Patent GB-919795-A (GB)
Title: Freight transportation systems
Inventor: CLEJAN DEODAT
IPC: B61D3/18
Filed: 1960-11-07
Abstract: 919,795. Transferring semi-trailers to and from carrier vehicles. GENERAL AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION. Nov. 7, 1960, No. 38202/60. Class 78 (4). [Also in Group XXXII] A standard 115 (Fig. 1) provided with a fifthwheel mechanism 103<SP>1</SP> for supporting the front of a semi-trailer 200B on a rail truck 101 can be retracted below the top surface of the rail car to leave free passage for the semi-trailer and a towing tractor. In the form illustrated the standard retracts into the hollow centre sill 104 of the rail car as shown in Fig. 7. In this position rollers 120 on it, running on a track 136, engage a stop 137, while rollers 124 are received in a recess 131. The standard is raised about its axle 121 when arms 145 pivoted at 151 to the chassis 301 of a tractor vehicle make a pin-and-slot engagement at 154, 155 with brackets on the standard. As the standard is raised about its shaft 121 pins 158 (Fig. 8) on it engage with latches 157 pivoted to the tractor so that the tractor can tow the standard forwardly to bring the rollers 124 into engagement with a track 130. Continued forward movement of the tractor and of the standard causes ramp portions 135, 127 of the tracks 136, 130 to raise the standard vertically so that its upper surface comes into supporting engagement with the forward end of a semi-trailer towed by the tractor. The fifth wheel mechanism on the tractor can then be released so that the standard can be drawn forwardly beneath the semitrailer to bring its fifth wheel mechanism into engagement with the king pin on the semitrailer. When the tractor has been disconnected from the standard the rear portions 147 of the arms 145 can be folded against spring 148. The standard 115 can now be connected by bolts 170 (Fig. 12) to sockets 167 on a carriage 164 mounted for shock-absorbing movement in the length of the rail car. The bolts 170 are shot utomatically when portions 178 on the catches 157 (Fig. 8) engage pins 175, 177 (Fig. 12) to turn the bolts 170 so that pins 173 on them engage helical slots 174 in their housings. The carriage 164 has flanges 165 (Fig. 13) engaging a set of rubber discs 162 carried between end plates 161 on a spindle 163 fixed to the rail car chassis. The rear end of the semi-trailer may be held down by hooks 403 (Fig. 17) engaging flanges 106 on the centre sill 104 and pivoted at 406 to a carriage 401 supported by rollers 402 from the flanges 106. The hooks 403 are secured by links 408 secured to abutments 407. A hook 412 is drawn into engagement with the rear axle 211 of the semi-trailer by a nut 413 abutting against hook portions of the abutments 407. The king pin on the standard 115 may include jaws 47<SP>1</SP> (Fig. 14) turned about hinges 52<SP>1</SP> to engage the king pin 202 of the semi-trailer and locked by a member 53<SP>1</SP> moved on a shaft 55<SP>1</SP> to engage between the tails 50<SP>1</SP> of the jaws 471. The arrangement may be applied to systems in which the semi-trailer may have narrowgauge wheels 205 (Fig. 1) for engaging the flanges 106 on the centre sill, or alternatively may rest directly through its road wheels 201 on trackways on the rail car.