Method and apparatus for intermodal container handling

摘要

A rail-road intermodal freight system. In an embodiment, a conveyor system is provided for placing rail cars in a position for loading shipping containers thereon, while an over-the-road trailer is secured to the rail car. Rail cars have a frame with a front end and a rear end, and a bogie having at least four flanged rail wheels is pivotally mounted to the rear of the frame of the rail car. A method for unloading the rail cars includes lifting the front of the frame of the rail cars and pivoting the rail cars by an angle alpha from the track direction at an unloading area, and lowering the front end of the frame to the ground to allow truck access to trailers on the rail car. By utilizing the method, efficient loading and unloading of train involved in intermodal shipments may save considerable time, and thus reduce costs.

主权项

1. Apparatus for loading shipping containers on over-the-road trailers at a rail siding including a pair of spaced apart rails configured for movement of rail cars thereon, said apparatus comprising:
a rail car, said rail car comprising
a frame, said frame having a front and a rear,a bogie having a chassis;said frame pivotally supported above said bogie, said bogie comprising at least four flanged main rail wheels and a suspension package between said bogie chassis and said at least four flanged main rail wheels;a pair of flanged auxiliary rail wheels, said flanged auxiliary rail wheels located forward of said at least four flanged main rail wheels, and disposed downwardly from said frame by opposing first and second gear leg struts, said first and second gear leg struts spaced apart by a cross-brace, said flanged auxiliary rail wheels configured to support said rail car while traversing a rail siding;a conveyor hook, said conveyor hook extending below said frame, said conveyor hook having an arm with a proximal end pivotally affixed to said frame and a distal end with a downwardly extending hook portion extending therefrom;extending upward from said frame, a hitch, said hitch comprising a steel mating plate and clamping jaws, said clamping jaws adapted to lock thereto a king pin extending downward from an over-the-road trailer.