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US 10,946,704 B2Granted
Railroad trailer chassis
AssigneeHarsco Technologies LLC
InventorsRyan Meyer, Robert R. Schrunk, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A railroad trailer chassis comprising two or more road axles, two or more rail axles operable to be moved between first and second positions, and a work unit. The railroad trailer chassis is operable to be driven or towed in a road mode when the two or rail axles are in their respective first positions. The railroad trailer chassis is operable to be driven or towed in a rail mode when the two or more rail axles are in their respective second positions. The work unit is operable to perform one or more railroad maintenance or operation functions when driven in the rail mode.
Claims20
A railroad trailer chassis, comprising:
- two or more road axles;
- two or more rail axles configured to be moved between first and second positions;
- a friction drive system coupled to a first rail axle of the two or more rail axles, the friction drive system configured to rotate the first rail axle between the first and second positions;
- a work unit configured to perform one or more railroad maintenance or operation functions when the railroad trailer chassis is driven in a rail mode, the work unit including a second rail axle of the two or more rail axles and configured to translate the second rail axle between the first and second positions;
- and
- a trailer towing hitch configured to, in a horizontal orientation, couple the railroad trailer chassis to a tow vehicle, and configured to rotate upward from the horizontal orientation;
- wherein
- the railroad trailer chassis is configured to be towed in a road mode when the two or more rail axles are respectively in the first positions, and the railroad trailer chassis is configured to be driven in the rail mode when the two or more rail axles are respectively in the second positions.
5 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a chassis;
- a plurality of road axles coupled to the chassis and configured to transport the vehicle on a road;
- a plurality of rail axles coupled to the chassis and configured to transport the vehicle on a rail, the plurality of rail axles movable between:
- a first position in which the rail axles are disposed above the road axles;
- a second position in which the rail axles are disposed below the road axles and configured to engage the rail;
- and
- a towing hitch coupled to the chassis and moveable between:
- a stowed position in which the towing hitch is in a substantially vertical orientation;
- and
- a towing position in which the towing hitch is in a substantially horizontal orientation;
- a rail connector configured to couple the chassis to a rail vehicle;
- and
- wherein the chassis is configured to be operable during:
- a driven road mode in which the plurality of rail axles are in the first position and at least one road axle of the plurality of road axles is driven by the vehicle;
- a towed road mode in which the plurality of rail axles are in the first position and the towing hitch is in the towing position;
- a driven rail mode in which the plurality of rail axles are in the second position and at least one rail axle of the plurality of rail axles are driven by the vehicle;
- and
- a towed rail mode in which the plurality of rail axles are in the second position and the chassis is coupled to the rail vehicle;
- and
- while the chassis is in the towed rail mode:
- the rail connector is coupled to the rail vehicle;
- and
- the towing hitch is in the stowed position.
20 more elements
A method of operating a vehicle, the method comprising:
- self-propelling a hi-rail vehicle along a road, the hi-rail vehicle including a chassis, a plurality of road axles coupled to the chassis and configured to transport the vehicle on the road, a plurality of rail axles coupled to the chassis and configured to transport the vehicle on a rail, a rail connector, and a towing hitch coupled to the chassis and moveable between:
- a stowed position in which the towing hitch is in a substantially vertical orientation;
- and a towing position in which the towing hitch is in a substantially horizontal orientation;
- positioning the towing hitch of the hi-rail vehicle to the stowed position;
- and
- connecting the rail connector of the hi-rail vehicle to a second vehicle configured to tow the hi-rail vehicle along the rail.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.