A hopper car and a hopper device thereof

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of rail vehicle technology, specifically disclosing a hopper device for a hopper car, comprising two side walls, two end walls, an end hopper assembly, and an end bottom door assembly. At least one end wall has a notch at its bottom edge on at least one side; the end hopper assembly is connected to the notch and located at the outer end of the end wall, having an inner cavity that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, and an opening at its bottom; the end bottom door assembly includes an end bottom door and a drive mechanism, the end bottom door being located within the end hopper assembly, and the drive mechanism being used to either close the opening of the end bottom door or open at least its bottom edge for unloading. By applying this hopper device, the volume of the inner cavity of the end hopper assembly is increased based on the original hopper device volume, thus expanding the capacity of the hopper car and improving its carrying capacity. Furthermore, the end bottom door ensures efficient unloading of goods while maintaining the expanded capacity. This invention also provides a hopper car with the same technical effects.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of rail vehicle technology, and more specifically, to a hopper car and its hopper device. Background Technology

[0002] In the evaluation of railway vehicle performance parameters, volume is a very important parameter, as it determines the vehicle's loading capacity. During the design of railway freight cars, given a fixed vehicle size, the goal is often to maximize volume by optimizing the vehicle structure to make full use of the space within the vehicle's dimensions.

[0003] A hopper car is a common type of railway freight car, and its structure is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, it includes a chassis, a hopper, and a bottom door. The hopper includes side walls 01 and end walls 02, with the end walls 02 located at both ends of the side walls 01. After the bottom door is opened, the goods inside the vehicle can be automatically unloaded under gravity. To ensure the unloading function of the hopper vehicle, the end walls need to have a certain angle of inclination. Therefore, due to the influence of the inclined end walls, the utilization rate of the end space of the hopper vehicle is relatively low.

[0004] In conclusion, how to effectively solve the problem of limited volume in hopper carts is a problem that needs to be addressed by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a hopper car and a hopper device thereof, the structural design of which can effectively solve the problem of limited volume of the hopper car.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0007] A funnel device for a funnel cart includes two side walls arranged opposite each other, and further includes:

[0008] Two end walls are respectively located at opposite ends of the two side walls. Each end wall is inclined inward at a first preset angle from the top to the bottom, and at least one end wall has a notch at the bottom of at least one side.

[0009] An end funnel assembly is connected to the notch and located at the outer end of the end wall. The end funnel assembly has an inner cavity that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, and the bottom of the end funnel assembly has an opening.

[0010] An end bottom door assembly includes an end bottom door and a drive mechanism. The end bottom door is disposed on the end funnel assembly. The drive mechanism is used to drive the end bottom door to close the opening or to drive at least the bottom of the end bottom door to open for unloading.

[0011] Optionally, in the above-described funnel device, the end funnel comprises:

[0012] An end funnel plate is vertical or inclined inward from the top to the bottom at a second preset angle. The top surface of the end funnel plate is connected to the top surface of the notch, and the outer surface of the end funnel plate is connected to the side wall. The second preset angle is smaller than the first preset angle.

[0013] A middle funnel plate is connected between the inner side surface of the end funnel plate and the upper part of the notch sidewall, and the opening is formed between the inner side surface of the end funnel plate and the lower part of the notch sidewall.

[0014] Optionally, in the above-described funnel device, the end funnel further comprises:

[0015] The side funnel plate has two opposite ends connected to the side wall of the notch and the end funnel plate, respectively. The outer side of the side funnel plate is connected to the side wall, and the side funnel plate is inclined inward from top to bottom. The middle funnel plate, the end funnel plate, the side funnel plate and the end wall form the opening.

[0016] Optionally, in the above-described funnel device, the middle funnel plate is perpendicular to the end funnel plate.

[0017] Optionally, in the above-mentioned funnel device, at least one of the two end walls is provided with two end funnels, the two end funnels are respectively provided on both sides of the end wall, and the two end funnels are arranged symmetrically.

[0018] Optionally, in the above-described funnel device, the top end of the end door is rotatably connected to the end funnel, and the driving mechanism is used to drive the end door to rotate to close or open the opening.

[0019] Optionally, in the above-mentioned funnel device, the end funnel assembly is provided with a mounting base, and a pull rod is rotatably connected to the mounting base, the pull rod being connected to the end bottom door.

[0020] Optionally, in the above-described funnel device, the driving mechanism includes:

[0021] A connecting seat is provided at the bottom of the end door;

[0022] Torque output device;

[0023] A first link is connected to the output end of the torque output device, and a swing arm extending radially is provided on the first link;

[0024] The second link has one end rotatably connected to the connecting seat and the other end rotatably connected to the swing arm, and the first link is perpendicular to the second link.

[0025] Optionally, in the above-described funnel device, the two opposite ends of the first connecting rod are respectively provided with swing arms to be rotatably connected to the two second connecting rods.

[0026] The funnel device of the funnel cart provided by the present invention includes two side walls, two end walls, an end funnel assembly, and an end bottom door assembly. The two side walls are arranged opposite each other, and the two end walls are respectively located at opposite ends of the two side walls. Each end wall is inclined inwards at a first predetermined angle from its top to its bottom, and at least one end wall has a notch at its bottom edge on at least one side. The end funnel assembly is connected to the notch and located at the outer end of the end wall. The end funnel assembly has an inner cavity that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, and an opening at the bottom. The end bottom door assembly includes an end bottom door and a driving mechanism. The end bottom door is located in the end funnel assembly, and the driving mechanism is used to drive the end bottom door to close the opening or to drive at least the bottom of the end bottom door to open for unloading.

[0027] By applying the funnel device provided by this invention, a notch is provided at the bottom of the end wall, and the end funnel assembly is connected to this notch and located at the outer end of the end wall. This allows the inner cavity of the end funnel assembly to also be loaded with goods, thus increasing the volume of the inner cavity of the end funnel assembly based on the original funnel device volume, thereby expanding the capacity of the funnel vehicle and improving its carrying capacity. Furthermore, the end bottom door serves a load-bearing function when closed. When unloading goods is required, the end bottom door opens, allowing for smooth unloading of the goods from the inner cavity. In summary, the funnel device provided by this application ensures the unloading of goods while expanding the capacity.

[0028] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention also provides a funnel cart, which includes any of the aforementioned funnel devices. Since the aforementioned funnel devices have the above-described technical effects, the funnel cart having the funnel device should also have the corresponding technical effects. Attached Figure Description

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a conventional hopper car structure;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the end structure of a funnel device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Corresponding side view diagram;

[0033] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A magnified view of part A (end bottom door closed);

[0034] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A magnified view of part A (end bottom door open);

[0035] Figure 6 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the drive mechanism;

[0036] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Another perspective illustration.

[0037] The following labels are shown in the attached diagram:

[0038] Side wall 100, end wall 200, end funnel 300, end bottom door 400, middle cavity 500;

[0039] Gap 210, top surface of the gap 211, sidewall of the gap 212;

[0040] Opening 301, end funnel plate 310, middle funnel plate 320, side funnel plate 330;

[0041] End door 410, drive mechanism 420, mounting base 430, pull rod 440, connecting base 421, torque output device 422, first link 423, second link 424, swing arm 423-1. Detailed Implementation

[0042] This invention discloses a funnel cart and its funnel device to achieve capacity expansion.

[0043] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] The funnel cart and funnel device provided in this application add an end funnel component to the funnel device of the original funnel cart, and combine it with the end wall structure improvement to achieve capacity expansion. The main structure of the funnel device can be the same as that of the conventional funnel device. The following embodiments mainly describe the end structure of the funnel device.

[0045] Please see Figures 2-6 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the end structure of a funnel device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 for Figure 2 Corresponding side view diagram; Figure 4 for Figure 2 A magnified view of part A (end bottom door closed); Figure 5 for Figure 2 A magnified view of part A (end bottom door open); Figure 6 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the drive mechanism; Figure 7 for Figure 6 Another perspective illustration.

[0046] In one embodiment, the funnel device of the funnel cart provided by the present invention includes two side walls 100, two end walls 200, an end funnel assembly 300, and an end bottom door assembly 400. The two side walls 100 are arranged opposite each other, and the two end walls 200 are respectively located at opposite ends of the two side walls 100. Each end wall 200 is inclined inward at a first predetermined angle from its top to its bottom, thereby forming a funnel-shaped central cavity 500 for loading goods. At least one end wall 200 has a notch 210 at at least one side of its bottom end, and the shape of the notch 210 can be configured as needed. The end funnel assembly 300 is connected to the notch 210 and is located at the outer end of the end wall 200. The end funnel assembly 300 has an inner cavity that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, forming a funnel-shaped inner cavity for loading goods. It is understood that the inner cavity of the end funnel assembly 300 is connected to the central cavity 500 via the notch 210. The end funnel assembly 300 has an opening 301 at its bottom to meet unloading needs. The shape and size of the opening 301 can be set as needed and are not specifically limited here. The end bottom door assembly 400 includes an end bottom door 410 and a drive mechanism 420. The end bottom door 410 is located in the end funnel assembly 300, and the drive mechanism 420 is used to drive the end bottom door 410 to close the opening 301 or to drive at least the bottom of the end bottom door 410 to open for unloading. It can be understood that when the end bottom door 410 closes the opening 301, the inner cavity of the end funnel assembly 300 can be loaded with goods, and the end bottom door 410 also serves as an end support. When the end bottom door 410 has at least the bottom open 301, the goods in the inner cavity of the end funnel assembly 300 can fall through the opening 301 under gravity to achieve unloading. Since the inner cavity is funnel-shaped with a larger top and a smaller bottom, and the opening 301 is located at the bottom, unloading is convenient.

[0047] By applying the funnel device provided by this invention, a notch 210 is provided at the bottom of the end wall 200, and the end funnel assembly 300 is connected to the notch 210 and located at the outer end of the end wall 200. This allows the inner cavity of the end funnel assembly 300 to also be loaded with goods, thus increasing the volume of the inner cavity of the end funnel assembly 300 on top of the original funnel device volume, thereby expanding the capacity of the funnel vehicle and improving its carrying capacity. Furthermore, the end bottom door 410 serves a load-bearing function when closed. When unloading goods, the end bottom door 410 opens, allowing for the smooth unloading of goods from the inner cavity. In summary, the funnel device provided by this application ensures the unloading of goods while expanding the capacity.

[0048] In one embodiment, the end funnel assembly 300 includes an end funnel plate 310 and a middle funnel plate 320. The end funnel plate 310 is vertical or inclined inwards at a second preset angle from its top to its bottom. The top surface of the end funnel plate 310 is connected to the top surface 211 of the notch 210, and the outer surface of the end funnel plate 310 is connected to the side wall 100. The second preset angle is smaller than a first preset angle. The middle funnel plate 320 is connected between the inner surface of the end funnel plate 310 and the upper part of the side wall 212 of the notch 210, forming an opening 301 between the inner surface of the end funnel plate 310 and the lower part of the side wall 212 of the notch 210. When the end funnel plate 310 is vertical or at the second preset angle, since the second preset angle is smaller than the first preset angle, effective expansion can be achieved. Comparatively, the vertical arrangement of the end funnel plate 310 results in greater expansion and a more stable structure. The top surface of the end funnel plate 310 can be horizontal, so the top surface 211 of the corresponding notch 210 can also be horizontal, making the overall structure more stable and reliable. The outer side of the end funnel plate 310 is connected to the side wall 100, so the shape of the outer side of the end funnel plate 310 can be matched with the side wall 100. The middle funnel plate 320 is connected between the inner side of the end funnel plate 310 and the upper part of the side wall 212 of the notch 210. Specifically, it can be perpendicular to the end funnel plate 310, making the overall structure more stable. If needed, the middle funnel plate 320 can also be inclined relative to the end funnel plate 310. The middle funnel plate 320, the end funnel plate 310, the side wall 100 and the end bottom door 410 form an inner cavity that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, which is connected to the middle cavity 500 of the funnel cart. The end funnel assembly 300, with the above-described configuration, has a simple structure and is easy to modify based on the existing funnel cart. Specifically, it only requires adding a notch 210 to the end wall 200 and connecting the end funnel assembly 300 and the end bottom door assembly 400 accordingly. In other embodiments, the end funnel assembly 300 can also be a structure assembled from multiple plates. For example, four plates can be arranged to form a funnel shape, without utilizing the side wall 100. The funnel opening 301 is connected to the notch 210 in the end plate, thus achieving expansion.

[0049] In one embodiment, the end funnel assembly 300 further includes a side funnel plate 330. The two opposite ends of the side funnel plate 330 are connected to the side wall 212 of the notch 210 and the end funnel plate 310, respectively. The outer side of the side funnel plate 330 is connected to the side wall 100, and the side funnel plate 330 is inclined inwards from top to bottom. The middle funnel plate 320, the end funnel plate 310, the side funnel plate 330, and the end wall 200 form an opening 301. By providing the side funnel plate 330, the end bottom door 410 directly engages with the side funnel plate 330, facilitating reliable closure of the opening 301 without requiring structural modifications to the side wall 100, and reducing structural limitations on the end bottom door 410. In other embodiments, the side funnel plate 330 may be omitted, and the end bottom door 410 may directly engage with the side wall 100.

