CN100377948C - Vehicles, especially railway vehicles, including retractable trailer arrangements - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising an end equipped with a trailer device (1) comprising a trailer bar with a suspension head (3) ( 2), characterized in that the tow bar (2) is connected to the end structure (10) of the vehicle through a connecting part, the connecting part enables the tow bar to move between a retracted position and a deployed position.

Description

Vehicles, especially railway vehicles, including retractable trailer arrangements

technical field

[01] The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle comprising an end with a hitch arrangement.

Background technique

[02] In the case of railway vehicles, it is known to equip the ends of the vehicles with a trailer, in particular an automatic trailer, which can connect two vehicles one after the other, for example in order to tow one of the vehicles, or to form a longer vehicle. Such a hitch typically includes a tow bar provided with a suspension head protruding beyond the end structure of the vehicle, the hitch being covered with a cover to improve the appearance of the vehicle when the hitch is not in use.

[03] However, the disadvantage of this trailer arrangement is that it is dangerous in the event of a crash, since the trailer bar protruding in front of the vehicle end often swings from the side of the vehicle and interferes with the energy-absorbing parts carried by the vehicle's end structure. out of shape. In addition, when a railway vehicle may collide with a lighter vehicle, such as is the case with a tramway, the towbar has a strength which risks puncturing the vehicle being struck, and which can give the vehicle danger to the occupants.

Contents of the invention

[04] The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a vehicle which is provided at the end with a trailer arrangement which overcomes these disadvantages and is simple and economical to manufacture.

[05] To this end, the object of the present invention is a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, provided at the end of the vehicle with a hitch arrangement comprising a hitch bar provided with a suspension head, said hitch bar passing through connecting members are connected to a structure at the end of the vehicle, the connecting members allow the tow bar to move between a retracted position and a deployed position, characterized in that the vehicle includes at least one energy absorbing element for cushioning impacts, and The suspension head is retracted in the retracted position, or at the surface of the energy absorbing part closest to the end of the vehicle.

[06] According to some special embodiments, the vehicle conforming to the present invention may include one or several of the following features appearing alone or in all possible technical combinations:

One or several characteristics that occur singly or in all possible technical combinations:

[07] - connecting parts that allow longitudinal movement of the trailer bar;

[08] - the trailer arrangement includes an automatic locking element that ensures that the trailer bar is immobilized in the deployed position;

[09] - The trailer device comprises a single motor which simultaneously ensures the longitudinal driving of the trailer bar and the engagement or release of the locking elements which hold the trailer bar in place.

[10] - The suspension head protrudes in front of the energy absorbing part in the deployed position;

[11] - Vehicles with at least two energy absorbing boxes located on either side of the towbar;

[12] - the connecting parts consist of fusible fixing parts which, in the event of an impact, allow the separation of the tow bar from the end structure of the vehicle;

[13] - The end of the trailer rod opposite to the suspension head is connected to a sliding frame through a rotating connection piece, and the sliding frame is connected to the end structure of the vehicle through a connecting rail piece;

[14]-The carriage comprises a motor cooperating with a toothed rack carried by the end structure in order to control the movement of the tow bar in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Description of drawings

[15] The objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention may be better understood by reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention given as a non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are as follows:

[16]- FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an end structure of a tramcar equipped with a trailer arrangement according to a particular embodiment of the invention, with the trailer bar in the deployed position;

[17]- Figures 2 and 3 represent two other perspective views of the end structure of the tram of Figure 1 with the trailer bar in the retracted position;

[18] - Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking system of the towbar of Fig. 1;

[19] - Fig. 5 is a partial view of the locking system of Fig. 4, in order to show the guiding sleeve of the locking system, the locking cam in the first plane is not shown in this figure;

[20]- Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, without showing the locking cam and without showing the side walls of the locking system frame, in order to show the carriage with the tow bar;

[21]- Figure 7 is a side view showing the locking system when the towbar is in the deployed position but not yet secured by the locking system;

The locking system when the locking system is fixed.

Detailed ways

[23] For ease of viewing, only the parts necessary for understanding the present invention are shown in the figure. From one figure to another, the same parts bear the same reference numerals.

[24] Figures 1-3 partially show an end structure 10 of a tramway equipped with a trailer arrangement 1 according to a particular embodiment of the invention. According to these figures, the end structure 10 comprises a framework 11 intended to be placed in front of the driver's cab of a tram, the lower part of which comprises a tunnel in which the trailer arrangement 1 is located, the framework 11 also having a front surface for To support the two energy absorbing boxes 12 located on both sides of the trailer device 1 , only one of the two energy absorbing boxes 12 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 .

[25] The trailer device 1 includes a trailer bar 2, which is centered on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a suspension head 3 is provided at the front end, and the rear end of the trailer bar 2 is connected to a relative skeleton through a rotating connection 4. 11 is connected to the front surface of the sliding carriage 5 .

