Coupler for convertible rail-highway semi-trailer

In a vehicle convertible from highway to railroad mode of travel and vice versa including means to releasably couple adjacent vehicles end-to-end to form a train for the railroad mode, said coupling means including a male member extending from the end of one of the vehicles, and a housing attached to the opposed end of the other of said vehicles and having an opening therethrough for receiving the male member of said one vehicle, means for releasably locking said male member in said opening, wherein the improvement comprises:

• said housing opening having a ramp-like surface formed on the bottom wall thereof;
• said male member comprising a nose portion including a lifting surface having a complementary configuration to said ramp-like surface, with movement of said lifting surface into engagement with said ramp-like surface resulting in vertical upward movement of said male member in said opening;
• a resilient pad positioned in the opening of said housing for supporting said male member;
• inwardly extending guide surfaces formed on the opposed side walls of said housing opening;
• and
• said male member including guide lugs extending outward from the side of said nose portion for cooperative interengagement with said guide surfaces for guiding said male member in said housing opening including lifting said member above the upper surface of said pad to prevent the member from contacting said pad during its inward and outward movement relative to said housing opening.