[0050] In one embodiment, at least one of the two end walls 200 is provided with two end funnel assemblies 300, which are respectively located on both sides of the end wall 200 and are symmetrically arranged. By providing two end funnel assemblies 300, the capacity of one end wall 200 can be doubled, further increasing the vehicle's carrying capacity. Furthermore, the symmetrical arrangement of the two end funnel assemblies 300 makes the overall structure more evenly stressed, improving vehicle stability. For the two end walls 200, an end funnel assembly 300 can be provided on one end of the end wall 200 while the other end uses a conventional end wall 200 structure, or end funnel assemblies 300 can be provided on both ends. For example, each end wall 200 can be provided with two end funnel assemblies 300, or each can be provided with only one end funnel assembly 300. The size of the two end funnel assemblies 300 can be as large as possible within the end wall 200 range to achieve greater capacity expansion.

[0051] In one embodiment, the top end of the end door 410 is rotatably connected to the end funnel assembly 300, and the drive mechanism 420 is used to rotate the end door 410 to close or open the opening 301. Since the end door 410 is rotatably connected to the end funnel assembly 300, one end can always maintain a reliable connection, making opening and closing operations convenient and the structure highly reliable. It is understood that the rotatable connection between the end door 410 and the end funnel assembly 300 includes both a rotatable connection via a support frame and an indirect rotatable connection via other connecting parts. In other embodiments, the end door 410 can also be slidably mounted on the end funnel assembly 300, in which case the drive mechanism 420 drives the end door 410 to slide to close the opening 301 or open for unloading. Alternatively, the end bottom door 410 and the end funnel 300 can also be connected by a detachable sealed connection. The drive mechanism 420 acts on the end bottom door 410 to close the opening 301. The end bottom door 410 and the end funnel 300 can be detachably connected by fasteners, such as bolts. When unloading, the fasteners are removed, and the drive mechanism 420 acts on the end bottom door 410 to open it for unloading. The opening and closing function can also be achieved through the above structure.

[0052] In one embodiment, the end funnel assembly 300 is provided with a mounting base 430, and a pull rod 440 is rotatably connected to the mounting base 430. The pull rod 440 is connected to the end bottom door 410. That is, the end bottom door 410 and the end funnel assembly 300 are rotatably connected through the mounting base 430 and the pull rod 440, resulting in a simple structure and reliable connection. Specifically, the pull rod 440 can be arranged parallel to the bottom door. In other embodiments, the top end of the end bottom door 410 can also be rotatably connected to the end funnel assembly 300 via a hinge. A hinged rotatable connection provides reliable connection and convenient assembly. Alternatively, the end bottom door 410 can also be connected to the end funnel assembly 300 using other conventional rotatable connection methods.

[0053] In one embodiment, the drive mechanism 420 includes a connecting seat 421, a torque output device 422, a first connecting rod 423, and a second connecting rod 424. The connecting seat 421 is located at the end door 410. The first connecting rod 423 is connected to the output end of the torque output device 422 and has a radially extending swing arm 423-1. One end of the second connecting rod 424 is rotatably connected to the connecting seat 421, and the other end is rotatably connected to the swing arm 423-1, with the first connecting rod 423 and the second connecting rod 424 perpendicular to each other. The torque output device 422 drives the first connecting rod 423 to rotate, causing the swing arm 423-1 on the first connecting rod 423 to swing accordingly, thereby driving the connected second connecting rod 424 to rotate. The second connecting rod 424, through the connecting seat 421, drives the end door 410 to rotate accordingly, thereby closing or opening the opening 301. The cooperation between the first connecting rod 423 and the second connecting rod 424 enables the conversion of the direction of motion, facilitating the arrangement of the torque output device 422 on the chassis. Specifically, the first connecting rod 423 is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the funnel device, i.e., the distance between the two end walls 200, and the second connecting rod 424 is arranged along the transverse direction of the funnel device, i.e., the distance between the two side walls 100. The torque output device 422 can be a motor. In other embodiments, the end bottom door 410 can also be opened or closed by a telescopic cylinder such as a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. When the end bottom door 410 is rotatably connected to the end funnel 300 via the mounting base 430 and the pull rod 440, one end of the pull rod 440 is rotatably connected to the mounting base 430, and the other end can be fixedly connected to the connecting seat 421.

[0054] In the above embodiments, the drive mechanism 420 is automatically driven. In some embodiments, the drive mechanism 420 can also be a manually driven structure, such as a wrench. The bottom end of the wrench has a latch that can engage with the side wall 100. By turning the wrench, the latch is unlocked, and then the end door 410 can be pulled to open it. When locked, the end door 410 is closed by pushing it, and the latch is engaged with the side wall 100 by turning the wrench, thus achieving reliable locking.

[0055] In one embodiment, swing arms 423-1 are respectively provided at opposite ends of the first link 423 to be rotatably connected to two second links 424. By providing two swing arms 423-1, one first link 423 can be connected to two second links 424 simultaneously to drive the two second links 424 to move. Thus, when end funnel devices are provided on both sides of the end wall 200, two corresponding end bottom doors 410 can be synchronously driven to open or close by a single torque output device, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing energy consumption. In other embodiments, a separate drive mechanism 420 for driving the opening or closing of the corresponding end bottom door 410 can also be provided for each individual end funnel device.

[0056] Based on the funnel device provided in the above embodiments, the present invention also provides a funnel cart, which includes any one of the funnel devices in the above embodiments. Since this funnel cart uses the funnel device in the above embodiments, the beneficial effects of this funnel cart are explained in the above embodiments.

[0057] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0058] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A funnel device for a funnel cart, comprising two opposing side walls (100), characterized in that, Also includes: Two end walls (200) are respectively provided at opposite ends of the two side walls (100). Each end wall (200) is inclined inward at a first preset angle from the top to the bottom, and at least one end wall (200) has a notch (210) at the bottom of at least one side. An end funnel assembly (300) is connected to the notch (210) and located at the outer end of the end wall (200). The end funnel assembly (300) has an inner cavity that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, and the bottom of the end funnel assembly (300) has an opening (301). An end bottom door assembly (400) includes an end bottom door (410) and a drive mechanism (420). The end bottom door (410) is disposed on the end funnel assembly (300). The drive mechanism (420) is used to drive the end bottom door (410) to close the opening (301) or to drive at least the bottom of the end bottom door (410) to open for unloading. The end funnel assembly (300) includes: An end funnel plate (310) is vertical or inclined inward from the top to the bottom at a second preset angle. The top surface of the end funnel plate (310) is connected to the top surface (211) of the notch (210). The outer side surface of the end funnel plate (310) is connected to the side wall (100). The second preset angle is smaller than the first preset angle. A middle funnel plate (320) is connected between the inner side of the end funnel plate (310) and the upper part of the side wall (212) of the notch (210), and the opening (301) is formed between the inner side of the end funnel plate (310) and the lower part of the side wall (212) of the notch (210). The side funnel plate (330) is connected to the side wall (212) of the notch (210) and the end funnel plate (310) at opposite ends. The outer side of the side funnel plate (330) is connected to the side wall (100), and the side funnel plate (330) is inclined from top to bottom inward. The middle funnel plate (320), the end funnel plate (310), the side funnel plate (330) and the end wall (200) form the opening (301).

2. The funnel device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The middle funnel plate (320) is perpendicular to the end funnel plate (310).

3. The funnel device according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the two end walls (200) is provided with two end funnels (300), the two end funnels (300) are respectively provided on both sides of the end wall (200), and the two end funnels (300) are symmetrically arranged.

4. The funnel device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The top end of the end door (410) is rotatably connected to the end funnel (300), and the drive mechanism (420) is used to drive the end door (410) to rotate to close the opening (301) or open it.

5. The funnel device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The end funnel assembly (300) is provided with a mounting base (430), and a pull rod (440) is rotatably connected to the mounting base (430). The pull rod (440) is connected to the end bottom door (410).

6. The funnel device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The drive mechanism (420) includes: A connecting seat (421) is provided at the end bottom door (410). Torque output device (422); The first link (423) is connected to the output end of the torque output device (422), and the first link (423) is provided with a radially extending swing arm (423-1). The second link (424) has one end rotatably connected to the connecting seat (421) and the other end rotatably connected to the swing arm (423-1), and the first link (423) is perpendicular to the second link (424).

7. The funnel device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first link (423) has swing arms (423-1) at its opposite ends, which are rotatably connected to the two second links (424).

8. A funnel cart, characterized in that, Includes the funnel device as described in any one of claims 1-7.

Images