This paper describes a novel connection system which allows fast, safe and reliable coupling and uncoupling of two sections of a freight wagon body as part of a bimodal transport system. The connection system allows the time for loading and unloading a truck trailer to be reduced to almost one-half of the current duration. The connection system is composed of a cylindrical clamping pin with three conical shoulders at one end and an axial slide. A crank mechanism in a cylindrical guide is used to lock the clamp. The crank is connected to the pin and symmetric piston rods are connected to the moving clamp, other auxiliary members constrain the clamp.
BoarioMDe MartiniMDi MeoEGros-PietroGM. Manuale di Logistica, Torino, Italy: UTET, 1992.
2.
De LucaM. Manuale di pianificazione dei trasporti, Milano, Italy: Franco Angeli, 2000.
3.
Office for Official Publications of the Communities. European transport policy for 2010: time to decide, 2001. Office for Official Publications of the Communities: Luxembourg.
4.
United Nations, 2001, Terminology on Combined Transport (New York and Geneva).
5.
EN 12663: 2008. Railway applications - structural requirements of railway vehicle bodies.
6.
Barneschi A. Carro ferroviario apribile per il trasporto di unità di carico. Patent 0001383822, Italy, 2010.
7.
De Iorio A, Grasso M, Penta F and Pucillo GP. Polyfunctional freight car Canguro for intermodal transports. Patent NA2009A000070, Italy, 2009.
De Iorio A, Chioccola F, Penta F and Pucillo GP. Connection system for simple overlapping joints with automatic keying. Patent 0001392826, Italy, 2012.
