GB2060530A

GB2060530A - Drivable Wheel for Rack Rail Vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2060530A
Application number: GB8026430A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Gyro Mining Transport Ltd
Current assignee: Gyro Mining Transport Ltd
Priority date: 1979-08-22
Filing date: 1980-08-13
Publication date: 1981-05-07
Also published as: GB2060530B

Abstract

A drivable wheel 5 for a rack rail vehicle or bogie of a rack rail system in which the wheel is adapted intermittently to engage with, and be disengaged from, a rack, comprises a steel tyre 7 with a coaxial pinion 12 connected to a portion of the tyre 7 and permanently rotatable therewith and means (which comprise a freely rotatable sleeve 10 located on an annular extension 9 of the tyre) to ensure toothed engagement of the pinion 12 with a rack 14 when the latter is encountered in service. The invention also includes a rail vehicle bogie provided with wheels as defined above and a rack rail system comprising vehicles or bogies as defined above, a pair of conventional running rails 1 and a pair of check rails 3, the latter being engageable, at a zone where the rack 14 is to be engaged by the means 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drivable Wheel for Rack Rail Vehicle This invention relates to a drivable wheel for a rack rail vehicle (which could be a locomotive or a car) or to a bogie thereof; to a vehicle or bogie incorporating a plurality of such wheels; and to a rack rail system incorporating at least one such vehicle or bogie where a rack is intermittently provided.

It is well known in rail systems generally to incorporate a rack at locations where the adhesion between a steel drive wheel or tyre and the head of a conventional steel running rail is insufficient at particular gradients, the rack being engageable by a drive pinion(s) of the rail vehicle or bogie. Usually, the pinions(s) is stationary until such time as a gradient and hence a rack is encountered, whereupon the power source, e.g., a diesel engine, is disconnected from the drive wheels and reconnected to the pinion(s).

According to the present invention, a drivable wheel for a rack rail vehicle or bogie adapted intermittently to engage with and be disengaged from a rack, comprises a steel tyre with a co-axial pinion connected to a portion of the tyre and permanently rotatable therewith, and means to ensure toothed engagement of the pinion with a rack when the latter is encountered, in service.

Thus, the power supply to the wheel in accordance with the invention may be maintained, even at the point where a rack is to be engaged, disengagement of course presenting no problem.

Preferably, the means of ensuring toothed engagement comprises a freely rotatable sleeve located co-axially with respect to the steel tyre.

Preferably, the sleeve is mounted on an integral and preferably inward, annular extension of the tyre, with bearings e.g. of the journal or needle type, provided between the sleeve and the extension. Preferably, the wheel is drivable by a hydraulic motor which is conveniently mounted within the wheel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a rail vehicle bogie is provided with at least two, and preferably four drivable wheels as defined above.

As indicated previously, each drivable wheel is preferably driven by an individual hydraulic motor, conveniently is mounted within its wheel and hence outboard of the bogie.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a rack rail system comprises a pair of spaced apart, conventional, steel running rails the heads of which are normally engaged by a steel tyre provided on a plurality of drivable wheels of a rail vehicle or bogie thereof, each drivable wheel comprising a pinion connected to a portion of its steel tyre and permanently rotatable with the steel tyre, means of ensuring toothed engagement between the pinion and a rack comprising a freely rotatable sleeve located coaxially with respect to the steel tyre and a pair of steel check rails, one located adjacent each running rail at a zone where a rack is to be engaged by the pinion, such that the rail heads of the check rails are gradually raised until, at the zone where a rack is to be engaged by the pinion the heads of the check rails are slightly higher than those of the running rails and become engaged by the sleeve of each drivable wheel whereupon the steel tyre of each drivable wheel is lifted from its adjacent running rail head so that each drivable wheel is supported on the check rail by its freely rotatable sleeve.

Thus, the freely rotatable sleeve provides differential movement to ensure toothed engagement. It follows that at the termination of a gradient, the location of the heads of the check rails is gradually lowered until the steel tyres reengage the heads of the running rails and the freely rotatable sleeves are thus taken out of use until the next gradient and hence check rails and racks are encountered.

Conveniently, at a lead-in end, each rack is provided with a section of rack pivotally attached at one end thereof to the main, static rack, and displaceable, against spring loading, by the pinion(s) of a rail vehicle or bogie thereof to assist tooth engagement.

The invention will now be further described, in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view through a drivable wheel, rail vehicle bogie, and rack rail system in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1 but shows a different position of the wheel in the system; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation of lead-in end of a rack.

In the drawings, there is shown one rail 1 of a pair of conventional, steel, running rails, the rail 1 having a rail head 2 and a rail foot (not shown) secured to a sleeper (not shown) by any conventional means.

Inwardly of the pair of conventional rails are a pair of steel check rails 3 one only shown. Heads 4 of the check rails 3 are gradually raised until at the zone where a rack is to be engaged by a pinion they are slightly above the rail heads 2.

Conversely, at the zone where gradient problems cease and the rack drive is no longer required, the heads 2 are gradually lowered.

A drivable wheel 5 is rotatable about an axis 6 and comprises a steel tyre 7 to engage the rail head 2 and a conventional steel flange 8 at the inside of the rail head 2. The steel tyre 7 is provided with an integral annular and inward extension 9 around the external periphery of which is mounted a freely rotatable sleeve 10 via needle bearings 11. Beyond the extension 9 the drivable wheel 5 carries a pinion 12 secured by bolts on axes 13 and adapted to engage a rack 14 located inside of the check rani 3. Internally, the drivable wheel 5 is provided with a hydraulic motor 1 5 which is thus located outboard of a bogie 1 6 to which the drivable wheel 5 is attached by any conventional means.At a lead-in end 1 7 of each rack 14 is located a rack section 18, pivotally mounted on a pin 19 and provided with teeth 20 having the same pitch as those of the rack 14. A spring 21 urges the rack section 1 8 in an anticlockwise direction about the pin 1 9.

Normally, the wheels 5 are arranged as illustrated in Figure 1 with the steel tyres 7 engaging the rail heads 2 and with the sleeve 10 clear of the rail heads 4. However, at gradients where the adhesion between the steel tyres 7 and the heads 2 is insufficient to provide an adequate tractive force, check rails 3 and racks 14 are provided, and the weight is transferred to the check rails 3 by the sleeves 10 engaging the heads 4 and the tyres 7 being clear of the rail heads 2 as illustrated in Figure 2. This ensures that power supply to the wheels 5 can be maintained, because even if the teeth of the rotating pinion 11 are not synchronised with the teeth of the rack 14, the differential effect made possible by the presence of the freely rotatable sleeve soon ensures tooth engagement. The latter process is also assisted by providing the deflectable rack section 18.

Claims

1. A drivable wheel for a rack rail vehicle or bogie adapted intermittently to engage with and be disengaged from a rack comprising a steel tyre with a co-axial pinion connected to a portion of the tyre and permanently rotatable therewith, and means to ensure toothed engagement of the pinion with a rack when the latter is encountered, in service.

2. A wheel as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means of ensuring toothed engagement comprises a freely rotatable sleeve located coaxially with respect to the steel tyre.

3. A wheel as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the sleeve is mounted on an integral annular extension of the tyre.

4. A wheel as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the extension is inward.

5. A wheel as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein bearings are provided between the sleeve and the extension.

6. A wheel as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the bearings are "needle" bearings.

7. A wheel as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the bearings are "roller" bearings.

8. A wheel as claimed in any preceding Claim drivable by a hydraulic motor.

9. A wheel as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the hydraulic motor is mounted within the wheel.

10. A rail vehicle bogie provided with two wheels as defined in any preceding Claim.

11. A rail vehicle bogie provided with four wheels as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 9.

12. A rail vehicle bogie as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein individual drive means for each wheel is mounted outboard of the bogie.

1 3. A rack rail system comprising a pair of spaced apart, conventional, steel running rails the heads of which are normally engaged by a steel tyre provided on a plurality of drivable wheels of a rail vehicle or bogie thereof, each drivable wheel comprising a pinion connected to a portion of its steel tyre and permanently rotatable with the steel tyre, means of ensuring toothed engagement between the pinion and a rack comprising a freely rotatable sleeve located coaxially with respect to the steel tyre and a pair of steel check rails, one located adjacent each running rail at a zone where a rack is to be engaged by the pinion, such that the rail heads of check rails are gradually raised until, at the zone where a rack is to be engaged by the pinion the heads of the check rails are slightly higher than those of the running rails and become engaged by the sleeve of each drivable wheel whereupon the steel tyre of each drivable wheel is lifted from its adjacent running rail head so that each drivable wheel is supported on the check rail by its freely rotatable sleeve.

14. A rack rail system as claimed in Claim 13, wherein at a lead-in end, each rack is provided with a section of rack pivotally attached at one end thereof to the main, static rack, and displaceable, against spring loading, by the pinion(s) of a rail vehicle or bogie thereof to assist tooth engagement.

1 5. A drivable wheel for a rack rail vehicle or bogie adapted intermittently to engage with and be disengaged from a rack, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 6. A rail vehicle bogie substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A rack rail system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.