IL267832B2

IL267832B2 - Train wagon car carrier adapted for forklift lifting

Info

Publication number: IL267832B2
Application number: IL267832A
Authority: IL
Inventors: Fridenson David
Original assignee: Fridenson Logistics services Ltd; Fridenson David
Priority date: 2019-07-03
Filing date: 2019-07-03
Publication date: 2023-05-01
Also published as: IL267832A; IL267832B1

Description

1TRAIN WAGON CAR CARRIER ADAPTED FOR FORKLIFT LIFTING BACKGROUNDThe present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a car carrier, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a car carrier adapted to be lifted to and from a railroad car with a crane or forklift.Mated twist locks and corner castings have become standard in the shipping industry as devices for securing shipping containers onto trucks, trains, or shipping boats. FIGS. 9A-9D depict a schematic illustration of how a twist lock may be used to attach a shipping container to a vehicle. In FIG. 9A, twist lock 1 is inserted into an upper hole of corner casting 2. Corner casting 2 may be attached, for example, to a flat car of a train, a truck chassis, a cargo ship, or a shipping container. In FIG. 9B, the body of the twist lock 1 is rotated approximately 30 degrees. In FIG. 9C, another corner casting 3 is positioned and lowered onto the twist lock 1. Corner casting may be attached to, for example, a shipping container or a crane. In FIG. 9D, handle of the twist lock is rotated in order to lock the two corner castings 2, 3, together. Handle 4 may be locked by hand, by an actuator pole, or by an automated mechanism.A typical mechanism for transporting vehicles internationally is to load the vehicles into a shipping container, and attach the shipping container to a cargo ship in the manner described above. When the cargo ship is unloaded, a crane removes the shipping container from the cargo ship. The vehicles are then removed from the shipping container and placed onto a different shipping container for purposes of ground transportation. For example, the vehicles may be loaded onto a rail car with a rack structure.SUMMARYThe above-described mechanism has deficiencies, in that it requires unloading and reloading the vehicles from the shipping container to the rail car. This unloading and reloading is time-consuming and inefficient. In addition, space may be limited at some shipping ports, and the unloading and reloading of vehicles may require a dedicated staging area. In addition, shipping ports often include one or more railroad lines for freight trains that permit the shipping containers to be unloaded directly from a cargo ship to a freight train. It would be advantageous to be able to unload vehicles directly from a cargo ship to a freight train in this manner. 2It is an objective of this invention to devise a new container structure for transporting vehicles between cargo ships and freight trains that avoids the abovedescribed drawbacks. It is a further objective of this invention to devise a container structure that can easily be transported between a crane and a freight train while loaded with vehicles.According to a first aspect, a container structure is adapted to be loaded and unloaded from a railroad car with a crane. The container structure comprises a body comprising at least two side walls, a floor for supporting a first series of vehicles in end-to-end relation longitudinally within the body; at least one adjustable deck mounted within the body, and configured to support a second series of vehicles above the first series of vehicles in end-to-end relation longitudinally within the body. The container structure further comprises a first set of corner castings set above the body, and a second set of corner castings set below the body. Advantageously, the first set of corner castings may be attached with twist locks to the crane, and the second set of corner castings may be attached with twist locks to the railroad car, thereby allowing for efficient transport of the vehicles, and without requiring unloading of the vehicles from a shipping container and reloading them onto the railroad car.In another implementation according to the first aspect, the first set of corner castings comprises four corner castings. Advantageously, the four corner castings may be used to securely attach the container structure to a crane.In another implementation according to the first aspect, the second set of corner castings comprises between four and eight corner castings. Advantageously, the four to eight corner castings may be used to securely attach the container structure to a railroad car.In another implementation according to the first aspect, the first and second sets of corner castings are vertically aligned, such that a plurality of container cars are stackable one atop the other and are lockable with each other. Advantageously, the plurality of container cars may thus be transported in a stacked fashion on a cargo ship or on a train.In another implementation according to the first aspect, the at least two side walls each comprise at least two vertical supports, and the respective at least two vertical supports of each side wall are arranged parallel to each other, such that the at least four vertical supports define vertices of a rectangle. Advantageously, the container structure may thus be securely attached to a crane or another container structure positioned above the container structure.In another implementation according to the first aspect, the respective at least two vertical supports of each side wall are configured between 4 and 6 meters apart. Advantageously, this configuration allows for the vertical supports to provide appropriate support and structure to the container structure to be dimensioned appropriately for a standard freight car.In another implementation according to the first aspect, the body is configured such that the container structure can be loaded onto the railroad car or unloaded from the railroad car when loaded with vehicles. Advantageously, this configuration permits for efficient transportation of vehicles when loaded on the container structure, without requiring unloading of the vehicles.In another implementation according to the first aspect, the body is approximately 18 meters long. Advantageously, this length corresponds to a standard length of a flat car or a well car.In another implementation according to the first aspect, a container structure system comprises a first container structure and at least one railroad car, wherein the second set of corner castings of the first container structure is mated with twist locks to said at least one railroad car. Advantageously, the container structure system may thus be included in a freight train.In another implementation according to the first aspect, a second container structure is arranged longitudinally with the first container structure, wherein the second set of corner castings of the second container structure is mated with twist locks to said at least one railroad car or a second railroad car. Advantageously, more than one container structure may thus be included on a single railroad car or a single train.In another implementation according to the first aspect, a third container structure is stacked on the first container structure, wherein the second set of corner castings of the third container structure is mated with twist locks to the first set of corner castings of the first container structure. Advantageously, more than one container structure may thus be included on a single railroad car.According to a second aspect, a method comprises affixing a plurality of corner castings onto a container structure. The container structure comprises a body 4comprising at least two side walls, a floor for supporting a first series of vehicles in end-to-end relation longitudinally within the body; and at least one adjustable deck mounted within the body, and configured to support a second series of vehicles above the first series of vehicles in end-to-end relation longitudinally within the body. The affixing step comprises affixing a first set of corner castings set above the body, and a second set of corner castings set below the body. Advantageously, the first set of corner castings may be attached with twist locks to the crane, and the second set of corner castings may be attached with twist locks to the railroad car, thereby allowing for efficient transport of the vehicles, and without requiring unloading of the vehicles from a shipping container and reloading them onto the railroad car.In another implementation according to the second aspect, the method comprises loading the container structure onto a railroad car and mating the second set of corner castings to the railroad car with twist locks. Advantageously, the container structure may thus be transported on the railroad car.In another implementation according to the second aspect, the loading step is performed when the container structure is loaded with vehicles. Advantageously, the method thus allows for efficient transportation of vehicles when loaded on the container structure, without requiring unloading of the vehicles.Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:FIG. 1 is an upper side perspective view of a container structure, according to embodiments of the invention;FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the container structure of FIG. 1, according to embodiments of the invention;FIG. 3 is a side view of the container structure of FIG. 1, according to embodiments of the invention;FIG. 4 is a top view of the container structure of FIG. 1, according to embodiments of the invention;FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of a portion of the container structure of FIG. 1;FIG. 6 is a side view of a container structure system including the container structure of FIG. 1 and a train car;FIG. 7 is a side view of a container structure system including two of the container structure systems of FIG. 6 attached to each other;FIG. 8 is an upper side perspective view of the container structure system of FIG. 7; andFIGs. 9A-9D are schematic illustrations of the mechanism of attaching a shipping container to a vehicle with twist locks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a car carrier, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a car carrier adapted to be lifted to and from a railroad car with a crane or forklift.Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.Referring to FIGS. 1-5, container structure 10 includes body 11. Body 11, in the depicted embodiment, consists of central section 12 and outer sections 14. Lower 6deck 16 and upper deck 18 extend across the length of the body 11. Body 11 may comprise any number of materials, including but not limited to steel. .Lower deck 16 is a floor that is configured to support a first series of vehicles in end-to-end relation longitudinally within the body 11. As used in this disclosure, a vehicle refers to any form of automobile, including, without limitation, a compact car, mid-size car, full-size car, coupe, sedan, convertible, sport-utility vehicle, crossover sport-utility vehicle, station wagon, town car, or sports car. Lower deck 16 is fixed across the entire body 11. Lower deck 16 is comprised of tracks 20, horizontal supports 36 between central section 12 and outer sections 14, and horizontal supports between tracks 20. Ramps 22 are for loading vehicles onto lower deck 16.Upper deck 18 is likewise comprised of tracks 24, and horizontal supports between central section 12 and outer sections 14. Ramps 26 are for loading vehicles onto upper deck 18.Upper deck 18 is adjustable in the outer sections 14. Specifically, upper deck may be raised or lowered with hydraulic pistons 40 (seen in FIGS. 2 and 3). The hydraulic pistons 40 may lower the upper deck 18 to an inclined position when a second series of vehicles is loaded onto the upper deck 18. The second series of vehicles is configured in an end-to-end relation longitudinally within body 11. The hydraulic pistons 40 may raise the upper deck 18 to a raised, level position, so as to permit loading of vehicles onto lower deck 16, and for transporting the loaded container structure 10.While the illustrated embodiment depicts two decks 16, 18, alternative embodiments may include an intermediate third deck. The intermediate third deck may be fixed or removable, and may be inclinable using a similar mechanism as the upper deck. In addition, while the illustrated embodiment does not include a roof,In an embodiment, whether in a two-deck or in three-deck configuration, body complies with all requirements or standards of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Manual of Standard and Recommended Practices, provided by Specifications M-950-99 ("Universal Wide-Body Tri-Level Fully Enclosed Autorack Car (Low Deck)") or M-950-A-99 ("Universal Wide-Body Bi-Level Fully Enclosed Autorack Car (Standard Deck)").In an embodiment, lower deck 16 and upper deck 18 each include attachment devices for securing vehicles to the deck 16, 18, after they are loaded onto the container structure 10. For example, the decks 16, 18 may include tie-down or locking systems that may be used with the decks 16, 18, such as by being attached to the decks 16, 18, to secure vehicles thereon.Body 11 further includes two side walls 13 extending longitudinally along the entire length thereof. Each side wall 13 includes at least two vertical supports 28. The vertical supports 28 may be attached to the body 11 using conventional means such as end caps, connection plates, braces, bolts, rivets, or welding. Vertical supports 28 are arranged parallel to each other, such that the vertical supports define vertices of a rectangle. Advantageously, a rectangular arrangement of the vertical supports 28 provides for structural balance of the container structure 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical supports 28 are located at the junctures between central section 12 and outer sections 14. However, other configurations are equally feasible, as is known to those of skill in the art. Likewise, in the illustrated embodiment, there are exactly four vertical supports 28. However, there also may be more than four vertical supports 28.Side walls 13 also include outer vertical supports 30. Outer vertical supports are arranged parallel to each other, such that the outer vertical supports 30 define vertices of a rectangle. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer vertical supports are located at the junctures between outer sections 14 and ramps 22, 26. However, other configurations are possible, as is known to those of skill in the art. Likewise, in the illustrated embodiment, there are exactly four outer vertical supports 30. However, there may also be more than four outer vertical supports 30.Optionally, side walls 13 also include one or more ladders 34, which may be used to provide access to the upper deck 18 when the hydraulic pistons 40 have raised the upper deck 18 into the raised position.In an embodiment, the body 11 is about 18 meters long. Advantageously, this length corresponds to a typical length of a shipping container as well as a typical length of a rail car. In such embodiments, the length of each outer section 14 and central section 12 may be approximately 6 meters. The distance along the length of body 11 between each vertical support 28 may be between 4 and 6 meters.Body 11 may also include additional structures not shown in FIGs. 1-5. For example, in an embodiment, body 11 includes a roof. In another embodiment, body includes connecting anti-barrier panels attached to side walls 13. The anti-barrier panels may fill in the spaces between vertical supports 28, 30, and may serve to provide for strength requirements, to withstand the forces on the vertical supports 28, 30, as well as to provide security to container structure 10, so as to prevent entry or violations by those who are unauthorized to access the vehicles stored thereon.As indicated in FIG. 2, a first set of corner castings 46 is configured above the body 11, on top of the vertical supports 28. Corner castings 46 are each configured to be mated to a twist lock (not shown). The twist locks and corner castings 46 may be any suitable combination or configuration of twist lock and corner casting known to those of skill in the art. The twist locks and corner castings 46 may be used to attach container structure 10 to a crane, for example, in order to transport container structure to or from a cargo ship, or to or from a train car.As indicated in FIG.3 and FIG. 5, a second set of corner castings is configured below the body 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the second set of corner castings includes corner castings 42 configured at the bottom of vertical supports 28. Optionally, the second set of corner castings may also include corner castings configured at the bottom of vertical supports 30. Corner castings 42, 44 are each configured to be mated to a twist lock (not shown). The twist locks and corner castings 42, 44 may be any suitable combination or configuration of twist lock and corner casting known to those of skill in the art. The twist locks and corner castings 42, 44 may be used to attach container structure 10 to a train car or cargo ship configured underneath the container structure 10.FIG. 6 depicts a container structure system 100. Container structure system 100 includes a container structure 10 affixed to a railroad car 60. Railroad car includes wheels 62 for engaging a railroad track, illustrated here as rails 70. The container structure 10 is attached to the railroad car 60 using mated twist locks and corner castings, in the manner described above. Railroad car 60 may be of any configuration suitable for receiving a container structure 10, such as a flat car or a well car. For example, railroad car 60 may be seated on the surface of a flat car, or within the well of a well car.In one exemplary embodiment, container structure 10 may be loaded with vehicles, transported onto a cargo ship with a crane (attached to corner castings 46) or forklift, and attached to the cargo ship with corner castings 42, 44. The container structure 10 may then be unloaded from the cargo ship using a crane or forklift, and transported, while still loaded with vehicles, to a railroad car 60 of a freight train. The container structure 10 is then attached to the railroad car 60 using corner castings 42, 44. Advantageously, in such embodiments, the vehicles are efficiently transported directly from the cargo ship to the freight train, and it is not necessary to unload the vehicles from a shipping container and place them in a new vehicle carrier that is specially configured for a railroad car.FIGS. 7 and 8 depict a container structure system 200. Container structure system 200 includes two container structure systems 100 coupled together. In the illustrated embodiment, the railroad cars 60 of each container structure system 100 are coupled together. The railroad cars 60 may be coupled using any coupler known to those of skill in the art.In an alternative arrangement for including multiple container structures 10 on a train, multiple container structures 10 may be arranged longitudinally on the same railroad car 60. In still another alternative arrangement, two container structures may be stacked on a single rail car 70. In such embodiments, the upper and lower container structures 10 are connected to each other with twist locks. The second set of corner castings 42, 44 of the upper container structure 10 is mated to the first set of corner castings 46 of the lower container structure 10.It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from this application many twist locks and corner castings will be developed and the scope of the terms "twist lock" and "corner casting" is intended to include all such new technologies a priori.As used herein the term "about" refers to ± 10 %.The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", "having" and their conjugates mean "including but not limited to". This term encompasses the terms "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of".The phrase "consisting essentially of" means that the composition or method may include additional ingredients and/or steps, but only if the additional ingredients and/or steps do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition or method.As used herein, the singular form "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term "a compound" or "at least one compound" may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance or illustration". Any embodiment described as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments.The word "optionally" is used herein to mean "is provided in some embodiments and not provided in other embodiments". Any particular embodiment of the invention may include a plurality of "optional" features unless such features conflict.Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases "ranging/ranges between" a first indicate number and a second indicate number and "ranging/ranges from" a first indicate number "to" a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween.It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting.

