Railway platform with a lateral transshipment device

Abstract

The invention relates to a railway platform (1) comprising a transshipment device adapted for loading or unloading a container (2). The railway platform (1) comprises a frame (4) extending in a longitudinal direction (L), considered horizontal. The transshipment device comprises a platform (10) adapted to receive a container (2) upon it, and at least two rails (8) capable of assuming a retracted position in which they are aligned longitudinally against the frame (4) and an extended position in which they extend transversely relative to the frame (4). The platform (10) is mounted movably transversely relative to the frame (4) and on the rails (8).The transshipment device further comprises a crane (12) retractable into the chassis (4), which has a telescopic arm (13) rotatably mounted relative to the chassis (4), to which is attached a gripping frame (15) adapted to connect to the upper corner structures (17) of a container (2). See Figure 6 for abbreviations.

Description

Title of the invention: Railway platform comprising a lateral transshipment device. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the invention is that of multimodal transport of goods.

[0002] The principle of multimodal transport is based on the successive use of several modes of transport, such as road and rail, to move goods from a point of origin to a final destination. This principle aims to optimize the efficiency, reliability, and flexibility of the logistics chain by exploiting the advantages of each mode of transport. The objective of multimodal transport is thus to improve the efficiency of freight transport while reducing costs and environmental impacts.

[0003] For their transport according to a multimodal principle, goods are generally placed in a container. A container is an enclosure, a "box", generally metallic, having a standardized shape and dimensions.

[0004] In particular, for standardized containers known as "ISO" containers, two lengths have been defined: 20-foot (approximately 6 m) and 40-foot (approximately 12 m) containers. These containers have a width of 8 feet (2.44 m) and can have a height of 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) or 9 feet 6 inches (2.89 m). Other container dimensions are common, ranging from 6 feet (approximately 2.5 m) to 40 feet (approximately 12 m).

[0005] Containers thus allow the transport of goods by different modes (such as cargo ships, trains, and trucks, etc.) which are adapted to carry them.

[0006] In this context, the present invention is particularly concerned with multimodal transport using road for the first and / or last kilometers, and rail for the majority of the journey. Rail transport of goods is called rail freight.

[0007] The invention relates more particularly to a motorized railway platform enabling the autonomous movement of a container, and specifically adapted for the multimodal transport of containerized goods. STATE OF THE ART

[0008] A number of documents describing solutions in this context are known. Document US20230174119 discloses a self-propelled railcar for the transport of goods, particularly containers, which is autonomous in its movements. on a railway network. To achieve this, the wagon is equipped with a set of sensors enabling, among other things, wagon localization and obstacle detection. However, the wagon described in this document only allows for autonomous transport of goods between two points and is dependent on external infrastructure for transshipment.

[0009] Some container loading or unloading devices integrated into railcars have also been described. For example, document WO2015 / 136324 and document DE19856179 present railcars having an integrated container transshipment crane.

[0010] The known transshipment devices between a railcar and a truck trailer are nevertheless imperfect. In particular, they assume that the truck is in close proximity to the railcar. Description of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above.

[0012] To this end, the invention aims in particular to propose an autonomous rail platform, dedicated to the multimodal transport of goods, rail and road, which includes an optimized device for transshipping a container between said rail platform and a truck.

[0013] In particular, the invention relates to a railway platform comprising a transshipment device adapted for loading a container onto the railway platform from a truck or for unloading a container (2) onto a truck from said railway platform. The railway platform comprises a chassis extending in a longitudinal direction, considered horizontal. The transshipment device comprises a platform adapted to receive a container and at least two rails, said rails being able to assume a retracted position in which they are aligned longitudinally against the chassis and an extended position in which they extend transversely to the chassis, that is to say, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and horizontally. The platform is mounted movably transversely to the chassis on the rails.The transshipment device further comprises a retractable crane in the chassis, the crane comprising a telescopic arm having a first end which is mounted to rotate relative to the chassis, along a vertical axis, and a second end to which is attached a gripping frame adapted to connect to the upper corner structures of a container.

