A railcar cargo loading system and method of loading and unloading

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of gondola car goods loading system and loading and unloading method, gondola car goods loading system includes gondola car body, the side of the gondola car body is rotatably arranged side door, the bottom of the side door is hinged with gondola car body, the inner side of the side door is provided with side door guide rail, the side door guide rail is perpendicular to the length direction of gondola car body, the side door guide rail is used as the moving track of goods carrying device, driving mechanism is arranged in the gondola car body, the inner side of the side door is hinged with driving mechanism, and the driving mechanism is used to control the opening and closing of side door.The present application can effectively improve the efficiency of gondola car loading and unloading, fully exert the economic advantages of railway freight car in technology and management, and realize the fast railway transportation of goods.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of railway boxcar loading and unloading technology, specifically to a boxcar cargo loading system and loading / unloading method. Background Technology

[0002] Railway boxcars, as one of the main types of wagons used in railway transportation, are primarily used to transport valuable goods and general merchandise protected from sunlight, rain, and snow, as well as various boxed and bagged goods. The loading and unloading methods for railway boxcars are diverse, mainly depending on the type and size of the goods and the specific design of the boxcar. Below are some common loading and unloading methods:

[0003] Roof loading / unloading: For goods requiring loading and unloading from the top, such as certain bulk cargo or large equipment, boxcars may be equipped with sliding or overhead roofs. Goods can be vertically lifted and unloaded through the open roof. However, roof loading / unloading requires goods to have a stable shape and packaging to prevent slippage or damage during the process. Furthermore, roof loading / unloading can easily lead to damage to electrical wiring.

[0004] Rear loading / unloading: Some boxcars are also equipped with open rear doors, facilitating loading and unloading operations from the rear of the car. This method may be more convenient for loading and unloading certain types of goods. While rear loading / unloading facilitates operations from the rear of the car, it may be limited by track space and ground facilities. In addition, rear loading / unloading usually requires more operators and machinery, which may increase the cost and time of the operation.

[0005] Side-door loading and unloading: Most boxcars are equipped with side doors, allowing goods to be loaded and unloaded. This method is suitable for easily handled goods such as boxed or bagged items. To improve loading and unloading efficiency, some boxcars adopt wide doors or full-side-opening door structures. For example, Chinese invention patent CN111942410B discloses a fast-moving mobile side-wall boxcar with a large side-opening door, which allows goods to be loaded and unloaded from the side of the boxcar. However, the large side-opening door of this design can only open and close along the length of the boxcar. Side-door loading and unloading requires the use of mechanical equipment such as forklifts. The forklifts' turning inside the boxcar and their entry and exit from the boxcar are inconvenient, resulting in low efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a freight loading system and loading / unloading method for boxcars, which can effectively improve the loading and unloading efficiency of railway boxcars, fully leverage the economic advantages of railway freight cars in terms of technology and management, and realize fast railway transportation of goods.

[0007] To address the aforementioned technical problems, in a first aspect, the present invention proposes a boxcar cargo loading system, comprising a boxcar body, a side door rotatably disposed on the side of the boxcar body, the bottom of the side door being hinged to the boxcar body, a side door guide rail disposed on the inner side of the side door, the side door guide rail being perpendicular to the length direction of the boxcar body, a drive mechanism and an internal track disposed within the boxcar body, the drive mechanism being used to control the opening and closing of the side door, and the internal track being used for the movement of a cargo transport device within the boxcar body, and for the cargo transport device to move back and forth between the side door guide rail and the internal track.

[0008] In some embodiments, the in-vehicle track includes longitudinal guide rails and transverse guide rails. The longitudinal guide rails are parallel to the length direction of the boxcar body, and the transverse guide rails are perpendicular to the longitudinal guide rails. The transverse guide rails are arranged correspondingly to the side door guide rails. Two longitudinal guide rails are provided, and the transverse guide rails are located between the two longitudinal guide rails. The longitudinal guide rails include standard sections and rotating sections. The rotating sections are arranged at both ends of the transverse guide rails, and the bottom of the rotating sections is rotatably connected to the boxcar body, so that the rotating sections can be connected to both the standard sections and the transverse guide rails.

[0009] Furthermore, a turntable is rotatably mounted inside the covered wagon body, and a rotating joint is fixedly mounted on the turntable. A rotating arm for rotating the turntable is provided on the turntable, and a pin hole is formed on the rotating arm. A first pin seat and a second pin seat for fixing the rotating arm are fixedly mounted inside the covered wagon body. When the rotating joint is connected to a standard section, the pin hole is coaxial with the first pin seat; when the rotating joint is connected to a transverse guide rail, the pin hole is coaxial with the second pin seat.

[0010] In some embodiments, a swing rail is provided inside the car body, the swing rail is rotatably connected to the car body, and the swing rail is used to connect the rotating joint to the side door guide rail.

[0011] In some embodiments, a swing rail is provided on the inner side of the side door, the swing rail is rotatably connected to the side door, and the swing rail is used to connect the rotating joint to the side door guide rail.

[0012] Furthermore, the ends of the side door guide rail, the swing rail, and the rotating joint are all provided with connecting holes, and the swing rail can be fixedly connected to the side door guide rail and the rotating joint through the connecting holes.

[0013] In some embodiments, a vehicle stop is provided at one end of the side door guide rail, the vehicle stop being used to prevent the cargo carrying device from moving away from the boxcar body and disengaging from the side door guide rail.

[0014] In some embodiments, a fixed seat is provided inside the car body of the boxcar, and one end of the drive mechanism is hinged to the fixed seat.

[0015] In some embodiments, a connecting seat is provided on the inner side of the side door near the top, and the drive mechanism is hinged to the inner side of the side door through the connecting seat.

[0016] In some embodiments, the drive mechanism includes a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder.

[0017] In some embodiments, the cargo transport device includes a transport trolley and four wheels disposed under the transport trolley. The cargo is fixed above the transport trolley. A groove is provided around the outer edge of each wheel. The side door guide rail can be embedded in the groove. The transport trolley is driven by a motor.

[0018] Secondly, the present invention provides a method for loading goods, comprising:

[0019] The control drive mechanism opens the side door, supporting it from the ground;

[0020] Rotate the swing rail and the rotating joint to connect the side door guide rail, the swing rail, the rotating joint, and the transverse guide rail into a complete guide rail. Use a pin to pass through the pin hole of the rotating arm and insert it into the second pin seat to fix the rotating joint. Fix the two ends of the swing rail to the side door guide rail and the rotating joint respectively through the connecting holes.

[0021] The cargo-carrying device is hoisted onto the side door guide rail and moved into the car body via the swing rail, rotating joint, and transverse guide rail. The pin is removed, the rotating joint is rotated, and the pin is inserted through the pin hole of the rotating arm and into the first pin seat to fix the rotating joint, thus completing the loading of the cargo.

[0022] Thirdly, the present invention provides a method for unloading goods, comprising:

[0023] The control drive mechanism opens the side door, supporting it from the ground;

[0024] Rotate the swing rail so that the swing rail and the side door guide rail are in a straight line. Fix one end of the swing rail and the side door guide rail through the connecting hole. Move the cargo carrying device onto the rotating joint. Rotate the rotating joint so that the rotating joint and the side door guide rail are in a straight line. Fix the other end of the swing rail and the rotating joint through the connecting hole.

[0025] The cargo transport device is moved along the transverse guide rail, swivel joint, swing rail, and side door guide rail to the outside of the boxcar. The cargo transport device is then hoisted off the side door guide rail to complete the unloading of the cargo.

[0026] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0027] 1. This invention, by opening a side door on the side of the boxcar body, allows the cargo transport device to enter the boxcar body through the side door guide rail, eliminating the need for hoisting from the top of the boxcar body. This avoids damage to the electrical wiring caused by loading and unloading from the top of the boxcar body and also reduces the requirements for hoisting equipment. Furthermore, by setting up internal tracks, loading and unloading efficiency can be further improved.

[0028] 2. By setting longitudinal and transverse guide rails, the present invention enables the cargo transport device to fully enter the car body through the side door guide rail, the transverse guide rail, and the lateral guide rail. By rotating the transverse guide rail, the cargo transport device can be moved forward along the longitudinal guide rail, thereby loading the next cargo transport device, which helps to improve loading and unloading efficiency.

[0029] 3. By setting up a swing rail, the present invention can avoid the situation where the rotating joint cannot be connected to the side door guide rail or there is a large gap, so that the cargo carrying device can smoothly enter the car body of the boxcar.

[0030] 4. The swing rail of the present invention can be installed inside the car body or on the side door, which is quite flexible.

[0031] 5. This invention prevents the cargo transport device from slipping off the side door guide rail during loading or unloading by setting a vehicle stop. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention when the side door is not opened;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the side door of the present invention when it is opened;

[0034] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the side door of the present invention when it is open;

[0036] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram showing the arrangement of the longitudinal guide rail, transverse guide rail, and swing rail of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged view at point B in the middle;

[0038] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the swing rail and the rotating joint of the present invention.

