EP2524851A1 - Installation to change the wheel's spacing of a rail vehicle in motion - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a fixed station (F) for modifying wheel base of a bogie, where the fixed station includes a transition area (Z2) in which base of two running rails (80) varies in a symmetrical and regular manner with respect to a median axis of a path. Two electricity conductive rails (81) are arranged in parallel and between the two running rails along the length of the station. Two electricity conductive flanges are transversely spaced under each rail, where the flanges are electrically connected to a control case carried by the rail vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to an installation for modifying the wheel spacing of a moving railway vehicle bogie and having wheels with adjustable spacing between at least two values.

• le réseau standard International ayant un écartement de 1 435 mm,
• le réseau Russe ayant un écartement de 1 524 mm,
• le réseau Ibérique ayant un écartement de 1 668 mm.

The railway networks used worldwide for the rail traffic of railway vehicles carrying persons and / or goods fall into three broad categories distinguished by the value of the gauge of the track:

• the international standard network with a spacing of 1435 mm,
• the Russian network with a spacing of 1,524 mm,
• the Iberian network having a spacing of 1668 mm.

In order for a train of railway vehicles to pass from one network having a given spacing to another network having a different gauge, it is necessary to use special rolling stock. Failing this, two rail convoys capable of traveling on networks with different spacings must be mobilized and, in the transit zone between the networks, transferring persons and goods from the vehicles of one convoy to those of the other convoy. .

This takes time and is not conducive to reducing travel times between border countries.

To remedy this, the document CH517612 provides an installation in which each wheel of a bogie is slidably mounted on its shaft, in order to be able, in a spacer change installation, to be moved transversely by counter rails which, coming into contact with both sides of each wheel and at its base, are placed on the ground forming a converging or diverging V

This mode of displacement of the wheels on their axle generates significant friction which are sources of wear and jamming.

The document WO2006 / 027485 , in the name of the applicant, remedies this by mounting each wheel at the end of an arm, which is itself rotatably mounted and sliding on its axis, but whose translational movements on this axis are controlled by a axial pneumatic jack with double effect eliminating by its axial position the risk of jamming.

In the document WO2009 / 071768 , also in the name of the applicant, each railway vehicle bogie is equipped with wheels adjustable spacing between at least two positions. In one embodiment, each wheel is integral with two opposite shaft ends that can slide transversely in their bearings. Each shaft end cooperates, on the one hand, with locking means, unlockable, wedging it in each of its transverse positions and, on the other hand, with assistance means able to communicate to it a transverse translation movement. at least in one direction when changing gauge.

The object of the present invention is to supplement the equipment provided on the vehicles with the aim of modifying the wheel spacing to adapt it to that of a railway network by providing stationary means facilitating this adaptation.

It relates more particularly to a reception facility for rail vehicles in which each wheel is secured to two opposite ends of the shaft that can slide transversely in their bearings, each shaft end (10) cooperating, on the one hand, with means releasable locking the wedging in each of its transverse positions and, on the other hand and during the change of gauge, with assistance means able to communicate a transverse translational movement, these means being controlled by a control box carried by the vehicle.

1. A) à un poste fixe F de modification de l'écartement des roues,
   • une zone Z1 avec des rails de roulement ayant un écartement large L1,
   • une zone Z3 avec des rails de roulement ayant un écartement réduit L2,
   • et une zone de transition Z2 dans laquelle l'écartement des rails de roulement varie de manière symétrique et régulière par rapport à l'axe médian de la voie et entre la valeur maximale L1 de l'écartement de la zone large Z1 et la valeur L2 de la zone étroite Z3
   • et, au moins sur la longueur du poste F, deux rails conducteurs de l'électricité, disposés parallèlement et entre les deux rails de roulement; et
2. B) sous chaque véhicule ferroviaire, au moins deux patins conducteurs de l'électricité espacés transversalement et aptes à venir en contact avec les rails conducteurs, ces patins étant reliés électriquement au boitier de commande portés par le véhicule.

The installation according to the invention comprises:

1. A) at a fixed station F for changing the wheel spacing,
   • a zone Z1 with rolling rails having a wide spacing L1,
   • a zone Z3 with rolling rails having a reduced spacing L2,
   • and a transition zone Z2 in which the spacing of the running rails varies symmetrically and uniformly with respect to the median axis of the track and between the maximum value L1 of the spacing of the wide zone Z1 and the value L2. from the Z3 narrow zone
   • and, at least over the length of the station F, two electrically conductive rails, arranged parallel and between the two rails; and
2. B) under each rail vehicle, at least two electrically conductive pads spaced transversely and adapted to come into contact with the conductive rails, these pads being electrically connected to the control box carried by the vehicle.

