Railcar with axle assembly

Abstract

A railcar is provided with an axle assembly including first and second axle devices that allow one axle device to move relative to the other axle device. In one embodiment, the first axle device is rigidly secured to the platform and the second axle device is pivotally secured to the platform. The second axle device includes terminal ends for supporting conventional hub and wheel assemblies. A plate extends from the axle device and pivotally attaches to the platform. In another embodiment, the present invention is used in connection with a mobile toilet system supported on the upper side of the platform. The platform is relatively rigid to accommodate for the hard plumbing connections of the mobile toilet system.

1 . A railcar for transporting equipment by rails, the railcar comprising: 
 a platform for supporting the equipment on rails;    a first axle assembly and a second axle assembly having wheels rotatably supported thereon with the first axle assembly rigidly connected to the platform, and    a plate extending outwardly from the second axle assembly and pivotally connected to the platform, the second axle assembly movable relative to the first axle assembly for facilitating stabilized movement of the railcar relative to the rails.    
   
   
       2 . A railcar as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said platform includes a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of cross members connected to and extending between the sidewalls with the cross members being spaced apart to define a gap therein to receive the plate.  
   
   
       3 . A railcar as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the cross members each include a cross member hole, the cross member holes being aligned.  
   
   
       4 . A railcar as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the plate includes a plate hole defined therein aligned with the cross member holes.  
   
   
       5 . A railcar as set forth in  claim 2  including a bolt extending through the cross member holes and the plate hole for facilitating pivotal motion of the second axle assembly relative to the first axle assembly.  
   
   
       6 . A railcar as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the second axle assembly includes a second tubular member having a pair of second steel shafts extending through a portion of the second tubular member with the second steel shafts presenting terminal ends extending through the second tubular member.  
   
   
       7 . A railcar as set forth in  claim 6  including a second wheel and hub assembly operably connected to each terminal end.  
   
   
       8 . A railcar as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the plate includes a length and the second tubular member includes a length, the length of the plate being shorter than the length of the second tubular member.  
   
   
       9 . A railcar as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first axle assembly includes a first tubular member having a first steel shaft extending through a portion of the tubular member presenting a terminal end extending from the first tubular member.  
   
   
       10 . A railcar as set forth in  claim 9  including a first wheel and hub assembly operably connected to the terminal end of each first steel shaft.  
   
   
       11 . A railcar as set forth in  claim 9  including a pair of spaced plates rigidly connected to the first tubular member for attaching the first tubular member to the platform.  
   
   
       12 . A railcar for transporting equipment by rail, said railcar comprising: 
 a cabana;    a platform for supporting the cabana with the platform having sidewalls;    a second axle assembly and a first axle assembly connected to the platform for holding wheels positioned thereon for moving the railcar, the second axle assembly including a second tubular member having a length and terminal ends, the first axle assembly including a first tubular member having a length and terminal ends;    a second wheel and hub assembly operably connected to each of the terminal ends of the second axle assembly;    a pair of spaced plates connected to the second tubular member for attaching the second tubular member to the platform;    a first wheel and hub assembly operably connected to each of the terminal ends of the first axle assembly;    a plate extending from the first tubular member and having a length, the length of the plate being shorter than the length of the first tubular member, the plate including a plate hole defined therein; and    a pair of cross members connected to and extending between the sidewalls of the platform with the cross members being spaced one from the other to define a gap to receive the plate, the cross members each including a cross member hole, the cross member holes aligned one with the other whereby the plate is pivotally secured with and relative to said cross members by a bolt extending through the cross member holes and the plate hole for facilitating pivotal motion of the first axle assembly relative to the second axle assembly.    
   
   
       13 . The railcar of  claim 12  wherein the cabana is attached to the platform by a clamping assembly, wherein a first portion of the clamping assembly is disposed inside the cabana and a second portion of the clamping assembly is disposed outside the cabana and is attached to the platform, at least part of the cabana being sandwiched between the first and second portions of the clamping assembly.  
   
   
       14 . The railcar of  claim 13  wherein the clamping assembly includes a top plate and a bottom plate, and the cabana includes a floor, the top plate attached to the platform, the floor sandwiched between the top and bottom plates.  
   
   
       15 . An axle assembly for maintaining the wheels of a railcar on rails, comprising: 
 a platform;    a first axle device rigidly attached to the platform, the first axle device including a first axle and a pair of wheels, the first axle including terminal ends, the wheels attached to the terminal ends and adapted to engage the rails; and    a second axle device pivotally secured to the platform, the second axle device including an axle and a pair of wheels, the axle having terminal ends, the wheels attached to the terminal ends and adapted to engage the rails.    
   
   
       16 . The axle assembly of  claim 15  wherein the platform includes a pair of sidewalls and a first cross member, and the second axle device includes a plate extending from the axle that is pivotally secured to the first cross member.  
   
   
       17 . The axle assembly of  claim 16  wherein the plate defines a plate hole and the first cross member defines a first cross member hole, the plate pivotally secured to the first cross member by a bolt extending through the plate hole and the first cross member hole.  
   
   
       18 . The axle assembly of  claim 17  wherein the platform includes a second cross member, the first and second cross members spaced to define a gap therebetween, the first cross member and the second cross member defining a first cross member hole and a second cross member hole, the plate extending into the gap and pivotally secured to the platform by a bolt extending through the first and second cross member holes and the plate hole.  
   
   
       19 . The axle assembly of  claim 15  wherein the first axle and the second axle each include a tubular member and a pair of shafts, the tubular member including opposite ends, the shafts each including a first portion extending into one of the opposite ends and rigidly attached to the opposite ends, the shafts each including a second portion attached to one of the wheels.  
   
   
       20 . The axle assembly of  claim 15  wherein the platform includes an upper surface, the upper surface supporting a mobile toilet system.  
   
   
       21 . The axle assembly of  claim 20  wherein the mobile toilet system includes a cabana for housing a toilet, the cabana including a floor attached to the platform by sandwiching the floor between a lower plate attached to the platform and an upper plate inside the cabana.