GB2414001A

GB2414001A - Removable train carried container for different gauge railways

Info

Publication number: GB2414001A
Application number: GB0410275A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Malcolm Ord
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-07
Filing date: 2004-05-07
Publication date: 2005-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-07
Also published as: GB0410275D0; GB2414001B

Abstract

A removable container 3, for use in transporting goods on a railway, can be carried on trains run on different gauge. The container 3 has external dimensions so that it fits, for example, within both the W6 and W9 (SBC-1) gauge. The container 3 has curtains 7 as the side walls to allow ease of access to the interior of the container 3. The container 3 is intended only to be lifted and removed from a train when it is empty. This allows for the container 3 to be fitted with a thin floor 9. When the container 3 is loaded onto a train, the underside of the floor 9 rests on a rail wagon chassis when the container is loaded (fig 7) and on support pads fixed to the floor (not shown).

Description

DEMOUNTABLE RAIL BODY

This invention relates to a Remountable rail body for transporting high volume loads.

Rail vehicles for transportation of palletised or high volume loads are often restricted by the shape of the rail structure gauge. Britain is extremely disadvantaged because the rail structure gauge is curved at the top to accommodate tunnels and bridges and is very narrow at the bottom to provide clearance for passenger plaffomms.

Road vehicles are typically square in section and permitted heights allow vehicles to accommodate high volume loads. Many such vehicles have curtain sides, which allow full height side access and simple loading from ground level by means of a fork lift truck.

The nommal rail structure gauge is currently called W6. There are also enhanced rail structure gauges, for example We running from the Channel Tunnel to intemodal terminals. These enhanced gauges consist of the W6 gauge with square top comers to accommodate containers or swap bodies on flat wagons. These enhanced gauges however are provided for Remountable loads. After the load is removed the wagon remains in the W6 gauge and can travel unrestricted around the rail network and to The intermodal transportation of containers or swap bodies using road and rail chassis with overhead lifting equipment for modal transfer is well known. The Remountable loads, because they have to be lifted and sometimes stacked, have a thick and heavy floor structure that reduces the payload and vertical loading height.

Flat wagons for demountable loads, usually just a rail chassis, are available in large numbers and are relatively inexpensive. Purpose built conventional wagons for high volume loads are restricted by the top curve of the rail We structure gauge and are expensive to build.

According to the present invention there is provided a Remountable rail body comprising a roof, end walls, a thin lightweight floor and removable body sides to provide side access for loading. The comers of the roof are shaped to an enhanced rail structure gauge (such as We) to accommodate large square shaped loads. The rest of the roof can be shaped into the rail structure gauge to provide good beam strength and accommodates simple aperture plates for top unloading in the empty condition of the complete rail body. The width and particularly the length of the rail body is sized to optimise the space on existing rail flat wagons and rail gauges. The end walls at their base contain means of attachment to the rail chassis. When the Remountable rail body is mounted on a rail chassis it provides an optimum sized high volume rail vehicle for side loading. When demounted the rail wagon reverts to a normal structure gauge and original loading capability.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 shows We and We rail structure gauges.

Fig 2 shows section of Remountable rail body in enhanced rail gauge W9.

Fig 3 shows section of demountable rail body.

Fig 4 shows enlarged top comer section of demountable rail body.

Fig 5 shows enlarged bottom comer section of demountable rail body.

Fig 6 shows section of demountable rail body with palletised load.

Fig 7 shows elevation of rail wagon with two rail bodies. One rail body being lifted by top lift unloading mechanism.

Fig 8 shows elevation of twin set rail wagon with four rail bodies. Two rail bodies with open sides showing high volume palletised loads and two rail bodies with closed curtain sides.

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Referring to the drawings: a demountable rail body for the transport of high volume and palletised loads. The body has a top profile to an enhanced rail gauge and thin floor to optimise internal volume. If the rail flat wagon is required to be moved on the normal rail structure gauge the body is lifted off in the empty condition by conventional top unloading means.

Fig 1 illustrates the W6 UK rail structure gauge 1 which is curved at the top and narrow at the bottom in order to accommodate Britain's rail plaffomms. Superimposed is W9 (was SB1-C) structure gauge 2 for Remountable load units - showing the additional space available.

Fig 2 illustrates Remountable rail body 3 located inside rail gauge W6 1 and enhanced gauge W9 2.

Fig 3 illustrates Remountable rail body 3 consisting of roof structure 4, bottom side frame 5, curtain rail 6, curtain 7, bottom rave 8, bulkhead 20 and floor 9. One rail body consists of one roof, two bulkheads, one floor and a curtain side closure each side. The roof structure 4, unlike square containers, can take advantage of the curve in W6 gauge as well as the square comers of the W9 gauge to create beam strength in the roof combined with high internal volume. The curtain rail 6 is low profile and cantilevered off the roof structure to optimise the loading aperture. A simple curtain 7 is shown with bottom rave 8. The bottom rave 8 can, unlike a conventional container/swap, protrude below the bottom of the floor 9. The floor 9 can be very thin because the Remountable rail body is only lifted empty and the underside rests on parts of the rail wagon chassis when loaded.

Fig 4 illustrates roof structure 4, curtain rail 6 and top part of curtain and rollers 7.

Fig 5 illustrates bottom part of curtain (with hook) 7, bottom rave 8, bottom side frame 5 and floor 9. The underside of the bottom side frame 5 is the reference plane for the Remountable rail body and rests in several places on top of the existing container/swap support locations on existing rail flat wagons. The bottom rave 8 or any support pads, if allowed by existing wagons, can protrude below the reference plane to increase stiffness or provide additional support.

Fig 6 illustrates demountable rail body 3 and high volume palletised loads 10. The details in the rail body 3 optimise the space available to accommodate four palletised loads across the load unit.

Fig 7 illustrates two demountable rail bodies 3, rail flat wagon 11, wagon spigots 12, wagon rail coupling 13, overhead lifting equipment 14 and lifting equipment twist lock amps 15. On this example two demountable rail bodies 3 are positioned on one rail wagon platform 11. Any existing spigots 12 are pivoted out of use in the normal way and any additional means of location are added if required. Many low platform wagons will be provided with rail coupling mechanism13 situated above the loading reference plane.

In this case the demountable rail body can be fitted with means of clearance within the body but the body can still cover the entire rail wagon plafform to maximise intemal accommodation.

Fig 8 illustrates a two platform twin set wagon with four demountable rail bodies 3, two rail flat wagon plaffomms 11, two rail end couplings 13, one low centre rail coupling 16.

Two rail bodies have side curtains closed 7 and two sides open to reveal double stacked palletised loads 10 and bulkheads 20. In this example 124 high volume palletised loads are carried on one twin set rail wagon.

The example illustrates a demountable rail body with curtain side closures. Other means of access or end access can be used.

The example illustrates four demountable rail bodies on one twin set flat wagon. Any variation of bogie or twin axle wagon can be used.

The example illustrates two demountable rail bodies on one rail wagon platform. Any number of demountable rail bodies per platform can be used.

The example illustrates demountable rail body within the U.K. We structure gauge and rail wagon within the U.K. We gauge. Other rail gauges can be used.

The example illustrates demountable rail body within a demountable rail gauge. The rail body can be constructed for transportation within any rail gauge.

Claims

I. A Remountable Mil body that is releasably secured to a rail vehicle chassis, the body being removed in the empty condition and provided with a thin floor with support pads, the body being profiled to fit any rail structure gauge, its length to fit any rail wagon to optimise internal volume.
2. A demountable rail body as claimed in Claim I wherein the floor is relieved of lifting loads and supported on parts of the rail wagon chassis or integral support pads, to provide a thin floor.
3. A demountable rail body as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the roof is profiled to fit any rail structure or profiled in a tent roof shape that retains beam strength and provides the maximum loading space.
4. A demountable rail body as claimed in Claim 1 wherein one or more bodies cover a complete rail vehicle chassis including means of clearance for any coupling mechanisms or other protrusions.
5. A demountable rail body as claimed in Claim I wherein one or more bodies can be transported on any combination of rail vehicles and rail structure gauges.
6. A Remountable rail body as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the body is provided with at least one loading aperture and means of closure.
7. A Remountable rail body as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a method of lifting is provided.
8. A demountable rail body as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a means of releasably securing the body on a rail vehicle chassis is provided, including conventional spigots or twist locks.
9. A demountable rail body as claimed in Claim I wherein the body is provided with means of transporting and retaining any product including palletised and caged components.

1 O. A demountable rail body substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-8 of the accompanying drawings.