Freight station for completing construction of novel railway transport system for self-propelled freight vehicle

Abstract

To provide a freight station by which the medium-to-long distance movement of self-propelled freight vehicles is reduced, thus a labor environment is improved and the volume of freights to be handled is increased by increasing local deliveries, and while increasing driver's income and expanding an industry freight handling volume, as qualified individuals are effectively utilized and an elderly driver ratio due to an increase in job seekers is improved, the reduction of fuel import volumes, countermeasures against rising fuel costs, the reduction of exhaust gas and the reduction of CO2 are promoted by the reduction of fuel usage, and while promoting late night railway infrastructure utilization and nighttime electricity use, the relieving of traffic congestion on expressways and the reduction of the number of accidents are attained.SOLUTION: For the construction of a novel railway transport system for self-propelled freight vehicles, the medium-to-long distance movement of self-propelled freight vehicles is replaced with railway transport, and a novel dedicated freight station is devised. In the freight station, as self-propelled freight vehicles are allowed to be loaded and unloaded from both sides of railway up and down lines in such a manner that they sandwich a freight car truck, the load and unload of the self-propelled freight vehicles can be executed by separate drivers.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a freight station and the like for completing the construction of a new rail transport system for self-propelled freight vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to solve the various logistics problems known as the 2024 Problem, the proposal to transport self-propelled freight vehicles by rail combines publicly known technologies to build a new rail transport system for self-propelled freight vehicles, but the main focus of this invention is a freight station facility for the rail transport of self-propelled freight vehicles.

[0003] There are various methods for loading and unloading vehicles in rail transport of self-propelled freight vehicles, including one-side rotation, slide loading, forklift, crane lifting, rear entry, and turntable methods, but the slide method requires a large loading slide device, and has problems such as not being able to load multiple transport vehicles at the same time and taking a long time to load vehicles onto the slide device. The turntable method has the risk of affecting the train schedule by protruding the vehicle loading pallet onto the adjacent track when rotating and of interfering with other trains passing on the adjacent track, leading to a collision accident, but this invention solves these problems.

[0004] By establishing new dedicated freight stations on both the up and down tracks that allow loading and unloading of self-propelled freight cars from both sides, self-propelled freight cars can be loaded and unloaded from the platforms on both sides of the freight car bogies at each dedicated freight station, reducing the time required by half compared to loading and unloading from one side. Furthermore, at dedicated freight stations in rural areas where the number of self-propelled freight cars to be loaded and unloaded is low, the time required for loading and unloading can be reduced by unloading self-propelled cars from platform A while loading them from platform B.

[0005] The turntable rotation angle of 45 to 50 degrees on each side is sufficient for loading and unloading self-propelled vehicles, and is efficient because it requires less space on the platform. Self-propelled vehicles loaded in the wrong direction must be turned 180 degrees to align them with the direction of travel of the railroad freight cars. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent 7203982 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2020-077120 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2020-170497 [Patent Document 4] Patent Publication No. 10-119772 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] A. When transporting self-propelled freight cars over medium to long distances by rail, there is no system that allows for the quick loading and unloading of the cars. B. There is no freight station to facilitate the loading and unloading of self-propelled freight cars onto freight car bogies. C. According to NEXCO traffic volume data for 2017, the average traffic volume for medium-sized, large, and extra-large vehicles was 38,000 vehicles per day on the Tomei Expressway and 31,000 vehicles per day on the Meishin Expressway. As a result, it has not been possible to reduce this traffic volume, and traffic congestion on the expressways has not been alleviated or accidents have not been reduced. 2) There has been little progress in addressing the increase in fuel imports, rising fuel costs, or reducing exhaust gas emissions or CO2 emissions. E. Driver productivity and working conditions per hour have not improved. Along with labor shortages, drivers' long driving and long detention times, situations where they are away from home for long periods of time, and health concerns, according to the Basic Survey on Wage Structure in 2021, the average annual income for the entire industry is "about 4.89 million yen," while the average annual income for truck drivers is "about 4.46 million yen," and this is the gross annual salary including overtime and holiday allowances. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A. Based on the currently used railway seat reservation system, we will create a system in which passengers are replaced by self-propelled freight cars and seats by freight car bogies, and a system is constructed to reserve freight car bogies, receive payment, and specify dedicated freight stations for loading and unloading self-propelled freight cars and departure and arrival times. At the same time, we will add a function that allows reservations to be registered by drivers who load and unload self-propelled freight cars. Even if the self-propelled freight cars can be delivered and handed over by our own drivers alone, we will use this system to reserve freight car bogies. B. Self-propelled freight vehicles that pass through the newly installed ticket gate for self-propelled freight vehicles are guided to the reserved freight cart. On the platform, the self-propelled freight vehicles are guided by alarms, LED guide lights embedded in the floor, and laser guide beams and cameras attached to the freight carts are used on monitors and smartphones to send and receive vehicle position information, and the loading and unloading of self-propelled freight vehicles onto the freight carts is guided. By providing dedicated platforms for both the up and down lines, self-propelled freight vehicles can be loaded and unloaded from the platforms on both sides of the freight carts at each dedicated freight station, which reduces the work time by half compared to loading and unloading from one side. Furthermore, at dedicated freight stations in rural areas where the number of self-propelled freight vehicles to be loaded and unloaded is low, and at times of day, the work time can be reduced by unloading self-propelled freight vehicles from platform A while loading self-propelled freight vehicles from platform B. In order to install the platform on the ground of the Grand Line, the rails for the freight car bogies will be dug into the ground, reducing the difference in elevation between the platform and the access roads for self-propelled freight vehicles. This not only ensures good visibility and ease of movement, but also reduces infrastructure construction costs and maintenance costs. Railways, which can transport large numbers of self-propelled freight vehicles at once, are energy-efficient, can utilize railway infrastructure that is less used late at night, and can also make use of electricity at night, helping to alleviate traffic congestion on expressways and reduce the number of accidents. By transporting self-propelled freight vehicles by rail for medium- to long-distance travel, the amount of fuel used by the vehicles will be reduced, which will contribute to reducing the amount of fuel imported, addressing rising fuel costs, reducing exhaust gases, reducing CO2 emissions, and extending the lifespan of self-propelled freight vehicles. The labor shortage problem, known as the 2024 problem, and improvements to driver productivity and working conditions can be addressed by switching from medium- to long-distance transportation by self-propelled freight vehicles to rail transport, which means that different drivers can load and unload the self-propelled freight vehicles and trucks can deliver and collect cargo within each area several times a day, increasing the amount of cargo handled, improving driver income, and expanding the amount of cargo handled in the industry. Effect of the Invention

[0009] At each dedicated freight station, work time can be shortened by loading and unloading self-propelled freight cars from the platforms on both sides of the freight car bogies. At local dedicated freight stations or during times when the number of self-propelled freight cars to be loaded and unloaded is low, work time can be shortened by unloading self-propelled freight cars from platform A while loading them from platform B.

[0010] By switching medium- to long-distance transport by self-propelled freight vehicles to rail transport, qualified personnel can use the time they would have spent traveling medium to long distances to increase the number of collection and delivery trips within the region, which will increase driver income, make better use of qualified personnel, and increase the number of people wishing to work, thereby resolving labor shortages and improving the rate of elderly drivers.

[0011] By using rail transport for medium- to long-distance transport of self-propelled freight vehicles, we can reduce the amount of fuel used by self-propelled freight vehicles, which will contribute to reducing the amount of fuel imported, combating rising fuel costs, reducing exhaust gases, and cutting CO2 emissions.

[0012] By using rail transport for medium- to long-distance travel by self-propelled freight vehicles, we can make better use of rail infrastructure, which is less used late at night, and promote the use of electricity at night.

[0013] By switching to rail transport for medium- to long-distance self-propelled freight vehicles, it is expected that traffic congestion on expressways will be alleviated and the number of accidents will decrease. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] Diagram of platforms A and B for self-propelled freight vehicles [Diagram 2] Cross-section of platforms A and B for self-propelled freight vehicles DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS EXAMPLES

[0015] In order for separate drivers to load and unload a self-propelled freight vehicle, the engine start key must be handed over when the vehicle is handed over to the driver. There are several ways to do this. A. A single start key is placed in a safe installed on the freight car dolly. The unlocking password is confirmed by contacting the driver via email or phone. B. Two start keys are provided to each of the two drivers responsible for loading and unloading. C. One method is to install a barcode reading device inside the self-propelled freight vehicle and open and close the doors and start the engine by holding a barcode obtained using a smartphone or other device through the window glass, or to open the door and then remove the starter key that is placed in a storage compartment inside the vehicle.

[0016] Method C involves launching a new system for screening and registering drivers with excellent qualifications with the cooperation of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the police, and allowing drivers who have been approved for registration to apply and make reservations through a system based on the railway seat reservation system, thereby utilizing the spare time of qualified drivers from other companies and individual business owners. Even if a company's own drivers are capable of loading and unloading self-propelled freight cars, reservations for freight car bogies will be made through a system based on the railway seat reservation system. Only freight car bogies that meet the conditions for loading and unloading freight cars will be allowed to operate.

[0017] With methods A and C, when a driver who unloads freight cars from freight car bogies at each dedicated freight station is unable to arrive at the site due to illness or an accident, the vehicle owning company is contacted and a qualified driver registered at each dedicated freight station, or a qualified driver from another company who has finished loading the cars, can move them to the parking lot at the dedicated freight station, thereby ensuring smooth operation of freight car trains.

[0018] The Excellent Qualifications Screening Registration System, which includes many vehicle operators and drivers who own self-propelled freight vehicles, as well as railway operators, will self-check compliance, customer satisfaction, and safety by disclosing the accuracy of loading and unloading freight vehicles and the ease of use of each dedicated freight station.

[0019] At each dedicated freight station, facilities modeled after highway service areas will be set up to improve the working environment for drivers.

[0020] The terms and expressions used in the present specification and claims are merely for explanatory purposes and are not limiting in any way, and are not intended to exclude terms and expressions equivalent to the features described in the present specification and claims and parts thereof. In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0021] Rail transport, which can move large numbers of self-propelled freight cars at once, is energy-efficient and can make use of railway infrastructure, which is less used late at night, as well as electricity at night.

[0022] By switching to rail transport for medium- to long-distance self-propelled freight vehicles, it is expected that traffic congestion on expressways will be alleviated and the number of accidents will decrease.

[0023] By using rail transport for medium- to long-distance travel by self-propelled freight vehicles, the amount of fuel used by the self-propelled freight vehicles will be reduced, which is expected to help reduce the amount of fuel imported, counter rising fuel costs, reduce exhaust gases, and cut CO2 emissions.

[0024] To address the labor shortage problem known as the 2024 problem, and to improve driver productivity and the working environment, we aim to switch medium- to long-distance travel in self-propelled freight vehicles to rail transport, have different drivers load and unload the self-propelled freight vehicles, reduce the medium- to long-distance travel time of qualified drivers, and increase the number of collection and delivery trips within each region several times a day. This will increase the amount of freight handled, improve drivers' income, and expand the amount of freight handled in the industry, while also improving the working environment, making effective use of qualified drivers, and reducing the proportion of elderly drivers by increasing the number of people wanting to work. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] 1 Self-propelled freight vehicle 2. Turntable 3 Cargo trolley 4. Excavated retaining wall 5 Railroad Tracks 6 Platform A for self-propelled freight vehicles 7 Platform B for self-propelled freight vehicles 8. Ticket gate for self-propelled freight vehicles 9. Exit signs on floors

Claims

[Claim 1] In order to establish a new rail transport system for self-propelled freight vehicles, this is a dedicated freight station facility for self-propelled freight vehicles, where freight car bogies are sandwiched between the up and down tracks of the railway, allowing loading and unloading of self-propelled vehicles from both sides.

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