US 9,682,831 B1Granted

Method and apparatus for intermodal container handling

AssigneeSea-Train Express - LLC

InventorDavid Kun

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Abstract

A rail-road intermodal freight system. In an embodiment, a conveyor system is provided for placing rail cars in a position for loading shipping containers thereon, while an over-the-road trailer is secured to the rail car. By utilizing the method, efficient loading and unloading of train involved in intermodal shipments may save considerable time, and thus reduce costs.

Claims19

Dependent claims

Apparatus for loading shipping containers on over-the-road trailers at a railroad siding, the railroad siding including a pair of spaced apart rails configured for movement of railroad cars thereon, said apparatus comprising:

an L-shaped rail car adapted for travel on rails of a railroad, said rail car comprising
a frame, said frame having a front and a rear having a rear base having an upper side, said frame further comprising a deck extending between a deck first end and a deck second end, said deck sized and shaped for receiving and supporting an over-the-road trailer or semi-trailer, said frame further comprising one or more support members at or near the front of said frame, said one or more support members adapted for engagement with an upper side of a rear base of a next forward rail car in a set of N rail cars, wherein N is a positive integer;
a single pair of flanged main rail wheels located at or near the rear of said frame and near said deck second end;
a suspension system supporting said frame above said pair of flanged main rail wheels;
a pair of unsprung flanged auxiliary rail wheels, said flanged auxiliary rail wheels located forward of said flanged main rail wheels and positioned closer to said deck first end than to said deck second end, and disposed downwardly from said frame by opposing first and second gear leg struts, said first and second gear leg struts spaced apart by a cross-brace, said flanged auxiliary rail wheels configured to support said rail car while said rail car traverses a rail siding;
a conveyor hook, said conveyor hook extending below said frame, said conveyor hook having an arm with a proximal end pivotally affixed to said frame and a distal end with a downwardly extending hook portion extending therefrom;
a hitch, said hitch located at or near the front of said frame and near said deck first end, and extending upward from said frame, said hitch comprising a steel mating plate and clamping jaws, said clamping jaws adapted for locking engagement with a king pin extending downward from an over-the-road trailer.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

an L-shaped rail car adapted for travel on rails of a railroad, said rail car comprising
a frame, said frame having a front and a rear having a rear base having an upper side, said frame further comprising a deck extending between a deck first end and a deck second end, said deck sized and shaped for receiving and supporting an over-the-road trailer or semi-trailer, said frame further comprising one or more support members at or near the front of said frame, said one or more support members adapted for engagement with an upper side of a rear base of a next forward rail car in a set of N rail cars, wherein N is a positive integer;
a single pair of flanged main rail wheels located at or near the rear of said frame and near said deck second end;
a suspension system supporting said frame above said pair of flanged main rail wheels;
a pair of unsprung flanged auxiliary rail wheels, said flanged auxiliary rail wheels located forward of said flanged main rail wheels and positioned closer to said deck first end than to said deck second end, and disposed downwardly from said frame by opposing first and second gear leg struts, said first and second gear leg struts spaced apart by a cross-brace, said flanged auxiliary rail wheels configured to support said rail car while said rail car traverses a rail siding;
a conveyor hook, said conveyor hook extending below said frame, said conveyor hook having an arm with a proximal end pivotally affixed to said frame and a distal end with a downwardly extending hook portion extending therefrom;
a hitch, said hitch located at or near the front of said frame and near said deck first end, and extending upward from said frame, said hitch comprising a steel mating plate and clamping jaws, said clamping jaws adapted for locking engagement with a king pin extending downward from an over-the-road trailer.

4 more elements