U.S. patent application number 10/515025 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-04 for vehicle that can be driven on both roads and railroad tracks.
Invention is credited to Astrom, Jan.
Application Number | 20050166787 10/515025 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20287947 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050166787 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Astrom, Jan |
August 4, 2005 |
Vehicle that can be driven on both roads and railroad tracks
Abstract
A vehicle, particularly a semitrailer, is adapted for driving on
both a road and a railroad track. The semitrailer includes a
traction vehicle, which is joined articulately to a trailer. The
traction vehicle has a front rail-wheel unit and a rear rail-wheel
unit, whereas the trailer includes only one rear rail-wheel unit.
At least one of the two latter rail-wheel units includes drive
means, and one or both of said units may consist of a bogie that
includes two axles, or one or both of said units may be a
single-axle unit. All rail-wheel units are vertically movable to
enable the vehicle to be placed on the railroad and adjacent rubber
wheel to be lifted.
Inventors: |
Astrom, Jan; (Osby,
SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Family ID: |
20287947 |
Appl. No.: |
10/515025 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
May 22, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE03/00831 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
105/215.1 ;
105/215.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60F 1/046 20130101;
B61D 15/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
105/215.1 ;
105/215.2 |
International
Class: |
B61F 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 24, 2002 |
SE |
02015543 |
Claims
1. A vehicle, particularly a so-called semitrailer, for driving
both on a road and a railroad track, said vehicle including a
traction vehicle having a wheel chassis and front steerable wheel
axles and a rear wheel axle, both having road wheels, and a front
and a rear rail-wheel unit located respectively in front of the
front wheels and behind the rear wheels, wherein at least one of
said units can be swung about a vertical shaft and each of which
units has at least one axle which carries rail wheels and which is
movable vertically to bring the rail wheels into engagement with
the railroad track, wherein a trailer provided at least with rear
road wheels is pivotally connected to the traction vehicle via a
vertical rotatable axle located in front of the rear rail-wheel
unit of the traction vehicle; and wherein the trailer includes
behind the rear road wheels a vertically movable third rail wheel
unit which can swing about a vertical axle and which includes at
least one axle carrying rail wheels.
2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two
rear rail-wheel units is comprised of a bogie that has two
rail-wheel axles.
3. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two
rear rail-wheel units has a drive motor for driving at least one
rail-wheel axle.
4. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one rail-wheel
unit, preferably a single-axle rail-wheel unit, includes an
outwardly pivotal support element having an axle carrying a rail
wheel for engagement with the rails when driving the vehicle onto
the railroad track.
5. A vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the rail-wheel unit
provided with said support element can be fixated in its position
parallel with the railroad track and with the longitudinal axis of
the vehicle.
6. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein all rail-wheel units are
provided with drive means.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a
semitrailer, for operation on both road and railroad track, and
more specifically of the kind defined in the preamble of Claim
1.
[0002] A vehicle that can be driven on both roads and railroad
tracks is known to the art; see, for instance, SE,B,7506711-6
(Publication No. 402 343) (Storm) and its American counterpart U.S.
Pat. No. 4,048,925.
[0003] A lighter vehicle, for instance a delivery van or a
corresponding vehicle, that can be driven on both roads and
railroad tracks is described in SE,C,9401479-2 (Publication No. 502
692) (SRS et al).
[0004] Hitherto, it has not been considered possible to equip truly
large and heavy vehicles of the semitrailer type for both road and
railroad operation.
[0005] The difficulties encountered in this regard have mainly been
associated with the understanding that the significant length of
the vehicle and the occurrence of leading swivel axle or kingpin
between the traction vehicle and the trailer would render
impossible an adjustment between the different driving modes, and
particularly driving of the vehicle on railroad tracks. The
invention, however, provides a simple way of avoiding this
difficulty.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to
provide a very long and heavy road vehicle of the semitrailer type
with the elements necessary to enable said vehicle to be driven on
railroad tracks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] This and other objects is/are fulfilled by a vehicle of the
kind that includes the features set forth in the characterising
clause of Claim 1.
[0008] The invention is based on the insight that the vertical
articulated axle with which the trailer part is connected to the
traction vehicle can be used for both driving the vehicle onto the
railroad track in conjunction with adapting the vehicle for
railroad operation and in conjunction with driving from the
railroad track when the vehicle shall be converted from a
railroad-driving mode to a road-driving mode. It is normally
sufficient to use only one railroad-wheel equipped unit on the
trailer, in addition to the two rail-wheel equipped unit, which
according to the present standpoint of techniques are applied to a
vehicle equipped with drive motor and road wheels, in this case the
traction or towing vehicle, namely when said railroad-wheel
equipped unit is arranged behind the road wheels of the
semitrailer.
[0009] Despite the semitrailer being extremely heavy in its
entirety, particularly when fully loaded, and having considerable
length, the invention provides a particularly simple and convenient
solution to the aforesaid problem.
[0010] It is preferred in practice that at least one of the two
rear rail-wheel units is comprised of a bogie that includes two
rail-wheel axles.
[0011] In this regard, preferably at least one of these will be
provided with a vehicle drive motor, for use in conjunction with
driving onto and from the track and partly in connection with
track-bound traffic.
[0012] Particularly when the trailer is equipped with a rail-wheel
unit that has only one axle, the unit is conveniently constructed
in the manner described in the aforesaid earlier publication
SE,C,9401479-2, i.e. a construction which includes an outwardly
pivotal support element that includes an axle for a rail-wheel
intended for engagement with the rails when driven up onto the rail
track. This support element will conveniently be capable of being
fixed in its use position.
[0013] Alternatively, or in addition, the rear rail-wheel unit on
the traction vehicle may be equipped in a corresponding manner.
[0014] A particular advantage afforded by the present invention is
that it enables many alternative designs to be achieved, and
therewith offers significant flexibility with regard to the design
of the rail-wheel equipped units.
[0015] Optionally, only one of these is equipped with drive means,
although alternatively two and even three thereof may include such
drive means.
[0016] Alternatively, or moreover, the driven road wheels may be
used in a railroad-driving mode by engagement with the rails.
[0017] There is normally required a level crossing which is
approximately level with the upper edge of the track, in connection
with driving the semitrailer onto and off from the track.
[0018] Further characteristic features of the invention will be
evident from the following description of several preferred
exemplifying embodiments thereof, with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view of a semitrailer adapted for driving
on a road in accordance with the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the semitrailer of FIG. 1
adapted for driving on a railroad track.
[0021] Sections FIGS. 3a), b), c) and d) are plan views
illustrating the conversion of the vehicle from a road driving mode
to a railroad track driving mode in conjunction with driving a
semitrailer up onto a railroad track.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a semitrailer 20 adapted for driving on a
road A and on a railroad track B respectively. The illustrated
embodiment comprises two main parts, namely a traction vehicle 20a
that has a truck chassis including an engine and front and rear
road wheels 2, 3 mounted on axles 2a, 3a. The front road wheels 2
can be steered in a typical fashion. The embodiment also includes a
trailer 20b having rear road wheels 21, which are connected to the
traction vehicle 20a by means of a vertically pivotal axle 25. In
order to enable the semitrailer to be driven on railroad tracks, it
includes three rail-wheel-equipped units 5, 7 and 22, of which two
such units 5, 7 are mounted on the traction vehicle and one such
unit 22 on the trailer.
[0023] In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the front
rail-wheel unit 5 of the traction vehicle is equipped with a single
axle 4a that carries rail wheels 4 and that is located in front of
the front road-wheel axle 2a. Located between the rear road-wheel
axle 3a is a bogie unit 7 that includes two rail-wheel axles 6a
carrying rail wheels 6. The bogie unit 7 can be swung about a
vertical shaft 8 and can be moved vertically with the aid of a
lifting device 30, as described below.
[0024] The rail-wheel unit 22 of the trailer is comprised of a
bogie of generally the same design as the rail-wheel unit 7. The
bogie thus includes two rail-wheel axles 23a which carries rail
wheels 23 and which can be swung about a vertical shaft 24. Also
included is a lifting device 30 of the same kind as that at the
"intermediate unit" 7.
[0025] All rail-wheel units 5, 7 and 22 are movable vertically for
application of the rail wheels onto the rails and lifting of
adjacent rubber wheels that are no longer in engagement with the
road surface, e.g. when the semitrailer shall be driven up onto a
track B.
[0026] It is also possible to lower the rear road wheels 3 with the
aid of the lifting device 30 of the intermediate unit 7, when
wishing to drive the semitrailer onto the rail track with the aid
of said road wheels. When the traction vehicle is, e.g., a
four-wheel drive, the front rubber wheels, 2 may also be lowered
into engagement with the tracks.
[0027] Lifting and lowering of a bogie unit 7, 22 in relation to
the railroad tracks is achieved with the aid of a device 30 whose
main part includes a fixed horizontal arm or jib 31, a pivotal bar
32, a pivotal link element 33 located between the arm and the bar,
and an hydraulic device 34 which engages the central part of said
link element and which is pivotally mounted at its other end.
[0028] A comparison between FIGS. 1 and 2 will make apparent the
movements carried out by the various elements between the raised
position of the bogie units 7, 22 and the lowered track-engaging
positions of respective bogie units.
[0029] The front single-axle rail-wheel unit 5 can also be moved
into contact with the rails, e.g. with a more or less straight
vertical movement.
[0030] One or both of the bogie units 7, 22 may, alternatively, be
comprised of single-axle units, suitably including an outwardly
pivotal rail-provided support element that can be fixed in its
position of use.
[0031] The various actions carried out in conjunction with adapting
the semitrailer from its road traffic mode to its railroad mode in
conjunction with driving the semitrailer onto the railroad track
will be evident from FIG. 3.
[0032] As shown in section a) of FIG. 3, the semitrailer 20 is
reversed up to the railroad track with all rail-wheel units 5, 7,
22 in the position shown in FIG. 1, i.e. in a raised position.
[0033] When the rear rail-wheel unit 22 has taken the position
shown in section a, the unit is turned to the position in which it
is parallel with the track, whereupon the unit is lowered into
contact with the track with the aid of the lifting device 30, so
that the rear road wheels 21 of the trailer 20b will be raised.
[0034] The traction vehicle is then reversed further, via section b
of said figure, to the position shown in section c of FIG. 3, in
which the rail wheel unit 7 is located above the track. Rotation of
the unit 7 to a parallel setting and application of the unit 7
against the track, is then effected in the same way as for the unit
22, wherewith the rear wheels 3 of the traction vehicle are lifted
away from contact with the underlying surface, i.e. can no longer
be used to further reverse the vehicle.
[0035] Instead, it is necessary that at least one of the rail wheel
units 7 and 22 is equipped with drive means, which is used to
further reverse the semitrailer while guiding the front road wheels
2 to the position shown in section d of FIG. 3.
[0036] The front single-axle rail wheel unit 5 will then lie in a
parallel position over the track. The rail wheels 4 are brought
into contact with the track and the traction vehicle lifted to the
raised position shown in FIG. 2, i.e. the whole of the semitrailer
20 is track-bound with the use of all three rail-wheel units 5, 7,
22. The trailer can then be driven on the railroad track.
[0037] Driving of the semitrailer onto the railroad track requires
a level crossing that is level with the upper edge of the
track.
[0038] It will be understood that the rail-wheel unit 22 of the
trailer need not be equipped with drive means.
[0039] In the absence of such drive means, the driving force in the
road wheels of the traction vehicle is utilised until the
"intermediate unit", i.e. the rear rail-wheel unit 7 of the
traction vehicle, is in contact with the tracks. This rail unit 7
must include drive means capable of achieving continued driving of
the trailer onto the track.
[0040] When the (rear) rail-wheel unit 22 of the trailer 20b is
equipped with drive means, said means is used while steering the
trailer with the front road wheels 2 of the traction vehicle 20a at
the same time, until the "intermediate unit" 7 can be applied to
the railroad track. The unit 7 can thereafter be used as "running
bogie" during the continued sequence, in which the rear rail-wheel
unit 22 continues the pulling operation.
[0041] When the entire semitrailer 20 has been placed on the rails
of the railroad track, the trailer is then driven with the aid of
the rear driving rail-wheel unit 22.
[0042] Alternatively, both rail-wheel units 7 and 22 may be
equipped with a drive motor.
[0043] A further alternative is that all rail-wheel units 5, 7 and
22 can be driven.
[0044] The procedure undertaken to move the vehicle from the
railroad track and convert it to its road-driving mode is carried
out in the reverse order to that described above, i.e. in
accordance with the sequence of events illustrated in sections d,
c, b and a of FIG. 3 in that order, wherewith the front wheels 2 of
the traction vehicle are used to angle the traction vehicle away
from the railroad track while, at the same time, pushing forwards
one of the rear rail-wheel units. The "intermediate unit" 7 can be
lifted in the position of section c of said figure, therewith
enabling the rear wheels 3 of the traction vehicle to be used for
driving purposes.
[0045] In position 3a), the rear rail-wheel unit 22 is lifted
finally, whereafter the vehicle is ready for road driving
purposes.
[0046] Other vehicles that include mutually articulated parts can
be equipped in a corresponding manner for conversion to
railroad-bound traffic.
* * * * *