Abstract:
The invention relates to a removable supporting cross-member ( 1 ) comprising: a built-in adjustable-height fifth wheel ( 18 ) for receiving the kingpin of semi-trailer, and front ( 26, 27 ) and rear ( 28 ) openings for the passage of the fork arms of a forklift truck or tractor. The invention can be used for moving a semi-trailer, positioning the semi-trailer horizontally on a carriage and securing same for transport, as well as for the corresponding operations during unloading, using only a forklift truck or tractor suitably dimensioned for the loads to be supplied. The invention is suitable for use by those involved in intermodal trail transport.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a National Stage completion of PCT/IB2011/050965 filed Mar. 8, 2011, which claims priority from French patent application serial no. 10/00923 filed Mar. 8, 2010. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The invention relates to a supporting cross-member that can be removed and manipulated for the loading, unloading and rail transportation of a semi-trailer using an intermodal transport railway car, and to the method of loading this semi-trailer onto the car. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    Semi-trailers are now transported by rail more and more frequently. 
         [0004]    They are loaded onto special cars and secured to ensure they are kept in place for the entire journey. 
         [0005]    The semi-trailers are loaded and unloaded in mixed roadway and rail terminals according to different techniques. 
         [0006]    One currently preferred technique consists of using cars with a supporting railway structure that can be disconnected from the movable base, specifically by pivoting either centrally or at one extremity. 
         [0007]    If the structure pivots centrally, access or egress is possible at either one of its extremities, whereas if it pivots at one extremity, this leaves only one extremity free for the semi-trailer to enter and leave before and after transport. 
         [0008]    There are also other possible ways to open it, such as for example, the lateral translation of the supporting railway structure or vertical manipulation using a lifting device. 
         [0009]    French Patent No. FR 2884479 owed by ARBEL FAUVET RAIL corporation describes a housing designed to receive a semi-trailer and the railway car equipped with such a housing. 
         [0010]    According to this invention, a removable technical assembly for attaching the semi-trailer using its kingpin is attached by moving it translationally to the end of a receptor housing on a semi-trailer. This housing is equipped with two tracks and its arms rest on the rail car girders, constituting the removable base supporting the semi-trailer. A removable technical assembly comprises a socket to which a pillar or a column is attached supporting at its intermediate portion a cross-member and at its upper portion a fifth connecting wheel for the kingpin of the semi-trailer. This cross-member has receptor cases for the gripping elements of a handling apparatus. Locking and unlocking means are also provided. 
         [0011]    The removable technical assembly of this invention can only be used with the receptor means on its socket by engaging a repositionable housing supported by a rail car, constituting the base of the car upon which the semi-trailer rests during transport. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    Conversely, the present invention applies to all types of rail cars for transporting semi-trailers without any need for a special structure such as the housing described above to transport them. It is not dependent upon a particular supporting structure forming part of an assembly of specific elements for rail transportation of semi-trailers. It can be attached to the end of a rail car onto conventional rail car structural elements, requiring no specific supplemental device. 
         [0013]    To accomplish this, there is a removable supporting cross-member, lightweight and compact, with an integrated fifth wheel, adjustable in height, allowing the semi-trailer to be displaced, to be placed horizontally upon the supporting railway structure forming part of the rail car, secured for rail transport and the operations reversed during unloading, all using only a simple tractor, forklift or other handling device appropriately dimensioned for the work to be performed. 
         [0014]    One of the principal goals of the invention is the ability to transport any semi-trailer in horizontal position in a rail car using a simple assembly and mechanism to quickly adjust the distance of the fifth wheel relative to body of the cross-member, that is, its height relative to the ground, and to do this prior to loading the semi-trailer onto the rail car. To do this, the removable assembly formed by the fifth wheel and its support must be as thin as possible and capable of being put into operation quickly and easily. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0015]    Other characteristics and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, provided byway of example and accompanied by the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the front of the supporting cross-member according to the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the front of the supporting cross-member according to the invention positioned for transportation, that is, positioned on the extremity of a supporting railway structure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a plane overhead view of the supporting cross-member according to the invention 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a profile view of the supporting cross-member according to the invention showing the fifth wheel; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the supporting cross-member according to the invention showing the openings for the fork on the lifting device; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the rear of the supporting cross-member in place on the supporting railway structure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a profile view of a portion of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 8 through 15  are successive schematic representations showing implementation of the supporting cross-member according to the invention in which, 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  shows how a forklift grips the cross-member on the ground, with a semi-trailer stopped nearby and resting on its support posts; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  shows the positioning of the cross-member on the kingpin of the semi-trailer resting on its support posts; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show a first variation of the operation of adjusting the height of the fifth wheel without using the forklift, with the forklift advancing to free the cross-member in  FIG. 10  and the operator adjusting the height of the fifth wheel using a mechanism that is part of the cross-member in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  shows a second variation of the operation of adjusting the height of the fifth wheel, this time using a forklift; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  shows the transportation of the semi-trailer using a forklift, with the semi-trailer in a slightly inclined position so it no longer rests on its supports; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a plane view representing the semi-trailer during loading; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a plane view with the semi-trailer in place for transport and the supporting cross-member contacting the longitudinal side elements of the supporting railway structure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    Supporting cross-member  1  according to the invention is designed to serve as a temporary support for manipulating a semi-trailer  2  to be transported in a railway transport car  3 , specifically an intermodal car, and to block it in all directions during rail transport. 
         [0032]    The maneuvers displacing semi-trailer  2  from its parked position where it rests on supports  4  to rail car  3  take place using a conventional type of tractor or forklift  5  with forks  6 . This type of tractor or forklift exists currently in shipping ports. 
         [0033]    It is also possible to use other types of handling devices such as a gantry crane or other crane type of lifting mechanism or cargo beam, for example. 
         [0034]    The removable, manipulable supporting cross-member  1  of the invention is a thin, relatively flat structure similar to the well-known pallet used for supporting merchandise; it can be entirely manipulated using a tractor or forklift  5  with conventional forks or other device suitably dimensioned for the work to be performed. 
         [0035]    The body of cross-member  1  is preferably a metal structure that is flanged or in a mechanically soldered frame with a generally rectangular perimeter, for example with the long rear side  7  being rectilinear and the front side having a straight central segment  8  extending on either side into an oblique segment  9  and  10 , each rejoining a flat lateral edge portion  11  and  12  preferably with an inverted L-shape section, each forming a right angle wedge with a flat contact edge  13  and  14 . The portions forming the long front and rear sides may have a C-shaped section, for example. 
         [0036]    Cross-member  1  preferably comprises two rigidifying interior portions  15  and  16  defining a central space  17  occupied by a fifth wheel  18 . Wheel  18  is preferably mounted so as to pivot on a transverse horizontal axis and supported by two angled levers or rods  19  or  20 , also pivoting, or the like, on interior elements  15  and  16 . Fifth wheel  18  can be locked with a conventional bolt actuated with a handle, for example, and displaced upwards and locked by a lifting mechanism, not shown. 
         [0037]    Fifth wheel  18  is a known type that is compatible with the kingpin  48  of the semi-trailers to be loaded and generally consists of the usual type of fifth wheel. 
         [0038]    The fifth wheel  18  is the equivalent of those that exist on tractor trailer trucks for coupling to semi-trailers to be transported. 
         [0039]    Fifth wheel  18  has a contact area  22  with two inclined ramps  23  and  24  defining between them a V-shaped entry zone  25  for the kingpin  48  of the semi-trailer  2 . 
         [0040]    Fifth wheel  18  is adjustable in height relative to the body of cross-member  1  using a conventional lifting mechanism, not shown. This lifting mechanism allows the height of fifth wheel  18  to be adjusted. The lifting and adjusting mechanism may be actuated by an operator, from the side, for example, as in the operating variation shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . It may also be designed for actuation by modifying the height of fork  6  on forklift  5  as in the variation shown in  FIG. 12 , or by any equivalent means on the handling device used. 
         [0041]    This mechanism is automatically locked to recover all the vertical force coming from the semi-trailer  2 . Kingpin  48 , engaged with fifth wheel  18 , is blocked in all directions. Cross-member  1 , the supporting mechanism for fifth wheel  18  and the fifth wheel itself ensure that semi-trailer  2  is maintained during the handling operations and during rail transport, in the course of which cross-member  1  contacts the upper edges of the supporting rail structure and is immobilized against them, as will be seen below. 
         [0042]    In the embodiment shown, supporting cross-member  1  also has on its long front side two front openings  26  and  27  that are calibrated and preferably symmetrical relative to the longitudinal median plane for the passage of the arms  6  on the tractor or forklift  5 . These front openings are preferably duplicated by two identical rear openings  28  and  29 . 
         [0043]    The arms of fork  6  can therefore rest on these openings  26  through  29  when moving vertically. 
         [0044]    As previously indicated, it is possible to use other handling devices. Naturally, the mechanical interface between the gripping elements of these devices and the cross-member may be modified depending upon the type of handling device used. 
         [0045]    For example, if a crane is used, openings  26  through  29  used as passageways for the arms of fork  6  on forklift  5  may be replaced by recovery rings for the cargo slings. 
         [0046]    Other interfaces may exist on this cross-member allowing it to be used with various handling devices. 
         [0047]    According to a preferred embodiment, lateral edge sections  11  and  12  forming the end cross-members each have two immobilizing openings  30 ,  31  and  32 ,  33  through which projections or immobilizing pins  34 ,  35  and  36 ,  37  on car  3  will pass. 
         [0048]    These projections  34  through  37  visible in  FIGS. 2 ,  6  and  7  are integral with upper edges  38  and  39  of right longitudinal element  40  and left longitudinal element  41  on the side of a supporting railway structure  42  that pivots at one extremity, one non-limiting example of which has been shown in  FIGS. 2 through 6 . Railway structure  42  has two front extremities  43  and  44  with openings  45  and  46  and hook shaped terminal structures  47 . 
         [0049]    Projections  34  through  37  are accessible from the top. 
         [0050]    They may, of course, consist of mechanical blocks that are removable or connected to upper edges  38 ,  39  by a hinge or other articulation or temporary attachment means or they may be attached to these edges in some other way. 
         [0051]    Said projections  34  through  37  may include a locking function such as, for example, bolts or twisting locks. These projections guarantee that the front of the trailer is immobilized and maintained throughout transport. 
         [0052]    Projections  34  through  37  may be simple pieces or elements with integrated locks, for example, the twisting types of locks used for attaching ISO containers. 
         [0053]    Obviously other means of immobilizing cross-member  1  on supporting railway structure  42  may be conceived by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Projections  34  through  37  on supporting railway structure  42  might be replaced by any type of locking fingers or hooks, and openings  30  through  33  in cross-member  1  by any type of rings or immobilizing cavities. 
         [0054]    Likewise, the immobilizing openings and projections may be reversed with cross-member  1  having the projections, pins, fingers, hooks or other immobilizing projections and supporting railway structure  42  having the immobilizing openings or cavities with which the projecting immobilizing structures engage. 
         [0055]    It is possible to envision any other suitable means for immobilizing cross-member  1  on supporting railway structure  42 , and more generally, on a rail car structure at one of its extremities. 
         [0056]    To facilitate placement of cross-member  1 , indexes and a stop (not shown) are advantageously provided on each of the upper edges  38 ,  39  of longitudinal side elements  40 ,  41  of the supporting railway structure  42  at the appropriate level, as well as auto-centering structures. 
         [0057]    Obviously, it is possible to attach cross-member  1  to any other structural element located at the rail car extremity. 
         [0058]    Next, the phase of loading a semi-trailer  2  using supporting cross-member  1  of the invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 8 through 15 . 
         [0059]    Semi-trailer  2  has been separated from its towing vehicle and awaits loading in a parking area. Its front portion rests on support posts  4 . 
         [0060]    Supporting member  1 , having been brought from another loading operation or from storage, is placed on the ground or is already held by the chariot or forklift. This device raises cross-member  1  by engaging its fork arms  6  in front openings  26 ,  27  and then rear openings  28 ,  29  of cross-member  1 . It lifts it to the appropriate height for attachment to kingpin  28 . This operation is simplified by the converging shape of the entry area  25  on fifth wheel  18 . Kingpin  48  of semi-trailer  2  is locked into fifth wheel  18  in the same way it is articulated to a towing vehicle. 
         [0061]    The operator regulates either manually ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ) or by actuating the lifting mechanism for fork  6  of tractor  5  ( FIG. 12 ) the height of cross-member  1  relative to the ground or the separation between the body of cross-member  1  and fifth wheel  18  so as to obtain the correct distance necessary for semi-trailer  2  to be approximately in horizontal transport position on rail car  3  provided for this purpose. This regulation is accomplished by acting on the connecting mechanism, called the lifting mechanism, above, that is between fifth wheel  18  and cross-member  1 , an action which results in variations in the separation between them and thus in the vertical position of cross-member  1  relative to the ground. 
         [0062]    Next, the front of semi-trailer  2  is raised to free support posts  4  from contact with the ground ( FIG. 13 ). Semi-trailer  2  is pulled by forklift  5  and its rear portion placed opposite the extremity of supporting structure  42  with car  3  in the open pivoted position in which it moves backwards when pushed by forklift  5  ( FIG. 14 ). 
         [0063]    In another type of loading operation, for example, when the railway structure is open at both ends, the forklift may traverse the length of it while pulling the semi-trailer. 
         [0064]    Having arrived opposite the indexes and in abutment with the block (not shown) on each upper edge  38 ,  39  of longitudinal side elements  40 ,  41  of supporting railway structure  42 , supporting cross-member  1  is centered with the help of converging shapes so that its immobilizing openings  30  through  33  arrive opposite immobilizing projections  34  through  37  on supporting railway structure  42 . A very slight lowering motion allows cross-member  1  to come to rest upon upper edges  38 ,  39  of supporting railway structure  42  at the flat portion of each of its lateral edge elements  11 ,  12 . Depending on the situation, it is locked in the area of the openings using twisting or other types of locks. 
         [0065]    In this state, semi-trailer  2  is correctly centered in the supporting railway structure  42 , resting vertically on its wheels and horizontally or quasi-horizontally on fifth wheel  18 . Support posts  4  are released and semi-trailer  2  is locked in all directions according to the regulations in effect. 
         [0066]    Next, or before locking takes place, fork  6  is disengaged from cross-member  1  by the forward movement of forklift  5 . This device is then available for another loading or unloading operation ( FIG. 15 ). 
         [0067]    Rail car  3  is then closed by pivoting supporting railway structure  42  and it is ready for departure. Once the rail car is closed, the semi-trailer conforms to railway clearance dimensions. 
         [0068]    Unloading is accomplished by performing all the operations described above in reverse order. 
         [0069]    As previously indicated, other modes and handling devices may be used, with the above operations taking place in more or less the same way.