Hopper Wagon Covering System External Hinge Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional covering systems for hopper wagon inlets face issues such as manual operation, space constraints, interference with bulk commodities, water ingress, and compromised water tightness due to internal hinge mounting and airflow apertures.
Innovation Solution
A covering system with a hinged cover mounted externally on cant rails alongside the hopper wagon body, allowing rotation in a vertical plane, creating a gap space for airflow and water restriction, and featuring a double leaf door configuration that engages at an apex for enhanced sealing and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the hinge is mounted internally within the hopper wagon body, then the covering system can be compact, but bulk commodities interfere with the hinge and door, become compacted and ultimately inhibit the operation of the covering system
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is extracted from the internal mounting location and repositioned to an external location on the hopper wagon body. This removes the hinge from the zone where bulk commodities are stored, eliminating the interference problem while maintaining the compact covering system design.
2Device complexity
If the hinge is mounted internally within the hopper wagon body, then the covering system structure is simplified, but rainfall runs off the door towards the hinge and into the hopper wagon body
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is extracted from the internal mounting location and repositioned to an external location on the hopper wagon body. This removes the hinge from the path of rainfall runoff, eliminating the water ingress problem while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Quantity of substance
If air flow apertures are formed in the door, then airflow through the hopper wagon is improved, but the water tightness of the covering system is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A weather seal is introduced as an intermediary element between the door and the hopper wagon body. This seal allows air flow apertures to be formed in the door for improved ventilation while preventing water from penetrating through these apertures into the hopper wagon body, thus maintaining water tightness.
4Extent of automation
If a slidable door is used, then automatic or semi-automatic operation is achieved, but sufficient space is required to locate the door as it slides along a longitudinal axis of the hopper wagon
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the door sliding horizontally along the longitudinal axis of the hopper wagon, the door is configured to slide vertically along the side wall. This inversion of the sliding direction eliminates the need for additional longitudinal space while maintaining automatic or semi-automatic operation capability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a covering system (10) for covering an inlet (2) formed in a hopper wagon body (3) of a hopper wagon, whereby the covering system comprises a cover that is configured to close the inlet when it is arranged in a closed position and open the inlet when it arranged in an open position and hinge means (12a, 12b) that is configured to mount the cover on the hopper wagon body such that the cover is hinged to an outer portion the hopper wagon body, adjacent the inlet and the cover is rotatable in a substantially vertical plane between the closed position and the open position. The hinge means may be configured to mount the cover in spaced relation above the inlet such that there is a gap space (15a) between the cover and the inlet when the cover is arranged in at least the closed position. The gap space may be formed between a hinged edge region of the cover and an adjacent edge of the inlet. The cover may comprise a single leaf door. The cover may comprise a double leaf door. The invention also relates to a hopper wagon comprising the covering system.