Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a locking member is integrally connected to a transversely extending operating shaft. A handle is preferably provided on at least one end of the operating shaft. A locking lug and a tripping element are integrally connected to a movable gravity gate. In closed position the locking member has a hook portion which engages the locking lug. The locking member is movable to a generally vertical position by rotation of the operating shaft. As the gate is moved toward open position the tripping element engages the locking member and pivots the locking member to a generally horizontal position. As the gate is further opened, gravity urges the locking member into a further rotation position in which a depending safety tip on the locking member is below a fixed stop located adjacent the outlet wall with the locking member generally horizontal and not resting on the gate.

Abstract: A railway vehicle for urban use has at least one motorized truck and at least one non-motorized supporting truck. The supporting truck is provided with wheels of smaller diameter than the wheels of the motorized truck which enables a lowering of all of the floor area of the vehicle except the portion which lies above the motorized truck. This lowering of the floor permits the use of a single intermediate step to be utilized by passengers and expedites their entry into and exit from the vehicle.

Abstract: Axle assembly for a railway or other types of track riding vehicle including a first axle member fixed to a first wheel to ride on one track and extending longitudinally outwardly from the wheel, with a groove adjacent the outermost end of the axle, a second wheel with a longitudinally, outwardly extending axle shaft fixed at one end to the second wheel where the outer end of the second axle shaft includes a generally cylindrical housing having an open to receive the outermost end of the first axle. A first plate is provided to be received on the open end of the housing and has a central aperture, of diameter generally equal to the diameter of the first axle member, so the first axle member extends therethrough and so the end of the first axle and the groove are located within the housing.

Abstract: A mount for a railroad rail having an inner side turned toward another such rail and an outer side turned away from the other rail has a one-piece base supported on the ground under the one rail and formed with an upwardly open recess having inner and outer base flanks respectively generally under and parallel to the inner and outer sides, the outer base flank being formed as an inwardly overhanging ridge. An insert attached to the rail and received in the recess has respective inner and outer insert edges, the former of which is overhung by the ridge. An elastomeric body lies between the inner flank and inner edge and supports the insert in the base. Due to the overhang of the base edge, it is possible to make the base in one piece at least outward from a location underneath the rail. Thus there is no need to make the base from two parts split along a horizontal plane and requiring tedious assembly in the field.

Abstract: A laterally disposed cylinder including fluid therein connected between a truck and car body is responsive to lateral forces to provide low damping when relatively low lateral forces are applied and proportionally higher damping as relatively higher lateral forces are applied. The cylinder includes a piston to provide two fluid chambers. The piston includes an opening therein. An element is provided to vary the opening in accordance with the lateral forces.

Abstract: A load holder (10) is used in conjunction with load binder (12) and spaces the load binder (12) away from a load (14). The load holder (10) has two selectively usable load engaging portions. A first load engaging portion (20) of the holder (10) is adapted to engage load corners while a second load engaging portion (22) is adapted to engage flat or slightly curved load surfaces. A bridge (24) integrally formed with the two load engaging portions (20, 22) has an aperture (50) therein for receiving the binder (12) which extends therethrough.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a boatless water skiing tow system and a unique traction apparatus for use therein. The traction apparatus comprises a plurality of cable loops connected end to end to form an endless sequence giving the semblance of a dual cable traction device without the disadvantages of such a traction device. Apparatus is provided for equalizing the action of forces applied to the upper and lower arms of the various loops.

Abstract: A highway/rail vehicle has highway wheels and rail wheels which are movable between extended and retracted positions. The vehicle has selectively engageable first and second drives for transmitting power from the engine to the highway and rail wheels respectively. When the vehicle is in a rail going condition with its rail wheels in their extended positions the highway wheels are maintained out of contact with the track rails by deflection restriction devices operable on the suspension devices for the highway wheels. The vehicle also has a sub-frame at the rear on which the rear rails wheels and the bodies of lifting jacks of auxiliary apparatus are mounted. The sub-frame is vertically movable on slides. The auxiliary apparatus may include tamping, packing, leveling and/or lining apparatus.

Abstract: The flatcar is made up of multiple articulated units fabricated from severed portions of conventional 85 foot or 89 foot flatcars. These units may be supported by double axle trucks salvaged from the original 85 foot or 89 foot flatcars, or by new single axle trucks having new or salvaged components. Portions of the deck and center beam are removed in order to lighten each unit, but without exceeding the stability limits of the original car beam structure.

Abstract: A cargo restraining device for a palletized load including a platform for receiving a pallet with a load of cargo thereon, and a vertical frame at one end of the platform. A handle is pivotally secured to the frame and connected to a horizontally-extending member which is movable to place it in frictional contact with a floor or supporting surface. When the pallet is placed on the platform, it can be locked in place by a serrated member which engages a cross-tie of the pallet. To lock the pallet and platform to the floor, the handle is pushed downwardly while at the same time pushing the frame toward the load. Movement of the handle, which pivots about a hinge pivotally connected to the frame, moves the horizontally-extending member into contact with the supporting surface and at the same time lifts and tilts the platform, which adds an augmented downward force on the horizontally-extending member in contact with the supporting surface.

Abstract: To hold a railway rail down on a support member, a device is employed having a first part driven into a vertical hole in the support member, a second part having a sideways projection, part of which lies vertically below a part of the support member, to one side of the bottom of the hole, and third, fourth and fifth parts forming an arch above the support member. A fulcrum portion of the first part co-operates with the wall of the hole during the driving operation to form a pivot about which said device rocks to cause the above-mentioned part of the projection to come under the above-mentioned part of the support member. From the lower extremity of the fifth part, i.e. the side of the arch which is further from the first part of the device, there extend sixth and seventh parts of the device, the sixth part sideways and the seventh part downwardly.

Abstract: A railway truck having a suspension wherein pivotal suspension links are connected between the pedestal openings of a truck side frame and the bearing adaptor of the bearing received within the respective pedestal opening to suspend the side frame with respect to the bearing adaptor so as to permit limited relative lateral and longitudinal motion of the axle and wheel set with respect to the side frame.

Abstract: The piston rod of at least one hydraulic cylinder is axially connected to a pivot pin about which the car holding arm of a car holding device rotates in a vertical plane to engage the couplings between railroad cars. In the case of a single hydraulic cylinder, the inner chamber of the cylinder, located closest to the car holding arm, is connected to the outer chamber on the other side of the piston by a conduit. When hydraulic cylinders are connected to each pivot pin of the car holding arm, the inner chambers of the two cylinders are interconnected by a conduit as are the two outer chambers. When flow through the conduits is blocked by a solenoid valve, movement of the car holding arm in the direction parallel to the track is resisted and the arm holds the train in position.

Abstract: A bogie for a railroad vehicle comprises a pair of wheel sets mounted in a frame which is pivotally connected to the vehicle so that it can rotate about a substantially upright axis. The wheel sets are connected to the frame resiliently and by links which, upon the application of unbalanced force, axially to one of the wheel sets shifts the force-receiving end toward the other wheel set. The links can also be disposed so that any tendency for one of the wheel sets to move downwardly relative to the frame will result in a tendency for it also to move closer to the other wheel set. This has been found to increase high speed stability of the vehicle.

Abstract: Track fastener apparatus for use with a vehicle locking track located within a vehicle such as an aircraft or the like, that includes a bracket member having portions thereof locatable around a portion of the locking track for restraining portions of the locking track from bulging outward when the track fastener is subjected to large loads such as would occur when the vehicle is subjected to a crash. The track fastener has a body portion and the bracket member is connected to the body portion by a bolt so that the bolt can be tightened to clamp the lower portion of the bracket member against the locking track, and hence, reduce or eliminate rattle between the locking track and the track fastener. By loosening the bolt, it is also possible to readily slide the track fastener along the locking track or remove the track fastener from the locking track.

Abstract: In a railway hopper car with several bottom dump doors, the doors are operated by a main door operating member in the form of a thrust bar running the length of the car. The bar, when moved, rotates levers which rotate actuator shafts which move door operating linkage arrangements, opening and closing the dump doors. An adjustable positioning structure is provided on each lever to cause adjustment of the individual dump door positions. The adjustment is accomplished by tightening or loosening bolts in the adjustor, which is fixed on an actuator shaft running to the linkage arrangement. The adjustor and actuator shaft rotate on a bearing with respect to the lever, but are held in locked adjusted position by the adjustor bolts abutting on flanges welded to the lever.

Abstract: A payload retention system for securing and retaining a payload in a fixed docked position on a platform in a cargo bay of a space vehicle is disclosed which includes a plurality of latching assemblies 16 carried by platform 10 each of which includes a latching member A having a contoured spherical latch element 24. A plurality of payload latching elements B are carried by the payload having a complementary contoured spherical latch element 18. The latching elements 18 are carried in interlatching alignment with the latching members 24 of the latching assemblies 16 defining latch couplings C. Spherical latch element 18 has a convex latching surface 19 and spherical element 24 has a concave latching surface 25 which mate and couple with one another when interlatched. The spherical latch elements 18, 24 having their axes aligned with one another when interlatched whereby the payload is retained in a fixed docked position.

Abstract: An anti-skewing device for a bridge crane comprises a proximity switch near a first side of a first track and near a first end of the crane for detecting the proximity of the switch to the first side of the first track and thereby any skewing of the crane. There is an electrically activated brake for each set of wheels. A circuit connects the proximity switch to each of the brakes to slow one end of the crane relative to another end and thereby correct any skewing during movement of the crane.

Abstract: A height adjusting device for the truck of a railroad vehicle including spring retainer supporting members consisting of a plurality of concentric segments which are arranged around the axis of a spring retainer in symmetry with respect to the axis. Each segment has an upper surface which is so stepped that the height thereof is successively increased as the distance of the upper surface from the spring axis increases, providing thereby a plurality of horizontal supporting surfaces, and a tongue or groove for locating and fixing the segment. The spring height can easily be adjusted simply by changing the position of the segments relative to the spring retainer.

Abstract: A tunnel structure for interconnecting passenger compartments on an articulated vehicle includes pairs of cylindrical walls which overlap during steering movement of the vehicle. To seal between the cylindrical walls, a pair of inner walls is provided which include hinged flaps lying against the cylindrical wall. The flaps are hinged on an inclined axis to reduce clearance between the cylindrical walls and the side walls upon the vehicle negotiating vertical curves.