Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02691391 2010-01-28
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UNLOADING AND LOADING LOAD-
CONTAINING UNITS FROM AND ONTO RAILWAY TRUCKS
The present invention relates to a device and method for unloading and
loading load-containing units from and onto railway trucks.
In the state of the art, products of various types are transported in load-
containing units, for example containers, which present eight lift blocks in
standard positions at the vertices of a parallelepiped. These load-
containing units are transported on suitable ships and then transferred
io onto trains and rubber-tyred vehicles.
Although load-containing units can be easily unloaded from and loaded
onto road trucks and rubber-tyred vehicles by a crane, for example a
bridge crane, their unloading from and loading onto railway trucks is
hindered by the electric line powering the locomotive, which does not allow
is a crane to operate from above.
This impossibility results in the need to detach the electric locomotive from
the train, attach a diesel locomotive and drag the train to a non-electrified
railway parking area where the containers are loaded/unloaded by cranes
or other equipment which could not operate if the electric power line is
20 present.
To solve these problems, EP 1476341 describes a device comprising
means for horizontally transferring the load in different directions by
generally using rollers, belts, wheels or chains.
US 4093084A describes an installation for horizontally moving containers
25 from or by a railway truck. The movement is obtained by rollers disposed
both on the goods transport trucks and on the railway platforms.
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2
FR 2649948A describes a vehicle transport installation comprising boxes,
similar to load-containing units, on which the vehicles are disposed. The
boxes are moved horizontally by wheels or by a rack disposed both on the
train platforms and on the truck panels.
DE 4301019 A describes a loading and unloading device for trains
comprising panels to be loaded onto trucks, to be moved transversely to
the truck direction and be locked. The invention also comprises bridges
enabling the panels to overcome the separation between the truck and
platform.
io These devices and methods for loading and unloading onto and from
railway trucks are implemented by modifying the railway trucks, by
inserting for example rollers of longitudinal axis which should enable the
containers to be moved horizontally. These solutions are however of
difficult implementation, as traditional containers are not made to be rested
on the ground but instead exclusively on the four lower (base) lift blocks or
coupled to the four upper blocks, and might not withstand their loaded
weight. Moreover, modifying railway trucks and containers is extremely
costly and the result is of poor flexibility.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system and
method enabling said drawbacks to be overcome, a particular object being
to provide a system and method for unloading and loading load-containing
units provided with lift blocks from and onto railway trucks intended to
move along a track overlaid by an electric power line.
Another object is to accelerate the unloading and loading of load-
containing units from and onto railway trucks without having to move them
away from said track overlaid by the electric power line.
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3
Said objects are attained by a system and method the inventive characteristics
as
described herein.
According to an aspect, there is provided a system for unloading and loading
load-
containing units presenting lift blocks from and onto railway trucks arranged
to move
on a main track along a longitudinal travel axis, the system comprising at
least two
lifting members separated at least in space above the main track, and able to
flank
the load-containing unit on opposite sides about the main track and to
translate it
vertically by achieving a grip on the lift blocks, said at least two lifting
members
being movable horizontally in a direction parallel to the main track, two
secondary
tracks disposed on the two sides of the main track and parallel to it, for
moving the
at least two lifting members being provided, each lifting member comprising at
least
one lifting pin presenting an axis disposed horizontally in a plane
substantially
normal to the longitudinal travel axis, said lifting pin being arranged to
translate in
the vertical direction and to slide in the direction of its axis, at least one
first transfer
truck movable in a direction parallel to the main track being provided, the
system
further comprising at least one transfer track parallel to the main track, for
moving
the at least one first transfer truck, said at least one first transfer truck
comprising a
movable bridge to be moved substantially in a horizontal direction in a plane
normal
to the longitudinal travel axis, said at least one first transfer truck
comprising a
second transfer truck movable on the movable bridge in a direction
substantially
transverse to the main track, said second transfer truck presenting one or two
resting surfaces to support the lift blocks of the load-containing unit, said
one or two
resting surfaces facing upwards, the system being characterised in that it
comprises
at least two first transfer trucks disposed on the same side of the main track
and
movable independently to enable load-containing units of different dimensions
to be
loaded and unloaded, and in that it comprises a control unit for controlling
and
coordinating the multiple movements such that the two first transfer trucks
are
flanked against the load container unit.
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3a
According to another aspect, there is provided a method for unloading and
loading
load-containing units with the system as described herein.
The invention will be more apparent from the ensuing detailed description,
provided
by way of non-limiting example, of one embodiment thereof illustrated in
the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figures from 1 to 6 are perspective views showing the sequence involved in
unloading a load-containing unit from a railway truck;
Figure 7 is a section through the system of the invention;
Figure 8 shows the lift block arrangement of a generic load-containing unit;
Figure 9 shows the load-containing unit resting on the transfer trucks;
Figures from 10 to 12 show a part of the handling process for the load-
containing
units 2.
With reference to Figures from 1 to 6, these show a railway truck 4
arranged to move on a main track 5 along a longitudinal travel axis 6
shown substantially at the centre of the main track 5. In Figure 1 the
railway truck 4 is arriving in the station in which the load-containing units
2, disposed on it, are to be unloaded and disposed on a stand-by platform
20, from which they are withdrawn by a crane or other means and
disposed for example on rubber-tyred vehicles for intensive distribution of
the goods. The load-containing units can be normal containers, which are
mainly constructed in two different dimensions (20 and 40 feet in length)
or open or closed mobile boxes defining a volume within which the goods
are placed. These load-containing units each present eight lift blocks 3
disposed at the vertices of a parallelepiped with sides of predetermined
length: four upper blocks (lying in a plane parallel to the plane TL and
distant C from it) and four base blocks (lying in the plan e TL), the lift
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4
blocks defining the transverse T (width A), longitudinal L (length B) and
vertical H (height C) directions, as shown in Figure 8. The positions, the
form and the dimensions of these lift blocks are standardized for all the
load-containing units. The parallelepipeds at the vertices of which the
eight lift blocks are positioned are mainly of two sizes, with their major
side
(length B) of 20 feet and 40 feet, even though different sizes exist. The
invention is able to operate with load-containing units of any length,
including non-standard, provided with lift blocks. These lift blocks 3
present three free surfaces each normal to the other two, to form a vertex
io of the parallelepiped. All three free surfaces also present coupling
holes
28 of standard position and size for coupling and lifting, for example by a
crane.
The system of the invention comprises two secondary tracks 26 and 27
disposed on the two sides of the main track 5, one to the right and one to
is the left and extending at least for a portion parallel to the main track
5, four
lifting members 10-13 arranged to flank the load-containing unit 2 on
opposite sides about the main track 5, two of these 10 and 11 moving on
one of the secondary tracks 26 and the other two 12 and 13 moving on the
other secondary track 27. Each lifting member 10-13 comprises a lifting
20 pin 14 having an axis S disposed horizontally in a plane substantially
normal to the longitudinal travel axis 6. These lifting pins 14 are arranged
to translate in a vertical direction on the lifting member and to slide in the
direction of their axis S, to engage in the coupling holes 28 of the lift
blocks 3.
25 Each lifting member 10-13 comprises a recognition device of optical or
other type, to automatically recognize the coupling holes 28 of the lift
CA 02691391 2010-01-28
blocks 3 and to automatically position the lifting members 10-13 in
proximity to the lift blocks 3 in a position suitable for inserting the
lifting
pins 14 into the coupling holes 28.
The four lifting members 10-13 are arranged to flank the railway truck 4 on
5 which the load-containing unit 2 is disposed, by moving independently to
recognize the coupling holes 28 of the lift blocks 3, to insert the lifting
pins
14 into the coupling holes 28 and to vertically lift or translate the load-
containing unit 2 by achieving a grip on four lift blocks 3 disposed in pairs
on opposite sides about the longitudinal travel axis 6. The vertical
io translation action of the load-containing unit 2 is achieved by a
simultaneous coordinated movement of the lifting pins 14, even though a
less stable grip can be obtained on only three lift blocks.
The lifting members 10-13, being separate, moving on opposite sides of
the main track 5 and being situated completely outside the limiting railway
is outline which defines the maximum train cross-section, do not
interfere
with the movement of the railway truck 4, nor with the electric power line
38 disposed above the main track 5 (see Figure 7).
It is also possible to have only two lifting members each provided with two
lifting pins suitably spaced apart in a horizontal direction, the two lifting
20 members being arranged to move on different secondary tracks 26 and
27, in such a manner as to be able to flank the load-containing unit 2 on
two opposite sides about the longitudinal travel axis 6. The two lifting
members are separate in the sense that they are not joined together by
any mechanical element disposed in the space above the main track.
25 Both however rest on the ground or on a possible common platform
disposed below the rails of the main track. However this form of
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6
construction allows less flexibility as the system would be suitable for
lifting only one type of load-containing unit, with lift blocks disposed in a
single predetermined configuration, or would require greater technical
complexity of the lifting members by providing for an independent
horizontal movement, parallel to the longitudinal travel axis 6, of two
lifting
pins 14 located in the same lifting member.
The lifting members could also be fixed and the lifting pins be aligned with
the lift blocks of the load-containing units by precisely positioning the
railway truck.
lo This solution clearly makes the method more complicated and does not
represent a preferred embodiment.
The lifting members 10-13 could also move horizontally in a direction
parallel to the main track 5, not guided by secondary tracks 26 and 27 but
instead guided for example by a laser guide system or other known guide
is system. It should be noted that the system is particularly suitable for
operating on a main track which is rectilinear or has a radius of curvature
compatible with railway regulations.
The system of the invention also comprises a transfer track 17 parallel to
the main track 5, disposed such as to leave one of the two secondary
20 tracks 26 between the main track 5 and the transfer track 17. Two
transfer
trucks 15 and 16 move independently on the transfer track 17, each
comprising a base 30 and 31, a movable bridge 33 and 34 able to move in
a direction substantially transverse to the main track 5 and to the transfer
track 17 parallel to it, i.e. substantially horizontal in a plane normal to
the
25 longitudinal travel axis 6, and a transfer truck 18 and 19 movable on
the
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7
base 30, 31 and on the movable bridge 33 and 34, in a direction
transverse to the main track 5.
With the load-containing unit 2 lifted by the lifting members 10-13, the
transfer trucks 15, 16, by moving on the transfer track 17, flank the lifting
members 10, 11 disposed on the secondary track 26 interposed between
the main track 5 and transfer track 17.
The system of the invention comprises resting elements 29, rigid with the
lifting members 12 and 13 and disposed on the opposite side to that of the
transfer trucks 15 and 16 about the main track 5. These resting elements
lo are arranged to support one end of the movable bridges 33 and 34 on the
opposite side to that of the transfer trucks 15 and 16 about the main track
5. The movement of the movable bridges 33 and 34 is of sufficient travel
to cause one of their ends to touch and rest on said resting elements 29.
In this manner the transfer trucks 18 and 19, with their load consisting of
is the load-containing unit 2, are able to slide on the movable bridges 33
and
34, which do not project but are supported on both the ends external to the
load. At least those lifting members 10 and 11 disposed on the same side
of the transfer trucks 15 and 16 about the main track 5 have a shape such
as to enable the movable bridges 33 and 34 and the transfer trucks 18 and
20 19 to pass below their lifting pins 14, i.e. within the space lying
vertically
below the lifting pins 14.
For this purpose, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1-6, each lifting pin
14 is skew to the vertical column 39 of the lifting member resting on a
secondary track 26 or 27, in this manner leaving free the space below the
25 lifting pins 14.
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The system of the invention comprises, preferably in the resting elements
29, a levelling device for each of the movable bridges 33 and 34, able to
vertically move the end of the movable bridges 33 and 34 resting on them,
such as to cause the movable bridges 33 and 34 to attain a perfectly
s horizontal position enabling the transfer trucks 18 and 19 moving on them
to move horizontally.
The presence of two independent transfer trucks 15 and 16 confers
greater flexibility on the system, so enabling load-containing units of
different dimensions to be loaded and unloaded.
If only two lifting members each with two lifting pins were provided, the
system flexibility would be limited, in which case a single transfer truck
could be provided, of size suitable for the length of the load-containing unit
for which the system has been designed.
The transfer trucks 18 and 19, arranged to move on the movable bridges
is 33 and 34 in a direction substantially transverse to the main track,
each
present one or two resting surfaces 36 and 37 facing upwards, to hence
support two basic lift blocks 3 disposed in a transverse direction.