[0039] Reference numerals: 1. Carriage body; 2. Side door; 21. Side door guide rail; 211. Stop; 22. Drive mechanism; 23. Hinge; 24. Fixed seat; 25. Connecting seat; 3. Longitudinal guide rail; 31. Standard section; 32. Rotary section; 4. Transverse guide rail; 5. Swing rail; 6. Support; 7. Turntable; 71. Swing arm; 72. Pin hole; 8. Cargo carrying device. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0041] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the present invention provides a boxcar cargo loading system, including a boxcar body 1, a side door 2 rotatably disposed on the side of the boxcar body 1, and multiple side doors 2 can be provided. A hinge 23 is welded to the side of the boxcar body 1 near the bottom. The bottom of the side door 2 is hinged to the boxcar body 1 through multiple hinges 23. Two parallel side door guide rails 21 are provided on the inner side of the side door 2. The side door guide rails 21 are perpendicular to the length direction of the boxcar body 1 and are used as moving tracks for cargo carrying device 8. A drive mechanism 22 is provided inside the boxcar body 1 and is hinged to the inner side of the side door 2. The drive mechanism 22 is used to control the opening and closing of the side door 2.

[0042] It is understandable that the side door 2 can be opened by the drive mechanism 22, and the cargo transport device 8 can be hoisted onto the side door guide rail 21. The cargo transport device 8 can be moved into the boxcar body 1 by using the side door guide rail 21. The cargo transport device 8 enters the boxcar body 1 from the side, which helps to improve loading and unloading efficiency, avoids damage to the electrical circuits, and reduces the requirements for hoisting equipment.

[0043] It should be noted that the cargo transport device 8 includes a transport trolley and four wheels installed under the transport trolley. The cargo is fixed above the transport trolley, and a groove is provided around the outer edge of the wheels. The side door guide rail 21 can be embedded in the groove to ensure the stability and steering of the transport trolley. The transport trolley is driven by an electric motor to improve loading and unloading efficiency.

[0044] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, a fixed seat 24 is welded to the bottom plate inside the car body 1. The fixed seat 24 has an opening at the top. A connecting seat 25 is welded to the inner side of the side door 2 near the top. One end of the drive mechanism 22 is hinged to the fixed seat 24, and the other end of the drive mechanism 22 is hinged to the inner side of the side door 2 through the connecting seat 25. During the rotation of the side door 2, the drive mechanism 22 will also rotate accordingly, thereby controlling the opening and closing of the side door 2.

[0045] In some embodiments, the drive mechanism 22 includes a cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. By connecting the cylinder body of the drive mechanism 22 to the fixed seat 24 and the piston of the drive mechanism 22 to the connecting seat 25, the rotation of the side door 2 can be achieved through the linear movement of the piston.

[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, a vehicle stop 211 is provided at one end of the side door guide rail 21. The vehicle stop 211 is used to prevent the cargo carrying device 8 from moving away from the car body 1 and detaching from the side door guide rail 21. After the side door 2 is opened, the side of the vehicle stop 211 near the car body 1 is arc-shaped to prevent the cargo carrying device 8 from sliding out of the side door guide rail 21.

[0047] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the car body 1 is equipped with internal tracks, which include longitudinal guide rails 3 and transverse guide rails 4. The longitudinal guide rails 3 are parallel to the length direction of the car body 1, and the transverse guide rails 4 are perpendicular to the longitudinal guide rails 3. The transverse guide rails 4 are arranged correspondingly to the side door guide rails 21, that is, after the side door 2 is opened, the two are on a straight line. There are two longitudinal guide rails 3, and the transverse guide rails 4 are located between the two longitudinal guide rails 3. The longitudinal guide rails 3 include standard sections 31 and rotating sections 32. The rotating sections 32 are arranged at both ends of the transverse guide rails 4. The bottom of the rotating sections 32 is rotatably connected to the car body 1, so that the rotating sections 32 can be connected to both the standard sections 31 and the transverse guide rails 4.

[0048] like Figure 6 As shown, the standard section 31 and the transverse guide rail 4 are both welded to the support 6, which is welded to the bottom plate inside the boxcar body 1. A turntable 7 is set between two adjacent standard sections 31, and the bottom of the turntable 7 is rotatably connected to the boxcar body 1. The rotating section 32 is welded to the upper surface of the turntable 7. When the wheels of the cargo transport device 8 are simultaneously located on four rotating sections 32, the cargo transport device 8 can be turned by rotating all four rotating sections 32 at the same time, thereby transporting it out of or into the boxcar body 1.

