EP2351679A1

EP2351679A1 - Improved variable-width bogie with rotating axles

Info

Publication number: EP2351679A1
Application number: EP20090784131
Authority: EP
Inventors: José Luis López Gómez
Original assignee: Patentes Talgo SL
Current assignee: Patentes Talgo SL
Priority date: 2008-09-23
Filing date: 2009-07-17
Publication date: 2011-08-03
Also published as: CN102239075A; WO2010034859A1; ES2353415A1; ES2353415B1; RU2011116053A

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved variable gauge bogie with rotating axles which comprises: a bearing platform of a railway wagon; at least one rotating axle (2) including in its outer areas bearing parts (10) of the suspension springs (11) of said platform on which two wheels (1) are assembled by means of a coupling device which allows their lateral movement and has connected thereto fixing guides (18) by means of which said lateral movement is controlled so as to be located in the positions corresponding to the two track gauges; and a track gauge change device borne on a tubular element (29) connected to the platform and assembled in said rotating axle (2) in a more central position in the longitudinal direction of said axle (2) than that of the corresponding wheel (1), based on the cooperation of said fixing guides (18) and a lock (22) which is vertically movable when actuated by locking/unlocking guides (24) provided in a changing installation.

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a bogie with means for traveling on tracks having different gauges and more particularly to a bogie with rotating axles provided with a gauge changing device in cooperation with a changing installation arranged between two tracks having different gauges.

Background of the Invention

The applicant of this invention developed several decades ago a track gauge changing system, object of patent ES 332,453 , in response to Renfe's initiative to ask for tenders for solutions to prevent passengers from having to change trains at the Spanish-French border, which up until that time had to be done due to the different gauge of the tracks on the Iberian peninsula (1668 mm) in relation to European tracks (1435 mm).
On one hand, that system involves incorporating in railway units a translation device of the wheels of their axles and, on the other hand, a changing installation assembled between the tracks having different gauges. The operation for changing the distance between wheels is performed automatically, without human intervention, with the passage of the train over said installation in five continuously occurring phases; in the first phase, the wheels are released from their vertical loads; in the second phase, the wheel axle assemblies are released from a lateral locking mechanism holding them in their running position; in the third phase, the wheels, which are released from the vertical load and from their lateral lock, enter into guides which, as the axle moves forward, laterally move them to their new running position, in accordance with the new track gauge; in the fourth and fifth phases, the wheel assemblies are laterally locked again and the vertical load is applied to the axle again, thereby concluding the change operation.
After this innovation, which was a major milestone in railway technology, the applicant of this invention has made different developments to apply the system to different railway structures: independent axles, bogies, freight bogies and motor bogies and, among them, the one described in patent ES 2 130 039 "Conjunto de eje ferroviario dotado de cambio automático de ancho de via y adaptable a bogies convencionales de mercancias" ("Railway Axle Assembly. provided with Automatic Track Gauge Change and Adaptable to Conventional Freight Bogies"), which can be incorporated the conventional freight bogies to replace the assembled fixed-gauge axles without requiring a substantial modification thereof.
The axle integrates two independent running assemblies (wheel with short axle or half-axle and two bearings), the gauge change between wheels being performed by the simultaneous transverse movement of the two running assemblies in a manner similar to that used in TALGO trains although, rather than including locking devices in the two bearings of each running assembly, they only incorporate the locking device in the inner bearing.
Structurally, the axle assembly comprises an axle chassis on which are assembled the two running assemblies and their locking systems, a connection device between running assemblies, two translation frames of the brake blocks, an electrical continuity system between the wheels or an electrical shunting system and a device for detecting hot inner bearings.
Although the technology described in patent ES 2 130 039 has facilitated the adaptation of traditional freight bogies to variable track gauges, the railway industry constantly demands new solutions to face the different problems posed by the adaptation of railway freight wagons to tracks having different gauges. In this sense, it must be indicated that, particularly in Spain, the implementation of the European gauge in the highspeed network has intensified the technological needs relating to the track gauge change.
The present invention aims to meet this demand.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a freight bogie that can adapt to railroad tracks having different gauges in which the non-suspended weight component is minimized.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a freight bogie that can adapt to railroad tracks having different gauges in which the track gauge change device is uncoupled from the bearing parts of the platform.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a freight bogie that can adapt to railroad tracks having different gauges in which the risk of the accidental unlocking of the device which allows varying the distance between the wheels is minimized.
These and other objects are achieved with a bogie comprising a bearing platform of a railway wagon and at least one rotating axle on which there are assembled two wheels by means of a coupling device which allows their lateral movement, including bearing parts of said platform with inner bearings, the bogie being provided with a track gauge change device using means which prevent/allow the lateral movement of each wheel such as a lock which is vertically movable when actuated by locking/unlocking guides provided for that purpose in a changing installation for performing the track gauge change, in which:

Said coupling device has connected thereto fixing guides by means of which its lateral movement is controlled so as to be located in the positions corresponding to the two track gauges.
A tubular element fixed to the platform and assembled in the rotating axle in a more central position in the longitudinal direction of said axle than that of the corresponding wheel, bears fixing bodies with housings to receive said fixing guides and said lock, as well as means to facilitate the locking/unlocking thereof by cooperating with those of said changing installation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotating axle incorporates at its ends bushes and the bearing parts also include a side chassis with support shoes in the changing installation and a central collar serving as support for the end of the axle during the passage through the changing installation through a semicircular bush connected to said central collar. As a result, the axle is duly protected during the track gauge change operation.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the bogie also comprises a bolt as an additional safety element connected to each lock through a horizontal spring for the purposes of preventing its vertical movement in cooperation with a retaining element of said bolt connected to a bearing part.
Another object of the invention is to provide a changing installation to perform the gauge change operation adapted to a bogie provided with means which minimize the risk of the accidental unlocking of the device which allows varying the distance between the wheels.
This object is achieved with a changing installation for performing the track gauge change comprising sliding and bearing guides, lateral movement guides and locking/unlocking guides, in which the head of the locking/unlocking guides is configured such that it can laterally move said bolt, overcoming the force of said horizontal spring.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of an illustrative and non-limiting embodiment of its object in relation to the attached drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figures 1A to 1E are cross-section views of half an axle of the bogie according to the present invention in the five phases of the track gauge change process.
Figures 2A to 2E show side views of half an axle of the bogie according to the present invention in the five phases of the track gauge change process.
Figures 3A and 3B are simplified side-section and cross-section views of the axle of the bogie according to the present invention showing the basic elements of the track gauge change device.
Figure 3C shows plan and section views of the ring incorporating the fixing guides.
Figure 3D shows plan and section views of the fixing body fixed to the axle.
Figures 4A and 4B show plan and cross-section views of the changing track gauge change installation.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The bogie according to the present invention includes:

A platform or chassis the load of which is transmitted through the suspension springs 11 .
At least one rotating axle 2 on which there are assembled at each of its ends:
1. a) A wheel 1 by means of a coupling device allowing its lateral movement.
2. b) A bearing part 10 of said platform.
3. c) A tubular element 29 which bears the fixing body 20, connected to the chassis of the bogie by an arm 29' and assembled in said rotating axle 2 in a more central position in the longitudinal direction of said axle 2 than that of the corresponding wheel 1 on a body with an axial radial bearing 6.
4. d) A track gauge change device using means which prevent/allow the lateral movement of the wheel 1 such as a lock 22 which is vertically movable when actuated by means provided for that purpose in the changing installation.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures the coupling device for coupling the wheel 1 to the axle 2 comprises a bush 3 integral with the wheel 1 and sliding on the axle 2 including a ring 7 located in the inner part of the axle 2 (i.e., between the wheels), with an axial inner bearing 8, to which the fixing guides 18 are fixed.
During the gauge change operation taking place, as will be seen below in further detail, by means of the movement of the fixing guides 18, integral with the bush 3 which, in cooperation with the lock 22, determines the two positions of the wheel 1 corresponding to the two track gauges, the bush 3 moves laterally with the wheel 1 involved, the movement of which is limited on one hand by the bush 8' and on the other hand by a grooved bush 5 which transmits the wheel torque to the rotating axle 2. The bush 3 is introduced inside the tubular element 29 until its end body 4 reaches the stop established by the grooved bush 5.
The fixing bodies 20 include housings to receive said fixing guides 18 as well as stops provided to serve as positioning and insertion means for the lock 22.
The central part of the axle 2 on which the wheels 1 are located in the positions corresponding to the two track gauges by means of the coupling device which has been described as well as the track gauge change device, has a larger diameter than that of its end parts. The bush 8' serving as a stop for the movement of the bush 3 is arranged in the area of transition between the two gauges. At the ends of the axle 2 there is arranged a bush 13 together with a cover 15 fixed to the axle 2 by means of screws serving as a protective element for the same during the track gauge change operation as well as for the stop of the bearings 12.
The bearing parts 10 also include a side chassis with support and sliding shoes 16 in the changing installation, for which purpose they have nylon guides 17 and a central collar serving as support for the end of the axle 2, covered by the bush 13, during the passage through the changing installation through a semicircular bush 14 connected to said central collar which is preferably made of bronze. As will be seen below, during the track gauge change operation, the bogie is supported and slides on these shoes 16, the wheels 1 being load-free.
As a person skilled in the art will understand, this configuration of the side chassis of the bearing parts is determined at least in part by the arrangement of the centering and sliding guide rails 19. If these rails had any other arrangement, the configuration of the side chassis would logically be modified such that it carried out the indicated functions.
The lock 22 is formed by two vertical rods connected to one another by a hollow bridge designed so that the head of the double T-shaped unlocking guide 24 of the changing track gauge change installation is introduced through said bridge. To prevent accidental locking/unlocking, the lock includes pretensed safety springs 28 to prevent unwanted vertical movements of the lock 22 when it is not in contact with the unlocking guide 24.
In the embodiments shown in the figures, the fixing device has an additional safety element formed by the bolt 25, connected to the lock 22 and laterally movable, overcoming the force of the spring 21, and a retaining element 26 connected to the tubular element 29. When the spring 21 is at rest, the bolt 25 is in contact with the retaining element 26 preventing the vertical movement of the lock 22. In order for this movement to be possible it is necessary to apply a force in the spring 21 which laterally moves the bolt 25 and prevents its being retained by the retaining element 26.
The track gauge change process upon the passage through the mentioned changing installation, the essential components of which are listed below, is described below:

Ends of the rails 31 of the larger-gauge track.
Ends of the rails 32 of the smaller-gauge track.
Centering and sliding guide rails 19.
Unlocking and locking guides 24 of the locks 22.
Translation guides 27 of the wheels 1.

The changing installation is bidirectional, the change from a larger to smaller gauge track being performed in one direction while the reverse is performed in the opposite direction.
The track gauge change process of a wagon reaching the installation from the larger-gauge track is performed as follows.

First Phase

The wheels 1 are on the rails 31 of the larger-gauge track (Fig. 1A and Fig. 2A).

Second Phase

When the wheels 1 reach the downward area of the end of the rails 31 the gradual lowering of the bogie starts until the sliding shoes 16 contact with the centering and sliding guide rails 19. After this time, the wheels 1 are load-free, remaining that way during the entire change process until contacting with the smaller-gauge rails 32 at the end of said process (Fig. 1B and Fig. 2B).

Third Phase

Once the axle 2 is centered and supported on the centering and sliding guides 19, the heads of the end of the unlocking guides 24 are introduced into the bridge of the lock 22 and given the downward profile of this guide, the force of the vertical springs 28 is overcome and the locks 22 are forced to drop down, leaving the fixing guides 18 unlocked, therefore being free to move laterally, and with them the wheels 1.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention in which the fixing device includes the bolt 25 as an additional safety element, in this phase it is also necessary to act on the horizontal spring 21 in order to laterally move the bolt 25, thereby preventing the retaining element 26 from preventing the lock 22 from dropping. For this purpose one of the sides of the head of the unlocking guides 24 of the changing installation has a double T-shape with a progressively variable gauge from the ends to the center, smaller at the ends than in the center, as can be seen by comparing Figures 1B and 1C; therefore the guide 24 serves as an element for actuating the horizontal spring 21 controlling the lateral movement of the bolt 25 (Fig. 1C and Fig. 2C).
For their part the guides 27 cause the lateral movement of the coupling device for coupling the wheels 1 to the axle 2 until reaching the position corresponding to the smaller-gauge track 32.

Fourth Phase

The downward profile of the guide 24 forces the lock 22 to move up, locking the guide 18 in the new position.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention including the bolt 25 and the guide 24 with one of the sides of the variable gauge head, at the end of the phase the spring 21 remains at rest and the bolt 25 is retained by the retaining element 26 (Fig. 1D and Fig. 2D).

Fifth Phase

When the wheels 1 reach the rails 32 the shoes 16 are no longer supported in their sliding guides 19, the track gauge change operation ending (Fig. 1E and Fig. 2E).
Although the present invention has been described entirely in relation to preferred embodiments, it is obvious that modifications can be introduced in its scope as the latter is not considered to be limited by the foregoing embodiments, but rather by the contents of the following claims.

Claims

A bogie comprising a bearing platform of a railway wagon and at least one rotating axle (2), on which two wheels (1) are assembled by means of a coupling device which allows their lateral movement, including bearing parts (10) of said platform with bearings (12), the bogie being provided with a track gauge change device using means which prevent/allow the lateral movement of each wheel (1) such as a lock (22) which is vertically movable when actuated by locking/unlocking guides (24) provided for that purpose in a changing installation for performing the track gauge change, characterized in that said coupling device has connected thereto fixing guides (18) by means of which its lateral movement is controlled so as to be located in the positions corresponding to the two track gauges, and in that it includes a tubular element (29) assembled in said rotating axle (2) in a more central position in the longitudinal direction of said axle (2) than that of the corresponding wheel (1) and connected to the platform, said tubular element (29) bearing fixing bodies (20) with housings to receive said fixing guides (18) and said lock (22), as well as means to facilitate the locking/unlocking thereof by cooperating with those of said changing installation.
The bogie according to the claim 1, characterized in that said rotating axle (2) incorporates at its ends bushes (13) fixed to the axle and in that said bearing parts (10) also include a side chassis with support shoes (16) in the changing installation and a central collar serving as support for the end of the axle (2) during the passage through the changing installation through a semicircular bush (14) connected to said central collar.
The bogie according to any of claims 1-2, characterized in that the central part of the axle (2) on which the wheels (1) are located in the positions corresponding to the two track gauges has a larger diameter than that of its side parts in contact with said bearing parts (10) through the bearings (12).
The bogie according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that said coupling device comprises a bush (3) integral with the wheel (1) and sliding on the axle (2) including a ring (7), with an inner axial bearing (8), contiguous to the wheel (1) in the inner part of the axle (2) to which the fixing guides (18) are fixed.
The bogie according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that it also comprises a bolt (25) connected to each lock (22) through a horizontal spring (21) for the purposes of preventing its vertical movement in cooperation with a retaining element (26) of said bolt (25) connected to said tubular element (29).
A changing installation for performing the track gauge change as the bogie according to claim 5 moves over it, comprising sliding and bearing guides (19), lateral movement guides (27) and locking/unlocking guides (24), characterized in that the head of the of locking/unlocking guides (24) is configured such that it can laterally move said bolt (25), overcoming the force of said horizontal spring (21).
The changing installation for performing the track gauge change according to claim 6, characterized in that said locking/unlocking guides (24) have a double T-shaped profile and one of the half-flanges of its head has a progressively variable gauge, from smaller to larger from the end to the center of the guide, in the longitudinal direction.