SK17822000A3 - Road and rail vehicle combination - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle arrangement consisting of at least two vehicles, whereby a first vehicle is fitted with a driver's cabin, an internal combustion engine drive system, an undercarriage for one particular type of traffic route, and connecting devices, actuating devices and control devices for at least one other vehicle with an integrated engine. The first vehicle is fitted with at least one additional undercarriage for a second type of traffic route that can be selectively activated, or the undercarriage of the first vehicle can be detached and means are provided to accommodate at least one other undercarriage for a second type of traffic route. In order to allow the drive systems and undercarriage systems to be changed quickly, simply and frequently, especially for intermodal operation of public traffic systems in urban connurbations, at least one other vehicle in the inventive vehicle arrangement is configured as an external drive unit (5, 9, 11) that is devoid of a cabin and provided with at least one form of connecting means (4, 12, 17) to transmit driving and braking forces, in addition to at least one interface (18) for the actuating and control devices on the first vehicle (1, 10).

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement of vehicles comprising at least two vehicles, the first vehicle being equipped with a steering position, an internal combustion engine drive, a chassis for a special type of road and coupling and service and control devices for at least one other vehicle with an integrated engine. optionally, it is provided with at least an optionally activated, additional bogie for the second type of road, or the bogie of the first vehicle is removable and fixtures are provided for at least one other bogie for the second type of road.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various vehicle designs have been described in the prior art that are variable for operation as both rail vehicles and road vehicles. For example, WO 95/29822 discloses a road vehicle with additional track combinations, one of which has a drive unit. WO 93/24339 discloses a convertible vehicle in which a road tractor is driven onto a special rail vehicle, coupled thereto as required, and then towed a trailer temporarily equipped with a rail vehicle assembly. Furthermore, the conversion of road vehicle trailers into rail carriages or vice versa is the subject of many applications, for example the aforementioned WO 93/24339, EP 0 323 933 or EP 0 487 427. These systems are usually designed for alternating, but longer lasting operation, in one type of operation - rails or roads, therefore, too, too, other or more costly conversions or conversion processes are not considered too much. These systems are inflexible and costly due to frequent and rapid gradual change between types of operation.

Furthermore, there are also many writings on the subject of hybrid propulsion, in which the vehicle alternately uses an internal combustion engine and an electric motor,

31599 T ·· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·) · Again, the hybrid drives are usually fitted in series and have the disadvantage that they must be overweight in the inactive drive system in each type of operation. Electric drives are very heavy on the basis of batteries or accumulators and have only limited driving range and climbing ability.

For example, shunting tractors for rail carriages with rail and road bogies have been proposed in US 3 709 153 B and US 3 638 579 B, which can be moved on the rails when moving the rail car and can reach the road bogie from the shift point to the shift point. These shunting tractors are designed only for short journeys and, for vehicles that do not have a steering position and are not powered by themselves, they are towed over a longer distance in an assembled form by a conventional locomotive.

One vehicle arrangement, as described in the introduction, is disclosed in DE 43 05 862 A1, where two usually quite autonomous vehicles of the same type are coupled for temporary tandem operation to achieve higher performance. However, both vehicles are fully equipped, although in fact only one control station and one set of controls are required. The preparation of such vehicles for temporary use only with other vehicles of the same type is totally uneconomical.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle arrangement that is suitable for a simple and rapid, frequent replacement of drive and bogie systems for different types of drives and roads and is therefore particularly suited for the intermodal operation of public transport systems in urban areas. In particular, a vehicle should be designed to be operated alternately by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, which is especially suited for operation in public transport systems, particularly in urban areas.

In order to solve this problem, it is proposed according to the invention that the at least one other vehicle arrangement vehicle is designed as an external drive unit without a steering station with at least one coupling device transmitting driving and braking forces and at least one interface to the operating and steering devices on the first vehicle. A separate external drive unit, possibly also in the case of the need for a plurality of drive units on an otherwise autonomous vehicle, can be used for certain driving routes, for example ecological electric traffic within the city, moreover on extra-urban routes by internal combustion engine vehicles. for this purpose with an otherwise independently driven vehicle. Since the drive unit is operated and controlled from the vehicle after coupling, it can be carried out very simply and economically and can therefore also be available in larger quantities at certain border points for motor or electrical operation, especially for the public transport system. Buses with internal combustion engines operating in poorly populated areas could, for example, be run in densely populated areas, for example in the city center, after the bogie has been replaced on rails and connected to electric power units. They could even be guided by underground railways on underground railways. Also, due to the climb rate, optimal adaptation would be possible, as in the case of steep roads, traffic can take place

31599 T ··························· In the form of a road vehicle and in flat areas by the method of rolling stock.

As already indicated, the motor is integrated into the external drive unit preferably by an electric motor, whereby the emission situation can be positively influenced especially in the centers of the agglomeration, where also the preparation of the power supply or charging does not cause problems.