[0014] The railway platform proposed within the framework of the present invention allows the transshipment of a container between the railway platform and a truck (or a truck trailer) located alongside the railway platform. We can then speak of of a transshipment in the transverse direction, or alternatively and equivalently of a lateral transshipment.

[0015] The rail platform is autonomous for transshipment operations, in that it includes the devices (in particular the crane and the platform) enabling the movement of a container from the rail platform to a truck and vice versa. Furthermore, the rail platform may include control systems for these devices, allowing for an automated transshipment operation without human intervention.

[0016] The platform is further optimized to be perfectly stable during transshipment operations.

[0017] The telescopic crane used in the context of the present invention has a large reach which allows it to adapt to the exact positioning of the container before loading onto the railway platform, or to the position of the truck (or its trailer) on which the container is to be placed.

[0018] Once retracted into the chassis of the railway platform, the crane is protected and does not take up space on the surface of the railway platform.

[0019] This configuration proves to be particularly well suited to carrying out autonomous transshipment, without human intervention.

[0020] The rails of the railway platform can be equipped with stabilizing feet at their end opposite the chassis.

[0021] The railway platform may include four rails, two rails configured to deploy transversely on one side of the chassis, and two rails configured to deploy transversely on the other side of the chassis.

[0022] The gripping frame can have an adjustable length so as to adapt to the length of the container to which it is attached.

[0023] The gripping frame can be attached to a twenty-foot container and a forty-foot container.

[0024] The crane can be mounted mobile longitudinally with respect to the chassis.

[0025] The telescopic arm may include two parallel telescopic uprights.

[0026] The gripping frame can be fixed to the second end of the telescopic arm by an intermediate arm, the first end of which is mounted to tilt along a first tilting axis vis-à-vis the telescopic arm and the second end is mounted to tilt along a second tilting axis vis-à-vis the gripping frame, the first tilting axis and the second tilting axis being parallel.

[0027] The gripping frame can be mounted rotatably, along an axis perpendicular to the second tilting axis.

[0028] The railway platform may further include mobile stabilizers between a folded position and an extended position in which they bear on the ground at a distance, transversely, from the chassis of the railway platform.

[0029] The railway platform may include a control device adapted to automatically control a transshipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] Other advantages, purposes, and special features of the present invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the devices and methods of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] Figures 1 to 15 represent the steps of a transshipment operation of a container from a truck to a railway platform according to an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The present description is given as a non-limiting example of an embodiment.

[0033] Fig. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a railway platform 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, next to which a container 2 is positioned on the trailer 3 (or the loading platform) of a truck.

[0034] The railway platform 1 comprises a chassis 4, which forms the mechanical structure of said railway platform 1. The chassis 4 is shown here schematically. It can be formed in any known manner for a wagon, in particular for a freight wagon, especially a container wagon. The railway platform 1 is mounted on bogies 5, enabling its movement on rails.

[0035] The railway platform 1 extends along a direction conventionally referred to as the longitudinal direction L. The transverse direction T is defined as the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction located in a substantially horizontal plane (when the railway platform 1 travels on flat, horizontal ground). The vertical direction Z is defined as the direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T.

[0036] The railway platform 1 is advantageously self-propelled and includes a power source enabling its movement over a certain distance.

[0037] The railway platform may include an electric propulsion system, powered by batteries or by a fuel cell producing electricity from hydrogen contained in a tank. Alternatively, it may include a combustion engine, in particular a hydrogen combustion engine. The propulsion means included in the railway platform 1 may be used as the primary means of propulsion for the platform, or as a secondary means, i.e. to travel a limited distance before and / or after a transshipment operation.

[0038] The railway platform 1 is advantageously autonomous. Autonomous means that the railway platform 1 includes the sensors and the computer and / or communication systems necessary to ensure autonomous operation of the platform during its journey between a point of departure and a destination. Furthermore, the railway platform can advantageously perform a transshipment operation without human intervention.

