Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a technical field of track travelling machinery, and particularly to a track travelling device.

In recent years, the railways are increasingly longer with the rapid development of the railway industry, and the workload of the patrol inspection of the railway tracks continuously increases. The traditional patrol inspection mode is that workers carry patrol devices manually for foot patrol inspections, which takes a long inspection time and requires many inspection personnel, while a single measurement has little data, large errors and a low efficiency. Moreover, the traditional patrol inspection mode requires the workers to walk on the tracks, which poses a great potential safety hazard.

At present, some companies have researched and developed the intelligent patrol inspection devices on the railways or subways. The intelligent patrol inspection devices are mounted with wheels, wherein some of the intelligent patrol inspection devices need to be pushed manually, and some can automatically walk by carrying batteries. The normal railways, subways and high-speed railways have different track gauges. Although the standard track gauge is <NUM>, the actual track gauge is deviated from the standard track gauge. At present, the wheel gauges of the existing patrol inspection devices are all fixed and inconvenient to be adjusted. Some wheel gauges are too small, and the vehicle body will sway from side to side during travelling. In order to prevent the vehicle body from swaying from side to side, some patrol inspection devices are mounted with track clamping devices. However, the railway conditions are complicated with various intersections and turnouts, and the passability of the patrol inspection devices will be deteriorated after the track clamping devices are mounted.

It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section of the present disclosure is only intended to improve the understanding of the general background of the present disclosure, and should not be deemed as an admission or any form of suggestion that the information constitutes the prior arts already known to those skilled in the art.

<CIT> discloses self-walking intelligent tour inspection equipment for an overhead line system. The self-walking intelligent tour inspection equipment comprises a frame assembly, as well as an equipment console, an overhead line system detection module, a gauge equipment parameter detection module, a drive module and a pedal which are connected to the frame assembly. The equipment console comprises a system host, and a display, a carried charge speed controller, a power switch, a forward/backward switch button, a detection start-stop switch and an electronic brake controller which are connected with the system host, and the overhead line system detection module is connected with the system host. According to the invention, an overhead line system all-parameter measurer is installed on an electrically driven frame, a man-carrying function is fulfilled, thus on-line monitoring on the overhead line system is conveniently realized, and the self-walking intelligent tour inspection equipment for the overhead line system has the advantages of high measurement precision, simple operation, low cost, and high measurement efficiency of track cars and the like. <CIT> discloses a measuring device having a holding and guiding device for a test head assembly attached to a vehicle frame. The holding and guiding device is movable transverse to a driving direction of a vehicle relative to the vehicle frame. The holding and guiding device has two holding and guiding sections that are impinged transverse to the driving direction of the vehicle with an expanding force by two actuators and carry a testing head (e.g., ultrasonic probe head). The testing head is guided along one of two rails.

<CIT> discloses a from advancing pin -connected panel tunnel detection dolly on rail, including base, stand and automobile body, the automobile body is formed by a plurality of sections detachable construction concatenations, the stand includes stand upper segment and stand hypomere, the stand hypomere set up the automobile body top and car connection, stand upper segment detachable installs in the top of stand hypomere, base detachable installs in the top of stand upper segment, the base includes scanner fixing base and sharp optical locating mechanism, the automobile body still includes electrical control mechanism and a plurality of wheel. The utility model discloses an automobile body of pin -connected panel is applicable to different gauge operations, it is steady that PLC controller accurate control step motor and planetary reducer, wheel guarantee to travel under step motor and planetary reducer's drive, the lift -launch stand of sectional type is applicable to the not detection position of co-altitude. Increase substantially work efficiency and mapping precision that the railway detected, avoid artificial dolly travel not constant speed, inefficiency scheduling problem.

The embodiments of the present disclosure propose a track travelling device, comprising:.

In some embodiments, a direction of a force applied by the elastic member to the wheels is a direction extengding from the vehicle body toward a direction away from a symmetry plane between two of the tracks and inclined relative to the symmetry plane.

In some embodiments, an included angle between the direction of the force and the symmetry plane is <NUM>° to <NUM>°.

In some embodiments, the directions of the forces applied to the corresponding wheels by two of the elastic members corresponding to two of the wheels arranged symmetrically with respect to the symmetry plane are symmetrical with respect to the symmetry plane.

In some embodiments, each of the wheels is connected to the vehicle body through a separate connection device.

