| Claims 1. A system for loading and unloading, respectively, of cargo in connection with railway transportation, which system comprises a first roll ramp (5) that is stationary and arranged at an entrance area from which cargo can be conveyed to and from the stationary roll ramp, as well as a second mobile roll ramp (2) that via a wheel frame is movably supported on a railway track and arrangeable in a cargo conveying position, wherein the roll ramps extends side by side and essentially in one and the same plane, and wherein the stationary and the mobile roll ramp present rolls (10) extending mutually in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the roll ramps, characterized in that the rolls in the stationary roll ramp, as well as the rolls in the mobile roll ramp, are mutually connected by means of rotation transmitting means (17), and provided with drive means (18) be means of which the rolls of both roll ramps are drivable for uniform rotation in one and the same, reversible, direction of rotation, and in that the stationary roll ramp (5) rests on a roller bearing (23) on which the stationary roll ramp is displaceable laterally to the length direction of the rolls, towards and away from the mobile roll ramp, and around which roller bearing (23) the stationary roll rarnp is controllably tiltable by activation of a lift jack device (25). 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the roller bearing is constituted by a cylindrical roll (23) having a coaxially arranged gear ring (26) in engagement between a gear rack (27) arranged in the under side of the roll ramp (5) and an opposite gear rack (28) arranged in a foundation (16) supporting the stationary roll ramp (5). 3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the roll ramps (2; 5) comprises rolls (10) made up of a through shaft (11) in the length of the roll, which shaft is supported by bearings (12) distributed along the longitudinal direction, between which bearings a respective load carrying cylindrical sleeve (21) extends around the shaft, and which sleeve is supported concentric to the shaft by means of supports (22) arranged in both ends of the sleeve, which supports rests on the shaft next to said bearings. 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the bearings (12) of neighboring rolls are alternately displaced in the longitudinal direction of the rolls. 5. The system according to any of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotation transmitting means (17) is a chain transmission. 6. The system according to any of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the stationary roll ramp (5) presents protruding support elements (29) in its long side facing the mobile roll ramp, which support elements are arranged to be brought in supporting contact with the mobile roll ramp by lateral displacement of the stationary roll ramp towards the mobile roll ramp. 7. The system according to any of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the stationary roll ramp (5) is arranged to rest on a foundation (16) that is designed having an towards the roll ramp upwardly open pocket for receiving material and liquid falling down from between the rolls. |
Technical field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system for loading and unloading, respectively, of cargo in connection with railway transportation and relates specifically to a system arranged for horizontal and lateral conveyance of cargo to or from a rail bound unit such as a railway wagon.
Background of the Invention and Prior art The invention has its background in a requirement to reduce the time needed for reloading upon changing between road and railway transportation in combined or inter modular transportation system. However, the system according to the invention is in general usable at loading/ unloading of railway wagons or the like in railway yards, ports, industrial areas, etc., independently of if the cargo is made up of a complete cargo vehicle or is palletized, supported on a swap body, in a container, trailer, or cargo packed in any other way. Especially, the system according to the invention meet a requirement regarding reloading below aerial line height and without using blind tracks.
System for reloading at inter modular transports are previously known. For instance a system is known from EP 0885794 B l , which is made up of a low railway wagon having wheel pockets for a trailer, wherein a pair of driven carriages that can be parked in the railway wagon are arranged to lift and carry the trailer horizontally to and from the railway wagon.
Further, from DE 41 14392 Al a system is known for horizontal loading of a road cargo vehicle on a low railway wagon, wherein the wheels of the road vehicle are fixed in a sleighlike arrangement resting on rolls that are pushed laterally by means of an articulated arm.
From EP 0273354 there is known a cargo wagon equipped with movable cargo platforms, which runs on rolls and can be rolled off horizontally to a loading ramp along tracks that are turnably mounted on the cargo wagon and can be lowered in order to rest on the loading ramp. Another construction having movable cargo platforms is known from DE 4222956 Al .
However, none of these systems have hitherto acquired any wide spreading within the transportation industry, which at least in some cases can be ascribed a However, none of these systems have hitherto acquired any wide spreading within the transportation industry, which at least in some cases can be ascribed a comparatively complicated construction and corresponding high maintenance and building costs.
Summary of the Invention
The object of the invention is therefore to provide a system for loading and unloading, respectively, of cargo in connection with railway transportation, which by means of a simple and robust mechanical construction provides high reliability and comparatively low building cost.
A specific object of the invention is to provide a cargo conveyance system that can be implemented in combined road and railway transportation for both long distance cargo transports and local cargo transport.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system for combined road and railway transportation that is universally usable for handling of road vehicles, swap bodies and trailers /semi trailers, and moreover is adapted for handling of packed, palletized gods or gods transported in swap body containers, freighter containers or other containers.
One or several of these objects are attained by a system according to the appended claims.
In short a system for loading and unloading, respectively, of cargo in connection with railway transportation is provided, which system comprises a first roll ramp that is stationary and arranged on an entrance area from which cargo can be conveyed to and from the stationary roll ramp, as well as a second mobile roll ramp that via a wheel frame is movably carried on a railway track and arrangeable in a cargo conveying position, wherein the roll ramps extends side by side and essentially in one and the same plane, and wherein the stationary and the mobile roll ramp provide rolls extending mutually in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the roll ramps, the rolls in the stationary roll ramp, as well as the rolls in the mobile roll ramp, being mutually connected by means of rotation transmission means, and being provided with drive means be means of which the rolls of both roll ramps are drivable for uniform rotation in one and the same, reversible, direction of rotation. In the indicated way there is provided a mechanically simple and robust system for horizontal conveyance of cargo to and from a railway wagon. The mobile roll ramp can be mounted on existing wagons, and the stationary roll ramp can be installed next to a railway track without high cost of construction. The driving of the rolls can be hydraulic or electric, and is synchronized, for instance via a common control unit to which both driving means are temporarily connected during loading/unloading.
In order to bridge over a horizontal gap between the roll ramps, the stationary roll ramp preferably rests on roller bearings on which it is laterally displaceable, in the direction to and from the mobile ramp.
It is further preferable that the stationary ramp rests on a roller bearing around which the stationary roll ramp is controllably tiltable by activation of a lift jack device. In this way smaller differences in height between the ramps can be evened out by having the long side of the stationary roll ramp tilted to the same level as the long side of the mobile roll ramp.
The roller bearing can preferably be constituted by a cylindrical roll having a coaxially arranged gear ring that is in engagement between a gear rack arranged in the under side of the roll ramp and an opposite gear rack arranged in a foundation supporting the stationary roll ramp. In this way it can be ensured that the mutual position of all roller bearings remains constant.
Both roll ramps comprises suitably rolls consisting of a through shaft in the direction of the roll, which shaft is supported by bearings distributed along the longitudinal direction between which bearings a respective load carrying cylindrical sleeve extends around the shaft, and which sleeve is supported concentric to the shaft by means of supports arranged in both ends of the sleeve, which supports rests against the shaft next to said bearings. In this way existing forces can by localized to the points of bearing and the load-bearing capacity of the roll ramps can be ensured without the need of having the shafts and sleeves over dimensioned.
The bearings of neighboring rolls can be alternately displaced in the longitudinal direction of the rolls. Thereby continuous interruption in the latitudinal direction of the roll ramps is avoided and an essentially even bed for the cargo along the entire length of the roll ramp is obtained. In order to obtain a high efficiency it is preferred that the rotation transmitting means is constituted by a chain transmission. Alternatively, the rolls can be mutually connected and driven in joint rotation by means of a gear rack and angular gear or via a gear wheel arrangement.
The stationary roll ramp preferably provides support elements protruding from the long side facing the mobile roll ramp. These support elements are arranged to be brought in supporting contact with the mobile roll ramp by lateral displacement of the stationary roll ramp towards the mobile roll ramp. Especially, these support elements can be designed to from underneath support the mobile roll ramp against depression or tilting upon conveyance of cargo.
The stationary roll ramp can be arranged to rest upon a foundation that is designed having a towards the roll ramp upwardly open pocket for receiving material falling down from between the rolls. In this way it is avoided that liquids and material that come loose from the road vehicle are accumulated on the rolls and bearings.
Brief description of the drawings
One embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail below referring to the appended schematic drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 discloses the system during loading of a trailer,
Fig. 2 discloses one in the system comprised roll ramp arranged to be mounted on a wheel frame or a railway wagon,
Fig. 3 discloses one in the system comprised stationary roll ramp arranged to be installed next to a railway track,
Fig. 4 discloses a roller bearing upon which the stationary roll ramp is supported,
Fig. 5 discloses a partial longitudinal cross section through a part of a roll comprised in a roll ramp, and
Fig. 6 is a top view of a cut out section of a roll ramp. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the Invention In figure 1 is shown a trailer 1 resting on a pair of roll ramps 2, 3 which are supported movably on a frame 4 equipped with wheels, such as a railway wagon 4. The trailer 1 has been conveyed to the shown position from a pair of roll ramps 5, 6 which are stationary arranged and in the shown embodiment lowered into a loading platform 8 present next to the railway track 7. The roll ramps 5, 6 are arranged in the entrance area 9 for unloading of the trailer onto the roll ramps 5, 6. The stationary roll ramps 5, 6 can alternatively be freestanding and arranged with entrance ramps corresponding to the entrance area 9. Of course both the mobile and the stationary roll ramps can comprise one, two of more ramps arranged after one another in the longitudinal direction. Without limiting the invention it can be stated that the roll ramps can have a length of 6000 mm and a width of 3000 mm.
Referring to figures 2 to 6, in which are shown a mobile roll ramp 2 as well as a stationary roll ramp 5 and parts integrated therein shown in larger scale. In conformity with the stationary roll ramp 5 the mobile roll ramp 2 presents a number of rolls 10 having the same diameter and running in the longitudinal direction of the roll ramp. The rolls 10 presents a through shaft 11 that is rotatably journalled in bearings 12, which are distributed in the longitudinal direction of the shaft in such a way that the shaft is divided into sections that preferably have uniform length. The bearings 12 are supported by laterally extending beams 13 comprised in a frame, generally designated 14. The frame 14 of the mobile roll ramp 2 is mountable on the loading platform of a railway wagon 4, while the frame 14 of the stationary roll ramp 5 is carried by beams 15 comprised in a foundation 16.
The rolls 10 in the stationary roll ramp 5, as well as the rolls 10 in the mobile roll ramp 2, are mutually connected by means of rotation transmitting means 17, as well as arranged with driving means 18 by means of which the rolls 10 of both roll ramps are drivable for uniform rotation in one and the same, reversible, direction of rotation.
The driving means 18 is preferably constituted by a hydraulic or electric motor 18, and can advantageously be constituted by a synchronous motor equipped with frequency drive control. The driving means 18 drive, in occurring cases via a interconnected transmission of power, the rolls 10 to rotate having a peripheral speed suitable for lateral displacement of cargo standing on the roll ramps. In order for the rolls 10 to be driven having the same rotational speed and direction of rotation the rolls 10 are mutually connected by means of a rotation transmitting means 17, which in the embodiment according to figure 6 is constituted by chains 19 running over gear wheels 20 arranged in tandem at a free end of the through shaft 11.
From figure 6 it is also clear how the bearings 12 and the sections of rolls 10' are alternately displaced in the longitudinal direction of the rolls. Referring now to figure 5, which illustrates the construction of the individual section of rolls 10 ' . More precisely a respective cylindrical sleeve 21 is arranged concentric around each section of the through shaft 11 , and rotationally fixed to the shaft be means of circular end plates 22 supported by the shaft next to the respective bearing 12. In this way the load is distributed to act next to the support points of the shaft at the bearings, whereby the risk of bending the shaft is eliminated. Shafts 11 , sleeves 21 and end plates 22 are preferably made up of steel of suitable grade. Whiteout limiting the invention it can be stated that the shaft 11 can have a diameter of 35 mm, the sleeve a length of 1000 mm and an outer diameter of 120 mm, thereto the shafts can be arranged having a center distance of 140 mm, whereby a gap of 20 mm is provided between neighboring sleeves for letting through material or liquids that in occurring cases fall down from the cargo supported by the roll ramp.
Such material possibly falling down and precipitation is caught in the foundation 16 that in the shape of a pocket is upwardly open towards the stationary roll ramp 5, between the vertically standing beams 15 of the foundation supporting one respective of the cross beams 13 of the roll ramp. More precisely the stationary roll ramp 5 is arranged displacably resting on the foundation 16. For this purpose roller bearings 23 are inserted between the cross beam 13 of the roll ramp and the foundation 16. A drive device 24, preferably in the shape of a hydraulic piston/ cylinder unit, is arranged to act between the foundation and the stationary roll ramp 5 for movement thereof towards the mobile roll ramp 2 in the cargo conveying position shown in figure 1. The length of the movement is dimensioned to bridge over any possible gap between the roll ramps in the cargo conveying position.
The stationary roll ramp 5 is initially installed at a height adapted to the height of the mobile roll ramp 2. Possibly occurring small differences in height can be compensated by having the stationary roll ramp 5 arranged displaceable on a few roller bearings 23 that are mutually coaxially located between the foundation and the respective cross beam 13. A tilting device 25, acting as a lift jack between the foundation and the roll ramp 5, is controlled to controllably tilting of the roll ramp around the roller bearings 23. In order to ensure the coaxial positions of the roller bearings 23, the roller bearings 23, see also figure 4, are preferably made as cylindrical rolls 23 having coaxially supported gear rings 26 that are in engagement with gear racks 27, 28 arranged in the under side of the roll ramp 5 and the upper side of the beams 15 of the foundation, respectively.
For the sake of completeness is shall finally be pointed out that protruding support elements 29 are preferably arranged on the stationary roll ramp 5, in that long side thereof that is facing the mobile roll ramp in the cargo conveying position. These support elements 29 has the object, when needed, to support the mobile roll ramp against depression/ tilting upon conveyance of the cargo between the ramps.
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