US 6,241,308 B1 · Passenger and freight carrying vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle having a passenger area and a freight area to transport passengers and freight, including an intermodal container. The vehicle is supported by a truck frame connected to a coach spine in a three-dimensional region so that forces from a load on the freight area are distributed over the three-dimensional region and into the passenger area. The vehicle preferably also includes a retractable axle to increase the vehicle's freight hauling capacity. An engine under the rear portion of the freight area is preferably disposed between a forward region defined by a ground clearance height and a vehicle height and a rearward region defined by the departure angle and the vehicle height. The vehicle's suspension system ensures a comfortable ride for passengers under various loading conditions.

Claims39

Dependent claims

An intermodal coach comprising:

a forward double-decker passenger area;
a flatbed area extending rearward from said passenger area;
a coach chassis having a frame, an intermodal support, and a bus suspension, said coach chassis supporting both said forward double-decker passenger area and said flatbed area;
an intermodal container, the top of said passenger area flush with said intermodal container and the sides of said intermodal container inset from the sides of said passenger area when said intermodal container is loaded on said flatbed area;
and
at least four attachments, each of said at least four attachments connected to a corner of said flatbed area, said at least four attachments removably securing said intermodal container to said flatbed area of said intermodal coach.

3 more elements

A vehicle comprising:

a passenger area having a first and a second level, a rear wall and opposing side walls;
a coach spine supporting said passenger area and extending to said rear wall;
a freight area carrying a load when placed thereon;
a truck frame beneath said freight area, said truck frame extending through said rear wall of said passenger area and overlapping said coach spine;
a plate extending along the overlap between said truck frame and said coach spine, said plate connecting said truck frame to said coach spine;
a first cross member extending across the front portion of said truck frame and connecting said coach spine to said truck frame;
and
a three-part cross member extending across said truck frame between said side walls along said rear wall within said passenger area, said second cross member connecting said coach spine to said truck frame and to said rear and side walls;
rear support members connected to said truck frame at said rear wall and extending vertically upward therefrom to the second level, said rear support members further connected to said rear wall and to said second level;
front support members connected to said truck frame at said first cross member and extending vertically upward therefrom to the second level, said front support members further connected to said second level;
a first diagonal support member connected to said truck frame at said first cross member and extending diagonally upward therefrom and connected to the second level above said second cross member;
a second diagonal support member connected to said truck frame at said second cross member and extending diagonally upward therefrom and connected to the second level above said first cross member, said first and second diagonal support members crisscrossing one another at the respective midpoints;
said truck frame thereby connected to said coach spine to distribute said load over said truck frame and into said passenger area when said load is placed on said freight area.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Passenger and freight carrying vehicle

Life of this patent

Passenger and freight carrying vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39