Movable Floor Wagon for Two-Level Rail Pallet Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail wagons for transporting goods on pallets have limited loading capacity due to a single storage level, despite having sufficient floor area, and implementing additional lifting systems like mobile platforms increases manufacturing and maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A wagon device with a movable floor that can change height positions, allowing for two-level storage while maintaining compliance with rail gauges, using a lifting system and holding mechanisms to facilitate loading and unloading via lateral sides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-level floor design is used for lateral loading wagons, then the wagon can be manufactured with simple structure and low cost, but the loading capacity is limited to 36 pallets (36 tonnes)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the floor movable instead of fixed. The floor can be positioned at different heights (first position for lateral loading, second position for increased storage). This dynamic floor allows the wagon to adapt between two operational modes: standard lateral loading mode and increased capacity mode, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and loading capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by introducing a movable floor that can occupy different positions in the vertical space. When the floor is in the second position (lowered), it creates additional storage volume above the original floor level, effectively adding another storage dimension without increasing the wagon's horizontal footprint or requiring complex multi-level structures.
2Quantity of substance
If a movable floor system is implemented to enable two-level storage, then the loading capacity increases to 56 pallets, but the device complexity increases with lifting systems and holding mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the floor into movable and fixed portions. The movable floor section can be independently positioned at different heights, while the rest of the wagon structure remains fixed and simple. This segmentation allows the complex functionality to be localized to a specific component rather than requiring the entire wagon structure to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through the floor's ability to be manually positioned and locked into place using simple holding mechanisms. The floor structure itself provides the means for its own positioning and stabilization without requiring complex external lifting systems, control mechanisms, or additional active components.
3Volume of moving object
If the floor is lowered to create two-level storage, then space utilization increases, but the wagon height clearance may be affected by rail gauge constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic floor position allows the wagon to adapt its internal volume configuration. When the floor is lowered to the second position, the storage volume is redistributed vertically, creating two storage levels while maintaining the overall wagon height within gauge constraints. The movability of the floor enables flexible volume optimization without permanently increasing the wagon's external dimensions.
Data Source
Figure 1~1a
Figure 2~2a
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wagon device for the rail transport (R) of goods (4) on pallets (5), said device comprising a wagon (1) designed essentially for lateral loading, respectively unloading.It is essentially characterized in that the floor (1c) of the wagon (1) includes at least one movable floor section at one or at least two floor level(s) capable of being moved vertically, preferably in translation, so as to be able to change its height position between a high position and a low position and vice versa, and in that it includes a lifting system enabling the movement in height of the or each part of the movable floor from the high position to the low position and vice versa, and holding means enabling the movable floor section to be held in the high or low position for the purpose of loading/unloading and/or storing goods.