In some embodiments, each separate connection device comprises a plurality of the elastic members which are arranged in parallel.

In some embodiments, the connection device further comprises a first connection plate connected to the wheels and a second connection plate connected to the bottom of the vehicle body, the elastic member is disposed between the first connection plate and the second connection plate.

In some embodiments, the connection device further comprises a guide device configured to guide a deformation direction of the elastic member.

In some embodiments, the guide device comprises a guide shaft, the elastic member sleeves an outer periphery of the guide shaft, and the guide shaft is arranged inclinedly with respect to a symmetry plane between two of the tracks.

In some embodiments, a first end of the guide shaft is connected to the first connection plate, the second connection plate is provided with a slideway, and a second end of the guide shaft is inserted into the slideway.

In some embodiments, the guide device further comprises a sleeve disposed in the slideway, and the second end of the guide shaft is inserted into the sleeve.

In some embodiments, an end of the slideway away from the first connection plate is provided with an opening, and the guide device further comprises a flexible pad which is mounted at the second end of the guide shaft.

In some embodiments, the second connection plate is provided with an accommodation cavity communicated with the slideway.

In some embodiments, the first connection plate comprises a vertical plate disposed vertically and a horizontal plate disposed horizontally, the vertical plate is connected to the horizontal plate, the vertical plate is connected to the wheels, and the horizontal plate is connected to the guide shaft.

In some embodiments, the horizontal plate comprises a mounting portion, which has a surface parallel to an end face of the guide shaft.

In some embodiments, the track travelling device further comprises a driving device, which is mounted on the first connection plate, drivingly connected to the wheels, and disposed in parallel with the track.

In some embodiments, the track travelling device further comprises an anti-collision bar mounted on a front side and/or a rear side of the vehicle body.

In some embodiments, the track travelling device further comprises a sensor mounted on the vehicle body to detect a distance between an obstacle and the vehicle body.

In some embodiments, the track travelling device further comprises a monitoring device mounted on the vehicle body to monitor a surrounding environment of the vehicle body.

In some embodiments, the track travelling device further comprises a detection device mounted on the vehicle body to detect connection states of components on the vehicle body, the connection device and the wheels.

Based on the above technical solutions, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, one end of the connection device is connected to the bottom of the vehicle body, and under the gravity of the vehicle body, the rims of the wheels are closely attached to the side surfaces of the tracks, thereby preventing the vehicle body from swaying side to side and improving the stability of the track travelling device during travelling. Meanwhile, the connection device comprises the elastic member, the elastic member is deformable to adjust relative positions of the wheels and the vehicle body, thereby adjusting distances between the two groups of wheels on the left and right sides, and improving an adaptability to a change of a track gauge.

Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become clear from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure made with reference to the drawings.

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure or in the prior arts, the drawings to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior arts will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings used in the following description only illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure, and other drawings can be obtained by those of ordinary skills in the art according to these drawings without paying any creative labor.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, those described are only a part, rather than all, of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that orientational or positional relationships indicated by the terms 'central', 'lateral', 'longitudinal', 'front', 'rear', 'left', 'right', 'upper', 'lower', 'vertical', 'horizontal', 'top', 'bottom', 'inner' and 'outer' are based on the drawings, only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that a referred device or element must have a particular orientation, or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and they should not be construed as limitations to the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a track travelling device comprises a vehicle body <NUM>, a connection device <NUM>, and two groups of wheels <NUM>, wherein the two groups of wheels <NUM> are disposed on left and right sides of the vehicle body <NUM> respectively, the wheels <NUM> are provided with rims <NUM>; one end of the connection device <NUM> is connected to a bottom of the vehicle body <NUM>, and the other end of the connection device <NUM> is connected to the wheels <NUM>; the connection device <NUM> comprises an elastic members <NUM> and the elastic members <NUM> is configured to be deformed by the gravity of the vehicle body <NUM> to closely attach the rims of the two groups of wheels <NUM> to side surfaces of tracks <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, one end of the connection device <NUM> is connected to the bottom of the vehicle body <NUM>, and under the gravity of the vehicle body <NUM>, the rims <NUM> of the wheels <NUM> are closely attached to the side surfaces of the tracks <NUM>, thereby preventing the vehicle body <NUM> from swaying side to side and improving the stability of the track travelling device during travelling. Meanwhile, the connection device <NUM> comprises the elastic member <NUM> and the elastic member <NUM> is deformable to adjust relative positions of the wheels <NUM> and the vehicle body <NUM>, thereby adjusting distances between the two groups of wheels <NUM> on the left and right sides, and improving an adaptability to a change of a track gauge.

