Importance

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Abstract

A highway trailer has an underframe of side walking beams, to which it is pivotally connected on a horizontal transverse axis. These walking beams can be mounted on, preferably with a nesting fit, the main longitudinal side frame members of a railroad truck so that the trailer can be lifted from and dropped onto the railroad truck by gravity. Such can be accomplished by arranging a highway track at a straddling higher elevation than a railroad track and providing the railroad track with up and down ramps. With the trailer overlaying and connected to move along with the railroad truck, the latter rises into mating relation therewith on ascending the up-ramp. When disconnected, the railroad truck drops from the trailer on descending the down ramp. In mating, the highway walking beams enter the space defined by the main longitudinal side frame members of the railroad truck, and the rubber tired highway wheels are arranged, freely suspended, exteriorly of the railroad truck. Subordinate features are in a spring suspension between the load and the pivotal connection to the walking beams; the provision of upright wedge faces at the ends of the walking beams and main longitudinal railroad side frame members so that they interfit, preferably snugly, even when encountering slight longitudinal misalinement; and permitting the highway truck to swivel about a central vertical axis throughout all normal railroad travel, but being positively latched against such swiveling throughout all highway travel.

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First Claim