Two-car Truck Patents (Class 105/4.1)
  • Patent number: 11565560
    Abstract: A system for conducting cables in a vehicle having vehicle parts that are movably connected to one another. The system for conducting cables having a stabilization element and a reception element for receiving a cable and the reception element is movably arranged at the stabilization element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HÜBNER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jens Karasek, Jan-Hendrick Dicke, Ralf Schulz, Lilia Schumann
  • Patent number: 11298996
    Abstract: An articulation system (1) for interconnecting first and second vehicle units of an articulated road vehicle comprises a central element (2) including a vertical cylinder with left and right arcuate walls (4) extending between two facing openings. First and second interconnecting structures (5) are joined to the central element (2) and are adapted to be respectively attached to the first and second vehicle units on opposed sides of the central element (2). Each interconnecting structure has a pitch joint member (5a) and a yaw joint member (5b). The pitch joint member (5a) has a frame (7) perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a corresponding one of the first and second vehicle units and a pitch hinge mechanism (6) at a floor level to interconnect with the corresponding one of the first and second vehicle units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: PANTERO TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Jean Raymond
  • Patent number: 10981585
    Abstract: An articulated connector for a rail vehicle having a plurality of rail car bodies including a first and a second rail car body supported on a bolster of a Jacobs bogie. The articulated connector includes a spherical joint mechanism connecting the first rail car body and the second car body to one another, the spherical joint mechanism having at least two spherical joint bearings, and the spherical joint mechanism being disposed on the bolster of the Jacobs bogie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: HÜBNER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Olaf Richter
  • Patent number: 10730539
    Abstract: A system (e.g., a control system) includes a sensor configured to monitor an operating condition of a vehicle system during movement of the vehicle system along a route. The system also includes a controller configured to designate one or more operational settings for the vehicle system as a function of time and/or distance along the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Brian Nedward Meyer, Harry Kirk Mathews, Jr., James D. Brooks, Kristopher Ryan Smith
  • Patent number: 10723370
    Abstract: A train system having a train element consisting of a single train car configured to travel along a rail system, and including an enclosed first use area and a flat car section. The flat car section includes a drive-on loading area configured to enable a vehicle to be driven onto the flat car section and then transported by the train car. Train element includes a drive system for moving the train element along the rail system and a control system for autonomously controlling the operation of the train car. A sensor system collects sensor data and provides the sensor data, as inputs, to the control system. Sensor data is used by the control system in operating the train car. Lastly, a power system independently powers the drive system and control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Inventor: Jeremiah Heaton
  • Patent number: 10252731
    Abstract: A loading train (1) consists of at least two loading wagons (2, 3) for transporting and storing bulk material, each having a wagon frame (5) supported on on-track undercarriages (4), a storage box (6) with a bottom conveyor belt (8) which is situated in the bottom region of the storage box and extends in the longitudinal direction (7) of the wagon, and a pivotable transfer conveyor belt (9) adjoining the bottom conveyor belt (8) and projecting beyond the wagon frame (5). A tilt protection device (11) is provided between the front-most, first loading wagon (3)—with regard to a transport direction (10) of the bottom conveyor belt (8)—and the following, second loading wagon (2). The tilt protection device (11) is designed for contacting the rearward wagon frame end of the first loading wagon (3) in order to block an upward movement of the wagon frame (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Patrick Hoetzendorfer
  • Patent number: 10029711
    Abstract: A solebar for a railway vehicle has an elongate body that comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg and second are configured to meet at a vertex and have an obtuse angle ? therebetween such that the solebar has an obtuse L-shaped cross-sectional profile. The solebar is mounted as an underframe side member in a railway vehicle such that the first leg extends in a downwardly direction towards a floor supporting the railway vehicle and clears a lower sector of a loading gauge, and the second leg inclines upwardly in a direction away from railway vehicle and clears an upper sector of the loading gauge. The second leg is configured to support an upper sidewall of a body of the railway vehicle such that the upper sidewall clears the upper sector of the loading gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Drax Power Limited
    Inventors: Richard Peter Gibney, David Thomas Turner, Paul Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 9428200
    Abstract: A device for coupling the roof area of two articulated vehicle parts, for limiting the roll and/or pitch movements of the vehicle parts relative to each other. The device includes at least two consoles. At least one console is disposed on the roof area of a first vehicle part. The at least two consoles are connected to each other by a coupling arm. At least one of the consoles includes a leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Olaf Richter
  • Patent number: 9358991
    Abstract: A multi-car vehicle with a first car of the multi-car vehicle and a second car of the vehicle and having a connection device having an elongated body for transmitting the pushing force required to push the first car in front of the second car, when the second car is moving, the elongated body having a longitudinal axis, a connection to connect the elongated body to the first car or the second car and suitable to transmit the pushing force from the second car to the elongated body or from the elongated body to the first car, the first car and/or the second car having an underframe that comprises at least one longitudinal beam and/or at least one cross beam, wherein the elongated body is arranged approximately at the same vertical level as the longitudinal beam and/or the cross beam and/or is arranged in such a manner that with regard to the vertical direction the elongated body at least partially overlaps with the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: DELLNER COUPLERS AB
    Inventors: Mathias Hjort, Roger Danielsson, Fredrik Hedh, Tommy Fälth
  • Publication number: 20140305332
    Abstract: A railroad well car includes a spaced trucks grouped in pairs, and a railcar body supported on a pair of the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; a pair of end chords extending between the side sills; four corner container support members, each secured to one end chord and one side sill; a plurality of floor beams extending between the side sills forming at least a portion of a floor for the well structure; and a plurality of side truss members extending between one side sill and one top chord on each side forming an open truss side for the well structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Keith Alan Miller
  • Patent number: 8677907
    Abstract: A bimodal container chassis for supporting a container during roadway and railway transit includes a mainframe having first and second ends, a top edge and a bottom angled edge. The bottom angled edge is positioned at an angle from horizontal. A running gear attachment is connected to the mainframe and slidable along the bottom angled edge in first and second directions between an over-the-road position and an over-the-rail position. The first direction is upward and toward the first end and the second direction is downward and toward the second end such that the running gear attachment is disposed adjacent the second end when in the over-the-road position and disposed upward relative to the over-the-road position and toward the first end when in the over-the-rail position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: RailRunner, N.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Graaff, Marieno P. Graveland, Michael W. DiLuigi, Gary L. Fenton, Thomas J. Draxler
  • Patent number: 8627772
    Abstract: The improved intermodal vehicle has a one-piece upper frame assembly with a horizontal load carrying surface below the ends of a drawbar for connecting the trailers. Each highway trailer has a coupler socket assembly at both its front and rear into which the drawbar enters and connects to the intermodal vehicle by a vertical coupling pin projecting upward from the horizontal load carrying surface. The coupling pin is operated up and down by either manual or air operated actuators, and locks in the up position by a manually operated safety latch. The upper frame is supported from dual steerable lower frames by primary air springs so that when the springs are deflated, the upper frame is lowered to allow the trailers to be pushed upon the load carrying surface. When the air springs are inflated, the trailers are raised so that the trailer wheels are carried above the railroad track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: RailRunner, N.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Harry O. Wicks, Michael W. DiLuigi, Joseph Magri
  • Patent number: 8468950
    Abstract: Refinements and improvements in intermodal rail vehicles for making up a train of highway trailers are shown. The improved intermodal vehicle has a one-piece upper frame assembly (26) with a horizontal load carrying surface below the ends of a drawbar for connecting the trailers. Each highway trailer has a coupler socket assembly at both its front and rear into which the drawbar enters and is connected to the intermodal vehicle by a vertical coupling pin projecting upward from the horizontal load carrying surface. The upper frame is supported from dual steerable lower frames (28) by primary air springs (90). A backup suspension system is provided so as to support the upper frame in the event of failure of the primary air springs. A transition rail vehicle for adapting the unit train of trailers is provided, incorporating the necessary features of the intermediate intermodal vehicles heretofore described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Railrunner, N.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Harry O. Wicks, Michael W. DiLuigi
  • Publication number: 20120145032
    Abstract: A rail train for supporting multiple sticks of ribbon rail comprises a plurality of rail support cars having a single, centrally positioned rail support stand wherein adjacent rail support cars are supported on shared trucks. End cars include a tunnel for supporting the rails near their ends and one or more rail support arms pivotal at a first end about two axis and supporting a rail guide assembly at a second end for supporting a rail as it is pulled of the rail train. A rail tie-down car utilizes spring-loaded, hydraulically actuated clamp assemblies to clamp individual rails to the tie-down car. Each clamp assembly incorporates at least two clamp members which act opposite one another to prevent the rail secured in place by the clamps from sliding in either longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: HERZOG CONTRACTING CORP.