In the related arts, the track travelling device comprises a track clamping device for clamping the wheels and the tracks. Although the track clamping device can keep a travelling stability of the track travelling device to a certain extent, it cannot adapt to the change of the track gauge, and when the track gauge changes, the track clamping device will be failed, or disenable the track travelling device to pass normally. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the track travelling device automatically adjusts the distances between the two groups of wheels <NUM> on the left and right sides through the deformation of the elastic member <NUM>, so as to adapt to the change of the track gauge and reduce the influence on the passability of the track travelling device.

The vehicle body <NUM> wholly has a cubic shape, wherein a top surface and a bottom surface both have a rectangular shape, four side surfaces have a trapezoidal shape, and an area of the top surface is smaller than that of the bottom surface. In other embodiments, the vehicle body <NUM> may also have other shapes such as a cube, a triangular prism, etc..

The vehicle body <NUM> comprises a vehicle main body and a bottom plate <NUM>, the bottom plate <NUM> is disposed at a bottom of the vehicle main body and the bottom plate <NUM> is configured to support the vehicle main body.

One end of the wheel <NUM> close to an inner side of the track <NUM> is provided with a rim <NUM>, the rim <NUM> extends outward in a radial direction of the wheel <NUM>. The wheel <NUM> further comprises a protective cover plate <NUM> for protecting internal parts of the wheel <NUM>.

A direction of a force applied by the elastic member <NUM> to the wheel <NUM> is a direction extending from the vehicle body <NUM> toward a direction away from a symmetry plane between two tracks <NUM> and inclined relative to the symmetry plane. The symmetry plane between two tracks <NUM> is a vertical plane parallel to an extension direction of the tracks. The force applied by the elastic member <NUM> to the wheel <NUM> in the inclined direction can be divided into a vertical downward component force, and a horizontal component force pointing from an inner side to an outer side of the track <NUM>. The vertical downward component force can ensure that an outer peripheral surface of the wheel <NUM> is in contact with a top surface of the track <NUM>, while the horizontal component force pointing from the inner side to the outer side of the track <NUM> can closely attach the rim <NUM> to an inner side surface of the track <NUM>, so as to ensure the travelling stability of the track travelling device and prevent the vehicle body <NUM> from swaying side to side, while adapting to the change of the track gauge.

An included angle between the direction of the force applied by the elastic member <NUM> to the wheel <NUM> and the symmetry plane is <NUM>° to <NUM>°, such as <NUM>°, <NUM>° or <NUM>°.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the track travelling device comprises four wheels <NUM>, wherein the left and right sides of the vehicle body <NUM> are each provided with two wheels <NUM>, and the wheels <NUM> on the two sides are arranged symmetrically with respect to the symmetry plane. The number of the wheels <NUM> is the same as that of the connection devices <NUM>, and each of the wheels <NUM> is connected to the vehicle body <NUM> through an separate connection device <NUM>, which is beneficial to ensure effective contact between at least a part of the wheels <NUM> and the track <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the total number of the wheels <NUM> may also be two, three or more. The number of the wheels <NUM> in each group may be one or more, and the numbers of the wheels <NUM> in different groups may be the same or different.

Each the separate connection device <NUM> comprises a plurality of the elastic members <NUM> which are arranged in parallel. As illustrated in <FIG>, each the separate connection device <NUM> comprises four elastic members <NUM>. In other embodiments, each of the separate connection devices <NUM> may comprise one, two or more elastic members <NUM>.

The directions of the forces applied to corresponding wheels <NUM> by two of the elastic members <NUM> corresponding to two of the wheels <NUM> arranged symmetrically with respect to the symmetry plane are symmetrical with respect to the symmetry plane. In this way, the wheels <NUM> on the two sides can be outwardly and closely attached to the side surfaces of the tracks <NUM> respectively.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the connection device <NUM> further comprises a first connection plate <NUM> connected to the wheels <NUM>, and a second connection plate <NUM> connected to the bottom of the vehicle body <NUM>, with the elastic member <NUM> disposed between the first connection plate <NUM> and the second connection plate <NUM>.

