WO2003020565A1

WO2003020565A1 - Method and arrangement at a reloading zone

Info

Publication number: WO2003020565A1
Application number: PCT/SE2002/001588
Authority: WO
Inventors: Björn JOHANNESSON; Carl-Axel Riegnell
Original assignee: Rail-Road Nonstop Logistics Ab
Priority date: 2001-09-05
Filing date: 2002-09-04
Publication date: 2003-03-13
Also published as: SE520493C2; SE0102935D0; SE0102935L

Abstract

A method for reloading of goods from a first goods wagon for a first railway track 2 having a first, larger track gauge to a second goods wagon for a track gauge 2 for a second railway track connecting the first railway track having a second lesser track gauge, whereby the second goods wagon having a to narrow track gauge for the first railway track, is centred by means of a centring device on the first railway track when it is brought, alternatively .'' loaded or unloaded on the first railway track.

Description

TITLE

Method and arrangement at a reloading zone.

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for reloading goods at a reloading zone from at least one trackbound goods wagon to another trackbound goods wagon, which goods wagons are intended for different track gauges. More specifically, the invention is directed to enable a fast and simple reloading of a number of goods wagons.

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND THE PROBLEM

At a track gauge change of a railway, for instance at a border of a country, when a first set of trackbound goods wagons shall be reloaded to a second set of trackbound good wagons, unloading of the first set occurs at a first location. Consequently the goods is transported a distance to be loaded onto the second set of goods wagons at a second location. In between the goods can be displaced with other types of vehicles, for instance industrial trucks, chargers and/or lorries. Here a cargo area is required, wherein these vehicles can be driven. This reloading is also time consuming, expensive and resource demanding.

A known solution for avoiding these expensive reloadings is to use goods wagons having an adjustable track gauge, a train set can pass a change of track gauge by means of said goods wagons having an adjustable track gauge. However, these wagons have a complicated design, and consequently the wagons are expensive in itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

The object of the invention is to solve one or several of the problems stated above. This is accomplished by means of a method according to claim 1 and an arrangement according to claim 6.

By providing the first railway track with a centring device for goods wagons at a reloading zone, at a joint between a first railway track having a first track gauge and a second railway track having a second lesser track gauge, so that goods wagons having a fixed and a to small track gauge for the actual track is controlled substantially to the middle of the track, the goods wagons can be driven on the first railway track, thus having a to large track gauge for the goods wagons. Here the width of the wheels are utilized and also the play in the contact between the wheel of the goods wagon and the rails of the railway track, admitting the goods wagons to be laterally displaced and still being on the track. Thus, according to the invention, only an external part of all the wheels obtains contact with an internal part of the rails while the insides of the wheels can support against the centring device. Thus, the reloading zone can be visited by goods wagons for unloading and loading, but also locomotives and passenger wagons independent on having track gauges adjusted for the first or the second railway track.

At least one adjusting rail is further comprised, which is arranged at the centring device, an adjusting rail can for instance be arranged at the respective rail and be arranged to support against the insides of the wheels, and thereby to compensate for different distances between the insides of two wheels as well.

By the fact that goods wagons both for unloading and loading can alternately be present on the same location the transport distance for the goods to be reloaded is minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention will be described with reference to the embodiments according to enclosed drawings, in which: Fig 1 shows a schematic sketch of a centring device according to the invention for a goods wagon on a railway track.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic sketch of a pair of wheels belonging to a goods wagon.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic sketch from above of the centring device according to the invention, at a reloading zone at a crossing between two different track gauges.

Fig. 4-8 show schematic explanatory sketches describing goods wagons in different positions at the reloading from a first goods wagon to a second goods wagon according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A centring device is denoted with 1 in the drawing, and a first railway track is denoted with 2a, whereby the first railway track 2a comprises two rails 2c. Further a first goods wagon is denoted with 3, and a first wheel of the goods wagon is denoted with 4. The centring device 1 comprises a rail la, which is arranged at the first railway track 2a, parallel with and to the inside of the respective rail 2a. The rail la is connected with the respective rail and/or the ground, the sleepers or the rail la at the second, opposite rail 2a. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the centring device 1 is arranged to support against the insides 4a of the wheels, see Fig. 1. Further the centring device 1 show an adjusting rail lb being arranged at the rail la and arranged to adjust for the different distances a, which the different goods wagons can exhibit between the insides 4a of the wheels. Preferably, the adjusting rail lb has substantially a U-shape for easily be brought upside-down at the rail la before an arriving goods wagon having a determined distance a between the insides 4a of the wheels. For fitting against different train sets having different distances a between the insides 4a of the wheels the centring device 1 can comprise a number of adjusting rails lb having different widths b.

The centring device 1 is arranged at a reloading zone 5 at a first railway track 2a having a first track gauge wl, and is arranged to centre a goods wagon, a passenger wagon (not shown) or a locomotive (not shown) onto the rails 2a, which have a to narrow track gauge for the first railway track 2a. Where the first railway track 2a ends a second railway track 2b having a second track gauge w2 starts. The first track gauge wl is larger than the second track gauge w2, but less than the distance b between the external parts 4b of a wheel pair on the same axis of a goods wagon intended for the broader, first track 2a, see Fig. 2. Thus, a goods wagon, a passenger wagon or a locomotive having a track gauge w2 for the second narrower railway track 2b can be driven on the broader, first railway track 2a without leaving the rails, as long as it is centred thereon. Thus, the goods wagons for unloading and loading, locomotives and passenger wagons can attend the reloading zone 1, independent on having track gauges adjusted for the first or the second railway track, 2a and 2b, respectively.

An unloading and loading arrangement 7 for unloading and loading of goods 6 also exists in the reloading zone 5. In a preferred embodiment, the goods device 7 comprises a lift- and lowering device 8 arranged on each goods wagon 3, which is exemplified by means of a lifting frame 8 in the drawing, which is preferably driven by means of pneumatics, but can also be driven by e.g. hydraulics or electricity. The lift- and lowering device 8 is arranged to lift the goods 6, substantially 5 — 70 cm upward, and preferably approx. 20 - 40 cm up from a goods bearer 3c on the goods wagon 3. Further, the preferred loader 7 comprises a goods carrier 9, connected to the ground, arranged to keep the goods 6 preferably right above the railway track 2a, and thereby allow that the lift- and lowering device 8 can be lowered without goods 6, and that the goods wagon 3 can be brought from there at the track as well. Both the lift- and lowering device 8 and the goods carrier 9 exhibit carriers or hooks (not shown), which are arranged to fixedly grip the goods 6 or the container 6'. Preferably, there is a loader 7 in the reloading zone 5 for each container 6' to be unloaded or loaded. Here all the loaders 7 are arranged to be used substantially at the same time, so that an entire train set can be simultaneous unloaded or loaded. The centring device 1 has a length being larger than the train set so that the entire train set is centred at the track 2a at a simultaneous unloading and loading.

In other embodiments the unloading and loading takes place by means of devices known for a man skilled in the art, for instance industrial trucks, hoisting cranes and lorries (not shown). Preferably, the goods 6 are enclosed in the containers 6'. A goods wagon 3 is designed for loading one or several containers 6 'and preferably has a lifting frame 8 for each container 6\ In one alternative embodiment a goods^' wagon 3 can have a lifting frame 8 in common for all its containers 6'.

Encasing the goods 6 in the containers 6' leads to that the loaders 7 can be standardized in such a way that loadings and unloading can be carried out in an easier and faster way.

Before the reloading of the goods 6 at the reloading zone 5, from the first goods wagon 3a adjusted for the broader, first track gauge wl to the second goods wagon 3b adjusted for the more narrow, second track gauge w2, an appropriate adjusting rail lb is placed on the rail la. The width b of the adjusting rail lb is chosen in such a way that the wheels belonging to the second goods wagon 3b will be able to support against the adjusting rail lb, whereby the second goods wagon 3b can be centred on the railway track 2a. Then the first goods wagon 3 a is brought into the reloading zone 5 see Fig. 5. In this case the reloading zone 5 has a correct track gauge for the goods wagon to be unloaded since the reloading zone 5 constitutes a part of the first, broader track 2a. Inside the reloading zone 5 the goods 6 is unloaded from the goods wagon 3a, see Figs. 5 and 6. Here the lifting frame 8, being possible to lift and lower, arranged at the wagon 3 is used, which is preferably driven by means of pneumatics, but can also be driven by hydraulics or electrical force. Subsequently, the lifting frame 8 lifts the goods 6 upwards and substantially straight upwards, so that the ground connected goods carriers 9 can grip the goods. At the use of the container 6 'the goods carriers 9 grip notches shaped in the container 6 'according to standards. Then the lifting frame 8 is lowered and the goods 6 is held above the wagons by means of the goods carriers 9, whereupon the goods wagon 3a is brought back onto the broader, first railway track 2a, see Figs. 7-8. Here the lift height of the lifting frame 8 is adjusted in such a way that the wagon can be brought under the goods 6 except obstructions from the goods 6 or the loaders 7. Subsequently the second goods wagon 3b adjusted for the narrower track gauge w2 is brought into the reloading zone 5, which can be performed by means of e.g. the regular locomotive of the second goods wagon 3b, or coupled together with the first goods wagon 3 a during the time it leaves the reloading zone 5. The centring device 1 centres the second goods wagon 3b to the centre of the track during the time as the goods wagon is in the reloading zone 5. The second goods wagon 3b is arranged in position under the goods 6 and the lifting frame 8 of the goods wagon is lifted and receives the goods 6 from the goods carrier 9 and lowers the goods to a position on the bearer 3c of the goods wagon as well. Then the second goods wagon 3b can be brought back to the second narrower railway track 2b, still with support from the centring device 1.

