ARTICULATED RAILWAY CARRIAGE FOR THE TRANPORT OF CARS, PROVIDED WITH SINGLE-AXLE RUNNING GEARS WITH MOVABLE INDEPENDENT WHEELS

Abstract: The rolling monoaxle with independent displaceable wheels for articulated railway carriages intended to the transportation of cars comprises a carrier frame (1), suspension springs (2) with internally mounted vertical dampers, sliding pads for supporting a rolling axle upon changing the track width or gauge, suspension heads (4) with stabilizing arms (5), suspension pendulums connected to the suspension heads, and rolling guide systems. The invention is useful to use articulated platform railway carriages for the transportation of cars in railway networks having two different gauges.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an articulated wagon intended for transporting cars, able to run at speeds of 200 km/h and equipped with single-axle running gears with movable independent wheels as per the preamble of claim 1. Incorporating running gears of this type on such wagons will make it possible for them to be used for two different track gauges. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is known, transporting cars by rail is done with articulated platform wagons which, normally, are designed to run on a single track gauge. Nevertheless, it would be desirable for these wagons to be able to be fitted with single-axle running gears with movable independent wheels and thus to be made able to run on railway networks with two different track gauges. The problem of constructing running gears with movable independent wheels has already been solved by the applicant, who is the holder of patent FR-A-1,558,329, in which are described single-axle bogies with a variable distance between the wheels. In this patent, each wheel set of the running gear of the bogie consists of a half-axle, a wheel, two brake discs integral with each other and two axle boxes mounted at both ends of the half-axle, the said axle boxes being fixed in the position corresponding to each track gauge by means of respective locking keys. Such running gear comprises a carrying frame in which are incorporated the axle boxes of each wheel set and the mechanisms necessary for translating and locking the same, sliding shoes incorporated in the lateral parts of the carrying frame and intended to support the running gear during the process of changing track gauge, and a suspension system. Furthermore, articulated wagons provided with single-axle running gears and independent wheels are known from document FR-A-791,678. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Starting with the bogie described in the abovementioned French patent, and taking account of the particular characteristics of the articulated platform wagons intended for transporting cars, the applicant has developed a wagon of the aforesaid kind, consisting of two trailers connected together and equipped with single-axle running gears with movable independent wheels so that said wagon is adaptable to travel on different track gauges. Moreover, given the characteristics offered by these wagons after they have been equipped with the running gears in accordance with the invention, such as those of making use of independent wheels, not having to withstand heavy loads and being equipped with guidance systems, the said wagons are then able to run at speeds of 200 km/h. Consequently, the invention provides an articulated car transporter wagons, having the features described in the characterizing portion of claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other characteristics of the invention will emerge clearly in the light of the following detailed description, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a car transporter platform which incorporates running gears of the present invention, Figure 2 is an elevation view, with sectioned parts, of the intermediate running gear of the platform of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view, with sectioned parts, of the running gear of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a view, with sectioned parts, intended fundamentally to show the system for locking the axle boxes of the running gear of the invention, Figures 5A and 5B are elevation and plan views respectively, diagrammatically representing the guidance system used in running gears in accordance with the invention, and Figures 6A and 6B are plan and elevation views respectively, illustrating the position which the guidance system of Figures 5A and 5B would take up when the articulated wagon set lies on a curve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows a wagon which incorporates three running gears R1, R2, R3 like that developed by the present invention. This wagon is of articulated construction and is formed by two platforms P, each with two levels P1, P2, which allow the vehicles to be loaded and unloaded, at the two levels, through their end faces, also allowing the vehicles to pass from one platform to another and to the adjacent wagons, in the case where various wagons like the one illustrated in Figure 1 are incorporated in a train. The three running gears R1, R2, R3, which are apparent in Figure 1 are basically identical, and their construction will now be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3, which illustrate the intermediate running gear R1. As is depicted in the said figures, the running gear R1 (and likewise the extreme running gears R2, R3) includes a carrying frame 1 in which are incorporated the axle boxes CC (Figure 3) of each wheel set of the running gear, and likewise the necessary mechanisms for the translation and locking of the said sets. The said carrying frame 1 has, in its lateral parts, housings in which are incorporated suspension springs 2. Vertical dampers AV are mounted within the suspension springs 2. The carrying frame 1 also has, incorporated in