US3552321A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined local feeder and nonstop express train
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-02-26
•
Granted: 1971-01-05
•
Expires: 1988-02-26
Abstract
Abstract Local cars may be detached from a nonstop express train in motion at various communities and provided with road wheels for circulation through such communities. A through car has a center rail undercarriage and lateral stabilizer wheels engageable with side tracks. A local car can be connected to a through car by the local car being propelled by a switch engine. Alternatively a harness on the through car can be caught by a hook depending from an overhead local car to start the local car and pull it down a descent onto the main track, after which such harness can be shortened to couple the local car and the through car. Bottom and side rails are carried by cradles suspended from catenary cables supported by towers.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul D Priebe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:04
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60F; B60F1/00; B60F1/04; B61; B61B; B61B15/00; B61K; B61K1/00; E; E01; E01B; E01B25/00; E01B25/16; E01D; E01D11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A railway system comprising main track means defining a main route and including a central load-supporting lower rail and upper load-supporting side rails elevated above said central rail and spaced from each other, local track means defining a local route having a portion spaced from said main route and a portion adjacent to said main route and including spaced load-supporting rails spaced apart the same distance as said side rails of said main track means but without a load-supporting central rail therebetween, a through car adapted to travel along said main track means and including means for supporting the principal portion of its weight on said central load-supporting lower rail of said main track means, a local car adapted to travel along said local route and including supporting means selectively engageable with said spaced rails of said local track means and with said upper side rails of said main track means for supporting the entire weight of said local car therefrom, and transfer means between said main track means and such portion of said local track means adjacent to said main route for transferring said local car to shift its supporting means between said spaced rails of said local track means and said upper side rails of said main track means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A railway system comprising main track means defining a main route and including a central load-supporting lower rail and upper load-supporting side rails elevated above said central rail and spaced from each other, local track means defining a local route having a portion spaced from said main route and a portion adjacent to said main route and including spaced load-supporting rails spaced apart the same distance as said side rails of said main track means but without a load-supporting central rail therebetween, a through car adapted to travel along said main track means and including means for supporting the principal portion of its weight on said central load-supporting lower rail of said main track means, a local car adapted to travel along said local route and including supporting means selectively engageable with said spaced rails of said local track means and with said upper side rails of said main track means for supporting the entire weight of said local car therefrom, and transfer means between said main track means and such portion of said local track means adjacent to said main route for transferring said local car to shift its supporting means between said spaced rails of said local track means and said upper side rails of said main track means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
The railway system defined in claim 1, in which the portion of the local route adjacent to the main route includes a portion of the local track means spaced rails elevated above and in vertical registry respectively with portions of the upper side rails of the main track means, and the transfer means includes means supporting part of said elevated local track means spaced rails portion for elevational movement between a position spaced above the upper side rails of the main track means therebeneath and a position in engagement with the upper sides of the upper side rails of the main track means therebeneath.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The railway system defined in claim 1, and pickup means carried by the through car and engageable with the local car while on the portion of the local track means adjacent to the main route to effect movement of the local car over the transfer means from the spaced rails of the local track means to the upper side rails of the main track means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The railway system defined in claim 1, in which the main track means are located a substantial distance above the ground, and track-supporting means extending above the main track means and incLuding a series of inverted scissors truss cradles suspended from the track-supporting means spaced along the main track means and supporting the main track means suspended from said track-supporting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
The railway system defined in claim 1, in which the main track means is located a substantial distance above the ground, and track-supporting means including pairs of pillars spaced lengthwise of and projecting upwardly above the main track means, the pillars of each pair being located respectively at opposite sides of the main track means and the lower portions of such pillars in each pair being spaced apart a distance at least as great as the transverse width of the track means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The railway system defined in claim 5, in which the pillars of each pair converge upwardly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The railway system defined in claim 5, in which the main track means includes two sets of tracks disposed in side-by-side relationship, both supported by the track-supporting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
The railway system defined in claim 1, in which the main route includes a plurality of generally parallel main track means having a switching gap therein, bridging-track sections normally connecting adjacent ends of adjacent main track means, respectively, and a switch-track section insertable between the end of one main track means at one side of such switch gap and the end of another main track means at the other side of such switch gap for transfer of a train component from one main track means at one side of the switch gap to a different main track means at the other side of the switch gap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The railway system defined in claim 3, in which the pickup means includes variable length means for connecting the through car and the local car, and coupling means separate from the pickup means interengageable to connect the through car and the local car.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The railway system defined in claim 3, in which the pickup means includes hook means carried by the local car and ring means carried by the through car and engageable by said hook means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The railway system defined in claim 10, and ring-supporting means carried by the through car operable to support the ring in an elevated position for defining a course in which the hook is located.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The railway system defined in claim 11, in which the ring-supporting means includes a plurality of flexible harness lines connected to the ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The railway system defined in claim 10, a winch carried by the through car, and a towline connected to the ring and wound on said winch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The railway system defined in claim 5, and a base block supporting each pillar for elevational adjustment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-04 | 1974-07-06 | 1975-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-04 | 1978-07-06 | 1979-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-07-06 | 1983-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |