Abstract: A vehicle is supported on a horizontal support platform extending between two frames. As a winch is driven, a pair of cables raise the horizontal support platform upward along the frames. As the platform is raised, contact pads of the frames press against the sides of the cargo container, providing additional strength to the apparatus.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint employs a 4 bar linkage to lift a restraining member to a position that engages a vehicle thus restraining it at a loading dock. The linkage is upwardly biased to hold the unit in an engaging position and may be retracted by using any of a number of mechanical techniques such as hydraulic electric or pneumatic power. The 4 bar linkage transfers all loading on the unit from the ICC to the frame thus isolating any driven members from overloads. A secondary hook mounted to the 4 bar linkage is pivotally spring loaded to limit vehicle travel away from the dock and to extend the capture range of the device in the case of ICC's bars that are damaged or mounted at non-standard positions at the rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: A collapsible car rack system for use in intermodal containers wherein each car rack is capable of carrying two automobiles. Each rack is configured so that two racks completely fill a standard 40 ft. intermodal container and each rack is also fitted with a dunnage device in order to extend the size of the rack to fill a standard 45 ft. intermodal container. Each rack is equipped with push plates and pulling eyes so that the loaded racks may be inserted into, and withdrawn from a standard intermodal container with a forklift. In use, each rack will accommodate two automobiles the first of which is driven onto the rack in a collapsed condition and after erecting a top portion of the rack with a forklift and securing by vertical support members, a second automobile is driven onto the lower portion of each rack. The erect rack, loaded with two automobiles is of a suitable size to be loaded into a standard intermodal container with a forklift.

Abstract: A six-degree-of-freedom articulated robot mechanism includes a three-degree-of-freedom translation unit for adjusting the position. The translation unit includes an orientation maintaining mechanism which has a rotation articulation of the direct drive type connecting a drive motor directly to an arm, and a link mechanism. A three-degree-of-freedom rotation unit for adjusting the orientation includes three rotation articulators of the direct drive type connecting a drive motor directly to a table, and the axes of the three rotation articulators intersect one another at one point.

Abstract: A barrier set replaces the metal bulkhead between the passenger and trunk compartments of an automobile. The barrier net comprises flexible, substantially inelastic webbing. The webbing is formed of a plurality of vertical, spaced straps and a plurality of horizontal, spaced straps traversing the vertical straps. The vertical strap is secured to the horizontal strap at each point where the two straps cross. The barrier net is attached in place between the passenger and trunk compartment. A variation of the barrier net includes an enlarged aperture formed in the webbing, the webbing aperture being situated such that it coincides with a selectively open space extending between the passenger and trunk compartments, with the space being adapted to receive oversized items extending from the trunk compartment into the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A tie-down system for securing vehicles to the ramps of a vehicle-hauling trailer includes a hollow winch axle extending transversely across the ramp and a chain extending through the winch axle. The winch axle has a chain-engaging end on one side of the ramp for selectively engaging the chain, and a gear-supporting end with a two-way gear/pawl arrangement for selectively locking the winch axle with respect to the ramp. An elastomeric bushing is disposed on the winch axle between the winch axle and the ramp structure to absorb peak chain loads during use. A novel ladder arrangement formed on the ramp adjacent the chain-engaging end of the winch axle permits the chain to be threaded therethrough laterally with respect to the ramp to position the chain at a desired angle with respect to the vehicle.

Abstract: A technique relating to automatic excavation by a power shovel is shown. An ideal reference locus of movement of a front edge of a bucket is approximated by a plurality of points, positions of the plurality of points and postures of the bucket at these points are previously set. If the start of automatic excavation is assigned by an operation pedal or the like, the position of the front edge of the bucket at the assigned moment is made a position to start excavation.

Abstract: An improved wheel clamp 1 including a first wheel chock (25) and a second wheel chock (29), interconnected by a first threaded rod (44) and a second threaded rod (46), the threaded rods being driven by a motor (43) driving chains (45, 47) such that rotation of the threaded rods urge the wheel chocks (25, 29) away from each other and into an abutting relationship with vehicle tires (11, 12). A pair of hold down clamps (33, 38) reside in a pivotable relationship adjacent to the wheel chocks (25, 29) and rotate upward to grip an inner surface of the tires (11, 12) as the wheel chocks engage the tires.

Abstract: A cargo carrying flatrack used as an intermediate separate unit between a cargo container and a ISO vehicular load carrier. The flatrack provides longitudinal impact protection for containerized cargo, through an upper frame carrying the cargo which moves against a cushioning device which absorbs impacts engaged to a lower frame on the ISO carrier. The upper frame is movable within limits in the longitudinal direction allowing the upper frame to stroke with the loaded container at sudden impacts.

Abstract: Concrete railroad stringer assembly for securing a railroad track comprising supports imbedded in the stringer and having a bow-shaped part extending above the stringer. The supports either are equipped with an abutment made of synthetic material or are made of ductile material forming itself an abutment for the railroad track. The supports are equipped with or intended to receive securing straps for securing the railroad track on the stringer.

Abstract: A rail-tie fastening assembly for connecting a rail having a rail flange to a tie comprising a rail seat assembly and a rail anchor. The rail seat assembly is connectable to the tie and includes an anchor slot and a seat hook assembly. The seat hook assembly is adapted to extend a distance over an upper surface of the rail flange. The rail anchor includes an anchor hook assembly adapted to extend over on the upper surface of the rail flange in an assembled position of the rail anchor to the rail seat assembly. The rail anchor is insertable through the anchor slot in the rail seat assembly to the assembled position. The seat hook assembly is spaced a distance from the upper surface of the rail in the assembled position of the rail anchor to the rail seat assembly. The anchor hook assembly engages one side of the rail flange and the seat hook assembly engages the opposite side of the rail flange to restrain lateral movement.

Abstract: A rail assembly in which the shanks of a rail between the head and the base have one pair of outwardly facing downwardly tapering flank surfaces and a frame flanking the rail has a pair of downwardly tapering inwardly facing flank surfaces spaced from and juxtaposed with the surfaces of the rail. The surfaces receive between them under precompression so as to generate a spring constant of 2 KN/mm to 8 KN/mm per meter of rail length, elastic intermediate layers which resiliently support the rail. One of the pairs of surfaces is composed of angularly adjoining upper and lower portions while the other is rectilinear over the height thereof juxtaposed with the first mentioned pair.

Abstract: The present invention provides a castable pedestal-type support apparatus for a cargo shipping container. Such support apparatus includes a body member having a pair of side wall portions and a connecting wall portion disposed midway between the side wall portions. A generally rectangular end wall portion is disposed at a first end of the side wall portions. At least one aperture is formed through the end wall portion. A pivot pin receiving portion having an aperture formed therethrough is disposed intermediate the side wall portions closely adjacent a second end thereof. A counterweight is disposed intermediate the pair of side wall portions to provide a predetermined force required to pivot the support apparatus.

Abstract: A rail-tie fastening assembly for connecting a rail having a rail flange to a tie comprising a rail seat assembly and a rail anchor. Th rail seat assembly is connectable to the tie and includes an anchor slot and a seat hook assembly. The seat hook assembly is adapted to extend a distance over an upper surface of the rail flange. The rail anchor includes an anchor hook assembly adapted to extend over on the upper surface of the rail flange in an assembled position of the rail anchor to the rail seat assembly. The rail anchor is insertable through the anchor slot in the rail seat assembly to the assembled position. The seat hook assembly is spaced a distance from the upper surface of the rail in the assembled position of the rail anchor to the rail seat assembly. The anchor hook assembly engages one side of the rail flange and the seat hook assembly engages the opposite side of the rail flange to restrain lateral movement.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for moving large trees is disclosed that includes digging a trench around the tree, enclosing the soil inside the trench in the walls of a container, and sequentially removing sections of the supporting soil under the tree between trenches on opposite sides and replacing the sections with support members that form the bottom of the container. A vehicle for lifting the container upwardly until it clears the ground for moving the trees on the construction site is disclosed as is a unique trailer for moving the trees on a public road.

Abstract: In a shelf-type store for magazines with material in rod or plate form, an apparatus is described for putting the material, contained in the magazines, into and out of store and for selecting it. For this purpose the magazines are moved with the aid of a transport car mobile beneath the shelving units, one of the magazine places of the truck including a hoist device. Adapted to this, the station for putting material into and out of store, lying outside the shelving units, is arranged with two reception levels, arranged one above the other for the magazines, of which the upper level is reachable for the transport car through its hoist device while the lower level may be brought into connection with the level of the transport car directly by a transfer device for the magazines.

Abstract: Machine for extracting the contents from envelopes for presentation to an operator. The envelopes are stacked at an input station and fed one at a time from the input station to a cutting station. At the cutting station, the envelopes are severed along their edge portions to provide access to the contents. From the cutting station, the envelopes are transported to a separating station, where the contents are separated from the envelopes. The contents from one envelope at a time are conveyed to a pick-up station for presentation to an operator at a work station. When the operator removes the contents of one envelope from the pick-up station, the contents of another envelope are conveyed to that station and presented to the operator. As each envelope leaves the separating station, it is checked to verify that the contents have been removed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a weldable cast insert that enables a particular style locking mechanism to be used in securing a container to a support pedestal on a transportation vehicle. Such cast insert includes a plate-like portion having at least one lug-like portion extending outwardly from an outer edge of the plate-like portion and at least one leg-like portion which depends from a first surface of the plate-like portion at least one aperture having a predetermined configuration is formed through a predetermined portion of the plate-like portion and at least one cut-out portion and such at least one leg portion adjacent a predetermined surface thereof.

Abstract: A composite minimum-joint electrified rail is constructed by combining a non-conductive support rail divided into easily installed segments with a continuous conductive rail that mounts on the support rail and spans any number of support rail segments. The conductive rail may be attached to the non-conductive rail by a tongue and groove arrangement. Multiple conductive rails or strips may be attached to different portions of the same support rail. In addition spring clips are shown for attaching the support rail to railroad ties or roadbed, and fish plates are shown for attaching abutted support rails.

Abstract: A unitary dunnage device for use with a "singled out" pallet unit being transported within a van, trailer or container. The device includes a pair of void fillers, each being dimensioned and configured to fit within a respective lateral void, existing between the pallet and the container's sidewalls. The void fillers are structurally united and supported in spaced horizontal relation by a suspension structure. The suspension structure has a median portion overlying the pallet unit, and end portions extending from the sides of the pallet unit to the container's sidewalls. The void fillers are attached to and depend from the underside of a respective end portion.