[0049] The rotating section 32 can be rotated and fixed as follows: A rotating arm 71 is mounted on the turntable 7, and the rotating section 32 can be rotated by manually prying the rotating arm 71. A pin hole 72 is provided on the rotating arm 71, and a first pin seat and a second pin seat are provided on the bottom plate of the car body 1. When the rotating section 32 is connected to the standard section 31, the pin hole 72 of the rotating arm 71 is coaxial with the first pin seat, and a pin can be inserted through the pin hole 72 to fix the rotating section 32. When the rotating section 32 is connected to the transverse guide rail 4, the pin hole 72 of the rotating arm 71 is coaxial with the second pin seat, and a pin can be inserted through the pin hole 72 to fix the rotating section 32. Alternatively, a motor can be used to drive the turntable 7 to rotate.

[0050] In some embodiments, a swing rail 5 is provided inside the car body 1. The swing rail 5 is set on a support 6 on one side of the rotating section 32. The swing rail 5 is rotatably connected to the support 6. Since there will be a certain distance between the side door guide rail 21 and the rotating section 32 after the side door 2 is opened, the rotating section 32 can be connected to the side door guide rail 21 by rotating the swing rail 5 to the straight line where the side door guide rail 21 is located.

[0051] There are also various methods for rotating and fixing the swashplate 5, such as: Figure 7 As shown, by opening connection holes at the ends of the side door guide rail 21, the swing rail 5, and the rotating joint 32, manually rotating the swing rail 5 and the rotating joint 32 until they are in a straight line with the side door guide rail 21, inserting the two ends of the U-shaped steel bar into the connection holes of the swing rail 5 and the rotating joint 32 respectively, and fixing the two ends of the U-shaped steel bar with bolts, the direction of the swing rail 5 can be fixed.

[0052] In some embodiments, the swing rail 5 can also be disposed inside the side door 2, and the swing rail 5 is rotatably connected to the side door 2, which can also connect the rotating joint 32 to the side door guide rail 21.

[0053] A method for loading goods using this boxcar loading system includes:

[0054] The control drive mechanism 22 opens the side door 2, supporting the side door 2 on the ground;

[0055] Manually rotate the swing rail 5 and the rotating joint 32 so that the side door guide rail 21, the swing rail 5, the rotating joint 32, and the transverse guide rail 4 are in a straight line. Pass the pin through the pin hole 72 of the rotating arm 71 and insert it into the second pin seat to fix the rotating joint 32. Fix one end of the swing rail 5 and the rotating joint 32 with U-shaped steel bars. Fix the other end of the swing rail 5 and the side door guide rail 21 with U-shaped steel bars.

[0056] The cargo transport device 8 is hoisted onto the side door guide rail 21 and moved into the boxcar body 1 via the swing rail 5, rotating joint 32, and transverse guide rail 4. The pin is removed, and the rotating joint 32 is manually rotated to pass the pin through the pin hole 72 of the rotating arm 71 and insert it into the first pin seat to fix the rotating joint 32. The cargo transport device 8 can then move into the boxcar body 1 along the length of the boxcar body 1 to complete the loading of the cargo.

[0057] The method for unloading cargo using this boxcar loading system includes:

[0058] The control drive mechanism 22 opens the side door 2, supporting the side door 2 on the ground;

[0059] Rotate the swing rail 5 so that the swing rail 5 and the side door guide rail 21 are in a straight line. Fix one end of the swing rail 5 and the side door guide rail 21 with U-shaped steel bars. Move the cargo carrying device 8 onto the rotating joint 32. Rotate the rotating joint 32 so that the rotating joint 32 and the side door guide rail 21 are in a straight line. Fix the other end of the swing rail 5 and the rotating joint 32 with U-shaped steel bars.

[0060] The cargo transport device 8 is moved along the transverse guide rail 4, rotating section 32, swing rail 5, and side door guide rail 21 to the outside of the boxcar body 1. The cargo transport device 8 is then hoisted off the side door guide rail 21 to complete the unloading of the cargo.

[0061] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and should all be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A cargo loading system for boxcars, characterized in that: The system includes a boxcar body (1), a side door (2) is rotatably provided on the side of the boxcar body (1), the bottom of the side door (2) is hinged to the boxcar body (1), a side door guide rail (21) is provided on the inner side of the side door (2), the side door guide rail (21) is perpendicular to the length direction of the boxcar body (1), a drive mechanism (22) and an internal track are provided inside the boxcar body (1), the drive mechanism (22) is used to control the opening and closing of the side door (2), and the internal track is used for the movement of the cargo transport device (8) inside the boxcar body (1) and for the cargo transport device (8) to move back and forth between the side door guide rail (21) and the internal track; The in-vehicle track includes a longitudinal guide rail (3) and a transverse guide rail (4). The longitudinal guide rail (3) is parallel to the length direction of the car body (1), and the transverse guide rail (4) is perpendicular to the longitudinal guide rail (3). The transverse guide rail (4) is arranged correspondingly to the side door guide rail (21). There are two longitudinal guide rails (3). The transverse guide rail (4) is located between the two longitudinal guide rails (3). The longitudinal guide rail (3) includes a standard section (31) and a rotating section (32). The rotating section (32) is arranged at both ends of the transverse guide rail (4). The bottom of the rotating section (32) is rotatably connected to the car body (1), so that the rotating section (32) can be connected to both the standard section (31) and the transverse guide rail (4).

2. The boxcar loading system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The car body (1) is equipped with a turntable (7) that rotates inside. The rotating section (32) is fixedly mounted on the turntable (7). The turntable (7) is equipped with a rotating arm (71) for rotating the turntable (7). The rotating arm (71) has a pin hole (72). The car body (1) is equipped with a first pin seat and a second pin seat for fixing the rotating arm (71). When the rotating section (32) is connected to the standard section (31), the pin hole (72) is coaxial with the first pin seat. When the rotating section (32) is connected to the transverse guide rail (4), the pin hole (72) is coaxial with the second pin seat.

3. The boxcar loading system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The car body (1) is provided with a swing rail (5), which is rotatably connected to the car body (1). The swing rail (5) is used to connect the rotating joint (32) to the side door guide rail (21).

4. The boxcar loading system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The side door (2) is provided with a swing rail (5) inside. The swing rail (5) is rotatably connected to the side door (2). The swing rail (5) is used to connect the rotating joint (32) to the side door guide rail (21).

5. The boxcar loading system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The ends of the side door guide rail (21), the swing rail (5), and the rotating joint (32) are all provided with connection holes. The swing rail (5) can be fixedly connected to the side door guide rail (21) and the rotating joint (32) through the connection holes.

6. The boxcar loading system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: A stop (211) is provided at one end of the side door guide rail (21). The stop (211) is used to prevent the cargo carrying device (8) from moving away from the boxcar body (1) and disengaging from the side door guide rail (21).

7. The boxcar loading system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The cargo transport device (8) includes a transport trolley and four wheels set under the transport trolley. The cargo is fixed above the transport trolley. A groove is provided around the outer edge of the wheel. The side door guide rail can be embedded in the groove. The transport trolley is driven by a motor.

8. A method for loading cargo into a boxcar cargo loading system according to claim 5, characterized in that, include: The control drive mechanism (22) opens the side door (2), and the side door (2) is supported by the ground; Rotate the swing rail (5) and the rotating joint (32) to connect the side door guide rail (21), the swing rail (5), the rotating joint (32), and the transverse guide rail (4) into a complete guide rail. Use a pin to pass through the pin hole (72) of the rotating arm (71) and insert it into the second pin seat to fix the rotating joint (32). Fix the two ends of the swing rail (5) to the side door guide rail (21) and the rotating joint (32) respectively through the connecting holes. The cargo transport device (8) is hoisted onto the side door guide rail (21) and moved into the car body (1) via the swing rail (5), rotating joint (32) and transverse guide rail (4). The pin is removed, the rotating joint (32) is rotated, and the pin is inserted through the pin hole (72) of the rotating arm (71) and inserted into the first pin seat to fix the rotating joint (32) and complete the loading of the cargo.

9. A method for unloading cargo from a boxcar cargo loading system according to claim 5, characterized in that, include: The control drive mechanism (22) opens the side door (2), and the side door (2) is supported by the ground; Rotate the swing rail (5) so that the swing rail (5) and the side door guide rail (21) are on a straight line. Fix one end of the swing rail (5) and the side door guide rail (21) through the connecting hole. Move the cargo carrying device (8) onto the rotating joint (32). Rotate the rotating joint (32) so that the rotating joint (32) and the side door guide rail (21) are on a straight line. Fix the other end of the swing rail (5) and the rotating joint (32) through the connecting hole. Move the cargo transport device (8) along the transverse guide rail (4), rotating section (32), swing rail (5), and side door guide rail (21) to the outside of the boxcar body (1), and hoist the cargo transport device (8) off the side door guide rail (21) to complete the unloading of the cargo.

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