Patent Publication Number: US-2022234629-A1

Title: A laterally displaceable railway wagon

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a laterally displaceable railway wagon, which has a load carrier, and front and rear bogies, wherein each bogie comprises a platform rotatably mounted on the bogie. The load carrier is releasably connected to the respective platforms, and laterally displaceable in relation to the respective platforms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an environmental benefit to transport vehicles by train. In order to facilitate such transport laterally displaceable railway wagons have been developed. A laterally displaceable railway wagon is a railway wagon that can be laterally displaced by swinging out one end thereof, or more particularly one end of a load carrier that is a part of the whole wagon, such that the vehicle can be driven on board the wagon. Alternatively, the wagon, or a load carrier thereof, is moved in parallel, or it is rotated about a centre seat. Then the wagon is returned to its original position and the train may depart. 
     WO 2006/031178 discloses a displaceable railway wagon which in large works well. However, the displacement arrangements involve a tilt-preventing device, which comprises a crossbar extending across the end of the load carrier. When the end of the load carrier has been displaced the crossbar is disconnected at one end thereof and pivoted away to a position where it does not prevent the loading/unloading ramp from being lowered or a vehicle from entering or leaving the load carrier. The crossbar is inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It would be advantageous to provide a load carrier with a more convenient displacement arrangement. 
     To better address this concern, in a first aspect of the invention there is presented a railway wagon comprising a load carrier, and front and rear bogies, wherein each bogie comprises a platform, which is rotatably mounted, wherein the load carrier is releasably connected to the respective platforms, and laterally displaceable in relation to the respective platforms. The load carrier has a front end and a rear end and is provided, at each end, with a connection portion, and two support devices, which are laterally spaced, and which support the load carrier in a position where it is laterally displaced in relation to the platform. The support devices are vertically operable between an idle position and a support position, in which the support devices abut against the ground. The railway wagon further comprises a displacement device for laterally displacing the load carrier, wherein the displacement device comprises a reciprocating launch device, which is arranged to reciprocate laterally of the platform, a launch device connection mechanism for releasably connecting the connection portion with the launch device, and a platform connection mechanism arranged for releasably connecting the connection portion with the platform. By means of the combination of the launch device and the connection mechanisms a smooth displacement of the load carrier is provided. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the railway the launch device is elongated and extends laterally of the platform, wherein the displacement device further comprises a reciprocating feeding device attached to the launch device and to the platform, wherein the launch device is movable, by means of the feeding device, between an idle position, and a laterally displaced position. Thereby the reciprocating movement of the launch device is effectively executed. It is possible to obtain a good lateral reach with a space saving device. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the railway wagon the feeding device is a cylinder assembly. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the railway wagon the launch device connection mechanism comprises a reciprocating engagement element arranged at the connection portion, and a reception portion at the launch device, wherein the engagement element is reciprocatingly movable to respectively engage with and disengage from the reception portion. This embodiment provides for a simple yet reliable launch device connection mechanism. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the railway wagon, the reception portion comprises several reception members distributed along the length of the launch device. Thereby, several strokes are possible and the length of the stroke can be rather short, simplifying the construction. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the railway wagon the engagement element is a cylinder assembly, and each reception member comprises an aperture arranged to receive a piston of the cylinder assembly. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the railway wagon, the platform connection mechanism comprises an engagement assembly arranged at the connection portion, and a seat arranged at the platform and adapted to receive a piston comprised in the engagement assembly to connect the load carrier with the platform. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the railway wagon, the platform comprises a support surface, which supports the launch device. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the railway wagon, the platform comprises an elongated guide member extending laterally of the bogie, and the launch device comprises a guide beam extending along the length of the launch device and slidably engaging with the guide member of the platform, wherein the guide member and the guide beam are arc shaped. As understood by the person skilled in the art, the lateral displacement is mostly not completely straight, but the end of the load carrier moves along a radius corresponding to the whole length or half the length of the load carrier. However, the radius is large and in any case the movement can still be defined as lateral since the load carrier changes its lateral position. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the railway wagon, the load carrier comprises opposite side beams, wherein each side beam comprises a protruding end portion at each end thereof, and wherein the connection portion comprises the protruding end portions of the side beams. In other words, each connection portion comprises two end portions, i.e. the end portions of the opposite side beams at one end of the load carrier. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the railway wagon the launch device is provided with a laterally elongated top surface portion, and each protruding end portion is provided with a roller arranged to roll on top of the top surface portion. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the railway wagon, the launch device comprises a retaining lip extending along a side edge of the launch device, and wherein each protruding end portion comprises a retaining member protruding under the retaining lip overlapping a portion of its bottom surface. This arrangement reduces a risk of the launch device and the connection portion to be displaced relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the railway wagon such that an offset angle arises. Such an offset angle would complicate the lateral movement of the load carrier. 
