GB2292925A - Bogie rail wagon with height adjustable bed(s) - Google Patents

Abstract

A bogie rail vehicle 1 for carrying palleted goods comprises an elongate covered body 2 having an adjustable roof 7, front and rear bogies 8 and 8A, and adjustable elongate loading beds 13, 14 extending longitudinally between the bogies. The loading beds are adjustable in height between a lowered transport position and a raised loading or unloading position. This arrangement allows the lowered beds to be recessed with respect to the bogies, allowing sufficient loading height for two goods packages to be stacked vertically during transport, whereas a conventional, Feed bed vehicle could only carry one layer. Beds 13 and 14 may be separately adjustable. Scissor arms (fig. 10) may be used in conjunction with hydraulic or pneumatic rams (40, figs. 6 to 8), or screwjacks and motors (81, 82, figs. 15to 17) to raise or lower the beds. The lifting mechanism may be mounted on the ground at a goods yard (fig. 9). <IMAGE>

Description

"Bogie Rail Vehicles" This invention relates to bogie rail vehicles and is concerned more particularly, but not exclusively, with covered vehicles for carrying palleted goods packages.

There is currently a requirement to transport by rail goods packages which must be kept dry during transport to avoid spoilage of the goods but which are of such dimensions that it is not possible to stack one package on top of another within the height available in a conventional covered rail vehicle. This means that the goods packages must be carried side-by-side on the loading bed of the rail vehicle, and thus limits the number of such goods packages which can be carried by a single rail vehicle or by a train of such rail vehicles.Since the unit cost of transporting such goods packages depends on the number of packages which can be accommodated on a single rail vehicle, there would be a substantial cost advantage if it were possible to design a railway vehicle such that at least some of the goods packages could be stacked on top of other goods packages so as to considerably increase the number of goods packages which could be carried on the rail vehicle.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel rail vehicle for this purpose.

According to the present invention there is provided a bogie rail vehicle comprising an elongate covered vehicle body having a roof, front and rear bogies supporting the vehicle body adjacent the front and rear ends thereof, and an adjustable elongate loading bed extending longitudinally of the vehicle body between the front and rear bogies and adjustable in height between a lowered position in which the loading bed serves to carry goods during transport and a raised position in which the goods may be loaded onto, or unloaded from, the loading bed.

Such an arrangement permits the loading bed when in its lowered position to be recessed with respect to the bogie assemblies and to thus be at a much lower level than the loading bed of a conventional rail vehicle. Thus, in the particular application previously discussed, there is sufficient height above the loading bed when in the lowered position for two such goods packages of such dimensions to be stacked one on top of the other during transport, and thus the total storage volume is increased so that considerably more goods packages can be transported on a single rail vehicle.Because such goods packages are palleted, it is necessary that the loading bed is at the required level with respect to the fixed side of the vehicle to permit loading and unloading by a fork lift truck and this is achieved by ensuring that the loading bed is in the raised position during loading and unloading.

Preferably the roof is adjustable to permit at least a part of the loading bed to be uncovered during loading and unloading. This provides sufficient height above the loading bed when it is in its raised position to accommodate goods of a height which is only slightly less than the height available between the loading bed when in its lowered position and the roof.

Conveniently the roof is adjustable by sliding along at least one guideway on the vehicle body. Furthermore the roof is preferably watertight when closed, and it will be appreciated that there are many possible roof designs which may be used to achieve the desired operational requirements.

Furthermore it is preferred that the loading bed is divided into two or more portions which are arranged adjacent one another in the longitudinal direction and which are separately adjustable in height between the lowered position and the raised position.

The vehicle body is advantageously also provided with a floor pan which extends below the loading bed and prevents ingress of moisture from below the loading bed. The floor pan may be provided with removable access covers to permit access to areas below the loading bed.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, various embodiments of rail vehicle in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a vehicle in accordance with a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a view of the vehicle from one end; Figure 3 is a cross-section of the vehicle at a point intermediate the bogies; Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views of a possible load bed lifting mechanism, with the load bed shown in the lowered position and the raised position respectively; Figures 6,7 and 8 are respectively a cross-section in the lowered position, a partial cross-section in the raised position and a detail of a second embodiment; Figure 9 is a partial cross-section of a third embodiment;; Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 are a partial side view and partial cross-sections in three successive positions of a fourth embodiment; Figure 14 is a partial side view of a fifth embodiment; and Figures 15, 16 and 17 are partial cross-sections in three positions of a sixth embodiment.

Referring to the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the rail vehicle 1 has a vehicle body 2 having side portions 3 and 4 and end portions 5 and 6. In addition the vehicle body 2 has an adjustable roof 7 which is capable of being slid back along a guideway towards one or other of the end portions 5 and 6 of the vehicle body in order to uncover one or other half of the vehicle body 2 (the left hand half of the body being shown uncovered in Figure 1). When retracted the canvas material of the roof 7 is concertinad (as shown on the right hand side of Figure 1), whereas the material is stretched when the roof 7 is extended to the fully closed position.

The vehicle body 2 is supported by front and rear bogies 8 and 8A which are mounted under end platforms 10 and 11 of the vehicle body 2, and is provided with an adjustable elongate loading bed assembly 12 extending longitudinally between the bogies 8 and 8A and consisting of two separately adjustable loading beds 13 and 14. Each loading bed 13 or 14 is adjustable in height between a lowered position, as shown in broken lines at 15 in Figure 3, and a raised position, as shown in solid lines in Figure 3. One possible mechanism for effecting such raising or lowering of each loading bed 13 or 14 will be described in more detail below.

As best seen in Figure 3 the vehicle body 2 also incorporates a floor pan 16 which extends between the side portions 3 and 4 and serves to seal the space between the loading bed assembly 12 so as to prevent ingress of spray from below the vehicle 1 which might adversely affect the lifting mechanism or result in spoilage of the goods transported. The floor pan 16 may be provided with removable access covers 17 to allow access to areas below the loading bed assembly 12, for servicing of the lifting mechanism for example. The floor pan 16 also serves to increase the structural rigidity of the vehicle body 2, this being helped by the fact that, when the loading beds 13 and 14 are in their lowered positions, bearing pads 18 on the bottoms of these beds 13 and 14 contact inclined parts 19 of the side portions 3 and 4.A suitable distribution of bearing pads 18 on the bottoms of the portions 13 and 14 ensures that vibration of the floor pan 16 is kept to a reasonably high frequency during transport, that is well above suspension frquencies.

Various lifting mechanisms are possible for raising and lowering of each loading bed 13 or 14 so that, when in the raised position, a pallet containing goods (not shown) supported on the loading bed 13 or 14 is at the required level to enable it to be unloaded from the vehicle 1 by a fork lift truck (or alternatively to enable the goods to be loaded on to the vehicle). During such loading or unloading the corresponding portion of the roof 7 must be drawn back so as to uncover the loading bed 13 or 14 to provide sufficient height for loading or unloading. After loading of one of the loading beds 13, 14 has been completed the loading bed is lowered to its lowered position so as to lower the goods supported on the loading bed to such a level as to enable the roof 7 to be slid back to cover the goods and to be locked in relation to the end portion 5 or 6, as appropriate.It will be appreciated that each of the loading beds 13 and 14 can be loaded successively in this manner with the appropriate portion of the roof 7 being drawn back prior to loading and subsequently recovered after loading. After both loading beds 13 and 14 have been loaded and both portions of the roof 7 have been locked in relation to the end portions 5 and 6, the goods may be transported on the vehicle 1. Subsequent unloading of the goods from the vehicle 1 is effected in converse manner with each loading bed 13 or 14 being placed in its raised position and the corresponding roof portion being retracted during unloading.

One possible lifting mechanism 20 for the loading bed 13 or 14 is shown diagrammatically in Figures 4 and 5. In this case the loading bed 13 or 14 is provided with a coupling 21 to which the lower end of a respective lifting ram 22 (see Figure 3) is connected, the upper end of each ram 22 being fixed to the upper part of a partition wall 23 (see Figures 1 and 3). The lifting ram 22 is adapted to effect controlled lifting of the associated loading bed 13 or 14 in the direction of the arrow 24 (and corresponding controlled lowering in the opposite direction).

In addition the lifting mechanism 20 comprises four duplex chains 25, 26, 27 and 28 which are coupled in pairs to the opposite ends of two link bars 29 and 30.

The chains 25 and 26 are secured to upper fixed points provided towards the top of one or other of the walls 31 and 32 (see Figure 1) of the end platforms 10 and 11, and the chains 27 and 28 are secured to lower fixed points towards the bottom of the divider 23. The chains 25 and 26 run over idler sprockets 33 and 34 mounted on the bottom of the loading bed 13 or 14, whereas the chains 27 and 28 run over further idler sprockets 35 and 36 and sprockets 37 and 38 on a synchronising shaft 39 also provided on the bottom of the loading bed 13 or 14. For loading beds of sufficient length the sprockets 35 and 36 may be omitted. Also the link bars 29 and 30 may be omitted so that two continuous chains are provided.

When the loading bed 13 or 14 is raised from the lowered position shown in Figure 4 to the raised position shown in Figure 5 in the direction of the arrow 24 by actuation of the associated ram 22, the loading bed 13 or 14 is caused to move along the chains 25 to 28, the engagement of the sprockets 33 to 38 with the chains 25 to 28 and the linkage provided by the synchronising shaft 39 ensuring that the loading bed 13 or 14 remains level during this lifting process (and also during the corresponding lowering process).

Although one possible lifting mechanism has been described with reference to Figures 4 and 5, it should be understood that many other lifting mechanisms can also be used in this application, and examples of other possible lifting mechanisls will now be described with reference to the remaining figures. In these figures like refeence numerals denote similar parts as in Figures 1 to 3.

In the second embodiment of Figures 6, 7 and 8, the lifting mechanis comprises two short lifting rams 40 positioned at each end of each loading bed 13 or 14, the upper end of each lifting ram 40 being coupled by an associated cable 41 to a large diameter pulley 43 of a pulley assembly 42 and a small diameter pulley 44 of the assembly 42 being coupled by a further cable 45 to the floor pan 16, as best seen in the detail of Figure 8. The pulley assembly 42 is mounted on the transverse walls 31 and 32 of the end platforms 10 and 11 or on the intermediate partition wall 23 as shown in Figure 1, and provides a mechanical advantage permitting the loading bed 13 or 14 to be lifted from the lowered position shown in Figure 6 to the raised position shown in Figure 7 (which is simplified to show only the essential parts).

In the third embodiment of Figure 9, the lifting mechanism 50 is mounted within a recess 51 in the ground 52 beneath the track 53 at the site at which the vehicle is to be loaded or unloaded, rather than being mounted on the vehicle as in the previously described embodiments. In this case the lifting mechanism 50 comprise four lifting rams 54 positioned beneath the four corners of the loading bed 13 or 14 to be lifted so that, when synchronously extended, the lifting rams 54 lift the loading bed 13 or 14 from the lowered position shown in solid lines in Figure 9 to the raised position shown in broken lines in Figure 9.

In the fourth embodiment of Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13, the lifting mechanism 60 comprises a base plate 61, two pairs of parallel lifting rams 62 pivotally connected between the base plate 61 and the loading bed 13 or 14, and two pairs of scissor arms 63 which are pivotally interconnected at their mid points and which are pivotally connected at their ends to the base plate 61 and the loading bed 13 or 14. During transport the lifting mechanism 60 is folded up beneath the loading bed 13 or 14 as shown in Figure 11. In order to raise the loading bed 13 or 14, the lifting rams 62 are extended so as to initially lower the base plate 61 into contact with the ground as shown in Figure 12.Further extension of the lifting rams 62 will then cause the loading bed 13 or 14 to be lifted into the raised position as shown in Figure 13 with the scissor arms 63, whose ends are capable of limited sliding as shown in Figure 10, ensuring that the loading bed remains level during such lifting.

In the fifth embodiment of Figure 14, the lifting mechanism 70 is mounted on the ground at the site at which the vehicle is to be loaded or unloaded and includes a base plate 71 fixed to the ground, four pairs of scissor arms 72 pivotally interconnected at their mid points and pivotally connected at their lower ends to the base plate 71, two pairs of lifting rams 73 pivotally connected at their lower ends to the base plate 71, and a lift plate 74 to which the upper ends of the scissor arms 72 and the lifting rams 73 are pivotally connected. Extension of the lifting rams 73 causes the lift plate to be raised in order to engage the loading bed 13 or 14, and further extension results in lifting of the loading bed into the raised position.

In the sixth embodiment of Figures 15, 16 and 17, the lifting mechanism 80 comprises a pair of screw jacks 81 adjacent each end of each loading bed 13 or 14 and extending between the loading bed and a fixed point on the vehicle body, the screw jacks 81being driven in synchronism by motors 82 to ensure that the loading bed remains level during lifting and lowering. Figure 15 shows the lifting arrangement adjacent one of the end platforms with the loading bed in a partially raised position, whereas Figures 16 and 17 show the lifting arrangement adjacent the intermediate partition wall in the lowered position and the raised position respectively.

In these last two Figures the lifting jacks for both loading beds are shown, and it can be seen that the motors 82 and 82' associated with the two loading beds are positioned at different heights to enable them to be accommodated within the partition wall.

Claims (13)

CLATMS

1. A bogie rail vehicle comprising an elongate covered vehicle body having a roof, front and rear bogies supporting the vehicle body adjacent the front and rear ends thereof, and an adjustable elongate loading bed extending longitudinally of the vehicle body between the front and rear bogies, and adjustable in height between a lowered position in which the loading bed serves to carry goods during transport and a raised position in which the goods may be loaded onto, or unloaded from, the loading bed.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the roof is adjustable to permit at least a part of the loading bed to be uncovered during loading and unloading.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the roof is adjustable by sliding along at least one guideway on the vehicle body.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the roof is watertight when closed.

5. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the loading bed is divided into two or more portions which are arranged adjacent one another in the longitudinal direction and which are separately adjustable in height between the lowered position and the raised position.

6. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle body is provided with a floor pan which extends below the loading bed and prevents ingress of moisture from below the loading bed.

7. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the loading bed is provided with a lifting mechanism comprising at least one extendible and retractable lifting device.

8. A vehicle according to claim 7, wherein levelling means is provided for ensuring that the loading bed is maintained level during raising and lowering by the lifting device.

9. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the levelling means comprises at least one flexible member secured between upper and lower fixed points on the vehicle body, and spaced guide means provided on the loading bed for engagement with the flexible member and movable along the flexible member such that the length of the flexible member extending between the guide means remains substantially constant during movement of the loading bed along the flexible member as the loading bed is raised and lowered.

10. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the levelling means comprises at least one pair of scissor arms which are pivotally interconnected at points intermediate the ends thereof and which are pivotally connected at their ends to the loading bed.

11. A vehicle according to claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein the lifting device is at least one hydraulic or pneumatic lifting ram connected to the loading bed.

12. A vehicle according to claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein the lifting device is at least one screw jack connected to the loading bed and means for driving the or each screw jack in order to raise or lower the loading bed.

13. A bogie rail vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the figures of the accompanying drawings.