    Inventor: Ivan E. Bounds
  • Publication number: 20120017799
    Abstract: A railway wagon for transport of for example a semi-trailer comprises—carried by two bogies or the like—a main portion, pivotally connected to a rearward bogie, and a wagon end, connected to a forward bogie, the main portion and the wagon end being releasably connected to each other. A beam is to be connected to or is connected to the wagon end for horizontally guiding the main portion at its pivoting out from the wagon end. Means are provided for vertically displacing the main portion or a part thereof in relation to the wagon end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: K TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventor: Peter Linde
  • Publication number: 20110315041
    Abstract: The present invention relates to symmetrical arrangements in multi-unit articulated rail road cars. A multi-unit railroad car has an odd number of railcar units joined end to end by articulated connectors supported by railcar trucks. The railroad car has a transverse centerline. The arrangement of articulated connectors about the transverse centerline is symmetrical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventors: Mohamed Al-Kaabi, Jamal Hematian
  • Publication number: 20110315040
    Abstract: A vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, having a vehicle longitudinal axis, a first body, a second body which is adjacent to the first body, a third body which is adjacent to the first body, a first anti-roll device which connects the first body and the second body, and a second anti-roll device which connects the first body and the third body. The anti-roll devices each counteract rolling motions between the bodies, which are connected via the anti-roll devices, about a roll axis parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis. The first anti-roll device and the second anti-roll device are coupled to each other via a coupling device, and are configured along with the coupling device in such a way that at least one first displacement on the first anti-roll device causes at least one second displacement on the second anti-roll device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Brundisch, Alfred Lohmann
  • Patent number: 8011305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to symmetrical arrangements in multi-unit articulated rail road cars. A multi-unit railroad car has an odd number of railcar units joined end to end by articulated connectors supported by railcar trucks. The railroad car has a transverse centerline. The arrangement of articulated connectors about the transverse centerline is symmetrical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventors: Mohamed Al-Kaabi, Jamal Hematian
  • Publication number: 20110185938
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices for moving the buffers of articulated cars of railway vehicles travelling on a curve. The devices are disposed between two adjoining cars (6, 6?) articulated by a transversely centred coupling or linkage (12), said cars (6, 6?) including a front-end projecting element (9) which is joined to the coupling or linkage (12) extending from the rear end of the next car. In all embodiments of the invention, as the buffers (3) move sideways under the action of skids (2) or other means towards the centre of the curve at the part of the device closest to the wheels (7) on the inner part of the curve, the sideways movement of the car into the curve is limited as the buffers (3) come into contact with the corresponding surface of the wheel set, obstructing the sideways movement of the car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: José Luis López Gómez
  • Publication number: 20100242787
    Abstract: Refinements and improvements in intermodal rail vehicles for making up a train of highway trailers are shown. The improved intermodal vehicle has a one-piece upper frame assembly (26) with a horizontal load carrying surface below the ends of a drawbar for connecting the trailers. Each highway trailer has a coupler socket assembly at both its front and rear into which the drawbar enters and is connected to the intermodal vehicle by a vertical coupling pin projecting upward from the horizontal load carrying surface. The upper frame is supported from dual steerable lower frames (28) by primary air springs (90). A backup suspension system is provided so as to support the upper frame in the event of failure of the primary air springs. A transition rail vehicle for adapting the unit train of trailers is provided, incorporating the necessary features of the intermediate intermodal vehicles heretofore described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: RailRunner, N.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Harry O. Wicks, Michael W. DiLuigi
  • Patent number: 7549378
    Abstract: A large-capacity vehicle is disclosed for transporting people, especially a rail vehicle. The vehicle includes carriages that are coupled by articulated connections, at least two of the carriages being respectively supported on a bogie or the undercarriage. All of the articulated connections enable the carriages to perform a turning movement about the vertical axis during cornering. For a vehicle that has more than three parts, at least one articulated connection is embodied in such a way that the vehicle can carry out pitching motions about the transversal axis in the event of dumping or tipping. One of the articulated connections includes a connection element that is embodied and connected to two carriages in such a way that pivoting and rolling motions can be carried out about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volker Albert, Paul Bernard, Dirk Schillings
