Patent ID: 7455265

Claim:
A lift apparatus for a railway surveillance vehicle, said lift apparatus being connected to an end of a train engine and arranged to secure and release said surveillance vehicle, wherein said lift apparatus is movable between a first position in which said surveillance vehicle can be stored on said end of the train engine and a second position in which said surveillance vehicle can be released onto a railway track or retrieved from said railway track; wherein said lift apparatus comprises at least one extension arm, wherein said at least one extension arm is pivotable to extend and retract said lift apparatus, and a lift arm connected to said at least one extension arm, wherein said lift arm is arranged to engage said surveillance vehicle; wherein said lift apparatus comprises a lift arm support connecting said at least one extension member to said lift arm, wherein said lift arm support is extendable and retractable to vary a position of said lift arm; wherein said lift arm comprises a rotatable base arm connecting said lift arm to said lift arm support, said rotatable base being arranged to rotate said lift arm about a central axis of the lift arm; and wherein said lift arm comprises a pair of fork arms extending from said rotatable base arm, said fork arms being arranged to engage lift tubes on opposing sides of said surveillance vehicle.