Roof device for a container for transporting bulk material

Abstract

The roof device for a container for transporting bulk material, wherein the container has an open top through which the container can be loaded with bulk material, comprises: a roof with two roof halves (10a, 10b) which are movable back and forth between a covered and open position, wherein the top of the container is covered by the roof halves in the covered position and at least partially exposed between the roof halves in the open position, and a drive device (40a, 40b) for moving the roof halves.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a roof device for a container for transporting bulk material, wherein the container has an open top through which the container can be loaded with bulk material.

[0002] The container is, for example, part of a freight railcar. If the bulk material is not sensitive to moisture, no roof is provided. However, during transport, a breeze is generated which can carry the bulk material away through the open top. This leads to several disadvantages: Bulk material is lost. This material, carried away by the slipstream, can damage the vehicle itself or oncoming vehicles. It can also cause damage to infrastructure, such as tunnel walls.

[0003] International patent application WO 2023 / 218434 A1 discloses a roof device for a funnel-type railway wagon with a single hatch that can be opened and closed. The hatch is narrow, so that only a narrow opening in the container can be covered and uncovered. This roof device is unsuitable for wider openings in the container.

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a compact roof device with which even wide openings in a container for transporting bulk material can be covered and at least partially uncovered.

[0005] A roof device that solves this problem is specified in claim 1. The further claims specify preferred embodiments as well as a transport carrier with a roof device and a method for providing such a transport carrier.

[0006] According to claim 1, the roof device comprises a roof with two roof halves that are movable back and forth between a covered and an open position. In the covered position, the open top of the container is covered by the roof halves, and in the open position, it is at least partially exposed between the roof halves. This allows even wide openings in the container to be covered and exposed.

[0007] Preferably, in the open position, at least half of the top of the container is exposed, particularly preferably at least three-quarters. In a particular embodiment, the open top is exposed when the roof is in the open position.

[0008] The roof device is designed to cover a container which has a load weight that, with increasing preference, is at least 1 tonne, at least 10 tonnes, at least 20 tonnes, at least 30 tonnes, at least 40 tonnes, at least 50 tonnes, at least 60 tonnes or more.

[0009] The roof halves each have a longitudinal and a transverse direction. In a preferred embodiment, the roof halves are movable in the transverse direction.

[0010] The roof device can include a guide system to move the roof sections along linear axes. The guide system may, for example, have rails attached to the roof sections.

[0011] Preferably, the roof device is not airtight. For example, a gap can be provided between the roof halves and the wall, defining the opening for loading the container. Due to the non-airtight seal, air can flow into the container from the outside through a lower unloading opening, even when the roof halves are covered.

[0012] Furthermore, the roof device does not need to be waterproof if the container is designed for transporting moisture-resistant bulk goods.

[0013] The roof device is versatile and can be mounted on various transport carriers used for transporting bulk goods, e.g. by rail and / or road.

[0014] The invention will be explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. These show... Fig. 1 a perspective view of the first and second roof halves of a roof device according to an exemplary embodiment; Fig. 2 a bottom view of the first roof half according to Fig. 1 Fig. 3 shows a front view of the first half of the roof according to Fig. 2 Fig. 4 shows a front view of the second roof half according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 5 a side view of the roof halves according to Fig. 1 together with other parts of the roof device; Fig. 6 a top view of the roof device according to Fig. 5 Fig. 7 a front view of the roof device according to Fig. 5 ; Fig. 8 a rear view of the roof device according to Fig. 5 Fig. 9 a perspective view of the roof device according to Fig. 5 in closed position together with a freight wagon; Fig. 10 a detailed view of the arrangement according to Fig. 9 from the front; Fig. 11 the arrangement according to Fig. 9 with the roof open; Fig. 12 a detailed view of the arrangement according to Fig. 11 from the front; and Fig. 13 the pneumatic scheme for operating the freight wagon according to Fig. 9 .

[0015] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a part of a roof device comprising two movable roof sections 10a and 10b. The first roof section 10a is provided at both ends with brackets 11a and 12a, respectively, to which a guide rail 13a and a guide rail 15a are attached. Each guide rail 13a or 15a is provided with a stop 14a or 16a, respectively, which serves to define the maximum position to which the guide rail 13a or 15a can be extended.

[0016] The second roof half 10b is constructed similarly to the first roof half 10a and is provided at both ends with brackets 11b and brackets 12b respectively, to which a running rail 13b with stop 14b and a running rail 15b with stop 16b respectively is attached.

