Interface Wagon Conveyor System for Railway Material Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing railway track renewal processes face challenges in efficiently transporting granular materials due to limited wagon capacity, logistical constraints, and regulatory restrictions, particularly when using public works machinery at sites without access to road transport or suitable loading equipment.

Innovation Solution

A work train interface wagon with a chassis, belt conveyors, and an inclined boom, allowing loading from public works machines at low heights, transferring granular product to adjacent high-capacity wagons, and enabling autonomous movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If high-capacity wagons (VAD, MFS) with high side edges are used to increase transport capacity, then material transport capacity is improved, but public works machinery cannot load the material due to low overhead catenaries restricting loading height

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial transport capacityVSAvoidloading accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A belt conveyor system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the public works machinery loading point and the high-capacity wagon. The conveyor receives material at low height from the machinery and transports it to the wagon, bridging the height gap created by low overhead catenaries while enabling use of high-capacity wagons

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from vertical loading (direct lifting to high sides) to horizontal loading (conveyor belt transport along the wagon length). Material is loaded at low height and conveyed horizontally to accumulate in the high-capacity wagon, changing the loading dimension from vertical to horizontal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If flat wagons with low side edges are used to enable loading by public works machinery, then loading accessibility is improved, but material transport capacity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading accessibilityVSAvoidmaterial transport capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the advantages of both flat wagons and high-capacity wagons. The flat wagon provides easy loading accessibility while the high-capacity wagon provides large transport volume. The belt conveyor system connects these two functions, allowing material to be loaded into the flat wagon and transferred to the high-capacity wagon for transport

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If work train length is increased to compensate for low wagon capacity, then material transport capacity is improved, but train length exceeds service track accommodation limits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial transport capacityVSAvoidtrain length
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the capacity parameter of individual wagons rather than increasing the number of wagons. By using high-capacity wagons (VAD, MFS) with volumes of 2.2-4.3 t/ml instead of low-capacity flat wagons (1.8 t/ml), the total transport capacity increases while keeping the train length within service track limits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances material transport capacity without extending train length, optimizing intervention duration and cost, while adhering to loading height and regulatory constraints.

Implementation Method 1

a first belt conveyor arranged on the frame of the chassis and configured to circulate the granular product along the longitudinal axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBelt conveyor:

Implementation Method 2

a second belt conveyor arranged on the boom and configured to circulate the granular product from one end of the first belt conveyor to the top of the boom

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBelt conveyor:

Data Source

PatentEP4600421A1Interface wagon for work train and method for loading a work train
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 EIFFAGE RAIL
  • EP4600421A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4600421A1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4600421A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Interface wagon (1; 1a, 1b) for a work train (100), configured to receive a granular product (P) loaded from a public works machine (E;Ea, Eb), comprising: - a chassis (2) comprising a frame (4) elongated along a longitudinal axis (X) of the interface wagon (1) between two longitudinal ends (5), and bogies (6) supporting said frame (4), - a first belt conveyor (10) arranged on the frame (4) of the chassis (2) and configured to circulate the granular product (P) along the longitudinal axis (X), - an inclined boom (11) arranged near one of the longitudinal ends (5) of the frame (4) and - a second belt conveyor (12) arranged on the boom (11) and configured to circulate the granular product (P) from one end (19) of the first belt conveyor (10) to the top of the boom (11) so as to allow the granular product (P) to be discharged into an adjacent wagon in which the frame (4) comprises two side walls (14) surrounding the first belt conveyor (10) and configured to receive the loading of granular product (P).;