The loading and unloading system of the invention also comprises at least
one stand-by platform 20 presenting elements 21 for supporting the load-
containing units 2 via the lift blocks 3 and which extend in a direction
substantially transverse to the main track 5, at least within the initial
portion facing the main track 5.
These support elements 21 can comprise for example tracks spaced apart
such as to enable only the lift blocks 3 or vertically disposed flat elements
to rest. Several different stand-by platforms could exist, able to receive
load-containing units of different length, which present lift
blocks
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,
9
positioned according to the length of the load-containing units. On each
stand-by platform 20 there are disposed two positioning trucks 22
arranged to move horizontally along the entire length of the stand-by
platform 20. They comprise two vertically movable pistons presenting a
horizontal loading surface 25 and are also able to vertically translate the
load-containing unit 2 by raising the loading surface 25 and resting it on
the outer part of the lower surface of the lift blocks 3, whereas the support
elements 21 rest on the inner part of the lower surface of the lift blocks 3
or vice versa. The positioning trucks 22 present only a very small vertical
Jo movement, sufficient however to withdraw the load-containing unit from
the transfer trucks 18 and 19 and deposit them on the support elements of
the stand-by platform 20.
It is also clear that in a different embodiment, two positioning trucks
intended to move on a single stand-by platform to move the same load-
containing unit could be replaced by a single positioning truck.
The stand-by platform 20 and the movable bridge 18 achieve mutual co-
penetration equal at least to the width A of a load-containing unit 2 and
such as to enable the transfer trucks 18 and 19 to flank the positioning
trucks 22. The stand-by platform 20 is also able to support one end of the
movable bridges 33 and 34 when the movable bridges 33 and 34 extend
in the direction of the stand-by platform 20, to co-penetrate it. In this
manner the transfer trucks 18 and 19, with their load consisting of the
load-containing unit 2, can slide on the movable bridges 33 and 34, which
do not project, but are supported on both the ends relative to the load. A
multiplication of the system elements is possible to accelerate the loading
and unloading operations, for example two transfer tracks can be provided
CA 02691391 2010-01-28
disposed on opposite sides of the main track, on each of which two or four
or more transfer trucks move, as shown in Figure 7. The stand-by
platforms could also be disposed on both sides of the main track.
By virtue of the automatic recognition system for the lift blocks 3 and
5 coupling holes 4, the system of the invention could also be used for load-
containing units presenting lift blocks 3 not disposed in one of the two
aforedescribed standard configurations.
Figures from 1 to 6 enable the system operation to be understood. Figure
1 shows a railway truck 4 with two load-containing units 2, which arrives in
io a station in which the unloading and loading system of the invention has
been provided. The four lifting members 10-13, by moving along the
secondary tracks 26, 27, define by means of a visual or other recognition
system the position of four lift blocks 3 disposed on the lower base of the
load-containing unit 2. The lifting members are positioned on the
is secondary tracks 26 and 27 to flank the lift blocks 3 such as to insert
their
lifting pin 14 into the coupling holes 28 disposed on the transverse faces
(i.e. normal to the transverse direction) of the base lift blocks 3.
The lifting members 10-13 grip the lift blocks 3 by inserting the lifting pins
14 into the transverse coupling holes 28. Then the lifting members 10-13,
by moving the four lifting pins 14 simultaneously upwards, raise the load-
containing unit 2 to a prefixed height such as not to interfere with the
electric power line 38 overlying the main track 5 (not shown in Figures 1-6,
but shown in Figure 7). Meanwhile the two transfer trucks 15 and 16 flank
the lifting members 10 and 11 disposed on the same side of the main track
5 (Figure 2). Figure 3 shows that the movable bridges 33 and 34 have
been extended in the direction of the main track 5 until they touch and rest
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11
on the resting elements 29 rigid with the lifting members 12 and 13
disposed on the opposite side of the main track 5, by passing within the
vertical space below the lifting pins 14. The transfer trucks 18 and 19
move along the movable bridges 33 and 34 to arrive below the load-
s containing unit 2.
The transfer trucks 15 and 16 are positioned such that those resting
surfaces 36 and 37 of the transfer trucks 18 and 19 facing upwards lie
below a first part of the lower surfaces of the base lift blocks 3, i.e. the
surfaces normal to the vertical direction (H) of Figure 8 of the base lift
io blocks disposed in the plane TL (Figure 8). In the example, the resting
surfaces 36 and 37 of the transfer trucks 18 and 19 are disposed below
the inner part of the lower surfaces of the lift blocks 3. The lifting members
10-13 transfer the load-containing unit downwards to rest it on the resting
surfaces 36 and 37 of the transfer trucks 18 and 19. The lifting pins 14
is disengage from the coupling holes 28 and the lifting members 10-13 move
to enable the load-containing unit 2 to be transferred in the transverse
direction onto the transfer trucks 18 and 19 until above the bases 30 and
31 of the transfer trucks 15 and 16 (Figure 4). The transfer trucks 15 and
16 move rigidly along the transfer track 17 to align with the stand-by
20 platform 20 on which the load-containing unit 2 is to be deposited.
The movable bridges lengthen in the direction of the stand-by platform 20
to penetrate it through a portion substantially equal to the width A of the
load-containing unit 2. The ends of the movable bridges 33 and 34 are
supported by the stand-by platform 20, to prevent any projecting support
25 of the movable bridges when the load-containing unit 2 transits on them.
The transfer trucks 18 and 19 move on the movable bridges to horizontally
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12
transfer the load-containing unit until above the stand-by platform 20
(Figure 5). The positioning trucks move on the stand-by platform 20 to
flank the transfer trucks 18 and 19 and position their loading surface 25
below the outer part of the lower surface of the base lift blocks, which rest
with the inner part of their lower surface on the resting surfaces 36, 37 of
the transfer trucks 18 and 19 (Figure 9). The positioning trucks 22 raise
their loading surface 25 to hence vertically lift the load-containing unit 2
and translate horizontally, to deposit the load-containing unit 2 on the
support elements 21 (Figure 6), which support the load-containing unit on
lo the inner part of the lower surface of the base lift blocks 3. At the same
time the transfer trucks 18 and 19 are returned onto the bases 30 and 31
of the transfer trucks 15 and 16, and the movable bridges 33 and 34 are
also retracted onto the bases 30 and 31 of the transfer trucks 15 and 16.
In this manner the transfer trucks 15 and 16 can be repositioned to unload
is another load-containing unit. The load-containing units 2 aligned on the
stand-by platforms 20, not overlaid by the electric power line, can then be
handled by a crane or other means, including self-propelled, for example a
bridge crane 40 (shown in Figure 7), and transferred onto motorized trucks
41. The transfer of the load-containing units from the railway trucks 4 to
20 the stand-by platforms 20 takes place automatically and rapidly, without
interference with the railway electric power lines.
The movable bridges, when the load-containing unit transits on them, are
never projectingly constrained, but are supported or constrained at both
ends with respect to the load transiting on them. A levelling device for the
25 movable bridges 33 and 34 is also advantageously present including on
the stand-by platform 20, to ensure perfectly horizontal movement of the
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transfer trucks 18 and 19 when they transit on the movable bridges 33 and
34 while carrying the load-containing unit 2 from the bases of the transfer
trucks 30 and 31 to the stand-by platform 20. Alternatively, such a
levelling device for the movable bridges could also be present on the
transfer trucks 15 and 16, to regulate the height of the ends of the
movable bridges 33 and 34 located on them.
A railway truck can be loaded by a reverse sequence of operations,
starting with load-containing units already disposed on the support
elements 21 of a stand-by platform 20. Given that a precise arrangement
of load-containing units on the stand-by platform is difficult to attain with
a
crane, the load-containing units could be arranged on the stand-by
platform by a system similar to that initially described, comprising lifting
members and transfer trucks for handling the arriving load-containing units
which are to be loaded onto a railway truck.
It would also be possible for the transfer trucks 18 and 19 to translate
vertically when the load-containing unit 2 passes from the lifting members
10-13 to the transfer trucks or from the transfer trucks 18 and 19 to the
positioning trucks 22. However the device would be more complicated
and redundant in its movements, as the vertical movement is provided by
the lifting members above the main track and by the positioning trucks 22
above the stand-by platform.