[0017] Each bracket 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b is U-shaped, with one end attached to the first or second roof half 10a, 10b respectively, and the other end attached to a guide rail 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b. The brackets 11a, 12a of the first roof half 10a have a longer central section than the brackets 11b, 12b of the second roof half 10b. Thus, the guide rails 13a and 13b arranged on one side of the roof halves 10a, 10b are offset vertically from each other, as are the guide rails 15a and 15b arranged on the other side, and can therefore move against each other without collision.

[0018] In the present embodiment, each guide rail 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b is connected to the first or second roof half 10a, 10b via three brackets 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b. The number of brackets 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b can also be different and may be 1, 2, 3 or more.

[0019] The first roof half 10a further features a locking mechanism with locking elements 20a, 21a, which can be engaged with bolts 20b, 21b attached to the second roof half 10b. The locking element 20a and the bolt 20b, as well as the locking element 21a and bolt 21b, are each arranged at the end of their respective roof half 10a, 10b.

[0020] The first roof half 10a has a lip 18 along the long side opposite the second roof half 10b, which lies over the second roof half 10b when the roof is closed.

[0021] Each roof half 10a, 10b is constructed, for example, as a frame 23, 23', which is fitted with sheets 24a, 24b. Fig. 2 und 3 Figure 1 shows, by way of example, the first roof half 10a, which has a frame 23 made of longitudinal parts 23a, 23b, which are connected to transverse parts 23c, as well as sheets 24a which cover the frame 23. In the middle is a central support 25a, which is attached to the two longitudinal parts 23a, 23b and on which a roller 26a is arranged.

[0022] The second roof half 10b is constructed analogously from a frame 23' fitted with sheet metal 24b and with a roller 26b arranged on a central support, cf. Fig. 4 .

[0023] How Fig. 3 und 4 As shown, the sheets 24a, 24b are angled along the outer longitudinal side of the roof half 10a, 10b, so that they preferably extend below the level of the respective roller 26a, 26b.

[0024] In Fig. 2 The locking elements 20a and 21a are also indicated; these are connected, for example, by a rod, so that a deflecting force acting on one locking element, for example 20a, is transferred to the other locking element, for example 21a. Each locking element 20a, 21a has a recess 20c into which the bolt 20b or bolt 21b can engage, and an inclined guide surface 20d to which the recess 20c adjoins (see figure). Fig. 3 During the locking process, the two elements 20a and 20b are moved towards each other, and the inclined guide surface 20d contacts the bolt 20b, causing the locking element 20a to deflect until the recess 20c finally comes to rest in the bolt 20b. The locking process for the two elements 21a and 21b is analogous.

[0025] The respective locking element 20a, 21a can be designed to move into its rest position due to its own weight. When the two roof halves 10a, 10b are moved from the open position towards each other, the underside of the locking element 20a, 21a comes into contact with the bolt 20b, 21b, is deflected, and then snaps back into its rest position due to the weight of the locking elements 20a, 21a when the bolt 20b, 21b comes to rest in the recess 20c. The roof halves 10a, 10b are then locked.

[0026] To unlock, a locking element, for example 20a, is used, e.g. by means of a rope 22 (cf. Fig. 9 The cable 22 is deflected, which also deflects the other locking element, for example 21a, so that the bolts 20b, 21b are released and the roof halves 10a, 10b can be moved outwards. The cable 22 is held until the two roof halves 10a, 10b have moved sufficiently far apart so that the bolt 20b, 21b can no longer engage in the respective recess 20c in the locking element 20a, 21a.

[0027] In Fig. 5 Part of a collar can be seen, which is part of the wall 30 that defines the opening of the container for receiving the bulk material.

[0028] Fig. 6 Figure 1 shows a web 31 which bridges the collar 30 and is arranged so that the rollers 26a, 26b can roll on it when the roof halves 10a, 10b are moved. The web 31 can, for example, be part of a freight wagon (see Figure 1). Fig. 11 ).

[0029] The roof halves 10a, 10b are arranged to be movable on the wall 30.

[0030] Fig. 7 Figure 1 shows the front face of the roof device. Lower rollers 33a, 33b and upper rollers 33c, 33d are arranged on the wall 30, between which the guide rail 13a is movably arranged, as well as lower rollers 33a', 33b' and upper rollers 33c', 33d', between which the guide rail 13b is movably arranged. In the position shown Fig. 7 The two roof halves 10a, 10b are in the extended position. The stop 14a is therefore adjacent to the lower roller 33b and the stop 14b is adjacent to the upper roller 33c'.

