crutches, such as 4, deployable / retractable laterally and tiltable / foldable at the level of the base. The crutches 4 and their means of mobility 6,8,10 in tilting / folding down are arranged, both in the container rest position on the ground and in the container transport position, in planes O 98/15475

7 longitudinal P parallel to the general orientation of the container.

It will thus be noted in FIG. 1 that the space E comprised between the base 2 and the crutches 4 is completely empty of elements liable to hinder the passage of the carrier plate of a vehicle, and that the lateral dimensions L of the container differs from this space E only in the transverse thickness e of the crutches 4.

Each stand 4 is equipped with a telescopic support leg 6 in the rest position of the container on the ground, and for maneuvering their tilting / folding. This leg 6 is articulated at its respective ends on the stand 4 and on a rigid plate 10 with longitudinal extension which can be deployed laterally concomitantly with the lateral deployment of the stand 4.

The telescopic leg 6 is maneuverable by means of a hydraulic jack 8, called the first one, which is supported on the stand 4 and on the telescopic leg 6, the retracted rod rod and retracted positions of the leg corresponding to the tilted position ( fig.5,6,7) of the crutch 4, so that the leg 6 and the jack 8 offer passive resistance to the forces exerted on the crutch 4. It will be more particularly noted in fig.2 that the crutches 4 on the same side are longitudinally oriented towards the ends of the container, so as to define a parallelogram R which is naturally non-deformable under the weight of the container.

Referring more particularly to fig.ll, it can be seen that according to the embodiment of the container of the invention illustrated in the figures, the stand 4 is secured to a tube 14 mounted to rotate and guided in translation on the base 2 of the container, the lateral deployment / retraction of the stand 4 results from a translational maneuver of the tube 14 by means of a second jack 16. Referring to FIGS. 3 to 8, the tilting / folding of the stand 4 results of a pivoting operation of the tube 14 thanks to the deployment of the telescopic leg 6 by means of the first jack 8. It will also be noted that the stand 4 is itself telescopic and can be deployed / retracted by means of a third jack which it houses (not shown in the figures). The plate 10 is supported at its respective ends by a telescopic transverse support member 18 supported by the base on the one hand, and by the tube 14 on which the plate 10 is pivotally articulated by means of a ring 12 ( fig.12) to which it is integral and which is threaded at the end of the tube 14 on the other hand, to allow rotation of the tube 14 for the tilting / folding of the stand 4 without inducing a pivoting of the plate 10 .

The push / pull of the second cylinder 16 is exerted on the ring 12 for the deployment of the stand 4 and the translational movement of the plate 10. The ring 12 is subject in translation to the stand 4 by means of a fixed stop 20 on the outside face of the stand 4. Referring more particularly to FIGS. 12 and 13, each of the stands also constitutes an operating member for a rod 22 for securing the container to the platform of the vehicle. This rod 22 is spontaneously held in the disengaging position (FIG. 12) by means of a return spring 24 bearing on the base 2 and on a shoulder 26 of the rod 22. During the lateral retraction of the crutches 4, the rods 22 are pushed to be introduced into a keeper 28 formed on the platform of the vehicle (dotted in the figures).

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3 to 6, it will be noted the presence of a finger 30 formed on the tube 14 of each of the crutches 4. This finger 30 is designed to be introduced into a housing 32 formed on the base 2, to prohibit the pivoting of the tube 14 in the retracted / folded position of the stand 4 under the effect of the weight of the latter, and thus constitute a member of O 98/15475

9 spontaneous retention of the stand 4 in the transport position of the retracted / folded container, to allow the stand 4 to be kept in said position, without however keeping the first jack 8 under pressure.

It will be understood that although a preferred form of the invention has been described and represented, it should be understood that the scope of the latter is not limited to this form, but that it extends to any container comprising the characteristics set out above.

Claims

1.- Container for combined "rail-road" transport of goods, of the type of container intended to rest alternately on the platform of a road vehicle and / or on the platform of a rail vehicle, said container comprising a base (2) equipped with crutches (4) retractable between a rest position of the container on the ground, in which the crutches (4) are deployed laterally and tilted towards the ground (fig. 1,2,5,6,7 ), and a container transport position (fig. 3, 9, 10, 12), in which the stands (4) are retracted and folded longitudinally at the level of the base (2), characterized: in that, for each of the crutches

(4), the tilting / folding means of the latter comprise a telescopic leg (6) disposed in a longitudinal plane £ parallel to the general orientation of the container, said leg (6) being articulated at its respective ends on the stand (4) and on a rigid support structure (10), which can be deployed laterally concomitantly with the lateral deployment of the stand (4), so that in the container rest position, the space E included between the base (2) and the crutches (4) is completely empty of elements liable to hinder the passage of the platform of a vehicle under the container, and that the lateral size L of the container differs from this space only by l 'transverse thickness e of the crutches (4);

2.- container according to claim 1, characterized: in that the leg (6) is maneuverable by a telescopic arm (8) which bears in an articulated manner both on the stand (4) on the one hand and on the telescopic leg (6) on the other hand, the retracted position of the arm (8) and the leg (6) O 98/15475

11 corresponding to the rest position of the container in which the crutches (4) are deployed, and in that in the deployed position, the crutches (4) are longitudinally oriented towards the ends of the container, so that in the position of rest of the container, the crutches (4) on the same side define a naturally undeformable parallelogram R, by the weight of the container which exerts vertical pressure and thanks to the passive resistance of the leg (6) and the arm ( 8);

3.- container according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized: in that said rigid structure is constituted by a plate (10) with substantially longitudinal extension, supported at its respective ends by the means (14) of deployment side of the stand (4) and by a transverse telescopic support member (18) supported by the base (2);

4.- container according to claim 1, characterized: in that each of the crutches (4) further constitutes an operating member of a member (22) for securing the container to the vehicle platform, said member (22) being provided with spontaneous holding means (24) in the position for detaching the container and the platform from the vehicle, so that the lateral deployment of the crutches (4) spontaneously induces the separation from the container and the platform from the vehicle, and conversely the retraction of the crutches (4) spontaneously induces their joining together; O 98/15475

5. Container according to claim 2, the crutches being telescopic, characterized: in that each of the crutches (4) is equipped with hydraulic power members for respectively:

- their lateral deployment / retraction (16),

- their telescopic deployment / retraction, and

- their tilting / folding (8), and in that the said hydraulic power members are supplied from an autonomous hydraulic power station specific to the container;

6.- container according to claim 5, characterized: in that the crutches (4) are equipped with stop means (30,32) against their natural fall in the retracted and folded position, so that they are spontaneously held in the transport position without the intervention of said hydraulic power members (8).