Abstract: A liquid natural gas filling system structured to store a cryogenic fluid at a low pressure and fill a use vessel at a high pressure. The filling system includes a first, low pressure vessel, at least one second, high pressure vessel, a plurality of conduits, each conduit in the plurality having a valve, extending between, and in fluid communication within the first, low pressure vessel and the at least one second, high pressure vessel, a pressure building means coupled to the at least one second, high pressure vessel and structured to raise the pressure of a cryogenic liquid within the at least one second, high pressure vessel, and an outlet nozzle structured to be coupled to a use vessel, the outlet nozzle coupled via the plurality of conduits to, and in fluid communication with, the first, low pressure vessel and the second, high pressure vessel. The filling system is structured so that a cryogenic liquid may be stored in the first, low pressure vessel at a low pressure.

Abstract: A method of constructing a wall form and of forming a wall includes employing a modular concrete form system having a clamping device to clamp adjacent modular form members to one another. The clamping device includes an elongated bar, a pair of clamps mounted on the bar, and a pair of clip assemblies mounted on the bar, the bar being shaped to complementarily engage the perimeter frames of the modular form members. The jaws of the clamps retain the perimeter frames of the adjacent modular form members against the bar, which clamps the form members to the bar and retains them in a flush orientation with one another. The clip assemblies each having a slidable tie clip formed with an opening for receiving a portion of a tie therein. The tie is tapered and is nominally of a circular cross section and formed with a plurality of spaced groves at the alternate ends thereof.

Abstract: A railway anchor spreader has a rotating plate on each side of each rail, with the bottom of each rotating plate having a pair of jaws. The tie plates are lowered until the jaws strike the ballast, and the tie plates are then pivoted first in one direction, and then in the opposite direction, by a hydraulic cylinder located near the top of the anchor spreader plates. The jaws will thereby strike the tie plates, first pushing them in one direction and then in the opposite direction, to move the rail anchors away from the tie. The shape of the jaws ensures that pivoting the anchor spreader plate will not cause the jaws to strike the tie as well as the tie plate. A rail clamp capable of grabbing rails of various sizes is also provided.

Abstract: A tie plugger riding station which includes a main frame assembly, a seat assembly coupled to the frame assembly, at least one rail wheel coupled to the frame assembly, an articulated wheel assembly, and a coupling device structured to couple the frame assembly to a plugging machine. The articulated wheel assembly includes a truss frame assembly having a main pivot coupling and at least two wheel member pivot couplings. The truss frame assembly is pivotally coupled to the frame assembly at the main pivot coupling. The two wheel members are each pivotally coupled to the truss frame assembly at a wheel member pivot coupling.

Abstract: A railway tie plate insertion vehicle includes operator's chairs mounted on both sides of the vehicle; with the occupants of each chair being provided with a tie plate insertion wand including controls for movement of the vehicle. A tie magazine deposits a tie plate on the tie upon actuation by the operator when a tie plate has not been previously deposited. A first rail clamp includes a pair of rollers for engaging the rail, attached to the ends of a pair of scissor arms, so that raising the rail draws the scissor arms closer together, increasing the gripping pressure on the rail. A similar rail clamp is located at the rear of the vehicle, which also includes an electrical connection for the operator's wand, thereby permitting tie plate insertion from the rear of the vehicle when obstacles are present along the sides of the vehicle.

Abstract: A conversion device that is structured to be coupled to the rotating axle of a motor and to an output assembly. The output assembly has an elongated shaft with an axis extending generally perpendicular to the axis of the motor axle. The output assembly further is coupled to a frame to resist movement in an axial direction. The conversion device includes an eccentric hub having a disk with a sidewall extending from the perimeter thereby forming a recess and a yoke having a shaft and an attachment pin. The disk is coupled to the motor axle. The yoke shaft is disposed within the eccentric hub recess and the attachment pin is pivotally coupled to the output assembly. As the eccentric hub is rotated by the motor, the hub causes the yoke moves in a circular path. The circular path of the yoke has directional components that are parallel to the axis of the output assembly shaft and perpendicular to the axis of the output assembly shaft.

Abstract: A railway tie insertion system includes a guide plate having an easily adjustable height, and in many embodiments including a pair of side guides. The tie plate extends for substantially the entire distance between the rails, thereby minimizing the escape of ballast. During insertion of a tie, the tie guide plate and associated side guides provide guide surfaces along three sides of the inserted tie, thereby ensuring that the tie is inserted perpendicular to the pair of rails.

Abstract: A railway tie bed scarifier mounts on a tie remover/inserter machine. The tie bed scarifier is dimensioned and configured to widen the pre-existing channels left in the ballast through the removal of old ties. The tie bed scarifier includes a carriage moving between a raised travel position and a lowered work position, and a pair of tines reciprocating between a retracted position wherein they fit between the rails, and an extended position wherein they extend towards the sides of the ballast. A method of inserting a railway tie is also provided.

Abstract: A header box for a heat exchanger includes a hollow unitary body having four generally flat sides forming a generally quadrilateral cross-section. End plates are located at, and coupled to, each end of the unitary body. One generally flat side has a plurality of plug openings located. The flat side opposite the one generally flat side having the plug openings includes a plurality of tube openings.

Abstract: A method of repairing a damaged railroad rail comprising the steps of: identifying a defect in the rail, removing the portion of the rail having a defect and leaving two truncated rail ends, preparing the truncated rail ends for welding, and welding the two truncated rail ends together.

Abstract: A knob for a medical post valve, the post valve having a threaded bonnet with a diameter, and a valve stem, the valve stem having an external end shaped, generally, as a cylinder with two opposing flat sides, the knob comprising a hub having an elongated body with a diameter that is generally the same size as the bonnet diameter, the body having a first end, a second end, and an axial cavity, the first end having a medial slot extending in across the first end in a direction perpendicular to the cavity, an elongated handle, the handle sized to fit within the cavity, the handle movable between a first position and a second position, the handle first position being disposed within such cavity with the axis of the handle generally aligned with the axis of the body, and the handle second position being disposed within the slot with the axis of the handle extending perpendicular to the axis of the body.

Abstract: A split tool tamper having a motor, a frame, a single tool shaft, and a tamping tool. The motor is coupled to the frame and the tool shaft is coupled to the motor. The tool shaft is further coupled to a single tamping tool.

Abstract: An external pressure building circuit for a portable cryogenic liquid cylinder which includes a tubular member disposed outside of the cylinder. The tubular member has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the tubular member is in communication with the gas containing portion of the cryogenic liquid cylinder; the lower portion is in communication with the liquid containing portion of the cryogenic liquid cylinder. The tubular member between about 30 and 60 inches long and includes a plurality of fins attached to the tubular member. The fins act as a heat transfer device. In operation a quantity of cryogenic liquid enters the lower portion of the tubular member and is heated. Once the liquid is converted to a gas, it is returned to the gas containing portion of the cylinder. By converting a sufficient quantity of cryogenic liquid to gas, a pressure of greater than 400 p.s.i. can be maintained at a high continuous rate of flow, e.g., greater than 2000 cfh.

Abstract: A railway maintenance vehicle exchanges worn crossties for new ones. Worn ties are collected and placed on an increased capacity storage car which permits ties to be placed atop the storage cars in a lateral orientation. New ties are simultaneously unloaded from the storage cars for distribution along the track. Tie transport and loading vehicles such as a gantry crane travel on rails atop the storage cars to move worn and new ties between a tie pick up car and a tie distribution car which has a tie ejector for laterally propelling ties fed to it on a queuing conveyor. The tie ejector has an endless drive chain with two striker plates attached at opposite ends and opposite sides such that they cannot interfere. The outward and downward trajectory of ejected ties is adjustable by a movable deflector shield.

Abstract: A tie ejector distributes new ties to be installed along a railway track, from a tie distribution car of a rail carried tie exchange vehicle. New ties are moved from a gondola cars to a conveyor at the rear of the tie distribution car leading to the tie ejector. The tie ejector has an endless drive chain on rotatable sprockets on a frame. Two striker plates are attached to the drive chain at opposite ends and opposite sides so that they cannot interfere. One is always on the rear when the other is on the front ejecting a tie by propelling it laterally relative to the conveyor. The trajectory of the tie is adjustable using a movable deflection shield attached to the frame, specifically to adjust the downward deflection angle. The tie ejector can be manually actuated by an operator while the tie distribution car is advanced, to drop ties next to the track at a predetermined and repeatable position relative to passing empty tie cribs.

Abstract: A railway maintenance vehicle exchanges worn crossties for new ones. Worn ties are collected and stored in open-top gondola cars, preferably progressing longitudinally. New ties are simultaneously unloaded from the gondola cars for distribution along the-track. Flange-wheeled tie transport vehicles such as a mobile crane and a bundle clasping transport travel on rails atop the gondola cars to move worn and new ties between collection and distribution devices and the respective storage and unloading locations. Gaps between the cars are bridged by hinged telescoping rail sections. The travel distance between the storage or unloading location and the collection or distribution points change over time. To improve efficiency, at least one intermediate temporary storage basket is moved along the cars and can be passed over by the transport vehicles.

Abstract: A high strength, high toughness glass coated steel composite material is provided which exhibits greatly increased ballistic properties over the uncoated steel. A borosilicate glass coating is fused onto the surface of the steel in a process which heats the steel and an aqueous slurry of the borosilicate glass to a temperature which is suitable for both fusing the glass to the steel and for providing a heat soak for the steel to air harden the steel to a hardness suitable for a ballistic steel. The nickel content of the steel promotes the bonding strength of the glass coating to the steel, and the borosilicate glass may contain a cobalt additive to also promote increased bonding strength.

Abstract: A demand regulator for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus has a housing and a cover forming a breathing chamber with a mouthpiece. A diaphragm on the chamber is movable with changes in pressure due to user inhalation demand. An inlet valve coupleable to a supply of pressurized air is responsive to the position of the diaphragm. At least one manually adjustable fin can be retracted or positioned across the air flow path through the chamber, for setting the extent of venturi effects tending to displace the diaphragm and open the valve to free flow in the absence of inhalation demand. The venturi adjustment mechanism has a sealed rotatable arm with a radially extending end in sliding engagement with the fin, and preferably the fin has two resilient strips that are spaced apart by a dimple.

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: A method for applying a rough slip resistant non-skid surface to a substrate in the field at the cite of use, comprising applying at least one base coat of metal to a surface of the substrate; wetting the surface of the substrate with a surfactant; spreading grit onto the wetted surface of the substrate; applying at least one bond coat of metal over the grit and the substrate, locking the grit in place; and, applying at least one finish coat of metal over the grit and the substrate.