US 4,067,259 A · Convertible rail-highway traction vehicle

Abstract

A weight transfer rail traction vehicle adapted for travel on alternate sets of rail or road wheels which is characterized by a number of features including: a spring and shock absorber system which cooperate to maintain the springs, while in a rail travel mode, in an active condition despite substantial weight transfer loads being placed thereon; a hydraulic system which enables the differential axles to be optionally spring supported to the frame or in a rigid fixed relationship therewith; a differential axle suspension system wherein the spring supported axle moves in a substantially vertical plane without lateral shifting; a shock absorbing coupler; a coupler mounting arrangement which includes a coupler carriage directly mounted to a lateral frame member of the vehicle which serves as a guideway for directing travel of the coupler carriage and hence the coupler mountd thereto in a horizontal direction and wherein the coupler itself is mounted for vertical movement with respect to the coupler carriage; a self-centering and self-adjusting rail wheel brake system; and, a multiple rail driving station cab which utilizes only a single set of controls to enable the operator to drive the vehicle in a rail travel mode from the particular location in the cab which affords him maximum visibility.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A rail car moving vehicle adapted for travel along a railway track on rail wheels and for transferring weight from a rail car coupled thereto to said vehicle for increasing the traction between the rail wheels and the railway track, said vehicle comprising:

a frame;
a plurality of rail wheels mounted to said frame;
spring means mounted between said frame and said rail wheels;
shock absorber means including a hydraulic cylinder and piston also mounted between said frame and wheels and operatively associated with said spring means for dampening the action of said spring means;
a coupler mounted to said vehicle and adapted for mating draft and lifting engagement with a coupler on a rail car to be moved by said vehicle;
and hydraulic means for selectively raising and lowering said vehicle coupler to effect the transfer of weight from a rail car coupled thereto, said hydraulic means including a weight transfer cylinder and piston assembly operatively connected to said frame and vehicle coupler to selectively raise and lower said coupler with respect to said rail wheels, means for producing a source of high pressure fluid, means for selectively charging high pressure fluid to said weight transfer cylinder to apply a weight transfer force to the piston in said weight transfer cylinder, means for selectively charging high pressure fluid to the hydraulic cylinder of said shock absorber means to apply a force to the piston in the shock absorber means which counteracts said weight transfer force;
whereby, spring depression induced by the transfer of weight from a coupled rail car to said vehicle is at least partially overcome to maintain said spring means in an active condition during the travel of said vehicle along a railway track while in a weight transfer condition.

4 more elements

A rail car moving vehicle adapted for alternative travel on road and rail wheels, said vehicle comprising:

a frame;
a differential axle mounted to said frame;
spring means interposed between said differential axle and frame;
a pair of road wheels mounted to said frame, at least one of which is adapted to receive power transmission from a road wheel driving hub on said vehicle in a road wheel travel mode of operation;
said road wheel driving hub having a rotational axis which is in fixed relationship with the axis of said differential axle;
means for engaging said driving hub with a power-receiving portion on said driven road wheel to drive said driven road wheel;
and means for maintaining said differential axle in fixed relationship with said frame when said road wheel driving hub is in power transmitting engagement with said driven road wheel;
whereby, during the driving of said road wheel the rotational axis of said road wheel driving hub is maintained in fixed relationship with the rotational axis of said driven road wheel.

5 more elements

A rail car moving vehicle adapted for alternative travel on road and rail wheels and for transferring weight from a rail car coupled thereto to a coupler head mounted to said vehicle to increase the traction between the vehicle's rail wheels and a railway track, comprising:

a frame;
a differential axle mounted to said frame;
a plurality of rail wheels mounted in driving relationship with said differential axle;
spring means mounted between said frame and said differential axle;
a plurality of road wheels mounted to said vehicle;
means for changing the relative elevation of said rail wheels with respect to said road wheels;
a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly mounted between said frame and differential axle and operatively associated with said spring means for dampening the action of said spring means during the travel of said vehicle on said rail wheels;
a road wheel driving hub having a rotational axis which is in fixed relationship with the axis of said differential axle;
means for engaging said road wheel driving hub with a power-receiving portion on at least one of said road wheels for supplying power thereto when said vehicle is being supported on said road wheels;
and means for maintaining said differential axle in fixed relationship with the frame of said vehicle when said driving hub is in power transmitting communication with said driven road wheels;
whereby, during the driving of said driven road wheel by said driving hub on said differential axle the rotational axis of said driven hub and driven road wheel are in fixed relationship to each other.

8 more elements

In a rail car moving vehicle adapted for travel along a railway track on rail wheels and for transferring weight from a rail car coupled thereto to increase the traction between the vehicle's rail wheels and the railway track, the improvement comprising:

a frame;
a coupler carriage mounted to said frame;
a coupler mounted to said coupler carriage, said coupler including a coupler shank and a coupler head extending therefrom, said coupler head being adapted to be slectively connected in mating draft and lifting engagement with a coupler on a rail car to be moved by said vehicle;
said frame including a horizontal guideway member for guiding movement of said coupler carriage and coupler in a horizontal plane along a straight line path which is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rail wheels;
powered side shift means operatively connected to said coupler carriage for, in one mode, selectively driving said carriage along said straight line path to position said vehicle coupler into alignment with a rail car coupler which is to be coupled thereto and, in another mode, enabling said carriage to be freely movable along said straight line path when said coupler head is connected to rail car coupler;
guide means for guiding movement of said coupler in a vertical direction with respect to said coupler carriage;
and, vertical shift power means operatively connected to said coupler for selectively raising and lowering said coupler for travel along said guide means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Convertible rail-highway traction vehicle

Life of this patent

Convertible rail-highway traction vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32