Apparatus for maneuvering and performing measurements on rail vehicles

An apparatus for maneuvering and performing measurements on rail vehicles, which apparatus comprises a number of platforms, each designed to travel on a horizontal surface and having pneumatically supported traversing means for moving the platform over the aforementioned surface, a pair of parallel guides for supporting and enabling rolling of the vehicle wheels, and measuring means; which appparatus also comprises a number of removable connecting devices, each designed to be set to a first configuration wherein it connects two adjacent platforms with the axes of the respective guides substantially in line, and a second configuration wherein the two adjacent platforms are separated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manoevering and 
performing measurements on rail vehicles. 
Railroad vehicles often need manoevering into position within a given floor 
space, for example, inside a lockup, depot or workshop. In such cases, 
provision is usually made for a number of rail sections and trucks 
travelling along guides, each of which is provided with a short rail and 
designed to support and move the vehicle along the said guides. 
Vehicle positioning using equipment of the aforementioned type requires a 
good deal of manoevering, both on the rail sections and the trucks. What 
is more, the said equipment is fairly complex and cumbersome, due to the 
large number of rail sections and trucks involved, which occupy 
practically the whole of the surface area within which the vehicles are to 
be positioned. 
Test measurements must also be made at times, both on prototype vehicles at 
the final project stage, and on standard production vehicles as part of 
final testing or routine maintenance. The purpose of these measurements is 
to detect parameters such as the loads exchanged between each wheel and 
the rail, or the position of given points on the wheels or truck, for 
accurately determining, for example, the "natural" position of the wheel 
centres (i.e. unaffected by horizontal forces between the wheels and 
rails), parallelism of the wheel axles, and strain on the suspensions for 
a given vehicle attitude in relation to the rails. 
Known equipment provides for performing a number of the aforementioned test 
measurements. One system provides for measuring the loads exchanged 
between the rail and wheel with the vehicle level, or with one rail 
raised, or on skew rails. Another provides for measuring strain on the 
suspensions in one of the said three configurations. Yet another provides 
solely for test measurements on the bare truck. 
Each of the aforementioned measurements is usually made using a specific 
type of equipment, specially designed for the purpose and which more often 
than not cannot be employed for performing different tests. Whenever a 
series of test measurements is called for, a good deal of additional work 
is usually involved for setting up and positioning the equipment as 
required for testing. Another drawback of such equipment is that it does 
not provide for simulating all the rolling attitudes of the vehicle, or 
any special attitudes which might need investigating. 
Finally, the said equipment only provides for simultaneously testing a 
number of the wheels on the vehicle, with the result that test findings 
are seriously affected by the support and constraint conditions of the 
remaining untested wheels. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The air of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manoevering 
and performing measurements on rail vehicles, which apparatus provides for 
manoevering the vehicles into any position within a given surface area, 
and for performing the aforementioned measurements quickly and easily on 
all the vehicle axles. 
With this aim in view, according to the present invention, there is 
provided an apparatus for manoevering and performing measurements on rail 
vehicles having a number of axles, characterized by the fact that it 
comprises a number of platforms, each designed to travel on a horizontal 
surface and having pneumatically supported traversing means for moving the 
said platform over the said surface, and a pair of parallel guides for 
supporting and enabling rolling of the wheels on one of the said vehicle 
axles; the said apparatus also comprising a number of removable connecting 
devices, each designed to be set to a first configuration wherein it 
connects two adjacent platforms with the axes of the respective said 
guides substantially in line, and a second configuration wherein the said 
two adjacent platforms are separated, so that, when the connecting devices 
of a series of platforms are in the said first configuration, the said 
platform are so connected as to enable the wheels on the vehicle axles to 
be rolled on to the respective guides, so as to position a given axle on 
the end platform of the said series, and, when the connecting device on 
the end platform of the said series is set to the said second 
configuration, the said end platform may be moved away from the others. 
