Rail traction vehicle

Claim 2

A rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a coupled railway car to the traction vehicle comprising: a main frame having opposed side members, at least two pairs of road wheels mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally transverse to said side members, at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally parallel to but spaced from said road wheel axes, means for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on the road wheels or wholly on the rail wheels, a single differential axle on the vehicle generally parallel to the axes of the road and rail wheels, a power train including an engine for driving said single differential axle, and power transmitting means interconnecting the differential axle in driving relationship with said wheels for driving said two pairs of rail wheels and one pair of road wheels, whereby the driven wheels on one side of the traction vehicle are differentially driven with respect to the driven wheels on the opposite side of said vehicle.

Claim 3

The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein two weight transfer couplers are mounted on opposite ends of said vehicle.

Claim 4

The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein said rail wheels have rail track engaging surfaces which are entirely formed of metal and the road wheels include tires of resilient rubber-like material.

Claim 5

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on the road wheels or wholly on the rail wheels comprises pivot arms to which either said road wheels or rail wheels are mounted.

Claim 6

The vehicle of claim 4 wherein at least two of said pivot arms are each mounted to opposite sides of said vehicle in spaced apart relationship from each other.

Claim 7

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein one pair of said two pairs of rail wheels is mounted adjacent one end of said vehicle and the other pair of said two pairs of rail wheels is mounted adjacent the opposite end of said vehicle, and said two pairs of road wheels are mounted to said vehicle between said two pairs of rail wheels.

Claim 8

The vehicle of claim 6 wherein two weight transfer couplers are mounted on opposite ends of said vehicle.

Claim 9

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said rail wheels are mounted laterally exteriorally of said side members of said frame.

Claim 10

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said rail wheels are mounted on stub axles.

Claim 11

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein each of said pairs of rail wheels is respectively mounted on said vehicle in spaced relation from said main frame, said main frame being arranged and positioned to permit relocation of the respective rail wheels in each of said pairs of rail wheels to accommodate railway track gages of from 36 inches to 66 inches without necessitating structural modification of said main frame.

Claim 12

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said power transmitting means includes a chain drive.

Claim 13

A rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a coupled railway car to the traction vehicle comprising: a main frame, a plurality of road wheels mounted on said vehicle, at least one pair of said road wheels being mounted along an axis which generally traverses said vehicle with the road wheels in said pair of road wheels being mounted in opposed relationship to each other on opposite sides of said vehicle, at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle along axes which are generally parallel to each other and with the rail wheels in each of said pairs of flanged rail wheels also being mounted in opposed relationship to each other on opposite sides of said vehicle, means for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on said road wheels or wholly on said rail wheels, a single differential axle on the vehicle, a power train including an engine for driving said single differential axle, and power transmitting means interconnecting said differential axle in driving relationship with said two pairs of rail wheels and said one pair of road wheels, whereby the respective opposed road and rail wheels in said pairs of wheels are differentially driven with respect to each other.

Claim 14

A rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a coupled railway car to the traction vehicle comprising: a main frame, a plurality of road wheels mounted on said vehicle, at least one pair of said road wheels being mounted along an axis which generally traverses said vehicle with the road wheels in said pair of road wheels being mounted in opposed relationship to each other on opposite sides of said vehicle, at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle along axes which are generally parallel to each other and with the rail wheels in each of said pairs of flanged rail wheels also being mounted in opposed relationship to each other on opposite sides of said vehicle, means for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on said road wheels or wholly on said rail wheels, a single differential axle on the vehicle, a power train including an engine for driving said single differential axle, and power transmitting means interconnecting said differential axle in driving relationship with said two pairs of rail wheels and said one pair of road wheels, whereby the respective opposed road and rail wheels in said pairs of wheels are differentially driven with respect to each other.

Claim 15

The vehicle defined in claim 12 wherein two weight transfer couplers are mounted on opposite ends of said vehicle.

Claim 16

The vehicle defined in claim 12 wherein said rail wheels have rail track engaging surfaces which are entirely formed of metal and the road wheels include tires of resilient rubber-like material.

Claim 17

The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said means for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on the road wheels or wholly on the rail wheels comprises pivot arms to which either said road wheels or rail wheels are mounted.

Claim 18

The vehicle of claim 15 wherein at least two of said pivot arms are each mounted to opposite sides of said vehicle in spaced apart relationship from each other.

Claim 19

The vehicle of claim 12 wherein one pair of said two pairs of rail wheels is mounted adjacent one end of said vehicle and the other pair of said two pairs of rail wheels is mounted adjacent the opposite end of said vehicle, and said two pairs of road wheels are both mounted to said vehicle between said two pairs of rail wheels.

Claim 20

The vehicle of claim 17 wherein two weight transfer couplers are mounted on opposite ends of said vehicle.

Claim 21

The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said rail wheels are mounted laterally exteriorally of said side members of said frame.

Claim 22

The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said rail wheels are mounted on stub axles.

Claim 23

The vehicle of claim 12 wherein each of said rail wheels is mounted on a stub axle and each of said pairs of rail wheels is respectively mounted on said vehicle in spaced relation from said main frame, said main frame being arranged and positioned to permit relocation of the respective rail wheels in each of said pairs of rail wheels to accommodate railway track gages of from 36 inches to 66 inches without necessitating structural modification of said main frame.

Claim 24

The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said power transmitting means includes a chain drive.

Claim 25

A rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a coupled raIlcar to the traction vehicle comprising: a main frame having opposed side members, at least two pairs of road wheels mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally transverse to said side members, at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally parallel to but spaced from said road wheel axes, pivot arms supported by said frame for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on the road wheels or wholly on the rail wheels, a single differential on said vehicle generally parallel to the axes of the road and rail wheels, a power train including an engine for driving said single differential, said differential including two opposed output shafts extending therefrom to opposite sides of said vehicle and terminating outwardly from the side members of the main frame, chain drive means operatively connected to said output shafts, said output shafts and said chain drive means being drivably connected to said two pairs of rail wheels and one pair of said road wheels, whereby the wheels on one side of the traction vehicle are differentially driven with respect to the wheels on the opposite side of said vehicle.

Claim 26

A rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a coupled raIlcar to the traction vehicle comprising: a main frame having opposed side members, at least two pairs of road wheels mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally transverse to said side members, at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally parallel to but spaced from said road wheel axes, pivot arms supported by said frame for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on the road wheels or wholly on the rail wheels, a single differential on said vehicle generally parallel to the axes of the road and rail wheels, a power train including an engine for driving said single differential, said differential including two opposed output shafts extending therefrom to opposite sides of said vehicle and terminating outwardly from the side members of the main frame, chain drive means operatively connected to said output shafts, said output shafts and said chain drive means being drivably connected to said two pairs of rail wheels and one pair of said road wheels, whereby the wheels on one side of the traction vehicle are differentially driven with respect to the wheels on the opposite side of said vehicle.

Claim 27

The vehicle defined in claim 23 wherein two weight transfer couplers are mounted on opposite ends of said vehicle.

Claim 28

The vehicle defined in claim 23 wherein said rail wheels have rail track engaging surfaces which are entirely formed of metal and the road wheels include tires of rubber-like material.

Claim 29

The vehicle of claim 23 wherein at least two of said pivot arms are each mounted to opposite sides of said vehicle in spaced apart relationship to each other.

Claim 30

The vehicle of claim 23 wherein one pair of said two pairs of rail wheels is mounted adjacent one end of said vehicle and the other pair of said two pairs of rail wheels is mounted adjacent the opposite end of said vehicle, and said two pairs of road wheels are both mounted to said vehicle between said two pairs of rail wheels.

Claim 31

The vehicle of claim 27 wherein two weight transfer couplers are mounted on opposite ends of said vehicle.

Claim 32

The vehicle of claim 23 wherein said rail wheels are mounted laterally exteriorally of said side members of said frame.

Claim 33

The vehicle of claim 23 wherein said rail wheels are mounted on stub axles.

Claim 34

The vehicle of claim 23 wherein each of said rail wheels is mounted on a stub axle and each of said pairs of rail wheels is respectively mounted on said vehicle in spaced relation from said main frame, said main frame being arranged and positioned to permit relocation of the respective rail wheels in each of said pairs of rail wheels to accommodate railway track gages of from 36 inches to 66 inches without necessitating structural modification of said main frame.

Claim 35

In a rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a coupled railway car to the traction vehicle and including a main frame having opposed side members, an engine supported by said frame, at least two pairs of road wheels mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuuration along axes generally transverse to said side members, at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally parallel to but spaced from said road wheel axes, and means for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on the road wheels or wholly on the rail wheels, the improvement comprising a single differential axle on the vehicle generally parallel to the axes of the road and rail wheels, said single differential axle being driven by said engine, and power transmitting means interconnecting said differential axle in driving relationship with said wheels for driving said two pairs of rail wheels and said one pair of road wheels, whereby the driven wheels on one side of the traction vehicle are differentially driven with respect to the driven wheels on the opposite side of said vehicle.

Claim 36

In a rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a coupled railway car to the traction vehicle and including a main frame having opposed side members, an engine supported by said frame, at least two pairs of road wheels mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuuration along axes generally transverse to said side members, at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally parallel to but spaced from said road wheel axes, and means for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on the road wheels or wholly on the rail wheels, the improvement comprising a single differential axle on the vehicle generally parallel to the axes of the road and rail wheels, said single differential axle being driven by said engine, and power transmitting means interconnecting said differential axle in driving relationship with said wheels for driving said two pairs of rail wheels and said one pair of road wheels, whereby the driven wheels on one side of the traction vehicle are differentially driven with respect to the driven wheels on the opposite side of said vehicle.

Claim 37

The improvement defined in claim 32 wherein two weight transfer couplers are mounted on opposite ends of said vehicle.

Claim 38

In a rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a coupled railway car to the traction vehicle and including a main frame, an engine supported by said frame, a plurality of road wheels mounted on said vehicle, at least one pair of said road wheels being mounted along an axis which generally traverses said vehicle with the road wheels in said pair of road wheels being mounted in opposed relationship to each other on opposite sides of said vehicle, at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle along axes which are generally parallel to each other and with the rail wheels in each of said pairs of flanged rail wheels also being mounted in opposed relationship to each other on opposite sides of said vehicle, and means for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on said road wheels or wholly on said rail wheels, the improvement comprising a single differential axle on the vehicle, said single differential axle being driven by said engine, and power transmitting means interconnecting said differential axle in driving relationship with said two pairs of rail wheels and said one pair of road wheels, whereby the respective opposed road and rail wheels in said pairs of wheels are differentially driven with respect to each other.

Claim 39

In a rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a coupled railway car to the traction vehicle and including a main frame, an engine supported by said frame, a plurality of road wheels mounted on said vehicle, at least one pair of said road wheels being mounted along an axis which generally traverses said vehicle with the road wheels in said pair of road wheels being mounted in opposed relationship to each other on opposite sides of said vehicle, at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle along axes which are generally parallel to each other and with the rail wheels in each of said pairs of flanged rail wheels also being mounted in opposed relationship to each other on opposite sides of said vehicle, and means for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on said road wheels or wholly on said rail wheels, the improvement comprising a single differential axle on the vehicle, said single differential axle being driven by said engine, and power transmitting means interconnecting said differential axle in driving relationship with said two pairs of rail wheels and said one pair of road wheels, whereby the respective opposed road and rail wheels in said pairs of wheels are differentially driven with respect to each other.

Claim 40

The improvement defined in claim 34 wherein two weight transfer couplers are mounted on opposite ends of said vehicle.

Claim 41

In a rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a coupled railcar to the traction vehicle and including a main frame having opposed side members, an engine supported by said frame, at least two pairs of road wheels mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along taxes generally transverse to said side members, and at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally parallel to but spaced from said road wheel axes, the improvement comprising, pivot arms supported by said frame for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on the road wheels or wholly on the rail wheels, a single differential on said vehicle generally parallel to the axes of the road and rail wheels, said differential being driven by said engine and including two opposed output shafts extending therefrom to opposite sides of said vehicle and terminating outwardly of said side members of the main frame, chain drive means operatively connected to said output shafts, said output shafts and said chain drive means being drivably connected to said two pairs of rail wheels and one pair of said road wheels, whereby the wheels on one side of the traction vehicle are differentially driven with respect to the wheels on the opposite side of said vehicle.

