EP0461448B1

EP0461448B1 - Roof of a railway wagon

Info

Publication number: EP0461448B1
Application number: EP91108526A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alpo Riekkt; Voitto Riihiaho; Heikkinen Timo; Ari Lehto
Original assignee: TRANSTECH Ltd Oy
Current assignee: TRANSTECH Ltd Oy
Priority date: 1990-06-15
Filing date: 1991-05-25
Publication date: 1994-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-25
Also published as: DE69102827T2; FI903033A0; FI85570B; FI903033A7; DE69102827D1; EP0461448A1; ES2060243T3; FI85570C

Description

The present invention refers to a semi-fixed roof structure of a vehicle transport wagon, in which the roof at least partly can be lifted in order to achieve a passageway and ventilation during loading and unloading of the wagon.
Efficient transport of cars demands longer railway wagons which leads to narrower wagons because of the curve demands. In order to increase the number of cars in each wagon they are typically located in two storeys. If the cars to be transported are big like vans, for example, it is not possible to put them in two storeys, whereby the upper transport level can be lowered or removed. Especially when transporting cars in two storeys the space on the upper level is low due to the inclining roof portion of the cover which makes it difficult for the drivers to get into and out of the loaded cars. In addition, a closed space like this is not healthy due to the exhaust gases that occur when loading and unloading. The supply of light is also a problem in vehicle transport wagons with fixed covers. Such covered wagons are, however, used when transporting cars in order to avoid damage and to keep the cars cleaner.
The above described problems have been tried to be solved by, for example, using a cover the roof portion of which can be lifted rectilinearly upward by using pneumatic cylinders. Hereby it is possible to get light at least on the upper level of the wagon and ventilation and space to move vertically. Such a roof, however, easily becomes heavy and expensive, or when a cheap and light solution is strived for the roof is vulnerable to strong winds and damage. Pneumatic use is also relatively complicated and expensive.
Due to the generally curved shape of the roof construction in railway wagons, it is submitted to aerodynamic forces excerted by winds blowing laterally to the wagon and tending to lift the roof. The situation is comparable to the ascending force arising on the upper surface of an aeroplane wing. The roofs are locked to the frame constructions of the wagons during running in order to protect them against wind forces. Since wagons are usually loaded in open shunting yards, and the roof is unlocked when lifted, wind damaging risks must be otherwise elimineated.
In DE-1218491, the roof is lifted by means of screw rods, which restrict the movements of the roof effectively also in an open position. Such a design which corresponds to the first part of claim 1 is heavy and expensive however. The wind effects are not mentioned in the publication, but the edge of the roof is lifted for stepping in and out of the wagon during loading. Owing to the curved shape of the roof, wind forces may still be considerable even when the roof has been opened at the edge that is protected form winds. In addition, this publication mentions the electric wires for the train, which the lifted roof must not touch in any case.
In FR 1503791 the roof is hoisted by means of bars connected at one end to the roof and at the other end to a winch and movable in a vertical guide. The movement of the bar and the roof in the open position is limited only downwards, i.e. there is no structural feature to prevent the roof from rising under the effect of aerodynamic lifting caused by winds. In this reference, shaft journals mobile in profiles may slide out from the wall at the upper end of the profiles under the lifting effect of winds, since no limited upper position is provided. Consequently, the roof may be trhusted against the electric contact wires or the like The roof is always lifted at both edges and publication does not describe a possibility to open the roof just at one edge only.
GB-publication No. 2 101 548 discloses a railway wagon whose cover structure is split along the middle line of the roof and the wall-roof halves achieved in this way are turned around pivots located in the lower edges of the walls. This mechanism is not suited for a vehicle transport wagon because the turning mechanism of the halves does not leave enough space for the vehicles, especially for driving them through, and in addition this structure, too, is complicated and expensive.
FI-patent application No. 896324 discloses a structure in which the roof is also split along its middle line and the two side wall-roof halves achieved are moved outward and upward from the wagon during loading. Even though this structure is advantageous per se, it is, however, relatively expensive and it is difficult to change the wagon types in use to be able to use it.
The object of the present invention is to achieve such a roof structure in a vehicle transport wagon that by shifting it, it is on the one hand possible to get enough height for the drivers to pass through and on the other hand arrange sufficient ventilation for removal of the exhaust gases. Another object of the invention is to obtain such a roof structure that depending on the location of the platform, the wind direction and other factors it is possible to choose from which side the roof is lifted. One object of the invention is also to obtain a roof structure which can be added to old wagons without excessive and expensive changes of structure. Another aim is to obtain a roof structure which is simple and reliable.
With the semi-fixed roof structure according to the invention it is possible to achieve a definitive improvement to the above stated disadvantages and to implement the defined aims. In order to achieve this the roof structure according to the invention is characterized in what is disclosed in the characterizing portion of claim 1.
The most important advantage of the invention is that by using it it is possible to get sufficient height and ventilation with a very simple and secure structure which is not easily damaged. Another advantage is that it can be applied also in old wagons to a reasonable cost.
In the following the invention will be described in detail with reference to the enclosed drawings.
Figure 1 presents a side view of a vehicle transport wagon containing a roof structure according to the invention.
Figure 2 presents a horizontal cross-section of a railway wagon along line A - A of figure 1.
Figure 3 presents a longitudinal cross-section of a railway wagon along line B - B of figure 2.
Figure 1 shows generally a vehicle transport wagon 1 and its uniform roof 2 and spaced apart members 3a and 3b which lift and lower the roof. Additionally, the figure shows an actuator 4 and cable wires 5a, 5b, 5c transmitting and dividing tension from it, which cable wires go round through rolls 7a - 7d positioned in the upper part of the wall 9.
Figure 2 shows with a whole line the roof 2 in a closed position and with a dotted broken line and reference numbers in brackets in an open position, whereby passage height is obtained on the upper drive plane 8 of the wagon 1 and light through the free opening between the roof and the vertical wall 9b of the wagon through which also ventilation is carried out.
In the embodiment disclosed in figures 2 and 3 the roof 2 is pivoted from its first edge 12a to the first upper edge 11a of the vertical wall 9a of the wagon to pivot around a horizontal axis line 13. The pivot structure is not described any closer, it can be of any suitable type known per se. The opposite second edge 12b of the roof 2 is attached through joints 14 to the upper end 6b of rod-like members 15 displaced vertically. When the rod 15 is pushed upwards the roof turns around axis line 13 simultaneously with the rod 15 turning round in the joint 14 when necessary around the axis line 16, whereby the second edge 12b of the roof is lifted up creating an opening 10. It is appropriate for the axis lines 13 and 16 to be parallell.
The vertical movement of the bar 15 is carried out with the help of guides arranged in the walls 9 of the wagon, the lower ends 6a of the bars 15 being slidably articulated to said guides. In this case the guides in the walls of the wagon are fixed bars 17. The counterparts 18 to which the lower ends 6a of the bars 15 are articulated consist of a short pipe 19 which slides along guide 17 and a pivot portion 20 attached to the counterpart 18, the pivot portion being attached to said lower end 6a of the bar 15 in such a way that the bar 15 may revolve around the axis line 21 of the pivot portion, the line being parallell with axis lines 13 and 16. A cable wire 5b is also attached to counterpart 18, the cable wire rises from said counterpart above roll 7d positioned at the upper edge 11b of the wagon wall and onward through roll 7c to winding machine 4. It is preferred to arrange on the side of the wagon two described members 3a and 3b displaced vertically and lead the cable wires 5b and 5a respectively coming from them to the common winding machine 4 advantageously positioned between displaceable members 3a and 3b. The winding machine may, naturally, be located elsewhere, at the ends of the wagons, for example, as long as the cable wires are directed correspondingly.
The described structure functions in the following way. When the roof is closed the second edge 12b of the roof rests on the upper edge 11b of the wall 9b. In this condition the wagon can be driven. In this case some locking mechanism known per se is used to ensure the immobility of the roof during transport. There is enough room to accommodate bars 15 and 17 and rolls 7a-d almost entirely within the wall 9b. During loading and unloading the winding machine 4 is used, which tightens the bar or cable wire 5c downward and further cable wires 5a and 5b upwards, which results in the counterpart 18 rising from its resting position in the vicinity of the lower edge 23 of the side wall of the wagon to a position close to or at the upper edge 11b of the wagon wall simultaneously with the pipe 19 sliding along the guide 17. Hereby the bar 15 rises to the upper position shown with dotted broken lines and reference numbers in brackets and at the same time it revolves at its upper end 6b around axis line 16 and at its lower end around axis line 21 and the roof portion revolves around the axis line 13 of the pivot positioned in the upper edge 11a of the first wall 9a. The roof 2 has in this way risen from its edge 12b and forms an additional height H on the upper driving plane 8. The roof 2 is closed with reverse measures to the above described function.
For the sake of simplicity the structure described above comprises a roof pivoted only at one edge 12a and with vertically displaceable members 3a and 3b only at the opposite side 9b of the wagon in contact with the other edge 12b of the roof. In practice, the structure may contain vertically displaceable members also on the first side 9a of the wagon, whereby they are coupled to the first edge 12a of the roof. When said members are located on both sides it is usually practical to arrange them so that the axis line 16 of the joint 14 functions as the pivot - axis line 13 of the roof. This function can be easily imagined, for example, in connection with figure 2, when assumed that the bar 15 shown in the figure is held stationary, whereby the edge 12b does not rise. Instead, it is imagined that the edge 12a is lifted with a corresponding mechanism at said side 9a of the wagon, whereby it is obvious that the roof 2 will revolve around axis line 16 functioning like axis line 13. Hereby it is possible in a simple and easy way to make the structure such that, depending on the situation, either of or even both roof edges may be lifted, whereby the roof rises perpendicularly upward. In order for the roof to be lifted perpendicularly the bars 15 may be supported with guides added, for example, to the upper edges 11a and 11b of the walls.
The figure shows a round bar 15 and a guide 17 formed of the round bar, but these members may be of another type, especially to their cross-section. Especially the guide 17 may also be a profile and the counterpart 18 may be formed to move, for example, in a groove or the like in the profile. The cable wire drive may also be replaced with chain drive or other. A working gear of some other type may also be applied in order to lift the lower end of bar 15 and the counterpart 18, but the above described solutions can be recommended due to their simpleness, reliability and price.

Claims

Semi-fixed roof structure for a vehicle transport wagon in which the roof (2) may at least partly be lifted upwards in order to obtain space to pass and arrange ventilation during loading and unloading of the wagon, wherein the uniform roof (2) is at both of its edges (12a, 12b) in the longitudinal direction of the wagon pivoted to the upper edges (11a, 11b) of the wagon's wall structures to be turned around a horizontal axis line (13) and respectively through joints (14) connected with vertically dispaceable members (3a, 3b) in order to lift one of the edges (12a or 12b) of the roof and thus to incline the roof around said pivoting, wherein each vertically displaceable member (3a, 3b) comprises a bar-like portion (15), which at its upper end (6b) is pivoted around a horizontal axis line (16) to the roof (2), cha racterized in that the bar-like portion (15) is at its lower end (6a) displaceably pivoted with a pivot member (20, 21) in the vertical guide (17) of the wagon's wall structure, that the actuator (4) for said displaceable members (3a, 3b) is formed of one tension creating device for each side of the wagon, the tension of which is divided on cable wires (5a-c), chains or the like and through them at least through rolls (7a-d) positioned in the vicinity of the upper part (11a or 11b) of the particular wall (9a or 9b) of the wagon to the counterparts (18) with pivot members (20, 21) at the lower ends (6a) of the bar-like portions, whereby the motion achieved by said tension transfers the counterparts (18) with said members (3a, 3b) from their lower position to their upper position lifting through their motion one edge (12a or 12b) of the roof and inclining it around the pivot axis line (13) on the opposite side of the wagon always according to the wind conditions, and correspondingly as a reverse function elimination of the tension gets the displaceable members (3a, 3b) to their lower position lowering the edge (12a or 12b) of the roof on one wall (9a or 9b) or keeping it correspondingly in its lower position.
Roof structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vertical guides (17) are parallell with the second wall (9b) of the wagon and into it placed vertical bars, profile grooves or the like and the counterparts (18) comprise of pipe-like portions sliding on the bars or corresponding bodies sliding in a profile groove to which said bar-like portions are levelled with pivot bodies (21), that on one side of the wagon there are two or more displaceable members (3a, 3b) spaced apart, and that the actuator is a cable wire pulley from which the lifting power is transmitted through two pairs of rolls (7a,b; c,d) to said counterparts or the lower end (6a) of the bar-like portions (15).
Roof structure according to claim 4, characterized in that at both longitudinal edges of the roof the pivoting of one edge (12a or 12b) forms at the same time the articulation (14) of said edge on which the roof is connected with the vertically displaceable members (3a, 3b).