[0039] To carry out a transshipment operation, here an operation of loading container 2 onto the railway platform 1 from a truck, the truck is positioned in a loading or unloading area, according to a given orientation, along the railway track, with a certain tolerance of positioning and alignment.

[0040] The railway platform 1 then moves longitudinally to the optimal position for transshipment.

[0041] To this end, the rail platform includes a set of sensors and computer systems (onboard or communicating with the rail platform 1) that, for example, identify the truck and its trailer and ensure that it is the truck from which container 2 is to be loaded (or onto which the container is to be unloaded). The sensor system also determines the truck's exact position. In the case of transshipment from the truck, it determines the position of the container, and in particular its lifting points (typically its corners).

[0042] Once the rail platform 1 is in position, optional stabilizers 6 are deployed. The stabilizers 6 can be located near each corner of the rail platform 1. The stabilizers 6 are intended to create stable support points on either side of the chassis 4 of the rail platform 1, in order to ensure good lateral stability when lifting a container 2.

[0043] In the example shown, the stabilizers 6 simply extend vertically and have at their end a ground support plate 7. According to other embodiments, the stabilizers have a telescopic transverse arm and a vertical arm also telescopic at the end of which the ground support plate 7 is fixed.

[0044] As shown in [Fig.2], the railway platform 1 has rails 8, namely here two rails on one side of the chassis 4 and two rails on the transversely opposite side.

[0045] Each rail 8 can take a retracted position, which is shown in [Fig. 1], in which the rail 8 is placed longitudinally against the chassis 4 of the railway platform 1. Each rail 8 can take a deployed position, shown in [Fig. 2], in which it extends transversely relative to the chassis. To move from the retracted position to the deployed position, the rail 8 pivots relative to the chassis 4 along a vertical axis.

[0046] Once the rail is in the deployed position, stabilizing feet 9 which are fixed to the free end of the rails 8 extend vertically until they rest on the ground.

[0047] The stability of the assembly is thus guaranteed. Furthermore, it is thus possible to place a significant load on the rails 8.

[0048] The railway platform also includes a platform 10. Platform 10 is composed of a truss of beams or tubes. Platform 10 is adapted, with regard to its dimensions and mechanical characteristics, to receive a container, in particular a 40-foot container.

[0049] In its central part, the platform 10 is adapted to receive a 20-foot container. The platform is movable laterally relative to the chassis 4. For this purpose, the platform 10 is mounted on transverse rails 11, which are extended by rails 8 when the latter are in the deployed position. The platform is equipped with casters allowing its movement on the transverse rails 11 and the rails 8.

[0050] As shown in [Fig.3], the platform 10 is moved, by transverse translation, towards the container 2 which is to be loaded onto the railway platform 1. This transverse movement can be achieved using any suitable means: motor and gears, transmission chain, jack, etc.

[0051] The platform then rests essentially or totally on the rails 8.

[0052] The transverse movement of the platform 10 releases a crane 12, initially located under the platform in a housing formed in the chassis 4. The crane 12 is thus a retractable crane in the chassis 4.

[0053] As shown in [Fig. 4], the crane 12 then begins to be deployed. The crane 12 has a telescopic arm 13. The telescopic arm 13 has two telescopic uprights. The two telescopic uprights are parallel and are configured to extend or retract simultaneously.

[0054] Initially, the telescopic arm is tilted from the horizontal position it had in the housing of the chassis 4 to a raised position.

[0055] The telescopic arm 13 has a first end 14 which is rotatably mounted relative to the chassis 4, about a horizontal axis, which allows the telescopic arm to be raised. The first end 14 is also rotatably mounted relative to the chassis about a vertical axis of rotation RI, allowing the crane to be rotated to orient it, and in particular to move it from a longitudinal position to a transverse position (see below).

[0056] In the embodiment shown here, the crane 12 is mounted as a whole in a movable translational position relative to the chassis 4 of the platform railway. Thus, when the crane is deployed, the first end of the lifting arm 13 is longitudinally recentered so as to be positioned in the center of the chassis. For this, the crane is mounted in the chassis housing 4 on a trolley whose movement is caused by a longitudinal cylinder.

