Patent Description:
The inventor found that an underframe of an existing railway flatcar adopts a welded integral structure, and the underframe of the vehicle after completion of production of the underframe has a fixed size and cannot be disassembled and adjusted. For cargo containers of different sizes, when a vehicle with a fixed underframe is used for transportation, the underframe may be incapable of loading as a result of a relatively short transportation space, or a waste of transportation space may be caused as a result of an ample transportation space of the underframe, seriously affecting transportation efficiency and a transportation volume of railway transportation.

For railway flatcars to be exported, because the underframe cannot be disassembled, long-distance sea transportation can be achieved through only complete-vehicle transportation, resulting in a large space occupied by the vehicle and high transportation costs.

United States patent <CIT> discloses a system of underframing for railway cars having a middle part and two end parts.

United states patent <CIT> discloses an underframe for a railway car with the same.

Chinese patent application <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> discloses railway cars.

The present invention is intended to provide a flatcar underframe for railway freight and a complete-vehicle structure including the underframe, to resolve problems in the prior art that a length of a railway vehicle cannot be adjusted according to a cargo size during running of the railway vehicle and that disassembling cannot be performed during transportation and a large space is occupied and transportation costs are high. In the present invention, the underframe is disassembled into smaller standardized modules, and the modules may be assembled into a complete underframe through riveting or bolting when necessary, helping increase an underframe manufacturing speed and reduce vehicle manufacturing and transportation costs.

A first inventive purpose of the present invention is to provide a flatcar underframe for railway freight that may be assembled in a modular manner. In order to achieve the purpose, the present invention provides a flatcar underframe as described in claim <NUM>.

In further technical solutions, a first crossbeam module is further provided at a middle part of the underframe and is located between the two sleeper beam modules.

A number of second crossbeam modules is determined according to a length of the vehicle and a need of mounting a container.

In further technical solutions, the center beam module includes an impact seat, and an upper center pan. The upper center pan is located at a lower part of the center beam and is to be connected to the bogie. The impact seat is located at two ends of the center beam and is to be connected to the coupler buffer apparatus.

In further technical solutions, a container lock is disposed on the top of the first crossbeam module, the container lock being located near an end of the crossbeam module, and a standard interface is disposed at a middle part of the first crossbeam module for connection to the center beam module.

In further technical solutions, the sleeper beam module is assembled and welded into a box-shaped structure by using plates, and a standard interface is disposed at a middle part of the sleeper beam module for connection to the center beam module.

In further technical solutions, a container lock is disposed on the top of the second crossbeam module, the container lock being located near an end of the crossbeam module, and a standard interface is disposed at a middle part of the second crossbeam module for connection to the center beam module.

A second inventive purpose of the present invention is to provide a complete-vehicle structure, including the above flatcar underframe for railway freight, bogie, and coupler buffer apparatus. The coupler buffer apparatus is mounted on two ends of the underframe, and the bogie is disposed at a lower part of the underframe and connected to the underframe.

Advantages of the present invention are as follows:
The modular assembled underframe provided in the present invention means to design a railway wagon underframe into five smaller standardized modules: a center beam module, a first crossbeam module, a sleeper beam module, a second crossbeam module, and an edge beam module.

During vehicle transportation, the underframe may be disassembled into smaller standard modules, to facilitate transportation and reduction of costs.

The modules are connected by using a uniform interface size and fasteners that may be repeatedly assembled and disassembled, to achieve interchange between modules of a same type and modular assembly of the underframe.

A length of the underframe may be adjusted by adjusting a length of the center beam module, so as to meet transportation needs of cargo or containers of different lengths.

The underframe is assembled with standard modules after production, helping increase an underframe manufacturing speed and reduce vehicle manufacturing costs.

Compared with the prior art, the mechanism has a novel structure, a light weight, and a simple structure, and is easily operated and maintained.

The drawings of the specification forming a part of this application are used to provide further understanding of this application, and the exemplary embodiments and descriptions of this application are used to explain this application but do not constitute an improper limitation on this application.

In the <FIG>: Center beam module; <NUM>: First crossbeam module; <NUM>: Sleeper beam module; <NUM>: Second crossbeam module; <NUM>: Edge beam module; <NUM>: Coupler buffer apparatus; <NUM>: Bogie;.

It should be pointed out that the following detailed descriptions are all illustrative and are intended to provide further descriptions of this application. Unless otherwise indicated, all technical terms and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs.

It should be noted that the terms used herein are merely for describing specific implementations, and are not intended to limit exemplary implementations according to this application. Unless clearly indicated in the context, singular forms used herein are also intended to include plural forms. In addition, it should be further understood that terms "including" and/or "comprising" used in this specification indicate that there are features, steps, operations, devices, assemblies, and/or combinations thereof.

For ease of description, words "up", "down", "left", and "right" appearing in the present invention merely mean that they are consistent with the up, down, left, and right directions of the drawings themselves, and do not limit the structure. They are merely for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or the element referred to needs to have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

Term explanation: terms such as "mounted", "connected", and "fixed", etc. in the present invention should be understood in a broad sense, for example, fixed connection, detachable connection, integral connection, mechanical connection, electrical connection, direct connection, indirect connection through an intermediation, internal connection between two elements, or an interaction relationship between two elements. In other words, specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention may be understood according to a specific situation.

As described in the background, an underframe of an existing railway flatcar adopts a welded integral structure, and the underframe of the vehicle after completion of production of the underframe has a fixed size and cannot be disassembled and adjusted. For cargo containers of different sizes, when a vehicle with a fixed underframe is used for transportation, the underframe may be incapable of loading as a result of a relatively short transportation space, or a waste of transportation space may be caused as a result of an ample transportation space of the underframe, seriously affecting transportation efficiency and a transportation volume of railway transportation. For railway flatcars to be exported, because the underframe cannot be disassembled, long-distance sea transportation can be achieved through only complete-vehicle transportation, resulting in a large space occupied by the vehicle and high transportation costs. In order to resolve the above technical problems, this application discloses a railway modular assembled underframe and a whole vehicle structure. The underframe mainly includes a center beam module, a first crossbeam module, a sleeper beam module, a second crossbeam, and an edge beam module. The center beam module is at a middle position on the entire underframe, runs through the entire underframe, and is connected to a coupler buffer apparatus and a bogie. The coupler buffer apparatus and the bogie are mature technologies of railway freight wagon. The first crossbeam module is located at two ends of the underframe and is fixed to the center beam module through fasteners. The sleeper beam module is located at two ends of the center beam module, fixed to the center beam module through fasteners, and connected to the bogie. The second crossbeam module is located at the middle part of the underframe and is fixed to the center beam module. A number of second crossbeam modules is determined according to a length of the vehicle and a need of mounting a container. The edge beam module connects two adjacent modules through fasteners.

In a typical implementation of this present application, as shown in <FIG>, the modular assembled underframe provided in the embodiment of the present invention includes a center beam module <NUM>, a first crossbeam module <NUM>, a sleeper beam module <NUM>, a second crossbeam module <NUM>, and an edge beam module <NUM>;.

The center beam module <NUM> is at a middle position on the entire underframe, runs through the entire underframe along a longitudinal direction of the underframe, and is to be connected to a coupler buffer apparatus and a bogie.

There are at least two first crossbeam modules <NUM> respectively located at two ends of the entire underframe, disposed along a transverse direction of the underframe, and fixed to the center beam module <NUM> through fasteners.

There are at least two sleeper beam modules <NUM> located near the ends of the entire underframe, disposed along the transverse direction of the underframe, and fixed to the center beam module through fasteners, forming a center beam module interface <NUM> on sleeper beam module, and the sleeper beam module is connected to the bogie.

There are at least two edge beam modules <NUM> respectively located on two sides of the center beam module and configured to connect two adjacent modules through fasteners.

The second crossbeam module <NUM> is located at the middle part of the underframe and is transversely fixed to the center beam module. A number of second crossbeam modules is determined according to a length of the vehicle and a need of mounting a container.

As shown in <FIG>, a complete modular assembled underframe consists of at least one center beam module <NUM>, two first crossbeam modules <NUM>, and two sleeper beam modules <NUM>, which form a rigid entirety after connection to support weights of the vehicle and to-be-transported cargo.

Further, center beam modules <NUM> of different lengths may be selected based on <FIG>, and second crossbeam modules <NUM> of a specific number and edge beam modules <NUM> of a specific number are connected to adjust an overall length of the underframe. Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in <FIG>, two edge beam modules <NUM> and one second crossbeam module <NUM> are added, and one first crossbeam module <NUM> is also added between the second crossbeam module <NUM> and the sleeper beam module <NUM>, and in <FIG>, two edge beam modules <NUM> and three second crossbeam module <NUM> are added, and one first crossbeam module <NUM> is also added between the second crossbeam module <NUM> and the sleeper beam module <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the above center beam module <NUM> includes a center beam <NUM>, an upper center pan <NUM>, an impact seat <NUM>, a module interface <NUM>, and a module interface <NUM>. The center beam <NUM> adopts a steel plate-welded box structure. The upper center pan <NUM> is fixed at a lower part of the center beam <NUM> for connection to the bogie <NUM>. Further, there are two upper center pans <NUM> symmetrically arranged at the bottom of the center beam <NUM> and near two ends of the center beam. One impact seat <NUM> is fixed at each of the two ends of the two center beams <NUM>. The impact seat <NUM> is to be connected to the coupler buffer apparatus <NUM>.

The upper center pan <NUM> and the impact seat <NUM> are detachably mounted on the center beam <NUM>. For specific structures of the upper center pan <NUM> and the impact seat <NUM>, refer to the prior art, and the specific structures are not an innovation point of this application. Therefore, details are not described herein again. Further, alternatively, the upper center pan <NUM> and the impact seat <NUM> are directly welded on the center beam <NUM>, which may be specifically selected according to an actual situation.

