# US 2017/0282941 A1 · Rail car lifting device

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- Number: US 2017/0282941 A1
- Document ID: US20170282941A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/087,325
- Filed: 2016-03-31
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31
- Assignees: Mi-Jack Products, Inc.
- Applicants: Mi-Jack Products, Inc.
- Inventors: John J. Lanigan, SR.; Martin C. Conneally; Antonio Carlos Callado Souza; Jason Schmidt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282941A1

## CPC

- B61K 5/00: Apparatus for placing vehicles on the track; Derailers; Lifting or lowering rail vehicle axles or wheels
- B66F 7/0633: {Mechanical arrangements not covered by the following subgroups}
- B61K: AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR RAILWAYS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00)

## Abstract

A lifting device for lifting a rail car includes a frame with a load plate movably disposed thereon and a back plate movably disposed on the frame and coupled to the load plate. The lifting device further includes a first actuator disposed on the frame and operatively coupled to the back plate and at least one second actuator operatively coupled to the load plate such that the first actuator and the at least one second actuator produce forces in first and second directions. Further still, the first actuator and the at least one second actuator move the load plate of the lifting device in a substantially vertical direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lifting device for lifting a rail car comprising:
a frame;
a load plate movably disposed on the frame;
a back plate movably disposed on the frame and coupled to the load plate;
a first actuator disposed on the frame and operatively coupled to the back plate; and
at least one second actuator operatively coupled to the load plate;
wherein the first actuator and the at least one second actuator produce forces in first and second directions; and
wherein the first actuator and the at least one second actuator move the load plate in a substantially vertical direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises:
first and second side members disposed adjacent to and spaced apart from one another; wherein the first and second side members are disposed on first and second sides of the back plate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lifting device of claim 2, wherein the frame further comprises:
first and second leg members disposed adjacent to and spaced apart from one another;
wherein the first and second leg members are disposed on the first and second sides of the load plate; and
wherein the back plate is movably attached to each of the first and second side members, and the load plate is operatively coupled to the first and second leg members through first and second arm members.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the load plate tilts in response to a weight of the rail car being raised by the load plate such that a surface of the load plate maintains contact with a bottom surface of the rail car.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The lifting device of claim 4, wherein the load plate tilts independent of the back plate while the back plate partially transmits the force produced by the first actuator to the load plate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The lifting device of claim 5, wherein the at least one arm member is movably attached to a distal end of the load plate by at least one trunnion, the at least one trunnion allowing the at least one arm member to transmit the force produced by the at least one second actuator to the load plate while tilting such that the load plate maintains contact with the bottom surface of the rail car.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The lifting device of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one side member;
at least one leg member; and
at least one arm member;
wherein the load plate is operatively coupled to the at least one leg member through the at least one arm member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The lifting device of claim 7, wherein the back plate at least partially transmits the force produced by the first actuator to the load plate; and
wherein the at least one arm member at least partially transmits the force produced by the at least one second actuator to the load plate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The lifting device of claim 8, the at least one arm member further comprising first and second arm members movably attached to the load plate; and
the at least one second actuator further comprising first and second horizontal actuators disposed alongside the at least one leg member; and
wherein the first and second arm members are operatively coupled to the respective first and second horizontal actuators.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The lifting device of claim 9, the at least one side member further comprising first and second side members disposed about the first actuator;
wherein the first actuator is a vertical actuator and the first actuator moves the back plate vertically along the first and second side members;
wherein the back plate at least partially transmits a load supported by the load plate to the frame; and
wherein the first and second arm members at least partially transmit the load supported by the load plate to the at least leg member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The lifting device of claim 9, the at least one leg member further comprising first and second leg members;
wherein the first and second arm members transmit the force produced by the first and second horizontal actuators to the load plate by hinging between the first and second leg members and a distal end of the load plate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The lifting device of claim 11, wherein an angle formed between the first and second arm members and the respective first and second leg members when the load plate reaches an extended position transfers the load from the first and second arm members to a rail of the rail way.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The lifting device of claim 7, further comprising:
a least one support pin mechanism disposed on the at least one side member; and
wherein the at least one support pin mechanism at least partially supports the load plate after the load plate has been moved in the substantially vertical direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The lifting device of claim 13, further comprising:
at least one ladder of support ledges disposed on the back plate; and
at least one support pin;
wherein the at least one support pin mechanism causes the at least one support pin to engage the respective at least one ladder of support ledges, and the back plate is held in an elevated position thereby; and
wherein the load plate is supported when the back plate is held in the elevated position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The lifting device of claim 14, wherein the at least one support pin mechanism further comprises at least one spring;
wherein the at least one spring provides consistent pressure such that the at least one support pin is continuously engaging the support ledges of the at least one ladder; and
wherein the at least one support pin mechanism is capable of holding the back plate in more than one elevated position.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The lifting device of claim 15, wherein the at least one support pin mechanism further comprises at least one third actuator, the at least one third actuator operatively coupled to the at least one support pin such that operation of the at least one third actuator disengages the at least one support pin from the respective support ledge.

### Claim 17

A method of lifting a rail car comprising:
arranging a lifting device across a rail way such that a rail car is above the lifting device;
wherein the lifting device includes a frame; and
wherein a load plate is movably disposed on the frame and a back plate is movably disposed on the frame and coupled to the load plate;
raising the rail car by moving the load plate vertically, further comprising:
activating a first actuator disposed on the frame and operatively coupled to the back plate, the first actuator producing a force in a first direction; and
activating at least one second actuator operatively coupled to the load plate, the at least one second actuator producing a force in a second direction transverse to the first direction;
wherein the first actuator and the at least one second actuator together operate to move the load plate vertically.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the activating at least one second actuator further comprises activating first and second horizontal actuators disposed alongside the load plate,
wherein first and second arm members are movably attached to the load plate and operatively coupled to the respective first and second horizontal actuators such that the first and second horizontal actuators operate on the first and second arm members to at least partially move the load plate vertically.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the first actuator is a vertical actuator and activating the first actuator at least partially moves the back plate vertically;
wherein activating the first actuator at least partially transmits the force produced by the first actuator through the back plate to the load plate;
wherein the first and second arm members at least partially transmit the force produced by the first and second horizontal actuators to the load plate through a hinging motion.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising tilting the load plate under a weight of the rail car independent from the back plate such that a surface of the load plate remains in contact with a bottom surface of the rail car while the rail car is lifted vertically and a load supported by the load plate is at least partially transferred to the back plate.