Thanks to this arrangement, when the vehicle reaches the position of modification of the gauge of the tracks, its conductive pads come into contact with the conductor rails and allow the power supply of the means governing the unlocking of the locking means in translation of the ends of the tracks. shaft and pneumatic means for assisting the translation of the shafts in their bearings. The assistance with the transverse translation of the shafts and the wheels is only triggered when these wheels circulate on the section of lane modifying the spacing.

In one embodiment of the invention, at the spacing change station, the running rails are lined, internally and / or externally, by countersail adapted to come into contact with the wheel flange or each wheel to participate to the transverse translation of the wheel.

This arrangement ensures that the transverse displacement of each wheel is related to the variation of the spacing between the rails and eliminates any risk of derailment.

Advantageously, the conductor rails of the electricity are carried by insulators and so that their upper faces are at a vertical level greater than that of the upper faces of the rails for wheels.

With this precaution the pads do not risk, outside the zone of change of the gauge, to hit track equipment, such as pedals or "crocodiles".

In a preferred embodiment, the electrically conductive rails are electrically powered by a control cabinet under the control of means reacting or detecting the entry and exit of a railway vehicle into the modification station of the spacing.

Thus, it is only when a vehicle passes through the gauge change station that the current flows in the electrical rails, so that, regardless of the characteristics of the current, the personnel is protected.

In one embodiment, in each zone Z1 and Z2 having a constant track gauge, each of the running rails has local deformations, inwards and outwards, of the order of 3 to 5 millimeters with respect to the theoretical direction of the rail, apt, after unlocking the shafts, to move transversely the wheel flanges to take off these trees from their bearings.

These sinisoidal deformations of the rails exert on the wheel flanges transverse forces which communicate with the trees and thus eliminate any resistant force that can, by gumming effect, interfere with the adjustment translation.

• Figure 1 est une vue de coté en coupe partielle d'une forme d'exécution d'un boggie équipant un véhicule selon l'invention ;
• Figure 2 est une vue en plan par dessus du boggie de figure 1,
• Figure 3 est une vue en plan par-dessus d'une forme de réalisation du poste de modification de l'écartement ;
• Figure 4 est une vue partielle en coupe suivant IV-IV de figure 3, montrant à échelle agrandie les différents rails, contre rails et isolateurs ;
• Figure 5 est une vue partielle en coupe suivant V-V de figure 2 montrant à échelle agrandie les moyens pneumatiques associés aux bouts d'arbre d'une roue ;
• Figure 6 est une vue en coupe suivant VI-VI de figure 5 montrant une forme d'exécution des moyens de verrouillage d'un bout d'arbre.

Other features and advantages will emerge from the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing, in which:

• Figure 1 is a side view in partial section of an embodiment of a bogie fitted to a vehicle according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a plan view over the boggie of figure 1 ,
• Figure 3 is a plan view over an embodiment of the gauge change station;
• Figure 4 is a partial sectional view along IV-IV of figure 3 , showing on an enlarged scale the different rails, against rails and insulators;
• Figure 5 is a partial sectional view along VV of figure 2 showing on an enlarged scale the pneumatic means associated with the shaft ends of a wheel;
• Figure 6 is a sectional view along VI-VI of figure 5 showing an embodiment of the locking means of a shaft end.

The means described in the prior documents of the applicant and which are useful for the understanding of the invention by those skilled in the art, will first be described with reference to the Figures 1 to 2 and 5 to 6 .

In these figures, the reference V designates the chassis of the vehicle, C the chassis of the bogie and B1, B2 the chassis of two opposite bissels each carrying a train of coaxial wheels. The frame C of the bogie is a cage frame comprising two horizontal walls, respectively upper 2a and lower 2b, connected by uprights 3 and / or end walls 4. This frame is articulated around a vertical pivot 5 carried by the frame V of the vehicle.

Chassis B1 and B2 of the two bissels are articulated on the bogie by hinges 18, whose vertical axis Z intersects the horizontal geometric axis G1 or G2 of the corresponding set of wheels. The frame of each bissel is extended opposite its wheelset and towards the other bissel by a head 6a, 6b, arranged around the vertical pivot 5 and having a pivoting control joint of the bissel, generally designated by A.

As shown in figure 2 , the head 6a or 6b has a generally triangular shape and is integral with two lateral forks whose arms 8 are spaced by an interval E accommodating a wheel 9. This ci is wedged on two shaft ends 10 and is independent in rotation of the other wheel of the same wheel train. The two shaft ends are rotatably mounted in axle boxes 11, carried by the arms. Each chassis B1 or B2 thus comprises two coaxial wheels 9 forming a train, front or rear, since the bogie carries two bissels. The chassis B1 and B2 have bearing surfaces 12 for the suspension springs 13, bearing on the upper wall 2a of the frame C of the bogie.

Each of the wheels 9 is displaceable in translation in the interval E whose value is equal to the functional clearance, to the thickness of the wheel 9 plus half the difference L1 - L2 between the spacings of the channels on which the vehicle may be driven. Thus, for European vehicles driven on lanes at the standard gauge of 1.435 meters and on tracks with a Spanish spacing of 1.668 meters, the transverse travel of each wheel is 116.5 millimeters. It is 217.5 millimeters to go from the standard gauge to the metric gauge, for example to switch from a train track to a track for tram, or vice versa.

This arrangement implements complementary means assisting the displacement of each wheel 9 in its bissel and locking means in each of the positions of each wheel.

In the form of execution shown in Figures 5 and 6 each axle box 11 extends between the two walls of the arm 8 and has a stepped bore 61 in which is wedged a bearing 62, needle or roller. Each shaft end 10 is mounted freely in rotation and in translation in this bearing 62 and is connected to an extension 10b, with the interposition of a thrust ball bearing 63 preventing the rotational movement of the shaft 10 is transmitted to the extension 10b.

This extension 10b comprises, in the axle box 11, two grooves 64, spaced apart and each capable of cooperating with a radial locking lock 65. The body 66 of the lock is carried by the axle box 11 and contains a pneumatic piston 66b with a single effect, giving priority to the return action of the spring 66a to maintain the lock 65 in the locked position and using the pneumatic flow only to ensure the unlocking before and during the adjustment phase of the spacing.

• l'alimentation pneumatique des corps 66 pour assurer le déplacement des verrous 65 dans le sens de leur deverrouillage,
• l'alimentation des chambres 68, ayant le plus petit volume et la mise à l'atmosphère des chambres disposées de l'autre coté de chaque roue, pour assister le déplacement transversal des arbres 10 et des roues 9,
• et, en fin de mouvement, la mise à l'atmosphère des moyens de commande 66, pour rendre prépondérants les ressorts 66a et assurer, par le verrou 65 correspondant, le verrouillage de la roue 9 dans sa nouvelle position transversale.

Beyond the grooves 64, each extension 10b is shaped as a pneumatic piston 67 adapted to be moved in a sealed chamber 68. The latter is connected by a channel 70 and conduits 71 to a control box not shown. Its function is to govern successively:

• the pneumatic supply of the bodies 66 to ensure the displacement of the locks 65 in the direction of their unlocking,
• feeding the chambers 68, having the smallest volume and venting chambers disposed on the other side of each wheel, to assist the transverse displacement of the shafts 10 and the wheels 9,
• and, at the end of the movement, venting the control means 66, to make the springs 66a predominant and ensure, by the corresponding lock 65, the locking of the wheel 9 in its new transverse position.

The installation according to the invention comprises means F installed at a fixed position and means M carried by each of the railway vehicles.

• une zone Z1 avec des rails de roulement 80 ayant un écartement large L1, et s'étendant avec un écart constant sur un longueur S1 ;
• une zone Z3 avec les mêmes rails 80, mais ceux-ci ayant un écartement constant réduit L2 et s'étendant sur une longueur S3 ;
• et une zone de transition Z2 de longueur S2 et dans laquelle l'écartement entre les deux rails 80 varie de manière symétrique et régulière par rapport à l'axe médian de la voie et entre la valeur maximale L1 de l'écartement de la zone large Z1 et la valeur L2 de la zone Z3, correspondants aux deux écartements de voies ;
• et, au moins sur la longueur du poste F, deux rails 81 conducteurs de l'électricité, disposés parallèlement et entre les deux rails de roulement.