Moreover, the module interface <NUM> and the module interface <NUM> are generally directly welded on the center beam <NUM>, and may be detachably connected to the center beam in a special case. The module interface <NUM> and the module interface <NUM> are fixed on two sides of the center beam <NUM>. The module interface <NUM> is configured to fix the second crossbeam module <NUM>. The module interface <NUM> is configured to fix the first crossbeam module <NUM> and the sleeper beam module <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first crossbeam module <NUM> includes a support frame <NUM>, a container lock <NUM>, and a first crossbeam module interface <NUM>. Two ends of the support frame <NUM> are each provided with one container lock <NUM>. The container lock <NUM> is configured to fix a container. The container lock <NUM> is connected to the end of the support frame <NUM> through one pin.

The first crossbeam module interface <NUM> matches the module interface <NUM>, and the two are connected through fasteners. The fasteners herein may be selected as existing bolt connection or may adopt other fastener connection, as long as a connection function is implemented.

The first crossbeam module interface <NUM> is generally directly welded on the support frame <NUM>, and may be detachably connected to the support frame <NUM> in a special case.

In addition, for a shape and a structure of the support frame <NUM>, refer to an existing structure.

As shown in <FIG>, the sleeper beam module <NUM> is formed by a steel plate-welded box structure, or is formed in other forming manners, for example, is integrally formed, and is connected to the center beam module <NUM> through fasteners <NUM>, forming a center beam module interface. For a shape and a structure of the sleeper beam module <NUM>, refer to an existing structure.

Further, the fasteners herein may be selected as existing bolt connection or may adopt other fastener connection, as long as a connection function is implemented.

As shown in <FIG>, the second crossbeam module <NUM> includes a support frame <NUM>, a container lock <NUM>, and a second crossbeam module interface <NUM>. The top of the support frame <NUM> is provided with two container locks <NUM>, and the container locks <NUM> are located near two ends of the support frame. The container lock <NUM> is connected to the end of the support frame <NUM> through one pin. For details, refer to the drawings.

The second crossbeam module interface <NUM> matches the module interface <NUM> of the center beam module <NUM>, and the two are connected through fasteners to connect the second crossbeam module and the center beam module. The second crossbeam module interface <NUM> is generally directly welded on the support frame <NUM>, and may be detachably connected to the support frame <NUM> in a special case.

As shown in <FIG>, the center beam module <NUM> and the second crossbeam module <NUM>, and the second crossbeam module <NUM> and the edge beam module <NUM> are all connected through fasteners to ensure that the modules can be repeatedly assembled. A module interface structure between the center beam module <NUM> and the first crossbeam module <NUM> is similar to a module interface structure between the center beam module <NUM> and the sleeper beam module <NUM>, and details are not described herein again.

Further, in this embodiment, the coupler buffer apparatus and the bogie are existing mature railway wagon technologies, and therefore are not described in detail in this embodiment again.

This embodiment provides a complete-vehicle structure including the railway modular assembled underframe in Embodiment <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the complete-vehicle structure includes a center beam module <NUM>, four first crossbeam modules <NUM>, two sleeper beam modules <NUM>, one second crossbeam module <NUM>, two bogies <NUM>, and two coupler buffer apparatuses <NUM>. The second crossbeam module <NUM> is mounted at the middle part of the center beam module <NUM>. The two first crossbeam modules <NUM> are disposed on two ends of the center beam module <NUM>, the two sleeper beam modules <NUM> are disposed near the end of the center beam module <NUM>, and one first crossbeam module <NUM> is provided between each of the sleeper beam modules <NUM> and the second crossbeam module <NUM>. The first crossbeam module <NUM>, the sleeper beam module <NUM>, and the second crossbeam module <NUM> are connected to the center beam module <NUM> through each module interface.

One coupler buffer apparatus <NUM> is respectively mounted on each of the two ends of the center beam module <NUM>, and a lower part of the center beam module <NUM> and the sleeper beam module <NUM> are both connected to the bogie <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A flatcar underframe for railway freight, comprising: a center beam module (<NUM>), a first crossbeam module (<NUM>), a sleeper beam module (<NUM>), and an edge beam module (<NUM>), wherein
the center beam module (<NUM>) is at a middle position on the entire underframe, runs through the entire underframe along a longitudinal direction of the underframe, and is to be connected to a coupler buffer apparatus (<NUM>) and a bogie (<NUM>); wherein the center beam module (<NUM>) comprises a center beam (<NUM>), and the center beam (<NUM>) is provided with a sleeper beam module interface (<NUM>), a first crossbeam module interface (<NUM>) and a second crossbeam module interface (<NUM>), and a length of the center beam (<NUM>) is adjustable as required,
there are at least two first crossbeam modules (<NUM>) respectively located at two ends of the entire underframe, disposed along a transverse direction of the underframe, and fixed to the center beam module (<NUM>) through fasteners;
there are at least two sleeper beam modules (<NUM>) located near the two ends of the underframe, disposed along the transverse direction of the underframe, and fixed to the center beam module (<NUM>) through fasteners, wherein the sleeper beam module (<NUM>) is to be connected to the bogie (<NUM>); and
there are at least two edge beam modules (<NUM>) respectively located on two sides of the center beam module (<NUM>) and configured to connect two adjacent modules through fasteners; and
a second crossbeam module (<NUM>) located at a middle part of the underframe and fixed to the center beam module (<NUM>).