Patent Description:
Self propelled and multi-purpose railway vehicles are known from document <CIT> for example.

The vehicles currently used to carry out the maintenance and/or construction of the railway lines are technologically old-fashioned and have maintenance problems which often make them difficult to repair or are in any case characterised by complex and costly maintenance operations. Moreover, the old-fashioned technology present on the machine is not generally in line with the standards both in terms of the environment and energy efficiency.

In addition, the simultaneous presence of numerous vehicles destined for the various functions necessary (for example, platform vehicles with cranes, concrete mixer vehicles, vehicles with platform and reel unwinding device, and so on) is required in the so-called "work site trains". This situation highlights the need for a greater operating flexibility, with regard to the different types of vehicles which, moreover, due to the reduced speed of travel, cannot be easily moved from one construction site to another.

The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a railway vehicle which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In particular, the aim of the invention is to provide a railway vehicle which is extremely versatile in its use, therefore making it available for different uses, thus reducing the need for movements of several vehicles to places where only one and a single specific operation is requested.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a railway vehicle for which the maintenance is simple and inexpensive.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a railway vehicle which complies with current standards in terms of environmental compliance and energy efficiency.

The vehicles for the construction and maintenance of railways are often used on lines in tunnels; the aim of the invention is to provide a vehicle which can work, at the site, with the internal combustion engine switched off in order to drastically improve the conditions of the work sites.

The technical purpose and preset aims are substantially achieved by a self-propelled multi-purpose railway vehicle according to one or more of the accompanying claims from <NUM> to <NUM>.

These and other aims which will become more apparent in the description below are substantially achieved by a multi-purpose self-propelled railway vehicle according to the invention, having the features illustrated in the accompanying claims and described below in a non-limiting embodiment, as well as in the accompanying drawings, in which:.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral <NUM> denotes in its entirety a railway vehicle according to the invention.

The vehicle <NUM> comprises a main frame <NUM> provided with two railway axles <NUM> for travelling on a railway track. The number of axles is not, however, limited, as it may be even more than two and, if necessary, defined by one or more dollies where necessary, although in light of an optimisation of weights and dimensions the two-axis solution is preferable.

At a first end, the vehicle <NUM> comprises a driver's cab <NUM> preferably fixed and which can be made, for example, according to known methods.

The remaining part of the main frame <NUM> (or part of it) defines at the top a work or loading platform <NUM>.

According to the invention, the work platform <NUM> is configured for installing a plurality of operating units "W1-W3" to perform respective operations linked to the construction, overhaul and maintenance of the railway lines. In more detail, the operating units "W1-W3" are mounted or can be mounted on the work platform <NUM> independently of each other and according to different configurations and/or combinations depending on the needs present each time.

For this purpose, the work platform <NUM> has a plurality of receiving areas <NUM> positioned one after another along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle <NUM> and preferably adjacent to each other. According to the embodiment illustrated there are four receiving areas, however the number may be different, in particular greater for heavier and structured vehicles or smaller for more agile and lighter vehicles.

These receiving areas <NUM> are configured for rapid assembly and removal of the operating units "W1-W3".

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, each receiving area "R" comprises a pair of parallel guides <NUM>, positioned perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle <NUM> (therefore to the direction of travel) and designed to allow an application, by lateral sliding, of an operating unit "W1-W3" to the receiving area "R". For this purpose, the parallel guides <NUM> may extend for the entire width of the work platform <NUM>.

In more detail, as shown in the detail of <FIG>, each guide <NUM> has the shape of a "C" with a front recess, facing towards the guide <NUM> opposite the same pair of guides, in such a way that between the two mutually facing recesses the operating unit "W" is guided or, preferably, a slidable plate <NUM> of the operating unit "W1-W3".

More preferably, the lateral sliding of the operating unit "W1-W3" is achieved by means of a motor-driven system which, according to the embodiment of <FIG>, comprises a rack <NUM> positioned on at least one of the guides <NUM> and a motor-driven pinion <NUM> positioned on the slidable plate <NUM> of the operating unit "W1-W3" and engageable with the rack <NUM> for making a controlled sliding of the operating unit "W1-W3" along the guides <NUM> during assembly and removal of the operating unit "W1-W3" relative to the work platform <NUM>.