The second connection plate <NUM> is connected to the bottom plate <NUM> of the vehicle body <NUM>, or integrally formed with the bottom plate <NUM>.

The connection device <NUM> further comprises a guide device and the guide device is configured to guide a deformation direction of the elastic member <NUM>. By disposing the guide device, the elastic member <NUM> can be supported and guided, and the pressing effect on the wheel <NUM> can be improved.

There are many options for the specific structure of the guide device. As illustrated in <FIG>, the guide device comprises a guide shaft <NUM>, the elastic member <NUM> sleeves an outer periphery of the guide shaft <NUM>, and the guide shaft <NUM> is arranged inclinedly with respect to a symmetry plane between two tracks <NUM>. The guide shaft <NUM> is inclined in a direction away from the symmetry plane from the vehicle body <NUM>, i.e., inclined toward the outer side of the track <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a first end of the guide shaft <NUM> is connected to the first connection plate <NUM>, the second connection plate <NUM> is provided with a slideway, and a second end of the guide shaft <NUM> is inserted into the slideway.

The guide device further comprises a sleeve <NUM> disposed in the slideway, and the second end of the guide shaft <NUM> is inserted into the sleeve <NUM>. By disposing the sleeve <NUM>, a smooth sliding of the guide shaft <NUM> in the sleeve <NUM> can be effectively ensured.

Further, an end of the slideway away from the first connection plate <NUM> is provided with an opening, that is, both ends of the slideway are opened. The guide device further comprises a flexible pad <NUM> which is mounted at the second end of the guide shaft <NUM>. By disposing the flexible pad <NUM>, the guide shaft <NUM> can be prevented from colliding with other parts after passing through the slideway, so that the guide shaft <NUM> can be effectively protected.

The second connection plate <NUM> is provided with an accommodation cavity <NUM> and the accommodation cavity <NUM> is communicated with the slideway. By disposing the accommodation cavity <NUM>, it is possible to avoid the guide shaft <NUM> from protruding out of the second connection plate <NUM> and prevent the guide shaft <NUM> from colliding with the vehicle body <NUM>. The accommodation cavity <NUM> has a triangular cross-section, which ensures that an upper surface of the second connection plate <NUM> is still horizontal. The second connection plate <NUM> is provided with a groove, an inner space of which is the accommodation cavity <NUM>.

The first connection plate <NUM> comprises a vertical plate <NUM> disposed vertically and a horizontal plate <NUM> disposed horizontally. The horizontal plate <NUM> is parallel to the second connection plate <NUM>, the vertical plate <NUM> is connected to the horizontal plate <NUM>, the vertical plate <NUM> is connected to the wheel <NUM>, and the horizontal plate <NUM> is connected to the guide shaft <NUM>.

The horizontal plate <NUM> comprises a mounting portion <NUM>, which has a surface parallel to an end face of the guide shaft <NUM>. The mounting portion <NUM> has a triangular cross-section. By disposing the mounting portion <NUM>, it is possible to avoid the connection between the guide shaft <NUM> and the horizontal plate <NUM>.

The horizontal plate <NUM> is provided with a first connection hole <NUM>. The first end of the guide shaft <NUM> is provided with a second connecting hole <NUM>. A connection member is inserted into the first connecting hole <NUM> and the second connecting hole <NUM> to realize the connection between the horizontal plate <NUM> and the guide shaft <NUM>.

The track travelling device further comprises a driving device <NUM>, the driving device <NUM> is mounted on the first connection plate <NUM> and drivingly connected to the wheel <NUM>. The driving device <NUM> is disposed in parallel with the track <NUM>. This arrangement can prevent the driving device <NUM> from occupying a space between two tracks <NUM>.

In each group of wheels <NUM>, some of the wheels <NUM> are driving wheels, and some of the wheels <NUM> are driven wheels, and the driving device <NUM> is drivingly connected to the driving wheels.

