LIFTING HOOK

Abstract

The invention relates to a lifting hook (1) for lifting a catenary tensioning device (2) (C), the tensioning device (2) comprising a connecting piece (23) to the catenary (C), characterized in that the lifting hook (1) comprises: - a plate (11); - gripping means (12) allowing the handling of the lifting hook (1) by lifting means; the plate (11) having: - a channel passing through the plate (11) in a lifting direction (D), a rod (21) of the tensioning device (2), and - an access slot (112) to the channel for bringing the rod (21) into the channel from outside the plate (11), the access slot extending obliquely with respect to the lifting direction (D) in a plane transverse to a direction of insertion of the rod (21) into the channel.

Description

[0001] The field of invention is that of the design and manufacture of railway maintenance equipment.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a lifting hook for the maintenance of catenary wires.

[0003] A catenary is an assembly consisting of a support cable and a power-carrying cable.

[0004] To allow a continuous power supply to a railway device, these cables need to be perfectly straight, or at the very least as straight as possible.

[0005] The cables are tensioned by tensioning devices equipped with counterweights (which can reach several tons) that exert a balanced pull on the cables and keep them under tension.

[0006] The mechanical tension is constant and determined for a defined temperature range.

[0007] When railway equipment travels on railway tracks, at least one of their pantographs comes into contact with the conductor cable to ensure an electrical connection to power the railway equipment.

[0008] As railway equipment moves, the pantographs rub against the overhead contact lines, wearing them down, particularly the conductor cable. The overhead contact lines must therefore be inspected to ensure the railway equipment receives a reliable power supply.

[0009] For this reason, the catenaries are loosened to allow intervention by maintenance technicians.

[0010] The tensioning devices are then manipulated to reduce the mechanical tension holding the catenaries.

[0011] More specifically, each tensioning device includes a clevis forming an interface between the supporting cable and a counterweight.

[0012] The counterweight is classically made up of at least one support connected to the screed, and on which weights are mounted.

[0013] During the catenary maintenance phase, maintenance technicians then lift the weights to loosen the carrier cable.

[0014] This operation proves to be demanding and generally requires the presence of several maintenance technicians.

[0015] Various lifting hooks exist and are used to lift the counterweight. In practice, the lifting operation proves dangerous, as the hooks used do not provide a satisfactory level of safety against the counterweight accidentally detaching.

[0016] The invention aims in particular to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0017] More specifically, the invention aims to provide a technique for safely lifting the counterweights used to tension catenaries.

[0018] The invention also aims to provide a technique for lifting counterweights by a single maintenance technician. The invention further aims to provide such a technique that is easy to operate.

[0019] The invention further aims to provide such a robust technique. These objectives, as well as others that may subsequently arise, are achieved through the invention, which relates to a lifting hook for lifting a catenary tensioning device, the tensioning device comprising: a rod on which weights are mounted, a connecting piece to the catenary, mounted at one end of the rod and extending radially from the rod, characterized in that the lifting hook comprises: a plate; gripping means attached to the plate and allowing the lifting hook to be manipulated by lifting means; the turntable featuring: a receiving seat for the connecting part of the tensioning device; a channel through the plate along a lifting direction from the receiving seat, intended to house the rod of the tensioning device, and an access slot to the channel to bring the rod into the channel from outside the plate, the access slot extending obliquely with respect to the lifting direction in a plane transverse to a direction of insertion of the rod into the channel.

[0020] Such a hook allows for safe handling by a single maintenance technician.

[0021] Because the slot extends obliquely relative to the lifting direction, i.e., relative to the channel's extension direction, the maintenance technician must rotate the plate to insert the connecting piece into the channel. Once the connecting piece is in the channel, the technician can then rotate the plate again in the opposite direction, which secures the connecting piece within the channel. The rod then remains locked in the plate, preventing its unintentional removal.

[0022] The user can then use the lifting means to lift the tensioning device, without risk of the tensioning device escaping from the plate and injuring the maintenance technician.

