Universal system for the loading/unloading and rail transport of road semitrailers

A process for loading a road-hauled semi-trailer (15) equipped with a kingpin (16), at a front thereof, and a wheel assembly (17), at a rear thereof, from a road haulage tractor (36) via a forklift (24) having a pair of vertically adjustable forks, onto a railway wagon (1) forming part of a transportation system for loading/unloading and rail transportation of road-hauled semi-trailers, the wagon (1) having a chassis (2) and at least one accommodating platform (8), the transportation system comprising:

• at least one turntable (14) that pivots in relation to the chassis (2), that is designed and sized to accommodate the wheel assembly (17) of the semi-trailer (15) but not the front of the semi-trailer(15) carrying the Kingpin (16) the turntable (14) being able to be pivoted between:
• a transportation position in which the turntable (14) is positioned longitudinally relative to the wagon (1), and
• a loading/unloading position in which the turntable (14) is oriented transversely or obliquely in relation to the wagon (1);
• and
• at least one accommodating platform (8) designed to accommodate a mounting for the kingpin (16) of the semi-trailer (15) and having a means of immobilization (10) of the mounting;
• wherein the accommodating platform (8) is connected to or integrated with the chassis (2) and fixed in relation to the chassis, and a portion of the chassis (2) separates the accommodating platform (8) from the pivoting turntable (14);
• a detachable mounting (9) is accommodated by the accommodating platform (8) for detachably connecting the kingpin (16) of the semi-trailer (15) to the wagon (1);
• and
• the detachable mounting (9) comprises:
• a body (27) having a hitch system (28), atleast one shaft (34, 35) and a base that is transversally grippable by the forklift (24);
• the hitch system (28) designed to accommodate, support and immobilize the kingpin (16) of the semi-trailer (15), and the hitch system (28) is supported by, but spaced from, the base by at least one shaft (34, 35);
• at least one aperture (32), of a mechanical interface system (31) that is formed in transversal plates (30) of the base, is compatible with the forks of the forklift (24), and the at least one aperture (32) is capable of matingly engaging with the forks of the forklift (24);
• the body (27) is supported, in a detachable manner, on the accommodating platform (8) of the wagon (1):
• and
• a complementary immobilizing system (11) interoperates with an immobilizing system (10) of the accommodating platform (8) to detachably secure and temporarily restrain the detachable mounting (9) on the accommodating platform (8);
• wherein the process comprises:
• pivoting and immobilization of the pivoting turntable (14) into the loading/unloading position;
• moving the semi-trailer (15), via the road haulage tractor (36), so as to position the wheel assembly (17) of the semi-trailer (15) on the pivoting turntable (14);
• uncoupling of the semi-trailer (15) and the road haulage tractor (36);
• gripping of the body (27), via the at least one of the aperture(32)of the detachable mounting (9), by the forks of the forklift (24), using the mechanical interface system (31);
• transversally positioning the hitch system (28) of the detachable mounting (9) on the kingpin (16) of the semi-trailer (15) to solely support a leading end of the semi-trailer (15) during loading and unloading of the semi-trailer (15) on the wagon (1);
• transversally moving the detachable mounting (9) by the forklift (24) so as to cause the pivoting of the semi-trailer (15) and pivoting of the turntable (14) into the transportation position;
• and
• positioning of the detachable mounting (9) on the accommodating platform (8), and immobilization thereof by interoperation with the immobilizing system (10) of the accommodating platform (8) and complementary immobilizing system (11) of the detachable mounting (9).

A process for loading a road-hauled semi-trailer (15) equipped with a kingpin (16), at the front thereof, and with a wheel assembly (17), at the rear thereof, on to a railway wagon (1), the wagon (1) having a chassis (2), the transportation system comprising:

• at least one turntable (14) that pivots in relation to the chassis (2), that is designed to accommodate the wheel assembly (17) of the semi-trailer (15), the turntable (14) being sized for accommodating the wheel assembly (17) of the semi-trailer (15) but not the front of the semi-trailer (15) carrying the kingpin (16), and the turntable (14) being able to be pivoted between a transportation position, in which the turntable (14) is positioned longitudinally relative to the wagon (1), and a loading/unloading position in which the turntable (14) is oriented transversely or obliquely in relation to the wagon (1);
• and
• at least one accommodating platform (8) designed to accommodate a detachable mounting (9) for the kingpin (16) of the semi-trailer (15) and having a means of immobilization (10) of the detchable mounting;
• wherein
• the accommodating platform (8) is connected to or integrated with the chassis (2), and is fixed in relation to this chassis thereto and a portion of the chassis (2) separates the accommodating platform (8) from the pivoting turntable (14);
• the detachable mounting (9) comprises:
• a body (27) having a hitch system (28), at least one shaft (34, 35) and a base that is transversely grippable by a forklift (24) having a pair of vertically adjustable forks and, for this, comprises at least one aperture (32) of a mechanical interface system (31) being formed in transverse plates (30) of the base that is compatible with the forks of the forklift (24) such that the body matingly engages with the forks of the forklift (24),
• the body (27) being supported, in a detachable manner, firstly by the forklift (24) and secondly on the accommodating platform (8) of the wagon (1),
• a complementary immobilizing system (11) that interoperates with the immobilizing system (10) of the accommodating platform (8) to detachably secure and temporarily restrain the detachable mounting (9) on the accommodating platform (8);
• and
• the hitch system (28) designed to accommodate, support and immobilize the kingpin (16) of the semi-trailer (15), and the hitch system (28) is supported by, but spaced from, the base by the at least one shaft (34, 35);
• wherein the process comprises the following steps:
• pivoting and immobilization of the pivoting turntable (14) in the loading/unloading position;
• transversely gripping the body (27) of the detachable mounting (9) via the forks of the forklift (24) using the at least one aperture (32) of formed in transverse plates (30) of the base, and transversely positioning the hitch system (28) of the detachable mounting (9) on the kingpin (16) of a semi-trailer (15) uncoupled from a road haulage tractor (36) to solely support a leading end of the semi-trailer (15) during loading and unloading of the semi-trailer (15) on the wagon (1);
• transversely moving the detachable mounting (9), via the forklift (24), so as to cause the movement of the semi-trailer (15) and placement of the wheel assembly (17) of the semi-trailer (15) on the pivoting turntable (14);
• continue moving the detachable mounting (9), via the forklift (24), so as to cause pivoting of the semi-trailer (15) and pivoting of the pivoting turntable(14) into the transportation position;
• and
• supporting the detachable mounting (9) on the accommodating platform (8), and immobilization thereof by interoperation with the immobilizing system (10) of the accommodating platform (8) and complementary immobilizing system (11) of the detachable mounting (9).