It is particularly advantageous to provide an embodiment of external drive units according to which at least one current collector for the electrically conductive connection is provided with a bus or a current conduit, preferably a surface conduit. This eliminates the need for heavy and space-intensive batteries and / or accumulators and, in addition, makes it possible to use existing power supplies, for example surface lines of railways or trams or trolleybuses, as well as buses in the subway area.

For areas without power supply infrastructure, it is of course possible that at least one battery or accumulator can be connected to the electric motor, so that the advantages of electric drive can also be exploited in these areas.

According to a further feature of the invention, the bogie of the external drive unit for another type of communication is sized as the bogie of the first vehicle. As a result, these problematic routes can be overcome on problematic routes due to the type of road, for example, railways with extremely strong gradients, by connecting the powertrain with better or different type of power transmission to another road such as a road chassis with higher transferable driving and braking force. Then, the vehicle can detach the powertrain again and autonomously continue to drive while the powertrain is available for another vehicle on the problem route.

If, according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive unit is also provided with at least one additional bogie for the second, another type of communication which can optionally be activated, this makes unrestricted and totally intermodal operation possible. The external drive unit can advantageously be used here

31599 T • · 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 · · Also in the case of a short-term change in the type of operation of the vehicle, make this change so that, despite different roads, the benefits of the current operating variant can be further exploited. For example, in the event of an interruption of the rail network, the vehicles may continue to be driven in road traffic, but the ecologically acceptable electric drive may remain connected and in operation.

Alternatively to the variant of the preceding paragraph and with the same advantages, the bogie may also be adapted to be removable and the mounts provided for at least one other bogie for the second, different type of communication. While some time is required for disguise, this can often be balanced by the advantage of being lighter in design, as there are no need to carry two bogies.

According to a further feature of the invention, the external drive unit may also be characterized by at least one integrated motor, which is connected to a chassis, transmitting drive and braking forces for communication, a gripping or supporting surface for supporting the vehicle and at least one vehicle coupling and at least one interface to the vehicle. control and command devices on the vehicle. This eliminates all adjustments to the vehicle itself and the external drive unit, which, except for the control and service equipment, coincides with the individual vehicle, can be optimally adapted to the road for which it is adapted.

If, in addition to the first coupling device, at least one additional coupling device is provided for the next vehicle and / or for another external drive unit, interfaces for the service and control device for the other vehicle and / or for another external drive unit are preferably also available, a type of combination may be formed on certain routes from otherwise autonomous vehicles which, on the basis of routing or a special type of road, must or may be driven by only one driver, in particular an environmentally more acceptable propulsion system for external powertrains than the internal combustion engine of vehicles.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further elucidated by means of specific exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 vehicle with external power units attached

Fig. 2 is a vehicle which is loaded on a power train, designed as a separate vehicle

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of the connection of a vehicle to an external drive unit

Fig. 4 a combination of two vehicles with two external powertrains.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 denotes the reference numeral 1. a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, for example a lorry. The present invention is particularly advantageous also applicable to passenger buses, especially in public transport

transport system. The vehicle 1 is provided with a chassis 2 for communication 3, preferably a road. Preferably, however, it is provided with a second bogie for other communications, for example a rail, or is sized to change its bogie so that it can be operated on different roads.

By means of the at least one coupling device 4, the vehicle 1 can be supplied to an external drive unit 5, which is preferably based on a drive system other than the vehicle 1., is preferably equipped with an electric drive. This electric drive can be powered by at least a battery, an accumulator or, preferably, at least one current collector 6 from the distribution network - or the supply network already established for rail, tram or underground operation. In this case, the external drive unit 5 can equally advantageously be equipped with the same bogie 7 as the vehicle 1 or be equipped with a bogie. Another alternative proposes to equip an external

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5 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · and to connect the vehicle 1 and the drive unit 5 also when the vehicle 1 is to be operated on another road.

For example, a road lorry may be converted to rail traffic in certain areas or for certain routes, whereby its internal combustion engine remains inoperative and the drive is performed only for rail traffic dimensioned by an external drive unit with an electric motor, preferably an electric motor powered by the grid. Control of said drive unit is also carried out further by the vehicle itself, exiting through the interface provided therefor. In order to facilitate connection and to improve the handling of the external drive units 5, they may be provided with at least one support wheel 8.

The external drive unit 5 can be coupled to the vehicle 7 either at the front or at the rear and two or more drive units can also be provided, as shown in FIG. 1, indicated by the second, rear drive unit 9. In this case, the trailer coupling _x could be advantageously used to power the coupling device 4, usually provided on the vehicle 1.

Another preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 2 where the vehicle

10 here, for example, a passenger bus, has run onto the loading surface of the external drive unit 11 and is fixed there. The drive unit 11 is dimensioned almost as a separate vehicle, only the steering and operation being carried out again from the vehicle 10, which is at least one coupling device 12 and an interface connected to the drive unit. Preferably, again, the vehicle 10 and the drive unit 11 are sized for different roads, preferably the vehicle 10 is equipped with road wheels 13, while the drive unit 11 is equipped with rail wheels 14 for preferably conventional rails 15 and associated bogies. Also, the drive systems are preferably constructed differently, most of which the road vehicle 10 has an internal combustion engine and the external drive unit 11 has an electric drive. By way of example only, an external drive unit 11 without a current collector is shown to also illustrate the possibility of operating with power supply.

