Railway wagon with improved launch beam positioning

Abstract

A railway wagon for transportation of semi-trailers has a first wagon end, a second wagon end, and a carrying section with a front portion. The carrying section is movable between a closed position in which its front portion is connected to the first wagon end, and an open position in which the front portion is turned out for loading/unloading of a semi-trailer. A beam assembly is configured to support the front portion of the carrying section during its movement. The beam assembly has a top face extending between the ends of the beam assembly. A rolling member is configured to roll on a rolling track arranged at the top face, while the front portion is being moved.

1 . A railway wagon for transportation of at least one vehicle, comprising: a first wagon end, a second wagon end, and a carrying section therebetween, the carrying section having a front portion releasably connected to the first wagon end, the carrying section being movable between a closed position in which the front portion is connected to the first wagon end, and an open position in which the front portion is turned out from the first wagon end for loading and unloading of said at least one vehicle; and a beam assembly configured to support the front portion while the front portion is being turned, the beam assembly having a first end and a second end, and a top face extending between the first beam end and the second beam end; wherein the front portion comprises a first connection mechanism and a second connection mechanism, at least the first connection mechanism comprising a first rolling member and a first guiding member, the first rolling member being configured to roll on a rolling track arranged at the top face, and the first guiding member being configured to interact with a guiding means arranged along the rolling track so that, while the front portion is being moved between the closed position and the open position or vice versa, the first rolling member is in contact with the rolling track; and wherein a sliding arrangement is arranged at said second end of the beam assembly. 
     
     
         2 . The railway wagon according to  claim 1 , wherein the guiding means extends upwards from the top face and substantially along an extension of the top face. 
     
     
         3 . The railway wagon according to  claim 1 , wherein the guiding means comprises a first guide rail and a second guide rail, the first guide rail being arranged at a predetermined guide distance from the second guide rail. 
     
     
         4 . The railway wagon according to  claim 1 , wherein an indentation or recess is arranged in the top face at said second end of the beam assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The railway wagon according to  claim 4 , wherein the indentation is arranged in a prolongation of the roller track at said second end of the beam assembly and at the opposite side of a space, ensuring introduction of the first guiding member onto the beam assembly in a transverse direction. 
     
     
         6 . The railway wagon according to  claim 4 , wherein the sliding arrangement comprises a movable plate arranged within the indentation. 
     
     
         7 . The railway wagon according to  claim 6 , wherein the movable plate has a top plate face arranged at the same level as the rolling track. 
     
     
         8 . The railway wagon according to  claim 7 , wherein the movable plate is configured to be movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to an extension of the beam assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The railway wagon according to  claim 6 , wherein one or more displacement member(s) is/are arranged between the movable plate and the beam assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The railway wagon according to  claim 9 , wherein the displacement members comprise(s) a coil spring, compression spring, elastic elements, pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, or the like. 
     
     
         11 . The railway wagon according to  claim 9 , wherein the displacement member(s) is/are configured to be biased or compressed while the first rolling member is being displaced via the sliding arrangement, and to return to its relaxed state by moving the movable plate to its initial position. 
     
     
         12 . The railway wagon according to  claim 6 , wherein a sliding member is arranged between the movable plate and the beam assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The railway wagon according to  claim 12 , wherein the sliding member is made from low-friction material and/or coated with a low-friction material. 
     
     
         14 . The railway wagon according to  claim 1 , wherein the first rolling member and the first guiding member are arranged at a mutual distance to ensure that the first rolling member is positioned in abutment with the rolling track during the movement of the front portion along the beam assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The railway wagon according to  claim 1 , wherein the first rolling member and the first guiding member are arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane.