A railway wagon

Abstract

The present invention provides a railway wagon (100) comprising: a pair of bogies (106a, 106b), each bogie having wheels (108) configured in use to run on rails; a frame (104) supported by the pair of bogies (106a, 106b); and a bin (102) supported by the frame (104). The bin (102) has: a base portion (110) defining at least one catchment area (124); a substantially upright first end wall (114a); a substantially upright second end wall (114b) two longitudinal sidewalls (116a, 116b) extending between the first end wall (114a) and the second end wall (114b); an interior volume (118) for carrying product therein, the interior volume (118) being at least substantially defined by the first end wall (114a), the second end wall (114b), the two longitudinal sidewalls (116a, 166b), and the base portion (110); and an opening (120) opposite the base portion (110). The bin (102) is formed from at least two sections (103a, 103b) joined together, each section (103a, 103b) being formed at least substantially of composite materials and moulded as a single structure.

1 . A railway wagon comprising:
 a pair of bogies, each bogie having wheels configured in use to run on rails;   a frame supported by the pair of bogies; and   a bin supported by the frame, the bin having:
 a base portion defining at least one catchment area; 
 a substantially upright first end wall; 
 a substantially upright second end wall 
 two longitudinal sidewalls extending between the first end wall and the second end wall; 
 an interior volume for carrying product therein, the interior volume being at least substantially defined by the first end wall, the second end wall, the two longitudinal sidewalls, and the base portion; and 
 an opening opposite the base portion, 
   wherein the bin is formed from at least two sections joined together, each section being formed at least substantially of composite materials and moulded as a single structure.   
     
     
         2 . The railway wagon of  claim 1 , wherein each catchment area is located between the pair of bogies. 
     
     
         3 . The railway wagon of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the bin further comprises a centre sill and each catchment area at least partially straddles the centre sill. 
     
     
         4 . The railway wagon of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each catchment area has:
 at least one discharge hole for discharging product from the interior volume of the bin; and   a discharge door operatively associated with each discharge hole, each discharge door being movable between an open position where product is able to pass through the respective discharge hole and a closed position where the respective discharge hole is sealed by the respective discharge door to prevent product passing through the respective discharge hole.   
     
     
         5 . The railway wagon of  claim 4 , wherein each discharge door has a scoop, the scoop being configured to hold product therein when the discharge door is in the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The railway wagon of any one of  claim 4  or  5 , wherein each discharge door is formed from at least substantially of composite materials. 
     
     
         7 . The railway wagon of  claim 6 , wherein each discharge door is moulded as a single structure 
     
     
         8 . The railway wagon of any one of  claims 4  to  7 , wherein each discharge door has a low friction layer to reduce the coefficient of friction of the discharge doors. 
     
     
         9 . The railway wagon of  claim 8 , wherein the low friction layer of each discharge door is a gelcoat. 
     
     
         10 . The railway wagon of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base portion comprises one or more tents configured to direct product towards at least one of the catchment areas. 
     
     
         11 . The railway wagon of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bin further comprises:
 a first angled wall extending between, and coupled to, the base portion and the first end wall; and   a second angled wall extending between, and coupled to, the base portion and the second end wall.   
     
     
         12 . The railway wagon of  claim 11 , wherein the first angled wall extends from the first end wall at an angle of 10 to 35 degrees, and the second angled wall extends from the second end wall at an angle of 10 to 35 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The railway wagon of  claim 9  or  10 , wherein the first angled wall extends from the first end wall at an angle of 30 degrees, and the second angled wall extends from the second end wall at an angle of 30 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The railway wagon of any one of  claims 11  to  13 , further comprising:
 a first support supported by a respective one of the bogies and configured to support the first angled wall and the first end wall; and 
 a second support structure supported by the other bogie and configured to support the second angled wall and the second end wall. 
 
     
     
         15 . The railway wagon of any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the bin is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the wagon such that product is dischargable from the interior volume of the bin through the opening. 
     
     
         16 . The railway wagon of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bin further comprises:
 a first wheel arch portion dimensioned to accommodate the wheels of a respective one of the bogies; and   a second wheel arch portion dimensioned to accommodate the wheels of the other bogie.   
     
     
         17 . The railway wagon of  claim 16 , wherein, in use, each of the first wheel arch portion and the second wheel accommodates a vertical displacement and a horizontal displacement of a respective one of the bogies such that the wheels of the bogies do not contact the bin. 
     
     
         18 . The railway wagon of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bin further comprises at least one diaphragm located in the interior volume of the bin, each diaphragm extending inwardly from the sidewalls and base portion. 
     
     
         19 . The railway wagon of any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inner surface of the bin has a low friction layer to reduce the coefficient of friction of the inner surface of the bin. 
     
     
         20 . The railway wagon of  claim 19 , wherein the low friction layer is a gelcoat. 
     
     
         21 . The railway wagon of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one catchment area is one of a plurality of catchment areas. 
     
     
         22 . A railway wagon comprising:
 a pair of bogies, each bogie having wheels configured in use to run on rails;   a frame supported by the pair of bogies; and   a metal bin supported by the frame, the bin having:
 a base portion defining at least one catchment area; 
 a substantially upright first end wall; 
 a substantially upright second end wall 
 two longitudinal sidewalls extending between the first end wall and the second end wall; 
 a first angled wall extending between, and coupled to, the base portion and the first end wall; and 
 a second angled wall extending between, and coupled to, the base portion and the second end wall; 
 an interior volume for carrying product therein, the interior volume being at least substantially defined by the first end wall, the second end wall, the first angled wall, the second angled wall, the two longitudinal sidewalls, and the base portion; 
 an opening opposite the base portion, 
   wherein one or more regions of an inner surface of the bin have a low friction layer to reduce the coefficient of friction of the inner surface of the bin at the respective regions.   
     
     
         23 . The railway wagon of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more regions of the inner surface include regions of the inner surface of the bin that are defined by the first angled wall and the second angled wall. 
     
     
         24 . The railway wagon of  claim 23 , wherein the entire inner surface of the bin has a low friction layer. 
     
     
         25 . The railway wagon of  claim 23  wherein the inner surface of the bin is formed by a liner received in the interior volume of the bin and the liner has the low friction layer.