Abstract: Various embodiments of an autonomous rail vehicle that can travel ahead of a locomotive at a distance proportional to the locomotive's stopping capability are disclosed. The rail vehicle may scan its surroundings, gauges track conditions, and communicates with locomotive operators of the scanned results in real-time to timely enable activation of the locomotive's emergency brakes in case of detection of off-normal track conditions. The rail vehicle may paired with the locomotive and provides eyes to locomotive operators so that they can have information on tracks viability well ahead of the locomotive.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rerailer apparatus that can be installed in a rail car for rerailing the rail car if it derails. The rerailer includes two vertical lifting members which are suspended from the rail car and are connected to a foot. These lifting members are used to lift the rail car vertically when the lifting members are extended and the foot contacts a support surface. A lateral movement member integrated with the vertical lifting members and the foot is used to move the lifted rail car laterally.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rerailer apparatus that can be installed in a rail car for rerailing the rail car if it derails. The rerailer includes two vertical lifting members which are suspended from the rail car and are connected to a foot. These lifting members are used to lift the rail car vertically when the lifting members are extended and the foot contacts a support surface. A lateral movement member integrated with the vertical lifting members and the foot is used to move the lifted rail car laterally.

Abstract: The invention relates to a displacement device for the horizontal displacement of heavy loads, especially of derailed rail vehicles or the like, having a lifting cylinder and a preferably hydraulically driven displacement mechanism, which allows the position of the load raised by the lifting cylinder to be varied, the lifting cylinder (2) being borne by a slide (6) which is horizontally movable, preferably in two opposite directions, the slide being disposed displaceably on the surface of a support and the piston rod (11) of a displacement cylinder arrangement being fixedly connected to the support without the one end of the piston rod (11) being latch-locked to the support in a displacement-dependent manner.

Abstract: A shifting device for horizontal shifting of heavy loads with at least one lifting cylinder to raise the load, a support, and a preferably hydraulically actuated shifting mechanism, wherein the shifting mechanism has at least one horizontally arranged shifting cylinder which by way of a locking tie-rod is mechanically lockable to the support in different positions on the latter's surface, and which engages in the range of the lifting cylinder or its support and effects a horizontal shifting of it relative to the support characterized in that in the tie-rod casing, the locking tie-rod can be brought vertically from a rest position to a locking position and vice versa, that the locking in the locking position is effective in both directions to the support and that the shifting cylinder can be acted on by force in both directions.

Abstract: A re-railing unit for re-railing a derailed rail car comprises a base, two stabilizer rams located at opposite ends of the base, and a port plate slidably mounted on the base. The support plate carries a pair of vertical lifting rams from which is suspended a vertical lifting arm. The bottom of the lifting arm is hook-shaped to engage the underside of a rail car drawhead. The lifting arm raises an end of the rail car in response to extension of the lifting rams. A shifting ram then slides the support plate across the base to reposition the rail car wheels over the track. The lifting arm is lowered to enable the wheels to rest upon the track.

Abstract: The invention provides a lifting device for re-railing railroad vehicles comprising a guide rail which is adapted to be disposed substantially horizontally in use, having an outer surface including a toothed rack, a traveller mounted by rollers for guided movement along the rail, the traveller being adapted to support a lifting jack or the like in use, and a drive engaging the toothed rack for transversely moving the traveller.

Abstract: A railroad platform using outriggers for stability utilizes a set of detachable rollers positioned intermediate the outriggers and the platform as weight bearing members. The rollers enable the platform to move along the outrigger as needed to re-align the wheels with the railroad track.

Abstract: A set-off apparatus for moving a railway carriage transversely off the track includes eight vertically adjustable jacks arranged in four pairs. Two of the jacks of two of the pairs are arranged in each corner of the railway carriage frame, and two pairs of jacks are arranged at each frame end, one of the pairs of jacks being stationary with respect to the frame and the other pair of jacks being displaceable with respect to the frame in a direction extending transversely to the track. A horizontally extending, double-acting cylinder-piston device is arranged for displacing each other pair of jacks transversely whereby the carriage may be transversely set off stepwise while supported in a stilt-like manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for rerailing derailed wheels of a railway vehicle includes a bridge which is positioned beneath a derailed vehicle end. After the vehicle is leveled, a lifting jack disposed on a carriage mounted on the bridge supportingly elevates the derailed vehicle end and moves the supported derailed end over the rails, the bridge being positioned to return the derailed vehicles to a position over the rails. Since the wheels of the opposed vehicle end are stationary, the derailed vehicle end is moved along an arcuate path. A motive means such as a jack moves the carriage along the bridge axis, and supporting roller means on the carriage enable the lifting jack engaging the vehicle to move transversely to the bridge axis thereby allowing the jack and supported vehicle end to traverse an arcuate path while fully supported.