Removable supporting cross-member provided with an adjustable-height fifth wheel for supporting a semi-trailer during the loading, rail transport and unloading thereof

A method for loading a semi-trailer onto a rail car using a supporting cross-member (1) that can be removed and manipulated by a handling device for loading, unloading and securing a semi-trailer (2) onto a fixed, removable or movable supporting railway structure (42) on a rail transport car (3), the supporting cross-member (1) comprising:

• a body and a support for receiving a fifth wheel (18) adapted to receive a kingpin (48) of the semi-trailer (2) and to ensure that the fifth wheel (18) is maintained during manipulation and rail transport;
• a mechanical gripping interface (26, 27, 28, 29) so the cross-member (1) can be manipulated by a handling device (5);
• a lifting mechanism for raising a position of the fifth wheel (18) relative to the body of the cross-member (1);
• a means for locking the fifth wheel in position relative to the body of the cross-member (1);
• at least one means (30, 31, 32, 33) for either immobilizing or retaining the cross-member (1) on the supporting railway structure (42);
• the body of the cross-member is a generally flat body formed of a metal base structure supporting the fifth wheel (18);
• and
• a contact means on the upper edges (38, 39) of the supporting railway structure (42), the method comprising the steps of:
• initiating the method when the semi-trailer (2) is separated from a towing vehicle and resting in a parking area to be loaded with a front portion resting on support posts (4), and when the supporting cross-member (1) having been brought either from another loading operation or from a storage area, is either positioned on a ground to be gripped by a fork of the handling device (5) or is already gripped by the fork (6) of the handling device (5), the fork (6) raises the cross-member (1) by engaging arms of the fork (6) in front openings (26, 27) and then rear openings (28, 29) of the cross-member (1);
• carrying the cross-member (1) at a height adapted for attachment to the kingpin (48);
• regulating, either manually or by actuating the forked lifting element (6) of the handling device (5), the height of the cross-member (1) relative to the ground or a distance between the cross-member (1) and the fifth wheel (18) so as to obtain a necessary distance for the semi-trailer (2) to be located approximately horizontally in a transport position in the rail transport car (3) provided for this purpose, by acting on the lifting mechanism for the fifth wheel (18) that exists between the fifth wheel (18) and the cross-member (1);
• raising the front portion of the semi-trailer (2) to free the support posts (4) from contact with the ground;
• pulling the semi-trailer (2) by the handling device (5) by the front portion, and positioning the semi-trailer (2) until a and its rear portion of the semi-trailer (2) is placed opposite the extremity of the supporting structure (42) of the rail transport car (3) while the rail transport car (3) is in an open position, then the semi-trailer (2) in which it moves backwards when pushed by the handling device (5);
• centering the supporting cross-member (1), once the supporting cross-member (1) reaches the indexes and contacts a stop block on each upper edge (38, 39) of longitudinal side elements (40, 41) of the supporting structure (42), so that immobilizing openings (30-33) of the supporting cross-member (1) are opposite immobilizing projections (34-37) on the supporting structure (42);
• moving the cross-member (1) downward to rest the cross-member (1) against the upper edges (38, 39) of the supporting structure (42) on a flat area of each of lateral edge portions (11, 12) of upper edges (38, 39);
• locking the immobilizing openings (30-33) of the cross-member (1) using either twisting locks or other type of locks;
• releasing the support posts (4) and further locking the semi-trailer (2), with regards to the rail transport car (3), in accordance with all regulations in effect;
• and
• disconnecting the fork (6) from the cross-member (1) when the handling device (5) moves forward and thereby enabling both the cross-member (1) and the handling device (5) to become available for another operation.

A supporting cross-member that can be removably fixed directly to a rail transport car and can be maneuvered by a handling device for loading, unloading and securing a semi-trailer onto a supporting railway structure on the rail transport car, the cross-member comprising;

• a flat body having a metal frame to which a fifth wheel is movably coupled;
• the fifth wheel receives a kingpin of the semi-trailer and maintains engagement of the kingpin of the semi-trailer during maneuvering and rail transport of the semi-trailer;
• a mechanism is connected to the fifth wheel which vertically raises the fifth wheel relative to the body of the cross-member when the kingpin of the semi-trailer is engaged with the fifth wheel to adjust a vertical position of the fifth wheel relative to the body of the cross member;
• a releasable locking means for locking a height of the fifth wheel in position relative to the body of the cross-member;
• the body comprising a mechanical gripping interface which receives gripping elements of the handling device such that the cross-member can be supported and manipulated by the handling device;
• the body of the cross-member having opposed lateral side edges;
• contact means of the body, along the opposed lateral side edges, directly mating with corresponding upper side lateral edges of the supporting railway structure such that the cross-member is directly connected to and supported by the upper side lateral edges of the supporting railway structure;
• and
• at least one connecting means, being arranged on at least one of the lateral side edges of the cross-member, removably fixes the contact means of the body at a desired location along the upper side lateral edges of the supporting railway structure so as to either selectively immobilize or retain the cross-member at the desired location along the upper side lateral edges on the supporting railway structure of the rail transport car.