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US 11,332,168 B2Granted
Rail transport system
AssigneeBulk Ore Shuttle System Pty Ltd
InventorsStephen Wyatt, David De Haas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rail transport system 10 has at least two load carrying bodies 12 which are arranged end to end. Mutually adjacent bodies 12 are coupled together by respective coupling systems 14. The rail transport system 10 further includes a plurality of axles 16 each provided at opposite ends with respective rail wheels 18 which support the bodies 12. A flexible liner 20 is supported by the bodies 12. The liner 20 is configured to span respective coupling systems 14. In this way the bodies 12 and the flexible liner 20 form a continuous load carrying structure 22. The continuous load carrying structure 22 is arranged so as to be able to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the axles 16 to facilitate unloading of cargo from the bodies 12.
Claims22
A rail transport shuttle comprising:
- a load carrying structure having at least one load carrying body and a flexible liner supported by the at least one load carrying body;
- first and second powered rail vehicles;
- first and second coupling systems, wherein the first powered rail vehicle is coupled to one end of the load carrying structure by the first coupling system and the second powered rail vehicle is coupled to a second opposite end of the load carrying structure by the second coupling system;
- the first and second powered rail vehicles arranged to enable the rail transport system to be driven in opposite directions without turning of the single load carrying body;
- and
- wherein each coupling system is an articulating coupling system being configured to provide three degrees of rotational freedom between the opposite ends of the load carrying structure and the first and second powered rail vehicles and wherein at least one of the first and second coupling systems further comprises a control mechanism operable to dampen or lockout at least one of the three degrees of rotational freedom.
3 more elements
A rail transport system comprising:
- at least two load carrying bodies arranged end to end, wherein mutually adjacent bodies are capable of being coupled together by a respective coupling system;
- a plurality of axles each provided with a rail wheel at each end on which the at least two bodies are supported;
- and
- a flexible liner supported by the at least two bodies and configured to span respective coupling systems coupling mutually adjacent bodies to form a continuous load carrying structure;
- wherein each coupling system is an articulating coupling system being configured to provide three degrees of rotational freedom between opposite ends of the continuous load carrying structure and first and second powered rail vehicles;
- and
- wherein each coupling system further comprises a control mechanism operable to dampen or lockout at least one of the three degrees of rotational freedom.
4 more elements
A rail transport shuttle comprising:
- a single load carrying body;
- first and second powered rail vehicles each vehicle having at least two axles;
- and first and second coupling systems, wherein the first driven rail vehicle is coupled to one end of the single load carrying body by the first coupling system and the second driven rail vehicle is coupled to a second opposite end of the single load carrying body by the second coupling system;
- the first and second rail vehicles arranged to enable the rail transport system to be driven in opposite directions without turning of the single load carrying body, and wherein the full load of the single load carrying body and any payload held therein is transferred to first and second driven rail vehicles;
- wherein each coupling system is an articulating coupling system being configured to provide three degrees of rotational freedom between mutually coupled bodies or mutually coupled bodies and rail vehicles, each coupling system having a pin on the load carrying body and a bush located between the axles on each vehicle in which the pin can be received, and wherein each of the first and second coupling systems further comprises a control mechanism operable to dampen or lockout at least one of the three degrees of rotational freedom.
2 more elements
A rail transport shuttle comprising:
- a load carrying structure having at least one load carrying body and a flexible liner supported by the at least one load carrying body;
- first and second powered rail vehicles;
- first and second coupling systems, wherein the first powered rail vehicle is coupled to one end of the load carrying structure by the first coupling system and the second powered rail vehicle is coupled to a second opposite end of the load carrying structure by the second coupling system;
- the first and second powered rail vehicles arranged to enable the rail transport system to be driven in opposite directions without turning of the single load carrying body;
- and
- wherein each coupling system is an articulating coupling system being configured to provide three degrees of rotational freedom between the opposite ends of the load carrying structure and the first and second powered rail vehicles;
- and
- wherein each coupling system further comprises a control mechanism operable to dampen or lockout at least one of the rotational degrees of freedom.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.