At the reloading from the second goods wagon 3b to the first goods wagon 3a, and consequently from the narrower railway track 2b to the broader railway track 2a, the basic principle is the same, but the sequence of the steps are substantially the opposite. The goods wagon for unloading, i.e. the second goods wagon 3b in this case, is brought into the reloading zone 5, unloaded and brought out, while the centring device 1 centres the goods wagon at the railway track 2a in the reloading zone 5. Consequently, the goods wagon for loading is brought into the reloading zone 5, i.e. the first goods wagon 3a in this case, which can thus be brought into the reloading zone 5 at its regular track gauge wl. Thus, the goods wagon for unloading and loading, respectively, can be constituted of the first or the second goods wagon 3 a and 3b, respectively.

In still another embodiment the goods wagon lacks a lifting frame 8, whereby the goods carriers 9 are also arranged to lift and lower the goods 6 above the bearer 3c of the goods wagon. In this embodiment the goods carriers 9 are driven by e.g. hydraulics, pneumatics or electrical force.

In yet another embodiment the adjusting rail lb is integrated in the rail la, which embodiment can preferably be used when the goods wagons to be centred substantially has the same distance a between the insides 4a of its wheels.

The invention shall not be regarded as limited to the embodiments described above, but can be varied within the scope for the claims. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 centring device la rail lb adjusting rail

2 railway track

2a first railway track

2b second railway track

2c rail, the first railway track

2d rail, the second railway track

3 goods wagon

3a first goods wagon

3b second goods wagon

3c goods bearer

4 wheel

4a inside, wheel

4b external part of the wheel

5 reloading zone

6 goods

6' container

7 unloading and loading device

8 lift- and lowering device

9 goods carrier

a distance between the insides of the wheels b width wl first track gauge w2 second track gauge

Claims

1. A method at a reloading zone (5) at a first railway track (2a) having a first track gauge (wl), which railway track (2a) connects a second railway track (2b) having a second track gauge (w2), wherein the first track gauge (wl) is larger than the second track gauge (w2), for reloading of goods (6) from at least a first trackbound goods wagon (3a, 3b) intended for one of the track gauges (wl, w2), and to at least a second trackbound goods wagon (3b, 3a) intended for the second of the track gauges (w2, wl), characterized in the steps of, - the railway track (2a) at the reloading zone (5) is provided with a centring device

(1) for trackbound goods wagons (3a, 3b),

- a goods wagon (3 a, 3b) for unloading is placed in the reloading zone (5),

- the goods (6) is unloaded from the goods wagon for unloading (3a, 3b) by means of a unloading- and loading device (7), - the goods wagon for unloading (3 a, 3b) is brought away from the reloading zone

(5),

- a goods wagon for loading (3b, 3 a) of the goods is placed in the reloading zone (5),

- the goods (6) are loaded on the goods wagon for loading (3b, 3a) by means of the unloading- and loading device (7).

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in the steps of,

- the goods (6) is unloaded substantially in a direction upwards by means of a lift- and lowering device arranged on the first goods wagon (3 a, 3b), - the goods is loaded on the goods wagon for loading (3 a, 3b) substantially in a direction downwards by means of a lift- and lowering device (8) arranged on this goods wagon (3b, 3a).

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, characterised in the step, that the goods (6) is detained in the elevated position substantially right above the track (2a) until the goods (6) shall be loaded onto the goods wagon for loading (3b, 3a).

4. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in the step, the method is performed with at least three goods wagons (3a, 3b) a carrying out.

5. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in the step, that the goods (6) is enclosed in at least one container (6').

6. An arrangement at a reloading zone (5) at a first railway track (2a) having a first track gauge (wl), which railway track (2a) connects a second railway track (2b) having a second track gauge (w2), wherein the first track gauge (wl) is larger than the second track gauge (w2), whereby the arrangement is arranged to reload at least one container (6') from a first trackbound goods wagon (3a, 3b) intended for one of the track gauges (wl, w2), and to a second trackbound goods wagon (3b, 3a) intended for the second of the track gauges (w2, wl), characterised in,

- that the arrangement comprises an unloading- and loading device (7) arranged at the reloading zone (5) for at least one container (6'), and - that the arrangement further comprises a centring device (1) for trackbound goods wagons (3 a, 3b) arranged at the reloading zone (5) and arranged to centre the goods wagons (3 a, 3b) adjusted for the lesser track gauge (w2) on the railway track having the larger track gauge (wl), so that the goods wagon (3a, 3b) is detained on the railway track (2a).

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, characterised in, that the centring device (1) has substantially a length corresponding the total length for all the goods wagons (3a, 3b), which interconnected shall be brought into the reloading zone (5).

8. An arrangement as claimed in any of the claims 6 or 7, characterised in, that the centring device (1) is arranged between the rail (2c) of the first railway track and arranged to support against the inside of the wheels (4a) of the goods wagon.

9. An arrangement as claimed in any of the claims 6 - 8, characterised in, that the centring device (1) comprises two rails (la) each, integrally arranged inwards from and parallel with the respective rail (2c).

10. An arrangement as claimed in any of the claims 6 - 9, characterised in, that the respective rail (la) has an adjusting rail (lb) arranged to be applied on the rails (la) for compensating for the goods wagons having greater distances (a) between the insides (4a) of the wheels.

11. An arrangement as claimed in any of the claims 6 - 10, characterised in, that the centring device (1) has a U-section arranged upside-down and over the rails (la) as well.