Patent Description:
It is well known to provide railway wagons for receiving and carrying semi-trailers during transport. By placing a semi-trailer normally intended for road transport on a railway wagon, a more efficient and environmentally friendly transportation is achieved compared to road transport. Railway is normally used for long distances. Examples of railway wagons for transport of semi-trailers are given in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

It is advantageous to load and unload a semi-trailer on a railway wagon as described above. In this regards a load-carrying section is turned out from and back to the railway wagon. To assist in the turning of the load-carrying section it is advantageous to use a beam arranged in connection with the railway wagon. The beam may be arranged in an operative position in which it supports the front portion of the load-carrying section, and in an inoperative position in which it is arranged along the railway wagon.

Even though this system functions quite well, it may happen that the beam unintendedly protrudes from the railway wagon in the inoperative position.

An object of the invention is to provide a new type of railway wagon enabling secure mounting and operation of a beam assembly of the wagon used when the carrying section is moved from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

This object has now been achieved by the solution set forth in appended claim <NUM>, embodiments being defined in the related dependent claims.

In one aspect, there is provided a railway wagon for transportation of semi-trailers or the like. The railway wagon comprises a first wagon end, a second wagon end, and a carrying section therebetween. The carrying section has a front portion releasably connected to the first wagon end, and it is movable between a closed position in which the front portion is connected to the first wagon end, and an open position in which the front portion is turned out from the first wagon end for loading and unloading of a semi-trailer. The first wagon end comprises a rail support beam movable in a vertical direction and configured to be lowered onto a railway track for supporting and positioning of the first wagon end during movement between the closed position and the open position. A beam assembly configured to support the front portion of the carrying section while it is being turned has a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally connected to at least the rail support beam. An actuator is arranged between the first wagon end and the beam assembly for moving the beam assembly between an inoperative position and an operative position and vice versa. Furthermore, a displacement device is provided in connection with the actuator. By the improvement, it is possible to ensure that movable components of the railway wagon do not unintentionally protrude from the wagon in way that could j eopardize the operation and movements of the beam assembly.

The displacement device is configured to compensate for any longitudinal movements of the beam assembly in the inoperative position thereof during vertical movement of the rail support beam, whereby it is ensured that the beam assembly is not tilted out from the first wagon end to protrude therefrom in an undesired manner.

In addition, the actuator may have a first actuator end and a second actuator end, the first actuator end being connected with the first wagon end and the second actuator end being connected with the beam assembly.

Moreover, the displacement device may be arranged at the first actuator end and/or at the second actuator end.

Furthermore, the displacement device may be provided in the actuator or along an extension of the actuator.

Additionally, the displacement device may comprise an elastic element, preferably a biasing spring, such as a coil spring or a compression spring. The elastic element is configured to absorb possible movements.

In an embodiment, the first actuator end may be connected to the first wagon end via a first attachment pin and the second actuator end is connected with the beam assembly via a second attachment pin.

Also, the displacement device may comprise one or more spring-loaded pin(s) arranged on the opposite side of the attachment pin in relation to the actuator end.

Moreover, the spring-loaded pin(s) may be connected to the actuator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention and related embodiments will appear from the following detailed description.

Embodiments of the invention will be described in the following, reference being had to the appended diagrammatic drawings which illustrate non-limiting examples of how the inventive concept can be reduced into practice, wherein:.

A railway wagon <NUM> for loading a semi-trailer thereon is shown in <FIG>. The railway wagon <NUM> comprises a first wagon end <NUM> and a second wagon end <NUM>. The wagon ends <NUM>, <NUM> are often referred to as bogies or wheel sets. The first wagon end <NUM> and second wagon end <NUM> are configured to support a carrying section <NUM>, often referred to as a pocket. The carrying section <NUM> has a front portion <NUM> releasably connected to the first wagon end <NUM>, and it is movable between a closed position in which the front portion <NUM> is aligned with and connected to the first wagon end <NUM>, and an open position in which the front portion <NUM> is turned out from the first wagon end <NUM> for loading or unloading of a semi-trailer (not shown). In <FIG>, the carrying section <NUM> or pocket is shown in the open position.

The carrying section <NUM> and the first wagon end <NUM> are movable in relation to each other, but in the closed position they are connected with each other to form an entity (wagon to be run on a railway). In order to perform the swinging movement, the carrying section <NUM> is pivotally connected to the second wagon end <NUM> via a vertical pivot assembly (not shown).

An elongated beam or channel <NUM> extends between the two opposite wagon ends <NUM>, <NUM>. This channel <NUM> - also referred to as a media channel - is arranged beneath the wagon <NUM> and it may accommodate electrical cables, hydraulic tubes, air conduits, etc (not shown) safely kept together in the channel <NUM>. When the carrying section <NUM> is turned out from the wagon <NUM> and lowered to the loading or unloading position, the media channel <NUM> is automatically lowered in a mechanical manner so the movement of the carrying section <NUM> can be carried out in a safe and convenient way.

As mentioned above the load-carrying section <NUM> or pocket is configured to accommodate and carry a semi-trailer or the like, and it is preferably through-shaped with an open end at the front portion <NUM> when pivoted out from the first wagon end <NUM>, and with longitudinal sidewalls 7a and 7b.

The relative movability of the front portion <NUM> in relation to the first wagon end <NUM> has the purpose of enabling a rolling loading of the semi-trailer (not shown) onto the load- or cargo-carrying section <NUM> in the open position in which the front portion <NUM> of the carrying section <NUM> is pivoted out from the first wagon end <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

For facilitating the movement of the front portion <NUM>, a beam assembly <NUM> is provided; often referred to as a launch beam. The beam assembly <NUM> is configured to support the front portion <NUM> of the carrying section <NUM> while this is being turned, and it has a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG>, the first wagon end <NUM> of the railway wagon <NUM> has a rail support beam <NUM> which is movable in a vertical direction, and configured to be lowered onto a railway track for supporting and positioning the first wagon end <NUM> during the movement between the closed position and the open position of the carrying section <NUM>. The first end <NUM> of the beam assembly <NUM> is pivotally connected to at least the rail support beam <NUM>.

In addition, an actuator <NUM> is mounted between the first wagon end <NUM> and the beam assembly <NUM> for moving the beam assembly <NUM> between the inoperative position and the operative position and vice versa. In <FIG>, the beam assembly <NUM> is shown in the operative position in which it extends out from the first wagon end <NUM>. The beam assembly <NUM> also has an inoperative position in which it is moved away from the front portion <NUM> of the carrying section <NUM> so that the carrying section <NUM> may be loaded or unloaded. Alternatively, the inoperative position may be the position in which the beam assembly <NUM> is positioned at the railway wagon <NUM> and securely locked as well as ready to be transported with the railway wagon <NUM> (see <FIG>).

In the present embodiment, the beam assembly <NUM> is at least at one point pivotally connected to the rail support beam <NUM> of the first wagon end <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the beam assembly <NUM> is moved from the inoperative position to the operative position or vice versa by means of the actuator <NUM> arranged between the first wagon end <NUM> and the beam assembly <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> - preferably a hydraulic cylinder - pushes the beam assembly <NUM> from the inoperative position to the operative position, or pulls the beam assembly <NUM> from the operative position to the inoperative position. In the circumstance where the beam assembly <NUM> is being moved to the operative position when the carrying section <NUM> has been loaded with a semi-trailer or has been unloaded, the actuator <NUM> positions the free end of the beam assembly <NUM> in the intended position in relation to the carrying section <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the beam assembly <NUM> is shown in the inoperative position in which it has been turned into abutment with the side of the first wagon end <NUM>. <FIG> show a sequence of lowering the rail support beam <NUM> to abutment with the railway track <NUM> (see <FIG>).

When the railway wagon <NUM> is to be altered from the closed position to the open position, the rail support beam <NUM> is lowered into abutment with the railway track <NUM> for stabilizing the first wagon end <NUM>. The rail support beam <NUM> is connected to an actuating assembly, here in the shape of a hydraulic cylinder <NUM>, which is configured to force the rail support beam <NUM> downwards. The hydraulic cylinder <NUM> is connected to the first wagon end <NUM> via an attachment plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the attachment plate <NUM> has a first connection point <NUM> pivotally connecting the attachment plate <NUM> to the first wagon end <NUM>, and a second connection point <NUM> connecting the attachment plate <NUM> to the hydraulic cylinder <NUM>. The first connection point <NUM> and the second connection point <NUM> are offset in a vertical plane so that the attachment plate <NUM> may function as a lever arm.

Hence, the rail support beam <NUM> will follow the rotation of the attachment plate <NUM> around the first connection point <NUM>. Since the rail support beam <NUM> follows the rotation of the attachment plate <NUM>, the rail support beam <NUM> will be slightly displaced in a direction away from the attachment plate <NUM> at the same time as it moves vertically downwards. As mentioned above, the beam assembly <NUM> is connected to the rail support beam <NUM>, which has the consequence that the beam assembly <NUM> will also be forced in a horizontal direction away from the attachment plate <NUM> at the same time as the rail support beam <NUM> is moved vertically downwards.

Since the actuator <NUM> has a predetermined length, a movement of the beam assembly <NUM> in the horizontal direction will force the free end of the beam assembly <NUM> slightly outwards from the first wagon end <NUM> which is the circumstance shown in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the rail support beam <NUM> is in contact with the railway track <NUM>. However, the beam assembly <NUM> will still be tilted slightly outwards from the first wagon end <NUM>. This have the disadvantage that the beam assembly <NUM> might not be in its intended position in relation to the first wagon end <NUM>.

This disadvantage is mitigated or eliminated by providing a displacement device <NUM> in connection with the actuator <NUM> as seen in <FIG>. The displacement device <NUM> is configured to compensate for any longitudinal movements of the beam assembly <NUM> in the inoperative position thereof during vertical movement of the rail support beam <NUM> as described above.

The actuator <NUM> has a first actuator end <NUM> and a second actuator end <NUM>, the first actuator end <NUM> being pivotally connected to the first wagon end <NUM> and the second actuator end <NUM> being pivotally connected to the beam assembly <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the displacement device <NUM> is arranged at the first actuator end <NUM>. In other embodiments, the displacement device <NUM> may be arranged at the second actuator end <NUM>, or it may be arranged at both actuator ends.

The displacement device <NUM> may comprise an elastic element, preferably a biasing spring, such as a coil spring or a compression spring
In the present embodiment, the first actuator end <NUM> is pivotally connected to the first wagon end <NUM> via a first attachment pin <NUM> and the second actuator end <NUM> is pivotally connected to the beam assembly <NUM> via a second attachment pin <NUM>. The displacement device <NUM> comprises two spring-loaded pins 22a, 22b arranged at the opposite side of the attachment pin <NUM> in relation to the actuator end.

As shown in <FIG>, where the beam assembly <NUM> is folded into the inoperative position, the actuator <NUM> pulls the attachment pin <NUM> to the right in <FIG>, which compresses the two spring-loaded pins 22a, 22b and thereby presses a roller <NUM> of the beam assembly <NUM> into contact with a vertical track <NUM> on the first wagon end <NUM>. When the rail support beam <NUM> is displacing the beam assembly <NUM> longitudinally as described above, this slack is taken by the compression springs attached to the spring-loaded pins 22a, 22b and the roller <NUM> of the beam assembly <NUM> is guiding the same during its vertical movement. Hereby is ensured that the beam assembly <NUM> will be maintained in the intended inoperative position despite any movements of the beam assembly <NUM> caused by the displacement of the rail support beam <NUM>. This advantage is obtained by arranging the displacement device <NUM> in connection with the actuator <NUM>.

In the embodiment described above, the beam assembly actuator <NUM> comprises a hydraulic cylinder. It should be noted, though, that this actuator <NUM> can be of different design. As an alternative to the hydraulic cylinder described above, the actuator can also be pneumatically and/or electro-mechanically operated.

In an embodiment, the displacement device <NUM> may be provided in the actuator hydraulic cylinder or along the actuator hydraulic cylinder.

In <FIG>, a locking unit <NUM> is shown. The railway wagon <NUM> comprises the locking unit <NUM> which is configured to engage and secure the beam assembly <NUM> and the rail support beam <NUM> when the railway wagon <NUM> is in the closed position and ready for transport.

In <FIG>, a part of the locking unit <NUM> is shown. The locking unit <NUM> comprises a control spring-loaded handle <NUM> both operatively and visible from both sides of the railway wagon <NUM>. The locking unit <NUM> comprises a projection <NUM> connected to an end part <NUM> which is tapering off into an arrow as best shown in <FIG>.

The projection <NUM> is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In addition, an indicator <NUM> is arranged in connection with the projection <NUM>, preferably above the end part <NUM> (i.e. arrow). In the present embodiment, the indicator <NUM> has a lock sign <NUM> and an unlock sign <NUM>.

The end part <NUM> connected to the projection <NUM> is configured to point at the lock sign <NUM> when the locking unit <NUM> is locked, and to point at the unlock sign <NUM> when the locking unit <NUM> is unlocked, whereby an operator easily may detect if the locking unit <NUM> is locked or unlocked.

Hence, the spring-loaded or biased handle <NUM> constitutes an additional security measure added to the locking unit <NUM> for ensuring that the indication has been controlled, so that it is detected that the locking unit <NUM> has locked the beam assembly <NUM> and the rail support beam <NUM> so they are in the engaged position and ready for transport.

During terminal handling before departure of the railway wagon <NUM>, the control spring-loaded handle <NUM> ensures a second verification of whether the locking unit <NUM> is fully engaged (i.e. locked) or not.

Claim 1:
A railway wagon for transportation of semi-trailers or the like, comprising:
a first wagon end (<NUM>), a second wagon end (<NUM>) and a carrying section (<NUM>) therebetween;
the carrying section (<NUM>) having a front portion (<NUM>) releasably connected to the first wagon end (<NUM>), the carrying section (<NUM>) being movable between a closed position in which the front portion (<NUM>) is connected to the first wagon end (<NUM>), and an open position in which the front portion (<NUM>) is turned out from the first wagon end (<NUM>) for loading and unloading of a semi-trailer;
the first wagon end (<NUM>) comprising a rail support beam (<NUM>) being movable in a vertical direction, the rail support beam (<NUM>) being configured to be lowered onto a railway track (<NUM>) for supporting and positioning the first wagon end (<NUM>) during movement of the front portion (<NUM>) between the closed position and the open position; and
a beam assembly (<NUM>) configured to support the front portion (<NUM>) while the front portion is being turned, the beam assembly (<NUM>) having a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>), the first end (<NUM>) being pivotally connected to at least the rail support beam (<NUM>);
characterised in that it also comprises:
an actuator (<NUM>) arranged between the first wagon end (<NUM>) and the beam assembly (<NUM>) for moving the beam assembly between an inoperative position and an operative position and vice versa;
wherein a displacement device (<NUM>) is provided in connection with the actuator (<NUM>).