The figure 3 shows that the means forming part of a fixed station F for modifying the wheel spacing, comprise:

• a zone Z1 with rolling rails 80 having a wide spacing L1, and extending with a constant distance over a length S1;
• a zone Z3 with the same rails 80, but these having a reduced constant spacing L2 and extending over a length S3;
• and a transition zone Z2 of length S2 and in which the spacing between the two rails 80 varies symmetrically and uniform to the center line of the track and between the maximum value L1 of the wide zone spacing Z1 and the value L2 of the zone Z3 corresponding to the two track gauges;
• and, at least along the length of the station F, two electrically conductive rails 81 arranged in parallel and between the two rails.

The conductive rails 81 are carried by insulators 82 and so that their upper face is at a distance H1 from the ground having a value greater than the distance H2 between the ground and the top of the rails 80. They are electrically connected by conductors 83 to a stationary supply station 84. The latter is connected by electrical circuits 85a and 85b to signaling lights 86 and passing detectors 87.

In the transition zone Z2 and as shown in the embodiment of the figure 4 , the rails 80 are lined internally by counter rails 88 adapted to come into contact with the coil 9a of the wheels 9 to guide their transverse translation in the direction of the spacing. This zone Z2 can also be bordered externally by counter-rails able to come into contact with the wheel to assist in its translation to the interior of the track.

In another embodiment more particularly trams, the guiding of the wheels is provided by the heel or by the edges of the groove of the rails constituting the track.

Advantageously, in the transition zone Z2, the rails 80, against rails 88 and wheels 9 are lubricated at least in their contacting parts to reduce metal-to-metal friction, generating heating, wear and noise. This lubrication can be performed manually or automatically, for example by spraying means not shown.

The means M carried by each vehicle comprise at least two pads 90 electrically conductive and, in this case, two metal brushes, spaced transversely and adapted to come into contact with the conductive rails 81. Each pad 90 is worn under the vehicle by insulating means and is electrically connected by conductors 91 to the control box disposed in the vehicle and governing the operation of the pneumatic means 65-66 for locking the wheel shafts and those 67-68 for assisting the translation of the shafts of a wheel train.

Thanks to the height H1 of the conductive rails 81, the pads 90 are at a level that allows them to meet the switches, such as pedals, switches, crocodiles or the like.

When a vehicle convoy arrives close to a wheel changing station F, its traction machine is detached from the convoy, oriented on a siding and replaced by a pushing machine. It is because there is no machine to this day equipped with variable gauge wheels that this preparatory phase is indispensable.

During the operation of changing the spacing of the wheels, the convoy is moved at low speed on the installation F, for example at a speed between 5 and 10 km / h, towards the Z1 or Z3 zone.

As soon as the first vehicle is detected by a sensor 87 the control station 84 electrically feeds the conductive rails 81 and allows the pads 90 to supply the electropneumatic control means. The locking means 65-66 are first brought pneumatically in the release position of the shafts 10, then it is the means 67-68 for assistance with the translation which are pneumatically supplied.

The choice between the pneumatic assistance means which are arranged inside the bogie and those which are arranged outside, is made according to the direction of movement of the railway vehicle on the zone Z2, therefore between reduction or increase of the gap, and can therefore be automatically achieved by the control station. In one embodiment, the transverse position of each wheel 9 and that of each lock 65-66 are detected by electrical contacts carried by the vehicle and reacting on the electropneumatic control means and on visual or audible control means of these positions. .

When a vehicle is moved on the transition zone Z2, the flanges of its wheels 9 come into contact either with the fungi of these rails, or with the edge of the rails 88 and are subjected to transverse forces which, with the using pneumatic assistance means 67-68, cause the transverse displacements of these wheels, between their original position and their position corresponding to another gauge of track.

When the vehicle leaves the station F for changing the wheel spacing, with all the wheels of its bogies at the new spacing, the pads 90 lose contact with the rails 81 electrically powered, so that the electropneumatic control box of the vehicle is more fueled. As a result, the various pneumatic means are connected to the atmosphere and that, in the locking means 65-66, the springs 66a become predominant and return the locks 65 to the locking position, ensuring the locking of each wheel 9 in his new position. It should be noted that the shaft 10 of each wheel is locked in translation by an inner lock and an outer lock, which guarantees its stalling in translation.

At the exit of the station F, the convoy is again coupled to a driving machine whose wheel spacing corresponds to the new wheel spacing of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, in each zone Z1 and Z3 having a constant track gauge, each of the rails 80 has local deformations, inwardly and outwardly, of the order of 3 to 5 millimeters for a length of several meters, relative to the theoretical direction of the rail, giving it locally and in view over a sinusoidal shape.

