US3399633A - Convertible rail-highway tractor - Google Patents

Convertible rail-highway tractor Download PDF

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Publication number
US3399633A
US3399633A US586057A US58605766A US3399633A US 3399633 A US3399633 A US 3399633A US 586057 A US586057 A US 586057A US 58605766 A US58605766 A US 58605766A US 3399633 A US3399633 A US 3399633A
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Prior art keywords
coupler
wheels
vehicle
tractor
frame
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US586057A
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English (en)
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Herscovitch William Howard
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UNILOKOMOTIVE Ltd 46/49 UPPER O'CONNELL ST DUBLIN
WILLIAM HOWARD HERSCOVITCH
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Herscovitch William Howard
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Assigned to HERSCOVITCH, URSULA HAWWELE INGEBORG A/K/A HARTMANN, URSULA HAWWELE INGEBORG GEB, SOLE EXECUTRIX OF THE LAST WILL OF WILLIAM HERSCOVITCH DEC'D. reassignment HERSCOVITCH, URSULA HAWWELE INGEBORG A/K/A HARTMANN, URSULA HAWWELE INGEBORG GEB, SOLE EXECUTRIX OF THE LAST WILL OF WILLIAM HERSCOVITCH DEC'D. LETTERS OF TESTAMENTARY (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE FEB. 24, 1982. Assignors: HERSCOVITCH, WILLIAM DEC'D.
Assigned to UNILOKOMOTIVE LIMITED 46/49 UPPER O'CONNELL ST., DUBLIN reassignment UNILOKOMOTIVE LIMITED 46/49 UPPER O'CONNELL ST., DUBLIN ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: HERSCOVITCH, URSULA H.I., EXECUTRIX OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM H. HERSCOVITCH, DEC'D.
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61J—SHIFTING OR SHUNTING OF RAIL VEHICLES
    • B61J3/00—Shunting or short-distance haulage devices; Similar devices for hauling trains on steep gradients or as starting aids; Car propelling devices therefor
    • B61J3/12—Self-propelled tractors or pushing vehicles, e.g. mules
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60F—VEHICLES FOR USE BOTH ON RAIL AND ON ROAD; AMPHIBIOUS OR LIKE VEHICLES; CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES
    • B60F1/00—Vehicles for use both on rail and on road; Conversions therefor
    • B60F1/04—Vehicles for use both on rail and on road; Conversions therefor with rail and road wheels on different axles
    • B60F1/043—Vehicles comprising own propelling units
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61C—LOCOMOTIVES; MOTOR RAILCARS
    • B61C9/00—Locomotives or motor railcars characterised by the type of transmission system used; Transmission systems specially adapted for locomotives or motor railcars
    • B61C9/08—Transmission systems in or for locomotives or motor railcars with IC reciprocating piston engines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61G—COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES
    • B61G7/00—Details or accessories
    • B61G7/10—Mounting of the couplings on the vehicle

Definitions

  • a rail vehicle having a longitudinally extending beam movably mounted thereon, said beam having coupler means mounted on the end thereof.
  • Jack means mounted on the frame of the rail vehicle move the beam vertically when the coupler means is coupled to a railway car, the beam and the coupler means thus effectively function as if same were rigidly secured to the railway car coupler.
  • the jack means permits a portion of the railway car weight to be distributed on the support wheels of the rail vehicle.
  • Connection means between the beam and the frame permit the pushing or pulling force to be transmitted to the frame at an elevation substantially below the level of the coupler means whereby the overturning moment applied to the rail vehicle is minimized.
  • the invention relates to a rail tractor or locomotive primarily for spotting or shunting railway cars in railway goods yards, and more particularly to a device which is operable on or off rails.
  • Cars as used through the specification is intended to mean any railway rolling stock suitable for the transportation of goods or passengers.
  • a rail tractor comprising at least two sets of driving wheels mounted on a chassis, means for driving the wheels, a beam mounted to extend lengthwise of the chassis and pivotally secured to the chassis at a position within the wheel base of the tractor and in the vicinity of the plane of the axles of the driving wheels the beam being capable of limited vertical movement relatively to the chassis, jack means mounted in the chassis and capable of raising the beam away from the chassis, the jack means being positioned susbtantially centrally of the wheel base of the tractor, and an automatic coupler head secured to one end of the beam and extending outside the wheel base of the tractor.
  • a further construction of the invention involves a simple yet effective way of temporarily-for the duration of the traction operation-lengthening the automatic coupler assembly of the rail car and to affect the required coupler and weight transfer at an increased distance from the end of the railcar.
  • a railway traction vehicle having a coupler head rigidly secured to a shank, the free end of the shank being pivotally secured to the vehicle chassis substantially centrally of the wheel base of the vehicle and adapted for vertical movement relative to the chassis, and jack means for raising and lowering the shank and coupler head.
  • the driving wheels of the tractor may have retractable guide wheels which serve as flanges mounted adjacent the driving wheels to permit removal of the tractor from the rails if desired.
  • the tractor of the invention may be provided with more than two sets of driving wheels, the sets of driving wheels at the end of the tractor remote from the steering wheel being provided on a common bogie.
  • the set of driving wheels adjacent the steering wheel, and the innermost set of driving wheels on the bogie are provided with flanges and the other set of driving wheels is not provided with flanges.
  • the steering wheel or wheels are capable of raising the front end of the vehicle to an angle such that the tractor rests on the unflanged driving wheels and the steering wheels, the flanged driving Wheels being clear of the ground.
  • the tractor may be provided with an A.A.R. type automatic close coupler having a lifting plate secured underneath for use with close coupled cars.
  • FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of a road/ rail tractor according to the invention, but with the coupler removed;
  • FIGURE 2 is a corresponding fragmentary side elevation showing a guide wheel and the actuating mechanism therefor;
  • FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the tractor illustrated in FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 4 is an end view of the tractor illustrated in FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 5 is a side view of part of the tractor shown in FIGURES 1 to 4, showing the automatic close coupler.
  • FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of a traction vehicle according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 7 is a plane view of part of the vehicle shown in FIGURE 6;
  • FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of another construction of rail traction vehicle according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 9 is a side elevation of a still further form of rail traction vehicle according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 10 is a side elevation of a yet further form of rail traction vehicle according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 11 is a side elevation of a further form of traction vehicle according to the invention.
  • a road/rail tractor comprises a rectangular chassis comprising a pair of side members 1, 2 and a pair of end members 3, 4, all of which are steel channel-section girders.
  • the pair of driving wheels 9 and 10 are each provided with a steel flange 7 and 8 respectively whereby the Wheels are adapted to run on rails.
  • the pair of driving wheels 5 and 6 are each provided with a guide wheel 11 and 12 respectively, the guide wheels being retractable so that when the guide wheels are in their lowermost position, they serve as flanges whereby the driving wheels 5, 6 are capable of running on rails.
  • both pairs of driving wheels 5, 6 and 9 are provided with solid synthetic or natural rubber tires 19.
  • the mechanism for raising and lowering the guide wheels comprises an hydraulic jack 26 pivotally mounted at 13 to the chassis, the pistonrod 15 of the jack being pivotally secured at 16 to one arm 14 of a bell-crank 17.
  • the other arm 18 of the bell-crank is provided at its free end with a pivotally mounted guide wheel 11 or 12.
  • the steering wheels are extendable by means of an hydraulic jack to raise the flanged driving wheels 9 and 10 clear of the ground.
  • the function of the steering wheels is, in conjunction with a lift and turn footing described below, to permit stepping on, off and over the rails up to any height required in practice.
  • the steerable wheels 27 are pivoted in order to steer the tractor when it is in use on a road by means of a hand wheel 28 which operates through a linkage 29, 30 and 31 and through a hydrostatic system whereby the effort applied by the operator to the hand wheel is magnified.
  • Reference numeral 35 designates a prime mover, in this case a horizontally opposed four cylinder internal combustion engine of 1200 cc. capacity, which drives a differential 34 through a clutch mechanism and a gear box 33 which may for example be provided with three forward and three reverse gears.
  • the gear box 33 is provided with a pair of power output shafts 36 and 37, the free ends of which serve to drive pairs of sprockets 40, 41 and 42, 43 respectively.
  • These sprockets in association with corresponding sprockets 44, 45 and 46, 47 and by means of chains 48, 49 and 50, 51 serve to drive the drive wheels 5, 6 and 9, 10.
  • the prime mover 35 is also effective to drive an hydraulic pump 55 which may for example be a vane pump or a swash-plate pump.
  • the pump 55 provides the power necessary for the various jacks employed by the tractor for raising the cross-beam, lowering the guide wheels, actuating the steering Wheels etc.
  • a lift footing 56 which in FIGURE 1 is shown in its retracted position.
  • the lift footing 56 is extendable by means of an hydraulic jack so that in its extended position it lifts the tractor clear of the ground.
  • the tractor When the tractor is clear of the ground it may be pivoted on the lift footing either manually or by power means, for the purpose hereinafter described.
  • the tractor may also be provided with a seat 60 for the operator and a roof 61 to provide some degree of protection from the weather. It will :be appreciated however that it would be a relatively simple matter to provide an enclosed cab for the operator should operating conditions so demand.
  • the tractor may also be provided with a sand receptacle 62 which, by means of pipes 63 and 64, is adapted to spray sand under the wheels in order to obtain increased traction if necessary.
  • the tractor will normally be used on rails for shunting or spotting railcars in a goods siding.
  • an automatic coupling device is provided on the tractor whereby it may be coupled to railcars.
  • the automatic coupler 65 which may be of known kind, is provided with an additional plate 66 which engages the underside of the railcar coupler when the railcar and tractor are coupled whe y p ration of a jack 24 on which the coupler is mounted to raise the coupler 65 is effective to transfer part of the weight of the railcar to the tractor.
  • a handle 67 is provided whereby a locked coupling can be disengaged from the driving seat of the tractor.
  • Ballast may be carried on the tractor in order to increase the tractive adhesion of the tractor, but if rubber tires are employed, as is preferred, this usually is not necessary.
  • the lift footing 56 is first extended to lift the tractor clear of the rails and the tractor is turned on the lift footing 56 so that it lies at right-angles to the rails.
  • the steerable wheels 27 are then lowered and the lift footing 56 retracted so that the tractor rests on the ground with the first pair of driving wheels 5, 6 outside the rails, the flanged driving wheels 9, 10 raised from the ground and the steering wheels 27 on the opposite side of the rails.
  • the tractor is then backed, that is to say driven in a direction with the steerable wheels 27 trailing, until the steerable wheels 27 rest against the outside of one rail.
  • the steering wheels 27 are then retracted and the tractor backed further until the flanged driving wheels 9, 10 contact the inside of the other rail.
  • the steerable wheels 27 are again extended and the tractor backed still further until the steerable wheels 27 contact the inside of the said other rail.
  • the steerable wheels 27 are again retracted and the tractor is backed away from the rails on its four driving wheels 5, 6 and 9, 10.
  • the steerable wheels 27 can then be extended once more so that the tractor can be steered and used as a road tractor.
  • the tractor may be provided with a pair of pallet forks, preferably pivotally secured to the chassis adjacent the steerable wheels 27. The forks can then be folded upward when not in use.
  • the tractor may also be provided with brakes, preferably hydraulically operated, and preferably of substantial size. It will be appreciated that these brakes usually provide the entire retarding force, disregarding friction, when shunting a train of rail cars, as it is unusual for rail car vacuum brakes to be coupled-up when the cars are in a goods siding.
  • FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawings it can be seen that a traction vehicle of the same general lay-out as that described with reference to FIGURES 1 to 5 is fitted with a standard automatic coupler head 65 with a shelf 66 at the bottom of the jaw 68. In some cases the shelf may be omitted.
  • a shank 69 which is hinged at 70 to the coupler head in a manner to permit the required angular movement of the head for travelling through curves (13 15).
  • the shank ends with a horizontal plate 71 with a drilled hole or slot 72 in the centre.
  • the coupler and shank assembly floats on a coil or bar spring 73 of adequate stiffness to support the whole assembly at standard coupler height yet to permit free three dimensional movement of the assembly without transferring any appreciable loads to the traction vehicle to which the other end of the spring is attached.
  • the spring also acts as a centering device for the coupler.
  • a hydraulic cylinder 74 of adequate force is rigidly mounted onto the traction vehicle frame.
  • the shank ends with the above-mentioned horizontal plate 71 with a drilled hole.
  • a shaft or pin 75 of adequate strength to transfer all the horizontal loads due to traction and braking efforts without causing permanent deformation to the shaft.
  • the shaft is rigidly attached to a frame member 76 in the middle or close to the middle of the traction vehicle, between the front and rear axles of the traction vehicle.
  • the said shaft is curved to a radius R corresponding the distance of the coupler line and the centreline of the drilled hole in the horizontal plate.
  • the traction vehicle approaches the railcar and the two automatic coupler heads lock in the normal manner.
  • the hydraulic cylinder which has a swivel jointed head 77 is raised so as to lock the two coupler heads together.
  • the hydraulic cylinder is dimensioned so as to exert the desired vertical load on the coupler shank and this load reacts back on the traction vehicle frame and wheels giving the required additional adhesive loading.
  • a suitably dimensioned gas-filled hydraulic accumulator should be placed under the piston of the hydraulic cylinder.
  • the traction forces being transferred to the end of the above-mentioned rigid assembly of couplers also act at the centreline of the said shaft and therefore considerably nearer to the middle of the traction vehicle.
  • the resultant over-turning moment acting on the traction vehicle are in this case approximately equal for both directions of travel whereas in the normal and hitherto known vehicles in which the coupling is provided at the rear, the overturning moment when pulling imposes a severe limitation on the tractive effort which can be applied without lifting the front wheels off the rails.
  • This construction provides a floating coupler assembly for railway vehicles which although part of the traction vehicle itself, is so attached and operated that on coupling it to the railcar coupler and by applying a force in a vertical direction under the assembly, it becomes temporarily a rigid part of the railcar permitting more advantageous coupling and weight transfer from the railcar to the traction vehicle.
  • a lateral guide frame 78 is firmly attached to the main frame. This is of sufficient height to restrain undue lateral movement of the shank for the full vertical displacement of the shank.
  • the lifting cylinder is mounted on the frame either rigidly as described above but in this case provision must be made for a free longitudinal sliding movement at the top end between the shank and the piston rod (in order to avoid bending stresses on the cylinder piston rod), or alternatively and preferably the cylinder is mounted with one and preferably both ends on a swivel joint.
  • the coil spring although it could be fitted under any point behind the coupler head, is preferably placed under the coupler head and forward of the swivel pin so that in addition to its main function to provide a three dimensionally elastic support for the whole coupler assembly it simultaneously performs the task of centering the coupler head.
  • the horizontal forces should be applied to the traction vehicle at a very small distance above the rails-preferably midway between the axles. In this manner no overturning moment due to the reaction the horizontal forces can occur in the traction vehicle.
  • This has the important advantage of permitting a constant and unvarying load distribution over the front and rear axles and wheels so that no variation in performance can occur when pulling or pushing even if the position of attack of these horizontal forces is at one end rather than in the middle of the traction vehicle.