The said apparatus also comprises measuring means for measuring the loads 
exchanged between each of the said axles and the respective parallel 
guides on the platform

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus according to the present invention 
comprises a number of platforms 1, each designed to travel on a horizontal 
surface 2 and having pneumatically supported traversing means for moving 
the said platform 1 over the said surface 2. Each platform 1 comprises a 
pair of parallel guides 3 for supporting and enabling rolling of wheels 4 
on the vehicle axle, as well as measuring means not shown in FIG. 1 but 
described in more detail later on. The apparatus according to the present 
invention also comprises a number of removable connecting devices 5, each 
designed to be set to a first configuration wherein it connects two 
adjacent platforms 1 with the axes of guides 3 substantially in line, and 
a second configuration wherein the said two adjacent platforms 1 are 
separated. The apparatus shown by way of example in FIG. 1 comprises four 
platforms 1, which, in FIG. 1a, are shown connected together by connecting 
devices 5. In FIG. 1b, the end platform 1 has been separated from the 
adjacent one by setting the respective connecting devices to the said 
second configuration. In FIG. 1c, all the platforms 1 are disconnected, 
and all the respective connecting devices therefore in the said second 
configuration. 
As shown clearly in FIG. 1, horizontal surface 2 is lower than the surfaces 
supporting vehicle rails 6, and the height of platform 1 is substantially 
equal to the difference in height between the said two surfaces, so that 
the respective upper surfaces of guides 3 and rails 6 are substantially 
flush. 
For enabling each platform to be moved along surface 2 using pneumatically 
supported traversing means, the said surface 2 must be perfectly smooth 
with no more than a 1 in 1000 gradient, so as to minimise any horizontal 
forces which might affect the "natural wheel position" measurement. 
Each platform 1, which is shown broken down into its major components in 
FIG. 2, substantially comprises a first frame 7 having the said 
pneumatically supported traversing means 8. The said means 8 may be of any 
known type designed to emit compressed air jets on to horizontal surface 2 
for pneumatically supporting platform 1 and creating a thin cushion of air 
between platform 1 and horizontal surface 2 for eliminating sliding 
friction. Platform 1 also comprises a second frame 9 having the said pair 
of guides 3 for vehicle wheels 4, and supporting the said measuring means 
indicated as a whoel by 10 and shown schematically in the plan view of 
second frame 9 in FIG. 4. Between the said first and second frames 7 and 
9, there are provided lifting means 11 for raising the said second frame 9 
in relation to the said first frame 7 as described in more detail later 
on. The said lifting means 11 substantially comprise four lifting devices 
12 substantially arranged in the form of a rectangular and each designed 
to raise a respective portion of second frame 9. Each lifting device 12 is 
air-powered and comprises a pair of tubular bellows 13 formed from 
deformable material, and onoff means (not shown) for enabling compressed 
air to be supplied inside and exhausted from the same. Each pair of 
bellows 13 is connected at the bottom end to first frame 7 and at the top 
end to a respective supporting plate 16. As shown clearly in the plan view 
of first frame 7 and lifting means 11 in FIG. 5, the plates 16 of each 
pair of devices 12 are connected by a tubular element 17 on which is 
formed a pair of supporting seats 18 for second frame 9. For strengthening 
the connection between each plate 16 and respective tubular element 17, 
provision is conveniently made for a pair of ribs 19. 
Second frame 9 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7) comprises a pair of side panels 20, 
each designed to form one of the said guides 3, and at least two pairs of 
cross members 21 and 22 (FIG. 1) for connecting side panels 20. Measuring 
means 10 are connected to the first pair of cross members 21 in the centre 
of the frame, and each cross member 22 in the second pair is designed to 
support one of the said connecting devices 5 for connecting two adjacent 
platforms 1. As shown clearly in the accompanying Figures, cross members 
21 and 22 are conveniently tubular in shape and present portions 23 
projecting from the front surface of side panels 20. As shown clearly in 
FIG. 6, each connecting device 6 is in the form of a plate having a pair 
of holes 24, each designed to receive one of projecting portions 23 on one 
of end cross members 22. In each of the said projecting portions 23, there 
is formed a radial hole 25 designed to receive a pin 26 (FIG. 6) for 
locking connecting plate 5 in relation to respective projecting portion 
23. 
