Vehicle having variable gauge rail wheels
AssigneeTrackmobile LLC
InventorsWarren R. Erickson, Robert L. Siewert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Rail wheels and road wheels of vehicles may be easily modified to differing axle lengths, so that, typically, the vehicle may roll on rails of differing gauges. An easily installable and removable spacer is provided to the axle systems of the vehicle.
Claims14
The method of adapting an axle system of a vehicle which carries rail wheels to roll on rails of differing width, which comprises:
- separating an outer axle housing from an inner, main axle housing of the vehicle and removing a first axle shaft carried therein;
- placing a tubular spacer of desired width between said outer axle housing and inner, main axle housing, and securing the spacer to each of said housings;
- inserting a second axle shaft through said outer axle housing, spacer, and inner, main axle housing said second axle shaft having a length that exceeds the length of the first axle shaft by an amount substantially equal to said desired width of the tubular spacer.
In a vehicle which comprises at least two axles which carry rail wheels and at least two axles which carry road wheels, and means for raising and lowering said rail wheel and road wheel axles relative to each other to permit selective, alternating suspension of the rail wheels and the road wheels upwardly out of supporting engagement with the ground, said rail wheel axles defining an inner, main axle housing and an outer axle housing, the improvement comprising, in combination:
- a spacer of desired width secured to the outer axle housing and inner, main axle housing and positioned therebetween to longitudinally separate said outer and inner housings.
The method of adapting an axle system of a vehicle which carries rail wheels to roll on rails of differing width, which comprises:
- separating an outer axle housing from an inner, main axle housing of the vehicle;
- placing a spacer of desired width between said outer axle housing and inner, main axle housing, and securing the spacer to each of said housings, whereby said rail wheels are spaced from each other on opposed outer axle housings by an increased, predetermined distance.
In a vehicle which comprises at least two axles which carry rail wheels and at least two axles which carry road wheels, and means for raising and lowering said rail wheel and road wheel axles relative to each other to permit selective, alternating suspension of the rail wheels and the road wheels upwardly out of supporting engagement with the ground, said rail wheel axles defining an inner, main axle housing and an outer axle housing, the improvement comprising, in combination:
- a first spacer of desired width secured to the outer axle housing and inner main axle housing of the rail wheel axles and positioned therebetween;
- at least one of said road wheel axles comprising an outer axle portion and an inner, main axle portion, and a second spacer of desired width positioned between said outer and inner axle portions and secured thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.