Truck wheel-spacing changing method, and variable wheel-spacing truck, and ground facility therefor

A variable wheel-spacing truck comprising:

• a bogie frame having side beams,
• an axle extending between the side beams,
• a pair of wheels mounted on the axle slidably relative thereto in a transverse direction of the truck,
• axle boxes rotatably supporting the wheels,
• axle box receivers supporting the axle boxes, each of the axle box receivers being formed on an associated axle beam, each axle beam being pivotally mounted on one of the side beams so as to be swingable in a vertical direction,
• releasable locking means for fixing the axle boxes to the axle box receivers at a plurality of positions arranged in a transverse direction of the truck, and
• auxiliary wheels rotably mounted on the axle box receivers.

A ground facility for changing a wheel-spacing of a variable wheel-spacing truck equipped with locking means for the wheels, the ground facility comprising:

• a narrower track gauge railway of a first track gauge,
• a wider track gauge railway of a second track gauge greater than the first track gauge,
• a junction railway connecting the narrower track gauge railway with the wider track gauge railway and including a middle portion having a gradually changing track gauge and end portions each having a constant track gauge, and
• running paths for auxiliary wheels of the truck, the running paths extending within the whole length of the junction railway, the running paths being arranged, in plan view, so that a predetermined positional relation to the railway rails is maintained according to the track gauge, and being shaped, in elevation view, so that a top surface of the running paths is maintained higher than the top surface of the rails of the junction railway beyond the middle portion so as to release the locking means for the wheels of the truck when the auxiliary wheels are raised by the running paths, both end portions of the running paths being continuously inclined downwards.

A ground facility for changing a wheel-spacing of a truck comprising:

• a narrower track gauge railway of a first track gauge,
• a wider track gauge railway of a second track gauge greater than said first track gauge,
• a no-rail railway section between said narrower track gauge railway and said wider track gauge railway where no railway rail is arranged,
• running paths for auxiliary wheels arranged outside of said wider track gauge railway rails in a widthwise direction and extending over a length covering a part of said wider track gauge railway, a part of said narrower track gauge railway and said no-rail railway section in a longitudinal direction, a top surface of the running paths being maintained higher than top surfaces of the railway rails and both end portions of the running paths being continuously inclined downwards, and
• a pair of inside guide rails extending, within a section of the running paths, from inside the narrower track gauge railway rails to inside the wider track gauge railway rails, a top surface of the inside guide rails being maintained higher than the top surface of the railway rails.

A ground facility for changing a wheel-spacing of a truck comprising:

• a narrower track gauge railway of a first track gauge,
• a wider track gauge railway of a second track gauge greater than said first track gauge,
• a no-rail railway section between said narrower track gauge railway and said wider track gauge railway where no railway rail is arranged,
• running paths for auxiliary wheels arranged outside of said wider track gauge railway rails in a widthwise direction and extending over a length covering a part of said wider track gauge railway, a part of said narrower track gauge railway and said no-rail railway section in a longitudinal direction, a top surface of the running paths being maintained higher than top surfaces of the railway rails and both end portions of the running paths being continuously inclined downwards, and
• a pair of outside guide rails extending, within a section of the running paths, from outside the narrower track gauge railway rails to outside the wider track gauge railway rails, a top surface of the outside guide rails being maintained higher than the top surface of the railway rails.

A variable wheel-spacing truck comprising:

• a bogie frame having a pair of side beams and a transom extending transversely with respect to the side beams, the transom having first and second opposite ends each secured to one of the side beams;
• a front axle and a rear axle connected with one another by the side beams, one of the axles extending between the side beams;
• a pair of wheels mounted on the one of the axles slidably relative thereto in a transverse direction of the truck;
• axle boxes rotatably supporting the wheels;
• axle box receivers supporting the axle boxes;
• releasable locking means for fixing the axle boxes to the axle box receivers at a plurality of positions arranged in the transverse direction of the truck;
• and
• auxiliary wheels rotatably mounted on the axle box receivers.