Harry Wicks

US Patent:

8468950, Jun 25, 2013

Filed:

Dec 11, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/746580

Inventors:

Harry O. Wicks - El Paso TX, US
Michael W. DiLuigi - Alpharetta GA, US

Assignee:

Railrunner, N.A., Inc. - Lexington MA

International Classification:

B61F 3/12

US Classification:

105 41

Abstract:

Refinements and improvements in intermodal rail vehicles for making up a train of highway trailers are shown. The improved intermodal vehicle has a one-piece upper frame assembly () with a horizontal load carrying surface below the ends of a drawbar for connecting the trailers. Each highway trailer has a coupler socket assembly at both its front and rear into which the drawbar enters and is connected to the intermodal vehicle by a vertical coupling pin projecting upward from the horizontal load carrying surface. The upper frame is supported from dual steerable lower frames () by primary air springs (). A backup suspension system is provided so as to support the upper frame in the event of failure of the primary air springs. A transition rail vehicle for adapting the unit train of trailers is provided, incorporating the necessary features of the intermediate intermodal vehicles heretofore described.

US Patent:

8627772, Jan 14, 2014

Filed:

Dec 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/514358

Inventors:

Harry O. Wicks - El Paso TX, US
Michael W. DiLuigi - Alpharetta GA, US
Joseph Magri - Braintree MA, US

Assignee:

RailRunner, N.A., Inc. - Lexington MA

International Classification:

B61D 17/00

US Classification:

105 42, 105 41

Abstract:

The improved intermodal vehicle has a one-piece upper frame assembly with a horizontal load carrying surface below the ends of a drawbar for connecting the trailers. Each highway trailer has a coupler socket assembly at both its front and rear into which the drawbar enters and connects to the intermodal vehicle by a vertical coupling pin projecting upward from the horizontal load carrying surface. The coupling pin is operated up and down by either manual or air operated actuators, and locks in the up position by a manually operated safety latch. The upper frame is supported from dual steerable lower frames by primary air springs so that when the springs are deflated, the upper frame is lowered to allow the trailers to be pushed upon the load carrying surface. When the air springs are inflated, the trailers are raised so that the trailer wheels are carried above the railroad track.

US Patent:

50404660, Aug 20, 1991

Filed:

Jul 30, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/079501

Inventors:

Harry O. Wicks - Hamburg NY
Monte P. Riefler - Hamburg NY

Assignee:

Railmaster System, Inc. - Elmhurst IL

International Classification:

B61D 312

US Classification:

105 43

Abstract:

Novel highway trailers can be mounted on railtruck assemblies to form a train of highway trailers, the railtruck assemblies including a conventional railtruck which supports a novel intermodal adaptor. The novel highway trailers include a forwardly extending tongue and coupling structure at the rear to which may be secured to the tongue of a following trailer and the intermodal adaptor of a railtruck assembly. The intermodal adaptor is mounted on the center plate bowl of the bolster of the railtruck. The adaptor includes locating means adapted to be received within the coupling structure of a leading highway trailer, which locating means permits the leading highway trailer and intermodal adaptor to become aligned with each other upon relative movement. The intermodal adaptor further includes securing means capable of maintaining the locating means within the coupling structure of the highway, trailer in a completely mounted position, a coupler pin, and shifting means capable of moving the coupler pin from a lower position to a raised position where it couples the forward end of a tongue of a following trailer to the rear of the leading trailer and the intermodal adaptor.

US Patent:

52918351, Mar 8, 1994

Filed:

Mar 25, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/037040

Inventors:

Harry O. Wicks - El Paso TX

Assignee:

RailRunner Systems, Inc. - Griffin GA

International Classification:

B61F 312

US Classification:

105 42

Abstract:

A retractable intermodal vehicle for supporting and connecting modified semitrailers end-to-end to form a train of trailers capable of being operated on a railroad track; the semitrailers also able to be operated on a highway as regular semitrailers. The intermodal vehicle is comprised of two lower frames, with a wheel/axle assembly mounted to each, and each pivoted from and supporting a single upper frame assembly; the pivoting of these lower frames providing a limited steering of the rail axles relative to the upper frame. Inflatable air springs are mounted between the lower frames and upper frame assembly to allow the upper frame to be raised and lowered. The upper frame assembly is comprised of two gravity load carrying structures, each for supporting one end of a superimposed trailer; two coupler bodies, each containing a coupler tongue, the tongue being arranged to enter a complimentary coupler tongue receiving socket at either end of the superimposed trailer; and two upwardly movable coupling pins, each pin capable of being raised to enter concentric apertures in a coupler tongue and an a complimentary trailer mounted socket to effect a coupling between these elements; and each pin being capable of being lowered to permit the withdrawal of the coupler tongue from the trailer socket. In an alternative design two separate upper frames are provided.