Preferably, the pinion <NUM> is connected to a motor or gear motor <NUM> with a vertical axis of rotation, mounted on the slidable plate <NUM>.

According to the invention, the operating units "W1-W3" comprise two or more between: a crane "W1", an aerial work platform (lift) "W2", a reel unwinding device (not illustrated), a concrete mixer (not illustrated).

The operating units "W1-W3" may also comprise an auxiliary driver's cab (W3), which can be used in a transfer configuration but advantageously removable if the vehicle <NUM> is connected to further carriages and, therefore, the auxiliary cabin is unnecessary or an obstruction.

The vehicle <NUM> made in this way therefore achieves a possibility of modular composition of the operating units "W1-W3" which therefore constitute to all intents and purposes the modular components of the vehicle <NUM>.

Preferably, the work platform has at least two, preferably four receiving areas "R", of which at least two of identical structure configured to receive at least two operating units "W1-W3" according to different configurations and/or combinations in such a way that the operating units "W1-W3" can be exchanged with each other. In the example illustrated, the unit with crane "W1" and the aerial work platform (lift) "W2" are interchangeable with each other but the second requires the occupation of an adjacent receiving area "R" being larger in size.

Preferably, at least two receiving areas "R" have parallel guides <NUM> positioned at a respective spacing different to each other to adapt to operating units "W1-W3" of different types. For example, the unit with a crane may require a spacing less than the reel unwinding unit.

More generally speaking, the receiving areas "R" comprise one or more receiving areas provided with parallel guides <NUM> positioned at a first spacing value (for example, a lower spacing, for operating units with cranes) and one or more second receiving areas provided with parallel guides <NUM> positioned at a second spacing value (for example, a greater spacing for the aerial work platform) and, if necessary, a third receiving area with intermediate spacing positioned at the end for receiving the auxiliary driver's cab.

In order to optimise the dimensions, adjacent receiving areas "R" may have respective guides <NUM> placed side by side in such a way that the above-mentioned recesses of the guides are positioned in opposite directions.

Moreover, according to the invention, the vehicle <NUM> comprises a plurality of functional units "F1-F4" mounted or which can be mounted below the main frame <NUM> and designed to supply the power necessary for moving the railway vehicle <NUM> and for powering the operating units "W1-W3".

In particular, the functional units "F1-F4" comprise at least one hydraulic unit "F1", a pneumatic unit "F2", a battery accumulator unit "F3" and a generator unit "F4". The generating unit "F4" comprises an internal combustion engine connected to an alternator for recharging batteries of the battery accumulator unit "F3". One or more of the functional units "F1-F4", preferably each of them, is independently mountable and removable relative to the main frame <NUM> and, for that purpose, is housed in a respective containment frame <NUM> individually applicable below the main frame <NUM>, and removable or extractable from it, to perform maintenance operations on the functional unit "F1-F4".

More specifically, one or more of the functional units "F1-F4", for example each of them, is slidable in a lateral direction, like a drawer, from and inside a respective fixed box-shaped counterframe <NUM> for being extracted and re-inserted quickly and easily in the case of maintenance.

In more detail, each functional unit "F1-F4" is entirely housed in a box-shaped containment frame <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) and is equipped with electrical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic connections for connection to the main frame <NUM> and/or to the operating units "W1-W3".

According to the specific embodiment illustrated, at least two functional units "F2, F3" (pneumatic and battery accumulators), and preferably also a third (hydraulic, "F1") are of the sliding type described above whilst one of them, in particular the generating unit "F4", can be inserted from above in a corresponding fixed counterframe <NUM> applied to the main frame <NUM> below it and configured in the form of a "cradle". For this purpose, the main frame <NUM> (therefore, the work platform <NUM>) has at least one suitable opening to allow the passage at least of said functional unit "F4".

Despite this, it is preferable that the laterally slidable functional units "F1-F4" can also be removed and reinserted from above (as well as being laterally extractable by sliding) and, therefore, for this purpose, the main frame <NUM> (therefore, the work platform <NUM>) has suitable openings to allow the passage of said functional units "F1-F4" (<FIG>), moved for example with the same crane forming part of an operating unit and mounted on the work platform <NUM>. Each opening of the main frame <NUM> therefore corresponds to a respective lower fixed frame <NUM>, which also performs the function of supporting the respective laterally extractable functional unit (the fixed frame <NUM> being in this case configured both in the form of a cradle and a drawer),.

<FIG> shows in detail the generating unit "F4" where the internal combustion engine <NUM>, the alternator <NUM>, the tank <NUM>, an electrical panel <NUM> and a radiator <NUM> can be seen, as well as an anti-particulate filter <NUM>. All these components are housed inside the box-shaped frame <NUM>, which is in turn contained in the respective counterframe <NUM> (<FIG>).

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the main frame <NUM> is equipped, at the ends, with stabilising and lifting actuators <NUM> for stabilising the vehicle during use of the crane or other accessories which generate a tipping moment or for lifting the vehicle <NUM> relative to the ground in such a way as to remove axles <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> or carry out other operations below the vehicle <NUM>. For this purpose, <FIG> shows an axle <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> coupled to a respective mechanical transmission <NUM> of the suspended type and to the electric traction motor M, which is removable in a simple manner after the lifting of the vehicle <NUM> by the actuators <NUM>.

The present invention achieves the preset aims, overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art.

The railway vehicle according to the invention is provided with electric traction and batteries for a completely electric operation, wherein the energy is guaranteed by an internal combustion engine connected to an alternator. The vehicle <NUM> can therefore adopt a running configuration (transfer) using the energy generated by the internal combustion engine connected to the alternator, which in turn charges the batteries on board. The stored energy is then used during work, in the absence of high voltage electricity, allowing the use of the operational units for several hours in fully electric mode.

The vehicle <NUM> is also equipped with a braking system connectable to carriages or other vehicles equipped with a continuous brake, allowing the vehicle <NUM> to be towed and in turn to tow all the vehicles of the type in use by railway personnel for the maintenance of the electrical traction systems and, in general, of all the vehicles equipped with an continuous and automatic brake system.

In the configuration illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the vehicle comprises a "tare" configuration, including accessories or ballast, of <NUM> tonnes and a "loading" configuration of <NUM> tonnes for an exceptional load situation (e.g. loaded concrete mixer).

Moreover, the vehicle <NUM> is configured to be transported with a flatbed trailer with a maximum height of <NUM> from the road surface in such a way as fall within the standard road profile in height and width. In particular, the maximum height of the vehicle <NUM>, considering the wheels without wear and the suspensions compressed with the tare load, is <NUM> from the upper surface of the track, a total height of <NUM> metres is thus reached during transport and falls within the limits required by the highway code, allowing the use of a non-exceptional transport. The maximum width of the vehicle <NUM> does not exceed <NUM> and in this case, too, remains within the gauge limits for non-exceptional road transport.

The vehicle is also easy to maintain because the elements which make up the functional macro-areas of the vehicle are positioned in box-shaped frames extractable from the frame of the vehicle.

Moreover, the use of a traction system with electric motors allows a simple power connection between the generating unit and the electric motors by means of simple electrical cables without requiring mechanical power connections, thus considerably simplifying maintenance operations.

Claim 1:
A multi-purpose self-propelled railway vehicle designed for the construction, repair and maintenance of railway lines, comprising a main frame (<NUM>) equipped with at least two axles (<NUM>) and forming at the top a work platform (<NUM>), a driver's cab (<NUM>) positioned at a first end of the main frame (<NUM>), a plurality of operating units (W1-W3) mounted or mountable on the work platform (<NUM>) for performing respective operations linked to the construction, repair and maintenance of the railway lines, and a plurality of functional units (F1-F4) mounted or mountable below the main frame (<NUM>) and intended for supplying the power necessary for moving the railway vehicle (<NUM>) and for powering the operating units (W1-W3), wherein said operating units (W1-W3) are applicable to the main frame (<NUM>), and can be removed from it, independently from each other and preferably modular for modifying the configuration of the vehicle (<NUM>) as a function of the operations to be performed characterized in that each of said functional units (F1-F4) is housed in a respective containment frame (<NUM>) individually applicable below the main frame (<NUM>), and removable or extractable from it, in order to perform maintenance operations on the functional unit (F1-F4).