The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 23, 1982
Filed:
May. 01, 1980
Eugene Hindin, Bala Cynwyd, PA (US);
Alan R Cripe, Richmond, VA (US);
Christopher A Cripe, Coatesville, PA (US);
Bi-Modal Corporation, Greenwich, CT (US);
Abstract
An air control system is provided for a vehicle convertible between highway and railway modes of travel. A main body on the vehicles includes a highway wheel-set axle unit and a rail wheel-set axle unit. The vehicle is designed so that one wheel-set axle unit is stored in an upper position while the other is in the lowered operative position. During a transfer from the highway mode of travel to the railroad mode of travel, or vice-versa, an air control system selectively allows the wheel-set axle units to be positioned in either the raised or lowered position dependent upon the mode of travel to be used. Rail suspension air springs are connected between the main body of the vehicle and the rail wheel-set axle unit and highway suspension air springs are connected between the body and the highway wheel-set axle units. A manually operated valve selectively connects a source of air pressure to either the rail suspension air springs or the highway suspension air springs while the air pressure from the other is exhausted. The rail and highway air springs perform multiple functions in addition to controlling raising and lowering operations. Various other functions found in conventional trailers and rail cars are controlled by the air control system and connected to the same source of pressure.