GB2202813A

GB2202813A - Track vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2202813A
Application number: GB08805125A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andreas Schaefer-Enkeler
Original assignee: Krauss Maffei AG
Current assignee: Mannesmann Demag Krauss Maffei GmbH
Priority date: 1987-03-31
Filing date: 1988-03-03
Publication date: 1988-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-03
Also published as: GB2202813B; FR2613307B1; DE3710623C2; FR2613307A1; GB8805125D0; DE3710623A1

Description

1 - 1, Track Vehicle 22028 13 The invention relates to a track vehicle

having wheels adjustable to the track curvature.

A track vehicle of this type is known from DE-GM 84 22 375 and has mounted on a fixed wheel set axle two wheels which are adjustable according to the dictates of the track curvature via a wheel hub intermediate ring mounted between the wheel set axle and the wheel hub. In addition to the major manufacturing and servicing costs connected with such a wheel mounting, the continuous and fixed wheel set axle represents considerable weight, since the wheel set axle has to be made relatively thick by virtue of the unfavourable distribution of bending moment.

In the case of a track vehicle of the type mentioned, the invention is based on the problem of reducing the manufacturing and maintenance costs and also the structural weight.

This problem is resolved by the characterising features in Claim 1.

While guaranteeing satisfactory track stability, the track vehicle which is equipped with pivotable individual wheels furthermore offers the advantage that it is possible also to negotiate tracks having a narrow bend radius without increasing the susceptibility to wear and tear. The track vehicles according to the invention are therefore particularly suitable for use as trolley cars.

2 - The sub-claims refer to advantageous further developments of the solution proposed by.kthe invention. In particular, the means of steering the individual wheels as defined in the subclaims result in an increase in stability to the extent that even in partly exposed-rail areas such as fo r example at switching points, precise connection of the track vehicle with the track can be assured even in the case of tracks which have a narrow radius on the bends.

An example of embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of the running. gear of a track vehicle with a diagonal linking bar; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the running gear according to Fig. 1, viewed from below; Fig.

3 is a diagrammatic view of running gear viewed from below with a pair of individual wheels coupled by a drive arm; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of running gear from below with coupling bars articulated on the vehicle chassis and coupled in each case to one pair of individual wheels; Fig.

is a diagrammatic view of running gear according to Fig. 4 with a diagonal linking bar connecting two diagonally opposite individual wheels; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of running gear according to Fig. 4 comprising two coupling bars which co-operate via a joint offering longitudinal compensation; Fig. 7 shows a supporting frame of an individual wheel viewed from the side and 1 Fig. 8 shows a front view of the supporting frame in Fig. 7 Figs. 1 and 2 diagrammatically show the construction of a track vehicle having four individual wheels 1 which are in each case supported in bearings 4 in a supporting frame 3 by means of two stub axles 2. A supporting frame 3 consists of a supporting stirrup 5 and a linking stirrup 6 which are connected integrally to each other in the region of the bearings 4. The linking. stirrup 6 comprises a hingeing point 7 via which one supporting frame 3 can be coupled with the supporting frames of the other individual wheels 1 by means of transverse linking bars 8 and a diag onal linking bar 9. The supporting stirrup 5 has a vertical swivel pin 10 by which each supporting frame 3 of an individual wheel 1 is supported in the diagrammatically shown chassis 11 of a track vehicle. The track vehicle can be a trolley or 'may be a bogie or element of the running gear of a larger track-mounted vehicle.

Figs. 2 to 6 are views from below and generally show the four individual wheels 1 mounted by stub axles 2 in the bearings 4 in the supporting frame, of which only the linking stirrups 6 are visible. Any two linking stirrups 6 of two adjacently disposed individual wheels 1 are coupled to each other via transverse linking bars 8.

Coupling arrangements which go beyond this and by which all individual wheels of the track vehicle can be coupled to form one rail mounted running gear which is stable even on tight track bends will be described hereinafter:

The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 shows a diagonal linking bar.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 has, fixed on a transverse linking bar 8, a drive arm 12 having at its free end a sliding slot 13 in which is guided a drive pin 14 fixed on the other transverse linking bar 8.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 has in each case, articulated on the vehicle chassis 11, a'coupling bar 15 having at one end a coupling 16 and at the other end a sliding slot 17 in which is fixed a drive pin 18 fixed on the transverse linking bar 8. In this embodiment, only adjac.ently disposed individual wheels 1 are coupled to one another, whereas in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, all the individual wheels are coupled to one another by the disposition of the diagonal linking bar 9.

A further method of coupling all individual wheels can be seen in Fig. 6 according to which two coupling bars 19 fixed at the vehicle ends are articulatingly connected in the centre of the vehicle via a sliding slot and a drive pin 21.

Figs. 7 and 8 show, mounted in a supporting frame 31, an-individual wheel 11 of which the axle 21 is rigidly connected to the supporting frame, in contrast to the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 6. The supporting stirrup 51 is braced vertically on the axle 21 and can be supported in the vehicle frame (not shown) in such a way as to be vertically rotatable by means of the swivel pin 101. The linking stirrup 61 extends substantially horizontally and has a transverse linking bar 81 articulated at a hingeing point 71. The individual wheel 1 constitutes a rail-mounted wheel, the wheel bearing being disposed in the hub. This embodiment requires for each individual wheel only one bearing whereas according to the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 6, there are in each case two bearings disposed in the supporting frame. This last embodiment offers servicing advantages by virtue of easier access to the bearings.

-1 1

Claims

CLAIMS:

Track vehicle having wheels adjustable to the curvature of the track, characterised in that each wheel is an individual wheel (1; 11) which is supported by means of its own supporting frame (3; 31) vertically for rotation on the vehicle chassis (11) and in that the supporting frames (3; Y) of any two adjacently disposed individual wheels (1; 11) are coupled to each other by a transverse linking bar (8; 81).
2. Track vehicle according to Claim 1, characterised in that the supporting frames (3) consist in each case substantially of one vertical supporting stirrup (5) and one horizontal linking stirrup (6), the supporting stirrup (5) and the linking stirrup (6) engaging in a U shape around the individual wheel (1) and being connected at two bearing points (4) in which are mounted two stub axles (2) of the individual wheel (1), each supporting stirrup (5) comprising a vertical swivel pin (10) mounted in the vehicle chassis (11) while the linking stirrup (6) comprises a hingeing point (7) for the articulation of linking bars.
3. Track vehicle according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that oppositely disposed individual wheels (1) are coupled to each other via a diagonal linking bar (9).
4. Track vehicle according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the transverse linking bar (8) of one pair of individual wheels comprises a drive arm (12) in which there is, constructed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a sliding slot (13) in which is guided a drive pin (14) fixed on the transverse linking bar (8) of the adjacent pair of individual wheels.

i
5. Track vehicle according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that mounted on the vehicle chassis (11) there is a coupling bar (15) having at one end a coupling (16) and at the other end a sliding slot (17) which is guided in a drive pin (18) fixed on the transverse linking bar (8).
6. Track vehicle according to Claim 5, characterised in that two coupling bars (19) are connected to each other between the transverse linking bars (8) of two pairs of individual wheels in an articulation which consists of a sliding slot (20) and a drive pin (21) (Fig. 6).
7. Track vehicle according to Claim 5, characterised in that oppositely disposed individual wheels (1) are coupled to each other via a diagonal linking bar (9) (Fig. 5).
8. Track vehicle substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure E or Figure 7 and 8.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66171 High Holborn, London WC 1R 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1187.