Tilting device and method for operating a tilting device
View Patent ↗A tilting apparatus for emptying materials, including bulk material, out of railcars that are open at a top may include a tilting frame that is rotatable about an axis of rotation D and is connected to a platform that can receive at least one railcar, a clamping arm attached to the tilting frame in a rotatable manner, a locking device for preventing relative movement of the tilting frame and the clamping arm, and a bracket that is attached to the clamping arm such that in a tilted position of the tilting apparatus in which the tilting frame has been rotated about the axis of rotation that bracket lies at least partially against an upper edge of at least one of the side walls of the at least one railcar. Further, the hydraulic cylinder may be attached to the bracket.
1. A tilting apparatus for emptying materials out of railcars, the tilting apparatus comprising:
a tilting frame that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and is connected to a platform that can receive at least one railcar;
a clamping arm that is attached to the tilting frame in a rotatable manner;
a locking device for preventing relative movement between the tilting frame and the clamping arm;
a bracket that is attached to the clamping arm such that in a tilted position of the tilting apparatus in which the tilting frame is rotated about the axis of rotation the bracket is configured to lie at least partially against an upper edge of at least one side wall of the at least one railcar; and
a hydraulic cylinder that is attached to the bracket and at least partially compensates for tensions in the tilting apparatus that arise during a tilting operation as a result of material being emptied, and configured to compensate for the forces acting on the bracket by railcar springs,
wherein the hydraulic cylinder is disposed between the bracket and the clamping arm.
2. The tilting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the platform.
3. The tilting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hydraulic cylinder at least partially compensates for tensions in the locking device that arise during the tilting operation.
4. The tilting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hydraulic cylinder is attached to the bracket such that the hydraulic cylinder subjects the bracket to a force in a direction of the platform in the tilted position of the tilting apparatus.
5. The tilting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hydraulic accumulator that is connected to the hydraulic cylinder.
6. The tilting apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a valve disposed between the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic accumulator.
7. The tilting apparatus of claim 6 wherein the valve has
an open position in which hydraulic fluid can flow from the hydraulic cylinder into the hydraulic accumulator, and
a closed position in which a nonreturn valve prevents hydraulic fluid from flowing from the hydraulic cylinder into the hydraulic accumulator.
8. The tilting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hydraulic cylinder is configured to counteract a railcar spring of the at least one railcar, which comprises a truck and the railcar spring.
9. A method for operating a tilting apparatus comprising a tilting frame that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and is connected to a platform that can receive at least one railcar, a clamping arm that is attached to the tilting frame in a rotatable manner, a locking device for preventing relative movement between the tilting frame and the clamping arm, a bracket that is attached to the clamping arm such that in a tilted position of the tilting apparatus in which the tilting frame is rotated about the axis of rotation the bracket is configured to lie at least partially against an upper edge of at least one side wall of the at least one railcar, a hydraulic cylinder that is attached to the bracket and at least partially compensates for tensions in the tilting apparatus that arise during a tilting operation, and a hydraulic accumulator that is connected to the hydraulic cylinder, the method comprising:
rotating the tilting frame in a tilting direction about the axis of rotation;
activating the locking device to prevent relative movement between the tilting frame and the clamping arm;
rotating the tilting frame in the tilting direction through an angle of about 130°-180° about the axis of rotation;
rotating the tilting frame counter to the tilting direction about the axis of rotation;
causing hydraulic fluid to flow from the hydraulic cylinder into the hydraulic accumulator; and
releasing the locking device to permit relative movement between the tilting frame and the clamping arm.
10. The method for operating the tilting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the tilting apparatus further comprises a valve that has
an open position in which hydraulic fluid can flow from the hydraulic cylinder into the hydraulic accumulator, and
a closed position in which a nonreturn valve prevents hydraulic fluid from flowing from the hydraulic cylinder into the hydraulic accumulator,
wherein causing hydraulic fluid to flow from the hydraulic cylinder into the hydraulic accumulator comprises moving the valve into the open position.
11. The method for operating the tilting apparatus of claim 10 further comprising moving the valve into the closed position after causing hydraulic fluid to flow from the hydraulic cylinder into the hydraulic accumulator and before releasing the locking device to permit relative movement between the tilting frame and the clamping arm.
12. The method for operating the tilting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the valve is in the closed position during the rotating steps and the activating step.
13. A tilting apparatus for emptying materials out of railcars, the tilting apparatus comprising:
a tilting frame that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and is connected to a platform that can receive at least one railcar;
a clamping arm that is attached to the tilting frame in a rotatable manner;
a locking device for preventing relative movement between the tilting frame and the clamping arm;
a bracket that is attached to the clamping arm such that in a tilted position of the tilting apparatus in which the tilting frame is rotated about the axis of rotation the bracket is configured to lie at least partially against an upper edge of at least one side wall of the at least one railcar; and
a hydraulic cylinder that is attached to the bracket and at least partially compensates for tensions in the tilting apparatus that arise during a tilting operation,
wherein the bracket comprises a first bracket arm and a second bracket arm that is rotatable relative to the first bracket arm, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is disposed between the first bracket arm and the second bracket arm.
14. A tilting apparatus for emptying materials out of railcars, the tilting apparatus comprising:
a tilting frame that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and is connected to a platform that can receive at least one railcar;
a clamping arm that is attached to the tilting frame in a rotatable manner;
a locking device for preventing relative movement between the tilting frame and the clamping arm;
a bracket that is attached to the clamping arm such that in a tilted position of the tilting apparatus in which the tilting frame is rotated about the axis of rotation the bracket is configured to lie at least partially against an upper edge of at least one side wall of the at least one railcar;
a hydraulic cylinder that is attached to the bracket and at least partially compensates for tensions in the tilting apparatus that arise during a tilting operation, and
a hydraulic accumulator that is connected to the hydraulic cylinder.