High capacity multiple-stage railway switching yard

• US 6,516,727 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edwin R. Kraft
• Original Assignee: Edwin R. Kraft
• Inventors: Kraft, Edwin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A.
• Application Number:
  US09/917,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20020096081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 104/26.1, 104/26.2, 104/162, 340/536, 340/933, 246/1.C, 246/167.R, 246/182.AA
• US Class Current: 104/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 1/005 Rail vehicle marshalling systems; Rail freight terminals transferring or trans-shipping at storage areas or railway yards; marshalling yard installations B65G63/00
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 17/00 Switching systems for classification yards

Abstract

A high capacity, multiple-stage railway car switching yard connects together two or more subyards. Each subyard has a fully open arrival/departure end and may have a continuously descending gradient throughout the entire length of its classification tracks. The subyards are positioned opposite one another, so classification tracks of one subyard can serve as receiving tracks for another subyard. Escape tracks are interconnected between the two subyards to provide a higher capacity and more efficiency and flexibility than a single yard by itself.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the railway car handling capacity of multiple stage railway switching facilities by partially preblocking railway cars at more than one preceding yard to bypass a first stage sort at a central hub yard, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining which blocks will be intermixed on predetermined tracks at the central hub yard in the first stage sort,

(b) publishing a plan for intermixing said blocks on said tracks, so said predecessor yards may be aware of which groups of cars are combined versus kept separate at the hub yard, and

(c) at each said predecessor yard, separating cars into distinct groups based on the track assignment they will receive at the hub yard,

whereby said distinct groups of cars are arranged into trains so said last-mentioned cars can be flat switched upon arrival directly into classification tracks at the hub yard, without needing to be classified at the hub yard by individual car in said first stage sort.

2. A method of sorting a plurality of railcars into a plurality of outbound trains on a plurality of tracks, comprising the steps of:

(a) initially arranging said railcars on a plurality of said tracks in a predetermined mathematical sorting pattern such that said railcars of more than one train or block may be intermixed on any single said track in a first stage sort,

(b) offsetting and overlapping the mathematical sorting pattern of track assignments of said railcars for different trains or blocks in said first stage sort, for enabling the sorting method to be sustained on a continuous basis,

(c) collecting said railcars on said tracks for an interval of time until a first outbound train must be readied for departure,

(d) retrieving said railcars from said tracks in a predetermined sequence, and

(e) rearranging said railcars on said tracks one or more additional times as required by the predetermined mathematical sorting pattern, such that said railcars are no longer intermixed but are separated into distinct trains which may have more than one block on a single track,

whereby said railcars will be arranged into trains ordered in a proper block sequence for departure and the sorting method can be sustained on a continuous basis; and

wherein said first stage sort may be performed at a preceding yard, so said railcars can be flat switched into classification tracks without having to be individually sorted.

3. A method of predetermining connections of specific railcars to specific outbound trains comprising the steps of:

(a) initially arranging said railcars on a plurality of tracks in a yard in a predetermined mathematical sorting pattern such that said railcars of more than one train or block may be intermixed on any single said track in a first stage sort,

(b) collecting said railcars on said tracks for an interval of time until a first outbound train must be readied for departure,

(c) retrieving said railcars from said tracks in a predetermined sequence,

(d) rearranging said railcars on said tracks one or more additional times as required by the predetermined mathematical sorting pattern, such that said railcars are no longer intermixed but are separated into distinct trains which may have more than one block on a single track, and

(e) removing from the train any of said railcars in excess of train capacity, or which are undesired by a customer during a second stage, third stage or later sort,

whereby only preselected of said railcars are included in the train, and all other of said railcars are separated to remain in the yard or depart on a different train; and

wherein said first stage sort may be performed at a preceding yard, so said railcars can be flat switched into classification tracks without having to be individually sorted.

4. A method of performing inspection and repairs of railcars, utilizing otherwise idle time of railcars while said railcars are awaiting outbound connections on tracks, comprising the steps of:

(a) initially arranging said railcars on a plurality of said tracks in a predetermined mathematical sorting pattern such that said railcars of more than one train or block may be intermixed on any single said track in a first stage sort,

(b) collecting said railcars on said tracks for an interval of time until a first outbound train must be readied for departure,

(c) retrieving said railcars from said tracks in a predetermined sequence,

(d) rearranging said railcars on said tracks one or more additional times as required by the predetermined mathematical sorting pattern, such that said railcars are no longer intermixed but are separated into distinct trains which may have more than one block on a single track, and

(e) during a second or later stage sorting operation, inspecting and repairing said railcars on tracks which are not receiving any other railcars during said second or later stage sorting operation;

whereby inspection and repairs of said railcars may be safely performed while the railcars lie on classification tracks; and

wherein said first stage sort may be performed at any preceding yard, so said railcars can be flat switched into the classification tracks without having to be individually sorted.

5. A railcar sorting facility connected to a mainline, branch or secondary track, comprising two or more subyards, each subyard comprising:

a plurality of classification tracks onto which railcars can be sorted and stored until departure from said sorting facility, the lengths of each said classification tracks being substantially equal to a normal train length typically operated in the geographic territory in which said sorting facility is located;

at least one switching lead track and means for accelerating individual railcars or groups of railcars connected in operative relationship with each other and with said classification tracks for enabling acceleration of individual railcars, or groups of railcars onto said classification tracks while providing adequate separation between groups of railcars to allow for safe sorting operations;

a first plurality of track switches connected in operative relationship with said switching lead track or tracks and said classification tracks for routing said railcars, or groups of railcars, onto said classification tracks and for selecting which of said classification tracks will receive each of said railcars or group of railcars;

means in operative relationship with said classification tracks for decelerating said railcars, or groups of railcars, and for controlling their coupling speed within safe limits;

means in operative relationship with said classification tracks and with said mainline track for enabling arrival and departure of inbound and outbound trains directly from said classification tracks, and for enabling arriving trains to be received onto said classification tracks for storage while awaiting processing, whereby through application of multiple stage switching methods, trains of more than one block may be ordered in proper standing order sequence ready for departure on a single said classification track, eliminating the need for railcars to be switched into a separate set of departure tracks for final train assembly; and

additional tracks connecting said subyards to allow trains received in designated tracks of one subyard to be processed in another subyard.