[26] Figures 2, 3 show the tow bar 2 in the retracted position. For the sake of clarity, only one side of the frame 11 is shown in these figures, the other side can be deduced from the symmetry of a vertical plane passing with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. According to these figures, the carriage 5 comprises two side surfaces each having a groove 5a extending longitudinally to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, these grooves 5a receiving a transverse axis 6 extending over the entire width of the carriage 5, The diameter of the transverse shaft 6 is such that it can slide in the groove 5a. The end of the transverse shaft 6 includes a pin 6a which engages in a slideway 7 formed by a longitudinal groove formed in the frame 11 . The transverse axis 6 is connected with two longitudinal arms 8, and the longitudinal arms 8 pass through the rear surface of the sliding frame 5 at two openings. The surfaces are parallel and carry an electric motor 20 driving a pinion 20a engaging a rack 21 extending longitudinally to the axis of the vehicle. Springs 8a are located between the drive plate 9 and the rear surface of the carriage 5, these springs 8a extend around the arms 8 and have a length at rest greater than the length of the arms 8, so that the springs 8a exert a force which has the effect of making the drive plate 9 Tendency to leave the rear surface of the carriage 5 permanently.

[27] FIG. 4 shows the trailer bar 2 in the deployed position, and in particular the locking system that ensures the immobilization of the trailer bar 2 in this position. According to this figure, the front surface of the frame 11 has a casing 13 guiding the carriage 5, the casing 13 is fixed on the frame 11 by four shear screws 14, these screws 14 are arranged so that in a shock corresponding to a large break under shearing action. Outer casing 13 comprises two side walls, and each side wall has a locking cam 15 that is formed by a plate attached to the outer surface of the side wall, and each side wall of outer casing 13 includes two grooves embedded in locking cam 15. The pin 13a is in the groove 15a, so that the locking cam 15 can slide longitudinally relative to the longitudinal wall of the casing 13.

[28] The locking cam 15 also comprises two converging grooves 15b receiving the cylindrical end 16a of the locking lever 16 extending transversely between the two side walls of the casing 13 . The position of the groove 15b of the locking cam 15 is that when the locking cam 15 is in a retreat position relative to the outer cover 13, the two locking levers 16 are respectively located above the upper surface and below the lower surface of the sliding frame 5, and when the locking cam 15 is in the In a forward position, the two locking rods 16 are located below the upper surface and above the lower surface of the sliding frame 5 respectively.

[29] According to Fig. 5, in order to be more clear, the locking cam on the first plane is not shown in this figure, the side wall of the casing 13 includes some vertical guide grooves 13b, and the locking bars 16 can slide therein, and these locking bars 16 are in The section here is triangular. The side wall of the casing 13 also includes a guide groove 13c extending the slideway 7 of the frame 11 and receiving the pin 6a of the transverse shaft 6 carried by the carriage 5 when the carriage 5 is in the advanced position.

[30] According to Fig. 6, in this figure, the locking cam located in the first plane and the side wall of the outer casing 13 are not shown, the side wall of the sliding frame 5 includes two triangular cutouts 5b, when the locking lever 16 is in the close position, these locking levers go deep into the cutout 5b.

[31] According to FIGS. 4, 7 and 8, the locking cam 15 comprises a small-length groove 15c open to the rear of the cam 15, the groove 15c extending longitudinally to the height of the guide groove 13c of the side wall of the casing 13. When the carriage 5 was in the advanced position, the groove 15c accepted the pin 6a of the cross shaft 6 carried by the carriage 5, and the cam 15 had a plug 17 that rotated around a shaft 17a, when the pin 6a was in the groove 15c. When bottoming, a part of the plug 17 moves behind the pin 6a so that the cam 15 moves together with the transverse axis 6 of the carriage 5 in both directions of movement of the carriage 5 .

[32] The operation of the trailer arrangement 1 and the locking system will now be described.

[33] Figure 3 shows the tow bar 2 in the retracted position. In this position, the front end of the suspension head 3 is basically located at the front end of the energy absorbing box 12, and the sliding frame 5 is in the retreat position on the slideway 7, and the spring 8a connecting the transmission plate 9 and the sliding frame 5 is elongated, so that the transverse shaft 6 Backwards are blocked in the groove 5 a of the carriage 5 .

[34] When the trailer bar 2 needs to be unfolded, the electric motor 20 is energized so that the transmission plate 9 and the sliding frame 5 move toward the front end of the vehicle through the rotation of the gear 20a on the rack 21. During this phase of movement, the transmission plate 9 pushes the carriage 5 through the springs 8a, which are calibrated so as to remain elongated when they are only opposed to the frictional forces that block the movement of the carriage 5, so that the transverse shaft 6 remains The back is blocked in the groove 5a of the carriage 5.

