Claims:Claims

1. Wagon locking system (26a,b) for attachment to a track (24) of a wagon loading and/or unloading station (10) comprising
at least one clasping device (38a,b) for fixing at least one of the wagon wheels (28) of the wagon (18),
characterised in that
the clasping device (38a,b) comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder (50) which is arranged and designed such that the clasping device (38a,b) is movable by means of the hydraulic cylinder (50) between a locking position, in which at least one wagon wheel (28) of the wagon (18) is fixed by the clasping device (38a,b), and a released position, in which the at least one wagon wheel (28) is movable relative to the clasping device (38a,b).

2. Wagon locking system (26a,b) according to claim 1, wherein the wagon locking system (26a,b) comprises a hydraulic drive unit (40) connected to the hydraulic cylinder (50) of the clasping device (38a,b) for moving the clasping device (38a,b) from the released position to the locking position.

3. Wagon locking system (26a,b) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wagon locking system (26a,b) comprises a control device (42), which is connected to the hydraulic drive unit (40).

4. Wagon locking system (26a,b) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one clasping device (38a,b) is at least partially surrounded by a housing (36).

5. Wagon locking system (26a,b) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (36) is box-shaped.

6. Wagon loading and/or unloading station (10) for emptying materials, preferably bulk material, from top-open wagons (18) and/or for filling a wagon (18) with materials, comprising
a wagon tippler (20) for emptying a wagon (18),
a track (24) for guiding the wagon (18) to the wagon tippler (20) and
a wagon locking system (26a,b) according to one of the preceding claims, which is attached to the track (24).

7. Wagon loading and/or unloading station (10) according to claim 6, wherein the wagon loading and/or unloading station (10) has a loading and/or unloading area (14) in which the wagon tippler (20) is arranged and
wherein the wagon loading and/or unloading station (10) has an inhaul area (12) arranged in front of the loading and/or unloading area (14) in the direction of travel of the wagons (18) and
an outhaul area (16) arranged behind the loading and/or unloading area (14) and
wherein the wagon locking system (26a,b) is arranged in the inhaul area (12) and/or the outhaul area (16).

8. Wagon loading and/or unloading station (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the wagon tippler (20) comprises a hydraulic drive unit and/or an electrical control device, and wherein the hydraulic drive unit and/or the control device of the wagon tippler is/are connected to the hydraulic cylinder (50) of the wagon locking system (26a,b) .

9. A wagon loading and/or unloading station (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the wagon tippler (20) comprises a hydraulic drive unit and/or an electrical control device, and wherein the wagon locking system (26a,b) comprises a separate hydraulic drive unit (40) and/or control device (42) connected to the hydraulic cylinder (50) of the wagon locking system (26a,b).

10. Wagon loading and/or unloading station (10) according to claim 9, wherein the hydraulic drive unit (40) of the wagon locking system (26a,b) is designed and arranged exclusively for driving the hydraulic cylinders (50) of the wagon locking system (26a,b) .

11. Method of attaching a wagon locking system (26a,b) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 to a wagon loading and/or unloading station (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the wagon loading and/or unloading station (10) comprises at least one track and wherein the wagon locking system (26a,b) is attached to the track (24).

Dated this 7th day of August, 2020.

(SOUMEN MUKHERJEE)
IN/PA - 214
Applicants’ Agent
for seenergi IPR
, Description:Wagon locking system and wagon loading and/or unloading station for emptying materials, preferably bulk material, from wagons open at the top and/or for filling a wagon with materials

The invention relates to a wagon locking system and a wagon loading and/or unloading station for loading / unloading materials, preferably bulk material, from open-top wagons and/or for filling a wagon with materials, and a method for attaching a wagon locking system to a wagon loading and/or unloading station.

To load and/or unload wagons, they are usually driven on tracks into a loading and/or unloading station to be loaded or unloaded there. An unloading station is, for example, a wagon tippler known from DE 10 2008 047 716 A1. Before and after entering such a loading and/or unloading station, it is necessary to lock the wagon to be loaded or unloaded in a position behind or in front of the loading and/or unloading station to prevent undesired rolling movement of the wagon. For this purpose, it is known to manually fix so-called brake wedges made of metal or wood in front of the wagon wheels or behind the wagon wheels so that the wagon wheels are prevented from moving.

This manual application of the brake wedges is usually carried out by at least three persons and poses a high safety risk for the workers. In order to increase the safety of workers, it is the object of this invention to provide an automatic locking device to lock a wagon in position before it enters or leaves a loading and/or unloading station.

According to the invention, this technical problem is solved by a wagon locking system having the features of the independent, device claim 1 and by a method including the features of the independent method claim 11.

A wagon locking system for attachment to a track of a wagon loading and/or unloading station comprises according to a first aspect at least one clasping device for fixing at least one of the wagon wheels of the wagon. The clasping device has at least one hydraulic cylinder which is arranged and designed in such a way that the clasping device can be moved by means of the hydraulic cylinder from a locking position, in which at least one wagon wheel of the wagon is fixed by the clasping device, to a released position, in which the at least one wagon wheel can be moved relative to the clasping device.

A wagon loading and/or unloading station is preferably a station with a device for loading wagons, such as a conveyor belt or an excavator, or a device for unloading the wagon, such as a wagon tippler. A wagon loading and/or unloading station preferably has a track on which the wagons are moveable. Furthermore, the wagon loading and/or unloading station has a loading and/or unloading area in which the loading or unloading device, such as the wagon tippler, is located. In the direction of travel of the wagons in front of the loading and/or unloading area is an inhaul area and behind the loading and/or unloading area is an outhaul area. The wagon locking system is preferably located in the inhaul and/or outhaul area of the wagon loading and/or unloading station.

Such a wagon locking system offers the advantage of fixing wagons before and after loading or unloading, thus preventing unwanted movement. The wagon locking system is moved by a hydraulic cylinder from a released to a locked position, so that manual locking by one or more workers is not necessary. Furthermore, the wagon locking system can easily be installed in an existing wagon loading and/or unloading station. A track preferably has two rails, each attached to a support beam and running parallel to each other. Preferably, the wagon locking system is attached to the track, in particular to the rail or the support beam connected to the rail.

According to a first embodiment, the wagon locking system has a hydraulic drive unit connected to the hydraulic cylinder of the clasping device for moving the clasping device from the released position to the locking position. The hydraulic drive unit is preferably connected exclusively to the hydraulic cylinders of the clasping device, in particular not to further hydraulic consumers, for example of the wagon tippler. This offers the advantage of a simple installation of the wagon locking system at a wagon loading and/or unloading station, whereby the wagon locking system is self-sufficient and does not have to be energized by the hydraulic system of the wagon tippler, for example. Therefore, no design changes to the loading and/or unloading station, in particular to the wagon tippler, are necessary when such a wagon locking system is installed. This saves costs and time.

The clasping device preferably has a clamping plate, which extends parallel to the track and, in the locking position of the wagon locking system, rests against at least one wagon wheel, in particular against two wagon wheels. In particular, the clasping device has two clamping plates, which are arranged opposite one another and each rest against the wagon wheel so that the latter is clamped between the clamping plates in the locking position. The clamping plates are preferably each attached to a lever, which is rotatably mounted on a bearing. At the end of the levers opposite to the clamping plate, a hydraulic cylinder is mounted, which connects the levers with each other. The bearings of the clasping devices are preferably attached to the track, in particular to the supporting beam of the track.

According to another embodiment, the wagon locking system has a control device that is connected to the hydraulic drive unit of the clasping device. This is preferably an electrical control device, which is connected to the hydraulic drive unit to control it. This results in the advantage of a self-sufficient wagon locking system that can be installed on an existing loading and/or unloading station without any design changes. Preferably, the electrical control device is designed in such a way that it can also be connected to a separate electrical control system of a wagon tippler.

According to another embodiment the at least one clasping device is at least partially surrounded by a housing. The housing is preferably box-shaped. Optionally, the housing has a U-shaped cross-section. Preferably, the housing extends to the height level of the rails and is designed to be open at the top. The housing is preferably designed in one piece and is made of concrete or steel, for example. It is also conceivable that the housing has a cover which at least partially or completely closes the upper, wheel-side area of the housing. Preferably, the housing partially or completely encloses the lower and lateral area of the clasping device. For example, the clasping device protrudes at least partially from the top of the wagon-side end of the housing. In particular, only the clamping plate protrudes from the housing. For example, the clasping device is fixed to the housing. This enables a particularly simple installation of the wagon locking system. The housing and the clasping device can be attached as a module to a track of a wagon loading and/or unloading station and can then be easily connected to a separate or already existing hydraulic system, especially a hydraulic drive unit of a wagon loading and/or unloading station.

The invention further comprises a wagon loading and/or unloading station for emptying materials, preferably bulk material, from wagons open at the top and/or for filling a wagon with materials, comprising a wagon tippler for emptying a wagon or loading system for filling the wagon, a track for guiding the wagon to the wagon tippler / loading system, a wagon locking system as described above attached to the track.

In accordance with an embodiment, the wagon loading and/or unloading station has a loading and/or unloading area in which the wagon tippler is arranged, wherein the wagon loading and/or unloading station has an inhaul area arranged in front of the loading and/or unloading area in the direction of travel of the wagons and an outhaul area arranged behind the loading and/or unloading area and wherein the wagon locking system is arranged in the inhaul area and/or the outhaul area.

In another embodiment, the wagon tippler is equipped with a hydraulic system, for example a hydraulic drive unit and/or an electric control device, whereby the hydraulic system, especially the hydraulic drive unit and/or the control device of the wagon tippler is/are connected to the hydraulic cylinder of the wagon locking system.

According to another embodiment, the wagon tippler has a hydraulic system, for example a hydraulic drive unit and/or an electrical control device, whereby the wagon locking system has a separate hydraulic system, especially a hydraulic drive unit and/or control device, which is/are, connected to the hydraulic drive unit.

According to another embodiment, the hydraulic drive unit of the wagon locking system is designed and equipped exclusively to drive the hydraulic cylinders of the wagon locking system. The hydraulic drive unit of the wagon locking system is preferably connected exclusively to the hydraulic cylinders of the wagon locking system.

The invention also comprises a method of attaching a wagon locking system as previously described to a wagon loading and/or unloading station as previously described, wherein the wagon loading and/or unloading station comprises at least one track, and wherein the wagon locking system is attached to the track. Preferably, one wagon locking system each is installed at an inhaul area and/or an outhaul area of the wagon loading and/or unloading station.

Description of the drawings

The invention is explained in more detail below using several embodiments with reference to the enclosed figures.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a loading and/or unloading station for loading and/or unloading a wagon with bulk material according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic drawing of a wagon locking system in a plan view according to an embodiment.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic drawing of a section of a wagon locking system in a side view according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic drawing of a clasping device in a front view according to an embodiment.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic drawing of a wagon locking system with two clasping devices in a front view according to an embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a loading and/or unloading station 10 for loading and/or unloading a wagon with bulk material, such as mineral bulk goods. The loading and/or unloading station 10 comprises an inhaul area 12, a loading and/or unloading area 14 adjoining it in direction of travel and an outhaul area 16 adjoining it in direction of travel. In the loading and/or unloading station 10, for example, three wagons 18 have entered. As an example, the loading and/or unloading area 14 shown in Fig. 1 is designed as an unloading station, namely as a wagon tippler 20. Below the wagon tippler 20, for example, a container or hopper 22 is arranged to receive the bulk material unloaded from the wagon 18.

The loading and/or unloading station 10 comprises a track 24 on which the wagons 18 can be moved. The inhaul area 12 and the outhaul area 16 each have a wagon locking system 26a,b. It is also conceivable that only one of the areas 12, 16 has a wagon locking system 26a,b.

The wagon locking system 26a,b is used to fix the respective wagon 18 in a position before entering the wagon tippler 20 or after leaving the wagon tippler 20 The wagon locking system 26a,b is preferably designed in such a way that it locks, in particular holds, at least one wagon wheel 28, preferably two or four wagon wheels 28, of the respective wagon 18. The wagon locking system 26a,b is preferably designed in such a way that in a locking, in particular holding position it prevents the movement of at least one wagon wheel 28, in particular it prevents the movement of all wagons attached to wagon 18 in holding position with wagon locking system and in a released position it allows the movement of the wagon wheel 28, in particular on track 24 and relative to the wagon locking system 26a,b. The wagon locking system 26a installed in the inhaul area 12 is preferably designed to hold a wagon 18 completely loaded with bulk material, in particular it is designed / customized to hold any number of completely loaded wagons attached to leading wagon 18 which is in particular under holding position with the wagon locking system. The wagon locking system 26b installed in the outhaul area 16 preferably being designed to hold a wagon 18 completely or partially unloaded, in particular it is designed / customized to hold any number of completely or partially unloaded wagons attached to this last wagon 18 which is in particular under holding position with wagon locking system

The wagon tippler 20, for example, has a tipping frame 30, which is approximately semicircular in shape. The tipping frame 30, for example, has a drive ring not shown in detail in Fig. 1 with a toothing which extends over the semicircular designed circumferential area and interacts with a drive device 32, for example, arranged on the floor. Furthermore, the wagon tippler 20 has a platform 34 to accommodate at least one wagon 18. The platform 34 is preferably non-rotatably connected to the tipping frame 30. During operation of the wagon tippler 20, wagon 18 is clamped to the tipping frame 30 by means of a clamping arm not shown and the tipping frame 30 is rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation by about 160o to 180° so that wagon 18 is emptied. The wagon tippler 20 preferably has an electrical control device that can be connected to the wagon locking system 26a,b.

Fig. 2 shows a wagon locking system 26a,b according to Fig. 1 in a more detailed illustration. The wagon locking system 26a,b comprises a housing 36 and two clasping devices 38a,b arranged in the housing 36. The clasping devices 38a,b are preferably of identical design and extend in particular in the direction of the track and parallel to each other. The structure of the clasping devices 38a,b is described in more detail with reference to Figures 3 to 5. The wagon locking system 26a,b has a hydraulic drive unit 40 which is connected to the clasping devices 38a,b via hydraulic lines. Furthermore, the wagon locking system 26a,b has an example of a control device 42 for controlling the hydraulic drive unit 40. It is also conceivable that the hydraulic drive unit 40 is connected to a control device of the wagon tippler 20 for open-loop/closed-loop control, so that the wagon locking system 26a,b does not have a control device 42.

Fig. 3 shows a section of a wagon locking system 26a,b of Fig. 2 in a side view. Fig. 4 shows a clasping device 38a, b of the wagon locking system 26a,b in a front view and in a locking position. The clasping device 38a,b has a clamping plate 44 which extends parallel to the track and in the locking position of the wagon locking system 26a,b rests against at least one wagon wheel 28, in particular against two wagon wheels 28. In particular, the clasping device 38a,b has two clamping plates 44, which are arranged opposite one another and each rest against the wagon wheel 28, so that the latter is clamped between the clamping plates 44 in the locking position. The clasping device 38a,b is preferably of symmetrical design, both sides of the clasping device 38a,b being of substantially identical design. The clamping plates 44 are each attached to a lever 46, which are each rotatably mounted on a bearing 48. At the end of the levers 46 opposite the clamping plate 44, a hydraulic cylinder 50 is attached, which connects the levers 46 to each other. Parallel to the hydraulic cylinder 50, a spring 52 is attached to the respective ends of the levers 46, whose spring force acts preferably parallel to the force to be applied by means of the hydraulic cylinder. In particular, the spring is arranged and designed such that its spring force counteracts the force generated by the hydraulic cylinder 50., so that during release operation of clasping device 38a,b, either side clamping plates 44 are symmetrically opened with respect to wagon wheel 28.

In particular, track 24 has a rail 54 and a support beam 56 to accommodate the rail 54. Preferably, the clasping device 38a,b is attached to one track 24, in particular to the supporting beam 56 of the track 24. In particular, the bearings 48 of the clasping device 38a,b are each attached to the supporting beam 56.

During operation of the clasping device 38a,b, in order to move the clasping device 38a,b from the released position to the locking position, the levers 46 are rotated about an axis of rotation by means of the hydraulic cylinder 50 in the bearings 48, so that the clamping plate 44 is moved in the direction of the wagon wheel 28. A clamping force is applied to the wagon wheel 28 by means of the hydraulic cylinder 50 between the clamping plates 44, so that a movement of the wagon wheel 28, especially rolling on the rail 54, is prevented.

Fig. 5 shows a wagon locking system 26a,b with two clasping devices 38a,b according to Fig. 2 to 4. The clasping devices 38a and 38b are at least partially enclosed by the housing 36. The housing 36 has an exemplary U-shaped cross-section and extends in particular around the lower and lateral areas of the clasping devices 38a and 38b. The housing 36 is preferably made in one piece and is made of concrete or steel, for example. Towards the top, in the direction of the wagon wheels 28, the housing 36 is preferably open. As an example, the housing 36 has a cover 37 which at least partially forms the upper part of the housing 36. The clasping devices 38a,b preferably protrude from the housing at least partially in the direction of the wagon wheels 28. Preferably, the clamping plates 44 protrude from the housing 36. In particular, the housing 36 extends up to the bottom level of rails 54. It is also conceivable that the housing 36 extends beyond the bottom level of the rails 54.

List of reference signs
10 Loading and/or unloading station
12 Inhaul area
14 Loading and/or unloading area
16 Outhaul area
18 Wagon
20 Wagon tippler
22 Container or hopper
24 Track
26a,b Wagon locking system
28 Wagon wheel
30 Tipping frame
32 Drive system
34 Platform
36 Housing
37 Covers
38a,b Clasping device
40 Hydraulic drive unit
42 Control device
44 Clamping plate
46 Lever
48 Bearing
50 Hydraulic cylinder
52 Spring
54 Rail
56 Support beam