     According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of laterally displacing the load carrier. The method comprises: 
     displacing at least one of the ends of the load carrier by performing at least one reciprocating movement, comprising a feed stroke and a return stroke, with the displacement device, until that end of the load carrier has been moved to a loading/unloading position beside the bogie, comprising: 
     connecting the connection portion, if disconnected, with the launch device; 
     disconnecting, if connected, the connection portion from the platform; 
     performing a feed stroke by moving the launch device laterally from an idle position to a laterally displaced position; 
     lowering a first support device of said support devices to the support position; 
     disconnecting the connection portion from the launch device; 
     performing a return stroke moving the launch device back to its idle position; 
     connecting the connection portion with the launch device and performing another feed stroke; and 
     lowering the second support device to the support position. 
     The method provides solutions to problems and advantages corresponding to those of the railway wagon described above. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the method it comprises—applying the method of claim  15  for simultaneously displacing both ends of the load carrier; 
     disconnecting connections, tubes and cables at both ends of the load carrier from the bogies; 
     removing the load carrier and providing a replacement load carrier; and 
     assembling the replacement load carrier with the bogies by reversing the above operations of applying the method of claim  15  and disconnecting connections, tubes and cables. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described in more detail and with reference to the appended drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1 to 4  schematically illustrate launching of a load carrier of an embodiment of a railway wagon according to the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 5 to 8  are schematic perspective views of a part of the railway wagon of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention concerns a railway wagon which is designed for the modern concept of loading and unloading of entire vehicles.  FIGS. 1 to 4  show a loading process during which a launching operation takes place as will be described in detail below. The railway wagon  1  comprises a load carrier  2 , front and rear bogies  3 ,  4 , releasably connected with the load carrier  2 . More particularly, each bogie comprises a rotatable platform  5 ,  6 , thereby constituting front and rear platforms  5 ,  6 , and the load carrier  2  is releasably connected to the front and rear platforms  5 ,  6  at respective front and rear ends  7 ,  8  thereof. It should be noted that the railway wagon  1  can be pulled in any direction, i.e. with any one of its ends as the front end. The terms front and rear are only used to identify the two ends in order to facilitate this description of the railway wagon  1 . When loading of a vehicle  9 , for instance a truck, is to occur, the rear end  8  of the load carrier  2  is released and launched, i.e. laterally displaced, relative to the rear bogie  4  and the rear platform  6 . In this case, the load carrier  2  is pivoted on a pivot which is positioned at its front end  7 , i.e. the rotatable attachment (not shown per se) of the front platform  5  to the front bogie  3 . When the load carrier  2  has been fully launched the truck  9  is driven onto the load carrier  2 , and the reversed movement of the load carrier  2  is performed back to the original drive position where the rear end  8  of the load carrier  2  has been fully reconnected with the rear platform  6 , and the railway wagon  1  can be pulled away towards the destination of the truck. When the destination has been reached the front end  7  is launched, and the truck  9  can drive off and continue to its final destination. 
     The load carrier  2  comprises two spaced-apart opposite side beams  17 ,  18 , providing side walls of the load carrier  2 , and a platform part  19 , providing a floor of the load carrier  2 , extending between the side beams  17 ,  18 . Furthermore, the load carrier  2  comprises a ramp  20 ,  21  at each end  7 ,  8  of the load carrier  2 . The ramp  20 ,  21  is used for loading/unloading the load carrier  2 , i.e. driving a vehicle on or off the platform part  19 . 
     More particularly, the load carrier  2  is provided, at the front and rear ends  7 ,  8  thereof, with opposite protruding first and second end portions  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14  of the side beams  17 ,  18 . At each end  7 ,  8  of the load carrier  2 , the two end portions  11 ,  12  and  13 ,  14 , respectively, are comprised in a connection portion  15 ,  16  of the load carrier  2 . The connection portion  15 ,  16 , and thus the end portions  11 - 14 , is releasably connected with the respective front and rear platforms  5 ,  6 . The load carrier  2  further comprises two support devices  30 ,  31  at each end thereof. Each support device  30 ,  31  is arranged to support the load carrier  2  when it is displaced relative to the platform  5 ,  6 . The support device  30 ,  31  is vertically operable between an idle position, where it is in an upper most position, and a support position, where it has been lowered into abutment against the ground. It should be noted that the support devices  30 ,  31  are most schematically shown, for mere illustrative purposes, as well as many other parts of the railway wagon, which are not central for the present invention. 
     Referring now in particular to  FIGS. 5 to 8 , the railway wagon  1  further comprises, at each end thereof, a displacement device  22  for displacing the load carrier  2 . The displacement device  22  comprises a reciprocating launch device  23  arranged at the platform  6 . The launch device  23  is arranged to reciprocate laterally of the platform  6 , and thus laterally of the railway wagon  1 . The displacement device  22  further comprises a launch device connection mechanism  24  arranged at the connection portion  16 , and more particularly one launch device connection mechanism  24  is provided at each end portion  13 , for releasably connecting the end portion  13  with the launch device  23 . It should be noted that preferably the connection portion  16  of the side beams  17 ,  18  is provided with a cover plate  51  closing the space in which, for instance, a part of the launch device connection mechanism is provided. The cover plate can be seen in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     The displacement device  22  further comprises a platform connection mechanism  25  arranged at the connection portion  16 , and more particularly one platform connection mechanism  25  is provided at each end portion  13 , for releasably connecting the end portion  13  with the platform  6 . Each platform connection mechanism  25  comprises an engagement assembly  26  attached to the connection portion  16 , a laterally extending shelf, or lip,  49  of the platform  6  provided with seats  27 , and an anvil portion  52 , extending beneath the engagement assembly  26 . The shelf  49  is elongated and has a longitudinal extension, i.e. length, in the lateral direction of the railway wagon  1 , and a lateral extension, i.e. width, in the longitudinal direction of the railway wagon  1 . The engagement assembly  26  comprises a motor  34  with a rotating drive shaft  34 a, and a piston  35 , in threaded engagement with the drive shaft  34 a, and reciprocatingly driven by the motor  34  via the drive shaft  34 a. The seats  27  are adapted to receive an end of the piston  35  to connect the load carrier  2  with the platform  6 . In other words, an engagement is obtained between the connection portion  16  and the platform  6 , and more particularly the shelf  49  of the platform  6 . The engagement is activated by driving down the piston  35  to engage with one of the seats  27  and push the shelf  49  against the anvil portion  52 . Thus, when the platform connection mechanism  25  is in a locked state, the shelf  49  is clamped between the piston  35  and the anvil portion  52 . 
     The launch device  23  is elongated and extends laterally of the platform  6 . The displacement device  22  further comprises a reciprocating feeding device  29  attached to the launch device  23  and to the platform  6 , wherein the launch device  23  is movable, by means of the feeding device  29 , between an idle position, and a laterally displaced position. In the idle position, the launch device  23  is resting within the width of the side beams  17 ,  18 . In the laterally displaced position, the launch device  23  protrudes beyond that width at one side or the other of the railway wagon  1 . That is, the launch device  23 , and thus the load carrier  2 , can be laterally displaced to both sides. The feeding device  23  is, for instance, a cylinder assembly. 
