Railroad trailer chassis
View Patent ↗A railroad trailer chassis comprising two or more road axles, two or more rail axles operable to be moved between first and second positions, and a work unit. The railroad trailer chassis is operable to be driven or towed in a road mode when the two or rail axles are in their respective first positions. The railroad trailer chassis is operable to be driven or towed in a rail mode when the two or more rail axles are in their respective second positions. The work unit is operable to perform one or more railroad maintenance or operation functions when driven in the rail mode.
1. A railroad trailer chassis, comprising:
two or more road axles;
two or more rail axles operable to be moved between first and second positions; and
a work unit;
a foldable trailer towing hitch operable to, in a horizontal orientation, couple the railroad trailer chassis to a tow vehicle;
wherein the railroad trailer chassis is operable to be driven or towed in a road mode when the two or more rail axles are in their respective first positions;
wherein the railroad trailer chassis is operable to be driven or towed in a rail mode when the two or more rail axles are in their respective second positions;
wherein the work unit is operable to perform one or more railroad maintenance or operation functions when driven in the rail mode; and
wherein the two or more rail axles are coupled to the work unit.
2. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 1 , wherein the two or more rail axles are hydraulically powered.
3. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 2 , wherein the two or more rail axles extend downwardly in their respective second positions, raising the two or more road axles above a rail.
4. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 1 , wherein the two or more rail axles each further comprise two rail wheels.
5. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 4 , wherein the rail wheels interact with a rail when the two or more rail axles are in their respective second positions.
6. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 1 , wherein the two or more road axles are operable to be moved between first and second positions.
7. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 6 , wherein the railroad trailer chassis is operable to be driven or towed in the road mode when the two or more road axles are in their respective first positions.
8. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 6 , wherein the railroad trailer chassis is operable to be driven or towed in the rail mode when the two or more road axles are in their respective second positions.
9. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 1 , wherein the two or more road axles each further comprise two road wheels and two tires.
10. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 9 , wherein the road tires interact with a road when the two or more rail axles are in their respective first positions.
11. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 1 , wherein the work unit is removably attached to the railroad trailer chassis as a modular component.
12. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 1 , wherein the work unit is integrated with the railroad trailer chassis as a singular component.
13. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 1 , wherein the railroad trailer chassis is operable to be controlled by an external remote control in a drone configuration.
14. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 1 , further comprising a lifting device operable to move the two or more rail axles and the work unit between first and second positions together.
15. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 14 , further comprising a driving mechanism operable to propel the railroad trailer chassis down a rail, the driving mechanism being coupled to the work unit such that the driving mechanism moves between first and second positions with the work unit.
16. A railroad trailer chassis, comprising:
two or more road axles coupled to one or more friction drives;
two or more rail axles coupled to the one or more friction drives, the two or more rail axles operable to be pivoted between first and second positions; and
a work unit;
a foldable trailer towing hitch operable to, in a horizontal orientation, couple the railroad trailer chassis to a tow vehicle;
wherein the railroad trailer chassis is operable to be driven or towed in a road mode when the two or more rail axles are in their respective first positions;
wherein the railroad trailer chassis is operable to be driven or towed in a rail mode when the two or more rail axles are in their respective second positions;
wherein the work unit is operable to perform one or more railroad maintenance or operation functions when driven in the rail mode; and
wherein the two or more rail axles are coupled to the work unit.
17. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 16 , wherein the two or more rail axles are hydraulically powered.
18. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 17 , wherein the two or more rail axles each comprise two rail wheels.
19. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 18 , wherein the rail wheels interact with a rail when the two or more rail axles are in their respective second positions.
20. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 18 , wherein the rail wheels are in friction contact with the road tires and the railroad trailer chassis is propelled by the one or more friction drive systems and the two or more road axles when the two or more rail axles are in their respective second positions.
21. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 16 , wherein the two or more road axles each comprise two road wheels and two road tires.
22. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 21 , wherein the road tires interact with a road when the two or more rail axles are in their respective first positions.
23. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 16 , wherein the work unit is removably attached to the railroad trailer chassis as a modular component.
24. The railroad trailer chassis of claim 16 , wherein the work unit is integrated with the railroad trailer chassis as a singular component.