An apparatus to facilitate rail transit of a motor vehicle, the apparatus being capable of transit upon roadways by towing by the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a first set of wheels and a second set of wheels deployed thereon, the first set of wheels being deployed at a determined length from the second set of wheels, the apparatus being capable of supporting the motor vehicle thereupon, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a platform having a forward end and a rearward end, the platform being capable of receiving thereupon the motor vehicle;
- (b) a ramp releasably attachable to the forward end of the platform or the rearward end of the platform, the ramp facilitating the mounting of the motor vehicle upon the platform;
- (c) means for securing the motor vehicle to the platform after mounting upon the platform;
- (d) a first means for receiving rotational energy from the first wheels of the motor vehicle, the first means for receiving comprising:
- (1) a first axle deployed on the platform;
- (2) a second axle deployed on the platform;
- (3) a first roller comprising:
- (i) a first cylindrical member rotatively mounted upon the first axle;
- (ii) a second cylindrical member rotatively mounted upon the second axle;
- and
- (iii) a first track disposed around the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member;
- (4) a second roller comprising:
- (i) a third cylindrical member rotatively mounted upon the first axle;
- (ii) a fourth cylindrical member rotatively mounted upon the second axle;
- and
- (iii) a second track circumferentially disposed around the third cylindrical member and the fourth cylindrical member;
- (e) a second means for receiving rotational energy from the second wheels of the motor vehicle, the second means for receiving comprising:
- (1) a third axle deployed on the platform;
- (2) a fourth axle deployed on the platform;
- (3) a third roller comprising:
- (i) a fifth cylindrical member rotatively mounted upon the third axle;
- (ii) a sixth cylindrical member rotatively mounted upon the fourth axle;
- and
- (iii) a third track disposed around the fifth cylindrical member and the sixth cylindrical member;
- (4) a fourth roller comprising:
- (i) a seventh cylindrical member rotatively mounted upon the third axle;
- (ii) a eighth cylindrical member rotatively mounted upon the fourth axle;
- and
- (iii) a fourth track circumferentially disposed around the seventh cylindrical member and the eighth cylindrical member;
- wherein the first and second sets of wheels of the motor vehicle are positioned upon the first and second means of receiving, such that the motor vehicle may be run and the motor vehicle wheels allowed to rotate upon the respective means for receiving, the rotational energy generated by the wheels of the motor vehicle being received by the tracks of the rollers, causing the cylindrical members of the rollers to rotate, in turn causing the axles thereof to turn and receive the rotational energy, thereby imparting said rotational energy to respective means for transmitting, the first means for receiving and the second means for receiving being deployed from each other at a distance, said distance being substantially equal to the distance between the first set of wheels and the second set of wheels of the motor vehicle;
- (f) a first set of train wheels attached to the platform;
- (g) a second set of train wheels attached to the platform;
- (h) a first means of transmitting rotational energy from the first means for receiving to the first set of train wheels;
- (i) a second means of transmitting rotational energy from the second means for receiving to the second set of train wheels;
- (j) retractable means for engaging the roadway comprising:
- (1) a plurality of road wheels;
- (2) a first arm upon which at least one of the road wheels is rotatively mounted;
- (3) a second arm upon which at least one of the road wheels is rotatively mounted;
- and
- (4) means for alternately deploying the road wheels in an either extended position or in a retracted position, wherein the means for deploying comprises:
- i) a stability rail mounted to the platform;
- ii) a guide rail mounted to the platform adjacent to the stability rail, the guide rail having a threading disposed thereon;
- iii) a first collar, the first collar being disposed around the stability rail and the guide rail, the first collar having a threading formed therein such that the threadings of the first collar and the guide rail are interdigitated;
- iv) a first brace attached to the first arm;
- v) a first clevis pivotally connecting the first brace and the first collar;
- vi) a second collar, the second collar being disposed around the stability rail and the guide rail, the second collar having a threading formed therein such that the threadings of the second collar and the guide rail are interdigitated;
- viii) a second clevis pivotally connecting the second brace and the second collar;
- and
- ix) a crank comprising a handle and a shaft, the handle and the shaft being formed together substantially normal, the shaft being attached to the guide rail, wherein the crank may be turned, thereby rotating the guide rail, the rotation of the guide rail moving the first and second collars thereon, the movement of the collars effecting either the extension or the retraction of the arms and thus the road wheels attached thereto;
- (k) a plurality of jacks mounted to the platform;
- (l) means for carrying the ramp, the means for carrying being formed on the platform;
- (m) means for altering the distance between the first means for receiving and the second means for receiving, the means for altering thus changing the length of the platform and enabling the apparatus to accommodate motor vehicles having different determined lengths between the first set of wheels and the second set of wheels thereof;
- (n) means for braking the train wheels;
- (o) means for braking the road wheels;
- (p) means for engaging the means for braking the train wheels and the means for braking the road wheels;
- and
- (q) means for hitching the apparatus to the motor vehicle.