GB2045189A

GB2045189A - Rail vehicle suspensions

Info

Publication number: GB2045189A
Application number: GB7910233A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1979-03-23
Filing date: 1979-03-23
Publication date: 1980-10-29

Abstract

A vehicle comprises a working deck or platform 1 mounted on two bogies 3 by pivotal link means including pivotal mounting means 22 provided on a bogie component 4, the pivotal link means supporting the working deck or platform such that at least a portion of the working deck or platform is vertically movable relatively to the pivotal mounting for greater stability on twisted track. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicles This invention relates to vehicles and in particular although not exclusively, to vehicles comprising working decks or platforms carried on wheeled bogies.

It is known for such a vehicle to have its working deck on platform pivotally supported on a rail mounted wheeled bogie such that the vehicle can negotiate vertically or horizontally curved track.

Unfortunately, such a prior known vehicle could not easily-negotiate twisted track and if severe conditions of twisted track were encounted the vehicle may become unstable.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved vehicle tending to overcome or reduce the above mentioned problem.

According to the present invention a vehicle comprises a working deck or platform, at least one bogie supporting the working deck or platform, and pivotal link means which includes pivotal mounting means provided on a bogie component and which supports the working deck or platform such that at least a portion of the working deck or platform is vertically movable relatively to the pivotal mounting means.

Preferably, the pivotal link means include further pivotal mounting means provided on a second bogie component, the second bogie component pivotally supporting the working deck or platform for movement about a substantially vertical axis.

Alternatively, the pivotal link means includes further pivotal mounting means provided on a working deck or platform component.

Preferably, the pivot axes associated with the pivotal link means extend in the direction of vehicle travel.

Advantageously, the pivotal link means comprises a pair of link components mounted adjacent to opposite side peripheries of the vehicle.

Advantageously, each link component engages in a pivotal mounting provided on an arm extending downwardly from the second bogie component.

Preferably, the arm is forked, the associated link component engaging between the prongs of the fork formation.

Conveniently, means are provided for mutually fixedly retaining the first and second bogie components in the direction of vehicle travel.

Preferably, the first bogie component comprises a unit provided with said pivotal mounting means and a wheel supporting arrangement pivotally mounted on the first unit for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis.

By way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a vehicle constructed in accordance with the present invention, the vehicle being shown in one operational position; Figure 2 is an incomplete end view similar to Figure 1 but showing the vehicle in a second operational position; Figure 3 is a side view of a part of the vehicle of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is an incomplete plan of Figure 3.

The drawings show one end of a rail mounted vehicle comprising a working deck or platform 1 (omitted from Figure 4) supported on two bogies 3 (only one of which is shown in the drawings), the two bogies being provided adjacent the ends of the working deck or platform.

Each bogie comprises a first bogie component 4 having a generally inverted 'U' shaped unit provided on each downwardly inclined limb 7 with a pivotal mounting 8 for a wheel supporting arrangement 9 carrying a pair of rail engaging wheels 10 (omitted from Figure 2). Thus, each bogie has two pairs of wheels engaging rails (not shown) of a railway track, movement of the wheel supporting arrangements about the substantially horizontal axis of the pivotal mounting and enabling the vehicle to negotiate vertical curves or undulations in the track.

Each bogie also comprises a second bogie component 12 having a pivotal mounting (not shown) pivotally supporting the working deck or platform about a substantially vertical axis 14 enabling the vehicle to negotiate horizontal curves or bends in the track. The second bogie component 12 is of generally inverted 'U' shape having two downwardly projecting forked arms 15 which extend down between the associated pair of wheels 10 and the prongs of which are bridged by a pivotal mounting pin 16 providing a pivot mounting for a link 20 constituting linkage means for pivotally connecting the two bogie components 4 and 12. The axis of the pin 16 is below the pivotal mounting 8. The link 20 is pivotally connected to a pivot pin 22 of a pivotal mounting carried on a pair of outwardly extending lugs 23 provided on each side of the first bogie component.

The pivot axes of the pivotal mounting associated with the pivot linkage means extend in the direction of vehicle travel. The pivotal linkage means constituted by the pair of links and associated pivotal mountings provided adjacent the side peripheries of each bogie of the vehicle support the working deck or platform for vertical movement relatively to the pivotal mounting on the first bogie component.

Upon the working deck or platform moving vertically relatively to the pivotal mounting on the first bogie component, the pivotal linkage means also causes the working deck or platform to move relatively to the pivotal mountings on the first bogie component in a direction transverse to the direction of vehicle travel.

