Mounting for a front hatch of a car of a train and car of a train

Abstract

An articulating mount for a moveable front hatch of a train car includes a linear actuator configured to be rotatably connected to the car at a first connection point. The linear actuator includes a moveable end configured to be connected to the front hatch at a second connection point, and is effective, when actuated, to change a distance between the first and second connection points. The mount further includes a first guide configured to be rotatably connected to the car. The first guide includes a guide rail defining an opening sized to receive a first protrusion connected to the front hatch for guiding movement of the moveable end of the linear actuator, responsive to actuation of the linear actuator, along a first guide path between a first position and a second position.

Claims

1. An articulating mount for a moveable front hatch of a train car, comprising: a linear actuator configured to be rotatably connected to the car at a first connection point, the linear actuator comprising a moveable end configured to be connected to the front hatch at a second connection point, the linear actuator effective, when actuated, to change a distance between the first and second connection points; and a first guide configured to be rotatably connected to the car, the first guide comprising a guide rail defining an opening sized to receive a first protrusion connected to the front hatch for guiding movement of the moveable end of the linear actuator, responsive to actuation of the linear actuator, along a first guide path between a first position and a second position.

2. The mount of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator and the first guide are fixedly connected to one another and are configured to be rotatably connected to the car about a common axis of rotation.

3. The mount of claim 1, further comprising a releasable lock, the lock including a latch sized and located to engage with a second protrusion connected to the first guide in a locked state.

4. The mount of claim 1, further comprising a second guide defining an opening sized and located to receive a third protrusion connected to the front hatch when the moveable end of the linear actuator is in the second position and the first guide has been rotated from a first predetermined angular position relative to the car.

5. The mount of claim 4, wherein the opening of the second guide defines a second guide path having a curved profile.

6. A mounting for a moveable front hatch of a train car, comprising: an actuator configured to be rotatably connected to the car at a first connection point and including a moveable end configured to be connected to the front hatch at a second connection point, the actuator effective, when actuated, to change a distance between the first and second connection points; and a first guide configured to be rotatably connected to the car for guiding movement of the moveable end of the actuator, responsive to actuation of the actuator, along a first path between a first position and a second position.

7. The mounting of claim 6, further comprising a releasable lock configured to: in a locked state, maintain a portion of the first guide in a first predetermined angular position relative to the car, and in an unlocked state, permit the portion of the first guide to rotate relative to the car.

8. The mounting of claim 6, further comprising a second guide configured to receive a protrusion connected to the front hatch when the moveable end of the actuator is in the second position and the first guide has been rotated from a first predetermined angular position relative to the car.

9. The mounting of claim 8, wherein when the protrusion is received by the second guide, movement of the moveable end of the actuator from the second position toward the first position guides the protrusion along a second path.

10. The mounting of claim 9, wherein the second path comprises an arcing path having a constant radius.

11. The mounting of claim 9, wherein the second path comprises an arcing path having a decreasing radius from a first path end to a second path end.

12. The mounting of claim 6, wherein rotation of the first guide relative to the car provides movement of the second connection point along an arcing path.

13. A mounting for a front hatch of a train car, which front hatch is moveable relative to a first connection point that forms part of the car, comprising: an actuator configured to be connected at the first connection point in a manner that allows the actuator to rotate relative to the first connection point, and configured to be connected to the front hatch at a second connection point, wherein in a first operational state of the actuator, the first connection point and the second connection point are spaced apart by a first distance, wherein the actuator can be actuated to increase the distance between the first connection point and the second connection point; a first guide that guides the movement of the second connection point along a path when the actuator is actuated in the first operational state to increase the distance between the first connection point and the second connection point; and wherein the mounting further comprises at least one of: a releasable lock that in the locked state holds a part of the first guide in a predetermined position relative to the first connection point and in the unlocked state allows the part of the first guide to move relative to first connection point; and a second guide that guides the movement of the second connection point along a further path after the actuator has increased the distance between the first connection point and the second connection point to a second distance and while the distance between the first connection point and the second connection point is kept constant or is decreased.

14. The mounting of claim 13, wherein the first guide comprises a guide rail and a connection pin guided by the guide rail, the connection pin configured to be connected to the front hatch.

15. The mounting of claim 13, wherein the first guide is configured to guide the movement of the second connection point along a linear path when the actuator is actuated in the first operational state to increase the distance between the first connection point and the second connection point.

16. The mounting of claim 13, wherein the mounting comprises the releasable lock and the second guide, and the releasable lock in the unlocked state allows the part of the first guide to move along a path that has the shape of an arc, wherein at least one of a part of the first guide, a part of the actuator or a part that can be attached to the front hatch, can be received by the second guide for guiding the second point of connection to move further along a path that has the shape of an arc.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Below, the invention will be described with reference to drawings that only show exemplary embodiments of the invention.

