Abstract: Cleaning methods for rail cars that haul freight, such as covered hoppers, open hoppers, box cars, tank cars, autoracks, locomotives, flat cars, remove the residue from materials transported by the rail car itself. The rail cars have at least one surface. Freight includes, but is not limited to, agricultural products, industrial products, foodstuffs, living beings, and packaged goods. Methods include the steps of vacuuming excess materials remaining in rail car, removing clinging or otherwise persistent materials with a forced air system, which may be augmented with abrasive materials to a surface of the rail car, and vacuuming up or otherwise removing all remaining dust and debris, and repeating some or all of the steps as necessary. In addition, methods wipe down the surface with a dry rag (e.g., paper or cloth) and/or wipe down the surface with a damp rag. A rag could also be used to apply a sterilizing agent, which would depend upon the application and materials removed and shipped.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for improved collision avoidance of two locomotives by periodically receiving on each locomotive digitally encoded data to determine its geographical location, speed and direction of travel by means of an onboard global positioning system receiver. A first data frame including this data is created on each locomotive. Each locomotive periodically broadcasts to the other digitally encoded signals containing the first data frame. A second data frame is created on each locomotive from the received digital signals from the other locomotive containing the second locomotive's geographical location, speed and direction of travel and locomotive identification. The data frames are processed and displayed onboard each locomotive to determine if the other is a collision candidate. If so, collision avoidance procedures are automatically initiated, including initiation of aural and visual alarms at a first selected distance and the reduction of speed at a second selected, closer distance.

Abstract: A magnetic sweeper 20 is disclosed for capturing airborne particles which exhibit ferromagnetic behavior. The magnetic sweeper 20 uses a magnet(s) 43 having a magnetic field strength which captures particles coming within a predetermined distance of the magnet 43. A non-magnetic endless belt 31 is arranged about the magnet 43, wherein the particles are impinged against the belt 31 by the magnetic field lines of flux. This area is defined as a particle capturing first station. The belt 31 moves the captured particles further away from the magnet 43 to a second station. Located at the second station is a collector which includes a vacuum, a brush 41 and a particle flange. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the magnetic field strength diminishes with distance from the magnet 43. Accordingly, after a certain distance from the magnet 43, the field strength drops to a point where the particles fall from the belt 31.

Abstract: A fluid impervious polymeric membrane separating a resilient pad from a railroad crosstie and having a width substantially greater than the resilient pad to resist moisture and mechanical forces in penetration between the concrete tie and the pad. The width is also sufficient to resist moisture penetration between the peripheral edges of the pad and the membrane. The width of the membrane is sufficient to extend essentially to the edge of the shoulder to limit lateral movement of the membrane caused by forces exerted by passing trains. Also, the membrane is substantially wider than the pad to extend essentially to the shoulder and insulator to resist lateral movement. Further, the pad is notched at a mid region adjacent to the insulator and clamp, with wider in regions, the notch resisting longitudinal movement of the membrane. The plastic material is selected from a group consisting of high density polyethylene, high molecular weight high density polyethylene and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

Abstract: A magnetic skirt assembly is provided which is used as a metallic particle and grit collector on a railroad car to protect transported products. The magnetic skirt (20) includes a supporting frame structure (21) and a magnetic material (36) operatively attached thereto. The magnetic skirt is installed on the underside of the railroad car, preferably one skirt at each end of the railroad car adjacent to the outboard side of the wheel trucks. The magnetic skirts of the invention attract and collect fine metallic particles and grit on their magnetic surfaces which come off the railroad bed during transit of the railroad car. The design of the magnetic skirt particularly addresses the primary flow of air through the railroad car wheel trucks directed outboard and the airstream carrying the metallic particles flowing upward between rail cars which can potentially enter the gaps in the railroad car end doors. Periodically, the magnetic skirts can be cleaned or rinsed off to remove the accumulated grit or particles.

Abstract: A trackside device for closing hopper doors (14) has an eccentrically rotatable wheel (18). The wheel (18) rotates upon contacting a hopper door (14) to move it inward to a closed position. In a preferred embodiment, two devices are positioned on opposite sides of a railroad track to simultaneously close doors (14) on both sides of the hopper car.

Abstract: An automatic rail securing device (10) mounted on a railroad car (12) upon which a device (20) for manipulating the track is mounted, as well as work positions to permit the placement of insulators (40) on the railroad ties (34) as well as clips (5). A clip securing apparatus (66) is slidably mounted to car 12 by means of wheels (15, 17) and struts (23, 25). The apparatus (66) includes two satellite stations (70, 72) which include a pair of compression members (74, 76) which automatically engage the clip (5) and secure it in a final position adjacent to the rail (32).

Abstract: A high-strength, damage-resistant rail characterized by essentially consists of 0.60 to 0.85 wt. % of C, 0.1 to 1.0 wt. % of Si, 0.5 to 1.5 wt. % of Mn, not more than 0.035 wt. % of P, not more than 0.040 wt. % of S, and not more than 0.05 wt. % of Al, a balance being Fe and indispensable impurity. The rail comprises corner and head side portions having a Brinell hardness H.sub.B of 341 to 405 and a head top portion having a hardness which is not more than 0.9 of the Brinell hardness of the corner and head side portions.

Abstract: A railway flatcar (10) is provided for hauling a variety of lading. The car (10) includes a frame (11) having a first section (12), middle section (14) and second section (13). The car (10) has a lower middle section (14) and wrap around bulkheads (22) and (24). The bulkheads (22) and (24) and the floor members (18), (19) and (20) are constructed of an open mesh configuration so as to prevent debris build-up and for reduced wind resistance. The car is adapted to carry a variety of lading including containers and forest products.

Abstract: A hitch (10) for releasably connecting a double stack trailer to a road railer car having a tongue (14) having an opening (15) includes a top wall (16), bottom wall (24) and first and second walls (28) and (30) cooperatively connected to form a housing (12) for receiving the tongue (14) of the road railer car. The housing (12) has an upper pin receiving opening (18) in the top wall (16), and a lower pin receiving opening (26) in the bottom wall (24). The upper and lower pin receiving openings (18) and (26) are in alignment. A shaft (42) is positioned below the bottom wall (24) and cooperatively connected between the first side wall (28) and the second side wall (30). A lever (22) has an upper arm (44) cooperatively connected to a lower arm (46) with a pivot point (48) positioned between the arms (44) and (46 ). The lever (22) has a portion of the upper arm (44) extending above the top wall (16), and the lower arm (46) is positioned below the bottom wall (24).

Abstract: A cylinder liner sleeve puller has four legs having flanged feet at their bottom and being connected by four pivotably mounted pivot arms. The arms are pivotably connected to a central hub, which arrangement forces the lower ends of the legs outward when the hub is manually moved downward. In operation, the legs are inserted into the cylinder so that their bottom extremities are below the lower end of the liner sleeve. The hub is then pressed downward, forcing the lower ends of the legs outward until the flanged feet are directly below the liner sleeve. A jack support plate having spaced holes for the legs is then passed over the legs and rests on the engine block. A hydraulic jack is placed on the support plate, and a top plate is fastened to the top of the legs. When the jack is activated, the plunger pushes the top plate upward, causing a corresponding upward movement of the legs, thereby removing the liner sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for a non-mechanical refrigerated vehicle is disclosed. A rail car (10) has an enclosed storage area (17). A bunker (20) is positioned proximate the ceiling (16) for containing solid refrigerant flakes. Loading manifold (50), supply manifold (70) and the nozzle (75) transfer and convert the liquid CO.sub.2 into the solid refrigerant flakes that are directed into the bunker (22). A mesh screen (30) allows for vapor to exit the bunker (22) to the storage area (17). The screen mesh (30) is positioned proximate the first sidewall (11). The sidewalls (11) and (12) have channels (34) and the floor strips (44) have air flow channels (44e) for the flow of air, including vapor. When the refrigerant flakes sublimate in the bunker (22), the vapor flows from the bunker (22) out the screen mesh (30), down the channel (34) of the first sidewall (11), across the air flow channel ( 44e) and up the channel (34) of the second sidewall (32), all by convection.