Bottom door locking device and railway wagon

Abstract

The bottom door locking device comprises a supporting seat and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel device and a pawl device, the ratchet wheel device is in transmission connection with a rotating body of an operation main body for driving a door leaf of a bottom door to do opening and closing actions, and the pawl device is hinged to the supporting seat; the first elastic reset device is used for driving the pawl device to be matched with the ratchet wheel device so as to limit the bottom door leaf to rotate towards the door opening direction; the unlocking device comprises an unlocking handle and is used for driving the pawl device to be separated from the ratchet wheel device. When an operator drives the rotating body to close the door leaf of the bottom door, the ratchet device rotates along with the rotating body. Under the action of spring force of the first elastic reset device, the pawl device can automatically fall and bounce when passing through each tooth groove of the ratchet wheel device until the door leaf of the bottom door is completely closed in place, the pawl device can be immediately clamped into the current tooth groove, locking is automatically completed, and major potential safety hazards caused by forgetting to manually lock are eliminated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of railway freight car technology, and more specifically, to a bottom door locking device and a railway freight car. Background Technology

[0002] As the core equipment for transporting bulk goods such as coal, ore, grain, and powdery materials, hopper cars are a key carrier in the railway freight system and bulk material logistics links. Their technical performance directly affects the efficiency, cost, and environmental protection level of logistics transportation.

[0003] The bottom door is the core functional component of railway hopper cars for loading and unloading bulk materials. Its opening and closing reliability, locking and sealing performance, and operational adaptability directly determine the transportation efficiency, operational safety, and logistics costs of the hopper cars. It is a key link in the railway transportation system for bulk commodities such as coal, grain, and cement.

[0004] The bottom door mechanism mainly consists of bottom door panels, a transmission linkage mechanism, and an opening and closing control device. One end of the bottom door panel is hinged to one side of the unloading port, while the other end is a free end connected to the transmission linkage mechanism. Each bottom door panel is connected to the same transmission shaft via the transmission linkage mechanism. The opening and closing control device drives the transmission shaft to rotate, and through the transmission linkage mechanism, it drives the bottom door panels to open and close.

[0005] The current bottom door mechanism lacks a locking device, which poses a risk of the bottom door being opened accidentally.

[0006] Therefore, how to prevent the bottom door from opening accidentally and improve safety is a problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of this, the purpose of this application is to provide a bottom door locking device to prevent the bottom door from being opened accidentally and to improve security;

[0008] Another objective of this application is to provide a railway freight car with the aforementioned bottom door locking device.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0010] The first aspect of this application provides a bottom door locking device, including a support base and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising:

[0011] The ratchet and pawl mechanism includes a ratchet device and a pawl device. The ratchet device is connected to the rotating body of the operating body that drives the bottom door leaf to open and close. The pawl device is hinged to the support base.

[0012] The first elastic reset device has one end connected to the support base and the other end connected to the pawl device to drive the pawl device to cooperate with the ratchet device to restrict the bottom door leaf from rotating in the opening direction;

[0013] An unlocking device includes an unlocking handle configured to disengage the pawl mechanism from the ratchet mechanism.

[0014] In one possible implementation, there are multiple ratchet and pawl mechanisms, and the pawl devices of each ratchet and pawl mechanism are fixed to the same hinge axis and hinged to the support base through the hinge axis.

[0015] At least one of the ratchet devices is connected to the first elastic reset device.

[0016] In one possible implementation, at least one of the ratchet and pawl mechanisms is located outside the support and the operating body.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the locking mechanism further includes a locking block rotatably connected to the support base, the locking block having a locking groove, and the locking block being driven by the second elastic reset device to abut against the pawl device.

[0018] The pawl device is provided with locking teeth. When the unlocking device drives the pawl device to disengage from the ratchet device, the locking teeth engage with the locking groove.

[0019] In one possible implementation, when the rotating body of the operating entity drives the bottom door leaf to rotate in the opening direction, the rotating body pushes the locking block to rotate away from the pawl device, causing the locking teeth to disengage from the locking groove.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the side of the locking block facing the rotating body is provided with a driving ramp for cooperating with the rotating body;

[0021] The portion of the driving inclined surface that is at least far from the rotation center of the locking block is the target inclined surface. Along the direction from one end close to the rotating body to the end far from the rotating body, the distance between the target inclined surface and the rotation axis of the rotating body gradually decreases.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the portion of the rotating body that engages with the driving inclined surface is a convex curved surface;

[0023] or,

[0024] The rotating body is provided with a rolling element, which cooperates with the driving inclined surface.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the locking block is provided with a guide ramp, which engages with the locking teeth when the pawl device and the ratchet device are engaged.

[0026] When the unlocking device drives the pawl device to disengage from the ratchet device, the locking tooth slides into the locking groove from the guide ramp.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the locking block sequentially includes a first position, a second position, and a third position along the swing direction away from the rotating body;

[0028] When the locking block is in the first position, the locking teeth are located outside the locking groove, and the locking block can limit the rotation of the rotating body in the opening direction.

[0029] When the locking block is in the second position, the locking teeth engage with the locking groove;

[0030] When the locking block is in the third position, the locking groove disengages from the locking tooth. When the rotating body rotates in the opening direction, it pushes the locking block to switch from the second position to the third position.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the unlocking device further includes a rotating arm and a pulling arm;

[0032] The rotating arm is rotatably connected to the support base, one end of the pulling arm is hinged to the rotating arm, and the other end is hinged to the pawl device;

[0033] One end of the unlocking handle is hinged to the rotating arm. A sliding support is provided on the support base, and a sliding groove is provided on the sliding support. The unlocking handle is supported on the sliding groove. There are two unlocking handles, and the operating ends of the two unlocking handles are respectively located on both sides of the width direction of the railway freight car.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the sliding support is provided with a first pin hole, and the unlocking handle is provided with a second pin hole corresponding to the first pin hole. The first pin hole and the second pin hole are configured to accommodate a locking pin.

[0035] In one possible implementation, there are two control bodies, which are arranged along the width direction of the vehicle and configured to be located on both sides of the width direction of the railway freight car.

[0036] The operating body includes a fixed base and a rotating body rotatably connected to the fixed base via a drive shaft. The rotating body is provided with a stop shaft, which is spaced apart from the drive shaft, and a space is formed between them for inserting a pry bar, so that the pry bar drives the stop shaft to rotate around the drive shaft with the drive shaft as the fulcrum.

[0037] The bottom door locking device disclosed in this application uses a ratchet and pawl mechanism as its main mechanism. Once the pawl and ratchet teeth engage, any force attempting to reverse the ratchet's rotation (in the opening direction) will tighten the engagement, creating a self-locking mechanism. This locking does not rely on additional energy and is a passive safety mechanism. When the operator drives the rotating body to close the bottom door, the ratchet rotates accordingly. Under the spring force of the first elastic reset device, the pawl automatically drops and bounces as it passes each tooth slot of the ratchet until the bottom door is fully closed. At this point, the pawl immediately engages in the current tooth slot, and the locking is completed automatically. This process eliminates the need for manual locking by the operator, removing a significant safety hazard caused by forgetting to manually lock the door.

[0038] To open the bottom door, the operator must consciously pull the unlocking handle to overcome the spring force of the first elastic reset device and lift the pawl from the ratchet mechanism. This prevents the bottom door from opening accidentally due to mis-rotation or collision with the rotating body. Only after consciously pulling the unlocking handle can the rotating body rotate in the opening direction, thus achieving the door opening action and improving safety.

[0039] A second aspect of this application provides a railway freight car including a bottom door locking device as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0040] The railway freight car disclosed in this application has the aforementioned bottom door locking device, and therefore possesses all the technical effects of the aforementioned bottom door locking device, which will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0041] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application 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 this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0042] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram showing the cooperation between the bottom door locking device and the operating body disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0043] Figure 2 This is a front view of the bottom door locking device disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0044] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the control body and linkage mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0045] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rotating body disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0046] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the ratchet and pawl mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0047] Figure 6 This is a partial structural diagram of the locking block and rotating body disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 7 This is a front view of the locking block and ratchet pawl mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0049] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom door mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application when the door is in the closed state;

[0050] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A magnified view of part A in the image;

[0051] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom door mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application during the door opening process;

[0052] Figure 11 for Figure 10 A magnified view of part B in the image;

[0053] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom door mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application when it is in the open state;

[0054] Figure 13 for Figure 12 A magnified view of part C.

[0055] The meanings of the various reference numerals in the figure are as follows:

[0056] 100-Locking mechanism; 110-Ratchet device; 111-First ratchet tooth; 112-Second ratchet tooth; 120-Pawl device; 121-Locking tooth; 130-Locking block; 131-Locking groove; 132-Drive inclined plane; 133-Guide inclined plane; 140-Unlocking handle; 150-Rotating arm; 160-Pull arm; 170-First elastic reset device; 180-Second elastic reset device; 190-Hinge shaft;

[0057] 200 - Control body; 210 - Rotating body; 211 - Middle rotating part; 212 - Edge rotating part; 220 - Fixed base; 230 - Drive shaft; 240 - Door opening operation stop shaft; 250 - Door closing operation stop shaft;

[0058] 300 - Transmission assembly; 310 - Rocker arm; 320 - First link; 330 - Second link;

[0059] 400-Support base;

[0060] 500-bottom door leaf;

[0061] 600-Drive shaft;

[0062] 700-Swivel Arm;

[0063] 800-Connecting rod;

[0064] 900-crowbar. Detailed Implementation

[0065] This application discloses a bottom door locking device to prevent the bottom door from being opened accidentally, thereby improving security.

[0066] This application also discloses a railway freight car with the aforementioned bottom door locking device.

[0067] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0068] The bottom door mechanism is an important component of railway freight cars (such as hopper cars), such as... Figures 1-3 as well as Figure 8 As shown, it generally includes a bottom door leaf 500, a drive shaft 600, a linkage mechanism, and an opening and closing control device. The function of the opening and closing control device is to drive the drive shaft 600 to rotate, the drive shaft 600 drives the linkage mechanism to move, and the linkage mechanism drives the bottom door leaf 500 to complete the opening and closing action.

[0069] The opening and closing control device generally includes an operating body 200 and a transmission component. The operating body 200 includes a rotating body 210, which rotates around the axis of the drive shaft 230. The rotating body 210 is connected to the transmission component 300 and drives the transmission shaft 600 to rotate through the transmission component 300.

[0070] The transmission assembly 300 may include a rocker arm 310, a first connecting rod 320, and a second connecting rod 330. The rocker arm 310 may be fixed to the transmission shaft 600. There may be two operating bodies 200. One end of the first connecting rod 320 is hinged to a first rotating body, and the other end is hinged to the rocker arm 310. One end of the second connecting rod 330 is hinged to a second rotating body, and the other end may be hinged to either the rocker arm 310 or the first rotating body, so that the two rotating bodies 210 can be linked together and both can drive the transmission shaft 600 to rotate.

[0071] The linkage mechanism connecting the drive shaft 600 and the bottom door leaf 500 may include a rotating arm 700 and a transmission link 800. The rotating arm 700 is fixed to the drive shaft 600, and one end of the transmission link 800 is hinged to the rotating arm 700, while the other end is hinged to the bottom door leaf 500.

[0072] The current bottom door mechanism does not have a locking device. The closing safety of the bottom door leaf 500 can usually be ensured by the dead point position of the linkage mechanism. There is a risk that the bottom door leaf 500 may be opened accidentally.

[0073] To prevent the bottom door 500 from being accidentally opened, this application discloses a bottom door locking device, such as... Figures 1-6 As shown, the bottom door locking device includes a support base 400 and a locking mechanism 100. The locking mechanism 100 includes a ratchet and pawl mechanism, a first elastic reset device 170, and an unlocking device.

[0074] The ratchet and pawl mechanism includes a ratchet device 110 and a pawl device 120. The ratchet device 110 is connected to the rotating body 210 of the operating body 200 that drives the bottom door 500 to open and close. For example, the ratchet device 110 can be fixed to the drive shaft 230, for example, by a key connection, thereby achieving synchronous rotation with the rotating body 210. Alternatively, other methods can be used to achieve the transmission of power between the two, such as adding a gear mechanism, as long as they can rotate synchronously. That is, the rotation of the rotating body 210 can be restricted by limiting the rotation of the ratchet device 110. If there are two operating bodies 200, the ratchet device 110 can be installed on the rotating body 210 of only one of the operating bodies 200, or it can be installed on the rotating bodies 210 of both operating bodies 200.

[0075] The pawl device 120 is hinged to the support base 400, allowing it to rotate around its hinge axis. One end of the first elastic reset device 170 is connected to the support base 400, and the other end is connected to the pawl device 120, driving the pawl device 120 to engage with the ratchet device 110 to restrict the bottom door leaf 500 from rotating in the opening direction. In this embodiment, the ratchet and pawl mechanism allows the rotating body 210 to rotate only in one direction, restricting its movement in the other direction. In other words, the rotating body 210 can only rotate in the direction driving the bottom door leaf 500 to open, and cannot rotate in the direction driving the bottom door leaf 500 to close.

[0076] The unlocking device includes an unlocking handle 140, which is configured to drive the pawl device 120 to disengage from the ratchet device 110. The unlocking handle 140 is kinetically connected to the pawl device 120, and can rotate the pawl device 120, causing it to disengage from the ratchet device 110, thereby engaging the ratchet and pawl mechanism. When the bottom door 500 is to be closed, the pawl device 120 must first be pulled by the unlocking handle 140 to swing, disengaging it from the ratchet device 110, and then the rotating body 210 can be rotated to open the bottom door 500.

[0077] The bottom door locking device disclosed in this application uses a ratchet and pawl mechanism as its main mechanism. Once the pawl device 120 engages with the ratchet teeth (such as the first ratchet tooth 111 and the second ratchet tooth 112) of the ratchet device 110, any force attempting to rotate the ratchet device 110 in the opposite direction (opening direction) will tighten the engagement between the pawl device 120 and the ratchet device 110, forming a self-locking mechanism. This locking does not rely on additional energy and is a passive safety mechanism. When the operator drives the rotating body 210 to close the bottom door leaf 500, the ratchet device 110 rotates accordingly. Under the spring force of the first elastic reset device 170, the pawl device 120 automatically drops and bounces as it passes through each tooth slot of the ratchet device 110 until the bottom door leaf 500 is fully closed. At this point, the pawl device 120 immediately engages in the current tooth slot, and the locking is completed automatically. This process eliminates the need for the operator to manually lock the door, thus eliminating a significant safety hazard caused by forgetting to manually lock the door.

[0078] To open the bottom door 500, the operator must consciously pull the unlocking handle 140 to overcome the spring force of the first elastic reset device 170 and lift the pawl device 120 off the ratchet device 110. This prevents the bottom door 500 from accidentally opening due to mis-rotation or collision with the rotating body 210. Only after consciously pulling the unlocking handle 140 can the rotating body 210 rotate in the opening direction, thus achieving the door opening action and improving safety.

[0079] like Figure 5As shown in a specific embodiment of this application, there are multiple ratchet and pawl mechanisms, and the pawl devices 120 of each ratchet and pawl mechanism are hinged to the support base 400 through the same hinge shaft 190. Exemplarily, there can be two or more ratchet and pawl mechanisms, and this embodiment does not limit the specific number of ratchet and pawl mechanisms.

[0080] At least one pawl device 120 is connected to a first elastic reset device 170. Since each pawl device 120 is fixed on the same hinge shaft 190 and hinged to the support base 400 through the hinge shaft 190, each pawl device 120 can be linked together.

[0081] Multiple ratchet and pawl mechanisms are equivalent to multiple independent mechanical locks. In extreme cases, even if one ratchet and pawl mechanism fails due to component fatigue or accidental damage, the remaining mechanisms will still function normally, ensuring that the bottom door 500 will not be accidentally opened. For vehicles transporting particularly important or hazardous materials, multi-locking designs are a direct and effective means of meeting stringent safety regulations and standards.

[0082] Multiple ratchet and pawl mechanisms can share the total locking force, avoiding stress concentration. Damage or wear on a single tooth of a single ratchet mechanism 110 may affect meshing. When multiple ratchet and pawl mechanisms work simultaneously, this local defect has a negligible impact on the overall locking performance, resulting in a more robust system fault tolerance.

[0083] Furthermore, at least one ratchet and pawl mechanism is located outside the support base 400 and the operating body 200. That is, at least one ratchet and pawl mechanism is located in a position that is not obstructed by the support base 400 and the operating body 200, maintaining a position that is visible to the operator.

[0084] Operators can visually determine immediately and clearly whether the bottom door 500 is locked (pawl device 120 is engaged with ratchet device 110) or unlocked / unlocked (pawl device 120 is raised). This eliminates safety hazards caused by misjudgment. Before railway train operation or loading / unloading operations, operators can visually confirm whether the ratchet and pawl mechanism is properly locked. Clear visibility effectively prevents subsequent operations from being carried out when the bottom door 500 is not fully locked, or from forcibly opening the door while it is not unlocked, which could damage the equipment.

[0085] Once the unlocking handle 140 is released, the pawl device 120 will immediately spring back under the action of the first elastic reset device 170, re-engaging the ratchet device 110. This prevents the handle from remaining in the raised position, requiring the operator to keep pulling the unlocking handle 140 while opening the door.

[0086] Based on this, in a specific embodiment of this application, the locking mechanism 100 may further include a locking block 130 rotatably connected to the support base 400. The locking block 130 is provided with a locking groove 131. The locking block 130 is driven by the second elastic reset device 180 and abuts against the pawl device 120.

[0087] The pawl device 120 is provided with a locking tooth 121. When the unlocking device drives the pawl device 120 to disengage from the ratchet device 110, the locking tooth 121 engages in the locking groove 131. In other words, when the pawl device 120 is lifted, the locking tooth 121 of the pawl device 120 engages in the locking groove 131 and is restricted and reset by the locking block 130, so that the pawl device 120 remains in the lifted state.

[0088] After the pawl device 120 is pulled up, the locking block 130, through the engagement of the locking teeth 121 and the locking groove 131, can fix the pawl device 120 in the raised position, completely eliminating the risk of the pawl device 120 accidentally falling and locking midway due to the operator releasing the hand or vibration. This provides a stable and safe unlocking environment for subsequent door opening operations. The operator does not need to continuously pull the unlocking handle 140 to maintain the unlocked state. Once the unlocking handle 140 is pulled until the locking teeth 121 are engaged in the locking groove 131, the operator can release the handle, freeing up both hands to open the door or perform other operations, reducing operator fatigue, making single-person operation more convenient, and improving the efficiency of the work process. The engagement of the locking teeth 121 into the locking groove 131 is usually accompanied by a clear sense of positioning, which provides the operator with tactile and auditory feedback to confirm that the unlocking action has been successfully completed and locked.

[0089] Furthermore, when the rotating body 210 of the operating main body 200 drives the bottom door leaf 500 to rotate in the opening direction, the rotating body 210 pushes the locking block 130 to rotate away from the pawl device 120, causing the locking teeth 121 to disengage from the locking groove 131. The operator does not need to perform a separate action to release the locking block 130 after opening the door to prepare for the subsequent closing and locking action. Simply operate the door normally, and the rotating body 210 will automatically push the locking block 130 away during the initial rotation, causing the pawl device 120 to naturally reset to the locking position under the action of the first elastic reset device 170.

[0090] It should be noted that the locking block 130 can also be driven to rotate by other levers, so that the locking block 130 is lifted, releasing the pawl device 120 and resetting the pawl device 120.

[0091] like Figure 6As shown, the side of the locking block 130 facing the rotating body 210 may be provided with a driving inclined surface 132 for cooperating with the rotating body 210. At least the portion of the driving inclined surface 132 away from the rotation center of the locking block 130 is the target inclined surface. Along the direction from the end near the rotating body 210 to the end away from the rotating body 210, the distance between the target inclined surface and the rotation axis of the rotating body 210 gradually decreases. This ensures that when the rotating body 210 rotates in the opening direction, the rotating body 210 engages with the driving inclined surface 132, gradually pushing the locking block 130 to rotate and lift.

[0092] The drive ramp 132 provides a progressive contact ramp. When the rotating body 210 contacts the drive ramp 132 in the initial stage of rotation, it is pushed by the ramp rather than by a sudden rigid collision. This can convert the instantaneous impact force into a smoother thrust, significantly reducing contact stress, noise and wear, and improving the life of the parts.

[0093] The angle of the drive ramp 132 can be precisely designed to control the timing of the push-opening of the locking block 130. This ensures that the rotating body 210 can release the lock on the pawl device 120 at the end of the door opening action, allowing the pawl device 120 to immediately reset and facilitating subsequent locking after closing.

[0094] Furthermore, the portion of the rotating body 210 that mates with the driving inclined surface 132 can be a convex curved surface; rolling elements can also be provided on the rotating body 210, with the rolling elements engaging with the driving inclined surface 132 in a rolling contact. The resistance of rolling friction is much less than that of sliding friction. This makes the rotating body 210 push the driving inclined surface 132 of the locking block 130 more smoothly and effortlessly, reducing the driving torque required to open the door. The point / line contact of rolling friction or the convex curved surface can reduce wear to an extremely low level, greatly extending the service life of the two key interactive parts, the rotating body 210 and the driving inclined surface 132, and reducing maintenance frequency and replacement costs.

[0095] like Figure 7 As shown in a specific embodiment of this application, the locking block 130 is provided with a guide slope 133. When the pawl device 120 and the ratchet device 110 are engaged, the guide slope 133 engages with the locking tooth 121. When the unlocking device drives the pawl device 120 to disengage from the ratchet device 110, the locking tooth 121 slides from the guide slope 133 into the locking groove 131.

[0096] The guide ramp 133 is equivalent to a guide ramp. When the pawl device 120 is pulled up and the locking tooth 121 approaches the locking block 130, even if it is not completely aligned with the entrance of the locking groove 131, as long as it comes into contact with the guide ramp 133, it will be guided by the guide ramp 133 and automatically slide into the correct locking groove 131 position, which greatly reduces the requirements for the manufacturing precision of the parts.

[0097] The locking teeth 121 slide into the locking slot 131 along the guide ramp 133, rather than being directly impacted. This process transforms potential impact force into smooth sliding, effectively reducing collisions, noise, and wear on the contact surfaces, making the action gentler and the components more durable. The guide ramp 133 effectively converts the force exerted by the operator pulling the pawl device 120 into a force that slightly rotates the locking block 130, clearing the passage, and ultimately guides it into the locking slot 131 for locking. This makes the entire locking process smooth and effortless, improving the operating experience. When the locking teeth 121 slide into the locking slot 131 along the guide ramp 133, it is usually accompanied by a clear sense of positioning, providing the operator with positive tactile and auditory feedback, clearly indicating that the unlock hold state has been successfully locked.

[0098] In a specific embodiment of this application, along the swing direction away from the rotating body 210, the locking block 130 sequentially includes a first position, a second position, and a third position.

[0099] When the locking block 130 is in the first position, the locking tooth 121 is located outside the locking groove 131, and the locking block 130 can limit the rotation of the rotating body 210 in the opening direction; when the locking block 130 is in the second position, the locking tooth 121 engages with the locking groove 131; when the locking block 130 is in the third position, the locking groove 131 disengages from the position of the locking tooth 121, and when the rotating body 210 rotates in the opening direction, it pushes the locking block 130 to switch from the second position to the third position.

[0100] The three positions precisely correspond to the three key stages of locking preparation (first position), locking hold (second position), and unlocking (third position). This ensures a clear timing logic for the mechanism's actions. The pawl device 120 must be fully lifted before locking (second position) can be engaged; the pawl device 120 must be actively pushed open by the rotating body 210 to unlock (third position). After unlocking, the pawl device 120 resets, the rotating body 210 rotates away from the drive ramp 132, and the locking block 130 resets (first position).

[0101] like Figure 1 As shown, the unlocking device also includes a rotating arm 150 and a pulling arm 160. The rotating arm 150 is rotatably connected to the support base 400. One end of the pulling arm 160 is hinged to the rotating arm 150, and the other end is hinged to the pawl device 120. One end of the unlocking handle 140 is hinged to the rotating arm 150. A sliding support is provided on the support base 400, and a sliding groove is provided on the sliding support. The unlocking handle is supported on the sliding groove. There can be two unlocking handles 140. The operating ends of the two unlocking handles 140 are located on both sides of the width direction of the railway freight car, so that when the doors are opened and closed on both sides, the pawl device 120 can be lifted by operating the unlocking handles 140 to complete the unlocking action.

[0102] Furthermore, the sliding support is provided with a first pin hole, and the unlocking handle 140 is provided with a second pin hole corresponding to the first pin hole. The first and second pin holes are configured to accommodate a locking pin. When the bottom door leaf 500 is in the closed state, the locking pin locks the unlocking handle 140 onto the sliding support, preventing the pawl device 120 from being accidentally lifted when the unlocking handle 140 is pulled. This ensures that the locking mechanism will not be accidentally in the unlocking preparation state when the vehicle is running, fundamentally eliminating safety hazards.

[0103] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in a specific embodiment of this application, there are two control bodies 200, which are arranged along the width direction of the vehicle and configured to be located on both sides of the width direction of the railway freight car.

[0104] The operating body 200 includes a fixed base 220 and a rotating body 210 rotatably connected to the fixed base 220 via a drive shaft 230. A stop shaft is provided on the rotating body 210. The stop shaft and the drive shaft 230 are arranged at intervals, and a space is formed between them for the pry bar 900 to be inserted, so that the pry bar 900 drives the stop shaft to rotate around the drive shaft 230 with the drive shaft 230 as the fulcrum.

[0105] like Figures 8-13 As shown, when the bottom door 500 needs to be closed, the pry bar 900 needs to be inserted into the space between the stop shaft and the drive shaft 230, driving the rotating body 210 to rotate around the axis of the drive shaft 230, which in turn drives the rocker arm 310 and the transmission shaft 600 to rotate in the first rotation direction. The transmission shaft 600 drives the bottom door 500 to rotate to the closed position via the rotating arm 700 and the transmission link 800. When the bottom door 500 needs to be opened, the pry bar 900 needs to be inserted into the space between the stop shaft and the drive shaft 230, driving the rotating body 210 to rotate around the axis of the drive shaft 230, which in turn drives the rocker arm 310 and the transmission shaft 600 to rotate in the second rotation direction (the first and second directions are opposite). The transmission shaft 600 drives the bottom door 500 to rotate to the open position via the rotating arm 700 and the transmission link 800.

[0106] In this application, when opening and closing the bottom door leaf 500, the drive shaft 230 serves as the fulcrum, the crowbar 900 as the lever, and the stop shaft as the point of force application, forming a force-saving lever system. The operator can overcome the large resistance torque of the bottom door leaf 500 with relatively small force, making manual operation of the bottom door leaf 500 possible and the operation process controllable. Furthermore, by raising and lowering the crowbar 900, the rotating body 210 rotates, allowing for rapid opening and closing of the bottom door leaf 500, resulting in high efficiency.

[0107] The control body 200 consists of only a few simple parts, such as the rotating body 210, the stop shaft, and the drive shaft 230, without any precision parts or easily damaged parts. Its mechanical reliability is extremely high, and its maintenance cost is extremely low. The crowbar 900 is a common tool, easy to obtain and carry. Moreover, the crowbar 900 is only inserted into the space between the stop shaft and the drive shaft 230 when it is necessary to open or close the door; at other times, the crowbar 900 can be placed alone, preventing the control body from being accidentally rotated and causing the bottom door 500 to open.

[0108] The two control units 200 are located on either side of the railway freight car in the width direction. Operators can freely choose to operate from the left or right side of the freight car depending on its parking position. This avoids the inconvenience of having to go around to a specific side, significantly improving operational efficiency and flexibility, and is especially suitable for use in narrow or complex loading and unloading environments.

[0109] like Figure 4 As shown, the rotating body 210 may include a central rotating part 211 and edge rotating parts 212 located on both sides of the central rotating part 211. Both the central rotating part 211 and the edge rotating parts 212 are fixed on the drive shaft 230 and are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the drive shaft 230. It should be noted that the central rotating part 211 and the two edge rotating parts 212 may be arranged in parallel.

[0110] The door stop includes a door closing operation stop 250 and a door opening operation stop 240. The door closing operation stop 250 is fixed between the middle rotating part 211 and one of the edge rotating parts 212, and the door opening operation stop 240 is fixed between the middle rotating part 211 and the other edge rotating part 212.

[0111] In this embodiment, the force points of the two actions are physically separated, making pressing down to open the door and lifting up to close the door two mechanical actions that are less likely to be confused. The operator is unlikely to trigger an erroneous function with a vague action, reducing the risk of accidentally opening or closing the door due to unclear operating direction.

[0112] The closing operation stop shaft 250 and the opening operation stop shaft 240 share the load in different directions, avoiding a single force point bearing alternating stress (both compression and tension), thus reducing stress concentration and fatigue risk. Each stop shaft (closing operation stop shaft 250 and opening operation stop shaft 240) and its connection with the rotating body 210 only need to be reinforced for one main force mode, improving the durability of the local structure.

[0113] In one specific embodiment of this application, there are two closing operation stop shafts 250 in the rotating body. One closing operation stop shaft 250 forms a first closing space between itself and the drive shaft 230 for the pry bar 900 to be inserted, and the other closing operation stop shaft 250 forms a second closing space between itself and the drive shaft 230 for the pry bar 900 to be inserted. During the closing action, the free end of the bottom door leaf 500 needs to overcome gravity and swing upwards, thus the resistance is greater than when opening the door. Based on this, the closing action can be achieved by pressing down. When the pry bar 900 presses down, if it needs to have a certain length to achieve the purpose of saving effort, it is more likely to come into contact with the ground and interfere when pressing down to close the door. This embodiment, by setting two closing operation stop shafts 250, allows the closing action to be completed by two pressing actions.

[0114] In this embodiment, the entire door-closing rotation stroke is decomposed into two stages, with the crowbar 900 swinging from a completely new starting angle in each stage. This completely avoids the risk of the crowbar 900 colliding with the ground or other components due to excessive angle or length in the later stages of rotation caused by a single point of force application, ensuring the complete execution of the door-closing action.

[0115] The position of each closing operation stop shaft 250 can be independently optimized for the resistance characteristics of its assigned rotational stroke. This ensures the operator can always operate with a relatively long lever arm and optimal force application angle, avoiding the jamming caused by angular interference that can occur later in the operation of a single closing operation stop shaft 250. This results in effortless and smooth operation throughout the entire process. The two-stage operation allows for more precise control over each stroke.

[0116] This application also discloses a railway freight car, which includes the bottom door locking device disclosed in the above embodiments. Because it has the aforementioned bottom door locking device, it possesses all the technical effects of the aforementioned bottom door locking device, and will not be described in detail here. This railway freight car can be a hopper car.

[0117] In summary, the railway freight car disclosed in this application has eight bottom door panels 500 installed at the bottom of its body. These eight panels are driven to open and close via a single drive shaft 600. The drive shaft 600 is driven to rotate by a control body, meaning that all eight bottom door panels 500 can be opened and closed simultaneously via the control body 200. The control body 200 is installed on both sides of the railway freight car in the width direction, allowing for independent operation from both sides. Manual opening and closing via a pry bar 900 provided with the freight car prevents leakage or arbitrary opening. Unloading is performed by gravity to the center of the vehicle, offering high reliability, high sealing, ease of operation, and strong adaptability. This improves the overall operational performance and safety of the bottom door mechanism, aligning with the trend towards higher efficiency and safety in the railway transportation of bulk cargo. The reliability of the bottom door panels' opening and closing, their locking and sealing performance, and their operational adaptability directly determine the transportation efficiency, operational safety, and logistics costs of railway freight cars, such as hopper cars, making them a crucial link in the railway transportation system for bulk cargo such as coal, grain, and cement.

[0118] As illustrated in this application, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "an," and / or "the" do not specifically refer to the singular and may also include the plural. Generally speaking, the terms "comprising" and "including" only indicate the inclusion of expressly identified steps and elements, which do not constitute an exclusive list, and the method or apparatus may also include other steps or elements. An element defined by the phrase "comprising an..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, product, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0119] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly defined, terms such as "setup," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this application in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0120] 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.