(2) In the drawings

(3) FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view onto the front end of a car of a train with a front hatch, the front hatch being in a first (closed) operational state;

(4) FIG. 2 a partially cut perspective from below the car looking forward onto the back side of the hatch of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 a partially cut perspective view onto the front hatch and a mounting according to the invention, the perspective view being from behind looking onto the back surface of the front hatch;

(6) FIG. 4 a partially cut side view of the elements shown in FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 5 a partially cut perspective view from a point of view similar to the one used for FIG. 3, now showing the front hatch in a different operational state and

(8) FIG. 6 being a partially cut side view onto the elements shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows parts of a car of a train according to the invention with a front hatch 1 in a closed, first operational state. In this first operational state, the front hatch covers a coupler head arranged behind the front hatch. In FIG. 1, parts of a further guide 2 that will be described in more detail below can be identified. The square panel 3 shown in FIG. 1 is intended to symbolize the ground on which the train stands.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view onto the front hatch 1 from behind, showing only parts of the hatch. The view of FIG. 2 is chosen to show the mounting of the front hatch 1 according to the invention. It is possible, that one car at one of its ends has two such mountings for a front hatch, one on each side of the car. In FIG. 2, the mounting on one side of the car is shown.

(11) The mounting 3 of the front hatch 1 has an actuator 4 in the form of a hydraulic cylinder. The actuator 4 also has a plate-shaped element 5 and is connected to the car a point of contact 5A. The point of contact 5A is a pin that is connected to a support plate 6 connected to the underframe of the car. By way of the hinge joint (pin joint) thus provided the actuator 4 is connected to the car in such a manner that allows the actuator to rotate (swivel about the horizontal axis of the pin) relative to the point of contact 5A. The point of contact 5A with the car defines a first point of connection of the actuator 4.

(12) At its opposite end, the actuator 4 is connected to a connection plate 7 that forms part of a support structure 8 of the front hatch 1. The support structure 8 is attached to the front hatch 1 by way of screws 9. The connection of the actuator 4 to the connection plate 7 defines a second point of connection of the actuator 4. In the first operational state shown in FIG. 2, 3, 4, the first point and the second point are distanced apart by a first distance. If the actuator 4 is actuated in this first operational state to increase the distance between the first point of connection to a second point of connection, the front hatch 1 moves further away from the point of contact 5A with the car. FIGS. 5 and 6 (in an operational state where the front hatch has already swiveled about the point of contact 5A) show such an operational state, wherein the first point and the second point of connection are distanced apart by a second distance.

(13) As can be best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, a guide 10 is provided inside the plate-shaped element 5. The support structure 8 of the front hatch 1 has a connection pin 11 that is arranged inside the guide 10. Due to the connection of the actuator 4 with the connection plate 7 and thus with the support structure 8, the guidance of the connection pin 11 in the guide 10 also provides that the second point of connection (the connection plate 7) is guided along a path by the guide 10 when the actuator is actuated in the first operational state to increase the distance between the first point of connection and the second point of connection.

(14) A releasable lock by way of a latch mechanism that holds a pin attached to the plate-shaped element 5 that contains the guide 10. In the locked state, the releasable lock 12 holds the plate-shaped element 5 that contains the guide 10 in a predetermined state relative to the to the first point of connection (the point of contact 5A). Thus, a part of the guide is locked in a predetermined position relative to the first point of connection. In the unlocked state, the releasable lock 12 allows the plate-shaped element 5 and thus the guide 10 to move relative to the first point of connection as can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, where the structure that provides the guide 10 has already swiveled about the first point of connection.

(15) The mounting according to the invention has a further guide 2 that guides the movement of the second point of connection (connection plate 7) along a further path after the actuator 4 has increased the distance between the first point of connection and the second point of connection to a second distance and while the distance between the first point of connection and the second point of connection is kept constant or is decreased. As can be understood by looking at FIGS. 3 and 4 and by looking at FIGS. 5 and 6, the front hatch in a first part of its movement can be moved away from the point of contact with the car in a linear manner provided for by the interaction of the connection pin 11 and the guide 10. The front hatch 1 will thus be lifted upwards away from a coupler head (not shown). This increase of distance between the first point of connection and the second point of connection increases the radius of a swivel movement of the front hatch 1 about the point of contact with the car. If the releasable lock 12 now releases the plate-shaped element 5 that contains the guide 10, the front hatch 1 by its own weight will swivel about the point of contact 5A of the car. It will swivel until a guide pin 13 is taken up by the further guide 2. This operational state is shown in the FIGS. 5 and 6. Here, the guide pin 13 has just been received by the further guide 2. If the actuator 4 is now activated to decrease the distance between the first point of connection and the second point of connection, the front hatch 1 will be moved along the further path provided by the further guide 2 and will be moved further upwards. This increases the clearance between the ground and the front hatch 1.