US 5,205,220 A · Railway truck

Abstract

An improvement in railway trucks having a flexible frame and independent drive mechanism particularly adapted to accommodate the flexing frame. The frame includes parallel first and second frame members, a first cross-member rigidly attached to the first frame member and loosely attached to the second frame member. A second cross-member is rigidly connected to the second frame member and loosely engaged by the first frame member. Hydraulic motors are pivotally connected to the second cross-member by pivotal arms and pivotally secured to a pair of rail way truck axles supporting the frame members such that flexion of the frames and cross-members will not affect the distance between the motor and the axles. Chain and sprocket assemblies are provided to operatively connect the motors and the axles. An engine and hydraulic pumps are connected to the first cross-member to drive the motors. The pumps are operatively connected to the motors with flexible conduit. The flexible conduit is particularly effective in accommodating relative movement between the motors and the pumps caused by the relative deflection between the various cross-members and frame members.

Claims11

Dependent claims

(a) at least two cross-members coupled to said frame members by connection means to position said frame members in relatively spaced and parallel relation and to permit flexion between said frame members and said cross-members such that said wheels and axles may move relative to said frame members and said cross-members to conform to and accommodate curves and inconsistencies in the railway;
(b) wherein a first of said cross-members comprise an engine platform affixed to a first of said frame members;
said engine platform having at least one aperture extending vertically therethrough at an end thereof distal said first frame member;
said aperture slidably receiving a vertical pin connected to a second of said frame members such that said engine platform is displaceably coupled to said second frame member to accommodate vertical deflection thereof relative to said engine platform and said first frame member.

1 more element

An improvement in a railway truck used to transport a vehicle designed for highway use over a railway wherein said railway truck has at least two parallel axles supported by railway wheels and at least two horizontally extended frame members operatively connected to and supported by said axles at opposing ends thereof and in perpendicular relation thereto, said improvement comprising at least two cross-members displaceably coupled to said frame members by connection means to position said frame members in relatively spaced and parallel relation and to permit flexion between said frame members and said cross-members such that said wheels and axles may move relative to said frame members and said cross-members to conform to and accommodate curves and inconsistencies in the railway;

said improvement further comprising:
(a) flexible drive means pivotally connected to at least one of said cross-members and pivotally connected to at least one of said axles for rotating said axles about a horizontal axis;
and
(b) engine means connected to one of said cross-members for supplying power to said drive means.

1 more element

An improvement in a railway truck, used to transport highway vehicles along a railway, said railway truck having a pair of parallel frame members supported by a pair of railway axles operatively connected thereto and having rail wheels on both ends of each axle, said improvement comprising:

(a) an engine support beam affixed to a first of said frame members and having at least one aperture extending vertically therethrough at an end thereof distal said first frame member, wherein said aperture slidably receives a vertical pin connected to a second of said frame members such that said engine support beam is displaceably coupled to said second frame member to accommodate the vertical deflection thereof relative to said engine support beam and said first frame member;
and
(b) a stabilizer beam affixed to said second frame member and slidably received in a horizontally extending passage defined by said first frame member in normal relation thereto to accommodate vertical and horizontal deflection of said first frame member relative to said stabilizer beam and said second frame member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Railway truck

Life of this patent

Railway truck

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11