Frontal Lifting System for Rail Vehicle Rerailing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail vehicle rerailing methods face limitations in confined spaces, such as tunnels, and are unable to reliably transmit tensile forces to the underframe due to the mechanical constraints of central buffer couplings, leading to inefficiencies and safety risks during lifting.
Innovation Solution
A lifting system with a profile support and gripping element that uses a central buffer coupler with an integrated energy dissipation element, allowing for frontal attachment and secure transmission of tensile forces via a profiled beam, which serves as a lifting point, and includes a safety device to prevent disengagement and anti-climbing features to prevent derailment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a crane truck is used with the central buffer coupling as a suspension point, then the rail vehicle can be lifted in confined spaces, but the coupling shaft can only be used up to a certain shaft length beyond which the central buffer coupling cannot reliably withstand the lifting force
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the lifting function from the central buffer coupling by introducing a dedicated lifting console with profile carriers that engage the underframe structure directly. This separates the lifting load path from the coupling shaft, allowing the coupling to remain intact while providing reliable lifting through the profile carriers that transmit forces to the robust underframe.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting console acts as an intermediary device between the lifting device and the rail vehicle underframe. It provides profile carriers that engage with the underframe structure, creating a reliable force transmission path that bypasses the limitation of the central buffer coupling's shaft length while maintaining structural integrity.
2Length of moving object
If the coupling shaft is made longer to accommodate lifting requirements, then the lifting reach is improved, but the central buffer coupling or its mechanical connection to the underframe can no longer reliably withstand the effective lifting force
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the lifting function from the coupling shaft system entirely. Instead of extending the coupling shaft, it introduces a separate lifting console with profile carriers that engage the underframe structure directly, eliminating the need to compromise coupling strength for lifting requirements.
3Force
If lateral lifting brackets are attached to longitudinal beams, then the lifting force can be applied, but this solution cannot be used in tunnels with limited space next to the track
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting console provides a universal lifting interface that can be applied to different rail vehicle types and positions. The profile carriers engage with the underframe structure in a manner that works whether the vehicle is on open track or in confined tunnel spaces, making the system versatile across different operational environments.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching lifting brackets laterally to longitudinal beams (side dimension), the invention uses profile carriers that engage the underframe structure from the front/end dimension. This dimensional change allows lifting to occur in confined spaces where lateral access is limited, as the lifting device approaches from the front of the vehicle.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a lifting system (20) for rerailing a rail vehicle, in particular a locomotive (1). It comprises a support profile (15) of an undercarriage structure of the rail vehicle as a lifting point (16) for a rerailing device, said profile support running transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle on a front end (8) of the rail vehicle. It further comprises a gripping element (21), which can be lifted and lowered by the lifting device, comprising two hook-shaped gripping brackets (22), the hooked profile thereof corresponding to the support profile (15). The gripping brackets (22) for lifting and lowering the rail vehicle by gripping under the support profile (15) can thereby be symmetrically engaged at the vehicle longitudinal centre plane. By this means, a lifting system for rerailing a rail vehicle is provided, in which a frontal lifting device positionable in front of the rail vehicle can be used.