its lateral parts, sliding shoes 3, on which the running gear R1 rests during the process of changing gauges, such that the wheels W are unloaded and thus the translation from one gauge to another is greatly facilitated. The upper parts of the suspension springs 2 bear on suspension headers 4, on which are also fixed the bells of the vertical dampers AV. The said suspension headers are stabilized by means of sets of arms 5 (Figure 3). As can be seen in Figure 2, hanging suspension links 6 are provided, the upper ends of which are connected to the suspension headers 4, while the lower ends of the said hanging suspension links 6 are fixed to supports S which are integral with the frame of the wagon. That being so, the platforms P are suspended from the lower part of the said hanging suspension links 6, the load being transmitted from them to the suspension springs 2 via the said hanging suspension links 6. As a consequence of the inclination which they present with respect to the vertical plane which passes through the longitudinal axis of the track, the hanging suspension links 6 generate a force for self-centring of the running gear R1 and, due to the inclination which they have with respect to the vertical plane transverse to the axis of the track, they provide a force countering the transverse movements between the platforms P and the running gear R1. Figure 3 also illustrates the braking system used in the running gear R1 of the invention (an identical braking system will also be mounted on the running gears R2, R3). This braking system is of the "calliper" type and comprises a pneumatic actuating cylinder 7, a calliper 8 and friction linings 9 which are applied by the cylinder 7 against half-discs fastened to the web of each wheel W. The pneumatic actuating cylinder 7, as well as the brake calliper 8 and the friction linings 9, are integral with a support 10 which is fixed to the inner axle box CC of the corresponding wheel W and can be moved as a whole with the wheel set in order to adjust the braking system to both track gauges and thus guarantee the correct operation thereof. Referring now to Figure 4, it can be seen that the system for locking the axle boxes CC is a dual one, that is to say that each of the said axle boxes is locked with its corresponding locking key L. The description of this locking system is omitted here, since it has already been explained in detail in the patent FR-A-1,558,329. The running gears R1, R2, R3 of the present invention are provided with guidance systems with the aim of ensuring that the angle which the flange of the wheel W forms with the tangent to a curve of the railway track at the point of contact with it is zero. By virtue of these guidance systems, a substantial lowering of the risk of derailment due to the flange of the wheel riding up is obtained, and, moreover, a substantial reduction in the wear on the flange is achieved. These guidance systems will differ according to whether intermediate running gears or extreme running gears are involved. The guidance system of the intermediate running gear R1 can be seen in Figure 3. This system, on each side of the wagon, consists of a guidance lever arm 11 fitted in the carrying frame 1 of the running gear R1 in the horizontal position, and of two guide bars 12, 13, of which the bar 13 is connected at one end to the adjacent end face of one of the trailers constituting the wagon and the other bar 12 is connected at one end to the adjacent end face of the attached trailer. These connections have not been represented in Figure 3. The other ends of the bars 12, 13 are connected to the lever arm 11. The lever arm 11 and the bar 12 have been represented in Figure 3 in two positions which they can adopt while the train is running: one corresponding to the train running in a straight line (lever arm 11 perpendicular to the wheel W in the drawing) and the other corresponding to the train running on a curve (lever arm 11 inclined with respect to the wheel W in the drawing). This guidance system, when the train is on a curve, allows the end faces of the adjacent trailers to come closer to each other on the inside of the curve, pushing on the guide bars 12, 13 arranged on that side of the curve, which, in their turn, transmit the movement to the ends of the corresponding lever arm 11, causing the latter to turn about its spindle. Simultaneously, the end faces of both trailers move apart from one another on the outside of the curve, pulling the guide bars 12, 13 arranged on that side of the curve and they, in their turn, transmit a movement from the corresponding lever arm 11 turning about its spindle, of equal magnitude, but opposite in direction to the turning of the lever arm 11 situated on the inside of the curve. These movements are converted into a rotation of the bogie about its vertical axis, the latter being situated in a radial position with respect to the centre of the curve. As has already been said, the guiding of the extreme running gears R2, R3 differs from that of the intermediate running gear R1, since in the former case no use can be made of the help from the adjacent end face of an attached trailer. Nevertheless, the basic principle employed for guiding the extreme running gears R2, R3 is the same and consists in taking advantage of the relative turning movement between the two articulated platforms P, which is transmitted by means of two mechanisms, one for control and the other for guidance, from the coupling of each of the platforms P to the positions of the running gears R2, R3 at both ends, where the guidance proper of these running gears is applied in a way similar to that of the guidance of the intermediate running gear R1. The two abovementioned mechanisms have been represented diagrammatically, in elevation and plan view, in Figures 5A and 5B, the control mechanism being represented in the left-hand part and the guidance mechanism proper of an extreme running gear R2 being represented in the right-hand part. The other extreme running gear R3 would use an equivalent assembly. The guidance mechanism is formed by two lever arms 14 and two pairs of bars 15, 16. The guide bars 15 are connected at one end to their corresponding lever arm 14 and at the other end to bell cranks 17 which form part of a compensation mechanism. The guide bars 16 are also connected at one end to their corresponding lever arm 14 and at the other end to a support of the wagon. The control mechanism, on each side of the trailer, consists of a control bar 18, one of whose ends is connected to the end face of the adjacent trailer and the other end is articulated to a lever arm 19. Between the lever arm 19 and the bell cranks 17 of the compensation mechanism, adjustable bars 20 are fitted, the longitudinal arms of the bell cranks 17 being connected together by means of a crossbar 21 which also forms part of the abovementioned compensation mechanism. The same elements of Figures 5A and 5B respectively have been represented again in Figures 6A and 6B, also in plan and elevation view, but illustrating the position which the control and guidance mechanisms would take up when the articulated wagon set lies on a curve. On entering the curve, for example to the left, the end faces of the adjacent trailers come closer on the inside of the curve and move apart on the outside, and the bar 18 on the inside of the curve pushes on the corresponding lever arm 19, while the other bar 18 situated on the outside of the curve pulls on the other lever arm 19. Both lever arms then turn by the same angle, but in opposite directions, around their respective spindles which are fixed to the structure of the trailer, being inclined as indicated in Figure 6B. For their part, the adjustable bars 20, pulled on by the lever arms 19, slide longitudinally on their support guides, which are integral with the frame of the trailer. Of these bars 20, the one which is working in tension (the bar on the inside of the curve according to Figure 6B) pulls on the corresponding bell crank 17 of the compensation mechanism and transmits the longitudinal movement to the bars 15, which shift the ends of the bogie in the opposite direction by means of the lever arms 14. The incorporation of the running gears of the invention on articulated car transporter platform wagons represents a relatively simple solution for allowing such wagons to be able to travel on networks with two different gauges, additionally improving the usefulness of this type of wagon. In particular, these wagons, once they are equipped with the running gears of the invention, will offer better dynamic characteristics, which will make it possible to increase their maximum running speed to 200 km/h on either of the two gauges, since the guidance system which the running gears have will safely maintain the required stability of the wagons when running over curved sections of track.

Claims: An articulated car transporter wagon made of two trailers connected together and provided with an intermediate single-axle running gear (R1) and two extreme single-axle running gears (R2,R3), said single-axle running gears being provided with independent movable wheels, so that the wagon is adaptable to different track gauges, each of said running gears including two wheel sets, each of which comprises a half-axle, a wheel (W), two brake discs integral with each other and two axle boxes (CC) which are mounted at both ends of the half-axle and which are fixed to it in the position corresponding to each track gauge by means of respective locking keys (L); a carrying frame (1) in which are incorporated the axle boxes (CC) of each wheel set and the mechanisms necessary for translating and locking the same; sliding shoes (3) incorporated in the lateral parts of the carrying frame (1) and intended to support the running gears (R1, R2, R3) during the process of changing track gauge; and a suspension system; characterized in that it further comprises systems for guiding the running gears (R1, R2, R3) in order to cause the angle formed by the flange of each wheel (W) and the tangent to a curve of the track to be zero at the point of contact with the track, the guidance system for the intermediate running gear (R1) of the wagon consisting of two guidance lever arms (11) fitted in a horizontal position in the carrying frame (1) and of two pairs of guide bars (12, 13) which are fixed at one end to the said lever arms (11) and at their other end to the respective adjacent end faces of the two trailers constituting the wagon, and the guidance system for the extreme running gears (R2, R3) of the wagon consisting of a control mechanism and of a guidance mechanism proper, of which the guidance mechanism is formed by two lever arms (14) and two pairs of bars (15, 16) which are connected at one end to the said lever arms (14), the other end of the first pair of bars (15) being connected to bell cranks (17) which form part of a compensation mechanism, and the other end of the second pair of bars (16) being connected to a support of the wagon, while the control mechanism consists of two control bars (18), one of whose ends is connected to the end face of the adjacent trailer and the other end is articulated to corresponding lever arms (19), adjustable bars (20) being fitted between the said lever arms (19) and the bell cranks (17) of the compensation mechanism, and the longitudinal arms of the said bell cranks (17) being connected together by means of a crossbar (21) which also forms part of the said compensation mechanism.

Inventors: ARCHILLA ALDEANUEVA LUIS, FRUTOS AGUADO JULIO, ARCHILLA ALDEANUEVA, LUIS, FRUTOS AGUADO, JULIO
Applicants: TALGO PATENTES, PATENTES TALGO, S.A.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B61F5
IPC codes: B61F3, B61F5, B61D3, B61F7