Claim 42

In a rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a coupled railcar to the traction vehicle and including a main frame having opposed side members, an engine supported by said frame, at least two pairs of road wheels mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along taxes generally transverse to said side members, and at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally parallel to but spaced from said road wheel axes, the improvement comprising, pivot arms supported by said frame for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either wholly on the road wheels or wholly on the rail wheels, a single differential on said vehicle generally parallel to the axes of the road and rail wheels, said differential being driven by said engine and including two opposed output shafts extending therefrom to opposite sides of said vehicle and terminating outwardly of said side members of the main frame, chain drive means operatively connected to said output shafts, said output shafts and said chain drive means being drivably connected to said two pairs of rail wheels and one pair of said road wheels, whereby the wheels on one side of the traction vehicle are differentially driven with respect to the wheels on the opposite side of said vehicle.

Claim 43

The improvement defined in claim 36 wherein two weight transfer couplers are mounted on opposite ends of said vehicle.

Claim 44

The improvement defined in claim 36 wherein said rail wheels have rail engaging surfaces which are entirely formed of metal and the road wheels include tires of rubber-like material.

Claim 45

The improvement defined in claim 36 wherein at least two of said pivot arms are each mounted to opposite sides of said vehicle in spaced apart relationship to each other.

Claim 46

The improvement defined in claim 36 wherein one each of said two pairs of rail wheels is mounted adjacent one end of said vehicle and the other pair of said two pairs of rail wheels is mounted adjacent the opposite end of said vehicle, and said two pairs of road wheels are both mounted to said vehicle between said two pairs of rail wheels.

Claim 47

A rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a railcar coupled therewith to the traction vehicle comprising: a main frame having opposed side members, at least two pairs of road wheels mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally transverse to said side members, at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally parallel to but spaced from said road wheel axes, said rail wheels having rail track engaging surfaces which are entirely formed of metal and said road wheels including tires of rubber-like material, one pair of said two pairs of rail wheels being mounted adjacent one end of said vehicle and the other pair of said two pairs of said wheels being mounted adjacent the opposite end of said vehicle, said two pairs of road wheels being both mounted to said vehicle between said two pairs of rail wheels, with all of said road wheels being mounted on said vehicle between said pairs of rail wheels, two weight transfer couplers mounted to opposite ends of said vehicle, pivot arms supported by said frame for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either exclusively on the road wheels or exclusively on the rail wheels, a single differential on said vehicle, said differential having output shafts extending therefrom along an axis generally parallel to the axes of the road and rail wheels, said output shafts extending from said differential to opposite sides of said vehicle and terminating outwardly from the side members of the main frame, a power train including an engine for driving said single differential, chain drive means operatively connected to said output shafts, said output shafts and chain drive means being drivably connected to said two pairs of rail wheels and one pair of road wheels, whereby the wheels on one side of the traction vehicle are differentially driven with respect to the wheels on the opposite sides of said vehicle.

Claim 48

A rail traction vehicle of the type adapted for transferring weight from a railcar coupled therewith to the traction vehicle comprising: a main frame having opposed side members, at least two pairs of road wheels mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally transverse to said side members, at least two pairs of flanged rail wheels also mounted on said vehicle in generally rectangular configuration along axes generally parallel to but spaced from said road wheel axes, said rail wheels having rail track engaging surfaces which are entirely formed of metal and said road wheels including tires of rubber-like material, one pair of said two pairs of rail wheels being mounted adjacent one end of said vehicle and the other pair of said two pairs of said wheels being mounted adjacent the opposite end of said vehicle, said two pairs of road wheels being both mounted to said vehicle between said two pairs of rail wheels, with all of said road wheels being mounted on said vehicle between said pairs of rail wheels, two weight transfer couplers mounted to opposite ends of said vehicle, pivot arms supported by said frame for selectively and alternatively supporting said vehicle either exclusively on the road wheels or exclusively on the rail wheels, a single differential on said vehicle, said differential having output shafts extending therefrom along an axis generally parallel to the axes of the road and rail wheels, said output shafts extending from said differential to opposite sides of said vehicle and terminating outwardly from the side members of the main frame, a power train including an engine for driving said single differential, chain drive means operatively connected to said output shafts, said output shafts and chain drive means being drivably connected to said two pairs of rail wheels and one pair of road wheels, whereby the wheels on one side of the traction vehicle are differentially driven with respect to the wheels on the opposite sides of said vehicle.

Claim 49

The vehicle of claim 41 wherein at least two of said pivot arms are mounted to opposite sides of said vehicle in spaced relationship to each other.