Second frame 9 also comprises two pairs of saddles 30 (FIGS. 2 and 6) each 
designed to rest on one of supporting seats 18 formed on tubular element 
17 of second frame 9. The said saddles 30 in each pair are conveniently 
secured to a further cross member 31 on frame 9 (FIG. 4). 
Second frame 9 also presents two pairs of feet 32 (FIGS. 2 and 4) designed 
to rest on surface 2 and arranged in the form of a rectangle. The feet 32 
in each pair are connected by ball joints 33 (FIG. 6) to a respective 
conveniently tubular cross bar 34 having its axis parallel with those of 
cross members 21 and 22. The said bars 34 are secured to the ends of side 
panels 20 on second frame 9, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. 
Measuring means 10 on each platform 1 substantially comprise a pair of 
dynamometric scales 35 (FIGS. 8, 9, 10) each located on one side of second 
frame 9, inside a respective side panel 20 (FIG. 4). Each said scale 35 
presents a pair of discs 36 designed to support a wheel 4 of one axle, and 
each of which turns in idle manner on the end of a respective shaft 37 
having its axis parallel with the axes of cross members 21 and 22 on 
second frame 9. Scale 35 also comprises a yoke 38 having its axis 
perpendicular to the axes of shafts 37 and connected to the ends of the 
same, and a pair of vertical ties 39, the bottom ends of which are 
connected by ball joints 40 to the end of yoke 38. The top ends of yokes 
38 are secured to a bar 41 having its axis parallel with that of yoke 38 
and which is inserted inside a pair of bushes 42, each of which is secured 
to a respective cross member 21 on second frame 9. 
Each of shafts 37 is conveniently connected to yoke 38 by means of a 
tubular housing 45 (FIGS. 9 and 10) in which are formed a first pair of 
holes 46 fitted through with shaft 37, and a second pair of holes 47 
perpendicuar to the first and fitted through with yoke 38. For 
strengthening the connection, there is provided, between the shaft and 
housing, a pair of plates 48 and 49 resting respectively on shaft 37 and 
yoke 38. The said plates are provided with a pair of holes fitted through 
with the shanks of a respective pair of bolts 50 tightened in such a 
manner as to exert, via the said plates 48 and 49, given pressures on 
shaft 37 and yoke 38. The shank of each bolt 50 conveniently rests on a 
seat 51 formed on yoke 38 as shown in FIG. 9. 
Along each tie 39, there is inserted a load cell 52 for detecting the axial 
force exerted along tie 39, and which is connectable to appropriate 
electronic measuring equipment. 
Each of discs 36 presents an annular groove 53 (FIG. 10) for housing the 
rim of a vehicle wheel 4. For this purpose, each side panel 20 on frame 9 
presents, next to each respective pair of discs 36, a V-shaped recess 54 
(FIGS. 7 and 9) for interrupting the continuity of the guide 3 formed by 
side panel 20 and so causing the wheel 4 running along guide 3 to drop 
down between the said two discs 36 and to be supported solely by the same 
when over recess 54. Each side panel 20 also comprises a bridge type plate 
55 (FIG. 6) connectable in removable manner to side panel 20 and designed 
to support wheel 4 when connected to side panel 20 as shown in FIG. 6 and 
so prevent wheel 4 from dropping down between the respective pair of discs 
36. In FIG. 7, second frame 9 is shown without bridge plates 55. Each 
bridge plate 55 conveniently comprises a pair of holes, each designed to 
receive a respective projecting portion 23 of cross members 21. Each of 
the said projecting portions 23 presents a hole designed to receive a pin 
56 for securing bridge plate 55 to the respective side panel 20. 
The apparatus according to the present invention also comprises a third 
frame 57 (FIG. 2) fitted on top of second frame 9. The said frame 57, a 
plan view of which is shown in FIG. 3, substantially presents a number of 
cross members 58 (three in the embodiment shown) on the ends of which 
there are fitted in rotary manner two pairs of rollers 59 having their 
axes parallel with the respective side panel 20 and located close to the 
same so that the outer surface of each roller 59 rests against the inner 
surface of the wheel 4 resting on side panel 20. For supporting cross 
members 58 on third frame 57, second frame 9 conveniently presents a pair 
of side members 60 secured to cross members 21 and 22 on second frame 9 as 
shown in FIG. 2. 
