GB2043570A

GB2043570A - Rail vehicle suspensions

Info

Publication number: GB2043570A
Application number: GB8001158A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: NEUHAEUSER KG
Current assignee: NEUHAEUSER KG
Priority date: 1979-02-10
Filing date: 1980-01-14
Publication date: 1980-10-08
Also published as: DE2905135C2; DE2905135A1; GB2043570B

Abstract

A track-running wagon especially for underground operations can run on unevenly laid track with better weight distribution and increased ground clearance by having independently suspended and sprung wheels. When fixed transverse axles are dispensed with, the wheel gauge can be adjusted. Each wheel 2 has a mounting member 6 which is guided telescopically in a guide housing 4. The housing 4 is open downwardly and contains spring units 5. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Track-running wagon especially for underground operations The invention relates to a track-running wagon especially but not exclusively for underground operations. In such wagons, the chassis conventionally has fixed, unsprung axles for each pair of wheels, extending across the wagon from one wheel to the other. Fixed axles have some disadvantages, however, namely that with unevenly laid track, individual wheels tend to lift off, or in any event travel with unequal loading. Such unequal loading is, however, undesirable when very heavy loads are to be carried on the wagon. For this reason, attempts have been made to increase the load-carrying capacity of the chassis by using stronger axles.Strong axles, however, on the one hand 'lead to undesirably increased construction costs, and on the other hand considerably reduce the ground clearance, so that the wagon is no longer in a position to run on chain-hauled railways or over such other obstructions as are frequently encountered not only in underground, but also in surface operations. This leads, of course, to operating difficulties.

The invention provides an improved wagon in which these disadvantages are substantially avoided, and which can have high load carrying capacity with lower construction costs and greater round clearance.

The invention comprises a track-running wagon having independent suspension with independently sprung wheels. With such a wagon, the wheels are always equally loaded, even if the wagon crosses dips and ridges or the track is in other ways unevenly laid. In fact, the independent suspension provides that the wheels always maintain contact with the track and consequently the wagon is uniformly supported. Furthermore, it is no longer necessary to use fixed transverse axles connecting the wheels in pairs. Eliminating the transverse axles results in an increase in the ground clearance between the wheels.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the wagon has guide housings open to below, fixed to the chassis and/or the platform and wheel mounting members teiescopically movable therein and resilient means between the wheel mounting member and the wagon. This construction is simple but reliable. The resilient means can be rubber or metal spring units arranged fore and aft of the wheel axle and are retained between a floor of the wheel mounting member and the underside of the platform. The rubber or metal spring units can be loosely contained in the guide housings. The weight of the chassis with its platform serves to retain the units.

The wheel mounting member may be guided in the guide housing freely or with predetermined play and the load-dependent vertical movement between both housings is limited by a guide slot arrangement. The limiting of the vertical movement between wheel mounting member and guide housing provides that the wheel housing is always guided more or less in the guide housing and therefore cannot be sprung out of the guide housing. For this purpose, the guide slot can be arranged midway over the wheel axle and comprises a guide slot in the wall of the guide housing and a guide spigot engaged therein in the corresponding wall of the wheel mounting member, or the other way round. The guide housing can be welded to the chassis and/or the underside of the platform.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided, however, that the chassis comprises apertured cross-members between which the guide housings are djustable in the direction of the wheel axles and can thus be screwed thereon to an adjustable gauge.

A track-running wagon according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a schematic partial plan view of a wagon according to the invention, Figure 2 shows the wagon of Fig. 1 in side elevation, and Figure 3 is a vertical section of the wagon of Fig. 1 on the line A-A.

The Figures show a track-running wagon especially but not exclusively for underground operations which in its basic form comprises a chassis 1 with four wheels 2 and a platform 3 carried thereon. The chassis 1 has independent suspension. The independently suspended wheels 2 are sprung. The independent suspensions 4, 5, 6 have guide housings 4 open to below on the chassis 1 and/or the platform 3 and a wheel mounting member 6 guided telescopically in each one with an intervening spring unit 5. The spring units are arranged either side of the wheel axles 7 and are abutted on the one hand against a floor in the wheel mounting member 6 and on the other hand against the underside of the platform 3. Furthermore, the spring units are contained between the walls 10, 11 of the guide housing 4 but are otherwise loose in the wheel mounting member 6 which is of box construction.The springs 5 are of rubbermetal elements. The member 6 is guided with predetermined play in the guide housing 4.

The vertical movement between the two members 4, 6 is limited by a slot guide 12, 1 3.

The slot guide 12, 1 3 is arranged directly above the wheel axle 7. It comprises a slot 1 2 in a wall of the guide housing 4 and a guide spigot 1 3 engaged therein and fixed in the adjacent wall of the member 6. The guide housing 4 can be welded to the chassis 1 and/or the underside 9 of the platform 3. In one embodiment, in which the chassis 1 has transverse beams 14, to which the guide housing 4 are bolted being thus adjustable the direction of the wheel axles. The gauge is thereby adjustable. The transverse cross section is obviously so chosen as to maintain a sufficient ground clearance.

Claims

1. A track-running wagon having independent suspension with independently sprung wheels.

2. A wagon according to claim 1, comprising a chassis and a load carrying platform fixedly mounted on the chassis.

3. A wagon according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising for each wheel a guide housing open to below and a wheel mounting member telescopically movable in the guide housing and resilient means between the wheel mounting member and the wagon.

4. A wagon according to claim 3, each wheel being carried on an axle in the wheel mounting member and resilient means being arranged fore and aft of each wheel axle.

5. A wagon according to claim 3 or claim 4, the reslient means comprising rubber or metal spring elements.

6. A wagon according to claim 5, in which the rubber or metal spring elements are loosely contained in the guide housings.

7. A wagon according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the resilient movement of the wheels relative to the wagon is limited.

8. A wagon according to claim 7, in which said movement is limited by a peg and slot arrangement between a wheel mounting member and the wagon.

9. A wagon according to claim 8, in which the peg and slot arrangements are provided directly over each wheel axle.

1 0. A wagon according to claim 3, in which the guide housing is welded to a chassis or load carrying platform of the wagon.

11. A wagon according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the wheels can be adjusted to suit different track widths.

12. A wagon according to claim 11, comprising transverse members from which the wheels can be suspended at difference positions as desired.