Grit system for a rail vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a grit system for a rail vehicle comprising a grit container (SMB), a conveyor device (FE) and a conveyor chamber (FK) which are arranged one after another. Grit material (SM) is transferred from the grit container (SMB), via the conveyor device (FE), to the conveyor chamber (FK). Pressurised air (DL) can be introduced into the conveyor chamber (FK) in order to transfer the grit material (SM) out of the conveyor chamber (FK) to a wheel or rail region (RSCHS). The conveyor device (FE) has a rotating screw conveyor (FS), which is arranged in a screw chamber (SK) to convey grit material. In a sub-region (TB) of the conveyor device (FE), an elastic, narrowed spacing is formed between the screw conveyor (FS) and the screw chamber (SK), such that a closure (VER) of the conveyor device (FE) is formed with the cooperation of the screw chamber (SK) and the screw conveyor (FS).

Description

[0001] Spreading agent system for a rail vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a spreading system for a rail vehicle.

[0003] Rail vehicles generally suffer from the fact that they have difficulty transferring or implementing their full drive or traction power to the rails when the rails are wet or covered with leaves.

[0004] To counteract this problem, spreading systems are known which contain a spreading agent (for example quartz sand with a specified grain size) and which, when required, introduce this as homogeneously and economically as possible into a wheel-rail gap in order to increase the traction performance on the rail.

[0005] From the publication DE 4429370 A1, a device for spreading grit for a motor vehicle is known. This device consists of a spray attachment that is operated from inside the vehicle and applies sand to vehicle tires as needed. The sand is drawn vertically from a container using gravity and applied using air pressure to improve tire grip. This combined method of sand application is inaccurate and results in either increased sand consumption or insufficient tire grip.

[0006] From the publication DE 3926546 A1, a spreading device attached to a motor vehicle is known, with which a grit (gravel, sand, salt) is spread in front of the driven wheels of the vehicle. The grit is taken vertically from a container and fed to a dosing device designed as a conveyor screw. Via this, the grit reaches a mixing pipe that can be pressurized with compressed air. The grit is then applied to the vehicle's wheels using compressed air to improve their grip. This combined method of dosing and compressed air-assisted sand application is additionally influenced by pressure differences that arise in the conveyor system, so that the grit application can only be controlled or adjusted imprecisely. This influence results either in increased sand consumption or insufficient wheel grip.

[0007] Another grit distribution system is known from the publication DE 102012214643 A1, in which grit is conveyed and distributed in a metered manner using a screw conveyor and compressed air. This combined method of metering and compressed air-assisted sand distribution is further influenced by pressure differences in the conveyor system, making the grit distribution difficult to control or adjust. This influence results in either increased sand consumption or insufficient wheel grip.

[0008] The same applies to the spreading agent system described in the document WO 2022 / 128294 A1, in which a driven conveyor screw rotating about a longitudinal axis is used to pick up or convey spreading agent from a spreading agent container and to introduce the spreading agent into the wheel-rail gap in a defined manner via a feed device.

[0009] The object of the invention is therefore to improve a rail vehicle spreading system based on the combined use of a screw conveyor and compressed air so that the spreading agent can be applied in a defined manner and with optimized consumption. This object is achieved by the features of patent claim 1.

[0010] Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent patent claims.

[0011] The invention relates to a spreading agent system for a rail vehicle with a spreading agent container, with a dosing or conveying device and with a conveying chamber.

[0012] The spreading agent container contains a spreading agent and is connected to the conveying chamber via the conveying device in such a way that the spreading agent passes from the spreading agent container via the conveying device into the conveying chamber.

[0013] Compressed air can be introduced into the conveying chamber in such a way that the spreading agent from the conveying chamber reaches a wheel area and / or a rail area of ​​the rail vehicle.

[0014] Preferably, the conveying chamber is connected on the output side to a feed device. This feed device is designed such that the spreading agent is directed into the wheel area and / or the rail area of ​​the rail vehicle.

[0015] The conveyor device has a driven conveyor screw rotating around a longitudinal axis, with which the spreading material is transported from the spreading material container to the conveyor chamber.

[0016] The conveyor device has an elongated screw chamber in which the conveyor screw is arranged. According to the invention, an elastically designed, narrowed distance between the conveyor screw and the screw chamber is arranged or realized in a partial region of the conveyor device. The distance is selected in this partial region such that the interaction of the screw chamber with the conveyor screw there forms an at least partial closure of the conveyor device, by means of which the spreading agent container and at least part of the conveyor device are decoupled from the conveyor chamber when compressed air is applied to the conveyor chamber.

[0017] Preferably, the partial area or the narrowed distance is arranged in a connection area of ​​the conveying device, wherein the connection area is designed to connect the conveying device to the spreading agent container.

[0018] Preferably, the connection area connects the conveyor device to the spreading agent container in a vertical direction.

[0019] Preferably, in the connection area or in the associated partial area, half a helix or half a screw flight of the conveyor screw in cooperation with an inner side of the screw chamber forms a partially circumferential closure.

[0020] In an alternative, preferred embodiment, with regard to a spreading agent conveying direction, the partial area or the narrowed distance is arranged after the connection area of ​​the conveying device.

[0021] The section then comprises a number of consecutive screw flights or spirals of the conveyor screw. These, in conjunction with the inside of the screw chamber, form a completely circumferential seal.

[0022] The closure decouples the spreading agent container and at least part of the conveying device from the conveying chamber, so that compressed air pressure in the conveying chamber has no effect on the spreading agent in the conveying device or in the spreading agent container.

[0023] This means that components of the spreading agent conveying system (spreading agent container, spreading agent conveying system) are decoupled from the subsequent components of the spreading agent application system (conveying chamber, feeding device).

[0024] In a preferred first development, the conveyor screw is designed to be elastic in the considered partial area, while the screw chamber is designed to be rigid in order to realize the required narrowed, elastic distance.

[0025] In a preferred second, alternative development, the conveyor screw is designed to be rigid in the partial area under consideration, while the screw chamber is designed to be elastic in order to realize the required narrowed, elastic distance.

[0026] In a preferred third, alternative development, both the conveyor screw and the screw chamber are designed to be elastic in the considered partial area in order to realize the required narrowed, elastic distance.

[0027] In the above-mentioned developments, the distance is in the form of an elastic taper of the conveying device and is designed in such a way that abrasion of the conveyor screw or the conveying chamber is reduced or prevented by the elasticity when conveying the spreading agent.

[0028] The elastic flexibility of the taper prevents or reduces wear and reduces maintenance requirements for the affected components. In a preferred embodiment, the taper is implemented as a replaceable component that forms an integrated part of the screw chamber and whose dimensions are tailored to the grain size of the spreading material.

[0029] This makes it possible to realize or adjust an optimized taper to a given spreading agent.

[0030] In a preferred development, the component is made of an elastically flexible material, for example of plastic, wherein the component, as part of the screw chamber, accordingly comprises the conveyor screw or its screw flights in the partial area.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the closure formed by the narrowed distance or by the taper is designed to be pressure-tight.

[0032] The screw chamber and / or the conveyor screw is preferably aligned horizontally or inclined upwards or downwards from the horizontal plane in order to optimally transport the spreading material within the conveyor device.

[0033] In an advantageous further development, the conveyor screw is connected to an electric motor that turns or rotates the conveyor screw.

[0034] In an advantageous further development, the electric motor can be controlled continuously to control the rotation speed, whereby this is preferably done by varying the operating voltage or the operating current of the electric motor.

[0035] Alternatively, the electric motor is controlled via a PWM signal (pulse width modulated signal, PWM signal), whereby different quantities of spreading material are conveyed or discharged by varying the PWM signal.

[0036] This allows the conveying quantity of the spreading agent to be adjusted for a given grain size of the spreading agent by changing the rotation speed.

[0037] In a preferred development, the spreading agent container is arranged above the conveyor device and connected to it in such a way that the spreading agent falls vertically into the conveyor device.

[0038] In a preferred further development, the compressed air is introduced into the conveying chamber at a lowest point of the conveying chamber, so that the compressed air acting on the spreading agent there transports it into the feed device.

[0039] In an advantageous further development, the conveying chamber is connected in a lateral area to a compressed air nozzle in order to introduce the compressed air.

[0040] In an advantageous further development, the compressed air is controlled in such a way that

[0041] — that the compressed air in an active conveying device captures the spreading material entering the conveying chamber and transports it to the feeding device, and

[0042] — that, when the conveyor is inactive, the compressed air is introduced into the feeder via the conveyor chamber to clean or dry it. In this case, the conveyor closure prevents the grit from being accidentally pumped out of the grit container or conveyor during the cleaning process and into the wheel / rail.

[0043] area is delivered.

[0044] The closure mechanically closes the conveyor system at the top when cleaning or drying the system.

[0045] The present invention achieves a decoupling between a screw-driven spreading agent dosing and a pneumatically assisted spreading agent discharge.

[0046] This decoupling can be achieved simply and reliably by means of a constriction in the area of ​​the screw-driven spreading agent dosing, which implements a closure functionality.

[0047] This closure functionality enables a defined, compressed air-based cleaning of the components that are located downstream of the conveyor screw and are used for spreading the spreading agent.

[0048] Cleaning creates pressure differences in these downstream components. The closure prevents grit from being sucked out of the grit container or the auger conveyor area during cleaning and inadvertently becoming part of the cleaning process. The closure thus saves grit or reduces its consumption.

[0049] The present invention achieves, on the one hand, the optimization of the traction power transmitted to the rail, and, on the other hand, the optimized use of the limited supply of grit and compressed air in the rail vehicle. Compared to the prior art, the present invention achieves more precise grit dosage.

[0050] The present invention can also be used at low outside temperatures without requiring complex heating components, etc.

[0051] The present invention enables a reduction of noise during operation of the spreading system.

[0052] The present invention is explained in more detail below using an example drawing. The drawing shows:

[0053] FIG 1 shows an overview of the arrangement according to the invention,

[0054] FIG 2 with reference to FIG 1 details of the conveyor device, FIG 3 with reference to FIG 2 details of the taper or the reduced distance.

[0055] FIG 1 shows the arrangement according to the invention in an overview.

[0056] The spreading agent system according to the invention for a rail vehicle comprises a spreading agent container SMB, a conveying device FE and a feeding device ZFE.

[0057] A conveying chamber FK which can be pressurized with compressed air is provided between the conveying device FE and the feeding device ZFE.

[0058] For further details on the conveying chamber FK, reference is made to the spreading agent system described in WO 2022 / 128294 A1. The spreading agent container SMB contains a spreading agent SM and is vertically connected to the conveying device FE, so that the spreading agent SM falls or passes from the spreading agent container SMB into the conveying device FE.

[0059] The connection from the spreading agent container SMB to the conveyor device FE is provided at the lowest point of the spreading agent container SMB, so that the spreading agent SM falls or reaches the conveyor device FE from the spreading agent container SMB.

[0060] The conveyor device FE is connected to the feed device ZFE, so that the spreading agent SM is conveyed from the conveyor device FE via the conveyor chamber FK into the feed device ZFE. The spreading agent SM is transferred to the feed device ZFE using compressed air, which is introduced into the conveyor chamber FK, as described below.

[0061] The compressed air introduced into the conveying chamber FK also serves to clean the feed device ZFE if necessary when the conveying device FE is inactive.

[0062] The feed device ZFE is designed such that the spreading agent SM is specifically introduced into an area of ​​the wheel R and / or into an area of ​​the rail SCH or into a wheel-rail gap RSCHS of the rail vehicle.

[0063] FIG 2 shows details of the conveyor device FE with reference to FIG 1.

[0064] The conveyor device FE has a driven screw conveyor FS rotating around a longitudinal axis, which is designed to transport the spreading agent SM from the spreading agent container SMB to the conveying chamber FK. The conveyor device FE has an elongated screw chamber SK in which the screw conveyor FS is arranged.