US Patent:

47668180, Aug 30, 1988

Filed:

Aug 26, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/900547

Inventors:

Harry O. Wicks - Hamburg NY
Monte P. Riefler - Hamburg NY

Assignee:

Railmaster System, Inc. - Hamburg NY

International Classification:

B61D 312

US Classification:

105 43

Abstract:

Novel highway trailers can be mounted on railtruck assemblies to form a train of highway trailers, the railtruck assemblies including a conventional railtruck which supports a novel intermodal adaptor. The novel highway trailers include a forwardly extending tongue and coupling structure at the rear to which may be secured the tongue of a following trailer and the intermodal adaptor of a railtruck assembly. The intermodal adaptor is mounted on the center plate bowl of the bolster of the railtruck. The adaptor includes a locating assembly adapted to be received within the coupling structure of a leading highway trailer, which locating assembly permits the leading highway trailer and intermodal adaptor to become aligned with each other upon relative movement. The intermodal adaptor further includes a securing assembly capable of maintaining the locating assembly within the coupling structure of the highway trailer in a completely mounted position, a coupler pin, and a shifting device capable of moving the coupler pin from a lower position to a raised position where it couples the forward end of a tongue of a following trailer to the rear of the leading trailer and the intermodal adaptor.

US Patent:

45168768, May 14, 1985

Filed:

Jan 10, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/456554

Inventors:

Harry O. Wicks - Hamburg NY

International Classification:

E01C 1114

US Classification:

404 60

Abstract:

Expansion joints for concrete highways consisting of precast beams with preformed joints of expansion joint material. The beams are laid crosswise of a strip of highway before pouring the concrete and provide expansion joints which are not affected by the skill of the workmen.

US Patent:

48418722, Jun 27, 1989

Filed:

Jun 19, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/876248

Inventors:

Harry O. Wicks - Hamburg NY
Monte P. Riefler - Hamburg NY

Assignee:

Railmaster System, Inc. - Hamburg NY

International Classification:

B61D 312

US Classification:

105 43

Abstract:

An improved railway train of highway trailers. The highway trailers are interconnected to each other and their adjacent ends are supported solely by railtruck assemblies. Each trailer is provided with a portion connectible to a corresponding portion of the railtruck assembly. Each railtruck assembly includes an intermodal adapter mounted upon a transversely extending bolster of a railtruck, the assembly being essentially symmetrical about a vertically shiftable coupler pin carried by the adapter so that the railtruck assembly can be interconnected to trailers disposed to either side of the railtruck assembly. In addition, improved hydraulic shifting apparatus is provided for shifting the vertical coupler pin carried by the intermodal adapter.

US Patent:

49075144, Mar 13, 1990

Filed:

Jun 10, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/204892

Inventors:

Harry O. Wicks - Hamburg NY
Monte P. Riefler - Hamburg NY

Assignee:

RailMaster System, Inc. - Elmhurst IL

International Classification:

B61D 1700

US Classification:

105 43

Abstract:

Novel highway trailers can be mounted on railtruck assemblies to form a train of highway trailers, the railtruck assemblies including a conventional railtruck which supports a novel intermodal adaptor. The novel highway trailers include a forwardly extending tongue and coupling structure at the rear to which may be secured the tongue of a following trailer and the intermodal adaptor of a railtruck assembly. The intermodal adaptor is mounted on the center plate bowl of the bolster of the railtruck. The adaptor includes a locating assembly adapted to be received within the coupling structure of a leading highway trailer, which locating assembly permits the leading highway trailer and intermodal adaptor to become aligned with each other upon relative movement. The intermodal adaptor further includes a securing assembly capable of maintaining the locating assembly within the coupling structure of the highway trailer in a completely mounted position, a coupler pin, and a shifting device capable of moving the coupler pin from a lower position to a raised position where it couples the forward end of a tongue of a following trailer to the rear of the leading trailer and the intermodal adaptor.