  • the described invention of the floating coupler assembly which becomes with its extension shank a rigid extension of the railcar, permits the extension to be curved, downwards, or the described horizontal plate with the drilled hole (for the transfer of the horizontal forces to the frame of the railcar) can be welded at a desired point below the centreline of the coupler assembly. Thereby the forces will be transferred at that lower point. In this manner the overturning moments can, at will, either be reduced to a desired minimum or completely eliminated.
  • FIG- URES 8 to 11 will prove advantageous when applied to short wheel base locomotives in the 10 to 25 tons range since the additional 15 to 20 tons adhesive load transferred from the railcar would add between 80 to 200% to the traction capacity to the locomotive, by increasing the adhesive weight thereof.
  • FIGURE 8 there is shown a rail traction vehicle of the same general lay-out as described with reference to FIGURES l to 5.
  • An automatic coupler head 65 which is preferably of the P type, which is provided with a shelf, is rigidly secured to a beam 69 by means of a swivel pin 70 which allows the standard horizontal limited pivotal movement in order that the vehicle may negotiate curves. From the undersurface of the beam 69 extends an arm 80, the free end 81 of which is secured to the chassis of the tractor for limited vertical and horizontal movement on a pin 82 mounted on the chassis.
  • the coupler head and beam assembly float, when in an uncoupled condition, on coil springs 73 at standard coupler height.
  • a vertical jack 74 Mounted on the vehicle chassis substantially midway between the rail wheels of the vehicle is a vertical jack 74, the free end of the piston rod of which carries a roller 83 which bears on the undersurface of the beam 69 so as to raise the beam when it is coupled to a rail vehicle so as to transfer weight from the railcar to the traction vehicle.
  • FIGURE 9 there is shown a rail traction vehicle generally similar to that shown in FIGURE 8 with the exception that two hydraulic cylinders 74a and 74b are provided which are trunnion mounted at 85 and 86 respectively to the vehicle chassis with their respective piston rods 87 at an angle to one another, the free ends of the piston rods being pivotally secured to a common member 88 provided with a roller 89.
  • the roller 89 bears against the undersurface of the beam 69 so as to force the beam upwardly when the piston rods are extended.
  • the downwardly acting force due to the weight of the coupled railcar acts substantially centrally of the wheel base of the traction vehicle.
  • FIGURE 10 there is shown a short wheel base industrial locomotive provided with a weight transfer system according to the invention, comprising a pair of automatic coupler heads 65 positioned one at each end of the locomotive, each coupler head being secured to a horizontal beam 69 which extends longitudinally of the vehicle.
  • the inner ends of the beams 69 meet at a midposition of the wheel base of the locomotive and are pivotally secured at 90 to a vertically extending jack 74 which is adapted to force the beams 69 upwardly.
  • a downwardly extending arm 80 Secured to each of the beams 69 is a downwardly extending arm 80, the lOWer end of which is pivotally secured for limited vertical movement to the locomotive chassis at a position below the centreline of the rail wheels by means of pins 82.
  • the beams are supported in their non-loaded position by means of coil springs 73.
  • FIGURE 10 could be modified so that each beam has its own jack. In this manner both couplers can be used independently of each other.
  • FIGURE 11 there is shown a road/ rail tractor of the same general kind as that described with reference to FIGURES l to of the drawings.
  • an automatic coupler head 65 is secured, by means of a pin 70, to a beam 69 to which is secured a downwardly extending arm 80 provided with a longitudinally extending slot 95.
  • a guide-member or pin '96 is mounted in the slot and the ends of the pin are secured to the chassis of the tractor.
  • the member 96 serves to absorb horizontal loads due to pushing or pulling a railcar.
  • a stop member 97 Secured to the arm 80 is a stop member 97 which in the lower most position of the movement of the beam abuts the bottom of a groove 98 of a member 99 secured to the chassis of the tractor.
  • a pair of tension springs 100 the ends of which are secured respectively to the coupler head and to a casing 101 surrounding the jack 74, constantly urge the beam into a rest position. If desired further springs may be provided either below or above the beam so that beam is held in the correct horizontal position when the coupler head is not coupled to a car coupler. Alternatively guide members may be provided to steady the beam until it is coupled.
  • a rail vehi le capable of partially supporting and capable of moving a second vehicle, comprising:
  • a first pair of wheels mounted on said frame, said wheels being adapted to rollingly engage a pair of parallel rails;
  • a second pair of wheels mounted on said frame, said wheels being adapted to rollingly engage said pair of rails;
  • beam means movably mounted on said frame and extending lengthwise thereof;
  • connection means interconnecting said beam means to said frame for permitting vertical movement of said beam means relative to said frame;
  • coupler means secured to said beam means adjacent one end thereof, said coupler means being adapted to interconnect with a coupler on said second vehicle for pushing or pulling same;
  • connection means including a first portion rigidly secured to said beam means coacting with a second portion rigidly secured to said frame for transmitting the pushing or pulling force applied to said coupler means to said frame, said second portion being positioned adjacent the lower portion of said frame whereby the connection means transfers the pushing or pulling force to said frame at an elevation substantially below the level of said coupler means, thereby minimizing the overturning moment applied to said rail vehicle when pushing or pulling said second vehicle.
  • connection means floatably mounts said beam means on said frame for permitting the entire beam means to be both linearly and angularly moved within a vertical plane relative to said frame;
  • connection means includes pin-and-slot means coacting between said beam means and said frame for permitting vertical movement of said beam means relative to said frame.
  • said jack means is mounted on said frame substantially midway between said first and second pairs of wheels, actuation of said jack means for raising said beam means causing a portion of the weight of said second vehicle to be transferred onto said beam means and through said jack means to said frame, whereby the portion of the weight of said second vehicle is substantially uniformly distributed on each of said wheels.
  • said beam means comprises a first substantially horizontal portion and a second downwardly extending portion fixedly secured to said first horizontal portion;
  • connection means being rigidly secured to the lower end of the second portion of said beam means
  • connection means including a pin fixedly secured to one of said first and second portions of said connection means and a slot formed in the other of said first and second portions of said connection means, said pin being slideably received within said slot whereby said connection means permits said beam means to be vertically moved relative to said frame;
  • resilient means coacting between said beam means and said frame for supporting the beam means and the coupler means and for urging the beam means and the coupler means into a coupling position.
  • second coupler means mounted adjacent one end of second beam means with said second coupler means being mounted adjacent one end of said rail vehicle and said first-mentioned coupler means being mounted adjacent the other end of said rail vehicle;
  • connection means interconnecting said second beam means to said frame for permitting vertical movement of said second beam means relative to said frame
  • said jack means being mounted on said frame centrally between said pair of wheels and being operatively connected with said second beam means for vertically moving same;
  • said second connection means transferring the pushing or pulling force applied to said second coupler means to said frame at an elevation substantially below the level of said second coupler means.
  • said jack means includes a pair of fluid-actuated power cylinders, each of said power cylinders being pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said frame;
  • said power cylinders being positioned at an angle to one another whereby the roller on said connecting member is maintained in contact with the undersurface of said beam means.
  • said coupler means is mounted adjacent one end of said first beam portion for pivotable movement in a substantially horizontal plane;
  • said resilient means including spring means operably coacting between said frame and said one end of said first beam portion for maintaining said coupler means in a centered position;
  • said jack means is positioned adjacent the other end of said first beam portion for raising said beam means relative to said frame, said jack means being mounted on said frame substantially centrally of said wheels.
  • a rail vehicle as defined in claim 1 further includa third pair of steerable and rotatable wheels, said wheel's being adapted to rollingly engage the ground; means mounting said third pair of wheels on said frame for vertical movement with respect thereto between an upper position above a plane defined by the lowermost points on said first and second pair of wheels, and a lower position wherein said third pair of wheels extends below said plane; and
  • lift means mounted on said frame and having a pivotable support member vertically movable between a first position above said plane and a second position below said plane for supporting the entire vehicle spaced from the ground for permitting the rail vehicle to pivot in a substantially horizontal plane.