[0065] According to the invention, an elastically designed, narrowed distance or a taper between the conveyor screw FS and the screw chamber SK is arranged or realized in a partial area TB of the conveyor device FE.

[0066] The distance in this partial area TB is selected such that in the interaction of the screw chamber SK with the conveyor screw FS an at least partial closure of the conveyor device FE is formed, by which the spreading agent container SMB and at least part of the conveyor device FE are decoupled from the conveyor chamber FK when compressed air is applied to the conveyor chamber FK.

[0067] Here, for example, the partial area TB or the narrowed distance is arranged in a connection area of ​​the conveyor device FE, wherein the connection area is designed for the vertical connection of the conveyor device FE with the spreading agent container SMB.

[0068] In the connection area or around the associated sub-area TB, half a helix or half a screw flight of the conveyor screw FS in cooperation with an inner side of the screw chamber SK forms a partially circumferential closure VER of the conveyor device FE.

[0069] When compressed air is applied to the conveying chamber FK, the VER closure mechanically decouples the spreading agent container SMB and at least part of the conveying device FE from the conveying chamber FK.

[0070] In the partial area TB, the narrowed distance there is selected in such a way that the closure VER of the conveyor device FE is formed in the interaction of the screw chamber SK with the screw flights.

[0071] In the example shown here, the conveyor screw FS is designed to be rigid in the considered sub-area TB, while the screw chamber SK is designed to be elastic using a component KOMP arranged in the sub-area TB and described below.

[0072] The required distance is designed in the form of a taper in the conveyor device FE in such a way that abrasion of the conveyor screw FS and / or the screw chamber SK is at least reduced during the conveying of the spreading agent in the partial area TB.

[0073] The taper serving as a closure is implemented in the form of a replaceable component KOMP, which forms an integrated part of the screw chamber SK and whose dimensions are adapted to a grain size of the spreading agent SM.

[0074] The component KOMP is made of an elastically flexible material, for example plastic, and serves for decoupling in order to compensate for pressure differences that arise in the area of ​​the conveying chamber FK and the subsequent feed device ZFE within the scope of the desired decoupling.

[0075] The screw chamber SK and the conveyor screw FS are aligned horizontally or inclined upwards or downwards from the horizontal plane in order to optimally transport the spreading agent SM within the conveyor device FE.

[0076] The screw conveyor FS is connected to an electric motor MOT, which rotates the screw conveyor FS. The electric motor MOT can be continuously controlled to control the rotation speed. This is achieved, for example, by varying the operating voltage or current of the electric motor MOT.

[0077] This allows the conveying quantity of the spreading agent SM to be adjusted for a given grain size of the spreading agent SM by changing the rotation speed.

[0078] In the conveying chamber FK, the compressed air DL is introduced into the lowest point of the conveying chamber FK, so that the compressed air DL acting on the spreading agent SM there transports it into the feeding device ZFE.

[0079] The feed chamber FK is connected in a lateral area to a compressed air nozzle DLD in order to introduce the compressed air DL.

[0080] The compressed air DL is controlled in such a way

[0081] — that the compressed air DL, with an active conveying device FE, captures the spreading agent SM entering the conveying chamber FK and transports it to the feeding device ZFE, and

[0082] — that, when the conveyor FE is inactive, the compressed air DL is fed into the feed device ZFE via the feed chamber FK in order to clean or dry it. In this case, the closure VER of the conveyor FE prevents the spreading agent SM from being inadvertently conveyed from the spreading agent container SMB or from the conveyor FE during the cleaning process and released into the wheel / rail area. The closure VER mechanically closes the conveyor FE at the top during cleaning or drying of the system.

[0083] FIG 3 shows, with reference to FIG 2, details of the taper or reduced distance realized by the component KOMP.

[0084] Outside the partial area TB, a distance A between the outer edge of the screw flights of the conveyor screw FS and the inner edge of the screw chamber SK is selected to be greater than a distance B.

[0085] The distance B describes within the partial area TB a distance between the outer edge of the screw flights of the conveyor screw FS and an inner edge of a constriction formed by the component.

[0086] By selecting the two distances A and B, the required closure functionality is created or adjusted depending on the spreading agent SM.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Spreading agent system for a rail vehicle, with a spreading agent container (SMB), with a conveying device (FE) and with a conveying chamber (FK), — where the spreading agent container (SMB) contains a spreading agent (SM) and is connected to the conveying chamber (FK) via the conveying device (FE) in such a way that the spreading agent (SM) passes from the spreading agent container (SMB) via the conveying device (FE) into the conveying chamber (FK), — in which compressed air (DL) can be introduced into the conveying chamber (FK) so that the spreading agent (SM) is conveyed from the conveying chamber (FK) to a wheel area (R) and / or to a rail area (RSCHS) of the rail vehicle, — in which the conveying device (FE) has a driven screw conveyor (FS) rotating about a longitudinal axis, which is designed to transport the spreading material (SM) from the spreading material container (SMB) to the conveying chamber (FK), — in which the conveying device (FE) has an elongated screw chamber (SK) in which the conveyor screw (FS) is arranged, characterized in that — that in a sub-area (TB) of the funding facility (FE) an elastically designed, narrowed distance between the conveyor screw (FS) and the screw chamber (SK) is realized in such a way that in the interaction of the screw chamber (SK) with the conveyor screw (FS) an at least partial closure (VER) of the conveyor device (FE) is formed in order to decouple the spreading agent container (SMB) and at least part of the conveyor device (FE) from the conveyor chamber (FK) when compressed air is applied (DL) to the conveyor chamber (FK). Spreading agent system according to claim 1, in which the partial region (TB) is arranged in a connection region of the conveyor device (FE), wherein the connection region is designed to connect the conveyor device (FE) to the spreading agent container (SMB). Spreading agent system according to claim 2, in which the partial region (TB) has half a screw flight of the conveyor screw (FS), which, in cooperation with an inner side of the screw chamber (SK), forms a partially circumferential closure (VER). Spreading agent system according to claim 1, in which the partial region (TB) is arranged downstream of a connection region of the conveyor device (FE) with regard to a spreading agent conveying direction, wherein the connection region is designed to connect the conveyor device (FE) to the spreading agent container (SMB).Spreading agent system according to claim 4, wherein the partial area (TB) has a number of consecutive screw flights of the conveyor screw (FS), which, in cooperation with an inner side of the screw chamber (SK), form a completely circumferential closure (VER). Spreading agent system according to claim 1, wherein in the partial area (TB) under consideration, the conveyor screw (FS) is elastic and the screw chamber (SK) is rigid in order to realize the narrowed, elastic spacing. Spreading agent system according to claim 1, wherein in the partial area (TB) under consideration, the conveyor screw (FS) is rigid and the screw chamber (SK) is elastic in order to realize the required narrowed, elastic spacing. Spreading agent system according to claim 1, in which in the considered partial area (TB) both the conveyor screw (FS) and the screw chamber (SK) are designed to be elastic in order to realize the required narrowed, elastic distance. Spreading agent system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the distance is designed in the form of a taper in the conveyor device (FE) such that abrasion of the conveyor screw (FS) and / or the screw chamber (SK) is at least reduced during the conveying of the spreading agent in the partial area (TB). Spreading agent system according to claim 9, in which the taper is implemented in the form of an exchangeable component (KOMP) which forms an integrated part of the screw chamber (SK) and whose dimensions are matched to a grain size of the spreading agent (SM). Spreading agent system according to claim 10, in which the component (KOMP) is made of an elastically flexible plastic.Spreading agent system according to claim 1, in which the conveying chamber (FK) is connected on the output side to a feed device (ZFE) which is designed in such a way that the spreading agent (SM) is directed into the wheel area (R) and / or the rail area (RSCHS) of the rail vehicle by means of the compressed air (DL) of the conveying chamber (FK).

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