US 5,546,868 A · Variable wheel-spacing truck

Abstract

A variable wheel-spacing truck includes a pair of left and right bogie frames which are transversely movable relative to each other and can be fixedly connected with each other by releasable locking devices. At least one of the wheels is slidable relative to the wheel shaft in an axial direction of the shaft. When the truck moves from one railway onto a junction railway of a different track gauge, running paths push auxiliary wheels of the locking devices upwards to release the locking devices. When the truck moves through the junction railway section, a pair of guide rails or a pair of rails push the wheels of the truck, thereby laterally shifting the left and right bogie frames relative to each other. After a predetermined relative transverse movement of the bogie frames and wheels is completed, the running paths lower the auxiliary wheels of the locking devices, thereby activating the locking devices into a locking condition. Then, the truck is moved out of the junction railway, thereby completing a truck wheel-spacing changing operation.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A variable wheel-spacing truck, comprising:

a pair of bogie frames each having a substantially T-letter shape, an end portion of a transom of one of the bogie frames overlapping with a side beam of another of the bogie frames,
a pair of vehicle supports mounted on the pair of bogie frames, each support including an elastic body,
a locking mechanism capable of releasably locking the pair of bogie frames at plural positions against movement in a widthwise direction of the truck,
auxiliary wheels associated with the locking mechanism and vertically movable to switch the locking mechanism between a locked state preventing transverse movement of the bogie frames and a released state permitting transverse movement of the bogie frames,
a pair of support wheels, at least one of the support wheels being allowed to slide relative to a wheel shaft in an axial direction of the wheel shaft, and
axle boxes and supporting members each engaged with a respective one of said bogie frames, and supporting a respective one of the support wheels.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Variable wheel-spacing truck

Life of this patent

Variable wheel-spacing truck

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22