Abstract: A closed-riser, adjustable rise, staircase system is provided which allows a plurality of stair treads to be assembled into staircases having different rise heights, for example, from six inches to seven inches, while maintaining the closed-riser nature of the staircase. The nose piece portion extending downwardly from the walking surface of each stair tread is dimensioned such that the distance to which it extends is greater than the desired range of adjustability of rise heights, and the riser portion of each stair tread is dimensioned such that, when positioned for the maximum desired rise height, an upper portion of the riser will continue to extend behind the nose piece of the stair tread positioned immediately above.

Abstract: A tamping assembly uses a split tool mechanical vibrator having corresponding front and back vibrator units powered by a single motor. A tamping tool provides easy connection to a tamping tool holder in such a way that two tamping tools may be mounted to one tool holder using a single bolt and wherein the tool holder has a channel in which a projection of the tamping tool is secured by a taper lock.

Abstract: An apparatus grips tie plates and guides new ties during replacement of worn out ties in the road bed of a railroad track. Mechanical grip elements grip tie plates and secure them against the rail, while an old tie is removed and a new tie is inserted. A spring arrangement automatically self-centers opposing pairs of grip elements. That is, when beginning to grip a tie plate, each pair of mechanical grip elements will automatically center about the tie plate prior to securely gripping the tie plate and without moving the tie plate. The grip elements are supported by an apparatus frame. A frame lifter moves the apparatus frame vertically between an upper and a lower position relative to a vehicle frame of a tie replacer vehicle. A tie guide includes rollers on the underside thereof for minimizing friction between ties being inserted and the tie guide. Sweepers are mounted to the apparatus frame to clean off a tie as it is being inserted.

Abstract: An improved pressure regulator (60) is provided with an eductive flow to maintain the outlet pressure at increased flows through the regulator. The improved regulator broadly includes a body (61) provided with a bore. A valve seat (24) is movably mounted in the bore to provide a valve seat. A valve member (68) is mounted in the body bore for controlled movement toward and away from the seat to vary the area of a main orifice through which fluid is adapted to flow from an inlet to an outlet. The body has a sensing passage (73) communicating a portion (76) of the bore with the exit passage (65). The facing surfaces (74, 76) of the bore and valve member are so dimensioned and configured as to provide an elongated open-ended annular space (78) therebetween that extends along the guide passage from its communicative intersection with the exit passage to a point beyond which the sensing passage communicates with the guide passage.

Abstract: A rail guide wheel arrangement provides movement of rail wheels between rail and road positions with a compact zone of movement such that no open zone is required in front or behind the apparatus to accommodate such movement. The movement of rail wheels and a wheel support has no component of movement in the rail direction. Side shifting of the guide wheel unit can be controlled by control arrangement using a single joystick to control two actuators. A suspension is provided using two spring cells. An axle may include cavities to receive the spring cells when the apparatus is in its road position. A locking arrangement uses pilot operated check valves and secondary mechanical locks.

Abstract: A road and rail vehicle has a truck tractor vehicle frame such that it is street legal, but also provides sufficient power to move freight cars on low density rail lines or at other desired locations. The vehicle has a transfer case to provide front wheel drive by road wheels when the vehicle is in a road or highway mode and to provide rear wheel drive by rail wheels when in a rail mode. The vehicle has a front guide rail wheel unit which moves front rail wheels between an upper road position and a lower rail position. A rear or back axle has right and left back road wheels thereon and is movable between an upper rail position and a lower road position.

Abstract: An apparatus grips tie plates and guides new ties during replacement of worn out ties in the road bed of a railroad track. Mechanical grip elements grip tie plates and secure them against the rail, while an old tie is removed and a new tie is inserted. A spring arrangement automatically self-centers opposing pairs of grip elements. That is, when beginning to grip a tie plate, each pair of mechanical grip elements will automatically center about the tie plate prior to securely gripping the tie plate and without moving the tie plate. The grip elements are supported by an apparatus frame. A frame lifter moves the apparatus frame vertically between an upper and a lower position relative to a vehicle frame of a tie replacer vehicle. A tie guide includes rollers on the underside thereof for minimizing friction between ties being inserted and the tie guide. Sweepers are mounted to the apparatus frame to clean off a tie as it is being inserted.

