GB2100208A

GB2100208A - Limiting relative vertical movement between a railway crane and its bogie

Info

Publication number: GB2100208A
Application number: GB8211689A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MAN Takraf Fordertechnik GmbH
Current assignee: Takraf GmbH
Priority date: 1981-06-11
Filing date: 1982-04-22
Publication date: 1982-12-22
Also published as: DE3211207A1; DD160304A3; GB2100208B

Abstract

A slide member 1 can be moved vertically by a wedge shaped pressure member 2 arranged on the bogie 7 and moved by a piston and cylinder device 6. The pressure member 2 is guided in the slide member 1 which is provided with a groove 8 for that purpose and the slide member is guided in a lateral guide 3. The minimum sliding jaw clearance necessary for the unsupported mode of using the crane is obtained by limiting the movement of the pressure member 2 with a displaceably mounted stop 4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for limiting relative movements in rail vehicles This invention relates to apparatus for limiting relative movements in rail vehicles, particulariy railway cranes, where it is important to limit relative movements between the bogie of the rail vehicle and a device carried on the vehicle, for example, between the bogie and the lower carriage of a crane, according to the particular use to which the crane is being put.

Rotatable railway cranes are known, in which the vertical relative movement between the bogie and the lower carriage of the crane is limited by slide members, which are pressed against the lower carriage of the crane by the bogie by means of springs. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that it involves spending a long time on installation, due to the vertical relative movement between the bogie and the lower carriage of the crane. A further disadvantage results from the constant loading of the slide member during towing: this leads to rapid fatiguing of the springs and, due to the frictional movement between the slide members and the supporting surface, to rapid wear of the slide members.

In other known rotatable railway cranes, the necessary limitation of relative movements is obtained before the crane is used in the unsupported state, by inserting linings. Since it is possible for the centre of gravity of the upper carriage to shift, leading in an extreme case to tipping into contact with slide members the clearances between the bogies and the lower carriage of the crane at the various block.ing points differ greatly. This has the disadvantage that manual insertion of the lining involves spending a long time on installation and using special technical aids.

An easily operated apparatus is required, which will give the various clearances at the blocking points, will minimise wear on the blocking elements, manual work and the time spent on installation, and will avoid the additional use of technical aids to limit relative movement.

The problem underlying the invention is, through combining simple power transmission elements, to provide a mechanically actuated, height equalising limiting means, which will permit a specific setting of the side jaw clearance between the bogie and the lower carriage of the crane, according to the particular use to which the crane is being put.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for limiting relative movements on a rail vehicle between the bogies of the rail vehicle and a drive carried on the vehicle, such as a rotatable railway crane, comprising a wedge-shaped pressure member mounted on the bogie and movable by a working piston and cylinder device, a vertically slidable member arranged in a lateral guide means on the bogie, the pressure member being horizontally movable under the slide member to effect vertical movement of the slide member, and a stop provided on the bogie to limit the horizontal movement of the pressure member in the direction in which it causes vertical upward movement of the slide member relative to the device carried on the rail vehicle.

The slide member is moved by a horizontally movable pressure member which is also arranged on the bogie and is driven by a working piston and cylinder device. The pressure member is wedge shaped. The bottom surface of the slide member preferably has a recess machined in it to match the shape of the pressure member, with lateral surfaces to stand on. This ensures that the sliding surfaces of the slide and pressure members will make contact and the pressure member will be guided in the slide member. The slide member is held in a lateral guide arranged on the bogie and is guided during the vertical movement. The minimum play between the slide member and the lower carriage of the crane, which is necessary in the unsupported state, is obtained by having the horizontal movement of the pressure member limited by a detachable and adjustable arrangement of the displaceable stop.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus of the present invention provided on a railway crane and in the position assumed while the crane is working in the unsupported state, Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus in the position assumed during towing of the railway crane, Figure 3 is a plan view of the stop means, and Figure 4 is a cross-section through the apparatus taken along the line 4-4 indicated on Figure 2.

The apparatus comprises a vertically slidable member 1, a wedge-shaped pressure member 2, a lateral guide means 3, a stop member 4 and a working piston and cylinder device 6. The limiting apparatus is arranged on a bogie 7 beneath the carriage 5 of the crane.

The central part of the slide member 1 is arranged to abut and guide the wedge shaped pressure member 2. This part of the slide member 1 extends over the width of the pressure member 2, has a tapering recess 8 machined in it to match the inclination of the wedge-shaped pressure member 2 and has lateral base surfaces 9 to stand on. The lateral guide means 3 is arranged so as to hold and guide the slide member 1. The stop member 4 can be released and displaced by means of fastening screws 1 0, so as to limit the horizontal movement of the pressure member 2 and thus the vertical movement of the slide member 1. This ensures that there is the minimum clearance between the slide member 1 and the lower carriage 5 of the crane, required for the crane to work in the unsupported state.

In preparation for the crane to work in the unsupported state, the pressure member 2 is pushed into the recess 8 machined in the slide member 1, as far as the stop 4, by actuation of the working piston and cylinder device 6. The slide member 1 guided in the lateral guide 3, is thereby moved vertically to a minimum clearance from the lower carriage 5 of the crane (Figure 1). When the member 1 comes into contact with the carriage 5 as a result of the crane leaning over, the force passes from the lower carriage 5, through the slide member 1 and pressure member 2, into the bogie 7.

In preparation for towing, the working piston and cylinder device 6 is actuated, causing the pressure member 2 to be drawn forward from under the slide member 1, until the slide member 1 stands on the bogie frame 7 on its standing surfaces 9. This gives the maximum clearance between the slide member 1 and the lower carriage 5 of the crane necessary for towing. The slide member f and pressure member 2 are excluded from the flux of force, and the forces resulting from towing are applied directly to the bogie 7 (Figure 2).

Claims

1. Apparatus for limiting relative movements on a rail vehicle between the bogie of the rail vehicle and a device carried on the vehicle, such as a rotatable railway crane, comprising a wedge shaped pressure member mounted on the bogie and movable by a working piston and cylinder device, a vertically slidable member arranged in a lateral guide means on the bogie, the pressure member being horizontally movable under the slide member to effect vertical movement of the slide member, and a stop provided on the bogie to limit the horizontal movement of the pressure member in the direction in which it causes vertical upward movement of the slide member relative to the device carried on the rail vehicle.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the slide member has a recess in its lower surface, the recess matching the shape of the wedge-shaped pressure member and said slide members having lateral bottom surfaces to stand on.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the stop is detachably and displaceably mounted on the bogie by means of fastening screws.

4. Apparatus for limiting relative movements on a rail vehicle between the bogie of the rail vehicle and a device carried on the vehicle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.