The measuring apparatus according to the present invention operates as 
follows. 
When idle, platforms 1 are arranged substantially in line and connected 
together by connecting devices 5 as shown in FIG. 1a. For this purpose, 
each connecting device 5 is fitted on to respective projecting portions 23 
of respective cross members 22 on frame 9 and locked on to the same by 
means of pins 26 (FIG. 6). 
The vehicle for testing is rolled off rails 6 on to guides 3 on platforms 
1, and along the platform train until the end vehicle axle is positioned 
on the end platform 1 as shown in FIG. 1a. At this point, the connecting 
devices 5 connecting the two adjacent end platforms 1 are removed and the 
pneumatic supporting means 8 on the end platform 1 are activated for 
moving it along horizontal surface 2 into the position shown in FIG. 1b 
wherein the second vehicle axle is brought to rest on the next-to-last 
platform 1 in the train. At this point, the second platform 1 is also 
disconnected from the rest and the same procedure already described is 
repeated until all the vehicle axles are brought to rest on a respective 
platform 1 as shown in FIG. 1c. 
The vehicle axles are now ready for testing. The axis of each axle may be 
set to a given angle for simulating a given attitude in relation to 
horizontal surface 2, by activating lifting devices 12 on each platform 1 
by feeding compressed air inside bellows 13 (FIG. 2). By appropriately 
regulating the air supply inside bellows 13, each plate 16 on the lifting 
means may be set to any required height regardless of the height of the 
others. The bellows 13 in each pair controlling plate 16 are conveniently 
connected parallel. When plates 16 are reaised independently, tubular 
elements 17, to which plates 16 are connected, form a given angle in 
relation to horizontal surface 2 so as to raise second frame 9 which rests 
on the said tubular elements 17 by means of saddles 30. When frame 9 is 
raised by lifting means 11, feet 32 on frame 9, which were previously 
resting on horizontal surface 2 in the idle condition, are raised off the 
said surface 2 so that frame 9 is supported solely by first frame 7. 
For resting the weight of each wheel 4 on respective dynamometric scale 35 
of measuring means 10, respective bridge plate 55 must be removed from 
respective side panel 20, as shown in FIG. 7, by simply removing pins 56 
securing bridge plate 55 on to projecting ends 23 of cross members 21 on 
frame 9. Subsequent to removal of bridge plate 55, wheel 4, which is 
located in recess 54 on side panel 20, is allowed to drop down on to the 
pair of discs 36 on dynamometric scale 35, with its edge inside groove 53 
of discs 36, which thus support the load transmitted by wheel 4 
perpendicularly to the rail. Via the connection formed by shafts 37 and 
housing 45, the said load is transmitted to yoke 38 and from this to ties 
39 and respective load cells 52 for measurement. The various component 
parts of dynamometric scale 35 combine to form a substantially isostatic 
system capable of withstanding extremely heavy loads and measuring the 
same accurately by means of load cells 52. 
Idle rotation of discs 36 mainly provides for turning the supported wheel 4 
when the latter is connected mechanically to another wheel on the truck 
rolling along rail 6 for loading the vehicle on to platforms 1. The 
measurements on each axle may be made while the axle is turning. 
Sideways shift of the axle in relation to second frame 9 is prevented by 
rollers 59 (FIG. 3) each of which rests against the inner surface of wheel 
4. As rollers 59 are idle, they are turned alongside rotation of 
respective wheel 4, with extremely little rolling friction which has no 
effect on the test findings. 
In addition to measuring the loads transmitted by each wheel on to the 
rail, the apparatus according to the present invention also provides for 
running any other type of test using appropriate accessory equipment and 
devices. The position of the wheel centres and parallelism of the axles 
may be tested, for example, using any type of optical or electronic 
measuring equipment. The vehicle suspensions may be tested by 
appropriately setting up the vehicle by raising second frames 9 on 
platforms 1. The same configuration also provides for detecting the 
position of given suspension or vehicle body components. 
To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes may be made to 
the apparatus as described and illustrated herein without, however, 
departing from the scope of the present invention.