Claims

1.267832/ WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A container structure adapted to be loaded and unloaded from a railroad car with a crane, comprising: a body comprising at least two side walls, a floor for supporting a first series of vehicles in end-to-end relation longitudinally within the body; at least one adjustable deck mounted within the body, and configured to support a second series of vehicles above the first series of vehicles in end-to-end relation longitudinally within the body, the body supported by at least two vertical supports, said at least two vertical supports disposed at junctures between a central section and each outer section of the body; a first set of corner castings set above the body disposed at the top of the at least two vertical supports; and a second set of corner castings set below the body disposed at the bottom of the at least two vertical supports, wherein the at least two vertical supports are arranged parallel to each other, such that the at least two vertical supports define vertices of a rectangle, there by providing for structural balance of the container structure.

2. The container structure of claim 1, wherein the first set of corner castings comprises four corner castings.

3. The container structure of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second set of corner castings comprises between 4 and 8 corner castings.

4. The container structure of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second sets of corner castings are vertically aligned, such that a plurality of container cars are stackable one atop the other and lockable with each other .

5. The container structure of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least two side walls each comprise said at least two vertical supports, and the respective at least two vertical supports of each side wall are arranged parallel to each other, such that the at least four vertical supports define vertices of a rectangle.

6. The container structure of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the respective said at least two vertical supports of each side wall are configured between 4 and 6 meters apart. 13 267832/

7. The container structure of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the body is configured such that the container structure can be loaded onto the railroad car or unloaded from the railroad car when loaded with vehicles.

8. The container structure of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the body is approximately 18 meters long.

9. A container structure system comprising a first container structure of any of claims 1 to 7, and at least one railroad car, wherein the second set of corner castings of the first container structure is mated with twist locks to said at least one railroad car.

10. The container structure system of claim 9, comprising a second container structure arranged longitudinally with the first container structure, wherein the second set of corner castings of the second container structure is mated with twist locks to said at least one railroad car or a second railroad car.

11. The container structure system of claim 9 or 10, further comprising a third container structure stacked on the first container structure, wherein the second set of corner castings of the third container structure is mated with twist locks to the first set of corner castings of the first container structure.

12. A method comprising: affixing a plurality of corner castings onto a container structure, wherein the container structure comprises a body comprising at least two side walls, a floor for supporting a first series of vehicles in end-to-end relation longitudinally within the body, the body supported by at least two vertical supports, said at least two vertical supports disposed at junctures between a central section and each outer section of the body; and at least one adjustable deck mounted within the body, and configured to support a second series of vehicles above the first series of vehicles in end-to-end relation longitudinally within the body; wherein the affixing step comprises affixing a first set of corner castings set above the body disposed at the top of the at least two vertical supports, and a second set of corner castings set below the body disposed at the bottom of the at least two vertical supports, 14 267832/ wherein the at least two vertical supports are arranged parallel to each other, such that the at least two vertical supports define vertices of a rectangle, there by providing for structural balance of the container structure.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising loading the container structure onto a railroad car and mating the second set of corner castings to the railroad car with twist locks.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising performing the loading step when the container structure is loaded with vehicles. Roy S. Melzer, Adv. Patent Attorney G.E. Ehrlich (1995) Ltd. 35 HaMasger Street, 13th Floor, Sky Building 6721407 Tel Aviv