Laser alignment system for railcar mover and method of use
AssigneeZephir S.p.A.
InventorMarco Mattioli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser alignment system for a railcar mover is disclosed herein. The laser alignment system may comprise a laser mounted to a frame of a railcar mover that assists with the alignment of a rail wheel and the rail of a track when switching from road mode to rail mode. In various embodiments, the laser may be mounted to the frame of the railcar mover via a mount and/or mounting structure that enable the laser to be moved and/or the orientation of the laser to be adjusted relative to the railcar mover. In some embodiments, the laser alignment system may include a window underneath the operator of the railcar mover so that a laser beam emitted by the laser can be seen by the operator.
Claims15
A laser alignment system for a railcar mover comprising:
- a mounting structure installed on a frame of a railcar mover;
- a mount affixed to the mounting structure;
- a laser configured to emit a laser beam onto a rail of a track;
- and
- a window in the frame of the railcar mover through which the laser beam emitted by the laser is visible to an operator of the railcar,
- wherein the laser is mounted to the railcar mover via the mount and the mounting structure, wherein the mount comprises a flexible component configured to be manipulated to adjust an orientation of the laser relative to the railcar mover, wherein the laser is configured to emit the laser beam onto a rail wheel of the railcar mover and the rail of the track.
A method for engaging a rail wheel of a railcar mover with a rail using a laser alignment system, the method comprising:
- positioning a railcar mover above a rail;
- activating a laser alignment system comprising a laser mounted to a frame of the railcar mover, wherein the laser is configured to emit a laser beam onto a rail wheel of the railcar mover and the rail;
- aligning the rail wheel with the rail using the laser alignment system;
- and
- lowering rail wheel to engage the rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.