Railcar towing systems and railcar towing methods using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10654497-B2
Application number	US-201715692460-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2017
Priority date	Sep 1, 2016
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

A block, towing system, and a method for towing rail cars is provided. The block includes a first channel, a second channel, a third channel and a fourth channel. The first channel is located on a first side of the block. The second channel is located adjacent to the first channel on the first side of the block. The third channel is located on an opposite side of the block from the first channel. The fourth channel is located adjacent to the third channel on the opposite side of the block from the second channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of towing railcars comprising:
threading a first end of a tow rope from a first side frame of a first railcar through a first channel located on a first side of a block;
threading the first end of the tow rope from a second side frame of a second railcar through a second channel forming a first loop in the tow rope, the first loop extending outward from the first channel and the second channels on a front side of the block, wherein the second channel is located adjacent to the first channel on the first side of the block;
extending the first end out of the second channel on a back side of the block;
threading a second end of the tow rope through a third channel located on an opposite side of the block from the first channel;
threading the second end of the tow rope through a fourth channel forming a second loop in the tow rope, the second loop extending outward from the third and fourth channels on the back side of the block, wherein the fourth channel is located adjacent to the third channel on the opposite side of the block from the second channel;
extending the second end out of the second channel on the front side of the block.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first end is threaded through the second loop; and
the second end is threaded through the first loop.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
when the first end is threaded through the first channel, a first arch lines up with a first marking on the first end; and
when the second end is threaded through the third channel, a third arch lines up with a first marking on the second end.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first marking on the first end and the second marking on the second end indicate an amount of the tow rope to tie a knot on the block using the tow rope.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first spool including the first channel and third channel, and a second spool adjacent to the first spool and including the second channel and fourth channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a first arch is coupled to the first spool to form the first channel, a second arch is coupled to the first spool to form the second channel, a third arch is coupled to the second spool to form the third channel, and a fourth arch is coupled to the second spool to form the fourth channel.

7. A tow rope system, comprising:
a tow rope comprising:
a first end wrapped around a first side frame of a first railcar, and
a second end wrapped around a second side frame of a second railcar, and
a block having said tow rope therethrough structured with:
a first channel located on a first side of the block;
a second channel located adjacent to the first channel on the first side of the block;
a third channel located on an opposite side of the block from the first channel; and
a fourth channel located adjacent to the third channel on the opposite side of the block from the second channel.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
a first end of a tow rope is threaded through the first channel and threaded back through the second channel forming a first loop in the tow rope extending outward from the first channel and the second channel on a front side of the block, the first end extending out of the second channel on a back side of the block; and
a second end of the tow rope is threaded through the third channel and threaded back through the fourth channel forming a second loop in the tow rope extending outward from the third and fourth channels on the back side of the block, the second end extending out of the fourth channel on the front side of the block.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the first end is threaded through the second loop; and
the second end is threaded through the first loop.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
when the first end is threaded through the first channel, a first arch lines up with a first marking on the first end; and
when the second end is threaded through the third channel, a third arch lines up with a second marking on the second end.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first marking on the first end and the second marking on the second end indicate an amount of the tow rope to tie a knot on the block using the tow rope.

12. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first spool including the first channel and third channel; and
a second spool adjacent to the first spool and including the second channel and fourth channel.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein:
a first arch is coupled to the first spool to form the first channel,
a second arch is coupled to the second spool to form the second channel,
a third arch is coupled to the first spool to form the third channel, and
a fourth arch is coupled to the second spool to form the fourth channel.

Assignees

• Bnsf Railway Co

Inventors

• Vosahlo Sean

Classifications

• B61F1/10

  End constructions · CPC title

• B61F99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B61G5/02 Primary

  for coupling articulated trains, locomotives and tenders or the bogies of a vehicle; Coupling by means of a single coupling bar; Couplings preventing or limiting relative lateral movement of vehicles · CPC title

• B61F1/14

  Attaching or supporting vehicle body-structure · CPC title

• B61G1/04

  Operating devices therefor (B61G1/08 takes precedence) · CPC title