This arrangement, which is performed on the rails in an area thereof after the area in which the locks 65 are unlocked, uses the contact of the strands against the rails to generate alternating transverse forces degumming the shafts of their bearing and making easier subsequent translation changing the value of the wheel spacing.

Again, the rails 80 may be associated with localized lubrication means, manual or automatic, reducing friction, wear and noise.

The wheel gap adjuster which has been described in an application with two spacings, can also work with other spacings having intermediate values. Thus, for a vehicle whose wheels may have the minimum spacing, the standard one of 1.435 meters and the maximum spacing, the Spanish one of 1.668 meters, to obtain a wedging of the wheels for an intermediate spacing, corresponding for example to that of Russian tracks, having a value of 1.524 meter, it suffices, on each extension 10b, to add an additional groove between the grooves 64.

It follows from the foregoing that the installation according to the invention harmoniously complements the vehicles equipped with means for modifying the wheel spacing described in the state of the art and makes it possible, by simple means, inexpensive and operating fast, safe and reliable, to solve the problem of the change of gauge of the wheels to adapt it to the gauge of ways encountered. The installation uses an electric power source only during the passage of vehicles and uses the compressed air available in all railway vehicles to temporarily actuate pneumatic means, while using the mechanical force of springs to ensure the safety functions , such as locking the wheel shafts.

Claims (7)

Installation for modifying the wheel spacing of a moving railway vehicle bogie V having wheels (9) with adjustable spacing between at least two positions and wherein each wheel (9) is integral with two opposing shaft ends ( 10) being able to slide transversely in their bearings (11), each shaft end (10) cooperating, on the one hand, with locking means (65, 66) unlocking the wedging in each of its transverse positions and, d ' on the other hand and during the change of gauge, with assistance means (67) capable of communicating a transverse translational movement, these means being controlled by a control box carried by the vehicle V, characterized in that it includes: A) at a fixed station F for changing the wheel spacing (9), A zone Z1 with rolling rails (80) having a constant wide spacing L1, A zone Z3 with rolling rails (80) having a constant reduced spacing L2, And a transition zone Z2 in which the spacing of the running rails (80) varies symmetrically and uniformly with respect to the median axis of the track and between the maximum value L1 of the spacing of the wide zone Z1 and the value L2 of the narrow zone Z3 And, at least along the length of the station F, two electrically conductive rails (81) arranged in parallel and between the two rails (80); and B) under each railway vehicle V, at least two pads (90), electrically conductive, spaced transversely and adapted to come into contact with the conductive rails (81), these pads being electrically connected to the control box carried by the vehicle. Installation for modifying the wheel spacing of a railway vehicle bogie according to claim 1, characterized in that , at the spacing modification station, the running rails (80) are lined, internally and / or externally, by against rails (88) adapted to come into contact with the coil (9a) of the wheels (9) or the wheel to guide their transverse translation. Installation for modifying the wheel spacing of a railway vehicle bogie according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically conducting rails (81) are carried by insulators (82) and so that their upper face is a distance from the ground (H1) greater than that (H2) of the upper face of the running rails (80). Installation for modifying the wheel spacing of a railway vehicle bogie according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically conducting rails (81) are electrically powered by a control cabinet (84) and under the control of means (87) reacting or detecting the entry and exit of a railway vehicle V at the wheel changing station F. Installation for modifying the wheel spacing of a railway vehicle bogie according to Claim 1, characterized in that , in each of the zones Z1 and Z3 having a constant track gauge, each of the running rails (80) comprises transverse deformations. , inwardly and outwardly, giving each rail (80) a suitable sinusoidal profile, after unlocking the shafts (10), to move transversely the wheel flanges (9a) to take off these shafts from their bearings (11). ). Installation for modifying the wheel spacing of a railway vehicle bogie according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises, in the transition zone Z2, means ensuring the lubrication of the rails 80, counter rails 88 and wheels 9 in their parts coming into contact with each other. Installation for modifying the wheel spacing of a railway vehicle bogie according to claim 1 characterized in that each rail vehicle V has in each of its bogies B1 or B2 electrical contacts which, detecting the transverse position of each of the wheels (9 ) of its wheels and the position of its locking means (65-66), are electrically connected to the electropneumatic control unit which is supplied by the pads (90).

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