GB2061191A - Train ferry - Google Patents

Abstract

A ferry (2) has a switching platform (7) which is pivotally mounted for rotation so that overlapping track portions at one end (8) can be selectively aligned with the loading tracks (5) and which diverge to spaced apart portions at the other end (10) which remain continuously aligned with the wagon accommodating tracks (11). The platform (7) can also be provided with elevator means. Another arrangement is described and claimed in which an elevator platform is provided with switching points. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Train ferry The present invention relates to ferry vessels suitable for carrying railway wagons.

Known such vessels have a loading track connected by conventional track switching points to a plurality of initially diverging tracks which then extend side-by-side for accommodating a plurality of railway wagons.

A disadvantage in the use of such points is that their construction involves the use of relatively complex mechanical linkages which are susceptible to failure and usually required manual operation at or close to the site of their location.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a train ferry with an improved track switching means, which advantageously is particularly suited for use with inter-deck elevator means in a train ferry.

The present invention provides a train ferry vessel having at least one deck with a plurality of rail tracks in side-by-side disposition for accommodating railway wagons thereon, at least one said deck being provided with at least one loading rail track arranged for connection with an external rail track adjacent the vessel when said vessel is docked for transfer of wagons to and from the vessel, wherein is provided a switching platform having a plurality of tracks in close overlapping proximity to each other at a first end of the platform for connection to a respective at least one loading rail track, said switching platform tracks diverging towards the opposite end of the platform into a side-by-side disposition corresponding to that of said plurality of wagon accommodating tracks, said platform being pivotally mounted for pivoting about a point at or in proximity to said opposite end between a plurality of predetermined angular positions in each of which a different one of the switching platform tracks at said first end is aligned with the loading track and in each of which, at the other end of the platform, each of the loading tracks remains substantially aligned with a respective wagon accommodating track.

In a preferred aspect the invention provides a train ferry vessel wherein the switching platform is in the form of an elevator platform movable between said at least one deck and another deck provided with a plurality of wagon accommodating rail tracks arranged in a side-by-side disposition corresponding generally to the disposition of the wagon accommodating tracks on said at least one deck so that the ends of the wagon accommodating tracks adjacent said platform are substantially aligned with the platform tracks at said other end of the platform when said platform is at the level of said further deck.

In conventional train ferries which have elevator platforms, these are provided remote from the track switching points and have only part of one of the wagon accommodating tracks thereon. This results in reduced wagon capacity and the need for a further set of points on the further deck as well as loss of accommodation in said further deck.

With a switching platform of the invention complex mechanical linkages are dispensed with, it being merely necessary to rotate the platform through a small angle to provide track switching.

Moreover this can be readily achieved as soon as the wagons pass onto the platform without the need for waiting for the rail wagons to pass entirely beyond a set of points.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description given by way of example of one embodiment of a train ferry illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing part of the lower deck of the train ferry; and Figure 2 is a schematic sectional side elevation of the ferry of Figure 1.

In the drawings is shown the stern end of a train ferry 2 which has a main deck 3 and an upper deck 4.

On the main deck 3 two pairs of loading tracks 5 extend longitudinally inwards from watertight stern doors 6 to a generally isosceles trapezium-shaped switching platform 7. At the first, narrow, end 8 of the platform 7 two groups of tracks 9 (one having three pairs -and the other two pairs of tracks) disposed in close overlapping proximity to each other are spaced so as to be aligned with the two pairs of loading tracks 5. The switching platform tracks 7 diverge towards the opposite, broad, end 10 of the platform into a side-by-side disposition corresponding to that of a plurality of wagon accommodating tracks 11 which extend therefrom along the main deck 3 generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ferry 2.

The platform 7 is mounted on suitable rollers or sliding bearings (not shown) for pivoting about a point closely spaced from its broad end 10. The broad end 10 is in fact slightly convex having a slightly smaller radius of curvature than the adjoining main deck portion 12 so as to produce a small clearance (not shown) which increase in width with separation from the longitudinal axis of the ferry 2.

With this arrangement, rotation of the platform 7 through a very small angle sufficient to bring different ones of the switching platform tracks 9 into alignment with a respective pair of loading tracks 5 results in negligible lateral relative movement between the platform tracks 9 and the wagon accommodating tracks 11 and only a small longitudinal relative movement which does not interfere with the passage of wagon wheels from the platform tracks 9 to the wagon accommodating tracks 11.

The switching platform 7 is also provided with raising and lowering means (not shown) in order that it can function as an elevator platform between the main deck 3 and the upper deck 4. A water-tight hatch cover 13 is provided above the platform 7 for sealing the upper deck 4 in the lowered position of the platform 7 and which rises with the plat-form 7 as the latter is raised to the upper deck 4.

On the upper deck 4 is provided a further plurality of wagon accommodating tracks (not shown) arranged so that at least their ends adjacent the platform 7 are in a disposition closely corresponding to that of the tracks 11 on the main deck 3 below. It will be noted that there is no need for any switching points on the upper deck 4 and that the platform tracks will always be sufficiently closely aligned to enable all the wagons accommodated on the platform 7 to be unloaded onto the upper deck 4 simultaneously which results in a considerable time saving over previously known systems.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above described ferry without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Thus the number and layout of the tracks and wagon accommodating decks may be varied. Also sloping vehicle ramps (optionaliy raisable and lowerable see 14 in Figure 2) may be provided to facilitate rapid loading and unloading of cars and other vehicles in such vessels also adapted to carry such vehicles.

Although the use of a switching platform according to the invention is particularly advantageous, the elevator platform need not be rotatably mounted to be used as a switching platform but would instead be provided with track portions in the form of extension of the loading tracks and conventional switching points connecting said track portions to further diverging track portions aligned with the wagon accommodating tracks.Thus in a further aspect the inention provides a train ferry having at least two decks with a plurality of rail tracks substantially similar, at least at their ends adjacent the platform, in side-by-side disposition foraccommo- dating railway wagons thereon, at least one said deck being provided with at least one loading rail track arranged for connection with an external rail track adjacent the vessel when said vessel is docked for transfer of wagons to and from the vessel, wherein is provided a switching platform having at least one loading track portion each arranged as an extension of a corresponding deck loading track and each connected by switching points to a plurality of diverging rail track portions aligned at their extreme ends with the corresponding wagon accommodat ing tracks, said switching platform being provided with elevator means for raising and lowering the platform between said at least two decks.

Claims (7)

1. A train ferry vessel having at least one deck with a plurality of rail tracks in side-by-side disposition for accommodating railway wagons thereon, at least one said deck being provided with at least one loading rail track arranged for connection with an external rail track adjacent the vessel when said vessel is docked for transfer of wagons to and from the vessel, wherein is provided a switching platform having a plurality of tracks in close overlapping proximity to each other at a first end of the platform for connection to a respective at least one loading rail track, said switching platform tracks diverging towards the opposite end of the platform into a side-by-side disposition corresponding to that of said plurality of wagon accommodating tracks, said platform being pivotally mounted for-pivoting about a point at or in proximity to said opposite end between a plurality of predetermined angular positions in each of which a different one of the switching platform tracks at said first end in each of which, at the other end of the platform, each of the loading tracks remains substantially aligned with a respective wagon accommodating track.

2. A train ferry as claimed in claim 1 wherein the switching platform is in theform of an elevator platform movable between said at least one deck and another deck provided with a plurality of wagon accommodating rail tracks arranged in a side-byside disposition corresponding generally to the disposition of the wagon accommodating tracks on said at least one deck so that the ends of the wagon accommodating tracks adjacent said platform are substantially aligned with the platform tracks at said other end of the platform when said platform is at the level of said further deck.

3. A train ferry as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the platform is substantially isosceles trapezium-shaped with a broader end slightly convex corresponding to said opposite end of the platform.

4. A train ferry as claimed in claim 3 wherein the deck portion adjoining said convex broader end is concave with a slightly larger radius of curvature.

5. A train ferry as claimed in any of claim 1 to 4 wherein the platform is supported on rollers or sliding bearings.

6. A train ferry according to claim 1 substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A train ferry having at least two decks with a plurality of rail tracks substantially similar, at least at their ends adjacent the platform, in side-by-side disposition for accommodating railway wagons thereon, at least one said deck being provided with at least one loading rail track arranged for connection with an external rail track adjacent the vessel when said vessel is docked for transfer of wagons to and from the vessel, wherein is provided a switching platform having at least one loading track portion each arranged as an extension of a corresponding deck loading track and each connected by switching points to a plurality of diverging rail track portions aligned at their extreme ends with the corresponding wagon accommodating tracks, said switching platform being provided with elevator means for raising and lowering the platform between said at least two decks.