WAGON DEVICE FOR RAIL-BOUND TRANSPORT OF GOODS ON PALLETS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of rail transport of goods, more particularly goods on pallets, and relates to a wagon device for rail transport of goods on pallets.

[0002] In the field of freight transport, a wagon comprises a chassis supporting a floor and axles or bogies located at the ends of the chassis.

[0003] These wagons, suitable for the transport of goods, such as bottles for example, particularly on pallets, are generally flat wagons open on the sides (laterally), possibly covered with a retractable tarpaulin, equipped or not with drop sides or vertical bars arranged on the side faces of the wagon to retain the goods. Covered flat wagons opening on the sides (lateral faces) by means of a sliding tarpaulin (wagons of the "Rils" type or similar) or sliding walls (wagons of the "Habbins" type or similar), are also suitable for loading / unloading and transporting this type of goods, particularly on pallets.

[0004] These flat wagons for the transport of palletized goods are designed to allow lateral loading / unloading of palletized goods, i.e. through the open lateral sides (or side faces) of the wagon. Loading or unloading operations are carried out by means of a forklift, also known as a "Fenwick" ®< , from or to the platform along which the wagon is immobilized. The platform is in most cases at the same height as the floor of the wagon. Generally, these railway loading / unloading platforms are located at a height of about one meter, or even significantly more than one meter above or in relation to the level of the rails.

[0005] Other wagons, with a lowered floor in the central part between the bogies, intended more particularly for the transport of heavy road vehicles, are designed for longitudinal (or frontal) or vertical loading and unloading. These wagons are therefore not suitable for allowing, from a loading / unloading bay, the lateral loading and unloading of goods into the wagon and in particular goods on pallets loaded by a forklift transversely to the wagon.

[0006] Flat wagons for the transport of goods on pallets designed to allow side loading / unloading have a long floor length, while having sufficient width to allow the loading of at least two pallets, known as industrial pallets (of dimensions equal to approximately 1200 mm x 1000 mm), one next to the other, in their greatest length, across the width of the wagon.

[0007] However, the quantity of pallets (with their goods) that can be stored in these side-loading wagons is limited by the floor area. Indeed, if we take into account the maximum payload of a wagon (around sixty-five tonnes for four axles), the average weight (one tonne) per pallet, the maximum available floor area and the gauge imposed by the regulations allowing storage on only one height (a single level of pallets), it is only possible to load thirty-six pallets, or thirty-six tonnes. The loading capacity of the sixty-five tonne wagon is then far from being fully utilised.

[0008] Document WO2015 / 029060A2 relates to a transport vehicle such as a train comprising a wagon suitable for the transport of two-wheeled vehicles, motor vehicles or people, comprising a lower mobile platform and an upper mobile platform each with its own hydraulic lifting system. However, such a vehicle is not suitable for the transport of goods on pallets and the manufacturing and maintenance costs of such lower and upper mobile platforms with their own lifting system are high.

[0009] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a wagon device for the rail transport of goods on pallets making it possible to improve the loading capacity of goods on pallets of the wagon designed essentially for lateral loading / unloading, while avoiding high manufacturing and maintenance costs.

[0010] For this purpose, the wagon device, according to the present invention, for the rail transport of goods on pallets, said device comprising a wagon designed essentially for lateral loading, respectively unloading, by at least one of its lateral sides comprising at least one loading / unloading opening, said wagon comprising a chassis, axles and / or bogies at its ends and a floor extending along the longitudinal axis of the wagon, the chassis supporting or integrating, between the bogies or axles, a lowered, horizontal bottom of the wagon and two vertical sides surmounting said bottom, the or each loading / unloading opening extending respectively from and above the upper edge of one of the two sides, the floor comprising at least one movable floor portion at one or at least two floor levels, the movable floor portion(s) forming, between the axles or bogies,a part of the floor and each being capable of being moved vertically, preferably in translation, so as to be able to modify its height position between a high position and a low position and vice versa, said wagon device further comprising a lifting system making it possible to actuate and guide the height movement of the or each part of the movable floor from the high position to the low position and vice versa and holding means making it possible to hold the or each part of the movable floor in the high or low position to carry out the loading / unloading and / or storage of the goods on pallets, the level of the upper edge of said sides corresponding substantially to the high position and the level of the bottom corresponding substantially to the low position,is characterized in that the or at least one of the movable floor part(s) with two floor levels is divided into two superimposed sub-floor parts each forming one of the two floor levels, namely a lower sub-floor part, called the lower floor, and an upper sub-floor part, called the upper floor, connected to each other by at least two lateral sides so as to form a movable box capable of being moved vertically between the high position and the low position, the or each box being open on at least one of its two lateral sides, preferably on its two lateral sides, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wagon, so as to form at least one lateral opening for loading / unloading the box.,