[0121] This document uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the embodiments above are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications to this application without departing from the principles of this application, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A bottom door locking device, characterized in that, It includes a support base (400) and a locking mechanism (100), the locking mechanism (100) comprising: The ratchet and pawl mechanism includes a ratchet device (110) and a pawl device (120). The ratchet device (110) is connected to the rotating body (210) of the operating body (200) that drives the bottom door leaf (500) to open and close. The pawl device (120) is hinged to the support base (400). The first elastic reset device (170) is connected at one end to the support base (400) and at the other end to the pawl device (120) to drive the pawl device (120) to cooperate with the ratchet device (110) to restrict the bottom door leaf (500) from rotating in the opening direction; The unlocking device includes an unlocking handle (140) configured to drive the pawl device (120) out of the ratchet device (110).

2. The bottom door locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are multiple ratchet and pawl mechanisms, and the pawl device (120) of each ratchet and pawl mechanism is fixed to the same hinge shaft (190) and is hinged to the support base (400) through the hinge shaft (190); At least one of the ratchet devices (120) is connected to the first elastic reset device (170).

3. The bottom door locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that, At least one of the ratchet and pawl mechanisms is located outside the support (400) and the operating body (200).

4. The bottom door locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking mechanism (100) further includes a locking block (130) rotatably connected to the support base (400). The locking block (130) is provided with a locking groove (131). The locking block (130) is driven by the second elastic reset device (180) and abuts against the pawl device (120). The pawl device (120) is provided with a locking tooth (121). When the unlocking device drives the pawl device (120) to disengage from the ratchet device (110), the locking tooth (121) is locked into the locking groove (131).

5. The bottom door locking device according to claim 4, characterized in that, When the rotating body (210) of the operating body (200) drives the bottom door leaf (500) to rotate in the opening direction, the rotating body (210) pushes the locking block (130) to rotate away from the pawl device (120), so that the locking tooth (121) disengages from the locking groove (131).

6. The bottom door locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The locking block (130) has a driving inclined surface (132) on the side facing the rotating body (210) for cooperating with the rotating body (210). The portion of the driving inclined surface (132) that is at least away from the rotation center of the locking block (130) is the target inclined surface. Along the direction from one end close to the rotating body (210) to the end away from the rotating body (210), the distance between the target inclined surface and the rotation axis of the rotating body (210) gradually approaches.

7. The bottom door locking device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The part of the rotating body (210) that mates with the driving inclined surface (132) is a convex curved surface; or, The rotating body (210) is provided with a rolling element, which cooperates with the driving inclined surface (132).

8. The bottom door locking device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The locking block (130) is provided with a guide slope (133). When the pawl device (120) and the ratchet device (110) are engaged, the guide slope (133) is engaged with the locking tooth (121). When the unlocking device drives the pawl device (120) to disengage from the ratchet device (110), the locking tooth (121) slides into the locking groove (131) from the guide ramp (133).

9. The bottom door locking device according to claim 4, characterized in that, Along the swing direction away from the rotating body (210), the locking block (130) sequentially includes a first position, a second position, and a third position; When the locking block (130) is in the first position, the locking tooth (121) is located outside the locking groove (131), and the locking block (130) can limit the rotation of the rotating body (210) in the opening direction. When the locking block (130) is in the second position, the locking tooth (121) engages with the locking groove (131); When the locking block (130) is in the third position, the locking groove (131) disengages from the position of the locking tooth (121). When the rotating body (210) rotates in the opening direction, it pushes the locking block (130) to switch from the second position to the third position.

10. The bottom door locking device according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The unlocking device also includes a rotating arm (150) and a pulling arm (160). The rotating arm (150) is rotatably connected to the support base (400), one end of the pulling arm (160) is hinged to the rotating arm (150), and the other end is hinged to the pawl device (120). One end of the unlocking handle (140) is hinged to the rotating arm (150). A sliding support is provided on the support base (400). A sliding groove is provided on the sliding support. The unlocking handle is supported on the sliding groove. There are two unlocking handles (140). The operating ends of the two unlocking handles (140) are located on both sides of the width direction of the railway freight car.

11. The bottom door locking device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The sliding support is provided with a first pin hole, and the unlocking handle (140) is provided with a second pin hole corresponding to the first pin hole. The first pin hole and the second pin hole are configured to accommodate a locking pin.

12. The bottom door locking device according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, There are two control bodies (200), which are arranged along the width direction of the vehicle and are configured to be located on both sides of the width direction of the railway freight car. The operating body (200) includes a fixed base (220) and a rotating body (210) rotatably connected to the fixed base (220) via a drive shaft (230). The rotating body (210) is provided with a stop shaft, which is spaced apart from the drive shaft (230) and forms a space between them for inserting a pry bar (900) so that the pry bar (900) drives the stop shaft to rotate around the drive shaft (230) with the drive shaft (230) as the fulcrum.

13. A railway freight car, characterized in that, Includes the bottom door locking device as described in any one of claims 1-12.

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