Loading system and transporting wheeled vehicles on railway network

Abstract

A system ( 100 ) for loading and transporting on railway network wheeled vehicles comprising one articulated vehicle ( 50 ) equipped with a drive ( 51 ) and semitrailer ( 52 ), the system ( 100 ) comprising: a computerized system configured to be placed in a station of the railway network; at least one elevator wagon ( 101 ) interfaced with the railway station computerized system; at least one carrier wagon ( 102 ); and a carriageable road infrastructure ( 103 ). The elevator wagon ( 101 ) comprises: a platform ( 101 a ); a linear structure ( 101 d ) to which the platform ( 101 a ) is inferiorly coupled; lifting structures ( 101 e ); an electronic control system ( 123 ); and auxiliary systems. The carrier wagon ( 102 ) comprises a linear structure equipped with two wheel systems ( 102 aa ) between which a load platform ( 102 a ) is comprised; load sensors; systems to assist in loading and unloading maneuvers and handling of the articulated vehicle ( 50 ) or of the single drive ( 51 ).

1 . System ( 100 ) for loading and transporting on railway network wheeled vehicles comprising at least one articulated vehicle ( 50 ) equipped with a drive ( 51 ) and semitrailer ( 52 ), the system ( 100 ) comprising:
 a computerized system configured to be placed in a station of the railway network;   at least one elevator wagon ( 101 ) interfaced with the railway station computerized system;   at least one carrier wagon ( 102 ) interfaced with the railway station computerized system; and   a carriageable road infrastructure ( 103 ) for connecting the road network to a specific area comprising a railway network service binary ( 203 ) for use by the elevator wagon ( 101 ), the railway network being connected to the railway line of the same network, configured for allowing the access and the exit of the articulated vehicle ( 50 ) in two travelling directions;   
       characterized in that the elevator wagon ( 101 ) comprises:
 a platform ( 101   a ), configured to house a wheeled vehicle ( 50 ), provided with a first tipping plane ( 101   b ) hinged to a first end; a second tipping plane ( 101   c ) hinged to a second end opposite to the first one; lateral external containment fenders ( 121 ) configured to achieve perfect alignment of the wheeled vehicle ( 50 ); and a gangway ( 122 ) for the passage of an operator, sideways to the containment fenders ( 121 ); 
 a linear structure ( 101   d ) to which the platform ( 101   a ) is inferiorly coupled, comprising, at its ends, carriages ( 101   da ) with motorized rooms; 
 lifting structures ( 101   e ) fixed between the linear structure ( 101   d ) and the platform ( 101   a ) and configured to raise and lower the platform ( 101   a ) of the elevator wagon ( 101 ) by means of actuators, configured for switching the position of the platform ( 101   a ) from a level position close to the road level to a raised position aligned with the standard upper height of buffers of the usual railway wagons and vice versa, depending on the data provided by on board sensors; 
 an electronic control system ( 123 ) comprised in the linear structure ( 101   d ) and configured to interact with the railway station computerized system and operate the raising/lowering of the loading platform ( 101   a ) through the lifting systems ( 101   e ); and 
 auxiliary systems to assist in loading and unloading maneuvers and in handling of the articulated vehicle ( 50 ) or of the single drive ( 51 ); and 
 the carrier wagon ( 102 ) comprises: 
 a linear structure equipped with two wheel systems ( 102   aa ) between which a load platform ( 102   a ) is comprised configured to house the semi-trailer ( 52 ) of the articulated vehicle ( 50 ) and configured to be lowered and raised, on command of a computerized system present on the carrier wagon ( 102 ), in such a way as to be able to be raised up to the level of buffers ( 102   ab ) to allow horizontal transit of semi-trailer ( 52 ); 
 a first end comprising a flat portion ( 102   ca ) configured to accommodate the front part of the semitrailer ( 52 ) after being loaded on the loading platform ( 102 ), and to be able to lock it by means of an adjustable locking system ( 102   cb ), the flat portion ( 102   c ) being provided on each side with a tipping platform ( 102   c ) for the passage of an operator; 
 load sensors to determine if the weight of the semi-trailer is suitable for transport in relation to the characteristics of the railway section to be covered; 
 systems to assist in loading and unloading maneuvers and handling of the articulated vehicle ( 50 ) or of the single drive ( 51 ); and 
 the carriageable road infrastructure ( 103 ) is configured to allow access to the service binary ( 203 ) and comprises a loading/unloading area ( 103   a ) comprising unsurfaced tracks made carriageable and connecting elements ( 103   b ) to the service binary ( 203 ). 
 
     
     
         2 . System ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the electronic control system ( 123 ) is positioned between the lifting structures ( 101   e ). 
     
     
         3 . System ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the platform ( 101   a ) is configured to be operated in manual or automatic mode. 
     
     
         4 . System ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized by the fact the elevator wagon ( 101 ) comprises at least two locking systems ( 101   f ) able to rise during the moving maneuvers of the wagon and to lower during the loading maneuvers of the articulated vehicles ( 50 ) preventing the movement of the elevator wagon ( 101 ) and providing support for load support; 
     
     
         5 . System ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the elevator wagon ( 101 ) comprises load sensors configured to detect the presence of a vehicle on board, to check the tolerability limits of the load, and to check the compatibility of the load distribution. 
     
     
         6 . System ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the computerized system ( 123 ) is configured to automatically manage the moving of the elevator wagon ( 101 ) for positioning in the maneuvering areas or stop areas according to the information received electronically from the railway station computerized system. 
     
     
         7 . System ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the intelligent elevator wagon ( 101 ) comprises a battery rechargeable automatically or by connection to the electricity network. 
     
     
         8 . System ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the front part of the load platform ( 102   a ) faced to the loading side ( 102   ca ), placed at the stands of the semi-trailer ( 52 ) when it is loaded, it is equipped with a self-leveling platform ( 102   d ) to facilitate the support of the semi-trailer ( 52 ) during the loading or unloading phase to allow the disengagement of the drive ( 51 ) and the leveling of the semi-trailer in the correct position for transport.