US 3,939,777 A · Mobile trackway

Abstract

A mobile trackway comprises a plurality of interconnected carriages adapted for rolling on an existing trackway, and having mounted on upper surfaces thereof two side-by-side trackways. Ramp cars (which form part of the mobile trackway) and switching sections on the carriages permit load-transporting cars to be moved to either of the two trackways from the existing trackway. When used in conjunction with tunneling machinery, a string of muck cars is positioned on one of the trackways and may be conveyor loaded while previously loaded cars are removed from, and empty cars are delivered to, the other trackway. The carriages are of hollow shell construction and are adapted for carrying ballast, for example excavated rock, scrap iron or concrete, to prevent being tipped over by any arrangement of loaded muck cars thereupon. No other stabilization means, such as outriggers or supporting members contacting the tunnel, is required. Recessed carriage wheels allow a low center of gravity and maximum ballasting capacity with minimum use of tunnel space. The mobile trackway is adapted for being towed by a tunneling machine so as to move therewith, rail sections being added to the tunnel trackway in front of the advancing mobile trackway which rides thereupon.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A mobile trackway, comprising:

a. carriage means adapted for moving along and existing trackway,
b. first trackway means provided on said carriage means and adapted for movement thereupon of load-transporting cars,
c. second trackway means provided on said carriage means and also adapted for movement thereupon of load-transporting cars,
said first and second trackway means being in such positions relative to each other that mounting of cars on only one of said trackway means creates a moment tending to tip over said carriage means, and
d. stabilizing means for maintaining said carriage means in a substantially untipped, sttable condition regardless of the positioning and loading of said load-transporting cars on said trackway means,
said stabilizing means cooperating with said carriage means in such manner that no substantial lateral projections from said carriage means are required and no carriage contact with other than said existing trackway is required.

3 more elements

A mobile trackway, comprising:

a. a plurality of interconnected carriages adapted for moving along an existing trackway,
b. at least one ramp car, adapted for moving along said existing trackway, connected to at least one end of said interconnected carriages,
said ramp car having mounted thereupon a trackway registered with said existing trackway,
said trackway on said ramp car being adapted for movement thereupon of load-transporting cars between said existing trackway and said carriages,
c. trackway meanns adapted for the movement of said load-transporting cars thereupon,
said trackway means being mounted on upper regions of said carriages,
said trackway means including plural, substantially parallel trackways and at least one switching section,
said switching section being connected between at least one of said parallel trackways and said trackway on said ramp car, whereby said load-transporting cars may be shunted from said trackway on said ramp car to at least one of said parallel trackways, and
d. stabilizing means for maintaining said carriages in a laterally substantially level condition regardless of the positioning of said load-transporting cars on said trackway means and regardless of whether all of said load-transporting cars are fully loaded,
said stabilizing means being self-contained within said carriages whereby no substantial lateral projections from said carriages are required and no carriage contact with other than said existing trackway is required.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mobile trackway

Life of this patent

Mobile trackway

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28