[35] When the sliding frame 5 arrived at the guide outer cover 13, the pin 6a of the transverse shaft 6 left the slideway 7 of the skeleton 11, so as to be embedded in the guide groove 13c of the outer cover 13, and the sliding frame 5 continued to advance until its The front surface is in contact with a stopper 19 carried by the lower surface of the side wall of the guide jacket 13 . The advancement of the sliding frame 5 is blocked by the stop block 19, then the transverse shaft 6 can pass through the groove 5a of the sliding frame 5 to continue its forward movement, and the spring 8a is on the front surface of the fixed sliding frame 5 and the transmission plate 9. gradually compressed.

[36] FIG. 7 shows the locking system when the sliding frame 5 is blocked by the stop block 19. At this moment, the pin 6a of the cross shaft 6 is embedded in the bottom of the groove 15c of the locking cam 15, so that the movement of the cross shaft 6 under the thrust of the electric motor 20 causes the locking cam 15 to move forward. The forward movement of the cross shaft 6 is accompanied by the release of the plug 17 held by a stop 18 connected to the front surface of the skeleton 11, the plug 17 being for example bent by a pin on the cross shaft 6 under the action of a return spring. 6a, so that the locking cam 15 moves together with the cross shaft 6, especially at the stage when the cross shaft 6 returns backwards.

[37] The forward movement of the locking cam 15 is accompanied by the sliding of the cylindrical ends 16a of the locking rods 16 through the grooves 15b, which causes the locking rods 16 to approach, these locking rods 16 being supported by the vertical grooves 13b of the side walls of the housing 13. The guide moves vertically until it stops at the bottom of the cutout 5b of the carriage 5, FIG. 8 shows this. The carriage 5 is longitudinally fixed in this position by the locking lever 16 and the power supply to the electric motor 20 is cut off, for example by an end-of-travel detector on a toothed rack 21 . Therefore, the trailer device 1 is in the unfolded position shown in FIG.

[38] When there is no need to use the trailer device 1, reverse power is supplied to the electric motor 20, so that the cross shaft 6 is retreated, and the trailer bar 2 is brought back to the retracted position, and the cross shaft 6 drives the locking cam 15 through the plug 17 to after moving. The locking levers 16 are separated from each other by a mechanism opposite to that described above, the spring 8a relaxes, and the bolt 17 then opens as it comes into contact with the stop 18, thus decoupling the rearward movement of the transverse shaft 6 from the movement of the locking cam 15 . When the cross shaft 6 moves backward, the cross shaft 6 is blocked backward in the groove 5a of the sliding frame 5, and drives the sliding frame 5, thus driving the trailer bar 2 to move backward until the suspension head 3 is at the front end of the energy absorbing box 12 , or retracted from the front end of the energy absorbing box, this position can be detected, for example, by an end-of-travel detector on said rack 21 .

[39] This vehicle has the advantage of having a hitch arrangement which does not interfere with the deformation of the energy absorbing box when the hitch bar is in the retracted position. In addition, in the event of an impact causing deformation of the energy-absorbing box, the trailer bar recedes until the suspension head touches the guide jacket, and is even released from the frame by breaking the shear screw that fixes the guide jacket, so that the trailer bar is not thrown laterally towards the vehicle Dangerous because the energy absorber and the tunnel for receiving the trailer guide the towbar longitudinally.

[40] Of course, the present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described and shown above. This embodiment is given only as an example and modifications can be made, especially from the point of view of constituting different parts, or by substitution of equivalent techniques, without going beyond the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims (6)

1. vehicle, it comprises that one is equipped with the end of a trailer arrangement (1), described trailer arrangement (1) comprises that one has the trailer bar (2) of a hanging head (3), described trailer bar (2) is connected with an end construction (10) of vehicle by link, described link allows described trailer bar (2) to move between a retracted position and an expanded position

It is characterized in that described vehicle comprises that at least one is used for the energy-absorbing element of buffering collision of closed (12); And at retracted position, described hanging head (3) is positioned at described energy-absorbing element (12) near the surface of vehicle end.

2. vehicle as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, at expanded position, described hanging head (3) is given prominence to the front in described energy-absorbing element (12).

3. vehicle as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described vehicle has at least two energy absorbing casees (12) that are positioned at described trailer bar (2) both sides.

4. vehicle as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described link comprises fusible retaining element (14), and when bump, described retaining element (14) allows the described trailer bar (2) and the end construction (10) of described vehicle to break away from.

5. as each described vehicle in the claim 1 to 4, it is characterized in that, described trailer bar (2), opposite with described hanging head (3) end is connected with a sliding rack (5) by a rotating connector (4), and described sliding rack (5) connects guide rail (7) by one again and is connected with the described end construction (10) of vehicle.

6. vehicle as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, described sliding rack (5) comprises a motor (20), and described motor (20) cooperates with the tooth bar (21) that described end construction (10) carries, and moves to longitudinal direction of car so that control described trailer bar (2).

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