The use of short consists of powered and unpowered freight cars for moving cargo from its source to transfer facilities is described. The use of short consists of powered and unpowered freight cars can enable the efficient operation of unit trains. Single self-powered rail cars or short consists (up to about 25 cars) can overcome a number of problems associated with long unit trains such as dynamic instabilities, inability to stop quickly if needed and long headway time required between trains. A system of feeder trains (aggregators) to facilitate keeping unit trains in more or less constant motion is described. The use of gearing and shafts for power transmission from traction motors installed on various types of freight cars using the structure of the existing freight car truck is also described.

A chassis (100), in particular a low-floor chassis, for a rail vehicle, in particular for a tram-way. The chassis (100) comprises at least four wheels (4) each having a wheel bearing, at least two wheel axles for suspending the wheels (4), a chassis frame (1) and a primary suspension for suspending the wheels (4) relative to the chassis frame (1). The primary suspension has at least four torsion bars (20). Two torsion bars (20) each, in particular two torsion bars on one side of the chassis, are connected via a connecting element (21) in such a way that the torque of the torsion bars (20) oppose each other, in particular the torques essentially cancel each other out.

Disclosed is a bogie for a rail vehicle. One embodiment of a rail vehicle includes a bogie frame and at least four wheels arranged at the bogie frame. The bogie frame has a first and second frame parts, each frame part including a longitudinal beam and a cross beam. Each cross beam can be fixedly attached at the first end to the respective longitudinal beam. Each cross beam includes a pin at the second end. The longitudinal beam of the first frame part includes a receptacle for the pin of the second frame part and the longitudinal beam of the second frame part has a receptacle for the pin of the first frame part. The bogie can include one or more at bushing that includes elastomeric material, such as an elastomeric flange bushing, where the bushing is fixed to each cross beam or to the pin of the cross beam.

A bogie for a rail vehicle, such as a locomotive, includes a frame, two wheelsets and at least one drive unit. The drive unit is mounted to the frame and to the wheelset. A motor is at least partially supported by the frame while a gearbox to which it is flexibly connected has a main gear mounted on the one wheelset as well as a pinion for driving the main gear. The gearbox is connected to the frame by a reaction rod placed away from the wheel-axle on which the gearbox is mounted. The reaction rod, which defines an axis, is aligned so that its axis extends substantially through a center of the bogie when projected in a longitudinal-vertical plane bisecting the bogie.

A bogie for a rail vehicle, such as a locomotive, includes a frame, two wheelsets and at least one drive unit. The drive unit is mounted to the frame and to the wheelset. A motor is at least partially supported by the frame while a gearbox to which it is flexibly connected has a main gear mounted on the one wheelset as well as a pinion for driving the main gear. The gearbox is connected to the frame by a reaction rod placed away from the wheel-axle on which the gearbox is mounted. The reaction rod, which defines an axis, is aligned so that its axis extends substantially through a center of the bogie when projected in a longitudinal-vertical plane bisecting the bogie.

The present disclosure discloses a rail vehicle. The rail vehicle includes: a plurality of bogies, where the bogie has a straddle recess suitable for straddling a rail; and a vehicle body, where the vehicle body is connected to the plurality of bogies and pulled by the plurality of bogies to travel along the rail, and the vehicle body includes a plurality of compartments hinged sequentially along a length direction of the rail; the plurality of compartments forms at least one compartment group, the compartment group includes three compartments hinged sequentially, and the bottom of each of only compartments that are located at two ends of the compartment group and that are of the three compartments is connected to the bogie; and in the length direction of the rail, a surface that is of a compartment at at least one end of the vehicle body and that faces away from an adjacent compartment is provided with an escape door that can be opened and closed. The rail vehicle according to this embodiment of the present disclosure facilitates optimization of the structure of an escape passage, reduction in occupied space and the weight borne by the rail, and improvement in stability, and is flexible in steering and low in costs.

The present disclosure discloses a rail vehicle. The rail vehicle includes: a plurality of bogies, where the bogie has a straddle recess suitable for straddling a rail; and a vehicle body, where the vehicle body is connected to the plurality of bogies and pulled by the plurality of bogies to travel along the rail, and the vehicle body includes a plurality of compartments hinged sequentially along a length direction of the rail; the plurality of compartments forms at least one compartment group, the compartment group includes three compartments hinged sequentially, and the bottom of each of only compartments that are located at two ends of the compartment group and that are of the three compartments is connected to the bogie; and in the length direction of the rail, a surface that is of a compartment at at least one end of the vehicle body and that faces away from an adjacent compartment is provided with an escape door that can be opened and closed. The rail vehicle according to this embodiment of the present disclosure facilitates optimization of the structure of an escape passage, reduction in occupied space and the weight borne by the rail, and improvement in stability, and is flexible in steering and low in costs.

The present invention relates to a rail vehicle (22) comprising an energy storage device and a transformer (18) associated with the energy storage device; a rail vehicle carriage (24) comprising an energy storage device and a transformer (18) associated with the energy storage device; a method of operating a rail vehicle having an energy storage system (15); and a method of assembling a train composition. The rail vehicle (22) includes a rail vehicle carriage (24), traction equipment (6), a high-voltage conductor (5), a current collector (1), and an energy storage system (15) having an energy storage device. The traction equipment (6) comprises at least one traction power converter (9) and at least one traction motor (11). The high-voltage conductor (5) electrically connects the traction equipment (6) to the current collector (1). The energy storage device may be a battery (20).

The present invention relates to a rail vehicle (22) comprising an energy storage device and a transformer (18) associated with the energy storage device; a rail vehicle carriage (24) comprising an energy storage device and a transformer (18) associated with the energy storage device; a method of operating a rail vehicle having an energy storage system (15); and a method of assembling a train composition. The rail vehicle (22) includes a rail vehicle carriage (24), traction equipment (6), a high-voltage conductor (5), a current collector (1), and an energy storage system (15) having an energy storage device. The traction equipment (6) comprises at least one traction power converter (9) and at least one traction motor (11). The high-voltage conductor (5) electrically connects the traction equipment (6) to the current collector (1). The energy storage device may be a battery (20).

A chassis frame for a rail vehicle which includes at least one drive unit fastened to the chassis frame via at least one elongated fastener, wherein the at least one fastener is arranged transversely with respect to the direction of travel and protrudes into the chassis frame or is guided through brackets which are fixedly connected to the chassis frame and protrudes into a space above or below the chassis frame in order to reduce the weight for the bearing of the drive unit and to facilitate mounting of the drive unit.