Rail vehicle

A rail vehicle for moving in two perpendicular horizontal directions on a rail system, the rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails in a second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, the rail vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle frame;
• rail engaging supports for supporting the rail vehicle on the rail system;
• and
• a plurality of wheel modules configured to move the rail vehicle on the rail system;
• wherein each wheel module comprises a wheel with a horizontal axis of rotation, each of the plurality of wheel modules allowing the wheel to pivot 90 degrees around a vertical axis such that a rotational direction of the wheel may be switched between the first direction and the second direction;
• each of the plurality of wheel modules and the rail engaging supports are vertically moveable relative to each other between a first position and a second position, where:
• in the first position, the wheels are arranged to engage rails of the rail system and the rail engaging supports are clear of the rail system;
• and
• in the second position, the rail engaging supports are arranged to engage rails of the rail system and the wheels are lifted clear of the rail system, such that each of the wheels may be pivoted around the vertical axis of each of the plurality of wheel modules to switch the rotational direction of the wheel between the first direction and the second direction.

A container handling system comprising a rail vehicle and a rail system, the rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails in a second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, the rail vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle frame;
• rail engaging supports for supporting the rail vehicle on the rail system;
• and
• a plurality of wheel modules configured to move the rail vehicle upon the rail system;
• wherein each wheel module comprises a wheel with a horizontal axis of rotation, each of the plurality of wheel modules allowing the wheel to pivot 90 degrees around a vertical axis such that a rotational direction of the wheel may be switched between the first direction and the second direction;
• each of the plurality of wheel modules and the rail engaging supports are vertically moveable relative to each other between a first position and a second position, where:
• in the first position, the wheels engage rails of the rail system and the rail engaging supports are arranged above the rail system;
• and
• in the second position, the rail engaging supports engage rails of the rail system and the wheels are arranged above the rail system, such that each of the wheels may be pivoted around the vertical axis of each of the wheel modules to switch the rotational direction of the wheel between the first direction and the second direction.

A method of changing a direction of travel of a rail vehicle operating on a rail system, the rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails in a second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, the rail vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle frame;
• rail engaging supports for supporting the rail vehicle on the rail system;
• and
• a plurality of wheel modules configured to move the rail vehicle upon the rail system;
• wherein each wheel module comprises a wheel with a horizontal axis of rotation, each of the plurality of wheel modules allowing the wheel to pivot 90 degrees around a vertical axis such that the wheel may change its rotational direction between the first direction and the second direction;
• each of the plurality of wheel modules and the rail engaging supports are vertically moveable relative to each other between a first position and a second position, where:
• in the first position, the wheels are arranged to engage rails of the rail system and the rail engaging supports are clear of the rail system;
• and
• in the second position, the rail engaging supports are arranged to engage rails of the rail system and the wheels are lifted clear of the rail system, such that each of the wheels may pivot around the vertical axis of each of the plurality of wheel modules to change a
• rotational direction between the first direction and the second direction;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• moving the rail vehicle in the first direction on the rail system;
• stopping the rail vehicle;
• moving the wheel modules and the rail engaging supports relative to each other from the first position to the second position;
• pivoting the wheels 90 degrees around the vertical axis such that the wheels switch their rotational direction from the first direction to the second direction;
• moving the plurality of wheel modules and the rail engaging supports from the second position to the first position;
• and
• moving the rail vehicle in the second direction upon the rail system.