[0057] Between the position of the crane 12 shown in [Fig. 4] and the position of the crane 12 shown in [Fig. 5], the telescopic arm was raised and recentered on the chassis. The telescopic arm was rotated 90° around the vertical axis of rotation RI.

[0058] The crane also includes a gripping frame 15. The gripping frame 15 is fixed, directly or indirectly, to a second end 16 of the telescopic arm 13.

[0059] The gripping frame is a rectangular frame, which has devices at its corners adapted to connect to corner structures 17 of the container 2.

[0060] The gripping frame 15 is adjustable in length, so that it can be attached to containers of any length, including 20-foot and 40-foot containers.

[0061] The gripping frame 15 is rotatably mounted relative to the telescopic arm 13, along two orthogonal axes. The objective is to allow the gripping frame to be positioned relative to the container 2, in particular to allow the frame to be positioned horizontally, parallel to an upper surface of the container 2, and in the same longitudinal alignment as the container 2, regardless of the exact position of the telescopic arm 13.

[0062] In the example shown here, the gripping frame 15 is thus fixed to the second end 16 of the telescopic arm by an intermediate arm 18 (clearly visible in figures 6 and following) of which a first end 19 is mounted to tilt about a first tilting axis B1 vis-à-vis the telescopic arm 13 and a second end 20 is mounted to tilt about a second tilting axis B2 vis-à-vis the gripping frame 15. The first tilting axis B1 and the second tilting axis B2 are parallel.

[0063] This allows the horizontality of the gripping frame to be adjusted.

[0064] In addition, the gripping frame is mounted rotatably, along an axis R2 perpendicular to the second tilting axis B2.

[0065] Between the position of the crane 12 shown in [Fig. 5] and the position of the crane 12 shown in [Fig. 6], the intermediate arm 18 and the gripping frame 15 have been tilted 180° around the first tilting axis B1. This positions the frame so that its devices adapted for connecting to the corner structures 17 of the container 2 are oriented downwards, in a position enabling them to connect to the corner structures 17 of the upper corners of the container 2.

[0066] The telescopic arm 13, if it is not correctly oriented with respect to the position of the container 2, is then pivoted 180° with respect to the chassis 4 so that the gripping frame 15 is oriented towards the container 2. This position is shown in [Fig.7].

[0067] The telescopic arm is then extended so that the gripping frame overhangs container 2. This configuration is shown in [Fig.8].

[0068] The length of the gripping frame 15 is then adapted to the container to be transshipped. In the example of an embodiment shown here, extensions 21 are deployed and their ends connect to the corner structures 17 of the container 2, as shown in [Fig.9].

[0069] The telescopic arm is then maneuvered to bring the container 2 onto the platform 10, as shown in [Fig. 10]. To do this, the telescopic arm 13 is tilted relative to the chassis 4 to assume a more vertical position, which has the effect of bringing the container back towards the rail platform 1, while the length of the telescopic arm is simultaneously reduced to keep the container at approximately the same vertical level. A rotation of the intermediate arm 18 relative to the telescopic arm 13 around the first tilting axis B1 and a rotation of the gripping frame 15 relative to the intermediate arm 18 around the second tilting axis B2 make it possible to keep the container flat, horizontal, during its movement from the truck 3 to the platform 10.

[0070] The crane is then folded and retracted into the chassis 4. To do this, the gripping frame is uncoupled from the container 2, and the extensions 21 are retracted. The telescopic arm is pivoted 180° around the vertical axis of rotation RI in order to move the gripping frame away from the container 2. This position is shown in [Fig. 1 1].

[0071] The intermediate arm 18 is tilted 180° around the first tilting axis B1, and the telescopic arm is rotated 90° around the vertical rotation axis RI in order to be longitudinally aligned, as shown in [Fig.12].

