Intermodal rail car/truck trailer

Abstract

An intermodal rail container/truck trailer includes a container platform with a ground side, and a sill connected to the ground side. The sill includes a first end and a second end. At least one railroad car coupler is connected to at least one of the first end and the second end. The invention further includes an intermodal rail car which includes a rail car frame having a first end and a second end. A first fifth wheel coupler is connected to the rail car frame, and a second fifth wheel coupler is connected to the rail car frame in a longitudinally opposed relation with the first fifth wheel coupler. At least one railroad car coupler is connected to at least one of the first end and the second end. The intermodal rail container/truck trailer and rail car can be interconnected using the railroad couplers and fifth wheel couplers and pins.

1 . An intermodal rail container/truck trailer; comprising: 
 a container platform including a ground side;    a sill connected to said container platform on said ground side, said sill including a first end and a second end; and    at least one railroad car coupler connected to at least one of said first end and said second end.    
   
   
       2 . The intermodal rail container/truck trailer of  claim 1 , further including at least one lunette connected to said ground side of said container platform.  
   
   
       3 . The intermodal rail container/truck trailer of  claim 1 , further including at least one fifth wheel pin connected to said ground side of said container platform.  
   
   
       4 . The intermodal rail container/truck trailer of  claim 1 , further including a dolly connected to said container platform, said dolly having a frame, a set of road wheels rotatably connected to said frame, a fifth wheel coupler connected to said frame, and a tow bar connected to said frame, said fifth wheel coupler and said tow bar connected to said container platform.  
   
   
       5 . The intermodal rail container/truck trailer of  claim 4 , further including at least one lunette connected to said ground side of said container platform, and at least one fifth wheel pin connected to said ground side of said container platform, said tow bar connected to said lunette and said fifth wheel coupler connected to one said fifth wheel pin.  
   
   
       6 . The intermodal rail container/truck trailer of  claim 1 , further including at least one set of landing gear connected to said ground side of said container platform.  
   
   
       7 . The intermodal rail container/truck trailer of  claim 1 , wherein said intermodal rail container/truck trailer is at least one of a freight van intermodal rail container/truck trailer, a refrigerated intermodal rail container/truck trailer, a live stock intermodal rail container/truck trailer, a liquid container intermodal rail container/truck trailer, a dry bulk intermodal rail container/truck trailer, a flat bed intermodal rail container/truck trailer, an open top intermodal rail container/truck trailer, a double container intermodal rail container/truck trailer, and a low bed intermodal rail container/truck trailer.  
   
   
       8 . An intermodal rail car, comprising: 
 a rail car frame having a first end and a second end;    a first fifth wheel coupler connected to said rail car frame;    a second fifth wheel coupler connected to said rail car frame in a longitudinally opposed relation with said first fifth wheel coupler; and    at least one railroad car coupler connected to at least one of said first end and said second end.    
   
   
       9 . The intermodal rail car of  claim 8 , further including a first mount connecting said first fifth wheel coupler to said rail car frame, and a second mount connecting said second fifth wheel coupler to said rail car frame, each of said first mount and said second mount including a respective rail system allowing longitudinal movement of a respective said mount.  
   
   
       10 . The intermodal rail car of  claim 9 , wherein each respective said mount includes a platform connected to said rail system, and at least one resilient member connected to both said platform and said rail car frame, said at least one resilient member oriented in a vertical direction.  
   
   
       11 . The intermodal rail car of  claim 10 , wherein said rail car frame includes at least one pin connected to a respective said platform.  
   
   
       12 . The intermodal rail car of  claim 1 , further including an intermodal rail container/truck trailer connected to one of said first fifth wheel coupler and said second fifth wheel coupler, said intermodal rail container/truck trailer connected to at least one said railroad car coupler, said intermodal rail container/truck trailer including a container platform including a ground side, a sill connected to said container platform on said ground side, said sill including a first end and a second end, and at least one sill railroad car coupler connected to at least one of said first end and said second end, said at least one sill railroad car coupler connected to at least one said railroad car coupler.  
   
   
       13 . A dolly for use with an intermodal rail container/truck trailer, comprising: 
 a frame;    a set of road wheels rotatably connected to said frame;    a fifth wheel coupler connected to said frame; and    and a tow bar connected to said frame.    
   
   
       14 . A method of converting an intermodal rail container/truck trailer from rail to road se, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an intermodal rail car including a rail car frame having a first end and a second end, a first fifth wheel coupler connected to said rail car frame, a second fifth wheel coupler connected to said rail car frame in a longitudinally opposed relation with said first fifth wheel coupler, and at least one railroad car coupler connected to at least one of said first end and said second end;    providing an intermodal rail container/truck trailer connected to one of said first fifth wheel coupler and said second fifth wheel coupler, said intermodal rail container/truck trailer connected to at least one said railroad car coupler, said intermodal rail container/truck trailer including a container platform including a ground side, a sill connected to said container platform on said ground side, said sill including a first end and a second end, at least one sill railroad car coupler connected to at least one of said first end and said second end, at least one fifth wheel pin connected to said ground side of said container, and at least one set of landing gear connected to said ground side of said container, said at least one sill railroad car coupler connected to at least one said railroad car coupler;    lowering said at least one set of landing gear;    connecting a dolly to said intermodal rail container/truck trailer, said dolly including a frame, a set of road wheels rotatably connected to said frame, a dolly fifth wheel coupler connected to said frame; and a tow bar connected to said frame, said dolly fifth wheel coupler connected to one said fifth wheel pin, said tow bar connected to said ground side of said container platform;    connecting a truck tractor to said intermodal rail container/truck trailer, said truck tractor including a truck fifth wheel coupler, said truck fifth wheel coupler connected to another said fifth wheel pin; and    raising said at least one set of landing gear.    
   
   
       15 . A method of converting an intermodal rail container/truck trailer from road to rail use, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an intermodal rail car including a rail car frame having a first end and a second end, a first fifth wheel coupler connected to said rail car frame, a second fifth wheel coupler connected to said rail car frame in a longitudinally opposed relation with said first fifth wheel coupler, and at least one railroad car coupler connected to at least one of said first end and said second end;    providing an intermodal rail container/truck trailer, said intermodal rail container/truck trailer including a container platform including a ground side, a sill connected to said container platform on said ground side, said sill including a first end and a second end, at least one sill railroad car coupler connected to at least one of said first end and said second end, at least one fifth wheel pin connected to said ground side of said container, at least one set of landing gear connected to said ground side of said container;    providing a dolly connected to said container platform, said dolly having a frame, a set of road wheels rotatably connected to said frame, a dolly fifth wheel coupler connected to said frame, and a tow bar connected to said frame, said dolly fifth wheel coupler and said tow bar connected to said container platform;    lowering said at least one set of landing gear;    disconnecting said dolly from said container platform;    connecting one said fifth wheel pin to one of said first fifth wheel coupler and said second fifth wheel coupler;    connecting one said sill railroad car coupler to one said railroad car coupler; and    raising said at least one set of landing gear.