All purpose railway spine car
US5407309A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 1993 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB61F1/02
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved articulated railway spine car unit for carrying highway truck trailers and/or containers has a center sill which extends substantially the entire length of the car unit. The center sill has end portions with upper surfaces depressed with respect to the upper surface of a longitudinally extended center portion. A retractable fifth wheel or trailer hitch is located on the upper surface of at least one end portion of the center sill. The upper surface of the trailer hitch, when retracted onto the center sill, is at substantially the same level as the center portion of the center sill. The raised center sill center portion both provides backup support for the floors of containers carried on the car unit, and also increases the center sill's structural rigidity and resistance to bending deflection. Stowable container locks extending through trailer wheel decks on the car unit are provided with pivotable covers which cover the locks and associated wheel deck openings when the locks are stowed, and secure the locks in their upright position when a container is to be mounted thereon.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.