Importance

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Abstract

A transition vehicle for connecting convertible rail-highway trailers in a pulling or pushing relationship with the railway coupling mechanism found on a locomotive or a preceding railcar and which can also be converted for roadway use and coupled to a yard tractor for off-rail relocation. A convertible trailer is coupled to the transition vehicle through engagement of its coupling tongue and the king pin adjacent thereto, respectively, by a female coupler socket and a funnel-shaped receiving slot in a load carrying shelf mounted on top of the central tube of the transition vehicle. The convertible trailer is further secured to the transition vehicle by a clamping mechanism which grasps the trailer side walls. The transition vehicle is fitted with flanged rail wheels and a double shelf railway coupler for coupling to a locomotive or a preceding railcar when in the rail mode of use, and with tired road wheels and a telescopic gooseneck coupler for coupling to the elevated fifth wheel of a tractor when in the roadway mode of use. The tired road wheels are retractable to a stored position during rail use, and can be lowered to the ground for roadway use by inflating an air spring suspension system operatively connected thereto.

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First Claim