Abstract: A racquet for use in tennis and racquet ball having an offset handle having an angular deviation of 13.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis of the racquet. The handle may have a cross-sectional area having a round or oval shape. The oval configuration has a major axis which is in the same plane as a head of the racquet. Alternatively the handle can be provided, in cross section, with a plurality of faces preferably arranged in opposing pairs, the faces extending longitudinally of the handle. Preferably, the multi-sided configuration defines a cross-sectional hexagonal form which extends from the point of attachment to a head of the racquet to the free end of the handle.

Abstract: A railway hopper car has a hatch opening defined by its upper deck surface. A hatch cover is adapted to close the hatch opening. A hinge arrangement is connected with the upper deck surface and a locking arm extends from the hinge arrangement and across the hatch cover, being connected to the hatch cover. The hinge arrangement has a stop thereon which supports the hatch cover when it is pivoted open. The locking arm has a hatch engagement portion on the end opposite the hinge arrangement which is engaged by a latch structure connected with the upper deck surface. The latch structure includes a pivoting latch holder and latch which may be engaged with the latch engagement portion and rotated in one direction to seal the hatch cover and rotated in the opposite direction to unseal the cover.

Abstract: A fire hydrant cap and cover assembly which is provided with a hydrant operating wrench therefor. The cap of the assembly has an interior threaded cap portion which attaches to the threaded portion of the hydrant water outlet discharge pipe. The exterior cover is rotatably attached to the cap (and rotates with respect thereto) through an annular groove on the cap, the groove engaging a ring bead fixed on the cover. A pentagonal shaped wrench is inserted into the pentagonal shaped recessed portion in the cap by way of a circular opening in the exterior of the cover to engage the cap. Through rotation of the cap, its interior threaded portion can be unscrewed from the threaded hydrant water outlet discharge pipe to enable the removal of the cap and cover assembly. This arrangement prevents tampering with the hydrant water discharge pipe. The cap recessed portion is provided with a fluid drain and vent aperture communicating with the hydrant valve and indication of leaking on the seat.

Abstract: An elastomeric pad placed in shear and having one portion or surface engaged with a portion of a railway car body and another portion or surface engaged by pivotal linkage means to a wheel housing dampens vibrations of a wheel and axle assembly which is resiliently mounted to the car body for rollingly supporting the car body. The pivotal linkage is elongated and connected to the wheel housing and the car body using spherical bearings to minimize wear. The linkage is attached at an angle of inclination to minimize strain on the elastomeric pad and linkage assembly caused by vertical travel of the railway car body due to varying weight loads.

Abstract: A light weight, aerodynamically efficient gondola car for hauling bulk cargo, such as coal, ores and grains, has a cargo carrying structure formed of welded aluminum. A side sill member formed of extruded aluminum has side and bottom connective portions which are continuously welded to the sides and bottom respectively, and a strength portion which remains substantially unwelded in assembly to thereby retain its full strength.

Abstract: A railway car underframe includes a center sill having a central section and opposite end sections. The sill includes spaced vertical walls, and upper and lower walls which are slotted in registry the length of the central section, and which form in cross section a spaced I-beam construction. The construction provides a sill having high torsional flexibility which is necessary to accommodate the railway car to track conditions tending to derail the car when single axle suspensions with two wheels are utilized. The sill also includes a separator in the form of a channel which includes flanges at its sides which are secured to the vertical walls of the sill. The separator extends substantially the length of the slots and is effective to resist lateral forces tending to buckle or permanently deform the sill during operation, while not adversely affecting the high torsional flexibility which is required in the sill structure.

Abstract: A railway car underframe includes a centersill having a central section and opposite end sections. The sill includes spaced vertical walls, and upper and lower walls which are slotted and in registry the length of the central section, and which form in cross section a spaced I-beam construction. The construction provides a sill having high torsional flexibility which is necessary to accommodate the railway car to track conditions tending to derail the car when single axle trucks with two wheels are utilized.

Abstract: A railway car underframe includes a center sill having a central section and opposite end sections. The sill includes spaced vertical walls, and upper and lower walls which are slotted in registry the length of the central section, and which form in cross section a spaced I-beam construction. The construction provides a sill having high torsional flexibility which is necessary to accommodate the railway car to track conditions tending to derail the car when single axle suspensions with two wheels are utilized. The sill also includes a separator in the form of a channel which includes flanges at its sides which are secured to the vertical walls of the sill. The separator extends substantially the length of the slots and is effective to resist lateral forces tending to buckle during operation while not adversely affecting the high torsional flexibility which is required in the sill structure.

Abstract: A trailer hitch for securing trailers to a platform or deck of a railway flat car comprises an upright pedestal pivotally connected so that it and a fifth wheel plate can be attached to the kingpin of a trailer. The hitch includes a diagonal assembly pivotally connected to the pedestal and being rockable therewith. The diagonal assembly comprises diagonally extending outer thrust members and a central thrust member. A pair of laterally spaced upright support plates are rigidly connectd to the platform or deck. The outer thrust members support in spaced relation a plurality of resilient members on their inner surfaces. The resilient members are also connected to the support plates. Other similar resilient members are connected to the inner surfaces of the upright support plates and these are also connected to the central thrust member thereby providing a completely cushioned trailer hitch.

Abstract: A valve attachment flange comprising the lading outlet for a railway tank car is placed in an insulative space between a heat element, heated fluid medium carrying heat ducts and the bottom of the car. The outlet is surrounded by a heat chamber in fluid flow communication with the heat ducts of the heat elements whereby the heat chamber surrounding the outlet is efficiently heated simultaneous with the heating of the lading by the heat element to promote flow of lading from the tank. This arrangement promotes fast efficient heating of the lading on top of and adjacent the valve and enables a valve attached to the recessed attachment flange to extend downwardly from the bottom of the car a lesser amount than conventionally mounted valves.

Abstract: The hatch of a cargo vessel, such as the hopper of a covered hopper car, is sealed by a hatch cover having a locking arrangement which prevents the hatch cover from being blown open by pressure within the hopper upon unlocking the lock. An over center locking arm has two locking detents on it which coact with two locking detents on a locking bar to selectively provide a sealed, pressure blow off and hatch open position. A rotative adjustment is provided to enable the sealing pressure of the hatch cover on the hatch to be selectively adjustable.

Abstract: A scarfing apparatus for removing a weld bead from a tube being produced by a continuous method, wherein the tube enters one end of a hollow spindle which rotatably supports a scarfing tool holder on which is mounted a tool bit. The tool bit has an arcuate shape having a segment which extends 180.degree. or less about the periphery of the tube. The other end of the spindle is provided with a sensing device which, in conjunction with a power unit and control means, applies oscillatory rotational movement to the spindle to thereby cause the tool bit to rock back and forth across the surface of the moving tube to remove the weld bead. The tool holder is provided with an undercut section adapted to receive securing means for mounting the tool bit in a manner to facilitate rapid removal thereof for installing a new tool bit without ceasing the operation of the continuous tube-forming apparatus.

Abstract: Air flow guide members at each end of the cargo carrying structure of an open top gondola type railway car, together with rounded transition or corner surfaces on the exterior of the car and aerodynamically shaped and oriented cross braces within the car serve to reduce aerodynamic drag on the car as it is moved. Additionally, to further enhance the energy efficiency of the car, the cargo carrying structure is formed predominately of a lightweight weldable metal, such as an aluminum alloy, and the side support members are placed on the interior wall of each side to provide a smooth, minimized air flow resistant side surface.

Abstract: A heated tank such as in a railroad tank car has a heat exchanger spaced from the bottom of the car to define a dead air space to insulate the heat exchanger from the bottom. The heat exchanger extends substantially longitudinally and transversely across the entire bottom of the car to provide a large heating transfer surface to the lading supported by the exchanger. A portion of the exchanger substantially encompasses a discharge valve of the tank car to provide heat transfer to the valve during unloading. The heat exchanger slopes toward the discharge valve to facilitate total removal of the lading. An inlet and an outlet associated with the heat exchanger are disposed adjacent the discharge valve for additional transfer of heat to the discharge valve. Baffles in the heat exchanger define a plurality of serpentine passages for conducting a heating medium.

Abstract: A railway flat car is supported on an underframe which includes suspension support frames provided with single axle suspensions. The frames include longitudinally spaced bolsters including horizontal frame structures on which leaf springs are supported which are also carried by journals supporting the single axles. The ends of the leaf springs are supported by vertical spaced hanger straps pivotally connected at their lower ends to support brackets which are fixed to the bolster structures of the support frames. In the present improvement the brackets are welded into recesses provided in the bolsters providing an improved structure minimizing stress problems. The brackets become an integral part of the bolster structures.

Abstract: The wheel and axle assembly of a single axle wheel truck for a railway car is prevented from exceeding acceptable lateral and longitudinal movement with respect to fixed body portions of the railway car by an axle stop arrangement positioned laterally outboard of the wheel truck springs. This axle stop arrangement controls the wheel set movement relative to the car body and, due to its laterally outboard positioning, engagement between the axle stop structure and the wheels is prevented.

Abstract: Pivot mounts for enabling pivotal attachment of support struts of a fifth wheel hitch assembly to the deck of a raiway car are provided with a fabricated inverted U shaped torque box or beam fixed transversely between upright pivot mount plates of the center sill mounted hitch on the railway car for structural strength and rigidity. Due to the torque box the mount is sufficiently rigid to preclude the need to attach the pivot mount to the inside of the box sill of a railway car.

Abstract: A railway car underframe comprises a center sill having bell mouth draft housings at opposite ends thereof. The housings accommodate the use of drawbars or shank type couplers. With the use of a shank type coupler a draft housing extension is secured to the bell mouth housings. The housings include structural shear elements interengageable with each other to align and secure the housings in rigid relation. The housings include connector plates secured together by fasteners with said connector plates longitudinally spaced apart to provide vertical spaces. Wedge elements having open end vertically spaced recesses are driven into the vertical spaces to provide for rigid metal to metal contact with the spaces accommodating the fasteners. Proper alignment, securement, and quick assembly therefore is achieved.

Abstract: The hatch of a lading container, such as the hopper of a covered hopper car, is sealed by a hatch cover having a locking arrangement which prevents the hatch cover from being blown open by pressure within the hopper when the locking arrangement is unlocked. An over-center locking arm has two spaced catches which co-act with two latches on a latching arrangement to selectively provide a sealed, a pressure blow-off, and a hatch open position. A rotative adjustment is provided to enable adjustment of the sealing pressure of the hatch cover on the hatch.

Abstract: A lance for use in a basic oxygen vessel is provided with a fluid cooling arrangement which is mounted directly on the lance structure and which is vertically adjustable therewith to provide a fluid spray which effectively enables and ensures cooling and suppression of the exiting gas before it contacts the hood and moves into the ducts of the hood structure.