  • connection means fioatably mounts said beam means on said frame for permitting the entire beam means to be both linearly and angularly moved in a vertical plane relative to said frame;
  • connection means includes a pin-and-slot means coacting between said means and said frame for permitting vertical movement of said beam means relative to said frame.
  • said beam means comprises a first substantially horizontal portion and a second downwardly extending portion fixedly secured to said first horizontal portion;
  • connection means being rigidly secured to the lower end of the second portion of said beam means
  • connection means including a pin fixedly secured to one of said first and second portions of said connection means and a slot formed in the other of said first and second portions of said connection means, said pin being slideably received within said slot whereby said connection means permits said beam means to be vertically moved relative to said frame;
  • said jack means causing a portion of the weight of said second vehicle to be transferred to said rail vehicle, said jack means being positioned on said frame so that the portion of the weight of the second vehicle is substantially uniformly distributed on each of said wheels.
  • said vehicle is supported only on said first and second pairs of wheels when in rolling engagement with said rails and is supported only on said first and third pairs of wheels when in rolling engagement with the ground.
  • a rail vehicle capable of partially supporting and capable of moving a second vehicle, comprising:
  • a first pair of wheels mounted on said frame, said wheels being adapted to rollingly engage a pair of parallel rails;
  • a second pair of wheels mounted on said frame, said wheels being adapted to rollingly engage said pair of rails;
  • beam means movably mounted on said frame and extending lengthwise thereof;
  • coupler means mounted to said beam means adjacent one end thereof, said coupler means being adapted to interconnect with a coupler on the second vehicle for pushing or pulling same;
  • connection means floatably supporting and interconnecting said beam means to said frame for permitting vertical movement of said entire beam means relative to said frame, said connection means also permitting angular movement of said beam means in a substantially vertical plane relative to said frame;
  • jack means mounted on said frame and operably connected with said beam means for vertically moving same for permitting a portion of the weight of the second vehicle to be transferred to said rail vehicle.
  • said jack means is mounted on said frame substantially midway between said first and second pairs of wheels, the portion of the weight of said second vehicle transferred to the rail vehicle being transmitted through the jack means to said frame whereby same is substantially uniformly distributed on each of said wheels.
  • connection means includes a pin-and-slot means interconnecting said beam means to said frame for transferring the pushing or pulling force applied to the coupler means therethrough to said frame, said slot extending in a substantial vertical direction with said pin being movable relative to said slot in a substantially vertical direction for permitting both linear and angular movement of said beam means in a substantially vertical plane.

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US586057A 1965-10-20 1966-10-12 Convertible rail-highway tractor Expired - Lifetime US3399633A (en)

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GB4448165 1965-10-20
GB1134266 1966-03-15
GB2848166 1966-06-24
GB2947866 1966-06-30

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3633514A (en) * 1969-12-08 1972-01-11 Cleaner Container Corp Convertible rail-highway tractor
US3709153A (en) * 1969-05-07 1973-01-09 W Herscovitch Convertible rail-highway traction vehicle
US3839964A (en) * 1969-11-04 1974-10-08 Matra Engins Installation for transportation by trains made of different types of carriages
US3884156A (en) * 1974-01-28 1975-05-20 Whiting Corp Automatically traction effort controlled convertible rail-highway tractor
US3892187A (en) * 1974-08-09 1975-07-01 Jr Eugene B White Rail traction vehicle
US4067259A (en) * 1975-01-28 1978-01-10 Whiting Corporation Convertible rail-highway traction vehicle
US4497259A (en) * 1983-01-07 1985-02-05 Titterton John D Convertible freight car
US5168815A (en) * 1991-07-31 1992-12-08 Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. Railroad car moving vehicle
US20070295238A1 (en) * 2006-05-29 2007-12-27 Wolfgang Zappel Rail car shunting device for road-rail operation
ITBO20080782A1 (it) * 2008-12-30 2010-06-30 Zephir S P A Veicolo del tipo "strada-rotaia" per la movimentazione di materiale rotabile.

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1043632A (en) * 1975-02-24 1978-12-05 Whiting Corporation Rail traction vehicle
NL9301059A (nl) * 1993-06-17 1995-01-16 Hollandia Ind Mij Nv Transportinrichting en werkwijze voor containertransport.

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US1881045A (en) * 1930-01-20 1932-10-04 Albert J Chapin Rolling stock
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US2721522A (en) * 1953-09-23 1955-10-25 Whiting Corp Rail vehicle coupler
US3108513A (en) * 1960-03-19 1963-10-29 Toyo Kogyo Company Ltd Rail wheel locking mechanism
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US3182604A (en) * 1962-12-13 1965-05-11 Nordberg Manufacturing Co Set-off device and method for railway machines
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US3249007A (en) * 1964-03-26 1966-05-03 Honeywell Inc Automatic focusing photographic projector

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US1863575A (en) * 1929-01-29 1932-06-21 Karrier Motors Ltd Road and rail transport
US1881045A (en) * 1930-01-20 1932-10-04 Albert J Chapin Rolling stock
US2718197A (en) * 1950-11-24 1955-09-20 Whiting Corp Traction vehicle having rail wheels and road wheels
US2721522A (en) * 1953-09-23 1955-10-25 Whiting Corp Rail vehicle coupler
US3130686A (en) * 1959-10-08 1964-04-28 Rene A Fiechter Convertible road and railway track vehicle
US3108513A (en) * 1960-03-19 1963-10-29 Toyo Kogyo Company Ltd Rail wheel locking mechanism
US3182604A (en) * 1962-12-13 1965-05-11 Nordberg Manufacturing Co Set-off device and method for railway machines
US3198137A (en) * 1963-02-07 1965-08-03 Whiting Corp Traction vehicle
US3249007A (en) * 1964-03-26 1966-05-03 Honeywell Inc Automatic focusing photographic projector

Cited By (12)

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US3709153A (en) * 1969-05-07 1973-01-09 W Herscovitch Convertible rail-highway traction vehicle
US3839964A (en) * 1969-11-04 1974-10-08 Matra Engins Installation for transportation by trains made of different types of carriages
US3633514A (en) * 1969-12-08 1972-01-11 Cleaner Container Corp Convertible rail-highway tractor
US3884156A (en) * 1974-01-28 1975-05-20 Whiting Corp Automatically traction effort controlled convertible rail-highway tractor
US4155309A (en) * 1974-01-28 1979-05-22 Whiting Corporation Convertible rail-highway traction vehicle control cab
US3892187A (en) * 1974-08-09 1975-07-01 Jr Eugene B White Rail traction vehicle
US4067259A (en) * 1975-01-28 1978-01-10 Whiting Corporation Convertible rail-highway traction vehicle
US4497259A (en) * 1983-01-07 1985-02-05 Titterton John D Convertible freight car
US5168815A (en) * 1991-07-31 1992-12-08 Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. Railroad car moving vehicle
US20070295238A1 (en) * 2006-05-29 2007-12-27 Wolfgang Zappel Rail car shunting device for road-rail operation
US7640865B2 (en) * 2006-05-29 2010-01-05 Wolfgang Zappel Rail car shunting device for road-rail operation
ITBO20080782A1 (it) * 2008-12-30 2010-06-30 Zephir S P A Veicolo del tipo "strada-rotaia" per la movimentazione di materiale rotabile.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1605068C3 (de) 1975-10-23
DE1605068B2 (de) 1975-03-13
DE1605068A1 (de) 1970-07-16
FR1506434A (fr) 1967-12-22

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