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Inline terminal, hub and distribution system

Inline terminal, hub and distribution system description/claims

This invention relates to transportation and logistics systems, and more particularly to an Inline Terminal, Hub and Distribution system.

Freight transport continues to grow at a rapid pace, especially in the heavy-rail sector. Severe bottlenecks are seen in existing rail transfer terminals, which result in freight delays. Most such terminals have little or no right-of-way available for terminal expansion. Inefficiencies associated with moving containers from terminal to terminal by truck, to transfer between long-distance rail carriers (corridors), introduce significant delays, costs and inefficiencies. Further, truck activity on urban and suburban freeways cause increased fuel consumption and pollution emissions.

In connection with transportation logistics, market forces are driving the development of new technologies to improve the efficiency of freight transfer operations at rail terminals. A rail ThruPort, which is analogous to an airports, refers to a rail facility where Class I railroads will be able to dock and exchange freight with a high degree of automation. This transfer method can increase freight transfer efficiency. Additionally, ThruPorts can help to significantly reduce on road truck traffic associated with the current practice of moving containers, typically across town, from terminal to terminal, to make a corridor transfer from the east to the west, for example. As used herein, ThruPort refers to an efficient operational solution in connection with a rail facility, whereby an overhead crane can be used to shuffle containers from train to train in a single step.

In connection with transportation logistics, there is a need for the development of new technologies to improve the efficiency of freight transfer operations at rail terminals.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of an Inline Terminal, Hub and Distribution System, in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the Inline Terminal, Hub and Distribution System, in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the Inline Terminal, Hub and Distribution System in FIG. 2, in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is a portion of a plan view of a second embodiment of the Inline Terminal, Hub and Distribution System, in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 5 is the other portion of a plan view of the second embodiment of the Inline Terminal, Hub and Distribution System shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the Inline Terminal, Hub and Distribution System, in accordance with the instant invention.

In its simplest form, an Inline Terminal, Hub and Distribution system and process flow diagram 100 is shown (hereafter referred to interchangeably as Inline Terminal, Inline System and/or Hub and Distribution System). Referring to FIG. 1, the system comprises the steps of: transporting 102 (hereafter the transporting or first transporting step 102) a container to an inbound dock of a distribution center; emptying 104 (emptying step 104) the contents of the container in proximity to the inbound dock; sorting 106 (sorting step 106) the contents of the container; loading 108 (loading step 108) an outbound container at an outbound dock of the distribution center; transporting 110 (transporting or second transporting step 110) the outbound container to a track side location; loading 112 (loading or second loading step 112) the outbound container onto a railroad car for transportation to a desired location. The system provides improved utilization of the available space and improved efficiency for loading and unloading of trains resulting in substantial savings in distribution and handling costs, in turn enabling rail and trucking transportation costs to be more cost competitive.

The term “container” as used herein has its common ordinary meaning, and can include any type of container, such as an ISO container, domestic container, semi-trailer, enclosure, trailer and the like, as understood by those skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, ISO and domestic containers with conventional corner castings work well in this system.

The “Strip Mall” design, concept and layout provides an efficient design layout, whereby all the necessary buildings, storage, roadways, traffic flows, track placements, offices, parking and the like, are strategically placed for simplified operations and minimal unnecessary movement of containers, while striking a balance with the available real estate, as should be understood by those skilled in the art. The terminal can be owned, for example, by one entity or a number of different entities, to minimize or share operational costs and maximize efficient transportation logistics, as will be more fully appreciated from a review of the drawings and the description in this application.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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