[0011] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given as a non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a longitudinal or axial sectional view of a prior art side-loading palletized freight car, [ Fig. 1a ] is a cross-sectional view of the wagon shown in the figure 1 showing widthwise two rows of palletized goods stored on a single level on the fixed floor of the wagon, [ Fig. 2 ] is a longitudinal or axial sectional view of a bogie wagon arrangement, with a movable floor portion at a floor level set in a lowered position and extending between the bogies, [ Fig. 2a ] is a partial cross-sectional view of the wagon arrangement shown in the figure 2 at the level of the movable floor part, [ Fig. 3a ] is a cross-sectional view of a wagon device, during a first phase of loading palletized goods onto a single-level movable floor portion, in a high position, using a forklift, [ Fig. 3b ] shows the wagon arrangement shown on the figure 3a , in a phase where a forklift truck transports two pallets of goods intended to be stacked directly on the palletized goods stored on the movable floor part in the lower position, [ Fig. 3c ] shows the wagon arrangement shown on the figure 3b , in the phase of stacking the two pallets of goods on the first level of palletized goods using a forklift, [ Fig. 4 ] is a partial cross-sectional view of a railcar device according to the present invention, with a lifting system in one embodiment comprising a lifting unit on board the railcar, [ Fig. 5 ] is a partial perspective view of a wagon device according to the present invention comprising movable floor parts with two floor levels each forming a movable box, said movable boxes each forming a section of the floor, [ Fig. 6 ] is a longitudinal sectional view of the wagon arrangement shown in the figure 5 and in a version with axles instead of bogies, in partial view without the sides of wagon 1, and in the loaded state with two levels of goods on pallets stored in and on the mobile boxes in the lowered position and a single level of goods on pallets stored on the fixed parts of the floor extending above the axles, [ Fig. 7 ] is a perspective view from below of one of the mobile boxes shown in the figure 6 and showing four supporting parts integral with the lower floor of the mobile box, each near one of its corners, [ Fig. 8 ] is a set of four partial cross-sectional views of the lower floor of the box shown in the figure 7 , showing the different phases of operation of the locking device in the upper position of the box. These four views are as follows: [ Fig. 8a ] is a view showing the movable floor 10c in the raised position and with the movable retaining parts in the extended position inserted into the retaining notches, [ Fig. 8b ] is a view showing the movable floor portion moved into a position above the high position to retract the holding pieces by locking them in the retracted position to allow the movable box to descend to the low position, [ Fig. 8c ] is a view showing the movable floor portion in a lower level position between the high position and the low position when the movable box is lowered, [ Fig. 8d ] is a view showing the movable floor part in the lower position of the movable box on the bottom and the locking latches in the unlocked state releasing the holding parts, [ Fig. 9 ] is a set of three cross-sectional views of a wagon device according to the present invention comprising mobile boxes, in the different phases of loading into one of said boxes of pallets of goods, using a forklift. These three views are as follows: [ Fig. 9a ] is a view showing the lower level pallets of goods being loaded by the forklift onto the lower floor inside the box, [ Fig. 9b ] is a view showing the mobile box in the movement phase in the low position thanks to the forks of a forklift forming the lifting system and supporting the mobile box from below the upper floor of said mobile box, [ Fig. 9c ] is a view showing the mobile box in the loading phase of other pallets of goods loaded onto the upper floor of the mobile box, [ Fig. 10 ] shows an embodiment of a box with a vertically movable upper floor, in its two possible states, [ Fig. 10a ] shows a state in which the movable upper floor is in the high position during the phase of loading the pallets onto the lower floor of the box or during the phase of lowering the box into the low position using the forks of the forklift, [ Fig. 10b ] shows another state in which the movable upper floor is in the low position under the effect of the weight of the pallets of goods loaded on it, [ Fig. 11 ] shows the device of longitudinally movable hoops supporting the wagon cover / closing tarpaulin (not shown) which currently exists on Rils type wagons, [ Fig. 12 ] shows an embodiment of the wagon device according to the present invention produced in the form of a superstructure comprising the movable floors and / or box as well as the device for covering and protecting the goods, which is installed on a wagon chassis, more particularly a wagon produced from a combined transport wagon of the pocket wagon type, [ Fig. 13 ] shows a particular embodiment of a wagon according to the present invention, with a covering and protection device comprising a tarpaulin supported by sliding hoops and which can be adjusted to adapt to different loading gauges, [ Fig. 13a ] shows the upper part of one of the hoops adjusted in height so as to allow the wagon to run on lines requiring the G1 gauge, [ Fig. 13b ] shows the upper part of the arch shown on the figure 13a and adjusted in height so as to allow the wagon to receive goods on higher pallets when the wagon runs on lines requiring GB gauge.

[0012] THE figures 1 et 1a show a transversely loaded / unloaded goods wagon 1' of the prior art. Loading / unloading is carried out by at least one of its lateral sides comprising at least one loading / unloading opening 1'e. The wagon 1' comprises a chassis 1'a, axles and / or bogies 1'b at its ends and a flat loading floor 1'c extending along the longitudinal axis X of the wagon 1'. The wagon 1' is shown in the loaded state with two rows of goods 4 on pallet 5 (or in other words: pallets 5 of goods 4) stored on the floor 1'c of the wagon 1' and on a single storage level. Such a wagon 1' of the prior art may be of the "Rils" or "Habbins" type. This wagon 1 has a long floor 1'c length, while having sufficient width to allow, as can be seen in the figure 1a , the loading of two industrial pallets (for example, each with dimensions: 1200 mm x 1000 mm) in their greatest length over the width of the wagon 1'. However, the G1 gauge imposed by the regulations leaves, as can be seen in particular on the figure 1a , a reduced space G1 above the floor 1'c and the goods 4 on pallet 5 which does not allow other goods 4 on pallets to be stacked on the goods 5 on pallet 4 already loaded in the wagon 1' by stacking them on the latter. The storage capacity of such a wagon 1' of the prior art is therefore limited and more particularly limited to the storage of a single level of goods 4, such as bottles, on pallet 5.

