US3645211A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Convertible rail-highway vehicle
Assignee: MARTIN BEIFHACK MASCHINENFABRI
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Filing: 1969-12-12
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1989-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A convertible rail-highway vehicle comprises two frames which are pivoted to the front and rear axles and carry sets of railengaging shoes or rollers. The frames are always concealed below the body of the vehicle and are pivotable between raised positions in which the shoes or rollers are out of the way and lowered positions in which the shoes or rollers engage the rails in immediate proximity of the respective wheels to hold the wheels against movement off the top surfaces of the rails. The frames can be locked in their lowered positions and the shoes or rollers are mounted thereon with some freedom of movement about vertical and/or horizontal axes.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert Gretzschel
- 👤 Walter Schneider
- 👤 Theodor Schmauder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:31
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60F; B60F1/00; B60F1/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
In a convertible vehicle for travel on railways and highways, a combination comprising a body provided with front and rear axles each having pairs of front and rear wheels arranged to travel on pairs of rails or way surfaces; front and rear frames each movably mounted on said body and each comprising a pair of rail-engaging devices located below said body, each of said frames being movable between a first position in which said devices are remote from a way surface and a second position in which said devices engage the rails in close proximity of the respective wheels to hold the wheels against movement off the rails, said frames each comprising a pair of transversely spaced arms pivoted to a respective one of said axles, and a transversely extending member secured to said arms and supporting the respective rail-engaging devices; and means for selectively retaining said arms in said first and said second positions and when said arms are in said second position, maintaining each rail-engaging device of a respective pair of at least one of said frames in engagement with an associated rail independently of the respective other rail-engaging device of the pair.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a convertible vehicle for travel on railways and highways, a combination comprising a body provided with front and rear axles each having pairs of front and rear wheels arranged to travel on pairs of rails or way surfaces; front and rear frames each movably mounted on said body and each comprising a pair of rail-engaging devices located below said body, each of said frames being movable between a first position in which said devices are remote from a way surface and a second position in which said devices engage the rails in close proximity of the respective wheels to hold the wheels against movement off the rails, said frames each comprising a pair of transversely spaced arms pivoted to a respective one of said axles, and a transversely extending member secured to said arms and supporting the respective rail-engaging devices; and means for selectively retaining said arms in said first and said second positions and when said arms are in said second position, maintaining each rail-engaging device of a respective pair of at least one of said frames in engagement with an associated rail independently of the respective other rail-engaging device of the pair.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising actuating means for moving said frames with reference to the respective axles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising pivot means securing said arms to the respective axles, each of said pivot means being located at a level below the respective axle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising coupling means connecting said arms to the respective transversely extending member with limited freedom of movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said transversely extending member comprises a pair of holders and further comprising fastener means separably securing each of said rail-engaging devices to one of said holders.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said devices comprises a pair of closely adjacent rail-engaging rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said frames comprises connecting means securing said devices to the respective transversely extending member with freedom of swiveling movement about axes which are substantially parallel to said transversely extending member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, further comprising stop means for limiting the extent of said swiveling movement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said connecting means includes at least one elastic cushioning element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said devices comprises at least one roller having a flange located in a vertical plane and a rail-engaging portion adjacent to said flange.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising connecting means securing said devices to said frames for movement about axes which are at least substantially vertical in the second positions of said frames.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said connecting means comprise elastic cushioning elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A combination as defined in claim 11, further comprising stop means for limiting the extent of said movement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said means comprises at least one unit for connecting said frames to each other against movement from said second to said first positions thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said unit includes a system of rods.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A combination as defined in claim 15, wherein said unit further comprises changing means for shifting the effective length of said system of rods.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, further comprising control means for said changing means, said control means being within reach of the person occupying the driver''s seat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as deFined in claim 16, wherein the changing means for shifting the effective length of said system of rods comprises fluid-operated cylinder means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said unit further comprises accumulator means for pressurized fluid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a first retaining member movably mounted on said one frame and separably engaging a complementary second retaining member on said body in the second position of said one frame.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination as defined in claim 20, wherein said first retaining member is a lever and further comprising means for biasing said lever into engagement with said second retaining member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
A combination as defined in claim 20, wherein at least one of said retaining members includes a portion which engages the other retaining member in the second position of said one frame and is adjustable with reference to said one frame.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
A combination as defined in claim 20, wherein said second retaining member includes a plurality of portions located at different levels above the ground and wherein said first retaining member is movable into engagement with one of said portions at a time to thereby maintain the respective rail-engaging devices at a desired level in the second position of said one frame.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination as defined in claim 20, further comprising means for moving one of said retaining members with reference to the other retaining member by remote control.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
A combination as defined in claim 20, further comprising first actuating means for moving said one frame between first and second positions, second actuating means for moving one of said retaining members with reference to the other retaining member, and means for operating said actuating means in a predetermined sequence.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising coupling means for separably securing said frames on said body in the first positions of said frames.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
A combination as defined in claim 26, wherein said coupling means includes at least one pin-and-hook coupling.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |