A system and method are provided for spacing railcars of a train apart from each other with a predetermined gap in between. Embodiments include a railcar spacing tool having a hydraulic cylinder with brackets at opposing ends for contacting the frame of each of a pair of adjoined adjacent railcars to be spaced from each other, and a cylinder support frame attached to the cylinder and movably attached to a support vehicle such that the support frame is movable from a retracted position to an extended position where the brackets are between the frames of the pair of railcars. After moving the cylinder support frame to the extended position, the brackets are positioned in contact with the railcar frames, and the cylinder is engaged to create the predetermined gap between the railcars. The railcars' brakes are applied to preserve the gap, and the spacing tool is then removed.

A system and method are provided for spacing railcars of a train apart from each other with a predetermined gap in between. Embodiments include a railcar spacing tool having a hydraulic cylinder with brackets at opposing ends for contacting the frame of each of a pair of adjoined adjacent railcars to be spaced from each other, and a cylinder support frame attached to the cylinder and movably attached to a support vehicle such that the support frame is movable from a retracted position to an extended position where the brackets are between the frames of the pair of railcars. After moving the cylinder support frame to the extended position, the brackets are positioned in contact with the railcar frames, and the cylinder is engaged to create the predetermined gap between the railcars. The railcars' brakes are applied to preserve the gap, and the spacing tool is then removed.

The present invention refers to an improvement developed on a pneumatic transport system for loads and/or passengers whose vehicles are not provided with on-board drive means, being guided on two exclusive tracks arranged in parallel, each track being dedicated to one travel direction, resulting in high transport capacity. The vehicles (1) travel over railway tracks (5) laid over an elevated track (6) supported by pillars (7). The center of the top of the superstructure of the elevated track (6) has a longitudinal slot (9) with seal (8) by means of which the mast (3) of the propulsion plate (4) is allowed to move freely along the path of the vehicle (1). The crossbeam is comprised by four beams which constitute the superstructure of the elevated track, being two turnout beams (6′) and two straight beams (6), whereby the four beams are permanently connected to each other and to the pillars (7) in the region of the heads to form a monolithic hyperstatic structure. In the superstructure of the turnout beams (6′) there are mounted the mobile rails (16, 18 and 21) with their respective drive mechanisms (17, 19 and 20) and locking (15). A section isolation valve is positioned inside the propulsion duct (12) of the turnout beams (6′) and is comprised of a shutter (40) and a linear actuator (41) which activates a set of two articulated rods (42) to the position of the limit stop (43).

The present invention refers to an improvement developed on a pneumatic transport system for loads and/or passengers whose vehicles are not provided with on-board drive means, being guided on two exclusive tracks arranged in parallel, each track being dedicated to one travel direction, resulting in high transport capacity. The vehicles (1) travel over railway tracks (5) laid over an elevated track (6) supported by pillars (7). The center of the top of the superstructure of the elevated track (6) has a longitudinal slot (9) with seal (8) by means of which the mast (3) of the propulsion plate (4) is allowed to move freely along the path of the vehicle (1). The crossbeam is comprised by four beams which constitute the superstructure of the elevated track, being two turnout beams (6′) and two straight beams (6), whereby the four beams are permanently connected to each other and to the pillars (7) in the region of the heads to form a monolithic hyperstatic structure. In the superstructure of the turnout beams (6′) there are mounted the mobile rails (16, 18 and 21) with their respective drive mechanisms (17, 19 and 20) and locking (15). A section isolation valve is positioned inside the propulsion duct (12) of the turnout beams (6′) and is comprised of a shutter (40) and a linear actuator (41) which activates a set of two articulated rods (42) to the position of the limit stop (43).

A system and method are provided for spacing railcars of a train apart from each other with a predetermined gap in between. Embodiments include a railcar spacing tool having a hydraulic cylinder with brackets at opposing ends for contacting the frame of each of a pair of adjoined adjacent railcars to be spaced from each other, and a cylinder support frame attached to the cylinder and movably attached to a support vehicle such that the support frame is movable from a retracted position to an extended position where the brackets are between the frames of the pair of railcars. After moving the cylinder support frame to the extended position, the brackets are positioned in contact with the railcar frames, and the cylinder is engaged to create the predetermined gap between the railcars. The railcars' brakes are applied to preserve the gap, and the spacing tool is then removed.

A system and method are provided for spacing railcars of a train apart from each other with a predetermined gap in between. Embodiments include a railcar spacing tool having a hydraulic cylinder with brackets at opposing ends for contacting the frame of each of a pair of adjoined adjacent railcars to be spaced from each other, and a cylinder support frame attached to the cylinder and movably attached to a support vehicle such that the support frame is movable from a retracted position to an extended position where the brackets are between the frames of the pair of railcars. After moving the cylinder support frame to the extended position, the brackets are positioned in contact with the railcar frames, and the cylinder is engaged to create the predetermined gap between the railcars. The railcars' brakes are applied to preserve the gap, and the spacing tool is then removed.

A system and method are provided for spacing railcars of a train apart from each other with a predetermined gap in between. Embodiments include a railcar spacing tool having a hydraulic cylinder with brackets at opposing ends for contacting the frame of each of a pair of adjoined adjacent railcars to be spaced from each other, and a cylinder support frame attached to the cylinder and movably attached to a support vehicle such that the support frame is movable from a retracted position to an extended position where the brackets are between the frames of the pair of railcars. After moving the cylinder support frame to the extended position, the brackets are positioned in contact with the railcar frames, and the cylinder is engaged to create the predetermined gap between the railcars. The railcars' brakes are applied to preserve the gap, and the spacing tool is then removed.

A system and method are provided for spacing railcars of a train apart from each other with a predetermined gap in between. Embodiments include a railcar spacing tool having a hydraulic cylinder with brackets at opposing ends for contacting the frame of each of a pair of adjoined adjacent railcars to be spaced from each other, and a cylinder support frame attached to the cylinder and movably attached to a support vehicle such that the support frame is movable from a retracted position to an extended position where the brackets are between the frames of the pair of railcars. After moving the cylinder support frame to the extended position, the brackets are positioned in contact with the railcar frames, and the cylinder is engaged to create the predetermined gap between the railcars. The railcars' brakes are applied to preserve the gap, and the spacing tool is then removed.

A terminal is designed with a railcar staging area and a railcar transfer apparatus, the railcar transfer apparatus configured to move a railcar to and/or from railcar staging area. The terminal may be further designed with a terminal building where the railcar transfer apparatus is configured to move the railcar between the terminal building and the staging area. The staging area may be provided as two staging areas where the railcar transfer apparatus is configured to move the railcar between two staging areas. The railcar transfer apparatus may include automated railcar transfer device, bridge and shuttle.

A terminal is designed with a railcar staging area and a railcar transfer apparatus, the railcar transfer apparatus configured to move a railcar to and/or from railcar staging area. The terminal may be further designed with a terminal building where the railcar transfer apparatus is configured to move the railcar between the terminal building and the staging area. The staging area may be provided as two staging areas where the railcar transfer apparatus is configured to move the railcar between two staging areas. The railcar transfer apparatus may include automated railcar transfer device, bridge and shuttle.