Rail transport system for bulk materials

Abstract

A light rail unit train combination for the transport of bulk materials consisting of a plurality of connected cars open at each end except for the first and last cars, which have end plates. The train forms a long open trough and has a flexible flap attached to each car and overlapping the car in front to prevent spillage during movement. The lead car has four wheels and tapered side drive plates in the front of the car to facilitate entry into the drive stations. The cars that follow have two wheels with a clevis hitch connecting the front to the rear of the car immediately forward. Forward motion is provided by a series of appropriately placed drive motors on either side of the track which are AC electric motors with drive means to provide frictional contact with said side drive plates. An AC inverter and controller is connected to every pair of drive motors whereby said motors are synchronized and both the voltage and frequency can be modified as needed. The electric motors each turn a tire in a horizontal plane that physically contacts two parallel side drive plates external of the wheels of each car. Pressure on the side drive plates by these drive tires converts the rotary motion of the tires into horizontal thrust. The wheels on the cars are spaced to allow operation in an inverted position by use of a double set of rails so the cars can hang upside down for unloading. By rotating this double track system the unit train can be returned to it normal operating condition.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A railway train with external drivers for transporting bulk commodities comprising in combination: 
 A) a plurality of cars coupled together to form a train on a trackway with each car having a longitudinal trough adapted to contain said bulk commodities and each car having a pair of car length side drive plates,    B) one or more pairs of electric drive motors mounted adjacent to said trackway with drive means to provide frictional contact with said side drive plates whereby said train can be moved forward and backward, and    C) an AC inverter and controller connected to every pair of drive motors whereby said motors are synchronized and both the voltage and frequency can be modified as needed    
     
     
         2 . The railway train combination as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said train comprises a lead car, one or more intermediate cars, and a rear car.  
     
     
         3 . The railway train combination as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said lead car has two pairs of car wheels.  
     
     
         4 . The railway train combination as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein each intermediate car and said rear car has a single pair of car wheels.  
     
     
         5 . The railway train combination as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said drive means comprises a pair of elastomeric wheels having a width substantially equal to the height of said side drive plates.  
     
     
         6 . The railway train combination as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said trough has a semi-circular shaped configuration.  
     
     
         7 . The railway train combination as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said lead car has a reduced distance between said side drive plates in the front of said car and a front and rear pair of car wheels.  
     
     
         8 . The railway train combination as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each intermediate car and said rear car has a single pair of car wheels.  
     
     
         9 . The railway train combination as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a flexible flap is mounted on the front of said intermediate cars and the end car so that said flap extends over the gap between said cars and acts as a seal and a discharge chute.  
     
     
         10 . A railway train for transporting bulk commodities with a plurality of cars wherein each car has a pair of car length side drive plates and each car has a separate longitudinal trough adapted to contain said bulk commodities comprising 
 A) a lead car having a trough with a front end plate and a reduced distance between said side drive plates in front,    B) a rear car having a trough with a rear end plate,    C) one or more intermediate cars coupled to said lead car, the rear car, and each other by central couplings whereby the troughs of said cars are aligned to produce an overall trough with gaps between said cars and    D) a flexible flap mounted on the front of said intermediate cars so that said flap extends over the gap between said cars and acts as a seal and a discharge chute.    
     
     
         11 . The train as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein 
 A) said rear car and said intermediate cars have projections on the front end of each of said side drive plates which extend past said gaps, and    B) said lead car and said intermediate cars have openings on the lower rear end of each of said side drive plates which are larger than said projections.    
     
     
         12 . The train as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said troughs have a semi-circular shaped cross-sectional configuration.  
     
     
         13 . The train as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said indentations and said projections have a matching semi-circular configuration.  
     
     
         14 . A method of transporting bulk commodities by a railway train with external drivers comprising the steps of: 
 A) coupling a plurality of railway cars together to form a train on a trackway with each car having a longitudinal trough adapted to contain said bulk commodities and each car having a pair of car length side drive plates,    B) loading said train with bulk commodities,    C) driving said train with pairs of drive motors mounted adjacent to said trackway wherein said motor pairs are synchronized AC electric motors with drive means to provide frictional contact with said side drive plates,    D) controlling the speed and direction of said drive motors with an AC inverter and controller, and    E) unloading said train by inverting said cars on an arcuate dual trackway,    
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said train comprises: 
 A) a lead car having a trough with a front end plate and a reduced distance between said side drive plates in front,    B) a rear car having a trough with a rear end plate,    C) one or more intermediate cars coupled to said lead car, the rear car, and each other by central couplings whereby the troughs of said cars are aligned to produce an overall trough with gaps between said cars.