Hence the present invention is also intended to protect a method for
unloading and loading load-containing units 2 presenting lift blocks 3, from
and onto railway trucks 4 arranged to move on a main track 5 along a
longitudinal travel axis 6, implemented by a system such as that
heretofore described, comprising four lifting members 10-13, each
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14
provided with a lifting pin 14, two transfer trucks 15 and 16 each
comprising a base 30 and 31, a movable bridge 33 and 34, and a transfer
truck 18 and 19 with a horizontal resting surface 36 and 37, the system
also comprising at least one stand-by platform 20 provided with support
elements 21, on which there are disposed positioning trucks 22 presenting
a loading surface 25.
The unloading method presents the following steps:
a) four lifting members 10-13 are flanked against the load-containing unit
2, disposed in pairs on opposite sides about the main track 5;
b) four lift blocks 3 not superposed vertically and disposed in pairs on
opposite sides about the longitudinal travel axis 6 are gripped by the lifting
members 10-13 by inserting their lifting pins into the coupling holes 28 of
the lift blocks 3;
C) the load-containing unit 2 is translated vertically by means of the lifting
is members 10-13;
d) the two transfer trucks 15 and 16 are flanked against the load-
containing unit 2 on one side of the main track 5;
e) the movable bridges 33 and 34 are extended in the direction of the
main track 5 until their ends rest on the resting elements 29 rigid with the
lifting members 12 and 13 disposed on the opposite side to that of the
transfer trucks 15 and 16 about the main track 5;
f) the transfer trucks 18 and 19 are moved on the movable bridge and
disposed below the base lift blocks 3 of the load-containing unit 2, such
that the lift blocks 3 project partially from the vertical through the resting
surfaces 36 and 37, in the direction of the longitudinal travel axis 6;
CA 02691391 2010-01-28
g) the load-containing unit 2 is translated vertically downwards by the
lifting members 10-13 by resting the lower surfaces of the lift blocks 3 on
the resting surfaces 36 and 37 of the transfer trucks 18 and 19, such that
they project partially from them in the direction of the longitudinal travel
5 axis 6;
h) the lift blocks 3 are released from the grip of the lifting members 10-13
by extracting the lifting pins 14 from the coupling holes 28;
i) the transfer trucks 18 and 19 are translated horizontally with the load-
containing unit 2 resting thereon, until the load-containing unit 2 is brought
113 above the bases 30 and 31 of the transfer trucks 15 and 16;
j) the movable bridges 33 and 34 are retracted onto the bases 30 and 31
of the transfer trucks 15 and 16;
k) the transfer trucks 15 and 16 are moved rigidly until the load-containing
unit 2 is brought to the side of the stand-by platform 20 and aligned with it;
is I) the movable bridges 33 and 34 are extended in the direction of the
stand-by platform 20 until the movable bridges 33 and 34 and the stand-by
platform 20 are made to co-penetrate for a length at least equal to the
width A of the load-containing unit 2, the transfer trucks 18 and 19 and the
load-containing unit 2 disposed on them remaining substantially at rest on
the bases 30 and 31 of the transfer trucks 15 and 16;
m) the movable bridges 33 and 34 are rested on the stand-by platform 20
on the opposite side to the main track 5;
n) the transfer trucks 18 and 19 and the load-containing unit 2 resting on
them are translated horizontally on the movable bridges 33 and 34 until
the load-containing unit 2 is brought above the stand-by platform 20;
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0) two positioning trucks 22 are moved rigidly along the stand-by platform
20 until flanking the transfer trucks 18 and 19, such that the loading
surface 25 of the positioning trucks 22 is disposed below the projecting
part of the lower surface of the base lift blocks 3;
p) the loading surface 25 of the positioning trucks 22 is raised, so raising
the load-containing unit 2 and releasing the transfer trucks 18 and 19;
q) the transfer trucks 18 and 19 are translated horizontally until they are
brought above the bases 30 and 31 of the transfer trucks 15 and 16;
r) the movable bridges 33 and 34 are retracted onto the transfer trucks 15
and 16;
s) the load-containing unit 2 is transferred onto the stand-by platform 20
by means of the positioning trucks 22;
t) the load-containing unit 2 is deposited in a suitable position on the
stand-by platform 20, by lowering the loading surface 25 of the positioning
is trucks 22 and resting the now free part of the lower surface of the lift
blocks 3 on suitable support elements 21 of the stand-by platform 20.
The method of loading load-containing units 2 onto railway trucks 4
comprises a sequence of steps the reverse of that already described.