The second bogie component 12 is provided with two pairs of downwardly projecting lugs 25, the lugs of each pair engaging on opposite sides of the first bogie component 4 so as to mutually fixedly retain the first and second bogie components in the direction of vehicle travel. Thus, a towing force applied to either the working deck or platform orto the bogie will be taken by the lugs and not by the pivotal linkage means. The first bogie component 4 can slide horizontally between the pairs of lugs 25.

The vehicle also comprises clamping means (not shown), for example, springs or piston and cylinder arrangements, which clamp lateral swing of the pivotal linkage means.

In use, when the towed vehicle has to negotiate a twisted section of track and the two bogies are at different inclinations when viewed along the track, the pivotal linkage means take up a position whereby the working deck or platform lies on an inclination equal to the mean of the two bogie inclinations.

Thus, the vehicle tends to negotiate twists in the track without subjecting the deck or platform to undesirable inclinations. Also, the vehicle can negotiate a typical twisted section of track without the working deck or platform being subjected to unacceptable twisting forces.

The disclosed embodiment also reduces any tendency for the vehicle to overturn when negotiating a horizontal curve or bend. This follows because the effect of centrifugal force tending to overturn the vehicle also causes the working deck or platform to move outwardly relatively to the first bogie component 4 against the action of the damping means. In so moving outwardly the working deck or platform is tilted by the action of the pivotal linkage means so that the outer side periphery of the working deck or platform is raised and the inner side periphery is lowered. Thus the centre of gravity of any load carried on the working deck or platform tends to be moved inwards, shortening the actual radius of curvative traced by the centre of gravity of the load.

This has the effect of marginally reducing the centrifugal force and increasing the stability of the vehicle when negotiating horizontal curves or bends.

In other embodiments of the invention the rigid links 20 may be replaced by links of flexible chain.

Also the second bogie component may be fixed to the working deck or platform.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising a working deck or platform, at least one bogie supporting the working deck or platform, and pivotal link means which includes pivotal mounting means provided on a bogie component and which supports the working deck or platform such that at least a portion of the working deck or platform is vertically movable relatively to the pivotal mounting means.

2. Avehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which the pivotal link means includes further pivotal mounting means provided on a second bogie component, the second bogie component pivotally supporting the working deck or platform for movement about a substantially vertical axis.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, the pivotal link means includes further pivotal mounting means provided on a working deck or platform component.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, in which the pivot axes associated with the pivotal link means extend in the direction of vehicle travel.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, in which the pivotal link means comprises a pair of link components mounted adjacent to opposite side peripheries of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5, in which each link component engages in a pivotal mounting provided on an arm extending downwardly from the second bogie component.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6, in which the arm is forked, the associated link component engaging between the prongs of the fork formation.

8. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising damping means for movement of the working deck or platform relatively to the pivotal mounting means on the first bogie component.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising means are provided for mutually fixedly retaining the first and second bogie components in the direction of vehicle travel.

10. Avehicle substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first bogie component comprises a unit provided with said pivotal mounting means and a wheel supporting arrangement pivotally mounted on the first unit for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis.

11. A vehicle substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 21 Feb. 1980 Superseded claims 1-11 inclusive New or amended claims: CLAIMS

1. A vehicle comprising a working deck or platform, at least one bogie supporting the working deck or platform, and pivotal link means which includes pivotal mounting means provided on a first bogie component and which supports the working deck or platform such that at least a portion of the working deck or platform is vertically movable relatively to the pivotal mounting means, the pivotal link means comprising further pivotal mounting means provided on a second bogie component, the second bogie component pivotally supporting the working deck or platform for movement about a substantially vertical axis.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2, the pivotal link means includes further pivotal mounting means provided on a working deck or platform component.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the pivot axes associated with the pivotal link means extend in the direction of vehicle travel.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3, in which the pivotal link means comprises a pair of link components mounted adjacent to opposite side peripheries of the vehicle.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, in which each link component engages in a pivotal mounting provided on an arm extending downwardly from the second bogie component.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5, in which the arm is forked, the associated link component engaging between the prongs of the fork formation.

7. A vehicle as claimd in any one of the preceding claims, comprising damping means for movement of the working deck or platform relatively to the pivotal mounting means on the first bogie component.

8. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising means are provided for mutually fixedly retaining the first and second bogie components in the direction of vehicle travel.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first bogie component comprises a unit provided with said pivotal mounting means and a wheel supporting arrangement pivotally mounted on the first unit for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis.