Abstract: A safety system including cables and support posts is provided. The safety system may be used to prevent vehicles from impacting with an associated roadside hazard. The safety system will typically maintain engagement between associated cables and support posts for a longer period of time as the posts are bent during a vehicle impact.

Abstract: A composite box structure assembled on and securely attached to a railway car underframe to form a temperature controlled railway car or on insulated boxcar. The composite box structure defined in part by an exterior metal surface, interior side stakes and at least one layer of fiber reinforced plastic attached to the side stakes. Foam insulation may be disposed between the side stakes, the exterior metal surface and the at least one layer of fiber reinforced plastic. The foam insulation provides improved resistance to heat transfer between the interior and the exterior of the composite box structure. An airflow management system may be incorporated into the composite box structure.

Abstract: A level detector includes a rod probe for positioning at least partially within a container suitable for containing a material. The rod probe has first and second ends. A monitoring device is coupled with the first end of the rod probe. The monitoring device is operable to produce a reading when a ground connector contacts the monitoring device. The reading is based upon whether the second end of the rod probe contacts the material. The reading may also be based upon an electrical impedance of the material when the second end of the rod probe contacts the material.

Abstract: A support post for a guardrail which resists impact by a motor vehicle from one direction (strong direction) and yields to impact by a motor vehicle from another direction (weak direction). The support post is adapted to receive the guardrail such that the rail face of the guardrail runs generally perpendicular to the strong direction such that the support post resists an impact on the rail face of the guardrail and yields to an impact force on the end of the guardrail.

Abstract: Pultruded panels having a first longitudinal edge profile and a second longitudinal edge profile may be used to form a floor assembly mounted on a railway car underframe. The pultruded panels may also be used to form walkways, bridges, piers and other structures. A bead may be placed on at least one of the longitudinal edge profiles to form a gap between an adjacent pultruded panel. An adhesive may be placed within the gap to couple or bond adjacent pultruded panels with each other. Void spaces may be formed within the pultruded panel and filled with foam to provide improved resistance to heat transfer through the respective panel. Respective coverings may be placed on opposite ends of each panel to block access to the associated void spaces.

Abstract: A multilevel railway auto rack car for transporting automobiles is provided having at least one.upper deck with end segments pivotable to accommodate the difference in height of corresponding upper decks of adjacent auto rack cars and facilitate loading of automobiles between cars. A pivoting assembly pivots the end segment between raised and lowered positions, as well as prevents the end segment from being inadvertently left in the lowered position.

Abstract: A breakaway support post (18, 210) is provided for a highway guardrail system (10) to enhance safety of a vehicle impacting with either the rail face of the guardrail (16) or one end of the guardrail facing oncoming traffic. The breakaway support post may have upper and lower portions (26, 28) with releasable coupling assembly (29, 211) disposed therebetween to maintain the upper and lower portions generally aligned prior to impact of a vehicle with one end of the guardrail. The breakaway support post may also have releasable coupling (301) disposed between the upper and lower portions and cable (303). The releasable coupling may allow the upper portion to separate from the lower portion. The cable may be released during separation of the upper and lower portions. The coupling assembly preferably provides sufficient support during a rail face impact to direct an impacting vehicle back onto the roadway.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of forming a sill of a railcar draftsill includes providing a single plate of material having predetermined dimensions, bending the single plate to form a first leg, bending the single plate to form a second leg and a web disposed between the first and second legs, bending the first leg to form a first flange, and bending the second leg to form a second flange. The single plate of material may be formed into the desired configuration according to a method having a single forming step.

Abstract: A siphon drainpipe system and method for use in a railway tank car includes a railway tank car having a tank at least partially defined by a generally elongate hollow cylinder having closed ends. The tank includes an upper surface and a lower surface, and forms a generally enclosed interior portion. A nozzle is coupled with the upper surface of the tank. A siphon pipe which extends from the nozzle toward the lower surface of the tank is coupled with the nozzle. The siphon pipe is at least partially disposed within the interior portion of the tank. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention the siphon pipe includes a generally rigid, metallic portion disposed adjacent the upper surface of the tank, and a generally flexible portion disposed adjacent the lower surface of the tank.

Abstract: A digital conversion adapter for magnetically coupled level meters includes a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter. The first rotatable magnet is operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet. The second rotatable magnet is operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level. An encoded disc is mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet. A light sensor array operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc, is also provided.

Abstract: A removable adapter assembly includes a tapered body portion having a first end configured to receive a tooth horn, and a second end configured to receive a removable tooth. The tapered body may include first and second sides, which partially define a recess adjacent the first end. First and second interior surfaces of the first and second sides, respectively, have first and second gripping surfaces, respectively. The first and second gripping surfaces are configured to cooperate with a retractable insert that is coupled with the tooth horn. The tapered body is coupled with the tooth horn when the retractable insert is in a first extended position, and the tapered body may be removed from the tooth horn when the insert is in a second, retracted position.

Abstract: An admittance sensor includes a voltage divider network having a probe and an associated variable virtual admittance. The voltage divider network is operable to receive pulses and transmit attenuated pulses. Each attenuated pulse has a respective attenuated pulse magnitude based, at least in part, upon a magnitude of the virtual admittance at approximately the respective time at which the attenuated pulses are transmitted. The admittance sensor also includes a level detector operable to receive the attenuated pulses from the voltage divider network and operable to generate output pulses corresponding to each of the attenuated pulses received which exceed a predetermined attenuated pulse magnitude. The admittance sensor also includes a pulse detector operable to receive the output pulses and generate a signal if at least one of the output pulses is not received for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An opto-electric levelmeter having a sensor that provides an output signal whose frequency represents the surface level of liquid in a container. The sensor's circuitry includes an oscillation circuit that uses “optical feedback” to modulate the sensor output signal. The signal is delivered to a monitor that provides an output signal for the user. The monitor also permits adjustment for both high and low levels of a particular container. The monitor sends electrical energy to the sensor, and receives the sensor output signal on the same electrical link.

Abstract: A composite box structure assembled on and securely attached to a railway car underframe to form a temperature controlled railway car or on insulated boxcar. The composite box structure defined in part by an exterior metal surface, interior side stakes and at least one layer of fiber reinforced plastic attached to the side stakes. Foam insulation may be disposed between the side stakes, the exterior metal surface and the at least one layer of fiber reinforced plastic. The foam insulation provides improved resistance to heat transfer between the interior and the exterior of the composite box structure. An airflow management system may be incorporated into the composite box structure.

Abstract: The present invention includes a primary retainer pin having an internal secondary retainer pin operable to couple the primary retainer pin with an adapter for use with excavation equipment components. A removable tooth having first and second tooth sides is coupled with the adapter and at least partially covers the first adapter end. A central portion of the adapter defines an elongate slot which extends from a first adapter side to a second adapter side. First and second tooth sides include first and second openings, respectively, configured such that the first and second openings are aligned with an imaginary longitudinal axis of the elongate slot while the removable tooth is coupled with the adapter. The primary retainer pin extends at least partially through the first and second openings, and the elongate slot, to couple the removable tooth and the adapter.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a center beam railway car adapted for reducing chafing between lading and a center beam structure of the railway car. According to an embodiment of the invention, lading may be stacked against rollers provided along the center beam structure to reduce friction between the center beam structure and the lading. In an embodiment of the invention, the rollers may be adapted to accommodate both horizontal and vertical relative movement between the lading and the center beam structure of the railway car.

Abstract: A center beam railcar that has increased volume capacity and versatility. The car preferably has a narrow top chord that does not interfere with loading by overhead crane, but still contributes significantly to the strength and load carrying capacity of the railcar. The top chord is preferably of a generally rectangular, tubular configuration, and has a width substantially equal to or slightly less than the width of the intermediate portion of the center beam therebelow. The railcar preferably has a depressed central portion that provides a clear loading height of at least about 14 feet thereabove, located between a pair of higher end portions, each preferably having a length of about 16 feet so that the end portions may be used to carry products of substantial length. The depth of the depression may be, e.g., about 16 in., to enable the depression to accommodate bundles of engineered wood products having a height of 15½ in.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a center beam railway car adapted for reducing chafing between lading and a center beam structure of the railway car. According to an embodiment of the invention, lading may be stacked against rollers provided along the center beam structure to reduce friction between the center beam structure and the lading. In an embodiment of the invention, the rollers may be adapted to accommodate both horizontal and vertical relative movement between the lading and the center beam structure of the railway car.

Abstract: A digital conversion adapter for magnetically coupled level meters includes a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter. The first rotatable magnet is operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet. The second rotatable magnet is operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level. An encoded disc is mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet. A light sensor array operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc, is also provided.

Abstract: A floor connection casting for use in construction of railcar floor assemblies as well as a floor assembly and railcar using the same are provided. The floor connection casting preferably includes a plurality of stringer connectors coupled along one or more sides as well as at least one crossbearer connector on one end. By coupling a pair of floor connection castings to opposing side sills in a railcar, lateral support can be provided for one or more floor plates. Floor stringers may then be coupled between adjacent floor connections using the stringer connectors such that longitudinal support for a flooring is provided. The floor assembly may then be coupled to a railcar using a sill connector included on the end of the floor connection casting opposite the crossbearer connector to couple to a side sill of the railcar.