Abstract: A communications card for use with a computer system that provides a system for reducing unnecessary power consumption. When the system is enabled, the card prevents the computer system from detecting insertion of the card until cable necessary for communication is connected to the card. Once a cable is connected, two nodes within the card are coupled together allowing the computer system to detect the presence of the card. The computer system then activates the card by applying power thereto.

Abstract: A handbrake arrangement for railroad freight cars is disclosed that will connect a mechanical handbrake operating mechanism to the brake equipment (brake beams and brake shoes) on 2, 3, or more trucks on the same freight car. It is especially useful on articulated freight cars consisting of multiple units in order to satisfy handbrake power requirements required by industry and Federal regulations, but a similar arrangement may be used on special purpose cars having a multiplicity of trucks. On an articulated car, consisting of a number of units, there is a multiplicity of trucks and because of the size and weight characteristics of the car, it is desirable to connect the handbrake mechanism to a number of the trucks in order to provide adequate handbrake power.

Abstract: A series of relatively lightweight, short, articulately interconnected cars is disclosed for transporting trailers or other cargo containers on a railway. The interior cars of the series include a center sill which constitutes a narrow width underframe and a length substantially equal to the length of a car, a pair of end sills connected perpendicularly to the center sill at opposite ends thereof and having a width extending beyond each side of the center sill, support members interconnecting the ends of the end sills with the center sill, and male and female portions of an articulated connector respectively attached to each end of a car. End cars have one end, constructed similarly, but are provided with conventional semi-automatic couplings on the other end in place of a portion of the articulated connector. The articulated connectors are mounted on a single conventional railway truck which spans the adjacent ends of interconnected cars and further supports the support members.