Freight transportation system and components thereof

Claim 2

A freight transportation system comprising a railway car including longitudinally spaced-apart running gears having rail wheels, a longitudinally extending deck bridging said running gears and overlying said rail wheels for supporting both road semitrailers and containers on said deck, pairs of longitudinally extending end guide rails respectively mounted on said deck and laterally spaced-apart a distance so that the outer edges thereof are in position to guide the inner sides of the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, pairs of longitudinally extending center guide rails respectively mounted on said deck between said end guide rails with the outer edges of said center guide rails in alignment with the outer edges of said end guide rails and thereby spaced-apart a distance to guide the inner sides of the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the ends of said pairs of end guide rails disposed adjacent to the ends of said deck being spaced therefrom a first predetermined distance, the ends of the pairs of said center guide rails disposed toward each other being longitudinally spaced-apart a second preDetermined distance, the ends of said pairs of end guide rails and the ends of said pairs of center guide rails disposed toward each other being longitudinally spaced-apart a third predetermined distance, sets of end container bolsters respectively mountable in first and second positions in the spaces between the outer ends of said end guide rails and the adjacent end of said deck, each of said sets of end container bolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with the outer edges of said end guide rails substantially to span the distance between the outer ends of said end guide rails and the adjacent end of said deck and providing guide surfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of said sets of end container bolsters in the second positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon, sets of center container bolsters respectively mountable in first and second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pairs of said center guide rails, each of said sets of center container bolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with the outer edges of said guide rails substantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs of said center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of said sets of center bolsters in the second positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon, and sets of intermediate container bolsters respectively mountable in first and second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pairs of said end guide rails, each of said sets of intermediate container bolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with the outer edges of said guide rails substantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs of said end guide rails and said center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of said sets of intermediate container bolsters in the second positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon, said end container bolsters and said center container bolsters each including a generally rectangular base having an upper surface and one longitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with the outer side of the associated guide rail when said bolster is in the first position thereof, and a retaining wall fixedly mounted on and extending upwardly from said base adjacent to said one side thereof for engaging the side of the associated container to retain it on said bolster, each of said intermediate container bolsters including a generally rectangular base having an upper surface and one longitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with the outer side of the associated guide rail when said intermediate container bolster is in the first position thereof, and a buffer bar pivotally mounted on said last-mentioned base for pivotal movement between a storage position extending upwardly above said last-mentioned base for engaging the side of an associated container to retain it on said intermediate container bolster.

Claim 3

The freight transportation system set forth in claim 1, wherein said end guide rails and said center guide rails have substantially the same length, and said second predetermined distance is equal substantially to said third predetermined distance and is equal substantially to twice the first predetermined distance.

Claim 4

The freight transportation system set forth in claiM 1, and further comprising a first hitch mechanism mounted on said deck between one pair of said end guide rails adjacent to one end of said car, said first hitch mechanism being movable between a retracted position substantially disposed between said guide rails and an erected position for engaging the fifth-wheel mechanism of a road semitrailer mounted on said deck, and a second hitch mechanism mounted on said deck between the pair of said center guide rails disposed away from said first hitch mechanism and disposed toward said center container bolsters, said second hitch mechanism being movable between a retracted position substantially disposed between said guide rails and an erected position for engaging the fifth-wheel mechanism of a road semitrailer mounted on said deck.

Claim 5

A container bolster for use with a railway car including a deck having first and second openings therein and pairs of longitudinally aligned guide rails mounted on the deck, said bolster being disposed on the deck and having a spanning position for spanning the space between the ends of longitudinally aligned guide rails mounted on the deck and having a support position for supporting one end of a container, said bolster comprising a generally rectangular base having one longitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with the outer side of the associated guide rails when said bolster is in the spanning position thereof, a pivot pin mounted on said base adjacent to one end thereof and pivotally movable on the associated deck to accommodate pivotal movement of said bolster between the spanning and support positions thereof, the outer end of said base having an opening therein alignable with one of the first openings in the associated deck located to place said bolster in the spanning position thereof and with one of the second openings in the associated deck to place said bolster in the supporting position thereof, a bolster lock pin engageable in said bolster opening and in a selected one of the openings in the associated deck securely to mount said bolster in the selected one of its positions, said base having an opening in the top thereof adjacent to said one longitudinally extending side, a buffer bar pivotally mounted on said base within said opening for pivotal movement between a storage position within said base and a guiding position extending upwardly above said base, said buffer bar having a longitudinally extending abutment surface for engaging the side of an associated container to retain it on said bolster, a buffer bar lock pin shiftably mounted in said base and engageable with said buffer bar to hold said buffer bar in a selected one of its positions, a guide member pivotally mounted on said other end of said base and pivotal between a retracted position wherein it is disposed below the upper surface of said base and a guiding position wherein it extends upwardly above said base and in position to engage said side of an associated container, and a guide lock pin shiftably mounted in said base and engageable with said guide member for holding said guide member in guiding position thereof.

