US3576167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for piggyback rail transportation
Assignee: A F KEARNEY AND CO
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Filing: 1969-02-27
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1989-02-27
Abstract
Abstract An improved piggyback rail truck of a dropframe design having one platform for supporting the wheels of a highway trailer and a second platform for supporting the nose of another trailer and including automatic mechaniam for loading and unloading a trailer from the side of a piggyback train comprised of such rail trucks.
Inventors
- 👤 Franklin S Macomber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:00
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61D; B61D3/00; B61D3/16; B61D3/18; B61D3/182; B61D3/184; B61D45/00; B61D45/001; B61D45/004; B61D45/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
Automatic loading and unloading apparatus for use with rail cars for piggyback rail transportation of highway trailers, comprising, in combination, nose cradle means mounted on a rail car for supporting the forward end of a trailer, wheel cradle means mounted on a rail car for supporting the wheels of said trailer, said wheel cradle means including a pair of oppositely disposed wheel support members which are spaced apart to permit transverse movement of said wheel cradle means from the side of a trailer into an operative position relative to the wheels of the trailer with one support member positioned immediately forward of the trailer wheels and the other support member positioned immediately rearward of the trailer wheels, wheel cradle lift means for conjointly moving said pair of wheel support members in a generally vertical direction between a raised position wherein said wheels are supported by said support members and a lower position wherein said wheels are released by said support members, said nose cradle means and said wheel cradle means each being movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rail car between a first position wherein they are disposed on said rail car and a second position wherein they are disposed on a siding located to one side of said rail car, and actuating means for simultaneously moving said nose and wheel cradle means between said first and second positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
Automatic loading and unloading apparatus for use with rail cars for piggyback rail transportation of highway trailers, comprising, in combination, nose cradle means mounted on a rail car for supporting the forward end of a trailer, wheel cradle means mounted on a rail car for supporting the wheels of said trailer, said wheel cradle means including a pair of oppositely disposed wheel support members which are spaced apart to permit transverse movement of said wheel cradle means from the side of a trailer into an operative position relative to the wheels of the trailer with one support member positioned immediately forward of the trailer wheels and the other support member positioned immediately rearward of the trailer wheels, wheel cradle lift means for conjointly moving said pair of wheel support members in a generally vertical direction between a raised position wherein said wheels are supported by said support members and a lower position wherein said wheels are released by said support members, said nose cradle means and said wheel cradle means each being movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rail car between a first position wherein they are disposed on said rail car and a second position wherein they are disposed on a siding located to one side of said rail car, and actuating means for simultaneously moving said nose and wheel cradle means between said first and second positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 where said nose cradle includes a kingpin platform having means for receiving and holding the kingpin of a trailer to be supported.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including nose cradle lift means for raising and lowering the forward end of a trailer supported thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 where said nose cradle means and said wheel cradle means are each mounted on a plurality of wheels having axes disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rail car whereby said nose and wheel cradles may be moved on said wheels between said rail car and said siding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 where said wheels are equipped with tires which roll directly on a deck of said rail car and on said siding during transverse movement of said nose and wheel cradles, and drive means connected with selected ones of said wheels so that said nose and wheel cradles are self-powered.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 where said nose cradle means includes a cradle base member, an intermediate carriage disposed above said cradle base member, said carriage being adjustably movable relative to said base member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rail car, and a kingpin platform disposed above said carriage, said kingpin platform being movable vertically relative to said carriage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |