Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61D—BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES
  • B61D47/00—Loading or unloading devices combined with vehicles, e.g. loading platforms, doors convertible into loading and unloading ramps
  • B61D47/005—Loading or unloading devices combined with road vehicles carrying wagons, e.g. ramps, turntables, lifting means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61D—BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES
  • B61D3/00—Wagons or vans
  • B61D3/16—Wagons or vans adapted for carrying special loads
  • B61D3/18—Wagons or vans adapted for carrying special loads for vehicles
  • B61D3/182—Wagons or vans adapted for carrying special loads for vehicles specially adapted for heavy vehicles, e.g. public work vehicles, trucks, trailers
  • B61D3/184—Wagons or vans adapted for carrying special loads for vehicles specially adapted for heavy vehicles, e.g. public work vehicles, trucks, trailers the heavy vehicles being of the trailer or semi-trailer type

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for loading and unloading goods train sets having several goods carriers, which goods trains mainly are intended for high speed transport of complete vehicles and vehicle trains as well as load carrying platforms and/or containers.
• the object with the present invention is consequently to accomplish a method for transport, loading and unloading of goods trains intended for unit loads which gives such a simple, quick and efficient handling and transport of the goods, that it can compete in a meaningful way with road transport which today is dominating.
• This object means on the one hand that the goods is to be loaded and unloaded according to the roll on-roll off method, and on the other hand that it is to be done without using different kinds of cranes or marshalling of the goods .
• loading and unloading of a goods wagon is done in that a load carrying part belonging thereto is turned from its normal position in the length direction of the train set, in that the load carrying part is turned around a coupling of turntable type around a vertical axle at one of the end portions of the wagon, whereby a transverse section obliquely to the transport direction of the wagon is opened/exposed so that the goods may be loaded/unloaded by means of ordinary load carriers, such as trailers, container carriers, load carrying platforms or vehicles on the whole.
• a substantial advantage with the invention is that the only substantial investment regarding infra-structure required is that an entrance/exit platform must be arranged on a suitable level such as at the same level as the top of the railroad rail, for the entrance and exit ramp according to the invention.
• the infra-structure platform needs thereafter only to be connected to the regular road system for the connecting regional transports.
• Figs, la and lb schematically show a complete train set on the one hand in transport position (la) and on the other hand in a loading/unloading position (lb) ,
• Fig. 2a partly in section shows an entrance and exit ramp in the transport direction of the train
• Fig. 2b shows the same ramp as in Fig 2a but with a drive and carry arrangement in an inactive position
• Fig. 3 is a view from III-III in Fig. 2a partly as a section
• Fig. 4a is an enlarged view showing the drive and carry arrangement for turning a load carrier of a goods wagon
• Fig. 4b shows a cross section along IVb-IVb in Fig. 4a
• Fig. 4c shows a view from IVc-IVc in Fig. 4a
• Fig. 5a shows an alternative design of the drive and carry arrangement according to Fig. 4a
• Fig. 5b shows a cross section from Vb-Vb in Fig. 5a
• Fig. 5c shows a view from Vc-Vc in Fig. 5a
• Fig. 6 shows a goods wagon load carrier arranged on a wheel bogie from the side
• Fig. 7 is a view of a goods wagon load carrier in a loading/unloading position, i.e. turned out position
• Fig. 8 is a schematical top view of a goods wagon load carrier without an entrance/exit ramp, arranged on a bogie, which is common for two load carriers
• Fig. 9 is a view which is analogous to Fig. 8 except that the load carrier is shown in its turned out loading/unloading position
• Fig. 10 shows a cross section through a load carrier basket according to the invention
• Fig. 11 shows a cross section analogous to Fig. 10 of a load carrier basket with roll front walls
• Fig. 12a shows an alternative design of the turning arrangement in an inactive position for a load carrier as above
• Fig. 12b shows the turning arrangement according to Fig. 12a in an active postion with a turned wagon.
• FIG. 2a shows in partial cross section the entrance and exit ramp 5 according to Fig. 1. Except for its function to constitute an entrance and exit ramp in its lowered position, the ramp also has the function in its raised position to actively contribute to ensuring that the load carrier 2 can be brought apart along a dividing plan 6 and turned into a position for loading/unloading.
• the turning/bringing apart is carried out in that a drive and carry arrangement (which in transport position is contained in the entrance and exit ramp and locked therein, which is shown by Fig. 2b) after release and raising of the load carrier (described in detail below) by hydraulic struts is let down on a concrete slab, which is arranged in a level coinciding with the top of the rail, and thereafter again is locked to the ramp 5 with hydraulically controlled lock and carry pins 7.
• the load carrier 2 is thereafter lowered so that it rests on the drive and carry arrangement.
• the drive and carry arrangement comprises in this embodiment, which more clearly is shown in Fig. 3 and Figs. 4a-c, on the one hand a large wheel 8 driven by a hydraulic motor (not shown) and on the other hand two smaller support wheels 9 resiliently supported by springs.
• the support wheels 9 are supposed to enhance the stability of the load carrier during the turning operation since in this case otherwise only three points of support are present for the load carrier.
• the support wheels may in an alternative embodiment (not shown) be placed asymmetrically in order to prevent a too large swaying of the load carrier 2 during its turning for example when rolling over the rail recesses in the concrete slab 10 which is arranged above a conventional rail sleeper 11 and the top surface of which coincides with the top surface of the rails.
• Fig. 3 shows partly in a cross section a side view of the entrance and exit ramp 5 with the hydraulic cylinder 6, the lock and carry pins 7, the drive wheel 8 and the support wheels 9.
• the concrete plate and the sleeper 11 are also shown below the support wheel 9.
• Fig 4b The geometry for the drive and carry arrangement is diagrammatically shown in Fig 4b, such as that the support wheels 9 are to some extent turned in relation to the drive wheel 8 in order to let the wheel 8 and the wheels 9 roll on radii which all have their center in the pivot point 12 of the load carrier at the other end of the assembled wagon. It also appears in Fig. 4c that the wheels 9 are somewhat turned out of the vertical plane of the drive wheel 8.
• FIG. 5a-c An alternative embodiment of the drive and carry arrangement according to the invention is shown in Fis . 5a-c.
• the drive wheel 8 according to the first embodiment is hereby replaced by four smaller wheels 14, each of which is driven by a hydraulic motor (not shown) .
• a drive transport band 15 of reinforced rubber is arranged around the wheels 14 for the transfer of the movement.
• the solution corresponds to the described with reference to Figs. 2-4, so that also the axes of the wheels 14 intersect in a common pivot point 12, which is the vertical pivot axis of the load carrier 2.
• Fig. 6 shows in a partly sectional view a common bogie 3 for two load carriers 2 with a turntable coupling 18 (not shown in detail) and the load carrier 2 arranged thereon.
• an upright post 16 for carrying cables (especially when turning load carriers 2) which connects the locomotive 1 with the load carrier 2 and the last load carriers 2 to each other and at the end of the train the last carrier 2 with the return cockpit 4.
• the cables are not supposed to be disconnected unless the set of wagons in the train set is to be changed, since the cables contain everything that the train in its entirety needs for its function, as for example pressurized air, hydraulic oil and so on.
• the load carrier 2 has slidable roll front walls are stored in the part of the load carrier 2 which during turning remains attached to the turntable coupling 18 of the bogie 3.
• the precision in the coupling between the fixed part 2a of the load carrier 2 and its turnable part 2b is such that the roll front walls easily can be pushed past the division between the two parts (not shown in detail) .
• the function of the roll front walls 17 is to give the car drivers easy access to their respective vehicles as well as to give a good availability for tightening the goods/cars to the chassi of the load carrier 2b.
• Yet another function is of course to give the train a fairly even outer surface in order to bring down the air resistance created as far as possible, especially when driving with high velocities.
• Fig. 7 The appearance of a railroad wagon of the actual kind with its load carrier 2b in a turned out loading and unloading position is schematically shown in Fig. 7.
• the jacklike hydraulic struts 19, which have been mentioned but not shown, are here distinctively visable.
• the struts are used both when setting down the drive and carry arrangement from a completely closed transport condition for the load carrier 2b and when loading and unloading the goods to be transported, whereby the total stability of the load carrier is of utmost importance.
• Figs. 8 and 9 go together in the sense that they both show a bogie 3 with load carriers 2a and 2b arranged thereon, viewed from above.
• Fig. 8 and 9 go together in the sense that they both show a bogie 3 with load carriers 2a and 2b arranged thereon, viewed from above.
• FIG. 8 shows diagrammatically how it is suitable to fix the load carrier portions 2a and 2b to each other in transport position, preferably at three points which are marked with a capital H in the figure.
• the supporting part of the load carrier is thereby essentially in its superstructure, i.e. the walls and the roof thereof down to approximately 1.2 meters above the rail top.
• This means that the width inside the load carrier can be kept as wide as possible in the lower parts in order to make it possible to install different kinds of equipment, such as hydraulically equipped consoles (not shown) movable in the length direction of the load carrier for load fixing and supporting for example load carrying platforms without wheels .
• the idea is consequently to enable a quick and easy lifting of load carriers and containers from their wheel carriers.
• Fig. 9 shows moreover ways mentioned above of how to turn the load carrier at the transition to and from the loading/unloading position respectively, above all it appears how small the turning movement is.
• Fig. 10 shows in cross section through a load carrier 2a, 2b more exactly where the anchoring points between the load carrier parts 2a and 2b (H) are situated. It is further shown where necessary cables 20 are arranged and connected at 21 and also with shadowed portions where space is available for certain kinds of special equipment.
• Fig. 11 shows above all how the roll front walls are journalled.
• the roll front walls are preferably simply rolled together by means of a motor (not shown) and are stored in the space created in the load carrier portion 2a.
• the dividing and turning possibility may as an alternative be arranged at both ends of the load carrier, so that in reality roll-on and roll-off become possible without forcing the vehicles to back off the train.
• Fig. 12 it also possible to turn the whole load carrier 2b in order to make loading and unloading from two directions possible. This is possible by arranging drive and carrier devices in both ends of the load carrier 2b and arranging hydraulically controlled carry and turn segments 22 at each side of the intermediate portion of the load carrier, which segments act directly against the concrete slab 10.
• the positive side of the first turn segment hydraulic cylinder is connected via valves (not shown) to the minus side of the other (opposite) turn segment hydraulic cylinder when the load carrier is to be turned out to the loading/unloading position (corresponding to Fig. 12b)
• the minus sides of the hydraulic cylinders analogously are connected when the load carrier is to be turned back into its original/transport position (corresponding to Fig. 12a) .
• the segments 22 will act as a hub around which load carrier 2b turns when the drive and carry arrangements (Fig. 4a or 5a) puts the load carrier into turning movement.
• An arrangement with carry and turn segments may of course also be supplemented with drive and carry arrangements 6-9, 14-15 at one or both ends of the load carrier 2b.
• the method according to the invention includes the steps and measures in the order given below:
• the turntable couplings 18 are blocked in all directions of movement except for movement around the pivot shaft which is defined transversally to the train through the turntable coupling.
• connection locks between the load carrier portions 2a, 2b are released at at least one end of the load carrier 2b. 5.
• the released part of the load carrier 2b is lifted by means of the struts 19 between 6 and 10 cm from the directing pins and segments which steer and direct the load carrier to the position where it may be locked to the carrier portion 2a during the reverse cycle.
• the struts 19 are hydraulically pulled up so that the load carrier 2b is lowered to rest on the drive and carry arrangement.
• the drive arrangement is started and turns out the load carrier into a loading/unloading position.
• the load carrier 2b is lifted by means of the struts 19 so that the drive arrangement is released.
• the drive and carry arrangement is lifted by means of the hydraulic cylinder unit 6 up to the entrance and exit platform.
• the load carrier is lowered in such a way that the entrance and exit platform 5 lands in the ground level on the concrete slab 10 in its whole length.
• the segments 22 will act as a hub around which the load carrier is turned for loading/unloading or returning to transport position.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Loading Or Unloading Of Vehicles (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20395645

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (7)

Citations (5)

• 1994
  • 1994-10-18 SE SE9403544A patent/SE9403544D0/xx unknown
• 1995
  • 1995-10-18 AU AU37577/95A patent/AU3757795A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1995-10-18 DE DE69518429T patent/DE69518429T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1995-10-18 DK DK95935641T patent/DK0784555T3/da active
  • 1995-10-18 WO PCT/SE1995/001220 patent/WO1996011829A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1995-10-18 ES ES95935641T patent/ES2150586T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-10-18 HU HU9701969A patent/HU218996B/hu not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-10-18 EP EP95935641A patent/EP0784555B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (5)

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