The present invention will be used on intermodal freight transportation involving railways.

The present invention relates to automatic discharging of the air in suspension bellows of a trailer when loading that trailer on a train.

Background of the Invention

Intermodal freight transportation involves using at least two different modes of transportation when carrying the cargo from the point of departure to the point of arrival. In this type of freight transportation, especially in cases where the cargo is initially loaded on a road haulage vehicle and then the trailer carrying the cargo is loaded on a train, the air in suspension bellows of the trailer must be discharged when the trailer is loaded on the train to avoid damage to the axles and to lower the vehicle that is being loaded on the train to maintain ride safety and comfort of the vehicle.

Currently this is done manually by the operator of the vehicle. This manual operation creates disadvantages with regard to occupational safety and time lost during the process of loading the trailer on the train. Consequently, the need to make a technical improvement for discharging air from suspension bellows when loading the trailer on a train has arisen.

Objective of Invention The present invention relates to an automated air discharge system for air-suspension bellows of trailers to eliminate occupational safety issues and loss of time arising from manual discharging of air from suspension bellows when loading the trailer on a train during intermodal transportation and relevant costs as well as other related disadvantages. The primary objective of present invention is to allow for automatic rather than manual discharge of air from suspension bellows when loading the trailer on a train with a view to preventing occupational accidents. Another objective of present invention is to minimize loss of time when discharging air from suspension bellows to prevent increase in costs.

A similar objective of present invention is to standardize the air discharge system of suspension bellows with a view to ensuring all time and cost calculations to be made more accurately.

In order to achieve above mentioned objectives, present invention comprises pneumatic roller valves that are connected to each other in series, activating the air discharge system of suspension bellows only when both of them are connected to the hooks of the crane to load the vehicle on the train, a pneumatically induced valve, keeping the air discharge system that is activated by connecting both of the pneumatic roller valves to the hooks of the crane, to be active continuously, a solenoid pneumatic valve to deactivate the air discharge system that is kept active continuously, an air induced pneumatic valve allowing the air that is compressed in the bellows to be discharged to the atmosphere, a leveling valve keeping the height of the vehicle at a certain level after the air in suspension bellows is discharged, suspension bellows that contain air, constituting the suspension system of the vehicle, located between the axles and chassis of the vehicle, a raising and lowering valve altering the ride height of the vehicle by increasing or decreasing the volume of air contained in suspension bellows, a check valve ensuring one way flow of compressed air leaving the air cylinder, an air cylinder where the air that is required for the operation of the system is stored and a shuttle valve reactivated by outlet port of the valve receiving air impulse, that maintains the position of the valve as long as air is flown from the air cylinder.

Structural and characteristic features of present invention can be understood clearly with the help of following diagram and detailed descriptions providing reference to this diagram and thus assessment of the patent should be made by reading this application together with this diagram and detailed description. Diagrams Describing Invention

Diagram-1 , schematic view of automated air discharge system for air suspension bellows of trailers.

Drawings are not necessarily scaled and details that are not absolutely required to describe present invention might have been omitted. Additionally components that are substantially identical or that have substantially identical functions are referred to under the same number.

Description of References

1 . Pneumatic roller valve

2. Pneumatically induced valve

3. Solenoid pneumatic valve

4. Air induced pneumatic valve

5. Leveling valve

6. Suspension bellows

7. Raising and lowering valve

8. Check valve

9. Air cylinder

10. . Shuttle valve

Detailed Description of Invention

This detailed description explains preferred structures of automated air discharge system for air-suspension bellows of trailers with the sole purpose of facilitating the comprehension of the subject without any restrictive effect.

As seen in diagram-1 , under normal conditions, air flowing from raising valve (7) passes through the air induced pneumatic valve (4) controlling air pressure at suspension bellows. Air pressure at suspension bellow (6) maintains the ride height of the vehicle at a constant level by using the ride height data sent by the leveling valve (5). Once loading of the vehicle on the train is commenced, loading hooks of the train detect pneumatic roller limit switches (1 ), that are connected in series, and switch to second position, upon which compressed air inside the air cylinder (9) flows to the shuttle valve (10) inducing the pneumatically induced valve (2). Switching its position, the pneumatically induced valve (2) sends compressed air inside the air cylinder (9) to air induced pneumatic valves (4), switching their position to discharge and discharges the air inside the suspension bellows (6). Now the trailer is ready to be loaded on the train. Since the outlet port of pneumatically induced valve (2) triggers its inlet port, this valve stays open even if no signal is sent by roller valves (1 ) after it has been induced. This way, after being loaded on the train, the trailer stands without air in its suspension bellows (6). After the trailer is unloaded from the train and attached to the tractor truck, electric signal send by the tractor truck will induce the solenoid pneumatic valve (3) blocking air flow from the air cylinder (9). Accordingly both the pneumatically induced valve (2) and the air induced pneumatic valve (4) are brought back to their original positions switching the system back to original ride height. Air flow from the leveling valve (5) is sent to raising and lowering valve (8) charging suspension bellows (6) up to the required pressure.