Automatic coupling device automatic wetting unit

Abstract

FIELD: railway transport.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to devices for wetting automatic coupling devices of railway wagons during breaking up on marshalling yards. The automatic coupling device wetting system consists of a pump, water supply hoses, nozzles mounted on brackets outside the rolling stock clearance on both or one side of the track, an electromagnetic valve and sensors, with the help of which water is supplied only when the coupling device is in the nozzle operating zone, a tank for collecting waste water, a water drainage hose, and a water purification unit. The nozzle brackets are made from composite parts to allow them to be moved to the side when oversized cargo is being transported. The unit is placed on railway tracks without disturbing the building’s approach clearance. The nozzles are placed on brackets above the automatic coupling device to allow water to pass from top to bottom across the entire cross-section of the automatic coupling device. The brackets are height adjustable to allow placement of nozzles above the automatic coupling device depending on local conditions.EFFECT: cases of automatic coupling devices failing to detach from an approaching train in hot weather conditions are minimized, the speed of train disengagement is increased while ensuring environmental safety, interference with the operation of railway infrastructure information systems, deformation of the roadbed, and injuries to hump yard workers are minimized.5 cl, 1 dwg

Description

[0001] Technical field

[0002] The invention relates to the field of railway transport, namely to devices for wetting automatic coupling devices of railway cars during dismantling on hump yards.

[0003] Technology Level

[0004] When breaking up trains in the summer at hump yards, problems often arise with the timely separation of uncouplings from the train at the hump crossing. These problems are associated with delays in the uncoupling of car couplers after their uncoupling by the hump yarder. Delayed uncoupling of uncoupled couplers is caused by the increased friction coefficient in the coupling circuit exceeding the calculated values ​​(even to the point of pinching, making it impossible to uncouple), as well as by the poor condition of the coupler traction surfaces (the presence of rust, external contamination, and various defects such as chipping, scoring, burrs, etc.).

[0005] The problem of untimely uncoupling of uncoupled cars causes a decrease in the speed of uncoupling of cars, an increase in the probability of "light" uncoupled cars being pulled down by "heavier" ones, an increase in the probability of uncoupled cars and a disruption in the uncoupling program for the movement of uncoupled cars to the marshalling yard, which in turn increases the share of recycled cars, reduces the processing capacity of the marshalling yard, and also increases the risk of injury to workers.

[0006] A device for cleaning automatic couplings (RU Patent No. 87670, July 6, 2009) is known. It comprises a permanently installed cleaning chamber with a hydraulic monitor, a support for the automatic coupling removed from the car, a container for cleaning fluid, a fluid supply and drainage system, and a control panel. The hydraulic monitor is mounted on guides within the chamber, and the recycled water drainage system has a sump, a pump, and cleaning filters.

[0007] A disadvantage of this device is the need to remove the automatic coupler from the car and place it in a washing unit. The unit is equipped with a movable hydraulic monitor, which is only suitable for use in a closed chamber. Using the device outdoors is not possible. The complex mounting and rotation mechanisms are of such dimensions that they cannot be placed on railway tracks without violating the clearance clearance for buildings. Therefore, the unit cannot be used in conditions where cleaning of the coupling circuit is required while cars are moving on a hump yard. Another disadvantage is the use of a cleaning agent, which requires additional measures for collecting, filtering, and disposing of the waste fluid.

[0008] Of the known proposals, the most closely related is a device for water-jet wetting of the coupling contour of the sliding part of hump yards during train breakup (RU Patent No. 217118, dated March 17, 2023). The device consists of a series-connected water tank connected to the water supply system, a filter for purifying the water from impurities, a high-pressure pump electric motor, and a flexible high-pressure hose connected to a nozzle controlled by a solenoid valve connected to the nozzle, the flexible hose, and the device control unit. The nozzles are fixed in the track, preserving the clearances for buildings and rolling stock, with the ability to adjust the angle of inclination from 4° to 12° relative to the vertical plane.

[0009] The device can connect multiple nozzles and solenoid valves via fittings. The signal to activate the solenoid valve comes from laser sensors that detect the presence of intercar space and from the car axle counting sensors to the nozzle solenoid valve control unit. The nozzle's integrity is ensured by a bump stop mounted on the sleeper on the track side of the sliding hump section, in front of the nozzle in the direction of travel. The bump stop protects the nozzle from dragging rolling stock parts.

[0010] The device operates as follows: as a train approaches the hump, data from the train's sorting sheet regarding its uncoupling program and uncoupling parameters (number of cars, uncouplings, and axles) is transmitted to the control unit. Based on the marshalling plan data, uncoupling locations are determined, and during uncoupling, the uncoupling speed is determined, axle counting is performed to determine the number of cars passing, and the width of the inter-car space. Laser sensors and car axle counters determine the speed of the rolling stock uncoupling by measuring the time between the passing of the car bogie wheelsets. The location of the upcoming uncoupling of the cars is determined automatically. As the rolling stock approaches the device location, the response time of the electromagnetic valve and the time for the water jet to be applied to the surface of the automatic couplers from below are calculated.When a track-mounted nozzle approaches the corresponding inter-car space containing the couplers requiring uncoupling, the nozzle is activated by a command transmitted to the electromagnetic valve by the control unit. Pressure from a pump driven by an electric motor is transmitted through flexible hoses to the nozzle, which generates a jet of water directed at the coupler connection as the cars to be uncoupled pass over the inter-car space.

[0011] Water is supplied by a plunger pump at 180-200 bar pressure to the injector's electromagnetic valve. The pump is driven by a 4 kW electric motor (2800 rpm). The pump's capacity is 13-15 l / min. The control cabinet houses the device's electrical equipment.

[0012] No additional measures are required to divert runoff from the track superstructure, as the device is only used in hot, dry weather. Clean water is used, some of which is retained and subsequently evaporates from the surface of the automatic coupler, while the rest evaporates from the track superstructure, without polluting the ballast or the environment.

[0013] This device reduces the friction coefficient in the coupling circuit of interacting automatic couplers, improving their disengagement process and thereby increasing the speed of uncoupling, handling capacity, and reliability of the hump yard. Using this device will reduce the incidence of uncoupled cars on the hump hump, as well as the incidence of uncoupled cars being misdirected to the hump yard, disrupting the uncoupling program.

[0014] The disadvantages of this device are the negative impact on the environment, on the components of the device located under the cars and their operation when wetted with contaminated automatic coupling devices, the need to connect to the information systems of critical railway infrastructure, on the condition of the track superstructure, which subsequently can lead to liquefaction of the ballast, and as a result to the release of dirt from under the sleepers, changes in the geometry of the track, including subsidence and distortions, vibration deformation of reinforced concrete sleepers and splice plates due to a decrease in the stability of the track-sleeper grid.

[0015] Disclosure of the essence of the invention

[0016] The technical objective of the claimed invention is to minimize cases of automatic coupling devices not separating from an approaching train in hot weather conditions in order to increase the speed of train disassembly while ensuring environmental safety, minimizing interference in the operation of railway infrastructure information systems, deformation of the roadbed, and minimizing injuries to workers at marshalling yards.

[0017] This problem is solved by means of an installation consisting of: a pump; water supply hoses; nozzles placed on brackets outside the rolling stock clearance on both or one side of the overrun track; an electromagnetic valve and sensors, with the help of which water is supplied only when the automatic coupling device is in the operating zone of the nozzles; a tank for collecting waste water; a hose for water drainage; a water purification unit. The nozzle brackets are made of composite parts for their retraction when oversized cargo passes. The installation is placed on railway tracks, without violating the approach clearance of the building. The nozzles are placed on brackets above the automatic coupling device to pass water from top to bottom along the entire cross-section of the automatic coupling device, while the brackets are designed with the ability to adjust the height of the nozzles above the automatic coupling device, depending on local conditions.

[0018] Purified water can be reused.

[0019] Brief description of drawings

[0020] Fig. 1 shows the connection diagram of the installation components:

[0021] 1 - water supply pipe;

[0022] 2 - water storage and supply tank;

[0023] 3 - pump;

[0024] 4 - water supply control unit;

[0025] 5 - water supply hose;

[0026] 6 - electromagnetic valve;

[0027] 7 - nozzle bracket;

[0028] 8 - injectors;

[0029] 9 - water collection tank;

[0030] 10 - water drainage hoses;

[0031] 11 - sensors;

[0032] 12 - cleaning unit.

[0033] Implementation of the invention

[0034] The installation operates as follows: when a train moves onto the hump of the marshalling yard and an inter-car space appears, in automatic mode, with the help of sensors 11, a signal is sent to the control unit 4 to open the electromagnetic valve 6, turn on the pump 3 for supplying water through the water supply hoses 5 through the nozzles 8 to the automatic coupling device of the car.

[0035] When passing through the inter-car space in the area of ​​the device’s nozzles 8, water, on the signal from the control unit 4, is supplied through the nozzles 8 to the automatic coupling device from top to bottom in order to wet the entire coupling surface.

[0036] After wetting the automatic coupling, waste water flows into water collection tank 9, then through water drainage hoses 10 and through treatment unit 12 to water storage and supply tank 2. This ensures environmental safety and economical water consumption. The water supply in water storage and supply tank 2 can also be replenished via water supply pipe 1 from city or other water supply systems.

[0037] The device ensures the minimization or complete elimination of cases of failure of automatic coupling devices of a train to detach in hot weather conditions, an increase in the speed of train disassembly, environmental safety, and the minimization of injuries to workers at marshalling yards.

Claims

1. An automatic wetting system for an automatic coupling device, characterized in that it consists of a pump, hoses for supplying water, nozzles placed on brackets outside the rolling stock clearance on both or one side of the track, an electromagnetic valve and sensors by means of which water is supplied only when the automatic coupling device is in the operating zone of the nozzles, a tank for collecting waste water, a hose for draining water, and a water purification unit.

2. The installation according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the nozzle brackets are made from component parts for moving them to the side when oversized cargo is passing.

3. The installation according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the installation is designed with the possibility of placement on railway tracks without violating the approach clearance of the building.

4. The installation according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the nozzles are designed with the possibility of being placed on brackets above the automatic coupling device for the passage of water from top to bottom along the entire cross-section of the automatic coupling device.

5. The installation according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the brackets are designed with the possibility of adjusting the height to place the nozzles above the automatic coupling device depending on local conditions.

Images