[0013] THE figures 4 à 13b attached show a wagon device, according to the present invention, for the transport by rail R of goods, more particularly goods 4 on pallet 5, making it possible to overcome these drawbacks. It comprises for this purpose a wagon 1 (of goods) which is designed essentially for lateral loading, respectively unloading (of goods, more particularly goods 4 on pallet 5) by at least one of its lateral sides having at least one loading / unloading opening 1e. The wagon 1 comprises a chassis 1a, axles and / or bogies 1b at its ends and a floor 1c extending along the longitudinal axis X of the wagon 1.

[0014] According to the present invention, the floor 1c comprises at least one part 10c, 11c of movable floor with two floor levels. The part(s) 10c, 11c of movable floor(s) form(s), between the axles or bogies 1b, a part of the floor 1c and are each capable of being moved vertically, preferably in translation, so as to be able to modify its height position between a high position P2 and a low position P1 and vice versa.

[0015] The part(s) 10c, 11c of the movable floor(s) form(s) a part of the floor 1c, that is to say constitutes only a part of it, as can be seen in particular on the figures 2 And 6 , and the other part of the floor 1c may be fixed (fixed floor part 1c) and extend for example above the axles or bogies 1b. The part(s) 10c, 11c of the movable floor(s), as can be seen in particular on the figures 2 And 6, can thus extend substantially into the central part of the wagon 1 between the axles or bogies 1b.

[0016] The low position P1 of the part(s) 10c, 11c of the movable floor makes it possible to increase the loading capacity of the wagon 1, and therefore the storage capacity in the latter, by vertically increasing the storage space so as to be able to stack the goods 4 on pallets on at least two storage levels, unlike a wagon 1' of the prior art limited to a single storage level, while respecting the gauge constraints G imposed by the regulations in this field of rail freight transport R.

[0017] The chassis 1a supports or integrates, between the axles or bogies 1b, a lowered, horizontal bottom 10a of the wagon 1 and two vertical sides 1d surmounting said bottom 10a. In addition, the or each loading / unloading opening 1e extends from and above the upper edge 10d of one of the two sides 1d respectively. The level of the upper edge 10d of said sides 10a corresponds substantially to the high position P2 which itself corresponds substantially to or is defined by the standard level of a loading / unloading platform Q. The level of the bottom 10a corresponds to the low position P1. The term bottom 10a means any contact surface, solid or openwork, located in the lower part of the wagon 1 and capable of supporting at least one part 10c, 11c of movable floor at one or at least two floor levels.

[0018] The bottom 10a can thus form a means for holding in the low position P1 the part(s) 10c, 11c of the movable floor(s) which can come into abutment against said bottom 10a during their descent (see in particular the figures 5 , 6 , 7 , 8d , 9b, 9c , 10a, 10b ). As will be seen later, the bottom 10a can be used as a means of maintaining in the low position P1 in particular when the lifting system is not on board by comprising a forklift 3a capable and intended to lift the part 10c, 11c of the movable floor to put it in the high position P2 and rest it on the bottom 10a to put it in the low position P1. By comparison, the bottom 10a is located below the level of the fixed floor 1'c of the side-loading wagons 1' of the prior art. The bottom 10a, in another comparison, is located below the upper edge of the sides 1d of the wagon 1 extending longitudinally under the lateral openings 1e made in the lateral sides of the wagon 1.

[0019] Still in accordance with the present invention, the wagon device further comprises a lifting system 2, 3 for actuating and guiding the movement in height of the or each part 10c, 11c of the movable floor from the high position P2 to the low position P1 and vice versa and holding means 2a, 6, 30b, 10a for holding the or each part of the movable floor 10c, 11c in the high or low position P2, P1 to carry out the loading / unloading and / or storage of the goods 4, more particularly the goods 4 on pallet 5.

[0020] The present invention may provide that the lifting system 2, 3 can move the or each part 10c, 11c of floor above the high position P2 having a loading / unloading and / or storage function for another function, for example, as will be seen later, to release locking latches 6c of holding parts 6a.

[0021] Lateral loading or unloading in a wagon 1 of the device according to the present invention or in a wagon 1' of the prior art is carried out by the open lateral (or longitudinal) sides 1e of the wagon 1', from a loading dock Q located above the ground ( figures 3a, 3b, 3c , 4 , 9a, 9b, 9c ) or, in a form not shown in the attached figures, from the ground (substantially at the level of the rails R or the running track of the wagon).

[0022] Preferably, the movable floor parts 10c, 11c with two floor levels are independent of each other so that they can each be moved individually in height from the high position P2 to the low position P1 and vice versa.

[0023] In a particular embodiment of the or each movable floor portion 10c, 11c, it has a square or rectangular shape. Preferably, the or each movable floor portion 10c, 11c at a floor level has a flat or thin shape in order to further increase the storage space.

[0024] If we refer to the figures 5 , 6 , 7 , 9a, 9b, 9c , 10a, 10b , it can be seen according to the present invention that the or at least one of said part(s) 10c, 11c of movable floor(s) with two floor levels is divided into two superimposed sub-parts 10c, 11c of floor, preferably of flat and rectangular shape, namely a lower sub-part 10c of floor, called (called) lower floor 10c, and an upper sub-part 11c of floor, called (called) upper floor 11c, connected to each other by at least two lateral sides 12c so as to form a box 10c, 11c, 12c movable vertically between the high position P2 and the low position P1. Furthermore, it can be seen that the or each box 10c, 11c, 12c is open on at least one of its two lateral sides 12c, preferably on its two lateral sides 12c, parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the wagon 1 so as to form at least one lateral opening for loading / unloading the box 10c, 11c, 12c.The open lateral side(s) 12c thus allow for the lateral loading, respectively unloading, of the goods 4, more particularly the goods 4 on pallet 5, into (inside) said box 1 on the lower floor 10c. In addition, goods 4 on pallets 5 can be loaded (outside the box) onto the upper floor 11c of the box 10c, 11c, 12c. In this particular embodiment, the upper and lower positions P2, P1 of the movable box 10c, 11c, 12c are defined relative to the lower floor 10c (see the broken lines in the relevant figures indicating the upper P2 and lower P1 positions).

[0025] The upper floor 11c of the or at least one of the mobile box(es) 10c, 11c, 12c may be removable or vertically movable (see in particular the figures 10a, 10b ).

[0026] It is understood that in the case of such mobile boxes 10c, 11c, 12c, the latter are independent of each other so that they can each be moved individually in height from the high position P2 to the low position P1 and vice versa.

[0027] The vertical sides 1d and the bottom 10a can then delimit a lifting space in which the mobile box(es) 10c, 11c, 12c can move vertically / in height.

[0028] In a first embodiment of the lifting system 2, as can be seen in the figure 4 , this comprises at least one lifting unit 2a on board the wagon 1. In addition, the or each on-board lifting unit 2a is configured to carry out the movement and the height guidance of the or one of the movable floor parts 10c, 11c from the high position P2 to the low position P2 and vice versa, with maintenance in said high position P2 or low position P1.

[0029] In this first embodiment of the lifting system 2, as can be seen in the figure 4 , the or each on-board lifting unit 2a may comprise, on the one hand, at least one lifting device 20a with a deformable parallelogram ( figure 4 ) or worm screw (shape not shown) connected to the chassis 1a and to the or one of the parts 10c, 11c of the movable floor(s) and, on the other hand, at least one actuator 21a making it possible to actuate said lifting device 20a. We can see more particularly on the figure 4 that the on-board lifting unit 2a can comprise two lifting devices 20a with deformable parallelogram (only one is visible on the figure 4 ) located on each side of the lower floor 10c of the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c (partially shown on the figure 4 by its lower floor 10c), and each articulated by at least one articulation 200a on the lower floor 10c of the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c, and by at least one articulation 201a on the bottom 10a of the chassis 1a or another part of the chassis 1a. The lower floor 10c of the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c, may comprise lights 100c receiving an axis 201a of one of the articulations 200a of said lower floor 10c of the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c. The lifting apparatus 20a may comprise two lifting arms 202a, preferably connected by at least one connecting rod 205a, articulated on the one hand around the axis 203a of the or one of the articulations 200a of the lower floor 10c of the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c, and on the other hand around the axis 204a of the or one of the articulations 201a of the bottom 10a.

[0030] Thus, in this embodiment, the lifting devices 20a with a deformable parallelogram make it possible to maintain the horizontality of the lower floor 10c of the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c. The actuator 21a may be a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric cylinder and may be fixed at one of its ends to the chassis 1a, for example on one of the internal sides of the chassis 1a and on the or one of the lifting arms 202a. The retraction or extension of the cylinder 21a then causes the deformation of the parallelogram, thus raising or lowering the lower floor 10c of the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c and therefore the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c.

[0031] In the case of a lifting device 20a with worm screws, the latter may comprise a plurality of worm screws, preferably four worm screws, connected to nuts secured to the lower floor 10c of the movable box 10c, 11c, 12c, preferably to the four corners of the latter. One or more electric or hydraulic motors may be provided to rotate the worm screws, thus raising or lowering the lower floor 10c of the movable box 10c, 11c, 12c.

[0032] In another embodiment of the lifting system 3, the lifting system 3 may comprise at least one forklift 3a provided with a fork 30a and guide means 3b for guiding the vertical movement of the or each mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c. The or each mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c may be configured so as to be able to receive the fork 30a of the or one of the forklift(s) 3a under and against the upper floor 11c so as to be able to lift the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c to move it from the low position P1 to the high position P2 when the fork 30a rises and bears against the upper floor 11c. This embodiment of the lifting system 3 makes it possible to avoid the installation of an on-board lifting system, for example a lifting system 2 comprising the on-board lifting unit(s) 2a. As a result, no energy is required on board the wagon 1.

[0033] In this embodiment of the lifting system 3 with forklift, the guide means 3b may consist of at least two transverse partitions 3b fixed in the wagon 1 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and the or each movable box 10c, 11c, 12c may be arranged between the two or two transverse partitions 3b so as to be able to be guided in translation between said transverse partitions 3b during its movement in height. On the figure 5 , it can be seen that slides 7 provide vertical translational guidance of the movable box(es) 10c, 11c, 12c during their ascent or descent and guarantee their longitudinal locking. The slides 7 also prevent the movable box(es) 10c, 11c, 12c from moving transversely. Each slide 7 may comprise a rectilinear guide 7a fixed vertically on the external face of one of the transverse sides of the movable box(es) 10c, 11c, 12c parallel to the partitions 3b and a groove 7b complementary to said guide 7a made vertically in the internal face of the adjacent partition 3a. Each guide 7a can then slide vertically by sliding in the complementary groove 7b of the corresponding slide 7.

