Loading assembly for a vehicle

Abstract

An assembly is provided that may include a platform that may be coupled with a vehicle. The platform may rotate from a first platform position to a second platform position relative to a chassis of the vehicle. The assembly may include an extendable ramp coupled to the platform and configured to extend relative to the platform from a first ramp position to a second ramp position. This ramp may be positioned in the second platform position to allow a second vehicle to be driven up the ramp and onto the first vehicle, with the ramp then moved to the first platform position to allow the first vehicle to carry the second vehicle to another location. The ramp can be moved to the first platform position to the second platform position to allow the second vehicle to disembark from the first vehicle and travel separately from the first vehicle.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a platform rotatably coupled with a vehicle, the platform configured to rotate from a first platform position to a second platform position relative to a chassis of the vehicle; and   a ramp coupled to the platform at a proximate tip of the platform and configured to pivot relative to the platform from a first ramp position to a second ramp position.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a rail vehicle, and the platform is configured to accept and to discharge a second vehicle that is not a rail vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a mounting device configured to accept and discharge the second vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is configured to remain at about the same height and generally level with a top surface of the chassis, and the ramp is configured to reversibly pivot so that a distal tip of the ramp is lower relative to the proximate tip of the platform. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is coupled to the chassis by a motorized turntable and includes a locking mechanism to selectively prevent rotation of the platform. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ramp is extendable and includes at least one actuator for moving the ramp from the first ramp position to a second ramp position. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rail frame coupled to the platform and having a first rail and a second rail, and the ramp is disposed between the first rail and the second rail. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connector configured to conductively couple to a first energy storage device in a second vehicle, and thereby to transfer electrical energy from offboard the second vehicle to the first energy storage device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining mechanism on the platform configured to couple to a second vehicle and prevent movement of the second vehicle on the platform. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a platform sensor associated with the platform configured to provide signals related to whether the platform is locked in the first platform position. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more processors configured to determine the platform is not locked in the first platform position based on the signals provided by the platform sensor, and prevent movement of the vehicle based on determining the platform is not locked in the first platform position. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a ramp sensor associated with the ramp configured to provide signals related to whether the ramp is locked in a first position. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more processors configured to determine the ramp is not locked in the first position based on the signals provided by the ramp sensor, and prevent movement of the vehicle based on determining the ramp is not locked in the first position. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle locking mechanism on the platform and configured to secure the vehicle to the platform. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 rotating platform of a vehicle of a vehicle system from a first platform position to a second platform position;   extending a ramp coupled to the platform at a proximate tip of the platform from a first position to a second position;   loading a second vehicle onto the platform;   retracting the ramp from the second position to the first position after the second vehicle is loaded onto the platform;   rotating the platform from the second platform position to the first platform position after retracting the ramp to the first position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein loading the second vehicle onto the platform includes coupling a mounting device on the platform to the second vehicle and pulling the second vehicle onto the platform with the mounting device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising, locking the platform in the first platform position after rotating the platform from the second platform position to the first platform position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein in the first platform position, the vehicle is aligned with another vehicle of the vehicle system. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a platform rotatably coupled with a vehicle, and the platform is configured to move from a first platform position to a second platform position relative to a chassis of the vehicle;   a ramp coupled to the platform at a proximate tip of the platform and configured to pivot or move relative to the platform from a first position to a second position; and   a mounting device on the platform configured to couple to a second vehicle and pull the second vehicle onto the platform.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a controller having one or more processors that are configured to:
 receive signals related to a position or orientation of the platform, the ramp, or both relative to the chassis;   determine the platform, the ramp, or both is or are not aligned in a determined manner relative to the chassis; and   prevent or block movement of a vehicle system, or a component of a vehicle in the vehicle system, based on determining the platform is not in the determined alignment with the chassis.