It commences with a situation in which the load-containing units 2 are
disposed with the lift blocks 3 presenting a first part of the lower surface
resting on the upper surface of suitable support elements 21 of one or
more stand-by platforms 20 and a second part of the lower surface of the
lift blocks 3 free. The railway truck 4 is on the main track 5.
The steps of the loading method are the following:
aa) two positioning trucks 22 are moved onto the stand-by platform 20, to
bring the loading surface 25 of the positioning trucks 22 below that part of
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the lower surface of the lift blocks 3 projecting from the support elements
21;
bb) the loading surface 25 of the positioning trucks 22 is raised by raising
the load-containing unit 2 from the support elements 21 by means of the
support between the loading surface 25 and at least part of the lower
surface of the lift blocks 3 previously projecting from the support elements
21;
cc) two transfer trucks 15 are flanked against the stand-by platform 20
between the stand-by platform 20 and the main track 5, they each
io comprising a base 30 and 31, a movable bridge 33 and 34 arranged to
move in a direction substantially transverse to the main track 5, and a
transfer truck 18 and 19 arranged to move on the movable bridge 33 and
34 and presenting a resting surface 36 and 37 for the lift blocks 3;
dd) the movable bridges are extended in the direction of the stand-by
is platform 20 until one end of them rests on it, the movable bridges 33
and
34 and the stand-by platform 20 co-penetrating for a distance equal to the
width A of the load-containing unit 2;
ee) the transfer trucks 18 and 19 are translated horizontally on the
movable bridges 33 and 34 until they are above the stand-by platform 20;
20 if) the positioning trucks 22 and the load-containing unit 2 are
translated
as far as that end of the stand-by platform 20 facing the main track 5, such
that the load-containing unit 2 is positioned above the transfer trucks 18
and 19;
gg) the loading surface 25 of the positioning trucks 22 is lowered to make
25 those parts of the lower surface of the lift blocks 3 projecting from the
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18
loading surface 25 rest on the resting surfaces 36 and 37 of the transfer
trucks 18 and 19;
hh) the transfer trucks 18 and 19 and the load-containing unit 2 resting on
them are translated horizontally until they are brought above the bases 30
and 31 of the transfer trucks 15 and 16;
ii) the movable bridges 33 and 34 are retracted from the stand-by platform
20 onto the bases of the transfer trucks 15 and 16;
jj) the transfer trucks 15 and 16 are moved rigidly, so moving the load-
containing unit parallel to the main track 5 until it flanks the railway truck
4,
onto which the load-containing unit is deposited;
kk) two lifting members 12 and 13 disposed on the opposite side to that of
the transfer trucks 15 and 16 about the main track 5 are moved onto the
secondary track 27, in order to prepare them for supporting the movable
bridges 33 and 34;
II) the movable bridges 33 and 34 are extended in the direction of the
main track 5 until their ends rest on the resting elements 29 rigid with the
lifting members 12 and 13 disposed on the opposite side to that of the
transfer trucks 15 and 16 about the main track 5, the transfer trucks 18
and 19 remaining substantially at rest on the bases 30 and 31 of the
transfer trucks 15 and 16;
mm) the transfer trucks 18 and 19 are translated horizontally on the
movable bridges 33 and 34 until the load-containing unit 2 rests on it
above a railway truck 4 disposed on the main track 5 to the side of the
transfer trucks 15;
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19
nn) a further two lifting members 10 and 11 disposed on the opposite side
to the two first lifting members 12 and 13 about the main track 5 are
flanked against the load-containing unit 2;
oo) four lift blocks 3 not superposed vertically and disposed in pairs on
opposite sides about the longitudinal travel axis 6 are gripped by the lifting
members 10-13 by inserting their lifting pins 14 into the coupling holes 28
of the lift blocks 3;
pp) the load-containing unit 2 is raised vertically by means of the lifting
members 10-13, to free the transfer trucks 18 and 19 from the weight of
the load-containing unit 2;
qq) the transfer trucks 18 and 19 are translated horizontally on the
movable bridges 33 and 34 until they are brought above the bases 30 and
31 of the transfer trucks 15 and 16;
rr) the movable bridges 33 and 34 are retracted to free the space
underlying the load-containing unit 2 and the lifting members 10-13;
ss) the load-containing unit 2 is lowered by means of the lifting members
10-13 to deposit it on the railway truck 4, such that the lower corner blocks
are engaged in any retention devices present on the railway truck;
tt) the grip on the lifting members 10-13 by the lift blocks 3 is released by
zo extracting the lifting pins 14 from the coupling holes 28.
