Patent classifications
B61G5/08
Air hose coupling in automated gladhand system
A gladhand device for automatically coupling the air brake hose of a railcar to a railcar mover is disclosed herein. The automated gladhand device may comprise a gladhand body that is attached to the end of a railcar mover and configured to receive the gladhand attached to an air brake hose of a railcar. In various embodiments, the gladhand device may comprise a piston housed within a lower portion of the gladhand body that is configured to extend vertically above a top edge of the lower portion of the gladhand body. When air pressure is allowed to enter the gladhand body via an electrically controlled solenoid, the piston presses against the gladhand of the air brake hose and pneumatically seals a coupling between the air brake hose of the railcar and the railcar mover.
VEHICLE CONNECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
A system is provided for connecting a first hose of a first vehicle and a second hose of a second vehicle. The system may include a frame, a lacing actuator, first and second guides coupled to the frame, a first grasper, and a second grasper. The first guide may collect the first hose based on movement of the frame. The second guide may collect the second hose based on movement of the frame. The first grasper may receive the first hose from the first guide and deliver the first hose to the lacing actuator. The second grasper may receive the second hose from the second guide and deliver the second hose to the lacing actuator. The lacing actuator may position a first coupler of the first hose in engagement with a second coupler of the second hose.
VEHICLE CONNECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
A system is provided for connecting a first hose of a first vehicle and a second hose of a second vehicle. The system may include a frame, a lacing actuator, first and second guides coupled to the frame, a first grasper, and a second grasper. The first guide may collect the first hose based on movement of the frame. The second guide may collect the second hose based on movement of the frame. The first grasper may receive the first hose from the first guide and deliver the first hose to the lacing actuator. The second grasper may receive the second hose from the second guide and deliver the second hose to the lacing actuator. The lacing actuator may position a first coupler of the first hose in engagement with a second coupler of the second hose.