[0023] Advantageously, the hook includes at least one magnet oriented towards the channel to retain the tensioning device's rod within the channel by magnetic attraction. Thanks to this magnet, the maintenance technician's safety is increased since the connecting piece remains in contact with the mounting plate.

[0024] Preferably, the hook includes two magnets oriented towards the channel, placed on either side of the channel.

[0025] By positioning themselves on either side of the channel, the magnets, in addition to retaining the connecting piece on the plate, center it on the seat, so that the forces due to the weight of the tensioning device are distributed across the plate. In an advantageous embodiment, the plate has an upper face, with the receiving seat forming a shoulder with this upper face. This shoulder allows the connecting piece to be held securely, preventing it from slipping on the plate, or at least limiting and allowing it to be controlled by the maintenance technician.

[0026] Preferably, the shoulder has radial dimensions greater than the radial dimensions of the connecting piece to allow rotation of the connecting piece in the shoulder.

[0027] The radial dimensions of the shoulder also ensure compatibility of the plate and lifting hook with connecting parts of different sizes or shapes.

[0028] According to an advantageous aspect, the access slot is made on a front face of the plate, the front face having a funnel shape to allow the tensioning device rod to be guided into the access slot.

[0029] The funnel shape makes it easier for the maintenance technician to insert the connecting piece into the mounting plate. By bringing the mounting plate closer to the connecting piece, the funnel shape compensates for any misalignment of the access slot with the connecting piece by the maintenance technician.

[0030] Advantageously, the gripping means are connected to the plate via at least one sling.

[0031] The slings allow the maintenance technician to manipulate the plate in order to insert the connecting piece into the channel, or extract it from it, while ensuring significant mechanical strength to ensure the lifting of the tensioning device.

[0032] Preferably, the sling or slings are mounted to rotate on the plate.

[0033] This assembly allows for easy handling of the platform by the maintenance technician while enhancing their safety during the lifting of the tensioning device. Indeed, if the lifting axis is slightly inclined relative to the axis of traction exerted by the tensioning device, the rotating sling assembly on the platform compensates for this inclination during the lifting of the tensioning device, preventing the device from swinging like a pendulum and posing a risk to the maintenance technician.

[0034] The invention also relates to a lifting device for a catenary tensioning apparatus, comprising: lifting equipment; a hook as previously described.

[0035] Preferably, the lifting device also includes a hoist interposed between the hook gripping means and the lifting means.

[0036] The hoist allows, in particular, precise lifting of the tensioning device, when the desired travel for the release of the catenary is small.

[0037] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the accompanying drawings, among which: there figure 1 is a top perspective view of a lifting hook according to the invention engaged with a catenary tensioning device or tensioning apparatus; the figure 2 is a detailed, top-perspective view of the tensioning device engaged with the lifting hook according to the invention; the figure 3 is a top perspective view of the lifting hook according to the invention, prior to its cooperation with the tensioning device; the figure 4 is a front view of a first step in inserting the tensioning device rod into the lifting hook according to the invention; the figure 5 is a top perspective view illustrating the lifting hook into which the tensioning device rod is inserted; the figure 6 is a bottom view illustrating the insertion of the tensioning device rod into the lifting hook according to the invention; the figure 7 is a front view illustrating the tensioning device rod once inserted into the lifting hook according to the invention; the figure 8 is a front view illustrating the hook repositioned in a lifting position prior to its cooperation with a connecting element of the tensioning device, for the purpose of lifting the tensioning device; the figure 9 is a top view illustrating the cooperation between the connecting piece of the tensioning device and the lifting hook plate according to the invention; the figure 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cooperation between a receiving seat of the plate and the connecting piece of the tensioning device during a movement or lifting phase of the tensioning device; the figure 11 is a perspective view of a lifting device comprising a lifting hook according to the invention.

[0038] THE figures 1 à 10 describe a lifting hook 1 according to the invention.

[0039] The lifting hook 1 is used in particular for lifting a tensioning device 2 of a catenary C.

