Method for Transferring a Shipping Container in a Rail Yard

Abstract

A method for preparing an inbound container for transfer from an inbound train to a final destination is disclosed. The method involves providing a crane operator in a railroad terminal with a pre-assigned buffer amongst a plurality of buffers along side a train track in which to place the inbound container; recording the time the crane operator places the inbound container in the pre-assigned buffer where the pre-assigned buffer is comprised of a plurality of vertical supports, independent of an overhead lifting device and defining a containment cavity; sensing that the inbound container has been placed in its pre-assigned buffer; securing the inbound container in a containment cavity of the pre-assigned buffer; confirming with a customer service information management system that the inbound container is delivered to its pre-assigned buffer; and transmitting via the customer service information management system, a message that the inbound container is available for further transfer.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for preparing an inbound container for transfer from an inbound train to a final destination:
 providing a crane operator with a pre-assigned buffer amongst a plurality of buffers along side a train track in which to place the inbound container;   recording a time the crane operator places the inbound container in the pre-assigned buffer said pre-assigned buffer being comprised of a plurality of vertical supports, independent of an overhead lifting device and defining a containment cavity;   sensing that the inbound container has been placed in its pre-assigned buffer;   securing the inbound container in the containment cavity of the pre-assigned buffer;   confirming with a customer service information management system that the inbound container is delivered to its pre-assigned buffer; and   transmitting via the customer service information management system, a message that the inbound container is available for further transfer.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pressure switch located in each one of the plurality of buffers; and 
 the pressure switch signals when the inbound container has been placed in the buffer. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of notifying a shipper when the inbound container is secured in the buffer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the overhead lifting device is a crane. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 lowering, within the buffer, the inbound container to a truck chassis; and 
 recording a time the inbound container and chassis leave the buffer. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of: notifying a shipper that the inbound container has been removed from the buffer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-assigned buffer has a longitudinal axis that is positioned at an angle of at least ten degrees with respect the train track. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-assigned buffer senses at least one of the inbound container's height, length and alignment. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inbound container remains in the pre-assigned buffer for a period of time before being loaded on the truck chassis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the period of time is greater than two hours but less than 24 hours. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the period of time is less than two hours. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the period of time is greater than 24 hours. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each one of the plurality of buffers are positioned along side the train track adjacent to one another;   each one of a plurality of inbound containers are assigned to a corresponding one of the plurality of buffers; and   said plurality of inbound containers share a common characteristic.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the common characteristic shared by the plurality of inbound containers is a destination city. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the common characteristic shared by the plurality of inbound container is a length of the containers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of vertical supports include:
 an elevation device; and   a side latch for engaging the inbound container