Level control for a rail-mounted vehicle

Abstract

The rail vehicle ( 1 ) comprises a sub-frame ( 2 ) and a wagon body ( 3 ) disposed above it. Between the wagon body ( 3 ) and the sub-frame ( 2 ) a spring stage ( 4 ) is provided and between the wagon body ( 3 ) and the sub-frame ( 2 ) at least one actuator ( 6 ) is provided which is arranged to bring the wagon body ( 3 ) from a raised travel position into a lowered load/unload position against a restoring force produced by the spring stage ( 4 ) to keep it in the load/unload position. The wagon body ( 3 ) is raised into a travel position by the restoring force upon deactivation of the actuator ( 6 ).

I claim:  
     
         1  Rail vehicle ( 1 ) with a sub-frame ( 2 ) and a wagon body ( 3 ) disposed above it, wherein at least between the wagon body ( 3 ) and the sub-frame ( 2 ) at least one spring stage ( 4 ) is provided, characterised in that between the wagon body ( 3 ) and the sub-frame ( 2 ) at least one actuator ( 6 ,  6 ′) is provided which is arranged to bring the wagon body ( 3 ) from a raised travel position into a lowered load/unload position against a restoring force produced by the at least one spring stage ( 4   a ,  4   b ), and to keep it in the load/unload position, wherein the wagon body ( 3 ) is raised into a travel position by the restoring force upon deactivation or failure of the actuator ( 6 ,  6 ′).  
     
     
         2  Rail vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the movement of the actuator ( 6 ,  6 ′) into the load/unload position is limited by a stop.  
     
     
         3  Rail vehicle as claimed in  claim 1  characterised in that it is arranged to determine the vertical distance between a floor upper surface ( 7 ) of the wagon body ( 3 ) and a floor of the station ( 5 ), wherein a control device is provided which is arranged to control the movement of the actuator ( 6 ,  6 ′) into the load/unload position using the measured vertical distance.  
     
     
         4  Rail vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the actuator ( 6 ,  6 ′) is an electrical and/or mechanical actuator.  
     
     
         5  Rail vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the actuator ( 6 ,  6 ′) is a hydraulic and/or pneumatic actuator.  
     
     
         6  Rail vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the spring stage ( 4   a ,  4   b ) has at least one fail-safe passive spring.  
     
     
         7  Rail vehicle as claimed in  claim 6 , characterised in that the at least one fail-safe passive spring is formed as a steel or rubber spring.  
     
     
         8  Rail vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the spring stage ( 4   a ,  4   b ) is a primary and/or secondary spring stage of the rail vehicle ( 1 ).  
     
     
         9  Rail vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the actuator ( 6 ,  6 ′) is formed as a vertical damper of the rail vehicle.