In this loading method the following stages corresponding to one or more
of the aforedescribed steps are distinguished in particular:
I) the load-containing unit 2 is translated until it is brought above the
railway truck 4 disposed on the main track 5;
II) at least two lifting members 10-13 disposed on opposite sides about
the main track 5 are flanked against the load-containing unit 2;
CA 02691391 2010-01-28
III) four lift blocks 3 not vertically superposed and disposed in pairs on
opposite sides about the longitudinal travel axis 6 are gripped by the lifting
members 10-13 by inserting lifting pins into the coupling holes 28 of the lift
blocks 3;
5 IV) the load-containing unit 2 is translated vertically by the lifting
members
10-13, and deposited on the railway truck 4.
The system according to the invention comprises a control unit for
controlling and coordinating the multiple movements of the various parts of
-
the system and for implementing the aforedescribed unloading and
lo loading methods.
A characteristic of the unloading and loading method of the invention is
that at least two separate lifting members 10-13 disposed on opposite
sides about the main track 5 are flanked against the load-containing unit 2
for vertically translating the load-containing unit 2 by achieving a grip on
lift
Is blocks 3. This enables interference between the lifting members 10-13
and the electric line disposed above the main track to be avoided and
enables the lift blocks 3 to be used to support the weight of the load-
containing unit.
Another important characteristic of the unloading and loading method of
20 the invention is that the load-containing unit 2 is moved by resting a
first
part of the lower surface of the base lift blocks 3 on a first support
surface,
then resting a second part of the lower surface of the base lift blocks 3 on
a second support surface. This characteristic of the method is shown in
Figures from 10 to 12. The first or second support surface can comprise
the resting surfaces 36 and 37 of the transfer truck 18 and 19, or the
loading surfaces 25 of the positioning trucks 22, or again the upper
CA 02691391 2010-01-28
21
surfaces of the support elements 21 of the stand-by platform 20. In this
respect, the two transfer trucks 18 and 19 are each positioned below two
lift blocks 3 such that only a first part of the lower surface of the lift
blocks
3 goes to rest on the resting surfaces 36 and 37 of the transfer trucks 18
and 19, as clearly shown in Figure 9.
These resting surfaces 36 and 37 of the transfer trucks 18 and 19 also
present vertical pins to be inserted into the lower coupling holes 28 for
greater safety while moving the load-containing unit.
The transfer trucks 18 and 19 are then flanked by the positioning trucks
22, which lie below the load-containing unit 2 such that their loading
surface 25 is positioned below the free part of the lower surface of the
base lift blocks 3. The second part of the lower surface of the lift blocks 3
comprises at least part of the free surface, i.e. not directly resting on the
resting surfaces 36 and 37 of the transfer trucks 18 and 19. The
movement of the positioning truck 22 enables the weight of the load-
containing unit 2 to pass from the transfer trucks 18 and 19 to the
positioning truck 22, by resting the second part of the lower surface of the
base lift blocks 3 on the loading surface 25 of the positioning truck 22.
During this stage, the free surface comprises the initially rested surface.
Subsequently, when the load-containing unit passes from the positioning
truck 22 to the stand-by platform 20, a part of the now free surface is
rested on the support elements 21.
This method enables the load-containing unit to be transferred from one
mover member to another while always discharging the weight of the load-
containing unit via the lift blocks 3 and without complicated manoeuvres
requiring engagement in the coupling holes 28. Inserting pins into the
CA 02691391 2010-01-28
22
coupling holes 28 is only required in that stage in which the load-
containing unit 2 is to be raised from the railway truck 4 or rested on it, as
the lower surface of the base lift blocks 3 is inaccessible during the entire
operation.
By virtue of the fact that the method is implemented by an automatic
system, the unloading of load-containing units from railway trucks and
their arrangement on stand-by platforms takes place rapidly, with
considerable gains in depot efficiency.
Moreover, as the load-containing units are moved only via the lift blocks 3,
which are already standardized both in their shape and in their
arrangement, no modifications are required either to the railway trucks or
to the load-containing units.
