Patent ID: 8627772
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: B61D,B61F,B61G

Abstract:
1. An improved intermodal rail vehicle to form a train of highway trailers including leading and trailing highway trailers, which are interconnected to each other and supported by the intermodal vehicle for travel on railroad tracks, each of the highway trailers including a leading coupler socket assembly at one end and a trailing coupler socket assembly at the other end, each intermodal rail vehicle having two rail wheel assemblies, two lower frame assemblies into which each of the two rail wheel assemblies are mounted, an upper frame assembly supported on the lower frame assemblies by integral air springs, the upper frame including leading and trailing load carrying structures characterized by the provision of: an integral drawbar assembly mounted on the upper frame assembly and extending above the leading and trailing load carrying structures, each end of the assembly of an associated highway trailer supported on an associated load carrying structure to connect the associated trailer to the intermodal vehicle; wherein the drawbar assembly has a high and a low end; wherein the high end is adapted for entry into the front trailer coupler socket; and wherein the low end is adapted for entry into the rear trailer socket; such that the trailers, when coupled to the intermodal rail vehicle, will run parallel to the track; an improved coupling between the lower frames, the coupling including: a set of plates connected to each of the lower frames and extending between the two lower frames; a set of vertically aligned openings formed in the set of plates; a vertical tapered bushing connected to one of the plates and forming a central opening in alignment with the set of vertically aligned openings; a vertical pin disposed through the set of vertically aligned openings and within the central opening of the tapered bushing; and