Rear railgear and railgear pin-off systems

A system, comprising:

• an upper link comprising a mounting hole and an upper link pivot hole, the upper link pivotably connected to a mounting bracket with an upper mounting pin via the mounting hole, the mounting bracket comprising a mounting plate having a top and bottom surface, the mounting bracket configured to be secured to a vehicle;
• and
• a lower link comprising an attachment hole and a lower link pivot hole, the lower link pivotably connected to a frame with an attachment pin via the attachment hole, wherein the lower link comprises a stop mounted on a first facing surface of the lower link, the stop comprising:
• a first position stop surface configured to engage a second flat edge of the upper link to stop movement of the upper link when the upper link is in the first position;
• a second position stop surface configured to engage a third flat edge of the upper link when the upper link is in the second position;
• and
• a rotation stop surface configured to abut a surface of the attachment pin extending outwardly from the attachment hole of the lower link;
• and
• an actuator comprising an actuator body and an arm, the arm configured to extend from and recede into the actuator body, the arm comprising an actuator mounting pin at a free end, the actuator body comprising a pivot arm configured to be received in the lower link pivot hole and the upper link pivot hole to pivotably connect the upper link and the lower link, the actuator arm pivotably connected to the frame via the actuator mounting pin, the actuator configured to move the frame from a first position to a second position relative to the mounting bracket, wherein the upper link rotates about the upper mounting pin from a first position to a second position of the upper link and the lower link rotates about the attachment pin from a first position to a second position of the lower link.

A system, comprising

• an upper link comprising a mounting hole and an upper link pivot hole, the upper link pivotably connected to a mounting bracket with an upper mounting pin via the mounting hole, the mounting bracket comprising a mounting plate having a top and bottom surface, the mounting bracket configured to be secured to a vehicle;
• and
• a lower link comprising an attachment hole and a lower link pivot hole, the lower link pivotably connected to a frame with an attachment pin via the attachment hole;
• an actuator comprising an actuator body and an arm, the arm configured to extend from and recede into the actuator body, the arm comprising an actuator mounting pin at a free end, the actuator body comprising a pivot arm configured to be received in the lower link pivot hole and the upper link pivot hole to pivotably connect the upper link and the lower link, the actuator arm pivotably connected to the frame via the actuator mounting pin, the actuator configured to move the frame from a first position to a second position relative to the mounting bracket, wherein the upper link rotates about the upper mounting pin from a first position to a second position of the upper link and the lower link rotates about the attachment pin from a first position to a second position of the lower link;
• and
• an automatic mechanical lock, the automatic mechanical lock comprising an upper lock device and a lower lock device, the upper lock device attached to the bottom surface of the mounting plate, the lower lock device attached to the frame, the upper lock device configured to receive the lower lock device and at least a portion of the frame.

A rear guide wheel assembly, comprising:

• a railgear comprising a pair of guidewheels, an axle, and a first and a second axle saddle block attached at opposite ends of the axle;
• an attachment frame comprising a first and second attachment plate, the attachment frame configured to connect to the axle saddle blocks of the railgear;
• a mounting bracket configured to attach to a vehicle;
• a plurality of upper links pivotably connected to the mounting bracket;
• a plurality of lower links pivotably connected to the attachment frame, a portion of the plurality of lower links connected to the first attachment plate, another portion of the plurality of lower links connected to the second attachment plate;
• and
• at least two independent actuators configured to facilitate movement of the railgear between a deployed position and stowed position, each actuator having a pair of pivot arms extending in opposing directions, said lower links connected to said upper links via said pivot arms, each actuator having an actuator arm pivotably connected to the first and second attachment plate of the attachment frame.

A rear guide wheel assembly, comprising:

• a railgear comprising a pair of guidewheels, an axle, and a first and a second axle saddle block attached at opposite ends of the axle;
• an attachment frame configured to connect to the axle saddle blocks of the railgear;
• a mounting bracket configured to attach to a vehicle;
• a plurality of upper links pivotably connected to the mounting bracket;
• a plurality of lower links pivotably connected to the attachment frame;
• and
• at least two independent actuators configured to facilitate movement of the railgear between a deployed position and stowed position, each actuator having a pair of pivot arms extending in opposing directions, said lower links connected to said upper links via said pivot arms;
• and
• wherein each upper link comprises a plate with a first and a second facing surface, the plate shaped with a first flat edge configured to abut a bottom surface of the mounting bracket when the upper link is in the first position, wherein the lower link further comprises a stop mounted on a first facing surface of the lower link, the stop comprising:
• a first position stop surface configured to engage a second flat edge of the upper link to stop movement of the upper link when the upper link is in the first position;
• a second position stop surface engage a third flat edge of the upper link when the upper link is in the second position;
• and
• a rotation stop surface configured to abut a surface of the attachment pin extending from the attachment pin positioned in an attachment hole of the lower link.

A rear guide wheel assembly, comprising:

• a railgear comprising a pair of guidewheels, an axle, and a first and a second axle saddle block attached at opposite ends of the axle;
• an attachment frame configured to connect to the axle saddle blocks of the railgear;
• a mounting bracket configured to attach to a vehicle;
• a plurality of upper links pivotably connected to the mounting bracket;
• a plurality of lower links pivotably connected to the attachment frame;
• and
• at least two independent actuators configured to facilitate movement of the railgear between a deployed position and stowed position, each actuator having a pair of pivot arms extending in opposing directions, said lower links connected to said upper links via said pivot arms;
• and
• an upper locking device attached to the mounting bracket, the upper locking device comprising:
• a detent box tube comprising a plurality of side walls and a first and second box cap positioned at a first and second end of the detent box tube, each of the first and second box cap comprising a center aperture configured to receive a detent catch, the detent catch comprising a detent head and a detent seat, the detent catch positioned in the center aperture of each of the first and second box cap such that the detent seat faces an interior of the detent box tube and the detent catch is secured at the detent head on an exterior surface of each of the first and second detent box caps with an anti-rotation plate, the detent seats of attached to the first and second detent box cap are positioned facing each other;
• and
• a lower locking device is attached to the frame, the lower locking device comprising:
• a first seat tube comprising a first end portion with a first diameter and a second end portion with a second diameter, the first seat tube being hollow and configured to contain at least a first detent and a first spring, the spring configured to apply pressure to the first detent such that the first detent protrudes from a first tube rim in a first end of the first seat tube;
• a second seat tube comprising a first end portion with a third diameter and a second end portion with the second diameter, the second seat tube being hollow and configured to contain at least a second detent and a second spring, the second spring configured to apply pressure to the second detent such that the second detent protrudes from a second tube rim in a first end of the second seat tube;
• a joint connector having an interior diameter configured to receive the second end portion of the first seat tube and the second end portion of the second seat tube;
• and
• a shaft collar,
• wherein the attachment frame includes a first and a second attachment plate, each of the first and second attachment plates having an interior and exterior surface, each of the first and second attachment plates comprise a large hole and a small hole;
• the first attachment plate arranged parallel to the second attachment plate such that the interior surfaces are facing each other and the large hole on the first attachment plate is aligned with the small hole of the second attachment plate, and
• wherein the lower locking device is configured to be received in the attachment frame such that the first portion of the first seat tube passes through the large hole of the first attachment plate to be seated from the interior in the small hole of the second attachment plate and the first end portion of the second seat tube is seated in the large hole of the first attachment plate, the lower locking device secured in position by the shaft collar.