DMF's RW-1212 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
vertically with an articulated dual scissor action that allows each side
of the rear to be moved independently. 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 12" guide
wheels for DMF RW-1212 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 guide wheel 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-1212 railgear mounts below the top of frame and directly behind the chassis
spring hangers. This minimizes intrusion into truck body installations.
Brakes:
RW-1212 rail brakes are hydraulically actuated external shoes. A
hydraulic power unit produces
clamping force. 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 cylinders. 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 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:
The steering stop is provided with the
optional railwheel brake assembly, as in the RW-1630 gear. If the unit
is not equipped with optional brakes, a steering wheel lock is provided,
requiring no modifications to the column.
