Side-shift track switching system and method thereof
AssigneeGreen Corridors LLC
InventorTyler Hague
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described is a system for switching a rail vehicle to an adjacent set of tracks. The system includes multiple adjacent lanes of railway tracks, a rail vehicle positioned on a first lane of railway tracks, and a side-shift frame disposed below the railway tracks. The rail vehicle includes a first drive mechanism, and the side-shift frame has a second drive mechanism that is formed to engage with the first drive mechanism. The first and second drive mechanisms are used to shift the rail vehicle from the first lane of railway tracks to a second lane of adjacent railway tracks.
Claims19
A system for track switching, comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent lanes of railway tracks;
- a rail vehicle having a first drive mechanism;
- and
- a side-shift frame disposed below the plurality of adjacent lanes of railway tracks, the side-shift frame having a second drive mechanism formed to engage with the first drive mechanism.
A method for track switching, comprising:
- aligning a rail vehicle positioned in a first lane of a plurality of adjacent railway tracks with a side-shift frame disposed below the railway tracks, the rail vehicle having a plurality of shuttle wheels and the side-shift frame having a plurality of alignment arms and at least one stop structure;
- shifting one or more portions of the side-shift frame from a resting position that is below the railway tracks to an engagement position that is above the railway tracks;
- engaging a first drive mechanism on the rail vehicle with a second drive mechanism on the side-shift frame;
- and
- using the first and second drive mechanisms, shifting the rail vehicle to a second lane of the plurality of adjacent railway tracks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.