[0034] If we refer to the figures 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d it can be seen that such partitions 3b may comprise holding notches (or openings) 30b and that the holding means 6, 30b may comprise said notches 30b and holding parts 6 secured to the lower floor 10c. Each holding part 6 may comprise at least one holding part 6a movable, preferably under the effect of a spring 6b, between a retracted position under or in the lower floor 10c, and an extended position in which the holding part 6a is able to engage, in the high position P2, in one of the holding notches 30b to hold the lower floor 10c, and therefore the movable box 10c, 11c, 12c, in said high position P2.

[0035] The holding parts 6 can be fixed on the underside of the lower floor 10c, preferably at the four corners or close to the four corners of the latter (see in particular the figure 7 ). The movable holding part 6a may have a shape similar to that of a door closing bolt. The movement of the holding part 6a from the retracted position to the extended position is carried out under the effect of a spring 6b when the movable box 10c, 11c, 12c is lifted and placed in the high position P2 ( figures 9a ) by means of the forklift 3a. In the high position P2, the movable holding parts 6a are opposite the notches 30b and are inserted into the latter in the extended position under the pressure of the springs 6b, which has the effect of holding the movable box 10c, 11c, 12c in the high position P2.

[0036] Thus the lower floor 10c of the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c concerned is held in the high position P2 by the holding parts 6a inserted in the holding notches 30b. Holding the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c in the high position P2 allows the forklift 3a to be released so that it can load / unload the internal space of the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c ( figures 8a , 9a ).

[0037] Preferably, as can be seen on the figure 8b , the retraction of the holding parts 6a can be carried out manually by moving each holding part 6a into the retracted position. However, so that there is no manual operation to be carried out to unlock the holding parts 6a in order to be able to lower the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c with the forklift 3a, the present invention can provide that each holding part 6 further comprises a lock 6c making it possible to block the associated holding part 6a in the retracted position.The retraction of each holding part 6a and its blocking by the lock 6c can then be carried out by moving, using the forklift 3a, the movable box 10c, 11c, 12c upwards above the high position P2, towards a higher high position P3, that is to say at a higher level than that of the high position P2 (reference), which has the effect of putting into sliding contact with the upper edge of the holding notches 30b an inclined face 60a made in each holding part 6a and of causing the movement of the holding parts 6a towards their retracted position against the thrust force of the springs 6b by blocking them in the retracted position using the locking locks 6c. The upper high position P3 can be considered as an intermediate or transitional position during the movement in height of the movable floor part 10c, 11c between the high position P2 and the low position P1.

[0038] Thus, when the forklift 3a then lowers the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c to its lower position P1, the holding parts 6a will remain locked in the retracted position and will not be inserted again into the holding openings 30b when the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c is lowered ( figure 8c ). Once the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c is completely lowered, that is to say when it reaches its lower position P1, each lock 6c will come into contact with the bottom 10a of the wagon 1, which has the effect of lifting said lock 6c. This movement releases the holding part 6a which will again be urged towards its extended position under the effect of the thrust of the compression spring 6b ( figure 8d ). In this way, when the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c is moved to its high position P2, the locking part 6a will be inserted into the receiving opening 30b when it is opposite the latter and will block the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c, more particularly the lower floor 10c, in the high position P2 ( figure 8a ).

[0039] It is understood that position P3 can then be located above or slightly above the upper edge 10d of the sides 1d of wagon 1.

[0040] The transverse partitions 3b may have an internal excess thickness 31b above the receiving openings 30b which will force the retaining parts 6a to return as far as possible to be perfectly blocked by the locking bolts 6c when the box 10c, 11c, 12c is lowered and not to become blocked again in the retaining notches 30b.

[0041] Preferably, each blocking lock 6c may consist of an element 6c tilting around a tilting axis 62c, preferably horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wagon 1 ( figures 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d ). The rocking element 6c may have an L shape and may be pivotally mounted in a vertical plane by one of its ends around the rocking axis 62c. Each holding part 6a may comprise a locking projection 61a and the rocking element 6c may comprise a locking projection 60c cooperating with the locking projection 61a of the locking part 6a to lock the latter in the retracted position when the movable box 10c, 11c, 12c moves above the high position P2. Each rocking element 6c may further comprise an unlocking projection 61c which may be formed by one of the ends of the L opposite that articulated around the rocking axis 62c.Once the mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c is completely lowered, that is to say when it reaches its low position P1, the release projection 61c of the tilting element 6c will come into contact with the bottom 10a of the wagon 1 and lift said tilting element 6c (or cause it to pivot upwards), which will have the effect of releasing the associated holding part 6a as seen previously.

[0042] It is understood that, depending on the nature of the goods 4 on pallet 5, the goods 4 on pallet can be: either stacked directly on the goods 4 on pallet 5 stored on the part or one of the part(s) of floor 10c movable at a floor level ( figures 2 And 3c ), if the goods / products 4 on pallet 5 allow it and support the load, or, according to the present invention, loaded on the upper floor 11c of a box 10c, 11c, 12c ( figures 6 , 9c , 10b ).

[0043] In order to provide the maximum storage height available in the wagon 1 (in particular above its bottom 10a), the lower or upper floor 10c, 11c of a mobile box 10c, 11c, 12c is intended to be preferably as thin / thin as possible. For this purpose, the length of the mobile part of the floor 1c (comprising the floor part(s) 10c, 11c mobile with two floor levels) is preferably divided into several independent sections as seen previously (see for example the figures 5 And 6 ).

[0044] In a wagon 1 with one or more floor parts 10c at a single floor level, the process of loading goods 4 onto pallet 5 can take place / sequenced as follows:

[0045] THE figures 3a, 3b, 3c show the phases of loading goods 4 onto pallets 5 onto a movable floor section 10c. To load goods 4 onto pallet 5 onto the movable floor section 10c using a forklift 3a for example, the latter is placed in the high position P2, i.e. at the same level as the loading dock Q ( figure 3a ). The loading dock Q is also at the same level as the upper edges 10d of the sides 1d of the wagon 1. After being loaded with a first level of goods 4 on pallets 5, the part 10c of the moving floor is then lowered by means of the lifting system 2 on board the wagon ( figures 3b et 3c ) in order to receive a second level of goods 4 on pallet 5 by stacking on the first level ( figure 3c ). Each level of the stack can contain two or four pallets 5 of goods 4. In this case the forklift 3a is suitable for transporting two or four pallets 5 of goods 4 at a time.

[0046] As pallets can often be quite high, in order to successfully load these pallets one above the other on two levels while remaining within the limits imposed by the railway gauge, it is necessary to lose as little space as possible in height. To do this, as can be seen in the figure 10 (grouping the figures 10a et 10b ), the present invention may provide an embodiment of the boxes 10c, 11c, 12c in which the upper floor 11c of the or at least one of the box(es) 10c, 11c, 12c is movable vertically relative to the lower floor 10c, preferably in vertical translation. Such an upper floor 11c is movable vertically between a low position and a high position and is held and returned to the high position by means of a return means such as one or more springs 14. Preferably, the return means may comprise two springs 14 arranged vertically on each side of the box 10c, 11c, 12c. Such a vertically movable upper floor 11c may then have a vertical degree of freedom and be mounted so as to be able to slide in height, preferably by a few centimeters, relative to the lower floor 10c.Such a vertically movable upper floor 11c and the box 10c, 11c, 12c can then be adapted to form two lateral slides 16 each comprising a spring 14. Each slide 16 can be formed by a slide part integrated or fixed in the box 10c, 11c, 12c, in particular in one of the lateral sides 12c of the box 10c, 11c, 12c, preferably on the external side, respectively in the upper floor 11c, in particular in one of the lateral sides of the upper floor 11c. The slide part of the upper floor 11c can extend vertically downwards, that is to say perpendicular to the load plane of the upper floor 11c and under the latter. The or each spring 14 can be dimensioned, as can be seen in the . figure 10a , so as to maintain the upper floor 11c in the high position only under its own weight, the latter lowering, as can be seen on the figure 10b , in the low position when one or more goods 4 are loaded onto it on pallets 5. The figures 10a et 10b show the operating principle of such a vertically movable upper floor 11c aimed at reducing clearances and lost space in height to provide the greatest possible pallet height. It is understood that the or each spring 14 can be any mechanical device designed to store energy when it is deformed, under the effect of the weight of the load (goods 4 on pallet 5) on the upper floor 11c, and to restore the same quantity when it is released, when the load is removed. More particularly, according to this operating principle: in a first phase (not illustrated), the box 10c, 11c, 12c is in the high position P2 to be able to load the goods 4 on pallet 5 inside the box 10c, 11c, 12c on the lower floor 10c. As there is no load on the upper floor 11c, the springs 14 keep it in the high position. Thus the clearance between the top of the pallets and the bottom of the upper floor 11c allows the forklift to bring the pallets into the box 10c, 11c, 12c before placing them on the lower floor 10c. in a second phase ( figure 10a ), the box 10c, 11c, 12c, loaded with goods 4 on pallet 5 on the lower floor 10c was lowered into the low position P1 using a forklift. The clearance (or empty space) in height remaining between the top of the goods 4 and the underside of the upper floor 11c allows the passage and positioning of the forks of the forklift to lift and then lower the box 10c, 11c, 12c from the high position P2 to the low position P1, in a third phase ( figure 10b ), the box 10c, 11c, 12c is still in the lower position P1 and the goods 4 on pallets on the upper level are loaded onto the upper floor 11c. The weight of the goods 4 on pallet 5 then causes the springs to compress and the upper floor 11c to lower to the lower position. The functional clearance between the top of the pallets on the lower level and the underside of the upper floor 11c is thus considerably reduced.

[0047] Furthermore, in a known manner, the closing of the loading / unloading openings 1e and the protection of the goods 4 is carried out in the same way as with known wagons 1', in particular wagons of the Rils type or similar (flat wagons with sliding tarpaulins) or of the Habbins type or similar (covered wagons with sliding walls).

[0048] The maximum height of goods 4 on pallets 5 that can be loaded one above the other on two levels is limited by the railway gauge. The covering and protection devices for goods 4 on Rils or Habbins type wagons 1 usually comply with the minimum standard railway gauge G1 in order to be able to run on all railways in the European network. However, a large number of railway lines in Europe offer a loading gauge larger than the G1 gauge, such as, for example, the GB gauge, as shown in figure 13 (grouping the figures 13a et 13b ).

[0049] Because of this limit of the gauge G1, the goods 4 on pallets 5 having a very great height cannot be loaded one above the other on two levels on the wagon 1 which is the subject of the present invention. To resolve this difficulty, a variant of the invention consists of equipping the wagons with a device for covering and protecting the goods 4 on the wagon which can be adapted to the gauge offered by the lines on which the wagon runs.

[0050] The present invention can then provide, in a particular embodiment of the wagon 1, that it is a covered wagon 1 comprising a covering and protection device comprising a cover B1, such as a tarpaulin for example, for the protection of the goods 4 on pallet 5. In addition, the covering and protection device can be configured so as to be able to modify the height of the cover B1 relative to the floor 1c of the wagon 1 in order to adapt to the railway gauge, for example GB, G1, G2, of the lines on which the wagon 1 runs ( figures 13a, 13b ).

[0051] The cover B1 can be sliding, for example by being supported by hoops 17 sliding along the wagon 1 ( figure 11 ). The covering and protection device may comprise, for guiding and sliding the hoops 17, two lateral slides 18 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wagon 1. Each slide 18 may comprise supports 180, for example U-shaped, sliding and each secured to a lower end of a hoop 17 and two lateral guide rails 181, for example T-shaped, mounted on each side of the wagon 1 at the lower ends of the hoops 17 and cooperating by sliding or rolling with the supports 180.

[0052] Each hoop 17 can be configured so that it can be adjusted in height, that is to say so that its height / vertical extension can be varied, depending on the size of the line taken. As can be seen in the figures 13a, 13b , each hoop 17 may be made up of tubes 170, 171 and may comprise two parts, namely a lower part made up of two vertical tubes 170 whose lower end is fixed on a support 180 sliding on one of the lateral rails 181 of the wagon 1 and an upper part made up of a tube 171, called the upper tube, bent in the shape of a U or an inverted arc, each vertical branch of which slides vertically in one of the two vertical tubes 170. These tubes 170, 171 may be pierced with holes 172 at different heights in order to be able to adapt the height of the hoops 17 according to each type of template and an axis or a pin 19 may be provided to be inserted in the corresponding holes 172 in order to block the upper tube 171 at a given height to be compatible with the chosen template.

[0053] THE figures 13a, 13b show examples of height adjustments of the upper part of a roll bar depending on the template used. On the figure 13a , the upper part of the hoop 17 is adjusted to the lowest position to respect the minimum gauge G1 (for example when returning to the workshop). On the figure 13b , the upper part of the arch is adjusted in height so as to respect the GB gauge (for example for running on main lines). Other gauges, for example the G2 gauge (not illustrated), can be considered by the present invention and the upper part of each arch 17 can be provided to be able to be adjusted in height so as to respect this G2 gauge, for example for running on the lines of the German or Austrian networks.

[0054] In order to accommodate the variation in height of the arches, as can be seen in the figures 13a, 13b , the cover tarpaulin B is installed with a double fold B1, which can be held by a strap, on each of the lateral sides. This makes it possible to vary the total lateral length of tarpaulin B according to the height of the upper part of each hoop 17 (in particular for French or Spanish networks).

[0055] This principle of height adjustment of the covering and goods protection device on the wagon 1 can also be applied in the case of an embodiment with sliding rigid side walls. In this case the height of the side walls corresponds to the highest position of the covering. For lower positions of the covering, the lower parts of the side walls of the wagon 1 then descend a little lower than the loading level.

[0056] Such a wagon device according to the present invention thus makes it possible, in particular between (central part of the wagon 1) the two bogies or axles 1b of the wagon 1 thanks to the floor part(s) 10c, 11c movable in the low position (lowered floor) to obtain a storage height allowing the loading of at least two levels of goods 4 on pallets instead of a single level on the fixed floor 1'c of a wagon 1' of the prior art. Thus on a wagon 1 according to the present invention of the same length as a conventional wagon 1', in particular of the Rils or Habbins type, it is possible to load fifty-six pallets of 1200 x 1000 instead of thirty-six, i.e. a carrying capacity 55% higher. With a load mass of fifty-six tonnes (56 x 1 tonne / pallet), the load capacity of the wagon of sixty-five tonnes is better used.

[0057] In order to avoid completely redesigning a new wagon 1, the present invention may provide an embodiment of the wagon device according to the present invention in which the wagon 1 is made from a combined transport wagon of the pocket wagon type and comprises a superstructure (or assembly) S comprising the box or boxes 10c, 11c as well as, in the case where the wagon 1 comprises the covering and protection device, the goods covering and protection device. The superstructure S is configured to be able to be installed / mounted / secured in a removable manner on the chassis 1a of the wagon 1 ( figure 12 ). Such a superstructure S can be adapted to be secured to the chassis of a conventional combined transport wagon, for example a wagon known as a pocket wagon, by carrying out the securing, for example, using ISO pins known for securing containers to wagons.

[0058] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the attached drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Claims

1. Wagon device for transporting goods (4) on pallet(s) (5) by rail (R), said device comprising a wagon (1) which is essentially designed for lateral loading or unloading via at least one of its lateral sides comprising at least one loading / unloading opening (1e), said wagon (1) comprising a chassis (1a), axles and / or bogies (1b) at its ends and a floor (1c) extending along the longitudinal axis (X) of the wagon (1), the chassis (1a) supporting or incorporating, between the bogies or axles (1b), a lowered, horizontal bottom (10a) of the wagon (1) and two vertical sidewalls (1d) surmounting said bottom (10a), the or each loading / unloading opening (1e) extending respectively from and above the upper edge (10d) of one of the two sidewalls (1d), the floor (1c) comprising at least one floor part (10c, 11c) that is movable, having at least two floor levels, the movable floor part(s) (10c, 11c) forming, between the axles or bogies (1b), a part of the floor (1c) and each being capable of being moved vertically, preferably in translation, in order to be able to modify its height-wise position between a high position (P2) and a low position (P1) and vice versa, said wagon device further comprising a lifting system (2; 3) for actuating and guiding the height-wise movement of the or each movable floor part (10c, 11c) from the high position (P2) to the low position (P1) and vice versa and holding means (2a, 6, 30b, 10a) for holding the or each movable floor part (10c, 11c) in the high or low position (P2, P1) in order to load / unload and / or store the goods (4) on pallet(s) (5), the level of the upper edge (10d) of said sidewalls (10a) corresponding substantially to the high position (P2) and the level of the bottom (10a) corresponding substantially to the low position (P1), characterized in that the or at least one of the movable floor part(s) (10c, 11c) having two floor levels is divided into two superimposed floor sub-parts (10c, 11c), each forming one of the two floor levels, namely a lower floor sub-part (10c), referred to as lower floor (10c), and an upper floor sub-part (11c), referred to as upper floor (11c), which are connected to one another via at least two lateral sides (12c) so as to form a movable box (10c, 11c, 12c) able to be moved vertically between the high position (P2) and the low position (P1), the or each box (10c, 11c, 12c) being open on at least one of its two lateral sides, preferably on both of its lateral sides (13c) which are parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the wagon (1), so as to form at least one lateral opening for the loading / unloading of the box (10c, 11c, 12c).

2. Wagon device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the movable floor parts (10c, 11c) are independent of each other so that they can each be individually moved height-wise from the high position (P2) to the low position (P1) and vice versa.

3. Wagon device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a length portion of the floor (1c) forms a section and in that the movable floor parts (10c, 11c) each form such a section or part of such a section.

4. Wagon device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least two movable floor parts (10c, 11c) are arranged beside one another or against one another in the width-wise or length-wise direction of the wagon (1).

5. Wagon device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper floor (11c) of the or of at least one of the movable box(es) (10c, 11c, 12c) is removable or movable vertically, preferably in vertical translation, with respect to the lower floor (10c).

6. Wagon device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the upper floor (11c) is movable vertically between a low position and a high position and is held in and returned to the high position by a return means such as one or more spring(s) (14).

7. Wagon device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lifting system (2) comprises at least one lifting unit (2a) mounted on-board the wagon (1), the or each on-board lifting unit (2a) being configured to move and guide the or one of the movable floor part(s) (10c, 11c) height-wise from the high position (P2) to the low position (P1) and vice versa, with it being held in said high or low position (P2, P1).

8. Wagon device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the or each on-board lifting unit (2a) comprises, on the one hand, at least one deformable-parallelogram or endless-screw lifting apparatus (20a) connected to the chassis (1a) and to the or one of the movable floor part (s) (10c; 11c) and, on the other hand, at least one actuator (21a) for actuating said lifting apparatus (20a).

9. Wagon device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lifting system (3) comprises at least one forklift truck (3a) provided with a fork (30a) and guide means (3b) for guiding the height-wise movement of the or each movable box (10c, 11c, 12c), and in that the or each movable box (10c, 11c, 12c) is configured to be able to receive the fork (30a) of the or of one of the forklift truck(s) (3a) under the upper floor (11c) so as to be able to lift the movable box (10c, 11c, 12c) in order to move it from the low position (P1) to the high position (P2) during the raising of the fork (30a) coming to bear under and against the upper floor (11c) of said box (10c, 11c, 12c).

10. Wagon device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the guide means (3b) consist of at least two transverse partitions (3b) fixed in the wagon (1) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), and in that the or each movable box (10c, 11c, 12c) is arranged between the two or two transverse partitions (3b) so as to be able to be guided in translation between said transverse partitions (3b) during its height-wise movement.

11. Wagon device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the partitions (3b) comprise receiving notches (30b) and in that the holding means (6, 30b) comprise said receiving notches (30b) and holding parts (6) integral with the lower floor (10c) of the box (10c, 11c, 12c) concerned, the or each holding part (6) comprising at least one movable holding part (6a) that is able to move, preferably under the action of a spring (6b), between a retracted position under or in the lower floor (10c) and an extended position in which the holding part (6a) is able to engage, in the high position (P2), in one of the holding notches (30b) so as to hold the lower floor (10c), and therefore the movable box (10c, 11c, 12c), in said high position (P2).

12. Wagon device according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the wagon (1) is a covered wagon (1) comprising a covering and protection device comprising a covering (B1), such as a tarpaulin for example, for protecting the goods (4) on pallet(s) (5), and in that the covering and protection device is configured in such a way that the height of the covering (B1) relative to the floor (1c) of the wagon (1) can be modified in order to adapt to the gauge (GB, G1, G2) of the railway lines on which the wagon (1) travels.

13. Wagon device according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the wagon (1) is constructed from a combined-transport wagon of pocket wagon type and comprises a superstructure (S) comprising the movable floor part (s) / boxes (10c, 11c), and, as applicable, the covering and protection device, and in that the superstructure (S) is configured so as to be able to be mounted removably on the chassis (1a) of the wagon (1).