US 12,280,812 B2
Railcar spacing tool
James E. Handlin, Hallsville, TX (US)
Assigned to Inter-Rail Transport, Inc., Centreville, VA (US)
Filed by Inter-Rail Transport, Inc., Centreville, MD (US)
Filed on May 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/738,428.
Application 17/738,428 is a continuation of application No. 16/278,807, filed on Feb. 19, 2019, granted, now 11,352,030.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/632,042, filed on Feb. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0258778 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B61J 3/08 (2006.01); B61G 7/04 (2006.01); B61J 3/12 (2006.01)
CPC B61J 3/08 (2013.01) [B61G 7/04 (2013.01); B61J 3/12 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A railcar spacing tool configured to be moveably attachable to a support vehicle, the railcar spacing tool for spacing a pair of adjacent railcars, the railcar spacing tool comprising:
a cylinder having a body;
a piston that extends from the body;
a first bracket coupled to a distal end of the body;
a second bracket coupled to a distal end of the piston, the piston extending from the body such that a total length of the cylinder is adjustable from less than a predetermined distance to the predetermined distance, and the first and second brackets contacting respective frames of the pair of adjacent railcars; and
a cylinder support frame having a first end coupled to the body of the cylinder, and a second end coupled to the support vehicle such that the cylinder support frame is movable from a retracted position where the first end is proximal the support vehicle, to an extended position where the first and second brackets are disposed between the respective frames of the adjacent railcars;
wherein when the piston is extended from the body such that the total length is less than the predetermined distance and the first and second brackets are disposed between the respective frames of the adjacent railcars, the cylinder extending the piston until the first and second brackets contact the respective frames of the adjacent railcars, and further extending the piston to move the adjacent railcars relative to each other until the total length of the cylinder is the predetermined distance.