[0031] The central axes of the lower rollers 33a', 33b' are located above the level of the central axes of the upper rollers 33c, 33d, so that the guide rails 13a, 13b can be moved without collision and are arranged one above the other when the roof is closed (cf. Fig. 10 ).

[0032] The respective consoles 11a, 11b are sufficiently cantilevered so that they can be moved past the upper roller 33c or the upper roller 33d' without collision.

[0033] Fig. 8 shows the rear front face of the roof device, on which, analogous to the arrangement according to Fig. 7 The guide rail 15a is movable between the lower rollers 35a, 35b and the upper rollers 35c, 35d, and the guide rail 15b is movable between the lower rollers 35a', 35b' and the upper rollers 35c', 35d'. The center axes of the lower rollers 35a', 35b' are located above the level of the center axes of the upper rollers 35c, 35d, so that the guide rails 15a, 15b can be moved without collision. The respective bracket 12a, 12b is sufficiently cantilevered so that it can move past the upper rollers 35d and 35c', respectively, without collision.

[0034] In Fig. 7 und 8 Two pairs of rollers 33a-33d, 33a'-33d', 35a-35d, 35a'-35d' are shown, between which a guide rail 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b can be moved. It is also conceivable to choose a different number of rollers.

[0035] A drive unit is provided for moving the roof halves 10a, 10b, which here comprises pneumatic cylinders 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b arranged on the wall 30. Two cylinders 40a, 42a and 40b, 42b are provided for each roof half 10a, 10b. The respective cylinder rod 41a, 43a of a cylinder 40a, 42a is coupled to the first roof half 10a via a receiving element 28a or 29a. Similarly, the respective cylinder rod 41b, 43b of a cylinder 40b, 42b is coupled to the second roof half 10b via a receiving element 28b or 29b.

[0036] To operate the pneumatic cylinders 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b, these are connected to a pneumatic system.

[0037] By actuating the cylinders 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b, the two roof halves 10a, 10b are extended and retracted transversely to their longitudinal direction.

[0038] The roof device is versatile. Fig. 9 Figure 1 shows an example of a freight wagon equipped with a roof device. The roof sections 10a and 10b are shown here in the closed and locked position; see the locking element 20a engaged in bolt 20b. Fig. 10 .

[0039] In Fig. 9 und 10 A pneumatic supply system 45 is also shown for supplying the pneumatic cylinders 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b. A first branch 45a of the supply system 45 leads to the cylinders 40a, 40b. A second branch 45b of the supply system 45 leads along the longitudinal side of the freight wagon to the cylinders 42a, 42b.

[0040] To open the roof device, the locking elements 20a, 21a are swung away from the bolts 20b, 21b by actuating the cable 22, thereby unlocking the roof halves 10a, 10b. These are then moved outwards by actuating the cylinders 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b. During this process, the rollers 26a, 26b roll along the platform 31. Finally, the opening 50 into the interior of the container, in this case a freight wagon, is released. Fig. 11 und 12 show the roof device in this open position.

[0041] Freight wagons have a pneumatic braking system, e.g. in the form of automatic load braking by means of a changeover via a weighing valve B8, as in Fig. 13 The existing braking system, which ensures on the one hand that the wheelsets do not lock up depending on the load, and on the other hand that safe braking occurs over a given braking distance depending on the load, has the following components: Main air line B1, which can be connected at each end to the main air line B1 of an adjacent car via an air shut-off valve B2 and a brake coupling B3, thus forming a continuous connection to the traction unit; emergency brake valve B4, which is connected to the main air line B1 and serves to trigger an immediate brake application; control valve B5, which is arranged on a support and connected to the main air line B1; air reservoir B6, which is connected to the control valve B5 and serves to supply compressed air to the brake cylinder B7; weighing valve B8, which detects the current weight of the car and reports it back to the control valve B5 via a pressure intensifier B9; regulating reservoir B10, which serves as a reservoir for the control pressure when the brakes are applied;Further components in the form of a changeover device B11, a release device B12 and a brake shut-off valve B13, which are arranged on the control valve B5 and serve to release an overloaded brake and to bleed the brake.

[0042] Fig. 13 shows a possible extension to the existing brake system B1-B13 in order to be able to actuate the pneumatic cylinders 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b.

[0043] Viewed in the direction of flow, an air reservoir 63 is connected to the main air line B1 via a check valve 60, a throttle 61 and a tap 62.

[0044] The check valve 60 prevents air from flowing back from the air reservoir 63 into the main air line B1. The throttle 61 prevents the air reservoir 63 and the connected components from being filled with air too quickly. The valve 62 is designed as a 3-way shut-off / drain valve and allows the air reservoir 63 to be emptied as needed and disconnected from the main air line B1.

[0045] Air reservoir 63 serves to supply cylinders 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b with compressed air in order to operate them. It is designed accordingly and has, for example, a capacity of at least 50 liters, e.g., 100 liters.

[0046] The air reservoir 63 is connected via a control valve 65 to the supply lines 66a, 66b, through which the cylinders 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b can be supplied with compressed air.

[0047] The control valve 65 is designed here as a 5 / 3-way control valve. It therefore has 5 ports and 3 switching positions: a center position in which all ports are closed (current position according to...). Fig. 13 ), a first setting position in which the supply line 66a is vented and the supply line 66b is vented (position in which the control valve 65 is in Fig. 13 (shifted to the left) and a second setting position in which the supply line 66b is vented and the supply line 66a is vented (position in which the control valve 65 is in Fig. 13 (shifted to the right).

[0048] To monitor the existing air pressure, a manometer 64 can be arranged, for example, in the supply line between air reservoir 63 and control valve 65.

[0049] The cylinders 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b are designed to be double-acting. To extend the cylinder rods 41a, 41b, 43a, 43b, the supply line 66b is pressurized, so that the respective side of the piston facing away from the rod is pressurized. To retract the cylinder rods 41a, 41b, 43a, 43b, the supply line 66a is pressurized, so that the respective side of the piston facing the rod is pressurized.

[0050] At branch 70, to which the main air line B1 and check valve 60 are connected, a quick-release brake valve 73 is connected via a shut-off valve 71 with a diverter valve 72. Valves 74a and 74b, configured here as roller lever valves, are connected to this quick-release brake valve 73.

[0051] Components 71, 72, 73, 74a, 74b serve as a safety device in case of unintentional opening of the roof.

[0052] By means of the switching device 72, the shut-off valve 71 can be adjusted so that it closes, e.g. when the freight wagon is to be loaded and therefore the roof halves 10a, 10b are to be opened selectively.

[0053] During transport of the freight wagon, the roof should remain closed. The shut-off valve 71 can be adjusted to the open position using the changeover device 72. If the roof opens unintentionally, valve 74a and / or valve 74b are triggered, causing the emergency brake valve 73 to open. The main air line B1 is then open, thus being emptied and triggering an emergency brake application of the freight wagon.

[0054] This roof device is suitable for various containers used to transport bulk goods that require covering. A container might be, for example, part of a freight wagon for rail transport, such as a gravel wagon. Existing freight wagons with an open top through which bulk goods can be loaded can also be retrofitted with a roof device. To maintain the overall height, the freight wagon can be shortened if necessary, for example, by removing the upper section of the wall that defines the opening to the interior. In particular, freight wagons with the following designations according to the UIC (Union Internationale des Chemins de fer) classification system can be retrofitted with a roof device: Faccs, Faccns, Falls, Fallns.

[0055] The letters in these designations have the following meanings: Letter F: it is a special-design open freight wagon; Letter a: it is equipped with four wheelsets; Letter combination cc: adjustable gravity self-unloader, where the lower edge of the unloading opening is less than 70 cm above the top of the rail; Letter combination II: non-adjustable gravity self-unloader, where the lower edge of the unloading opening is less than 70 cm above the top of the rail; Letter n: the load limit is over 60 tonnes (with four wheelsets); Letter s: approved for trains up to 100 km / h.

[0056] In addition to freight wagons, containers for transporting bulk goods, which have an open top, can also be fitted with the roof device, in particular Roll-off containers, which are transported by truck and / or rail; ISO containers (large-capacity containers, standardized according to ISO standard 668), which can also be transported by rail by providing a suitable railcar; superstructures on a railcar, which have a container for the transport of various bulk goods (iron ore, sand, gravel, cement, track ballast, coal, coke, etc.).

Claims

1. Roof device for a container for transporting bulk material, wherein the container has an open top through which the container can be loaded with bulk material, the roof device comprising: a roof with two roof halves (10a, 10b) which are movable back and forth between a covered and open position, wherein the top of the container is covered by the roof halves in the covered position and at least partially exposed between the roof halves in the open position, and a drive device (40a, 40b, 42a, 42b, 60-65, 66a, 66b) for moving the roof halves.

2. Roof device according to claim 1, comprising guide rails (13a, 13b, 15a, 15b) for moving the roof halves (10a, 10b), wherein each guide rail is preferably attached to a roof half.

3. Roof device according to claim 2, wherein the guide rails (13a, 13b, 15a, 15b) have at least one of the following features A1-A5: A1) a respective guide rail is arranged at the end of a roof half (10a, 10b); A2) a respective guide rail is attached to a roof half by at least one bracket (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b), which bracket is preferably U-shaped; A3) the respective guide rail (13a, 15a) of one roof half is adjacent to a guide rail (13b, 15b) of the other roof half and is arranged at a different vertical level; A4) a respective guide rail is arranged to be movable between rollers (33a-33d, 33a'-33d', 35a-35d, 35a'-35d'); A5) a respective guide rail is arranged to be movable between two pairs of rollers.

4. Roof device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a locking mechanism (20a, 20b, 21a, 21b) for selectively locking and releasing the roof halves (10a, 10b).

5. Roof device according to claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism has at least one locking element (20a, 21a) which is movably arranged on one roof half (10a) and which can be engaged with a bolt (20b, 21b) which is arranged on the other roof half (10b), wherein preferably the locking element has at least one of the following features B1-B5: B1) the at least one locking element is designed such that it can be moved from the released to the locked position due to its own weight; B2) the at least one locking element is pivotably arranged on one roof half;B3) The at least one locking element has an inclined guide surface (20d) to which a recess (20c) is attached, wherein during the locking process the inclined guide surface contacts the bolt and causes the at least one locking element to deflect until the recess is finally engaged with the bolt; B4) The at least one locking element is connected to an actuating part (22), in particular a cable, for manually actuating the at least one locking element; B5) Two locking elements are provided, which are arranged on one half of the roof and which can each be brought into engagement with a bolt, wherein preferably the two locking elements are coupled to each other, so that the movement of one locking element causes a movement of the other locking element.

6. Roof device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective roof half (10a. 10b) has a roller (26a, 26b) which is preferably arranged in the middle of the roof half and / or which is preferably rollable on a web (31) which bridges the top of the container when moving the roof halves.

7. Roof device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the drive device (40a, 40b, 42a, 42b, 60-65, 66a, 66b) is configured to pneumatically move the roof halves.

8. Roof device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive device (60-65, 66a, 66b) comprises pneumatic cylinders (40a, 40b, 42a, 42b) which have at least one of the following features C1-C5: C1) each cylinder is arranged at the end of a roof half; C2) each cylinder is double-acting; C3) the cylinder rod (41a, 41b, 43a, 43b) of each cylinder is coupled at its end to a roof half; C4) at least two cylinders are provided per roof half; C5) the respective cylinder (41a, 43a) that is coupled to one roof half (10a) is adjacent to a cylinder (41b, 43b) of the other roof half (10b) and is arranged at a different vertical level.

9. Roof device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive device (40a, 40b, 42a, 42b, 60-65, 66a, 66b) has an air reservoir (63) for storing compressed air with which the drive device can be operated, wherein preferably the air reservoir is provided in addition to an air reservoir (B6) for the operation of a brake system.

10. Roof device according to one of the preceding claims, with a safety device (71-73, 74a, 74b) comprising a sensor device (74a, 74b) for triggering a signal when the roof halves (10a, 10b) are moved inexorably towards the open position, preferably the sensor device comprising at least one valve (74a, 74b) for generating a pneumatic signal, in particular a roller lever valve, and / or preferably the sensor device is coupled to a quick-release brake valve (73) for opening a main air line (B1) of a brake system.

11. Roof device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the roof is arranged such that, when the roof is in the covered position and when the container is unloaded, air from the outside can flow through the roof into the container through at least one lower discharge opening in the container.

12. Transport carrier for the transport of bulk goods, in particular freight wagons, containers or superstructures on a railway wagon, which transport carrier has a container for receiving bulk goods and a roof device according to one of the preceding claims.

13. Transport carrier according to claim 12, wherein the roof device is arranged such that the roof halves (10a, 10b) do not extend beyond the maximum width of the transport carrier, in particular freight wagon, when open.

14. Method for providing a transport carrier according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the transport carrier is equipped with a roof device according to any one of claims 1-11.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the transport carrier is shortened in height before the roof device is attached.

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