[0072] The trolley carrying the crane 12 is brought back to its original position, towards a longitudinal end of the housing formed in the chassis, and the crane 12 is folded into this housing, as shown in [Fig. 13].

[0073] The platform 10, which carries the container 2, is then brought back onto the chassis 4 by transverse translation. At the end of this step shown in [Fig. 14], the container 2 is thus loaded onto the railway platform 1.

[0074] To complete the transshipment operation, the stabilizing feet 9 are retracted and the transverse rails 8 are folded along the frame 4, as shown in [Fig. 15]. The stabilizers 6 are also retracted.

[0075] The railway platform can then move along the railway track, in order to reach a destination, for example a container delivery point, or to be linked to a train or other railway platforms in order to be approached to its destination.

[0076] Throughout the transshipment sequence, the sensors on the rail platform (optical sensors, proximity sensors, crane 12 position sensors, etc.) continuously determine the position of crane 12 and container 2 to ensure the operation proceeds correctly. Any anomaly that is not corrected or that poses a potential hazard results in the sequence being stopped.

[0077] A rail platform is thus proposed that can easily and efficiently transship a container to and from a truck using its own resources. The rail platform is advantageously autonomous for carrying out transshipment operations, and even more advantageously autonomous for performing rail transport within a multimodal shipment. A complete and autonomous solution for the rail portion of a multimodal transport is therefore proposed.

Claims

Demands

1. A railway platform (1) comprising a transshipment device adapted to load a container (2) onto the railway platform (1) from a truck or to unload a container (2) onto a truck from said railway platform (1), the railway platform (1) comprising a chassis (4) extending in a longitudinal direction (L), considered horizontal, the transshipment device comprising: - a platform (10) adapted to receive a container (2) on it, - at least two rails (8), said rails (8) being able to assume a retracted position in which they are aligned longitudinally against the chassis (4) and an extended position in which they extend transversely with respect to the chassis (4), that is to say perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and horizontally,the platform (10) being mounted movably transversely vis-à-vis the chassis (4) and on the rails (8), the transshipment device further comprising a crane (12) retractable into the chassis (4), the crane (12) comprising a telescopic arm (13) having a first end (14) which is mounted rotatably vis-à-vis the chassis (4), along a vertical axis (RI), and a second end (16) to which is fixed a gripping frame (15) adapted to connect to upper corner structures (17) of a container (2).

2. Railway platform according to claim 1, wherein the rails (8) are equipped with stabilizing feet (9) at their end opposite the chassis (4).

3. Railway platform (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising four rails (8), two rails (8) configured to deploy transversely on one side of the chassis (4), and two rails (8) configured to deploy transversely on the other side of the chassis (4).

4. Railway platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping frame (15) has an adjustable length so as to fit the length of the container (2) to which it is attached.

5. Railway platform according to claim 4, wherein the gripping frame (15) can be attached to a twenty-foot container (2) and to a forty-foot container (2).

6. Railway platform according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the crane (12) is mounted movably longitudinally vis-à-vis the chassis (4).

7. Railway platform according to any one of the preceding claims in which the telescopic arm (13) comprises two parallel telescopic uprights.

8. Railway platform according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping frame (15) is fixed to the second end (16) of the telescopic arm (13) by an intermediate arm (18) of which a first end (19) is mounted to tilt about a first tilting axis (B1) vis-à-vis the telescopic arm (13) and a second end (20) is mounted to tilt about a second tilting axis (B2) vis-à-vis the gripping frame (15), the first tilting axis (B1) and the second tilting axis (B2) being parallel.

9. Railway platform according to claim 8, wherein the gripping frame (15) is rotatably mounted, about an axis (R2) perpendicular to the second tilting axis (B2).

10. Railway platform according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising stabilizers (6) movable between a folded position and an extended position in which they bear on the ground at a distance, transversely, from the chassis of the railway platform.

11. Railway platform according to any one of the preceding claims, said railway platform (1) comprising a control device adapted to automatically control a transshipment.

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