A laterally displaceable railway wagon

Abstract

A railway wagon comprising a load carrier, and front and rear bogies, wherein each bogie comprises a platform, which is rotatably mounted. The load carrier is releasably connected to, and laterally displaceable in relation to, the platforms. The load carrier has a front end and a rear end and is provided, at each end, with a connection portion, and two support devices, which are laterally spaced, and which support the load carrier in a position where it is laterally displaced in relation to the platform. The support devices are vertically operable between an idle position and a support position, in which the support devices abut against the ground. Further, the railway wagon comprises a displacement device for laterally displacing the load carrier.

1 . A railway wagon, comprising:
 a load carrier;   front and rear bogies, wherein each bogie comprises a platform, which is rotatably mounted, wherein the load carrier is releasably connected to the respective platforms, and laterally displaceable in relation to the respective platforms, the load carrier having a front end and a rear end and being at each end provided with a connection portion;   two support devices, which are laterally spaced, and which support the load carrier in a position where it is laterally displaced in relation to the platform, the support devices being vertically operable between an idle position and a support position, in which the support devices abut against the ground; and,   a displacement device for laterally displacing the load carrier, wherein the displacement device comprises:
 a reciprocating launch device, which is arranged to reciprocate laterally of the platform, 
 a launch device connection mechanism for releasably connecting the connection portion with the launch device, and 
 a platform connection mechanism for releasably connecting the connection portion with the platform. 
   
     
     
         2 . The railway wagon according to  claim 1 , wherein the launch device is elongated and extends laterally of the platform, wherein the displacement device further comprises a reciprocating feeding device attached to the launch device and to the platform, wherein the launch device is movable, by means of the feeding device, between an idle position, and a laterally displaced position. 
     
     
         3 . The railway wagon according to  claim 2 , wherein the feeding device is a cylinder assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The railway wagon according to  claim 2 , wherein the launch device connection mechanism comprises a reciprocating engagement element arranged at the connection portion, and a reception portion at the launch device, wherein the engagement element is reciprocatingly movable to respectively engage with and disengage from the reception portion. 
     
     
         5 . The railway wagon according to  claim 4 , wherein the reception portion comprises several reception members distributed along the length of the launch device. 
     
     
         6 . The railway wagon according to  claim 4 , wherein the engagement element is a cylinder assembly, and each reception member comprises an aperture arranged to receive a piston of the cylinder assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The railway wagon according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform connection mechanism comprises an engagement assembly arranged at the connection portion, and a seat arranged at the platform and adapted to receive a piston comprised in the engagement assembly to connect the load carrier with the platform. 
     
     
         8 . The railway wagon according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a support surface, which supports the launch device. 
     
     
         9 . The railway wagon according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises an elongated guide member extending laterally of the bogie, and the launch device comprises a guide beam extending along the length of the launch device and slidably engaging with the guide member of the platform, wherein the guide member and the guide beam are arc shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The railway wagon according to  claim 1 , wherein the load carrier comprises opposite side beams, wherein each side beam comprises a protruding end portion at each end thereof, and wherein the connection portion comprises the protruding end portions of the side beams. 
     
     
         11 . The railway wagon according to  claim 10 , wherein the launch device is provided with a laterally elongated top surface portion, and wherein each protruding end portion is provided with a roller arranged to roll on top of the top surface portion. 
     
     
         12 . The railway wagon according to  claim 10 , wherein the launch device comprises a retaining lip extending along a side edge of the launch device, and wherein each protruding end portion comprises a retaining member protruding under the retaining lip overlapping a portion of a bottom surface of the retaining lip. 
     
     
         13 . A method of laterally displacing a load carrier of a railway wagon, the method comprising:
 displacing at least one of the ends of the load carrier by performing at least one reciprocating movement, comprising a feed stroke and a return stroke, with the displacement device, until the end of the load carrier has been moved to a loading/unloading position beside the bogie, comprising:   connecting the connection portion, if disconnected, with the launch device;   disconnecting, if connected, the connection portion from the platform;   performing a feed stroke by moving the launch device laterally from an idle position to a laterally displaced position;   lowering a first support device of said support devices to the support position;   disconnecting the connection portion from the launch device;   performing a return stroke moving the launch device back to its idle position;   connecting the connection portion with the launch device and performing another feed stroke; and   lowering the second support device to the support position.   
     
     
         14 . A method of exchanging a load carrier of a railway wagon comprising:
 applying the method of  claim 13  for simultaneously displacing both ends of the load carrier;   disconnecting connections, tubes and cables at both ends of the load carrier from the bogies;   removing the load carrier and providing a replacement load carrier; and   assembling the replacement load carrier with the bogies by reversing the operations of the method of  claim 13  and connecting connections, tubes and cables.