Abstract: A grid assembly, and method for use in manufacturing a grid reinforced concrete deck, including a plurality of longitudinally extending main beams in parallel spaced relation, each of the main beams having a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots therein and a central flange thereon, a plurality of cross bars adapted to be inserted through the aligned slots and rotated into an upright position, a form pan extending between two adjacent main beams and having a first and a second side portion adapted to rest on the central flange of the two adjacent main beams, respectively, wherein the form pan includes at least a first ridge extending upwardly thereon, the first ridge having a height which enables a lower edge of the cross bars to come into contact therewith when in the upright position, wherein the contact causes a downward force on the first ridge which mechanically locks the form pan between the cross bars and the flange on the adjacent main beams.

Abstract: A guide wheel apparatus and vehicle typically used in railroad applications, using the apparatus has a double overcenter linkage arrangement to secure rail wheels in both road and rail positions for respectively traveling on roads and rails. An electric motor is coupled to the linkage by way of a planetary gear train.

Abstract: A tamping vehicle uses a split tool mechanical vibrator having corresponding front and back vibrator units powered by a single motor. Sprockets and a synchronous sprocket belt drive front and back units to vibrate 180 degrees out of phase. A lubricant carrying belt carries oil to the top of a housing for lubricating and cooling various moving parts. Squeeze cylinders are used to move tamping tools to squeeze in positions by rotating the tamping tools about the same axes as rotation of vibration inducing shafts. Independently liftable gauge and field side tamping assemblies allow use at railroad switches and other locations where narrow width tamping is needed. A tamping tool provides easy connection to a tamping tool holder in such a way that two tamping tools may be mounted to one tool holder.

Abstract: A combination scaffold plank comprised of a metal platform having a rectangular base, side flanges extending downwardly from each side of said rectangular base and return flanges extending inwardly from the end of each side flange. At each end of said metal platform said return flanges are cut away or bent upwards, and a pair of slip resistant blocks is secured to the lower or inner surface of said metal platform. A slip resistant board is then secured to the base of each pair of slip resistant blocks such that the slip resistant board extends below the side flanges and return flanges, thereby providing the surface upon which the combination scaffold plank can rest. This surface provides sufficient friction to prevent slipping of the combination scaffold plank off of the metal scaffold frame, or the upper metal surface of another scaffold plank, on which it rests.

Abstract: A rail spike feeder, which may feed regular spikes, hairpin or lock spikes, and coach screws, uses a holder which receives spikes from a spike chute. The spikes do not assume any secure position from exiting the spike chute until after contact with the holder. The holder uses a four bar linkage arrangement such that the holder pivots about ends of first and second links at the same time the opposite ends of the links are swinging or pivoting about their mounts. This maintains a proper orientation for spikes moved into a spiking position whereat a spiker head, such as a spike hammer, may insert the spikes into tie plates and ties. A counterweighted finger assembly is used to maintain spike orientation as spikes are transferred from the spike chute to the holder.

Abstract: A spiker vehicle and associated method of spiking apply a line of laser light which is reflected from a tie plate and imaged by a CCD camera connected to a computer programmed for image recognition by simultaneously determining the locations of two spike holes in the tie plate and the edge(s) of the tie plate, which spike holes are offset in the rail direction. A first spiker is mounted to a carriage which is moved automatically until the first spiker is over one of the sensed holes. The laser and camera are mounted to the spiker for rail direction movement therewith. A second spiker may be mounted to the carriage for spiking spike holes on the opposite side of the rail from the first spiker.

Abstract: A rail maintenance vehicle includes a slide frame along which a grinder may move while the vehicle remains stationary. The grinder may be moved automatically away from the rail as the grinder moves longitudinally along the rail away from the center of a weld bead in order to smooth the grinding at the weld bead. The slide frame is connected by a linkage mechanism such that the grinder may be oriented at different grinding angles over a range of 200.degree.. The grinder is mounted upon a lateral displacer such that the grinder may be moved from one side of the vehicle to the other for grinding on rails on either the right or left side of the vehicle. A turntable system allows the turntable cylinder to pivot up and out of the way to a horizontal position so that the lateral displacer may move the grinder from one side of the vehicle to the other without interference from a vertical turntable cylinder.

Abstract: A valve insert (40) is adapted to be removably mounted as a unit on a cylinder valve (41) to selectively enable a flow of fluid therethrough when a male coupling section (52) is inserted into the outlet of the cylinder valve. The improved insert includes a tubular body (55), a valve member (58) mounted for sealed sliding movement relative to the body, biasing means (97) and a docking member (59) mounted on the valve element and adapted to engage the nose of the male section. When the male section engages the insert and displaces a sealing cushion (80) off its seat (72), the pressure of fluid will urge the valve element (58) into tighter sealed engagement with the male section.

Abstract: A central tire inflation system for controlling the tire inflation pressure of a driven wheeled vehicle includes a compressed air source connected through a conduit system with the vehicle tires, a controllable valve system connected in the conduit system and a tire pressure controller connected with and controlling operation of the valve system to selectively increase or decrease inflation pressure includes wheel slip detectors and a vehicle speed detector for generating a signal proportional to detected slippage rate and vehicle speed, and signal processing system for utilizing the slippage signal and vehicle speed signals to control the valve system to automatically control tire inflation pressure in response to conditions encountered to minimize slippage and maintain tire inflation pressure at the highest pressure commensurate with safety and economic operation.

Abstract: The temperature differential in the vapor-phase storage area of a liquid nitrogen refrigerator is reduced by producing turbulence in the nitrogen gas in the vapor-phase storage area without materially affecting the level of liquid nitrogen in the refrigerator. In one embodiment, turbulence is induced by introducing gaseous nitrogen into the refrigerator chamber near or below the level of the liquid nitrogen. In another embodiment, an atomized spray of liquid nitrogen is injected adjacent the top of the refrigerator chamber to absorb heat from the warmer nitrogen gas and to produce turbulence or circulation in the nitrogen gas in the chamber. In another embodiment, a gas circulating fan is provided in the top of the refrigeration chamber, with the fan being operated in response to a signal indicating that the temperature has reached a predetermined high level at a critical point in the chamber.

Abstract: A tie exchanger assembly is mounted upon a truck and is used for removal and insertion of ties in a railroad roadbed. A boom is mounted to a rail clamp table which is vertically movable between an upper stored position and a lowered operable position. The boom is mounted to the center of the rail clamp support table and is rotatable 180.degree. about a vertical axis so that the boom may be used for manipulating ties on both sides of the vehicle. Rail clamps and rail engagement wheels are mounted to the underside of the rail clamp table. The boom is pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis. A tie clamp is mounted at a distal end of the boom. A self-aligning tie clamp may advantageously be used so as to clamp concrete ties or other ties with irregular or concave surfaces.

Abstract: A valve insert (40) is adapted to be removably mounted as a unit on a cylinder valve (41) to selectively enable a flow of fluid therethrough when a male coupling section (52) is inserted into the outlet of the cylinder valve. The improved insert includes a tubular body (55), a valve member (58) mounted for sealed sliding movement relative to the body, biasing means (97) and a docking member (59) mounted on the valve element and adapted to engage the nose of the male section. When the male section engages the insert and displaces a sealing cushion (80) off its seat (72), the pressure of fluid will urge the valve element (58) into tighter sealed engagement with the male section.