Removable Well Car Hitch Assembly for Dual Intermodal Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional all-purpose well cars equipped with hitches for carrying semi-trailers have a lower load capacity when transporting intermodal containers due to the added weight and structural changes, making them less efficient than traditional well cars.
Innovation Solution
A universal hitch intermodal well car system that includes a frame with sockets for mounting onto the well car's support castings, a hitch for attaching trailers, and decks for supporting trailer wheels, allowing conversion between intermodal container transport and semi-trailer transport without sacrificing load capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional all-purpose well cars are equipped with hitches for carrying semi-trailers, then they can transport both intermodal containers and semi-trailers, but the load capacity when transporting intermodal containers decreases due to added weight and structural changes
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch system is divided into separate modular components (hitch assembly, support castings, sockets) that can be independently installed and removed. This segmentation allows the well car to function as a dedicated intermodal container carrier when the hitch components are removed, eliminating their weight from the loaded vehicle weight and maximizing load capacity for intermodal containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static permanent hitch configuration to a dynamic reconfigurable system. The hitch components can be installed when semi-trailer transport is needed and removed when intermodal container transport is required, allowing the well car to dynamically adapt its configuration to optimize performance for different cargo types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If permanent hitches are installed on well cars for semi-trailer transport, then semi-trailer carrying capability is achieved, but the empty weight increases and load capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch components are extracted from the permanent structure of the well car and designed as removable attachments. When not in use, these components can be completely removed from the well car, eliminating their weight contribution to the empty weight and maximizing the well car's load capacity for its primary intermodal container transport function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its weight parameters dynamically based on operational requirements. When hitch components are removed, the empty weight decreases and load capacity increases for intermodal container transport. When hitch components are installed, the empty weight increases and load capacity decreases temporarily to enable semi-trailer transport capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all-purpose well cars are modified to include hitches, then they can carry semi-trailers, but structural changes reduce efficiency for intermodal container transport
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch system is segmented into removable components that do not require permanent structural modifications to the well car. This allows the well car to maintain its original optimized structure for intermodal container transport when the hitch components are removed, preserving transport efficiency while enabling semi-trailer capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically reconfigures between two states: a pure intermodal container transport configuration that maximizes efficiency, and a dual-capability configuration that includes hitch components for semi-trailer transport. This dynamic reconfiguration allows optimization for the primary function while providing flexibility for secondary functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for a well car includes a frame, a hitch coupled to the frame near the first end of the frame, and a first deck coupled to the frame. The frame includes a first pair of sockets located near a first end of the frame and a second pair of sockets located near a second end of the frame. Each socket of the first pair of sockets is configured to engage a support casting of a first pair of support castings located at a first position along a length of a well car. Each socket of the second pair of sockets is configured to engage a support casting of a second pair of support castings located at a second position along the length of the well car. The first deck is configured to hold wheels of a trailer when the trailer is coupled to the hitch.