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). The grit container (SMB) contains a grit material (SM) and is connected to the conveyor chamber (FK) via the conveyor device (FE) in such a way that the grit material (SM) is transferred from the grit container, via the conveyor device (FE), into the conveyor chamber (FK). The conveyor device (FE) is designed for the metered removal of grit material from the grit container and has a mechanical conveyor means for this purpose. Pressurised air (DL) can be introduced into the conveyor chamber (FK), in order to transport the grit material (SM) from the conveyor chamber (FK) to a wheel / rail region (RSCHS) of the rail vehicle. The conveyor chamber (FK) is connected to the grit container (SMB) via an air-filled line (LTG) such that, with the application of pressurised air (DL) to the conveyor chamber (FK), it decouples the grit container (SMB) and at least one part of the conveyor device (FE) from the conveyor chamber (FK).

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 agents systems are known which contain a spreading agent (for example quartz sand with a specified grain size) and which, when required, introduce this agent into a wheel-rail gap as homogeneously and economically as possible 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 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 printed document DE 3926546 A1 a spreading device is known which is attached to a motor vehicle and which spreads grit (gravel, sand, salt) in front of the driven wheels of the motor vehicle. The grit is taken vertically from a container and fed to a dosing device which is designed as a conveyor screw. Via this the grit reaches a mixing pipe which can be pressurised with compressed air. The grit is then applied to the wheels of the vehicle using compressed air in order to improve their grip. This combined type of dosing and the compressed air-assisted sand application is additionally influenced by pressure differences which 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 in 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 dosing and compressed air-assisted sand distribution is further influenced by pressure differences that arise in the conveyor system, so that the grit distribution can only be controlled or adjusted with inaccurate precision. This influence results either in 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 collect or convey spreading agent from a spreading agent container and in which the spreading agent is introduced into a wheel-rail gap in a defined manner from a conveying chamber with the aid of compressed air.

[0009] As shown, the spreading agent systems described in the publications are designed in two stages. In the first stage, the spreading agent is metered out or conveyed from a spreading agent container by a mechanical conveyor and transferred to a conveying chamber.

[0010] In a second stage, the conveyor chamber is pressurized with compressed air so that the spreading agent is discharged from the conveyor chamber into a wheel-rail area with the aid of compressed air to improve adhesion.

[0011] Due to the nature of the system, the two stages influence each other: the pneumatic discharge of spreading material from the second stage acts on the mechanically operated first stage, which is used for dosing the spreading material or for removing the spreading material from a spreading material container.

[0012] This reaction results from a relative negative pressure that develops in the area between the conveying mechanism and the compressed air-based discharge of the spreading material from the conveying chamber. A subsequent pressure equalization of this negative pressure leads to the uncontrolled drawing of spreading material by the upstream conveying device.

[0013] This means that the spreading of grit onto a rail is no longer only dependent on the first stage, which is used for dosing the grit, but also on the operation of the second stage, so that in the worst case, grit is spread irregularly or with increased consumption.

[0014] The object of the invention is therefore to improve such a two-stage grit spreading system for a rail vehicle so that the grit is applied in a defined manner and with optimized consumption. This object is achieved by the features of patent claim 1.

[0015] Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent patent claims.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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 is metered from the spreading agent container into the conveying chamber via the conveying device.

[0018] 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.

[0019] Preferably, the conveying chamber is connected to a feed device on the output side. 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.

[0020] The conveying device is designed for mechanical conveying of the spreading material. For example, it has a driven screw conveyor rotating about a longitudinal axis, which transports the spreading material from the spreading material container to the conveying chamber. The conveying device has an elongated screw chamber in which the screw conveyor is arranged. Such a system is described in detail, for example, in the publication WO 2022 / 128294 A1.

[0021] According to the invention, the conveying chamber is connected to the spreading agent container via an air-filled line, which acts aerodynamically as a bypass and enables pressure equalization.

[0022] This connecting line decouples the spreading agent container and the conveying device from the conveying chamber.

[0023] Pressurizing the conveying chamber with compressed air then no longer has any effect on the spreading material in the conveying device or the spreading material container.

[0024] This effectively decouples the components of the metered spreading agent conveying system (spreading agent container, spreading agent conveying device) from the subsequent components of the spreading agent application system (conveyor combs, feeding device).

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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 material there transports it further for application.

[0027] 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.

[0028] In an advantageous further development, the compressed air is controlled in such a way that - in the case of an active conveying device, the compressed air captures the spreading material falling into the conveying chamber and transports it into the feeding device, and

[0029] - that when the conveying device is inactive, the compressed air is introduced into the feed device via the conveying chamber in order to clean or dry it.

[0030] In an advantageous further development, the connecting line is connected to an upper area of ​​the spreading agent container so that it opens above a maximum spreading agent fill level in the spreading agent container.

[0031] This placement protects the bypass or the connecting line from the entry of grit.

[0032] In an advantageous further development, the connecting line is connected to an upper area or to an inlet area of ​​the conveying chamber, so that it opens above a compressed air inlet provided there.

[0033] In an advantageous further development, the connecting line leading into the spreading agent container is provided with a sintered filter so that an unintentional entry of dust or moisture into the connecting line is prevented.

[0034] In an advantageous further development, the connecting cable is laid outside the components involved.

[0035] Alternatively, the connecting cable is installed within the components involved. Preferably, the connecting cable is integrated into the components involved and installed internally. Advantages:

[0036] The present invention decouples the spreading agent container and the conveying device from the conveying chamber.

[0037] Pressurizing the conveying chamber with compressed air no longer has any effect on the spreading material in the conveying device or the spreading material container.

[0038] This effectively decouples the components of the metered spreading agent conveying system (spreading agent container, spreading agent conveying device) from the subsequent components of the spreading agent application system (conveyor combs, feeding device).

[0039] The present invention compensates for the relative negative pressure towards the spreading agent container caused by the introduction of compressed air into the conveying chamber.

[0040] The present invention enables simple and cost-effective retrofitting of existing two-stage systems.

[0041] The present invention enables precise dosing of spreading agent.

[0042] The present invention makes it possible to refine the spreading agent discharge and thus to carry it out more economically.

[0043] The present invention enables a more uniform discharge of spreading agent.

[0044] The present invention achieves, on the one hand, that the traction power transmitted to the rail is optimized and, on the other hand, that a supply of grit and compressed air, which is only available to a limited extent in the rail vehicle, is used in a time- and quantity-optimized manner.

[0045] The present invention is explained in more detail below using a drawing as an example. The drawing shows:

[0046] FIG 1 shows an overview of the spreading agent system according to the invention,

[0047] FIG 2 with reference to FIG 1 parts of the spreading agent system in a side view,

[0048] FIG 3 with reference to FIG 2 a first detail of the connecting line, and

[0049] FIG 4 with reference to FIG 2 and in comparison to FIG 3 an alternative detail of the connecting line.

[0050] FIG 1 shows the arrangement according to the invention in an overview.

[0051] The spreading agent system according to the invention for a rail vehicle has a spreading agent container SMB, a conveying device FE and a conveying chamber FK.

[0052] The conveying chamber FK can be pressurized with compressed air and is subsequently connected, on the output side, to a feed device not shown in detail here.

[0053] For further details on the spreading agent system, reference is made to the spreading agent system described in the document WO 2022 / 128294 A1.

[0054] The spreading agent container SMB contains a spreading agent SM and is connected to the conveyor device FE, so that the spreading agent SM flows from the spreading agent container SMB into the conveyor device FE. 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 flows from the spreading agent container SMB into the conveyor device FE.

[0055] The conveyor device FE is connected to the feed device ZEE, so that the spreading agent SM passes from the conveyor device FE via the conveyor chamber FK into the feed device ZFE.

[0056] From the conveying chamber FK, the spreading agent SM is transferred to the feeding device using compressed air which is introduced into the conveying chamber FK.

[0057] The feed device is designed in such a way that the spreading agent SM is specifically introduced into a wheel-rail area of ​​the rail vehicle in order to increase the wheel grip.

[0058] The compressed air introduced into the conveying chamber FK also serves to clean the conveying chamber and / or the feed device if necessary when the conveying device FE is inactive.

[0059] According to the invention, the conveying chamber FK is connected to the spreading agent container via an air-filled line LTG.

[0060] The connecting line LTG is connected to an upper area of ​​the spreading agent container SMB so that it opens into the spreading agent container SMB above a maximum spreading agent fill level.

[0061] This placement protects the bypass or connecting line LTG from accidental entry of grit. The connecting line LTG is connected to an upper area or inlet area of ​​the conveying chamber FK, so that it opens above a compressed air inlet DL provided there.

[0062] In this example, the connecting line LTG is laid outside the components involved, conveyor chamber FK, conveyor device FE and spreading agent container SMB.

[0063] In an alternative not shown here, the connecting line LTG can also be laid within the components involved (conveying chamber FK, conveying device FE and spreading agent container SMB).

[0064] Preferably, the connecting cable LTG is then structurally integrated for internal installation in the components involved.

[0065] In the conveying chamber FK the compressed air DL is controlled in such a way,

[0066] - that the compressed air DL, with an active conveying device FE, captures the spreading agent SM falling into the conveying chamber FK and transports it to the feeding device, and

[0067] - that the compressed air DL is introduced into the feed device via the feed chamber FK when the feed device FE is inactive in order to clean or dry it.

[0068] FIG 2 shows, with reference to FIG 1, parts of the spreading agent system in a side view.

[0069] In particular, an upper connection LTG-OS of the LTG line on the spreading agent hopper SMB can be seen here, which flows into the spreading agent hopper SMB above the maximum spreading agent fill level FS-SM. The conveyor system FE, which includes, for example, a screw chamber and a conveyor screw, is aligned horizontally or inclined upwards or downwards from the horizontal plane in order to optimally transport the spreading agent SM within the conveyor system FE.

[0070] For operation, the conveyor device FE is connected, for example, to an electric motor MOT, which is preferably continuously controllable. This allows the conveying rate of the spreading agent SM through the conveyor device FE to be adjusted for a given grain size of the spreading agent SM by changing the rotation speed of the electric motor MOT.

[0071] FIG 3 shows, with reference to FIG 2, a first detail of the connecting line LTG.

[0072] In particular, a lower connection LTG-US of the line LTG on the conveying chamber FK can be seen here, which is arranged in an upper area or in an inlet area of ​​the conveying chamber FK, so that the lower connection LTG-US opens above an inlet of compressed air DL provided on the conveying chamber FK.

[0073] Shown here is a structural separation of the conveyor system FE and the conveyor chamber FK, which are connected to each other via a vertical feed line ZUF. The aforementioned "upper area or entrance area" of the conveyor chamber FK also includes the vertical feed line ZUF.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows, with reference to FIG. 2 and in comparison to FIG. 3, an alternative detail of the connecting line LTG. In this alternative, the lower connection LTG-US of the LTG line is arranged in the area of ​​the vertically extending feed line ZUF, which is assigned to the "inlet area" of the conveying chamber FK.

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 the conveying device (FE) is designed for the metered removal of spreading material from the spreading material container and has a mechanically designed conveying means for this purpose, - in which compressed air (DL) can be introduced into the conveying chamber (FK) in order to remove the spreading agent (SM) from the conveying chamber (FK) to a wheel-rail area (RSCHS) of the rail vehicle, characterized in that - that the conveyor chamber (FK) with the spreading agent container (SMB) is connected via an air-filled line (LTG) in order to decouple the spreading agent container (SMB) and at least part of the conveying device (FE) from the conveying chamber (FK) when compressed air is applied (DL) to the conveying chamber (FK).

2. Spreading agent system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting line (LTG) is connected to an upper region of the spreading agent container (SMB) so that it opens into the spreading agent container (SMB) above a maximum spreading agent filling level (FS-SM). Spreading agent system according to claim 1 or 2, in which the connecting line (LTG) opening into the spreading agent container (SMB) is provided with a sintered filter to prevent accidental entry of dust or moisture into the connecting line (LTG). Spreading agent system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the connecting line (LTG) is connected to an upper region and / or to an inlet region (ZUE) of the conveying chamber (FK) so that it opens above the compressed air inlet provided in the conveying chamber (FK). Spreading agent system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the connecting line (LTG) is laid outside the components involved (SMB, FE, FK). Spreading agent system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the connecting line (LTG) is laid within the components involved (SMB, FE, FK) and / or in the case of the connecting line (LTG) is laid integrated into the components involved.Spreading agent system according to claim 1, wherein the mechanically configured conveying means of the conveying device (FE) comprises a driven screw conveyor rotating about a longitudinal axis, which is designed to transport the spreading agent (SM) from the spreading agent container (SMB) to the conveying chamber (FK), and wherein the screw conveyor is arranged in an elongated screw chamber. Spreading agent system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying chamber (FK) is connected on the output side to a feed device configured in this way. is that the compressed air (DL) introduced into the conveying chamber (FK) directs the spreading agent (SM) into the wheel-rail area via the feed device. Spreading agent system according to claim 3, in which the compressed air (DL) is controlled in such a way that - that the compressed air (DL) in an active conveying device (FE) captures the spreading material (SM) entering the conveying chamber (FK) and is introduced into the feeding device, and - that the compressed air (DL) is introduced into the feed device via the conveying chamber (FK) when the conveying device (FE) is inactive in order to clean or dry the latter. Spreading agent system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the spreading agent container (SMB) is arranged above the conveying device (FE) and is connected to it in such a way that the spreading agent (SM) falls vertically into the conveying device (FE). Spreading agent system according to one of the preceding claims, in which in the conveying chamber (FK) the compressed air (DL) is introduced at a lowest point of the conveying chamber (FK) so that the compressed air (DL) acting on the spreading agent (SM) there transports the latter further for application. Spreading agent system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the conveying chamber (FK) is connected in a lateral region to a compressed air nozzle in order to introduce the compressed air (DL).

Images