31599 T •······································· · ·· ··· from at least one battery or accumulator. The height of the loading area of the drive unit 11 is meaningfully measured to compensate for the difference in the access heights of the sidewalks along the road of the external drive unit 11, such as subway platforms and the loaded road vehicle 10, thus allowing unobstructed passenger exchange at one level.

An example of an embodiment for the connection between the vehicle 1, 10 and the drive unit 5, 9 or 11, which is of course applicable to all types of vehicles and drive units, is shown in FIG. 3. The drive unit 5, 9 or 11 is provided with an electrically driven bogie with two free wheels 7 and a corresponding electric motor 16, which can draw its energy from the battery, accumulator or mains collector. Two lateral and longitudinally rigid couplings 17 are provided for transmitting the driving and braking forces, but which allow the pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel. The drive unit 5, 9 or H is controlled from the vehicle control station 1.10 by means of preferably special operating elements, whereby the signal transmission can be effected in principle by any means, for example a signal bus, an optical or acoustic switch, for example an infrared remote control, radio, etc. For this purpose, suitable interfaces 18 are provided on the vehicle 1,1Ρ and on the powertrain 5, 9 or 11.

In FIG. 4 shows yet another preferred variant of the invention, in which a plurality of vehicles 1 and a plurality of drive units 5 are connected to a combination which can be operated, for example, on rails or on the road, depending on the chassis of the vehicles 1 and drive units. Due to the uniform distribution of the driving and braking forces and also of the weight, it is advantageous to alternate one vehicle 1 and one drive unit 5 at a time.

Consequently, there will also be the possibility that the drive unit and the coupled vehicle can also be operated on different roads in all the variants described so far, and the fixed connection can then also be dispensed with. For example, a road vehicle without changing the chassis for certain areas or roads could have an electric drive running on the rails

31599 T ······························· ·· ··· running alongside or on the road. Especially for buses in public transport, this option is advantageous if it is possible to use environmentally-friendly electric propulsion of connectable and detachable electric drive units on these rails on routes on which tramways are or have been run.

In all of the above variants, instead of driving from the vehicle control station, the driverless operation could also be carried out with the external drive unit controlled, for example by an induction loop in the area of communication, a signaling device at the edge of the road, etc. This external influence can also be available in addition to the driver's control and can be activated as required. The external drive units of all embodiments can also be equipped with at least one steerable axle or steerable wheels, if necessary.

Claims (8)

1. Arrangement of vehicles comprising at least two vehicles, the first vehicle being equipped with a steering position, a propulsion engine exclusively, a chassis for a special type of road and coupling and service and control devices for at least one other vehicle with an integrated engine, the first vehicle optionally equipped with at least one selectively actuable auxiliary bogie for the second type of communication or the bogie of the first vehicle is removable and is provided with anchors for at least one other bogie for the second type of communication, further comprising at least one other vehicle arrangement vehicle designed as an external drive unit (5); 9, 11) without a steering position with at least one coupling device (4, 12, 17) transmitting propulsion and braking forces, and with at least one interface (18) to the control and command devices on the first vehicle (1, 10), characterized by that the external drive unit (5, 9 (11) without a steering position, it shall be equipped with an electric motor (16) which can be driven independently of any type of internal combustion engine (1,10). Vehicle arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the external drive unit (5, 9, 11) is equipped with at least one current collector (6) for electrically conductive connection of the electric motor (16) to the bus or current conduit, preferably surface conduit. Vehicle arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one battery or accumulator is provided in the external drive unit (5, 9, 11) and can be connected to an electric motor (16). Vehicle arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bogie (7, 14) of the external drive unit (5), 31599ns T • 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9, 11) for another type of communication is designed as a chassis (2, 13) of the first vehicle (1, 10). Vehicle arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the external drive unit (5, 9, 11) is equipped with at least one auxiliary bogie for a second, different type of communication, the auxiliary bogie being optionally activated. Vehicle arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the bogie of the external drive unit (5, 9, 11) is removable and the mounts are provided for at least one other bogie for the other, another type of communication. 7. Arrangement of vehicles consisting of at least two vehicles, the first vehicle being equipped with a steering position, an internal combustion engine propulsion, a chassis for a special type of road and coupling and service and control devices for at least one other vehicle with an integrated engine, a gripping or loading surface for supporting at least the first vehicle arrangement vehicle (10), at least one coupling device (12) for the vehicle (10) carried thereon and at least one interface to the operating and control devices on said vehicle (10), The external drive unit (11) has at least one integrated electric motor which can be driven independently of the internal combustion engine of the first vehicle (10) and is coupled to at least one bogie (14) transmitting driving and braking forces for communication. Vehicle arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one additional coupling device is provided in addition to the first coupling device to the next vehicle and / or to another external drive unit, interfaces for the service stations being also preferably provided. and control devices to the next vehicle and / or to another external drive unit.