DMF’s RW-1019 railgear is a scaled down
version of our patented and very successful RW-1630 gear for large
trucks. The front guidewheel assembly attaches to the frame and front
axle and lifts the front wheels off the track, thus utilizing the
vehicle's front suspension. This design supports the vehicle as it was intended and helps the
truck navigate curves smoothly and damp out the effects of track
irregularities. The rear assembly attaches directly to the truck
frame behind the rear axle spring hanger. It deploys with an articulated
dual scissor action that allows the rear railgear to be moved both vertically and horizontally. This
mechanism provides the "side shift" action which has made DMF gear so
well-known in the industry. It gives
operators a greater margin for
aligning the vehicle to the track
which speeds and simplifies the process of getting the vehicle on rail.
Materials:
All structural members and brackets are constructed of carbon steel. The
10" guidewheels for DMF RW-1019 railgear are machined from
hardened steel castings and are fitted to high strength alloy steel
axles with heavy-duty tapered roller bearings.
Installation:
Both DMF front and rear guidewheel units bolt to the truck frame using
only hand tools found in any shop. They are designed to minimize the
amount of space required and in many cases fit within the existing
boundaries of the vehicle. The front units, however, sometimes require a
bolt-on frame extension to complete the installation. Rear RW-1019 railgear mounts below the top of frame and directly behind the chassis
spring hangers. This minimizes intrusion into truck body installations.
Please note that center-mounted fuel tanks behind the rear truck axle
are not desirable. If possible, opt for the mid-mounted
tanks.
Brakes:
RW-1019 rail brakes are hydraulically actuated external shoes. The
hydraulic power unit that raises and lowers the railgear also operates
the brakes. When the dashboard mounted enable switch is turned on, the
brake lamp signal is used as a trigger to run the pump and divert
hydraulic pressure to the brakes. A built in safety circuit protects the
truck's brake lamp system as well as the hydraulic power unit from
excessive run times.
Operation:
The truck is pulled onto a crossing and the
wheels aligned to the tracks with attention being paid to the front. The
operator then activates the hydraulic power unit by pressing the button
on the front bumper and pulling the lever of the hydraulic valve to raise
the railgear off of the pin-off device. The safety pins are removed and
the lever pushed forward lowering the rail wheels to the track. The
front gear will lift the front of the truck and go over center. The rear
is operated similarly. The gear is raised to lift the weight from the
pin-offs, and the pins are removed. The gear is then lowered via the two
handled valve at the rear of the truck. Each spool may be operated
independently to articulate the rear gear and engage the rail even if
the rear wheels are not perfectly aligned. Once the rear gear is fully
deployed, the pin offs are re-inserted to lock the gear in place.
Steering Wheel Lock:
A steering wheel lock is provided,
requiring no modifications to the column.
