Turntable assembly system

Abstract

The present invention provides a turntable assembly system for moving railcars adapted to be concentrically positioned among a plurality of radially aligned pairs of outer railways, comprising: (a) a rotatably mounted platform having a central railway in the form of a plurality of perpendicularly crossing railway tracks; (b) an azimuthally rotatable annular frame with inner and outer ends having a spaced plurality of radially disposed intermediate railways segregated into aligned pairs for selectively aligning with different pairs of said outer railways at the outer ends and aligning with at least one of said perpendicular crossing railway tracks at the inner ends; said azimuthally rotatable annular frame concentrically circumscribing said rotatably mounted platform; and (c) an integrated computer dispatch control system capable of detecting and identifying railcar type information and track destination information.

1 . A turntable assembly system for moving railcars adapted to be concentrically positioned among a plurality of radially aligned pairs of outer railways, comprising:
 a. a rotatably mounted platform having a central railway in the form of a plurality of perpendicularly crossing railway tracks;   b. an azimuthally rotatable annular frame with inner and outer ends having a spaced plurality of radially disposed intermediate railways segregated into aligned pairs for selectively aligning with different pairs of said outer railways at the outer ends and aligning with at least one of said perpendicular crossing railway tracks at the inner ends; said azimuthally rotatable annular frame concentrically circumscribing said rotatably mounted platform; and   c. an integrated computer dispatch control system capable of detecting and identifying railcar type information and track destination information.   
   
   
       2 . The turntable assembly system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a computer controlled operating mechanism capable of directing rotation of the annular frame and the platform into a position for selectively aligning with at least one of said perpendicular crossing railway tracks. 
   
   
       3 . The turntable assembly system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one position sensing device. 
   
   
       4 . The turntable assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer dispatch control system is further comprising a visual turntable display, capable of displaying the relative positions of the railcar and the turntable track. 
   
   
       5 . The turntable assembly system of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one operator interface, wherein an operator directs the computer controlled operating mechanism. 
   
   
       6 . The turntable assembly system of  claim 1 , further comprising a railcar equipment identification reader system capable of identifying railcar equipment by reading an electronically coded identification tag affixed to the railcar equipment. 
   
   
       7 . The identification tag of  claim 6 , wherein the tag comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) device. 
   
   
       8 . The identification tag of  claim 6 , wherein the tag comprises a global positioning system (GPS) device. 
   
   
       9 . The turntable assembly for moving railcars as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the center platform is not less than 200 feet in diameter. 
   
   
       10 . The turntable assembly for moving railcars as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the center platform is non movable, said platform further is comprised of a frame of I-beams in a 4 cross track diamond configuration. 
   
   
       11 . The turntable assembly for moving railcars as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the annular frame is about approximately 200 feet internal diameter at the inner end and about approximately 400 feet external diameter at the outer end. 
   
   
       12 . The turntable assembly for moving railcars as claimed in claim wherein said railway tracks are atop I-beams. 
   
   
       13 . The turntable assembly for moving railcars as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said mounting is in the form of welding, supporting struts, by an overlying or underlying panel thereby providing structural connection between said I-beams. 
   
   
       14 . The turntable assembly for moving railcars as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said I-beam is arranged in the form of a group of concentric regular polygons. 
   
   
       15 . The turntable assembly for moving railcars as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said annular frame also comprises I-beams providing primary support structure to said frame. 
   
   
       16 . The turntable assembly for moving railcars as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising: a plurality of circuitous channels bedded below said annular frame at its perimeter and throughout entire base area; at least a guide member depending from said annular frame and projecting into said circuitous channel for guiding said annular frame. 
   
   
       17 . The turntable assembly for moving railcars as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said guide member is a concrete guide member that provides circuitous channels for the rail bed. 
   
   
       18 . The turntable assembly for moving railcars as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said guiding member(s) is comprised of high strength concrete (6000 p.s.i) designed for Cooper E-80 loading plus 60% impact. 
   
   
       19 . The turntable assembly for moving railcars as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said guiding member is pie shaped and placed at 110 ft. and 490 ft radius respectively. 
   
   
       20 . An azimuthally rotatable annular frame for a turntable assembly having a rotatably mounted platform with railway tracks, adapted to be concentrically positioned among a plurality of radially aligned pairs of outer railways, having a spaded plurality of radially disposed intermediate railways segregated into aligned pairs for selectively aligning with different pairs of said outer railways and at least one of said railway tracks, said azimuthally rotatable annular frame concentrically circumscribing said rotatably mounted platform and provides for moving railcars efficiently thereby reducing railcar dwell time; and an integrated computer dispatch control system capable of detecting and identifying railcar type information and track destination information.