<FIG>, <FIG> illustrate structural diagrams of connections between the wheel <NUM> acting as a driving wheel, the connection device <NUM> and the driving device <NUM>, wherein the driving device <NUM> comprises a motor <NUM> and a speed reducer <NUM>. An output shaft <NUM> of the speed reducer <NUM> is connected to a connection flange <NUM>, and a first pressing plate <NUM> is disposed at an outer side of the connection flange <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate structural diagrams of a connection between the wheel <NUM> acting as a driven wheel and the connection device <NUM>, wherein the first connection plate <NUM> of the connection device <NUM> is connected to a rotation shaft <NUM>, the rotation shaft <NUM> is connected to the wheel <NUM> through a bearing <NUM>, the outer side of the wheel <NUM> is provided with the protective cover plate <NUM>, and the inner side of the wheel <NUM> is provided with a second pressing plate <NUM>.

All the wheels <NUM> may be driving wheels or all the wheels <NUM> may be driven wheels. The track travelling device further comprises a driving device which drives the vehicle body <NUM> to move.

The track travelling device further comprises an anti-collision bar <NUM> mounted on a front side and/or a rear side of the vehicle body <NUM> to prevent the vehicle body <NUM> from being collided by external forces and effectively protect the vehicle body <NUM>.

The track travelling device further comprises a sensor <NUM> mounted on the vehicle body <NUM> to detect a distance between an obstacle and the vehicle body <NUM>. When the distance between the obstacle ahead and the vehicle body <NUM> is less than a preset value, the sensor <NUM> may send an alarm signal to a controller disposed in the vehicle body <NUM>, and the controller may send a signal indicating to stop the operation of the driving device <NUM>, so as to make the track travelling device stop travelling and avoid a collision with the obstacle.

The sensor <NUM> may be a laser sensor, so that the detection is more sensitive and rapid.

The track travelling device further comprises a monitoring device <NUM> and the monitoring device <NUM> is mounted on the vehicle body <NUM> to monitor a surrounding environment of the vehicle body <NUM>. The monitoring device <NUM> may detect whether there is any person or domestic animal around the vehicle body <NUM>, avoid a collision between the track travelling device and the person or the domestic animal, avoid safety accidents and improve the travelling safety.

The track travelling device further comprises a detection device <NUM> and the detection device <NUM> is mounted on the vehicle body <NUM> to detect connection states of the components on the vehicle body <NUM>, the connection device <NUM> and the wheels <NUM>. By disposing the detection device <NUM>, the connection state of the components can be detected and monitored in real time, and safety accidents caused by connection failures of the components can be avoided.

The vehicle body <NUM> may be further provided with a handrail <NUM>, an indicator light <NUM>, a display screen <NUM>, a start switch <NUM> and an emergency stop button <NUM>, wherein the handrail <NUM> facilitates a consignment of the track travelling device, the indicator light <NUM> indicates whether the track travelling device is in a travelling state, the display screen <NUM> displays various data and parameters related to operation, the start switch <NUM> turns on the track travelling device, and in case of emergencies, the emergency stop button <NUM> can be operated to realize emergency braking.

The vehicle body <NUM> may also be provided with a power supply device, a driving control device, a communication device and a data processing device, wherein the power supply device is configured to supply electric power for the vehicle body <NUM> to walk, the driving control device is configured to control start and stop of the driving device <NUM>, the communication device is configured to be communicated with signals of an external control end to send a travelling state and related data of the track travelling device to the external control end or receive an instruction sent by the external control terminal, and the data processing device is configured to process measurement data of monitoring components such as the sensor <NUM>, the monitoring device <NUM> and the detection device <NUM> so that the controller can issue a corresponding control instruction.

The track travelling device in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be tightly pressed against the tracks by its own weight, and suitable elastic members may be selected for adjustment and adaption to a variation range of different track gauges. The track travelling device will not sway from side to side during travelling, which is convenient for the detection, and an intelligent patrol inspection can be achieved without requiring the personnel to get off the vehicle. Therefore, the track travelling device has a high passability and is suitable for various track scenes.

Claim 1:
A track travelling device, comprising:
a vehicle body (<NUM>);
two groups of wheels (<NUM>) disposed on two sides of the vehicle body (<NUM>) respectively, each of the wheels (<NUM>) comprising a rim (<NUM>) configured to abut against a track (<NUM>); and
a connection device (<NUM>), one end of which is connected to a bottom of the vehicle body (<NUM>) and the other end of which is connected to the wheels (<NUM>), the connection device (<NUM>) comprising an elastic member (<NUM>) configured to adjust distances between the rims (<NUM>) of the two groups of wheels (<NUM>);
characterized in that the elastic member (<NUM>) is configured to be deformed under the gravity of the vehicle body (<NUM>).