  • Patent number: 7278359
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a railway car for the transportation of semi-trucks. The railway car may have an interior defined by a support surface for the trucks, a pair of upstanding sidewalls, and a roof. End doors may be located at each end of the railway car for selectively permitting access to the interior thereof. The horizontal width at the ends of the railway car may be selected to permit the trucks to be loaded into the interior of the railway car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Hartman Schorr, Robert J. Cencer, Robert C. Ortner, Jr., James M. Simpson, Michael J. Rench
  • Patent number: 7267058
    Abstract: Wires (electric wires) 29 and 30 of cars are connected to each other through connecting wires mounted to a truck frame of an articulated truck. The connecting wires are inserted into a flexible protecting pipe member and an intermediate portion thereof is mounted within a concave portion formed on an upper portion of a side frame of the truck frame. And, an upper opening of the concave portion is closed by a cover plate. Connectors 22 and 23 are provided at front and rear end portions of the connecting wire for electric connection with cars. The connectors 22 and 23 are removably connected to connectors 26 and 27 of the wires 29 and 30 of the cars, which are mounted by mounting brackets 24 and 25 under the car bodies 2A and 3A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Ohashi, Naohiro Hiraoka, Keisuke Takahashi, Yoichi Kishi
  • Patent number: 7261043
    Abstract: An articulated railway bogie connector 10 is shown comprising a male connector component 12 and a female connector component 14. The articulated connector 10 is adapted to pivotally mount to a bolster 54 of a railway bogie 50. The male and female connector components 12, 14 are arranged to be welded to a skeletal body of adjacent railway wagons. The male and female connector components 12, 14 each include a pair of constant contact sidebearer outrigger brackets and associated wear plates located. The outrigger brackets such as 16A/B are in the form of a pair of wing members cast integral with and extending laterally of the male connector component 12. However the wing members such as 16A/B may be welded or otherwise formed integral with, in this instance, the male connector component 12. The outrigger brackets or wing members 16A/B and 18A/B are adapted for fixing of a wear plate which is arranged in use to contact corresponding constant contact sidebearers mounted to the articulated bogie 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Bradken Resources PTY Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Gordon Cummings
  • Patent number: 7255047
    Abstract: A rail road car has a deck for carrying wheeled vehicles. The rail road car can be coupled to other rail road cars of the same type. Bridge plates are provide that permit wheeled vehicles to be conducted between adjacent rail road cars. The bridge plates have one end mounted to the rail road car at a pivot fitting. The pivot fitting allows the bridge plate to be moved from a length-wise position spanning the gap between cars, to a cross-wise stowed position. The bridge plates have fittings which permit three degrees of freedom relative to the adjacent rail road cars, namely a first degree of freedom to tolerate yawing motion of the first rail road car, a second degree of freedom to accommodate yawing motion of the second rail road car, and a third degree of freedom to accommodate variation in distance between the respective portions of the rail road cars to which the bridge plate is mounted while the rail road cars are moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventors: Ilario A. Coslovi, James W. Forbes
  • Patent number: 7047889
    Abstract: An articulated rail car has a plurality of rail car units joined together at articulation connections, and carried upon a number of rail car trucks that is equal to the number of rail car units plus one. At least one of the articulated connectors is located at an offset distance from the nearest rail car truck, such that the adjacent rail car has an overhang, or cantilever, between the center of the truck and the pivot center of the articulation. The truck is a two axle, four-wheel freely pivoting truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventor: James W. Forbes
  • Patent number: 7025002
    Abstract: A bolster 14 for a bogie of an articulated railway wagon is shown including supports for constant contact sidebearers in the form of two pairs of brackets such as 26A and 26B being integral with the bolster 14 at its opposing respective ends. The brackets such as 26A are each adapted for fixing of the constant contact sidebearers which in turn are arranged to contact a corresponding wear plate mounted to an articulated connector 50. In a preferred example the corresponding wear plates are mounted to corresponding brackets 52A, 52B which are cast integral with respective male or female articulated connector components 54 or 56. Each bracket 26A/B extends laterally from the bolster 14 and, when viewed in plan, each bracket 26A/B has a longitudinal axis of symmetry which is orthogonal to a radius from a central rotational point of the articulated connector 50 of the railway wagon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Bradken Resources Pty Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Gordon Cummings
  • Patent number: 6910424
    Abstract: A model electric train car possessing various movable parts which allow the train car's pivotally-mounted truck and coupler assembly to maneuver around tight curves without interference from model train steps, skirts or other train car parts in close proximity to the train coupler, thereby, avoiding derailment of the toy train. The steps, skirts or other train parts to swing, slide, rotate, or otherwise move away from the truck and coupler assembly, being attached to the train car by pins, hinges, slides, snap connectors or the like to allow the free movement of the train parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Albert C. Ruocchio & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert C. Ruocchio, Frederick W. Terrell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6733635
    Abstract: A coke oven buckstay moving device and method which can be used to quickly, reliably, and smoothly repair buckstays compared to conventional methods and devices. The coke oven buckstay moving means includes a main car, a subcar, a frame, and securing means. The main car is used when repairing pillered buckstays that support oven walls of the coke oven, and moves on a coke side platform or a machine side platform. The subcar is placed on the main car, and can freely move forward and backward in a direction of a lengthwise direction of the coke oven. The frame is provided in a standing manner on the subcar. The securing members are mounted to the frame and are used to grasp and secure the buckstays. According to the method, a damaged portion of the buckstay is secured to the subcar, cut, and then removed. Reversing the steps, a replacement buckstay is secured to the subcar, moved into position, and welded into place. The subcar is detached, and the oven repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ozawa, Nozomu Tamura, Tetsuro Uchida, Nobuya Kamide
  • Publication number: 20040020400
    Abstract: An articulated railway bogie connector 10 is shown comprising a male connector component 12 and a female connector component 14. The articulated connector 10 is adapted to pivotally mount to a bolster 54 of a railway bogie 50. The male and female connector components 12, 14 are arranged to be welded to a skeletal body of adjacent railway wagons. The male and female connector components 12, 14 each include a pair of constant contact sidebearer outrigger brackets and associated wear plates located. The outrigger brackets such as 16A/B are in the form of a pair of wing members cast integral with and extending laterally of the male connector component 12. However the wing members such as 16A/B may be welded or otherwise formed integral with, in this instance, the male connector component 12. The outrigger brackets or wing members 16A/B and 18A/B are adapted for fixing of a wear plate which is arranged in use to contact corresponding constant contact sidebearers mounted to the articulated bogie 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Douglas Gordon Cummings
  • Patent number: 6666148
    Abstract: A rail road car has a deck for carrying wheeled vehicles. The car has deck access fittings mounted between the trucks near a collapsible hitch to provide access to the highway trailer landing gear crank, and flush mounted internal bridge plates. The rail road car has side sills having flared ends to act as a guide for the highway trailers as they are backed up. The hitch is trimmed to a relatively narrow width to lessen the likelihood of fouling the tyres of the highway trailer bogies. The car has intermediate bridge plates having a flush mounted portion to facilitate hostler truck operation. The car includes dual use cross-beams suitable for supporting the deck, acting as jacking beams to permit the car to be lifted, and as container pedestal support beams, if required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventors: Ilario A. Coslovi, James W. Forbes
  • Publication number: 20030172836
    Abstract: A railroad car for use with a train of like railroad cars is disclosed. In one embodiment, the railroad car is a continuous gondola car used to transport and unload replacement beams for a railroad bridge. The gondola car has a continuous bay defined by a floor extending between two sidewalls. A bridge extends from the floor of gondola car and overlays a portion of a floor of the adjacent gondola car. One or more guides are mounted along the floor of the continuous bay. The beams are supported and moved in the central bay by one or more supports movable along the one or more guides. The guides of the gondola car communicate with the guides of the adjacent gondola car. The beams may be moved from one car to another during unloading at least when the cars are substantially aligned or when they a pivoted in relation to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Georgetown Rail Equipment Company
    Inventors: Christopher M. Villar, Garry E. Meyers, Steven C. Orrell
  • Patent number: 6551039
    Abstract: An auto rack rail road car has a main deck and at least one upper deck for carrying automobiles. The auto rack rail road car is provided with short travel buff gear and a reduced slack, or slackless, coupler. Bridge plates are provided to span the space between adjacent coupled rail road cars. The bridge plates are able to remain in place during train motion. The bridge plates can be swung to a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventor: James W. Forbes
  • Patent number: 6510800
    Abstract: A multi-unit railroad freight car and a container-carrying intermediate unit for such a car. The intermediate unit is located between and coupled to each of a pair of well units designed for carrying stacked cargo containers. Coupled ends of the intermediate units and adjacent container well units are supported on a shared truck. The intermediate unit includes a center sill, transverse bolsters atop the center sill, and container supporting arms extending from the bolsters and above body bolsters of the adjacent container well units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Gunderson, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon B. Zaerr, John N. Niosi, David W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6484644
    Abstract: An articulated railcar has several well car units for carrying shipping containers, highways trailers, or a combination of the two. The well car units permit the nose of a highway trailer to overhang the articulated connection between two adjacent cars. A brake valve is located in a relief formed in the main bolster of one of the articulated units, out of the way of the overhanging trailer. Each well car unit has a side beam having a roll formed top chord reinforced by a top chord plate, a downwardly extending web, and a lower sill formed of a thick angle. The service, or auxiliary, and emergency brake reservoirs are mounted in a saddle bag configuration to the outside face of the webs of the opposite side beams of the articulated unit, tucked underneath the reinforced roll formed top chord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventors: James W. Forbes, Richard C. Haight
  • Patent number: 6474242
    Abstract: A rail vehicle system that has connecting bogies, supply units, control units, and transportation units, which can be placed on said connecting bogies in order to form a train with a modular construction. The connecting bogies contain at least two axles, one of which is equipped with an electrical drive/brake unit, and which are configured to be separable. The supply units may contain vital devices such as current collectors, transformers and power converters for extracting power form a contact line and feeding it back into the contact line or converters of primary energy into electrical energy. The control units can be configured to be independent of current and load. The transportation units may differ according to whether they are for transporting passengers or goods and according to the type of good being transported. The interfaces of all of the units are uniform and are configured in such a way that the units can be interchanged quickly and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Michael Baier
  • Patent number: 6460468
    Abstract: A railroad drive system for transporting, along a railroad track, a vehicle trailer having a front king pin and a rear king pin downwardly projecting from a lower surface thereof in vertically spaced relation above the railroad track includes a drive assembly having motorized wheels including a pair of differential axles. The drive assembly is carried on a support frame and operatively engages the railroad track and a front fifth wheel and a rear fifth wheel carried by said support frame and having a first position vertically below the lower surface of the trailer. A lifting assembly operatively selectively raises the front fifth wheel and the rear fifth wheel into coupled relationship with the king pins. An operator control station extends laterally outward of said support frame between said axles for operating the drive and lifting assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph T. Mobley
  • Publication number: 20020073878
    Abstract: Means and method for producing a device capable of articulating individual railcars in the railyard as needed in real time and without need of fixed shop tooling is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: George A. Teacherson
  • Patent number: 6405656
    Abstract: Disseminated traction arrangement applied to single-axle train wheel sets provided with independent wheels, comprising, for each wheel (7), a traction motor (8), an extensible shaft (9) which, at one of its ends, is connected to the axle of the traction motor (8) and, at its other end, ends in a pinion (5), and a crown wheel (6) connected to the axle (15) of the wheel (7) and which engages, with the pinion (5) mounted on the shaft (9), so that by means of the pinion-crown group (5, 6) thus formed, the traction power generated by the motor (8) is transmitted to the wheel (7). The invention is applicable to wheel sets incorporated in the connection area between two adjacent train waggons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Patentes Talgo, S.A.
    Inventors: José Luis López Gómez, Faustino Archilla Aldeanueva, Antonio Prieto Carrillo
  • Patent number: 6336409
    Abstract: The rake is made up of at least two vehicles with two levels and includes on-board equipment items including at least one traction motor power supply unit, motive power supply units, auxiliary power supply units and a device adapted to be connected to a power supply network. At least one vehicle includes at least one motor bogie and at least one carrying bogie; at least one carrying bogie of the rake is associated with at least one of said on-board equipment items disposed approximately over it; the ratio between the respective motive power factors of any two groups of two vehicles of the rake is not less than ⅓ and not more than 3. The rake is for carrying passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventor: Guy Devulder
  • Patent number: 6276282
    Abstract: A rail vehicle with at least one driving unit and at least one adjacent wagon body that is capable of tilting during operation, where the tilting is provided by an assembly mounted on a travelling gear. The driving unit and the adjacent wagon body have their facing ends supported on a common travelling gear having at least two sets of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AB
    Inventor: Hilmar Schunke
  • Patent number: 6250231
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a connection between two vehicle parts of an articulated vehicle, more particularly of an articulated rail vehicle, whereas the two vehicle parts (1, 10) are pivotably connectable in the roof area of the vehicle parts (1, 10) thanks to a slidable lattice stand (40) extending across the longitudinal axis of the articulated vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Hubner Gummi-und Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Karasek
  • Patent number: 6216604
    Abstract: An articulated railcar has several well car units for carrying shipping containers, highways trailers, or a combination of the two. The well car units permit the nose of a highway trailer to overhang the articulated connection between two adjacent cars. A brake valve is located in a relief formed in the main bolster of one of the articulated units, out of the way of the overhanging trailer. Each well car unit has a side beam having a roll formed top chord reinforced by a top chord plate, a downwardly extending web, and a lower sill formed of a thick angle. The service, or auxiliary, and emergency brake reservoirs are mounted in a saddle bag configuration to the outside face of the webs of the opposite side beams of the articulated unit, tucked underneath the reinforced roll formed top chord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventors: James W. Forbes, Richard C. Haight
  • Patent number: 6170682
    Abstract: The car under-frame of the invention comprises a planar coupling member 2 projecting from a first car C toward a second car B, a bearing inner ring 3 positioned on the upper side of planar coupling member 2 and secured rigidly thereto, a bearing outer ring 6 disposed on the outer peripheral side of bearing inner ring 3 through balls, a bearing step 5 positioned on the upper side of bearing outer ring 6 and to which the bearing outer ring is rigidly secured, and an articular coupling member 7 projecting from the second car B toward the first car C to grip a mounting arm 5b of bearing step 5. The mounting arm 5b of bearing step 5 is integral with a generally discoid body segment 5a and disposed below the top end face of body segment 5a and extending radially outwardly from either side of body segment 5a. In accordance with the invention there can be provided a under-frame structure which makes it possible to lower the car floor level without interfering with strength and coupler performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: The Rinki Sharyo Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sugimoto, Kozo Ueta, Yoshihiko Miura, Jun Kashima, Tomohide Saito, Toshitaka Funaki
  • Patent number: 6167814
    Abstract: The running stabilizing linkage system of the invention, which is applicable to the joints of a 3-coach articulate car essentially consisting of a front coach, a rear coach and an intermediate coach which is comparatively short, comprises a link holder 2 disposed rotatably about a vertical axis in the center in plan view of the intermediate coach, a pair of connecting rods 4, 4 each connected to the link holder through a bearing 7, with the connecting rods being supported rotatably about vertical axes in positions radially equi-spaced from the center of the link holder, and a pair of link brackets 3, 3 each disposed in the transverse center of the end of the front or near coach which is closer to the intermediate coach, with the other end of each connecting rod being connected rotatably about a vertical axis to the corresponding link bracket 3 through a bearing 8. This linkage prevents jolt of the car, particularly pitching of the intermediate coach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sugimoto, Kozo Ueta, Masanori Shinya
  • Patent number: 6167813
    Abstract: A tapered wear liner and articulated connector using such a tapered wear liner are disclosed. The tapered wear liner supports an annular bearing that supports the male connecting member of the articulated connector. The tapered wear liner has an outer surface that may be shaped as the frustum of a cone or the frustum of a sphere. The female connecting member has a complementary shaped groove to receive the tapered wear liner. The female connecting member has a bottom wall with a substantially uniform thickness from the wear liner to the exterior surface of the female connecting member. A main pin connects the male and female connecting members together and a center pin is integral with the main pin and connected to the railroad car truck. The present invention is useful with railroad car trucks that have concave curved center plate areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: AMSTED Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: Horst T. Kaufhold, John J. Steffen
  • Patent number: RE44517
    Abstract: A large-capacity vehicle is disclosed for transporting people, especially a rail vehicle. The vehicle includes carriages that are coupled by articulated connections, at least two of the carriages being respectively supported on a bogie or the undercarriage. All of the articulated connections enable the carriages to perform a turning movement about the vertical axis during cornering. For a vehicle that has more than three parts, at least one articulated connection is embodied in such a way that the vehicle can carry out pitching motions about the transversal axis in the event of dumping or tipping. One of the articulated connections includes a connection element that is embodied and connected to two carriages in such a way that pivoting and rolling motions can be carried out about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volker Albert, Paul Bernard, Dirk Schillings