US 11,724,723 B1
Locked-axle wheel cradle, system, and method
Henry R. Schafer, Smithville, MO (US); Christopher M. Romero, Lawrence, KS (US); Timothy Webb, Topeka, KS (US); Mike E. Teaford, Topeka, KS (US); Edward M. Meyers, Grantville, KS (US); Ryan L. Kimberlin, Meriden, KS (US); and Larry C. Valentine, Berryton, KS (US)
Assigned to BNSF Railway Company, Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed by BNSF Railway Company, Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/934,960.
Int. Cl. B61J 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC B61J 1/12 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A locked-axle wheel cradle, comprising:
a receiver member having a first wheel member, a receiver opening, and a first locked-wheel engager;
a connector member having a second wheel member, an arm, and a second locked-wheel engager;
a puller coupled to the receiver member and the connector member and configured to pull the receiver member and the connector member towards each other to at least partially mate the receiver member with the connector member;
wherein the receiver opening is configured to receive the arm to couple the locked-axle wheel cradle around at least a portion of a locked-axle wheel, and
wherein the first locked-wheel engager and the second locked-wheel engager are configured to lift the locked-axle wheel off a surface.