Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61D—BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES
  • B61D7/00—Hopper cars
  • B61D7/14—Adaptations of hopper elements to railways
  • B61D7/16—Closure elements for discharge openings
  • B61D7/24—Opening or closing means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a bottom discharge arrange ⁇ ment according to the preamble of Claim 1.
• Known bottom discharge arrangements include so-called sliding flaps supported by carrier arms which in manoeuvering the sliding flaps are able to pivot about a journal pin located above a respective flap and preferably extending in the longitudinal direction of the truck.
• the sliding flaps As the sliding flaps are manoeuvered, they swing laterally to the transverse direction of the truck and upwards, such as to describe a circular arc whose centre lies in the pivot axis.
• opening and closing the sliding flaps will move along the truck periphery to a position on one side of the discharge opening, spaced from the journal pin.
• flaps which have the form of so-called drop flaps, i.e. flaps which when moved to their respective opening and closing positions do not follow a path along the periphery of the truck to a position on respective sides of the discharge opening, but flaps whose mutually remote edges are pivotally mounted on the bottom of the goods container and which can therefore be swung rapidly to an open position in a plane perpendicular to said edges.
• drop flaps i.e. flaps which when moved to their respective opening and closing positions do not follow a path along the periphery of the truck to a position on respective sides of the discharge opening
• flaps whose mutually remote edges are pivotally mounted on the bottom of the goods container and which can therefore be swung rapidly to an open position in a plane perpendicular to said edges.
• flaps When closed, these flaps together form a continuous bottom surface against which the ore rests, and when open form a continuation of the mutually opposing wall parts of the goods container located above the flaps and therewith function to guide
• US-A-3,316,859 and US-A-3,611,947 illustrate examples of bottom discharge arrangements that include an eccentric mechanism which takes a so-called overkneed position when the flaps are closed.
• the flaps of these known bottom discharge arrangements are not drop flaps but sliding flaps, i.e. flaps which are carried by support arms and which are pivotal about a journal pin mounted above each flap.
• this type of flap no serious problems occur as a result of the negative forces that are generated in the manoeuvering mechanism by the weight of the goods being carried when the flaps are closed, because the weight of the ore is taken up essentially by the journal pins located above respective flaps and not by the flap operating mechanism as in the case of drop flaps.
• US-A-3,611,947 teaches a bottom discharge arrangement which includes a pair of drop flaps which are pivotally mounted on the goods container at their mutually remote edges and operated by means of a link system which is common to both flaps and which includes an eccentric mechanism in the form of a two-arm lever pivotally mounted between the flaps. Each end of the lever is pivotally connected to a respective flap by means of a link arm. The eccentric mechanism is in an overkneed position when the flaps are closed.
• the mechanism is constructed so that in the initial unlocking movement the flaps are moved horizontally from a position in which they are locked and cannot therefore be pivoted to an end position in which the flaps are able to pivot. This arrangement thus obviates the need to overcome the weight of the goods when opening the flaps, and the only force that need be overcome is the frictional force acting between the flaps and those parts of the arrangement that support the flaps.
• the object of the invention is to provide an improved bottom discharge arrangement for all trucks or bogies provided with drop flaps, so as to enable the flaps to be opened more quickly than with known arrangements.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a bottom discharge arrangement having an operating mechanism which will lock the flaps securely in their closed positions in spite of a very rapid flap-opening sequence.
• Fig. 1 is a front view (or rear view) of an ore truck which includes a bottom discharge arrangement constructed in accordance with the invention
• Fig. 2 is a side view of the ore truck provided with the bottom discharge arrangement according to Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a schematic end view of one embodiment of a bottom discharge arrangement, showing the arrangement when open;
• Fig. 4 illustrates the bottom discharge arrangement of Fig. 3 when closed.
• the railway truck 1 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a goods container or basket 2 supported by an undercarriage 3.
• the truck 1 is intended to transport such goods as ore, coal, etc., and has provided at the bottom thereof an inventive bottom discharge arrangement 4.
• the arrangement 4 includes a pair of mutually identical flaps 5, 5' which, when closed, form a continuous and impervious bottom on which the ore rests and which, when open (Fig. 3) define an opening through which the ore is discharged to an underlying offloading bin (not shown) located between the truck wheels (not shown) while guiding the goods into the bin.
• the bottom discharge arrangement 4 is mounted on the under ⁇ carriage 3 and on the goods container 2 and includes a frame 7 to which the flaps 5, 5' are pivotally connected along their mutually remote edges at 6, 6'.
• the bottom discharge arrangement further includes a link system 8 and 8* respec ⁇ tively on each end side of the flaps (see Fig. 2), said system being operative to guide the flaps in a plane perpen ⁇ dicular to said edges as the flaps 5, 5 1 are opened and closed.
• the two link systems 8, 8' are mutually identical and are constructed to manoeuver the flaps 5, 5' simultaneously.
• the link systems 8, 8' are manoeuvered simultaneously by means of an operating device 9 which includes for each link system an operating arm 10 which is pivotally connected at one end to the link system 8, 8 1 and at its other end to a respective link arm 11, 11', which is, in turn, attached to the respective end of a rotatably journalled axle 12 extend- ing along the goods container 2.
• an operating device 9 which includes for each link system an operating arm 10 which is pivotally connected at one end to the link system 8, 8 1 and at its other end to a respective link arm 11, 11', which is, in turn, attached to the respective end of a rotatably journalled axle 12 extend- ing along the goods container 2.
• the operating device 9 also includes a vertically arranged lifting device 13 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the truck and which includes a roller 14 for coaction with a guide path (not shown) arranged along the track plane.
• the lifting device 13 is located centrally between the link systems 8, 8', see Fig. 2.
• the lifting device 13 includes a pivotal link-arm 15 which extends to a link arm (not shown) fixedly connected to the axle 12 and to which the link arm 15 is pivotally mounted.
• the link arm 15 and the link arm that is not shown are mutually arranged so that vertical movement of the roller 14 of the operating device from a lower end position to an upper end position will cause the axle 12 to turn anti-clockwise. Movement of the roller 14 from its upper end position to its lower end position will cause the axle 12 to turn in a clockwise direction.
• the link 8 is placed outside the goods container 2 and includes a bearing block 16 in the region between said flaps 5, 5', for simultaneous manoeuver ⁇ ing of the flaps.
• the bearing block 16 is attached to the goods container 2 and has pivotally journalled thereon a two- arm lever 17 which is pivotally connected at each end to a respective flap 5, 5' through the medium of a link arm 18, 19.
• one end of the manoeuver arm 10 is pivotally connected to one end of the two-arm lever 17, while the other end of the manoeuver arm is pivotally attached to the link arm 11, said link arm, in turn, being attached to the end of the axle 12 rotatably mounted on the goods container 2.
• the pivotal point of the manoeuver arm 10 on the two-arm lever 17 is such as to enable torque to be applied to the two-arm lever 17 about its attachment point, thus moving the link system 8 out of its self-locking position.
• the pivot points of the link arm 11 and the manoeuver arm 10 attached to the axle 12 are so positioned in relation to one another that rotary movement of the axle 12 in an anti ⁇ clockwise direction will cause the flaps 5, 5' to open, while rotary movement of the axle 12 in a clockwise direction will cause the flaps 5, 5'to close.
• the illustrated embodiment of the bottom discharge arrange ⁇ ment 4 is designed for manoeuvering by means of the lifting device 13, which is described in more detail in SE 460 038. It will be understood, however, that the manoeuvering device which drives the link system 8 can be replaced with other types of drive systems known to the art, such as piston- cylinder systems for instance.
• the links 17, 18, 19 of the link system 8 are angled in a manner best seen from Fig. 3.
• the pivotal connections between the links 18, 19 and the pivot point of the two-arm lever 17 are spaced apart such that the pivot points of all the parts included in the link system will be located in mutually spaced relationship along a line 20 (Fig. 4) which is common to said parts, when the flaps 5, 5' are closed.
• the flaps are opened by moving the roller 14 on the lifting device 13 from its lower to its upper position (Figs. 3 and 4).
• the manner in which the roller 14 is moved is described in more detail in publication SE 460 038 mentioned above.
• the axle 12 is rotated by the link arm 15.
• the link arm 11 is activated and, in turn, causes the two-arm lever 17 to rotate anti-clockwise, through the medium of the manoeuver arm 10.
• the operating device 9 is also in a locked position when the flaps 5, 5' are closed, wherein the roller 14 on the lifting device 13 of the operating device 9 is located in its bottom end position.
• This locked state of the arrangement achieved by the construction of the links 10, 11, 15 and their mutually selected pivot points, can only be released by causing the roller 14 to move towards its upper end position.
• the mutually proximal edges 21 of the flaps 5, 5' form a goods labyrinth when closed, therewith making it difficult for the goods to escape between the flaps 5, 5' .
• one of the links 13 is provided with a surface for abutment with an elastomeric damping element 21, abutment element, attached to the goods container 2.
• the illustrated embodiment of the inventive bottom discharge arrangement in which the pivot points are arranged to lie on a common line does not limit the way in which the link system 8 can be locked.
• the link system can be constructed in a way in which the links take a slightly overkneed position when the flaps are closed or a slightly instable position in which they are locked by the operating device, both alternatives lying within the scope of the inventive concept.
• it lies within the scope of the inventive concept to construct the bottom discharge arrangement in a manner which will enable the flaps to be manoeuvered by means of a single link system which acts on one flap.
• Such a bottom discharge arrangement would be larger in size and therewith more bulky.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Refuse Receptacles (AREA)
• Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
• Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
• Refuse Collection And Transfer (AREA)
• Prostheses (AREA)
• Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)
• Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
• Power-Operated Mechanisms For Wings (AREA)
• Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
• Threshing Machine Elements (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
• Sink And Installation For Waste Water (AREA)
• Lasers (AREA)
• Devices For Use In Laboratory Experiments (AREA)
• Auxiliary Methods And Devices For Loading And Unloading (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20395938

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Families Citing this family (14)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1994
  • 1994-11-11 SE SE9403887A patent/SE503939C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1995
  • 1995-10-31 CA CA002203554A patent/CA2203554C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-10-31 US US08/836,448 patent/US5823118A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-10-31 DE DE69515324T patent/DE69515324D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-10-31 AT AT95937263T patent/ATE190018T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-10-31 EP EP95937263A patent/EP0790912B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-10-31 AU AU39422/95A patent/AU3942295A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1995-10-31 WO PCT/SE1995/001283 patent/WO1996015016A1/en active IP Right Grant
• 1997
  • 1997-05-07 FI FI971942A patent/FI110929B/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-05-09 NO NO972147A patent/NO307173B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (5)

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