AU2006332097A1

AU2006332097A1 - Method and device for the transport of goods by rail

Info

Publication number: AU2006332097A1
Application number: AU2006332097A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dirk Abel; Martin Baier; Arne Berger; Torsten Dellmann; Manfred Enning; Rolf Hellinger; Stefan Karch; Winfried Mahr
Original assignee: Siemens AG; Rheinisch Westlische Technische Hochschuke RWTH; Siemens Corp
Current assignee: Siemens AG; Rheinisch Westlische Technische Hochschuke RWTH
Priority date: 2006-01-04
Filing date: 2006-11-24
Publication date: 2007-07-12
Also published as: WO2007077060A3; DE102006000788A1; US20090074556A1; EP1968840A2; WO2007077060A2

Description

IN THE MATTER OF an Australian Application corresponding to PCT Application PCT/EP2006/068900 RWS Group Ltd, of Europa House, Marsham Way, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England, hereby solemnly and sincerely declares that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the following document, prepared by one of its translators competent in the art and conversant with the English and German languages, is a true and correct translation of the PCT Application filed under No. PCT/EP2006/068900. Date: 10 June 2008 C. E. SITCH Managing Director - UK Translation Division For and on behalf of RWS Group Ltd PCT/EP2006/068900 - 1 2005P22728WOUS Description Method and device for transporting goods by rail The invention relates to a method for transporting goods by rail, wherein goods wagons with their own drive devices are used. The invention also relates to a device for transporting goods by rail, wherein goods wagons have their own drive devices. For a long time customary goods trains have been composed of a locomotive and a number of goods wagons. Frequently, only a small number of goods wagons, and sometimes even just one goods wagon, are/is to be placed on a specific track. This is generally a connecting track for a customer who is receiving goods or wishes to dispatch goods. Operating such a connecting track requires either that the entire goods train has to drive into the connecting track in order to deposit or collect only one goods wagon or a small number of goods wagons, or that complicated shunting maneuvers become necessary. It has also already been proposed to operate track connections of customers with what is referred to as a cargo mover. In a cargo mover, a complete drive and control unit is accommodated in a single wagon so that, similarly to a truck on the road, it is an individual vehicle which travels independently. However, the cargo mover has the disadvantage that it must be compatible with long distance journeys. It must therefore contain all the prescribed safety devices and also be able to reach a sufficiently high speed. Finally, it is necessary for each cargo mover to be steered by a vehicle driver. The cargo mover is therefore not economical enough for long distance journeys.

PCT/EP2006/068900 - 2 2005P22728WOUS The invention is based on the object of specifying a method and a device for transporting goods by rail which can economically optimize both the collection and delivery of relatively small quantities of goods on track connections and also transportation over large distances. The object of specifying a suitable method is achieved according to the invention in that the drive devices of the goods wagons are used only for short distance journeys from a railroad station to a customer and back, and that for long distance journeys the goods wagons are assembled to form a train which is pulled by a tractor vehicle. This method provides the advantage that even though the goods wagons can be constructed with their own drive devices, they can still be constructed simply and cost effectively because they are used only for short distance journeys, specifically between a connecting track and the next railroad station. These short distance journeys require neither complex safety devices nor drive devices which permit relatively high speeds. However, on the other hand, the advantage is provided that individual goods wagons can travel from a connection track to a railroad station without complicated shunting maneuvers or can be distributed among connecting tracks from a railroad station. Since the goods wagons are driven independently only over short distances and with their own drive, a minimum degree of equipment is sufficient for them. The method according to the invention permits a cost effective and at the same time fast transport method for goods. For example, the tractor vehicle is a customary locomotive for long distance journeys, and the drive devices of the goods wagons are switched off during the long journeys. An additional drive of the goods wagons is then in fact generally not necessary. However, in exceptional cases the drive power of the train can be assisted by the drive devices of the goods wagons.

PCT/EP2006/068900 - 3 2005P22728WOUS For example, goods wagons with and without their own drive device are pulled by the locomotive. A mixed travel mode is then possible, in which customary goods wagons and the goods wagons which then travel individually from the railroad station to the connecting tracks can be set in a goods train. For example, on the goods wagons the drive devices are supplied by chargeable energy stores. This may involve accumulators or what are referred to as supercapacitors. Such chargeable energy stores are sufficient for the short and relatively slow journeys which the wagons have to carry out independently. For example, the chargeable energy stores are charged from the tractor vehicle during long distance journeys when the goods vehicles are coupled to the tractor vehicle. This provides a simple method of charging the energy stores during the long distance journey, so that the goods wagons can then travel immediately from the railroad station to individual connecting tracks independently under their own drive. The charging can be carried out particularly advantageously if the traction motors of the tractor vehicle supply electrical energy, for example, in the generator mode during braking. For example, the tractor vehicle controls the drive devices of the goods wagons via a data bus or via a radio link. If the drive power of the goods wagons of a train is sufficient for long distance transportation, the tractor vehicle does not need to have a powerful motor. However, open-loop and closed-loop control devices and a driver's cab are provided. The drive devices of the goods wagons are, for example, remote controlled for the short distance journeys. This provides the advantage that only one person is sufficient to move a plurality of goods wagons from, for example, a location next to the track.

PCT/EP2006/068900 - 3a 2005P22728WOUS The object of specifying a suitable device for transporting goods by rail is achieved according to the invention by virtue PCT/EP2006/068900 - 4 2005P22728WOUS of the fact that the drive devices of the goods wagons are configured for short distance journeys from a railroad station to a customer and back, and that for long distance journeys the goods wagons can be coupled to a tractor vehicle. This provides the advantage that the goods wagons which move under their own drive can be equipped simply and cost effectively since they only have to travel relatively slowly over short distances. Both the drive power and the safety equipment can be minimized. For long distance journeys, use is then in fact made of a tractor vehicle which pulls the wagons. For example, the tractor vehicle is a customary locomotive for long distance journeys. A special tractor vehicle does not necessarily have to be made available. The drive devices of the goods wagons can, for example, be switched off. In particular if the tractor vehicle is a customary locomotive, the goods wagons do not have to be driven themselves. However, in order to provide assistance on up hill journeys the drive devices of the goods wagons can assist the locomotive. The drive devices of the goods wagons are connected, for example, to chargeable energy stores. These may be accumulators or what are referred to as supercapacitors. The stored energy is advantageously sufficient to move a goods wagon by means of its own drive device over the relatively short distance which it has to cover. Thus, there is no need for complicated power supply devices in the goods wagons. The energy stores are connected, for example, to the coupled tractor vehicle for the purpose of charging. This provides the advantage that the energy stores are charged in the goods wagons via the tractor vehicle during the long distance journey so that the goods wagons with a drive device PCT/EP2006/068900 - 5 2005P22728WOUS can immediately again independently reach the connecting tracks from a railroad station. For example, the tractor vehicle has only a small intrinsic drive power. This drive power is sufficient to move the tractor vehicle alone. In order to pull a train, the drive devices of the goods wagons must then be added. A simple, cost effective tractor vehicle is sufficient to move a heavy train. A known, customary and expensive main line locomotive is not required. For example, the tractor vehicle has a control and safety device which is connected via a data bus or a radio link to the drive devices of the goods wagon. This provides the advantage that the drive devices of the goods wagons can, when necessary, be actuated directly from the tractor vehicle. The tractor vehicle requires, in addition to the control and safety device, a driver's cab, a current collector (pantograph) and a power feed converter. It is also possible to provide a diesel assembly or a fuel cell. In addition to the pantograph, the tractor vehicle mainly requires only electronic components for actuating the drive devices and brakes of the individual goods wagons, as well as other devices which are necessary for long distance transportation. For example, the goods wagons can be remote-controlled by means of a remote control system. It is then not necessary for a vehicle driver to be present on each goods wagon for the journey from the railroad station to the connecting tracks. Instead, the remote control system can then be used to move the driven goods wagons under the control of a railroad control center or the person standing at the track. The method and the device according to the invention provide in particular the advantage that the advantages of the goods wagon PCT/EP2006/068900 - 6 2005P22728WOUS which is equipped with its own drive device (cargo mover) and the advantages of the customary goods train are combined in one transportation system for transporting goods by rail.

Claims

1. A method for transporting goods by rail, wherein goods wagons with their own drive devices are used, characterized in that the drive devices of the goods wagons are used only for short distance journeys from a railroad station to a customer and back, and in that for long distance journeys the goods wagons are assembled to form a train which is pulled by a tractor vehicle for long distance journeys.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tractor vehicle is a customary locomotive for long distance journeys, and the drive devices of the goods wagons are switched off during the long distance journeys.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that goods wagons with and without their own drive device are pulled by the locomotive.

4. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the goods wagons the drive devices are supplied by chargeable energy stores.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the chargeable energy stores are charged from the tractor vehicle during the long distance journeys when the goods wagons are coupled to the tractor vehicle.

6. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the tractor vehicle controls the drive devices of the goods wagons via a data bus or via a radio link. PCT/EP2006/068900 - 7a 2005P22728WOUS

7. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive devices of the goods wagons are remote-controlled for short distance journeys. PCT/EP2006/068900 - 8 2005P22728WOUS

8. A device for transporting goods by rail, wherein goods wagons have their own drive devices, characterized in that the drive devices of the goods wagons are configured for short distance journeys from a railroad station to a customer and back, and in that for long distance journeys the goods wagons can be coupled to a tractor vehicle.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the tractor vehicle is a customary locomotive for long distance journeys.

10. The device as claimed in one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the drive devices of the goods wagons can be switched off.

11. The device as claimed in one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the drive devices of the goods wagons are connected to chargeable energy stores.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the energy stores are connected to the coupled tractor vehicle for the purpose of charging.

13. The device as claimed in one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the tractor vehicle has only a small intrinsic drive power.

14. The device as claimed in one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the tractor vehicle has a control and safety device which is connected via a data bus or a radio link to the drive devices of the goods wagons.

15. The device as claimed in one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the goods wagons can be remote controlled by means of a remote control system.