[0040] Catenary C lines enable the supply of power to railway equipment, including locomotives, to allow their operation and movement on railway tracks.

[0041] Each catenary C generally includes at least one catenary C tension cable, and one electrical cable enabling the transport of electrical energy.

[0042] The tension cable is stretched to ensure that the catenary C is taut between two pylons and that the pantographs of the railway machines are in permanent contact or, at the very least, in the most frequent contact possible with the catenary C.

[0043] However, the friction of the pantographs on the catenary C, and particularly on the electrical cable, causes its deterioration. It is therefore necessary to be able to release tension on the catenary C in order to repair it or, if necessary, replace it.

[0044] To enable their tension, the catenaries C are connected to a tensioning device 2 which allows to ballast and exert a traction force on each of the ends of the catenaries C or, at the very least, on one of the ends of the catenaries C.

[0045] A tensioning device 2 typically includes: a rod 21; weights 22 mounted on the rod 21; a connecting piece 23 of the rod 21 to the catenary C.

[0046] More specifically, the connecting piece 23 is mounted at one end of the rod 21 and extends radially from the rod 21.

[0047] The connecting piece 23 of the tensioning device 2 is advantageously made of a ferromagnetic material.

[0048] Preferably, the connecting piece is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with a flat lower surface 231.

[0049] As is particularly evident on the figures 4 , 8 And 10 , the lower surface 231 allows, as explained below, for the connecting piece 23 to be grasped in order to move the tensioning device 2.

[0050] This operation of moving the tensioning device 2 is carried out in particular by means of the lifting hook 1 according to the invention.

[0051] Lifting hook 1 includes: a plate 11; gripping means 12; restraining means.

[0052] In use, the plate 11 cooperates with the connecting piece 23 to allow its manipulation.

[0053] The gripping means 12 allow the lifting hook 1 to be manipulated by lifting means 3, so as to form a lifting device 4, as illustrated in the figure 11 .

[0054] Finally, the retention means allow the tensioning device to be retained in the lifting hook 1, as explained below.

[0055] The plate 11 of the lifting hook 1 is advantageously made of a metallic material.

[0056] With reference to figures 1 à 10 , and more specifically to figures 5 , 6 And 9 The lifting hook 1 plate 11 comprises: a seat 110 for receiving the connecting piece 23 of the tensioning device 2; a channel 111 passing through the plate 11, and an access slot 112 to the channel 111.

[0057] More specifically, channel 111 passes through plate 110 in a lifting direction D, from receiving seat 110.

[0058] In other words, the channel 111 extends from an upper face 113 to an lower face 114 of the plate 11, opening onto each of these faces.

[0059] This channel 111 is intended to house the rod 21 of the tensioning device, as illustrated in particular on the figures 5 , 9 , 10 And 11 .

[0060] The access slot 112 to the channel 11 allows the insertion of the rod 21 of the tensioning device 2 into the channel 111, from outside the plate 11.

[0061] The access slot 112 extends obliquely with respect to the lifting direction D in a plane transverse to an insertion direction I of the rod 21 in the channel 111.

[0062] More specifically, with reference to the figure 4 , the access slot 112 extends in a direction which forms an angle α with the lifting direction D.

[0063] On the plate 11 itself, the channel 111 extends along the lifting direction D, forming the angle α between the extension direction of the channel 111 and the extension direction of the access slot 112.

[0064] The angle α is advantageously between 10° and 45°, inclusive.

[0065] The access slot 112 is made on a front face 116 of the plate 11.

[0066] Advantageously, as can be seen in particular on the figures 6 And 9 , the front face 116 has a funnel shape to allow the rod 21 of the tensioning device 2 to be guided into the access slot 112, from outside the plate 11.

[0067] As illustrated on the figure 10 , the plate 11 has the upper face 113 on which the receiving seat 110 is made.

[0068] More specifically, the reception seat 110 forms a shoulder 115 with the upper face 113.

[0069] In other words, the receiving seat 110 is offset inwards from the plate 11 relative to the upper face 113.

[0070] The shoulder 115 advantageously has radial dimensions greater than the radial dimensions of the connecting piece 23 to allow rotation of the connecting piece 23 in the shoulder 115. As explained below, this allows the connecting piece 23 to be correctly positioned in the receiving seat 110, in order to lift and / or manipulate the tensioning device 2 according to the lifting direction D.

[0071] As described previously, the hook 1 includes retaining means advantageously taking the form of at least one magnet 13 oriented towards the channel 111.

[0072] The magnet 13 allows the rod 21 of the tensioning device 2 to be retained in the channel 111 by magnetic attraction.

[0073] Preferably, and as illustrated on the figure 2 , hook 1 includes two magnets 13 oriented by channel 111.

[0074] The magnets 13 are advantageously placed on either side of the channel 111.

[0075] More specifically, the two magnets 13 are positioned on either side of the access slot 112.

[0076] With reference to the figure 2 , the gripping means 12 are connected to the plate 11 via at least one sling 122.

[0077] According to the embodiment illustrated on the figures 1 à 11 The gripping means 12 are connected to the plate 11 by means of two slings 122. Each sling 122 is mounted in rotation on the plate 11, on either side of the channel 111. This rotation allows the plate 11 to move relative to the slings 122 and thus facilitates its handling by a maintenance technician.

[0078] Each sling, at an end opposite to that by which it is connected to the plate 11, is connected to a bracket 121 by which the hook 1 is manipulated via lifting means 3.

[0079] With reference to the figure 11 , the lifting device 4 includes lifting means 3 and a hook 1 as previously described.

[0080] As illustrated on the figure 11 , the lifting device 4 also includes a hoist 41 interposed between the gripping means 12 of the hook 1 and the lifting means 3.

[0081] More specifically, the pulley 41 includes a curved finger which cooperates with the rider 121 to allow the manipulation of the hook 1.

[0082] The use of hook 1 for lifting a tensioning device 2 is now described with reference to figures 3 à 11 .

[0083] According to a first step illustrated in the figure 3 , the lifting hook 1 is moved to allow the insertion of the rod 21 of the tensioning device 2 into the channel 111 of the plate 11 in an insertion direction I.

[0084] With reference to the figure 4 To allow the insertion of the rod 21 into the channel 111 of the plate 11, the plate 11 is pivoted through an initial rotational movement R1, by the value of angle α, or nearly so. This ensures that the access slot 112 is substantially parallel to the lifting direction D, i.e., the extension direction of the rod 21.

[0085] With reference to the figure 5 The lifting hook 1 is moved so that the rod 21 of the tensioning device 2 is positioned in the channel 111. The insertion of the rod 21 into the channel 111 of the plate 11 is ensured according to the insertion direction I on the figure 6 .

[0086] With reference to the figure 7 , the rod 21 is positioned in the channel 111 of the plate 11.

[0087] The plate 11, which is still in its inclined position, must then be rotated in the opposite direction so that the access slot 112 reforms with the lifting direction D the angle a.

[0088] To achieve this, the plate 11 is then pivoted according to a second rotational movement R2 so as to cancel the angle a, or almost.

[0089] When the angle α is canceled, the lower surface 231 of the connecting piece 23 is then parallel, or nearly so, to the seat 110 of the plate 11. When the rod 21 is positioned in the channel 111, it is held inside the channel by the magnets 13, and more precisely by magnetic cooperation with the magnets 13.

[0090] This ensures that the connecting piece 23 is correctly positioned in the shoulder 115 when the plate moves along the rod 21, until the lower surface 231 of the connecting piece 23 is in contact with the seat 110 of the plate 11.

[0091] With reference to figures 8 And 9 , the plate 11, via the lifting means 3, can then be moved along the lifting direction D to allow the tensioning device 2 to be lifted.

[0092] With reference to the figure 9 , the connecting piece 23 is shown at an angle in the shoulder 115.

[0093] This is made possible in particular by the fact that the radial dimensions of the shoulder 115 are greater than the radial dimensions of the connecting piece 23.

[0094] This allows the maintenance technician not to worry about the orientation of the plate 11 during the lifting operation of the tensioning device 2.

[0095] With reference to the figure 11 , the lifting means 3 and / or the hoist 41 can then be operated manually or mechanically by the maintenance technician so as to lift the tensioning device 2 in the direction of movement D.

[0096] The lifting hook 1 just described can be handled by a single maintenance technician, which simplifies railway maintenance operations.

[0097] Furthermore, the safety of the maintenance technician is increased compared to prior art techniques since only an intentional rotational movement to tilt the plate 11 can allow the connecting piece 23 to be brought out of the channel 111.

[0098] In addition, the magnets 13 allow the rod 21 of the tensioning device 2 to be retained in the channel 111 of the plate 11 of the lifting hook 1 when the connecting means 23 are not engaged with the lifting hook 1.

[0099] Therefore, the technician can handle and move the lifting hook 1 without risk of detachment or separation of the tensioning device 2 which could then injure him.

[0100] In addition, the magnets 13 prevent any slippage of the tensioning device relative to the plate 11, which could then detach from the tensioning device 2 and cause a risk of injury to the maintenance technician.

[0101] Similarly, the inclination of the access slot 112 relative to the lifting direction D or the extension direction of the channel 111 allows the tensioning device 2 to remain captive to the lifting hook 1 when the tensioning device 2 is lifted. Thus, the risk of the tensioning device detaching, and therefore of injury to the maintenance technician, is limited or even eliminated.

[0102] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the lower surface 231 of the connecting piece 23 is spherical (or domed), the seat 110 of the plate 11 then also having a spherical (or hollow) shape.

Claims

1. Lifting hook (1) for lifting a catenary tensioning device (2) (C), the tensioning device (2) comprising: - a rod (21) on which weights (22) are mounted, - a connecting piece (23) to the catenary (C), mounted at one end of the rod (21) and extending radially from the rod (21), characterized in thatthe lifting hook (1) comprises: - a plate (11); - gripping means (12) attached to the plate (11) and allowing the lifting hook (1) to be handled by lifting means (3); the plate (11) having: - a seat (110) for receiving the connecting piece (23) of the tensioning device (2); - a channel (111) passing through the plate (11) in a lifting direction (D), from the receiving seat (110), and intended to house the rod (21) of the tensioning device (2), and - an access slot (112) to the channel (111) to bring the rod (21) into the channel (111) from outside the plate (11), the access slot (112) extending obliquely with respect to the lifting direction (D) in a transverse plane (P) to an insertion direction (I) of the rod (21) into the channel (111).

2. Hook (1) according to claim 1, characterized in thatit includes at least one magnet (13) oriented towards the channel (111) to retain the rod (21) of the tensioning device (2) in the channel (111) by magnetic attraction.

3. Hook (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it includes two magnets (13) oriented towards the channel (111), placed on either side of the channel (111).

4. Hook (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (11) has an upper face (113), the receiving seat (110) forming a shoulder (115) with the upper face (113).

5. Hook (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the shoulder (115) has radial dimensions greater than the radial dimensions of the connecting piece (23) to allow rotation of the connecting piece (23) in the shoulder (115).

6. Hook (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe access slot (112) is made on a front face (116) of the plate (11), the front face (116) having a funnel shape to allow the guide of the rod (21) of the tensioning device (2) in the access slot (112).

7. Hook (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping means (12) are connected to the plate (11) by means of at least one sling (122).

8. Hook (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that where each sling (122) is mounted for rotation on the plate (11).

9. Lifting device (4) of a catenary tensioning device (2) (C), comprising: - lifting means (3); - a hook (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Lifting device (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it also includes a hoist (41) interposed between gripping means (12) of the hook (1), and lifting means (3).