Railmaster System, Inc.

Rail Runner Systems, Inc.

The Chamberlain Group, Inc.

Railrunner, N.a., Inc.

Other

Wabash National, L.p.

Harry O Wicks

Monte P Riefler

Michael W DiLuigi

Richard L Jones

Theodore E Dancu

Joseph Magri

Thomas F Kealey

Gary D Christen

Kenneth E Combs

The improved intermodal vehicle has a one-piece upper frame assembly with a horizontal load carrying surface below the ends of a drawbar for connecting the trailers. Each highway trailer has a coupler socket assembly at both its front and rear into which the drawbar enters and connects to the intermodal vehicle by a vertical coupling pin projecting upward from the horizontal load carrying surface. The coupling pin is operated up and down by either manual or air operated actuators, and locks in the up position by a manually operated safety latch. The upper frame is supported from dual steerable lower frames by primary air springs so that when the springs are deflated, the upper frame is lowered to allow the trailers to be pushed upon the load carrying surface. When the air springs are inflated, the trailers are raised so that the trailer wheels are carried above the railroad track.

Intermodal rail vehicle to form a train

Refinements and improvements in intermodal rail vehicles for making up a train of highway trailers are shown. The improved intermodal vehicle has a one-piece upper frame assembly () with a horizontal load carrying surface below the ends of a drawbar for connecting the trailers. Each highway trailer has a coupler socket assembly at both its front and rear into which the drawbar enters and is connected to the intermodal vehicle by a vertical coupling pin projecting upward from the horizontal load carrying surface. The upper frame is supported from dual steerable lower frames () by primary air springs (). A backup suspension system is provided so as to support the upper frame in the event of failure of the primary air springs. A transition rail vehicle for adapting the unit train of trailers is provided, incorporating the necessary features of the intermediate intermodal vehicles heretofore described.

An improved intermodal vehicle (10) for forming a train of highway trailers. The intermodal vehicle has an upper frame (42) to which highway trailers (12, 14) may be connected, each of the highway trailers having leading a trailing coupler socket assemblies (22, 24). In the improved design a continuous drawbar (150, 176) is provided. In addition, the upper frame (42) is mounted on a pair of steerable lower frames (30, 32) by springs (52, 54), preferably air springs, their being a pair of springs for each rail wheel (26, 28) of the intermodal vehicle, one spring being positioned before each wheel and one being positioned after each wheel.

Intermodal vehicle for forming a train of highway trailers

A retractable intermodal vehicle (10) for supporting and connecting modified semitrailers (11) end-to-end to form a train of trailers capable of being operated on a railroad track (172); the semitrailers also able to be operated on a highway as regular semitrailers. In the preferred embodiment, the intermodal vehicle (10) is comprised of two lower frames (12), with a wheel/axle assembly (18) mounted to each, and each pivoted from and supporting a single upper frame assembly (14), the pivoting of these lower frames providing a limited steering of the rail axles relative to the upper frame. Inflatable air springs (22) are mounted between the lower frames (12) and upper frames (14) to allow each upper frame to be raised and lowered. The upper frame assemblies include a gravity load carrying structure (140) for supporting one end of a superimposed trailer, a coupler body (104), each containing a coupler tongue (116), the tongue being arranged to enter a complimentary coupler tongue receiving socket (120) at either end of the superimposed trailer; and an upwardly movable coupling pin (134), each pin capable of being raised to enter concentric apertures in a coupler tongue and an a complimentary trailer mounted socket to effect a coupling between these elements, and each pin being capable of being lowered to permit the withdrawal of the coupler tongue from the trailer socket.

Intermodal vehicle for forming train of trailers

A retractable intermodal vehicle for supporting and connecting modified semitrailers end-to-end to form a train of trailers capable of being operated on a railroad track; the semitrailers also able to be operated on a highway as regular semitrailers. The intermodal vehicle is comprised of two lower frames, with a wheel/axle assembly mounted to each, and each pivoted from and supporting a single upper frame assembly; the pivoting of these lower frames providing a limited steering of the rail axles relative to the upper frame. Inflatable air springs are mounted between the lower frames and upper frame assembly to allow the upper frame to be raised and lowered. The upper frame assembly is comprised of two gravity load carrying structures, each for supporting one end of a superimposed trailer; two coupler bodies, each containing a coupler tongue, the tongue being arranged to enter a complimentary coupler tongue receiving socket at either end of the superimposed trailer; and two upwardly movable coupling pins, each pin capable of being raised to enter concentric apertures in a coupler tongue and an a complimentary trailer mounted socket to effect a coupling between these elements; and each pin being capable of being lowered to permit the withdrawal of the coupler tongue from the trailer socket. In an alternative design two separate upper frames are provided.

Retractable intermodal vehicle

Novel highway trailers can be mounted on railtruck assemblies to form a train of highway trailers, the railtruck assemblies including a conventional railtruck which supports a novel intermodal adaptor. The novel highway trailers include a forwardly extending tongue and coupling structure at the rear to which may be secured to the tongue of a following trailer and the intermodal adaptor of a railtruck assembly. The intermodal adaptor is mounted on the center plate bowl of the bolster of the railtruck. The adaptor includes locating means adapted to be received within the coupling structure of a leading highway trailer, which locating means permits the leading highway trailer and intermodal adaptor to become aligned with each other upon relative movement. The intermodal adaptor further includes securing means capable of maintaining the locating means within the coupling structure of the highway, trailer in a completely mounted position, a coupler pin, and shifting means capable of moving the coupler pin from a lower position to a raised position where it couples the forward end of a tongue of a following trailer to the rear of the leading trailer and the intermodal adaptor.

Train of highway trailers and method of making

A novel ramp system is provided for use in the assembly and disassembly of intermodal highway trailers and intermodal railtrucks for intermodal transportation. The ramp system has an ascending portion for raising the level of the trailer frame onto an elevated portion of the ramp so as to align the respective coupling members in proper relationship for coupling. The ramp system also has a descending portion for transferring the load from the highway wheel assembly of the trailer to the railtruck. The descending portion of the ramp includes a wheel stop to locate the railtruck in an operative location for coupling beneath the trailer during lowering of the trailer frame on top of the railtruck adapter.

Ramp system for assembling and disassembling highway trailers and

A railway train of truck trailers or trailer chassis coupled end to end with the back end of each trailer (and the front end of a following trailer, if any) pivotally supported on the bolster of a railway truck by a subframe having vertically facing load carrying parts engaged by mating parts on the back end of the leading trailer on opposite sides of its centerline. The following trailer is supported by structure either on the forward trailer or pivotally supported by said subframe. When connected in the railway mode, the road wheels of the trailer are supported clear of the tracks.

Railway highway vehicle

A transition vehicle for connecting convertible rail-highway trailers in a pulling or pushing relationship with the railway coupling mechanism found on a locomotive or a preceding railcar and which can also be converted for roadway use and coupled to a yard tractor for off-rail relocation. A convertible trailer is coupled to the transition vehicle through engagement of its coupling tongue and the king pin adjacent thereto, respectively, by a female coupler socket and a funnel-shaped receiving slot in a load carrying shelf mounted on top of the central tube of the transition vehicle. The convertible trailer is further secured to the transition vehicle by a clamping mechanism which grasps the trailer side walls. The transition vehicle is fitted with flanged rail wheels and a double shelf railway coupler for coupling to a locomotive or a preceding railcar when in the rail mode of use, and with tired road wheels and a telescopic gooseneck coupler for coupling to the elevated fifth wheel of a tractor when in the roadway mode of use. The tired road wheels are retractable to a stored position during rail use, and can be lowered to the ground for roadway use by inflating an air spring suspension system operatively connected thereto.

Transition vehicle for use with convertible rail-highway trailers

Novel highway trailers can be mounted on railtruck assemblies to form a train of highway trailers, the railtruck assemblies including a conventional railtruck which supports a novel intermodal adaptor. The novel highway trailers include a forwardly extending tongue and coupling structure at the rear to which may be secured the tongue of a following trailer and the intermodal adaptor of a railtruck assembly. The intermodal adaptor is mounted on the center plate bowl of the bolster of the railtruck. The adaptor includes a locating assembly adapted to be received within the coupling structure of a leading highway trailer, which locating assembly permits the leading highway trailer and intermodal adaptor to become aligned with each other upon relative movement. The intermodal adaptor further includes a securing assembly capable of maintaining the locating assembly within the coupling structure of the highway trailer in a completely mounted position, a coupler pin, and a shifting device capable of moving the coupler pin from a lower position to a raised position where it couples the forward end of a tongue of a following trailer to the rear of the leading trailer and the intermodal adaptor.

An improved railway train of highway trailers. The highway trailers are interconnected to each other and their adjacent ends are supported solely by railtruck assemblies. Each trailer is provided with a portion connectible to a corresponding portion of the railtruck assembly. Each railtruck assembly includes an intermodal adapter mounted upon a transversely extending bolster of a railtruck, the assembly being essentially symmetrical about a vertically shiftable coupler pin carried by the adapter so that the railtruck assembly can be interconnected to trailers disposed to either side of the railtruck assembly. In addition, improved hydraulic shifting apparatus is provided for shifting the vertical coupler pin carried by the intermodal adapter.

Railway train of highway vehicles, and components therefor

Novel highway trailers can be mounted on railtruck assemblies to form a train of highway trailers, the railtruck assemblies including a conventional railtruck which supports a novel intermodal adaptor. The novel highway trailers include a forwardly extending tongue and coupling structure at the rear to which may be secured the tongue of a following trailer and the intermodal adaptor of a railtruck assembly. The intermodal adaptor is mounted on the center plate bowl of the bolster of the railtruck. The adaptor includes locating structure adapted to be received within the coupling structure of a leading highway trailer, which locating structure permits the leading highway trailer and intermodal adaptor to become aligned with each other upon relative movement. The intermodal adaptor further includes securing structure capable of maintaining the locating structure within the coupling structure of the highway trailer in a completely mounted position, a coupler pin, and a shifting structure capable of moving the coupler pin from a lower position to a raised position where it couples the forward end of a tongue of a following trailer to the rear of the leading trailer and the intermodal adaptor.

Train of highway trailers

Expansion joints for concrete highways consisting of precast beams with preformed joints of expansion joint material. The beams are laid crosswise of a strip of highway before pouring the concrete and provide expansion joints which are not affected by the skill of the workmen.

Growing community of inventors

El Paso, TX, United States of America

Harry O Wicks