Claim 6

A container bolster for use with a railway car including a deck having first and second openings therein and pairs of longitudinally aligned guide rails mounted on the deck, said bolster being disposed on the deck and having a spanning position for spanning the space between the ends of longitudinally aligned guide rails mounted on the deck and having a support position for supporting one end of a container, said bolster comprising a generally rectangular base having one longitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with the outer side of the associated guide rails when said bolster is in the spanning position thereof, a pivot pin mounted on said base adjacent to one end thereof and pivotally movable on the associated deck to accommodate pivotal movement of said bolster between the spanning and support positions thereof, the outer end of said base having an opening therein alignable with one of the first openings in the associated deck located to place said bolster in the spanning position thereof and with one of the second openings in the associated deck to place said bolster in the supporting position thereof, a bolster lock pin engageable in said bolster opening and in a selected one of the openings in the associated deck securely to mount said bolster in the selected one of its positions, said base having an opening in the top thereof adjacent to said one longitudinally extending side, a buffer bar pivotally mounted on said base within said opening for pivotal movement between a storage position within said base and a guiding position extending upwardly above said base, said buffer bar having a longitudinally extending abutment surface for engaging the side of an associated container to retain it on said bolster, a buffer bar lock pin shiftably mounted in said base and engageable with said buffer bar to hold said buffer bar in a selected one of its positions, a guide member pivotally mounted on said other end of said base and pivotal between a retracted position wherein it is disposed below the upper surface of said base and a guiding position wherein it extends upwardly above said base and in position to engage said side of an associated container, and a guide lock pin shiftably mounted in said base and engageable with said guide member for holding said guide member in guiding position thereof.

Claim 7

The container bolster set forth in claim 4, wherein said buffer bar has a guide surface thereon extending from adjacent the upper edge thereof inwardly and downwardly toward the upper surface of said base when said buffer bar is in the guided position thereof.

Claim 8

A freight transportation system comprising a railway car including longitudinally spaced-apart running gears having rail wheels, a longitudinally extending deck bridging said running gears and overlying said rail wheels for supporting both road semitrailers and containers on said deck, pairs of longitudinally extending end guide rails respectively mounted on said deck and laterally spaced-apart a distance so that the outer edges thereof are in position to guide the inner sides of the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, pairs of longitudinally extending center guide rails Respectively mounted on said deck between said end guide rails with the outer edges of said center guide rails in alignment with the outer edges of said end guide rails and thereby spaced-apart a distance to engage the inner sides of the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the ends of said pairs of end guide rails disposed adjacent to the ends of said deck being spaced therefrom a first predetermined distance, the ends of the pairs of said center guide rails disposed toward each other being longitudinally spaced-apart a second predetermined distance, the ends of said pairs of end guide rails and the ends of said pairs of said center guide rails disposed toward each other being longitudinally spaced-apart a third predetermined distance, sets of end container bolsters respectively mountable in first and second positions in the spaces between the outer ends of said end guide rails and the adjacent end of said deck, each of said sets of end container bolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with the outer edges of said end guide rails substantially to span the distance between the outer ends of said end guide rails and the adjacent end of said deck and providing guiding surfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of said sets of end container bolsters in the second positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon, sets of center container bolsters respectively mountable in first and second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pairs of said center guide rails, each of sad sets of center container bolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with the outer edges of said guide rails substantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs of said center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of said sets of said center bolsters in the second positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon, said end container bolsters and said center container bolsters each including a generally rectangular base having an upper surface and one longitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with the outer side of the associated guide rail when said bolster is in the first position thereof, and a retaining wall fixedly mounted on and extending upwardly from said base adjacent to said one side thereof for engaging the side of the associated container to retain it on said bolster, and sets of intermediate container bolsters respectively mountable in first and second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pairs of said end guide rails and said center guide rails, each of said sets of intermediate container bolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with the outer edges of said guide rails substantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs of said end guide rails and said center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of said sets of intermediate container bolsters in the second positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon, each of said intermediate container bolsters containing a generally rectangular base having an upper surface and one longitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with the outer side of the associated guide rail when said intermediate container bolster is in the first position thereof, and a buffer bar pivotally mounted on said last-mentioned base For pivotal movement between a storage position within said last-mentioned base and a guiding position extending upwardly above said last-mentioned base for engaging the side of an associated container to retain it on said intermediate container bolster, and side transfer plates each respectively mountable between one of said sets of container bolsters when said container bolsters are in the second positions thereof, each of said side transfer plates spanning the distance between the adjacent ends of the associated set of container bolsters and having the upper surface thereof in horizontal alignment with the upper surfaces of the associated container bolsters to facilitate the sliding of a container onto said container bolsters.

Claim 9

A freight transportation system comprising a railway car including longitudinally spaced-apart running gears having rail wheels, a longitudinally extending deck bridging said running gears and overlying said rail wheels for supporting both road semitrailers and containers on said deck, pairs of longitudinally extending end guide rails respectively mounted on said deck and laterally spaced-apart a distance so that the outer edges thereof are in position to guide the inner sides of the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, pairs of longitudinally extending center guide rails Respectively mounted on said deck between said end guide rails with the outer edges of said center guide rails in alignment with the outer edges of said end guide rails and thereby spaced-apart a distance to engage the inner sides of the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the ends of said pairs of end guide rails disposed adjacent to the ends of said deck being spaced therefrom a first predetermined distance, the ends of the pairs of said center guide rails disposed toward each other being longitudinally spaced-apart a second predetermined distance, the ends of said pairs of end guide rails and the ends of said pairs of said center guide rails disposed toward each other being longitudinally spaced-apart a third predetermined distance, sets of end container bolsters respectively mountable in first and second positions in the spaces between the outer ends of said end guide rails and the adjacent end of said deck, each of said sets of end container bolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with the outer edges of said end guide rails substantially to span the distance between the outer ends of said end guide rails and the adjacent end of said deck and providing guiding surfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of said sets of end container bolsters in the second positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon, sets of center container bolsters respectively mountable in first and second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pairs of said center guide rails, each of sad sets of center container bolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with the outer edges of said guide rails substantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs of said center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of said sets of said center bolsters in the second positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon, said end container bolsters and said center container bolsters each including a generally rectangular base having an upper surface and one longitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with the outer side of the associated guide rail when said bolster is in the first position thereof, and a retaining wall fixedly mounted on and extending upwardly from said base adjacent to said one side thereof for engaging the side of the associated container to retain it on said bolster, and sets of intermediate container bolsters respectively mountable in first and second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pairs of said end guide rails and said center guide rails, each of said sets of intermediate container bolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with the outer edges of said guide rails substantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs of said end guide rails and said center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of said sets of intermediate container bolsters in the second positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon, each of said intermediate container bolsters containing a generally rectangular base having an upper surface and one longitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with the outer side of the associated guide rail when said intermediate container bolster is in the first position thereof, and a buffer bar pivotally mounted on said last-mentioned base For pivotal movement between a storage position within said last-mentioned base and a guiding position extending upwardly above said last-mentioned base for engaging the side of an associated container to retain it on said intermediate container bolster, and side transfer plates each respectively mountable between one of said sets of container bolsters when said container bolsters are in the second positions thereof, each of said side transfer plates spanning the distance between the adjacent ends of the associated set of container bolsters and having the upper surface thereof in horizontal alignment with the upper surfaces of the associated container bolsters to facilitate the sliding of a container onto said container bolsters.