     The launch device connection mechanism  24  comprises a reciprocating engagement element  28 , arranged at the connection portion  16 , and more particularly one engagement element  28  is arranged at each end portion  12 , and a reception portion  32  at the launch device  23 . The engagement element  28  is movable to respectively engage with and disengage from the reception portion  32  of the launch device  23 . The reception portion  32  comprises several reception members  33  distributed along the length of the launch device  23 . The engagement element  28  is a cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder  36  and a piston  37 , and each reception member  33  comprises an aperture  38  arranged to receive the piston  37 . 
     The platform  6  comprises a support surface  39  which supports the launch device  23 , such that the launch device slides on the support surface  39 . Other alternatives are of course feasible, such as a suitable kind of roller bearings, however the forces are high so it is difficult to make them last. However, when providing the solution of sliding surfaces, the friction can be reduced in different ways as known to the person skilled in the art. 
     The platform  6  comprises at least one elongated guide member  41  extending laterally of the bogie  4 , and the launch device  23  correspondingly comprises at least one complementary guide beam  42  extending along the length of the launch device  23  and slidably engaging with the guide member  41  of the platform  6 . The guide member  41  and the guide beam  42  are arc shaped. In this embodiment, the launch device  23  comprises two such guide beams  42 , distanced by the reception portion  32 . Each guide beam  42  comprises a bottom plate  53 , having longitudinal edge portions  54 , which protrude to the sides of the guide beam  42 . Furthermore, the platform  6  comprises four such guide members  41 , one at each longitudinal side of the guide beams  42 . Each guide member  41  provides a groove  55  facing the guide beam  42 . The edge portion  54  extends into the groove  55 . 
     The launch device  23  has at least one laterally elongated top surface portion  43 , extending along the launch device  23 . In this embodiment the launch device  23  comprises two such elongated top surface portions  43  extending parallel to each other at a distance from each other, and constituting top surfaces of the guide beams  42 . Each end portion  11 - 14  comprises two rollers  44  arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the side beam  17 ,  18 , and arranged to roll on top of the respective top surface portions  43 . This means that the weight of the load carrier is carried by the rollers at the end portions  11 - 14  of the side beams  17 ,  18 , i.e. at the connection portions  15 ,  16  of the load carrier  2 . 
     Furthermore, the launch device  23  comprises a retaining lip  45  extending along a longitudinal side edge of the launch device  23 , and each protruding end portion  11 - 14  comprises a retaining member  46  protruding under the retaining lip  45  overlapping a portion of a bottom surface of the retaining lip  45 . The retaining lip  45  is arranged at the longitudinal side of the launch device  23  that is closest to the very end of the railway wagon  1 , and extends adjacent to one of the top surfaces  43 . 
     This retaining construction prevents the connection portion  16  of the load carrier  2  and the platform  6  from becoming vertically angled relative to each other. Such an angled position could make it difficult to laterally displace the load carrier  2 . The width of the retaining member  46 , i.e. its extension in the lateral direction of the railway wagon, is but a small fraction of the length of the retaining lip  45 . If a situation would occur where the retaining member  46  would exert a lifting force, i.e. an upward force, on the retaining lip  45 , and thus on the launch device  23 , then the engagement between the guide elements  41  and the edge portions  54  of the bottom plates  53  will keep the launch device  23  engaged with the platform  6 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , according to an embodiment of a method of laterally displacing the load carrier  2 , it is displaced as follows. This embodiment is described for the alternative of displacement, or launching, where one of the ends  7 ,  8  of the load carrier  2  is displaced, while there are several other alternatives as mentioned above. Generally, the end  8  of the load carrier  2  is disconnected, and the displacement device  22  is activated to displace the load carrier  2 . In some greater detail, several reciprocating movements, each comprising a feed stroke and a return stroke, are performed with the displacement device  22 , until the end  8  of the load carrier  2  has been moved to a loading/unloading position beside the platform  6 . For each reciprocating movement some operations are then performed, including the following operations. 
     The connection portion  16  of the load carrier  2  is connected with the launch device  23 , by activating the launch device connection mechanism  24  of each end portion  13 ,  14  comprised in the connection portion  16 . More particularly, the piston  37  of the cylinder assembly  28  arranged at the end portion  13  is driven into the aperture  38  of one of the reception members  33 . Each platform connection mechanism  25  is activated to disconnect. More particularly, at each end portion  13 ,  14  the screw  35  of the engagement assembly  26  is retracted from the seat  27  of the shelf  49  such that the engagement between the screw  35  and the seat  27  is released. 
     Then a first feed stroke is performed by means of the feeding device  29 . The position shown in  FIG. 1  has now been reached. The support device  30  closest to the first side beam  13 , which has now been moved outside of the platform  6 , is lowered from its idle position to its support position in contact with the ground. In this position of the load carrier  2  the support device  30  is also beside the rails  50  of the railroad. Then, the platform connection mechanism  25  remaining within the width of the platform is activated to connection, i.e. the screw is driven down into a corresponding seat  27  of the shelf  49 , which is in position, to clamp the shelf  49  again, and the connection portion  16  is disconnected from the launch device  23  A return stroke is then performed by the feeding device  29 . Due to the clamping of the shelf  49  the risk of pulling back the carrier  2  is eliminated. During this return stroke the rollers  44  of the first end portion  13  rolls off the top surface portion  43  of the launch device  23  and the rollers  44  of the second end portion  14  rolls along the top surface portion  43 . Simultaneously, the retaining member  46  of the end portion  13  that is first leaving the platform  6  is displaced from the retaining lip  45 . 
     A second reciprocating movement is then performed. This includes reconnecting the launch device connection mechanism  24  of the second end portion  14 , such that the load carrier  2  is again interconnected with the launch device  23 , releasing the platform connection mechanism  25 , and driving the feeding device  29  through a second feed stroke to again move the launch device  23  laterally of the platform  6  in the same direction as during the first feed stroke, thereby further laterally displacing the load carrier  2 . Then the launch device connection mechanism  24  is switched again to be disconnected, etc., and a second return stroke is performed. 
     A third feed stroke, and a third return stroke are performed in a similar way. During a fourth feed stroke the second end portion  14  too is moved to a position beside the platform  6 , the second support device  31  is lowered to the ground and the launch device  23  is returned to its original position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The ramp  21  is then lowered to the ground and the truck  9  is driven on board the railway wagon  1 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     After the loading, the load carrier  2  is returned to the drive position in a converse manner. When the launch device  23  is driven out to re-engage with the rollers  44  of each end portion  13 ,  14 , the rollers  44  are advantageous. In addition, the top surface portion  43  may be designed to slope at its end, further enhancing that operation. 
     It should be noted that depending on the structure of the feeding device, the launching operation may contain both more and fewer strokes than four. 
     The method of displacing the load carrier  2  is useful for replacing the load carrier  2  with another one. The operations of the method are simply performed at both ends of the railway wagon  1  at the same time. This results in a parallel displacement of the load carrier  2  to a position where it is fully disconnected from the bogies  3 ,  4 . All that remains is to disconnect tubes and cables which extend along the railway wagon from one bogie  3  via the load carrier to the other bogie  4 . The load carrier  2  is then transported away and another load carrier is positioned for being connected to the bogies  3 ,  4 , i.e. to the platforms  5 ,  6  and launch devices of the bogies  3 ,  4 . This replacement of load carriers can be done for any applicable purpose, for instance to perform repairs or maintenance, or to change the length of the load carrier. In the latter case, one of the bogies  3 ,  4  will have to be moved along the railway to adapt the distance between the bogies to the length of the load carrier. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. 
     For example, the feeding device can be of another kind such as a roller screw. 
     Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.