Apparatus and method for intermodal conversion of transport vehicles; rail-to-highway and highway-to-rail

Abstract

This invention is an apparatus and method for reversible intermodal conversion of transport tractors and trailers, highway-to-rail. Trailer add-ons are wheel mount shims and an axle housing draft sill pin receptacle. No add-ons are required for tractors. Highway-to-rail conversion involves securing a rail interface apparatus, consisting of rail carriage assemblies, bogies, and end coupler draft sills beneath each vehicle to align and bear loads-to-rails, and to provide draft load transfer. Staging is on paved grade slightly above rail level. Vehicle conversion is made without loading/unloading mechanized infrastructure, add-on weight, wheel removal, or powered actuators. Full use of inherent vehicle suspension and anti-roll devices is afforded. Draft sills, pneumatic brake lines, and knuckle couplers are employed for train configurations. Draft may be afforded by either a locomotive or a rail converted highway tractor.

1 . A rail interface apparatus for intermodal conversion of transport trailers, including those designed for highway transit of maritime containerized cargo, rail-to-highway and highway-to-rail comprising: (a) a rail car carriage assembly with solid wheels, brakes, suspension, and mechanical draft coupler; (b) a rail compatible bogie assembly with solid wheels and draft sill mounting pin; (c) a draft sill with end-fitted mechanical draft and pneumatic couplers, trailer axle housing receptacle interface pin, and trailer tandem axle load bearing cradles; (d) said trailer tandem axle load bearing cradles are dimensioned to afford trailer tire vertical clearance above grade crossing pavement; (e) said rail car carriage assembly is fitted on the upper side with a highway tractor fifth wheel; (f) said rail car carriage assembly is fitted with a conventional rail car coupler for draft by a locomotive; (g) said rail car carriage assembly is pivot pinned on the underside with said draft sill; and (h) said rail compatible bogie is pivot pin attached to said draft sill at the end opposite said rail car carriage assembly.  
   
   
       2 . A trailer mounted apparatus for said inter-modal conversion of transport trailers; rail-to-highway and highway-to-rail comprising: (a) a receptacle affixed to said trailer tandem forward axle housing to receive said draft sill interface pin; and (b) trailer wheel shims attached to said transport trailer axle wheel flanges to position and attach pneumatic tire mounted wheels outboard for horizontal clearance with said rail compatible bogie wheels.  
   
   
       3 . A rail interface apparatus for intermodal conversion of transport tractors rail-to-highway and highway-to-rail comprising: (a) an articulated draft sill with end fitted mechanical draft and pneumatic couplers; (b) a draft sill gooseneck fitting with a tractor fifth wheel compatible pin fitted on the forward-most lower surface and a trailer interface fifth wheel on said fitting forward-most upper surface; (c) a forward and aft set of rail compatible solid wheel bogies with pivot pin attachment to said draft sill; (d) said draft sill consists of two elements, joined with a linch-pin, for mating said fore bogie draft sill clevis and said aft bogie draft sill; (e) said fore and aft bogies are fitted with tractor front and rear tandem axle load bearing cradles; (f) said tractor front axle load bearing cradles are dimensioned to afford vertical clearance of front tires above grade crossing pavement; and (g) said tractor rear tandem axle load bearing cradles are vertically adjustable to afford optimum pneumatic tire contact with rails for traction drive, or vertical clearance above tracks for un-powered rail transit.  
   
   
       4 . An optional trailer rail interface apparatus configuration positions said tractor fore rail bogie beneath said trailer for axle load bearing and draft coupling to a rail converted tractor/trailer unit. Said option applies a draft adapter for draft sill extension and pin interface with said trailer axle housing pin receptacle.  
   
   
       5 . A rail coupler adapter for interfacing conventional rail couplers with said draft sill end couplers comprising: (a) a riser pin which transfers draft load between conventional rail car/locomotive couplers at standard elevation and said rail interface apparatus draft sill end couplers at non-standard elevation; (b) said riser pin is vertically secured by a head and bottom end clip; (c) said riser pin is surrounded by a bushing positioned in the inter-coupler vertical space; and (d) said bushing functions as an eccentric moment load transfer element between said couplers.  
   
   
       6 . The method of intermodal transition of highway trailers from highway-to-rail using said rail interface apparatus and trailer securing apparatus as follows: (a) a highway trailer with said trailer wheel shims and said tandem forward axle housing pin receptacle is aligned with rails by a highway tractor on a paved stage exhibiting slight elevation above rail upper surfaces; (b) said highway trailer is front-end jacked with the standard (intrinsic) trailer front dolly; (c) said highway tractor is decoupled from the fifth wheel attachment pin and relocated off tracks; (d) said trailer rail interface apparatus is positioned on said rails, backed to a mating position under said highway trailer by a rail motive power vehicle or equivalent; (e) said rail interface apparatus is fifth wheel hitched to said trailer hitch pin, said trailer dolly is retracted and said rear axle receptacle/draft sill pin aligned; (f) said combination of trailer and rail interface apparatus is translated by a rail motive power vehicle from said elevated staging position, wherein said trailer descends to engage said draft sill pin/receptacle and bear rear tandem axles on said cradles; (g) said combination of trailer and rail interface apparatus is adapted as a unit for rail line transport, with said pneumatic tire mounted wheels elevated to clear grade crossing pavement; (h) coupling of multiple said rail compatible units constitutes a train of un-powered transport vehicles; and (i) reverse of the procedure delineated above is executed for transition from rail-to-highway mode of transit.  
   
   
       7 . The method of intermodal transition of highway tractors from highway-to-rail using a tractor rail interface apparatus for conversion of highway tractors to rail operation as follows: (a) Said tractor is aligned with rails on an elevated paved staging area; (b) said rail interface apparatus for inter-modal conversion of transport tractors rail-to-highway and highway-to-rail is positioned on tracks with said fore bogie forward and said aft bogie behind said tractor; (c) said aft bogie draft sill gooseneck fitting is hitched to said tractor fifth wheel; (d) said fore bogie is positioned to linch pin couple said fore and aft draft sills; (e) once pinned by placing a bogie side bell crank lever to the locked position, the rail compatible mated unit is translated off the staging position where tractor axles bear on said bogie cradles; (f) said tractor rear tire pressure and said height adjustable axle cradles are set for optimum pneumatic tire contact with rails for traction use; (g) said height adjustment may alternatively be set for drive wheel tire vertical clearance above rails in an un-powered transit mode; (h) said rail transitioned tractor may form the lead unit in a train of multiple rail transitioned trailer units; and (i) reverse of the procedure delineated above is executed for transition from rail-to-highway mode of transit.  
   
   
       8 . The method of intermodal transition of a highway tractor/trailer combination from highway-to-rail using a tractor fore bogie interface apparatus and draft adapter for conversion of highway tractors to rail operation as follows: (a) Said tractor is aligned with rails on an elevated paved staging area; (b) said rail interface apparatus for intermodal conversion of transport tractors rail-to-highway and highway-to-rail is positioned on tracks with said fore bogie forward and said aft bogie behind said tractor; (c) said aft bogie draft sill gooseneck fitting is hitched to said tractor fifth wheel; (d) said fore bogie is positioned to clevis pin couple said fore and aft draft sills; (e) once pinned, the rail compatible mated unit is translated off the staging position where tractor axles bear on said bogie cradles; (f) said tractor rear tire pressure and said height adjustable axle cradles are set for optimum pneumatic tire contact with rails for traction use; (g) said height adjustment may alternatively be set for drive wheel tire vertical clearance above rails in an un-powered transit mode; (h) next, said trailer is positioned on said staging area and a separate tractor fore bogie is placed beneath said trailer, the coupler positioned forward of the trailer front; (i) said draft adapter is translated forward from the aft end of said trailer to pin couple with said fore bogie draft sill clevis; (j) said combination of tractor/trailer and rail interface apparatus is translated by a rail motive power vehicle from said elevated staging position, wherein said tractor/trailer unit descends to engage said draft sill pin/receptacle and bear rear tandem axles on said cradles; (k) said combination of tractor/trailer and rail interface apparatus for each is adapted as a unit for rail line transport, with said trailer pneumatic tire mounted front wheels elevated to clear grade crossing pavement and said tractor rear tires bearing on rails for traction use; (l) alternatively, with said tractor drive wheels elevated above track level, coupling of multiple said rail compatible units constitutes a train of un-powered transport vehicles; and (m) reverse of the procedure delineated above is executed for transition from rail-to-highway mode of transit.