Variable gauge bogie with rotating axles and fixed track gauge change installation

Abstract

The invention relates to a variable-width bogie with rotating axles and a stationary apparatus for changing track width. The bogie includes: a platform supporting a railway car; at least one rotating axle ( 2 ), the outer areas of which include parts ( 10 ) that support the suspension springs ( 11 ) of the platform and contain bearings ( 12 ) on which two wheels ( 1 ) are mounted using a coupling device enabling sideways movement and including locking guides ( 18 ) connected thereto, which locking guides are used to control the sideways movement in order to occupy the positions corresponding to the two track widths; and a track width changing device housed in the above-mentioned supporting parts ( 10 ), based on the cooperating action of the locking guides ( 18 ) and a latch ( 22 ) which can move vertically when actuated by interlocking/unlocking guides ( 24 ) provided on a stationary apparatus used to change the track width

1 . A bogie comprising a bearing platform of a railway wagon and at least one rotating axle ( 2 ) on which two wheels ( 1 ) are assembled by means of a coupling device which allows their lateral movement and which is provided with a track gauge change device using means which prevent/allow the lateral movement of each wheel ( 1 ) and between them a lock ( 22 ) which is vertically movable when actuated by locking/unlocking guides ( 24 ) provided for that purpose in a fixed installation for performing the track gauge change, characterized in that:
 a) said coupling device has connected thereto fixing guides ( 18 ) by means of which its lateral movement is controlled so as to be located in the positions corresponding to the two track gauges;   b) said rotating axle ( 2 ) includes bearing parts ( 10 ) of said platform internally including bearings ( 12 ) and housings to receive said fixing guides ( 18 ) and said lock ( 22 ), as well as means to facilitate its locking/unlocking by cooperating with those of said fixed installation;   c) said rotating axle ( 2 ) incorporates at its ends bushes ( 13 ) fixed to the axle;   d) said bearing parts ( 10 ) also include a side chassis with support shoes ( 16 ) in the fixed installation and a central collar serving as support for the end of the axle ( 2 ) during the passage through the fixed installation through a semicircular bush ( 14 ) connected to said central collar.   
     
     
         2 . The bogie according to the  claim 1 , characterized in that the central part of the axle ( 2 ) on which the wheels ( 1 ) are located in the positions corresponding to the two track gauges has a larger diameter than that of its side parts in contact with said bearing parts ( 10 ) through the bearings ( 12 ). 
     
     
         3 . The bogie according to any of claim  claim 1  characterized in that said coupling device comprises a bush ( 3 ) integral with the wheel ( 1 ) and sliding on the axle ( 2 ) cooperating with a tubular element ( 4 ) fixed to the central part of the axle ( 2 ) and including at its end a ring ( 7 ), with an inner axial bearing ( 8 ), to which the fixing guides ( 18 ) are fixed. 
     
     
         4 . The bogie according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it also comprises a bolt ( 25 ) connected to each lock ( 22 ) through a horizontal spring ( 21 ) for the purposes of preventing its vertical movement in cooperation with a retaining element ( 26 ) of said bolt ( 25 ) connected to the bearing part ( 10 ). 
     
     
         5 . A fixed installation for performing the track gauge change as the bogie according to  claim 4  moves over it, comprising sliding and bearing guides ( 19 ), lateral movement guides ( 27 ) and locking/unlocking guides ( 24 ), characterized in that the head of the of locking/unlocking guides ( 24 ) is configured such that it can laterally move said bolt ( 25 ), overcoming the force of said horizontal spring ( 21 ). 
     
     
         6 . The fixed installation for performing the track gauge change according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said locking/unlocking guides ( 24 ) have a double T-shaped profile and one of the half-flanges of its head has a progressively variable gauge, from smaller to larger from the end to the center of the guide, in the longitudinal direction.